ReportWire

Tag: Weather Article

  • Historic Anna Maria church shines bright despite hurricane damage

    [ad_1]

    ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Fla. — Nearly one year after Hurricane Milton made landfall just south of Anna Maria Island, the three cities that make up the barrier island are still working to recover. 

    In the heart of Anna Maria, the City Pier still sits closed. The state budget has allocated more than $1.5 million to rebuild the pier, which will cost anywhere from $6 million to $9 million.

    What You Need To Know

    • The chapel at Roser Church was closed for nearly eight months after sustaining water damage

    • Church leaders and parishioners worked together to restore historic church

    • The chapel was built in 1913 and has a long history 

    • Anna Maria City Pier will likely be closed until late 2026


    The city’s mayor says they are working with FEMA and Manatee County to secure additional funding to finish the project. Their goal is to reopen the pier by fall 2026.

    In Bradenton Beach, the large yellow house that sits facing the beach on Gulf Drive that was infamously blown over during Hurricane Milton still sits in the same spot. While power has been disconnected and fencing erected on the property, the house itself sits almost untouched, pulling the eyes of drivers and pedestrians.


    Roser Church, which sits on Pine Ave in Anna Maria, is back open following months of renovations.

    Parishioner and church leader Bill Marini says that as soon as the bridges reopened following the hurricanes, he rushed to the church before checking on his own home.

    “I just had to get here… and my wife said, ‘That’s fine – we’ll go!’” he recalled. “God was just leading me to come… he wanted me to come here to see.”

    Marini says he discovered water had come up through the original wood floors of the chapel, and much of the electrical system had fried. He worked quickly to get contractors and a remediation company to the church, which saved some of the century-old wood and fixtures.

    While Marini re-painted each of the church’s 17 rooms, a team of church leaders and congregation members assisted with other projects to help bring the historic building back to life.

    Pastor Dirk Rodgers also felt the responsibility that comes with leading such a historic church. Pastor Dirk says the church has always been non-denominational, long before that was a popular term. So after the hurricanes, he knew he had to keep the spirit of his community strong.

    “Really my burden was… how can we continue to give people hope?,” he said.

    In the days following the storm, Pastor Dirk led a church service outside for hundreds of people.

    “It’s just great to be a part of that organization that refuses to go down… we’re gonna be here,” he said.


     

    [ad_2]

    Angie Angers

    Source link

  • Raising Hope: A record number of homeowners are elevating

    [ad_1]

    Pinellas County, Fla. — The look and feel of hurricane recovery and rebuilding started changing dramatically in 2005 after the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Hurricane recovery and rebuilding has changed dramatically since 2005 after Hurricane Katrina

    •  After Hurricanes Helene and Milton, homeowners on the coast are opting to elevate their hurricane-damaged homes in record numbers

    • St. Petersburg-based JAS Builders has nearly 100 projects approved in Pinellas County primarily, but also in Citrus and Manatee

    • The entire process of lifting a home takes 10 to 12 months, and the total price can range from $200,000 to $2 million depending on several factors


    The house lifting industry gained national visibility in the years that followed and expanded further following other major storms, including Superstorm Sandy, that devastated the northeast in 2012, and the historic flooding in Texas after Hurricane Harvey’s landfall in 2017.

    “Once Katrina hit, we started learning about the whole industry, and there really wasn’t an industry before that hurricane,” said JAS Builders Co-owner and CEO Jeff Trosclair.

    “When Superstorm Sandy hit New Jersey and Long Island, the industry started migrating in that direction and lifting homes up there, but it really has not been something we’ve seen in these numbers here in Florida until recently,” Trosclair continued.

    Over the past 12 months since Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Bay Area homeowners in coastal communities and beyond have been opting to elevate their hurricane-damaged homes in record numbers, according to building officials.

    “Before the hurricanes, we may have only received calls for a few houses a year, but following Helene and Milton, we received thousands of calls for help from homeowners wanting to protect their property from future storms,” said JAS Builders Founder and Co-Owner Albert Jasuan.

    “Now, we’re transforming communities. It’s not just one or two houses per neighborhood. We’re transforming whole neighborhoods and whole streets. Everyone is calling us because they see what their neighbors are doing to stay connected to their communities, and they want to do it as well,” Jasuan added.

    Currently, St. Petersburg-based JAS Builders has nearly 100 projects approved in Pinellas County primarily, but also in Citrus and Manatee. The entire process to lift a home takes 10 to 12 months, and the total price can range from $200,000 to $2 million depending on several factors, including the size of the home, structural upgrades and plumbing and electrical modifications.

