California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency for Orange County on May 23, 2026, after the state said a methyl methacrylate storage tank at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove began heating up and emitting toxic fumes, leaving about 50 000 residents subject to evacuation orders.
Critical fire weather conditions are forecast across a corridor from northwestern Nevada into southeastern Oregon on Monday afternoon, May 25, with sustained southwesterly winds of 32–40 km/h (20–25 mph), minimum RH of 10–15%, and recent fire activity showing fuels becoming more receptive to wildfire spread. NWS offices issued Fire Weather Watches for parts of northern Nevada, northeastern California, and the West Humboldt Basin for Monday afternoon and evening.
A methyl methacrylate leak from a storage tank at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, California, was reported at around 15:30 LT (22:30 UTC) on May 21, 2026, prompting evacuation orders for about 40 000 people across northwestern Orange County.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit 12 km (7.5 miles) Hawai’i at 07:46 UTC on May 23, 2026 (21:46 LT on May 22). The agency is reporting a depth of 22.4 km (13.9 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.0 at a depth of 16 km (9.9 miles). According to PTWC, there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.
Flash floods struck Atlanta, Georgia, on May 20, stranding multiple vehicles along the downtown connector and forcing Waymo to suspend autonomous vehicle operations after two driverless cars drove into flooded streets.
New Jersey declared a State of Emergency on May 20, 2026, and requested a federal Disaster designation after freezing temperatures between April 19 and 22 caused widespread agricultural damage across the state during a critical growing stage. Early estimates place losses at more than USD 300 million.
Three tornadoes touched down across south-central Nebraska on May 17, 2026, including a high-end EF-3 tornado near St. Libory in Howard County that destroyed multiple homes and damaged power infrastructure, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Hastings.
The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF1 tornado touched down in southwestern Ray County, Missouri, at 21:47 CDT on May 18, 2026, causing tree and property damage before lifting at 22:06 CDT.
A late-season winter storm brought heavy snow and hazardous travel conditions to southern Wyoming on May 18, 2026, shutting down sections of Interstate 80 and other roads. The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Cheyenne issued winter storm and blizzard warnings for parts of Carbon and Albany counties, while the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) reported road closures, reduced visibility, and winter travel hazards across affected corridors.
A Particularly Dangerous Situtation (PDS) Tornado Watch issued for northeast Kansas and southeast Nebraska on May 18, 2026, was followed by multiple tornado reports, hail up to about 7 cm (2.75 inches), and damaging wind reports across the central U.S. Preliminary SPC storm reports included 19 tornadoes, damage to farm structures, grain bins, trees, and power lines.
