National Weather Service News

California Firefighters Battle Wildfires in Extreme Heat

LOS ANGELES — California firefighters battled destructive wildfires Monday as a lengthening heat wave roasted the state. Thousands of homes were at risk and air quality deteriorated in areas affected by smoke. The National Weather Service blanketed the state in …

Lightning Sparks New Wildfires Across California

LOS ANGELES — A rare summer thunderstorm brought lightning that sparked several small blazes in Northern California on Sunday and stoked a huge wildfire that has forced hundreds of people from their homes north of Los Angeles. More than 4,500 …

Powerful Derecho Leaves Path of Devastation Across Midwest

IOWA CITY, Iowa — A rare storm packing 100 mph winds and with power similar to an inland hurricane swept across the Midwest, blowing over trees, flipping vehicles, causing widespread property damage and leaving hundreds of thousands without power as …

National Guard Joins Power Repair Efforts as Anger Mounts

EAST HARTFORD, Conn.– The Connecticut National Guard joined over 1,750 utility crews in Connecticut on Friday in efforts to clear trees and restore power to more than 400,000 homes and businesses still in the dark, as frustration continued to grow …

Hurricane Douglas Nears Hawaii, Bringing High Winds and Rain

HONOLULU — Hawaii prepared for the onslaught of Hurricane Douglas on Sunday, with predictions of high winds, rain and storm surge. “It’s definitely going to be a triple threat,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Vanessa Almanza said. Rainfall from the …

Watchdog Details Storm of Political Pressure in Sharpiegate

Political pressure from the White House and a series of “crazy in the middle of the night” texts, emails and phone calls caused top federal weather officials to wrongly admonish a weather office for a tweet that contradicted President Donald …

Warmest Oceans on Record Adds to Hurricanes, Wildfires Risks

The world’s seas are simmering, with record high temperatures spurring worry among forecasters that the global warming effect may generate a chaotic year of extreme weather ahead. Parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans all hit the record books …

Tornado Tears Through Arkansas College Town, With Six Hurt

JONESBORO, Ark. — A tornado ripped through northeast Arkansas on Saturday, leaving six people hurt after hitting commercial and residential areas in the college town of Jonesboro. The six people reported injured were taken to a local hospital with minor …

U.S. Farmers and Shippers Face Huge Losses From Flooding Again

For the second year in a row, much of the U.S. is primed to suffer multi-billion dollar flood losses, with farmers already steeling themselves for planting delays. Relentless storms that have marched across the Midwest and into the South this …

Roads Flooded, Rivers Rising Across the Deep South

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Roads were flooded and rivers were rising across the Deep South on Tuesday after a day of heavy rains that once again filled a Mississippi lake where a dam previously was in danger of failing. The National …