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It will make landfall as a major hurricane.
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Spectrum News Weather Staff
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Tropical Storm Isaac forms in the north-central Atlantic
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Tropical Storm Isaac has formed in the north-central Atlantic Ocean.
Isaac formed in the north-central Atlantic on Wednesday, Sept. 25. It’s the ninth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season .
Isaac has winds of 50 mph and is located about 750 miles east northeast of Bermuda. It is forecasted to become a hurricane by late Friday or early Saturday.
It will pass north of the Azores by late weekend or early next week and does not pose any risk to land.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season so far.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
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Spectrum News Weather Staff
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Accused Hedingham shooter’s father pleads guilty to improper gun storing
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RALEIGH, N.C. — The father of an accused Raleigh mass shooter pleaded guilty to improperly storing weapons Wednesday morning, according to court documents.
Alan Thompson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of improperly storing firearms to protect minors, Wake County court documents show.
Alan Thompson was sentenced to 45 days in jail, followed by a year of probation, along with paying some court fees. The judge suspended the jail sentence, documents show.
Police quickly moved to shut down the neighborhood as they searched for the Hedingham shooting suspect Oct. 13, 2022. (AP File Photo)
On Oct. 13, 2022, Austin Thompson, then 15, allegedly shot and killed his older brother in their family home. He took a shotgun and a handgun and left the house, killing another four people in Raleigh’s Hedingham neighborhood and injuring two more, police and the district attorney’s office say.
Five people died that day: Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres, James Roger Thompson, Mary Elizabeth Marshall, Nicole Connors and Susan Karnatz. Marcille Lynn Gardner and Raleigh Police Officer C. Clark were injured in the shooting, according to police.
In August, a grand jury in Wake County returned indictments against Austin Thompson for five counts of murder and two for attempted murder. Multiple guns were found inside the Thompson’s home after police served a search warrant.
Austin will be tried beginning Sept. 22, 2025, according to Wake County Chief Public Defender Deonte L. Thomas.
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Daniel Gray
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Helene continues to strengthen; will become a hurricane today
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Tropical Storm Helene continues to strengthen as it moves toward the Gulf of Mexico. It’s expected to become a hurricane soon.
Helene formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Tuesday, Sept. 24. It’s the eighth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
Helene is moving northwest into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico with max winds of 70 mph. It will continue to strengthen as it turns north-northeast.
Conditions are favorable for intensification in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, with warm water and low wind shear in place. It should allow Helene to quickly strengthen, becoming a hurricane sometime today.
It’s possible that Helene could undergo rapid intensification in the eastern Gulf, making landfall as a major hurricane in the Big Bend.
The latest forecast has Helene moving inland Thursday evening or night in the Florida Panhandle.
The risk of life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds begins tonight through Thursday along portions of the Gulf Coast, especially the Florida Panhandle and Florida’s west coast.
Tropical Storm and Hurricane Warnings are in effect across Florida and the Southeast.
Along with hurricane-force winds, dangerous storm surge is expected and Storm Surge Warnings have been issued along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Storm surge will be highest in the Big Bend and Nature Coast area, with inundation up to 12 to 15 feet above ground level.
There is still uncertainty in the specific track and intensity of the storm, but most models are consistent with the storm moving north across the eastern Gulf, making landfall somewhere around Florida’s Big Bend.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season so far.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
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Spectrum News Weather Staff
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Weather Explained: Understanding the forecast cone
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The forecast cone is one of the most recognizable forecast tools each hurricane season. It shows the public the uncertainty with time of where a tropical cyclone may head.
Fortunately, the average forecast error has improved considerably over the last decade thanks to advancements in satellites, weather models and forecasting.
Watch the video above to learn more about the meaning of the forecast cone.
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Meteorologist Nick Merianos
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FBI finds violent crime dropped nationwide last year
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Violent crime in the U.S. dropped in 2023, according to FBI statistics that show a continued trend downward after a coronavirus pandemic-era crime spike.
Overall violent crime declined an estimated 3% in 2023 from the year before, according to the FBI report Monday. Murders and non-negligent manslaughter dropped nearly 12%.
Violent crime has become a focal point in the 2024 presidential race, with former President Donald Trump recently claiming that crime is “through the roof” under President Joe Biden’s administration. Even with the 2020 pandemic surge, violent crime is down dramatically from the 1990s.
