ReportWire

Tag: noaa

  • Oshen built the first ocean robot to collect data in a Category 5 hurricane  | TechCrunch

    Anahita Laverack was set on becoming an aerospace engineer, but her career took a different turn after a realization at an autonomous robotics challenge inspired her to launch Oshen, a company that builds fleets of robots that collect ocean data.

    In 2021, Laverack, a storied sailor, decided to build and enter a robot in the Microtransat Challenge, a competition where participants build and send autonomous sail-powered micro-robots across the Atlantic Ocean. She, like everyone else that has tried this challenge, was unsuccessful.

    “I realized half the reason that all of these attempts were failing is, number one, obviously it’s hard to make micro-robots survive on the ocean,” Laverack told TechCrunch. “But number two, they don’t have enough data on the ocean to know what the weather is or even know what the ocean conditions are like.”

    Laverack set out for different conferences, like Oceanology International, to find this missing ocean data. She quickly realized that no one had really figured out a good way to collect it yet. Instead, she found people asking if they could pay her to try to collect the data herself. She figured that if people were willing to pay her for this data, she could try to build a way to capture it.

    Those conversations were the basis for Oshen, which Laverack founded alongside Ciaran Dowds, an electrical engineer, in April 2022.

    The company now builds fleets of autonomous micro-robots, called C-Stars, that can survive in the ocean for 100 days straight and are deployed in swarms to collect ocean data.

    But Oshen started small. Laverack said she and Dowds chose not to pursue venture capital right away when launching the company. Instead, they combined their savings to buy a 25-foot sailboat, lived at the cheapest marina in the United Kingdom, and used the vessel as their testing platform while getting the company off the ground.

    Techcrunch event

    San Francisco
    |
    October 13-15, 2026

    For two years, Oshen would iterate on the bots on shore and immediately take them out on the water to test them.

    “In the summer, that’s not too bad,” Laverack said. “The problem is you really need your boats to work in all seasons. When your robot breaks, [and] it’s a winter storm that’s raging, a 25-foot sailboat shouldn’t really be going out in those conditions. So, that led to some adventure, which I wouldn’t say any more about, but there were certainly some interesting events there.”

    Getting the tech just right was difficult, Laverack said, because it’s not as easy as just taking an existing larger robot and shrinking it down. These bots needed to be mass deployable and cheap despite also needing to be technologically advanced enough to operate and collect data for long periods of time on their own.

    Many other companies have successfully gotten two of the three correct, Laverack said. Oshen’s ability to get all three started to attract customers across defense and government organizations.

    The company caught the attention of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) two years ago, but Laverack said that their tech just wasn’t ready to be deployed reliably yet. The organization reached back out two months before the 2025 hurricane season after Oshen had successfully deployed the robots into winter storms in the U.K. This time, Oshen jumped at the chance and quickly built and sent over 15 C-Stars.

    Five of these C-Stars were thrown overboard and made their way into position by the U.S. Virgin Islands where NOAA predicted Hurricane Humberto was headed.

    Laverack said they were expecting the bots to just collect data leading up to the storm, but instead, three of the bots were able to weather the entire storm — minus a few missing parts — and collected data the whole time, becoming, she says, the first ocean robot to collect data through a Category 5 hurricane.

    Now, the company has moved to a hub for marine tech companies in Plymouth, England, and has started racking up contracts with customers, including the U.K. government, for both weather and defense operations.

    Laverack said the company plans to raise venture capital soon to keep up with demand.

    Rebecca Szkutak

    Source link

  • What are northern lights? Here’s what to know about auroras.

    Space weather forecasters issued an alert on Tuesday for incoming severe solar storms that could produce colorful northern lights and temporarily disrupt communications.And the aurora borealis didn’t disappoint, showing up in various parts of the country.In the video player above: Photos show auroras seen in the skies of Nelson County and Virginia Beach, Virginia; South Dakota; Iowa; and Minnesota on Tuesday night.In the past few days, the sun has burped out several bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that, earlier, forecasters said could reach Earth Tuesday night and early Wednesday. Forecasters warned that geomagnetic storms could disrupt radio and GPS communications, according to forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.How bright the auroras were and how far south they were visible were dependent on when the solar bursts got here and how they interacted with Earth’s atmosphere. How northern lights happenThe sun is at the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making the light displays more common and widespread. Colorful northern lights have decorated night skies in unexpected places and space weather experts say there are more auroras still to come.Aurora displays known as the northern and southern lights are commonly visible near the poles, where charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere.Skygazers are spotting the lights deeper into the United States and Europe because the sun is going through a major face-lift. Every 11 years, its poles swap places, causing magnetic twists and tangles along the way.Last year, the strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades slammed Earth, producing light displays across the Northern Hemisphere. And soon afterward, a powerful solar storm dazzled skygazers far from the Arctic Circle when dancing lights appeared in unexpected places, including Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.The sun’s active spurt is expected to last at least through the end of this year, though when solar activity will peak won’t be known until months after the fact, according to NASA and NOAA.How solar storms affect EarthSolar storms can bring more than colorful lights to Earth.When fast-moving particles and plasma slam into Earth’s magnetic field, they can temporarily disrupt the power grid. Space weather can also interfere with air traffic control, radio and satellites in orbit. Severe storms are capable of scrambling other radio and GPS communications.In 1859, a severe solar storm triggered auroras as far south as Hawaii and set telegraph lines on fire in a rare event. And a 1972 solar storm may have detonated magnetic U.S. sea mines off the coast of Vietnam.Space weather experts aren’t able to predict a solar storm months in advance. Instead, they alert relevant parties to prepare in the days before a solar outburst hits Earth.How to see aurorasNorthern lights forecasts can be found on NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center website or an aurora forecasting app.Consider aurora-watching in a quiet, dark area away from city lights. Experts recommend skygazing from a local or national park. And check the weather forecast because clouds can cover up the spectacle entirely.Taking a picture with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren’t visible to the naked eye.

    (VIDEO ABOVE: Tommy Stafford, John Mitchell, Matthew Dux, Matt Beatty, Ali Roux Gaudette via CNN Newsource) —

    Space weather forecasters issued an alert on Tuesday for incoming severe solar storms that could produce colorful northern lights and temporarily disrupt communications.

    And the aurora borealis didn’t disappoint, showing up in various parts of the country.

    In the video player above: Photos show auroras seen in the skies of Nelson County and Virginia Beach, Virginia; South Dakota; Iowa; and Minnesota on Tuesday night.

