NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Sunday, October 11, 2026

Episode Date: October 11, 2026

Isaias moves north into Appalachians and mid-Atlantic; Tropical Storm Rachel brings heavy rain and waves to Southern California; Pope Leo to undergo lung surgery this week; and more on tonight’s broadcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tonight, the dangerous one-to-punch of powerful storms on both coasts, millions on alert for flash floods, even tornadoes with possible twisters tearing through homes, flipping trucks and trailers like these, hundreds of thousands still without power, where what's left of Hurricane Issa-Eas is heading next. Plus, the rare West Coast storm bringing huge waves, washing out roads, leaving these runners stranded, flooded along the Vegas strip, and even, snow in some spots. We're tracking it all. Pope Leo's health scare, his surprise announcement in St. Peter's Square about lung surgery this week, what we know about his condition. New strikes in Saudi Arabia after a deadly weekend

of attacks on its main international airport. This video here showing crowded terminals, then explosions and people running for cover, at least 13 killed, including an American. And now, new questions about whether the U.S. will step in. Just into. Tonight, President Trump saying Russia and Ukraine agreed to an energy ceasefire, but will both sides go along? Developing now the Justice Department, investigating major TV networks after the response to President Trump's media ban. Heart stopping video capturing the moments this tiger mulled someone inside that enclosure. The security questions tonight about how he got in there. Midair scare passengers scrambling as this fire starts on an international flag.

But forced this small. plane to make an emergency landing on a very busy highway. There's good news tonight about the open road and what's behind this father-son trek to every ballpark in America. Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Hallie Jackson. Good evening. We are coming on the air with a one-two punch of intense storms causing devastating damage on both coasts. In the east, what's left of deadly hurricane Issa Eas, spinning off twisters across the south. You see that intense wind there blowing around trash cans in North Carolina. The Category 2 hurricane making landfall in Florida, ripping that roof right off the motel there. You can see into the top of this apartment complex

and this convenience store. And tonight, hundreds of thousands don't have power as the system moves into the northeast. In the west, waves from tropical storm Rachel battering homes along the Coast. Rescuers in San Diego rushing to pull this man out of the water, that same storm system flooding part of the Vegas Strip in front of the Ferris wheel there. Our team is covering both these storms, and we begin with Jesse Kirsch in Milton, Florida. Tonight, what's left of Isayas drenching the East Coast, with millions at risk of flooding, high winds, and potential tornadoes. Like this one in Raleigh, North Carolina, extreme winds, slamming trees and sending garbage cans flying.

Possible twisters also tearing through these Burke County, Georgia homes, turning over trucks and trailers. Back up! Back up from the window. This ongoing threat, the latest fallout from the storm that roared ashore near Destin, Florida Friday night, as a Category 2 hurricane. Isayas devastating Florida's panhandle and neighboring Alabama, with at least four people killed, according to officials, including Jennifer Williams, according to her husband, Joseph.

A tree crashing into their Pensacola home. In other areas of that city, the storm ripping off this hotel roof and crushing this gas station. About 25 miles away, Milton, Florida ravaged. A lot of people were expecting flooding, and then it ended up trees just falling everywhere. Isayi is flooding streets, with wind gusts topping 115 miles per hour. Wow. Back in Pensacola, this tree crashing into Darrell Wellens' bedroom. We jumped in the house and then two seconds later, bam, that whole thing just collapsed.

So you were seconds away from possibly being right under this. God, 15 feet, less than 15 feet. We could have been dead. And while crews across the region raced to restore power, tonight hundreds of thousands are still in the dark. There are also many without safe tap water. Have a good day. Officials handing out free bottled water in Pensacola as a long recovery is just beginning. We start back from the scratch, stay strong, stay positive.

Jesse is joining us now from that convenience store you just saw in Milton, Florida. And Jesse, this is just some of the mess that people all over the area are going to have to deal with. A long road ahead, Halley. Take look at this debris all over the floor. I've got to be careful where I step. And then when I look up, nothing but sky. And as these communities continue with their recovery, what's left of Isayas is moving north. It should be offshore by tomorrow.

Hallie. Jesse Kirshan, Florida. Thank you. To that rare tropical storm in the West, bringing all kinds of wild weather, including dangerous surf, intense flooding, even some early season snow. Dana Griffin reports. Tonight, a dangerous race against rising water in Southern California. Dealing with the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel.

Powerful surf battering beachfront homes, eroding parts of the shoreline. Southern California is not built for this type of weather. I will be honest with that. Most of our channels are not prepped for multiple inches of rain day after day, day after day. Overnight, rescue teams in San Diego battling swift-moving floodwaters, pulling a frightened man out of this storm drain. How difficult is a rescue like that? These are particularly difficult. In Utah, the San Juan County Sheriff's Office says dozens of runners and race volunteers were evacuated from an ultra-marathon route after the storm washed out roads.

and NBC News Philadelphia executive among them. It was scary. You thought the tent was going to fly away. I don't even know how they were able to anchor that tent so well. Right now, the water's coming up a couple of inches every minute. Look at this. This is what the storm dumped in Las Vegas, breaking the city's daily rain record and at least six inches of snow in parts of Montana.

