• Severe thunderstorms and flooding threat forecast across the Plains through Thursday

    Repeated rounds of severe thunderstorms are forecast to develop across parts of the northern Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley through Thursday, June 4, bringing the potential for large hail, damaging winds, isolated tornadoes, and localized flooding. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) placed parts of the eastern Dakotas and western Minnesota under a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for severe thunderstorms, while excessive-rainfall outlooks from the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) target portions of the eastern Dakotas, west Texas, and New Mexico.

  • Heavy rainfall and flash flooding forecast across Texas, the Gulf Coast, and the Appalachians

    A Slight Risk area for excessive rainfall remains in effect across southeast Texas, the central Gulf Coast, and parts of the Ohio Valley into the central Appalachians where slow-moving thunderstorms may produce flash flooding over saturated ground through May 27. Deep Gulf moisture and a slow-moving weather pattern are forecast to fuel multiple rounds of heavy rain from southeast Texas to the central Appalachians, increasing the risk of flash flooding in vulnerable areas through late week

  • 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.

  • Giant hail up to 11.4 cm (4.5 inches) and damaging winds hit Texas

    Severe thunderstorms produced giant hail up to 11.4 cm (4.5 inches), damaging winds, power outages, and road blockages across parts of Texas on May 10 and 11, 2026, after the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) placed parts of west-central and north-central Texas under an Enhanced Risk. SPC storm reports included baseball-size hail in several counties, wind damage near Hamilton, more than 18 000 power outages in the Austin area, and gusts up to 135 km/h (84 mph) near Corpus Christi NAS.

  • Enhanced Risk issued for large hail and severe wind gusts in parts of north and central Texas

    An Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) for severe thunderstorms has been issued across parts of west-central and north-central Texas through May 10, 2026. Supercells capable of producing hailstones larger than 5 cm (2 inches) and wind gusts above 113 km/h (70 mph) are forecast to develop during the afternoon and evening hours. The severe-weather threat extends east-northeastward into the Ark-La-Tex region and parts of the lower Mississippi Valley.

  • Flash floods leave 1 dead in San Antonio, Texas

    One person died in San Antonio, Texas, on May 1, 2026, after flash floods spread across urban areas during periods of heavy rainfall. Police and fire crews recovered the victim from a drainage channel as floodwaters impacted roads and infrastructure.

  • Monster 18 cm (7.1 inch) hailstone sets new state record in Texas

    What initially looked like a discarded gallon jug in a roadside ditch turned out to be a record-breaking hailstone, now confirmed as the largest ever documented in Texas at roughly 18 cm (7.1 inches). It was discovered near Vigo Park in Swisher County by storm chaser Val Castor and his associates on June 2, 2024. They clicked several pictures of the hailstone alongside objects to provide a visual reference of size and submitted them to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). The size of the hailstone was determined using photogrammetry and AI analysis along with the estimates from the storm chasers.

  • NWS rates Mineral Wells tornado EF3 after severe storms in Texas

    The National Weather Service preliminarily rated the Mineral Wells tornado in Texas as EF3, with estimated peak winds of 233 km/h (145 mph), after surveying damage from the April 28, 2026, severe weather event. NWS listed 5 injuries and 0 fatalities, while Mineral Wells officials kept a curfew in place for the affected area as cleanup and damage assessment continued.

  • Giant hail up to 11.4 cm (4.5 inches) reported in Texas, destructive 10.2 cm (4 inches) hail swath impacts Missouri

    Giant hail up to 11.4 cm (4.5 inches) was reported in Johnson County, Texas, late on April 28, 2026, while a separate corridor of 7.6–10.2 cm (3–4 inches) hail caused structural and vehicle damage across southwest Missouri earlier the same day. The storms were part of a multi-state severe weather outbreak stretching from Oklahoma and Arkansas into Mississippi, producing widespread reports of large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes. Confirmed impacts included broken windows, roof damage, and an animal fatality at a zoo in Springfield, Missouri.