    “Some of these homes have flooded multiple times, and people are tired of dealing with extensive damage and ready to get them up to mitigate their risks,” said Jasuan standing in front of a Treasure Island home where JAS crews are almost done elevating the structure 14-feet high.

    “We don’t just lift the home. We get it out of harm’s way forever for the lifetime of the home and the lifetime of the person that wants to be there,” Jasuan continued.

    Every project is deeply personal for his co-owner, whose childhood home in New Orleans, where his mother still lives, flooded four times and was eventually elevated with help from FEMA after Hurricane Katrina in 2006.

    “Each storm left scars: favorite toys that were lost, family treasures ruined, and my parents shouldering the crushing stress of starting over again. So, this type of work really hits home for me,” said Trosclair.

    With a mission of building community resiliency, the co-owners of JAS Builders, along with nearly 200 employees, strive to bring safety, peace of mind and hope to hurricane-damaged communities.

    [ad_2]

    Erica Riggins

    Source link

  • South Pasadena couple gives update one year after Hurricane Helene

    [ad_1]

    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Hours after Hurricane Helene sent floodwaters and storm surge into homes all over the Bay area, families were clearing out their homes and assessing the damage.

    What You Need To Know

    • Dave Winkler and his wife, Connie, had a lot of damage in South Pasadena from Hurricane Helene
    • The couple had just finished renovating their South Pasadena home right before Helene. A year later, and their house is a shell
    • They were fortunate to be able to purchase a new home after living in a rental property all year

    Dave Winkler and his wife, Connie, had a lot of damage in South Pasadena. We watched as they washed their shoes that had been floating in floodwater. The couple cleared out everything they owned. A year later, and their house is a shell.

    Dave can still picture the kitchen, then and now. “It looked like the spin cycle on a washing machine, refrigerators upside down, couches floated and displaced themselves,” he said.

    Their bedroom and bathroom on the day of the storm and 12 months later are empty without the water-soaked carpet and bedroom set.

    Then there’s the pool. It was dark green when we were here last; now, crystal clear.

    “I had fish in the pool, and when I tried to drain it a few weeks later we actually had barnacles growing on the side of the pool,” Dave said.

    Dave said he used chemicals to clean and cut drywall to prevent molding. But there’s no real remedy to wash away the pain Hurricane Helene’s storm surge left behind.

    “It’s just sad. All of that effort, time, money and memories,” he said.

    The memories that date back decades in their house.

    “I gave the house to my mother, and she lived here for 20 years,” Dave said. “And when she passed, I came over and of course 20 years had gone by, and it needed a little bit of remodeling again and I decided to really expand the footprint of the house.”

    The couple had just finished renovating their South Pasadena home right before Hurricane Helene.

    “As you can see from my permitting in South Pasadena, my final, final inspection was on Sept. 12, 2024, just weeks before the storm,” he said.

    When they think about what their house looked like one year after the storm, there’s still a flood of emotions. Especially when they think about what was lost.  

    “I don’t care if you’re at Home Depot or out to breakfast; they’re still talking about it. It was absolutely traumatic for mostly everybody. It’s just how you deal with that afterwards,” Dave said.

    They were fortunate to be able to purchase a new home after living in a rental property all year.

    “Our entire lifetime now fits in half of a bedroom. That’s all the stuff we were able to save,” Connie said.

    They’ve tried to sell their South Pasadena home as is — but they want what it’s worth, so they’re going to renovate once again.

    “We just recently signed an agreement to hire a contractor because I didn’t want to go through it again. It was just too difficult,” Dave said.

    The only work they’re doing this time around is keeping their spirits up and remaining optimistic.

    “Let’s hope it’s a onetime thing and that we can put this behind us,” Dave said.

    They’re putting it behind them and on the market for someone else to enjoy.

    [ad_2]

    Saundra Weathers

    Source link

  • What to know about the 2025 Atlantic hurricane names

    [ad_1]

    The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is just over a month away, and there is a list of new names to familiarize yourself with.

    This year will follow up on a busy 2024 season where there were five landfalling hurricanes, three of which have had their names retired.

    What You Need To Know

    • Forecasters started naming storms in 1950

    • The 2025 name list was last used in 2019

    • There is a list of supplemental names if more than 21 names are used


    Researchers at Colorado State University are calling for above normal activity again this year, you can read more about the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season outlook here.

    How and when are storms named?

    A storm gets named when it achieves tropical storm status (winds of 39 mph or higher). It becomes a hurricane when winds reach 74 mph, but keeps the same name. In meteorology, any tropical storm or greater is referred to as a tropical cyclone.

