While the Artemis II mission takes the spotlight for its historic lunar flyby, one of the most critical phases of the mission happens right here on Earth: the recovery.
In a recent episode of NASA’s Houston We Have a Podcast, Artemis II Landing and Recovery Director Lili Villarreal broke down the complex "Recovery, Rescue, and Retrieval" process that ensures our four astronauts return safely from the Pacific Ocean.
The Three R’s: Recovery, Rescue, and Retrieval
The mission's end isn't just a simple pickup. NASA categorizes the return into three distinct operations:
- Recovery: The nominal (planned) process of picking up the crew and the Orion capsule after a successful splashdown.
- Rescue: The high-stakes contingency plan to save the crew if Orion lands in an unplanned location or if there is a launch abort.
- Retrieval: The specialized effort to collect the capsule itself after the crew has been safely extracted from a non-primary landing zone.
Weather: The ultimate decision maker
As we approach Friday's scheduled splashdown, all eyes are on the Pacific. Weather is the primary factor that dictates exactly where—and even when—the astronauts come home. Villarreal explains that the team must monitor "The Big Three" weather constraints:
- Wind speeds: Must be under 25 knots to ensure the capsule doesn't drift too fast for recovery boats.
- Wave heights: Must be below six feet so divers and small boats can safely approach the spacecraft.
- Cloud coverage: Clear visibility is required for recovery helicopters and tracking teams to maintain a visual on Orion during its descent.
There’s no loitering around space after coming back from the Moon, waiting for good weather.
During Artemis I, uncooperative weather forced NASA to move the landing site 300 miles south at the last minute. This flexibility is built into the Artemis II plan, with the USS John P. Murtha ready to pivot to calmer waters if needed.
A multinational team effort
The recovery isn't just a NASA job; it's a massive integration with the U.S. Navy and Air Force. The team includes Navy divers, Air Force pararescue men, and specialized helicopter crews. Because military personnel rotate frequently, the team conducts "Just-In-Time" training—essentially a dress rehearsal right before the mission—to ensure every diver and pilot is familiar with the Orion hardware.
As Orion nears the end of its 250,000-mile journey, these recovery teams are the "final mile" heroes, standing by in the Pacific to turn a historic voyage into a safe homecoming.
The spring weather pattern is shifting into high gear as a powerful area of low pressure tracks across southern Canada, triggering a chain reaction of weather threats from the Northern Rockies to the Central Plains.
The first phase of this system is unfolding today across Montana, where High Wind Warnings are in effect for gusts that could reach a staggering 90 mph along the Rocky Mountain Front. These "hurricane-force" gusts will make travel nearly impossible for high-profile vehicles and could lead to widespread power outages before the wind field expands into the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest through Wednesday morning.
As the system’s trailing front stalls across the nation's heartland, the primary concern shifts from wind to water.
Starting Wednesday and lasting through Friday, a moisture-rich train of storms will track over the same regions, significantly increasing the risk for flash flooding.
The FOX Forecast Center says Kansas City, Wichita, and Des Moines are in the crosshairs for multiple rounds of heavy rain.
While much of the region will see 1–2 inches of rain, localized bullseyes of 3 inches or more are possible near the Kansas City metro, where a Level 1 out of 4 flash flood risk is currently in place.
While the rain may provide some drought relief, the intensity of these storms could lead to rapid runoff and rising creeks.
People in Kansas should also stay weather-aware on Wednesday afternoon, as isolated severe thunderstorms could develop along the stalling boundary, adding a threat of hail and gusty winds to the ongoing flood concerns.
The Gulf Coast is currently bearing the brunt of Florida's unsettled weather, as a cluster of intense thunderstorms is inundating the Port Charlotte area with torrential downpours.
These slow-moving storms are dumping rain at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour, leading to rapid water ponding on local roadways and poor drainage areas.
With the ground already saturated from recent rains, residents should stay alert for localized flash flooding as these heavy cells continue to track through Charlotte County.
