Extreme Weather

NOAA has issued its initial outlook for the 2026-27 winter season, offering early indications of what Arizona and the broader Mountain West can expect in terms of precipitation and snowfall. The forecast arrives as early snow has already fallen in higher elevations across the region.

In local political news, Matt Evans, a candidate for Phoenix City Council in District 2, publicly discussed his past involvement in drug dealing as part of an in-depth profile ahead of the 2026 midterm election cycle, which also includes races for state schools chief. Separately, TSMC executives indicated during an investor call that the company is exploring a potential partnership involving a Texas-proposed "Terafab" facility tied to an Elon Musk-led manufacturing site.

Other items in the roundup include a prison sentencing in a domestic violence case, a school shooting investigation in Bend, Oregon, and a Scottsdale restaurant's national taco recognition. The briefing serves as a general roundup of state and regional news rather than a single major event.

A state audit released this week found 57 California dams in poor or unsatisfactory condition as of May, a number expected to rise as officials reevaluate aging infrastructure. Of these, 40 are rated high or extremely high hazard and cluster near densely populated areas including the Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles. The auditor warned these dams could collectively endanger up to 1.5 million people and cause more than $265 billion in economic damage if they failed, with the risk heightened by an approaching El Niño winter expected to bring heavy rain.

The report criticized the California Department of Water Resources for never using enforcement powers granted in 2017, after the Oroville spillway failure, despite referring 44 dam owners for violations. Most dam owners lack funds for repairs, which the audit estimates could cost $28 billion statewide, far outpacing recent funding infusions. The auditor urged lawmakers to set repair deadlines and expand condemnation authority. The Department of Water Resources said it disagrees with some findings but is reviewing recommendations as it prepares for the wet season.

Heavy rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Isaias triggered five landslides and partially washed out roads in McDowell County, North Carolina, overnight. McDowell County Emergency Management reported the Woodlawn area saw the worst damage after more than six inches of rain fell in the area.

The Woodlawn-Sevier Volunteer Fire Department responded to a steady string of slides through the night, checking new sites roughly every half hour to an hour. Officials said no one was injured or trapped, and all roads remained open except one. No personal property was destroyed.

Crews said the response felt routine compared to the destruction left by Hurricane Helene, with one firefighter describing the overnight work as manageable rather than an emergency. The Shiflet Marion McDowell Airfield also faced a scare as floodwaters approached hangars, though the airport manager said major damage was avoided. The storm underscores the region's continued vulnerability to flooding and landslides following previous severe weather events.

Florida and California each faced tropical weather at the same time, prompting comparisons between the two states' preparation and response. Florida's Gulf Coast panhandle was hit by Hurricane Isaias, a Category 2 storm, with Gov. Ron DeSantis having spent weeks coordinating federal resources, issuing public safety guidance, and warning against looting ahead of landfall.

Meanwhile, California faced a rare tropical system, downgraded to Tropical Storm Rachel before reportedly regaining strength, headed toward San Diego. Some coastal areas north of San Diego, including flood-prone stretches of Newport Beach, saw coastal flooding even before the storm's peak. Gov. Gavin Newsom's office issued only a brief statement, with critics arguing there was little visible preparation compared to Florida's response.

The California storm was expected to intensify through the weekend. Commentators noted the contrast in gubernatorial communication and emergency planning between the two states, framing it as a test case for differing approaches to disaster readiness as both storms play out.