Category: Weather

Recovery teams on Tuesday started assessing destruction caused by an unexpected heavy rainfall that unleashed rushing floodwaters through a residential area close to Honolulu’s city center — marking the most recent episode in a string of severe weather and flooding events that have battered Hawaii during the past two weeks.

The assessment comes as communities work to recover from what has been described as a photo gallery documenting the flooding damage, compiled by Associated Press photographers.

HONOLULU (AP) — Assessment teams started examining flood damage Tuesday following an unexpected deluge that turned streets into rushing rivers in a Honolulu-area neighborhood — marking another chapter in two weeks of devastating storms that have battered Hawaii.

Communities along Oahu’s North Shore, renowned for world-class surfing waves, were still recovering from Hawaii’s most destructive flooding in 20 years when Monday’s storm dumped inches of rainfall on the island’s southern region. Muddy brown waters cascaded down Manoa Valley streets just miles from downtown Honolulu, carrying away vehicles and inundating large sections of the community.

“I was shocked to see how much flash flooding there was in my area,” said resident Andrew Phomsouvanh, who captured footage of roadways transformed into rushing waterways. “The water just keeps coming.”

Natalie Aczon had stepped into a pharmacy Monday to collect her mother’s prescription. Within 15 minutes of leaving the store, water was thundering down the road beside the shopping plaza.

“People came running out from Longs and one of the guys actually said, ‘That’s my white car.’ And it had elevated,” she said.

Monday’s intense rainfall caught even National Weather Service forecasters by surprise. While they anticipated that remaining instability from a strong winter weather system known as a “Kona low” might produce additional precipitation, their computer models struggle to predict moisture levels in such systems, explained forecaster Cole Evans.

“When you think it’s over it’s not quite over,” he said Tuesday.

The storm system produced rainfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour in a very concentrated area: A measurement station in the valley’s upper reaches recorded 6 inches of rain, while the nearby airport received barely one-hundredth of an inch.

Evans reported the Kona low was shifting eastward and shouldn’t create additional intense rainfall like Monday’s event. Weather officials issued a flash flood warning for eastern Maui.

No fatalities or major injuries were immediately reported, though officials confirmed hundreds of North Shore homes sustained damage from the previous week’s flooding, which occurred when heavy rains saturated ground already soaked from an earlier winter storm.

Rescue teams saved more than 230 individuals. The floodwaters displaced homes from their foundations, swept vehicles from parking areas, and coated walls, floors, and countertops with thick red volcanic sediment.

Emergency evacuation orders affected 5,500 residents north of Honolulu, with some people escaping on surfboards through waist-deep and chest-high waters.

Agricultural operations statewide reported damage exceeding $9.4 million as of Monday, based on assessments by Agriculture Stewardship Hawaii, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and partner organizations.

Prior to Monday’s storm, Gov. Josh Green estimated total storm costs could exceed $1 billion, encompassing damage to aviation facilities, educational institutions, transportation infrastructure, residential properties, and a Maui medical facility in Kula. He characterized it as the state’s most severe flooding event since 2004, when Manoa floods submerged homes and a University of Hawaii library.

Green’s administration announced Tuesday that a federal major disaster declaration request had been submitted to the Trump administration.

Molly Pierce, representing the Oahu Emergency Management Agency, noted that alongside volunteers and government workers conducting cleanup operations, a private contractor had begun collecting, organizing, and hauling away massive debris accumulations.

She described the weather pattern as “extremely unusual” while expressing cautious hope Tuesday that the rainfall was finally subsiding.

“Most of us have not seen something that just keeps going like this,” Pierce said. “We feel like we keep getting punched down. But we’ll keep getting back up.”

Climate scientists indicate that intense and frequent heavy rainfall events in Hawaii have become more common due to human-driven climate change.

The National Weather Service’s Tsunami Warning Center performed a scheduled test of their emergency notification system on March 24th, activating a practice alert that remained in effect for exactly one hour.

The test warning began at 12:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time and concluded at 1:31 PM EDT on the same day. These routine exercises help ensure the tsunami alert infrastructure functions properly when real emergencies occur.

Such testing procedures are conducted periodically to verify that warning systems can effectively reach the public and emergency management officials during actual tsunami threats.

HONOLULU — Hawaii is grappling with catastrophic flooding that has caused the most severe water damage the state has experienced in twenty years, with torrential waters demolishing homes from their foundations, carrying vehicles away from properties, and coating surfaces with dense, rust-colored volcanic sediment.

Assessment teams worked through Monday to evaluate the devastation, with officials confirming that hundreds of residences have sustained damage, alongside educational facilities and medical centers.

While no fatalities have been confirmed, rescue operations saved more than 230 individuals from the dangerous conditions.

Governor Josh Green estimated storm-related expenses could exceed $1 billion, encompassing destruction to aviation facilities, educational institutions, transportation infrastructure, residential properties, and a medical facility in Kula, Maui. Green characterized it as Hawaii’s most devastating flood event since 2004, when Manoa experienced severe inundation affecting residences and a University of Hawaii library.

On Oahu’s North Shore, renowned for its massive surfing waves, water levels surged rapidly after Friday midnight as intense precipitation fell on ground already waterlogged from storm activity one week prior. Violent currents displaced buildings and vehicles. Emergency officials issued evacuation directives for 5,500 residents north of Honolulu, though these orders were subsequently rescinded, while rescue teams saved more than 230 people from rising floodwaters.

Several residents escaped on surfboards as water levels reached waist or chest depth.

Authorities attributed much of the destruction to the enormous volume of precipitation that occurred within a compressed timeframe.

According to the National Weather Service, sections of Oahu experienced 8 to 12 inches of rainfall, adding to substantial amounts from a previous storm days earlier. Kaala, the island’s tallest mountain, received almost 16 inches during the latter part of last week, in addition to 26.6 inches between March 10 and 16.

Weather patterns called “Kona lows,” characterized by southern or southwestern winds carrying moisture-heavy air masses, have generated the recent flooding events. Climate scientists indicate that heavy rainfall intensity and frequency in Hawaii have grown due to human-induced climate change.

The most severe weather conditions appeared to conclude by Sunday afternoon.

Damage evaluation continues, but Oahu’s Department of Emergency Management had documented over 400 reports of damaged or destroyed residences by Monday, according to spokesperson Molly Pierce.

In certain areas, residents must navigate through sediment reaching knee-depth or higher to access their properties, Pierce explained.

The mud’s texture and distinctive reddish color, resulting from iron oxidation in volcanic earth, creates exceptional cleanup challenges.

“When it’s dry, the dust stains, and when it’s wet, the mud clings,” Pierce stated Monday. She likened it to dense, saturated snow.

Volunteer groups have arrived from throughout Oahu and neighboring islands to assist with debris and sediment removal, Pierce noted.

During Friday’s flooding, authorities cautioned that the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam, located north of Honolulu, faced “imminent failure risk.” While the dam has maintained long-standing vulnerabilities, concerns diminished as water levels dropped.

The earthen facility was constructed in 1906 to enhance sugar cultivation for Waialua Agricultural Co., which later became part of Dole Food Co. Reconstruction occurred following a 1921 collapse.

State officials have classified Wahiawa dam as having “high hazard potential,” stating that failure “will result in probable loss of human life.”

Since 2009, the state has issued four deficiency notices to Dole regarding the dam, and imposed a $20,000 penalty five years ago for delayed safety improvements, according to official records.

Subsequently, Dole offered to transfer the dam, reservoir, and irrigation system to state ownership in return for an agreement to repair the spillway to meet safety requirements.

“The dam continues to operate as designed with no indications of damage,” Dole stated.

Green recommended Sunday that those seeking to assist affected families contribute to the Hawaii Community Foundation, which has activated its Stronger Hawaii Fund to distribute resources across impacted islands.

The Hawaiian Council nonprofit organization also established the Kako’o Oahu initiative to provide housing and financial aid along with additional support for individuals and families. The council provided matching funds for the initial $100,000 in contributions and continues fundraising efforts.

“So many families have been displaced, homes have been damaged, and communities are facing immediate needs,” stated Hawaiian Council CEO Kuhio Lewis. “The path to recovery begins now — it cannot wait.”

A massive heat dome that destroyed March temperature records across 14 states and nationwide is now shifting eastward, potentially creating one of the most widespread heat waves in U.S. history, according to meteorologists and weather historians.

The extreme temperatures aren’t expected to subside anytime soon, possibly lasting until the middle of next week as April begins, according to meteorologist Gregg Gallina from the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.

“Basically the entire U.S. is going to be hot,” Gallina stated Monday. “The area of record temperatures is extremely large. That’s the thing that’s really bizarre.”

This weather phenomenon — where high atmospheric pressure acts like a lid, trapping scorching air over vast regions — will result in Flagstaff, Arizona experiencing 11 or 12 consecutive days with temperatures exceeding the city’s previous March records, according to meteorologist Jeff Masters from Yale Climate Connections.

As the dome moves eastward, Gallina predicts temperatures will reach the 90s Fahrenheit by Wednesday across southern and central plains states. Between one-quarter and one-third of the lower 48 states will be challenging March temperature records, Gallina explained.

