From tornadoes to blizzards, severe weather batters parts of the US

March 16, 2026

A massive multi-hazard storm system is battering the eastern United States, bringing tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and blizzard conditions that have placed over 34 million people under tornado watches and millions more under winter storm warnings. The system has already dumped nearly three feet of snow across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Michigan, while simultaneously threatening severe weather from Florida to New Jersey. The storm's impact has been far-reaching, causing nearly 4,600 flight cancellations, leaving over 406,000 customers without electricity, and prompting emergency declarations and school closures across multiple states.

Who is affected

Over 34 million people under tornado watches (Florida to New Jersey)
Over 11 million people under blizzard warnings
4 million people under winter storm warnings
More than 406,000 customers without power (primarily in Michigan, Virginia, and North Carolina)
Nearly 16,000 air travelers affected by flight cancellations and delays
Residents of Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, northern Virginia, Florida panhandle, and Washington DC
Students and families in Raleigh, Chapel Hill (North Carolina), Wisconsin, and Minnesota school districts
Canadians in central Ontario and south-western Quebec
Residents of southern California, Arizona, and Nevada facing extreme heat
Nebraskans affected by wildfires (at least one fatality reported)
Hawaii residents impacted by record rainfall

What action is being taken

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has authorized the state's National Guard to support emergency operations
Approximately 30 National Guard troops are deployed in Nebraska to combat multiple wildfires
Schools are closed in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and some districts in Wisconsin and Minnesota
The Washington Monument is closing early at 13:00 local time
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein is encouraging residents to enable emergency alerts on their phones
The National Weather Service is issuing tornado warnings, watches, and winter storm warnings across multiple regions

Why it matters

This is potentially one of the most significant weather events to hit the United States so far this year, affecting approximately 200 million people across multiple states. The storm's unprecedented scope combines life-threatening winter conditions in the eastern states with dangerous heat waves and wildfire risks in the western states, creating simultaneous emergencies that strain resources and endanger lives. The extreme weather has already resulted in at least one fatality, massive power outages, transportation disruptions, and property damage spanning nearly 1,000 square miles from wildfires alone, demonstrating the increasingly severe and widespread nature of weather events impacting the nation.

What's next

The bulk of the storm is expected to move off the east coast into the Atlantic by Tuesday, with abnormally cold weather to follow. An extreme heat watch is scheduled to go into effect for parts of southern California, Arizona, and Nevada later this week, with temperatures in southwest Arizona expected to reach up to 109°F and Phoenix potentially experiencing its earliest day exceeding 100°F in nearly four decades on Wednesday.

Read full article from source: BBC