Severe Weather Systems Impact Large Portions of the United States

A series of severe weather systems impacted large portions of the United States over multiple days, bringing a combination of high winds, tornadoes, heavy snow, significant flooding, and destructive wildfires. The events led to power outages, property damage, flight cancellations, emergency declarations, and at least two confirmed fatalities.

High Winds, Wildfires, and Early Storm Impacts (Late March)

A weather system moving eastward from the Great Lakes region in late March produced high winds that caused widespread power outages and property damage.

Approximately 346,000 utility customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan lost electricity. Gusts reached 66 mph at Pittsburgh International Airport and 85 mph at Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport.

Reports of property damage included a damaged gas station canopy in New Franklin, Ohio; a fallen auto parts store sign in Baldwin, Pennsylvania; and damage to a school roof in Niles, Illinois. Trees and limbs fell on homes and vehicles.

High winds, with gusts up to 65 mph, fueled multiple wildfires across Nebraska's range and grassland. One fire in Morrill County burned at least 735 square miles across four counties, destroying at least 12 structures. Other fires burned an additional 225 square miles. One fatality was reported in Arthur County. The Nebraska National Guard was deployed to assist firefighting efforts.

Upper Midwest Blizzard and Hawaii Flooding (Weekend of March 16-17)

A separate system brought heavy snow to the Upper Midwest and significant flooding to Hawaii.

Over 20 inches of snow accumulated in parts of southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin, with blizzard warnings in effect. Forecasts predicted over 2 feet of snow for central Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Road conditions were hazardous across Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Over 600 flights were canceled at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, with dozens more canceled at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen reported some areas received over 20 inches of rain by late Saturday, leading to flooding, landslides, sinkholes, and downed power lines.

Heavy rains caused severe flooding on Maui, Molokai, and the Big Island. National Guard and fire department personnel conducted floodwater rescues. Approximately 48,000 utility customers in Hawaii lost power.

East Coast Severe Thunderstorm Threat (March 17-18)

The storm system progressed eastward, bringing a threat of severe thunderstorms to the Eastern U.S.

The National Weather Service predicted a line of severe storms with damaging winds would move across much of the eastern U.S. by late Monday, March 18. The highest risk for damaging winds and tornadoes was identified for an area from parts of South Carolina to Maryland, including Raleigh, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; and Washington, D.C.

Officials in Raleigh and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, announced school closures for Monday. North Carolina's governor urged residents to enable emergency alerts.

Subsequent Severe Weather and Flooding in the Midwest (Early April)

A new, dynamic weather pattern in early April brought several rounds of severe storms to the central U.S. and Great Lakes region.

Record rainfall in Wisconsin on Wednesday, April 3, caused flooding that stranded vehicles and closed highway sections. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office advised against driving in southeastern Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency following storms that began Monday, April 1, which brought strong winds, hail, and heavy rain. At least three tornadoes were confirmed in Wisconsin.

Overnight storms on April 2-3 damaged structures in Michigan, including two ice arenas and public school buildings in Ann Arbor, and uprooted trees. Wind gusts of up to 70 mph were reported. Ann Arbor Public Schools closed due to a fiber outage.

Additional Consequences:

• A power outage at a state fish facility in northern Michigan resulted in the death of 1,750 steelhead trout.
• The Wisconsin River at Portage rose to nearly 19 feet, exceeding flood stage.
• Cheboygan Area Schools in Michigan canceled classes due to flooding.

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center described a pattern combining moist air with a strong jet stream. By the afternoon of April 3, the service had received more than 400 reports of severe weather, including hail, high winds, or tornadoes.

Major Tornado Outbreak (April 4-5)

A significant severe weather outbreak occurred across the central United States from Friday, April 4, into Saturday, April 5.

The National Weather Service reported at least 66 tornadoes across multiple states, including Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Iowa. More than 100 tornado warnings were issued. Over 50 million people were under threat of severe weather at the peak of the outbreak.

Reported Damage:

• Illinois: An EF-2 tornado caused significant damage in Lena, with many homes damaged, trees uprooted, and power lines downed. The Stephenson County Sheriff's Office reported no fatalities or serious injuries.
• Wisconsin: The NWS office in La Crosse issued 26 tornado warnings on April 4. In the town of Ringle, Marathon County, the fire chief reported 75 homes destroyed by a tornado.
• Minnesota: Tornadoes damaged approximately 30 homes in Marion Township, Olmsted County, and at least 20 homes in Stewartville.
• Oklahoma: The state's Department of Emergency Management reported damage including downed trees, powerlines, and some roof damage to homes.

Over 100,000 customers in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri lost power during the outbreak.

Ongoing Flooding Concerns in Michigan

Michigan continued to deal with significant flooding from repeated rainfall and snowmelt.

Rivers in Michigan and Wisconsin reached or were forecast to reach major or record flood levels at over 20 locations. The Muskegon River rose above record levels.

Officials were monitoring several dams under stress from high water levels, including the Croton Dam in Newaygo County (prompting mandatory evacuations), the Cheboygan dam complex, the Bellaire Dam in Antrim County, and the Hesperia Dam in west-central Michigan.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for 33 counties due to flooding.

Additional Weather Context

• Western Heat: A heat dome over the Southwest caused temperatures to rise into the triple digits in Arizona, including Phoenix, in mid-March.
• Post-Storm Cold: Forecasters anticipated a sharp drop in temperatures following the East Coast storms in mid-March, with wind chills below freezing reaching the Gulf Coast.
• Eastern Heat: Separate forecasts in early April predicted record high temperatures for New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., through the weekend of April 5-6.