    In the past few days, the sun has burped out several bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that, earlier, forecasters said could reach Earth Tuesday night and early Wednesday. Forecasters warned that geomagnetic storms could disrupt radio and GPS communications, according to forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

    How bright the auroras were and how far south they were visible were dependent on when the solar bursts got here and how they interacted with Earth’s atmosphere.

    How northern lights happen

    The sun is at the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making the light displays more common and widespread. Colorful northern lights have decorated night skies in unexpected places and space weather experts say there are more auroras still to come.

    Aurora displays known as the northern and southern lights are commonly visible near the poles, where charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere.

    Skygazers are spotting the lights deeper into the United States and Europe because the sun is going through a major face-lift. Every 11 years, its poles swap places, causing magnetic twists and tangles along the way.

    Last year, the strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades slammed Earth, producing light displays across the Northern Hemisphere. And soon afterward, a powerful solar storm dazzled skygazers far from the Arctic Circle when dancing lights appeared in unexpected places, including Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.

    The sun’s active spurt is expected to last at least through the end of this year, though when solar activity will peak won’t be known until months after the fact, according to NASA and NOAA.

    How solar storms affect Earth

    Solar storms can bring more than colorful lights to Earth.

    When fast-moving particles and plasma slam into Earth’s magnetic field, they can temporarily disrupt the power grid. Space weather can also interfere with air traffic control, radio and satellites in orbit. Severe storms are capable of scrambling other radio and GPS communications.

    In 1859, a severe solar storm triggered auroras as far south as Hawaii and set telegraph lines on fire in a rare event. And a 1972 solar storm may have detonated magnetic U.S. sea mines off the coast of Vietnam.

    Space weather experts aren’t able to predict a solar storm months in advance. Instead, they alert relevant parties to prepare in the days before a solar outburst hits Earth.

    How to see auroras

    Northern lights forecasts can be found on NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center website or an aurora forecasting app.

    Consider aurora-watching in a quiet, dark area away from city lights. Experts recommend skygazing from a local or national park. And check the weather forecast because clouds can cover up the spectacle entirely.

    Taking a picture with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren’t visible to the naked eye.

    Source link

  • Northern lights visible across metro Denver, Colorado as geomagnetic storm intensifies

    Northern lights were visible across metro Denver on Tuesday night as a severe geomagnetic storm lit up the skies in Colorado and throughout the U.S.

    Folks spotted waves of pink, purple and green in Denver, Thornton, Broomfield, Centennial, Parker and beyond, according to photos shared on social media and captured by The Denver Post.

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, based in Boulder, sent out an alert for a severe geomagnetic storm just after 6 p.m.

    Katie Langford

    Source link

  • This winter in the DC region may be warmer than normal, NOAA says – WTOP News

    The predictions for this winter’s weather from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are out, and for the D.C. region, expect warmer weather.

    The predictions for this winter’s weather from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are out; and for the Mid-Atlantic region, you can expect “a slight lean” toward warmer-than-normal weather.

    But Andrew Ellis, professor of meteorology and climate science at Virginia Tech, said there’s only a “40% probability of warmer-than-normal” temperatures for December, January and February.

    Ellis told WTOP the “normal” temperatures during the winter in the region range from a low in the 20s and a high in the 40s.

    As for precipitation, Ellis said the totals are likely to fall within the normal range. Pinning down how much snowfall the region could see is trickier, he said.

    “In the Mid-Atlantic, our snowfall is usually predicated on coastal storms … those are hard to predict,” he said.

    Because one or two of those coastal storms “can really move the needle on our seasonal snowfall total, so it’s really hard to say what the winter will be like on the whole,” he added.

    Winter in D.C. often comes with closures tied more to slick driving conditions than outsized snowfalls, something that can lead to school closures and late openings that mystify residents who come from regions of the country that measure seasonal snowfall in feet, not inches.

    “The Mid-Atlantic, we’re poster children for the mixed bag of winter precipitation,” Ellis said. “We don’t get the pure cold air combined with storms because of the influence of the Atlantic Ocean. So when we do have cold air in place, then the secondary ingredient of getting a coastal storm — typically for us — means it drags in warm, moist air from over the Atlantic Ocean and that is very much the recipe for mixed precipitation of sleet and freezing rain.”

    Part of what’s influencing the projected winter weather pattern is the arrival of La Niña, which is the cooling of the Pacific Ocean waters.

    “For us in the United States, a pretty standard La Niña forecast is warmer and drier across the Southern tier and extending up the East Coast into the Mid-Atlantic region,” Ellis said. “That’s sort of where this winter’s forecast is born.”

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Kate Ryan

    Source link

  • Latest updates: Tracking Hurricane Gabrielle and 2 tropical waves in the Atlantic

    Hurricane Gabrielle continues to strengthen as it moves across the Atlantic Ocean on Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Gabrielle is anticipated to strengthen into a Category 3 storm by Tuesday. Meanwhile, the NHC is monitoring two more tropical waves in the Atlantic. Hurricane GabrielleHurricane Gabrielle is currently located southeast of Bermuda and moving north-northwest at 10 mph. Gabrielle has maximum sustained winds of 90 mph and a minimum central pressure of 978 mb.By Tuesday, Gabrielle is forecast to be a Category 3 storm. ImpactsHurricane Gabrielle isn’t expected to hit the U.S., but the swells generated by the storm will affect Bermuda for a few days. These swells are now reaching the east coast of the United States from North Carolina northward. Central tropical waveA tropical wave is producing showers and thunderstorms west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, according to the NHC.Environmental conditions are not favorable for initial development over the next day or two but are expected to gradually become more favorable by the middle to latter part of this week, NHC says.A tropical depression could form as the system moves west-northwestward across the central AtlanticFormation chance through the next 48 hours: 20%Formation chance through the next 7 days: 70% East of Windward IslandsNHC is monitoring another tropical wave located east of the Lesser Antilles Islands.The development is producing a small area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms as it moves quickly westward. Environmental conditions appear only marginally conducive for further development over the next several days.By the latter part of this week, the system is expected to slow down and turn more northwestward, moving north of Hispaniola, according to the NHC.Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 10%Formation chance through the next 7 days: 40%Hurricane season 2025The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Stay with WESH 2 online and on air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.>> More: 2025 Hurricane Survival GuideThe First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.>> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast

    Hurricane Gabrielle continues to strengthen as it moves across the Atlantic Ocean on Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

    Gabrielle is anticipated to strengthen into a Category 3 storm by Tuesday. Meanwhile, the NHC is monitoring two more tropical waves in the Atlantic.

