The Southeastern Conference announced league matchups for the next four years Tuesday, including designating three annual — not permanent — opponents for each of its 16 teams. The nine-game slates retain several traditional rivalries and renew some old ones.
And there are no more lengthy waits to play everyone.
The new format begins next year and runs through 2029, with the SEC having the option to tweak it every four years to maintain competitive balance.
Each team will play three opponents annually and rotate through the remaining 12. The setup ensures that rotating teams square off every other year and every team plays at every SEC venue at least once over a four-year span.
Georgia, for example, will play at Alabama in 2026 and host the Crimson Tide in 2028. The Bulldogs will then host LSU in 2027 and travel to Baton Rouge in 2029.
Fans are sure to gripe about the loss of some traditional series. Alabama-LSU (played every year since 1964) and Florida-LSU (played every year since 1971) will no longer be annual events. But those teams will meet every other year, home and away, under the new format.
Geography and competitive fairness were factored into the decisions, but not as prominently as maintaining long-standing rivalries like the Iron Bowl, the Egg Bowl, the Red River Rivalry, the Magnolia Bowl, the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, the Third Saturday in October and the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
The league also renewed rivalries that had been largely on hiatus since conference realignment. But the recent addition of former Big 12 heavyweights Oklahoma and Texas have a few back in the mix.
The Lone Star Shootout featuring Texas and Texas A&M, a game held every year between 1915 and 2011, will now be played annually. So will the Missouri-Oklahoma series. which was played nearly every year between 1910 and 1995. Same for Arkansas-Texas, which ended in 1991 after a 60-year run.
Here are each school’s annual opponents through 2029:
Alabama: Auburn, Mississippi State, Tennessee.
Arkansas: LSU, Missouri, Texas.
Auburn: Alabama, Georgia, Vanderbilt.
Florida: Georgia (neutral site), Kentucky, South Carolina.
Georgia: Auburn, Florida (neutral), South Carolina.
Hurricane Gabrielle is still a major hurricane as it pulls away from Bermuda. It rapidly intensified Monday, and remains a powerful storm.
It formed Atlantic on Wednesday, Sept. 17. It’s the seventh named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.
What You Need To Know
Gabrielle is moving away from Bermuda
It’s still a major hurricane
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Azores
Gabrielle is now a Category 3 hurricane with maximum winds of 115 mph. It is currently moving east-northeast at 25 mph over the open Atlantic.
Gabrielle will continue to move east out into the open waters of the Atlantic for the rest of the week as it transitions into a post-tropical cyclone. It will stay far enough from Bermuda to avoid any significant impacts, but it will bring large swells to Bermuda and the East Coast of the U.S.
Vertical wind shear continues to slowly increase over the hurricane, and shear will increase further while Gabrielle moves over cooler ocean waters, and the latest guidance shows a slightly faster rate of weakening than earlier. The NHC intensity forecast follows suit, showing steady weakening through the next 2-3 days, though Gabrielle should still be a hurricane when it moves across the Azores late this week as a hurricane with Hurricane Warnings in effect.
The cone of uncertainty displays where the center of a storm could be located. It does not predict which areas may feel the storm’s impact. Anyone outside but near the cone should be on alert and make storm preparations.
Spaghetti models or plots show a series of individual computer forecast models together on one map. They are useful to give insight into whether multiple models are in agreement on the path of the storm but they do not address the storm’s forecast intensity, winds, flooding and storm surge potential or other data. Tap here for more details on how to best use these models.
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.
Tropical Storm Humberto has formed in the central Atlantic. It’s the eighth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.
What You Need To Know
Humberto has formed in the Atlantic
It’s a tropical storm with max winds of 40 mph
It’s expected to become a hurricane
Humberto is a tropical storm with maximum winds of 40 mph. It is currently moving west-northwest at 15 mph toward the western Atlantic.
