Six people were injured and approximately 42 000 remained in GO NOW evacuation zones after the Hawk Fire expanded across the Peavine Peak area northwest of Reno, Nevada, on August 22–23, 2026. Nevada declared a State of Emergency in Washoe County, while the latest available mapping placed the fire at approximately 6 086 ha (15 040 acres) with 0% containment late on August 23.
Hawaiʻi County declared a local state of emergency and announced six shelters on August 22, 2026, as Tropical Storm Moke moved west south of the islands, with heavy rain forecast over saturated areas damaged by Hurricane Lala. At 23:00 HST on August 22 (09:00 UTC on August 23), Moke was 530 km (330 miles) south-southeast of Hilo with maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h (45 mph).
A confirmed tornado moved through Dover, Delaware, on August 20, 2026, prompting a Particularly Dangerous Situation warning and a city State of Emergency. The tornado damaged buildings, downed trees, flooded roads and disrupted power in Dover, while severe storms in Pennsylvania injured 1 person, displaced at least 13 residents and damaged Eastern York High School and buildings in Columbia.
Officials confirmed one death linked to Hurricane Lala as Hawaii remained in recovery on August 18, 2026, after the storm caused severe flooding, landslides, and widespread infrastructure damage. More than 100 homes were reported damaged or destroyed on Hawaiʻi Island, while Hawaiian Electric reported 88 670 customers without power across its service territory at 18:00 HST on August 17 (04:00 UTC on August 18).
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) has raised the probability of a very strong El Niño during late 2026, increasing the likelihood of characteristic El Niño impacts across the United States during winter 2026–27. Current seasonal guidance favors wetter-than-normal conditions across much of the southern tier and drier conditions across parts of the Northwest and northern United States, while above-normal temperatures are favored across much of the West, northern tier and parts of the East.
The probability of a very strong El Niño during October–December rose from 81% in CPC’s July assessment to 95% in August, with a 69% chance that the Relative Oceanic Niño Index (RONI) will reach at least +2.5°C (+4.5°F), a level that would exceed previous El Niño events in NOAA’s record dating to 1950. The strength and location of tropical Pacific warming and convection will influence how closely winter 2026–27 follows established El Niño patterns.
At least six people have died after severe storms and flooding spread across Indiana beginning August 11, 2026, while major White River flooding forced evacuations and rescues across several counties. The National Weather Service said widespread flooding was affecting the White River late August 15, with major flooding at Noblesville and Nora and extensive flooding around Ravenswood near and north of Indianapolis. NWS described the flooding in parts of central Indiana as catastrophic.
A major earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.7 hit 68 km (42 miles) NNW of Ende, Indonesia at 21:58 UTC on August 14, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M7.7 at a depth of 35 km (21.7 miles). BMKG reported M7.7 and a tsunami potential following the earthquake.
A large wildfire reported near Lokva Rogoznica at 20:15 LT (18:15 UTC) on August 13, 2026, spread toward Omiš overnight, reaching residential areas and burning about 900 ha (2 200 acres) by 12:00 LT on August 14, according to the Croatian Firefighting Association (HVZ). At least 1 200 people were evacuated, 40 were treated in hospitals, of which seven with life-threatening injuries. Local media are describing it as one of the worst wildfires in Croatia’s history.
Tropical Storm Lala is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane by August 15, 2026, as it approaches Hawaiʻi, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Hawaiʻi Island, and the governor issued an emergency proclamation on August 13 as state and local authorities prepared for worsening wind, rainfall, and coastal conditions.
Eight people were confirmed dead after record rainfall caused widespread flooding across Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on August 13 and 14, 2026, according to prefectural and municipal authorities. At 06:00 LT on August 14, 7 359 people were sheltering at 359 sites in 39 municipalities, while emergency and evacuation measures remained in force.
