Tag: Wisconsin

January’s full moon has a unique name
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Every month of the year has a full moon, and some even have more than one full moon, since the lunar cycle is 28 days.

Various groups, including Native American tribes and early Colonial Americans, have nicknamed these celestial events.

January’s name might surprise you.
What You Need To Know

The first full moon of the year is Monday, Jan. 13

Each full moon has a unique name

Names have been passed on for generations
The first full moon of the new year will happen Monday at 5:27 p.m. ET. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the first full moon of the year is the Full Wolf Moon.

The name comes from various sources, including Native American tribes, early Colonial Americans and even some Europeans.

The thought is that during January, wolves howl loudly due to the lack of food in the heart of winter.

Alternative names

Alternative full moon names include the Center Moon, used by the Assiniboine people of the Northern Great Plains. This name refers to the idea that this moon marked the middle of the cold season.

Other traditional full moon names that emphasize the cold season include the Cold Moon, Frost Exploding Moon, Freeze Up Moon, Severe Moon and Hard Moon.

Canada Goose Moon, Great Moon, Greetings Moon and Spirit Moon have also been names for the January full moon.

Moon phases

There are eight different phases of the moon. What phase follows a full moon?

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

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January 13, 2025
Heating vs. cooling: Which one is costing you more?
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Now that it’s winter, it’s time to prepare yourself to fork out some extra money each month on your energy bill. When it gets cold outside, turning on the heat is necessary, but it can become costly.

It depends where you live, but most people see a spike in their energy bill during winter and summer when it’s time to heat and cool your home. But which is more expensive?
What You Need To Know

Heating uses more energy than cooling

There is a bigger temperature difference between inside and outside during winter

There are various ways to help conserve energy and save money on your utility bill
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating your home uses more energy and costs more money than any other system in your home, making up almost 1/3 of your winter utility bill. Heating homes in the U.S. also uses more than four times as much energy as cooling.

There are a few reasons for this. One of them? The temperature difference between the inside and the outside of your home during winter and summer. The bigger the temperature difference, the harder your HVAC system has to work.

In the summer, that temperature difference in a warm-weather city between the inside and outside can be as high as 15 to 25 degrees on average, even higher in extreme cases. In the winter, the temperature difference in a cold-weather city between the inside and outside is much more significant than that.

Take Louisville, Ky., for example, a city that sees cold winters and warm summers. You can see the average temperature difference between the inside and outside during winter and summer is a significant difference.

Another reason is the process of heating versus cooling. Air conditioners remove heat from your home using electricity. It’s not creating cooler air, just displacing the excess heat from inside to outside.

Electric heating systems have to create heat for your home, which takes more work to convert electrical energy to heat. Depending on your home, heating systems can also run on natural gas, fuel oil or propane. Those fuel options can become more expensive than the price of electricity.

Everyone has a preference on what to set the thermostat at. It’s usually a balance between comfort inside your home versus conserving energy and saving money. The U.S. Department of Energy suggests that the ideal thermostat setting in the winter is around the upper 60s, and the mid-to-upper 70s during the summer.

One of the best ways to conserve energy and save money is to minimize the temperature difference between the inside and outside. In the winter, it may mean putting on some additional layers inside or lighting the fireplace. In the summer, it could mean turning on some fans to stay cool.

Here are some other tips on how to conserve energy and save some money on your utility bill during the winter and summer.

Our team of meteorologists dive deep into the science of weather and break down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
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Meteorologist Reid Lybarger

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January 1, 2025
High-impact events highlighted a busy year in weather
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This past year featured many significant weather events that won’t be forgotten by those who had to live through them. The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) estimates that 24 separate weather events this year caused at least a billion dollars in damage.
What You Need To Know

24 separate weather events caused at least one billion dollars in damage this past year

Most of these events occurred in the Southern Plains, Gulf Coast states or the Midwest

The costliest and deadliest weather events were hurricanes Helene and Milton

The number of billion-dollar weather disasters this year is above the 5-year average
Included in this number were 17 severe weather outbreaks, four tropical cyclone events, one wildfire and two winter storms.

Nationwide winter storm kicked off 2024

From the northwest to the south and then up the east coast, a major winter storm affected much of the country at the start of the year. Snow, sleet, ice and, at times, hurricane-force winds hit areas from the Pacific Northwest to the Rockies. The heavy snow also triggered an avalanche warning in Colorado and avalanche warnings in Utah.

The storm then impacted areas from Texas to Tennessee with snow and rain mixed as far south as Corpus Christi, lake-effect snow in Fort Worth and half a foot of snow in Nashville.

Anna Coleman sleds with her daughter C.J. Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. A snowstorm blanketed the area with up to eight inches of snow and frigid temperatures. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

The storm strengthened over the northeast, blanketing Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New York City with their first snowfall of an inch or more in 700 days.

Numerous severe weather outbreaks led to record tornado counts

This past year featured one of the highest tornado counts in recent memory, as six major tornado outbreaks struck the country. As of the start of November, the preliminary tornado count for 2024 is over 1,700, and if that number is verified, it would be the most on record up to that point of the year.

One state hit hardest by the uptick in tornadoes is Ohio. 2024 was a record year with at least 73 confirmed tornadoes. This is, unfortunately, a trend as 2023 tallied the third-most confirmed tornadoes with 60.

A reported tornado near Melrose, Ohio, on May 7, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Isaac Polanski Photography)

Almost a dozen more severe weather outbreaks ranging from late winter to early summer brought damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall.

A record-breaking hailstone was recovered in the panhandle of Texas in early June that measured over 7 inches long. The pineapple-sized hailstone is most likely the largest in Texas history!

2024 hurricane season rewrote the record books

Before the start of the 2024 hurricane season, forecasters were calling for one of the busiest on record, calling for up to 24 named storms and possibly as many as seven major hurricanes. While those extremes weren’t realized, it was still an above-average season, with 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and five major hurricanes.

Hurricane Beryl was an omen of things to come as it became the earliest-forming category five on record and left widespread damage from the Caribbean into the southern and central U.S.

A vehicle is stranded in high waters on a flooded highway in Houston, on Monday, July 8, 2024, after Beryl came ashore in Texas as a hurricane and dumped heavy rains along the coast. (AP Photo/Juan A. Lozano)

After a relative lull in activity from mid-July to late September, the hurricane season turned devastating as Hurricane Helene formed in the Caribbean, moved through the Gulf of Mexico as a category four, and left its mark on the southeast from Florida to the Carolinas. It was the strongest storm to make landfall in the Big Bend of Florida and the deadliest storm to strike the mainland U.S. since Katrina in 2005.

Helene brought record-breaking storm-surge flooding to Tampa Bay, triggered tornado outbreaks and caused catastrophic inland flooding in western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and western Virginia. As of publication, more than 200 people died because of Helene with almost 90 billion dollars in damage.

Men walk down a street flooded by Hurricane Helene in the Shore Acres neighborhood Sept. 27, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson, File)

Less than two weeks after Helene, Hurricane Milton struck the west coast of Florida, bringing deadly flooding and one of the worst tornado outbreaks in Florida’s history. At its peak, Milton was the second-strongest hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, behind Rita in 2005, with winds of 180 mph. At least 30 people died because of Milton, and over 85 billion dollars in damage has been attributed to the storm.