The storm adding a new round of life-threatening conditions to the region as a rare Super El Nino take shape, which could bring more challenges in the months ahead. It's really something to see. Dana is joining us now from Long Beach, and Dana, they're working fast to try to keep water out of the houses nearby. Yeah, they sure are, Hallad.

Let me show you. These crews have formed a human conveyor belt. They've been working all day, passing heavy sandbacks down this boardwalk, trying to shore it up and prevent water from going on and into these homes that have already, sustained significant damage. Hallie?

Dana Griffin in California, thank you. To the surprising announcement from Pope Leo now, saying he'll have lung surgery just days from now, raising questions about his health. Ann Thompson reports. Pope Leo delivered the surprising news himself. Speaking in Italian at the end of his weekly Sunday blessing, the 71-year-old pontiff said doctors had found a nodule on one of his lungs.

It was determined. detected at a very early stage and is well localized, he told the crowd, adding he will have surgery this week. This is the first health issue of Leo's young papacy. Up till now, he appeared to be in good health, with friends saying he plays tennis and swims to stay fit. That should work in his favor, says Northwestern Medicine Thoracic Surgeon, Dr. Samuel Kim. What's the reality about most nodules on the lung? So the reality is the majority of lung nodules out there, I'd say 95% all the long nodules are benign.

Surgery to remove the small growth will take place at Rome's Jameling Hospital, where popes before Leo have been treated. Kim says the surgery typically lasts 90 minutes. Today at Catholic Churches around the world, prayers for the first American pope from New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral. We are with him and we are praying for him like he does for us. to St. Peter's Square where NBC's Claudio Lavonga is. Even late tonight at the Vatican, the faithful here, wishing Pope Leo a quick recovery.

As practicing Catholics, we keep him in our players and hope that he is okay. Now, a Vatican spokesperson says it will take the Pope about a week to recover from the surgery, but he's got a lot on his plate. There is a conference on marriage and the family that wraps up this week. And then next month, he plans to go to South America. including Peru, where he served as bishop, no word yet on whether the surgery will impact that trip, Pally. Something to watch, Ann Thompson. Thank you. New video tonight of the attack at a major Saudi airport that killed at least 13 people, including an American, with a new strike there today, escalating the tension and adding to the growing questions about whether the U.S. might get involved.

Raf Sanchez is in the region. Tonight, new video from Saudi Arabia's state media shows the moment Iranians, Iranians, Indian-backed Houthi militants struck one of the country's main international airports, killing 13 people, including an American, and wounding more than 300. President Trump says he's now considering launching a new wave of U.S. strikes and retaliation. I think it's terrible. Well, you're going to find out, see, but I think it's terrible. The Houthi's showing no sign of backing down, tonight hitting the same airport again.

Saudi authorities say multiple people are injured. The militants, based in neighboring Yemen, claiming responsibility for the strikes and warning international airlines to stay away from Saudi Arabia, fighting between the Houthis and Saudi troops intensifying as the rebels tighten their grip on the Bab el-Mandeb, the critical waterway that controls access to the Red Sea. Like the nearby Strait of Hormuz, it's a major artery for global oil supplies. The U.S. launched a three-month bombing campaign, against the Houthis last year in an effort to stop their attacks on international shipping.

But Mr. Trump has so far resisted pressure from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to restart the strikes, which would plunge U.S. forces back into active combat in the Middle East just weeks ahead of the midterms. The president has said he doesn't plan new strikes against Iran until after the elections, but U.S. forces continue blockading Iranian ports. that this complex war is far from over. Raf is joining us now from Tel Aviv and Raf on the strikes on airports. It seems like that's created a chaotic situation for commercial flights heading to Saudi.

Yeah, Halley, too, the country's main airports are closed right now. A third is experiencing major disruptions. And the Houthis say they are prepared to target all of Saudi Arabia's airports, except for those in Mecca and Medina, which are home to Islam's holiest sites. Howley? Ralph Sanchez, thank you. President Trump tonight describing a new potential step toward peace in what he calls an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, but it's still not clear whether both sides will even go along. Yamish El Sindor explains.

Tonight, President Trump declaring an energy ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine, even though it's unclear whether both sides are actually on board. The president posting online that the ceasefire was, quote, effective immediately. adding both parties have agreed, do not break it. But Ukrainian President Zelensky said Russia was still carrying out strikes on its energy infrastructure today. Zelensky, writing of the ceasefire, quote, it is important that this becomes a reality. If they want energy ceasefire, we are open for this. Don't attack us. Don't kill our children.

