Five daily high-temperature records were broken and one was tied at six sites across Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois on October 13, 2026. Temperatures at the sites reached 32.8–33.9°C (91–93°F), or 9.4–13.3°C (17–24°F) above normal, following the warmest September on record for the contiguous United States.
Hurricane Simon was drifting westward off Mexico’s west-central coast at 15:00 UTC on October 13, 2026, with maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h (90 mph), while the National Hurricane Center (NHC) shifted its forecast track substantially south and described confidence in both the track and intensity forecasts as very low. One death has been attributed to Simon in Guerrero. An Associated Press report separately counted four deaths from post-tropical Rachel in Baja California, bringing the combined toll from the two systems to five at the time of that report.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.9 hit the central Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 12:23 UTC on October 13, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. According to the NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), there is no tsunami threat to Caribbean coasts from this earthquake.
A shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.7 hit the central Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 05:44 UTC on October 13, 2026. The USGS reported a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
Category 3 Hurricane Simon remained just offshore west-central Mexico at 03:00 LT (09:00 UTC) on October 12, with maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) and a minimum pressure of 958 hPa, after heavy rain flooded homes and streets in Manzanillo. The National Hurricane Center placed its center 75 km (50 miles) southwest of Cabo Corrientes and warned that dangerous winds, storm surge and additional rainfall could worsen flooding along the coast.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.2 struck Papua New Guinea at 14:07 UTC on October 11, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 53 km (33 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
At least six people died after Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 hurricane at about 20:30 LT on October 9 (01:30 UTC on October 10). Approximately 408 000 customer accounts remained without power across Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi shortly before 13:00 UTC on October 11, while the post-tropical cyclone continued producing flooding and wind hazards farther northeast.
Category 4 Hurricane Simon was located 185 km (115 miles) south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, at 09:00 LT (15:00 UTC) on October 10, 2026, with maximum sustained winds of 240 km/h (150 mph) and a minimum pressure of 938 hPa. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said additional strengthening remained possible before Simon approached west-central Mexico as a major hurricane late October 10 or early October 11.
Tropical Storm Rachel strengthened while accelerating northeast over the eastern Pacific at 06:00 UTC on October 10, 2026, and is forecast to approach northern Baja California or Southern California late October 10 or early October 11. Heavy rain, flash and urban flooding, strong winds, dangerous surf and coastal flooding are forecast across parts of the southwestern United States, where the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has issued Moderate Risk areas for excessive rainfall.
A major M7.6 earthquake struck central Panama at 17:56 UTC (12:56 local time) on October 9, 2026, causing structural damage, injuries, widespread evacuations and disruptions to electricity, transportation and public services. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) ended the associated tsunami threat at 19:40 UTC, while authorities continued assessing damage and monitoring aftershocks.