Here’s what to know about the FBI’s report and the state of crime in the U.S.:
The numbers
Crime surged during the coronavirus pandemic, with homicides increasing nearly 30% in 2020 over the previous year — the largest one-year jump since the FBI began keeping records. The rise defied easy explanation, though experts said possible contributors included the massive disruption of the pandemic, gun violence, worries about the economy and intense stress.
Violent crime across the U.S. dipped to near pre-pandemic levels in 2022, according to the FBI’s data. It continued to tick down last year, with the rate falling from about 377 violent crimes per 100,000 people to in 2022 to about 364 per 100,000 people in 2023. That’s just slightly higher than the 2019 rate, according to Deputy Assistant Director Brian Griffith of the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division.
“Are we looking at crime rates at a return to pre-pandemic levels? I think a reasonable person would look at that and say, ‘Yes, that’s what has happened,’” Griffith said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Law enforcement agencies in the biggest municipalities in the U.S. — communities with at least 1,000,000 people — showed the biggest drop in violent crime last year — nearly 7%. Agencies in communities between 250,000 and 499,999 people reported a slight increase — 0.3%— between 2022 and 2023.
Rapes decreased more than 9% while aggravated assault decreased nearly 3%. Overall property crime decreased more than 2%, but motor vehicle theft shot up nearly 13%. The motor vehicle theft rate — nearly 319 per 100,000 people — was the highest last year since 2007.
The limitations of the FBI’s data
The FBI collects data through its Uniform Crime Reporting Program, and not all law enforcement agencies in the U.S. participate. The 2023 report is based on data from more than 16,000 agencies, or more than 85 percent of those agencies in the FBI’s program. The agencies included in the report protect nearly 316 million people across the U.S. And every agency with at least 1 million people in its jurisdiction provided a full year of data to the FBI, according to the report.
“What you’re not seeing in that number are a lot of very small agencies,” Griffith said.
Other crime reports
The FBI’s report is in line with the findings of the nonpartisan Council on Criminal Justice, which earlier this year analyzed crimes rates across 39 U.S cities, and found that most violent crimes are at or below 2019 levels. That group found there were 13 percent fewer homicides across 29 cities that provided data during the first half of 2024 compared the same period the year before.
On the campaign trail, Trump has cited another recent Justice Department survey to suggest the crime is out of control under the Biden administration.
The National Crime Victimization Survey, released earlier this month, shows that the violent crime victimization rate rose from about 16 per 1,000 people in 2020 to 22.5 in 2023. But the report notes that the rate last year was not statistically different from the rate in 2019 — when Trump was president. And the rate has declined dramatically overall since the 1990s.
The FBI’s report and the National Crime Victimization Survey use different methodologies and capture different things.
The victimization survey is conducted every year through interviews with about 240,000 people to determine whether they were victims of crimes. While the FBI’s data only includes crimes reported to police, the victimization survey also aims to capture crimes that were not.
Because it’s done through interviews with victims, the victimization survey doesn’t include data on murders. And it only captures crimes against people ages 12 and over.
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Associated Press
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Several Mark Robinson campaign staffers quit
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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Several top staffers in North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s campaign for governor have quit their posts, marking more fallout from a CNN report outlining evidence that he made disturbing posts on a pornography website’s message board more than a decade ago.
The campaign said in a news release Sunday that senior adviser Conrad Pogorzelski III, campaign manager Chris Rodriguez, the campaign’s finance director and a deputy campaign manager “have stepped down from their roles with the campaign.” Information on new campaign staffers would be forthcoming soon, the release said.
“I appreciate the efforts of these team members who have made the difficult choice to step away from the campaign, and I wish them well in their future endeavors,” Robinson said in the release.
Pogorzelski, who helped Robinson get elected lieutenant governor in 2020 in his first bid for public office and later became his chief of staff, said separately on Sunday that additional staffers also left the campaign, including the deputy finance director, two political directors and the director of operations.
Pogorzelski, in a text, said that he “along with others from the campaign have left of our own accord.”
The CNN report on Thursday unearthed past posts it said Robinson left on a porn site’s message boards in which he referred to himself as a “black NAZI;” said he enjoyed transgender pornography; said in 2012 he preferred Hitler to then-President Barack Obama; and slammed the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as “worse than a maggot.”
