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Wildfire prep DIY: Weekend tasks that could save your homeSummer can feel like the perfect time to catch up on your DIY home projects, but it’s also the time when the weather makes certain fixes urgent.  Wildfire season is at its peak in the West, heat waves are punishing rooftops from coast to coast, and the Atlantic hurricane season is barreling toward its crest.  The good news is that there are some high-impact tasks that you can knock out in a weekend to start protecting your home. Wildfire prepNinety percent of homes lost in a wildfire are ignited by embers, not direct flames, according to research from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, so here’s how to make your house ember-resistant:Clear the first 5 feet around your home of everything flammableIt’s Cal Fire’s newest standard called Zone 0. They’re telling homeowners to get rid of bark mulch (replace with stone or gravel), dry plants, wood piles, even patio cushions in the backyard.

right Angel Canyon, the scene of flash floods, runs into the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.(AP Photo/John Locher)GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) — The bodies of a Texas chiropractor and a lifelong martial artist have been found after a major flash flood swept through the Grand Canyon. One person remains unaccounted for after about 80 others were rescued over the weekend, officials said Monday. Saturday’s flash flood severely damaged the only water pipeline serving Grand Canyon National Park. Officials barred tourists from staying at lodges and hotels inside the park and issued emergency water restrictions for year-round residents. Waves of torrential rain hit the Bright Angel Creek area of the tourist destination that hosts 4.4 million visitors a year. Grand Canyon Deputy Superintendent Brian Drapeaux said officials haven’t fully surveyed the damage, but the park has said about 40% of the pipeline is damaged. Incident Cmdr. Dave Black said searchers used night vision and other equipment to find people who needed rescuing during the deluge.

An astounding number of raindrops fall during a single stormAs you watch a summer downpour from the window, you may be thinking about how many raindrops are actually falling. It's hard to conceptualize because the numbers are staggering. Let’s start small. Just 1 inch of rain, falling over 1 square mile, comes out to 17.4 million gallons of water, the National Weather Service says. That water weighs about 143 million pounds, or roughly 72,000 tons. That’s equivalent to about 145 fully loaded Boeing 747s. The cloud holds even more than that before the first drop falls. An average thunderstorm cloud carries about 275 million gallons of water, according to National Center for Atmospheric Research calculations. That’s 1.1 million tons, or roughly 2,300 fully loaded Boeing 747s. If you take the 750,000 gallons of water that pours over Niagara Falls every second, it would take Niagara six minutes to move as much water as one ordinary thunderstorm is already holding in the sky.(Getty Images)Let's do some more mathNow let’s think about it in terms of an actual city. Atlanta's city limits cover roughly 84,100 acres.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for coastal sections of Texas and Louisiana as a budding storm develops in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Farther west, two storms in the Pacific are taking advantage of favourable conditions to rapidly intensify as they traverse the open waters. Hawaii may have to watch the progress of one of those storms. We’re just several days away from the climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. DON’T MISS: Staying safe from flash floods, a serious and deadly hazardWarnings issued along the Gulf CoastTropical Storm Edouard formed in the northern Gulf of Mexico on Monday as a disturbance grew organized over the region’s warm waters. The U. S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a tropical storm warning for portions of eastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana ahead of the system’s anticipated arrival on Tuesday. A storm surge watch is also in effect for the potential for a surge up to 1.2 metres above ground level in spots. Forecasters expect the system to quickly intensify before reaching land, with winds possibly as high as 100 km/h by the time the centre comes ashore on Tuesday.

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the northwestern Gulf Coast from Port Bolivar, Texas, to the Vermilion/Cameron Parish line in Louisiana. THE TAKEAWAY Tropical Depression Five was designated in the Gulf of America on Monday afternoon. The system is expected to reach the Texas or Louisiana coast on Tuesday. Storms will bring heavy rain and flash flood threats to the region. Tropical Depression Five has been designated in the Gulf on Monday morning, threatening heavy rain and flash flooding across parts of Louisiana and Texas. This graphic shows the Potential of Tropical Cyclone Five.(FOX Weather) Packing maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, the system has prompted a Tropical Storm Warning for the northwestern Gulf Coast from Port Bolivar, Texas, to the Vermilion/Cameron Parish line in Louisiana. This graphic shows the forecast track of Tropical Cyclone Five.(FOX Weather) LATEST FROM FOX WEATHER HURRICANE SPECIALIST BRYAN NORCROSS If the storms do not completely fizzle out this afternoon, we'll likely see the upgrade to Tropical Storm Edouard.

