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Tag: system

  • NTSB chair slams House aviation bill as ‘watered-down’ after 67 deaths near Washington

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    The head of the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday it’s misleading for members of the House to say their package of aviation safety reforms would address the recommendations that her agency made in January to prevent another midair collision like the one last year near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people.NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the House bill’s “watered-down” requirements wouldn’t do enough to prevent a future tragedy, and wouldn’t be nearly as effective as a Senate bill that came up just one vote short of passing in the House earlier this week. The full NTSB followed up Thursday afternoon with a formal letter to two key House committees, saying that they can’t support the bill right now“We can have disagreements over policy all day. But when something is sold as these are the NTSB recommendations and that is not factually accurate, we have a problem with that. Because now you’re using the NTSB and you’re using people who lost loved ones in terrible tragedies,” Homendy said. “You’re using their pain to move your agenda forward.”The key concern of Homendy and the families of the people who died in the crash on Jan. 29, 2005, is that they believe all aircraft should be required to have key locator systems that the NTSB has been recommending since 2008, which would allow the pilots to know more precisely where the traffic around them is flying. The Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out systems that broadcast an aircraft’s location are already required around busy airports. It’s the ADS-B In systems that can receive data about the locations of other aircraft that isn’t yet standard.The House bill would ask the Federal Aviation Administration to draft a rule to require the best locator technology instead of just requiring ADS-B In, and even when it does suggest that technology should be required, the bill exempts business jets and small planes in certain parts of the airspace. Homendy said the bill is also weak in other areas, such as limits on when the military will be able to turn those locator systems off and the steps they must take to ensure those systems are working.House leaders defend their billThe leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee declined to respond to Homendy’s criticism Thursday, but Reps. Sam Graves and Rick Larsen have said they believe the ALERT bill they crafted effectively addresses the 50 recommendations that NTSB made at the conclusion of their investigation into the collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter.They defended their bill and pledged to work with the families, the Senate and the industry to develop the best solution as soon as possible. The committee will likely markup the bill within the next few weeks.“From the beginning, we have stressed the importance of getting this right, and we are confident that we will achieve that goal,” Larsen and Graves said. House Speaker Mike Johnson also said he is committed to getting the bill done.Victims’ families say they can’t support the bill as writtenThe NTSB released a side-by-side comparison of its recommendations and the House bill to highlight all the ways the bill falls short of fully addressing the needed changes.Doug Lane, who lost his wife and son in the crash, and many of the other victims’ families said the House bill “is not really a serious attempt to address the NTSB recommendations.” He said the introduction of this bill just a few days before the vote on the ROTOR Act, which the Senate unanimously approved, seemed designed to “scuttle” that bill and send the ADS-B In recommendation into limbo to be considered in a lengthy rulemaking process.Matt Collins, who lost his younger brother Chris in the disaster, said that the bill must require ADS-B In to be acceptable to the families.“As far as the ALERT act — the way it’s written now, I can’t endorse the way its written now. It needs to include ADS-B In,” Collins said. “It’s non-negotiable for us as family members, extremely non-negotiable.”Missed warnings led to the crashThe NTSB cited systemic weaknesses and years of ignored warnings as the main causes of the crash, but Homendy has said that if both the plane and the Black Hawk had been equipped with ADS-B In and the systems had been turned on, the collision would have been prevented. The Army’s policy at the time of the crash mandated that its helicopters fly without that system on to conceal their locations, although the helicopter involved in this crash was on a training flight, not a sensitive mission.But Homendy said the House seemed to pick and choose what they wanted to include from the NTSB recommendations.“We were very explicit of what needed to occur,” Homendy said. “When we issue a recommendation, those recommendations are aimed at preventing a tragedy from happening again. And if you’re just going to give us half a loaf, it’s not going to do it. We’re not gonna save lives.”

    The head of the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday it’s misleading for members of the House to say their package of aviation safety reforms would address the recommendations that her agency made in January to prevent another midair collision like the one last year near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people.

    NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the House bill’s “watered-down” requirements wouldn’t do enough to prevent a future tragedy, and wouldn’t be nearly as effective as a Senate bill that came up just one vote short of passing in the House earlier this week. The full NTSB followed up Thursday afternoon with a formal letter to two key House committees, saying that they can’t support the bill right now

    “We can have disagreements over policy all day. But when something is sold as these are the NTSB recommendations and that is not factually accurate, we have a problem with that. Because now you’re using the NTSB and you’re using people who lost loved ones in terrible tragedies,” Homendy said. “You’re using their pain to move your agenda forward.”

    The key concern of Homendy and the families of the people who died in the crash on Jan. 29, 2005, is that they believe all aircraft should be required to have key locator systems that the NTSB has been recommending since 2008, which would allow the pilots to know more precisely where the traffic around them is flying. The Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out systems that broadcast an aircraft’s location are already required around busy airports. It’s the ADS-B In systems that can receive data about the locations of other aircraft that isn’t yet standard.

    The House bill would ask the Federal Aviation Administration to draft a rule to require the best locator technology instead of just requiring ADS-B In, and even when it does suggest that technology should be required, the bill exempts business jets and small planes in certain parts of the airspace. Homendy said the bill is also weak in other areas, such as limits on when the military will be able to turn those locator systems off and the steps they must take to ensure those systems are working.

    House leaders defend their bill

    The leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee declined to respond to Homendy’s criticism Thursday, but Reps. Sam Graves and Rick Larsen have said they believe the ALERT bill they crafted effectively addresses the 50 recommendations that NTSB made at the conclusion of their investigation into the collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter.

    They defended their bill and pledged to work with the families, the Senate and the industry to develop the best solution as soon as possible. The committee will likely markup the bill within the next few weeks.

    “From the beginning, we have stressed the importance of getting this right, and we are confident that we will achieve that goal,” Larsen and Graves said. House Speaker Mike Johnson also said he is committed to getting the bill done.

    Victims’ families say they can’t support the bill as written

    The NTSB released a side-by-side comparison of its recommendations and the House bill to highlight all the ways the bill falls short of fully addressing the needed changes.

    Doug Lane, who lost his wife and son in the crash, and many of the other victims’ families said the House bill “is not really a serious attempt to address the NTSB recommendations.” He said the introduction of this bill just a few days before the vote on the ROTOR Act, which the Senate unanimously approved, seemed designed to “scuttle” that bill and send the ADS-B In recommendation into limbo to be considered in a lengthy rulemaking process.

    Matt Collins, who lost his younger brother Chris in the disaster, said that the bill must require ADS-B In to be acceptable to the families.

    “As far as the ALERT act — the way it’s written now, I can’t endorse the way its written now. It needs to include ADS-B In,” Collins said. “It’s non-negotiable for us as family members, extremely non-negotiable.”

    Missed warnings led to the crash

    The NTSB cited systemic weaknesses and years of ignored warnings as the main causes of the crash, but Homendy has said that if both the plane and the Black Hawk had been equipped with ADS-B In and the systems had been turned on, the collision would have been prevented. The Army’s policy at the time of the crash mandated that its helicopters fly without that system on to conceal their locations, although the helicopter involved in this crash was on a training flight, not a sensitive mission.

    But Homendy said the House seemed to pick and choose what they wanted to include from the NTSB recommendations.

    “We were very explicit of what needed to occur,” Homendy said. “When we issue a recommendation, those recommendations are aimed at preventing a tragedy from happening again. And if you’re just going to give us half a loaf, it’s not going to do it. We’re not gonna save lives.”

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  • Northern California rain forecast: Recent low snow to melt, avalanche risk may also increase

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    A warmer weather system will bring widespread rain back to Northern California on Tuesday, which will likely lead to snow at lower elevations melting. Existing snow combined with rain could lead to localized street flooding on the west slope, making Tuesday a KCRA 3 weather Impact Day.Impact Days are issued when weather conditions could be a nuisance for travel or outdoor activities. This system will tap into moisture from a weakening atmospheric river with roots in the tropics. Because of this warmer setup, the snow level will stay well above the Tahoe area passes.Flooding in communities that have seen several feet of snow is possible as warm rain is expected to melt snow and lead to poor drainage flooding. Rain will also add significant weight to piles of snow on rooftops.The Sierra Avalanche Center warned that there is a high avalanche danger on Tuesday. The incoming rain will add a lot of weight to the upper layers of the snowpack, making it even more unstable.”Blowing and drifting snow has led to unstable wind slabs in areas that have filled in with drifted snow,” the center said. “Weak layers deep in the snowpack remain unstable in some areas. Consider avoiding avalanche terrain in areas where wind slabs exist, near any areas where you have triggered any snowpack collapses or audible whumpfing, or where recent avalanches have occurred.”Below is a breakdown of what the KCRA 3 weather team is expecting:RainScattered showers arrive late Monday night into early Tuesday morning. Rainfall will turn steady as the busiest part of the morning commute is starting in the Valley, Foothills and Sierra. Showers will continue on and off throughout the day and into the overnight hours before tapering off quickly Wednesday morning. The heaviest rain is forecast in higher terrain and areas along and north of Interstate 80.Below are forecast amounts for Tuesday and Wednesday:Valley: 0.25 to 0.70 inches of rainFoothills: 1 to 3 inchesSierra: All rain, with totals up to 2 inches on the west slopeSnowSnow is not in the forecast with this weather system. The snow level will begin above 10,000 feet and then drop to 9,000 feet as precipitation tapers off Wednesday morning. WindBreezy conditions are expected at times Tuesday, strongest in the Sierra.Mountain areas can expect sustained winds of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph, especially Tuesday morning.Winds will be lighter and less impactful in the foothills and lower elevations.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    A warmer weather system will bring widespread rain back to Northern California on Tuesday, which will likely lead to snow at lower elevations melting.

    Existing snow combined with rain could lead to localized street flooding on the west slope, making Tuesday a KCRA 3 weather Impact Day.

    Impact Days are issued when weather conditions could be a nuisance for travel or outdoor activities.

    This system will tap into moisture from a weakening atmospheric river with roots in the tropics. Because of this warmer setup, the snow level will stay well above the Tahoe area passes.

    Flooding in communities that have seen several feet of snow is possible as warm rain is expected to melt snow and lead to poor drainage flooding. Rain will also add significant weight to piles of snow on rooftops.

    The Sierra Avalanche Center warned that there is a high avalanche danger on Tuesday. The incoming rain will add a lot of weight to the upper layers of the snowpack, making it even more unstable.

    “Blowing and drifting snow has led to unstable wind slabs in areas that have filled in with drifted snow,” the center said. “Weak layers deep in the snowpack remain unstable in some areas. Consider avoiding avalanche terrain in areas where wind slabs exist, near any areas where you have triggered any snowpack collapses or audible whumpfing, or where recent avalanches have occurred.”

    Below is a breakdown of what the KCRA 3 weather team is expecting:

    Rain

    Scattered showers arrive late Monday night into early Tuesday morning.

    Rainfall will turn steady as the busiest part of the morning commute is starting in the Valley, Foothills and Sierra. Showers will continue on and off throughout the day and into the overnight hours before tapering off quickly Wednesday morning.

    The heaviest rain is forecast in higher terrain and areas along and north of Interstate 80.

    Hearst Owned

    Tuesday’s weather system is tapping into moisture from a weakening atmopsheric river with roots in the tropics.

    Below are forecast amounts for Tuesday and Wednesday:

    rainfall

    Hearst Owned

    Rain will accumulate from the Valley all the way up to the highest points of the Sierra passes on Tuesday.
    • Valley: 0.25 to 0.70 inches of rain
    • Foothills: 1 to 3 inches
    • Sierra: All rain, with totals up to 2 inches on the west slope

    Snow

    Snow is not in the forecast with this weather system.

    The snow level will begin above 10,000 feet and then drop to 9,000 feet as precipitation tapers off Wednesday morning.

    Wind

    Breezy conditions are expected at times Tuesday, strongest in the Sierra.

    Mountain areas can expect sustained winds of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph, especially Tuesday morning.

