Over 130 000 electricity customers across Hawaii lost power on March 13, 2026, as a powerful Kona low brought heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and thunderstorms to the islands. Wind gusts up to 126 km/h (78 mph) were recorded on Oʻahu while forecasters warned rainfall totals of 250–500 mm (10–20 inches) could raise the risk of flash flooding.
Extreme Heat Watches have been issued for parts of California and Arizona as an anomalous and unusually prolonged heat event intensifies across the Southwest United States. Watches begin Monday, March 16, 2026, in parts of Southern California, then expand into parts of Arizona and southeast California later in the week, with some desert areas forecast to reach up to 43°C (109°F) and temperatures in some locations rising 11–17°C (20–30°F) above normal for mid-March.
A potential failure of Wahiawā Dam on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, triggered an evacuation warning at 18:55 LT on March 13, 2026, for downstream communities, including Haleʻiwa and Waialua. Authorities said conditions existed that could lead to dam failure capable of causing catastrophic flooding, prompting residents to prepare for possible evacuation.
Blizzard Warnings are in effect for parts of South Dakota and southwest Minnesota beginning late Saturday, March 14, 2026, as a major winter storm is forecast to bring heavy snow, blowing snow, ice in some areas, and wind gusts up to 80 to 90 km/h (50 to 55 mph). Forecasters warn that whiteout conditions could make travel extremely dangerous or impossible from Saturday night into Sunday, with some warning areas remaining under blizzard conditions into early Monday.
A powerful Kona low on Friday, March 13, 2026, bringing widespread severe weather across the islands. The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Big Island summits, where heavy snow and ice are forecast above 3 350 m (11 000 feet). Forecasters warned that persistent rainfall bands and severe thunderstorms could trigger flash flooding while damaging wind gusts affect multiple islands.
Winter Storm Warnings remained in effect across parts of Montana, Idaho, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wyoming on Friday, March 13, 2026, as a broad winter storm brought heavy snow, blowing snow, and hazardous travel conditions from the northern Rockies into the Upper Midwest. Forecast totals ranged from several cm in some lower elevations to 150 cm (5 feet) in parts of Idaho’s higher terrain, while parts of Montana’s mountain ranges were forecast to receive up to 120 cm (4 feet).
A major winter storm is forecast to develop over Wyoming on Saturday, March 14, 2026, before expanding into the northern Plains and Upper Midwest by Sunday, March 15, and reaching the Great Lakes by Monday, March 16. WPC said embedded snow bands could produce snowfall rates of 2.5–7.6 cm (1–3 inches) per hour, with blizzard or near-blizzard conditions possible as wind gusts reach about 80 km/h (50 mph), and parts of the core snow band could receive more than 60 cm (24 inches) of snow.
An ice jam formed on the Ausable River in the hamlet of Ausable Forks, northern New York, on March 8, 2026, as warming temperatures and snowmelt accelerated the seasonal breakup of river ice across the Adirondack region. Water backed up behind the jam and flooded several low-lying areas in the community, prompting officials in the Town of Jay to declare a local state of emergency.
An EF-3 tornado struck Lake Village, Newton County, Indiana during the evening of March 10, 2026, killing two people and destroying homes as a long-track supercell moved from northern Illinois into northwestern Indiana. A National Weather Service damage survey determined the tornado produced winds of about 240 km/h (150 mph) and tracked approximately 58.9 km (36.6 miles) across the region.
An atmospheric river made landfall in the Pacific Northwest during the morning of March 11, 2026, bringing heavy rain and snow across portions of Washington and Oregon. Forecasts show that the event will continue affecting the region through early March 14, producing significant precipitation totals, flooding concerns, and major winter weather impacts in mountainous terrain.