We will stop attack your diesel. So far, though, Russia has not publicly confirmed the agreement. In the last few weeks, both countries have attacked sites related to energy. And yesterday, the president lashing out at Zelensky. We said you can do whatever you want to Russia. Don't hit the refineries because that's a world problem that's caused. And he wants to make problems for the world. He wants to make problems for our farmers, our ranchers with diesel fuel.

I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal. That came after President Trump announced on Friday a new deal to ease sanctions on Russian energy exports, allowing the country to release diesel fuel into the global market. President Trump says the agreement will help bring down diesel prices, though some energy experts say it may not make a significant difference. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of senators condemning the agreement and calling on President Trump to reverse course, saying the U.S. should not provide a, quote, financial lifeline

while Russia continues to kill Ukrainian civilians. President Zelenskyy told ABC News, if President Trump really wants a change in leadership, Russia needs to agree to a full 60-day ceasefire to allow Ukraine to organize elections. Until then, he said it's not safe enough to choose a new leader. Halley? Amish al-Sendor, thank you. The Department of Justice says it has launched an investigation into the five major TV networks,

including NBC, after the networks temporarily declined to provide joint TV pool coverage of President Trump, when several outlets, including CNN, which is part of the pool, were borrowed from the White House. ABC News says it had not received any notification from the DOJ but expects to. No comments from the White House or the other networks. Also tonight, a tiger attack caught on camera after a man somehow got into the enclosure at a wildlife park. Sam Brock has this report with a warning that some of the video you're about to see may be upsetting. In a scary scene producing audible gasps from visitors. You see a man being mauled to death by a sight of.

Siberian tiger at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Northern England. The big cat repeatedly lunging at the neck of the man who still hasn't been identified before he holds up his hand, desperately trying to stop the onslaught. In the background, a woman's voice can be heard saying, I tried to stop him, and then screams. Yorkshire police say they received reports of a man entering a tiger enclosure Saturday when the tiger subsequently attacked the man resulting in serious injury. The park then shut down with visitors scrambling to leave. It's not clear how the man managed to gain access to the enclosure. As for Altai the tiger, the park says we can reassure everyone that he is safe and well and will not be euthanized as a result of this incident. It's

just the latest in a string of zoo visitor incursions with serious consequences. Last year, a man was mall to death in Brazil by a lioness after climbing into her enclosure and sliding down a tree. And this woman treated for her injuries after going over a barrier to get a picture with a jaguar in Arizona. Now, questions swirling again about how an animal space was breached and the tragedy that ensued. Sam Brock, NBC News. Still ahead for us tonight. What happened when a small plane had to come in for landing on a busy highway? Next.

Back now with the investigation into a deadly police ambush in Philadelphia. Police say 40-year-old Shane Sieber was killed. And a second officer was shot a dozen times while both were responding to a report of a man with a gun. The second officer is in stable condition and a suspect is under arrest tonight. Also tonight a close call in Southern California, this surveillance video showing a fire. You see it there in the garage of that house? A quick-thinking gardener working nearby jumped into action, ringing the doorbell to get everyone out, then sprayed water on the fire with a garden hose.

The woman asleep in the house escaped along with her two dogs. Scary moments on a flight in India when a fire started in an overhead compartment. You can see smoke and fire there. The airline told an Indian news agency it was caused by an electronic device. The flight diverted and landed safely. And in Michigan, this small plane having engine trouble came in for an emergency landing on a highway there. Look at that. Coming in without hitting any of the cars and then ending up on the shoulder.

The pilot was the only one on board and is doing okay. When we come back, there is good news tonight about two men, four wheels, and the long journey to every ballpark in America. There is good news tonight about an incredible baseball journey and the good cause, bringing a father and son even closer. These two on the move. First place, bro. Scott Pesh and his son Ethan, greeting their online followers with his the daily update. Good morning, bike to ballparks fans. Day three of our trip. We go day 67, bike to ballparks. This is day 136. They're pedaling nearly 10,000 miles from coast to coast,

stopping at every big league ballpark in the country. The goal to raise $100,000 for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. I mean, wow. Pushing through rain and shine. A thunder and light and storm hit poured on us. Some lows. Oh, this is freaking scary. And plenty of highs. For Scott, this journey feels extra special. In 1994, he biked the same route with his college friends.

And now, three decades later, he's doing it again. This time with his son by his side. This is a beautiful country and there's beautiful people in it. And that's what I wanted to show my son. I actually rode my bike to every Major League Baseball Stadium. I didn't drive a car. I didn't fly a plane. I rode my dang bike.

Pushing each other to keep going. He's an amazing person, an even better friend and an even better dad. He's like Superman to me. And making memories to last a lifetime. I love you, Ethan. I'm grateful I was able to do it with you, Dad. It was, man, can't even. No words to describe it.

And that is nightly news for this Sunday. But stick around. We've got Sunday night football. up next with the Ravens of the Falcons. I'm Hallie Jackson. For all of us here at NBC, thanks so much for watching and have a great week.