    Winds will be lighter and less impactful in the foothills and lower elevations.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Returning to the moon: An overview of the Artemis Program and Artemis II

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    THE CHARGES THAT SHE’S NOW FACING THIS MORNING. WESH TWO NEWS STARTS NOW WITH BREAKING NEWS. THAT BREAKING NEWS JUST INTO WESH TWO NEWS AND OUR NEWSROOM. NASA IS CONFIRMING THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE LAUNCH OF THE ARTEMIS TWO MISSION IS NOW BEING PUSHED TO SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH. IF THAT DATE RINGS A BELL, IT’S BECAUSE IT’S SUPER BOWL SUNDAY. THE AGENCY DIDN’T START THE ROCKET’S WET DRESS REHEARSAL LAST NIGHT. THAT’S DUE TO COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, SO IT WILL NOW ATTEMPT THE REHEARSAL ON MONDAY, AND THEN THE LAUNCH DATE AND TIME WILL BE FINALIZED. ONCE TEAMS HAVE REVIEWED THE RESULTS OF THE WET DRESS REHEARSAL. AND WE’RE ALSO STAYING ON TOP OF

    Returning to the moon: An overview of the Artemis Program and Artemis II

    Updated: 10:38 AM EST Jan 30, 2026

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Latest updates on Artemis IIJan. 30: ‘Wet dress rehearsal’ delayed due to weatherJan. 28: Cold weather puts wet dress rehearsal in questionJan. 17: NASA rolls out Artemis II at Kennedy Space CenterArtemis II is preparing for launch from the Kennedy Space Center, where the rocket will carry the Orion spacecraft for a second time, this time with a crew on its journey to the moon.The first launch window opens from Feb. 6-11. If it does not launch in February, there will be another window open in March, and again in April if necessary.>> WESH 2 will stream the launch live in this article The mission aims to test the spacecraft’s systems with astronauts aboard before future lunar landings. The 10-day flight aims to help confirm systems and hardware NASA needs for early human lunar exploration missions.According to NASA, four astronauts will venture around the moon on Artemis II, paving the way for a return to the Moon and eventually Mars.The hope is to establish a long-term presence for future exploration and science through the Artemis Program. The science conducted in space is expected to drive progress in medicine and technology on Earth. As the mission prepares for launch, the crawler transporter moved the Artemis II rocker from the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 17, bringing it to launch pad 39-B. “It’s been since 1972 that human beings have gone anywhere in the vicinity of the moon,” said Dr. Don Platt from Florida Tech. A crew of four astronauts will be aboard NASA’s Space Launch System.Commander: Reid WisemanPilot: Victor GloverMission Specialist: Christina KochMission Specialist: Jeremy Hansen The four astronauts will launch aboard NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and travel inside the Orion spacecraft to fly around the moon. In space, they will test critical systems needed for future moon landings. Artemis Program overviewArtemis is NASA’s long-term Moon exploration campaign.The program’s main goals include returning humans to the moon, building a sustained lunar presence, maturing technology and operations needed for human missions to Mars, and doing this all with international and commercial partners.The missions are each designated to different milestones, strategies and individual goals.Artemis IThis mission is complete.It was an uncrewed integrated flight test of the Space Launch System, which is a heavy-lift rocket that launches crews and large cargo toward the moon, and Orion, which is a crew spacecraft that carries astronauts to lunar orbit and returns them to Earth.SLS and Orion went around the moon and came back to Earth.The purpose of this mission was to validate deep-space performance and reentry before flying with a crew.>> Relive the launch of Artemis I here. Aretmis IIThis mission is planned.Artemis II will be the first crewed mission to the moon.The purpose of the crewed flight is to prove life support, operations and high-speed returns with astronauts. Artemis IIIThis mission is planned.Artemis III will be the first crewed lunar landing of the program, targeting the lunar South Pole region.The 10-day mission will include field geology, sample collection/return and deployed experiments.Four astronauts will launch in Oroin, two will land on the moon for surface work, and then they will return to Orion for the journey back to Earth. Artemis IV and beyondThe future missions will aim to expand on capabilities toward sustained operations on the moon, such as more surface time, more cargo and infrastructure delivery, increased use of Gateway as a staging node, and progression toward an “Artemis Base Camp” style sustainable presence. Why the lunar South Pole?It has scientifically valuable terrain and ancient geology.It contains regions with water ice and other volatiles in permanently shadowed areas, which is key for science and potential resources.Its challenging conditions will help prove the systems needed for Mars-class missions. More information Best Central Florida locations to view the launchIn Volusia CountySouth side of New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore)Bethune Beach, 6656 S. Atlantic Ave.Apollo Beach at New Smyrna BeachIn Brevard County (the Space Coast)Jetty Park Beach and Pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. (There’s a charge to park.) Space View Park, 8 Broad St., TitusvilleAlan Shepard Park, 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa BeachCocoa Beach Pier, 401 Meade Ave. (Parking fee varies.)Lori Wilson Park, 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa BeachIn Vero BeachAlma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero BeachMerrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach

    Latest updates on Artemis II

    Jan. 30: ‘Wet dress rehearsal’ delayed due to weather

    Jan. 28: Cold weather puts wet dress rehearsal in question

    Jan. 17: NASA rolls out Artemis II at Kennedy Space Center

    Artemis II is preparing for launch from the Kennedy Space Center, where the rocket will carry the Orion spacecraft for a second time, this time with a crew on its journey to the moon.

    The first launch window opens from Feb. 6-11. If it does not launch in February, there will be another window open in March, and again in April if necessary.

    >> WESH 2 will stream the launch live in this article

    The mission aims to test the spacecraft’s systems with astronauts aboard before future lunar landings. The 10-day flight aims to help confirm systems and hardware NASA needs for early human lunar exploration missions.

    According to NASA, four astronauts will venture around the moon on Artemis II, paving the way for a return to the Moon and eventually Mars.

    The hope is to establish a long-term presence for future exploration and science through the Artemis Program. The science conducted in space is expected to drive progress in medicine and technology on Earth.

    As the mission prepares for launch, the crawler transporter moved the Artemis II rocker from the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 17, bringing it to launch pad 39-B.

    “It’s been since 1972 that human beings have gone anywhere in the vicinity of the moon,” said Dr. Don Platt from Florida Tech.

    A crew of four astronauts will be aboard NASA’s Space Launch System.

    • Commander: Reid Wiseman
    • Pilot: Victor Glover
    • Mission Specialist: Christina Koch
    • Mission Specialist: Jeremy Hansen

    The four astronauts will launch aboard NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and travel inside the Orion spacecraft to fly around the moon. In space, they will test critical systems needed for future moon landings.

    artemis ii map

    Artemis Program overview

    Artemis is NASA’s long-term Moon exploration campaign.

    The program’s main goals include returning humans to the moon, building a sustained lunar presence, maturing technology and operations needed for human missions to Mars, and doing this all with international and commercial partners.

    The missions are each designated to different milestones, strategies and individual goals.

    Artemis I

    • This mission is complete.
    • It was an uncrewed integrated flight test of the Space Launch System, which is a heavy-lift rocket that launches crews and large cargo toward the moon, and Orion, which is a crew spacecraft that carries astronauts to lunar orbit and returns them to Earth.
    • SLS and Orion went around the moon and came back to Earth.
    • The purpose of this mission was to validate deep-space performance and reentry before flying with a crew.

    >> Relive the launch of Artemis I here.

    Aretmis II

    • This mission is planned.
    • Artemis II will be the first crewed mission to the moon.
    • The purpose of the crewed flight is to prove life support, operations and high-speed returns with astronauts.

    Artemis III

      • Artemis III will be the first crewed lunar landing of the program, targeting the lunar South Pole region.
      • The 10-day mission will include field geology, sample collection/return and deployed experiments.
      • Four astronauts will launch in Oroin, two will land on the moon for surface work, and then they will return to Orion for the journey back to Earth.

    Artemis IV and beyond

    • The future missions will aim to expand on capabilities toward sustained operations on the moon, such as more surface time, more cargo and infrastructure delivery, increased use of Gateway as a staging node, and progression toward an “Artemis Base Camp” style sustainable presence.

    Why the lunar South Pole?

      • It has scientifically valuable terrain and ancient geology.
      • It contains regions with water ice and other volatiles in permanently shadowed areas, which is key for science and potential resources.
      • Its challenging conditions will help prove the systems needed for Mars-class missions.

    More information

    Best Central Florida locations to view the launch

    In Volusia County

    • South side of New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore)
    • Bethune Beach, 6656 S. Atlantic Ave.
    • Apollo Beach at New Smyrna Beach

    In Brevard County (the Space Coast)

    • Jetty Park Beach and Pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. (There’s a charge to park.)
    • Space View Park, 8 Broad St., Titusville
    • Alan Shepard Park, 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach
    • Cocoa Beach Pier, 401 Meade Ave. (Parking fee varies.)
    • Lori Wilson Park, 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach

    In Vero Beach

    • Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach
    • Merrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach

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  • Protesters gather in downtown Orlando to demand ICE’s removal

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    RESISTING WITHOUT VIOLENCE. THAT PROTEST WAS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL IN CENTRAL FLORIDA TODAY, INCLUDING ONE IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO AT CITY HALL. THAT’S WHERE OUR GAIL PASCHALL-BROWN IS NOW TO TELL US HOW THIS RALLY IS COINCIDING WITH MANY OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. GAIL. STEWART. THAT’S BECAUSE TODAY, JANUARY 23RD, HAS BEEN DECLARED A NATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY BY THE ICE GET OUT FOR GOOD MOVEMENT. AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS TO BASICALLY REMEMBER THOSE LIVES LOST AND TO DEMAND ICE’S ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE REST AND OTHER INCIDENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AT ITS HEIGHT. SOME 150 PROTESTERS AND SPEAKERS GATHERED OUTSIDE ORLANDO CITY HALL TO GET ICE OUT OF ORLANDO AND FLORIDA. NO FEAR, NO HATE, NO ICE IN OUR STATE, NO FEAR, NO HATE, NO ICE IN OUR STATE. AND I’M HERE BECAUSE I’M ANGRY. AARON LEWIS OF ORLANDO, 5051. ONE OF THE GROUPS ORGANIZING THIS EVENT SAYS ICE IMMIGRATION, CUSTOMS AND ENFORCEMENT IS NOT ABOUT SAFETY. IF IT WERE, WE WOULDN’T BE TERRORIZING NEIGHBORHOODS AT DAWN. IF IT WERE, WE WOULDN’T BE DISAPPEARING PEOPLE INTO A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO BREAK THEM. THIS IS WHAT THAT SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE. RENEE. NICOLE GOOD IS DEAD. A MOTHER, A NEIGHBOR KILLED BY ICE, A FIVE YEAR OLD CHILD WAS USED AS A DECOY, LIKE BAIT. DEMONSTRATORS ARE EAGER TO SEE ICE MELT IN FLORIDA. WE WANT TO SEE ICE ABOLISHED, NOT JUST RETRAINED, NOT REGULATED, GONE OFF THE STREETS. YOU CANNOT TRAIN THE CRUELTY OUT OF THESE PEOPLE. AND NOW THAT THEY WANT TO BRING A 1500 BED ICE DETENTION CENTER TO ORLANDO, NOT SOMEWHERE ELSE, THEY WANT TO DO THAT RIGHT HERE. WE SAY NO, THIS IS NOT ENFORCEMENT. THIS IS TERROR WITH PAPERWORK. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT PROTESTING IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO KICK ICE OUT OF ORLANDO. WE NEED TO DO STRIKE ACTIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE’RE CALLING FOR IS A NATIONAL GENERAL STRIKE ON MAY 1ST ON LABOR DAY. ORGANIZERS OF THIS ICE OUT FOR GOOD RALLIES SAY NOW IS THE TIME. STAND UP, FIGHT BACK, TELL YOUR LEADERS THAT THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WANT IN AMERICA. FIND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THE WORK AND GET PLUGGED IN. ICE OUT OF ORLANDO, ICE OUT OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND ICE OUT FOR GOOD. THANK YOU. NOW, THE NEXT THING THAT ORGANIZERS TELL ME THAT THEY’RE ALSO WORKING ON IS A FEBRUARY 3RD PUBLIC ONLINE MEETING. AND THAT WAY IS TO DISCUSS MORE WAYS TO GET ICE OUT OF ORLANDO, COVERING ORANGE COUNTY LIV

    Protesters gather in downtown Orlando to demand ICE’s removal

    Updated: 11:18 PM EST Jan 23, 2026

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Protesters gathered outside Orlando City Hall on Friday as part of a national day of solidarity for the “ICE Out for Good” movement, demanding the removal of Immigration and Customs Enforcement from Orlando and Florida.At its peak, around 150 protesters and speakers gathered, chanting, “No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state.”Aaron Lewis of Orlando 5051, one of the event’s organizers, criticized ICE, saying, “If it were, we wouldn’t be terrorizing neighborhoods at dawn. If it were, we wouldn’t be disappearing people into a system that is designed to break them. This is what the system looks like: Renee Nicole Good is dead, a mother, a neighbor killed by ICE, a 5-year-old child used as a decoy, like bait.”Jackie Giralt, another organizer from Orlando 5051, expressed the group’s goal: “We want to see ICE abolished, not just retrained, not regulated, gone off the streets. You cannot train the cruelty out of these people.”Lewis also highlighted concerns about a proposed 1,500-bed detention center in Orlando, stating, “And they want to bring a 1,500-bed detention center to Orlando, not somewhere else; they want to do that right here. We say no, this is not enforcement, this is terror with paperwork.”Izzy Coventry from Socialist Alternative emphasized the need for more than just protests, advocating for strike actions and calling for a national strike on May 1, International Workers’ Day, also called Labour Day in some countries. Organizers urged attendees to take action, with Giralt saying, “Stand up, fight back, tell your leaders that is not what we want in America. Find organizations that are already doing the work and get plugged in.”The rally concluded with chants of “ICE out of Orlando, ICE out of our communities and ICE out for good.” Organizers are planning a public online meeting on Feb. 3 to discuss further steps to remove ICE from Orlando while ensuring the working class is not adversely affected.

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    Protesters gathered outside Orlando City Hall on Friday as part of a national day of solidarity for the “ICE Out for Good” movement, demanding the removal of Immigration and Customs Enforcement from Orlando and Florida.

    At its peak, around 150 protesters and speakers gathered, chanting, “No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state.”

    Aaron Lewis of Orlando 5051, one of the event’s organizers, criticized ICE, saying, “If it were, we wouldn’t be terrorizing neighborhoods at dawn. If it were, we wouldn’t be disappearing people into a system that is designed to break them. This is what the system looks like: Renee Nicole Good is dead, a mother, a neighbor killed by ICE, a 5-year-old child used as a decoy, like bait.”

