At least 12 people died and nearly 500 others were rescued after heavy rainfall flooded parts of Ghana’s Greater Accra Region on Monday, June 29, 2026. The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) said rescue and recovery operations continued on Tuesday, June 30, while one elderly person remained missing.
A strengthening upper-level ridge is forecast to intensify a prolonged and dangerous heat wave across much of the central and eastern United States through at least July 10, 2026, with temperatures in the low to upper 30s°C (90s to lower 100s°F) and heat index values reaching 38–43°C (100–110°F), locally up to 46°C (115°F).
At least four fatalities were reported in Madison and Jackson counties as deadly flash floods swept across Kentucky on June 27, 2026. Governor Andy Beshear declared a statewide emergency as forecasts called for additional heavy rain and emergency crews responded to rescues, flooded homes, and damaged infrastructure. Five counties had also declared local States of Emergency.
Heat Advisories and Extreme Heat Watches have been issued across parts of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota ahead of intensifying heatwave beginning Sunday, June 28, 2026. Heat index values are forecast to exceed 38°C (100°F) across much of the region, with some areas expected to reach 41 to 43°C (105 to 110°F) through Tuesday or Thursday, depending on location.
Flooding triggered by Tropical Storm Mekkhala killed two people in Taiwan after nearly 1 m (3 ft) of rain inundated parts of the island on Friday, June 26, 2026.Meanwhile, one fatality was reported in Japan which remained on high alert for flooding and landslides as tropical moisture from Mekkhala and Tropical Storm Higos interacted with the seasonal Baiu rain front, prompting evacuations, transport disruptions and widespread weather warnings.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Missoula upgraded Winter Storm Watches to Winter Storm Warnings at 11:04 MDT (17:04 UTC) on June 26, 2026, for four high-elevation zones in central Idaho and southwest Montana, where 10-20 cm (4-8 inches) of heavy wet snow, with isolated amounts up to 30 cm (12 inches), is forecast above about 2 000 m (6 500 feet) over the weekend.
Multiple countries across Europe established new June temperature records this week as an exceptional heatwave continued to intensify, pushing temperatures above 40°C (104°F) across large parts of the continent. In France, authorities said at least 55 people had drowned while attempting to cool off during the prolonged heatwave, as hospitals, emergency services, and governments struggled to respond to its escalating impacts, while Spain reported at least 212 heat-related fatalities from June 21 to 24.
A rare earthquake doublet struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026, beginning with an M7.2 foreshock at 22:04 UTC (18:04 LT) and followed just 39 seconds later by a larger M7.5 mainshock at 22:05 UTC. The USGS reported depths of 20.3 km (12.6 miles) for the foreshock and 10 km (6.2 miles) for the mainshock. EMSC reported the foreshock as M7.1 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles) and the mainshock as M7.5 at a depth of 35 km (21.7 miles). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said evaluation of all available data indicates that a destructive tsunami was not generated.
Extreme heat continued to spread across Europe on June 24, 2026, prompting widespread red alerts and health warnings across Europe. The prolonged heatwave driven by a strong upper-level ridge is affecting much of Western, Central, and Southern Europe, with temperatures forecast to remain 3 to 10°C (5.4 to 18°F) above seasonal averages and locally exceed 40°C (104°F) through the end of June.
Typhoon Mekkhala and Tropical Depression Higos are forecast to merge south of Honshu on June 26, 2026 bringing heavy rain, rough seas and strong winds to large parts of Japan through June 27.
