More than 60 people were airlifted and approximately 15 remained missing or unaccounted for after flash flooding struck Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, on August 29, 2026. The body of a 46-year-old man was recovered near Crystal Rapids on August 30, but authorities had not confirmed whether his death was connected to the flooding.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac expects winter 2026–2027 to be warmer than normal across large parts of the United States while forecasting regional pockets of colder, wetter and snowier conditions. Its August 27 forecast places the main cold corridor from central New England through the Appalachians and Ohio Valley and calls for above-normal snowfall in several eastern and western regions and Alaska.
A two-story house under construction collapsed at 12002 Salvador Street in south Austin at about 16:20 CDT (21:20 UTC) on August 27, 2026, during strong thunderstorm winds, killing one construction worker and trapping another. Four workers were at the site; two escaped, while rescuers extracted the surviving trapped worker at approximately 17:15 CDT (22:15 UTC). The initial emergency call preceded a National Weather Service (NWS) severe thunderstorm warning for central Travis County by about 35 minutes.
Thunderstorms producing up to an estimated 51 mm (2 inches) of rain triggered flash flooding at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah on August 24, 2026, prompting four rescue operations involving 11 hikers. Two people were taken to a hospital with signs of hypothermia, State Route 12 was temporarily closed, and a downstream USGS gauge on the Paria River rose from near-zero flow to 79 m3/s (2 780 feet3/s) in about 20 minutes.
Around 630 homes were evacuated as the Ross Fire exploded in size, spreading from Palo Pinto County into neighboring Jack County on August 25, 2026. It had burnt least 20 200 ha (50 000 acres), and was 12% contained after damaging or destroying structures in the area. Residents in affected parts of southern Jack County were instructed to evacuate east along County Road 2210 toward U.S. Highway 281.
A 31-year-old mother and her 2-year-old daughter died after being struck by lightning in Margate, Florida, on the afternoon of August 23, 2026, as thunderstorms affected northern Broward County. Another child was transported to the hospital after being struck by lightning at around the same time in Boynton Beach. The National Weather Service identified strong thunderstorms extending to Margate shortly before emergency crews were called.
Six people were injured and approximately 42 000 remained in GO NOW evacuation zones after the Hawk Fire expanded across the Peavine Peak area northwest of Reno, Nevada, on August 22–23, 2026. Nevada declared a State of Emergency in Washoe County, while the latest available mapping placed the fire at approximately 6 086 ha (15 040 acres) with 0% containment late on August 23.
Hawaiʻi County declared a local state of emergency and announced six shelters on August 22, 2026, as Tropical Storm Moke moved west south of the islands, with heavy rain forecast over saturated areas damaged by Hurricane Lala. At 23:00 HST on August 22 (09:00 UTC on August 23), Moke was 530 km (330 miles) south-southeast of Hilo with maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h (45 mph).
A confirmed tornado moved through Dover, Delaware, on August 20, 2026, prompting a Particularly Dangerous Situation warning and a city State of Emergency. The tornado damaged buildings, downed trees, flooded roads and disrupted power in Dover, while severe storms in Pennsylvania injured 1 person, displaced at least 13 residents and damaged Eastern York High School and buildings in Columbia.
Miami tied its all-time temperature record at 37.8°C (100°F) on August 18, 2026, the first time the city had reached that level since July 21, 1942. Fort Lauderdale also reached 36.7°C (98°F), tying its August 18 daily record, as Heat Advisories remained in effect across South Florida.
