Severe Thunderstorms Hit Carolinas and Louisiana as Hawaiʻi Prepares for New Tropical Cyclone
Severe thunderstorms prompted National Weather Service warnings across parts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Louisiana on Thursday evening while a new tropical cyclone threatened additional heavy rain and winds to storm-battered Hawaiʻi Island and a lightning strike killed a Kansas man hiking on Sicily’s Mount Etna.
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Issued in Carolinas and Louisiana
A severe thunderstorm with 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail was moving south at 20 mph near Tryon, North Carolina, prompting a warning for southwestern Polk County, northeastern Greenville County and northwestern Spartanburg County until 8:30 p.m. EDT. [1] At 7:47 p.m. EDT the storm was located 4 miles southwest of Columbus, or near Tryon. [1] The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg issued the alert based on radar indications of the storm’s hazards. [1]
A separate severe thunderstorm with 60 mph wind gusts and penny-size hail was moving southeast at 25 mph near East New Orleans, triggering a warning for northwestern St. Bernard Parish and southwestern Orleans Parish until 7:30 p.m. CDT. [2] At 6:46 p.m. CDT the storm was located near East New Orleans. [2] The National Weather Service in New Orleans issued the alert and noted expected damage to roofs, siding and trees in the impacted areas. [2]
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Preemptively Closes for Incoming Tropical Cyclone
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, including its Kahuku Unit in Kaʻū, will temporarily close by 5 p.m. on Aug. 21 ahead of a new storm system that could again bring torrential rainfall and high winds to Hawaiʻi Island as early as Aug. 22. [3] The park remains without power, internet or phone service as the community continues to recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Lala a week ago. [3] Emergency services in the park are limited and the park’s air quality monitoring system is down because of the ongoing power and communications outages. [3] All park programs also are canceled during this storm safety closure period. [3]
The park could still be closed during the next lava fountaining episode of the ongoing episodic eruption at the summit of Kīlauea volcano if it happens during the storm safety closure. [3] Hawaiian Volcano Observatory data indicate the onset of the next fountaining episode is likely to start between Aug. 22 and 26. [3] Overlap with the new tropical cyclone could create extreme conditions not suitable for viewing. [3] Hawaiian Volcano Observatory also remains without power since Hurricane Lala but continues to monitor volcanic and seismic hazards using backup power systems. [3]
Kansas Hiker Killed by Lightning on Mount Etna
A 29-year-old Wichita, Kansas man, Dylan Standfast, died after being struck by lightning in an exposed area above the tree line on Mount Etna that was closed due to recent volcanic activity. [4] Italian firefighters rescued Standfast by helicopter after he was struck by lightning Sunday evening. [4] He was later declared dead by medical personnel. [4] Standfast was believed to have been hiking in an area that was closed to visitors due to recent volcanic activity. [4] Mount Etna’s prolonged volcanic activity also forced the closure of the airport in nearby Catania for most of last week. [4] Officials said that more people have died on Etna from lightning strikes over recent decades than from volcanic activity. [4] The last eruption-related fatalities on Europe’s most active volcano were in 1987. [4]
Heavy Rain and Strong Winds Forecast for Southern and Eastern Finland
Southern and eastern Finland face heavy rain and strong winds this weekend as a low-pressure system moves towards the country, according to forecasts from Foreca and the Finnish Meteorological Institute. [5] Foreca said on Friday that its forecast for the system had strengthened. [5] The weather service now expects widespread heavy rainfall, with 40–50 millimetres forecast across parts of southern and eastern Finland during the weekend. [5]
Ongoing Volcanic and Storm Recovery Efforts
The park closure overlaps with a likely new lava fountaining episode at Kīlauea between Aug. 22-26. [3] Highway 11 will be restricted to residents and overnight guests must shelter in place. [3] In the event of a lava fountaining episode and storm overlap, the park is coordinating with Hawaiʻi County to prioritize safety and reduce non-essential traffic on island roadways. [3] Highway 11 will only be open to area residents between the park entrance and Kaʻū. [3] Kīlauea Military Camp and Volcano House overnight guests with existing reservations will, however, be allowed park access but required to shelter in place once the road closure is enacted. [3] Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported in its daily Kīlauea update Thursday that its monitoring network is mostly recovered from recent storm-related outages; however, several summit stations will remain offline as work to repair instruments and re-establish connections in the monitoring network continues. [3] A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory overflight Aug. 11, 2026, passed low over the Kīlauea summit eruptive vents in western Halema‘uma‘u Crater. [3]
What to watch next: The park could still be closed during the next lava fountaining episode of the ongoing episodic eruption at the summit of Kīlauea volcano if it happens during the storm safety closure, with onset likely between Aug. 22 and 26. [3]