    Jackie Giralt, another organizer from Orlando 5051, expressed the group’s goal: “We want to see ICE abolished, not just retrained, not regulated, gone off the streets. You cannot train the cruelty out of these people.”

    Lewis also highlighted concerns about a proposed 1,500-bed detention center in Orlando, stating, “And they want to bring a 1,500-bed detention center to Orlando, not somewhere else; they want to do that right here. We say no, this is not enforcement, this is terror with paperwork.”

    Izzy Coventry from Socialist Alternative emphasized the need for more than just protests, advocating for strike actions and calling for a national strike on May 1, International Workers’ Day, also called Labour Day in some countries.

    Organizers urged attendees to take action, with Giralt saying, “Stand up, fight back, tell your leaders that is not what we want in America. Find organizations that are already doing the work and get plugged in.”

    The rally concluded with chants of “ICE out of Orlando, ICE out of our communities and ICE out for good.” Organizers are planning a public online meeting on Feb. 3 to discuss further steps to remove ICE from Orlando while ensuring the working class is not adversely affected.

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  • Toxicology report reveals oxycodone, alcohol in driver’s system during deadly wrong-way I-95 crash

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    The Florida Highway Patrol says toxicology results show the driver who caused a deadly wrong-way crash on I-95 in Brevard County had high amounts of oxycodone and alcohol in her system.Troopers say the 34-year-old Cocoa woman had a blood alcohol level of 0.053, which is below Florida’s legal limit of 0.08, but impairment is still considered a factor in the crash.The crash happened in September 2025 near Wickham Road, when investigators say the woman made a U-turn at Viera Boulevard and began driving the wrong way in the northbound lanes.FHP says her vehicle struck another car head-on, triggering an eight-car pileup.Two people were killed in addition to the driver, and six others were seriously injured, according to troopers.Investigators previously said the woman traveled about 2 1/2 miles the wrong way before the collision. Because she made a U-turn in the interstate lanes, the wrong-way driver detection systems on ramps did not catch the incident.Anyone impacted by impaired-driving crashes can contact Mothers Against Drunk Driving Central Florida for support and resources at 1-877-623-3435.

    BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. —

    The Florida Highway Patrol says toxicology results show the driver who caused a deadly wrong-way crash on I-95 in Brevard County had high amounts of oxycodone and alcohol in her system.

    Troopers say the 34-year-old Cocoa woman had a blood alcohol level of 0.053, which is below Florida’s legal limit of 0.08, but impairment is still considered a factor in the crash.

    The crash happened in September 2025 near Wickham Road, when investigators say the woman made a U-turn at Viera Boulevard and began driving the wrong way in the northbound lanes.

    FHP says her vehicle struck another car head-on, triggering an eight-car pileup.

    Two people were killed in addition to the driver, and six others were seriously injured, according to troopers.

    Investigators previously said the woman traveled about 2 1/2 miles the wrong way before the collision. Because she made a U-turn in the interstate lanes, the wrong-way driver detection systems on ramps did not catch the incident.

    Anyone impacted by impaired-driving crashes can contact Mothers Against Drunk Driving Central Florida for support and resources at 1-877-623-3435.

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  • This L.A. startup uses SpaceX tech to cool data centers with less power and no water

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    As the artificial intelligence industry heats up, Karman Industries is trying to cool it down.

    The Signal Hill startup says it has developed a cooling system that uses SpaceX rocket engine technology to rein in the environmental impact of data centers, chilling them with less space, less power and no water.

    It recently raised $20 million and expects to start building its first compressors in Long Beach later this year.

    “Our high-level thesis is we could build the best compressor out there using the latest and greatest technology,” said David Tearse, chief executive of Karman. “We want to reduce that electrical consumption of cooling so that you have the most efficient way to cool these chips.”

    The high-end, expensive chips that power AI can slow down or shut off when they overheat. They can reach more than 200 degrees, but need to be below 150 degrees to work best.

    Cooling warehouses packed with tens of thousands of them can require fields full of equipment and huge quantities of water.

    Karman has developed a cooling system similar to the heat pumps in the average home, except its pumps use liquid carbon dioxide as refrigerant, which is circulated using rocket engine technology rather than fans. The company’s efficient pumps can reduce the space required for data center cooling equipment by 80%.

    Over the years, data centers have used fans and air conditioning to blow cold air on the chips. Bigger facilities pass cold liquid through tubes near the chips to absorb the heat. This hot liquid is sent outside to a cooling yard, where sprawling networks of pipes use as much water as a city of 50,000 people to remove the heat.

    A 50 megawatt data center also uses enough electricity to power a mid-sized city.

    As AI has super-sized data centers, adding more and more chips, they have needed increasing amounts of space and power for cooling.

    “It’s kind of a losing battle, especially when you keep densifying your chips,” said Tearse.

    Cooling systems account for up to 40% of a data center’s power consumption and an average midsized data center consumes more than 35,000 gallons of water per day.

    Nearly 100 gigawatts of new data center capacity will be added by 2030 and energy constraints have become the biggest barrier for expansion. U.S. data centers will consume about 8% of all electricity in the country by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency.

    Communities across the U.S. have begun protesting data center construction, fearing that the power and water needs could strain infrastructure and boost costs to consumers. The cooling systems are projected to use up to 33 billion gallons of water by 2028 per year.

    Big tech companies and venture capital investors are spending billions of dollars to replace old-school technologies with energy-efficient solutions. Microsoft announced a new data center design that uses zero water for cooling. It recently vowed to ensure its data centers don’t increase the electricity costs or deny water to nearby communities.

    The data center-cooling market is projected to grow from about $11 billion in 2025 to nearly $25 billion by 2032.

    To serve this seemingly insatiable market, Karman has developed a rotating compressor that spins at 30,000 revolutions per minute — nearly 10 times faster than traditional compressors — to move heat.

    “Three or four years ago, it was very challenging to do just because the motors didn’t exist. Automotive components are getting up to those speeds,” said Chiranjeev Kalra, co-founder and chief technology officer of Karman.

    About a third of Karman’s 23-person team came from SpaceX or Rocket Lab, and they co-opted technologies from aerospace engineering and electric vehicles to design the mechanics for the high-speed motors.

    The system uses a special type of carbon dioxide under high pressure to transfer heat from the data center to the outside air. Depending on the conditions, it can do the same amount of cooling using less than half the energy.

    Karman’s heat pump can either reject heat to air, or route it into extra cooling, or even power generation.

    One of the potentially biggest selling points for the systems is that they don’t require water, which will enable data centers in spots where water is scarce.

    In really hot places such as Texas and Arizona, cooling systems struggle, either using excessive water to cool or having to throttle the chips to stop them from overheating.

    Karman’s latest funding round brings the total money raised to more than $30 million. Major participants included Riot Venture, Sunflower Capital, Space VC, Wonder Ventures, and former Intel and VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger.

    Karman said it will begin customer deliveries in the summer of 2026 from its Los Angeles manufacturing facility that is designed to make 100 units per year. The plan is to eventually quadruple capacity.

    If successful, Karman could dent the market share of Trane Technologies and Schneider Electric, the leaders in heat rejection systems.

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    Nilesh Christopher

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  • Allapattah Branch Library to close Dec. 31 for major redevelopment

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    The Allapattah Branch Library will close to the public on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 202 and reopen in March at a new location.

    The Allapattah Branch Library will close to the public on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 202 and reopen in March at a new location.

    Miami-Dade Library System

    The Allapattah Branch Library will close on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, as construction begins on a new affordable and workforce housing development that will include a modern replacement library.

    The branch, located at 1799 NW 35 St., is shutting down as part of the Dulce Vida Apartments project, led by Coral Rock Development Group. Construction is expected to take about 19 months.

    Once completed, the new Allapattah Branch Library will open on the ground floor of the Dulce Vida Apartments and will be significantly larger and more modern than the current facility.

    The new branch will span approximately 8,500 square feet, up from the existing 5,200, and will feature expanded community and learning spaces.

    Back in 2021, students from Miami Jackson Senior High in Allapattah protested the project when initial plans sought to move the library branch to a new location.

    The students petitioned the city of Miami to delay the project until a temporary library could be built nearby, and that the new development must have a library component.

    Now, planned upgrades include a multipurpose community meeting room with audio-visual technology, co-working and study areas, dedicated reading rooms for adults, young adults and children, and a children’s storytime area.

    The new library will also offer new public computers, high-speed Wi-Fi, digital information screens, additional electrical outlets and USB charging ports throughout the space.

    To minimize disruption, Miami-Dade officials say a temporary Allapattah Branch Library is expected to open nearby in March 2026.

    In the meantime, patrons are encouraged by Miami-Dade to visit nearby public library system locations, including the Culmer/Overtown Branch, Model City Branch and Edison Center Branch.

    Residents can also continue to access library services online, including eBooks, audiobooks, digital magazines, newspapers and research databases.

    More information about library services and updates on the temporary location can be found on the Miami-Dade Public Library System website or by contacting customer service.

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    Luisa Yanez

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  • Tropical Storm Melissa expected to slam Caribbean islands; up to 25 inches of rain possible

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    WESH 2’s award-winning First Warning Weather team is monitoring Tropical Storm Melissa, which is nearly stationary over the Caribbean Sea on Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center.The NHC said Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft data show Melissa is getting stronger with maximum sustained winds now at 65 mph and a minimum central pressure of 993 mb. Melissa is about 180 miles south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, according to the NHC. A turn to the west is forecast on Saturday followed by a turn to the north and northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica early next week and could be near or over eastern Cuba by the middle of next week.The NHC advised that residents in Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Cuba should closely monitor the development of this system. These locations are at risk of heavy rain, flooding, strong winds and hazardous surf conditions. Watches and warnings in effect: Hurricane Warning in effect for JamaicaHurricane Watch in effect for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-PrinceRainMelissa is expected to bring total rainfall of 15 to 25 inches to portions of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica through Tuesday, with local maxima of 35 inches possible across the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti. Potentially catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are possible across portions of Jamaica and the southern Dominican Republic, while catastrophic flash flooding is anticipated in southern Haiti.For southeast Cuba, total rainfall of 4 to 8 inches, with local amounts up to 12 inches, are possible into Tuesday. Jamaica braces for impactsHurricane 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, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.>> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast>> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2

    WESH 2’s award-winning First Warning Weather team is monitoring Tropical Storm Melissa, which is nearly stationary over the Caribbean Sea on Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

    The NHC said Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft data show Melissa is getting stronger with maximum sustained winds now at 65 mph and a minimum central pressure of 993 mb.

    Melissa is about 180 miles south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, according to the NHC.

    A turn to the west is forecast on Saturday followed by a turn to the north and northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday.

    On the forecast track, the center of Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica early next week and could be near or over eastern Cuba by the middle of next week.

    The NHC advised that residents in Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Cuba should closely monitor the development of this system.

    These locations are at risk of heavy rain, flooding, strong winds and hazardous surf conditions.

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    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.

    Watches and warnings in effect:

    • Hurricane Warning in effect for Jamaica
    • Hurricane Watch in effect for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince

    Rain

    Melissa is expected to bring total rainfall of 15 to 25 inches to portions of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica through Tuesday, with local maxima of 35 inches possible across the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti.

    Potentially catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are possible across portions of Jamaica and the southern Dominican Republic, while catastrophic flash flooding is anticipated in southern Haiti.

    For southeast Cuba, total rainfall of 4 to 8 inches, with local amounts up to 12 inches, are possible into Tuesday.

    Jamaica braces for impacts

    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.

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    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.