The geographic scope of this heat event likely surpasses two other significant heat waves — the 2012 event in the Upper Midwest and Northeast, and the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat wave — according to weather historian Chris Burt, who authored “Extreme Weather.” While it may not match the size of the 1936 Dust Bowl heat waves, Burt noted that event consisted of multiple heat waves over two summer months, unlike the current single massive occurrence.

However, both the Dust Bowl and 2021 events produced more dangerous conditions with higher temperatures that caused greater harm because they occurred during June and July, Gallina noted.

One positive aspect of the current heat wave is the lower humidity levels compared to what would occur if these temperatures hit during summer months, Gallina added.

Last Friday, four locations in Arizona and California recorded 112 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Weather Service. This temperature not only broke the previous continental U.S. March record by 4 degrees, but came within just 1 degree of the hottest April temperature ever recorded in the lower 48 states.

Weather historian and climatologist Maximiliano Herrera, who monitors global temperature records, documented 14 states that have set new March temperature records since this heat dome began: California, Arizona, Nevada, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Utah, South Dakota, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Minnesota and Idaho.

“In Mexico, even May records were trashed with March records broken by as much as 14 (degrees Fahrenheit), far more than July 1936, March 1907 or June 2021,” Herrera wrote in an email.

The National Center for Environmental Information recorded at least 479 weather stations setting new March records between Wednesday and Saturday within its monitoring network. Herrera, analyzing broader data sets, believes the actual number is significantly higher. Additionally, 1,472 daily temperature records were broken during the same period, the center reported.

The cause involves the jet stream — which typically moves weather systems from west to east — becoming stuck as far west as the storms currently flooding Hawaii with torrential rains, Masters and Gallina explained.

Last Friday, international climate scientists from World Weather Attribution concluded that such record heat was “virtually impossible” without climate change caused by burning fossil fuels, making it 800 times more probable. These human activities contributed at least 4.7 degrees to the extreme temperatures, according to report co-author Clair Barnes, a scientist at Imperial College of London.

The heat dome should finally move on by late next week, Masters predicted: “We just have to give it time.”

HONOLULU — Thousands of Hawaii residents remained without electricity Sunday evening following the most devastating flooding the islands have experienced in more than two decades, as torrential rainfall pounded the region.

The catastrophic downpours struck ground already soaked from a winter storm the previous week. Floodwaters swept away vehicles and structures, with damage estimates reaching $1 billion. Emergency officials ordered 5,500 residents north of Honolulu to evacuate, though those orders were subsequently canceled, while rescue teams pulled more than 200 people from floodwaters. No fatalities have been confirmed at this time, according to Molly Pierce, spokesperson for Oahu’s Department of Emergency Management, who spoke Sunday evening.

Hawaiian Electric successfully restored electricity to approximately 1,200 customers in Waialua on O’ahu’s North Shore by Sunday evening, the utility company reported. Power had been deliberately shut off Friday as a precautionary measure due to flooding conditions.

Repair teams are continuing damage assessments and restoration work, with Hawaiian Electric anticipating power restoration for an additional 2,000 customers by Sunday night. In Maui County, roughly 100 residents were still without electricity Sunday evening, while all significant outages on Hawai’i Island have been resolved, the company stated.

The most severe weather conditions have passed, Hawaii meteorologist Matthew Foster told The Associated Press.

Weather patterns shifted from widespread rainfall to intermittent showers across Oahu, Maui County and Big Island by Sunday evening, Foster explained. Forecasters expect less than 5 inches of precipitation for Big Island, with 1 to 2 inches anticipated elsewhere.

Northeastern winds will increase on island areas with greater vegetation coverage that can better absorb rainfall, Foster noted. The moisture system will require several days to move beyond the islands, with typical March weather conditions returning by Wednesday.

Some flooding may still develop, but on a localized rather than widespread basis, Foster warned.

A boil water advisory remained active Sunday for North Shore communities from Mokuleia to Turtle Bay, with officials urging residents to report property damage to city authorities.

Gov. Josh Green estimated storm costs could exceed $1 billion, encompassing damage to aviation facilities, educational institutions, transportation infrastructure, residential properties and a Maui medical facility in Kula.

Emergency management officials expressed concern about potential failure of the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam, though that threat has largely subsided as water levels decreased, Pierce reported. The dam remains under continuous surveillance.

Weather systems called “Kona lows,” characterized by southern or southwestern winds carrying moisture-heavy air masses, have generated the recent flooding events over two weeks. Climate experts indicate that heavy rainfall intensity and frequency in Hawaii have intensified due to human-caused global warming.

Dangerous heat advisories remained active across portions of California and Arizona on Saturday as unseasonably hot conditions extended northward into Nebraska, occurring just one day after the official start of spring.

Meteorologists projected temperatures reaching or surpassing 100 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the Southwest, capping off an extraordinary week of heat records. Climate scientists predict the upcoming months of April, May and June will bring above-average temperatures to nearly all regions of the United States.

The scorching conditions prompted Win Marsh to cut short her hiking adventure in Arizona, where she and her husband Stephen had trekked 170 miles over a two-week period beginning at the Mexican border. The couple had originally planned to cover more than 800 miles along the Arizona Trail.

“We know our limits,” the 63-year-old Marsh explained on Saturday. “We can’t hike when our bodies can’t cool down. There’s no shade out there, and water sources are drying up. … We promised our kids we wouldn’t do sketchy stuff. We’re not out there for a search-and-rescue event.”

Weather forecasters called for temperatures to hit 100 degrees in Tucson, Arizona. The Yuma Desert region in southwestern Arizona was expected to reach 105 degrees, following Friday’s peak of 112 degrees — establishing a new record as the hottest March temperature ever recorded in the United States.

Two locations in Southern California matched that record temperature on Friday. Weather experts note that such triple-digit readings normally don’t occur until May rather than March.

Throughout the Midwest, Nebraska faced predicted temperatures climbing above 90 degrees, with a dramatic cooling trend expected to bring readings into the 50s and 60s by Sunday. Fire weather warnings were issued due to elevated wildfire danger. Several areas of Texas also experienced temperatures at or above 90 degrees on Saturday.

According to a Friday analysis by World Weather Attribution, an international scientific consortium that examines extreme weather causes, March’s unprecedented heat would have been nearly impossible to achieve without human-driven climate change.

Weather forecasters from the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey have issued a dense fog advisory affecting the region beginning at 5:29 AM on Thursday, March 21st and continuing until 8:00 AM the same morning.

The advisory warns of thick fog conditions that will significantly reduce visibility for morning commuters and anyone traveling during the early hours. The fog is expected to create hazardous driving conditions as visibility drops to dangerous levels.

Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution when driving during the advisory period, using low beam headlights and allowing extra time to reach their destinations safely. The dense fog conditions are forecast to gradually improve and lift by mid-morning as temperatures rise.

HONOLULU — The Hawaiian islands are grappling with their most devastating flood disaster in more than two decades after torrential rainfall pounded ground already soaked from previous winter storms, state officials announced Friday as they cautioned residents to prepare for additional precipitation over the weekend.

Dirty floodwaters engulfed large areas of Oahu’s North Shore, the internationally famous big-wave surfing destination. The rushing waters swept away houses and vehicles, forcing authorities to issue evacuation notices for 5,500 residents living north of Honolulu. Emergency officials expressed concern that a dam constructed 120 years ago might collapse.

Governor Josh Green estimated the disaster’s financial impact could exceed $1 billion when accounting for destruction to aviation facilities, educational institutions, transportation infrastructure, residential properties, and a medical facility in Kula on Maui.

“This is going to have a very serious consequence for us as a state,” Green stated during a press briefing.

The majority of Hawaii remained under flood advisories, while the National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings specifically for Haleiwa and Waialua communities in northern Oahu.

Green reported that his chief of staff contacted federal officials and secured promises of assistance from Washington. No fatalities occurred and everyone was accounted for, though approximately 10 individuals required hospital treatment for hypothermia, he noted.

Search and rescue teams deployed aircraft and watercraft to locate stranded residents, but their operations faced interference from civilian drone operators attempting to photograph the flooding, explained Ian Scheuring, a Honolulu city representative.

Military National Guard units and Honolulu Fire Department helicopters evacuated 72 youth and adults who were participating in a spring vacation camp at Our Lady of Kea’au retreat center on Oahu’s western coastline, according to municipal and camp authorities. While the facility sits on elevated terrain, officials decided against leaving the group there, the mayor explained.

Green characterized the flooding as Hawaii’s most severe since 2004 when Manoa valley floods submerged residences and a University of Hawaii library facility.

Potentially hundreds of dwellings sustained damage Friday, though officials have not completed comprehensive damage evaluations, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi reported. Approximately 5,500 people received evacuation orders.

“There’s no question that the damage done thus far has been catastrophic,” he stated.

Authorities attributed much of the destruction to the enormous volume of precipitation that fell rapidly on already waterlogged terrain. Sections of Oahu recorded 8 to 12 inches of rainfall during overnight hours. Kaala mountain, the island’s tallest point, measured nearly 16 inches over 24 hours, the National Weather Service reported.

Additional precipitation loomed ahead: Blangiardi announced forecasters predicted 6 to 8 inches would fall across Oahu during the following two to three days.

Weather patterns called “Kona lows,” winter storm systems characterized by southerly or southwesterly winds carrying moisture-rich air masses, caused the recent deluges. Climate scientists indicate that heavy rainfall events in Hawaii have become more intense and frequent due to human-caused global warming.

