Weather

An October nor'easter is developing in the Atlantic, where it will bring high surf, rip currents, coastal flooding, winds and rain to parts of the East Coast for several days this week. The National Hurricane Center has it highlighted as an area to watch this week for potential subtropical development. However, regardless of development, this system will bring dangerous conditions to the East Coast this week. Fortunately, this system doesn't look to be as strong as the one in September. But the bad news? It could linger for much of the week, so impacts could have a longer duration than you would think. There are currently coastal flood alerts across parts of coastal North Carolina and Virginia, where anywhere from 1 to 4 feet of inundation is possible. Key takeawaysWe do not expect this storm to be as strong as the late September nor'easter. The area most likely impacted the longest appears to be from the Delmarva Peninsula to eastern North Carolina, with more models pointing to primarily eastern North Carolina.

Thousands evacuate Southern California as wind-fueled fires burn homesFire crews in Southern California gained ground Saturday on a wind-driven blaze that charred hills and damaged or destroyed at least six large coastal homes, allowing evacuation orders to be lifted and thousands of people to return home. The fast-moving Norte Fire sparked the previous day in San Clemente amid hot, strong Santa Ana winds that drove it into San Juan Capistrano, prompting the evacuation of about 16,000 residents. Firefighters work to douse a house fire during the Norte Fire on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, in San Juan Capistrano, Calif.(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Hundreds of firefighters deployed to combat the blaze in the hills of Orange County. At one home engulfed in smoke and fire, photos showed them using hoses to try to douse the flames. Most of the evacuations were lifted Saturday evening, except for one street in San Clemente. The Norte Fire was one of several in the region hit by the Santa Anas, which blow from the interior and toward the coast.

Marine technician crosses world's roughest sea to document AntarcticaFor Andrew Naslund, Antarctica is his “favorite place in the world.”He’s a marine technician for Scripps Institution of Oceanography. And while not a professional photographer, he’s capturing Antarctica’s beauty along his research journey. Andrew Naslund, Scripps Institution of Oceanography marine technician.(Andrew Naslund)The researchNaslund spends months aboard a research vessel, the R/V Roger Revelle (AGOR 24), which he describes as “basically a floating laboratory.”“The purpose of this ship is to provide a platform for scientists to reach some of the most remote reaches of our oceans,” Naslund said. A big part of his role is assisting the scientists to safely deploy and recover their instrumentation over the side of the ship. He also keeps track of incoming data, ensuring the scientists are getting the information that they came out there to get. “[We’re] a mobile weather station. So anywhere that we travel in the world, we’re collecting meteorological weather data,” he says.

Wander the world one snapshot at a time. Explore striking moments of weather in motion in this week's slideshow. ByAda Wood•9 hours agoUpdated: October 18, 2026, 7:05 am EDTPublished: October 18, 2026, 7:00 am EDTA view of the Garonne River at a historically low level due to a lack of rainfall, successive summer heat waves and the prefecture's low-water management policy in Toulouse, in southwestern France, on Oct. 14, 2026.(Pat Batard/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)F​rom a river in need of rainfall in France to a mountain range with changing leaves in Poland, it has been another busy week of weather around the world. Here are some of the most jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring weather photos we found this week. A view of the Tatra Mountains from the village of Niedzica, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, on Oct. 14, 2026.(Sergei GAPON/AFP via Getty Images)Rain drops cover fall leaves in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026.(Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)Chilies hang from branches in a rooftop garden in Lalitpur, Nepal, on Oct. 14, 2026, following the complete withdrawal of the monsoon. (Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images)A poisonous fly agaric grows in the Harz National Park.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 launch creates a glowing "space jellyfish" over St. Augustine, Florida.(Bryan Lacouture)How well have you been paying attention to the weather this week? Here are five questions that will test your knowledge of what's been going on. QUESTIONSA _____ weighing in at 3,156 pounds is now a contender for a world record. How many of the last seven champions of Major League Baseball have all been from southern or warmer-weather cities? It is best to clean your gutters when roughly what percent of the leaves near your home have fallen? When the temperature is expected to drop to 32 degrees or lower, a _____ is issued. What was the cause of the giant, glowing jellyfish that appeared in the morning sky on Tuesday?.... ANSWERSPumpkinAll seven70%Freeze warningA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocketHow did you do this week? Come back for more exciting weather questions next week, or risk showing up to trivia night unprepared! Get More of Our News on GoogleSet The Weather Company as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value.