    Hurricane Gabrielle

    Hurricane Gabrielle is currently located southeast of Bermuda and moving north-northwest at 10 mph.

    Gabrielle has maximum sustained winds of 90 mph and a minimum central pressure of 978 mb.

    By Tuesday, Gabrielle is forecast to be a Category 3 storm.

    Impacts

    Hurricane Gabrielle isn’t expected to hit the U.S., but the swells generated by the storm will affect Bermuda for a few days.

    These swells are now reaching the east coast of the United States from North Carolina northward.

    Central tropical wave

    A tropical wave is producing showers and thunderstorms west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, according to the NHC.

    Environmental conditions are not favorable for initial development over the next day or two but are expected to gradually become more favorable by the middle to latter part of this week, NHC says.

    A tropical depression could form as the system moves west-northwestward across the central Atlantic

    Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 20%

    Formation chance through the next 7 days: 70%

    East of Windward Islands

    NHC is monitoring another tropical wave located east of the Lesser Antilles Islands.

    The development is producing a small area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms as it moves quickly westward.

    Environmental conditions appear only marginally conducive for further development over the next several days.

    By the latter part of this week, the system is expected to slow down and turn more northwestward, moving north of Hispaniola, according to the NHC.

    Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 10%

    Formation chance through the next 7 days: 40%

    Hurricane season 2025

    The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Stay with WESH 2 online and on air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.

    >> More: 2025 Hurricane Survival Guide

    The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    >> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast

    Source link

  • Hoping for a lot of snow in the DC area this winter? What NOAA forecasters say we can expect – WTOP News

    Hoping for a lot of snow in the DC area this winter? What NOAA forecasters say we can expect – WTOP News

    The D.C. area will probably not be seeing a lot of snow this winter, according to NOAA.

    This page contains a video which is being blocked by your ad blocker.
    In order to view the video you must disable your ad blocker.

    Hoping for a lot of snow in the DC area this winter?

    Anyone who steps outside in the morning can tell that fall is in full swing and winter is on the way. While the D.C. area saw some snowstorms last year, there are no promises it’ll happen again this year.

    Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are blaming it all on La Nina, which sees stronger than normal trade winds blowing warmer water on the surface of the ocean, west toward Asia. That leaves a mass of colder than usual water in the central Pacific Ocean, pushing the jet stream further to the north. For us, that usually means less snow.

    “For the mid-Atlantic region, or greater D.C. area, we are favoring above normal temperatures along the Eastern Seaboard, including the D.C. metro area,” said Jon Gottschalck, senior forecaster with NOAA.

    When La Nina pushes the jet stream to the north, it means most of our weather comes directly from the west, and so higher amounts of precipitation are in the forecast for the more mountainous parts of the region west of D.C. and beyond into the Ohio Valley.

    “One thing that’s often the case with La Nina … is that, typically, with the warmer conditions and a more storm track to the west, there typically is less snowfall in the mid-Atlantic region,” said Gottschalck.

    He’s predicting a lot of snow around the Great Lakes and the Northern Plains of the U.S. The lakes effect snow in the earlier parts of the winter, when they are warmer and can supply a lot of moisture. Colder spells later in the winter keep the snow chances going.

    Normally, the really big snowstorms that hit the D.C. region come when the jet stream dips to the south and pulls up moisture from the ocean into the area. Last year, when the D.C. area finally got snow again, the Pacific Ocean was seeing a strong El Niño, which is the opposite of La Nina.

    The current predictions also tend to not favor much in the way of the so-called “Polar Vortex” around here — those long stretches of dangerously cold weather when air masses from Canada settle over us.

    If you’re a snow lover disappointed by all this, it should also be noted that NOAA expects this winter’s La Nina to be on the weaker side of things, so forecasters also aren’t nearly as certain things will play out this way.

    “The winter outlook is probabilistic in nature,” noted Gottschalck. “However, the nature of a probabilistic forecast means that other outcomes are always possible. Though they are less likely. In fact, for our probabilities to be consistent with the nature of this outlook, that less likely outcome must occur from time to time.”

    The odds are also evenly split between a wetter than normal winter, a normal winter or a dryer than usual winter for the D.C. region — so a snowstorm is still a possibility, even if it’s less likely to occur.

    “There is a dry signal for less snowfall in that region,” Gottschalck said. “But there’s more uncertainty given the weaker La Nina. So generally warmer, kind of uncertain with precipitation, potentially less snowfall this year for the D.C. area.”

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    John Domen

    Source link

  • NHC monitoring disturbance in Caribbean as models agree on soggy conditions in Florida

    NHC monitoring disturbance in Caribbean as models agree on soggy conditions in Florida

    On the heels of Hurricane Helene’s devastating landfall in Florida, the National Hurricane Center is watching another system in the Caribbean Sea that has the potential to impact the state.While models are not confident on the intensity of this system or if it will even become something tropical, the NHC says Floridians should “monitor” the disturbance — though, there is plenty of time to do so. The timing of the systems impacts still look to be next week, with heavy rainfall being a huge concern.Currently, a broad trough of low pressure is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the southwestern Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, but the NHC says environmental conditions could support some gradual development as the system moves northwestward into the Gulf of Mexico.According to the NHC, a tropical depression could form over the weekend once the system fully enters the Gulf. While most major models agree on the system moving toward Florida after that, models are not yet consistent enough to say what may form. As models fluctuate back and forth in regards to path and intensity, it’s important to take the data loosely. If the system develops, models will become more consistent and accurate, giving officials a better idea of direction and strength. For now, that data is not available.Formation chances remain pretty low for now, holding at just 0% in the next 48 hours and 40% in the next seven days — a decrease from previous advisories.This Caribbean disturbance is threatening Florida less than a week after Hurricane Helene slammed the Big Bend region as a monster Category 4 storm. Many Florida residents are still recovering from intense flooding, damaging storm surge and extreme wreckage from winds topping 140 mph.>> Chopper 2 video shows extensive Hurricane Helene damage in St. Pete Beach, Tampa Bay, Fort Myers>> Photos, videos show Helene’s eerie approach, intense impacts and devastating aftermath in FloridaAs the peak of hurricane season continues, the NHC is monitoring several systems, including Kirk and Invest 91-L. Click here for the latest.Related: WESH 2 Hurricane Survival Guide 2024Related: Surviving the Season | 2024 Hurricane Special from WESH 2First Warning WeatherStay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.RadarSevere Weather AlertsDownload the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    On the heels of Hurricane Helene’s devastating landfall in Florida, the National Hurricane Center is watching another system in the Caribbean Sea that has the potential to impact the state.

