World weather news, March 2026

4th

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (USA) recorded 39.4 mm of rain, breaking the previous daily record of 32.3 mm set in 1937, according to the National Weather Service. The airport has received a total of 96.3 mm of rain so far in 2026. Heavy rain caused flooding on multiple routes across North Texas, including Interstate 45 near Hutchins and Interstate 20 near Highway 67 in Dallas. A commercial building collapsed on the 2900 block of Kingsley Road in Garland after the roof gave way during the storm. Seven workers inside the building evacuated safely.

5th

Heavy snowfall affecting Japan since late January 2026 has caused widespread disruption across northern regions of the country, leaving at least 46 people dead and more than 550 injured, according to Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency, while damaging agricultural infrastructure across the Tohoku region and Niigata Prefecture. Most fatalities occurred during snow removal operations, including falls while clearing snow from rooftops and incidents involving falling snow or ice. Authorities have also reported hundreds of injuries linked to snow-clearing activities and accidents on snow-covered or icy surfaces. The prolonged winter storms affected multiple prefectures along the Sea of Japan coast, where deep snow accumulation has disrupted transportation, damaged buildings, and buried farmland. Northern Japan is one of the snowiest populated regions in the world. Cold air masses moving from Siberia pick up moisture while crossing the relatively warm waters of the Sea of Japan, producing heavy snow when the air reaches Japan's mountainous coastline. This process, known as the “sea-effect snow” mechanism, frequently produces deep snowfall across prefectures including Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, and Niigata. The weight of accumulated snow broke branches across apple orchards, forcing farmers to dig out damaged trees buried beneath snow. Aomori produces about 60% of Japan's apples, making orchards extremely vulnerable to snow load.

6th

At least six people have died and more than a dozen others injured after tornadoes struck Michigan and Oklahoma, in severe storms that swept across parts of the US. Officials said four people were killed in southern Michigan and two died in Oklahoma. The storms uprooted trees, downed power lines, damaged buildings and ripped the roofs off some houses. The deadly tornado that struck Union City, Michigan, was rated EF-3 after damage surveys by the National Weather Service. It is the earliest EF-3 recorded in Michigan and the strongest to strike the state in 49 years, with estimated peak winds exceeding 160 mph.

8th-10th

At least five people were reported dead across Indiana (USA) after severe storms triggered flooding and a destructive tornado during this period. Two people were killed in Lake Village, Newton County, when a tornado destroyed multiple homes on the 10th, while three others died in separate flooding incidents.

10th

A 15.2 cm (6 inches) wide hailstone was measured in Kankakee, Illinois (USA), after an intense supercell produced a corridor of giant hail across parts of northern Illinois, according to the National Weather Service in Chicago. The agency said the stone may be considered for a new Illinois state record, but its status remains unofficial pending verification.

15th

A further four people have died in Kenya after heavy rain caused widespread flooding, taking the number to have died in the past week to at least 66. The capital, Nairobi, was hit by more heavy rain overnight. Heavy rainfall over the past week has triggered flash floods as rivers have burst their banks, flooding homes and damaging roads, power- and water- lines. Some roads have been closed after bridges were damaged in Nairobi, while some schools were also flooded after the downpour on the 14th. The flooding has not just affected Kenya. More than 100 people have been killed in neighbouring Ethiopia following floods and landslides in the south of the country.

17th

A late-season blizzard affected northern Michigan (USA) between the 15th and 17th, dropping up to 132 cm of snow in parts of the Upper Peninsula. Several locations in Alger, Baraga, and Marquette counties recorded more than 100 cm of snow. At the National Weather Service office in Negaunee Township, 92 cm of snow was measured over the 15th and 16th, setting a new two-day snowfall record for the site. The previous record was 81 cm, set on 13-14 March 1997.

19th-20th

A historic March heat event affected large parts of the U.S. Southwest, setting new temperature records across Nevada, California, and Arizona. The National Weather Service said temperatures were running about 11 to 17 degC above average in parts of the region. In Las Vegas, Nevada, Harry Reid International Airport reached 35C on the 19th, setting a new March temperature record for the city. The new record came one day after Las Vegas tied its previous March high at 34.4C. Near Martinez Lake, Arizona, temperatures reached 44.4C on the 20th, setting a new highest March temperature ever recorded in the United States. The previous U.S. March record was 42.2C, set in Rio Grande City, Texas, in 1954 and later tied in California. Phoenix, Arizona, reached 40.6C, breaking its previous March record and marking the earliest triple-digit Fahrenheit temperature recorded there in March in nearly four decades. Authorities in Phoenix restricted access to several popular hiking trails from the 19th to 22nd because of dangerous heat conditions. The city said some trails would be closed or access-limited from 0800 to 1700 LT during the Extreme Heat Warning.