Why slot canyons can flood in just minutes, sending water rising quicklyFlash flooding tore through the Grand Canyon, bringing conditions that rapidly deteriorated in just a few minutes. Several factors can lead to these life-threatening conditions for hikers, even when sunshine is present overhead. A slot canyon is a long, narrow channel that is much deeper than it is wide and is extremely prone to flooding. These canyons are especially scary because they are difficult to impossible to get to higher ground while hiking in them. Deadly flooding hits the Grand Canyon. (Grand Canyon National Park)While the Grand Canyon is not technically a slot canyon, it contains canyons that can behave very similarly to slot canyons and can bring rushing waters and life-threatening conditions for hikers. Here are a few reasons that these slot canyons can be so dangerous: Sunshine overhead does not mean safety. A rainstorm upstream can drop heavy rainfall while the sun shines overhead for you. But that water will come downstream to your location. And if you are in a narrower canyon, water rushing downstream to you is being funneled into your narrower canyon.

An evening on the water turned deadly Saturday when a father of four was struck by lightning while riding a Jet Ski off the coast of Florida. According to authorities, Steve Matheson was on the water around 6:30 p.m. when lightning struck. Pinellas County deputies responded to a water rescue, and Matheson was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.(GoFundMe/Matheson Family)He was later pronounced dead. Loved ones remember him as a devoted husband and loving father of four. Just before the incident, the National Weather Service was tracking a line of strong thunderstorms moving through the Pinellas County area. They reported storms moving northwest at about 15 mph that were capable of producing 50-to-55 mph wind gusts. Fort De Soto, where the strike occurred, was specifically listed among the locations affected. Get More of Our News on GoogleSet The Weather Company as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value. A Special Marine Warning was also in effect for Tampa Bay and nearby coastal waters. Florida's summer thunderstorms can develop and intensify quickly, making the combination of an open body of water and lightning especially dangerous.

An American elm tree spreads its limbs in Portland, Maine, June 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)The very disease that has decimated millions of American elms in the U. S. is now being used to bring the iconic trees back. In Vermont, Leila Wilson, a research ecologist with the U. S. Forest Service, is one of the scientists leading an effort to beat Dutch elm disease, which has killed tens of millions of elm trees over the last century. Scientists with the Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy Vermont spent the summer injecting 6,000 young elm trees with Dutch elm disease spores to test their resistance to the disease. The survivors will be sent to a breeding program with a goal of growing the genetic diversity of disease-tolerant elm trees. They will one day be used for restoration in forests, riverbanks and backyards. “We will put those newly propagated trees into a seed orchard, basically just a big fenced area, will grow and love those trees for about 15 or so years, at which point they should produce seeds, and that seed can be used for restoration,” Wilson said.

As summer slowly comes to an end amid the crazy weather of hurricane season, forecasters are shifting their attention to the dark-horse severe threat of El Niño this fall and its potential impacts. According to the National Weather Service, El Niño is strengthening, with over a 90% chance of a very strong event during the Northern Hemisphere fall and winter. LATEST EXCLUSIVE ANALYSIS FROM HURRICANE SPECIALIST BRYAN NOCROSSIn light of this, forecasters are working to determine what fall will look like during an historic El Niño. SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 28: In an aerial view, fog envelopes the coastal community of La Jolla during a summer heat wave on August 28, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Kevin Carter / Getty Images)El Niño threat in the Southern USAcross the Southern Tier, the FOX Forecast Center is monitoring a threat stretching from California and the Desert Southwest through the Southern Great Plains and Gulf Coast, where a southward shift in the Pacific jet stream indicates the start of an early autumn rainy season.

