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  • A hot air balloon is one big science experiment

    A hot air balloon is one big science experiment

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    On a clear day in early fall, around sunrise, you might notice hot air balloons flying across the sky, but why do they navigate the skies so early in the day and how does weather play a role in their flight path?

    What You Need To Know

    • Hot air balloons fly early in the day or late in the day

    • The fire observed from a balloon is propane igniting to keep the air inside the balloon envelope warmer than the air surounding it

    • A hot air balloon pilot uses wind to steer and navigate their balloon

    Ideal weather for flight

    Mike Wadley, a second-generation Hot Air Balloon Pilot out of St. Charles County, Mo, explains the weather’s role in this high-flying activity.

    The weather conditions matter, and it’s not solely for capturing the best pictures from the treetops. There are many days the team will leave the balloon in the trailer and cancel the day’s flight.

    “If there’s any chance for rain, we don’t fly.”

    He says winds must be light as well and that includes winds higher in the sky. “We love to have weather about 5 mph of wind on the surface and 10 to 12 mph all the way up to about 2500 feet.” And that’s because they use the wind to steer the balloon.

    Winds are light early in the morning, around sunrise, and then again around sunset. Wind is created by the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface by the sun. Without sunlight, the air is less mixed and there is less wind. 

    “Since we can’t steer the balloon, we find wind directions and different speeds at different altitudes. And then we have to fly very level and be precise and that will carry us off to where we want to go.” But faster winds don’t mean better flying conditions.

    Science experiment

    “Hot air balloons and the way they operate is a big science experiment.” It follows the laws of physics. For the balloon to fly, the air inside the balloon must be warmer than the surrounding air.

    Hot air balloon pilots and workers test the propane on their balloon. Spectrum News/Stacy Lynn

    To achieve this, there’s a burner system connected to the basket and the balloon. Fueled by propane gas, the pilot uses a blast valve to adjust the rate of flow, keeping the balloon warmer than the air surrounding it.

    They may also give intermittent blasts during the flight to ensure the air inside the balloon remains at this temperature.  

    Weather while flying

    “So we are constantly paying attention to the weather, and we are paying attention not only before as we are doing our flight planning but also while we are actually flying.”

    They have instruments on board that tell them the direction and altitude they are flying. And it’s these parameters that assist them in landing. “We use the different wind speeds and directions at different altitudes to help us find the right target to land.”

    He will fly any day of the year that weather allows, but says May through September are the most popular and reminds us it’s colder higher in the atmosphere. “We’ll fly any time of the year, doesn’t matter how cold it is out. I’ve flown when it was zero degrees out. It’s uncomfortable.”

    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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  • Hurricane Oscar headed for eastern Cuba

    Hurricane Oscar headed for eastern Cuba

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    After quickly becoming a tropical storm Saturday, Oscar is now a hurricane close to the eastern tip of Cuba. It’s the 15th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Oscar is a small hurricane

    • It will bring heavy rain and strong winds to the southeastern Bahamas and eastern Cuba

    • It won’t affect the U.S.


    Hurricane Oscar has max winds of 80 mph and is moving to the west southwest at 7 mph. Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are likely in the southeastern Bahamas and eastern Cuba over the next couple of days.

    It will not affect the U.S.

    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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  • Hurricane Oscar forms in the western Atlantic

    Hurricane Oscar forms in the western Atlantic

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    After quickly becoming a tropical storm Saturday, Oscar has now become a hurricane in the western Atlantic. It’s the 15th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Oscar is a small hurricane

    • It will bring rain and wind to the Turks and Caicos Islands, the southeastern Bahamas and eastern Cuba

    • It won’t affect the U.S.


    Hurricane Oscar has max winds of 80 mph and is moving westward at 12 mph. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the southeastern Bahamas and eastern Cuba over the weekend.

    It will not affect the U.S.

    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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  • Hurricane Oscar forms in the western Atlantic

    Hurricane Oscar forms in the western Atlantic

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    After quickly becoming a tropical storm Saturday, Oscar has now become a hurricane in the western Atlantic. It’s the 15th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Oscar is a small hurricane

    • It will bring rain and wind to the Turks and Caicos Islands, the southeastern Bahamas and eastern Cuba

    • It won’t affect the U.S.


    Hurricane Oscar has max winds of 80 mph and is moving westward at 12 mph. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the southeastern Bahamas and eastern Cuba over the weekend.

    It will not affect the U.S.

    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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  • Nadine is about to make landfall in Belize

    Nadine is about to make landfall in Belize

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    Tropical Storm Nadine formed on Saturday, Oct .19 in the Caribbean Sea. It’s the 14th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Nadine is a small tropical storm

    • It will bring heavy rainfall to Central America

    • It won’t affect the U.S.


    Tropical Storm Nadine has maximum winds of 50 mph and is moving westward. It will make landfall late Saturday morning in Belize.