It’s expected to continue its track toward the northwest or west-northwest during the next couple of days, staying well north of the Leeward Islands. It is expected to strengthen into a hurricane over the weekend.
The forecast for Humberto still has a lot of uncertainty, as it could interact with another tropical wave near the Caribbean, making the long-term track and intensity forecast more difficult than usual. It’s not a threat to the U.S. at this time.
The cone of uncertainty displays where the center of a storm could be located. It does not predict which areas may feel the storm’s impact. Anyone outside but near the cone should be on alert and make storm preparations.
Spaghetti models or plots show a series of individual computer forecast models together on one map. They are useful to give insight into whether multiple models are in agreement on the path of the storm but they do not address the storm’s forecast intensity, winds, flooding and storm surge potential or other data. Tap here for more details on how to best use these models.
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.
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.
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.
Eighth Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo officially launched his bid for South Carolina attorney general Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (Photo provided by Stumbo campaign)
The chief prosecutor for Abbeville, Greenwood, Newberry and Laurens counties officially launched his bid for South Carolina attorney general.
Eighth Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo became the third GOP candidate to announce his candidacy Tuesday during an event at the Laurens County Museum, promising to be “tough on crime.”
Stumbo, a former assistant attorney general, was first elected solicitor in 2012.
“Political promises don’t protect people – verdicts do,” he said in a statement. “For over twenty years, I’ve gone toe-to-toe with predators, traffickers, and violent criminals, and I’ve beaten them. That’s the kind of fight, and the kind of victory, you can count on with me as your Attorney General.”
Stumbo also promised to combat illegal immigration, as well as drug and human trafficking.
“Criminal illegal aliens, listen closely,” he said in a statement. “Anyone who tries to prey on our people, hear me now: you are not welcome in South Carolina.”
“Like President Trump, I will crush fentanyl, smash the cartels, and treat traffickers like the terrorists they are,” he added.
He appeared to call out both of his GOP primary opponents in his announcement.
“I am the only conservative Republican prosecutor in this race,” Stumbo said in a statement. “Others may chase headlines or switch parties when it suits them. I’ve always been a conservative, always been a Republican, and always been a prosecutor who delivers convictions that stick.”
The race for attorney general is wide open for the first time in 16 years as Republican Alan Wilson, first elected attorney general in 2010, runs for governor in 2026.
No one has announced a bid to be the Democrat nominee. South Carolina hasn’t elected a Democrat as attorney general in 35 years.
Tropical Storm Gabrielle has formed in the central Atlantic. It’s the seventh named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.
What You Need To Know
Gabrielle has formed in the central Atlantic
It’s expected to become a hurricane this weekend or early next week
It’s not a threat to the U.S. at this time
Gabrielle has maximum winds of 45 mph and is currently moving north-northwest at 22 mph. It’s not expected to strengthen much in the next 48 hours as it moves through unfavorable conditions with strong upper-level winds keeping Gabrielle disorganized.
This weekend, Gabrielle should enter a more favorable environment for strengthening, and it’s forecast to become a hurricane by this weekend or early next week.
The cone of uncertainty displays where the center of a storm could be located. It does not predict which areas may feel the storm’s impact. Anyone outside but near the cone should be on alert and make storm preparations.
Gabrielle is out in the central Atlantic, far from land. Although it’s moving north-northwestward, the motion is uncertain during the next several days until a better defined center forms.
As of now, it doesn’t look like a threat to the Caribbean or the U.S., but it could move near Bermuda next week.
Spaghetti models or plots show a series of individual computer forecast models together on one map. They are useful to give insight into whether multiple models are in agreement on the path of the storm but they do not address the storm’s forecast intensity, winds, flooding and storm surge potential or other data. Tap here for more details on how to best use these models.
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.
People who live in red states are in more financial distress than those living in blue states, according to a recent WalletHub study.
