Severe thunderstorms with radar-indicated wind gusts of up to 115 km/h (70 mph) crossed Perry County, Ohio, late in the morning of August 11, 2026, after parts of Perry and Morgan counties received 127–178 mm (5–7 inches) of rain overnight. Multiple water rescues were conducted while Flash Flood Warnings remained in effect following an overnight Flash Flood Emergency.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued an Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms from northern Illinois into the Ohio Valley for August 11, 2026, with damaging winds the primary threat. A potentially organized mesoscale convective system moving southeast from Iowa could produce a swath of damaging gusts, including some above 120 km/h (75 mph), if it remains well organized.
A pilot and one crewmember were killed when a helicopter under contract to the U.S. Forest Service crashed during operations on Utah’s Widemouth 2 Fire on August 7, 2026. By August 8, the fire had burned approximately 43 079 ha (106 450 acres), was 24% contained and continued to show extreme fire behavior, with evacuations and closures still in effect.
A dangerous heat wave is peaking across the Western U.S. this weekend, with Extreme Heat Warnings covering parts of Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah. Mojave Desert temperatures are forecast to reach 43.3–48.9°C (110–120°F), while Reno and Salt Lake City have already set daily high-temperature records on August 7.
Three Spokane-area fires have burned 4 223 ha (10 436 acres) as of August 6, 2026. The Old Trails, Autumn Lane, and Fairview fires have damaged or destroyed 846 structures. Both the Old Trails and Autumn Lane fires were 13% contained, while the Fairview fire stood at 5%. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect on August 7, while the man accused of starting the Old Trails Fire faces five first-degree arson charges.
Two walls of dust crossed southern Arizona late on August 5 and early on August 6, 2026, reducing visibility to approximately 400 m (0.25 miles) across parts of Pima and Pinal counties. Winds above 97 km/h (60 mph) accompanied the stronger wall in central Pima County, creating dangerous travel conditions along several state highways and sections of Interstate 10.
The Widemouth 2 Fire more than tripled between mapped observations in central Utah, increasing from 4 168 ha (10 300 acres) late on August 1, 2026, to 14 746 ha (36 438 acres) on August 2 as strong southerly winds pushed it north toward Fillmore. Mandatory evacuation orders expanded into southern Fillmore, while the fire was reported at 0% containment in the latest available update.
Flash flooding struck McCaysville, Georgia, and northeastern Surry County, North Carolina, from late August 1 into August 2, 2026, prompting water rescues and emergency declarations in both states. The NWS issued a Flash Flood Emergency for the Mount Airy area, while flooding in McCaysville impaired the municipal drinking-water system and inundated homes, businesses and public buildings.
Three wildfires burning in the Spokane area of eastern Washington remained 0% contained on August 2,2026, after burning a combined 2 178 ha (5 381 acres). Around 5 000 homes had been evacuated, and approximately 600 homes, businesses, and other buildings had been destroyed.
Cook County issued a disaster proclamation after severe storms caused flash flooding, structural damage, transportation disruption and extensive utility outages
