🌎 Weekly Earth’s Extreme Weather Report

September 24–30, 2026

Flood disasters across Asia, powerful Pacific hurricanes, an unusual U.S. nor’easter, extreme rainfall and dangerous heat made this another remarkable week of weather around the planet.

From catastrophic flooding in India, Nepal and Thailand to Hurricane Polo’s journey from a Category 5 Pacific hurricane into a major U.S. flood-maker, Earth’s atmosphere delivered extremes on several continents during the final week of September.

Here are the major events Orbis Weather is tracking.

🌧️ India & Nepal — Deadly Floods and Landslides

Some of the week’s most serious weather impacts occurred across India and Nepal, where intense rainfall triggered widespread flooding and landslides.

In the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, 56 deaths were reported after exceptionally heavy rainfall. The state recorded 66.5 mm (2.62 inches) between September 25 and the morning of September 27, compared with a normal 7.6 mm for the period.

More than 1,000 homes were reportedly damaged.

Nepal was also hit hard, with 14 deaths and 11 people reported missing as rivers rose and flash-flood threats spread across the country.

Authorities warned of potential flash flooding in 49 of Nepal’s 77 districts as rivers and tributaries continued rising.

The flooding comes only weeks after Nepal suffered another devastating disaster involving floods and landslides.

🌊 Thailand — Hundreds of Thousands of Homes Affected

Thailand experienced another major flood emergency after persistent heavy rain affected 41 provinces.

At least eight deaths were reported, while flooding affected more than 580,000 homes.

Bangkok was among the locations impacted, with residents wading through deep floodwater in some neighborhoods.

More than 5,900 people were evacuated, while authorities deployed boats, emergency shelters and mobile kitchens.

The flooding demonstrates the vulnerability of Bangkok and surrounding low-lying areas to prolonged tropical rainfall and overflowing waterways.

🌀 Hurricane Polo — From Category 5 to Major Flood Producer

One of the most remarkable storms of the week was Hurricane Polo in the eastern Pacific.

Polo briefly reached Category 5 intensity before fluctuating in strength.

By September 24, maximum sustained winds were near 155 mph (250 km/h), making Polo an extremely powerful Category 4 hurricane at that time.

Large waves, dangerous rip currents, coastal flooding and heavy rain affected portions of Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Rainfall totals of approximately 2–6 inches (50–150 mm) were forecast across parts of Michoacán, Colima, Jalisco and Nayarit.

But Polo’s weather story did not end in Mexico.

🌧️ Polo’s Remnants Trigger U.S. Flood Threat

After crossing Mexico, Polo’s tropical moisture surged into the southwestern and central United States.

Flooding was reported across portions of Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico, including incidents in which vehicles were swept away and occupants required rescue.

The National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center warned that saturated soils combined with tropical moisture could produce locally catastrophic flooding.

Parts of the Southwest and High Plains were expected to receive another 2–4 inches (50–100 mm) of rain, with locally higher amounts.

By September 30, the flood threat was expanding eastward.

Approximately 27 million people from Arizona toward Illinois were under various flood alerts, while portions of central Texas faced the possibility of 4–8 inches (100–200 mm) of rain and locally even higher totals through the end of the week.

⛈️ New Mexico & Texas — Extreme Rainfall

Even before Polo’s remnants arrived, portions of eastern New Mexico and western Texas had already experienced torrential rainfall.

Training thunderstorms dumped 2–3+ inches across parts of the Texas Panhandle on September 24.

An even heavier corridor of rain affected areas near Clovis, New Mexico, producing widespread flash flooding.

By the end of the multi-day event, a swath from around Amarillo through Friona and Clovis had received approximately 3–5+ inches (75–125+ mm).

Additional tropical moisture arriving this week has increased concerns about renewed flooding.

🌊 Rare September Nor’easter Slams U.S. East Coast

While tropical systems dominated the Pacific, a very different storm battered the eastern United States.

A powerful and unusually persistent September nor’easter affected the East Coast from roughly September 23–29.