20th

Authorities in Tenerife have activated emergency plans as Storm Therese brings wet, windy and wintry weather to the Canary Islands. Outdoor events have been called off, roads are closed and some flights have been cancelled with weather warnings set to stay in force throughout the weekend. Significant snow has already fallen over high ground in the centre of the island around the Mount Teide volcano.

20th

A cyclone in Australia which authorities said could be among "the worst in living memory" appears to have been less damaging than feared - but concerns remain about severe flooding. Tropical Cyclone Narelle crossed the east coast of Cape York in Far North Queensland with powerful wind gusts of 220 km/h, but has since weakened from a category four system to a three, the weather bureau said.

20th-21st

Severe flooding continued across Oahu, Hawaii, as two slow-moving low-pressure systems associated with a Kona low pattern sustain heavy rainfall over the island, producing dangerous conditions, widespread evacuations, and an ongoing dam emergency. The most affected areas include the North Shore communities of Haleiwa, Waialua, and Wahiawa, where floodwaters have inundated roads, homes, and low-lying areas. More than 230 people were rescued from flooding across Oahu on the 20th, according to emergency officials. The storm produced hourly rainfall rates of 50-75 mm. Rainfall totals of 50-150 mm were recorded in parts of Oahu over a 6-hour period, with a maximum of 218 mm at Wahiawa. This contributed to rapid runoff, rising stream levels, and flooding across multiple areas.

21st-23rd

Heavy rainfall from ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle triggered flooding across parts of the Northern Territory, Australia, inundating properties, disrupting infrastructure, and prompting evacuations. As of the 23rd, the system was moving west across the Kimberley and had a high chance of redeveloping into a tropical cyclone over waters off Western Australia by the 25th, with further strengthening forecast. After moving inland over the Northern Territory, the circulation weakened while producing widespread heavy rainfall across the Top End, leading to significant flooding in multiple river catchments. Rainfall totals of over 200-230 mm were reported within 24 hours between the 22nd and 23rd in some areas, triggering rapid river rises and inundation of low-lying communities.

23rd-27th

Flooding affected Dubai, United Arab Emirates, during this nperiod, after a multi-day period of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall impacted large parts of the country. Roads were inundated, vehicles became stranded, and transport operations experienced disruptions as rainfall totals exceeded 100 mm in parts of the UAE. Several UAE stations recorded more than 100 mm during the event, while Jebel Yanas in northern UAE measured 244 mm - more than double the typical annual rainfall range of 60-100 mm for parts of the region.

29th-30th

Severe thunderstorms accompanied by hail, strong winds, lightning, and isolated tornadoes affected northern Vietnam, leaving four people dead and nine injured. Fatalities were reported in Tuyen Quang, Son La, and Quang Ninh, while widespread structural and agricultural damage was recorded across multiple provinces. Between 1900 LT/29th and 1900 LT/30th, several stations recorded rainfall exceeding 50 mm, including 70 mm in Bac Ninh and 58 mm in Quang Ninh.

29th-30th

Heavy rainfall and strong convective weather affected southern China, with severe thunderstorms, hail, and wind gusts exceeding 110 km/h reported in Guangdong and surrounding regions. Thunderstorms with wind gusts reaching force 8-10, and locally force 11-12, were recorded in central and southern Guangdong, while snow and sleet occurred across parts of the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In Guangxi, heavy rainfall was recorded in Yulin, Guigang, and Nanning, where hourly rainfall totals reached 30-70 mm. Hail was reported in the western and southern parts of the region.

World weather news, February 2026

1st

Record-breaking cold affected nearly all of Florida (USA) at dawn, when minimum temperatures fell to between -5C and -3C across central and eastern regions. The National Weather Service Melbourne Office reported that daily records were broken or tied at all of their official climate observation sites. Daytona Beach, Leesburg, and Sanford all recorded -5C, Orlando registered -4C, Melbourne -4C, while Vero Beach and Fort Pierce both bottomed out at -3C. Several of these readings set new all-time February lows, replacing records that had stood since the early to mid-twentieth century. The outbreak was caused by a dense Arctic air mass that surged southward behind a rapidly intensifying storm system over the western Atlantic. As the cyclone moved up the East Coast, strong north-northwesterly winds transported sub-freezing air into the Southeast US.

