Live updates: Artemis II eyes splashdown as storms flood Florida, severe storms target the Heartland

The atmospheric stage is being set for a classic, multi-day severe weather outbreak beginning this weekend as a traditional spring pattern takes hold across the midsection of the country.

After a week of localized flooding and unseasonable chill, a potent upper-level trough digging into the Western U.S. will act as the engine for this next round of high-impact weather.

What’s fueling the threat

The primary driver is a robust southwesterly flow aloft that will pull rich, unstable Gulf moisture northward into the Plains. This setup will create a classic clash of air masses: warm, humid air at the surface overridden by cold, dry air aloft.

Combined with strong wind shear (changing wind speed and direction with height), the atmosphere will be primed to support organized, rotating thunderstorms.

The Threat Zone: Saturday – Tuesday

The bullseye shifts daily as the storm system evolves and pushes eastward:

• Saturday: The opening salvo targets the Southern High Plains, particularly West Texas, where isolated supercells could produce very large hail.

• Sunday: The threat intensifies and expands into Central/North Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Forecast models suggest a mid-level jet could trigger a substantial severe storm threat including tornadoes.

• Monday & Tuesday: The system accelerates, stretching the risk from Texas all the way to the Upper Midwest. Cities like Dallas, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, and St. Louis are currently in the crosshairs for what could be a widespread damaging wind and hail event.

Computer forecast models show widespread instability (the fuel) for thunderstorms to erupt across the Plains on Sunday.

As with any major spring setup, the forecast hinges on critical details:

• Capping: A layer of warm air aloft (the "cap") could prevent storms from firing at all. If the cap holds, the day stays dry; if it breaks, the result is often explosive storm development.

• Timing of the trough: If the main upper-level energy arrives earlier in the day during peak heating, the tornado threat increases. A later arrival might transition the event into a "squall line" of damaging winds and heavy rain overnight.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Larimer County this morning as the Cougar Run Fire burns south of Carter Lake.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office issued the alert just after 6:00 a.m. local time for residents along County Road 31, while voluntary evacuations are in place for the Berthoud area including Blue Mountain and Spring Valley.

Fire crews are working to contain the blaze amidst elevated fire danger conditions along the Front Range, with officials urging residents in the path of the smoke to remain vigilant.

While the Orion spacecraft is a marvel of engineering designed to withstand the heat of reentry, the final stage of the Artemis II mission depends entirely on Mother Nature cooperating at the finish line.

NASA has established a strict set of weather "Go/No-Go" criteria for the recovery zone to ensure the safety of both the four astronauts and the recovery teams aboard the USS John P. Murtha.

NASA utilizes strict weather criteria for the splashdown recovery zone for the Orion spacecraft.

To proceed with a splashdown, there can be no precipitation or thunderstorms within 30 nautical miles (approx. 35 miles) of the site. Additionally, wind speeds must remain under 25 knots (about 29 mph), and the significant wave height—an average of the highest one-third of waves—must be less than six feet to safely deploy the recovery boats and helicopters.

Forecasters are closely monitoring an approaching storm system on Friday that could produce showers in the recovery zone, forcing NASA to alter the splashdown location.

If you thought the calendar said April, Old Man Winter has other ideas this morning.

Radar showing a wintry mix and snow moving over portions of the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains.

An area of low pressure spinning over the Upper Midwest is keeping winter in the forecast, with a band of light to moderate snow and mixed precipitation stretching across the Northern Plains.

From eastern Montana into northern Minnesota and the U.P. of Michigan, commuters are dealing with slick spots and reduced visibility as cold Canadian air turns rain into a slushy late-season coating.

While accumulations are generally light, this unseasonable system is a chilly reminder that the spring transition often includes a few more snowflakes before the warmth finally wins out.

As the Artemis II crew prepares for their historic return to Earth this Friday, all eyes are on the weather conditions off the coast of San Diego, California.