    The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) creates lists of names and cycles each list every six years. Each list contains 21 names, alternating between male and female names. A name may be retired if it is deemed too destructive by the WMO and they would add a new name to the list.

    Here is the list of names that will be used this year. It was last used 6 years ago, in 2019. Dexter is new this year, replacing Dorian after it was retired for causing significant destruction in the Bahamas, Southeast U.S. and eastern Canada.

    History of naming conventions

    According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), hundreds of years ago, tropical cyclones were named after Saint’s Day, which occurred nearest to the day of the storm. Consider, “Hurricane Santa Ana,” a violent storm that hit Puerto Rico on July 26, 1825.

    Before 1950, storms were noted by their latitude and longitude. This proved problematic when trying to relay information to the public. It was confusing, so meteorologists streamlined this process using the phonetic alphabet to name the storms (Able, Baker, Charlie, etc.). 

    Starting in 1953, storms were given female names. Rumor has it that a member of the committee was angry at his wife and wanted to name a storm after her. 

    Whether that’s true, Alice was the first named storm of the 1953 season. All-female names continued until 1979, when male names were added to alternate within the list.

    Greek names

    Prior to 2021, after the 21 names were exhausted, the Greek alphabet was used. 2005 and 2020 were the only two seasons to feature the Greek alphabet. 

    However, this proved difficult for several reasons, including what would happen after a storm was so destructive the name should be retired, as was the case for Eta and Iota in 2020. Additionally, coronavirus variants use Greek letters, adding to possible confusion.

    Supplemental list

    To account for these issues, the WMO created a supplemental names list. This list featured another 21 names from A to W that alternate male and female names. This list will remain the same each year, only swapping out a name if it is retired. 

    Hurricane preparedness kit

    Now is the time to reevaluate your hurricane preparedness kit. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, your kit should include, at a minimum: 

    • Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home).
    • Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home).
    • Flashlight.
    • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible).
    •  Extra batteries.
    • First aid kit.
    • Medications (7-day supply) and medical items.
    • Multi-purpose tool, like a Swiss Army knife. 
    • Sanitation and personal hygiene items.
    • Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies).
    • Cellphone with charger.
    • Family and emergency contact information.
    • Extra cash (ATMs might be inoperable).
    • Extra fuel for generator and car.

    Depending on your family’s requirements, you may need to include medical care items, baby supplies, pet supplies, and other things, such as extra car and house keys.

    Additional supplies might include towels, plastic sheeting, duct tape, scissors and work gloves.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    [ad_2]

    Meteorologist Reid Lybarger, Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

    Source link

  • Over 550,000 power outages, Morganton to be without electricity for days

    Over 550,000 power outages, Morganton to be without electricity for days

    [ad_1]

    More than 550,000 customers were without power Sunday morning in North Carolina because of Helene’s impacts. Among the areas hit hardest in western North Carolina was the city of Morganton.  

    Duke Energy informed the city Saturday that its substations were underwater and they “estimate that power will remain off for another 3-5 days.”


    At least two people have died in conditions related to Helene, hundreds of roads are blocked by floodwater or downed trees, and rivers continue to rise, state officials said Friday. 

    A 4-year-old in Catawba County died in a crash on a flooded road and a Charlotte resident was killed when a tree fell on their home, Gov. Roy Cooper said.

    Buncombe County officials said Saturday they didn’t have an official fatality count to share with the public.

    Heavy rains caused flash floods, especially in western North Carolina on Friday. Cooper said over 100 rescues have happened and more are expected in coming days as rivers continue to rise.

    The vast majority of power outages were in the western part of the state, according to the tracking site poweroutage.us.

    Residents in western North Carolina were urged not to go out, to visit drivenc.gov for updates on roadways and not to drive through floodwaters, the governor said.

    Emergency management officials said 290 roads across the state are closed due to flooding, mudslides or other hazards. Officials asked residents to stay at home to let rescuers and utility workers be the only ones driving on the roads.

    Multiple shelters have been opened across western North Carolina for those who need to evacuate. 

    The Biden administration on Thursday approved a disaster declaration for North Carolina, making federal resources available to recover after the storm.

    Residents across the state are asked to stay informed of local forecasts and warnings and to take the following steps to ensure they are prepared.

    [ad_2]

    Jennifer Gamertsfelder

    Source link

  • High number of armyworms reported after Debby

    High number of armyworms reported after Debby

    [ad_1]

    UNION CO., N.C. — North Carolina is experiencing a surge of fall armyworms following Tropical Storm Debby, county officials report.