    While models are not confident on the intensity of this system or if it will even become something tropical, the NHC says Floridians should “monitor” the disturbance — though, there is plenty of time to do so. The timing of the systems impacts still look to be next week, with heavy rainfall being a huge concern.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    Currently, a broad trough of low pressure is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the southwestern Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, but the NHC says environmental conditions could support some gradual development as the system moves northwestward into the Gulf of Mexico.

    According to the NHC, a tropical depression could form over the weekend once the system fully enters the Gulf. While most major models agree on the system moving toward Florida after that, models are not yet consistent enough to say what may form.

    As models fluctuate back and forth in regards to path and intensity, it’s important to take the data loosely. If the system develops, models will become more consistent and accurate, giving officials a better idea of direction and strength. For now, that data is not available.

    Formation chances remain pretty low for now, holding at just 0% in the next 48 hours and 40% in the next seven days — a decrease from previous advisories.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    This Caribbean disturbance is threatening Florida less than a week after Hurricane Helene slammed the Big Bend region as a monster Category 4 storm. Many Florida residents are still recovering from intense flooding, damaging storm surge and extreme wreckage from winds topping 140 mph.

    >> Chopper 2 video shows extensive Hurricane Helene damage in St. Pete Beach, Tampa Bay, Fort Myers

    >> Photos, videos show Helene’s eerie approach, intense impacts and devastating aftermath in Florida

    As the peak of hurricane season continues, the NHC is monitoring several systems, including Kirk and Invest 91-L. Click here for the latest.

    Related: WESH 2 Hurricane Survival Guide 2024

    Related: Surviving the Season | 2024 Hurricane Special from WESH 2

    First Warning Weather

    Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.

    Download the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.

    The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    Source link

  • Development chances slightly decrease as NHC continues to monitor 3 tropical waves

    Development chances slightly decrease as NHC continues to monitor 3 tropical waves

    In previous days, some of these systems were showing a “medium” chance of development. Now, the NHC reports that chance is down.

    Source link

  • NHC watching 3 disturbances, including in Gulf of Mexico

    NHC watching 3 disturbances, including in Gulf of Mexico

    Two tropical waves are moving through the Atlantic and another is in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center, and they all have the possibility of developing.Northwestern Gulf of MexicoA broad area of low pressure near the upper Texas coast is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms along and just offshore the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. This system is expected to linger near the coast through much of next week, and some slow development is possible if it meanders offshore. Regardless of development, heavy rains could cause some flash flooding across portions of coastal Louisiana and the upper Texas coast during the next few days. Formation chance through 48 hours: 10%.Formation chance through 7 days: 20%Near the Lesser Antilles and Caribbean SeaA tropical wave located several hundred miles east of the Lesser Antilles continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. The disturbance is forecast to move westward and reach the Lesser Antilles on Monday followed by a gradual development and a possible tropical depression. Formation chance through 48 hours: Zero percent Formation chance through 7 days: 50%Eastern Tropical Atlantic: Another tropical wave located just to the west of the Cabo Verde Islands is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity. Development, if any, should be slow to occur while the system moves slowly westward to west-northwestward over the eastern and central tropical Atlantic through late next week. Formation chance through 48 hours: Zero percentFormation chance through 7 days: 10%Related: WESH 2 Hurricane Survival Guide 2024Related: Surviving the Season | 2024 Hurricane Special from WESH 2First Warning WeatherStay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.RadarSevere Weather AlertsDownload the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    Two tropical waves are moving through the Atlantic and another is in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center, and they all have the possibility of developing.

    Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

    A broad area of low pressure near the upper Texas coast is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms along and just offshore the coasts of Texas and Louisiana.

    This system is expected to linger near the coast through much of next week, and some slow development is possible if it meanders offshore. Regardless of development, heavy rains could cause some flash flooding across portions of coastal Louisiana and the upper Texas coast during the next few days.

    Formation chance through 48 hours: 10%.

    Formation chance through 7 days: 20%

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    Near the Lesser Antilles and Caribbean Sea

    A tropical wave located several hundred miles east of the Lesser Antilles continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

    The disturbance is forecast to move westward and reach the Lesser Antilles on Monday followed by a gradual development and a possible tropical depression.

    Formation chance through 48 hours: Zero percent

    Formation chance through 7 days: 50%

    Eastern Tropical Atlantic:

    Another tropical wave located just to the west of the Cabo Verde Islands is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity.

    Development, if any, should be slow to occur while the system moves slowly westward to west-northwestward over the eastern and central tropical Atlantic through late next week.

    Formation chance through 48 hours: Zero percent

    Formation chance through 7 days: 10%

    Related: WESH 2 Hurricane Survival Guide 2024

    Related: Surviving the Season | 2024 Hurricane Special from WESH 2

    First Warning Weather

    Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.

    Download the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.

    The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    Source link

  • Ernesto back at hurricane strength as Central Florida braces for dangerous beach conditions

    Ernesto back at hurricane strength as Central Florida braces for dangerous beach conditions

    Ernesto has strengthened back into a hurricane and is expected to cause dangerous beach conditions along the East Coast of the U.S. early this week.Over the weekend, Ernesto became a tropical storm after devastating the small island of Bermuda with tropical downpours, heavy winds and plenty of flooding. Now that the storm is passing through uninterrupted Atlantic waters, the National Hurricane Center says Ernesto is getting a little stronger.According to its latest advisory, Hurricane Ernesto is located about 320 miles south-southeast of Halifax Nova Scotia with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph and a minimum central pressure of 968 mb.Though the NHC says interests in southeastern Newfoundland should monitor the progress of Ernesto, there are currently no watches or warnings in effect.Ernesto is currently moving north-northeast around 20 mph, but the NHC says they expect the storm to turn northeast and move a little quicker throughout Monday and Tuesday. The system could pass near Newfoundland either Monday night or on Tuesday.The storm is not forecast to gain more strength, and the NHC says Ernesto could lose tropical characteristics in the next few days.While Ernesto is not posing much threat to land, the NHC says beach conditions in the Bahamas, Bermuda and the East Coast of the United States could be more dangerous than usual due to the storm.Beachgoers should prepare for rough surf and life-threatening rip currents, and always pay attention to signals and warnings from lifeguards.In Central Florida, the highest risk is on Monday. Rough conditions gradually subside as the week goes on.According to the National Weather Service in Melbourne, the strong rip currents coming from Ernesto can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore and into deeper water, adding that residents and visitors are strongly urged to stay out of the surf on Monday. Related: WESH 2 Hurricane Survival Guide 2024Related: Surviving the Season | 2024 Hurricane Special from WESH 2 First Warning Weather Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.RadarSevere Weather AlertsDownload the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts. The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    Ernesto has strengthened back into a hurricane and is expected to cause dangerous beach conditions along the East Coast of the U.S. early this week.