Robinson denied writing the posts and said Thursday that he wouldn’t be forced out of the race by “salacious tabloid lies.” He avoided directly discussing the controversy during a gubernatorial campaign event on Saturday evening at a race track in Fayetteville. The event happened after earlier in the day former President Donald Trump didn’t mention Robinson at a rally about 90 miles (145 kilometers) away in Wilmington.
Before Saturday, Robinson had been a frequent presence at Trump’s North Carolina campaign stops. The Republican presidential nominee has long praised Robinson — who would be North Carolina’s first Black governor if elected — calling him “Martin Luther King on steroids” for his speaking style.
On Sunday, Robinson still expressed optimism that he could win in November over Democratic nominee Josh Stein, the sitting attorney general. Polls have shown Robinson trailing Stein.
But Robinson said polls have “underestimated Republican support in North Carolina for several cycles,” and with a large portion of the electorate undecided “I am confident our campaign remains in a strong position to make our case to the voters and win on November 5.”
Robinson has a long history of making inflammatory comments, including suggesting women who sought abortion “weren’t responsible enough to keep your skirt down” and comparing abortion to slavery.
Stein said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that Robinson is “utterly unqualified, unfit to be the governor of North Carolina, and we’re going to do everything in our power to keep that from happening.”
Polls show Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris locked in a close race in North Carolina and nationally. Democrats have seized on the opportunity to highlight Trump’s ties to Robinson, with billboards showing the two together and a new ad from Harris’ campaign highlighting the Republican candidates’ ties, as well as Robinson’s support for a statewide abortion ban without exceptions.
On Sunday, Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Robinson deserves a chance to defend himself against the allegations, which Graham described as “unnerving.” He said Robinson is “a political zombie if he does not offer a defense to this that’s credible,” while arguing the issue wouldn’t hurt Trump.
“If they’re true, he’s unfit to serve for office,” Graham said of Robinson and the claims in the CNN report. “If they’re not true, he has the best lawsuit in the history of the country for libel.”
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Associated Press
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Climatological vs. Astronomical Seasons: What’s the difference?
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Today is the first day of astronomical fall.
When you step outside, do you ever wonder why it feels like summer in June, even though the calendar says it’s spring? Or why the chill of winter lingers into March, even as the days grow longer?
The answer lies in the intriguing world of seasons, where two different systems—climatological and astronomical—help us make sense of the ever-changing weather. Let’s explore these two approaches to defining seasons and why they differ.
Astronomical seasons: Nature’s cosmic calendar
Astronomical seasons are the ones most of us are familiar with, and they’re based on the Earth’s position relative to the sun. These seasons follow the solstices and equinoxes, which are key moments in the Earth’s orbit around the sun.
Spring equinox (around March 20-21): This marks the start of spring in the astronomical calendar. On this day, the Earth’s tilt is such that the day and night are nearly equal.
Summer solstice (around June 20-21): The longest day of the year marks the official beginning of summer. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, resulting in more daylight.
Autumn equinox (around Sept. 22-23): As we head into autumn, day and night are again roughly equal in duration.
Winter solstice (around Dec. 21-22): The shortest day of the year, this signals the start of winter. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, leading to shorter days.
Astronomical seasons are consistent and do not vary from year to year, making them a reliable way to track the progression of time. However, they don’t always match up with our everyday experiences of weather, which is where climatological seasons come into play.
Climatological seasons: Weather’s perspective
Climatological seasons are more closely aligned with our day-to-day experiences of weather. Instead of being based on celestial events, these seasons are defined by the typical weather patterns observed over a specific period in a particular region.
Spring: In the climatological calendar, spring encompasses March, April and May. This makes it easier to relate to the blossoming flowers and warming temperatures we associate with springtime.
Summer: June, July and August are the climatological summer months. This period captures the hottest days and summer vacations we plan.
Autumn/Fall: September, October and November represent autumn in this system. The falling leaves and cooler temperatures align more closely with our autumnal experiences.
Winter: December, January and February round out the climatological year with winter. It covers the coldest days and holiday season festivities.
Why the difference?
So, why do these two systems exist, and why don’t they sync up? The key reason is that astronomical seasons are universal, applying to the entire planet, while climatological seasons cater to regional variations in weather.
Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and landmasses all play a part in shaping local climates. For example, Southern Hemisphere countries like Australia experience their hottest temperatures in December and January, which is their climatological summer, even though it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
So what “season” better lines up with my weather pattern?
This is an interesting question. And one that a little data can answer.
Brian Brettschneider, a climatologist in Alaska, put together some interesting graphs to highlight what season most represents what weather you feel. Most of the U.S. fits in with climatological summer, meaning you find your hottest temperatures between June 1 to Aug. 31.
Only a small portion of Florida and much of the west coast find their summer pattern more closely aligned with the actual astronomical summer season.
Just about everyone in North America finds winter to more closely align with climatological winter than astronomical. Meaning you’re more likely to find your coldest portion of the year between Dec. 1 and Feb. 28.
In simpler terms, astronomical seasons are like the Earth’s big-picture calendar that’s the same for everyone, while climatological seasons are like your hometown’s special weather diary, tailored to what you feel and see around you.
So, when someone tells you it’s still winter, even though the calendar claims it’s spring, it’s all about how our planet is tilting and what’s happening right outside your window.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
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Meteorologist Reid Lybarger
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Climatological vs. Astronomical Seasons: What’s the difference?
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Today is the first day of astronomical fall.
When you step outside, do you ever wonder why it feels like summer in June, even though the calendar says it’s spring? Or why the chill of winter lingers into March, even as the days grow longer?
The answer lies in the intriguing world of seasons, where two different systems—climatological and astronomical—help us make sense of the ever-changing weather. Let’s explore these two approaches to defining seasons and why they differ.
Astronomical seasons: Nature’s cosmic calendar
Astronomical seasons are the ones most of us are familiar with, and they’re based on the Earth’s position relative to the sun. These seasons follow the solstices and equinoxes, which are key moments in the Earth’s orbit around the sun.
Spring equinox (around March 20-21): This marks the start of spring in the astronomical calendar. On this day, the Earth’s tilt is such that the day and night are nearly equal.
Summer solstice (around June 20-21): The longest day of the year marks the official beginning of summer. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, resulting in more daylight.
Autumn equinox (around Sept. 22-23): As we head into autumn, day and night are again roughly equal in duration.
Winter solstice (around Dec. 21-22): The shortest day of the year, this signals the start of winter. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, leading to shorter days.
Astronomical seasons are consistent and do not vary from year to year, making them a reliable way to track the progression of time. However, they don’t always match up with our everyday experiences of weather, which is where climatological seasons come into play.
Climatological seasons: Weather’s perspective
Climatological seasons are more closely aligned with our day-to-day experiences of weather. Instead of being based on celestial events, these seasons are defined by the typical weather patterns observed over a specific period in a particular region.
Spring: In the climatological calendar, spring encompasses March, April and May. This makes it easier to relate to the blossoming flowers and warming temperatures we associate with springtime.
Summer: June, July and August are the climatological summer months. This period captures the hottest days and summer vacations we plan.
Autumn/Fall: September, October and November represent autumn in this system. The falling leaves and cooler temperatures align more closely with our autumnal experiences.
Winter: December, January and February round out the climatological year with winter. It covers the coldest days and holiday season festivities.
Why the difference?
So, why do these two systems exist, and why don’t they sync up? The key reason is that astronomical seasons are universal, applying to the entire planet, while climatological seasons cater to regional variations in weather.
Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and landmasses all play a part in shaping local climates. For example, Southern Hemisphere countries like Australia experience their hottest temperatures in December and January, which is their climatological summer, even though it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
So what “season” better lines up with my weather pattern?
This is an interesting question. And one that a little data can answer.
Brian Brettschneider, a climatologist in Alaska, put together some interesting graphs to highlight what season most represents what weather you feel. Most of the U.S. fits in with climatological summer, meaning you find your hottest temperatures between June 1 to Aug. 31.
Only a small portion of Florida and much of the west coast find their summer pattern more closely aligned with the actual astronomical summer season.
Just about everyone in North America finds winter to more closely align with climatological winter than astronomical. Meaning you’re more likely to find your coldest portion of the year between Dec. 1 and Feb. 28.
In simpler terms, astronomical seasons are like the Earth’s big-picture calendar that’s the same for everyone, while climatological seasons are like your hometown’s special weather diary, tailored to what you feel and see around you.
