Disaster

A major wildfire burning on one of California’s Channel Islands remains under investigation, after U.S. Coast Guard details suggested a stranded sailor’s distress flares may have played a role. The sailor was rescued from Santa Rosa Island as crews continued tracking the destructive fire’s cause and impact.

A series of strong tornadoes swept across parts of Nebraska and Iowa Sunday evening into Sunday night, damaging or destroying homes in several communities and triggering rescues as the severe weather threat continued into Monday.

Flash flooding can transform a calm creek into a dangerous torrent in under an hour. Mountain funnels, orographic lifting, wildfire burn scars, and even urban drainage limits can all intensify risk—while detection and communication challenges may reduce warning time.

Colorado residents posted videos showing a late-season storm that dropped more than two feet of snow in some locations, arriving after what had been described as the state’s driest winter in 40 years.

A series of tornadoes struck central and southern Mississippi, damaging hundreds of buildings and leaving residents describing scenes of “total devastation,” including destruction at a church in Purvis.

A sudden pyroclastic flow from the 8,000-foot Mayon volcano sent rocks, ash and gas downslope, prompting evacuations as ash blanketed more than 87 villages across three towns. The volcano, among the most active in the Philippines, has seen mild eruptions since January.

Southern Georgia is experiencing exceptional drought, the most severe category on the U.S. Drought Monitor. Meteorologist Sara Tonks explains that, beyond the lack of moisture, Hurricane Helene’s widespread tree damage left additional fuel on the ground—helping set the stage for wildfires to grow in acreage burned.

Drone footage from Runaway Bay, Texas, shows a swath of destruction after the National Weather Service classified the tornado as an EF2. Officials reported at least two deaths in North Texas, while dozens of families lost their homes. The tornado reached maximum winds of 130 mph and remained on the ground for about four minutes, carving a path nearly a mile and a half long.

Storm chasers recorded unusual footage of two tornadoes spinning close together near Braman, Oklahoma, as residents were warned to take cover. Local officials reported damage in the area, though the town itself was not directly hit.

Videos from Cheboygan County, Michigan show homes and vacation cabins swamped by flooding, while along Black Lake, sheets of ice appear to have pierced into structures. Families have described learning about the destruction through social media as record weather contributes to the flooding.