Glenn Frazier paddles around his Sumter County neighborhood in his kayak after Hurricane Milton brought intense flood waters to the area. (Spectrum News/Randy Rauch)

How this year stacks up

(Spectrum News Photo)

As the year came to a close, a string of powerful winter storms led to feet of lake-effect snow along Lake Erie and Lake Ontario in northern New York from late November to early December. Also, western wildfires raged in Southern California that threatened homes and businesses.

As for the 24 separate billion-dollar weather disasters this year, that number is just above the five-year average, but almost triple the average since this data was collected by the National Centers for Environmental Information in 1980.

The NCEI says the two overarching reasons for the increase in billion-dollar disasters are the increased population in vulnerable areas like the coasts, river floodplains, or the urban-wildland interface, and the ever-changing climate.

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

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December 30, 2024
Your trees in the winter: Dead or dormant?
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There is a different type of beauty during the winter. After months of seeing the luscious summer greenery and vibrant fall foliage, the colors fade and snow blankets the landscape in white.

But what happens to trees after shedding their leaves and becoming covered in snow or ice for the winter? Are they dead or dormant?
What You Need To Know

Not all trees are equally resistant to cold

Shedding leaves for the winter is a survival tactic

Trees’ dormancy is like an animal hibernating
Trees have survival instincts just like people and animals. Depending on the type of tree, it will either shed its leaves or have protective measures to survive the winter without losing any of its greenery.

Deciduous trees

In the fall, deciduous trees shed their leaves as a protective measure to prepare for the upcoming winter cold. Deciduous trees include oaks, maples, birches and willows, and any other tree you see losing leaves during autumn.

Losing leaves allows the tree to spend less energy in the winter. Instead of spending energy protecting its leaves during a cold and dry winter, it can protect itself, conserving moisture in the tree’s trunk, which keeps it from drying out.

A person stands by a frozen pond during snow fall on in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Winter also produces powerful storms with strong winds. Without leaves, wind can blow through trees and branches easier without drag, meaning less stress on the tree.

Even though trees can look dead in the winter, they’re probably just dormant. The dormancy period begins in the fall when leaves changes colors and fall off the trees and lasts through all of winter.

In the spring, trees come out of dormancy, reverse the internal processes, and begin growing leaves again.

Evergreen trees

Evergreen trees don’t shed their leaves or needles every winter like deciduous trees, hence the name ‘evergreen’. Instead, the leaves and needles have a waxy coating called cutin that helps protect the tree during the winter.

Evergreen trees include fir, spruce and pine trees, which also make up the most popular Christmas tree types.

Christmas trees laden with freshly fallen snow are displayed for sale at Boston Hill Farm, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, in North Andover, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

The ground freezes in the winter in colder climates and trees can’t draw water through their roots anymore. The cutin helps prevent water loss during winter, which allows the tree to survive cold temperatures more easily.

So, instead of the leaves acting as a liability and strain on the tree, evergreen leaves are their biggest assets. Evergreen trees don’t go completely dormant because of their natural protection.

Our team of meteorologists dive deep into the science of weather and break down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
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Meteorologist Reid Lybarger

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December 29, 2024
How some of Santa’s little reindeer relate to the weather
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We all know that Santa travels the world on Christmas Eve on a sleigh pulled by eight… no, nine, reindeer! But are you aware of the weather tie-ins with Santa and his reindeer?
What You Need To Know

Two reindeer are named after weather phenomena

Rudolph saved the day one Christmas Eve when fog covered most of the Earth

Santa uses forecasts from local meteorologists to plan his Christmas Eve flight
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

We’ve all heard the tale of Rudolph, and we’ll cover that part of the story in a moment, but first, let’s start with two of Santa’s original reindeer.

The original eight

You know Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, and Donner and Blitzen, but did you know that two of the reindeer are named after weather phenomena?

But which ones?

If you guessed Donner and Blitzen, you are correct!

Donner, also sometimes called Donder or Dunder, is named after thunder. The name comes from the Dutch word for thunder.

Blitzen, also spelled Blixen and Blixem, is named after lightning. The name also comes from a Dutch word meaning lightning.

Santa’s reindeer were never officially named until the 1823 release of the poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” also known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” by Clement C. Moore.

(AP Photo/Malin Moberg)

Here’s an interesting reindeer fact.

In the story “The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus” by L. Frank Baum, the author listed ten reindeer. Flossie and Glossie are Santa’s lead reindeer, while Racer and Pacer, Fearless and Peerless, Ready and Steady, and Feckless and Speckless are the rest of the team.

None of these names are weather-related terms.

No offense to L. Frank Baum, but I’m glad we stuck with Clement C. Moore’s names for Santa’s reindeer.

Rudolph leads the way

I think we all know the story of Rudolph.

This iconic reindeer showed up in 1939. Looked upon as a misfit (aren’t we all in some way), the other reindeer rejected Rudolph and made fun of him because of his red, glowing nose. Though that “little” abnormality came in handy “one foggy Christmas Eve.”

In an unprecedented weather event, one never seen before or seen since, an “outbreak” of fog blanketed most of the planet, and it became impossible for Santa to make his flight on Christmas Eve around the world.

All was lost until Santa realized that Rudolph and his incredible nose could lead the way.

This was Rudolph’s time to shine. (Pun intended.)

(File Photo)

And the rest is history. From that time on, Rudolph has been Santa’s lead reindeer.

Santa’s Christmas Eve forecast

Something you may not know is Santa Claus has a weather forecasting team at the North Pole.

Some elves specialize in forecasting the weather around the world. These meteorologists give Santa an overview of the weather around the globe on Christmas Eve, but Santa depends on local National Weather Service and TV meteorologists to provide him forecasts for cities along his flight path.

My daughter found out about this during a visit with Santa when she was about six years old.

I had taken her and her younger brother to see Santa a few days before Christmas. As we were next in line, Santa saw us, stood up, walked over to me and asked, “Gary, what kind of weather am I looking at on Christmas Eve?”

I gave him a quick forecast, he thanked me, walked back over to his chair and sat down as the next child climbed on his lap.

The expression on my daughter’s face was priceless.

“Santa knows you?” she asked as she looked up at me with a look of shock, confusion and pride. “Well, of course he does. Who do you think he gets his forecast from for this area? I’m a pilot, and he’s a pilot. I’m the perfect person to give him a ‘flight weather briefing.’”

Talk about a priceless memory that I will always remember.

(Gary Stephenson)

In the Christmas Eve sky

So on Christmas Eve night, if your skies are clear, look to the sky. You might see a red light moving across the sky. More than likely, it’s the beacon on an airplane, but it might, just might, be the glow of Rudolph’s red nose.

And if the weather is not so clear, rest well knowing that Santa’s got a well-trained team of reindeer pulling the sleigh and an accurate forecast so he can safely complete his Christmas Eve journey around the Earth.

I’ll finish my story with these final words.

My wish for all of you is to have a safe and Merry Christmas. And to Santa and the reindeer, have a good flight!

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

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December 23, 2024
Christmas trees need good weather to ‘stand in splendid beauty’
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O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches… as long as the weather stays off the naughty list.
What You Need To Know

Christmas trees do well in moderate weather

Trees are more susceptible to drought early on

Harmful fungi grow in very wet conditions

Tree farmers may have to adjust their practices as climate changes
Farmers grow Christmas trees in all 50 states. Unlike most crops, they’re not planted and harvested all in one season. It takes years for a tree to become ready, which can help fend off the problems of damaging weather.