    Over the weekend, Ernesto became a tropical storm after devastating the small island of Bermuda with tropical downpours, heavy winds and plenty of flooding. Now that the storm is passing through uninterrupted Atlantic waters, the National Hurricane Center says Ernesto is getting a little stronger.

    According to its latest advisory, Hurricane Ernesto is located about 320 miles south-southeast of Halifax Nova Scotia with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph and a minimum central pressure of 968 mb.

    Though the NHC says interests in southeastern Newfoundland should monitor the progress of Ernesto, there are currently no watches or warnings in effect.

    Ernesto is currently moving north-northeast around 20 mph, but the NHC says they expect the storm to turn northeast and move a little quicker throughout Monday and Tuesday. The system could pass near Newfoundland either Monday night or on Tuesday.

    The storm is not forecast to gain more strength, and the NHC says Ernesto could lose tropical characteristics in the next few days.

    While Ernesto is not posing much threat to land, the NHC says beach conditions in the Bahamas, Bermuda and the East Coast of the United States could be more dangerous than usual due to the storm.

    Beachgoers should prepare for rough surf and life-threatening rip currents, and always pay attention to signals and warnings from lifeguards.

    In Central Florida, the highest risk is on Monday. Rough conditions gradually subside as the week goes on.

    According to the National Weather Service in Melbourne, the strong rip currents coming from Ernesto can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore and into deeper water, adding that residents and visitors are strongly urged to stay out of the surf on Monday.

    Related: WESH 2 Hurricane Survival Guide 2024

    Related: Surviving the Season | 2024 Hurricane Special from WESH 2

    First Warning Weather

    Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.

    Download the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.

    The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    Source link

  • Tropical Storm Ernesto batters Puerto Rico with rain, expected to become hurricane soon

    Tropical Storm Ernesto batters Puerto Rico with rain, expected to become hurricane soon

    Tropical Storm Ernesto, currently moving over eastern Puerto Rico, is dropping a torrential amount of rain, the National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday morning.The tropical storm is expected to develop into a hurricane soon.According to the latest advisory from the NHC, Ernesto is located about 125 miles northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and a minimum central pressure of 991 mb.>> Track Tropical Storm Ernesto here MORE: ‘Puerto Ricans are resilient’: The island prepares for Tropical Storm Ernesto A tropical storm warning has been issued for many places, including: British Virgin IslandsU.S. Virgin IslandsPuerto RicoVieques and Culebra A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere in the warning area in the next 36 hours.More: Difference between tropical storm, hurricane watch and warningImpacts may include heavy rainfall, flash flooding, mudslides and landslides.Ernesto is the fifth named storm of the 2024 hurricane season. Many models show the system intensifying into a hurricane early Wednesday, possibly reaching Category 3 strength by the weekend.We are currently just about a month out from the peak of hurricane season, which is Sep. 10. The end of hurricane season is Nov. 30.More: Where do hurricanes begin?Related: WESH 2 Hurricane Survival Guide 2024Ernesto impacts in Central FloridaWhile current models do not show any direct impacts from Tropical Storm Ernesto, the storm’s presence in the Atlantic has the potential to intensify Central Florida beach conditions such as wave height and surf.Wave heights over the weekend have the potential to be anywhere from four to eight feet. Beachgoers should also be aware that rip current risks could be elevated because of Ernesto.First Warning WeatherStay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.RadarSevere weather alertsDownload the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning chief meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    Tropical Storm Ernesto, currently moving over eastern Puerto Rico, is dropping a torrential amount of rain, the National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday morning.

    The tropical storm is expected to develop into a hurricane soon.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    According to the latest advisory from the NHC, Ernesto is located about 125 miles northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and a minimum central pressure of 991 mb.

    >> Track Tropical Storm Ernesto here

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    MORE: ‘Puerto Ricans are resilient’: The island prepares for Tropical Storm Ernesto

    A tropical storm warning has been issued for many places, including:

    • British Virgin Islands
    • U.S. Virgin Islands
    • Puerto Rico
    • Vieques and Culebra

    A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere in the warning area in the next 36 hours.

    More: Difference between tropical storm, hurricane watch and warning

    Impacts may include heavy rainfall, flash flooding, mudslides and landslides.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    Ernesto is the fifth named storm of the 2024 hurricane season. Many models show the system intensifying into a hurricane early Wednesday, possibly reaching Category 3 strength by the weekend.

    We are currently just about a month out from the peak of hurricane season, which is Sep. 10. The end of hurricane season is Nov. 30.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    More: Where do hurricanes begin?

    Related: WESH 2 Hurricane Survival Guide 2024

    Ernesto impacts in Central Florida

    While current models do not show any direct impacts from Tropical Storm Ernesto, the storm’s presence in the Atlantic has the potential to intensify Central Florida beach conditions such as wave height and surf.

    Wave heights over the weekend have the potential to be anywhere from four to eight feet. Beachgoers should also be aware that rip current risks could be elevated because of Ernesto.

    First Warning Weather

    Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.

    Download the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.

    The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning chief meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    Source link

  • ‘All of the ingredients are there’: Florida braces for highly active hurricane season

    ‘All of the ingredients are there’: Florida braces for highly active hurricane season

    click to enlarge

    With insurers, utilities and emergency-management officials bracing for the coming months, experts continue to predict a highly active hurricane season for Florida and other areas of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

    Echoing earlier predictions about the season that will start June 1, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday pointed to warm ocean waters and forecast up to 25 named storms, with up to 13 reaching hurricane strength and four to seven packing Category 3 or stronger winds.

    Mark Wool, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Tallahassee office, said there is high confidence in the latest forecast, which doesn’t predict paths of storms or potential landfalls.

    “All of the ingredients are there. We still have those near-record warm waters out in the Atlantic tropical-development areas that were there last year, and we no longer have (the climate pattern known as) El Nino,” Wool said. “We actually like to have an El Nino during hurricane season, because it increases wind shear over the development areas.”

    Officials also have growing concern that rapid intensification of storms is becoming more frequent, resulting in less time for preparations and evacuations.

    “While climate change as science doesn’t necessarily indicate we’re going to be getting more tropical cyclones on average, we are predicting that there will be more of the major hurricanes and more of a category 4s and 5s,” Wool added. “And that this rapid intensification, which has been on the increase, will happen more frequently.”