2nd

Lithuania recorded its lowest air temperatures in nearly three decades as severe cold gripped much of the country, the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service said. According to the service, temperatures this morning fell to -34.3C in Seduva, in the Radviliskis district, -34C in Ukmerge, and -33.9C in Joniskis. A preliminary analysis of archival data shows that lower temperatures were last recorded on 8 February 1996, when temperatures dropped to -35C in Tauragnai. The national all-time low temperature record stands at -42.9C at Utena, on 1 February 1956.

9th

A total of 18 people have died as a result of a period of extreme cold weather in New York City, its mayor has said. Since late January, the city has endured a cold snap, including 13 days of temperatures of 0C or below - one of the longest stretches of sub-zero weather New York has seen in six decades. The US National Weather Service (NWS) said, external temperatures would increase to about 0C for the most part of the week, following persistent freezing temperatures on the 9th. It added that highs were normally around 4C at this time in the year. An Arctic airmass brought hazardous sub-zero wind chills to the region over the weekend, bringing a risk of hypothermia and frostbite.

9th-10th

Severe thunderstorms struck parts of southeastern Brazil, producing short-duration, intense rainfall that triggered landslides and flooding across parts of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. Authorities have confirmed 10 deaths in Minas Gerais linked to the storm impacts. In Eugenopolis, a landslide buried a residence, killing four members of the same family, while in Muriae, approximately 92 mm of rain fell within about three hours, causing structural collapse and at least one fatality.

11th-12th

A lorry-driver was killed by a falling tree as Storm Nils swept across western France, leaving 900,000 homes without power. Gales of 162 km/h were reported near France's south-west coast, and Alpine ski resorts in the east closed because of the high risk of avalanche, including La Plagne. In Portugal a section of the A1 motorway linking Lisbon to Porto collapsed when a river burst its banks near Coimbra. The storms caused significant disruption to transport in Spain, with schools suspended in Catalonia in the north-east, the Basque country on red alert for waves of up to 10 m on the north-west coast, and winds of 148 km/h recorded at Alicante in the south-east. A number of people were hurt in accidents in Spain.

13th

At least 40 fatalities have been confirmed, and over 18,800 homes have been destroyed as of today, since Tropical Cyclone Gezani made landfall over Madagascar on the 10th. The storm remains active and is forecast to continue intensifying while now being located over open waters.

16th

Five people have been injured after a train derailed in southern Switzerland, in an incident that could have been caused by an avalanche, police say. The derailment happened near the village of Goppenstein - which is under an avalanche warning - around 0700 LT, officials said. All 29 passengers have been rescued, while one of the injured was sent to hospital. Switzerland has experienced heavy rain and snow in recent days, and the country's Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research says the avalanche risk is very high across the Alps.

20th

Five people were killed in a series of avalanches in the Austrian Alps as heavy snowfall hit the region today. Austria has now seen at least 21 avalanche-related deaths this winter, while dozens of fatalities have been recorded across the Alps. The significant snowfall in the region also caused power cuts and transport chaos, particularly in south-east Austria. The Red Cross was deployed to help those stuck in traffic jams in the state of Styria, where a motoring organisation described the roads as "virtually inaccessible to private vehicles". Vienna International Airport temporarily closed in the morning, and afternoon services were "disrupted". The avalanche death toll in the Alps has been higher than usual this year.

23rd

A major storm hit the US east coast, bringing record-breaking snow that caused disruptions for millions and thousands of flight cancellations. Parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts have seen nearly 94 cm of snowfall, with more than 19 inches in New York City's Central Park, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. Weather warnings stretched from North Carolina to northern Maine, with some in place further north in parts of eastern Canada. More than 600,000 properties on the US east coast endured power outages, while the Boston Globe - a major US newspaper - said it will not go to print for the first time in its 153-year history due to the storm. Rhode Island, the smallest US state, appeared to have received the most snow during the storm. In fact, it has become the worst snowstorm to ever hit the state, according to local media. Providence, the state capital, received 90 cm of snow, dwarfing the existing record for the single greatest snowstorm - 72.6 cm set in February 1978. A ban on non-essential travel was implemented in Rhode Island and also in neighbouring Connecticut. Later in the day, also imposed a travel ban. The site shows that 98% of flights out of LaGuardia airport were cancelled and 91% of flights from JFK - New York City's primary airport hubs that typically see more than 335,000 passengers daily. The storm brought around 48 cm of snow at both locations. The vast majority of flights were also cancelled out of Boston, Newark in New Jersey and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.

25th

At least 32 people have been killed in landslides and flooding caused by heavy rain in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The two worst affected cities are Juiz de Fora, where 12 homes were swept away in a mudslide, and Uba, where a river burst its banks. Rescue workers are searching for at least 38 people who are still unaccounted for and shelters are being set up for thousands of people left homeless. Meteorologists say that the rain which has fallen so far in the region this month is already double that of the average expected for February, and more rain is forecast for the coming days.

