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  • As we “fall back” this weekend, the time change debate continues

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    It’s that time of the year again, when we “fall back” one hour, ending daylight saving time and returning to standard time and thus igniting the semi-annual debate.

    Do we proceed with the current standards and switch the clocks biannually in 48 of the 50 states? Or do we establish one standard and end this shifting of time? 

    19 states say yes, end the shifting and establish permanent daylight saving time. Federal law says no, and thus the debate continues. 

    Why we change the clocks

    The United States began the concept of daylight saving time in 1918, during World War I, to save fuel. The thought was that by advancing one hour ahead, coal-fired energy would assist the war effort rather than that hour at home.

    Standard time returned following the war and continued until World War II. After World War II, some states and even cities kept daylight saving time, creating various time zones within regions. Frustrated with no uniform time, the public pushed Congress to pass the Uniform Time Act in 1966.

    This established the time frame for daylight saving time would begin the last Sunday in April and end the last Sunday in October.

    In 1987, it extended to include the first Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October.

    Part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the modern daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

    This current time shift began in 2007, but this practice, according to millions of Americans, is outdated. 

    Not every state changes the clocks

    The law passed by Congress in 1966 allows states to opt out of observing daylight saving and stay in standard time year-round but not the other way around. Two states, Arizona and Hawaii, along with multiple U.S. territories have done so and thus stay in standard time the full year. 

    Hawaii doesn’t take part because of its location. With not much variation throughout the year between sunrise and sunset, it made little sense to switch the clocks. 

    Only the Navajo Nation in Arizona observes daylight saving time. The rest of the state exempted itself in 1968. 

    They cited the heat as their reason for opting out, adding that if they switched the clocks ahead one hour, the sun would not set until 9 p.m. in the summer, limiting nighttime activities.

    President Trump’s feelings on time change

    Even President Trump sees it from both sides of the debate.

    “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our nation,” he wrote on his social media back on Dec. 13, 2024. 

    However, his Truth Social post in April boasted something completely different.

    A hearing convened in April by the Senate Commerce Committee was debating this issue. Trump’s endorsement might help settle the debate for lawmakers. 

    Sunshine Protection Act and its opponents

    On March 15, 2022, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously in favor of the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, meaning Americans would no longer have to change their clocks twice a year to account for the time change. 

    While the Senate passed the bill, three and a half years later it remains stalled in the House and has not been signed into law by President Trump.

    Not everyone agrees with eliminating standard time.

    Earlier this week, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton was on hand to thwart a bipartisan effort on the chamber floor to pass a bill establishing permanent daylight saving time. 

    “If permanent Daylight Savings Time becomes the law of the land, it will again make winter a dark and dismal time for millions of Americans,” said Cotton in his objection to a request by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to advance the bill by unanimous consent.

    Adding, “For many Arkansans, permanent daylight savings time would mean the sun wouldn’t rise until after 8:00 or even 8:30 a.m. during the dead of winter,” Emphasizing, “The darkness of permanent savings time would be especially harmful for school children and working Americans.”

    Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called for the Senate to pass the bill this week, citing states’ rights as a major reason for his support for the so-called “Sunshine Protection Act.” 

    “It allows the people of each state to choose what best fits their needs and the needs of their families,” said Scott. “The American people are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year. It’s confusing, unnecessary and completely outdated.”

    Cotton strengthened his argument by bringing up the “abject failure” of the last time Congress enacted permanent daylight saving time in 1974, pledging to always oppose legislation that would do just that.

     

    Vote in Live Poll: Cancel daylight saving time or stay on it permanently?

    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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  • As we “fall back” this weekend, the time change debate continues

    [ad_1]

    It’s that time of the year again, when we “fall back” one hour, ending daylight saving time and returning to standard time and thus igniting the semi-annual debate.

    Do we proceed with the current standards and switch the clocks biannually in 48 of the 50 states? Or do we establish one standard and end this shifting of time? 

    19 states say yes, end the shifting and establish permanent daylight saving time. Federal law says no, and thus the debate continues. 

    Why we change the clocks

    The United States began the concept of daylight saving time in 1918, during World War I, to save fuel. The thought was that by advancing one hour ahead, coal-fired energy would assist the war effort rather than that hour at home.

    Standard time returned following the war and continued until World War II. After World War II, some states and even cities kept daylight saving time, creating various time zones within regions. Frustrated with no uniform time, the public pushed Congress to pass the Uniform Time Act in 1966.

    This established the time frame for daylight saving time would begin the last Sunday in April and end the last Sunday in October.

    In 1987, it extended to include the first Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October.

    Part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the modern daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

    This current time shift began in 2007, but this practice, according to millions of Americans, is outdated. 

    Not every state changes the clocks

    The law passed by Congress in 1966 allows states to opt out of observing daylight saving and stay in standard time year-round but not the other way around. Two states, Arizona and Hawaii, along with multiple U.S. territories have done so and thus stay in standard time the full year. 

    Hawaii doesn’t take part because of its location. With not much variation throughout the year between sunrise and sunset, it made little sense to switch the clocks. 

    Only the Navajo Nation in Arizona observes daylight saving time. The rest of the state exempted itself in 1968. 

    They cited the heat as their reason for opting out, adding that if they switched the clocks ahead one hour, the sun would not set until 9 p.m. in the summer, limiting nighttime activities.

    President Trump’s feelings on time change

    Even President Trump sees it from both sides of the debate.

    “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our nation,” he wrote on his social media back on Dec. 13, 2024. 

    However, his Truth Social post in April boasted something completely different.

    A hearing convened in April by the Senate Commerce Committee was debating this issue. Trump’s endorsement might help settle the debate for lawmakers. 

    Sunshine Protection Act and its opponents

    On March 15, 2022, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously in favor of the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, meaning Americans would no longer have to change their clocks twice a year to account for the time change. 

    While the Senate passed the bill, three and a half years later it remains stalled in the House and has not been signed into law by President Trump.

    Not everyone agrees with eliminating standard time.

    Earlier this week, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton was on hand to thwart a bipartisan effort on the chamber floor to pass a bill establishing permanent daylight saving time. 