Texas ranked at No. 1 on the study’s Top 10 financially distressed states, with Texan residents having the ninth-lowest average credit score in the country in Q1 in 2025. The state also had the third-highest number of accounts in forbearance or with deferred payments per person, as well as the seventh-highest share of people with these distressed accounts at 7.1%.
Florida (No. 2) and Louisiana (No. 3) followed closely behind Texas, with South Carolina’s placement on the list not too far off.
“Measuring the share of residents in financial distress is a good way to take the pulse of a state and see whether people are generally thriving or having trouble making ends meet,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. “When you combine data about people delaying payments with other metrics like bankruptcy filings and credit score changes, it paints a good picture of the overall economic trends of a state.”
WalletHub defines a financially distressed account as one that is in forbearance or has its payments deferred.
To determine the most financially distressed states, WalletHub compared 50 states across nine key metrics in six categories, including credit score, people with accounts in distress, average number of accounts in distress, change in number of bankruptcy filings (March 2025 vs. 2024), “debt” Search Interest Index, and “loans” Search Interest Index. The study then determined the weighted average across all metrics to calculate an overall score for each state, using the resulting scores to rank-order the states.
Data used to create the study’s rankings were collected as of June 17, 2025, from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, TransUnion, Google Trends and WalletHub database.
South Carolina ranked No. 5 when it comes to the most financially distressed states in the country, with an overall score of 56.49. This score is comprised of the following data:
Credit score rank: 30
People with accounts in distress rank: 2
Average number of accounts in distress rank: 4
Change in bankruptcy filings March 2025 vs. March 2024 rank 34
“Debt” Search Interest Index rank: 22
“Loans” Search Interest Index rank: 5
In WalletHub’s study, blue states scored an overall average rank of 32.95, while red states scored 20.94. The majority of financially distressed states in the study’s Top 10 are red states:
Department of Corrections Director Joel Anderson looks at a collection of confiscated drones and cellphones outside Broad River Correctional Institution on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (Photo by Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)
COLUMBIA — A federal move toward allowing state prisons to jam cellphone signals represents a potential turning point after years of pushing from South Carolina officials, the current and former director of the state Department of Corrections said Friday.
The three-person Federal Communications Commission will vote at the end of the month on whether to change a longstanding rule barring states from blocking cellphone signals in prisons.
Acting U.S Attorney Bryan Stirling pushed for the change for 12 years as head of the prisons agency — including making trips to Washington to testify — without getting anywhere due to pushback from the telecommunications industry. He’s pleased to finally see real movement, he said.
“I was frankly stunned, and happily so,” Stirling told reporters Friday.
Stirling and other law enforcement officials have long pointed to the dangers of allowing inmates access to contraband cellphones. Using the devices, prisoners have run drug rings, operated scams and ordered hits on people’s lives, officials have said.
Last month, the state grand juries joined the calls for action after signing off on numerous indictments of people already serving time for another crime.
“It’s a matter of public safety,” Stirling said. “It’s safety for the prisons, it’s safety for the public, it’s safety for the state of South Carolina.”
The change is far from final. If the commission votes Sept. 30 to move forward, people will have an opportunity to offer public comment on the possible change. The commission must then vote again before officially changing the rule.
If the change is approved, South Carolina will be ready, said Stirling and Joel Anderson, who took the agency’s helm in April.
Department of Corrections Director Joel Anderson speaks to reporters outside Broad River Correctional Institution on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (Photo by Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)
Over the past two years, legislators have spent $18.5 million to install and maintain technology in state prisons that can identify cellphone signals, which agency officials can then report to the phone numbers’ carriers to get the phones shut off. But that’s a tedious process.
The same company providing that technology can add on a feature blocking all cellphone signals, Stirling and Anderson said. Stirling made sure that was written into the contract when the state bought the technology to prevent starting a $34 million project from scratch if the rule changed, he said.
“One of the things I wanted to make sure is we didn’t have to go back and rip all the equipment out and redo it,” Stirling said.