So, when someone tells you it’s still winter, even though the calendar claims it’s spring, it’s all about how our planet is tilting and what’s happening right outside your window.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
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Meteorologist Reid Lybarger
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Climatological vs. Astronomical Seasons: What’s the difference?
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Today is the first day of astronomical fall.
When you step outside, do you ever wonder why it feels like summer in June, even though the calendar says it’s spring? Or why the chill of winter lingers into March, even as the days grow longer?
The answer lies in the intriguing world of seasons, where two different systems—climatological and astronomical—help us make sense of the ever-changing weather. Let’s explore these two approaches to defining seasons and why they differ.
Astronomical seasons: Nature’s cosmic calendar
Astronomical seasons are the ones most of us are familiar with, and they’re based on the Earth’s position relative to the sun. These seasons follow the solstices and equinoxes, which are key moments in the Earth’s orbit around the sun.
Spring equinox (around March 20-21): This marks the start of spring in the astronomical calendar. On this day, the Earth’s tilt is such that the day and night are nearly equal.
Summer solstice (around June 20-21): The longest day of the year marks the official beginning of summer. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, resulting in more daylight.
Autumn equinox (around Sept. 22-23): As we head into autumn, day and night are again roughly equal in duration.
Winter solstice (around Dec. 21-22): The shortest day of the year, this signals the start of winter. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, leading to shorter days.
Astronomical seasons are consistent and do not vary from year to year, making them a reliable way to track the progression of time. However, they don’t always match up with our everyday experiences of weather, which is where climatological seasons come into play.
Climatological seasons: Weather’s perspective
Climatological seasons are more closely aligned with our day-to-day experiences of weather. Instead of being based on celestial events, these seasons are defined by the typical weather patterns observed over a specific period in a particular region.
Spring: In the climatological calendar, spring encompasses March, April and May. This makes it easier to relate to the blossoming flowers and warming temperatures we associate with springtime.
Summer: June, July and August are the climatological summer months. This period captures the hottest days and summer vacations we plan.
Autumn/Fall: September, October and November represent autumn in this system. The falling leaves and cooler temperatures align more closely with our autumnal experiences.
Winter: December, January and February round out the climatological year with winter. It covers the coldest days and holiday season festivities.
Why the difference?
So, why do these two systems exist, and why don’t they sync up? The key reason is that astronomical seasons are universal, applying to the entire planet, while climatological seasons cater to regional variations in weather.
Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and landmasses all play a part in shaping local climates. For example, Southern Hemisphere countries like Australia experience their hottest temperatures in December and January, which is their climatological summer, even though it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
So what “season” better lines up with my weather pattern?
This is an interesting question. And one that a little data can answer.
Brian Brettschneider, a climatologist in Alaska, put together some interesting graphs to highlight what season most represents what weather you feel. Most of the U.S. fits in with climatological summer, meaning you find your hottest temperatures between June 1 to Aug. 31.
Only a small portion of Florida and much of the west coast find their summer pattern more closely aligned with the actual astronomical summer season.
Just about everyone in North America finds winter to more closely align with climatological winter than astronomical. Meaning you’re more likely to find your coldest portion of the year between Dec. 1 and Feb. 28.
In simpler terms, astronomical seasons are like the Earth’s big-picture calendar that’s the same for everyone, while climatological seasons are like your hometown’s special weather diary, tailored to what you feel and see around you.
So, when someone tells you it’s still winter, even though the calendar claims it’s spring, it’s all about how our planet is tilting and what’s happening right outside your window.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
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Meteorologist Reid Lybarger
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How weather will influence this year’s fall foliage
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Every fall, people travel far and wide to go ‘leaf-peeping.’ The goal is to catch the leaves at peak color to see all the vibrant reds, oranges and yellows that Mother Nature has to offer. Weather plays a primary role in knowing when and where to go.
So what should you expect this year?
Right place at the right time
The first step of successful leaf-peeping is being at the right place at the right time. All other factors aside, this is the average time of the year around the U.S. that you can see peak fall colors according to Explore Fall.
Aside from the Florida peninsula, the Gulf Coast and parts of the desert Southwest, most of the continental U.S. sees color change during fall.
Weather’s role
The weather determines whether the fall foliage comes out early, on time or late every year, but what role does it play?