Growing trees

Christmas trees are often spruces, pines or firs. Not surprisingly, farmers grow them in places where the climate allows them to have their best chance at becoming mature.

The details vary from place to place, but trees generally do best with moderate temperatures, plentiful (but not excessive) rainfall and no extreme cold or heat.

Damaging weather

Like most crops, Christmas trees don’t like drought. Farmers who grow seedlings typically have to do quite a bit of irrigation, according to Doug Hundley from the National Christmas Tree Association.

Irrigation isn’t as necessary once they’re about 12 inches tall and transplanted into fields, he adds, although they’re still vulnerable for the first year or two and will need some help during dry spells.

In this photo taken Nov. 8, 2011, David Barfield checks one of his saplings at his Christmas tree farm in New Caney, Texas. Only a handful of the 500 saplings planted survived the drought. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

Because these trees are a crop that can take ten years or longer to become ready for harvest, losses from drought usually don’t take as much of a toll as they would for single-season crops like corn or soybeans. Instead of losing 20% of an entire crop, farmers could confine their losses to just 20% of the younger trees, while the established trees survive.

Excessive rainfall can harm any tree, though. “We always think that drought is the great enemy. But in all agriculture, rain and flooding and oversaturation of the soil does just as much damage as droughts do,” says Hundley.

Wet conditions are good for fungi–which are bad for trees. They can kill the roots of a tree or cause needle cast, which is a disease that makes the older inner needles turn brown and fall off.

Needle cast on a spruce tree. (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)

These trees can face damage from out-of-season frosts and freezes. Those can damage or kill new growth, sometimes putting those trees back a year, even when farmers can prune the problem spots.

Extreme heat can ruin new growth, too. Hundley says the Pacific Northwest lost 5% to 10% of marketable trees after its heat wave in June 2021.

Climate change

Farming practices are adapting as conditions change over the years. To deal with the increase in precipitation in the eastern U.S., Hundley says some farmers are planting trees farther apart or pruning them differently to allow better airflow.

He also gives a specific example. “We grow a fir that’s native to only about a dozen mountain tops in the southern Appalachians. They grow naturally at about 6,000 feet. We can grow them on production farms, but only down to about 3,000 feet elevation. If you go lower than that, it becomes too warm, and the soil does not drain as well in flat land and they’re very susceptible to root rot.

“So, as the planet warms, we’re going to have to move up the hill, possibly, or we’re going to have to use alternative conifers that are used to warmer climates.”

Be green

Hundley says that farmers replace the trees as they come out and make an effort to disturb the soil as little as possible. Integrated pest management also lets them avoid using pesticides.

He also encourages people who buy real Christmas trees to recycle them if their community offers such a service. Often, the trees are chipped into mulch.

This Jan. 14, 2013 photo shows free mulch strewn in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, N.Y., available for residents to take home and use in urban backyards. The mulch comes from Christmas trees that are collected and recycled in a program run by the New York City Department of Sanitation and the New York City Parks Department. The city collects about 150,000 trees each year and uses the mulch in parks, playing fields and community gardens in addition to making some of it available for personal use. (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz)

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

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December 17, 2024
Final full moon of the year to be December’s ‘Cold Moon’
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The final full moon of the year will appear in the night sky this week. The December full moon, commonly known as the “Cold Moon”, appears during the longest periods of darkness just before the Winter Solstice. It is also known as the “Moon Before Yule” and the “Long Night Moon”.

The Moon will appear fullest at 4:02 a.m. ET on Dec. 15, but it will be visible on both the night of the 14th and 15th.
What You Need To Know

The final full moon of the year rises Saturday night

Will appear with the Geminid Meteor Shower

Next full moon will be the Wolf Moon on Jan. 13, 2025
The “Cold Moon” will notably be the highest full moon of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun will be at its lowest point of the sky, which means that the moon will be the opposite. That means that you will be able to see the bright “Cold Moon” for a longer period of time in the night sky.

Other events in the night sky

The Geminids, one of the more reliable meteor showers of the year, will be peaking around December 12th and 13th this year. While the shower is best viewed during the night and pre-dawn hours, activity typically begins around 9 or 10 p.m., according to NASA. It is important to note that the timing of the “Cold Moon” will make visibility of the meteor shower lower due to the brightness of the full moon.

Moon phases

There are eight different phases of the moon. What phase follows a full moon?
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Meteorologist Ian Cassette

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December 9, 2024
Oregon, Georgia, Boise State, Arizona State top seeds for 12-team playoff
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The new, 12-team College Football Playoff brings with it a promise to be bigger, more exciting, more lucrative.

Perfect or 100% fair? Well, nobody ever believed that.
What You Need To Know

College Football Playoff’s first 12-team bracket is set

The Oregon Ducks are the No. 1 seed; the top 4 seeds get a first-round bye

SMU makes playoff field, 3-loss Alabama left out

BELOW: A look at the first-round matchups
The first expanded playoff bracket unveiled Sunday left a presumably deserving Alabama team on the sideline in favor of an SMU squad that finished with a better record after playing a schedule that was not as difficult.

It ranked undefeated Oregon first but set up a possible rematch against Ohio State, the team that came closest to beating the Ducks this year.

It treated underdog Boise State like a favorite and banged-up Georgia like a world beater at No. 2.

It gave Ohio State home-field advantage against Tennessee for reasons it would take a supercomputer to figure out.

It gave the sport the multiweek tournament it has longed for, but also ensured there will be plenty to grouse about between now and when the trophy is handed out on Jan. 20 after what will easily be the longest college football season in history.

All of it, thankfully, will be sorted out on the field starting with first-round games on campuses Dec. 20 and 21, then over three succeeding rounds that will wind their way through traditional bowl sites.

Maybe Oregon coach Dan Lanning, whose undefeated Ducks are the favorite to win it all, put it best when he offered: “Winning a national championship is not supposed to be easy.”

Neither, it turns out, is figuring out who should play for it.

The Big Ten will lead the way with four teams in the tournament, followed by the SEC with three and the ACC with two. The lasting memory from the inaugural bracket will involve the decision that handed the ACC that second bid.

Alabama of the SEC didn’t play Saturday. SMU of the ACC did. The Mustangs fell behind by three touchdowns to Clemson before coming back to tie. But they ultimately lost 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal as time expired.

“We were on pins and needles,” SMU coach Rhett Lashley said. “Until we saw the name ‘SMU’ up there, we were hanging on the edge. We’re really, really happy and thankful to the committee for rewarding our guys for their total body of work.”

The Mustangs only had two losses, compared to three for the Crimson Tide. Even though SMU’s schedule wasn’t nearly as tough, the committee was impressed by the way the Mustangs came back against Clemson.

“We just felt, in this particular case, SMU had the nod above Alabama,” said Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, the chairman of the selection committee. “But it’s no disrespect to Alabama’s strength of schedule. We looked at the entire body of work for both teams.”

What the matchups look like

No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, Dec. 21. Clemson is riding high after the SMU upset, while Texas is 0-2 against Georgia and 11-0 vs. everyone else this season. The winner faces … Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Huh?

No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, Dec. 21. The biggest knock against the Mustangs was that they didn’t play any big boys with that 60th-ranked strength of schedule. Well, now they get to. The winner faces … Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Yes, SMU vs. Boise was the quarterfinal we all expected.

No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, Dec. 20. Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti thought his team deserved a home game. Well, not quite but close. The winner faces … Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs got the No. 2 seed despite a throwing-arm injury to QB Carson Beck. But what else was the committee supposed to do?

