May 6, 2026: SPC’s Enhanced Risk drives Wednesday’s tornado, hail, and damaging-wind threat from northeast Texas through Mississippi, Alabama, and southern Tennessee, with flash-flood concerns continuing across south-central Indiana and central Kentucky. The U.S. Geological Survey downgrades Kilauea’s volcano alert level to ADVISORY and aviation color code to YELLOW after Episode 46 of the summit eruption ends. CISA publishes five new ICS advisories. Newark Liberty International continues to grind through ATC staffing and equipment-related disruption. We also cover the Cow Creek Fire in Florida, the Hummingbird Fire in New Mexico, FEMA’s Kona Low recovery operations in Hawaii, an Acworth boil water advisory in Georgia, and a Boron Trifluoride leak in Duson, Louisiana. EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast.

Key Takeaways

• Mid-South severe weather: Enhanced Risk Wednesday for tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds across northeast Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and southern Tennessee, with flash-flood concerns in central Kentucky and south-central Indiana.

• Kilauea Episode 46 ended: Lava fountaining ended at 5:22 p.m. HST on May 5. HVO dropped the Volcano Alert Level from WATCH to ADVISORY and aviation color code from ORANGE to YELLOW; lava on the crater floor remains hot.

• NIFC posture: National Preparedness Level remains at 2 with 20 uncontained large fires; Southern Area at Geographic Area Preparedness Level 4 due to drought and active incidents in Florida and Georgia.

• CISA ICS advisories: Five advisories published May 5 covering ABB B and R Automation Runtime and Studio products and Johnson Controls CEM AC2000 (DLL hijacking, CVE-2026-21661); operators should review and prioritize patching.

• Newark Liberty disruption: More than 110 delays and 3 cancellations Tuesday tied to FAA air-traffic-control staffing, equipment work, and Spirit Airlines displacement; ripple effects into LaGuardia and Chicago O’Hare expected to continue.

• Florida Cow Creek Fire: Approximately 1,850 acres at 30 percent containment in Levy County south of Bronson; one outbuilding destroyed, no homes lost; FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant authorized.

• New Mexico Hummingbird Fire: 5,650 acres at 35 percent containment with zero growth for the fourth straight day; Willow Creek subdivision residents have returned home.

• Hawaii Kona Low recovery: FEMA in-person assistance running across Hawaii, Maui, and Honolulu counties; June 14 Individual Assistance deadline; Maui Hookumu Hou Reconstruction and Reimbursement Program deadlines extended through August 2026.

• Georgia Acworth boil water advisory: Cobb County Water System advisory in effect for parts of Acworth after a partially open valve allowed water from an inactive main to migrate into an active main.

• Louisiana Duson hazmat: Boron Trifluoride leak from a valve malfunction May 5 prompted evacuations and ten transports for evaluation; injuries reported as non-life threatening.

• Colorado and Wyoming snow: Late-season storm winding down with 5 to 10 inches in the Cheyenne area, up to 8 inches in Denver, and over a foot in Boulder; travel impacts continue along I-25.

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Sources

Storm Prediction Center and National Weather Service

• SPC Day 1 Convective Outlook, national severe thunderstorm outlook for May 6, 2026

• NWS national flood warning summary, live national flood warning summary

• NWS Birmingham, AL, severe weather messaging for central Alabama

• NWS Memphis, Mid-South severe weather and flood messaging

• NWS Little Rock, Arkansas severe weather messaging

• NWS Fort Worth/Dallas, North Texas severe weather messaging

• NWS Indianapolis, central Indiana severe weather and flooding messaging

• NWS Louisville, Kentucky severe weather and flood watch information

• NWS New Orleans/Baton Rouge, southeast Louisiana severe weather messaging

• NWS Nashville, Middle Tennessee severe weather and flood messaging

USGS Kilauea

• USGS Kilauea Volcano Updates, official volcano update feed

• HVO May 5 evening notice, WATCH to ADVISORY downgrade and Episode 46 end notice

• Episode 46 lava fountaining ends after about 9 hours, local reporting on the May 5 fountaining event

NIFC and Wildfires

• NIFC IMSR (PDF), Tuesday May 5, 2026 Incident Management Situation Report

• NIFC National Fire News, national wildland fire activity summary

• InciWeb Incident Information, national active incident portal

CISA

• CISA ICS Advisories landing page, industrial control systems advisories

• CISA Cybersecurity Alerts and Advisories, enterprise cyber alerts and advisories

• CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, authoritative KEV reference

FEMA and Disaster Recovery

• FEMA Press Releases, agency-wide disaster response and assistance announcements

• FEMA Hawaii Kona Low Disaster (DR-4909-HI), Hawaii Kona Low disaster page

• FEMA specialists at local recovery centers (Kona Lows), recovery center hours and locations

FAA and Aviation

• FAA statements on Newark Liberty International Airport, agency advisories on Newark operations

• FAA National Airspace System Status, live ground stop and delay program advisories