    The six-month season officially begins June 1, but a disturbance Thursday off the eastern tip of Cuba had a low chance to grow into the year’s first named system.

    Acknowledging the possibility of “a very, very intense hurricane season,” state Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said last month that “one thing that we do better than anything else is respond to hurricanes.”

    Guthrie said the division is prepared for up to five storms hitting the state and expects to rely “more heavily” than in past years on contractors providing pre- and post-storm materials.

    “For example, we used to have five logistics vendors, we now have 12 logistics vendors,” Guthrie said. “That’s all in preparation for this season that’s coming up.”

    Florida State University Climatologist David Zierden said the forecasts of a busy season haven’t been a surprise because of the ocean temperatures.

    “The latest analysis I saw is that sea surface temperatures in the main development region are as warm as they normally are in mid-August right now,” Zierden told reporters on May 16. “That’s what we’re looking at. The sea surface temperatures in that region were record warm last year. And we’re even above that going into this hurricane season.”

    The NOAA forecast Thursday was similar to a Colorado State University Department of Atmospheric Science forecast of 23 named storms and 11 hurricanes.

    Experts at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts & Sciences, meanwhile, forecast an eye-opening 33 named storms.

    The private meteorology company AccuWeather warned Wednesday about rapidly intensifying storms, which gain wind intensity of at least 35 mph in 24 hours or less.

    “Over the last couple of years, there have been many examples where this has been exceeded. We’ve seen 40 mph, 50 mph, even 60 mph increases in a 24-hour period,” AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Forecaster Alex DaSilva said in a prepared statement.

    Among the examples was 2022’s Hurricane Ian, which went from a 120-mph Category 3 hurricane to a 160-mph Category 5 system in the 24 hours before it struck Southwest Florida as a devastating Category 4 storm.

    The 2023 season was the fourth most-active on record with 20 named storms, including seven that reached hurricane strength and three major storms. In late August, Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Taylor County as a Category 3 storm before tearing through parts of rural North Florida.

    From 1991 to 2020 the Atlantic averaged 14.4 storms a year, with an average of 7.2 reaching hurricane strength.

    Armando Pimentel, president and CEO of Florida Power & Light, told members of the state Public Service Commission on Tuesday that the utility has to prepare for storms that could quickly intensify because “we no longer feel comfortable that a Category 1 is going to stay Category 1.”

    “That wasn’t the case 20 years ago,” Pimentel said. “And maybe it’s a bunch of flukes that have happened over the last couple of years. But we need to be well prepared.”

    Pimentel said maximum sustained winds of Hurricane Idalia increased by 55 mph in 24 hours before landfall.

    “That’s taking a Category 1 storm to Category 3, almost to a Category 4. That’s significant,” Pimentel said. “That what I’m talking about. The waters are warm again this year. We’re all cognizant of that as we’re going to prepare for this year.”

    Patricia Born, a professor of risk management and insurance at Florida State University, told reporters May 16 that changes have helped the property-insurance market, such as legislation that bolstered insurers and backing from reinsurers. Entering hurricane season, Born said Floridians can get coverage from private insurers or through the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

    “So, it’s a good thing to know, from a social point of view, that we don’t have a huge gap with people being uninsured going into the season,” Born said.

    But Born cautioned that the state continues to face storms that affect homeowners’ premiums. The problem, Born added, is getting through a period before legislation fully takes hold.

    “I’m pretty optimistic that one storm is not going to kill us. A couple of storms may be a little bit more of an issue,” Born said. “If this is a season where we have two or three hurricanes, we’re going to be facing some concerns.”

    Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.

    Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Or sign up for our RSS Feed

    Jim Turner, the News Service of Florida

    Source link

  • NOAA meteorologists predict 2024 hurricane season will have ‘highest-ever’ number of named storms

    NOAA meteorologists predict 2024 hurricane season will have ‘highest-ever’ number of named storms

    click to enlarge

    Image via National Hurricane Center

    Hurricane Idalia, Category 4, caused extensive damage across the state, especially in North Florida, in August 2023.

    It’s only May, and there are currently near record-setting water temperatures in the Atlantic, which is bad news for you if you’re reading this in Florida.

    And, because warmer water equates to more intense storms, forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are now predicting an “extraordinary” 2024 storm season.

    Thursday morning, NOAA released a dire prediction for the upcoming storm season, calling for 17 to 25 named storms, and of those, eight to 13 are expected to become hurricanes.

    NOAA says there’s an 85% probability of an above average hurricane season, which spans from June 1 to Nov. 30.

    This “above average” prediction, which is also the “highest ever” for a May forecast, is based on a number of factors, including increasingly warming temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean as well as La Niña conditions forming in the Pacific, which can help storm formation by reducing wind shear.

    click to enlarge NOAA meteorologists predict 2024 hurricane season will have ‘highest-ever’ number of named storms

    According to the report, NOAA is calling for “17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, 8 to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 4 to 7 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher).”

    Besides La Niña and warmer than average water temps, the report also highlighted climate change as a major contributing factor.

    “Human-caused climate change is warming our ocean globally and in the Atlantic basin, and melting ice on land, leading to sea level rise, which increases the risk of storm surge,” said the report. “Sea level rise represents a clear human influence on the damage potential from a given hurricane.”

    Notably, last week Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill scrubbing any mention of “climate change” from state law, resulting in state agencies rolling back renewable energy goals.

    In its forecast, NOAA also released the list of potential storm names for the 2024 season. So, if you’re doing the math, there’s a pretty strong chance we’ll see the return of Hurricane Isaac.

    click to enlarge NOAA meteorologists predict 2024 hurricane season will have ‘highest-ever’ number of named storms

    This story first appeared in our sister publication Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.

    Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.

    Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Or sign up for our RSS Feed

    Colin Wolf

    Source link

  • Storm chances and showers diminish overnight; Sunday will be cooler and cloudy

    Storm chances and showers diminish overnight; Sunday will be cooler and cloudy

    Sunday, May 19, 2024 3:58AM

    LIVE: First Alert Doppler Network

    LIVE: First Alert Doppler Network

    RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The risk of severe storms is diminishing but the showers will continue into the overnight.

    Saturday started as a First Alert Day with a level 1 risk for severe weather. There was a potential for damaging winds as the main threat.

    The rain started in parts of the Triangle and was heavy at times by late afternoon. Rain is expected to continue through the night and a few showers Sunday morning for clearing out.

    LOOKING AHEAD

    Sunday will be mainly cloudy and cooler after a damp start. Clouds could linger into Monday.