    “If permanent Daylight Savings Time becomes the law of the land, it will again make winter a dark and dismal time for millions of Americans,” said Cotton in his objection to a request by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to advance the bill by unanimous consent.

    Adding, “For many Arkansans, permanent daylight savings time would mean the sun wouldn’t rise until after 8:00 or even 8:30 a.m. during the dead of winter,” Emphasizing, “The darkness of permanent savings time would be especially harmful for school children and working Americans.”

    Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called for the Senate to pass the bill this week, citing states’ rights as a major reason for his support for the so-called “Sunshine Protection Act.” 

    “It allows the people of each state to choose what best fits their needs and the needs of their families,” said Scott. “The American people are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year. It’s confusing, unnecessary and completely outdated.”

    Cotton strengthened his argument by bringing up the “abject failure” of the last time Congress enacted permanent daylight saving time in 1974, pledging to always oppose legislation that would do just that.

     

    Vote in Live Poll: Cancel daylight saving time or stay on it permanently?

    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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  • When will it snow? It depends where you live

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    The days are getting shorter, and temperatures are falling. Now that we’re heading toward winter, many parts of the country are going to begin to see snow in the forecast for the first time in months.

    Even though winter doesn’t begin until December, the first snow can arrive much earlier depending on where you live.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Mountain West usually gets snow before anywhere else

    • Interior New England and the Great Lakes also see snowfall earlier than most areas

    • If it snows in the Southeast, it normally comes after New Year’s



    The primary factors that influence your local snowfall climatology are elevation and latitude. High elevations, like the Rockies, are much more favorable environments for wintry weather than anywhere else in the continental U.S. Some parts of the Rockies could receive snow in all 12 months of the year.

    Of course, that’s not the case for everyone else. Aside from elevation, how far north do you live? Do you live off the eastern shores of the Great Lakes and get lake-effect snow? Do you see a milder maritime air mass from the Pacific, or a continental polar air mass from Canada? 

    The map below gives a good idea of when you can expect the first measurable (>0.1″) snow where you live based on the 1981-2020 U.S. climate normals.

    The map shows the ‘median,’ or average date of the first snowfall. This is when you could expect the first snow to arrive during a ‘normal’ year. Of course, every year is different, but this should give you a good idea of when to get the winter clothes ready. For an even better idea, you can check your local forecast.

    Snow in the Northeast usually arrives before winter does on the calendar, especially in the mountains. Interior New England the Adirondacks, usually sees the first snowflakes falling around early November, with the rest of New England seeing snow before Thanksgiving.

    Coastal areas might lag a little behind the rest of the Northeast since the temperatures run a bit warmer, but it only takes one Nor’easter to deliver the first snow for everybody.

    Great Lakes

    Aside from the Rockies and some other high elevations, the Great Lakes are among the earlier areas to see snow, especially near Lake Superior. When you combine arctic air and moisture over the warm Great Lakes early in the season, the lake-effect machine can pump some big snow totals onto the southern and eastern shores of the Great Lakes.

    Parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, Upstate New York and northwest Pennsylvania are the lucky recipients of lake-effect snow that can arrive as early as October or November.

    Midwest

    The Upper Midwest and Northern Plains see strong cold fronts move in from Canada during the late fall and winter with bitter cold Arctic air that can dump feet of snow, but that’s not usually until later in the season. The first snow? The Dakotas and Minnesota usually get some snowfall in early November.

    Further south, in states like Iowa, Illinois, Ohio and Missouri, it can be a bit later, around or after Thanksgiving as we get into December.

    Northwest/Rockies

    The Rocky Mountains, Cascades and other high elevations across the Mountain West are the snowiest places in the U.S., some of which could see snow year-round. This is why some of the best ski resorts in the world are in states like Colorado, Utah and Montana. Snow usually starts falling by October, with the foothills and lower elevations seeing snow by November.

    The coastal parts of Washington and Oregon in the Pacific Northwest don’t see much snow until later, usually by December. The Pacific Ocean keeps areas west of the mountains much warmer, and much wetter with rain lasting into winter.

    Southwest

    If you’re expecting snow in the Southwest, elevation is an important factor. There are parts of Southern California, northern Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada where the high elevations and mountains see plenty of snowfall, some as early as late November or December. But a lot of the Southwest doesn’t see any, especially in California outside of the mountains.

    In Texas, the Panhandle could get some wild weather by late November or December, but further south into central Texas and the Gulf Coast, the snow chances are few and far between.

    Southeast

    Parts of the Southeast, especially in the Appalachians, could get snow in late November or December. States like Kentucky, North Carolina, Arkansas, Virginia and North Carolina usually get a few good snows per winter, maybe even before changing your calendar.

    If you live anywhere else in the Southeast, especially Florida and along the Gulf Coast, the first time you see snow depends on when you buy a plane ticket! Big snows are much rarer once you get south of I-10. Other parts of the Deep South are lucky to see one or two snows per year, but it usually arrives in January or February.

    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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  • Halloween Forecast: Is it a trick or a treat?

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    A chill will be in the air across much of the country for this year’s Halloween trick-or-treaters. The good news is we will see mostly dry conditions in time, but a few spots could still see rain lingering into the night.

    What You Need To Know

    • Below-average temperatures are expected from the Plains to the East Coast

    • Most of the country should be dry around sunset

    • Rain and wind will linger in the Northeast


    Northeast

    For much of Halloween, it will be a wet and windy day across the Northeast. Thankfully, much of the rain will clear in time for trick-or-treaters by sunset with only a few showers across Upstate New York and the northern parts of New England.

    For those heading out, be sure to bring an extra layer and hold on to those witches’ hats! A gusty northwest wind will bring temperatures down into the 40s and 50s along the coast with even colder temperatures farther inland (30s) after sunset. Winds could even reach 30-40 mph at times closer to the coast.

    Southeast

    The forecast is a lot less frightening for the Southeast, which will see clear skies and no chance of rain. However, it will be cool with temperatures slipping into the 50s in areas as far south as Central Florida.


    Central U.S.

    Most of the Central U.S. will also see dry and cool weather Halloween evening. The only exception will be parts of the Northern Plains, where some scattered showers may continue.

    Temperatures will range from the 30s and 40s in the Northern Plains to the 50s and 60s across Texas and the Mid-South.