Emergency managers maintained close surveillance of the Wahiawa dam, which has posed risks for decades, describing it as facing “imminent failure.”

Dam water levels dropped by late Friday, though conditions could deteriorate with additional rainfall. Between Thursday night and Friday, the dam rose from 79 feet to 84 feet, reaching within 6 feet of its maximum capacity, authorities reported.

While preparing to relocate to a friend’s residence on higher elevation, Waialua resident Kathleen Pahinui shared her concerns about the deteriorating dam during every rainstorm.

“Just pray for us,” she requested. “We understand there’s more rain coming.”

State engineers classified the Wahiawa dam as having “high hazard potential,” warning that structural failure “will result in probable loss of human life.”

The earthen structure was constructed in 1906 to support sugar cultivation for the Waialua Agricultural Company, which later became part of Dole Food Company. Engineers rebuilt the dam following its 1921 collapse.

State regulators have issued four deficiency notices to Dole regarding the dam since 2009 and imposed a $20,000 penalty five years ago for delayed safety improvements, according to official records.

Subsequently, Dole offered to transfer ownership of the dam, reservoir and irrigation system to the state in return for the state’s commitment to repair the spillway and maintain safety standards.

Lawmakers approved legislation in 2023 authorizing the dam’s acquisition, allocating $5 million for purchasing the spillway and $21 million for repairs and expansion to meet safety requirements. However, the ownership transfer remains incomplete, with a state board scheduled to vote on the acquisition next week.

“The dam continues to operate as designed with no indications of damage,” Dole stated in an email response.

Hawaii regulates 132 dams statewide, most constructed as irrigation infrastructure for the historical sugar cane industry, according to a 2019 infrastructure assessment by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

SYDNEY, March 21 – Australia’s Northern Territory is preparing for the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Narelle on Saturday, following the storm’s destructive passage through the country’s northeastern coastline a day earlier, which left communities dealing with damaging winds, torrential rainfall and widespread electrical outages.

The weather system, currently classified as a Category 2 cyclone as it travels westward across the Gulf of Carpentaria, is projected to strike the territory’s isolated eastern regions during the late Saturday hours, according to Australia’s meteorological service.

“Narelle is forecast to strengthen during Saturday as it tracks quickly westwards,” officials from the weather bureau stated, predicting devastating wind speeds reaching 185 kilometers per hour (115 miles per hour).

The previous day saw Narelle strike Queensland state as a powerful Category 4 storm – just one level below maximum intensity – making landfall approximately 550 kilometers (340 miles) north of Cairns, the primary access point for visitors to the renowned Great Barrier Reef. Meteorologists subsequently reduced the storm’s classification as it progressed over land.

This latest cyclone follows Tropical Cyclone Fina’s impact on the Northern Territory last November and brings back difficult recollections of the devastating Cyclone Tracy, which destroyed most of Darwin, the region’s capital city, on Christmas Day in 1974. That historic storm claimed 66 lives and remains among Australia’s most catastrophic natural disasters.

Emergency officials have issued evacuation orders affecting more than 4,000 residents in Hawaiian communities located north of Honolulu as dangerous flooding conditions persist throughout the region.

The evacuation comes amid growing concerns about a dam that has stood for 120 years and could potentially collapse under current conditions. Heavy rainfall has created hazardous flooding that has overwhelmed roadways, submerged cars, and created treacherous conditions with murky, debris-filled water.

The severe weather has transformed streets into rivers of muddy water, making travel dangerous and forcing residents to abandon their homes and vehicles. Emergency responders are closely monitoring the aging dam structure as floodwaters continue to rise in the affected areas.

Communities in the northern regions of Oahu are bearing the brunt of the flooding emergency, with officials working around the clock to ensure resident safety as the weather crisis unfolds.

HONOLULU — Emergency officials ordered more than 4,000 Hawaii residents to immediately evacuate Friday morning as authorities warned that a century-old dam could collapse under pressure from severe flooding that has overwhelmed communities north of Honolulu.

The Wahiawa dam, constructed 120 years ago, is either failing or expected to fail imminently, prompting Honolulu authorities to issue urgent emergency alerts to residents living in downstream areas. Officials advised evacuees to share rides due to heavy traffic conditions.

Warning sirens echoed across Oahu’s renowned North Shore Friday morning as floodwaters rose, causing damage to residential properties. At 5:35 a.m., Honolulu emergency management issued an urgent “LEAVE NOW” directive for Waialua and Haleiwa communities, stating: “Extremely dangerous flooding and Wahiawa Dam is high.”

The dam has been under close surveillance since last week’s powerful storm brought torrential rainfall statewide, triggering devastating floods that destroyed roadways and homes. Weather forecasters predict another storm system, though less intense, will bring additional precipitation through the weekend.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced via social media that the Hawaii National Guard has been deployed to address the flooding emergency. “The storm of course is very severe right now, particularly on the northern part of Oahu,” Green stated, noting flood levels reaching chest height. “It’s going to be a very touch-and-go day.”

The National Weather Service placed most of Hawaii under flood watch conditions, with northern Oahu specifically under flash flood warnings. The agency reported “widespread life-threatening flash flooding” with Haleiwa and Waialua experiencing the most severe conditions.

Emergency crews evacuated approximately 185 people and 50 animals from a shelter at Waialua High and Intermediate School due to rising waters, according to Honolulu spokesperson Ian Scheuring. The evacuees were transported by bus to an alternative emergency facility.

Waialua resident Kathleen Pahinui, who was preparing to relocate to a friend’s residence on higher elevation, expressed her concerns about the aging infrastructure during a phone conversation with The Associated Press. “Just pray for us,” Pahinui requested. “We understand there’s more rain coming.”

The evacuation directive affects more than 4,000 individuals, though the actual number may be higher, confirmed Molly Pierce, spokesperson for the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management.

Authorities had previously issued dam warnings during last week’s heavy rainfall, but water levels dropped as precipitation decreased. “The water is actively running over the spillway right now,” Pierce explained.

According to a 2019 infrastructure assessment by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Hawaii maintains regulatory oversight of 132 dams throughout the islands, with most originally constructed to support sugar cane plantation irrigation systems.

The Ka Loko dam collapse on Kauai island in 2006 resulted in seven fatalities when the structure failed and released a deadly torrent of water downhill.

WASHINGTON — The scorching heat wave that demolished March temperature records throughout the Southwest United States represents far more than an isolated weather anomaly. Scientists say it’s the most recent example of increasingly severe weather patterns occurring as global temperatures continue rising.

Weather experts warn that unprecedented and lethal climate extremes are now appearing at unusual times and in unexpected locations, placing more communities at risk. While the Southwest regularly experiences dangerous heat, this wave arrived months earlier than typical, including a 110-degree reading in Arizona’s desert on Thursday that broke the nation’s highest March temperature on record.

Preliminary temperature measurements from Arizona and southern California reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, potentially marking the hottest March day ever documented in the United States.

“This is what climate change looks like in real time: extremes pushing beyond the bounds we once thought possible,” said University of Victoria climate scientist Andrew Weaver. “What used to be unprecedented events are now recurring features of a warming world.”

According to a Friday report from World Weather Attribution, an international team of researchers studying extreme weather causes, March’s heat wave would have been nearly impossible without human-driven climate change.

Over a dozen scientists, meteorologists and disaster specialists contacted by The Associated Press classified the March heat wave alongside ultra-extreme events including the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat wave, Pakistan’s 2022 flooding, and devastating hurricanes Helene, Harvey and Sandy.

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Extremes Index shows the portion of the United States experiencing extreme weather over the past five years has doubled compared to two decades ago, encompassing various severe conditions from heat waves to droughts and intense rainfall.

The nation now breaks 77% more hot weather records compared to the 1970s and 19% more than the 2010s, based on an Associated Press analysis of NOAA data. Billion-dollar weather disasters in recent years occur twice as frequently and cost twice as much as a decade ago, and nearly four times more than 30 years ago, according to NOAA and Climate Central records.

“It’s really hard to even keep up with how extreme our extremes are becoming,” said Climate Central Chief Meteorologist Bernadette Woods Placky. “It’s changing our risk, it’s change our relationship with weather, it’s putting more people in risky situations and at times we’re not used to. So yes, we are pushing extremes to new levels across all different types of weather.”

Government disaster management officials describe the escalating extremes as a major challenge.

Craig Fugate, who led the Federal Emergency Management Agency through 2017, observed increasing extreme events during his tenure.

“We were operating outside the historical playbook more and more. Flood maps, surge models, heat records — events kept showing up outside the envelope we built systems around. That’s just what we saw,” Fugate said via email.

He continued: “We built communities on about 100 years of past weather and assumed that was a good guide going forward. That assumption is starting to break. And the clearest signal isn’t the science debate. It’s insurers walking away.”

Climate researchers at World Weather Attribution conducted a rapid analysis examining climate change’s role in the Southwest heat wave. Comparing this week’s projected temperatures with March observations since 1900 and computer climate models, they determined that “events as warm as in March 2026 would have been virtually impossible without human-induced climate change.”

The warming caused by burning fossil fuels added between 4.7 and 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit to current temperatures, the analysis found.

“What we can very confidently say is that human-caused warming has increased the temperatures that we’re seeing as a result of this heat dome, and it’s going to be pushing those temperatures from what would have been very uncomfortable into potentially dangerous,” said report co-author Clair Barnes, an Imperial College of London attribution scientist.