Alabama

• University of Alabama severe weather alert (May 6), UA campus communications and Enhanced Risk preparation

California

• Governor Newsom proclaims Wildfire Preparedness Week (May 4), official proclamation and state readiness posture

• CAL FIRE 2026 Fire Season Incident Archive, state incident tracker

Colorado

• Late-season Rocky Mountain snowstorm (Fox Weather), storm impacts and forecast totals

• NWS Boulder/Denver, local NWS office for the Front Range

Florida

• FEMA authorizes federal funds for Cow Creek Fire, Fire Management Assistance Grant authorization

• Cow Creek Fire status update, local reporting on acreage and containment

Georgia

• Cobb County Boil Water Advisory Notice, county notice listing affected streets in Acworth

Hawaii

• FEMA in-person Kona Low assistance now on Hawaii Island, Kealakekua and Keaau Armory recovery hours

• Maui Recovers: FEMA Weekly Fact Sheet (DR-4724-HI WFS-073), Hookumu Hou and Reimbursement Program August 2026 deadline

Indiana

• Flood Watch and severe weather outlook (WRTV), Indianapolis-area flood watch and rainfall potential

Kentucky

• Flash Flood Warnings for Kentucky and Indiana counties (WHAS), live county-level flood and severe weather alerts

Louisiana

• Louisiana State Police: chemical leak in Duson (May 5), official release on Boron Trifluoride leak and response

Mississippi

• Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Alerts, state alerts page

New Jersey

• CBS News: Newark Airport delays and ground stops, context on equipment and staffing issues

New Mexico

• Gila National Forest Hummingbird Fire update for May 5, official fire update on acreage, containment, and personnel

South Dakota

• SD DPS Wildland Fire, state wildland fire response and Red Flag information

Texas

• Central Texas severe weather impact alert (KCEN), I-35 corridor severe storm forecast for Wednesday

Wyoming

• Cowboy State Daily: late-season Wyoming snowstorm, local reporting on snow totals and travel impacts

Good morning.

A multi state severe weather episode is the dominant national story today.

NOAA's Storm Prediction center has placed an enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms across portions of the Tennessee Valley and the central Gulf Coast Wednesday afternoon and evening with damaging wind gusts to 60 mph and large hail and a tornado threat extending from northeast Texas across Mississippi and into Alabama and southern Tennessee.

A slow moving frontal boundary continues to drive flash flood concerns over south central Indiana and central Kentucky where rainfall totals near 1 to 2 inches and locally higher are forecast through Wednesday morning.

Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano has stepped down a notch.

The U.S. geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that episode 46 of the ongoing Halemaumau eruption ended at 5:22pm HST on May 5 after roughly nine hours of sustained lava fountaining with north vent fountains reaching 500 to 650ft at peak.

With ground and aviation hazards reduced, HVO dropped the volcano alert level from watch to advisory and the aviation color code from orange to yellow lava on the crater floor remains hot and may continue to creep in coming days.

The National Interagency Fire center keeps the national preparedness level at 2 official update published roughly 24 hours ago from the May 5th IMSR with 20 uncontained large fires nationally and the southern area at geographic area preparedness level 4 due to widespread drought and active incidents in Florida, Georgia and the Southeast.

Operational disruption continued Tuesday from chronic FAA air traffic control staffing shortfalls, equipment work and rerouted Spirit traffic with more than 110 delays and cancellations and ripple effects into LaGuardia, Chicago, O' Hare and other major hubs.

Let's run through the states Alabama the National Weather Service has issued an enhanced risk level 3 of 5 for severe weather Wednesday evening through early Thursday with tornadoes, damaging winds gusting to 60 miles per hour and quarter size hail all possible.

The University of Alabama is preparing campus shelter procedures and pushing alerts through its UA Safety app for Tuscaloosa County, Arkansas Severe storms remain in the forecast Wednesday as a frontal boundary lingers across the state.

Damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes are the primary hazards.

State and local emergency management offices continue to encourage residents to maintain multiple ways to receive warnings.

California Wildfire Preparedness Week, May 3 to 9 continues under Governor Gavin Newsom's May 4 proclamation with Cal Fire pushing residents to harden homes, prepare go kits and review evacuation plans.

The governor's office cited the state's expanded fire protection budget and forest health investments as part of the readiness posture for an above normal early season fire risk.

Colorado the late season winter storm that brought heavy, wet snow to the Front Range and Northern Mountains is winding down Wednesday.

Higher elevations, including Rocky Mountain national park and the Pikes Peak region picked up double digit snowfall with up to 8 inches in Denver and over a foot in Boulder.

Travel along the Interstate 25 corridor remains slow as crews clear lanes and address downed trees and outages.

Florida the Cow Creek fire south of Bronson in Levy county has grown to roughly 1,850 acres at about 30% containment.

The fire is exhibiting backing, flanking and creeping behavior under drought and gusty winds.