The storm produced:

🌊 Coastal flooding
💨 Damaging winds
🌧️ Heavy rainfall
🌊 Major beach erosion
⚡ Power outages
✈️ Flight disruptions
🏚️ Infrastructure damage

NASA reported a maximum wind gust of 81 mph (130 km/h) at Montauk, New York, on September 26.

North Carolina Highway 12 on Pea Island was also damaged by the storm.

The sprawling system affected areas from Virginia and Maryland northward through New England, with clouds and rain extending into eastern Canada.

🌀 Hawaii — Hurricane Nolo Brings Major Flood Threat

Another powerful Pacific storm threatened Hawaii this week.

Hurricane Nolo approached the islands from the south while strengthening.

At 11 p.m. HST on September 24, the National Hurricane Center reported Nolo approximately 240 miles south of South Point, Hawaii, with sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h).

Forecasters warned that catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding was possible on the Big Island.

Some forecasts indicated that 15–30 inches (380–760 mm) of rainfall could occur in the hardest-hit locations.

The threat was particularly concerning after Hawaii had already experienced damaging weather events earlier in the season.

🔥🌡️ Dangerous Heat Continues in Parts of the World

Not every extreme this week involved rain.

Abnormally hot conditions continued across portions of:

🔥 Northern Africa
🔥 Eastern Africa
🔥 Hispaniola
🔥 Northern South America

FEWS NET’s Global Weather Hazards assessment for September 24–30 highlighted continuing abnormal heat across these regions.

At the same time, strengthening El Niño conditions are increasingly influencing global rainfall and temperature patterns.

🇮🇳 India Ends a Remarkably Dry Monsoon Season

There was another striking weather contrast in India.

Despite deadly late-season flooding in northern portions of the country, India as a whole finished its June–September monsoon with its lowest rainfall in more than a decade.

Nationwide monsoon precipitation was approximately 12.6% below average, according to an India Meteorological Department official.

The deficit has been linked partly to the developing El Niño pattern.

It is a reminder that extreme rainfall events and seasonal drought can occur within the same country and even during the same season.

🌎 Extreme Weather Snapshot

🌧️ Biggest flood disasters: India, Nepal and Thailand

🌀 Most powerful tropical system: Hurricane Polo — reached Category 5 intensity

🌊 Major coastal storm: September U.S. East Coast nor’easter

🌧️ Major U.S. rainfall threat: Southwest, southern/central Plains and Texas

🌀 Major Hawaii threat: Hurricane Nolo

🔥 Persistent abnormal heat: Parts of Africa, Hispaniola and northern South America

🌧️ Notable climate contrast: India’s deadly late-season floods despite its driest overall monsoon in more than a decade

🌡️ The Bigger Weather Pattern

One major factor connecting several of these events is the strengthening El Niño in the tropical Pacific.

El Niño typically changes atmospheric circulation around the world. In 2026, the pattern has coincided with exceptionally active tropical cyclone development in the eastern and central Pacific while the Atlantic hurricane season has been comparatively subdued.

Pacific tropical moisture has also repeatedly reached Mexico and the southwestern United States, contributing to unusually heavy rainfall.

Individual storms or floods cannot automatically be attributed to El Niño or climate change alone. However, warmer air can hold more atmospheric moisture, which can increase the potential for extreme rainfall when favorable storm conditions develop.

🔭 What Orbis Weather Is Watching Next

The immediate focus is shifting toward the central and southern United States, where tropical moisture associated with Polo and additional Pacific moisture could continue producing heavy rainfall.

Flooding remains possible from portions of the southern and central Plains eastward as the system evolves.

Meanwhile, communities across India, Nepal and Thailand continue recovery operations following this week’s deadly floods.

With the Pacific hurricane season still active and El Niño strengthening, additional high-impact weather events remain possible during the weeks ahead.

Orbis Weather will continue tracking extreme heat, cold, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, severe storms and other major weather events around the world.