Stanford University climate scientist Chris Field categorizes the Southwest heat wave as a “giant event,” with temperatures climbing up to 30 degrees above normal levels.

Field identified five similar events from the past six years: Siberia’s 2020 heat wave, the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat wave that made British Columbia hotter than Death Valley, extreme summer temperatures across North America, China and Europe in 2022, western Mediterranean heat in 2023, and a 2023 South Asian heat wave with dangerous humidity levels.

This list excludes East Antarctica’s 2022 heat wave, when temperatures soared 81 degrees above normal — the largest temperature anomaly ever recorded, according to weather historian Chris Burt, author of “Extreme Weather.”

Scientists told the Associated Press that climate-influenced severe weather extends beyond extreme heat to include destructive hurricanes, prolonged droughts and intense storms.

Catastrophic flooding struck West Africa in both 2022 and 2024. Iran continues experiencing a six-year drought. The deadly Typhoon Haiyan that devastated the Philippines in 2013 stunned global observers.

Superstorm Sandy flooded New York City and surrounding areas in 2012, generating tropical storm-force winds across nearly one-fifth of the continental United States. The storm created 12-foot waves spanning 1.4 million square miles with energy matching five atomic bombs, said Yale Climate Connections meteorologist Jeff Masters.

Recent extremes should also include wildfires intensified by heat and drought, such as 2025’s Palisades and Eaton fires, which became the nation’s costliest weather disaster last year, noted Climate Central meteorologist and economist Adam Smith.

“This is due to climate change, that we see more extreme events, and more intense ones and have so many records being broken,” said Friederike Otto, an Imperial College of London climate scientist who coordinates World Weather Attribution.

SYDNEY – Officials across Australia’s northeastern coastline issued urgent shelter warnings Friday as a powerful tropical cyclone approached the region, threatening to bring catastrophic winds, torrential rainfall, and widespread flooding.

Tropical Cyclone Narelle was positioned approximately 19 miles offshore in the Coral Sea and was forecast to strike land Friday morning as a Category 4 system, according to Australia’s meteorological agency. The storm ranks just one level below the most dangerous Category 5 classification.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Angus Hines warned ABC News that the cyclone could generate wind speeds reaching 155 miles per hour, powerful enough to tear trees from the ground and turn loose objects into dangerous projectiles.

“Winds of that speed are pretty hard to imagine if you haven’t experienced them before. They are just so, so strong,” Hines said during his ABC News interview.

“Obviously that puts a lot of branches and debris into the air flying around that can become really dangerous,” he added.

Weather officials predicted the cyclone would reach shore before 9 a.m. local time Friday and then lose intensity as it moves inland across the Cape York Peninsula during the following 18-hour period.

The storm is anticipated to regain strength, however, after moving over the warm waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria, where it will likely rebuild into a severe tropical cyclone before striking the Northern Territory on Saturday, according to Hines.

Emergency alerts have been issued along a 370-mile section of Far North Queensland, an area where roughly 300,000 people live. Weather authorities also cautioned that heavy precipitation could impact popular tourist destinations near the Great Barrier Reef.

Meteorologists issued warnings Thursday that an unprecedented winter heat wave gripping the Southwest will persist through the weekend, following Wednesday’s remarkable temperature milestone in a small California desert town.

The community of North Shore, California, registered 108 degrees (42.2 Celsius) on Wednesday, matching the nation’s highest March temperature first recorded in Rio Grande City, Texas, back in 1954. Meanwhile, the desert town of Thermal, located northeast of San Diego, could see temperatures soar to 110 degrees (43.3 C) on Friday.

Even nighttime brought little respite from the extreme conditions. Phoenix established a new overnight low temperature record for March 19th, with thermometers never dropping below 69 degrees (20.5 C), the National Weather Service reported. Thursday’s daytime temperatures in Phoenix are expected to peak around 105 degrees (40.5 C), with Friday potentially bringing even more intense heat. “For some perspective, the average first 105 degree day of the year normally occurs on May 22nd,” the weather service noted. The last occurrence of triple-digit March temperatures in Phoenix happened nearly four decades ago.

Multiple cities across the region shattered temperature records on Wednesday, experiencing their most intense March heat in 40 years, weather officials confirmed.

Las Vegas soared to 99 degrees (37.2 C), obliterating its previous March benchmark of 93 degrees (33.8 C) established in 2022.

In downtown Los Angeles, thermometers climbed to 94 degrees (34.4 C), surpassing the former daily record of 87 degrees (30.5 C) from 1997.

The resort city of Palm Springs, California, registered 104 degrees (40 C), equaling its warmest March temperature previously recorded in 1966.

The Southwest region will experience temperatures 20 to 30 degrees higher than typical March averages through the remainder of the week before conditions begin moderating Sunday. Weather forecasters predict numerous cities throughout the area may witness their earliest 100-degree (37.8-plus C) days in recorded history.

A small desert town in Southern California experienced scorching 108-degree temperatures on Wednesday, matching the hottest March reading ever documented across the United States.

North Shore, California now shares this extreme weather milestone with Rio Grande City, Texas, which first established the record back in 1954. The blistering heat is occurring during an unprecedented winter heat wave sweeping the Southwest region, with forecasters warning temperatures could climb even higher through the weekend.

Weather experts predict the nearby community of Thermal, California could see temperatures soar to 110 degrees by Friday, potentially setting a new national March record.

Phoenix, Arizona also made weather history Wednesday when thermometers climbed to 101 degrees – the earliest triple-digit reading ever recorded in the desert city. The National Weather Service reports this surpassed the previous early-season record of March 26, 1988, marking only the second time Phoenix has seen 100-degree weather during March.

National Weather Service meteorologist Bryan Lewis described the current conditions as extraordinary. “We’ve broken so many records yesterday and even today we’ve broken quite a few so far,” Lewis stated. He characterized this as among the most remarkable March heat waves ever documented.

Multiple Southwest cities experienced their warmest March day in nearly four decades on Wednesday, according to weather officials.

Las Vegas shattered its March temperature record by reaching 99 degrees, far exceeding the previous high of 93 degrees set in 2022.

Los Angeles recorded 94 degrees downtown, surpassing the former daily record of 87 degrees from 1997.

Palm Springs, California hit 104 degrees, equaling its hottest March temperature originally recorded in 1966.

The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures will remain 20 to 30 degrees higher than typical March averages throughout the Southwest for the remainder of the week before moderating slightly during the weekend. Many additional regional cities are expected to record their earliest 100-degree days in history.

Emergency crews and volunteers have now spent a full week fighting devastating wildfires across Nebraska’s western and central regions, with the largest blaze becoming a record-breaker for the state while claiming one life and destroying vast stretches of rangeland.

Coalition spokesman David Boyd explained Wednesday’s changing conditions: “What’s different today is the wind will be less — still, with gusts to 30 miles an hour — but we’re starting to dry out and heat up again. If we get fire, you know, across the containment line, it’s got the potential for rapid spread.”

Governor Jim Pillen offered a brief update while visiting the affected areas, posting on Facebook: “We are making progress, but the fight isn’t over.”

The destruction spans approximately 1,300 square miles across four distinct fires — an area exceeding Rhode Island’s total size. The most devastating blaze, known as the Morrill County fire, has ravaged roughly 1,005 square miles across five counties, extending over 80 miles from Bridgeport in the Nebraska Panhandle eastward to Lake Ogallala, establishing it as Nebraska’s most extensive wildfire on record.

Powerful wind gusts exceeding 60 mph began driving the fires across the region’s terrain last week, feeding on bone-dry prairie vegetation and red cedar groves. The blazes burned without containment for several days until Tuesday, when calmer winds combined with precipitation allowed firefighting teams to begin controlling the flames. Despite this progress, the Morrill County fire remained just 16% contained by Wednesday afternoon.

The Cottonwood fire ranks as the second-largest incident, consuming over 205 square miles after igniting approximately 10 miles southeast of North Platte. Boyd reported this fire reached 40% containment by Wednesday.

Two additional fires burning further north have proven more manageable, covering about 56 square miles and 27 square miles respectively, with both largely contained by Wednesday.

The fires have claimed at least one life — an 86-year-old woman from rural Arthur who died at her residence Thursday while attempting to flee the approaching flames, according to Pillen’s weekend news conference statement.

Numerous buildings have been destroyed, and authorities evacuated at least one residential community near Jeffrey Reservoir in the Cottonwood fire zone since last weekend.

Boyd described the challenging terrain around that evacuation area: “That area is forested with red cedar, and so that holds fire more. That’s a little more complex to fight fire in. We actually have hand crews in there that are cutting fire line in with chainsaws, you know, pretty close to the edge of what was burning.”

The agricultural impact presents long-term concerns for cattle operations throughout the region. Nebraska Agriculture Department Director Sherry Vinton highlighted during Saturday’s news conference that the Morrill County fire zone alone supports grazing for over 35,000 cattle. Agricultural specialists warn that several growing seasons may be required before the scorched land can support livestock grazing again.

Current firefighting strategies involve creating trenches around the fire perimeters and extinguishing remaining hot spots within established boundaries. Officials anticipate significant progress Thursday and Friday when lighter winds are forecast. However, Saturday’s weather outlook brings renewed wildfire risks with stronger winds returning alongside potentially record-breaking temperatures near 90 degrees.