South Carolina was the first state in the country licensed to use the method of tracking and shutting down each individual cellphone, which officials have compared to a game of “Whac-A-Mole.” Last year, the technology resulted in 2,600 phones being shut off within the six prisons that used it, Anderson and Stirling said.
But reporting each phone is time-consuming, and it didn’t stop more phones from coming into the prisons, Anderson said.
Jamming can also block Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals necessary to fly drones over prisons’ 60-foot netting, which inmates use to deliver drugs and other contraband, Anderson said.
“What we have today, it’s really helped us a lot, but it can be better,” Anderson said. “That’s what we want. We want it better.”
The use of cellphones inside prisons has endangered prison officers as well as the general public, Stirling and Anderson said.
Confiscated cellphones outside Broad River Correctional Institution on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (Photo by Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)
In 2010, inmates ordered a hit on anti-contraband officer Capt. Robert Johnson, who survived being shot six times at his Sumter home. In 2018, Army veteran Jared Johns died by suicide after becoming the target of an inmate-run extortion scheme. And in 2022, a man was charged with setting fire to the home of Lt. Francisco Collazo in what authorities believe was an inmate-ordered hit following a contraband bust.
Prisoners used cellphones to run a massive international drug enterprise that resulted in convictions for 40 people, both inside and outside of the state’s prison system. Unmonitored phones also make it possible for inmates to coordinate the smuggling of drugs into the prisons, which can hinder the rehabilitation process for prisoners struggling with addiction, Stirling said.
Cellphones put prisoners themselves in danger. If an inmate faces threats at one prison, officials used to be able to transfer them and keep them safe. Now, other inmates can communicate their feuds across the state, making sure threats follow a prisoner wherever they end up, Stirling said.
“This is something that I think is just vitally important for the public safety in South Carolina,” Stirling said.
The prohibition on jamming cellphone signals relies on a part of the federal Communications Act of 1934 barring anyone from interfering with any “authorized” radio signals. Prisoners’ illicit cellphones shouldn’t qualify because they’re not authorized to be in prisons, argues a commission report on the possible rule change released this week.
U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling tells reporters he was stunned to see a federal move toward cellphone jamming in prisons Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (Photo by Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)
Federal prisons are allowed to jam cellphone signals, since the law bars only states from interfering with radio signals. That rule never made sense to Stirling, especially in places like Bennettsville, where federal and state prisons sit less than three miles apart, he said.
“If the federal government can do it, why can’t the states?” Stirling said.
Inmates would still be able to call their families using prison-supplied-and-monitored telephones and tablets, which will be able to get through the jamming, Stirling and Anderson said. The signal blockers also won’t affect officers’ radios used to communicate throughout prisons, the directors said.
“I’m telling you, jamming is the answer for these cellphones,” Anderson said.
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.
(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.
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.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to take up an application from South Carolina seeking to enforce its ban on students using public school bathrooms that match their gender identity.
The brief order was unsigned and represents a small setback for the state in its bid to tighten policies related to transgender people. However, a lawsuit on the matter will still proceed in the lower courts. Three Republican-appointed justices, Thomas Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, would have granted South Carolina’s request.
The order from the high court comes after a federal appeals court had temporarily enjoined the state from enforcing its law while the case plays out. The state wanted the Supreme Court to lift that injunction temporarily.
A transgender rights supporter takes part in a rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court.(Getty Images)
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit had granted the injunction at the request of a ninth-grader who wanted to use the boys’ bathroom, which didn’t correspond to the student’s sex.
Attorneys for the student, identified as John Doe in the lawsuit, argued to the high court that an emergency pause on the Fourth Circuit’s order was not warranted given the lawsuit centered on only one student. No other students have taken issue with John Doe using the boys’ restroom, the attorneys noted.
“Indeed, no student has ever complained about sharing boys’ restrooms with John, who has dressed and presented as a boy since he was a young child,” the attorneys wrote.
