Author: Cabarrus Weekly

FLORIDA — A historic and rapidly worsening drought is gripping the state, with more than 85% of Florida now classified in at least severe drought, prompting officials to declare a state of emergency as wildfire activity surges statewide. Extreme Drought Dominates North Florida from Tallahassee to Jacksonville The most intense conditions are centered across North…

ILLINOIS — Multiple tornadic supercells are actively tracking across eastern Illinois this evening, with tornado warnings in effect for communities including Casey and Yale, while a third storm west of Flat Rock shows increasing long-term tornado potential. Tornado Warnings Cover Casey and Yale as Rotating Storm Intensifies Radar imagery shows a powerful supercell moving through…

UNITED STATES — A significant shift in the latest 06Z Euro-AI ensemble guidance is bringing a potential late-February nor’easter closer to the East Coast, increasing the snowfall signal from the Mid-Atlantic through southern New England. New ensemble data valid through early Tuesday, February 24, 2026, shows a more consolidated and coastal-focused snow band compared to…

OKLAHOMA — A dangerous fire weather setup is unfolding across the Southern Plains today, with a widespread Red Flag Fire Warning stretching across nearly all of Oklahoma, including Tulsa and Oklahoma City, as critical wildfire conditions intensify. The latest map shows virtually the entire state shaded in red/pink, signaling extreme fire danger. Areas surrounding Tulsa,…

MICHIGAN — The Mackinac Bridge was closed again Thursday morning after dangerous falling ice created unsafe travel conditions across the span connecting Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The latest closure occurred around 10:02 AM on February 19, 2026, marking another disruption tied to harsh winter weather impacting the Straits of Mackinac. Falling Ice Creates Hazard…

INDIANA — A significant upgrade to today’s severe weather outlook has placed portions of central and southern Indiana under a Level 3 out of 5 “Enhanced Risk,” with forecasters warning that multiple tornadoes — including a few strong EF-2+ tornadoes — are possible between 2 PM and 11 PM ET. The latest severe weather graphic…

FLORIDA — The latest U.S. Drought Monitor update paints a worsening picture across the Tampa Bay region, with extreme drought conditions now firmly established in southern Pinellas County and parts of Tampa, while most surrounding areas continue to deteriorate despite isolated improvements. According to the newest drought classification map, heavy rainfall over the past week…

NORTH CAROLINA — A volatile severe weather setup is unfolding across parts of the Deep South today, with the greatest tornado risk centered near the nose of a strengthening 850mb jet across Mississippi and western Alabama. Long-Track Supercell Potential Near the 850mb Jet Model guidance highlights a corridor of enhanced low-level wind fields stretching from…

NORTH CAROLINA — A dramatic split between two major forecast models is raising eyebrows in the meteorological community, with one projecting over 30 inches of snow near Washington, D.C., while another shows only light, melting snowfall across the same region. Euro Model Shows Limited Snowfall for D.C. The 06z European model (ECMWF) depicts a relatively…

NORTH CAROLINA — A complex western U.S. storm system fueled by Arctic air, a strengthening ridge, and a moisture-rich subtropical jet is taking shape, and its eastward evolution could influence rainfall and temperature swings across North Carolina heading into early March. Western Ridge and Developing Storm Set the Stage Satellite analysis highlights a strong ridge…