These Nebraska wildfires represent part of a broader pattern of extreme weather affecting the nation this week, including intense heat across California and severe storms that swept the East Coast, resulting in approximately 4,000 flight cancellations nationwide on Monday.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An extraordinary winter heat wave is blasting through the western United States, delivering record-threatening temperatures across a vast region spanning from California into the desert Southwest. The typically fog-shrouded city of San Francisco, known for its characteristically cool climate even during summer months, is witnessing residents peeling off winter clothing and gathering at popular outdoor spots like Crissy Field as the area endures its warmest March weather in more than 20 years.

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This represents a photo gallery assembled by AP photo editors.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Residents of San Francisco shed their typical layers Tuesday as an extraordinary winter heat wave continues to break temperature records across the western United States, bringing the city its warmest March temperatures in more than two decades.

The Bay Area is approaching 90-degree highs while Phoenix expects to surpass 100 degrees this week — a milestone typically reached in early May that has never occurred before March 26. Las Vegas may also record its earliest triple-digit temperature ever in the coming days.

This stands in stark contrast to the Midwest and eastern regions, where residents continue clearing snow from powerful storms that caused thousands of flight delays this week.

At San Francisco’s Crissy Field near the Golden Gate Bridge, dog owners and sunbathers gathered to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather.

“It feels like summer already in March. That’s crazy, but I love it,” said dog walker Justyce Roliz. “The dogs, they love running in the water. They love to cool off. They’re loving it.”

Local resident Jessica Ling welcomed the warm temperatures but noted challenges: “but it’s difficult because we don’t have AC in our house. So we have our fans going, our windows open, but we try to be outside as much as we can.”

Temperature records fell throughout the Bay Area on Monday, with Tuesday’s forecasts predicting even higher readings. San Francisco International Airport registered 83 degrees Monday, while Redwood City in Silicon Valley hit 90 degrees, surpassing a 2004 record. San Jose’s 85-degree reading matched a mark established in 1914.

According to National Weather Service meteorologist Roger Gass, while such early heat is uncommon for San Francisco, it’s not unprecedented. The last occurrence was in 2005, when downtown temperatures reached a record 87 degrees on March 11 during a two-day heat wave that set the monthly record. March 2004 saw nearly a week of 80-degree temperatures.

Las Vegas meteorologist Brian Planz forecasts temperatures between 94 and 98 degrees over the next several days, with Saturday potentially reaching 100 degrees — which would mark the city’s earliest triple-digit reading. The current March record stands at 93 degrees, established in 2022.

“If people are visiting Vegas this weekend, they just need to prepare for the heat, make sure they’re hydrating,” Planz advised. “This is going to be unusual for this time of year.”

New Zealand visitor Mark Reeves was following that guidance, staying hydrated and seeking shade and air-conditioned casinos. Standing before the Bellagio fountains, he admitted the heat exceeded his expectations.

However, the weather hasn’t diminished his experience.

“For me, this is the trip of a lifetime,” he explained. “I’ve never been to the USA before and I may never get here again.”

Colorado faces particular challenges as this heat wave caps an unusually mild winter that left mountain snowpack well below normal. This snow typically supplies water to millions of residents. Denver-area water utilities have implemented or are considering lawn watering restrictions.

With temperatures expected to climb into the 80s this week, officials warn against early sprinkler use, as reduced water supplies must last through summer. Colorado utilities typically advise homeowners to wait until May before activating irrigation systems.

Aurora Water spokesperson Shonnie Cline, whose utility serves 400,000 suburban Denver residents, cautioned that late freezes could still damage prematurely activated sprinkler systems.

“The sooner you wake it up, it’s not necessarily better,” she said regarding lawn care.

Weather officials from the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly, New Jersey office issued a severe thunderstorm warning on March 16th, alerting residents to dangerous weather conditions.

The warning took effect at 10:13 PM EDT on March 16th and remained in place until 11:15 PM EDT the same evening, covering just over one hour of severe weather activity.

The alert was distributed through the National Weather Service’s emergency notification system to keep the public informed of potentially hazardous storm conditions in the area.

Weather officials from the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly, New Jersey office issued a severe thunderstorm warning on the evening of March 16th.

The weather alert went into effect at 11:10 PM EDT on March 16th and remained active until 11:45 PM EDT that same night, lasting approximately 35 minutes.

The warning was part of the National Weather Service’s ongoing efforts to alert residents about potentially dangerous weather conditions in the region.

Weather officials from the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly, New Jersey office issued a severe thunderstorm warning on the evening of March 16th.

The weather alert went into effect at 10:56 PM EDT and remained active until 11:15 PM EDT on the same date.

The warning was distributed through the agency’s official alert system to notify residents of potentially dangerous weather conditions in the area.

Weather officials issued a tornado warning on the evening of March 16th, alerting residents to take immediate precautions.

The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, issued the warning at 10:55 PM on March 16th. The alert remained active until 11:15 PM that same night.

Tornado warnings are issued when a tornado has been spotted or indicated by weather radar, requiring immediate protective action from residents in the affected area.

Weather officials from the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly, New Jersey office issued a severe thunderstorm warning on March 16th, alerting residents to dangerous weather conditions.

The warning took effect at 10:52 PM EDT on March 16th and remained active until 11:45 PM EDT the same evening, lasting nearly an hour.

The alert was designated with the official identifier urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.55ddedb57186f4fb72b27a043eadd2e2feed881f.002.1.cap in the National Weather Service alert system.

The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey issued a tornado warning on March 16th that remained in effect for approximately 31 minutes during the evening hours.

The warning was activated at 10:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time and continued until 11:15 PM on the same date, according to official weather service records.

The alert was distributed through the National Weather Service’s emergency notification system as part of their severe weather monitoring and public safety protocols.

Weather officials from the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly, New Jersey office issued a severe thunderstorm warning on the evening of March 16th, alerting residents to dangerous storm conditions in the area.

The warning went into effect at 10:39 PM on March 16th and remained active until 11:30 PM the same evening, giving residents nearly an hour of advance notice about the approaching severe weather.

The alert was distributed through the National Weather Service’s official warning system, which uses a standardized identification protocol to track and manage weather advisories across the region.

Residents were advised to monitor local conditions and take appropriate safety precautions during the warning period as the severe thunderstorm moved through the area.

Weather officials from the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly, New Jersey office issued a severe thunderstorm warning on March 16th, beginning at 10:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time.

The warning remained active until 11:45 PM EDT on the same date, providing residents with over an hour of advance notice about potentially dangerous weather conditions.

The alert was distributed through the official National Weather Service alert system, which provides critical weather information to communities across the region.

Weather officials from the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey activated a tornado warning on March 16th during the evening hours.

The warning went into effect at 10:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time and remained active until 11:00 PM EDT on the same date.

The Mount Holly National Weather Service office, which provides weather forecasts and warnings for portions of New Jersey, issued the alert as part of their severe weather monitoring responsibilities.

Tornado warnings are issued when weather radar indicates rotation in thunderstorms or when trained spotters report tornado activity in the area.

Weather officials issued a tornado warning for a brief period on the evening of March 16th, alerting residents to potentially dangerous conditions.

The National Weather Service facility in Mount Holly, New Jersey activated the tornado warning at 10:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time on March 16th. The emergency weather alert remained active until 11:00 PM EDT the same night, spanning a 30-minute timeframe.

The warning was distributed through the official weather alert system, providing residents with advance notice of the severe weather threat in the affected area.

Weather officials from the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly, New Jersey office issued a severe thunderstorm warning on the evening of March 16th.

The warning went into effect at 10:24 PM EDT and remained active until 11:45 PM EDT on the same date.

The alert was distributed through the National Weather Service’s official alert system to notify residents of potentially dangerous weather conditions in the affected areas.

The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey has issued a severe thunderstorm watch beginning at 8:23 PM on March 16 and continuing until midnight on March 17.

The weather alert warns residents to remain vigilant for dangerous storm conditions that could develop during the overnight hours. Severe thunderstorms can produce damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall that may lead to flooding.

Residents should monitor local weather conditions closely and be prepared to take shelter if severe weather develops in their area. The watch remains in effect until 12:00 AM EDT on March 17.

A dangerous weather system continued its march across the eastern United States Monday, bringing the threat of tornadoes and destructive winds to Mid-Atlantic communities while dumping heavy snow across the Upper Midwest.

Weather officials identified the Mid-Atlantic region and the nation’s capital as facing the highest risk for powerful winds and tornado activity. The weather front is forecast to clear the East Coast by Tuesday, ushering in much colder temperatures behind it.

This winter weather event occurs while Hawaii deals with ongoing impacts from a different storm system that brought devastating floods over the weekend.

The National Weather Service issued warnings about a line of dangerous storms carrying destructive winds moving across the eastern portion of the country. After developing Sunday, the weather system moved through the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio river valleys.

The storm danger was forecast to reach the Appalachian Mountains before advancing toward coastal areas, where meteorologists predicted “severe thunderstorms with widespread damaging winds and several tornadoes.”

A corridor extending from portions of South Carolina northward to Maryland faced the highest probability of experiencing the most destructive winds Monday afternoon, according to the weather service. Major cities including Raleigh, North Carolina, Richmond, Virginia, and Washington D.C. fell within this zone.