The National Hurricane Center said that Hurricane Karina reached 145 mph, officially designating it as a Category 4 hurricane. THE TAKEAWAY Karina became a major hurricane on Sunday night. Karina will not have any direct impacts on land. Karina will begin a gradual weakening trend through the middle and latter part of the week. Hurricane Karina formed in the Pacific on Sunday and strengthened into a major Category 4 storm early Monday morning. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Hurricane Karina reached 145 mph, officially designating it as a Category 4 hurricane. BREWING SUPER EL NIÑO EXPECTED TO BE STRONGEST ANYONE ALIVE ON THE PLANET HAS EVER EXPERIENCEDHurricane Karina stats(FOX Weather) Once a tropical storm’s winds reach 74 mph, it is called a hurricane and maintains the same name it had when it was a tropical storm. Karina was declared a tropical storm last Thursday, forming just two days after Tropical Storm Julio, which quickly dissipated. Hurricane Karina is moving west at 9 mph and is currently being monitored by the NHC for further development.

THE TAKEAWAYInvest 97L has a 70% chance of becoming a tropical depression or tropical storm. The disturbance began as a cluster of thunderstorms over the northern Gulf. The system is expected to reach the Texas or Louisiana coast late Monday or Tuesday morning. The Gulf Coast is bracing for a stormy stretch as Invest 97L churns across the region, bringing a cluster of thunderstorms and heavy rain through Wednesday. WHAT IS A HEAT DOME AND HOW CAN IT AFFECT YOU DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS? The system is showing signs of organization, with forecasters giving it a 70%, or high, chance of strengthening into a tropical depression or tropical storm. An overview of the current activity in the Atlantic.(FOX Weather) The disturbance began as a cluster of thunderstorms over the northern Gulf after a dip in the jet stream over the weekend helped set the stage for its development. The cluster has since evolved into a small tropical disturbance. KARINA STRENGTHENS INTO A HURRICANE IN THE PACIFIC, FORECAST TO BECOME A CATEGORY 3+ STORMThe system is currently trapped beneath a heat dome and high pressure system that is bringing hot weather to the Midwest.

After a stormy Saturday across parts of the Prairies, there will be a renewed threat for severe storms to develop throughout Sunday. In fact, multiple rounds of hazardous weather is expected from the morning to the evening in parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Be sure to monitor the radar if you’ve got plans through Sunday night, and stay aware of potential watches and warnings in your area. DON’T MISS: What is a mesoscale convective system? How an 'MCS' can spell dangerSevere weather likely in multiple rounds on SundayMoisture and instability streaming over the Prairies to end the weekend will bring a fresh threat for strong to severe thunderstorms across the region. The greatest concern will exist in southern Saskatchewan into southern Manitoba, including areas around Regina and Brandon. A low over southern Saskatchewan is producing showers and thunderstorms through the morning and afternoon. Multiple rounds are expected on Sunday, with stronger storms pushing into southeastern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba. Content continues belowFavourable dynamics like CAPE are providing an environment for a potent, late-season severe weather risk.

Folks across southern Quebec should keep an eye to the skies to close out the weekend as a risk for strong to severe thunderstorms builds over the region. The risk isn’t exceptional on paper, but the setup bears watching for its sneaky severe potential. Stay alert for rapidly changing conditions, and closely monitor potential watches and warnings in your area. DON'T MISS: Latest El Niño forecast calls for historic heat by this autumnAn area of low pressure will push a cold front through the area from the north. At the same time, instability will build over southern Quebec by the early afternoon hours. This setup will see a line of strong to severe thunderstorms sweep the region, including Montreal, by the late afternoon and into the early evening. Rich moisture aloft will fuel downpours throughout the region, raising the risk for flash flooding. This potential will be higher in urban areas. We’ll also have to watch the potential for gusty winds and small hail (1-2 cm in diameter). A low tornado risk may also develop as the cold front may serve as a focus for storms to acquire pockets of rotation. Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on conditions across Quebec.

Taylor's last contact came while he was helping a family escape from their home amidst the threat of spreading flames from the Railroad South Fire, which stretched from Cache and Indiahoma. THE TAKEAWAYA 38-year-old federal wildlife officer died while evacuating residents in Oklahoma. The officer lived a life of service, working for the U. S. Navy before his position with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Five homes were destroyed in the Railroad South Fire. OKLAHOMA – Tragedy has unfolded in Oklahoma after a federal wildlife officer died while helping combat the flames of the Railroad South Fire. According to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), David Taylor, 38, of Scio, Oregon, reportedly helped evacuate residents threatened by the spreading flames. "Officer Taylor was going door to door alongside local emergency crews helping families get to safety," the USFWS said. HEARTBREAKING TRAGEDY: FIRE CAPTAIN, HIS WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN HAVE DIED AMID FLASH FLOODING IN SOUTHERN UTAHTaylor's last contact came while he was helping a family escape from their home amidst the threat of spreading flames from the Railroad South Fire, which stretches from Cache and Indiahoma.