    According to North Carolina Cooperative Extension Union County Center Livestock Agent Rachel Owens, there are multiple reports of the pest damaging pastures and lawns. 

    What You Need To Know

    •  The population of fall armyworms is high after Debby
    •  Fall armyworms can damage pasture and lawns
    •  According to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Union County Center, eggs and larvae favor warm and humid conditions
    •  Trinity Lawn and Pool Solutions owner John Holland recommends preventative treatment


    Owens suggested that Debby possibly contributed to the rise in armyworm population because of the warm and humid conditions needed for eggs and larvae. 

    Trinity Lawn and Pool Solutions owner and operator John Holland, who services Union County and South Charlotte, has been busy treating yards for armyworms.

    “This guy will strip the grass of all these leaves, will eat it through the stem,” Holland said.

    He described how people start noticing a problem with a brown patch on their lawn, which gets bigger as time goes on. 

    The calls started to pick up after Debby came through.

    “Armyworms is something people struggle with, not to this extent. Usually a little bit later in the fall,” Holland said. 

    Holland said typically when you spot an infestation, it’s already too late.

    “It takes about 48 hours for your treatment to work, so if you wait, these guys can take huge of your chunks out of your yard overnight,” Holland said. 

    He recommends preventative care, which he said it’s also a cheaper option. 

    “Preventative treatment for armyworms is half to a third of the cost of getting it reseeded or aerated,” Holland said. 

    If homeowners plan to treat the lawn themselves, Holland recommends wearing protective equipment. 

    Additionally, he recommended that homeowners refrain from using lights at night, as they can attract moths to lay eggs on their lawns. 

    N.C. State University has a self reporting map for fall armyworm activity and damage.

    The Charlotte and Raleigh areas currently have higher reports than other areas of the state. 

    This map provides information on the distribution of armyworms in the Fall. Here is a full interactive map. (Zee Maps)

    [ad_2]

    Estephany Escobar

    Source link

  • Cloud seeding explained

    Cloud seeding explained

    [ad_1]

    Widespread flooding in Dubai last week has people wondering if cloud seeding is to blame for the disaster. The short answer is no, but here, I explain why that is the case.

    What You Need To Know

    • Cloud seeding can enhance rainfall by a small amount

    • You cannot create a rainstorm by cloud seeding

    • Cloud seeding works with water already present in the air

    In order to understand cloud seeding, one must understand how rain develops.

    In order to make it rain, you need moisture, a lifting mechanism in the atmosphere, and something for the moisture to condense on to.

    That last part is what cloud seeding focuses on.

    Condensation nuclei is the term for tiny particles in the air in which water vapor can condense on to, which in turn creates a rain drop.

    There are plenty of naturally occurring condensation nuclei in the atmosphere.

    Some examples are dust, smoke, pollen, sea salt, and other naturally occurring particles.

    Humans have artificially added some of these particles to the air in an effort to enhance rainfall and we have been doing it for decades.

    This is known as cloud seeding.

    Silver iodide is the particular agent of choice for cloud seeding.

    In order for cloud seeding to be successful, it must be done in an existing storm. 

    As stated earlier, without moisture and atmospheric lift, condensation nuclei are useless in producing rain.

    In the case of cloud seeding, humans are attempting to make more raindrops in a given cloud.

    Artificially adding condensation nuclei to the air in an existing storm can increase rainfall by up to 20%, but this is under ideal conditions.

    So in the case of the Dubai flood, cloud seeding likely had little impact on its outcome.

    Even if rainfall amounts were 10 to 20 percent less, similar flooding would have still occurred.

    In any case, it’s hard to quantify how much, if any, of this rain was enhanced by cloud seeding. It likely was much less than 20 percent.

    Weather models, including the one below, were predicting widespread flooding in the Dubai area days ahead of the event.

    These models do not include the effects cloud seeding in their algorithms.

    The city of Al Ain recorded 10 inches of rain from the storm, with around 6 inches at the Dubai airport. This is twice the city’s annual average. 

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    [ad_2]

    Meteorologist Kyle Hanson

    Source link

  • Cloud seeding explained

    Cloud seeding explained

    [ad_1]

    Widespread flooding in Dubai last week has people wondering if cloud seeding is to blame for the disaster. The short answer is no, but here, I explain why that is the case.

    What You Need To Know

    • Cloud seeding can enhance rainfall by a small amount

    • You cannot create a rainstorm by cloud seeding

    • Cloud seeding works with water already present in the air

    In order to understand cloud seeding, one must understand how rain develops.