NASA’s strict recovery criteria require no precipitation or thunderstorms within 35 miles of the site, wave heights under six feet, and winds below 29 mph.

Forecasters are closely monitoring Orion's splashdown zone for possible violations of the strict weather criteria this Friday evening.

While the Pacific is typically calm, the FOX Forecast Center is tracking a low-pressure system and a trailing cold front that could bring rain showers and cloud cover to the splashdown zone at 5:07 p.m. PT.

While winds and waves currently appear favorable, the proximity of the rain remains the wildcard; much like the Artemis I mission, any moisture within the critical zone may force NASA to relocate the recovery operations.

Today marks the annual #SafePlaceSelfie day, a national social media campaign led by the National Weather Service and NOAA to promote severe weather preparedness.

The initiative encourages everyone to identify their "safe place" for various weather hazards—whether it's an interior closet for a tornado or higher ground for a flash flood—and share a photo from that location.

By participating, you’re not only checking your own safety plan but also acting as a force multiplier to inspire friends and family to do the same before the next storm hits.

A more traditional severe weather pattern is set to return this weekend, sparking a multi-day threat that stretches from the southern Plains through the Upper Midwest and into the Deep South.

Beginning Saturday and potentially lasting through Tuesday, a series of powerful upper-level disturbances will interact with building moisture and instability, putting all modes of severe weather—including large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes—on the table.

A multi-day severe weather outbreak will threaten millions across the Heartland with tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail starting Saturrday.

Major metropolitan areas including Dallas, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, and St. Louis are being closely monitored as the threat intensifies on Sunday and Monday. Forecasters warn strong tornadoes and huge hail may hit the region early next week.

While the rounds of heavy rain will provide much-needed drought relief, the FOX Forecast Center warns that localized totals of 2–3 inches could lead to flash flooding across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

As an area of low pressure moves across southern Canada, a trailing cold front is set to stall across the Heartland, sparking a multi-day threat of severe weather and heavy rain through Friday.

While the Northern Plains and Rockies contend with damaging wind gusts over 50 mph, moisture surging north will trigger rounds of strong storms and torrential rain farther south across the Central Plains.

Exclusive FOX Weather Model showing a line of thunderstorms developing across the Heartland on Wednesday evening.

Cities like Wichita, Kansas City, and Des Moines are in the crosshairs for potential flash flooding as localized rain totals could reach 2–3 inches, particularly around the Kansas City metro where a Level 1/4 flash flood risk is in place for Thursday and Friday.

Residents in North Boulder are on high alert this morning as firefighters battle the Goat Trail Fire, which ignited early Wednesday near the mouth of Sunshine Canyon.

The Boulder County Sheriff's Office issued an evacuation warning just before 4:00 a.m. local time for neighborhoods west of the 200 block of Hawthorne Avenue, urging those who need extra time or assistance to leave immediately.

While the fire is currently estimated at roughly 1.7 acres, officials are concerned about fully cured fuels and low humidity levels that have elevated the fire danger across the Front Range this morning.

The Artemis II crew – CSA (Canadian Space Agency) Astronaut Jeremy Hansen (far left) and NASA astronauts Christina Koch (center left), Reid Wiseman (center right), and Victor Glover (right) – pauses to wave after a live conversation with President Donald J. Trump following their historic lunar flyby during Flight Day 6. (Robert Markowitz/NASA-JSC)

On Flight Day 8 of their 10-day mission, the Artemis II crew is shifting their focus from deep-space exploration to the complex logistics of coming home.

After officially exiting the moon's sphere of influence yesterday, Commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are spending today conducting a series of Return Trajectory Correction (RTC) burns to fine-tune Orion's high-speed approach to Earth's atmosphere.

During Tuesday's mission status briefing, NASA officials shared the breathtaking first images captured by the crew during their lunar flyby, offering a new perspective of the lunar far side.