No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State, Dec. 21. The Buckeyes (losses to Oregon, Michigan) got home field over the Volunteers (losses to Arkansas, Georgia) in a matchup of programs with two of the biggest stadiums in football. The winner faces … Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Feels like that matchup should come in the semifinals or later.
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Associated Press

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December 9, 2024
Cold weather alerts are changing
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The National Weather Service is simplifying cold weather messaging and alerts this winter to make watches and warnings easier to understand.
What You Need To Know

NWS is consolidating cold weather alerts

Cold is cold and can be dangerous with or without wind

The changes are already in effect
Hard Freeze and Wind Chill alerts will no longer be used and instead merged into existing alerts.

Hard Freeze Watches and Warnings will now be combined with Freeze Watches and Warnings.

Wind Chill Advisories, Watches and Warnings will be combined with Extreme Cold Advisories, Watches and Warnings.

According to the National Weather Service, “cold is cold.” It can be dangerous with or without wind.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s the wind chill or temperature that makes the cold particularly dangerous, so they don’t want to overshadow that messaging. This change will simplify and improve communication.

Combining these products will also make maps easier to understand with fewer types of alerts in effect at the same time. These changes have already taken effect.

It’s part of the National Weather Service’s hazard simplification initiative.

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

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December 2, 2024
College football players scuffle after flags come out following rivalry wins
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College football was dominated by flags on Saturday. Not the ones thrown by officials — the ones planted by players in the middle of the field.
What You Need To Know

Michigan, North Carolina State and Florida celebrated road wins by displaying flags on the logos in the middle of their rivals’ stadiums. The results were predictable

Michigan scuffled with Ohio State after a group of Wolverines attempted to plant their flag in the middle of Ohio Stadium

There was a similar scene in North Carolina after at least one N.C. State player tried to plant a Wolfpack flag on UNC’s home field

There was another skirmish in Florida after Gators edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. planted a flag on Florida State’s logo
Michigan, North Carolina State and Florida celebrated road wins by displaying flags on the logos in the middle of their rivals’ stadiums. Arizona State put its own twist on the day with a trident.

The results were, well, predictable.

Michigan scuffled with Ohio State after a group of Wolverines attempted to plant their flag in the middle of Ohio Stadium in Columbus following a 13-10 victory. There was a similar scene in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, after at least one N.C. State player tried to plant a Wolfpack flag on UNC’s field following a 35-30 win. And another skirmish in Tallahassee, Florida, after Gators edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. planted a flag on Florida State’s logo after a 31-11 win.

“Obviously what happened there at the end of the game is not who we want to be as a program,” Florida coach Billy Napier said. “It’s embarrassing to me and it’s a distraction from a really well-played football game. I want to apologize on behalf of the entire organization just in terms of how we represented the university there. We shouldn’t have done that. We won’t do that moving forward. And there will be consequences for all involved.”

Arizona State defensive lineman Jacob Rich Kongaika tried to plant a trident in the middle of Arizona’s logo after a 49-7 win over the Wildcats. Kongaika, an Arizona transfer, then held on as Arizona wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig tried to take the trident away, and the duo was surrounded by players from each school.

There was another skirmish after Missouri’s dramatic 28-21 win over visiting Arkansas, but it didn’t look as if there were any props involved.

Police in Ohio used pepper spray to break up the players, who threw punches and shoves in the melee that overshadowed the Wolverines’ victory. One officer suffered unspecified injuries and was taken to a hospital, a police union official said.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day said he understood his players’ actions.

“There are some prideful guys on our team who weren’t going to sit back and let that happen,” Day said.

Michigan running back Kalel Mullings said he didn’t like how the Buckeyes players involved themselves in the Wolverines’ postgame celebration, calling it “classless.”
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Associated Press

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December 1, 2024
Hurricane Season 2024: a look at how well the models performed
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The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season was expected to be one for the record books. Early forecasts had a record number of storms developing in the Atlantic basin because of favorable environmental conditions.
What You Need To Know

The GFS model did well with several tropical systems this season from formation to dissipation

Hurricane Hunters happen to be at the right place to survey Hurricane Oscar

Models don’t do well with precursor small-scale tropical systems
But no one could have predicted how the actual season would pan out, with five storms making landfall in the United States, three of them in Florida, with these storms causing fatalities and massive destruction.

The forecast in May predicted “the highest number of named storms NOAA had ever issued” in its pre-season outlook.” Thanks to a waning El Niño transitioning to a La Niña during peak season, environmental conditions were expected to become conducive for development, and that it did.

First half of the season

The season officially began on June 19 with Tropical Storm Alberto. It was followed by Beryl, Chris, Debby and Ernesto.

Beryl and Debby became the most notable storms during the first half of the season, as both made landfall in the U.S. Beryl made the history books, reaching Category 5 status earlier in the season than any other storm.

Late summer lull

After Ernesto dissipated on Aug. 20, there seemed to be a quiet period. With hurricane activity in the Atlantic subsiding near the peak of hurricane season, the validity of seasonal forecasts was in doubt.

It’s important to note that it’s not that there wasn’t any activity. Hurricane Francine developed in the Caribbean Sea and moved into the Gulf of Mexico before landfall in Louisiana on Sept. 11.

“As is often the case with seasonal hurricane activity, there isn’t usually just one cause for it being active or quiet,” says Meteorologist Craig Setzer, a Certified Consulting Meteorologist and Hurricane Preparedness Specialist.

He adds, “This year, it appeared to be a combination of very dry air and an increase in Saharan dust outbreaks along with warmer than normal air temperatures in the middle-and-upper parts of the atmosphere that created the mid-seasonal lull.” Less unstable conditions existed and tropical cyclones need instability for development.

“The long range forecast tended to be right for all of the wrong reasons,” says Spectrum Bay News 9’s Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay. “A very active Cape Verde season was expected, which didn’t happen. Instead, the Central American Gyre was very active late in the season giving us several significant hurricanes.”

Mid-September activity increases

As soon as the climatological peak of hurricane season was reached (Sept. 10), tropical activity seemed to awaken. Tropical Storm Gordon formed on Sept. 13 in the central-eastern Atlantic, but remained over the open Atlantic and never surpassed tropical strom strength.

Mid-Sept. also brought the formation of Helene, one of the costliest and deadliest storms this season. Helene would make landfall near Perry, Florida on Sept. 26.

Models and forecast track cones

From tropical storm to landfall was only a matter of days for Hurricane Helene, and knowing the track of the storm was vital to protect lives and property. Various data models assist meteorologists in forecasting, and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) uses these models to create a forecast track cone.

“The National Hurricane Center relies heavily on global and regional (hurricane) models, which they call ‘guidance’ or ‘aides’ to help create a forecast track,” says Setzer.

National Hurricane Center

One specific model did relatively well with several storms this season, from development to landfall. “The Global Forecast System or GFS is a global model which has shown improved skill in predicting tropical cyclone development well ahead of other models.”

However, just because it does well with one storm, doesn’t mean it will accurately predict all storms. Setzer says, “It has a high false alarm bias, so it also tends to overpredict development that ends up not happening.”

In this age of social media, where folks might be heightened aware of tropical development, this bias could create a panic with the model showing a land-falling hurricane ten days out only for the storm to not develop or dissipate well before land.