Heat and moisture are the biggest factors that influence fall foliage. The summer weather helps give an idea of when colors will pop, but the weather during September and October are the biggest influencers.
Here is how soil moisture and air temperature affect fall foliage.
(Courtesy: ExploreFall.com)
A prolonged late-spring or severe summer drought that leads to dry soils in the fall not only affects the timing, but the quality of the colors. Drought and drier soil puts a higher stress on the trees, dulling down the colors and forcing them to lose their leaves sooner.
Heavy rainfall and wet soils in the summer and fall can delay the colors’ arrival by a few days, or even weeks. The later arrival time can produce better fall colors.
Colder and below-normal temperatures bring out fall colors early, while prolonged summer heat and above normal temperatures delay the colors.
According to the USDA Forest Service, “a succession of warm, sunny days and cool, crisp but not freezing nights seems to bring about the most spectacular color displays.” In other words… typical fall weather.
2024 outlook
Fall colors are already starting to pop across some parts of the country, most notably in the Rockies and interior New England, where there are extensive areas of moderate and low color.
For a lot of these spots, it’s right on time. When can the rest of the country expect to see color? Tree stress gives us a good idea if foliage will come out early, on time or late.
It takes those earlier factors into account – soil moisture and temperatures. Low stress areas are where the foliage is most likely to be on time.
High stress areas around Ohio, West Virginia and the Appalachians are also under extreme to exceptional drought. That could cause those areas to lose leaves early and mute some of the vibrant colors.
Drought, along with the combination of above normal summer temperatures, are also leading to highly stressed trees in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico.
Areas with low stress, like parts of New England and the Rockies where fall colors are already coming out, are more likely to see vibrant colors and foliage showing up right on time.
You can check on Explore Fall for a current fall foliage map and forecast updated daily.
Our team of meteorologists dive deep into the science of weather and break down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
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Meteorologist Reid Lybarger
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How weather will influence this year’s fall foliage
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Every fall, people travel far and wide to go ‘leaf-peeping.’ The goal is to catch the leaves at peak color to see all the vibrant reds, oranges and yellows that Mother Nature has to offer. Weather plays a primary role in knowing when and where to go.
So what should you expect this year?
Right place at the right time
The first step of successful leaf-peeping is being at the right place at the right time. All other factors aside, this is the average time of the year around the U.S. that you can see peak fall colors according to Explore Fall.
Aside from the Florida peninsula, the Gulf Coast and parts of the desert Southwest, most of the continental U.S. sees color change during fall.
Weather’s role
The weather determines whether the fall foliage comes out early, on time or late every year, but what role does it play?
Heat and moisture are the biggest factors that influence fall foliage. The summer weather helps give an idea of when colors will pop, but the weather during September and October are the biggest influencers.
Here is how soil moisture and air temperature affect fall foliage.
(Courtesy: ExploreFall.com)
A prolonged late-spring or severe summer drought that leads to dry soils in the fall not only affects the timing, but the quality of the colors. Drought and drier soil puts a higher stress on the trees, dulling down the colors and forcing them to lose their leaves sooner.
Heavy rainfall and wet soils in the summer and fall can delay the colors’ arrival by a few days, or even weeks. The later arrival time can produce better fall colors.
Colder and below-normal temperatures bring out fall colors early, while prolonged summer heat and above normal temperatures delay the colors.
According to the USDA Forest Service, “a succession of warm, sunny days and cool, crisp but not freezing nights seems to bring about the most spectacular color displays.” In other words… typical fall weather.
2024 outlook
Fall colors are already starting to pop across some parts of the country, most notably in the Rockies and interior New England, where there are extensive areas of moderate and low color.
For a lot of these spots, it’s right on time. When can the rest of the country expect to see color? Tree stress gives us a good idea if foliage will come out early, on time or late.
It takes those earlier factors into account – soil moisture and temperatures. Low stress areas are where the foliage is most likely to be on time.
High stress areas around Ohio, West Virginia and the Appalachians are also under extreme to exceptional drought. That could cause those areas to lose leaves early and mute some of the vibrant colors.
Drought, along with the combination of above normal summer temperatures, are also leading to highly stressed trees in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico.
Areas with low stress, like parts of New England and the Rockies where fall colors are already coming out, are more likely to see vibrant colors and foliage showing up right on time.