    By Tuesday, it’s looking brighter.

    The weather really heats up Wednesday and Thursday with temperatures reaching the upper 80s.

    Storm chances are a possibility on Friday and Saturday.

    Copyright © 2024 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.

    WTVD

    Source link

  • ‘Extreme’ geomagnetic storm may bless us with more aurora displays tonight and tomorrow

    ‘Extreme’ geomagnetic storm may bless us with more aurora displays tonight and tomorrow

    The strongest geomagnetic storm in 20 years made the colorful northern lights, or aurora borealis, visible Friday night across the US, even in areas that are normally too far south to see them. And the show may not be over. Tonight may offer another chance to catch the aurora if you have clear skies, according to the NOAA, and Sunday could bring yet more displays reaching as far as Alabama.

    The NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center said on Saturday that the sun has continued to produce powerful solar flares. That’s on top of previously observed coronal mass ejections (CMEs), or explosions of magnetized plasma, that won’t reach Earth until tomorrow. The agency has been monitoring a particularly active sunspot cluster since Wednesday, and confirmed yesterday that it had observed G5 conditions — the level designated “extreme” — which haven’t been seen since October 2003. In a press release on Friday, Clinton Wallace, Director, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, said the current storm is “an unusual and potentially historic event.”

    Geomagnetic storms happen when outbursts from the sun interact with Earth’s magnetosphere. While it all has kind of a scary ring to it, people on the ground don’t really have anything to worry about. As NASA explained on X, “Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth’s atmosphere” to physically affect us. These storms can mess with our technology, though, and have been known to disrupt communications, GPS, satellite operations and even the power grid.

    Cheyenne MacDonald

    Source link

  • Watch: Northern lights seen from FOX 8 tower cam

    Watch: Northern lights seen from FOX 8 tower cam

    CLEVELAND (WJW) — Residents across Northeast Ohio got a stunning show as an aurora, or “northern lights” were visible Friday night. It’s a weather phenomenon that’s exceedingly rare for this part of the world.

    • Credit: John Sabol
    • Northern Lights
      Credit: John Sabol
    • Northern Lights
      Credit: John Sabol
    • Northern Lights
      Credit: John Sabol

    For the first time since 2005, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center issued a Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch, after spotting five coronal mass ejections pointed at Earth, expected to arrive by midday Friday, May 10, and stay through Sunday, May 12.

    It’s an “unusual event,” the NOAA noted.

    As for whether northern lights would be visible from Northeast Ohio on Friday night, clear skies cooperated giving many a great view.

    Sunset on Friday, May 10, was just after 8:30 p.m. But Jay Reynolds, a research astronomer at Cleveland State University, said the likely best time to see an aurora would have been at about 2 a.m. on Saturday.

    “Been a long time since we’ve had anything like this,” he said. “The last true aurora which was easily visible to the naked eye was in 2012 and lasted 20 minutes. Yes, we’ve seen some glowing activity in recent years but nothing like this.”

    “I would not promise anything. We can predict snow totals better than we can predict auroras — but these look promising.”

    The last time Reynolds predicted a visible aurora was “guaranteed” was in 2003, he said.

    “A friend called me while driving on the Shoreway. He could not believe was he was seeing. Even with the Shoreway lights, he could see them plain as day,” he said. “I was in Spencer Lake, and you could see the first signs of aurora as the sun was not even quite down yet. Incredible! So powerful — reds, greens, blues, you name it. … What a day.”

    Coronal mass ejections are scorching blasts of magnetized plasma from the sun’s corona which can cause electromagnetic disruptions on Earth, creating ribbons of multi-colored light that dance in the skies.

    Several strong solar flares have been seen over the past few days from a sunspot cluster that is 16 times the diameter of Earth, according to the NOAA.

    (Courtesy of Jay Reynolds)

    That cluster is so big you can see it without a telescope, said Reynolds. Just make sure you’re wearing your solar eclipse glasses; don’t look directly at the sun without proper protection.

    There have only been three other “severe” geomagnetic storms seen in this solar cycle, which started in December 2019. The last “extreme” storm on Halloween in 2003 knocked out power in Sweden and South Africa, according to the NOAA.

    Justin Dennis

    Source link

  • Dead humpback whale washes up on MA beach — the second in one day. What we know

    Dead humpback whale washes up on MA beach — the second in one day. What we know

    Two whale deaths in one day is sadly not surprising amid the “unusual mortality event” under investigation since 2016.

    Two whale deaths in one day is sadly not surprising amid the “unusual mortality event” under investigation since 2016.

    Andrew Wolff via Unsplash

    A 41-foot giant lay lifeless on the beach. Passersby walking along the Marblehead, Massachusetts, shore saw her. Soon, crowds began to gather.

    The creature was a young adult humpback whale, The Salem News reported. Her cause of death was not clear.

    What was even more curious was that this sub-adult humpback was the second dead whale found in Massachusetts just that day, according to Patch.com. That morning, a 24-foot minke whale was found along Nantucket, according to the Marine Mammal Alliance Nantucket. The organization didn’t list a cause of death.

    These two deaths on April 25 are part of a much bigger story. Since 2016, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries has been investigating something called an “unusual mortality event” for large whales along the Atlantic Coast.

    Of the dead whales NOAA has examined since declaring the event, “about 40 percent had evidence of human interaction, either ship strike or entanglement,” the organization said. This seems to be the pattern found among several species of whales.

    Other organizations attribute the event to other causes such as mass starvation caused by a marine heatwave, according to the Smithsonian Magazine.

    NOAA says the most important thing people can do to help is to report any sightings of “live whales in distress or stranded or dead whales.”

    If you do come across a sight like this, call the Greater Atlantic Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at 866-755-6622, call the Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at 877-433-8299 or contact the U.S. Coast Guard. “Do not approach or touch injured or dead marine mammals,” NOAA says.

    Julia Daye is a national real-time reporter for McClatchy. She has written for numerous local and national outlets and holds a degree from Columbia Journalism School.

