Severe Thunderstorms With Large Hail and Damaging Winds Hit Alabama, Florida and Louisiana
Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and large hail are affecting parts of Alabama, Florida and Louisiana while a stormy low-pressure system is forecast to bring heavy rain and strong winds to southern and eastern Finland this weekend.
Active Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in the US South
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect until 4:00 PM CDT for southeastern Escambia County and southern Covington County in Alabama along with northeastern Okaloosa County in Florida. [1] At 3:15 PM CDT a severe thunderstorm was located 14 miles northwest of Laurel Hill or 20 miles southwest of Andalusia and was moving southeast at 20 mph. [1] That storm carried a hazard of 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail according to radar indications. [1]
A separate Severe Thunderstorm Warning covers areas near East Baton Rouge in Louisiana. [2] At 3:13 PM CDT a severe thunderstorm was located near Gillsburg or 12 miles north of Greensburg and was moving south at 15 mph. [2] Radar indicated that storm produced tennis-ball-size hail and 70 mph wind gusts. [2] Locations impacted by the Louisiana storm include Greensburg, Montpelier, Darlington and Easley. [2]
Expected Impacts from Louisiana Thunderstorm
The Louisiana storm is expected to injure people and animals outdoors. [2] Hail damage is anticipated to roofs, siding, windows and vehicles. [2] Considerable tree damage is also expected along with wind damage likely to mobile homes, roofs and outbuildings. [2] These impacts follow directly from the radar-indicated hazards of tennis-ball-size hail and 70 mph wind gusts associated with the storm near Gillsburg. [2]
Stormy Weekend Forecast for Finland
Southern and eastern Finland are forecast to see widespread heavy rainfall of 40–50 mm and strong winds this weekend as a low-pressure system moves in. [3] Foreca stated on Friday that its forecast for the system had strengthened. [3] The weather service now expects widespread heavy rainfall with 40–50 millimetres forecast across parts of southern and eastern Finland during the weekend. [3] The Finnish Meteorological Institute aligns with this outlook for heavy rain and strong winds tied to the incoming low-pressure system. [3]
Drought Emergency and Regional Weather Effects in Latin America
In Honduras 75 municipalities have been placed under a state of emergency due to drought. [4] The government declared the state of emergency on 19 August in 75 municipalities under Red Alert. [4] Severe weather has affected 3,700 people in Costa Rica and Panama. [4] These figures appear in the weekly situation update covering Latin America and the Caribbean as of 21 August 2026. [4]
New Zealand Braces for Cold Front
A cold front is expected to bring heavy rain, severe gales and snow to New Zealand this weekend. [5] MetService noted that unseasonably mild conditions are about to be pushed out by the cold front moving across much of the country. [5] The weekend weather outlook highlights the shift to winter conditions with the incoming front. [5]
What to watch next: Forecasters in Finland continue to monitor the low-pressure system for possible further strengthening of rainfall totals while the National Weather Service tracks the movement of the warned storms in Alabama, Florida and Louisiana through the afternoon hours.