    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, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    >> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast

    >> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2

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  • Tropical Storm Melissa expected to strengthen into Category 3 hurricane south of Jamaica, NHC says

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    Tropical Storm Melissa expected to strengthen into Category 3 hurricane south of Jamaica, NHC says

    THAT IS GREAT NEWS. ALL RIGHT. YEAH. BRINGING IN FIRST WARNING. CHIEF METEOROLOGIST TONY MAINOLFI TONY. GORGEOUS DAY TODAY. LET’S TAKE YOU OUTSIDE. A SMIDGE HOT, IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF. AND I EVEN DROVE TO WORK WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. I THOUGHT IT WAS HOT, BUT ACTUALLY, IT IS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. I’M GOING TO PROVE THAT TO YOU. MICHELLE NOT THAT YOU’RE A DOUBTER. PROVE IT. TONY I WILL GIVE ME A SECOND. RIGHT NOW WE TAKE YOU BACK OUTSIDE. WHEN YOU SEE CRYSTAL CLEAR SKIES LIKE THAT, THERE’S SOMETHING GOING ON. THAT IS OUR FRONT WORKING BACK IN, YOU CAN SEE THE TEMPERATURES UP TO THE NORTH IN THE UPPER 70S. OFF TOWARDS THE WEST. WE ARE RUNNING IN THE MID 80S. HERE’S THE FRONT THAT IS GOING TO MISS MELISSA DOWN THERE. BUT THERE’S A SECOND ONE THAT ARRIVES NEXT WEEK THAT WILL HELP US ON OUT. YOU CAN SEE THE FLOW. WE’VE GOT SOME GUSTY WINDS OUT THERE NOW, BUT HEY MICHELLE, LOOK AT THESE DEW POINTS. THEY ARE LOWERING AND WHEN THEY LOWER, THAT MEANS IT FEELS MORE AND MORE COMFORTABLE. NOW, IF YOU’RE RUNNING ERRANDS TONIGHT, IF YOU’RE GOING TO THE MAGIC GAME, YOU’RE LIKE SITTING PRETTY, SAYING, WOOHOO! TONY DID IT, I LOVE IT! LET’S TAKE A LOOK NOW AT THESE WIND SPEEDS OUT OF THE NORTH, ABOUT 5 TO 10 MILES AN HOUR. AGAIN, AN UPDATE ON THE MAGIC GAME 8479. COMFORTABLE OUT THERE TONIGHT FOR DINNER AND THEN WALKING OVER, GETTING YOUR STEPS IN OVER TOWARDS THE KIA CENTER TOMORROW MORNING. TEMPERATURES HERE 55 IN CITRA, 61 IN RUTLAND, 62 IN ASTATULA ON INTO THE METRO AREAS HERE. WE’RE ABOUT 64 TO 66. COASTAL BREVARD COUNTY STILL SITTING RIGHT AROUND 70 DEGREES. SO THURSDAY FRIDAY DOESN’T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS, FOLKS. FRONT’S DOWN ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA. COUPLE OF SHOWERS THERE. WE’LL WATCH THE ONSHORE FLOW IN THE RIP CURRENTS, BUT SOME OUTSTANDING WEATHER DO GET OUT THERE. ENJOY IT. GET A WALK IN, DO WHATEVER YOU GOT TO DO SOME TENNIS, SOME GOLF. TEMPERATURES UP NORTH IN THE 70S, SOUTH AND WEST RUNNING IN THE MID 80S. WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE ATTRACTIONS ON A THURSDAY AFTERNOON. DOESN’T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THAT EITHER. LOOK AT THAT LOW 80S FOR AN AFTERNOON. STUNNING WEATHER. GET OUT THERE. YOU NEED THE SHADES. AND THEN FOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL, AS WE HEAD INTO FRIDAY NIGHT, OUR GAME OF THE WEEK, THE RAMS AND THE PATRIOTS 7270. LOOKING VERY VERY NICE. ALL RIGHT, SWITCHING GEARS, LET’S HEAD TO THE TROPICS. NOW HERE’S MELISSA. STILL A LOT OF THUNDERSTORMS ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THIS PARTICULAR STORM SYSTEM. YOU CAN SEE THE WEST WINDS. LOOK AT THE CLOUDS. AND THAT DRIER AIR ON THE WESTERN SIDE. NOW WE’VE HAD SOME TROPICAL STORM FORCE GUSTS EARLIER TODAY UP INTO HAITI. NOT SEEING THAT NOW, BUT STILL A GOOD BIT OF WIND THERE. BUT LOOK AT THIS. THIS IS A FIVE DAY CONE AND IT DOESN’T MOVE A WHOLE LOT. BUT WHAT IT DOES DO AS THE UPPER LEVEL WIND SHEAR BEGINS TO GO AWAY, THIS THING WILL RAPIDLY DEVELOP OVER THE WEEKEND AND INTO NEXT WEEK. AND THERE’S A VERY GOOD REASON FOR IT. IT IS OVER SOME OF THE WARMEST WATERS IN THE ENTIRE TROPICAL BASIN. AND THAT’S WHY WE’RE SEEING THIS RAPID INTENSIFICATION. NOW WITH REGARDS TO THE COMPUTER MODELS HERE AGAIN, THE GFS IS STILL GOING OVER HAITI. THE MAJORITY OF THESE GO WEST AND THEN BEGIN TO HOOK BACK TOWARDS THE NORTH AND EAST RAPIDLY. NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHANCE OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS. THEY EXTEND AS FAR WEST AS CENTRAL AMERICA AND AS FAR NORTH THERE AS CENTRAL CUBA. AND THIS TO ME IS GOING TO BE THE BULL’S EYE FOR THE HEAVIEST RAIN. SO WHAT’S THE SAVING GRACE FOR FLORIDA? THAT’S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION. FIRST FRONT IS GOING TO MISS THIS STORM BECAUSE IT’S SITTING DOWN THERE FOR ABOUT FIVE DAYS. SO FOR ME I SAID THIS YESTERDAY, I THINK THIS IS THE MOST LIKELY TRACK. I THINK IT WILL COME TO THE NORTH. BUT THEN AS THIS FRONT ARRIVES NEXT WEEK, LOOK AT THAT WALL OF SHEAR. THAT FRONT IS GOING TO SHOOT IT OUT LIKE A MISSILE TO THE NORTH AND EAST. AS WE GET YOU ON INTO NEXT WEEK. SO THAT AGAIN, SHOULD BE THE SAVING GRACE FOR US HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. SO WE’LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT. AND I’LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE EXTENDED SEV

    Tropical Storm Melissa expected to strengthen into Category 3 hurricane south of Jamaica, NHC says

    Updated: 7:58 PM EDT Oct 22, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Tropical Storm Melissa formed over the central Caribbean Sea on Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.Melissa will bring heavy rainfall to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with totals of 5 to 10 inches expected through Friday. Melissa is about 320 miles south-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, according to the NHC. The system has a minimum central pressure of 1002 mb and maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.On the forecast track, Melissa is expected to approach Jamaica and the southwestern portion of Haiti later this week.The NHC is calling for a Category 3 storm by next week south of Jamaica.The NHC advised that residents in Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Cuba should closely monitor the development of this system. These locations are at risk of heavy rain, flooding, strong winds and hazardous surf conditions. Watches and warnings in effect: Hurricane Watch is in effect for Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince.Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Jamaica. 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, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.>> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast>> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2

    Tropical Storm Melissa formed over the central Caribbean Sea on Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

    Melissa will bring heavy rainfall to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with totals of 5 to 10 inches expected through Friday.

    Melissa is about 320 miles south-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, according to the NHC.

    The system has a minimum central pressure of 1002 mb and maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.

    On the forecast track, Melissa is expected to approach Jamaica and the southwestern portion of Haiti later this week.

    The NHC is calling for a Category 3 storm by next week south of Jamaica.

    The NHC advised that residents in Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Cuba should closely monitor the development of this system.

    These locations are at risk of heavy rain, flooding, strong winds and hazardous surf conditions.

    Watches and warnings in effect:

    • Hurricane Watch is in effect for Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince.
    • Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Jamaica.

    This content is imported from Facebook.
    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.

    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, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    >> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast

    >> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2

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  • NHC tracking tropical wave headed toward Caribbean

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    The National Hurricane Center tagged two new areas of interest in the Atlantic on Thursday. East of Windward IslandsA tropical wave located over the central tropical Atlantic is producing large areas of showers and thunderstorms. Gradual development of this system is expected over the next several days as it moves westward at 15 to 20 mph. This tropical wave is in the same area some long-range models have been hinting at development for next week as well.Regardless of the system’s development, heavy rainfall and gusty winds are possible as it moves across the Windward Islands and into the Caribbean Sea next week. Formation chances for the next two days: zero percentFormation chances for the next seven days: 30%North AtlanticA non-tropical area of low pressure is currently developing well off the coast of the Northeast United States.This system is expected to drop southeastward and then turn northeastward by this weekend.Some subtropical or tropical development could occur while the system moves over the Gulf Stream to the northeast of Bermuda. Formation chance through 48 hours: 10%Formation chance through 7 days: 10%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, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.>> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast>> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2

    The National Hurricane Center tagged two new areas of interest in the Atlantic on Thursday.

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    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.

    East of Windward Islands

    A tropical wave located over the central tropical Atlantic is producing large areas of showers and thunderstorms.

    Gradual development of this system is expected over the next several days as it moves westward at 15 to 20 mph.

    This tropical wave is in the same area some long-range models have been hinting at development for next week as well.

    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.

    Regardless of the system’s development, heavy rainfall and gusty winds are possible as it moves across the Windward Islands and into the Caribbean Sea next week.

    • Formation chances for the next two days: zero percent
    • Formation chances for the next seven days: 30%

    North Atlantic

    A non-tropical area of low pressure is currently developing well off the coast of the Northeast United States.

    This system is expected to drop southeastward and then turn northeastward by this weekend.

    Some subtropical or tropical development could occur while the system moves over the Gulf Stream to the northeast of Bermuda.

    Formation chance through 48 hours: 10%

    Formation chance through 7 days: 10%

    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, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    >> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast

    >> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2

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  • Watches, warnings discontinued as Tropical Storm Jerry weakens

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    Watches, warnings discontinued as Tropical Storm Jerry weakens

