25 tornadoes reported in central United States, damage in Iowa and Nebraska
At least 25 tornadoes were reported across four states in the central United States on May 17, 2026, with widespread damage being reported in parts of Iowa and Nebraska.
State of Disaster Emergency declared for Colorado as Sharpe Fire grows to over 11 400 ha (28 000 acres)
A State of Disaster Emergency has been declared for the state of Colorado due to the rapidly growing Sharpe Fire that has scorched 11 400 ha (28 000 acres). Mandatory evacuations were issued for Campo and surrounding rural areas in southeastern Colorado after the Sharpe Fire crossed from Oklahoma under critical fire weather conditions on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
Large dust storm produces near-zero visibility along I-70 during severe storms in Kansas
Severe thunderstorms produced dust storm conditions along I-70 in northwestern Kansas on May 16–17, 2026, with the NWS Goodland warning of areas of near-zero visibility in blowing dirt and KDOT reporting an I-70 closure between Colby and Oakley due to blowing dust and crashes.
13 buildings collapse, 2 die after M5.2 earthquake hits Guangxi, China
A shallow M5.2 earthquake struck Liunan District in Liuzhou, Guangxi, at 16:21 UTC on May 17, 2026, killing 2 people, injuring 4, collapsing at least 13 buildings, and prompting the evacuation of more than 7 000 residents.
SPC issues Moderate Risk for strong to intense tornadoes and giant hail across Kansas and Nebraska
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) placed portions of central and northeastern Kansas into far southeastern Nebraska under a Moderate Risk for severe thunderstorms on Monday, May 18, 2026. Supercells are forecast to produce all severe hazards, including 5–10+ cm (2–4+ inches) hail and strong to intense tornadoes, mainly from central Kansas into southeastern Nebraska.
Southern High Plains under Extremely Critical fire weather outlook
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) placed 80 780 km² (31 190 mi²) of the southern High Plains under an Extremely Critical fire-weather outlook for Sunday, May 17, 2026, warning that dangerous wildfire spread conditions are expected across extreme eastern New Mexico, the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, extreme southeastern Colorado, and far southwestern Kansas.
SPC forecasts two-day severe storm threat from Central Plains to Upper Midwest
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) placed parts of the Central Plains under an Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms on Saturday, May 16, 2026, and parts of the Central Plains and Upper Midwest under Enhanced Risk on Sunday, with large to very large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes forecast across the two-day period.
The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report: May 7-13, 2026
New activity/unrest was reported for 5 volcanoes from May 7 to 13, 2026. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 17 volcanoes.
Strong M6.0 earthquake hits Antigua and Barbuda region
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 struck the Antigua and Barbuda region at 14:50 UTC on May 16, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 30 km (18.6 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.1 at a depth of 48 km (29.8 miles). According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), there is no tsunami threat from this event.
Exceptional drought returns to Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma for first time since July 2023
Exceptional drought (D4) has returned to parts of the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma for the first time since July 2023, according to the National Weather Service Arkansas-Red Basin River Forecast Center (ABRFC). Drought conditions continue worsening across large parts of the Southern Plains following one of the driest and warmest starts to spring on record. Extreme Drought (D3) conditions are already affecting 36% of the Arkansas-Red Basin, while forecasters warned that very dry conditions are expected to persist across western portions of the region.