World weather news, January 2026

2nd-3rd

Record-breaking King Tides struck the San Francisco Bay Area and parts of the Northern California coast, causing widespread coastal flooding across multiple counties. Tide gauges across the region recorded water levels up to 0.76 m above normal, breaking multiple records and prompting road closures, flood warnings, and emergency advisories.

5th-6th

A severe winter storm has killed at least six people and disrupted transport across Europe. Heavy snow, freezing rain, and temperatures below -10C caused deadly accidents in France, flight cancellations in Paris and Amsterdam, along with widespread power and travel disruptions. Five fatalities were reported in France following multiple collisions caused by icy roads and black ice, including several crashes in the southwest and in the Paris region. The sixth fatality was a woman who died in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, after being hit by a tree that collapsed under the weight of the snowfall.

7th

Australia is enduring one of its most intense heatwaves since the 2019-20 Black Summer, with extreme temperatures, strong winds and dry lightning fuelling catastrophic fire danger across multiple states. Emergency-level bushfires have been reported in South Australia and Victoria. A vast mass of hot, dry air continues to move eastwards from Western Australia into South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, generating widespread extreme heat and dangerous fire weather. Maximum temperatures are reaching 45C across inland regions.

9th

Kosovo has seen prolonged, intense rainfall this week leading to widespread flooding. Cities, towns and villages were inundated as rivers overflowed their banks. Communities were cut off and emergency services rescued people trapped in their homes. People lost their water supply as well as electricity in the Drenas, Malisheva and Rahovec municipalities after flood water entered electrical substations. Heavy rainfall occurred from the 3rd to the 5th, during which official weather stations at Junik and Gllogjan in the west of the country recorded 231.5 mm and 151.6 mm of rain respectively within two days. A further 130 mm fell in the region of Junik on the 6th, exacerbating the flooding with landslips.

10th

A lower-end F2 tornado struck the Guatupe neighbourhood in Sao Jose dos Pinhais, according to the Paraná Environmental Technology and Monitoring System. The tornado damaged around 350 homes, impacting about 1200 people, and left at least 2 people with minor injuries. Strong winds and heavy rains also affected the region, downing at least 57 trees in Curitiba, with winds reaching 70 km/h through the day.

11th

One person has died and 300 properties have been destroyed in bushfires that have torn across south-east Australia. The fires have raged in dozens of locations across the country for several days, mostly in the state of Victoria, but also in New South Wales, burning through land almost twice the size of Greater London.

11th

Thousands of tourists have been stranded in Finland's Lapland as a severe cold spell has grounded flights out of one of its airports. Departures from Lapland's Kittila airport that would have ferried winter travellers back home were all cancelled on Sunday as temperatures did not go above -35C today. The extreme cold makes it hard to de-ice planes, while maintenance and refuelling equipment on the ground can freeze. Finnish Lapland usually has a winter average temperature of -14C, with occasional dips to -30C, according to the nation's tourism board.

17th

More than 200 people have died in weeks of torrential rain and severe flooding across southern Africa, with Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe bearing the worst impacts. The prolonged La Nina pattern has intensified the region's rainy season, leaving widespread damage to homes, roads, crops and public infrastructure. As of today, the cumulative death toll across the three countries has surpassed 200. National emergency services continue to warn that river levels remain critically high and that further rainfall could extend the crisis. The flooding was driven by a combination of regional and global meteorological factors. Persistent La Nina conditions in the equatorial Pacific strengthened the Intertropical Convergence Zone over southern tropical latitudes, drawing deep moisture from the southwestern Indian Ocean into the subcontinent. December 2025 had already been unusually wet across much of southern Africa, with several provinces recording rainfall well above the monthly average and soils approaching full saturation.

17th-19th

Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms swept across New South Wales and southeast Queensland (Australia), forcing evacuations around Sydney's Narrabeen Lagoon and causing one death at Macquarie Pass. The storm system brought flash flooding, landslides, and dozens of rescues as the NSW State Emergency Service continued operations across inundated coastal suburbs. The heaviest rainfall struck Sydney's northern beaches, where Narrabeen Lagoon overflowed late on the 17th, prompting an emergency evacuation order.

20th-21st

At least 5 people have been reported dead after the heaviest rain in over 70 years struck parts of Tunisia, dropping over 200 mm of rainfall in about 48 hours. A red alert was issued for the Grand Tunis area as well as the Nabeul and Monastir provinces as rainfall and floods continued into the 21st.