    West

    Dry weather is likely for almost the entire West with high pressure in control. The only region that may be wet will be the coastal parts of Washington, where another atmospheric river is expected to move onshore.

    It will also be cool in the Pacific Northwest with temperatures falling into the 40s and 50s. Milder weather is expected in the Southwest.


    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 Ian Cassette

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  • Opinion | A Mamdani Mayoralty Threatens New York’s Jews

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    By propagating lies about ‘occupation,’ ‘apartheid’ and ‘genocide,’ he helps promote antisemitism.

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    Elisha Wiesel

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  • Nor’easter to bring rain, strong winds and coastal flooding to East Coast

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    A low pressure is expected to develop today and bring rain, wind and coastal flooding all along the east coast this weekend into early next week.

    What You Need To Know

    • A coastal low will develop off the coast of Florida on Friday

    • The low will strengthen as it moves northward along the Carolina coast, bringing heavy rain, wind and flooding potential

    • The system will produce wind gusts 30 to 50 mph along coastal regions of the East Coast

    • Rainfall totals will be highest along coastal North Carolina



    This storm system — a nor’easter, named for the wind direction it produces — usually brings heavy snow along the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast during the winter months. However, any weather disturbance can take a similar track and produce wind and heavy precipitation, and that is expected to happen this weekend into early next week.

    Unfortunately, the Outer Banks of N.C. will see their third storm so far this season. As recently as two weeks ago, rough surf and big waves collapsed eight homes into the Atlantic Ocean in this area. 

    A beach house in Rodanthe in Dare County toppled into the surf Friday. (Spectrum News 1/Lauren Howard)

    Track of storm

    Here’s one computer model’s interpretation of the storm. 

    Futurecast - National this weekend

    Wind gusts

    A nor’easter will produce gusty winds, and depending on the location of the storm to the coast will determine how windy it gets inland. Gusts will generally be around 30 to 50 mph for coastal regions, with some localized higher gusts. Interior sections will see less gusty conditions, with winds around 20 to 30 mph.

    Rainfall totals

    Rainfall totals will be highest along coastal North Carolina, with 3 to 5 inches possible. 

    The low is expected to move east from the coast during the day on Tuesday, taking with it the heavy rain and gusty winds. 

    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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  • Fall officially arrives with the autumnal equinox

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    Fall has officially arrived. Summer has come to an end, meaning cooler and shorter days are on the horizon. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Fall begins Monday, Sept. 22

    • The 2025 autumnal equinox happens at 2:19 p.m. ET

    • The largest daily loss of daylight occurs in September



    The change in seasons occurs with the solstice or the equinox determined by the Earth’s tilt and orbit around the sun. 

    What is the equinox?

    The Earth is tilted at a 23.5-degree angle, and as it travels around the sun, the Earth’s axis is tilted toward or away from the sun.

    During the equinox, the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up, allowing the sun’s rays to shine directly on the equator. This means that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight.

    Meteorological Fall vs. Astronomical Fall

     

    The meteorological seasons are calendar-based, whereas the astronomical seasons rely on the Earh’s position to the sun. 

    Meteorological fall occurs from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30. The meteorological seasons are broken down evenly into 3-month periods based on temperature and weather cycles. 

    Astronomical fall typically starts between Sept. 21 and Sept. 23. This varies because of leap years, which can shift the start date by a day or two. 

    Why do we lose so much daylight?

    We have been slowly losing more and more daylight since the summer solstice in June, and will continue to lose more daylight until the winter solstice in December. The largest daily loss of daylight occurs in September, especially as the autumnal equinox approaches.

    The Earth’s 23.5-degree tilt is the main reason we see daylight changes throughout the year. Your latitude also plays a role as well.

    This time of year, the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun, leading to a decrease in daylight. Areas located closer to the equator will see less variation in daylight hours as opposed to areas located closer to the North Pole.

    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 Ramel Carpenter

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  • How The New York Times obtained 10,000 police disciplinary records

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    In the immediate aftermath of George Floyd’s killing at the hands of Minneapolis police officers in 2020, New York State repealed a law that for decades kept the disciplinary records of its police officers secret.

    The New York Times and New York Focus, a nonprofit newsroom, have since gathered over 10,000 such files from around half of New York State’s nearly 500 law enforcement agencies. The documents, most of which are from the past 10 years, provide a window into how some officers at the state, county and local levels have avoided accountability in court despite relatively clear evidence that they broke the law.

    The files also highlight vast discrepancies in how departments have handled misconduct. Offenses considered fireable in some departments were handled with letters of reprimand in others. In some departments, officers who repeatedly committed misconduct were allowed to keep their jobs; in others, officers were fired or forced to resign.

    Thousands of officers who committed misconduct remain on the job today.

    While major New York news outlets have written about the records from larger agencies, including the New York Police Department, which began releasing its files in 2021, those from the State Police and local departments have received less scrutiny.

    The New York Times and New York Focus are examining cases and patterns from these records. The first article in our series, published Tuesday, explored cases of officers who drove drunk.

    What type of misconduct is included in these files?

    Infractions vary from mundane violations of department policy, such as arriving late to work or failing to register for a vacation day, to serious offenses such as using excessive force, inappropriate behavior and abuse of authority.

    Unlike some other states, New York has no statewide requirement mandating that outside agencies such as district attorneys’ offices or the state’s attorney general investigate allegations of misconduct. Though the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services maintains a public list of officers decertified for misconduct since 2016, the list tracks only officers who faced termination or resigned.

    These cases are rare, the files show, and in almost all other instances, allegations of misconduct were internally investigated by departments and then placed in personnel files and disciplinary logs.

    Departments have counseled, reprimanded, censured, suspended and even occasionally demoted their officers behind closed doors.

    How do departments conduct internal investigations?

    The files indicate that there are no statewide standards. Some departments conduct lengthy investigations and create hundreds of pages of files, while others confine the findings of disciplinary investigations to a few sentences on a single form.

    Some departments keep transcripts of disciplinary interviews with officers accused of misconduct; others do not document if any such interviews occur.

