Hawaii Braces for Flooding as Northeast Faces Fire Danger

Extreme weather events test disaster preparedness across the country

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:38am

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and green, depicting a vast, stormy seascape with heavy rain and fog obscuring the horizon, conveying the overwhelming scale and power of the natural world.As extreme weather events become more frequent, the power and grandeur of nature's forces are on full display, dwarfing human structures and underscoring the need for resilient communities.San Diego Today

As Hawaii grapples with the threat of heavy rain and flooding, parts of the Northeast are under red-flag fire alerts due to dry, breezy conditions. Meanwhile, the weather is expected to cooperate for the historic Artemis II splashdown off the California coast on Friday. Severe storms are also forecast to impact Texas and the Midwest in the coming days.

Why it matters

These contrasting weather events highlight the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters driven by climate change, requiring coordinated emergency response and recovery efforts across the country. The Hawaii flooding and Northeast fire danger underscore the need for proactive disaster preparedness and resilience planning in vulnerable communities.

The details

The National Weather Service has issued red-flag fire alerts for several counties in upstate New York, warning of wind gusts up to 35 mph and low humidity that could allow any fires to spread quickly. Elevated fire danger also extends to parts of the broader Northeast region. In Hawaii, the eastern edges of the Big Island and Maui have already seen 10-13 inches of rain this week, with an additional 2-4 inches expected through Friday. This heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding, landslides, and significant property damage in low-lying areas.

  • On Thursday, the red-flag fire alerts were issued for parts of New York and are expected to last until at least 6 p.m. ET.
  • This week, the eastern nose of Hawaii's Big Island has recorded 10-13 inches of rainfall, while eastern Maui has seen 6-12 inches.
  • The heavy rain in Hawaii is expected to continue through at least Friday, with widespread 2-4 inches of rainfall and some areas potentially receiving 5-10 inches.
  • The Artemis II Orion crew module is tentatively scheduled to splashdown off the coast of San Diego, California, at 8:07 p.m. ET on Friday.

The players

National Weather Service (NWS)

The federal agency responsible for weather forecasting and issuing alerts and warnings across the United States.

Josh Green

The Governor of Hawaii, who has approved a major disaster declaration to free up federal resources for emergency response and recovery efforts.

NASA

The U.S. government agency responsible for the Artemis II mission and the planned splashdown of the Orion crew module off the California coast.

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What they’re saying

“Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly.”

— National Weather Service

“The recovery from this storm will be long and difficult and will require constant collaboration with the counties and the federal administration — and I am confident that as with other recent disasters, we will benefit from the aloha we share for each other and our collaborative approach with anyone who can offer assistance.”

— Josh Green, Governor of Hawaii

What’s next

Hawaii officials and emergency responders are closely monitoring the developing weather situation and preparing for potential flooding and landslides. In the Northeast, fire departments and local authorities are on high alert for any ignitions that could quickly spread due to the dry, windy conditions. NASA and the U.S. Navy are finalizing plans for the safe splashdown and recovery of the Artemis II Orion crew module off the California coast.

The takeaway

These contrasting weather events underscore the growing challenges communities face in adapting to the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters driven by climate change. Proactive disaster preparedness, resilience planning, and coordinated emergency response will be critical to protecting vulnerable populations and infrastructure.