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.
Severe storms moved across the Midwest on Monday, April 27, 2026, producing tornado warnings in the St. Louis area and Illinois, while heavy rain caused flooding into early Tuesday. More than 250 000 customers lost power across Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and at least one fatality was reported in Michigan after a tree fell during the storms.
Severe thunderstorms are forecast across the Mid-Mississippi Valley and Mid-South on April 27, 2026, with the Storm Prediction Center placing parts of Missouri and Illinois under a Moderate Risk (Level 4 of 5). Multiple strong tornadoes, including EF3+ intensity, are possible alongside damaging winds and large hail.
At least two people died in North Texas after EF2 and EF1 tornadoes struck Wise and Parker counties on April 25, 2026.
The Storm Prediction Center issued an Extremely Critical Fire Weather Area for portions of eastern New Mexico into the far western Texas Panhandle on Sunday, April 26, 2026. Red Flag Warnings cover much of the southern High Plains as southwest winds of 40-55 km/h (25-35 mph), localized gusts of 80-95 km/h (50-60 mph), and very low relative humidity create conditions where any new fire could spread rapidly.