    Records also show that departments followed different practices when citizens filed complaints saying that officers had committed misconduct. In some departments, citizens were interviewed and notified of the outcome of cases. In others, citizens were asked to fill out forms describing their allegations but were never notified of the outcomes.

    Disciplinary investigations often occurred weeks or months after an incident. Information from disciplinary investigations is protected, meaning it cannot be used against officers in court.

    Why did it take years to obtain these files?

    Shortly after the law, known as 50-a, was repealed, reporters and civil rights groups filed requests for records with various police agencies. The New York Civil Liberties Union and the Legal Aid Society sued a number of large agencies who refused to release their records, including the New York Police Department, the Rochester Police Department and the New York State Police.

    Days after the law’s repeal, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle became one of the first news outlets to request records from all of the state’s police departments. For this series, The New York Times and New York Focus began requesting these records in June 2023.

    More: Search D&C’s New York police disciplinary records database

    In September 2024, the state modified records laws to require agencies to notify current and former employees before the release of personnel records. Civil rights groups criticized the change, noting that departments may not have contact information for former officers and that already burdened records officers would now be forced to send hundreds of communications before fulfilling some basic requests.

    The change, along with staffing shortages in several departments, has led to lengthy delays in fulfilling some requests.

    Who provided files as part of this investigation?

    In addition to requesting files directly from police departments, The New York Times and New York Focus spent the past two years requesting records from county district attorneys’ offices. Many of these offices collected records to comply with the state’s expanded discovery laws, and in some cases, district attorneys’ offices provided records even when local departments denied they existed.

    In a number of instances, these requests uncovered records from smaller agencies — village and town police departments, and county sheriff’s offices — that were known to prosecutors but largely overlooked across the state.

    The New York Times and New York Focus filed more than 800 records requests over the past two years. Reporters for New York Focus have filed dozens of administrative appeals — the first step in challenging the denial of a request — and, in three instances, filed lawsuits to further challenge the failure of departments to provide the records. The New York Times has sued the Erie County Sheriff’s Office to force the disclosure of over a decade of misconduct records.

    Overall, our investigation has so far obtained records regarding 235 departments collectively containing over 8,000 sworn officers, according to state data.

    Why focus on the State Police?

    This investigation also focuses on the New York State Police, which, with over 5,000 sworn officers, is the second-biggest law enforcement agency in the state, behind the New York Police Department. The agency has yet to make its body of misconduct files public.

    Our reporting found that the agency routinely provided county district attorneys’ offices bulk access to records about current officers, sometimes providing files via compact disc. The New York Times and New York Focus uncovered thousands of the department’s records related to 1,200 officers in seven of the agency’s 11 divisions. (Records from one division, obtained from a district attorney’s office, were first reported by WKBW-TV in Buffalo.)

    New York Focus has worked with MuckRock, a nonprofit news organization focused on requesting and sharing public records, to make a body of records related to hundreds of State Police officers public, and they plan to continue making more records available to the public.

    If you’re interested in articles in this series, sign up for Staying Focused, a newsletter by New York Focus.Sammy Sussman is an investigative reporter who writes about police and policing in New York State as part of The New York Times’s Local Investigations Fellowship.

    This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: How The New York Times obtained 10,000 police disciplinary records

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  • When will you see the first freeze this fall?

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    Leaves are changing, and the first day of astronomical fall is next Monday, Sept. 22. Most of the country will begin to see cooler temperatures in the coming weeks, and some won’t have to wait long.

    Even though winter doesn’t begin until December, cold air and freezing temperatures arrive well before then for most of the U.S.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Northern Plains and Intermountain West usually dip down below freezing before September is over

    • Interior New England  and the Great Lakes also see freezing temperatures before most of the country

    • Cold air arrives in Florida, the Gulf Coast and the Desert Southwest last



    Winter arrives at the time time every year on the calendar, but not on your thermometer. Every year is different. The maps below give a good idea of when you can expect the first freeze where you live based on the 1991-2020 U.S. climate normals.

    The maps below show the ‘median,’ or average date of the first freeze. This is when you could expect the first freeze to arrive during a ‘normal’ year. The next one shows the ‘earliest 10%’ which shows a scenario of when colder air arrives early, about once every 10 years. And the last map shows the ‘latest 10%,’ so during a warm year when cold air arrives late.

    Northeast

    Most of the Northeast and New England see the first freeze before or during early fall, in September or early October. The mountains and high elevations across interior New England and the Adirondacks average freezing temperatures sometime in September, with the rest of the Northeast getting freezing cold sometime during October or early November.

    Midwest

    The Upper Midwest and Northern Plains also get in on the cold early. Around the Great Lakes and Dakotas, the first freeze typically arrives during September or early October. Further south the wait isn’t much longer. Freezing air usually arrives to the rest of the Midwest sometime before Halloween.

    Northwest

    There are many microclimates across the Northwest, so the arrival of cold air varies. Across the Rockies and Intermountain West, some areas experience cold year-round and as early as August and early September. The Pacific Northwest might not see freezing temperatures arrive until late October or November thanks to the maritime influence. 

    Southwest

    The Southwest has a variety of climates as well, so the temperatures differ greatly during the fall and winter. The Desert Southwest and coastal California don’t see the arrival of cold air until late in the season, sometimes not until December. Once you get into the high desert and Southern Plains, it arrives much earlier, around October or early November.

    Southeast

    If you live in the Southeast, it still gets cold, especially away from the large bodies of water. In the Appalachians and areas away from the Gulf and Atlantic coast, freezing temperatures usually begin before Thanksgiving in late October or early November. The Gulf Coast and Florida, however, wait much longer, with freezing temperatures not arriving until late November or December. In South and Central Florida and southern Texas, freezing temperatures may never even arrive.

    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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  • New York invests $300M in Stony Brook quantum hub | Long Island Business News

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    THE BLUEPRINT:

    • pledges $300M for hub at Stony Brook

    • Hub will feature the state’s first hybrid quantum

    • Facility expected to open in 2029 after three years of development

    • Project aims to enhance secure internet and tech-driven economic growth

    New York State is investing $300 million to launch the Quantum Research and at . The initiative aims to integrate research, computing and to address complex societal challenges and build a “faster, smarter and more secure internet,” according to the university.