Regional forecasting models

Another type of model the NHC uses to refine its forecast tracks is the regional hurricane model. Referred to as regional because, as Setzer says, “They don’t cover the whole globe, just the region of a hurricane.” This model became vital during Hurricane Milton.

Adding, “The Hurricane Analysis Forecast System (HAFS) version B did a good job not only predicting Milton’s intensity but also predicting when it would strengthen and weaken based on internal storm dynamics.”

However, that was after Milton had already formed. Before development, the models struggle. This was the case with both Hurricanes Milton and Oscar.

Models aren’t exact

The NHC releases outlooks every six hours during the season for the tropical basins, including the Atlantic. Those include both a two-day graphical tropical weather outlook and a seven-day graphical tropical weather outlook. This year, both Hurricanes Milton and Oscar precursor storms were given low odds of development, only to then form within 12 to 24 hours.

An area of disturbed weather that would eventually become Milton was given low odds to develop two days before Milton formed. (NHC)

“Milton was fairly well predicted after the area of convection started to consolidate in the western Gulf of Mexico. Prior to that, there were several areas the models seemed to focus on for development, but it didn’t occur,” explains Setzer.

Adding, “Oscar was such a small system, it likely was underrepresented in the data going into the model, and then the model has difficulty in the handling of a very small atmospheric feature.”

Oscar ended up being the smallest hurricane on record, with a hurricane wind field of five or six miles. The Hurricane Hunters, scientists and pilots who fly into tropical systems to investigate conditions happened to be at the right place at the right time. Due to its Oscar’s proximity to land, they flew into the storm.

Would the same designation have been given if the storm was in the far eastern Atlantic?

“It’s a good question.”

He explains. “While our satellites are very good, they currently cannot resolve small-scale storm intensity. It is likely Oscar would have been only designated a tropical storm had it remained in the open ocean away from aircraft reconnaissance. “

Overall, the models did well with all 18 named storms this season. “I’m hopeful this trend in model improvement will bring us better predictions, resulting in more specific warnings and storm preparation areas in the near future,” says Setzer.

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

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November 28, 2024
Thanksgiving weather we were not thankful for
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Thanksgiving is a time for the gathering of family and friends, for great food, football, and for some, shopping. Most of the time, the weather around the Thanksgiving holiday centers on travel impacts.

Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and a little bit of “not so nice weather” can cause a lot of travel headaches.

Many times, the weather is just an inconvenience, but sometimes around Thanksgiving, the weather has been dangerous and even deadly.
What You Need To Know

Thanksgiving storms are not all about wintry weather

The transition in seasons can allow for active weather in late November

Thanksgiving storms can affect even more people due to holiday travel
Though Thanksgiving is celebrated in the later part of fall, we’re still in a time of year with the clash of air masses, we can see some pretty big storm systems. And we’re not just taking snow and wintry precipitation.

November can see some late season severe weather outbreaks. Not to mention, the hurricane season is still underway in November, not ending until the end of the month.

Here are a few of the major Thanksgiving storms that have impacted the United States in the last 100 years.

Nov. 25, 1926: Thanksgiving Day tornado outbreak

The Thanksgiving Day Tornado Outbreak of 1926 is a perfect example of a late season severe weather outbreak for the Deep South. On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1926, there were 14 reported tornadoes across central and eastern Arkansas.

Four of the tornadoes were rated at F3 and F4 on the old Fujita Scale of tornado intensity.

This was the deadliest tornado outbreak in the state of Arkansas until a severe weather outbreak in Jan. 1949.

Arkansas was not the only state hit by this Thanksgiving Day weather system. Louisiana had 11 fatalities, as several tornadoes made their way through that area, as well.

Nov. 24-25, 1950: The Great Appalachian Storm

On the day after Thanksgiving in 1950, an area of low pressure developed along a cold front in southeastern North Carolina. That low would become the storm that would be called The Great Appalachian Storm of 1950.

As the system moved northward, it rapidly strengthened near Washington, D.C. on the morning of Nov. 25. Over time, the storm moved more northwest, more inland, into the Ohio Valley.

The strong low pressure system pulled frigid air down across the eastern U.S. With moisture wrapping into this cold air, snow was reported as far south as Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama. The bulk of the snow occurred across the Ohio Valley, with many locations seeing over two feet of snow in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Coburn Creek, West Virginia reported 62 inches of snow from the storm. Farther north, the Great Lakes region and parts of the Northeast also saw some snowfall from the storm.

Units of the 112th Engineers of the Ohio National Guard use shovels to help free snow bound streets of Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 28, 1950. Weekend storm caused one of the worst traffic jams in Cleveland’s history. (AP Photo)

And speaking of the cold air, many reporting stations saw all time record low temperatures for November during this weather event.

As far south as Florida, Pensacola had a low of 22 degrees. It was 16 degrees in Wilmington, North Carolina; 5 degrees in Birmingham, Alabama; 3 degrees in Atlanta and 1 degree in Asheville, North Carolina. The temperature in Louisville, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee dropped below zero to -1 degrees.

Looking toward downtown Pittsburgh, Webster Avenue is buried in snow, Nov. 26, 1950, after a record snowfall. The Mellon skyscraper is under construction at left in background. (AP Photo/Walter Stein)

Strong wind was another factor in the storm. Winds at Mount Washington reached 160 mph. A wind gust of 110 mph was reported at Concord, New Hampshire. A gust to 94 mph was recorded in New York City.

These strong winds cause wide spread tree damage and power outages. Along the coast, the strong winds produced coastal flooding. Runways at LaGuardia Airport in New York were flooded when coastal flooding overwashed dikes in the area.

Overall, 22 states were affected by the Storm of 1950. 383 people lost their lives in the storm and it caused over 65 million dollars in damages (almost $1 billion today).

Nov. 24-25, 1971: Thanksgiving snowstorm

21 years later, another early season winter storm would affect some of the same areas as The Great Appalachian Storm of 1950.

On the Thanksgiving Eve, snow started falling across parts of the Northeast U.S. As the snow continued to fall through the night, the precipitation increased and by Thanksgiving afternoon, snowfall totals of 20 to 30 inches of snow were reported across parts of the Catskills and Upper Hudson River Valley.

Pennsylvania saw the most snow from the storm. Albany, New York recorded just under two feet of snow. The storm stranded travelers in the region as they tried to make their way to their Thanksgiving destinations.

Because the air temperature was near the freezing mark during the storm, the system produced a heavy, wet snow. This caused roofs to collapse, tree damage and widespread power outages across the region.

Nov. 25, 1982: Hawaii hurricane

From severe weather and winter storms, we switch to a tropical system. November is still tropical season in the Atlantic and the Pacific, and in Nov. 1982, Hurricane Iwa found its way to Hawaii. It was the first significant hurricane to hit the Hawaiian Islands since the island was made a U.S. state in 1959.

Hurricane Iwa at peak intensity just north of Kauaʻi, Hawaii on Nov. 24, 1982. (NOAA)

The strong Category 1 hurricane with winds of 90 mph struck the islands of Ni’ihau, Kaua’i and O’ahu on Thanksgiving Day 1982. Those areas reported wind gusts of over 100 mph during the storm.

A few gusts up to 120 mph were reported. Coastal locations saw about eight feet of storm surge. In those areas, the ocean waters pushed over 900 feet inland during the surge. One reporting station received over 20 inches of rain during the hurricane.

A clean-up crew picks up tree branches knocked down by Hurricane Iwa. (U.S. National Archives)

Almost 2,000 homes were destroyed. Hundreds were left homeless and four people were killed, either directly or indirectly because of the storm.