    In order to make it rain, you need moisture, a lifting mechanism in the atmosphere, and something for the moisture to condense on to.

    That last part is what cloud seeding focuses on.

    Condensation nuclei is the term for tiny particles in the air in which water vapor can condense on to, which in turn creates a rain drop.

    There are plenty of naturally occurring condensation nuclei in the atmosphere.

    Some examples are dust, smoke, pollen, sea salt, and other naturally occurring particles.

    Humans have artificially added some of these particles to the air in an effort to enhance rainfall and we have been doing it for decades.

    This is known as cloud seeding.

    Silver iodide is the particular agent of choice for cloud seeding.

    In order for cloud seeding to be successful, it must be done in an existing storm. 

    As stated earlier, without moisture and atmospheric lift, condensation nuclei are useless in producing rain.

    In the case of cloud seeding, humans are attempting to make more raindrops in a given cloud.

    Artificially adding condensation nuclei to the air in an existing storm can increase rainfall by up to 20%, but this is under ideal conditions.

    So in the case of the Dubai flood, cloud seeding likely had little impact on its outcome.

    Even if rainfall amounts were 10 to 20 percent less, similar flooding would have still occurred.

    In any case, it’s hard to quantify how much, if any, of this rain was enhanced by cloud seeding. It likely was much less than 20 percent.

    Weather models, including the one below, were predicting widespread flooding in the Dubai area days ahead of the event.

    These models do not include the effects cloud seeding in their algorithms.

    The city of Al Ain recorded 10 inches of rain from the storm, with around 6 inches at the Dubai airport. This is twice the city’s annual average. 

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    [ad_2]

    Meteorologist Kyle Hanson

    Source link

  • PHOTOS: Storm damage, possible tornadoes reported in N.C. Thursday

    PHOTOS: Storm damage, possible tornadoes reported in N.C. Thursday

    [ad_1]

    Strong storms moved through North Carolina Thursday, taking down trees and power lines from the coast to the foothills. 

    Officials with the National Weather Service plan to survey possible tornado damage in Rowan, Wilkies and possibly Surry counties Friday. Storms there damaged buildings and took down trees. 

    Wind gusts in Raleigh hit 54 mph. The winds were stronger along the coast, where Jacksonville recorded top gusts at 60 mph. 

    In parts of western North Carolina, people saw more that two inches of rain over 24 hours. Foscoe, not far from Boone, recorded 3.69 inches of rain. Seven Devils had 2.78 inches of rain and Blowing Rock recorded 2.69 inches.

    [ad_2]

    Charles Duncan

    Source link

  • Look fast! A brief meteor shower peaks early Thursday morning

    Look fast! A brief meteor shower peaks early Thursday morning

    [ad_1]

    The new year starts with the Quadrantid meteor shower. But don’t blink, or you might miss it.

    What You Need To Know

    • Astronomers named the Quadrantids after a former constellation

    • They have a very short peak

    • The peak falls early Thursday morning

    • Moonlight will obscure the fainter meteors



    The Quadrantids aren’t one of the more well-known meteor showers, but they can still bring a decent number of meteors… if you’re looking at the right time.

    Most meteor showers have a peak that lasts a couple of days, but the Quadrantids’ shower is much shorter. It should peak within a few hours of 4 a.m. Eastern Time Thursday morning, according to Sky & Telescope.

    NASA says the Quadrantids produce roughly 120 meteors per hour in perfect conditions, although that can vary quite a bit. And this year won’t have ideal conditions even if you get away from city lights, thanks to a half-full moon hanging in the southeastern sky during the peak.

    If you give it a shot, let your eyes adjust to the dark sky for at least 15 minutes and try to shield the moon from view. The American Meteor Society recommends looking north. Even if moonlight washes out the fainter meteors, you might catch a bright fireball meteor as relatively larger particles burn up in the atmosphere.

    The Quadrantids are unusual, like December’s Geminids, because they come as the Earth passes through the debris of an asteroid, rather than a comet. The name itself is also unusual; it’s from the constellation “Quadrans Muralis,” which didn’t make the cut in 1922’s official, modern list of constellations.

    An image of an etching of an astronomical chart of constellations, showing a quadrant–Quadrans Muralis–above Bootes the Ploughman. Also shown are the dogs Asterion and Chara and the hair of Berenice. (Library of Congress)

    The next noteworthy meteor shower is the Lyrids in April. Unfortunately, the moon will be nearly full for that show.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Weather Staff

    Source link