{{#rendered}}The April snow isn't just a forecast—it’s a reality for residents in Clinton, Massachusetts, where viewer David MacIntyre captured a scene that looks more like mid-January than early spring.
His photo shows a steady accumulation blanketing the neighborhood, perfectly capturing the collective sigh of New Englanders everywhere. "Snow in April? So this is why they invented Spring Break," MacIntyre joked in his caption. "Oh the humanity!"
The unseasonable cold snap is reaching major metropolitan centers along the I-95 corridor, with Freeze Warnings now in effect for both Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. overnight.
Temperatures in these urban hubs are forecast to dip into the upper 20s and low 30s, a sharp and potentially damaging drop for early spring vegetation and local cherry blossom blooms.
It's time to bring sensitive plants indoors and wrap outdoor pipes as the coldest air of the month settles over the Mid-Atlantic.
Spring break plans are being washed away across the Sunshine State this week as a stalled front remains draped over the Florida Peninsula.
Repeated rounds of heavy rain and embedded thunderstorms are expected to persist through Friday, with some coastal areas bracing for an additional 3 to 6 inches of accumulation.
Between the inland flood risk and the red-flag conditions at the beaches, those looking for a traditional tropical getaway are instead finding themselves dodging downpours and navigating soggy shorelines.
{{#rendered}}A classic springtime severe weather setup is taking shape as we head into the weekend, with the FOX Forecast Center monitoring a potent storm system set to roar back across the nation’s heartland.
After a relatively quiet week, the atmosphere will begin to refuel by Friday, setting the stage for a multi-day outbreak that spans from Texas all the way to the Upper Midwest.
Major hubs including Dallas, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, and St. Louis are all in the crosshairs as a Level 2 out of 5 severe storm threat has already been established for Saturday through Monday.
The action kicks off late Saturday afternoon in West Texas as a dryline pushes eastward, triggering storms capable of producing very large hail and damaging wind gusts. By Sunday, the threat intensifies and turns more widespread as an upper-level disturbance moves out of the Desert Southwest, significantly increasing the risk for tornadoes across Texas and Oklahoma.
This system won't slow down for the Monday commute; instead, it will accelerate northeast, draping a severe weather risk over a massive 900-mile stretch from Midland, Texas, to southern Iowa.
While the rain will provide much-needed drought relief, the cost may come in the form of flash flooding. With several days of heavy downpours stacking up, the Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 1 out of 4 flash flood threat starting Saturday.
Widespread rain totals of 1 to 2 inches are expected from Texas through Wisconsin, though localized bullseyes of over 3 inches across Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri could send rivers rising and trigger dangerous runoff through early next week.
The Aloha State is once again on high alert as the FOX Forecast Center tracks a developing Kona Low set to batter the islands with torrential rain and damaging winds.
This second major storm system arrives just weeks after record-breaking rain triggered widespread flooding in March.
Starting Tuesday and lasting through Saturday, this slow-moving area of low pressure will tap into a deep plume of tropical moisture, shifting winds to the south and focusing heavy rain on already saturated soils.
With the ground still sensitive from previous storms, a Flood Watch has been issued for the entire island chain from Wednesday through Friday.
The forecast is particularly concerning for the Big Island, where over a foot of rain could fall by Sunday. Elsewhere, a widespread 5 to 8 inches of accumulation is expected.
Beyond the flood threat, the ingredients for severe weather are coming together for Thursday, with the potential for strong thunderstorms and damaging downslope gusts as the low-pressure center draws closer.
Because the soil remains nearly 100% saturated in many regions, residents are warned that even moderate bursts of rain could quickly trigger dangerous runoff, rising streams, and renewed flash flooding in low-lying areas.
The heartbreaking reality of Florida’s dangerous spring surf was underscored this week following the death of a Maine father who died while saving his children from a rip current in Jupiter.
According to a police report, 46-year-old Ryan J. Jennings was on vacation with his family when his son and daughter began struggling in the water in the 1000 block of Ocean Drive on April 1.
Witnesses say Jennings immediately dove into the surf to rescue his children. While he was able to help them reach safety, the physical toll of the rescue left him exhausted and unresponsive in the shallow shoreline.