A new proposal by the governing board of Florida’s university systems would force university faculty to comply with state law mandating them to use school bathrooms according to their biological sex.(Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The Supreme Court’s decision to decline South Carolina’s petition comes after it upheld a ban in Tennessee on certain transgender medical treatments for minors.(ALLISON DINNER/AFP via Getty Images)
The Supreme Court did not weigh in on the merits of the case, giving little insight into how the court will continue to approach a contentious cultural issue. Its order comes after the high court upheld a ban in Tennessee in June on certain transgender medical treatments for minors and as the justices prepare to hear arguments this upcoming term on transgender participation in school sports.
South Carolina lawyers referenced the latter appeal, which is poised to be a closely watched case this term, in asking the justices to allow its ban to take effect.
“This case implicates a question fraught with emotions and differing perspectives,” the state lawyers wrote. “That is all the more reason to defer to state lawmakers pending appeal. The decision was the South Carolina legislature’s to make.”
Ashley Oliver is a reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business, covering the Justice Department and legal affairs. Email story tips to ashley.oliver@fox.com.
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.
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.
If you’ve been wishing for a Trader Joe’s to open near you, your odds just got better. The quirky grocery chain, famous for its fun snacks, budget-friendly wine and friendly employees in Hawaiian shirts, just revealed seven new “Coming Soon” stores on its website.
The new locations are set for:
-Columbia, South Carolina
-Costa Mesa, California
-Hamden, Connecticut
-Melbourne, Florida
-Williamsville, New York
-Kingwood, Texas
-Lacey, Washington
Trader Joe’s Expansion Plans
While Trader Joe’s hasn’t shared official opening dates yet, these additions are part of a much bigger expansion strategy. In 2025, the chain plans to open 30 new stores across 18 states and Washington, D.C. So far, more than 20 of those locations are already up and running and these seven are the latest to join the “coming soon” list.
As of now, Trader Joe’s has over 600 stores nationwide, with California holding the crown at more than 200 locations. Other states have a handful and some, like West Virginia, South Dakota, and Mississippi, still don’t have one at all. For fans in those states, the wait continues.
For everyone else, the new stores could mean much shorter road trips for those frozen ice cream sandwiches or cult-favorite snacks like the Chili Lime Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips.
The New Locations
Here’s a quick breakdown of the seven new spots:
Columbia, SC: This is not Columbia’s first Trader Joe’s, but it’s a big deal. This second location will sit on busy Harbison Boulevard, a prime retail corridor.
Costa Mesa, CA: California is already loaded with Trader Joe’s, but hey, one more never hurts.
Hamden, CT; Melbourne, FL; Williamsville, NY; Kingwood, TX; and Lacey, WA: These stores expand access in states that already have Trader Joe’s but each will give locals a brand-new, closer option.
Part of Trader Joe’s magic is its devoted following. Fans love the unique store-brand products, affordable prices and seasonal items that spark long lines (pumpkin season, anyone?). Each new location tends to create major buzz in the community, often with crowds lining up on opening day.
The exact grand opening dates aren’t yet known but for now, shoppers in these seven cities can start getting excited.
So, is Trader Joe’s finally opening near you? If not yet, don’t give up hope. With the chain expanding at record pace, your city might be next on the list.
