• Flash-flood risk rises in Southern California, severe storms threaten Arizona

    Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms are forecast across the U.S. Southwest from October 21 into October 23, 2026, as a deep Pacific low draws tropical moisture inland. The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) placed parts of Southern California and the Southwest under a Slight Risk of excessive rainfall for October 21, while the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) placed parts of central and eastern Arizona under a separate Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms.

  • Visitors ordered to evacuate Hatteras Island as coastal storm threatens N.C. Highway 12, U.S.

    Dare County ordered all visitors to evacuate Hatteras Island beginning at 20:00 EDT on October 16 (00:00 UTC on October 17) after declaring a state of emergency ahead of a developing coastal nor’easter. A Coastal Flood Warning is valid from 17:00 EDT (21:00 UTC) on October 17 to 08:00 EDT (12:00 UTC) on October 20, with 0.6–1.2 m (2–4 feet) of inundation above ground level and 2.4–4.3 m (8–14 feet) breaking surf forecast in vulnerable areas.

  • Very strong El Niño favors wetter South and warmer North in NOAA’s 2026–27 winter outlook, U.S.

    A strengthening El Niño is shifting the odds toward wetter-than-average conditions across the southern United States and East Coast during winter 2026–27, according to NOAA. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) reported that the latest weekly Niño-3.4 sea-surface temperature anomaly had reached +2.4°C (+4.3°F), while warmer-than-average conditions are favored across much of the northern United States.

  • Multiple wildfires prompt evacuations during the first Santa Ana event of the season in Southern California

    Multiple wildfires broke out across Southern California on October 15, 2026, prompting evacuation orders and road closures during the season’s first moderate-to-strong Santa Ana wind event. The Henderson Fire at Camp Pendleton reached 568 ha (1 404 acres), while the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) listed the Bryson Fire near Malibu at approximately 41 ha (102 acres) with 0% containment in its evening update.

  • Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall issued for parts of West Texas as flooding continues, U.S.

    Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding across parts of West Texas on October 15, 2026, after totals exceeded 127 mm (5 inches) in some areas. The NOAA Weather Prediction Center (WPC) maintained a Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall over portions of West Texas through 12:00 UTC on October 16 as additional thunderstorms and flooding remained possible.

  • Life-threatening flash flooding reported across Oklahoma City, major flooding forecast on Canadian River

    Life-threatening flash flooding was reported across the Oklahoma City metropolitan area on October 14 after thunderstorms produced 76–152 mm (3–6 inches) of rain, while radar indicated 102–279 mm (4–11 inches) farther west, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Norman. Major flooding was forecast on the Canadian River near Bridgeport, while the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) maintained a Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall from Oklahoma into the Red River Valley of Texas through 12:00 UTC on October 15.

  • Hurricane Isaias leaves at least six dead, hundreds of thousands without power after Florida landfall

    At least six people died after Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 hurricane at about 20:30 LT on October 9 (01:30 UTC on October 10). Approximately 408 000 customer accounts remained without power across Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi shortly before 13:00 UTC on October 11, while the post-tropical cyclone continued producing flooding and wind hazards farther northeast.

  • Tropical Storm Rachel brings flash-flood threat to Southern California and U.S. Southwest

    Tropical Storm Rachel strengthened while accelerating northeast over the eastern Pacific at 06:00 UTC on October 10, 2026, and is forecast to approach northern Baja California or Southern California late October 10 or early October 11. Heavy rain, flash and urban flooding, strong winds, dangerous surf and coastal flooding are forecast across parts of the southwestern United States, where the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has issued Moderate Risk areas for excessive rainfall.

  • Tornado threat forecast as Hurricane Isaias strengthens ahead of northern Gulf Coast landfall, United States

    The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms for parts of the Florida Panhandle, southeastern Alabama, and southwestern Georgia on October 9, 2026, as rainbands from Hurricane Isaias were forecast to bring a tornado threat from the afternoon into the overnight hours. At 09:00 UTC, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Isaias had strengthened to 175 km/h (110 mph), with a minimum central pressure of 963 hPa, ahead of an expected northern Gulf Coast landfall Friday night or early Saturday.