Fire Triangle in Southern California Airport Fire burning in Trabuco Canyon grows over 9,000 acres A wildfire that broke out in Orange County’s Trabuco Canyon Monday afternoon exploded by several thousand acres overnight. As of Tuesday, the Airport Fire had scorched approximately 9,000 acres and had forced the evacuation of some homes in Trabuco Canyon … Read more
Like its predecessor, ‘Twister’, the new blockbuster ‘Twisters’ is poised to spark a new generation of meteorologists and storm chasers. With its impressive opening weekend box office numbers, it’s clear that this movie has captured the attention of both weather enthusiasts and the general public. ‘Twisters’ earned $32.2M on the film’s domestic opening day. Same … Read more
2024 Tornado Count Surges as New York, Chicago, and Texas Hit Hard The United States has experienced a dramatic increase in tornado activity in 2024, with devastating impacts felt in multiple states. Midwest Mayhem: Chicago and Northern Illinois Monday’s destructive derecho in the Chicago area spawned 12 confirmed tornadoes as of Wednesday evening, including 3 … Read more
Since the 1940s, the annual number of fatalities from lightning has been decreasing. In 1940, lightning was the #1 weather-related killer. In 2023, the National Weather Service reported only 14 lightning-related fatalities. This downward trend highlights improved safety awareness and underscores the importance of seeking shelter during thunderstorms. How many people were killed by lightning … Read more
Friday, July 19th was the 16th day in a row with a high temperature of 80 degrees or higher for Seattle. That breaks Seattle’s previous record for consecutive 80+ degree days (15 days, set in 2015 & 1977). Top 10 warmest days at Seattle-Tacoma airportRecords started 1945 The records at the Federal Building went from … Read more
“Latest Beryl Devastation was similar to the Solar Eclipse but with a line of Thunderstorms” Hurricane Beryl will be talked about for a long time by many for memorable tropical systems. Over 200 tornado warnings were issued from July 8th to 10th, the most since Hurricane Ivan in 2004! The strongest tornado so far occurred … Read more
Hurricane season starts on June 1st and runs through November 30. This time frame was created based on long-term statistics, but hurricanes can certainly occur outside of this range. In January 2016, for example, Hurricane Alex became the strongest Atlantic hurricane to occur during the northern hemispheric winter. So, irrespective of the date, take some … Read more
Did you know your next big storm might be called “Hurricane Chris” or “Tropical Storm Patty”? Hurricane names aren’t just random – they follow a carefully planned system designed to make communication about these dangerous storms easier. For example, it’s much simpler for meteorologists and newscasters to say “Hurricane Hector” rather than trying to remember … Read more
Seven Inch sized Hail-stone To Break Texas Record June 2, 2024 a supercell thunderstorm developed and intensified near Happy, Texas in northern Swisher County with strong mid-level rotation rapidly developing. The cyclonic rotation strengthened and lowered as the storm began its track east-southeast towards the Vigo Park community. The extreme lift with the storm’s updraft … Read more
June Update: Per NOAA, #ElNino is over and we are in ENSO neutral conditions. There is a 75% chance of #LaNina for peak of Atlantic hurricane season (August-October). La Nina typically favors increased Atlantic hurricane activity via decreases in vertical wind shear. The eastern and central tropical and subtropical Atlantic are much warmer than normal, … Read more
2024 Summer Solstice Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 4:50 p.m. EDT. Strawberry Moon to follow earliest summer solstice in 228 years The June solstice occurs at 4:50 p.m. EDT on Thursday, June 20, 2024, the earliest solstice in 228 years. The solstice varies slightly from year to year, but the last time it happened this … Read more
Texas, a state well-acquainted with tornadoes, is experiencing a particularly active 2024 season. As of June 14, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports a staggering 112 confirmed tornadoes have touched down in the Lone Star State. This number surpasses the previous year’s total and reflects a broader trend of increased tornado activity across … Read more
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and Houston were pummeled by powerful thunderstorms on Tuesday, leaving over a million residents without power and triggering widespread damage. Baseball-sized hail, hurricane-force winds, and the threat of tornadoes prompted emergency alerts and outdoor sirens, leaving residents scrambling for safety. Dallas County bore the brunt of the outages, with officials warning … Read more
Hurricane season is fast approaching, and forecasters are predicting a more active season than usual. Now is the perfect time to get your hurricane preparedness kit in order, and Florida’s Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is here to help! Starting June 1st and running through June 14th, you can save on essential supplies to help … Read more
Highest Gusts:75 mph – Bush Airport67 mph – Galveston67 mph – Huntsville66 mph – Pearland64 mph – Texas A&M – Kyle Field62 mph – Coldspring60 mph – Houston-Hobby58 mph – Sugar Land Houston experienced a fierce line of storms on May 28th, bringing powerful wind gusts, widespread tree damage, and leaving hundreds of thousands without … Read more