    CENTRAL FLORIDA IS AGAIN A HURRICANE HOTSPOT THIS YEAR. OH MY GOD. MAKE SURE THAT YOU’RE PREPARING FOR THE POTENTIAL THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO EVACUATE. WE’VE SEEN THE IMPACT OF CATASTROPHIC STORMS. EVERY LOT THAT’S EMPTY WAS SOMEBODY’S HOME FOR 100 YEAR FLOODS. FLOODS THAT AREN’T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN FOR 100 YEARS HAVE HAPPENED FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST 6 TO 7 YEARS BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER A HURRICANE. THE WESH TWO FIRST WARNING WEATHER TEAM IS HERE TO HELP. WE’RE STICKING TO A BUDGET FOR YOUR HURRICANE KIT AND STAYING IN TOUCH WITH LOCAL LEADERS ABOUT THEIR PLANS TO KEEP YOU SAFE. WE’VE BEEN WORKING ON A PROCESS SINCE MILTON IN ORDER TO BETTER THE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE RESIDENTS. THE TIME TO PREPARE IS NOW. SURVIVING THE SEASON. THE 2020 HURRICANE SPECIAL. AS WE GET INTO THE THICK OF THE 2025 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON, YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IF AND WHEN A STORM HEADS OUR WAY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. I’M STEWART MOORE AND I’M MICHELLE IMPERATO. WE HAVE A LOT TO COVER WHEN IT COMES TO STORM PREPARATIONS AND WHERE TO GET HELP AFTER A HURRICANE. BUT FIRST, THIS SEASON COMES WITH A LOT OF UNKNOWNS. THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, OR FEMA, STRUGGLED WITH BUDGET CUTS AND LAYOFFS THIS YEAR. THE FULL IMPACT REMAINS TO BE SEEN AS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WORKS TO OVERHAUL THE AGENCY. IN JANUARY, PRESIDENT TRUMP FLOATED THE IDEA OF GETTING RID OF FEMA AND SHIFTING FEMA’S RESPONSIBILITIES TO STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALSO CUT FUNDING FOR THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, OR NOAA, WHICH PLAYS A BIG PART IN WEATHER FORECASTING. AND WHILE THE SITUATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT COULD CHANGE THE STEPS TO PREPARE FOR A HURRICANE ARE TRIED AND TRUE. SO THAT’S OUR FIRST WARNING. WEATHER TEAM IS FOCUSED RIGHT NOW, STARTING WITH CHIEF METEOROLOGIST TONY MAINOLFI. WITH THE 2025 HURRICANE SEASON OUTLOOK. AND HERE WE GO AGAIN. I TELL YOU WHAT, ONCE AGAIN, MICHELLE IT LOOKS ACTIVE. YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. NOW NOAA CAME OUT WITH THEIR OUTLOOK 13 TO 19 NAMED STORMS. COLORADO STATE RIGHT AROUND 17. YOU GO TO WESH 16 TO 20 AND THE NUMBER OF MAJOR HURRICANES. NOW GUYS RUNNING BETWEEN ABOUT 3 TO 6. AGAIN, THE NORMAL IS 14, NINE AND THREE. SO JUST ABOVE THE NORMAL THERE OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, THAT’S SOMETHING WE’RE GOING TO BE WATCHING. THERE’S REALLY THREE MAIN FACTORS WHY WE THINK IT’S GOING TO BE ABOVE AVERAGE SEASON. YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE WARMER THAN AVERAGE OCEAN WATER TEMPERATURES, ESPECIALLY IN THE GULF AND THE CARIBBEAN. THE FORECAST FOR WIND SHEAR LOOKS LOW. REMEMBER, THE STRONGER THE WINDS, THE GREATER THE SHEAR. THE WINDS DO APPEAR TO BE LOOKING LIGHT, AND THERE’S GOING TO BE MORE ACTION NOW FROM THE WEST AFRICAN MONSOON. THE MORE MOISTURE OFF THE WEST COAST, THE GREATER THE RISK THERE IS FOR THESE TROPICAL WAVES TO DEVELOP. SO WHAT I WANT TO SHOW YOU HERE IS THE NORMAL WATER TEMPERATURES VERSUS VERSUS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. AND WE ARE RUNNING ABOVE NORMAL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO AND IN THE CARIBBEAN. AND BEFORE JUNE. THIS IS THE AREA THAT WE LIKE TO WATCH. SO WE’LL BE WATCHING THAT INTENTLY, THOUGH FOR NOW WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. GUYS, BACK TO YOU. HURRICANE HELENE AND MILTON CAUSED WIDESPREAD DEVASTATION AFTER MAKING LANDFALL ON THE GULF COAST LAST YEAR. THIS DRONE VIDEO SHOWS THE DAMAGE ON ANNA MARIA ISLAND. THE STORMS ALSO PACKED A PUNCH FURTHER INLAND. METEOROLOGIST ERIC BURRIS REMINDS US HURRICANES ARE NOT JUST A CONCERN FOR THE COAST. LAST YEAR WAS A TOUGH LESSON FOR SO MANY THAT STORMS ARE CLEARLY NOT JUST COASTAL EVENTS. HELENE TRIGGERED LANDSLIDES AND FLOODING IN THE CAROLINAS, FAR FROM THE GULF COAST, WHERE IT MADE LANDFALL A FEW WEEKS LATER. DURING MILTON, FLAGLER COUNTY SUFFERED SOME OF THE GUSTIEST WINDS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FAR FROM THE CENTER OF THE STORM. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LOST POWER, AND ROUGH SURF ENTERED PEOPLE’S BACKYARDS. THERE CAN BE EFFECTS. HUNDREDS OF MILES OUTSIDE OF THAT CONE. FLAGLER COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER JONATHAN LORD SAYS MANY PEOPLE HAVE MOVED TO THE AREA IN RECENT MONTHS. HE WANTS NEWCOMERS TO KNOW IF A STORM HEADS ANYWHERE NEAR FLORIDA. THEY NEED TO BE READY. MOSTLY WITH PEOPLE MOVING IN FROM OUT OF STATE. WHO’VE NEVER EXPERIENCED A HURRICANE BEFORE. OR SOMETIMES I’M TOLD THEY HEAR FROM THE REALTORS THAT WE DON’T GET HURRICANES IN THIS PART OF THE STATE. DEFINITELY NOT TRUE. AS WE TRACK THE TROPICS THIS YEAR, THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IS REMINDING EVERYONE THAT THE CONE, WHICH IS ONLY CONCERNED WITH THE CENTER OF THE STORM, IS JUST ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE. THE HAZARDS ARE INCREASINGLY FALLING OUTSIDE OF THE CONE. JAMIE RHOME, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, SAYS THIS IS ACTUALLY FOR GOOD REASON. THE CONE HAS GOTTEN SMALLER AND SMALLER OVER TIME AS FORECAST ACCURACY HAS IMPROVED. LAST YEAR TO TRY AND BETTER COMMUNICATE IMPACTS COUNTY BY COUNTY. THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ADDED ADVISORIES OVER TOP OF THE CONE TO INCLUDE THREATS OVER LAND, AS WELL AS COASTLINE. SO IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CONE, THE FIRST THING YOU SEE IS, IS ALL THIS COLOR AND HOW FAR INLAND IT GOES. SO WE THINK IT’S A BETTER WAY TO COMMUNICATE. YOUR BEST SHOT AT SURVIVING THE SEASON IS TO HAVE A HURRICANE KIT STOCKED AND READY TO GO. METEOROLOGIST KELLIANNE KLASS SHOWS US BEING PREPARED DOES NOT NEED TO BREAK THE BANK EVERY HURRICANE SEASON. WE ALWAYS TELL YOU TO HAVE A HURRICANE SUPPLY KIT, BUT LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGERS ARE SAYING, LET’S GO AWAY WITH THE 72 HOUR SUPPLY KIT AND GO FOR A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT THAT CAN HAVE YOUR FAMILY BEING FED FOR UP TO FIVE DAYS OR EVEN LONGER. AND THAT CAN GET PRETTY HEAVY ON WALLETS. BUT TODAY WE’RE AT A LOCAL DOLLAR TREE AT 1792, IN FERN PARK TO SEE HOW MUCH WE CAN GET WITH $100, WE HAVE OUR LIST READY, AND NOW WE’RE GOING TO GO SEE HOW MUCH WE CAN GET. LET’S GO SHOPPING. OKAY, SO THE FIRST THING THAT WE’RE GOING TO DO IS STIR KNOWS THEY’RE IN THE PARTY SECTION. AND THESE ARE GOOD UP TO TWO HOURS. SO WE’RE GOING TO GET FIVE IN THIS AISLE WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS FOR LOSS OF POWER. THERE’S YOUR TRADITIONAL FLASHLIGHT. BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THE OPTION OF AN LED LANTERN. EXTRA BATTERIES SHOULD BE ON YOUR DISASTER KIT. AND THE DOLLAR STORE HAD PLENTY OF THEM. I DIDN’T HAVE THIS ON THE LIST, BUT YOU DO NEED A LIGHTER FOR THE STERNO, SO I’M GOING TO ADD THIS TO IT. AND IF YOU NEED CANDLES, THEY DO HAVE TEA, LIGHT CANDLES. IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL OF THEIR SUPPLIES STOCKED UP. WE GRABBED A FEW CHILDREN’S WIPES, WHICH COULD ALSO DOUBLE AS CLEANSING WIPES FOR ADULTS. THE DOLLAR STORE HAD DIAPERS IN STOCK, BUT FOR $6 PER PACKAGE, THE AMOUNT OF DIAPERS PER PACKAGE DEPENDS ON THE CHILDREN’S SIZE. BANDAGES ARE IMPORTANT TO HAVE IN ANY DISASTER KIT. WE PICKED UP SELF-ADHERING BANDAGE WRAP AND ADHESIVE BANDAGES. WE ALSO GRABBED ANTISEPTIC TO HELP CLEAN THE WOUNDS. IBUPROFEN IS GOING IN THE CART AS WELL. NOW WE’RE ON TO NONPERISHABLE FOOD. WE’RE IN THE SNACK AISLE AND NOW IS THE TIME TO GET SNACKS THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MAY ENJOY. PEANUT BUTTER. NOW WE’RE ON TO SHELF STABLE ITEMS, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR CANNED MEATS, YOUR CANNED VEGETABLES, ANYTHING THAT CAN SIT ON A SHELF IN CASE YOU LOSE POWER. YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE ONE OF THESE A CAN OPENER, BUT THIS IS A REALLY CHEAP AND AFFORDABLE OPTION, AND WE’RE GOING TO BE OPENING A LOT OF CANS, DISPOSABLE PLATES. PLASTIC WARE AND PAPER TOWELS ARE GOOD TO STOCK UP ON TO. HELLO, HELLO. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. YOU GOOD? TO ONE 1053. WE ENDED UP GOING ABOUT $10 OVER BUDGET, BUT I DID START OUR DISASTER KIT FROM SCRATCH. YOU PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF THESE ITEMS AT YOUR HOME ALREADY. AND I ALSO DID ADD A COUPLE OF ITEMS INTO MY BASKET THAT WERE NOT ON THE LIST. OVERALL, YOU SHOULD TAILOR YOUR DISASTER KIT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY’S NEEDS. ADD A GENERATOR TO YOUR SHOPPING LIST IF YOU NEED A BACKUP SOURCE FOR POWER, YOU MIGHT BE IN THE DARK FOR DAYS AFTER A BIG STORM. CHIEF METEOROLOGIST TONY MAINOLFI SHOWS US THE PROPER WAY TO USE A GENERATOR. HURRICANE SEASON IS HERE AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE GOING TO START RUNNING THESE GENERATORS. WE WANT YOU TO KEEP THEM 20FT AWAY FROM YOUR HOUSE, NOT INSIDE YOUR GARAGE, TO PREVENT CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT THING IS GENERATOR MAINTENANCE. NUMBER ONE, YOU ALWAYS WANT TO RUN IT A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR TO MAKE SURE THERE’S NO LEFTOVER FUEL IN THERE. THAT’S NEVER GOOD FOR YOUR GENERATOR. AND WHEN YOU’RE DONE USING IT, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO FUEL IN THERE. OTHERWISE, YOUR GENERATOR MAY NOT START UP WHEN THE NEXT HURRICANE ARRIVES. AND FOLKS, PLEASE REMEMBER TO ALWAYS HAVE A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR WHEN YOU’RE RUNNING YOUR GENERATOR. TIME AND TIME AGAIN. HURRICANES LEAD TO FLOODING HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AFTER FLOODED AFTER IRMA IN 2017, THE ORLO VISTA COMMUNITY FLOODED DURING IAN IN 2022, AND RISING WATERS FROM MILTON FORCED PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES INTO LAND LAST YEAR. PROPERTY OWNERS DEALING WITH REPEAT FLOODING ARE READY TO GIVE UP THEIR LAND. METEOROLOGIST CAM TRAN LOOKED INTO A PROGRAM MANY COUNTIES OFFER WITH THE HELP OF FEDERAL DOLLARS, WHAT IS NOW A CORDONED OFF LOT IN SANFORD USED TO LOOK LIKE THIS A TWO STORY HOME BELONGING TO A LOCAL FAMILY. BUT AFTER YEARS OF SEEING THEIR HOME DAMAGED BY FLOODING, THE FAMILY SOLD THE PROPERTY TO SEMINOLE COUNTY. THIS PARTICULAR HOME BACK HERE WAS SEVERE REPETITIVE LOSS, WHICH MEANS THAT IT WAS SUSTAINING FLOOD DAMAGE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. FEMA OFFERS GRANTS TO PROPERTY OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE REPETITIVE DAMAGE FROM FLOODING. THE FUNDING IS DISTRIBUTED TO INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES, INCLUDING SEMINOLE COUNTY, SO THERE’S THREE PROGRAMS. THERE’S BUYBACK. SO WE BUY OUT AN ACQUISITION DEMOLISH. THERE’S ELEVATE. SO WE TAKE THE HOME AS IT IS AND ELEVATE. AND THEN THERE’S ELEVATE RECONSTRUCT. SO ELEVATE RECONSTRUCT WOULD BE A CONCRETE MASONRY BLOCK HOME. YOU CAN’T JUST PICK IT UP. SO IT WOULD REQUIRE US TO PICK IT UP. BUT WHILE WE’RE PICKING IT UP WE’RE CONSTRUCTING WE’RE DOING CONSTRUCTION THAT’S GOING TO COST MORE MONEY. ANY PROPERTY OWNER WHO WANTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS FEMA GRANT WILL NEED TO BE PATIENT. IT CAN TAKE MONTHS, EVEN YEARS, TO GET THAT FEDERAL FUNDING APPROVED. VOLUSIA COUNTY IS CONSIDERING A SIMILAR PROGRAM. IT WAS AWARDED $20 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO BUY BACK FREQUENTLY FLOODED HOMES. WE CAN’T BUY THEM ALL, BUT THERE’S SOME THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE. DELAND ON TAYLOR AVENUE, THERE IS A HOME THAT’S ACTUALLY THE HOMEOWNERS COME TO US AND SAID, WOULD YOU WOULD YOU BUY US OUT? AND THEY SAY THAT WITH TEARS IN THEIR EYES. DONNA ROONEY HAD FOUR FEET OF WATER IN HER HOUSE AFTER HURRICANE MILTON. SHE HOPES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS BUYBACK PROGRAM. THAT’S WHAT WE WANTED FROM THE