Today’s EM Morning Brief covers a Storm Prediction Center Moderate Risk for severe weather across Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee with strong tornado potential, three large active wildfires (Highway 82 in Georgia, Hummingbird in New Mexico, and Poitrey Canyon in Colorado), Extremely Critical fire weather across far western Texas and eastern New Mexico, the latest USGS update on Kīlauea, the Peach Bottom radiological exercise opening this week, and continuing recovery operations in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands following Typhoon Sinlaku. 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.

Takeaways:

• The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for multiple states due to severe weather conditions.
• Supercells are anticipated to develop today, potentially producing strong long track tornadoes and damaging winds.
• Critical fire weather warnings have been issued for parts of Texas and New Mexico, with severe drought conditions persisting.
• The CDC is actively monitoring a resurgence of measles, with nearly two thousand cases reported across numerous states.
• Emergency preparedness exercises are currently underway in Maryland and Pennsylvania, focusing on nuclear facility readiness.
• Significant wildfire activity is ongoing in several states, with mandatory evacuations in effect in Georgia.

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Sources

Storm Prediction Center / NWS

• SPC Apr 27, 2026 Day 1 Convective Outlook

• SPC Apr 26, 2026 Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook

DHS / CISA

• DHS National Terrorism Advisory System

• CISA Cybersecurity Alerts & Advisories

• CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog

FEMA

• FEMA to Evaluate Readiness of Pennsylvania and Maryland (Peach Bottom REP exercise)

• Residents of Maui, Hawaiʻi and Honolulu Counties Impacted by March Kona Low Can Apply for FEMA Assistance

• President Approves Emergency Declaration for Guam (Typhoon Sinlaku)

USGS

• USGS Volcano Notice for Kīlauea (Apr 26, 2026)

• Kīlauea Volcano Updates

NIFC / InciWeb

• Incident Management Situation Report, Sunday, April 26, 2026

• NIFC National Fire News

• Sand Drain Fire (FLFNF) on InciWeb

CDC / Public Health

• CDC Health Alert Network archive

• CDC Measles Cases and Outbreaks (2026 data)

U.S. Department of State

• Travel Advisories

California

• CAL FIRE Carbon Fire incident page

• Forward progress stopped on 200-acre Brea brush fire (CBS LA)

• USGS Earthquake Catalog (Daly City Apr 26 M3.0)

• Two earthquakes strike near Daly City; largest M2.9 (ABC7)

Colorado

• Cooler weather slows growth of Poitrey Canyon Fire (CBS Colorado)

Florida

• A look at Florida’s largest active wildfires (WUFT/WUSF)

• Lynn Haven, FL Rescission of Precautionary Boil Water Notice

• Sand Drain Fire (FLFNF) on InciWeb

Georgia

• Wildfire in Brantley County grows to more than 20,000 Acres (WTOC)

• Highway 82 Fire maps, evacuations, road closures (First Coast News)

• GEMA April 2026 Wildfires page

• Gov. Kemp Declares State of Emergency for South Georgia Wildfires

Hawaii

• USGS HVO Kīlauea Volcano Notice (Apr 26, 2026)

• Office of the Governor (HI): FEMA Affirms Major Disaster Declaration for Hawaiʻi

Maryland & Pennsylvania

• FEMA to Evaluate Readiness for Peach Bottom REP Exercise

Severe Weather (April 27 outbreak)

• Severe storms and tornadoes, multi-day central U.S. outbreak (CNN)

• Multi-day severe weather outbreak forecast for the Plains (EarthSky)

New Mexico

• Gila National Forest Hummingbird Fire Update 4/26/2026 (NM Fire Info)

• Hummingbird Fire prompts evacuations near Gila National Forest (Santa Fe New Mexican)

North Carolina

• Boil water advisory lifted in Kannapolis (WBTV)

Texas

• SPC issues Extremely Critical fire weather outlook for far W TX Panhandle (The Watchers)

Guam & CNMI

• FEMA Emergency Declaration for Guam (Typhoon Sinlaku)

• Joint FEMA-USACE operations underway following Super Typhoon Sinlaku (Army.mil)

• HHS Secretary Declares Public Health Emergency for Guam, CNMI (ASPR)

Good morning.