Underwater umbrellas could protect coral reefs from marine heat wavesCoral reef bleaching has been a recurring theme in headlines in recent years as our oceans’ most diverse ecosystems struggle with marine heatwaves and warming waters, but a team of researchers found a surprisingly simple defense against this growing threat: underwater umbrellas. Just like how humans might seek shelter under a parasol on a hot day, providing shade to corals residing at the seafloor can add a level of protection against sunlight, which can worsen coral bleaching. (MORE: Coral Reefs Are Dying And Losing Their Color. This Is The Reason Why.)By installing canopies made of PVC pipes and shade cloth, researchers reduced the amount of sunlight reaching covered corals in the Florida Keys by 60% while still allowing enough sun to feed the algae that live on and provide food for the corals.  An underwater canopy protects a coral in the Florida Keys from sunlight(Karen Neely)While these canopies reduce the impact of sunlight on coral bleaching, they do not protect the corals from cumulative heat stress from the warm water surrounding them, making this only a partial solution to the overall problem.

The first real taste of fall is settling in for millions, including a few first frosts and freezes of the season for some in the Midwest and East. Here's what temperatures look like across the nation right now: Get ready to bundle upA powerful cold front has bought cool temperatures to the Central Plains and eastern U. S. this weekend. Highs in the South are in the 60s and 70s after being in the 80s and 90s Tuesday - Friday. The Northeast and Great Lakes will see temperatures drop to the 50s and 60s, with some scattered highs in the 40s. Cool, crisp morningsWhen you head out in the morning after this cold front arrives, you might have to scrape some frost off your windshield. Get More of Our News on GoogleSet The Weather Company as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value. Morning lows will stay in the 40s and even 30s for much of the eastern half of the country. Get those jackets out because it may come as quite a shock to feel these temperatures. Some will see their first frost or freeze of the season, including parts of the Northeast I-95 corridor's suburbs.

We have the maps you need to track all the systems ongoing in the Pacific and Atlantic below. Tracking the AtlanticTropical development areasSea surface temperatures Wind shear These are areas of strong wind shear, the difference in wind speed and direction with height, which are shown in purple. High wind shear is hostile to mature tropical cyclones and those trying to develop.(MORE: What is wind shear?)Get More of Our News on GoogleSet The Weather Company as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value. Dry, dusty airAnother nemesis of tropical systems is dry air. In hurricane season, plumes of dust-laden air stream across the basin from Africa's Sahara Desert, as you can see in the map below. This sinking, dry air squelches thunderstorm development, the building blocks of tropical storms and hurricanes. So areas in the brown shading below are generally unfavorable for development. Atlantic tracks so far this seasonThese are the tracks of systems that were at least tropical or subtropical storms so far in the Atlantic Basin.

THE TAKEAWAYThe Norte Fire erupted in Orange County on Friday, scorching homes and injuring firefighters. Evacuations were issued as multiple other wildfires rage in Southern California, fueled by the first Santa Ana wind event of the season. All evacuation orders for San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano were lifted Saturday evening as crews continued battling the fast-moving blaze. LOS ANGELES — The Norte Fire erupted Friday and scorched several homes in Southern California, triggering mandatory evacuations that have since been lifted as crews continue battling the blaze amid the season’s first Santa Ana wind event. next SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 16: A firefighter sprays water on a burning home after the Norte Fire moved through the area on October 16, 2026 in San Juan Capistrano, California.