    Julia Daye

    Source link

  • Geomagnetic storm from a solar flare could disrupt radio communications and create a striking aurora

    Geomagnetic storm from a solar flare could disrupt radio communications and create a striking aurora

    Geomagnetic storm from a solar flare could disrupt radio communications and create a striking aurora

    Space weather forecasters have issued a geomagnetic storm watch through Monday

    Space weather forecasters have issued a geomagnetic storm watch through Monday, saying an outburst of plasma from a solar flare could interfere with radio transmissions on Earth. It could also make for great aurora viewing.There’s no reason for the public to be concerned, according to the alert issued Saturday by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado.Related video above: Here’s what to expect as the Sun approaches its Solar MaximumThe storm could interrupt high-frequency radio transmissions, such as by aircraft trying to communicate with distant traffic control towers. Most commercial aircraft can use satellite transmission as backup, said Jonathan Lash, a forecaster at the center. Satellite operators might have trouble tracking their spacecraft, and power grids could also see some “induced current” in their lines, though nothing they can’t handle, he said.”For the general public, if you have clear skies at night and you are at higher latitudes, this would be a great opportunity to see the skies light up,” Lash said.Every 11 years, the sun’s magnetic field flips, meaning its north and south poles switch positions. Solar activity changes during that cycle, and it’s now near its most active, called the solar maximum. Related video below: An upcoming period of increased solar activity could help scientists understand some lingering uncertainties about the SunDuring such times, geomagnetic storms of the type that arrived Sunday can hit Earth a few times a year, Lash said. During solar minimum, a few years may pass between storms.In December, the biggest solar flare in years disrupted radio communications.

    BOULDER, Colo. —

    Space weather forecasters have issued a geomagnetic storm watch through Monday, saying an outburst of plasma from a solar flare could interfere with radio transmissions on Earth. It could also make for great aurora viewing.

    There’s no reason for the public to be concerned, according to the alert issued Saturday by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado.

    Related video above: Here’s what to expect as the Sun approaches its Solar Maximum

    The storm could interrupt high-frequency radio transmissions, such as by aircraft trying to communicate with distant traffic control towers. Most commercial aircraft can use satellite transmission as backup, said Jonathan Lash, a forecaster at the center.

    Satellite operators might have trouble tracking their spacecraft, and power grids could also see some “induced current” in their lines, though nothing they can’t handle, he said.

    “For the general public, if you have clear skies at night and you are at higher latitudes, this would be a great opportunity to see the skies light up,” Lash said.

    NASA via AP

    This image provided by NASA shows the Sun seen from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) satellite on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Space weather forecasters have issued a geomagnetic storm watch through Monday, March 25, 2024, saying an ouburst of plasma from a solar flare could interfere with radio transmissions on Earth and make for great aurora viewing. There’s no reason for the public to be concerned, according to the alert issued Saturday night by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colo. (NASA via AP)

    Every 11 years, the sun’s magnetic field flips, meaning its north and south poles switch positions. Solar activity changes during that cycle, and it’s now near its most active, called the solar maximum.

    Related video below: An upcoming period of increased solar activity could help scientists understand some lingering uncertainties about the Sun


    During such times, geomagnetic storms of the type that arrived Sunday can hit Earth a few times a year, Lash said. During solar minimum, a few years may pass between storms.

    In December, the biggest solar flare in years disrupted radio communications.

    Source link

  • Push to add horseshoe crab to endangered species list as biomedical companies harvest their blood – WTOP News

    Push to add horseshoe crab to endangered species list as biomedical companies harvest their blood – WTOP News

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been petitioned to add the American horseshoe crab as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.

    Horseshoe crab populations have crashed and their habitat is disappearing. Advocates say Endangered Species Act protections are urgently needed.(Courtesy Gregory Breese/USFWS)

    When you walk down the beach and see the brown, armored shell of a horseshoe crab, with its 10 eyes and spiked tail, it’s like looking at a living fossil. Now 23 conservation groups are concerned the ancient creatures are disappearing from Atlantic shores.

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been petitioned to add the American horseshoe crab as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.

    Despite their intimidating appearance, horseshoe crabs are harmless to humans. Each spring, along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, horseshoe crabs lay their eggs to spawn.

    Nearly twice as old as dinosaurs, American horseshoe crabs are thought to have lived 450 million years. However, in the past three decades, horseshoe crab populations have declined by two-thirds.

    Horseshoe crabs are harvested for use as bait by commercial whelk and eel fisheries.

    In addition, biomedical companies harvest horseshoe crabs and drain their blue blood, which is used to detect toxins in drugs and medical devices. Sensitive tests, using crab blood, are thought to be the gold standard in determining whether something is sterile.

    According to the conservancy groups, horseshoe crab blood harvests have doubled since 2017.

    “We’re wiping out one of the world’s oldest and toughest creatures,” said Will Harlan, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Horseshoe crabs have saved countless human lives, and now we should return the favor.”

    Synthetic alternatives to horseshoe crab blood tests are already being used in Europe, but U.S. drug companies have been slow to adopt the alternatives, according to the petitioning groups.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Neal Augenstein

    Source link

  • Stretch of the Central California coast is about to be designated a marine sanctuary. What does that mean?

    Stretch of the Central California coast is about to be designated a marine sanctuary. What does that mean?

    A stretch of land that is expected to be designated as a national marine sanctuary by next year would preserve more than 5,000 square miles of ocean off California’s Central Coast.

    It was the dream of a Native American tribal leader who died before he could see it come to fruition.

    The proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary is not yet finalized, and the public can submit comments on the draft proposal through Wednesday. The sanctuary would span 134 miles along the coast from Hazard Canyon Reef, south of Morro Bay, to just south of Dos Pueblos Canyon, which is home to one of the largest historical Chumash villages. The designation would protect a 5,617-square-mile area.

    The designation would prohibit dumping matter into the sanctuary, disturbing cultural resources, drilling or producing oil, gas or minerals, and disturbing the seabed, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

    The NOAA is hoping to finalize a sanctuary designation by next year, which would add to the agency’s marine sanctuary system that already includes “more than 620,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters from Washington state to the Florida Keys,” according to its website. The network encompasses 15 national marine sanctuaries.

    President Biden has endorsed the proposal as part of his America the Beautiful Initiative, which includes a goal to restore and conserve 30% of U.S. waters and land by 2030.

    The proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary would also protect marine life and cultural and archaeological sites under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. Regulations would be imposed to protect water quality, habitat and species. The sanctuary would also protect the ecological qualities of the area including marine mammals, birds, fish, sea turtles, algae and other organisms, as well as rocky reefs, kelp forests and beaches.

    Fred Harvey Collins, the chair of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council and an ardent advocate for the protection of sacred Northern Chumash lands, submitted the nomination for the creation of the sanctuary, with the support of Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) and Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.). He died on Oct. 1, 2021.

    NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries issued a notice of intent to begin the designation process for the sanctuary in November 2021.

    The draft management plan outlines a framework for Indigenous and tribal collaborative management, providing an opportunity to incorporate Indigenous people’s traditions, values and knowledge.

    Summer Lin

    Source link