    The 150,000-square-foot facility will be home to the Stony Brook Quantum Institute, the state’s first university-based hybrid quantum data center, and the SUNY Stony Brook Quantum Education Consortium. Planning and construction are expected to take about three years, with an anticipated opening in 2029.

    Calling Stony Brook University a “research powerhouse,” Gov. said in a news release that the university “will now be able to reach new heights in quantum.”

    Hochul made the announcement on Wednesday at Stony Brook’s New York State Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology.

    “We know that to provide our state and nation with a brighter future, we need to invest today, and that is what New York is committed to do,” she said.

    The funding comes at a time when organizations are navigating pauses and cuts in federal funding.

    Hochul said that “when national investment in research and innovation is at risk, New York State is doubling down, and SUNY is on the move.”

    Speaking about Stony Brook University’s quantum network, which she described as the largest in the nation, President Andrea Goldsmith said in the news release that through “such transformative research, in partnership with New York State and SUNY, we are accelerating technological advancement and its positive impact across our state and beyond.”

    The hub, she said “will spearhead the future of and networking. Today’s historic investment further advances Stony Brook’s leadership in quantum science and technology, and showcases the bold ground-breaking research across our campus that delivers solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said the investment would drive economic growth.

    “The creation of the Quantum Research and Innovation Hub marks the next step in expanding research capacity, cultivating top talent, and advancing breakthroughs that will drive economic growth and cement New York’s position as a global leader in quantum technology,” Knight said.

    “This investment will give Long Island the bandwidth to be at the forefront of the next era of science and innovation,” Stony Brook alumna and State Senator Monica Martinez said in the news release. “The future Quantum Research and Innovation Hub at Stony Brook will build the infrastructure necessary to expand human understanding and drive the discoveries of tomorrow, creating new economic opportunities that strengthen our region and position New York to lead.”

     

     

     

     


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    Adina Genn

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  • New York launches $80M grant program for arts groups | Long Island Business News

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    THE BLUEPRINT:

    • New York launches $80M grant program for arts organizations

    • Grants support initiatives across the state

    • Focus areas include , and community growth

    • Application deadline is Jan. 13, 2026, via portal

    is investing $80 million through its Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Fund to support arts and .

    This $80 million funding opportunity for organizations across the state builds on the $86 million in capital awards announced by NYSCA earlier this year, including multi-year investments supporting large-scale capital projects that emphasize and placemaking.

    “New York’s thriving cultural sector attracts global visitors, generates economic opportunity and strengthens our incomparable creativity, which makes us a global epicenter for ,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a news release about the fund.

    “Through this transformative grant program, our world-class organizations will be able to develop innovative and sustainable projects that will serve New York residents and visitors for generations to come,” she added.

    The program is designed to support arts and cultural nonprofits seeking state funding for capital improvements that enhance cultural programming for diverse audiences, promote accessibility and environmental sustainability, preserve and create jobs and drive growth in New York’s arts and tourism sectors.

    “We are deeply grateful to Gov. Hochul for her continued investment in the arts, particularly at a time when cultural funding is being reduced elsewhere,” Lauren Wagner, executive director of , told LIBN.

    “The arts are a powerful catalyst for economic vitality, fueling local economies, strengthening communities and drawing visitors to our region,” Wagner said. “These grants will enable arts and cultural venues to become more accessible and sustainable, enhancing their ability to connect with audiences and serve as essential destinations for residents and visitors alike.”

    Available throughout the state, the fund has three grant categories: Small and Midsized Capital Improvement Grants, Large Capital Improvement Grants and Capital Design Grants for Arts and Culture.

    The Small and Midsized Capital Improvement Grants offer up to $2 million for construction and equipment projects, prioritizing accessibility, sustainability, artistry and community impact. No-match grants of $10,000–$99,000 are available to organizations with operating budgets under $2 million. Eligible projects align strong design with organizational capacity and community needs to support the future of arts and culture in New York.

    Large Capital Improvement Grants are designed to provide grants ranging from $2 million to $10 million to support major capital projects with a total cost of $4 million or more. Covering up to 50 percent of project costs, these grants fund improvements that expand programming, increase accessibility and reach diverse audiences. Applicants must align with the state’s goals for economic development, social equity and public access.

    The Capital Design Grants aim to support the development of mid-stage and advanced design documents for arts and cultural nonprofits with operating budgets of $10 million or less across the state that are planning eligible capital improvements and are currently in the early stages of design. Grants will range from $50,000 to $500,000, for a maximum of 50 percent of the design phase’s total cost. No-match grants of $10,000 to $99,000 will also be available for organizations with budgets under $2 million.

    The application portal and guidelines for these opportunities are now open, and can be accessed on NYSCA’s website, arts.ny.gov. The deadline to submit completed applications is Jan. 13, 2026.

    NYSCA will offer informational webinars and host virtual office hours to provide one-on-one support. Prospective applicants for the large capital grant program are required to consult with NYSCA Capital Projects staff to ensure their projects align with program priorities before applying. Grant awards are anticipated to be announced in spring 2026.

    “We encourage organizations to attend NYSCA’s upcoming webinar on Sept. 18 to learn more and to see if this funding opportunity is the right fit, and we stand ready to provide guidance as needed,” Wagner said.

     


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    Adina Genn

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  • When to expect the best 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.

    What You Need To Know

    • Weather plays a significant role in fall foliage


    • Heat and soil moisture determine foliage timing and intensity


    • Stressed trees will lose leaves earlier or later than normal


    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.

    (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.

    Weather impacts on fall foliage

    (Explore Fall)

    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.

    Current fall foliage

    Here is a map of the current fall foliage around the U.S.


    In some parts of the country, leaves have already started turning. The first areas to see color are typically further north and at higher elevations, including parts of the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains, the Mountain West and interior Northeast.

    Parts of New England are in a severe drought, with much of the mountain west under an extreme or exceptional drought, which could cause the trees to lose leaves early and mute the colors.

    7-Day foliage outlook

    Here is a look at Explore Fall’s 7-day foliage forecast and what the foliage is expected to look like in a week from now.


    You can submit your fall foliage photos here.

    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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  • The peak of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is here

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    Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean spans June through November, and this year was forecasted to be near to above average.