Authorities announced that schools in Raleigh and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, would remain closed Monday. Governor Josh Stein encouraged residents to activate emergency notifications on their mobile devices in advance of anticipated wind gusts reaching 74 mph.

In addition to risks to human safety and property damage, “whether it’s wind gusts from a squall line, blizzard or snow, or just wind because of the storm, you’re looking at several major airports being impacted,” explained AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys.

A region stretching from central Wisconsin through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was projected to receive more than 2 feet of snow, with some isolated areas on the peninsula potentially seeing even higher totals, Roys noted. Smaller snow amounts in cities like Chicago and Milwaukee were still expected to create significant problems for Monday commuters, he said.

Jim Allen, 45, a resident of the Upper Peninsula, explained that his family purchased essential supplies and he prepared to remove snow multiple times Sunday using both a shovel and snowblower.

“We’re basically prepared to just kind of hunker down for a few days if we need to,” Allen said.

Over 600 flights faced cancellation at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, based on data from FlightAware, which monitors air travel disruptions. Additional dozens of flights through Detroit were also cancelled. Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway international airports reported more than 850 cancellations combined.

More than 210,000 electricity customers across six Great Lakes states lost power Sunday, according to PowerOutage.us. Some outages began Friday when wind gusts in the area reached 85 mph. Extensive power failures were also documented in sections of Pennsylvania and Arkansas.

In Nebraska, approximately 30 National Guard personnel were sent to fight multiple wildfires burning across extensive rangeland and grassland areas, state authorities reported. Officials confirmed one fire-related death.

Rainfall persisted Sunday in Hawaii, where extensive farmland and residential areas have experienced flooding, roadways have been shut down and emergency shelters have opened. Certain areas of Maui recorded over 20 inches of rain, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen reported through social media.

Maui County subsequently reduced an evacuation order Sunday and announced that crews were operating pumps to remove water from retention basins to maintain safe water levels.

Local resident and real estate professional Jesse Wald, who captured video footage of a coastal road collapsing Saturday, noted that other sections of the roadway were blocked by flooding, mud and debris.

“In the 20 years I’ve been here I’ve never seen this much rain,” he said.

A massive and unpredictable weather system unleashed chaos across the United States on Sunday, bringing heavy snowfall that made travel impossible in the Upper Midwest while destructive winds swept through the Plains states.

Hawaii remained under siege from dangerous flooding conditions.

Areas across the mid-South braced for powerful thunderstorms expected later in the day.

Weather experts predicted the storm system would move eastward by Monday, putting mid-Atlantic regions and the nation’s capital at highest risk for powerful winds and tornado activity.

Multiple waves of snow, wind and dangerous weather were positioned to strike the eastern United States, according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys.

In addition to threats to human safety and property damage, “whether it’s wind gusts from a squall line, blizzard or snow, or just wind because of the storm, you’re looking at several major airports being impacted,” Roys explained.

Heavy Snow Blankets Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan

A region stretching from central Wisconsin to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was forecast to receive more than 2 feet of snow, with even higher amounts possible in isolated areas of the peninsula, Roys noted. Smaller snow totals in cities like Chicago and Milwaukee were still expected to cause significant problems for Monday morning commuters, he said.

More than 20 inches of snow had already accumulated in parts of southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin by Sunday afternoon, based on National Weather Service data. Transportation authorities issued warnings about deteriorating conditions with poor visibility and snow-covered roads.

Wisconsin snowplow operator Aaron Haas described it as among the most severe storms he had witnessed in years. Working around Marshfield on Sunday, Haas was creating snow piles as tall as his truck.

“You can’t see anything when you’re on the highways outside of the city,” he stated.

Jim Allen, a 45-year-old Upper Peninsula resident, said his family gathered essential supplies and he prepared to clear snow multiple times Sunday using both a shovel and snowblower.

“We’re basically prepared to just kind of hunker down for a few days if we need to,” Allen explained.

FlightAware, which monitors flight disruptions, reported over 600 canceled flights at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on Sunday. Detroit also saw dozens of additional cancellations. Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway international airports, where rain and snow were forecast overnight into Monday, experienced more than 850 flight cancellations.

Landslides, Rescues, Home Collapse on Maui

Rainfall persisted Sunday in Hawaii, where vast areas of farmland and residential properties have been inundated, roadways have been shut down and emergency shelters established. PowerOutage.us, which monitors nationwide electrical disruptions, showed nearly 40,000 Hawaii customers without power by midday Sunday.

Flash flooding has created major challenges recently across Maui, Molokai and the Big Island, where precipitation was falling at rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour overnight, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency reported.

Certain areas of Maui recorded over 20 inches of rainfall, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen announced in a late Saturday social media update.

“We’re seeing flooding, landslides, sinkholes, debris and downed power lines across the county,” he stated. Using Hawaiian language to express appreciation, the mayor added, “mahalo for continuing to look out for one another.”

Video content accompanying Bissen’s message displayed washed-out or collapsed roadways, a vehicle trapped by floodwaters and raging waterways. National Guard personnel and fire department crews conducted numerous floodwater rescues, Bissen reported.

Tom and Carrie Bashaw said they were powerless to stop part of their Maui home in Iao Valley from collapsing under rising waters. On Friday, the water’s strength began overwhelming nearby trees.

“When we lost the mango and monkey pod, we started throwing stuff in bags and packing up,” Tom Bashaw told HawaiiNewsNow. They returned Saturday morning and “the whole backside of the house” was gone, he said.

Maui resident and real estate professional Jesse Wald, who captured video of a coastal road’s collapse Saturday, said other road sections were flooded with mud and sediment.

“In the 20 years I’ve been here I’ve never seen this much rain,” Wald said. “I’m from Wisconsin and we get thunderstorms, you know pretty often in the summer, so it felt like a Wisconsin thunderstorm but times 10.”

Maui County later Sunday reduced an evacuation notice and reported crews were removing water from retention basins to maintain safe levels.

Power Outages Continue, Some From Earlier High Winds

Over 210,000 utility customers across six Great Lakes states remained without power Sunday afternoon, PowerOutage.us data showed. Some outages began Friday when regional wind gusts reached 85 mph.

In Nebraska, approximately 30 National Guard personnel were deployed to fight multiple wildfires burning across extensive rangeland and grassland areas, state officials announced.

The three largest wildfires had affected more than 900 square miles by Saturday, officials reported. One fire-related death occurred Friday. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen encouraged residents to follow local evacuation orders, noting that winds were “supposed to be extraordinary.”

The weather service issued high-wind warnings for most of Nebraska, with gusts up to 60 mph possible alongside falling snow. Roys said strong winds would impact an area from the U.S.-Mexico border to the Great Lakes, and from Denver east to the Appalachian Mountains.

Forecasters Issue Storm Line, Tornado Warnings

The weather service cautioned that a line of severe storms with destructive winds would cross much of the Eastern United States by late Monday. The system was set to begin Sunday afternoon and move through the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio valleys.

The storm threat was expected to reach the Appalachians early Monday, then advance toward the East Coast, where “severe thunderstorms with widespread damaging winds and several tornadoes” were forecast for Monday, the service stated.

An area from parts of South Carolina to Maryland appeared most likely to experience the strongest damaging winds Monday afternoon, the weather service indicated. This could affect Raleigh, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia, and Washington D.C. An elevated but lower risk extended north to New York and south to Florida, with thunderstorms possible in New England.

Officials announced that schools in Raleigh and Chapel Hill, North Carolina would remain closed Monday and the state’s governor encouraged residents to activate emergency alerts on their phones ahead of expected wind gusts of 74 mph.

Nebraska officials are confronting an unprecedented wildfire crisis as multiple blazes have consumed over 600,000 acres statewide, marking the most destructive fire season in the state’s recorded history.

The devastating Morrill Fire, which stands as Nebraska’s largest wildfire on record, has claimed one life while destroying 460,000 acres as of Saturday, according to Governor Jim Pillen. This massive blaze, along with three additional major fires burning across central and western portions of the state, remains completely uncontained, state authorities reported.

Firefighting operations have faced significant challenges due to harsh weather conditions stemming from a powerful winter storm system affecting the Midwest. The federal National Interagency Fire Center announced Sunday it has taken control of managing the two most extensive fires – the Morrill Fire and the Cottonwood Fire.

The Cottonwood blaze has consumed over 100,000 acres according to Saturday’s joint statement from the governor’s office, Nebraska National Guard, and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.

Governor Pillen issued an emergency declaration Friday, deploying National Guard troops and aviation resources to combat the fires. The blazes ignited Thursday amid dangerous conditions including strong winds, minimal humidity, and drought-like circumstances. By Friday, the fires had overwhelmed local firefighting capabilities, prompting the emergency response.

Collaborative firefighting efforts now include federal personnel working alongside local and state teams from Nebraska, plus additional crews from Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Fire departments from Nebraska’s largest metropolitan areas, Omaha and Lincoln, have also deployed crews following the governor’s request for assistance.

Weather forecasters predict wind speeds exceeding 50 miles per hour on Sunday, which will keep firefighting aircraft grounded. Despite snowfall from the winter storm system, officials warn the powerful winds may prevent the precipitation from providing meaningful relief to the fire zones.