Nov. 26-27, 1983: The Great Thanksgiving Weekend Blizzard

In 1983, it was the central and western parts of the country that dealt with a winter storm at Thanksgiving.

The blizzard hit on the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving and affected Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Wyoming and Nebraska.

One of the hardest hit locations was Denver. The city received almost two feet of snow in 36 hours. The storm shut down Stapleton Airport for 24 hours. Several thousand passengers were forced to spend the night at the airport.

It was not much better on the roads around Denver. Thousands of people were stranded on local interstate highways.

Eight to nine-foot snow drifts were reported in Nebraska and Kansas. Major highways were closed in all states affected by the storm.

An interesting fact about the Great Thanksgiving Weekend Blizzard of 1983. Snow from the storm stayed on the ground in Denver for over two months, not melting until late January the following year.

Nov. 26, 1987: Thanksgiving Day Storm

On Thanksgiving Day 1987, a significant winter system hit the northeastern United States.

A winter storm dumped anywhere from 1 to almost two feet of snow from Upstate New York through the New England states. In New Hampshire, parts of the state received 18 inches of snow. In Maine, there were stations that saw just under two feet of snow accumulation.

Along the coast of New Hampshire and Maine, strong winds and waves battered the coastline.

Nov. 23, 1989: Thanksgiving Day Storm

Two years later, another Thanksgiving Day storm battered parts of the East Coast and northeastern U.S.

An unidentified street person huddles with his belongings on the Ellipse morning of Thursday, Nov. 23, 1989 in Washington Monument after a light snow hit the area late Wednesday night. Some 4 inches of snow hit the Washington area on this Thanksgiving Day. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

Developing low pressure brought significant rain to the Carolinas and as it moved northward, the system turned more wintry. Parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast saw snowfall totals that ranged from a few inches to over a foot.

New York City saw almost 5 inches of snow. Parts of Long Island picked up nine inches of snow. Cape Cod reported over a foot of snow.

An interesting fact about the snow in New York City. Before the snow accumulation on Thanksgiving Day 1989, the last time snow had accumulated there, on Thanksgiving Day, was over 50 years earlier in 1938.

Ryan Tuman, 9, of Erdenheim, N.Y. takes a running belly flop onto the snow-covered bleachers during the Penn-Cornell football game in Philadelphia, Nov. 23, 1989. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

And as bad as the weather was in New York that day, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade went off on schedule. A few of the parade’s big balloons paid the price, however, as they were damaged in the gusty winds caused by the storm.

So overall, thankfully, we’ve been blessed with “not so bad” weather for most Thanksgivings across the United States in the past decades.

So here’s to high pressure and a quiet weather pattern to always be with us around Thanksgiving time. Because we all know, even a little bad weather can go a long way in making a big mess of Thanksgiving plans.

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

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November 28, 2024
Discover the carbon footprint of your Thanksgiving feast
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Thanksgiving is just around the corner. While the cost of your holiday meal may impact your wallet, what you’ll eat at your dining room table could affect the climate too.
What You Need To Know

The highest producer of carbon dioxide of your meal is macaroni and cheese

Potatoes are the most climate friendly option

Vegetables also have a low climate impact
This blog is going to make you hungry.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday for food. My favorite dishes are sweet potato casserole with marshmallows on top, dressing and macaroni cheese.

Plus, my favorite holiday desserts are sweet potato pie and mom’s 7UP! pound cake.

So, I was curious about the impact some of my favorite dishes had on our environment. I looked over data from Our World in Data, a nonprofit that focus on global issues from the environment to agriculture.

So let’s discuss the environmental impact of your holiday feast.

Turkey

The data classifies turkey as poultry meat. The main course of your meal will contribute about 21 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere.

Raising and the transport of turkeys from farms to processing is factored into the environmental impact of the main dish.

Mashed Potatoes

Now to some of your favorite sides during this festive feast.

Potatoes are climate friendly. I really enjoy mashed potatoes with gravy.

They produce about 1 lb of greenhouse emissions. Potatoes are the most climate friendly option because they are sustainably grown.

The starchy vegetable uses less water and land to grow.

Macaroni and Cheese

It’s a different story for macaroni and cheese, which is a popular side dish during this time of year. The cheesy side contributes about 37 lbs of CO2 to the atmosphere.

Macaroni and cheese has a high climate compact because the milk needed to make the cheese comes from cows, goats and sheep.

Livestock from these animal groups creates and emits greenhouse gases.

Vegetables

Vegetables are also important for the Thanksgiving meal. Whether it’s asparagus, broccoli or peas, all of them have a lower climate impact.

All three vegetables contribute less than 2 lbs of greenhouse gases.

Just like potatoes, it takes less natural resources to grow these vegetables.

Biscuits

We cannot forget about those Thanksgiving biscuits. The buttery bread has a climate impact of 4 lbs of CO2.

The ingredients are key in determining the impact of this item. Flour, butter, salt, sugar and milk make up biscuits.

So, the study is taking in account the ingredients used to determine the impact of this flaky bread.

Desserts

Let’s discuss some deserts. Unfortunately, the study does not include pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie, but they list apple pie and carrot cake.

Apple pie contributes about 3 lbs of CO2 to the atmosphere, while carrot cake contributes 4 lbs of greenhouse emissions.

Like biscuits, the study took into account the ingredients to make the desserts.

No matter what you eat this Thanksgiving, enjoy it and be happy with your friends and family.

I know I am going to grab 2 to 3 plates myself.

There’s a lot to be thankful for this year, so enjoy and have a festive and safe holiday.

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

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November 27, 2024
How weather controls what’s on your Thanksgiving table
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Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I’m already looking forward to the moist turkey, the apple pie, the wine and even the cranberry sauce!

When you think about it, everything that we eat and drink on the holiday is affected by the weather.
What You Need To Know

Weather affects many Thanksgiving Day favorites

Turkeys have a higher survival rate in warmer climates

Light winds and plenty of sunshine help grow the perfect grapes for wine

Farmers must watch apples throughout the entire season to get the best apple
The centerpiece of your table, the turkey, heavily depends on the weather in which it is raised. The survival rate of turkeys is not as great in colder weather as it is in warmer weather.

According to the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), 55-60% of turkeys survive bitter cold and snow. Although that is much less than the 70-100% survival rate in warmer climates, it remains enough to feed us all on Thanksgiving while maintaining a healthy and safe population.

Leading up to fall, the weather affects apples immensely. In the spring, it is important that the apple farmers monitor temperature, humidity and any precipitation, as the bugs and parasites that can ruin crops depend on those conditions.

In the summer, if the temperature gets too hot and not enough rain falls, apple crops could be ruined. In the fall, cooler overnight temperatures help apples get their red color and help them ripen up. This, of course, allows for the perfect apple pie.

A lot of sunshine helps create an better grape and, hence, wine flavor. Light winds help to keep fungus off of grapes and help them dry out. Frost and freeze is generally bad for grapes and wine production. However, ice wine can be created from the frozen fruit.

Last, cranberries rely on temperature. In fact, they are typically grown in the southern part of our country as the temperature there stays warmer. Lots of sunshine helps keep the fruit sweet, and that means the best-tasting cranberry sauce.