BEGINNING. WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF REBUILDING OR REFURBISHING THIS HOME. HUD STILL NEEDS TO APPROVE THE PROGRAM BEFORE IT CAN TAKE EFFECT. NEXT, ON SURVIVING THE SEASON. OUR FIRST WARNING WEATHER TEAM SPENT MONTHS ANALYZING WEATHER PATTERNS AND PINPOINTING THE HOT SPOTS FOR A BIG STORM. PLUS, HOW TO IDENTIFY THE SAFEST PLACE TO HUNKER DOWN DURING A TORNADO AND THE FUNDING STILL AVAILABLE. IF YOUR HOME SUFFERED DAMAGE DURING HURRICANE IAN. NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS OR KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM, AND THAT’S A SHAME. ONE NEIGHBOR LOOKING TO REBUILD IS SPREADING THE WORD TO HELP OTHERS JUST LIKE HER. OVER THE PAST YEAR, OUR FIRST WARNING WEATHER TEAM HAS BEEN ANALYZING WEATHER PATTERNS TO PREDICT WHEN WE COULD GET A BIG STORM IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. METEOROLOGIST ERIC BURRIS WAS ABLE TO PREDICT WITH 85% ACCURACY LAST YEAR, WHERE BIG STORMS WENT AND WHEN THEY MADE LANDFALL. HE’S DOING IT AGAIN AND PRESENTS THIS YEAR’S LONG RANGE FORECAST. HEY, THAT’S RIGHT. THE OVERALL PATTERNS THIS YEAR CLEARLY SHOW THE GULF AS THE HOT SPOT FOR ACTIVITY YET AGAIN. BUT THE WAY MY LONG TERM FORECASTING WORKS IS LOOKING AT LONG TERM FORECASTING CYCLES. SO LET’S BREAK IT DOWN. THE FIRST PART OF THE PATTERN THAT WE WATCH IS THE NORTHERN GULF COAST, FOR WHAT SHOULD BE THE SLOW MOVING AREA OF LOW PRESSURE. EARLY JUNE, BUT IN PARTICULAR LATE JULY AND AROUND THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER, THEN ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF COAST YET AGAIN, I’VE OBSERVED AN OVERALL WEATHER PATTERN SHOWING A STORM SYSTEM AGAIN MID JUNE, BUT MOREOVER, LATE JULY AND INTO EARLY SEPTEMBER. BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, INTO THE PANHANDLE AND OUR WEST COAST, THE BIGGEST PART OF THE PATTERN I’M WATCHING FOR THREATS IN THIS AREA IS THIS ONE WITH AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE THAT SEEMINGLY WANTS TO CROSS THE GULF AND WORK TOWARD OUR WEST COAST. SO WATCH THESE DATES VERY CLOSELY. LATE JUNE, EARLY AUGUST AND MID SEPTEMBER. AND LASTLY, OUT OF ALL THE DATA OVER THE MONTHS AND MONTHS OF GATHERING MY NUMBERS FOR THIS YEAR’S HURRICANE FORECAST, WHILE ABOVE AVERAGE, ARE NOT CALLING FOR A HYPERACTIVE SEASON. EITHER WAY, WE HAVE A CLEAR THREAT TO WATCH FOR, AND THUS WE’LL NEED TO KEEP OUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL. BUT KNOW THIS YOUR FIRST WARNING WEATHER TEAM WILL BE HERE WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. WHEN THERE’S A RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES WATCHES AND WARNINGS. YOU’LL HEAR OUR FIRST WARNING WEATHER TEAM USE THESE TERMS A LOT. METEOROLOGIST MARQUISE MEDA EXPLAINS WHAT THEY MEAN. THINK OF IT LIKE COOKING PASTA. A WATCH IS WHEN YOU PUT A POT OF BOILING WATER ON THE STOVE. THE HEAT IS ON. CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE AND YOU’RE WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN. A WARNING MEANS THAT WATER IS BOILING AND IT’S TIME TO ADD THE PASTA. OR IN WEATHER TERMS, THE EVENT IS HAPPENING NOW AND YOU NEED TO TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY. JUST LIKE YOU DON’T WALK AWAY FROM A POT THAT’S HEATING UP, YOU SHOULD IGNORE A WATCH. CONDITIONS. THEY CAN CHANGE QUICKLY AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, THAT GENTLE SIMMER CAN TURN INTO A ROLLING BOIL. SO DURING A WATCH, STAY ALERT AND BE PREPARED. BUT IF IT’S A WARNING, BE PREPARED TO TAKE COVER. BECAUSE JUST LIKE A POT OF BOILING WATER, SEVERE WEATHER DOESN’T WAIT. BEFORE MILTON MADE LANDFALL IN FLORIDA LAST YEAR, THE STORM SPAWNED MANY TORNADOES, INCLUDING ONE IN BREVARD COUNTY. THIS VIDEO SHOWS SOME OF THE DAMAGE IT CAUSED. METEOROLOGIST CAM TRAN EXPLAINS WHERE YOU SHOULD TAKE COVER IN A TORNADO. THE SAFEST PLACE TO GO DURING A TORNADO WARNING IS TO THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOUSE. MAKE SURE THAT AREA IS NOT CONNECTED TO ANY EXTERIOR WALLS OR WINDOWS. YOUR SAFE ROOM COULD BE A CLOSET, A BATHROOM, OR EVEN A HALLWAY LIKE THIS ONE. BUT IN THIS HOUSE, THE SAFEST ROOM TO BE IN IS ACTUALLY THIS INTERIOR BATHROOM. IT IS AWAY FROM ANY EXTERIOR WALLS OR WINDOW, AND IT’S THE MOST INTERIOR ROOM OF THIS HOUSE. IF YOU LIVE IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING OR YOU’RE WORKING AT AN OFFICE HIGHRISE, SIMILAR RULES APPLY. GO TO THE BOTTOM AND THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR BUILDING. AND IF YOU CAN’T GO TO AN INTERIOR HALLWAY. AS WE PREPARE FOR THE NEXT BIG STORM, MANY HOMEOWNERS ARE STILL TRYING TO RECOVER FROM PAST DISASTERS. CHIEF METEOROLOGIST TONY MAINOLFI SHOWS US A PROGRAM RIGHT HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY THAT’S HELPING FOLKS GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. THE ORANGE COUNTY RECOVERS PROGRAM HAS SET ASIDE $59 MILLION TO HELP RESIDENTS OF ORANGE COUNTY AND ITS MUNICIPALITIES REPAIR, REBUILD AND REPLACE ELIGIBLE HOMES WITH REMAINING DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE IAN. IT IS A GRANT, SO THAT’S GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYBODY. IT’S NOT ALONE. FOLKS ARE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THESE FUNDS AND CAN DO SO UNTIL THE MONEY RUNS OUT. SHERI JILLIAN WITH THE DISASTER RECOVERY TEAM, EXPLAINS WHO’S ELIGIBLE. NUMBER ONE, YOU MUST HAVE OWNED THE PROPERTY AND RESIDED IN THE PROPERTY AS YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE, SO OWNED PRIOR TO IAN, AND STILL OCCUPY THE RESIDENCE AS YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE, YOU MUST BE A LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUAL, WHICH IS 80% AMI. YOU MUST HAVE A CURRENT MORTGAGE AND TAXES ON THE PROPERTY. ONCE ELIGIBILITY HAS BEEN APPROVED, THE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT WILL BE DETERMINED. FROM THERE, THE HOMEOWNER WILL THEN BE GIVEN SOME MONEY SO THAT THE REPAIRS CAN BE MADE ON THEIR HOME, AND THEY CAN HOPEFULLY GET THEIR LIVES BACK IN ORDER. DEBBY RYAN LIVES IN ORLO VISTA. IT WAS LIKE A RIVER AND IT WAS VERY FAST MOVING AND EVERYTHING. SHE GAVE US A TOUR OF HER HOME WHICH FLOODED DURING HURRICANE IAN IN 2022. THIS WAS ALL WATER. WATER WAS UP TO THAT SECOND STEP AND THAT WAS ON FRIDAY. SO I DON’T KNOW HOW HIGH IT WAS BEFORE THEN AND ALL THAT HIGH WATER DEVASTATED THE INSIDE OF MANY PEOPLE’S HOMES. FLOORING IS COMING APART, PLUMBING FOR LAUNDRY ROOMS IS DAMAGED. THERE’S MOLD INSIDE HOMES AND IN SOME CASES, MOBILE HOMES WERE DESTROYED AND HAD TO BE TAKEN AWAY. RYAN IS APPLYING FOR THE COUNTY’S PROGRAM AND WANTS TO MAKE SURE HER NEIGHBORS KNOW ABOUT IT, TOO. THERE’S 6000 PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN ORLO VISTA. YOU SAW HOW FEW PEOPLE WERE THERE. THEY’RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO HELP PEOPLE. THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS OR KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM, AND THAT’S A SHAME. THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO APPLY FOR FUNDING. WE POSTED THAT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE, WESH.COM. UNDER THE HURRICANE TAB. TRIM THE TREES, CLEAR YOUR YARD, FILL YOUR GAS TANK. THESE ARE ALL STANDARD THINGS WE DO TO PREPARE FOR A HURRICANE. METEOROLOGIST KELLIANNE KLASS REMINDS US NOT TO FORGET ABOUT THE SMALLER TASKS THAT CAN MAKE LIFE A LOT LESS STRESSFUL. IF YOU LOSE POWER OR ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER. WASH YOUR DISHES AND DO YOUR LAUNDRY. FILL UP ANY PRESCRIPTIONS YOU MAY NEED. IF YOU HAVE A DOG, MAKE SURE TO GET SOME PEE PADS. IT COULD BE A WHILE BEFORE THEY CAN GET OUTSIDE AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH FOOD, WATER, AND LITTER FOR YOUR PET. CHARGE ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CHARGE BANKS. WALK THROUGH YOUR HOME AND TAKE VIDEO OF EVERYTHING. IT WILL HELP YOU IF YOU NEED TO MAKE A CLAIM LATER. FILL PLASTIC BAGS WITH WATER AND FREEZE THEM BEFORE THE STORM. OH, AND DON’T FORGET TO COOLER. DON’T WAIT UNTIL A STORM IS COMING TO CHECK YOUR INSURANCE. UP NEXT, THE SPECIFIC PROTECTIONS YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR IN YOUR HOME INSURANCE POLICY. AND SANDBAGS CAN KEEP THE WATER OUT, BUT ONLY WHEN USED CORRECTLY. WE GET OUR HANDS DIRTY, SHOWING YOU THE FASTEST AND EASIEST WAY TO FILL. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR INSURANCE BEFORE A BIG STORM HITS. FIRST WARNING, METEOROLOGIST CAM TRAN EXPLAINS WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE FINE PRINT. REVIEW YOUR HOMEOWNER’S POLICY BY LOOKING AT THE DECLARATION PAGE. THAT’S WHERE YOU’LL FIND YOUR COVERAGE LIMITS AND DEDUCTIBLES. EXPERTS SAY THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION HAS GONE UP IN RECENT YEARS, SO YOU MAY HAVE A SHORTFALL IN COVERAGE IF YOU HAVEN’T UPDATED YOUR POLICY IN A WHILE. IT’S ALSO HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO GET FLOOD INSURANCE, EVEN IF YOU DON’T LIVE IN A FLOOD ZONE. THIS IS NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR TRADITIONAL HOME POLICY. EXPERTS HIGHLY RECOMMEND FLOOD INSURANCE EVEN IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, ESPECIALLY AFTER WE SAW SIGNIFICANT FLOODING DURING HURRICANES IAN AND MILTON. YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO GET YOUR INSURANCE POLICIES IN PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ONCE A WATCH OR WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED, YOU CAN NO LONGER ADD OR CHANGE A HOMEOWNER’S POLICY FOR FLOOD INSURANCE POLICY. IT’S EVEN LONGER. IT TAKES 30 DAYS TO TAKE EFFECT. SANDBAGS ARE OFTEN THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN PROTECTING YOUR HOME FROM RISING WATERS, BUT MANY PEOPLE DON’T KNOW HOW TO FILL THEM UP OR LAY THEM DOWN PROPERLY. FIRST WARNING METEOROLOGIST MARQUISE MEDA SHOWS US THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO USE SANDBAGS. EVERY YEAR A STORM SEASON APPROACHES. WE COVER SANDBAG DISTRIBUTION SITES ACROSS THE REGION. HOMEOWNERS LINE UP EAGER TO FILL UP SANDBAGS TO PROTECT THEIR HOME FROM RISING WATERS. SO WE PROVIDE THE BAGS, WE PROVIDE THE SAND. WE PROVIDE THE MECHANISM. THE RESIDENTS HAVE TO PROVIDE THEIR THEIR ENERGY AND AND THEIR THEIR BODY STRENGTH TO DO THIS. I GOT HANDS ON TRAINING WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. WE ROLLED UP OUR SLEEVES AND GOT TO WORK. IT’S 3 OR 4 SHOVEL FULLS. YOU DO NOT WANT TO FILL THE BAGS ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. YOU WANT TO LEAVE SOME SPACE IN ORDER TO TIE THEM OFF. SHOVELING INTO THE BAG CAN BE TRICKY. SO THE COUNTY MADE FUNNELS TO HELP OUT. SO THESE ARE OUR OLD SAFETY CONES THAT WE’VE HAD SITTING ON A SHELF. TURN THEM UPSIDE DOWN AND THEY MAKE A WONDERFUL FUNNEL. OFFICIALS SAY FUNNELING SAND TAKES LESS TIME THAN SHOVELING. SO THIS METHOD COULD GET THE LINE MOVING AND PEOPLE CAN GET HOME FASTER. TO MY SURPRISE, THE BAGS WEIGHED LESS THAN I EXPECTED BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT FILLED TO THE BRIM. THEY’RE MUCH EASIER TO PICK UP. THEY ARE ABOUT 10 TO 12 POUNDS EACH. IF YOU FILLED IT CORRECTLY, YOU’LL GET TEN SANDBAGS PER RESIDENT. TEN SANDBAGS CAN DO A LOT. THEY WILL TYPICALLY COVER THE AVERAGE SLIDING GLASS DOOR. THE FRONT OF A GARAGE DOOR. PLACEMENT IS KEY AND SO IS PROPER LAYERING. ONCE YOU PLACE THE SANDBAGS, YOU WANT TO STACK THEM IN 2 TO 3 LAYERS. MAKE SURE THAT NO WATER CAN SEEP THROUGH SO WE OFFSET THEM. WE GO STACK THEM OFFSET. SO YOU LAY YOUR FIRST FOUNDATION DOWN AND THEN YOU OFFSET ON TOP AND OVER ON TOP OF THE OTHER ONE. WHEN THE NEXT BIG STORM HEADS YOUR WAY, YOU CAN EXPECT FREE SANDBAG LOCATIONS TO OPEN IN JUST ABOUT EVERY CENTRAL FLORIDA COUNTY. WESH TWO IS COMMITTED TO HELPING YOU GET READY FOR WHATEVER COMES OUR WAY THIS HURRICANE SEASON. RIGHT NOW ON WESH.COM, YOU CAN FIND OUR 2025 HURRICANE SURVIVAL GUIDE. IT BREAKS DOWN IN DETAIL EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD DO BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A BIG STORM. AND IT’S FREE FROM THE WESH TWO NEWS AND FIRST WARNING WEATHER TEAM. THANKS FOR WATCHING. STAY SAFE THIS HURRICANE SEASON.