One outbuilding has been destroyed, no homes have been lost and alert Levy notifications remain in place for area residents.

FEMA has authorized federal funds to help Florida fight the fire.

Georgia the Cobb County Water System has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for parts of Acworth, including McCoy Road, Wil Bend Street, Atlanta Ski Club, Private Boat Club Drive, Boat Club Lane and Portside Drive, after a partially open valve allowed water from an inactive main to migrate into an active main during a pressure test.

Residents in the affected area should boil water for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth until the advisory is lifted.

Hawaii in addition to the kilauea downgrade features, FEMA's in person disaster assistance for the March Kona Lo storms continues across Hawaii, Maui and Honolulu counties with active recovery centers at the Kealakekua Branch of the Hawaii State Public Library System on Hawaii island and at the Kaku Maui Resource center, the Office of Recovery, Lahaina Resource center and the South Maui Community Park Gym in Maui County.

The June 14 deadline for FEMA individual assistance applications stands.

Illinois Southern and western Illinois sit within the Storm Prediction Center's marginal risk for severe thunderstorms Wednesday, with damaging winds and marginally severe hail the primary hazards.

Indiana A flood watch is in effect through Wednesday morning for areas along and south of Interstate 70 where rainfall totals over 2 inches are possible in the heaviest bands.

A marginal risk for severe thunderstorms covers central and southern Indiana Wednesday afternoon and evening with hail and gusty winds the primary threats.

Kentucky A flash flood threat continues across central Kentucky as the slow moving frontal boundary produces multiple rounds of heavy rainfall.

Severe thunderstorm potential remains across western and central portions of the state with damaging winds, hail and an isolated tornado risk.

Louisiana Louisiana State Police's Emergency Services Unit and Hazmat crews responded May 5 to a chemical leak at a business in Dusan involving a boron trifluoride valve malfunction.

Surrounding businesses were evacuated, the leak was contained and 10 people were transported to local hospitals for evaluation, including three first responders with all injuries believed to be non life threatening.

Statewide, much of Louisiana sits within a slight risk for severe thunderstorms Wednesday with damaging wind gusts over 60 miles per hour, hail and a few tornadoes possible, plus localized street flooding.

Mississippi the state falls within the slight to enhanced risk corridor for severe weather Wednesday with damaging winds, hail and a tornado threat as a line of thunderstorms moves through the Tennessee Valley and central Gulf Coast.

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency continues to push readiness messaging.

Missouri no active warnings are in effect for the major metros as of early Wednesday, but eastern and southern Missouri sit within the Storm Prediction Center's broader severe thunderstorm risk area as a frontal boundary moves through state.

Emergency management is encouraging residents to maintain multiple alert channels.

NEW Jersey Newark Liberty International Airport recorded more than 110 delays and three cancellations Tuesday with the FAA citing chronic air traffic control staffing shortfalls, ongoing equipment work and operational ripple effects From Spirit Airlines May 2nd cessation of operations.

United Airlines led delays among carriers.

Disruptions are expected to continue Wednesday across the New York area airspace.

NEW Mexico the hummingbird fire on the Gila National Forest, located 15 miles east of Glenwood, remains at approximately 5,650 acres with containment now at 35% with zero growth for the fourth straight day per the May 5 Gila National Forest update.

Approximately 207 personnel are assigned.

Residents of the Willow Creek subdivision returned home Monday after a roughly week long evacuation.

Ohio Rounds of heavy rain along the lower Ohio Valley produced a marginal risk for excessive rainfall through Wednesday, with localized flooding possible along smaller streams and and in poor drainage urban areas.

Oklahoma Portions of eastern Oklahoma remain within the broader severe weather threat area Wednesday as the frontal boundary tracks east.

Damaging winds and hail are the primary hazards with an isolated tornado risk.

SOUTH Dakota the South Dakota Department of Public Safety's Wildland Fire Division continues operations on the Route 13 fire in Zeebock county, where merged perimeters now cover roughly 33,928 acres and on the 79 Fire near Buffalo Gap Critical fire weather and dry fuels remain a concern across the western and southern plains, Tennessee the National Weather Service Nashville office has the area under a marginal risk for strong to severe thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon and evening, with the primary threats being strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Memphis area Unsettled weather continues with scattered showers after a night of heavy rain.

Central Texas faces increased chances for severe to heavy storms Wednesday with a weather impact alert in place for the i35 corridor.

The primary threat is straight line winds with hail also a possibility, and storms are expected to clear from north to south through Wednesday afternoon.

Northeast Texas remains in the higher end severe risk corridor.

Wyoming the late season winter storm that produced 5 to 10 inches of heavy wet snow across the Cheyenne area and southeast Wyoming is winding down Wednesday morning.

Wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour produced near whiteout conditions overnight along Interstates 25 and 80.

Travel impacts continue as crews clear roads and address downed trees and intermittent power outages.

All other states and territories have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.

That wraps today's EM Morning Brief.

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