On the recovery front, the agency confirmed that the USS John P. Murtha has officially left port and is steaming toward a midway point in the Pacific Ocean to meet the Orion capsule.

WEATHER NEWS

Eyes turn to Artemis II splashdown as light rain possible for recovery zone

As Artemis II gets nearer to Earth by the minute, so does the final phase of the mission: splashdown. In order to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, weather conditions have to be just right.

NASA will continue to monitor both the recovery zone weather and the spacecraft's health during daily briefings leading up to Friday’s scheduled splashdown.

As they move closer to Earth, the crew will also begin stowing the cabin—securing equipment and scientific data to ensure everything is locked down for the intense, high-G forces of Friday’s 8:07 p.m. ET splashdown off the coast of San Diego.

While the mainland deals with a spring chill and Heartland storms, Hawaii is bracing for a significant Kona low that is already hammering the islands with torrential rain.

Hawaii is expected to get more than half a foot of rain through Sunday.

A Flash Flood Warning was issued early this morning for parts of the Big Island, where rain rates have reached 1 to 3 inches per hour in areas like Puna and Kaʻū.

With a statewide Flood Watch in effect through Friday, the FOX Forecast Center warns that saturated ground from previous storms will only increase the risk of rapid runoff and landslides as waves of heavy tropical moisture continue to push northward.

The heavy rain threat is shifting its focus to Florida's Atlantic coast today, with a Flood Watch remaining in effect for a massive stretch from Miami to Daytona Beach.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for Florida's Atlantic coast through Wednesday.

A stalled front and a deep plume of tropical moisture are expected to trigger slow-moving downpours that could dump another 1–3 inches of rain, with isolated spots seeing even higher totals.

On-shore winds are also picking up, creating hazardous surf conditions and increasing the risk of beach erosion alongside the urban flooding concerns.

LEARN

Know your flood terminology: What Flood Watches, Warnings and Emergencies really mean

During periods of heavy rainfall or river flooding, National Weather Service meteorologists may issue a range of flood alerts, including Flood Watches, Flood Warnings, and Flood Emergencies. Understanding what each alert means can be critical and can ultimately save your life.

South Florida is keeping a close eye on the Atlantic this morning as a cluster of storms and torrential rain churns just offshore from Miami.

While the heaviest downpours are currently remaining over open water, they are close enough to bring increased moisture and gusty conditions to the coastline.

Radar image showing a cluster of heavy rain and thunderstorms just offshore from Miami, Florida this morning.

Farther north, showers are dampening the morning commute from Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach, though rain totals there remain significantly lower than the soaking activity seen on radar just to the south.

New York State Mesonet camera in Osceola, New York showing snow covering the ground.

The screenshot from the NYS Mesonet camera in Osceola, New York, captures a scene more reminiscent of January than early April.

A fresh blanket of late-season snow covers the ground this morning as a stubborn cold front lingers over the region, dropping temperatures well below the freezing mark.

While spring blooms have already started to emerge in many parts of the state, this unseasonable coating serves as a cold reminder that winter weather can hold a tight grip on Upstate New York well into the spring months.

Spring may be on the calendar, but the Northeast is waking up to a harsh reminder that winter isn't finished quite yet.

Current temperatures across the Northeast as of 7:30 a.m. ET Wednesday

An unwelcome April chill has sent temperatures plummeting into the 20s and 30s across the region, forcing residents to dig their heavy coats back out of storage.

This unseasonable freeze is especially concerning for local gardeners and farmers, as the sub-freezing air threatens to damage early spring blooms and sensitive budding crops.

Looking for a recap of yesterday’s major weather and space milestones?

We were tracking NASA’s Artemis II crew as they reached a historic peak, traveling farther from Earth than any human in history before beginning their high-speed slingshot back home.

On the weather front, we monitored the late-season snow in the Northeast and persistent flash flooding across the Florida Peninsula.

Click here to read our full archived coverage from Tuesday, April 7, 2026.