Storm chasers are a dedicated group of individuals who brave dangerous conditions to document and study severe weather phenomena like tornadoes, hurricanes, and typhoons. Their work provides invaluable data to scientists, meteorologists, and emergency responders, helping us better understand these powerful storms and improve our ability to predict and warn of their potential threats. In … Read more
Fall 2024 Begins: Sunday, September 22 at 8:44 am EDT Fall 2024 in the United States will officially begin on Sunday, September 22, at different times depending on the time zone: Eastern Time: 8:44 AM EDT Central Time: 7:44 AM CST Mountain Time: 6:44 AM MDT Pacific Time: 5:44 AM PDT The autumnal equinox, … Read more
The 5 Day Rain Totals so far: 12.12″ Cedar Bayou @ FM 1942, 11.96″ near Tomball, 10.85″ near Kingwood, 12.39″ Bryan, 15.28″ Cotton Bayou (Chambers Co), 21.01″ near Splendora, 20.75″ in Willis, and 23.56″ SW of Groveton, Trinity Co. The Flood Watch has been extended into Sunday for this part of Texas. There will be … Read more
North Texas experienced a record-breaking rainfall on Saturday! Widespread totals of 2″-4″ drenched the Metroplex, with DFW and Love Field setting new daily rain records. Surprisingly, this remarkable April downpour occurred without any severe weather. How much rain was in Dallas today? Areas southeast of the DFW metroplex are still adding to the totals tonight. … Read more
Climate change is a reality, and its effects on weather patterns are becoming increasingly apparent. Scientists warn that severe storms, including tornadoes, hurricanes, and intense thunderstorms, are likely to become more frequent and destructive. Waiting to prepare your home and family for these events is a dangerous gamble. The time to build a safe room, … Read more
Ohio is the new tornado capital (so far in 2024), tornado alley slowly sliding eastward. As we move further into 2024, the United States has experienced a significant number of tornadoes. With 171 confirmed tornadoes nationwide, it’s crucial to stay informed and prepared. Here’s the latest data on tornado occurrences: The Miami Valley, in particular, has seen … Read more
Washington is facing a potential water crisis this summer. The Department of Ecology has declared a drought emergency for most of the state, with only limited exceptions for Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett. This declaration is based on low snowpack, forecasts for a warm and dry summer, and the concerning fact that this is a continuation … Read more
Dubai Floods: The Truth About Cloud Seeding and Climate Change The devastating rains that recently flooded Dubai naturally raised questions about weather modification techniques like cloud seeding. However, social media has been ablaze with unfounded accusations blaming the floods on this technology. Let’s set the record straight and understand the real forces behind the extreme … Read more
Daylight saving time (DST) A Few Interesting Facts and Myths About Daylight Saving Time 1. Terminology: Daylight saving time, not “savings”. 2. Bottling daylight most of the year. In the United States, we spend about 65% of the year (~238 days) in daylight saving time. 3. Two states do not observe DST: Hawaii and Arizona, … Read more
DST ends and clocks return to standard time (“fall back”) at 2:00 AM on Sunday, November 3, 2024. States that do not observe the time change: Arizona (except for the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii. How did DST get started? We have compiled an brief, but very interesting, history of daylight saving time When does DST … Read more
Think of a hodograph as a visual snapshot of how the wind changes with altitude. It plots wind speed and direction at different heights, creating a line that reveals the atmosphere’s wind shear profile. In mesoanalysis, which focuses on smaller-scale weather, hodographs are essential tools for understanding the winds in a localized area. Why Hodographs … Read more
In the realm of weather forecasting, particularly when it comes to the volatile world of tornadoes, the HRRR (High-Resolution Rapid Refresh) radar model stands as a formidable tool. This advanced piece of technology offers meteorologists and storm chasers an unprecedented level of detail, allowing them to delve into the heart of severe storms and pinpoint … Read more
April 27th, 2024, will be the thirteen year anniversary of the April 27th, 2011, Super Outbreak of tornadoes that occurred across Dixie Alley in the southeastern United States. Between April 26th and April 28th, 2011, there were 363 total tornadoes. On April 27th alone, there were 219 tornadoes. This outbreak surpassed the 1974 Tornado Outbreak … Read more
Severe Weather Map | Dallas Forecast Texas Mesonet data for 24 to 72 hour precipitation: Texas rainfall maps for 24 to 72 hours are a valuable tool for anyone who wants to stay informed about upcoming weather conditions and make informed decisions about their activities. Areas in Texas with the Most Rain: Areas in Texas … Read more
Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, isn’t just about lava and ash! It has a mesmerizing trick up its sleeve – blowing perfect vortex rings of smoke and volcanic gas into the sky. These rings aren’t just a beautiful sight; they’re a rare glimpse into the complex dynamics of volcanic activity. So, how does it … Read more