Bystanders and responding officers from the Jupiter Police Department pulled Jennings onto the sand and performed CPR until fire rescue teams arrived, but he was tragically pronounced deceased at Jupiter Medical Center.
This tragedy comes as the FOX Forecast Center continues to warn spring breakers of a high-risk rip current environment along the entire Florida Atlantic coast. Officials urge beachgoers to only swim in areas monitored by lifeguards, as even the strongest swimmers can be overwhelmed by the unpredictable power of an Atlantic rip current.
{{#rendered}}With Artemis II now on its final leg home, NASA mission managers are meticulously scouting the Pacific Ocean to ensure a safe return for the four-person crew.
This high-stakes weather watch is a lesson learned from Artemis I in 2022, when an uncooperative forecast forced the agency to pivot. Just 72 hours before that historic splashdown, teams were forced to abandon the primary landing zone due to high winds and heavy swells, ultimately shifting the target nearly 300 miles south to Guadalupe Island off the coast of Baja California.
For Friday’s scheduled return of Artemis II, the USS John P. Murtha has already deployed from San Diego to take its position.
Currently, NASA is targeting a splashdown site off the coast of San Diego around 5:00 p.m. local time (8:00 p.m. ET). However, the mission remains at the mercy of the Pacific's "Big Three" weather criteria: wind speeds under 25 knots, cloud coverage that allows for clear visibility, and wave heights below six feet.
As we saw with Artemis I, NASA won't hesitate to move the bullseye at the last minute to ensure a smooth recovery for the astronauts.
{{#rendered}}It certainly doesn't look like April in Boston this morning, with snow and a chilly wintry mix coating the city just as the baseball season gets into full swing.
The early morning dusting is a stark contrast to the spring vibes usually expected this time of year, with temperatures struggling to climb out of the 30s.
Despite the flakes, the Boston Red Sox are still scheduled to take on the Milwaukee Brewers at Fenway Park later today, with the first pitch set for 6:45 p.m. ET.
While the snow is expected to taper off by the afternoon, fans heading to the Fens should definitely swap their jerseys for heavy parkas, as wind chill temperatures will remain biting throughout the evening.
An unwelcome April chill is tightening its grip on the Midwest and Northeast today as a powerful cold front sends temperatures plummeting 10 to 20 degrees below average.
Freeze Warnings have been issued across ten states—including Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York—as overnight lows dip into the 20s, threatening early-season gardens and outdoor plumbing.
This winter-like snap will peak on Wednesday with wind chills struggling to escape the 20s across the interior Northeast before a welcome rebound to typical spring warmth arrives by the end of the week.
The combination of a stalled cold front and gusty winds is creating a dangerous environment for spring breakers along Florida's Atlantic coast today.
The National Weather Service has issued a High Rip Current Risk for beaches from the Space Coast down through the Treasure Coast and into South Florida, with life-threatening conditions likely to persist through much of the week.
Coastal cities like Fort Lauderdale and Miami are seeing "yellow" and "red" flag conditions as wind gusts of up to 30 mph churn up the surf.
Lifeguards have already been active this week, reporting dozens of rescues as unsuspecting swimmers are pulled into deep water by currents moving as fast as 8 feet per second.
With wave heights building to 5–7 feet by this afternoon and the added presence of stinging sea pests like Man-O-War in some areas, officials are strongly advising everyone to stay out of the water or, at the very least, remain in the sight of a staffed lifeguard tower.
{{#rendered}}While the calendar marks the peak of spring, meteorologists are looking ahead to a massive atmospheric reset in the Pacific that could redefine the 2026 weather landscape.
After a multi-year stint of La Niña, recent data from NOAA and the International Research Institute (IRI) confirms that the cold-water pattern is officially dissolving.
In its place, an El Niño Watch has been issued, with a transition to neutral conditions expected within the next month.
However, it’s the sheer speed and scale of the warming subsurface water—moving eastward like a massive thermal wave—that has sparked conversations about the return of a "Super El Niño."