The storm prediction center is highlighting a significant severe weather threat across the central and lower Mississippi Valley today.

A moderate risk level 4 of 5 is in place for portions of Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and western Tennessee, with an enhanced risk extending into northeast Mississippi, southeast Iowa and western Kentucky.

Forecasters expect supercells along a triple point low and dryline this afternoon capable of producing strong long track tornadoes, EF3 or greater, large hail and damaging wind gusts.

A tornado watch covering parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas remains in effect into early Monday morning.

Critical to Locally extremely critical fire weather conditions persist across the greater Four Corners region into the southern High Plains.

The Storm Prediction center has outlined an extremely critical fire weather area covering far western Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico with red flag warnings forecasting westerly winds of 15 to 25 mph, gusts to 40 mph and relative humidity in the 5 to 15% range.

Major cities under the critical area include El Paso, Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland and Odessa.

The U.S. geological Survey reports Kilauea remains at volcano alert level.

Advisory and Aviation Color code yellow episode 45 of summit lava fountaining ended April 23rd and the eruption is currently paused.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Assesses Episode 46 is likely within the first week of May.

Federal exercise activity is also notable today.

DHS and FEMA Region 3 begin a biennial radiological emergency preparedness exercise this week at the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station evaluating the readiness of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of Maryland to respond to an emergency at the nuclear facility.

Preliminary findings will be presented at a public meeting May 1 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

As of the most recent weekly update, 1,792 confirmed cases have been reported across 32 states and New York City, with 94% of cases tied to one of 19 outbreaks.

Let's run through the states.

Alabama A significant severe weather threat persists Monday with strong tornadoes and damaging winds possible across northern and central portions of the state as a powerful storm system tracks east from the Mississippi Valley.

The state lies within the Storm Prediction Center's Enhanced Risk Corridor.

Residents should monitor warnings and have shelter plans ready.

Arkansas A tornado watch is in effect for portions of the state into early Monday morning.

Arkansas sits in the Storm Prediction Center's moderate risk corridor for Monday afternoon and evening with strong tornadoes, large hail and and damaging winds expected, particularly across the Northeast and East central counties.

California the Carbon Fire in Brea Orange county reached approximately 200 acres Saturday before forward progress was halted.

All evacuation warnings have been lifted.

Carbon Canyon Road remains closed between Bra Hills and Ruby.

Separately, a magnitude 3.0 earthquake was recorded near the San Francisco Zoo at 4:39pm Saturday, followed by smaller aftershocks of 2.0 and 2.7 magnitude.

No damage or injuries were reported.

Colorado the Poitry Canyon Fire in Los Animas county is at 2,065 acres with zero containment, threatening an estimated 30 structures.

Governor Jared Paulus Disaster emergency declaration remains in effect and 77 personnel are committed.

Cooler conditions Sunday slowed fire growth, but the fire is human caused and uncontained with local closures still in place.

The Florida Forest Service is tracking more than 130 active wildfires statewide driven by extreme drought and a significant rainfall deficit.

The Sand Drain Fire Osceola National Forest, Baker county is at 56 acres and 75% containment with crews running sprinkler systems to protect nearby homes.

The City of Lynn Haven Bay county lifted a precautionary boil water notice on April 26 after bacteriological testing cleared the affected zones.

Georgia the Highway 82 fire in Brantley county doubled in size in the last 24 hours and exceeds 22,000 acres at 6% containment as of late Sunday.

Mandatory evacuations remain in place for the area bounded by Highway 32, Highway 82, Highway 110 and Post Road, with extensions into Wayne and Glynn counties.

A countywide curfew is in effect from 8:30pm to 6:30am More than 400 personnel, multiple helicopters, engines and heavy equipment are assigned.

An American Red Cross shelter is open at the Selden park complex in Brunswick.

Governor Brian Kemp's state of emergency covers 91 counties and FEMA has approved a Fire Management Assistance grant.