As a precautionary measure, Governor Pillen has implemented a statewide prohibition on outdoor burning that will remain in effect through March 27.

A massive weather system unleashed chaos across the United States on Sunday, blanketing the Upper Midwest with heavy snowfall while powerful winds tore through the Plains states. The severe conditions even reached Hawaii, where significant flooding struck multiple areas.

Weather forecasters warned that dangerous thunderstorms developing Sunday evening in the mid-South will move eastward, creating a serious tornado and high wind threat for much of the Eastern United States by Monday. The mid-Atlantic region, particularly around Washington D.C., faces the greatest danger.

“This system is going to impact the eastern half of the United States,” explained Tyler Roys, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather. He warned that beyond risks to people and property, “whether it’s wind gusts from a squall line, blizzard or snow, or just wind because of the storm, you’re looking at several major airports being impacted.”

By Sunday morning, snowfall exceeded 12 inches across parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, with the National Weather Service predicting several additional inches for the Minneapolis region under active blizzard warnings.

Travel became treacherous throughout Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin as transportation authorities issued alerts about dangerous road conditions, poor visibility, and snow-covered highways.

“Roads are becoming impassable in many of Wisconsin’s northern counties,” the Wisconsin Department of Transportation posted on social media. “Please stay off the roads to keep yourself and others safe.”

Air travel suffered major disruptions, with FlightAware reporting over 600 flight cancellations at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on Sunday. Detroit’s airport also saw dozens of flights scrapped.

Central Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula could receive more than 24 inches of snow, with some isolated areas seeing even higher totals, according to Roys. He noted that even lighter accumulations expected in Chicago and Milwaukee through Monday will likely cause significant commuter problems.

Power outages from the weekend storm remained limited as of Sunday, but approximately 150,000 customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan were still without electricity following Friday’s winds that reached 85 mph, according to PowerOutage.us.

In Nebraska, about 30 National Guard members were activated to battle multiple wildfires spreading across rangeland and grasslands, the state’s Emergency Management Agency announced.

The three largest fires have scorched more than 900 square miles, including the Morrill County fire that has consumed over 700 square miles, officials reported.

One fire-related death occurred Friday, prompting Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen to urge residents to heed evacuation orders. He warned that Sunday’s winds were “supposed to be extraordinary.”

The National Weather Service issued high wind warnings for most of Nebraska Sunday, with gusts potentially reaching 60 mph combined with falling snow. Roys indicated that strong winds would affect areas from the U.S.-Mexico border to the Great Lakes, stretching from Denver east to the Appalachian Mountains.

Forecasters predicted a line of severe storms with destructive winds would sweep across much of the Eastern United States by late Monday, beginning Sunday afternoon in the Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio river valleys.

The storm system was expected to reach the Appalachians late Sunday and early Monday before advancing toward the East Coast, where “severe thunderstorms with widespread damaging winds and several tornadoes” were forecast for Monday daytime hours.

The National Weather Service identified a zone from parts of South Carolina to Maryland as most likely to experience particularly destructive winds Monday afternoon, potentially affecting Raleigh, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; and Washington D.C. An elevated but lower risk extended north into portions of New York and south to northern Florida.

Meanwhile, rain continued falling across Hawaii, where flooding has inundated farmland and homes, forced road closures, and opened emergency shelters.

Flash flooding has plagued Maui, Molokai, and the Big Island in recent days, with rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour overnight, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency reported.

Approximately 48,000 electrical customers in Hawaii remained without power as of early Sunday, PowerOutage.us data showed.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A devastating windstorm swept through the Midwest on Saturday, plunging nearly half a million people into darkness and causing widespread damage to buildings and vehicles across multiple states. The powerful weather system also contributed to fatal wildfires in Nebraska’s grasslands.

By Saturday afternoon, approximately 450,000 customers remained without electricity across Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan, based on data from PowerOutage.us, a national outage monitoring service.

The National Weather Service recorded extraordinary wind speeds during the storm, including a 66 mph gust at Pittsburgh International Airport on Friday that ranked as the fourth-strongest non-thunderstorm wind event in the facility’s history. Even more dramatic was Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport, where winds reached 85 mph Friday afternoon.

The fierce winds wreaked havoc on structures throughout the region. A gas station canopy collapsed in New Franklin, Ohio, while an auto parts store sign was destroyed in Baldwin, Pennsylvania. From Cleveland to Pittsburgh, fallen trees and large branches crashed into residential homes and vehicles. In Niles, Illinois, near Chicago, wind severely damaged a school building’s roof.

The same weather pattern intensified multiple wildfires across Nebraska’s ranch and grassland areas, resulting in one fatality in Arthur County, according to state officials. Authorities have not released the victim’s identity or provided additional circumstances surrounding the death.

State emergency officials are calling it the Morrill County fire, which has consumed at least 735 square miles spanning four counties since Thursday. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency reports that a minimum of 12 buildings have been completely destroyed.

Chelle Ladely, a Sidney resident, described the frightening conditions even though her property sits roughly 40 miles from the closest fire zone. She expressed deep concern for relatives and neighbors in affected areas.

“Smoke is filling the air and at night, I can see the burn of the fires on the horizon,” Ladely said. “My father is a crop agronomist, and his company as well as other local farmers are all gathering their water trucks to help aid with the fires, and truckloads of bottled water and food is being supplied by our good patrons for our volunteer firemen trying to extinguish the blazes.”

Additional wildfires driven by winds reaching 65 mph consumed another 225 square miles by Saturday midday, bringing the total burned area to nearly 938 square miles. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency stated that the extreme wind conditions have prevented firefighters from establishing containment lines around any of the blazes. Governor Jim Pillen conducted an aerial tour of Morrill County fire damage on Saturday.

Despite threatening weather conditions in Chicago, thousands of St. Patrick’s Day celebrants gathered to watch the traditional river dyeing ceremony and downtown parade. Snow threats and bitter winds pushed the wind chill temperature far below freezing during the festivities.

The destructive winds represent just one element of an unusual weather pattern affecting much of the country, which includes flooding rains in Hawaii, approaching triple-digit temperatures in Phoenix, and returning winter conditions to the Midwest and Northeast. Chicago temperatures are forecast to drop near single digits by Tuesday, while Minneapolis could see readings around zero degrees.

Multiple Minnesota municipalities have already issued snow emergency declarations beginning Sunday, anticipating what meteorologists believe could be the season’s heaviest snowfall. Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are also expected to be significantly impacted.

AccuWeather meteorologists are characterizing the weather system as a “potent triple-threat March megastorm” that will continue from Sunday through Monday.

“It’s definitely a very active weather weekend, that’s for sure,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist John Feerick said. “It’s a highly amplified pattern, which means you get a lot of extremes. Also, not just the Lower 48, but Hawaii’s getting hit hard right now with some very heavy rain.”

Feerick warned that areas along the Wisconsin-Iowa border could experience ice formation, creating hazardous travel conditions throughout much of the Upper Midwest region.

Weather forecasters from the National Weather Service Mount Holly office have issued a dense fog advisory for the region, warning residents of hazardous visibility conditions.

The advisory took effect at 7:33 PM on Saturday, March 9th, and will remain in place until 10:00 AM on Sunday, March 10th.

Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution during the advisory period, as thick fog can drastically reduce visibility on roadways. Drivers should reduce speed, use low-beam headlights, and maintain extra distance between vehicles.

The foggy conditions are expected to be most problematic during the overnight hours and Sunday morning commute, potentially causing delays for travelers throughout the region.

Fierce weather systems swept through the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions Friday, leaving nearly 400,000 customers without electricity across six states, data from PowerOutage.us revealed.

Ohio experienced the most extensive power disruptions, with approximately 123,300 residents and businesses losing service. This figure represents roughly 2.3% of Ohio’s total customer base of about 5.4 million.

Within Ohio, an American Electric Power subsidiary suffered the largest impact, with roughly 40,000 customers experiencing blackouts. AEP serves approximately 1.5 million electricity users throughout the state.

Wisconsin ranked second in outage numbers with 81,100 customers affected, while Michigan followed closely with 75,100 power losses. Indiana reported 73,700 outages, Illinois saw 30,700 customers without service, and Pennsylvania recorded 12,600 disruptions.

The combined total of power outages reached 396,500 customers as the storm system moved through the region Friday.

Virtually the entire United States is experiencing or preparing for severe weather conditions as multiple extreme systems converge across the nation.

Hawaii has begun experiencing days of heavy rainfall. The Southwest is preparing for consecutive days of record-breaking temperatures exceeding 100 degrees (38 Celsius). Two storm systems are expected to deliver feet of snow across northern Great Lakes regions. Meanwhile, the polar vortex is set to bring bone-chilling Arctic temperatures to the Midwest and Eastern states.

This extreme weather forecast follows dramatic temperature swings that have already affected much of the East Coast. Washington, D.C. residents enjoyed record-breaking 86-degree Fahrenheit (about 30 Celsius) weather on Wednesday, walking around in shorts, only to see snowfall the following day.

“All of the country, even if you’re not necessarily seeing extremes, are going to see generally changing from cold to warm, or warm to cold to warm,” said meteorologist Marc Chenard of the weather service’s Weather Prediction Center in Maryland.

Former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist Ryan Maue said he expects extreme weather in all 50 states.

