Today's EM Morning Brief opens the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season with NOAA's below-normal outlook, tracks the U.S. Geological Survey's forecast window for Kīlauea Episode 48 fountaining, and updates wildland fire operations on the Seven Cabins Fire in New Mexico and the Santa Rosa Island Fire in California. CISA's June 1 federal remediation deadline for the Palo Alto PAN-OS authentication bypass vulnerability is in force today. State updates cover severe weather impacts in South Dakota and Texas. 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

• Atlantic hurricane season opens: The 2026 Atlantic basin is officially active as of today; NHC tropical weather outlooks resume on routine schedule. NOAA's seasonal call is below normal, with 8 to 14 named storms forecast.
• Wildland fire — Southwest focus: The NIFC May 31 IMSR confirms above-normal national fire activity. The Seven Cabins Fire in New Mexico stands at 29,000-plus acres and 51 percent containment, with seven households evacuated and SET status in effect for additional areas.
• California — Santa Rosa Island Fire: Now 18,379 acres at 97 percent containment, the largest wildfire ever recorded on the Channel Islands. The island stays closed through at least June 30.
• Kīlauea Episode 48 imminent: Alert Level WATCH, aviation code ORANGE. USGS forecast window for the onset of Episode 48 fountaining runs through today. Activity is confined to the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
• CISA KEV deadline today: Federal civilian agencies must remediate the Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS authentication bypass vulnerability by June 1; CISA recommends all PAN-OS operators do the same.
• Severe weather, central U.S.: May 31 severe thunderstorms produced 60 mph winds and quarter-size hail in Minnehaha County, South Dakota, and the Texas South Plains. SPC Day 1 outlook continues a severe weather risk for portions of the central Plains today.

Sources

NOAA / National Hurricane Center

• NOAA predicts below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season — agency outlook for the season opening today
• National Hurricane Center — Atlantic basin tropical weather outlook resumes today

NIFC / Wildland Fire

• NIFC Incident Management Situation Report — Sunday, May 31, 2026 (PDF)
• NIFC National Fire News — current national fire activity
• NIFC Monthly and Seasonal Outlook — June 1, 2026 (PDF)

CISA

• CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog — Palo Alto PAN-OS due June 1, 2026
• CISA Cybersecurity Alerts and Advisories — late-May postings

USGS

• USGS Kīlauea Volcano Updates — Episode 48 precursory activity and forecast window
• USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory — current status WATCH / ORANGE

California

• CAL FIRE Santa Rosa Island Fire incident page — 18,379 acres, 97 percent contained
• InciWeb — Channel Islands National Park Santa Rosa Island Fire information

Hawaii

• USGS Newest Volcano Notice — Kīlauea
• Hawaiian Volcano Observatory news — Episode 48 precursor activity

New Mexico

• KOB — Seven Cabins Fire grows to 29,000 acres, 51 percent contained, seven households evacuated
• KTSM — Seven Cabins Fire update for Sunday, May 31, 2026

South Dakota

• NWS Sioux Falls Severe Weather Information Page — May 31 severe thunderstorm warnings, Minnehaha County
• NOAA Storm Prediction Center — June 1, 2026 Day 1 Convective Outlook

Texas

• NOAA Storm Prediction Center — June 1, 2026 Day 1 Convective Outlook (continued central Plains and southwest Texas risk)