Hawaii USGS reports Kilauea is at Advisory Yellow Episode 45 ended April 23rd.

Episode 46 is likely the first week of May.

Separately, the FEMA major disaster declaration for the March Kona Low storms remains active for Honolulu, Hawaii and Maui counties.

Individual assistance applications opened earlier in April with a Registration deadline of June 7.

2026.

A 60% or greater probability of severe weather across the core zone and the potential for long track intense EF3 or stronger tornadoes from afternoon into nighttime hours.

Southern Indiana lies within the storm prediction Center's enhanced risk for Monday with damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes possible as supercells track eastward from the Mississippi Valley.

Iowa Southeast Iowa is included in the Storm Prediction Center's enhanced risk corridor for Monday afternoon and evening.

Discrete supercells with potential for large hail and strong tornadoes are expected near the Triple Point Low.

Western Kentucky is included in the Storm Prediction Center's enhanced risk for Monday with embedded supercell structures and brief tornadoes possible along the southward surging cold front into the lower Ohio Valley by late evening.

Louisiana A tornado watch is in effect for parts of northern Louisiana into early Monday morning.

Severe weather risk continues Monday on the southern flank of the Central US system.

Maryland FEMA Region 3 begins the biennial radiological emergency preparedness exercise at the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station this week, evaluating Maryland's readiness alongside Pennsylvania.

A public meeting is scheduled for May 1st in Lancaster, Pennsy A tornado watch is in effect for 14 counties in North Mississippi, including Alcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tippa, Tishomingo, Union and Yalabusha into late Monday.

The state sits within the Storm Prediction Center's enhanced risk for Monday with strong tornadoes possible.

Missouri is in the Storm Prediction Center's moderate risk corridor for Monday, with the highest tornado probability concentrated across the eastern and southeastern counties.

Strong tornadoes, very large hail and damaging winds are likely during the afternoon and evening, including the St. Louis and Cape Girardeau areas.

New Mexico the hummingbird fire on the Gila National Forest 15 miles east of Glenwood is at 2,018 acres with no containment.

A GO evacuation remains in effect for the Willow Creek subdivision after spot fire's cross control features on the north perimeter Saturday.

174 Personnel are assigned with multiple large air tankers and helicopters supporting ground crews.

The Storm Prediction center has placed eastern New Mexico under an extremely critical fire weather area for today.

North Carolina the city of Kannapolis lifted its citywide boil water advisory the evening of April 26th after E. Coli was detected earlier in the drinking water.

Affected residents are no longer required to boil water for use.

Pennsylvania FEMA Region 3 begins the biennial radiological emergency preparedness exercise at the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station this week, evaluating the Commonwealth's readiness alongside Maryland.

Preliminary findings will be presented at a public meeting May 1 at Eden Resort and Suites in Lancaster.

Western Tennessee is in the Storm Prediction Center's moderate risk corridor for Monday with strong tornadoes and widespread damaging winds expected.

A Tornado watch covers 10 counties in West Tennessee into late Monday.

Memphis is among the cities at greatest risk.

Tornado Texas the Storm Prediction center has placed the far western Texas Panhandle under an extremely critical fire weather area, with the critical area extending across El Paso, Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland and Odessa.

Forecasters expect westerly gusts to 60 mph and minimum relative humidity of 8 to 15% across portions of the warned area.

A tornado watch is in effect for parts of East Texas into early Monday morning.

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

Territories Guam Federal recovery operations from Super Typhoon sinlaku continue.

The April 11 emergency declaration authorizing FEMA assistance remains active, with FEMA and U.S. army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District conducting joint operations across the Marianas.

The HHS public health emergency declared April 17 remains in effect.

Northern Mariana Islands Federal recovery and damage assessment operations continue following the April 14 landfall of Super Typhoon Sinlaku on Saipan and Tinian.

The Presidential emergency declaration for CNMI remains active and the HHS public health emergency declared April 17 remains in effect for both CNMI and Guam.

All other territories and the District of Colombia have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.

That's your EM morning brief for Monday, April 27th.

Stay safe.