Long-range guidance, including the highly regarded ECMWF models, is already signaling an 80–90% chance of a strong event later this year.
Some experts, including CSU’s Phil Klotzbach, have even floated the term "Jurassic El Niño" to describe the potential for a historically powerful warming phase.
This rapid shift is being fueled by weakening trade winds, which are allowing warm water to slosh back toward the Americas.
If these winds reverse, the warming trend could accelerate, pushing the 2026-2027 event into "very strong" territory.
The hurricane tug-of-war
This potential "Super El Niño" creates a complex puzzle for the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season. Traditionally, El Niño is the guardian of the Atlantic; it typically increases vertical wind shear, which acts like a buzzsaw, tearing apart developing storms before they can strengthen.
Because of this, the initial CSU forecast set for release this Thursday could lean toward slightly below-average activity.
However, there is a catch: Atlantic sea surface temperatures are already near or above record averages. We saw a similar clash of the titans in 2023, where record-breaking ocean heat essentially nullified the suppressing effects of a strong El Niño.
As we look toward the 10 a.m. ET forecast release on Thursday, the billion-dollar question remains: will the atmospheric brakes of a Super El Niño be enough to stop a season fueled by a record-hot Atlantic?
The focus of the weather world shifts to the Texas coast this week as the National Tropical Weather Conference (NTWC) officially kicks off at South Padre Island.
Running from April 8–11, this annual gathering brings together the nation's top hurricane forecasters, emergency managers, and meteorologists to coordinate and prepare for the upcoming 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
FOX Weather is on the ground in South Padre Island all week, providing exclusive behind-the-scenes access and real-time updates directly from the conference floor through our dedicated live blog.
The highlight of the week comes this Thursday with the highly anticipated release of the Colorado State University (CSU) seasonal hurricane forecast. This initial outlook, led by Dr. Phil Klotzbach, is widely considered the gold standard for predicting how active the Atlantic basin will be once June 1 arrives.
FOX Weather will have full live coverage of the announcement starting at 10 a.m. ET, featuring immediate analysis of the predicted storm counts and what the early signals mean for your summer and fall plans from FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross.
Whether it’s the latest on sea-surface temperatures or the transition to El Niño, we’ll have the expert breakdown you need to stay ahead of the storm.
The Artemis II mission has officially entered its homeward bound phase after a historic Monday that saw the crew of four shatter a 56-year-old deep-space record.
After reaching a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth—surpassing the Apollo 13 milestone by more than 4,000 miles—the Orion spacecraft completed its high-stakes lunar flyby and is now on a free-return trajectory toward our home planet.
Today, the mission reaches another pivotal mark: at approximately 1:25 p.m. ET, Orion will officially exit the lunar sphere of influence, crossing the boundary roughly 41,000 miles from the Moon as Earth’s gravity begins to take over as the primary pulling force.
The crew—NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen—spent their final hours near the Moon witnessing sights no human has ever seen, including a total solar eclipse viewed from the lunar far side.
Astronaut Victor Glover described the view of the solar corona as "unreal," while the team also reported seeing at least four distinct "impact flashes" from meteoroids striking the lunar surface.
As the astronauts settle into their return transit today, recovery teams back on Earth are already in motion; the USS John P. Murtha has departed San Diego to take its position in the Pacific Ocean for the scheduled splashdown on Friday, April 10, at 8:07 p.m. ET.
{{#rendered}}A stubborn cold front is keeping spring at bay across the Midwest this morning, as a messy wintry mix of rain and wet snow tracks through the region.
While surface temperatures are hovering near the freezing mark, light accumulations are being reported across portions of Iowa, leading to slick spots on the morning commute.
This lingering chill is expected to persist through Wednesday, with cooler-than-average temperatures supporting occasional snow showers before a brief warm-up finally arrives later this week.
The dangerous combination of heavy surf and powerful rip currents has claimed a life in Southeast Florida as spring break crowds continue to flock to the coast.
On Sunday night, Pompano Beach Fire Rescue and Ocean Rescue lifeguards responded to a swimmer in distress.