TRY TO SEE IF HE CAN RUN THE BALL. IT’S EMBARRASSING. ALL RIGHT. THAT’S IT. I’M SORRY TO TELL YOU THIS BECAUSE IT’S 1026 AT NIGHT. IT’S TOO LATE TO BUY THE WINNING POWERBALL TICKET. A WHOPPING $1.1 BILLION UP FOR GRABS TONIGHT. THE CASH VALUE, BY THE WAY, OF ALMOST $500 MILLION. AND OUR ASSIGNMENT EDITOR WENT TO GRAB A TICKET LATE TONIGHT AND THE 7-ELEVEN THAT HE WENT TO HAD ACTUALLY REACHED ITS DAILY SALES LIMIT, SO HE COULDN’T PRINT ANY MORE. SO IF YOU DID GET A TICKET, HAVE THOSE TICKETS HANDY AND TUNE
‘We didn’t believe it’: Workers win big with $100,000 Powerball lottery pool win
While the Powerball jackpot continues to grow, six co-workers now have a nice payday payout after one lucky win of $100,000 playing Powerball in North Carolina. “We really won the lottery,” the co-workers said as they gathered to collect their win at the lottery headquarters. The group known as the “Money Team,” originally thought they’d only won $500, but were shocked to discover that it was a lot more than that. Dwane Heyward, of Georgetown, South Carolina; Keshia Gary, of Southern Pines; Thomasine Hairston, from Bennettsville, South Carolina; Saad Pressley, of Rockingham; Genesis McLaurin, of Hamlet; and Kaprise McLean, of Laurinburg, play the lottery games as a group and share the prize money.“We didn’t believe it until it happened,” Heyward said.They bought the winning ticket at Walmart on North Tryon Street in Charlotte. The ticket matched the numbers on four white balls and the red Powerball in the Aug. 23 drawing to win $50,000. Because they bought a Power Play ticket, the prize doubled to $100,000 when the 2X multiplier hit.The Money Team took home $71,751 after federal and state taxes.
While the Powerball jackpot continues to grow, six co-workers now have a nice payday payout after one lucky win of $100,000 playing Powerball in North Carolina.
“We really won the lottery,” the co-workers said as they gathered to collect their win at the lottery headquarters.
The group known as the “Money Team,” originally thought they’d only won $500, but were shocked to discover that it was a lot more than that.
Dwane Heyward, of Georgetown, South Carolina; Keshia Gary, of Southern Pines; Thomasine Hairston, from Bennettsville, South Carolina; Saad Pressley, of Rockingham; Genesis McLaurin, of Hamlet; and Kaprise McLean, of Laurinburg, play the lottery games as a group and share the prize money.
North Carolina Education Lottery
“We didn’t believe it until it happened,” Heyward said.
They bought the winning ticket at Walmart on North Tryon Street in Charlotte. The ticket matched the numbers on four white balls and the red Powerball in the Aug. 23 drawing to win $50,000. Because they bought a Power Play ticket, the prize doubled to $100,000 when the 2X multiplier hit.
The Money Team took home $71,751 after federal and state taxes.
Kiko formed off the coast of southern Mexico from a tropical wave. It became a tropical storm on Aug. 31, making it the eleventh named storm of the eastern Pacific hurricane season. Kiko intensified into a hurricane on Sept. 2.
What You Need To Know
Kiko is the eleventh named storm of the eastern Pacific hurricane season
It remains a major, powerful hurricane
Models have Hurricane Kiko moving close, but to the north of the Hawaiian Islands next week
Kiko intensified into a Category 4 hurricane on Sept. 3. It weakened to a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 mph during the morning hours on Sept. 5, but by the afternoon it had re-intensified back into a Category 4 hurricane.
It currently has maximum winds of 140 mph. It is moving west-northwest at 10 mph and is located roughly 1000 miles east-southeast of Hilo, HI.
It is a much smaller storm than Hurricane Erin. Hurricane-force winds extend only 25 miles out from the center, with tropical storm-force winds extending 70 miles out from the center.
Models have Kiko taking a west-northwesterly track over the weekend into next week, coming close to Hawaii.
While it’s too soon for impact details, the cooler waters near the Aloha State should weaken Kiko greatly. We’ll continue to monitor the track and provide updates.
Storms that have come close to Hawaii
Hurricane Hone passed just to the south of the Big Island of Hawaii in 2024 as a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 85 mph. Here are other cyclones that came close to the islands.
