NOAA Cuts Threaten Public Safety
We originally posted this before the 800 job cuts at the NOAA but it has been updated with the weather community speaking out to the disaster this could pose. 11 out of 38 NWS offices in central U.S. are now “critically” understaffed Latest Update: The Trump administration has decided to cancel leases for two pivotal … Read more
Lunar Events in 2025: Mark Your Calendar!
Here’s a glimpse into the celestial calendar for 2025 – those gorgeous full moons that’ll grace our skies! Let’s plan some family adventures around these lunar events. ✨ Mark your calendars, space lovers! 🌌 Here are the upcoming space events you won’t want to miss:💫 February 20-28: Grand Planetary AlignmentAll seven planets will be visible … Read more
North Texas Weather Outlook: End of February into March Future Forecast
Arctic Blast Continues with Freezing Rain/Ice, Then Back to Normal for Texas A bone-chilling Arctic blast continues to grip Texas, bringing a prolonged period of frigid temperatures and the potential for ice and freezing rain. This deep freeze rivals some of the most intense winter weather events in recent years, with some areas facing a … Read more
Virginia Beach Sees Significant Snowfall: Major Winter Storm Batters Coast
Virginia Beach and Norfolk were hit with a significant snowfall this week, with over 10 inches blanketing the coastal cities and some areas of Virginia Beach seeing up to 12.5 inches. This winter storm, the strongest of the season, was a major snow event for the region, disrupting daily life, snarling traffic, forcing closures, and … Read more
2025 Tropical Storm and Hurricane Names
Did you know your next big storm might be called “Hurricane Karen” or “Tropical Storm Wendy”? 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
Do You Need a License to be a Storm Chaser?
Storm chasing can be dangerous. While no license is required in the US, taking a storm spotting class with your local National Weather Service is highly recommended to help you understand the risks and stay safe. Oklahoma Proposes Licensing for Storm Chasers A new bill in Oklahoma, Senate Bill 158, aims to regulate storm chasing … Read more
Polar Vortex and Firenado: How Hard-Core Weather Jargon is Shaping the Future of Meteorology
If you’re a weather enthusiast or student, you’ve likely noticed a surge in dramatic, almost cinematic terms popping up in forecasts and climate discussions. Words like Firenado, Polar Vortex, Heat Dome, and Thundersnow aren’t just buzzwords—they’re critical tools for understanding the increasingly complex and extreme behavior of our atmosphere. These terms reflect the evolving science of meteorology and the urgent … Read more
Historic Snowfall Amounts in Louisiana, Texas and Florida along the coasts
Florida has broken their all-time recorded state snowfall record of 4″, set back on March 6, 1954. Six inches (and counting) of snow has been reported south of Pensacola, Florida. What an incredible and historic event! Gulf Coast Record Snowfall Florida declared a state of emergency ahead of winter storm system moving across the “Gulf … Read more
Will it snow in Atlanta for round two? As Winter Storm “Gulf of America” hits
Some are calling it Winter Storm Enzo (not official) or as the newly renamed Gulf of Mexico maybe we should just call this the Winter Storm “Gulf America”. This winter storm is poised to deliver an uncommon weather event across the southeastern United States, bringing snow and ice from Texas through the Carolinas. This storm, … Read more
Thermodynamics & Ice Microphysics of Lake Effect Snow
In a previous post, we discussed the basic mechanics of a historic lake-effect snow event. I wanted to delve into the basic thermodynamics and ice microphysics of that event. I will first discuss snow-to-liquid ratios, a concept of ice microphysics that applies all snow events, not just lake-effect. Contrary to popular belief, snow does not … Read more
DFW Snowfall Records & Totals for This Year 2025
DFW record for single day snowfall is 11.2”, just over 12” for a single winter storm. Below are details of the January 9, 2025 snowstorm in North Texas. You may be interested in these related pages: Read more here about the winter storm and past record snowfalls in the DFW metroplex.
Palisades Fire raging at 0% contained in Los Angeles as top wind gusts are over 100 mph overnight
Five people have now been confirmed dead due to the raging Eaton Fire, which has scorched more than 10,800 acres in Pasadena. Winds near Los Angeles fires will increase tonight to over 100mph! The worst has yet to come. LA Wildfires Update Wednesday Evening0% CONTAINED It’s like a HURRICANE WITH FLAME💨 SoCal Wind Gusts over … Read more
Dallas Braces for Major Winter Storm: South on Alert, from Texas to Atlanta!
