21 students were transported with heat-related illnesses after Carter Middle School in Knox County, Tennessee, evacuated students to a football field during an NWS Heat Advisory on September 4, 2026. The advisory warned of heat index values reaching 41.1°C (106°F) across the affected area, while three students were classified as critical when transported, according to Rural Metro Fire.
Hurricane Lowell reached Category 5 strength with winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) before weakening slightly to Category 4 south of Hawaii late on September 4. Heavy rainfall, life-threatening surf and possible wind and storm-surge impacts remained forecast for portions of the state through early next week, particularly around Kauaʻi County.
Severe thunderstorms damaged trees and power infrastructure from Michigan to Pennsylvania on September 2 and 3, 2026 while a gust of 103 km/h (64 mph) was recorded at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport late September 3. DTE Energy reported 145 000 customers restored by early September 4, while the Storm Prediction Center maintained a Slight Risk from the southern Great Lakes into the Mid-Atlantic, with damaging wind gusts the primary hazard
An early-season atmospheric river associated with a potent upper-level closed low is forecast to bring 25–75 mm (1–3 inches) of precipitation to parts of the western United States through 05:00 PT (12:00 UTC) on September 5, 2026. The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) placed interior northern California, eastern Oregon, and western Idaho under a Marginal Risk of excessive rainfall for September 3–4, while Marie-related moisture raised a separate, more uncertain California rainfall risk later in the forecast period.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.3 struck 84 km (52 miles) SSW of Nikolski, Alaska, at 11:17 UTC (03:17 AKDT) on September 3, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 35 km (21.7 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. A tsunami is not expected from this earthquake, according to the NWS National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC).
A long-duration heat wave affecting the central and eastern United States is forecast to shift its most intense conditions into the south-central states this weekend and early next week, according to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC). High humidity and very warm nights are expected to contribute to widespread Major to Extreme HeatRisk, with heat indices potentially exceeding 43.3°C (110°F) in South Texas.
Tropical Storm Edouard made landfall near Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, at 14:20 CDT (19:20 UTC) on September 1 with winds of 95 km/h (60 mph), then weakened to a tropical depression over southeastern Texas. The Weather Prediction Center forecast storm-total rainfall of 102–203 mm (4–8 inches), with localized totals near 305 mm (12 inches), while Flood Watches remained in effect and approximately 70 000 Entergy Texas customers were without power late September 1.
Heat Advisories covered a broad corridor from the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley through the Midwest, Ohio Valley and parts of the Mid-Atlantic on September 1, 2026. National Weather Service (NWS) offices forecast heat indices from around 37.2°C (99°F) to 43°C (110°F), with several multi-day products citing limited overnight relief as a factor in maintaining the advisories.
Two people died and one remained unaccounted for after flash flooding struck Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, on August 29, 2026. About 80 people were rescued, while the National Park Service said approximately 40% of the Transcanyon Waterline was damaged or destroyed, leaving it non-operational and prompting Stage 4 water restrictions on the South Rim.
Tropical Storm Edouard was strengthening over the northern Gulf early on September 1, 2026, after Tropical Depression Five became a named storm at 00:00 UTC. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a Hurricane Watch and Storm Surge Warning for portions of the Upper Texas and southwestern Louisiana coasts at 03:00 UTC, warning that Edouard could approach hurricane strength before reaching the northwestern Gulf Coast later on September 1.