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

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November 26, 2024
Colder air can leave your tires feeling deflated
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As we move more into the colder months, it may be time to check the air pressure of your tires.
What You Need To Know

Cold air will cause your tires to lose air pressure

Check your tires every winter and again in the spring

Not everyone has a warning light to monitor
Imagine it is a cold morning; you rush outside to start your car. Shortly after getting it warmed up, you back out of the driveway, and you hear a noise: ding.

A funny light has appeared on your dashboard, something like this:

(Getty Images)

What is that?

It is your TMPS warning light, also known as the Tire Pressure Monitoring System. In short, it means your tires need air.

With the drop in temperatures, the air pressure of your tires will also begin to drop. In general, for every 10 degrees colder it gets, you will lose about one to two PSI (pounds per square inch) from your tires.

Why does this happen?

As the air cools, it contracts. Colder air also means fewer molecules move around. The air molecules will produce less pressure on the walls of the tires. Thus, you end up with tires that look flat.

For example, say you last had your tires aired up when it was 75 degrees outside. Now, today, it is 25 degrees. That is a 50-degree change, and it means your tires may have lost upwards of 10 PSI.

Now is the time to have your tire’s air pressure checked and, if needed, refilled. How much air do your tires need? Check on the tires themselves or the inside of the driver door.

A tire pressure label inside the driver door. (Spectrum News/Justin Gehrts)

Keeping your tires properly inflated can keep you safe on the road. Low tire pressure causes more of the rubber to hit the road. This leads to extra wear on your tires and can also lead to some loss of steering control.

What if the light turns off after driving for a while? You should still check your tires. Heat generates on the tire as you drive. That heat is then transferred to the air molecules inside of the tires, increasing the pressure (temporarily).

Some older model vehicles do not have TMPS sensors. If you notice your tires look a little flat, it is beyond time to have your air pressure checked.

It’s not just air pressure to keep an eye on–your tires need other care in the winter, too.

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

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November 21, 2024
Sara dissipates after bringing significant flooding to Central America
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Sara was the 18th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. It formed into a tropical storm on Thursday, Nov. 14 in the western Caribbean Sea and brought heavy rainfall and significant flooding to Central America, specifically parts of Honduras and Belize.
What You Need To Know

Sara was the 18th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season

It made landfall in Belize as a tropical storm

It brought significant rainfall and flooding to Central America
After forming in the Caribbean Sea, Sara slowly drifted westward toward Central America. As it approached Honduras, it stalled near the northern coast on Nov. 15.

As it sat stationary for a day just offshore, it brought extreme rainfall to parts of Honduras with rainfall totals almost up to 40 inches, causing significant flooding.

Sara moved through the Bay Islands of Honduras, and eventually landfall in Belize on Sunday, Nov. 17 as a tropical storm with max winds of 40 mph.

Portions of Belize, El Salvador, eastern Guatemala, western Nicaragua and southern Mexico also saw some locally heavy rainfall and flooding from Sara. It weakened into a tropical depression after landfall, and dissipated as it moved through the Yucatan into the Bay of Campeche.

Here’s a look at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season so far.

More Storm Season Resources

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

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November 18, 2024
Weathering the front: How nature’s fury defined World War I
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The First World War, occurring from 1914 to 1918, remains a testament to the endurance and ultimate sacrifice made by millions.

Occurring over a century ago, the weather was far less predictable than it is now but was just as brutal as it can be today and made life for soldiers incredibly difficult, whether that was from extreme heat, freezing cold or flooding rainfall.
What You Need To Know

Soldiers endured scorching heat, freezing cold and relentless rainfall during WWI

Adverse weather affected warfare strategy, soldier mortality rate and the influenza pandemic

There were periods of unchanging weather patterns leading to prolonged moments of heat waves or floods
Remembrance Day is a memorial holiday that coincides with Veterans Day each year. We honor our American veterans today from all conflicts past and present, but the end of World War 1 is also remembered on this holiday.

Major hostilities from the Great War were formally ended on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when armistice began. Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day, was officially renamed to Veterans Day in 1954.

The weather had a significant impact on the war and was an enemy for soldiers in the trenches.

Extreme heat

As the summer of 1914 unfolded, invasions were occurring and soldiers were traveling in the dog days of summer. Temperatures soared to unprecedented highs in northern Europe. At one point, a heat wave broke out, bringing temperatures above 86 degrees for several days straight early in the month.

Soldiers wearing wool uniforms and burdened with heavy equipment confronted the scorching heat as they navigated challenging terrains to reach the front lines.

The extreme heat was then followed by unexpectedly early extreme cold, which made managing resources difficult.

Freezing cold

The bitter cold that gripped the Western Front during the winter months was a sharp contrast to the preceding summer of 1914. Temperatures in November of that year became much colder than average, leaving soldiers without winter coats in the harsh conditions.

Help would come in December when gloves and winter coats would be handed out, but fur-lined boots wouldn’t arrive until January.

In 1917, a severe winter struck between Jan. 20 and Feb. 9, with temperatures never rising above freezing. In the middle of that arctic blast, one February night saw the overnight low plummet to a bone-chilling nine degrees below zero, rendering limbs and fingers numb.

The soldiers would try their best to keep warm by building fires in the trenches, but that quickly proved fruitless because the smoke would become trapped and suffocate the men.

It wasn’t only smoke that became trapped in the trenches, but these long, zig-zag rows, often 12 feet deep, would become small rivers during heavy rain.

Flooding rainfall

One of the most pervasive effects of weather on World War I was the relentless onslaught of rain. For 648 days – almost half of the war’s duration – rain and snow battered the Western Front, transforming trenches into mud and misery.

For over two weeks in Jan. 1915, over four and a half inches of rain fell in northeastern France, which was double what they would normally get during that time of the year.

Torrential rainfall in 1915, 1916 and 1918 had a decisive role in major battles such as Verdun and the Somme, contributing to the death of over a million soldiers.

Many times, large ridges of high pressure over Russia would produce extreme cold in the eastern part of Europe and result in a repetitive pattern of low pressure systems for western Europe, bringing little to no sunshine or heavy rainfall for the area.

It’s worth mentioning that the war and the influenza pandemic teamed up with the hazardous weather to make for especially deadly conditions for those fighting.

Experts have uncovered data showing that the mallard ducks migration, influenced by adverse weather, likely played a role in the flu’s transmission to humans, especially during the fall of 1917 and 1918.

Nearly 10 million soldiers were killed during World War I, with over 116,000 from the United states. The relationship between extreme weather and the severity of both the war and the influenza pandemic emphasizes the vulnerability of humanity to the forces of nature.

As we reflect on those who have fought to keep America free and those who continue to serve our country that way today, let us remember the bravery of those who endured such hostile conditions during one of the most deadly conflicts in history.

Our team of meteorologists dive deep into the science of weather and break down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
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Meteorologist Thomas Meiners

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November 11, 2024
Hurricane Rafael drifts westward in the Gulf of Mexico
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Category 2 Hurricane Rafael is drifting westward in the Gulf after making landfall in Cuba on Wednesday. Rafael made landfall in the Cuban province of Artemisa as a Category 3 hurricane with max winds of 115 mph.

Rafael became a tropical storm on Monday, Nov. 4 and strengthened into a hurricane on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
What You Need To Know

Hurricane Rafael made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday, Nov. 6

It made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane

Rafael will drift across the Gulf of Mexico into the weekend
Rafael continues to drift westward in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a Category 2 hurricane with max winds of 105 mph. It’s becoming slightly better organized and stronger as it moves over the southeastern Gulf.