    What You Need To Know

    • The 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season was forecasted to be near to above average

    • Through early Sept. 2025, there have only been six named storms

    • The climatological peak of hurricane season is on Sept. 10


    However, as we approach the climatological peak of the season, we’ve only had six named storms. 

    2025 Atlantic Season predictions

    Both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Colorado State University (CSU) made their seasonal forecasts back in May and updated them in August. The latest outlooks predict an above-average season: 13 to 18 tropical cyclones (down from 13 to 19 named storms) for NOAA and 16 named storms for CSU (down from 17 to 24 named storms).

    The new predictions include the six named storms we’ve already seen. The average number of named storms is around 14 per season.

    How the season began

    Tropical Storm Andrea formed on June 23, 2025. This marked the latest start to a season since 2014. 

    Next, Tropical Storm Barry formed toward the end of June and made landfall in Veracruz, Mexico. 

    After Barry, Tropical Storm Chantal impacted the southeastern U.S. The storm made landfall in South Carolina on July 6, bringing tropical storm force-winds and flooding rainfall to the Carolinas. 

    Flooding from Chantal at Cooper Road at the Haw River canoe access in Graham, North Carolina. (Graham Police Department)

    Tropical Storm Dexter followed, and next, Hurricane Erin. Erin became a large and powerful Category 5 storm. The storm stayed well off the coast of the U.S., but it brought dangerous rip currents to most of the eastern seaboard.

    Tropical Storm Fernand formed in mid-August and stayed offshore. Here’s a look at the 2025 hurricane season so far. 

    Since then, there has been a lull in tropical activity. 

    Still a lot of the season to go

    In September and early October, storms are most likely to form in the central Atlantic and the Caribbean. However, as more frontal boundaries move through the U.S. at this time, it’s possible for tropical cyclones to develop along old fronts in the Gulf of Mexico and off of the southeast coast. 

    “We are just coming up on the halfway mark of the hurricane season, usually the time of peak activity,” says Dr. Frank Marks, a meteorologist in the Hurricane Research Division of NOAA/Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. 

    Don’t let the lull in the Atlantic lull you to sleep. As we approach the peak with quiet conditions, there’s still plenty of time for more storms to develop.

    Notable September and October tropical cyclones

    Even though many may be focused on fall, hurricane season is ongoing! There have been many tropical cyclones that have formed and made landfall in September and October. 

    Just last year, Hurricane Milton formed in October and rapidly intensified into a powerful Category 5 storm in the Gulf of America. This was the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded over the Gulf since Hurricane Rita in 2005. Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm near Siesta Key, FL.

    While the outlook over the next seven days looks quiet in the Atlantic, make sure you’re focusing on the forecast as conditions in the open waters can change. Tracking the Tropics.

    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 Britney Hamilton

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  • Davey Johnson, who managed Mets to title, dies at 82

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    Davey Johnson, an All-Star second baseman who won the World Series twice with the Baltimore Orioles as a player and managed the New York Mets to the title in 1986 has died. He was 82.

    Longtime Mets public relations representative Jay Horwitz said Johnson’s wife informed him of his death after a long illness. Johnson was at a hospital in Sarasota, Florida, when he died.

    Johnson played 13 major league seasons with Baltimore, Atlanta, Philadelphia and the Chicago Chicago Cubs from 1965-78 and won the Gold Glove three times. He managed the Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals during a span from 1984-2013.

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    Associated Press

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  • A look back at Hurricane Katrina, 20 years later

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    Hurricane Katrina remains infamous as one of the deadliest hurricanes ever to strike the United States.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hurricane Katrina reached Category 5 status but made landfall as a Category 3 with winds of 125 mph

    • Record storm surge was reported across the Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines

    • 80% of New Orleans was under water on Aug. 31, 2005


    20 years ago on Aug. 29, it made its strongest landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in southeast Louisiana and brought devastation across the city of New Orleans and surrounding parishes.

    Meteorological history

    Hurricane Katrina developed from the remnants of Tropical Depression Ten and a tropical wave near the Lesser Antilles. It became Tropical Depression Twelve over the southeastern Bahamas on Aug. 23.

    On Aug. 24, it was classified as Tropical Storm Katrina, and it moved through the northwestern part of the Bahamas on Aug. 25. It strengthened into a hurricane on the evening of Aug. 25 just before making its first landfall near the Miami-Dade/Broward County line.

    The storm drifted southwest across southern Florida before moving over the eastern Gulf on Aug. 26. Over the warm waters of the Gulf, Katrina rapidly intensified, becoming a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 175 mph on Aug. 28.

    A satellite image of Hurricane Katrina prior to making landfall on Aug. 29, 2005. (NOAA)

    Katrina turned to the northwest and then north, making its second landfall near Buras, LA, in the southeastern part of the state on Aug. 29. It had weakened to a Category 3, with winds of 125 mph, just before landfall.

    Approximately five hours later, Katrina made a third landfall near the Louisiana/Mississippi border with winds estimated at 120 mph, still a Category 3 hurricane.


    Katrina moved over land and weakened but still maintained hurricane strength near Laurel, Mississippi. It was finally downgraded to a tropical depression on Aug. 30 before dissipating altogether on Aug. 31.

    Katrina’s impacts

    Katrina wasn’t just a Louisiana/Mississippi storm; at its height, it was 780 miles from east to west and about the same distance from north to south. Hurricane conditions were reported in southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi and southwestern Alabama, with storm surges reported as far east as Destin, FL.

    Storm surge affected coastal regions, with a 20-mile-wide swath of 24 to 28 feet along the Mississippi Coast. The highest surge was at Pass Christian, MS, at 27.8 feet. The storm surge was so high that it overtopped the levees in the city of New Orleans, leading to levee failures and extensive flooding. 80% of New Orleans was under water on Aug. 31.

    The damage and destruction it caused equated to $125 billion (un-adjusted 2005 dollars). Not to mention the thousands of lives lost.

    More Storm Season Resources

    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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  • Names of victims in fatal tour bus crash on Thruway released

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    The investigation continues into Friday’s deadly tour bus crash on the New York State Thruway outside Pembroke in Genesee County. There were 54 people on board at the time of the crash.