Eastern North Pacific names
Central North Pacific differences
The National Hurricane Center monitors tropical activity in the Atlantic and North Eastern Pacific Ocean. If a storm forms between 140° West longitude and the International Date Line, it is the responsibility of the Central North Pacific Warning Center, located in Honolulu, HI.
There is a contrast in the names used in the Central Pacific compared to the Eastern Pacific and Atlantic. One list is composed of twelve names.
The names are used one after the other. When the bottom of one list is reached, the next name is at the top of the next list. Below is the current list.
It is interesting to note that if a storm forms in the Eastern North Pacific and is named in that basin, it will retain its name even if it moves into the Central North Pacific. For this reason, we are tracking Hurricane Kiko, since it formed east of 140° West longitude.
Tropical Storm Akoni and Tropical Storm Ema formed in the Central North Pacific in 2019. Hurricane Hone brushed past Hawaii in 2024.
This list will continue to be used until there is a storm named Wale. Three other lists have been generated by the World Meteorological Organization and are at the ready if needed. Hurricane Iona and Tropical Storm Keli formed in the Central North Pacific in 2025.
Just like in the Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific, if storms are impactful, they can be retired. Four storms have been retired in the Central North Pacific.
Iwa (1982): Retired after impacting Hawaii.
Iniki (1992): Retired after affecting Hawaii.
Paka (1997): Retired after affecting various islands in Micronesia.
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.
Our next full moon, and the final one of the astronomical summer, is set to rise above the horizon this week on Sunday, September 7th.
What You Need To Know
September’s full moon will rise this weekend
It is called the ‘Corn Moon’ this year
Unobstructed views of the horizon allow for best sightings
This full moon is called the Corn Moon as opposed to the Harvest Moon which traditionally is the full moon that falls closest to the autumnal equinox (September 22nd). It just so happens that the next full moon will occur on October 6th so it gets the name Harvest Moon this year.
The moon will officially be full at 2:09 pm EDT Sunday, so it won’t be seen until hours later when it rises above the horizon after sunset.
This year’s Corn Moon will actually coincide with a lunar eclipse for much of the Northern Hemisphere (Europe, Africa, and Australia), but no eclipse will be visible across the U.S. Other countries can expect a long-lasting “blood moon” similar to what America saw back in March earlier this year.
The name of the moon is a reference to the corn harvest, which typically happens this time of the year across North America.
The best viewing will be after sunset on Sunday. To find the best time to view in your area, check out the moonrise calculator. Be sure to find a place with unobstructed horizon views for the best sights.
The next full moon will be the Harvest Moon, which occurs on October 6, 2025. As mentioned earlier, the Harvest Moon is whatever full moon falls closest to the Fall Equinox. Usually that is in September, but every four or five years, it happens in October.
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.
Our next full moon, and the final one of the astronomical summer, is set to rise above the horizon this week on Sunday, September 7th.
What You Need To Know
September’s full moon will rise this weekend
It is called the ‘Corn Moon’ this year
Unobstructed views of the horizon allow for best sightings
This full moon is called the Corn Moon as opposed to the Harvest Moon which traditionally is the full moon that falls closest to the autumnal equinox (September 22nd). It just so happens that the next full moon will occur on October 6th so it gets the name Harvest Moon this year.
The moon will officially be full at 2:09 pm EDT Sunday, so it won’t be seen until hours later when it rises above the horizon after sunset.
This year’s Corn Moon will actually coincide with a lunar eclipse for much of the Northern Hemisphere (Europe, Africa, and Australia), but no eclipse will be visible across the U.S. Other countries can expect a long-lasting “blood moon” similar to what America saw back in March earlier this year.
The name of the moon is a reference to the corn harvest, which typically happens this time of the year across North America.
The best viewing will be after sunset on Sunday. To find the best time to view in your area, check out the moonrise calculator. Be sure to find a place with unobstructed horizon views for the best sights.
The next full moon will be the Harvest Moon, which occurs on October 6, 2025. As mentioned earlier, the Harvest Moon is whatever full moon falls closest to the Fall Equinox. Usually that is in September, but every four or five years, it happens in October.