A heat dome will establish itself early next week over the Southwest, creating triple-digit temperatures unprecedented for this time of year, according to both Maue and Chenard.

Weather predictions show Phoenix reaching 98 degrees (almost 37 Celsius) on Tuesday, followed by 103, 105 and two consecutive days of 107 degrees (almost 42 C). Phoenix’s 137-year weather history shows the city has never reached 100 degrees before March 26, typically hitting its first century mark in early May, according to the weather service, which cautioned residents: “Since we are not acclimated to this level of heat this early in the year, it will be more impactful than usual.”

Los Angeles has already begun experiencing this pattern with unusual March temperatures reaching 90 degrees, sending residents in shorts and tank tops searching for any available shade, including narrow strips cast by light poles.

Shane Dixon, 40, typically completes 5-mile runs near his Culver City home without difficulty, but Thursday’s heat forced him to cut his workout short, his face covered in sweat and his T-shirt tucked into his shorts.

“The back of my neck was melting,” he said. But he preferred it to the cold and snow that will hit elsewhere.

“I could go literally soak myself and walk out in the sun and I’ll make it home fine. If it was freezing cold I could not do this,” he said.

Simultaneously with Phoenix’s heat wave, the polar vortex — a system that typically contains frigid air near the North Pole — is predicted to push its chill deep into the Midwest and East, potentially reaching parts of the Southeast, Maue explained.

Minneapolis temperatures will drop to around zero, while Chicago will experience single digits on Tuesday. The following day will bring “temperatures in the teens and 20s in the northeast and 20s in the Mid-Atlantic,” Maue said. Atlanta could see temperatures drop into the 20s.

Two consecutive storm systems — the first arriving Friday, followed by another Sunday through Monday — will move across the nation’s northern regions and Great Lakes, potentially depositing 3 to 4 feet of snow in some areas, Maue explained.

The second, larger storm system will experience such rapid barometric pressure drops — indicating intensification and strengthening winds — that it will qualify as a bomb cyclone, an unusual phenomenon over land. While bomb cyclones typically draw energy from warm ocean waters, this system will derive power from the polar vortex.

Maue said Hawaii is getting an atmospheric river that will have such persistent heavy rain that flooding will be a major issue. Oahu is under a flash flood warning.

Alaska, normally frigid during this season, will experience temperatures approximately 30 degrees below normal, he noted.

“It is the time of year where we can see stuff like this,” Chenard said. “But this does seem even anomalous from what you would typically see. I mean, some of these areas will be setting records. Record-high temperatures for March and maybe multiple times.”

Over the past week, tornadoes have claimed at least eight lives in Oklahoma, Michigan and Indiana. While severe storm forecasts don’t appear as extensive or widespread for the coming week, dangerous thunderstorms could develop “anywhere from the Mississippi Valley toward the East Coast” on Sunday or Monday, Chenard said.

An erratic jet stream underlies these conditions, both Maue and Chenard explained.

The jet stream functions as an air river that transports weather from west to east along a roller-coaster-like trajectory. Typically, these dips resemble gentle kiddie roller coaster movements. Currently, however, the jet stream is creating nearly vertical, dramatic drops followed by steep climbs.

“Which means you get a lot of extremes next to each other,” Maue said. Pacific storm fronts encounter the high-pressure heat dome in the Southwest and get pushed northward to climb that mountainous jet stream peak, “grab access to that cold air reservoir up there” and bring it back down south down the other side of the hill, he said.

Multiple studies have linked unusual jet stream and polar vortex behavior to diminishing Arctic sea ice and human-caused climate change.

However, relief is expected.

“The first day of spring is 20th (of March), and then after that we get recovery,” Maue said.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Before spring officially arrives next week, residents across Southern California are experiencing summer-like conditions as meteorologists forecast extraordinarily high temperatures, with some areas expected to reach the mid-90s near Los Angeles.

Thursday and Friday will bring temperatures approximately 20 degrees above typical mid-March levels, according to the National Weather Service. Health officials are warning residents about increased risks of heat-related illnesses and recommending people stay well-hydrated while limiting outdoor activities during peak daylight hours.

This unusual winter heat surge results from a high-pressure system combined with an absence of the typical cooling ocean breezes from the Pacific, explained Bryan Lewis, a National Weather Service meteorologist stationed in Los Angeles.

“The nation’s air conditioner, as we like to call it, is essentially shut off right now,” Lewis said Thursday. “We’ll likely tie or break several temperature records all across LA County.”

Thursday is anticipated to be the most intense day of heat in the Los Angeles area, with thermometers potentially reaching 93 degrees in the downtown core and climbing to 95 degrees throughout the San Fernando Valley. Normal temperatures for this time of year hover around 70 degrees.

Construction crews working outdoors are being provided with ample drinking water and electrolyte supplements to prevent dehydration. Companies are mandating regular rest periods, according to Junior Pineda, who represents a local chapter of the International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers.

“And there’s always shade structures, if guys start feeling a little light-headed and need to take a few minutes,” he said Wednesday.

Both Los Angeles city and county authorities have arranged to open cooling centers to assist residents who lack air conditioning in their homes.

Zack Marquez, a wheelchair user, was completing his errands Wednesday in LA’s Koreatown district before the temperature climbed too high.

“Gotta stay hydrated and stay in the shade,” he said.

Coastal areas may experience some relief Friday when ocean breezes return, though interior regions will continue experiencing sweltering conditions, weather forecasters predict.

Hollywood celebrities are arriving in Los Angeles for Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony, with numerous events scheduled throughout the week to capitalize on the gathering of entertainment industry stars. However, the extreme heat should subside before the awards show takes place.

Other parts of California will also experience above-average temperatures beginning next week. The San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento region could see temperatures exceeding 90 degrees by Monday.

Devastating tornadoes ripped through Illinois and Indiana communities Tuesday evening, claiming two lives and leaving a trail of destruction as additional severe weather systems continued to threaten the region Wednesday.

Newton County Sheriff Shannon Cothran urged residents to stay away from affected areas during a video briefing recorded in front of a demolished residence in Lake Village, a small northwestern Indiana town. “Please do not come here. Do not try to help right now,” Cothran warned.

Lake Township Fire Department spokesperson Laurie Postma confirmed the two fatalities during a Wednesday press conference attended by the sheriff, state police, and local officials. The victims’ identities have not been disclosed.

Postma reported that fewer than 10 individuals sustained injuries from Tuesday’s severe weather, which also brought down numerous trees and electrical lines throughout the area.

An apparent tornado demolished several residences in the community, according to Indiana State Police Cpl. Eric Rot, who confirmed injuries but could not specify exact numbers or medical conditions.

Local paramedic David Ferris, who resides in Lake Village near the impacted zone, described sheltering with his wife and dogs in their downstairs bathroom during the storm. “We rode it out in our downstairs bathtub,” Ferris explained to The Associated Press. While they escaped injury and only lost electricity, Ferris later assisted in rescue operations, treating victims with various cuts, scrapes, and head injuries.

“We had another house where a guy crawled out,” Ferris recounted. “He was having some trouble breathing because he was covered in house insulation.”

Ferris observed extensive damage including the complete destruction of the local Family Dollar store and a gas station located across the street, along with numerous large trees that were completely uprooted.

The National Weather Service warned that severe storms bringing heavy rainfall and hail across Midwest regions posed continued threats of powerful tornadoes, destructive winds, and exceptionally large hail from the southern Plains through the southern Great Lakes. Tornado watches remained active Wednesday morning for portions of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.

Multiple tornadoes developed throughout northeastern Illinois and northwestern Indiana, though Storm Prediction Center meteorologist Andrew Lyons noted that precise counts await completion of official damage assessments.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker acknowledged the storm damage in a social media post, stating he had received briefings on the situation. “Keeping in our thoughts all Illinoisans impacted by the severe weather — we’ll be here to help them recover,” he wrote.

A tornado touched down near Kankakee fairgrounds, approximately 57 miles south of Chicago, before moving northeast into Aroma Park where it produced widespread damage, the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office reported. No injuries were documented in that area.

“I want to remind area residents to check on their neighbors and loved ones but to avoid unnecessary travel, if at all possible,” Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey stated.

Social media footage captured the twister moving across agricultural fields near an airport while vehicles gathered along nearby roadways.

Weather officials placed over 2 million Americans under moderate severe weather risk across Illinois and Indiana. An additional nearly 22 million people faced slightly lower risk levels in an expanded zone encompassing Chicago, Fort Worth, Texas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Weather officials from the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly, New Jersey office issued a brief but urgent severe thunderstorm warning on March 11, alerting residents to dangerous weather conditions expected to impact the region.

The warning went into effect at 8:55 PM EDT on Sunday evening and remained active until 9:15 PM EDT, covering a critical 20-minute period when severe weather conditions were anticipated to move through the area.

The alert was part of the National Weather Service’s ongoing efforts to provide timely warnings to communities when potentially hazardous weather systems develop rapidly in the region.

The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey issued a severe thunderstorm warning on March 11th, alerting residents to dangerous weather conditions expected in the area.

The warning went into effect at 8:28 PM EDT on March 11th and remained active until 9:15 PM EDT the same evening, giving residents nearly an hour of heightened weather awareness.

Weather officials monitor atmospheric conditions closely and issue these alerts when storms are expected to produce damaging winds, large hail, or other hazardous conditions that could threaten public safety.