Storm-force winds and high seas are forecast over parts of the western Atlantic on Sunday, May 3, 2026, as a rapidly deepening low-pressure system moves northeast off the U.S. East Coast. The NWS Ocean Prediction Center issued storm warnings for offshore waters, with forecast winds reaching 110 km/h (70 mph) and seas building up to 7 m (23 feet).
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.
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.
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.
The Highway 41 Fire west of Miami, Florida, doubled in size to approximately 2 023 ha (5 000 acres) between April 27 and April 28, 2026, with no containment reported. Authorities have closed sections of Everglades National Park as smoke impacts travel along U.S. Route 41.
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.
Severe thunderstorms struck Mineral Wells on April 28, 2026, injuring at least two people and causing widespread damage across the city. Emergency crews responded to damaged homes and debris-strewn areas, while local authorities declared a disaster and imposed a curfew.
A tornado was reported in Germantown, Clinton County, Illinois, on April 27, 2026, bringing down large trees and damaging homes as severe weather outbreak struck parts of the Midwest.
Critical fire-weather conditions are forecast across parts of eastern New Mexico and western Texas on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, as west to southwest winds of 25–30 km/h (15–20 mph) combine with relative humidity of 10–20% over dry fuels. The Storm Prediction Center outlined a Critical Fire Weather Area covering approximately 140 380 km² (54 200 mi²) and 740 760 people, with the strongest overlap of wind and humidity reductions forecast from east-central and southeastern New Mexico into adjacent Texas.
Severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are forecast across parts of northern Texas into the lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys on April 28, 2026, with an Enhanced Risk issued for parts of the region. Very large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes are to be expected, while repeated storm activity may increase the risk of flash flooding.