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.
Our next full moon, and the final one of the astronomical summer, is set to rise above the horizon this week on Sunday, Sept. 7.
What You Need To Know
September’s full moon will rise this weekend
It is called the ‘Corn Moon’ this year
Unobstructed views of the horizon allow for best sightings
This full moon is called the Corn Moon as opposed to the Harvest Moon which traditionally is the full moon that falls closest to the autumnal equinox (Sept. 22). It just so happens that the next full moon will occur on Oct, 6 so it gets the name Harvest Moon this year.
The moon will officially be full at 2:09 p.m. EDT Sunday, so it won’t be seen until hours later when it rises above the horizon after sunset.
This year’s Corn Moon will actually coincide with a lunar eclipse for much of the Northern Hemisphere (Europe, Africa, and Australia), but no eclipse will be visible across the U.S. Other countries can expect a long-lasting “blood moon” similar to what America saw back in March earlier this year.
The name of the moon is a reference to the corn harvest, which typically happens this time of the year across North America.
The best viewing will be after sunset on Sunday. To find the best time to view in your area, check out the moonrise calculator. Be sure to find a place with unobstructed horizon views for the best sights.
The next full moon will be the Harvest Moon, which occurs on Oct. 6, 2025. As mentioned earlier, the Harvest Moon is whatever full moon falls closest to the Fall Equinox. Usually that is in September, but every four or five years, it happens in October.
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.
Our next full moon, and the final one of the astronomical summer, is set to rise above the horizon this week on Sunday, September 7th.
What You Need To Know
September’s full moon will rise this weekend
It is called the ‘Corn Moon’ this year
Unobstructed views of the horizon allow for best sightings
This full moon is called the Corn Moon as opposed to the Harvest Moon which traditionally is the full moon that falls closest to the autumnal equinox (September 22nd). It just so happens that the next full moon will occur on October 6th so it gets the name Harvest Moon this year.
The moon will officially be full at 2:09 pm EDT Sunday, so it won’t be seen until hours later when it rises above the horizon after sunset.
This year’s Corn Moon will actually coincide with a lunar eclipse for much of the Northern Hemisphere (Europe, Africa, and Australia), but no eclipse will be visible across the U.S. Other countries can expect a long-lasting “blood moon” similar to what America saw back in March earlier this year.
The name of the moon is a reference to the corn harvest, which typically happens this time of the year across North America.
The best viewing will be after sunset on Sunday. To find the best time to view in your area, check out the moonrise calculator. Be sure to find a place with unobstructed horizon views for the best sights.
The next full moon will be the Harvest Moon, which occurs on October 6, 2025. As mentioned earlier, the Harvest Moon is whatever full moon falls closest to the Fall Equinox. Usually that is in September, but every four or five years, it happens in October.
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.
Kiko formed off the coast of southern Mexico from a tropical wave. It became a tropical storm on Aug. 31, making it the fourteenth named storm of the eastern Pacific hurricane season. Kiko intensified into a hurricane on Sept. 2.
What You Need To Know
Kiko is the fourteenth named storm of the eastern Pacific hurricane season
It intensified into a Category 4 hurricane with maximum winds of 130 mph
Models have Hurricane Kiko moving close to the Hawaiian Islands next week
Kiko intensified into a Category 4 hurricane on Sept. 3, and currently has maximum winds of 130 mph. It is moving west at 9 mph and is located nearly 1600 miles east of Hilo, HI.
Models have Kiko taking a west-northwesterly track over the weekend into next week, coming close to Hawaii.
While it’s too soon for impact details, the cooler waters near the Aloha State should weaken Kiko greatly. We’ll continue to monitor the track and provide updates.
Hurricane Hone passed just to the south of the Big Island of Hawaii in 2024 as a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 85 mph. Here are other cyclones that came close to the islands.
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.