As it moves through the Gulf of Mexico, it should gradually begin to weaken because of high wind shear and cooler waters. We expect further weakening over the Gulf, well west of Florida, through the weekend.

The track has shifted and will pose no threat to Florida or most of the U.S. Gulf coast. At this time, a Mexico landfall is possible, but it could also dissipate over water.

Winds and seas will be hazardous in the Gulf of Mexico. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for the Eastern Gulf waters through Friday morning with a high risk of rip currents along the Gulf Coast beaches. Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect over the open Gulf of Mexico waters.

Check to see how the rest of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is going so far.

More Storm Season Resources

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

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November 6, 2024
Who will certify Donald Trump’s presidential win? Kamala Harris.
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Donald Trump’s presidential win is going to be certified in Congress in January by the candidate he beat, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Under the Constitution, the vice president is the head of the Senate, and it’s the role of the Senate president to declare the result of a White House election.

That happens on Jan. 6, 2025.
What You Need To Know

Donald Trump’s presidential win is going to be certified in Congress in January by the candidate he beat, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Under the Constitution, the vice president is the head of the Senate, and it’s the role of the Senate president to declare the result of a White House election, which will take place on Jan. 6, 2025

Under normal circumstances, the vote-tallying procedure performed by the vice president is a mere formality and it’s the final step in the complicated technical process of electing a new administration
Under normal circumstances, the vote-tallying procedure performed by the vice president is a mere formality and it’s the final step in the complicated technical process of electing a new administration.

For example, in 2000, after the grueling 36-day Florida recount battle, Democrat Al Gore conceded the presidency on Dec. 13 to Republican George W. Bush.

Gore, too, was the vice president, and he certified Bush’s win.

“The whole number of the electors appointed to vote for president of the United States is 538,” Gore said from the rostrum, going on to read off his own loss to Congress. “George W. Bush of the state of Texas has received for president of the United States 271 votes. Al Gore of the state of Tennessee has received 266 votes.”

But this nearly didn’t happen four years ago.

Trump refused to accept defeat and sparked a violent insurrection at the Capitol, when then-Vice President Mike Pence was to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s win. Trump’s supporters chanted “Hang Mike Pence” as they ransacked Capitol offices.

Trump had wanted Pence to “do the right thing” and declare Trump the winner. Trump and his allies spent days in a futile bid trying to convince Pence that the vice president had the power to reject electors from battleground states that voted for Biden, even though the Constitution makes clear the vice president’s role in the joint session is largely ceremonial, much like a master of ceremonies.

Pence acknowledged that reality in a lengthy statement to Congress. He laid out his conclusion that a vice president cannot claim “unilateral authority” to reject states’ electoral votes. He gaveled in the joint session of Congress on Jan. 7, 2021, to certify for Biden.
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Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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November 6, 2024
Harris and Trump making furious last-day pushes before Election Day
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A presidential campaign that has careened through a felony trial, an incumbent president being pushed off the ticket and multiple assassination attempts comes down to a final push across a handful of states on the eve of Election Day.
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The presidential campaign comes down to a final push across a handful of states on the eve of Election Day

This year’s race has careened through a felony trial, an incumbent president being pushed off the ticket and multiple assassination attempts

Kamala Harris will spend all of Monday in Pennsylvania, whose 19 electoral votes offer the largest prize among the states expected to determine the Electoral College outcome

Donald Trump makes four stops in three states, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Michigan
Kamala Harris will spend all of Monday in Pennsylvania, whose 19 electoral votes offer the largest prize among the states expected to determine the Electoral College outcome. The vice president and Democratic nominee will visit working-class areas including Allentown and end with a late-night Philadelphia rally that includes Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey.

Donald Trump plans four rallies in three states, beginning in Raleigh, North Carolina, and stopping twice in Pennsylvania with events in Reading and Pittsburgh. The Republican nominee and former president ends his campaign the way he ended the first two, with a late Monday night event in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

About 77 million Americans already have voted early, but Harris and Trump are pushing to turn out many millions more supporters Tuesday. Either result on Election Day will yield a historic outcome.

A Trump victory would make him the first incoming president to have been indicted and convicted of a felony, after his hush-money trial in New York. He will gain the power to end other federal investigations pending against him. Trump would also become the second president in history to win non-consecutive White House terms, after Grover Cleveland in the late 19th century.

Harris is vying to become the first woman, first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to reach the Oval Office, four years after she broke the same barriers in national office by becoming President Joe Biden’s second in command.

The vice president ascended to the top of the Democratic ticket after Biden’s disastrous performance in a June debate set into motion his withdrawing from the race. That was just one of a series of convulsions that have hit this year’s campaign.

Trump survived by millimeters a would-be assassin’s bullet at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. His Secret Service detail foiled a second attempt in September when a gunman had set up a rifle as Trump golfed at one of his courses in Florida.

Harris, 60, has played down the historic nature of her candidacy, which materialized only after the 81-year-old president ended his reelection bid after his June debate against the 78-year-old Trump accentuated questions about Biden’s age.

Instead, Harris has pitched herself as a generational change, emphasized her support for abortion rights after the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision ending the constitutional right to abortion services and regularly noted the former president’s role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Assembling a coalition ranging from progressives such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York to Republican former Vice President Dick Cheney, Harris has called Trump a threat to democracy and late in the campaign even embraced the critique that Trump is accurately described as a “fascist.”

Heading into Monday, Harris has mostly stopped mentioning Trump. She is promising to solve problems and seek consensus, while sounding an almost exclusively optimistic tone reminiscent of her campaign’s opening days when she embraced “the politics of joy” and the campaign theme “Freedom.”

“From the very start, our campaign has not been about being against something, it is about being for something,” Harris said Sunday evening at Michigan State University.

Trump, renewing his “Make America Great Again” and “America First” slogans, has made his hard-line approach to immigration and withering criticisms of Harris and Biden the anchors of his argument for a second administration. He’s hammered Democrats for an inflationary economy, and he’s pledged to lead an economic “golden age,” end international conflicts and seal the U.S. southern border.

But Trump also has veered often into grievances over being prosecuted after trying to overturn Biden’s victory and repeatedly denigrated the country he wants to lead again as a “failed nation.” As recently as Sunday, he renewed his false claims that U.S. elections are rigged against him, mused about violence against journalists and said he “shouldn’t have left” the White House in 2021 — dark turns that have overshadowed another anchor of his closing argument: “Kamala broke it. I will fix it.”

The election is likely to be decided across seven states. Trump won Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin in 2016 only to see them flip to Biden in 2020. North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada add the Sun Belt swath of the presidential battleground map.

Trump won North Carolina twice and lost Nevada twice. He won Arizona and Georgia in 2016 but saw them slip to Democrats in 2020.

Harris’ team has projected confidence in recent days, pointing to a large gender gap in early voting data and research showing late-deciding voters have broken her way. They also believe in the strength of their campaign infrastructure. This weekend, the Harris campaign had more than 90,000 volunteers helping turn out voters — and knocked on more than 3 million doors across the battleground states. Still, Harris aides have insisted she remains the underdog.

Trump’s team has projected confidence, as well, arguing that the former president’s populist appeal will attract younger and working-class voters across racial and ethnic lines. The idea is that Trump can amass an atypical Republican coalition, even as other traditional GOP blocs — notably college-educated voters — become more Democratic.
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Associated Press

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November 4, 2024