Texans, especially in Dallas, North and Central Texas, pay close attention! Even if you don’t typically follow the news, this is critical: A potentially historic winter storm is about to hit, with Dallas in the direct path and the impact spreading across the South, all the way to Atlanta. This isn’t just a cold snap—we’re … Read more
Hypothetical 2025 Tornado Season
Disclaimer: While the provided hypothetical tornado season for 2025 paints a dramatic picture, it’s important to remember that predicting specific weather events, especially on a granular level, is a complex science. While we can identify general trends and potential risks, pinpointing exact locations and intensities of severe weather remains a challenge. That said, the hypothetical … Read more
Tornado Count for United States 2024
The tornado outbreak December 28 across the Southeastern United States has become the second most active tornado day of 2024, with 90 tornado reports. The most active day of the year was on April 26th, with 108 tornado reports. 2024 officially had the 2nd most #tornadoes on record, with more than 1735 tornadoes. This beats … Read more
Will It Be a White Christmas? Snow Predictions and Travel Advisory
Christmas Weather Update: Snow or Travel Hazards? It’s still a bit early to provide a precise forecast for the Christmas holiday. However, we can glean some insights from historical weather data to see which regions might experience a snowy Christmas. Our meteorologists have examined weather data from 1991 to 2020 to identify which areas have … Read more
Record-Setting Hurricane Season: Beryl was the earliest Atlantic Cat 5; Record 178 Tornadoes from Hurricanes
Hurricane Beryl was the earliest Atlantic basin Category-5 hurricane on record A major part of the story of the 2024 tornado season has been plentiful tornadoes spawned from hurricanes. Hurricane Beryl, Hurricane Debby, Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton caused a combined 178 tornadoes. Hurricane Beryl was the earliest Atlantic basin Category-5 hurricane on record. It … Read more
From Brooklyn to Boston Ablaze: The Unexpected Rise of Wildfires on the East Coast
The Unexpected Fires in NJ and NY Two weeks ago, a wildfire broke out in the unlikeliest of places: New York City. A 2-acre fire erupted in Prospect Park, close to the geographic center of Brooklyn and probably my favorite park on earth. For the first time in history, the FDNY launched a brush fire … Read more
Hurricane Helene Stats: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and the Southeast
Landslides from Helene Hurricane Helene Stats Helene was the 8th named storm of the season, the 5th hurricane, and the 2nd major hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season. It reached a Category 4 status with very high winds up to 140 mph and low pressure at 938 millibars. Highest Gust: 107 mph in West … Read more
Hurricane Milton Spaghetti Model and Cone Updates
⚠️Milton is Now a Category 5 Hurricane⚠️If the storm stays on the current track, it will be the worst storm to impact the Tampa area in over 100 years. As Monster Hurricane Milton continues to strengthen in the Gulf, the Governor has issued EO 24-214 ahead of potential landfall on Florida’s west coast. This EO … Read more
Tropical Storm or Hurricane Approaching? Here’s When to Put Shutters Up
With Hurricane Milton headed towards Tampa Bay and Florida residents now is the time to start putting up shutters. With a hurricane currently swirling towards Florida, it’s a good reminder for everyone in hurricane-prone areas to brush up on their preparedness plans. One crucial step? Knowing when to install your hurricane shutters. Whether you’re a … Read more
Heartbreak and Heroism: Inside North Carolina’s Flood Zone
Hurricane Helene unleashed catastrophic flooding across western North Carolina, leaving behind heartbreaking stories of loss and survival. The hardest-hit areas witnessed unimaginable scenes: Despite the devastation, stories of resilience and community spirit are also emerging. Volunteers are arriving with mules to deliver supplies to hard-to-reach areas, and first responders are working tirelessly to rescue those … Read more
Worse Than 1916″: Helene Shatters Asheville’s Flood Record
Hurricane Helene has become the 2nd deadliest hurricane over the past 50 years for the United States. Over 170 deaths and over 600 people remain missing. The recent flooding in Asheville caused by predecessor rain events of Hurricane Helene serves as a chilling reminder of the devastating power of weather systems and the importance of … Read more
Power Outage Safety Tips
If you are within days or hours of a hurricane or winter storm event where you may be in the dark a while. You are going to need some of these handy power outage safety tips. One is stuffing a Ziploc or freezable bag and putting it into the freezer. “I just stuffed my freezer … Read more
California Wildfire Camera Map and Updates
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
Chasing the ‘Twisters’ Dream: A Meteorologist’s Take on the Movie and How it Can Inspire a New Generation
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
Seattle-Tacoma Top 10 Warmest Days
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
Record-Breaking Hurricane Beryl Left Millions without Power in Texas
“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 Survival: Supplies and a Plan of Action
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