Strong winds are expected to sweep across Alberta on Saturday, with gusts reaching up to 90 km/h by the evening, possibly going as high as 100 km/h along the immediate foothills. The strongest winds are expected to develop as a cold front passes through the province on Saturday morning, bringing increasingly gusty conditions throughout the day. Drivers should be prepared for unexpected crosswinds, especially on exposed highways where strong gusts can make travel difficult. CHECK OUT: Canada announces a 'historic' $1.2B investment for ocean conservationWhat's driving the strong winds? A Pacific low is expected to redevelop over northern Alberta, bringing Pacific air to the area. At the same time, a sharp difference in air pressure between high pressure off the coast of British Columbia and a trough over the Prairies is causing winds in Alberta to accelerate. When air pressure varies significantly over a short distance, air moves faster between areas of high and low pressure, resulting in stronger winds. Content continues belowSEE ALSO: Feel like you're seeing more spiders this fall?

Typhoon Champi has an opportunity to grow into the world’s strongest tropical cyclone of 2026. The system in the western Pacific Ocean is already a powerhouse with 240 km/h winds, the equivalent of a high-end Category 4 storm. Further intensification is expected over the next 24 to 48 hours, and Champi will soon become the world’s seventh Category 5 storm of the year. DON’T MISS: What’s the difference between hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones? Typhoon Champi rapidly intensified as it approached the tiny Pacific island of Guam this weekend, threatening the U. S. territory with destructive winds and flash flooding. Its maximum sustained winds doubled from 110 km/h to 220 km/h in just 24 hours. The system is in a highly favourable environment for strengthening, and forecasters now expect Champi to achieve the equivalent of a Category 5 storm within the next 24 hours. If the current predictions come to pass, this typhoon would be the world’s seventh Category 5 storm so far in 2026.

California's first Santa Ana wind event of the fall will wrap up this weekend. Gusty winds blasting the Los Angeles Basin increase the threat for rapidly spreading wildfires. Parts of Southern California and the Sierra Nevada could still see pockets of gusty winds, hot temperatures and dry air Sunday. (MORE: What are Santa Ana winds, and why are they so dangerous?)Here's the latestSeveral brush fires burn in Southern California Saturday, including the Bryson Fire, which has burned nearly 150 acres as of Saturday afternoon. The Norte Fire in Orange County, California, which has already impacted several homes, has burned over 500 acres. The Henderson Fire in San Diego County has burned over 3,000 acres and is 20% contained, also as of Saturday afternoon. Firefighters worked to contain two other fires that had sparked Thursday afternoon and triggered evacuation orders in the city of Azusa, north of L. A., and Camp Pendleton near San Diego, The Associated Press reported. Preparation for impacts — including damage to trees and power lines, blown away lawn furniture and holiday decorations and potential fire growth — should be rushed to completion.

THE TAKEAWAYA nor’easter is expected to begin to form off the Carolina coast late Sunday. The system’s track and intensity remain highly uncertain but showers, gusty winds, high surf and coastal flooding could impact areas from Florida through the Carolinas to New Jersey. Mandatory evacuation issued for all visitors on Hatteras Island along the North Carolina Outer Banks. This storm could take on subtropical characteristics later next week. A nor’easter is expected to form off the Carolina coast late Sunday, bringing gusty winds and coastal flooding to millions from the Jersey Shore to the Outer Banks early next week. The National Hurricane Center said Saturday afternoon that this storm could take on some subtropical characteristics over the next seven days as it stalls off the Southeast coast. WHAT IS A NOR'EASTER? Nor'easter could take on subtropical characteristics this week. (FOX Weather / FOX Weather)"If the system were to meander near North Carolina or Virginia, where the ocean is unusually warm, there is a slight chance that the front could dissipate and the system could become somewhat tropical," FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross said.

