Severe flash flooding in Missouri, caused by up to 8 inches of rain, has resulted in the deaths of at least five people, including a couple in their 70s who were election poll workers. The flooding, part of a storm system that also produced tornadoes in Oklahoma and Arkansas, led to numerous water rescues. In Wright County, the couple's vehicle was swept away by flooding at Beaver Creek, while two other deaths occurred in St. Louis County. The storm system also caused tornadoes in Oklahoma and Arkansas, though no injuries were reported from those events.
The Simmons Fire near Kearny, Arizona, has burned 351 acres and is 51% contained, threatening homes and critical infrastructure. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity have aided firefighting efforts, but mandatory evacuations remain in place for about 180 residents. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Severe weather in Texas, including high winds, hail, and flooding, has caused over 1 million power outages, particularly affecting the Dallas area. Recovery efforts are hampered by ongoing storms, with tens of thousands still without power. At least one person was killed in a weather-related incident in Houston. The storms have been part of a particularly active May for severe weather, with numerous deaths and significant damage reported across the state.
Severe storms and tornadoes over Memorial Day weekend caused widespread damage and resulted in more than two dozen deaths across several states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia. The storms left hundreds of thousands without power, destroyed homes, and injured many, with significant impacts in areas like Valley View, Texas, and Boone County, Arkansas. Governors have declared states of emergency in the hardest-hit regions as damage assessments continue.
Tornadoes and high winds caused structural damage and left at least two people injured across several states in the Midwest, including Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri. Homes were damaged in Iowa, and there were reports of injuries near Overbrook, Kansas. The University of Iowa issued a tornado warning, and straight-line winds caused damage across parts of the state. Severe weather also knocked down trees and power lines in the Kansas City area and caused tornado damage north of the city in Smithville, Missouri.
A Maserati SUV became trapped in floodwaters on a South Side road in Columbus, Ohio, despite warning signs, after strong storms caused record rainfall. The driver was rescued by a GMC pickup and cited for driving on a closed highway and not obeying a traffic control device. The road remained closed due to flooding, with detours in place, as the area experienced ponding and flooded roads following the heavy rainfall.
Dozens of flights at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport were canceled and delayed as a winter storm brought heavy snowfall to the area, with cancellations reaching 49 arrivals and 77 departures by midday. The storm, expected to bring up to 10 inches of snow, also prompted some municipalities to declare snow emergencies, leading to school closures and program cancellations. The weather system is causing disruptions not only at the airport but also in various other aspects of daily life, with steady to heavy snowfall forecasted to continue throughout the evening and into the overnight hours.
The strong El Niño is fading and expected to vanish by late spring or early summer, with a La Niña likely to follow by late summer, potentially impacting global weather patterns. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center assigns over a 60% chance of La Niña developing by summer, rising to over 80% by late summer into early fall. This transition could lead to a hotter summer in the central and eastern U.S., a more active Atlantic hurricane season, and varied winter conditions across different regions of the U.S.
A landslide in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, destroyed a hillside home under renovation, pulled a pool and deck away from a second home, and left a pool at a third residence on the edge of a huge fissure. No victims were found, but several people were evacuated. The cause of the landslide is unknown, but it is suspected to be due to drenching winter storms saturating the ground. Southern California has experienced numerous slides and rockfalls, with more rain expected in the coming weekend.
A snowy pileup involving several vehicles, including a jack-knifed semitrailer, shut down a portion of Interstate 70 in eastern Missouri as a winter storm moved through the area, causing visibility to drop to a half mile. The westbound section of the road was expected to remain closed for at least two hours, with no immediate word on injuries. The Missouri Department of Transportation attributed the slick roads to an overwhelming of their chemicals and plowing efforts by the storm.
Some school districts in Central NY have announced the cancellation of after-school activities as snow approaches, with updates available on the School Closings and Delays page. The information is sourced directly from school officials, school websites, and news reports, and will be continuously updated as the situation changes.
Ten years after Atlanta's 2014 'Snowmageddon' storm, meteorologists reflect on the chaos caused by just 1 to 3 inches of snow, leading to thousands stranded on roads, numerous vehicle crashes, injuries, and deaths. They attribute the severity to solidly below freezing temperatures allowing snow to accumulate on roads, lack of road treatment, heavy traffic, and hilly terrain. Reflecting on the communication confusion and impact, they emphasize the need for clearer, more direct weather alerts to prevent similar chaos in the future.
A 67-year-old snowboarder, Peter Harrelson, died in a backcountry avalanche in southwest Colorado near the town of Ophir. His body was found after friends alerted emergency personnel when he didn't return home. This marks the first fatal avalanche in Colorado this year and the fourth nationwide in less than two weeks. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center reported over 300 avalanches in the San Juan Mountains since January 1, attributing the danger to fresh snow on a weak existing snowpack. Several parts of the West, including Colorado, were at considerable or high risk of avalanche.
Western Massachusetts experienced significant snowfall this Sunday, with areas like Easthampton receiving up to 11 inches. The article provides snowfall totals for various locations within Hampden and Hampshire counties and offers tips on how to accurately measure snowfall. WWLP-22News, the local NBC affiliate, provides further weather forecasts and updates on their social media channels.
At least two tornadoes have caused damage in Tennessee and Kentucky, with reports of injuries in Weakley County. Trees, power lines, and debris were reported in Cumberland City and Todd County. Weakley County experienced several house damages, and the local National Guard armory was hit. Gibson County also suffered damage, with downed trees and power lines. The storms are part of a larger system expected to bring severe weather to the South.
