Extreme Weather Sweeps Across US, Impacting Millions

Blizzards, tornadoes, and triple-digit heat put over 200 million Americans under threat on Monday

Mar. 16, 2026 at 6:09pm by Ben Kaplan

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Chaotic weather conditions from coast to coast in the U.S. - including surprising heat in California, damaging winds around Washington D.C., blizzards in the Midwest, and torrential rains in Hawaii - put more than half the American public in the path of extreme weather on Monday. Thousands of flights were canceled, schools closed early, and federal agencies told workers to go home early as the storms battered the country.

Why it matters

The extreme weather events highlight the growing threat of climate change, with more frequent and severe storms, temperature swings, and other hazardous conditions impacting communities across the United States. The widespread disruptions to travel, infrastructure, and daily life underscore the need for better preparedness and resilience in the face of these challenges.

The details

The storm system that brought blizzard conditions to parts of the Midwest is now barreling toward the East Coast, with the potential for strong winds and tornadoes. In the Southwest, a heat dome is pushing temperatures well into the triple digits in Arizona and California much earlier than usual. Meanwhile, unrelenting rains in Hawaii have triggered landslides, flooding, and a collapsed home on Maui.

  • On Monday, over 3,000 flights were canceled nationwide due to the extreme weather.
  • Parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota saw up to 2 feet of snow from the blizzard conditions on Monday.
  • The East Coast is expected to see sharply colder weather and potential for heavy snow behind the cold front on Tuesday.

The players

AccuWeather

A private weather service that calculated more than 200 million people were under threat of dangerous weather on Monday.

National Weather Service

The government agency that issued warnings about the potential for strong winds and tornadoes with the approaching storm system.

Josh Stein

The governor of North Carolina, who urged residents to enable emergency alerts on their phones ahead of expected 70 mph wind gusts.

Richard Bissen

The mayor of Maui County, who reported that some areas of Maui received more than 20 inches of rain over the weekend, triggering landslides and flooding.

Jesse Wald

A Maui resident and real estate broker who recorded video of a coastal road's collapse due to the heavy rains.

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What they’re saying

“Wind is the primary threat, but within any of these areas of strong wind there could be some embedded tornadoes and even the potential for a tornado to develop ahead of the line.”

— Evan Bentley, Meteorologist, National Weather Service (fox13now.com)

“This is a heat wave that we have not seen before in recorded history in the Southwest.”

— Dan DePodwin, Meteorologist, AccuWeather (fox13now.com)

“In the 20 years I've been here I've never seen this much rain.”

— Jesse Wald, Maui resident and real estate broker (fox13now.com)

What’s next

The National Weather Service has issued tornado watches and warnings for parts of the East Coast as the storm system continues to move through the region, with the potential for damaging winds and heavy snowfall in some areas.

The takeaway

The extreme weather events unfolding across the United States underscore the growing threat of climate change and the need for communities to be better prepared for more frequent and severe storms, temperature swings, and other hazardous conditions. As the impacts of a changing climate become more pronounced, it will be crucial for policymakers, emergency responders, and the public to work together to build resilience and mitigate the risks posed by these extreme weather events.