21st

Prolonged heavy rain affecting New Zealand prompted MetService to raise heavy rain warnings to the highest alert level today, amid a multi-day rainfall event and the influence of a tropical low. Red warnings represent the highest level in New Zealand's severe weather warning system and are reserved for extreme events where significant impacts and major disruption are expected. Parts of Northland have already seen more than 300 mm of rain since the start of the 18th, with a further 120 mm possible today, MetService said. Coromandel has received 150 to 200 mm of rain in 24 hours.

21st

Parts of Russia's Far East have been buried under its heaviest snowfall in 60 years. In Kamchatka Peninsula, locals were seen shovelling in the streets, as rescuers helped people trapped in their homes. Public transportation was partially suspended in the regional capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, after the height of the snow reached approximately 3 metres.

21st

Storm Harry caused significant flooding and damage across the Mediterranean, with Malta, Lipari, Corsica, and Catalonia experiencing severe weather conditions. In Malta, residents woke on the 20th to fallen trees and damaged buildings, with coastal towns such as Marsascala, Sliema and Birzebbuga battered by strong winds and high seas. On the Italian island of Lipari, towering waves crashed onto the seafront, forcing closures and disrupting boat services. Further north, Corsica saw torrents of rain push rivers past their banks, flooding parts of the island after more than 200 mm fell in a single day. In Spain's Catalonia region, waves up to six metres pounded beaches while heavy rain flooded streets in Girona, capping a week of turbulent Mediterranean weather.

22nd-23rd

Two people have died and several are feared buried after landslides in New Zealand's North Island. The deaths were reported at Welcome Bay, while rescue workers are still searching through rubble at a different site in a popular campground on Mount Maunganui. The landslides were triggered by heavy rains over the last few days, which led to flooding and power outages across the North Island. One minister said the east coast resembled "a war zone".

25th-26th

A dangerous winter storm has swept across the USA, leaving at least 17 people dead and cutting power to hundreds of thousands of homes. Schools and roads across the country have been closed and flights have been cancelled as "life threatening" conditions stretched from Texas to New England, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). At least two people died of hypothermia in Louisiana, and other deaths linked to the storm have been reported in Texas, Tennessee and Kansas. As of the afternoon of the 25th, more than 800,000 households had lost power, and more than 11,000 flights were cancelled. Widespread heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain, which is a dangerous phenomenon where cooled rain droplets freeze instantly on surfaces, could last for days, and the storm could affect around 180 million Americans - more than half the population. Canadians have also been hit with heavy snow and hundreds of cancelled flights. Officials estimate that there will be 15-30 cm of snowfall in the province of Ontario. While places in the north such as the Dakotas and Minnesota are used to below- freezing temperatures in winter, it is unusual to see such extreme cold in states like Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee, where temperatures are around 15-20 degC below normal. The polar vortex - a ring of strong westerly winds that form above the Arctic every winter containing a pool of very cold air - led to the powerful storm, according to meteorologists. When the winds are strong, they stay in place, however when the winds weaken, the vortex loops further south and cold air plunges toward the USA.

25th-27th

At least ten people were killed across Japan as heavy snowfall and repeated cold waves affected wide areas of the country. Sapporo surpassed total accumulations of over 1 m for the first time since 2022 on the 25th, while accumulations at Hakkoda Mountains in Aomori reached around 4.5 m by the 26th. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said that a series of strong cold waves produced widespread snowfall across Hokkaido, northern Tohoku, and the Hokuriku region. Although the main snowfall peak has passed, accumulations have already exceeded the annual average in many observation areas. Roads were buried across the region as snowfall totals reached the first floors of homes in some areas. Sapporo City in Hokkaido recorded 54 cm of snow in the 24 hours through Sunday (25th) night, setting a new January record. Meanwhile, total accumulation reached 112 cm by the evening, surpassing the 100 cm mark for the first time since 2022.

28th

At least five people have died after Storm Kristin tore through central and northern Portugal, causing flooding, landslides and widespread damage. The storm, which the government described as an "extreme climatic event", left schools shuttered, buildings damaged and travel severely disrupted. Heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 150 km/h caused more than 3,000 weather-related incidents across the country, civil protection authorities said. Several people were struck by falling trees or debris. The strongest winds were recorded at the Monte Real air base in Leiria, where gusts of 178 km/h were recorded before the monitoring equipment was destroyed. Officials said the location was likely the storm's entry point to mainland Portugal. After crossing Portugal, Storm Kristin moved east into Spain - bringing with it snow, rain and strong winds. The storm caused widespread disruption across the country, with schools, roads and train lines closed and hundreds of thousands without power.