Daily Weather Update from FOX Weather: Late-season nor'easter eyes East Coast after tornadoes rake central US

Weather in America: May 21, 2025

FOX Weather has you covered with the breaking forecasts and weather news headlines for your Weather in America on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Get the latest from FOX Weather Meteorologist Marissa Torres.

Welcome to the Daily Weather Update from FOX Weather. It's Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Start your day with everything you need to know about today's weather. You can also get a quick briefing of national, regional and local weather whenever you like with the FOX Weather Update podcast.

Late-season nor'easter to ruin Memorial Day travel plans for millions along East Coast

A nor'easter in May? Yes, it can happen, and that’s exactly what’s on tap this week across the Northeast. 

The FOX Forecast reminds you that a nor’easter doesn’t need snow to fall; it is simply an area of low pressure with strong northeasterly winds off the Atlantic Ocean.

Two areas of low pressure will form this week – one across the interior and another off the East Coast. The coastal low will become a weak nor'easter as it crawls northward across eastern New England on Thursday. The upshot of all of this? A few miserable days for those trying to get a head start on the Memorial Day weekend with a cold, wind-driven soaking rain.

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Tornadoes rip roofs from buildings, snap trees as severe storms slam US from Southeast to Ohio Valley

Multiple tornadoes slammed communities from the mid-Mississippi and lower Ohio valleys through the Southeast once again Tuesday and into early Wednesday morning, causing damage to homes and businesses as severe thunderstorms barreled across those regions.

This marked the eighth consecutive day that severe weather caused widespread damage after an eerily quiet start to May, which is typically the peak month for tornadoes in the U.S.

Tropical development odds grow slightly for first area to watch of 2025 in Eastern Pacific off Mexico's coast

The official start to hurricane season in the Eastern Pacific began less than a week ago on May 15, and right on cue, forecasters are keeping their eyes on an area of low pressure that could form off the southern Mexico coast.

According to the National Hurricane Center, an area of low pressure could form several hundred miles south of the southern coast of Mexico by the upcoming weekend and into early next week.

This graphic shows an area of low pressure that could form off the Mexico coast.

(FOX Weather)

Watch: Intense lightning bolt strikes Oklahoma police vehicle

A police vehicle in Oklahoma was damaged after it was struck by lightning Monday, and the moment was caught on video.

"Just minutes ago, lightning struck a Newcastle police car during the storms," Newcastle Emergency Management said in a Facebook post. "No one was hurt, but that could have been anyone."

Watch: Lightning strikes Oklahoma police vehicle

A dramatic video shared by Newcastle Emergency Management shows the moment a bolt of lightning struck a police vehicle on Monday, May 19, 2025.

Before you go

Here are a few more stories you might find interesting.

• Stark before-and-after photos of St. Louis reveal destruction after deadly tornado
• St. Louis Zoo scrambles animals, 10,000 visitors to safety as EF-3 tornado leaves trail of damage
• Indy 500 faces wet weather for race's first broadcast on FOX

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