You can check on Explore Fall for a current fall foliage map and forecast updated daily.
Our team of meteorologists dive deep into the science of weather and break down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
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Meteorologist Reid Lybarger
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Tropical development possible in the Gulf next week
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We’re watching three areas with the potential to develop in the Atlantic basin.
An area in the northwestern Caribbean Sea has medium development odds, and two other areas in the central Atlantic have low odds to develop.
We’re watching a disturbance in the northwestern Caribbean Sea that has medium odds to develop in the next week. An area of low pressure should form later this weekend or early next week.
Once it forms, gradual development is possible as it moves slowly north or northwest toward the southern Gulf of Mexico. A tropical depression could form by early next week in the Gulf. It’s still too early to determine where this system could impact along the Gulf Coast if it develops, but we’re monitoring it closely.
There are two other areas of low pressure being monitored in the central Atlantic. Some development is possible for both systems, but conditions aren’t too favorable for development, and neither look threatening to land.
The next name on the list is Helene.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season so far.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
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Spectrum News Staff
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New Instagram restrictions aim to protect teens online
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SALISBURY, N.C. — Instagram is making big changes aimed at protecting young users on its platform. Starting Tuesday, teens across the globe will have restricted access to the social media application.
This is aimed at anyone under the age of 18 in the U.S, U.K, Canada and Australia. For Instagram users who are already on the social media platform, the company says those accounts will be migrated over within the next 60 days.
Restricted accounts will be made private by default and messaging will be restricted so that teens can only receive messages from the people they’re already connected to. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, went a step further and announced that “sensitive content” will be limited for these users as well.
Teen protection is a passion for Project LIGHT Director Dr. Jim Duncan whose work is dedicated to bringing awareness to human trafficking in North Carolina. Kids are especially vulnerable online, he said.
“Just in the last several years, the last three or four years, the social media has exploded into more perpetrators coming onboard and working against our kids trying to groom them and trying to get them to give them money, to get them to do sexual favors that can get them trafficked,” said Duncan.
Since establishing Project LIGHT, which stands for Let’s Interrupt Growing Human Trafficking, Duncan said he’s worked alongside law enforcement and in some cases victims who have been trafficked from the Tar Heel State.
“We had a situation where a young girl, 13 years old, found herself sharing back and forth on social media with someone who she thought was just another young person,” Duncan said.
While seeing the changes coming to Instagram, Duncan said parents need to take more responsibility when it comes to online dangers and create alternative options for teens at home.
“I’m very pleased and proud of them [Instagram] for standing up and doing what they’re doing,” he said. “We have to solve the problem at home, we have got to get more involved with our children and show more affection and love toward them and give them some alternative.”
The changes to Instagram come nearly three years after Instagram’s parent company Meta first came under fire about the risks social media platforms pose for young users. Pressures increased again last year after a whistleblower said Meta’s top executives ignored warnings about those dangers for years.
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Molly Hurley
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September’s full Harvest Moon is another supermoon
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This month’s full moon will peak on the evening of Sept. 17 and be the second of four supermoons this year.
Nicknamed the Harvest Moon, since it occurs closest to the Autumnal Equinox.
What’s a supermoon?
A supermoon is when the moon’s orbit is at its closest to Earth. The moon will appear brighter and larger than normal.
This is the second of four supermoons that will occur this year. The next supermoon will happen in October, followed by the final one of the year in November.
Alternative names
According to the farmer’s almanac, names of moons corresponded with entire lunar months and were derived from Native American, Colonial American and European sources.
If the October full moon happens closer to the Fall Equinox than the September full moon, October will take the Harvest Moon name and September’s moon will be referred to as the Corn Moon.
The month is a transitional month as we move away from summer toward fall and the alternative names reflect this.
- Autumn Moon (Cree)
- Falling Leaves Moon (Ojibwe)
- Leaves Turning Moon (Anishinaabe)
- Moon of Brown Leaves (Lakota)
- Yellow Leaf Moon (Assiniboine)
Partial lunar eclipse
Not only is it a full supermoon, but it’s also a partial lunar eclipse, meaning part of Earth’s shadow will cover the moon. The celestial show will start at around 8:41 p.m. ET, Tuesday.