    Watches, warnings discontinued as Tropical Storm Jerry weakens

    Updated: 12:12 AM EDT Oct 11, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Tropical Storm Jerry is weakening in the Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center. >> Video above: A hurricane special from WESH 2All watches and warnings have been discontinued, the NHC said. Jerry was initially forecast to strengthen into a hurricane; however, the system is struggling and beginning to pull away from the Northern Leeward Islands. For parts of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and eastern Puerto Rico, Jerry may result in an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain.This rainfall is not expected to cause any additional flash flooding concerns, NHC says. Maximum sustained winds: 60 mphMinimum central pressure: 1004 mb >> Subscribe to the WESH 2 YouTube channel Watches and Warnings All watches and warnings have been discontinued. 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, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.>> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast

    Tropical Storm Jerry is weakening in the Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center.

    >> Video above: A hurricane special from WESH 2

    All watches and warnings have been discontinued, the NHC said.

    Jerry was initially forecast to strengthen into a hurricane; however, the system is struggling and beginning to pull away from the Northern Leeward Islands.

    For parts of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and eastern Puerto Rico, Jerry may result in an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain.

    This rainfall is not expected to cause any additional flash flooding concerns, NHC says.

    Maximum sustained winds: 60 mph

    Minimum central pressure: 1004 mb

    >> Subscribe to the WESH 2 YouTube channel

    Watches and Warnings

    All watches and warnings have been discontinued.

    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, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    >> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast

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  • NHC monitoring 2 areas for tropical development; 1 bringing rain to Florida much of the weekend

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    The National Hurricane Center is now monitoring two areas of interest in the Atlantic Ocean, including one in the Gulf. >>Video in player is previous forecastThat’s why rain is in the forecast for much of the weekend. Below: Eric Burris has a long-range look at tropicsNorth-Central GulfA weak area of low pressure has formed over the north-central Gulf and is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms off the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. This system is expected to move slowly northwestward during the next day or two, reaching the coast of Texas by Monday. Development of this system is not expected due to strong upper-level winds.Formation chance through 48 hours: 0%Formation chance through 7 days: 0%Tropical AtlanticA tropical wave between the west coast of Africa and Cabo Verde Islands is producing a broad area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Gradual development of the wave is possible over the next few days, and it could become a tropical depression by the middle to latter part of next week while moving across the central tropical Atlantic and approaching portions of the Leeward Islands.Formation chance through 48 hours: 10%Formation chance through 7 days: 60%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, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.>> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast>> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2

    The National Hurricane Center is now monitoring two areas of interest in the Atlantic Ocean, including one in the Gulf.

    >>Video in player is previous forecast

    That’s why rain is in the forecast for much of the weekend.

    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.

    Below: Eric Burris has a long-range look at tropics

    This content is imported from YouTube.
    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.

    North-Central Gulf

    A weak area of low pressure has formed over the north-central Gulf and is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms off the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. This system is expected to move slowly northwestward during the next day or two, reaching the coast of Texas by Monday. Development of this system is not expected due to strong upper-level winds.

    Formation chance through 48 hours: 0%

    Formation chance through 7 days: 0%

    Tropical Atlantic

    A tropical wave between the west coast of Africa and Cabo Verde Islands is producing a broad area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Gradual development of the wave is possible over the next few days, and it could become a tropical depression by the middle to latter part of next week while moving across the central tropical Atlantic and approaching portions of the Leeward Islands.

    Formation chance through 48 hours: 10%

    Formation chance through 7 days: 60%

    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.

    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, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    >> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast

    >> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2

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  • System in Atlantic upgraded to Tropical Storm Humberto

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    The tropical wave tagged Invest 93-L has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Humberto on Wednesday evening, according to the National Hurricane Center. Humberto is located several hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands, and has become better defined with showers and thunderstorms becoming better organized this afternoon. The system is expected to move generally west-northwestward to northwestward into the western tropical Atlantic, well north of the Leeward Islands. Maximum sustained winds: 40 mphMinimum central pressure: 1008 mbGeneral movement: WNW at 15 mphFujiwhara EffectHumberto could meet up with another tropical wave dubbed Invest 94-L. When two cyclones come within about 870 miles (1,400 km), they can:Orbit each otherMerge into a single, stronger stormOne absorbs the otherOne is flung away, altering its pathMore tropics Hurricane Gabrielle continues to churn in the Atlantic, but is losing steam and is not expected to reach the U.S.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>> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    The tropical wave tagged Invest 93-L has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Humberto on Wednesday evening, according to the National Hurricane Center.

    Humberto is located several hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands, and has become better defined with showers and thunderstorms becoming better organized this afternoon.

    The system is expected to move generally west-northwestward to northwestward into the western tropical Atlantic, well north of the Leeward Islands.

    • Maximum sustained winds: 40 mph
    • Minimum central pressure: 1008 mb
    • General movement: WNW at 15 mph

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    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.

    Fujiwhara Effect

    Humberto could meet up with another tropical wave dubbed Invest 94-L.

    When two cyclones come within about 870 miles (1,400 km), they can:

    • Orbit each other
    • Merge into a single, stronger storm
    • One absorbs the other
    • One is flung away, altering its path

    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 tropics

    Hurricane Gabrielle continues to churn in the Atlantic, but is losing steam and is not expected to reach the U.S.

    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

    >> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2

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  • National Hurricane Center monitoring Invest 94-L in the Atlantic for development

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    The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a large tropical wave in the Atlantic. Invest 94-L is producing disorganized showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds for most of the Windward and Leeward Islands. This wave is forecast to move west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph. Heavy rainfall and gusty winds are expected in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands tonight and on Wednesday, according to NHC. The system is expected to slow down and shift northwest when it arrives in the southwestern Atlantic near the Bahamas later this week.A tropical depression could develop in that area. The NHC advised that the following regions should keep an eye on the system: the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Bahamas. Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 30%Formation chance through the next 7 days: 70%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

    The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a large tropical wave in the Atlantic.

    Invest 94-L is producing disorganized showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds for most of the Windward and Leeward Islands.

    This wave is forecast to move west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph.

    Heavy rainfall and gusty winds are expected in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands tonight and on Wednesday, according to NHC.

    The system is expected to slow down and shift northwest when it arrives in the southwestern Atlantic near the Bahamas later this week.

    A tropical depression could develop in that area.

    The NHC advised that the following regions should keep an eye on the system: the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Bahamas.

    Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 30%

    Formation chance through the next 7 days: 70%

    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

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  • Secret Service thwarts massive telecom threat near UN General Assembly

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    Secret Service thwarts massive telecom threat near UN General Assembly

    The Secret Service thwarted a massive telecom threat near the United Nations that could have disrupted New York City’s communications.

    Updated: 2:39 PM PDT Sep 23, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ


    White House Correspondent

    The Secret Service stopped a massive telecom threat near the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Tuesday, just as world leaders gathered for meetings.Agents described the threat as one of the most sweeping communications threats ever found on U.S. soil, involving a hidden network capable of knocking out cell service across the city. Investigators discovered more than 300 SIM servers containing over 100,000 SIM cards within 35 miles of the U.N. headquarters. These servers had the potential to send out millions of fake calls and messages, which could cripple cell towers, jam 911 calls, and flood networks with chaos. An agent compared the potential impact to the blackouts following 9/11 and the Boston Marathon, noting that this system could trigger such a shutdown on demand.Experts warn that the threat extends beyond phones, as banking, emergency services, and even the power grid rely on telecom networks. Matt Pearl from the Center for Strategic and International Studies said, “A lot of this traffic goes over telecom networks, and in some cases, specifically, wireless networks. And so just literally everything in modern life could be hampered or taken down by this.”The investigation is ongoing, with the Secret Service indicating that the operation was highly organized, costing millions, and early signs suggest foreign actors may be involved. Experts say building such a system is not particularly difficult, with the main challenge being financial rather than technical expertise. They are also hard to detect, raising concerns that similar networks could exist in other cities.

    WASHINGTON —

    The Secret Service stopped a massive telecom threat near the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Tuesday, just as world leaders gathered for meetings.

    Agents described the threat as one of the most sweeping communications threats ever found on U.S. soil, involving a hidden network capable of knocking out cell service across the city. Investigators discovered more than 300 SIM servers containing over 100,000 SIM cards within 35 miles of the U.N. headquarters.

    These servers had the potential to send out millions of fake calls and messages, which could cripple cell towers, jam 911 calls, and flood networks with chaos. An agent compared the potential impact to the blackouts following 9/11 and the Boston Marathon, noting that this system could trigger such a shutdown on demand.

    Experts warn that the threat extends beyond phones, as banking, emergency services, and even the power grid rely on telecom networks.

    Matt Pearl from the Center for Strategic and International Studies said, “A lot of this traffic goes over telecom networks, and in some cases, specifically, wireless networks. And so just literally everything in modern life could be hampered or taken down by this.”

    The investigation is ongoing, with the Secret Service indicating that the operation was highly organized, costing millions, and early signs suggest foreign actors may be involved.

    Experts say building such a system is not particularly difficult, with the main challenge being financial rather than technical expertise. They are also hard to detect, raising concerns that similar networks could exist in other cities.

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

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    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

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  • Tropical Storm Gabrielle forecast to strengthen into hurricane this weekend, NHC says

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    Tropical Storm Gabrielle forecast to strengthen into hurricane this weekend, NHC says

    THE WEEKEND IS FINALLY HERE. IT’S NOT 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE SOME AND IT’S DRY. MARQUISE I THINK YOU’RE SERVING UP A NICE ONE TODAY. I LOVE THE OPTIMISM RADIATING OFF YOU GUYS RIGHT NOW. THE WEEKEND IS LOOKING GORGEOUS. ALMOST AS GOOD AS WE DID LOOK TODAY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, AS WE’RE BACK IN THE UPPER 80S AND LOWER 90S INLAND, JUST A TOUCH COOLER ALONG THE COAST. UPPER 80S FOR YOU FOLKS. BUT AS WE CONTINUE ACROSS YOUR SEVEN DAY CERTIFIED MOST ACCURATE FORECAST THIS WEEKEND, WE’LL SEE THAT SUNSHINE RETURN ON SATURDAY AHEAD OF SOME FALL RAIN SHOWERS. SO A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO COMING OUR DIRECTION OUT IN DAYTONA BEACH RIGHT NOW. TEMPERATURES HAVE FALLEN BACK INTO THE LOWER 80S. A COUPLE CLOUDS IN THE PICTURE MOMENTARILY. EVENTUALLY YOU’LL CLEAR OUT JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE AS TEMPERATURES DROP INTO THE 70S TONIGHT. RIGHT NOW, THE WINDS ARE COMING IN OFF THE SHORELINE. THAT’S INCREASING THE MOISTURE CONTENT IN THE ATMOSPHERE, BUT IT WILL BE A DRY EVENING OVERALL IN REGARDS TO THE RAINFALL OUT ACROSS I 75. WE HAD A PAIR ACTUALLY A TRIPLET OF 86 DEGREE TEMPERATURES IN OCALA. THE VILLAGES IN WILDWOOD, INSIDE THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. YOU’RE ROCKING 83 DEGREE TEMPERATURES HERE AT 718. AND OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR EVENING, YOU’LL SEE THOSE WINDS BEGIN TO CALM DOWN AS WELL. WITH THIS SYSTEM OF LOW PRESSURE PUSHING FURTHER TOWARDS THE EAST, OPENING THE DOOR FOR HIGH PRESSURE IN DRIER CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT. BEAUTIFUL WEATHER FOR SOME FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL AS THE O’GALLEY COMMODORES ARE TAKING ON THE COCOA KNIGHTS IN BREVARD COUNTY, SHOWERS ARE NO LONGER IN THE PICTURE. JUST A LIGHT BREEZE WILL BE PRESENT OVER THE DURATION OF THE GAME. ALSO, THE OSCEOLA COWBOYS TAKING ON THE JONES FIGHTING TIGERS. A LITTLE BIT BREEZY EARLY ON. WE TALKED ABOUT THOSE WIND SPEEDS JUST A MOMENT AGO. WE’VE SEEN THE GUSTS AS HIGH AS 20MPH. RIGHT NOW THEY SIT BETWEEN 10 AND 15 MILE PER HOUR CONDITIONS AND YOU’RE PARTLY CLOUDY OVER THE DURATION OF YOUR GAME AS WELL. OFF IN MELBOURNE WE DO SEE THOSE SKIES CLEARING OVERNIGHT. TEMPERATURE WISE WE DROP INTO THE UPPER 70S BEFORE THE NIGHT IS SAID AND DONE, PAVING THE WAY FOR PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES EARLY ON. NOW, ALONG THE COAST, THERE’S A SMALL CHANCE FOR A FEW SHOWERS WITH THAT EAST COAST SEA BREEZE PULLING IN. WE’LL HOLD ON TO THAT SMALL OPPORTUNITY IN THE AFTERNOON. THE MAJORITY OF YOUR DAY ON SATURDAY, THOUGH, WILL BE FILLED WITH SUNSHINE UNTIL WE START TO WATCH OUT FOR THE SMALL CHANCE FOR SOME SHOWERS AND STORMS. AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR WEEKEND FORECAST ON FUTURECAST. HERE’S THAT HIGH PRESSURE CENTER THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT? ANYTIME YOU HAVE A HIGH SURROUNDING YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS, YOU CAN EXPECT SOME FAIR WEATHER CONDITIONS. ALMOST. THINK OF IT AS A DOME BLOCKING OUT THAT CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY FROM ENTERING. WINDS ARE ALSO PRIMARILY COMING IN FROM THE NORTH, AND THAT WILL KEEP YOU RIGHT AROUND YOUR SEASONAL AVERAGE, IF NOT JUST A BIT WARMER. AS FAR AS RAIN COVERAGE IS CONCERNED, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY LOOK PRISTINE. THIS WEEKEND, A 30% COVERAGE OF SHOWERS INLAND ON SATURDAY, A 20% CHANCE ON SUNDAY. UNFORTUNATELY, AS WE SWING INTO THE FIRST DAY OF FALL. RAIN CHANCES WILL BE ELEVATED AND THAT’S COURTESY OF A STALLED STATIONARY BOUNDARY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. AS WE TAKE YOU OUT TO THE ATLANTIC, OF COURSE, THE MAJOR HEADLINE THAT’S TROPICAL STORM GABRIELLE, IN WHICH SOME MODELS, AS WE HEAD INTO THE START OF YOUR WORKWEEK, ARE INDICATING THIS FEATURE COULD INTENSIFY TO A CATEGORY TWO OR A CATEGORY THREE STORM. AS WE TAKE A PEEK AT THE CONE OF UNCERTAINTY. CATEGORY ONE ON SUNDAY. THAT’S SUNDAY EARLY ON IN THE MORNING. MAX WINDS AT 75MPH. BUT LOOK WHAT HAPPENS AS WE JUMP AHEAD TO THE START OF THE WORKWEEK ON MONDAY. 105 MILE PER HOUR CONDITIONS AS THE SYSTEM WILL BE JUST EAST OF THE ISLANDS OF BERMUDA. BACK HERE AT HOME, THOUGH, NO IMPACTS TO US IN REGARDS TO TROPICAL STORM GABRIELLE. BUT WE SEE THAT ELEVATED RAIN CHANCE ON MONDAY TO KICK OFF THE WORKWEEK, COURTESY OF THAT STALLED STATIONARY BOUNDARY. THEREFORE, AS FALL BEGINS ON MONDAY, IT’S A 50% COVERAGE OF SHOWERS WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER 90S. AND THE LOWER 90S WILL BE A FREQUENT SPOT FOR US BEC