Severe storms target major Northeast cities by midweek STORM WATCH: Repeated rounds of severe storms are targeting major Northeast cities by midweek, with rain, thunderstorms and intense wind gusts to watch for. Did you expect this type of weather close to Meteorological fall? Another round of nasty weather is targeting millions in the Northeast starting midweek, as the odds for severe weather have increased. Starting midweek, severe storms capable of producing damaging wind gusts are set to slam popular metro areas along the Interstate 95 corridor in the Northeast, as we head into September and meteorological fall. This comes as a large heat dome across the Great Plains and Southern U. S. pushes a jet stream farther north, positioning a severe storm path across the Northeast. WHAT IS A HEAT DOME AND HOW CAN IT AFFECT YOU DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS? This is a recipe for severe storms, as it will combine with plenty of wind shear and above-average moisture, setting the stage for intense conditions.

FILE: Spokane resident shares story after wildfires reduce home to ashes Spokane, Washington, resident Valeria White's life changed forever when dangerous, fast-moving wildfires tore through her community, destroying entire neighborhoods and reducing her home to ashes. She joined FOX Weather to share her heartbreaking story and describe what life has been like in the days since losing everything they left behind. THE TAKEAWAYThe Ross Fire has scorched 85,000 acres and is 31% contained. The Hawk Fire has scorched over 15,000 acres and is 98% contained. Firefighters in both regions are battling dangerous fire weather conditions. Wildfires are presenting severe challenges for emergency crews in two different parts of the country as fast-moving blazes tear through North Texas and Nevada. The dangerous Ross Fire has exploded to 85,000 acres near Fort Worth, while the Hawk Fire near Reno holds at 98% containment after destroying dozens of homes and forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. next Ross Fire captured from Lone Camp, Texas on Aug. 24, 2026.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms continue to impact the Southeast, with a flood threat expected to last through Tuesday. THE TAKEAWAYHeavy rain and thunderstorms continue to impact the Southeast. This comes as an area of low pressure fires off tropical downpours. Most of the Southeast is expected to receive 1 to 3 inches of rain. The National Hurricane Center has designated Invest 97L, which is drifting along the Gulf Coast. Heavy rain and thunderstorms continue to impact the Southeast, with a flood threat expected to last through Tuesday. KNOW YOUR FLOOD TERMINOLOGY: WHAT FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS AND EMERGENCIES REALLY MEANThis comes as a broad area of low pressure, along with an almost stationary front, fires off tropical downpours along the Florida coast. The amount of rain expected.(FOX Weather) The front is positioned along the coast and, combined with an area of lower pressure, is triggering daily rounds of heavy rainfall. The low pressure area has also developed some tropical characteristics since forming along the front.

The National Weather Service said lightning kills roughly 20 people in the U. S. every year. THE TAKEAWAYAn adult male jet skier died after being struck by lightning near Fort De Soto. Ongoing storms continue to bring severe weather threats to the Southeast. The National Weather Service says lightning typically occurs more often during the summer months. FORT DE SOTO, Fla.- A jet skier has died after being struck by lightning near Fort De Soto, Florida, as ongoing storms continue to bring severe weather threats to the Southeast. ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS, DANGEROUS FLASH FLOODING SLAM SOUTHEAST AS MULTIDAY EVENT LINGERS INTO NEXT WEEKAccording to James Miller, public information officer for the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the incident occurred around 6:35 p.m. on Saturday when an adult male jet skier was struck by lightning. He was transferred to a hospital for treatment. Authorities later confirmed he did not survive. FILE: A lightning bolt strikes the ground in Orlando, Florida on Aug. 6, 2025. (FOX Weather)According to the National Weather Service (NWS), lightning typically occurs more often during the summer months.