    What You Need To Know

    • The investigation continues into Friday’s deadly tour bus crash on the New York State Thruway outside Pembroke in Genesee County

    • There were 54 people on board at the time of the crash

    • Five people were killed, and the victims were identified by authorities as Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, of Madhu Bani, India; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, New Jersey; Xie Hongzhuo, 22, of Beijing, China; Zhang Xiaolan, 55; and Jian Mingli, 56, both from Jersey City, New Jersey

    • Dozens more were injured

    Five people were killed, and the victims were identified by authorities as Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, of Madhu Bani, India; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, New Jersey; Xie Hongzhuo, 22, of Beijing, China; Zhang Xiaolan, 55; and Jian Mingli, 56, both from Jersey City, New Jersey. Dozens more were injured.

    According to New York State Police, the bus involved in the crash was towed to the state police headquarters in Batavia Friday night.

    The cause of the collision was still under investigation as of Saturday afternoon. However, the driver –– Bin Shao, 55 of Flushing, New York –– had no signs of impairment, and the tour bus had no mechanical failure. Police said the bus drove into a median before overcorrecting, rolling over and crashing into a ditch. 

    State Police Maj. Andre Ray said Friday evening that the driver had been distracted, but didn’t elaborate.

    Police said the bus was heading to New York City after a trip to the American side of Niagara Falls.

    “It’s a full-size tour bus. Heavy amount of damage. It did roll. Most people, I’m assuming, on the bus did not have a seatbelt on. That is the reason we had so many ejected people on this bus. Like I said, this bus is extremely damaged,” said Trooper James O’Callaghan, a New York State Police Troop A public information officer. “This bus was going full speed. It did not hit any other vehicle. It basically lost control from the median on.”

    A total of 21 patients were transported to ECMC hospital after the crash. Seven were discharged Friday, six remained hospitalized in stable condition, five were in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit in stable condition and another three were in the Observation Unit in stable condition. Two patients were scheduled for discharge Saturday.,

    In a statement, Kaleida Health said that they received a total of 20 patients to Buffalo General Medical Center (four adults: all were in good condition with one since discharged), Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital (11 adults, two children: 10 in good condition and three in fair condition) and Oishei Children’s Hospital (three children total: two in good condition and one in serious condition).

    The University of Rochester Medical Center said that six patients were at their facility. Three were transported via air ambulance and another three by ground ambulance. Two were being treated for critical injuries and four were medically stable, including one pediatric patient. 

    An investigation from the National Transportation Safety Board, in coordination with New York State Police and the state Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Compliance Bureau, was ongoing.

    Those who may have witnessed the crash or have dash cam footage were asked to contact New York State Police at SP Batavia at (585) 344-6200.

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    Adriana Loh

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  • 5 dead, dozens injured after tour bus with about 50 people crashes in New York State, officials say

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    A vacation to Niagara Falls ended in tragedy on Friday as a tour bus with about 50 passengers heading back to New York City crashed into a ditch, killing five people and injuring dozens.Officials believe most of the passengers were not wearing a seat belt, as multiple people were also ejected from the bus, which sustained heavy damage in the incident, said New York State Police spokesperson James O’Callaghan.“We believe there is a child that is a fatality,” he said.And translators are headed to the scene to assist police in the investigation, as most of the passengers were Indian, Chinese or Filipino, he said at a news conference.Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo received 24 patients and 20 are being treated, it confirmed at a Friday afternoon news conference.Video below: NY State Police Trooper James O’ Callaghan discusses bus crashAs the investigation unfolds, it’s not yet clear why the crash took place, O’Callaghan said, but he added authorities have a “good idea” of what caused the bus to roll over after losing control, without offering further details.The bus was driving at full speed and did not hit any other vehicles, but lost control from the median onward, O’Callaghan said.Helicopters, ambulances and law enforcement swarmed the crash site, where the bus was seen on its side with many people gathered around it.A list of the passengers provided by the bus company confirms there were 52 people on board, including the driver, police said in a statement.“Several witnesses observed the bus lose control, enter the median, then cross to the southern shoulder and overturn,” the state police said in a news release.The state’s department of transportation is trying to help people get off the interstate as some remain stranded due to the incident, O’Callaghan said. The state Thruway is currently closed in both directions near the crash site, state police say.“It’s a very volatile scene. We have vehicles going the wrong way on the 90,” he said, describing the area as “highly traveled.”The driver is “alive and well” and working with authorities, O’Callaghan said, and some victims were taken to the Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York.New York Gov. Kathy Hochul described the crash as “tragic” and said first responders are “working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved” in a post on X.CNN has contacted the U.S. embassies for the Philippines, China and India for comment.

    PEMBROKE, N.Y. —

    A vacation to Niagara Falls ended in tragedy on Friday as a tour bus with about 50 passengers heading back to New York City crashed into a ditch, killing five people and injuring dozens.

    Officials believe most of the passengers were not wearing a seat belt, as multiple people were also ejected from the bus, which sustained heavy damage in the incident, said New York State Police spokesperson James O’Callaghan.

    “We believe there is a child that is a fatality,” he said.

    And translators are headed to the scene to assist police in the investigation, as most of the passengers were Indian, Chinese or Filipino, he said at a news conference.

    Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo received 24 patients and 20 are being treated, it confirmed at a Friday afternoon news conference.

    Video below: NY State Police Trooper James O’ Callaghan discusses bus crash

    As the investigation unfolds, it’s not yet clear why the crash took place, O’Callaghan said, but he added authorities have a “good idea” of what caused the bus to roll over after losing control, without offering further details.

    The bus was driving at full speed and did not hit any other vehicles, but lost control from the median onward, O’Callaghan said.

    Helicopters, ambulances and law enforcement swarmed the crash site, where the bus was seen on its side with many people gathered around it.

    A list of the passengers provided by the bus company confirms there were 52 people on board, including the driver, police said in a statement.

    “Several witnesses observed the bus lose control, enter the median, then cross to the southern shoulder and overturn,” the state police said in a news release.

    The state’s department of transportation is trying to help people get off the interstate as some remain stranded due to the incident, O’Callaghan said. The state Thruway is currently closed in both directions near the crash site, state police say.