Despite lifeguards quickly locating the unresponsive man and bringing him to shore to perform CPR, officials confirmed he was later pronounced deceased at a nearby hospital.
This tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the life-threatening conditions currently impacting the Atlantic coast. A High Rip Current Risk is in effect this week for Central Florida beaches, including the Daytona, Space, and Treasure Coasts.
With wave heights reaching up to four feet and rip currents capable of pulling swimmers out to sea at speeds of up to 8 feet per second, officials are strongly discouraging people from entering the water.
If you do head to the beach, experts urge you to swim only near a lifeguard and, if caught in a current, to swim parallel to the shoreline until you are free from its pull.
Spring is taking a backseat this week as the FOX Forecast Center tracks an unseasonably cold storm system diving into the Northeast.
A fast-moving area of low pressure is pulling moisture into a pool of chilly air, triggering light snow from the Great Lakes into New England.
While the calendar says April, residents in cities like Syracuse could see between 1 and 3 inches of accumulation, while Buffalo, Burlington, and Albany are bracing for a coating to an inch of the white stuff.
Even Boston may see a few flakes flying during the Tuesday morning commute—a reminder that winter rarely goes down without a fight.
While the snow totals are relatively light, the real story for the broader population is the arrival of a significant April chill.
Temperatures are expected to plummet 10 to 20 degrees below average through midweek, with Wednesday likely being the coldest day of the stretch.
For those in the interior Northeast, wind chills will struggle to even reach the 20s.
This sudden freeze has triggered Frost and Freeze Alerts stretching from the Midwest into the New York City area.
Fortunately, for those eager to get back to spring gardening, the cold snap will be short-lived; temperatures are forecast to moderate back toward seasonal averages by Thursday.
{{#rendered}}Heavy rain turned one of the nation's busiest stretches of pavement into a temporary canal on Monday, as a section of Interstate 4 in Osceola County was forced to shut down for several hours.
The flooding occurred between State Road 429 and World Drive in Kissimmee—a critical artery just past the Walt Disney World and Celebration exits—trapping commuters and tourists alike in massive backups.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) ultimately had to deploy industrial pumps to clear two to three inches of standing water that had collected overnight within an active construction zone for the "Moving I-4 Forward" expansion project.
While both eastbound and westbound lanes have since reopened, officials are remaining on high alert with more rain in the forecast for Tuesday.
Drivers have noted that this is the second time in recent weeks that construction zones in this corridor, including the Champions Gate and 417 exits, have succumbed to flooding, creating significant safety hazards for those traveling at highway speeds.
To prevent a repeat of Monday's gridlock, FDOT has staged pumps along the corridor and is proactively clearing drainage systems to manage the persistent spring downpours.
A relentless plume of moisture is turning Spring Break into a washout for much of the Florida Peninsula today. Flood Watches remain in effect through 10 p.m. ET for major metro areas along the east coast, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, as well as Volusia and Brevard counties in Central Florida.
With a stalled front sitting over the region, repeated rounds of heavy rain could dump an additional 1 to 3 inches across the state, with localized 6 inch totals possible in some areas.
Travelers and beachgoers should exercise extreme caution, as the weather isn't just a threat on the roads.
In addition to the urban flooding that has already shuttered portions of I-4 in Osceola County this morning, a High Surf Advisory is in effect.
Coastal cities are bracing for washing machine conditions with 14-foot waves and wind gusts up to 40 mph, creating a life-threatening risk for rip currents through the remainder of the week.
Missed the action on Monday? The Artemis II crew officially became the farthest-traveling humans in history, reaching a staggering 252,706 miles from Earth and surpassing the legendary record set by Apollo 13 in 1970.
During their seven-hour flyby of the lunar far side, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen captured high-resolution imagery of the lunar surface and witnessed a rare solar eclipse from behind the Moon.
The crew even shared an emotional moment with Mission Control, proposing to name two lunar craters "Integrity" and "Carroll" to honor their spacecraft and the late wife of Commander Wiseman.
{{#rendered}}Live Coverage begins here