Typhoon Champi passes just 10 miles south of Guam 🌧️ TYPHOON THREAT: Typhoon Champi brings intense storm conditions to Guam, despite no landfall, as it passed 10 miles south of the island, triggering heavy rain and a flash flood threat this weekend. THE TAKEAWAYChampi has rapidly intensified into a violent typhoon with sustained winds of 150 mph. An Extreme Wind Warning is in effect across far southern Guam for catastrophic, life-threatening winds. A parade of intense systems has made the 2026 Eastern Pacific hurricane season the most energetic on record. Champi has rapidly intensified into a violent super typhoon with sustained winds of 150 mph and is bearing down on Guam, barely avoiding a direct hit. The storm is expected to bring intense, damaging wind gusts, torrential rain and flooding during its closest approach on Sunday. LATEST FROM FOX WEATHER HURRICANE SPECIALIST BRYAN NORCROSSViolent Typhoon Champi(FOX Weather) The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Guam has issued an Extreme Wind Warning for far southern Guam for catastrophic, life-threatening winds between 115 and 135 mph. "Venturing outside can result in death from flying projectiles," the NWS office warned.

By the end of the weekend, most of the country, from Texas to New England, will experience its coldest air since the spring. THE TAKEAWAYA powerful cold front is sweeping across parts of the country. The cold front is expected to impact much of the central and eastern U. S. Some areas will see temperatures plummet by 40 degrees. A powerful cold front swept across parts of the U. S., causing temperatures to tank for millions in the U. S., bringing the late-season heat wave to a screeching halt. FALL ALLERGIES OR A COLD? HERE’S HOW TO TELL WHAT’S MAKING YOU MISERABLEThe cold front impacted much of the central and eastern U. S., causing temperatures to plummet by more than 40 degrees. The expected temperatures across the U. S. on Saturday.(FOX Weather) Over 60 million Americans are under frost and freeze alerts as the powerful cold front moves across the U. S. The biggest temperature drop has occurred across the Northern and Central Plains into the Upper Midwest, where highs in the 80s have tanked into the 40s and 50s by Saturday.

A helicopter from Brazil's environmental agency flies over an area of the Amazon rainforest during a wildfire-fighting operation in Autazes, Amazonas state, Brazil, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026.(AP Photo/Edmar Barros)Brazil’s government announced Friday that annual deforestation in the Amazon fell to its lowest level since records began in 1988. Official satellite data showed the rainforest lost 1,300 square miles from Aug. 2025 through July 2026, the period used to calculate the annual rate. The data released Friday underscore the success of Brazil’s renewed efforts under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to curb Amazon deforestation, reversing a surge under his predecessor, President Jair Bolsonaro. During Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency, from 2019 to 2022, Amazon deforestation surged by about 60%, with more than 17,400 square miles cleared, according to official data.

This GOES-19 GeoColor satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and taken on Thursday, Oct. 15 2026, shows Hurricane Trudy in the Pacific.(NOAA via AP)Hurricane Trudy moved toward southwestern and west-central areas of Mexico's Pacific coast and could keep growing through Saturday, forecasters said. The center of Trudy will approach the coast on Saturday, making its closest pass Sunday. A hurricane warning was in effect from Manzanillo in Colima state to Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco. The storm was a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph on Saturday morning.(MORE: Nor'easter to bring flooding, winds, rain to parts of East Coast)Trudy was about 250 miles west of Acapulco, in the Mexican state of Guerrero, and under 200 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo, Colima state, while moving northwest at 8 mph, the U. S. National Hurricane Center said. The Mexican navy urged the maritime community and coastal residents to exercise extreme caution due to high waves, heavy rains and the risk of rising river levels, flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas.

It is unusual to hit a temperature exceeding 20°C this late in the month at Vancouver International Airport. In fact, 21.7°C is the warmest the station has been this late in the year and the ninth-highest October temperature on record. It’s also the warmest October temperature for the station since Oct. 1, 2010: 21.8°C. The October 2022 heat event stands alone for its duration and maximum intensity as recorded across many stations in southern British Columbia. Abbotsford: 28.5°C (Oct. 15, 2022Campbell River: 26.5°C (Oct. 1, 2022)Victoria: 25.3°C (Oct. 2, 2022)Comox: 23°C (Oct. 1 and 7, 2022)The unprecedented start to Oct. 22 had Port Alberni average more than 27°C during the first nine days in October, along with many other stations in the mid-20s. Wildfire smoke and poor air quality drifted as far north as Haida Gwaii during the strong, southerly flow of record-breaking air.