    “It’s a very volatile scene. We have vehicles going the wrong way on the 90,” he said, describing the area as “highly traveled.”

    The driver is “alive and well” and working with authorities, O’Callaghan said, and some victims were taken to the Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York.

    New York Gov. Kathy Hochul described the crash as “tragic” and said first responders are “working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved” in a post on X.

    CNN has contacted the U.S. embassies for the Philippines, China and India for comment.

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  • A Westchester Garden Designed by Landscape Designer Ashley Lloyd

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    Oftentimes landscape designers are called in to execute a one-time overhaul or to create an instant landscape for a site that’s been ravaged by construction. Every once in a while, though, they’re enlisted for more nuanced work, such as when a mature garden needs a new steward and editor. The “before and after” results may not be as dramatic, but the process of refinement can take a garden from good to great. Such was the case when landscape designer and ISA-certified arborist Ashley Lloyd, of Lloyd Landwright, was brought in to usher a garden in lower Westchester into its next chapter.

    The garden had been lovingly designed and tended by a fine gardener for many years, but after his departure, weeds had overtaken the property and much of the perennial layer had been lost during construction projects, including a new retaining wall. “The goal was to create layered texture, seasonal contrast, and movement—and to design with the garden’s future evolution in mind,” Lloyd says.

    Arriving as the homeowners were in the midst of rethinking the garden, ended up being a gift. “I had time to observe the land—its microclimates, light shifts, drainage patterns—and respond accordingly,” Lloyd says. Building on the existing palette of shrubs and evergreens, she brought in more native and pollinator plants and created moments that would consistently surprise and delight the clients. She also designed dozens of seasonal planters and new outdoor lighting.

    Through her years of working on this garden, Lloyd learned that “the best design happens in relationship and collaboration with the land and not from a fixed plan,” she says. Lloyd recently relocated to the West Coast, handing this garden off to its next steward in much better shape than she found it.

    Take a tour of the resulting garden, a layered landscape that evolves through the seasons.

    Photography by Kyle J Caldwell.

    “This wasn’t a
    Above: “This wasn’t a ‘look but don’t touch’ garden,” says Lloyd. Rather, it was designed to invite interaction, with the client choosing to leave the front garden unfenced, so neighbors could enjoy it too. However, no fencing meant intense deer pressure, so Lloyd focussed her plant palette on those that were unpalatable to deer, including floss flower and allium. “Grasses, including sesleria, really knit everything together there,” she says.
    Lloyd says she tries to place plants that deer don’t like around plants they prefer; for example, lamb
    Above: Lloyd says she tries to place plants that deer don’t like around plants they prefer; for example, lamb’s ear and allium are positioned to protect asters. As part of a local Pollinator Pathway, the garden is pesticide-free and designed to support bees, birds, and butterflies.

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  • Retired Hurricane Hunter reminisces

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    Although the 2025 hurricane season seems like it’s been slow to start with only five named storms, there’s still a long way to go, and with NOAA’s above-average prediction, that streak won’t likely last.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hurricane Hunters fly into a tropical system to gain information about the storm

    • Peter Guittari flew for the Hurricane Hunters’ squadron for twelve years

    • Most intense storm he flew into was Super Typhoon Forrest 1983

    What methods do we use to get information about a storm?

    If a storm is in the middle of the Atlantic, we use radar observations to get data, but if a storm is close enough to an area of land, we send scientists into the storm from above. This special group of professionals is called Hurricane Hunters.

    Hurricane Hunters

    Two branches of Hurricane Hunters now exist, one operated by NOAA and the other by the United States Air Force. Beginning in the 1960s, Weather Bureau aircraft began flying into storms to gain data about the intensity and conditions of the atmosphere. It wasn’t until 1976 that the aircraft had a Doppler radar.

    Peter Guittari, a retired Hurricane Hunter talks about his time in the squad and the most impressive storm he flew into. from the Air Force, remembers those days in the 1970s. From 1979 through 1991, he flew missions out of Keesler Airforce Base in Biloxi, MS. He flew WC-130 military planes, Bs, Es and Hs.

    “We got to see some very very nice places, including the Caribbean and the Pacific,” he said, recalling his time fondly.

    Retired Hurricane Hunter, Peter Guittari, reminisces about his time flying into storms.

    As for how he ended up a Hurricane Hunter. “I was in the 130s, and the unit needed some extra people. I was a flight engineer, and they needed extra people. A buddy of mine was in that squadron, and he called me up and asked if any of you guys would like to come here and do this? And we said yes, so that was 1979, and I was flying 130s for about four years.”

    Collecting data

    Once a storm was identified that needed data, a crew was assembled and briefed. Guittari says that when they took flight, they would fly as high as they could to save fuel and then drop down to 1500 feet so the weather and dropsonde operators could collect their data.

    While he flew hundreds of missions over his twelve years with the Hurricane Hunters, his most memorable storm occurred in the Pacific, specifically, Super Typhoon Forrest in Sept. 1983. “We estimated the winds to be in excess of 200 knots.”

    He loved his job, and the only reason he left was that they closed the squadron down. To this day, he has an appreciation for meteorology, and although he now lives in northern Arkansas, he still follows storms when they make news.

    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 activity increases in the month of August

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    Tropical activity is on the rise as we approach the climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, which arrives on Sept. 10. After the first few months of the season, the tropics will come alive in August.

    What You Need To Know

    • Tropical cyclone development becomes more common this month

    • The season’s first hurricane usually forms in early to mid-August

    • The peak of hurricane season arrives in early September



    Based on a 30-year climate period from 1991 to 2020, an average Atlantic hurricane season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes (category 3+). The first named storm normally forms in mid to late June, the first hurricane forms in early to mid-August, and the first major hurricane forms in late August or early September.

    In August, you typically see more tropical waves developing into named storms.

    In the Atlantic basin, tropical storms are more likely to form just to the east of the Caribbean islands throughout August. Development is also common in the Gulf and along the east coast during this time of the season. 

    The first hurricanes of the season form during this time of hurricane season and will more than likely develop near the Caribbean islands and along the eastern coast.

    So if you live in a hurricane-prone region, before August and September, be sure to have your hurricane kit ready to go before a storm heads for your area. 

    More Storm Season Resources

    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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