Flooding Threatens Hawaii as Northeast Faces Fire Danger

Severe weather patterns converge across the U.S. as Artemis II splashdown approaches

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:21am

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray and blue, depicting a vast, stormy sky and heavy rainfall dwarfing small structures in the distance, conveying the overwhelming scale and force of nature.As extreme weather patterns converge across the U.S., the power and unpredictability of nature is on full display.NYC Today

Amid red-flag fire danger alerts issued for parts of New York and a forecast of potential flooding for Hawaii, the weather is expected to cooperate for Friday's historic Artemis II splashdown off the coast of Southern California. The National Weather Service has issued red-flag alerts for several counties in upstate New York due to high winds and low humidity, while Hawaii braces for heavy rain and potential flooding. Meanwhile, a new weather pattern is developing over west Texas and the Panhandle, with severe storms expected to spread to the Midwest next week.

Why it matters

Extreme weather events like wildfires and flooding can have significant impacts on communities, infrastructure, and public safety. The contrasting weather conditions across the U.S. highlight the need for effective disaster preparedness and response efforts. Additionally, the successful splashdown of the Artemis II mission is a critical milestone for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon.

The details

The National Weather Service has issued red-flag alerts for several counties in upstate New York, including much of the Hudson Valley, due to forecasted wind gusts of up to 35 mph and relative humidity as low as 20%. This elevated fire danger is also present in other parts of the Northeast. Meanwhile, Hawaii is bracing for heavy rain and potential flooding, with the eastern edges of the Big Island and Maui already seeing 10 to 13 inches of rainfall this week. An area of low pressure is expected to strengthen and draw abundant moisture northward, potentially bringing widespread rainfall of 2 to 4 inches, and up to 10 inches in some areas, through Friday. This could lead to stream overflows, flash flooding, and property damage. In contrast, the weather forecast remains favorable for the scheduled splashdown of the Artemis II Orion crew module off the coast of Southern California on Friday.

  • On Thursday, the National Weather Service issued red-flag alerts for several counties in upstate New York.
  • This week, the eastern nose of Hawaii's Big Island has recorded 10 to 13 inches of rainfall, and the eastern edges of Maui have recorded 6 to 12 inches.
  • The heavy rain in Hawaii is expected to continue through at least Friday.
  • The Artemis II splashdown is tentatively scheduled for 8:07 p.m. ET on Friday.
  • A new weather pattern is expected to bring severe storms to west Texas and the Panhandle this weekend, potentially spreading to the Midwest next week.

The players

National Weather Service

The National Weather Service is a government agency that provides weather forecasts and warnings for the United States.

Josh Green

The governor of Hawaii, who has approved a major disaster declaration for the state ahead of the upcoming storm.

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. government agency responsible for the Artemis II mission.

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What they’re saying

“'Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.'”

— 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

The National Weather Service will continue to monitor the fire danger in the Northeast and the flooding threat in Hawaii, issuing updates and warnings as necessary. NASA will also closely track the weather conditions ahead of the Artemis II splashdown on Friday.

The takeaway

The contrasting weather patterns across the U.S., with fire danger in the Northeast and flooding threats in Hawaii, highlight the importance of disaster preparedness and the need for coordinated emergency response efforts. The successful splashdown of the Artemis II mission will also be a significant milestone for NASA's ambitious plans to return humans to the Moon.