    Tropical Storm Gabrielle forecast to strengthen into hurricane this weekend, NHC says

    Updated: 7:44 PM EDT Sep 19, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Tropical Storm Gabrielle is expected to strengthen this weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center. The NHC said Gabrielle is forecast to become a hurricane by Sunday and pass east of Bermuda Sunday night and Monday.Gabrielle has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and a minimum central pressure of 1004 mb. The system is moving west-northwest at a speed of 12 mph. There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect at this time. However, the NHC advised Bermuda to monitor the progress of Gabrielle. Eastern tropical waveA tropical wave is producing showers and thunderstorms off the coast of Africa, according to the NHC.Slow development of this system is possible as it moves west-northwestward across the central tropical Atlantic. Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 0%Formation chance through the next 7 days: 20%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.

    Tropical Storm Gabrielle is expected to strengthen this weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center.

    The NHC said Gabrielle is forecast to become a hurricane by Sunday and pass east of Bermuda Sunday night and Monday.

    Gabrielle has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and a minimum central pressure of 1004 mb.

    The system is moving west-northwest at a speed of 12 mph.

    There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect at this time. However, the NHC advised Bermuda to monitor the progress of Gabrielle.

    Eastern tropical wave

    A tropical wave is producing showers and thunderstorms off the coast of Africa, according to the NHC.

    Slow development of this system is possible as it moves west-northwestward across the central tropical Atlantic.

    Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 0%

    Formation chance through the next 7 days: 20%

    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.

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  • Tropical Storm Gabrielle ‘poorly organized’ over the Atlantic, but expected to strengthen, NHC says

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    Tropical Storm Gabrielle formed over the Atlantic on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center. The NHC said Gabrielle is poorly organized and battling strong wind shear as it jogs toward the west-northwest. Gabrielle has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and a minimum central pressure of 1004 mb.The NHC said little change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours, but some gradual intensification is forecast over the weekend. Tropical Storm Gabrielle could strengthen into a hurricane. However, it is not expected to affect land during the next several days.There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect at this time. Eastern tropical waveA new tropical wave is expected to move off the coast of Africa by Friday, according to the NHC.Slow development of this system is possible as it moves west-northwestward across the central tropical Atlantic. Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 0%Formation chance through the next 7 days: 20%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.

    Tropical Storm Gabrielle formed over the Atlantic on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

    The NHC said Gabrielle is poorly organized and battling strong wind shear as it jogs toward the west-northwest.

    Gabrielle has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and a minimum central pressure of 1004 mb.

    The NHC said little change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours, but some gradual intensification is forecast over the weekend.

    Tropical Storm Gabrielle could strengthen into a hurricane. However, it is not expected to affect land during the next several days.

    There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect at this time.

    Eastern tropical wave

    A new tropical wave is expected to move off the coast of Africa by Friday, according to the NHC.

    Slow development of this system is possible as it moves west-northwestward across the central tropical Atlantic.

    Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 0%

    Formation chance through the next 7 days: 20%

    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.

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  • Invest 92-L could become next tropical storm; NHC monitoring new area of interest

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    The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two areas in the Atlantic. Tropical wave Invest 92-LThe tropical wave, designated as Invest 92-L, is located between the Windward Islands and the coast of West Africa and is producing showers and thunderstorms.Dry and stable air could likely limit this system’s development over the next few days, but a tropical depression or named storm could form by the middle to latter part of this week.The system is expected to move west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph over the central tropical Atlantic, the NHC said.Related: Tracking Invest 92-L: Maps, path, spaghetti models Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 90%Formation chance through the next 7 days: 90%At this time, the development is not expected to affect the U.S.Eastern tropical wave The NHC tagged a new area to monitor off the west coast of Africa. The tropical wave is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Slow development of the system is possible as it moves from the eastern to the central portion of the Atlantic. Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 10%Formation chance through the next 7 days: 20%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>> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2

    The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two areas in the Atlantic.

    Tropical wave Invest 92-L

    The tropical wave, designated as Invest 92-L, is located between the Windward Islands and the coast of West Africa and is producing showers and thunderstorms.

    Dry and stable air could likely limit this system’s development over the next few days, but a tropical depression or named storm could form by the middle to latter part of this week.

    The system is expected to move west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph over the central tropical Atlantic, the NHC said.

    Related: Tracking Invest 92-L: Maps, path, spaghetti models

    Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 90%

    Formation chance through the next 7 days: 90%

    At this time, the development is not expected to affect the U.S.

    Eastern tropical wave

    The NHC tagged a new area to monitor off the west coast of Africa. The tropical wave is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

    Slow development of the system is possible as it moves from the eastern to the central portion of the Atlantic.

    Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 10%

    Formation chance through the next 7 days: 20%

    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

    >> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2

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  • Pope Leo XIV feeds fish as he opens Vatican’s ambitious model of sustainable farming and education

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    Pope Leo XIV fed fish, petted horses and visited organic vineyards Friday as he inaugurated the Vatican’s ambitious project to turn Pope Francis’ preaching about caring for the environment into practice.Leo formally opened Borgo Laudato Si, a 55-acre utopian experiment in sustainable farming, vocational training and environmental education located on the grounds of the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo. The Vatican hopes the center, open to student groups, CEOs and others, will be a model of ecological stewardship, education and spirituality for the Catholic Church and beyond.Leo travelled by helicopter to Castel Gandolfo and then zoomed around the estate’s cypress-lined gardens in an electric golf cart to reach the center, which is named for Francis’ landmark 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si,” or Praised Be. The document, which inspired an entire church movement, cast care for the planet as an urgent and existential moral concern that was inherently tied to questions of human dignity and justice, especially for the poor.Leo has strongly reaffirmed Francis’ focus on the need to care for God’s creation, and celebrated the first “green” Mass in the estate’s gardens earlier this summer, using a new set of prayers inspired by the encyclical that specifically invoke prayers for creation. On Friday, some 10 years after Laudato Si was published, Leo presided over a liturgy to bless the new center after touring its gardens, fishpond, farm, and classrooms.Leo recalled that according to the Bible, human beings have a special place in the act of creation, created in the “image and likeness of God.”“But this privilege comes with a great responsibility: that of caring for all other creatures, in accordance with the creator’s plan,” he said. “Care for creation, therefore, represents a true vocation for every human being, a commitment to be carried out within creation itself, without ever forgetting that we are creatures among creatures, and not creators.”A greenhouse inspired by St. Peter’s SquareLeo spoke from the heart of the project: a huge greenhouse in the same curved, embracing shape as the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square that faces a 10-room educational facility and dining hall. Once it’s up and running, visiting groups can come for an afternoon school trip to learn about organic farming, or a weekslong course on regenerative agriculture.The center aims to accomplish many of the goals of the environmental cause. Solar panels provide all the power the facility needs, plastics are banned, and recycling and composting systems used to reach zero-waste. Officials say water will be conserved and maximized via “smart irrigation” systems that use artificial intelligence to determine plants’ needs, along with rainwater harvesting and the installation of wastewater treatment and reuse systems.There is a social component as well. The Vatican’s first-ever vocational school on the grounds will aim to provide on-site training in sustainable gardening, organic winemaking, and olive harvesting to offer new job opportunities for particularly vulnerable groups: victims of domestic violence, refugees, recovering addicts, and rehabilitated prisoners.The products made will be sold on-site, with profits reinvested in the educational center: Laudato Si wine, organic olive oil, herbal teas from the farm’s aromatic garden, and cheese made from its 60 dairy cows, continuing a tradition of agricultural production that for centuries has subsidized monasteries and convents.While school groups are a core target audience, organizers also want to invite CEOs and professionals for executive education seminars, to sensitize the world of business to the need for sustainable economic growth.Officials declined to discuss the financing of the project, other than to say an undisclosed number of partners had invested in it and that confidential business plans precluded the Vatican from releasing further information.

    Pope Leo XIV fed fish, petted horses and visited organic vineyards Friday as he inaugurated the Vatican’s ambitious project to turn Pope Francis’ preaching about caring for the environment into practice.

    Leo formally opened Borgo Laudato Si, a 55-acre utopian experiment in sustainable farming, vocational training and environmental education located on the grounds of the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo. The Vatican hopes the center, open to student groups, CEOs and others, will be a model of ecological stewardship, education and spirituality for the Catholic Church and beyond.

    Leo travelled by helicopter to Castel Gandolfo and then zoomed around the estate’s cypress-lined gardens in an electric golf cart to reach the center, which is named for Francis’ landmark 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si,” or Praised Be. The document, which inspired an entire church movement, cast care for the planet as an urgent and existential moral concern that was inherently tied to questions of human dignity and justice, especially for the poor.

    Leo has strongly reaffirmed Francis’ focus on the need to care for God’s creation, and celebrated the first “green” Mass in the estate’s gardens earlier this summer, using a new set of prayers inspired by the encyclical that specifically invoke prayers for creation. On Friday, some 10 years after Laudato Si was published, Leo presided over a liturgy to bless the new center after touring its gardens, fishpond, farm, and classrooms.

    Leo recalled that according to the Bible, human beings have a special place in the act of creation, created in the “image and likeness of God.”

    “But this privilege comes with a great responsibility: that of caring for all other creatures, in accordance with the creator’s plan,” he said. “Care for creation, therefore, represents a true vocation for every human being, a commitment to be carried out within creation itself, without ever forgetting that we are creatures among creatures, and not creators.”

    FILIPPO MONTEFORTE

    Pope Leo XIV attends the inauguration of the “Borgo Laudato Si’” Advanced Training Center at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, on September 5, 2025. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

    A greenhouse inspired by St. Peter’s Square

    Leo spoke from the heart of the project: a huge greenhouse in the same curved, embracing shape as the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square that faces a 10-room educational facility and dining hall. Once it’s up and running, visiting groups can come for an afternoon school trip to learn about organic farming, or a weekslong course on regenerative agriculture.

    The center aims to accomplish many of the goals of the environmental cause. Solar panels provide all the power the facility needs, plastics are banned, and recycling and composting systems used to reach zero-waste. Officials say water will be conserved and maximized via “smart irrigation” systems that use artificial intelligence to determine plants’ needs, along with rainwater harvesting and the installation of wastewater treatment and reuse systems.

    Pope Leo XIV presides over a Liturgy of the Word after the inauguration of the "Borgo Laudato Si'" Advanced Training Center at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, on September 5, 2025. Borgo Laudato Si' is training in integral ecology and fraternity, an education that aims to be inclusive and accessible to all, with particular attention to those in vulnerable situations. From job training to educational programs, from immersive experiences in contact with nature to seminars and cultural events, Borgo Laudato Si' is committed to protecting and developing through investment in education, with a consistent commitment to promoting a culture of care. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP) (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)

    FILIPPO MONTEFORTE

    Pope Leo XIV presides over a Liturgy of the Word after the inauguration of the “Borgo Laudato Si’” Advanced Training Center at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, on September 5, 2025. Borgo Laudato Si’ is training in integral ecology and fraternity, an education that aims to be inclusive and accessible to all, with particular attention to those in vulnerable situations. From job training to educational programs, from immersive experiences in contact with nature to seminars and cultural events, Borgo Laudato Si’ is committed to protecting and developing through investment in education, with a consistent commitment to promoting a culture of care. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP) (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)

    There is a social component as well. The Vatican’s first-ever vocational school on the grounds will aim to provide on-site training in sustainable gardening, organic winemaking, and olive harvesting to offer new job opportunities for particularly vulnerable groups: victims of domestic violence, refugees, recovering addicts, and rehabilitated prisoners.

    The products made will be sold on-site, with profits reinvested in the educational center: Laudato Si wine, organic olive oil, herbal teas from the farm’s aromatic garden, and cheese made from its 60 dairy cows, continuing a tradition of agricultural production that for centuries has subsidized monasteries and convents.

    While school groups are a core target audience, organizers also want to invite CEOs and professionals for executive education seminars, to sensitize the world of business to the need for sustainable economic growth.

    Officials declined to discuss the financing of the project, other than to say an undisclosed number of partners had invested in it and that confidential business plans precluded the Vatican from releasing further information.

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