The partial eclipse will make the moon appear reddish because of the way the Earth’s atmosphere refracts the light.
Check your local forecast here to see how clouds may affect your viewing. Nicknamed the Harvest Moon, since it occurs closest to the Autumnal Equinox.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
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Meteorologist Stacy Lynn
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September’s full Harvest Moon is another supermoon
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This month’s full moon will peak on the evening of Sept. 17 and be the second of four supermoons this year.
Nicknamed the Harvest Moon, since it occurs closest to the Autumnal Equinox.
What’s a supermoon?
A supermoon is when the moon’s orbit is at its closest to Earth. The moon will appear brighter and larger than normal.
This is the second of four supermoons that will occur this year. The next supermoon will happen in October, followed by the final one of the year in November.
Alternative names
According to the farmer’s almanac, names of moons corresponded with entire lunar months and were derived from Native American, Colonial American and European sources.
If the October full moon happens closer to the Fall Equinox than the September full moon, October will take the Harvest Moon name and September’s moon will be referred to as the Corn Moon.
The month is a transitional month as we move away from summer toward fall and the alternative names reflect this.
- Autumn Moon (Cree)
- Falling Leaves Moon (Ojibwe)
- Leaves Turning Moon (Anishinaabe)
- Moon of Brown Leaves (Lakota)
- Yellow Leaf Moon (Assiniboine)
Partial lunar eclipse
Not only is it a full supermoon, but it’s also a partial lunar eclipse, meaning part of Earth’s shadow will cover the moon. The celestial show will start at around 8:41 p.m. ET, Tuesday.
The partial eclipse will make the moon appear reddish because of the way the Earth’s atmosphere refracts the light.
Check your local forecast here to see how clouds may affect your viewing. Nicknamed the Harvest Moon, since it occurs closest to the Autumnal Equinox.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
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Meteorologist Stacy Lynn
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Tropical Storm Gordon forms in the Atlantic
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Tropical Storm Gordon has formed in the central Atlantic. It’s the seventh named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
Gordon is moving west-nortwestward in the central Atlantic with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. It’s expected to continue to head westward across the Atlantic for the next few days.
It will slow down this weekend over the central Atlantic, where it’s expected to drift around and stay weak and unorganized as it moves into an area with drier air.
Models have Gordon moving west this weekend, and then there is more uncertainty in the track by early next week.
Conditions aren’t expected to be too favorable for Gordon to intensify much over the open Atlantic through this weekend, but conditions could improve early next week and Gordon could re-intensify.
It will not threaten any land.
Check to see how the rest of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is going so far.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
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Spectrum News Staff
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Francine made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane along coastal Louisiana
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Francine formed into a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday, Sept. 9, becoming the sixth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
It became a hurricane on Tuesday, Sept. 10. It slowly strengthened as it moved northeast in the Gulf, eventually becoming a Category 2 hurricane before moving inland.
Francine made landfall on Wednesday, Sept. 11, in Terrebonne Parish, La, as a Category 2 storm with maximum winds of 100 mph. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport reported a wind gust of 78 mph Wednesday night and 7.32 inches of rain in 24 hours.
At the storm’s peak, 450,000 people in Louisiana were estimated to be without power. Many of the outages were attributed to falling debris, not structural damage. At one point, around 500 people were in emergency shelters, officials said.
It moved inland Wednesday night and by Thursday morning, Sept. 12 it had weakened to a tropical storm. By the afternoon it became post-tropical, but continued to spin rain along the Deep South.
The remnant low brought rain as far north as the drought-stricken Mid-Mississippi River Valley and Tennessee Valley.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season so far.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
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Spectrum News Staff
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Photos: Tar Heel communities remember 9/11
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Communities across the country took time Wednesday to remember the Sept. 11, 2001, attack.
Twenty-three years ago, hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing thousands of people.
Communities in North Carolina took time to pay their respects and donate their time to service projects. Take a look at the photos.
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Daniel Gray
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LIVE CAMERAS: Watch Francine as it makes landfall in Louisiana
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Norman Bouisse, 76, left, and Jeremy Adam, back left, one of the captains for the 100-foot trawler Master Brandon, work at tying extra lines around a piling in their attempt to batten down their boat in anticipation of Hurricane Francine along the Louisiana coast in Lafitte on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)
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Spectrum News Weather Staff
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