    Nadine will move inland and quickly weaken. It will bring heavy rainfall across Central America and southern Mexico through early next week.

    It will not affect the U.S.

    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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  • Full Hunter’s Moon will be the biggest and brightest supermoon

    Full Hunter’s Moon will be the biggest and brightest supermoon

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    This month’s full moon will peak on Oct. 17 and is the third of four supermoons this year. 

    What You Need To Know

    • October’s full moon is called the Hunter’s Moon because it occurs after the Harvest Moon

    • This is the third of four supermoons that will occur this year

    • The supermoon will appear the largest and brightest of all the other supermoons due to its location lower in the sky

    Why it’s called the Hunter’s Moon

    It’s called the Hunter’s Moon because it follows the Harvest Moon. The full Harvest Moon can occur in either September or October. It’s the moon closest to the autumnal equinox.

    This year that happened in September, so the full moon that follows is called the full Hunter’s Moon. Its name originated from its function as a signal for hunters to begin preparing for winter. 

    What’s a supermoon?

    A supermoon is when the moon’s orbit is at its closest to Earth. The moon will appear brighter and larger than normal. 

    This month’s supermoon orbits closer to Earth than any of the other full moons this year, making it appear even larger than September and August’s supermoon. The final supermoon of the year will occur in November and while it will still appear larger than normal, it won’t look as big as October’s. 

    Alternative names

    According to the farmer’s almanac, names of moons corresponded with entire lunar months and were derived from Native American, Colonial American and European sources.

    Other names for the Hunter’s Moon reflect the signals or activities of the season.

    • Sanguine (Old Oxford Dictionary)
    • Blood Moon (Old Oxford Dictionary)
    • Drying Rice Moon (Dakota name)
    • Falling Leaves Moon (Anishinaabe term) 
    • Freezing Moon (Ojibwe) and Ice Moon (Haida) 
    • Migrating Moon (Cree)

    Check your local forecast here to see how clouds may affect your viewing.  

    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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  • Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas is visible tonight; here’s how to best see it

    Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas is visible tonight; here’s how to best see it

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    The rare comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas will be visible again tonight after making its closest approach to Earth on Saturday. It will be the optimal night to observe it, as its position in the night sky will be away from the sun’s glare. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The rare comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas continues to appear in the night sky

    • Tuesday night will be optimal viewing conditions of the comet with the naked eye

    • The comet will be visible in the night sky through late Oct.


    Astronomers say it should be bright enough to see with the naked eye, although telescopes and binoculars will give a better view. 

    What is a comet?

    A comet is a group of ice and dust particles leftover from the solar system’s formation. These particles heat up as they approach the sun, releasing their characteristic streaming tails.

    This comet, also designated C/2023 A3, was discovered last year and is named for the observatories in China and South Africa that spied it.

    It came from what’s known as the Oort Cloud, well beyond Pluto. After making its closest approach about 44 million miles (71 million kilometers) of Earth, it won’t return for another 80,000 years — assuming it survives the trip.

    In 2023, a green comet that last visited Earth 50,000 years ago zoomed by the planet again. Other notable flybys included Neowise in 2020, and Hale-Bopp and Hyakutake in the mid to late 1990s.

    How to see it

    Those hoping to spot it should venture outside soon after sunset and look to the west. Several comets are discovered every year, but many burn up near the sun or linger too far away to be visible without special equipment. This comet you will see with the naked eye tonight. 

    The comet will be located 30 degrees from the sun, which means it will be relatively easy to see fairly high in a dark sky. As long as you have a clear view of the western horizon after sunset, you should be able to see it. 

    According to sky and telescope, you’ll begin to see it 45 minutes after sunset but it will be brightest an hour to two hours post sunset. Find Venus and look “two and a half fists” to the upper right of the planet and you should see the comet. 

    Check your forecast here to see if the skies will be clear and if you capture pictures of Tsuchinshan-Atlas, submit your photos on the Spectrum News App!

    Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas will be visible through Oct. 21, but you will likely need a telescope or binoculars to see it after tonight. 

    Check out some of the photos captured by our viewers. 

    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 Staff, Associated Press

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  • Northern lights could be visible across U.S. on Thursday night

    Northern lights could be visible across U.S. on Thursday night

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    NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center has forecasted a strong (G4) geomagnetic storm, meaning the northern lights, or aurora borealis, could be visible for much of the Mid-latitudes across the United States Thursday night through Friday morning.

    What You Need To Know

    • The northern lights could be visible in the northern U.S. on Thursday

    • A severe geomagnetic (G4) storm is forecasted Thursday night into Friday morning

    • The sun is currently in an upswing of its 11-year solar cycle producing more solar storms


    A coronal mass ejection (CME) occurred earlier in the week. This eruption of solar material will arrive on Earth today, becoming a severe geomagnetic  storm (G4) and could make the northern lights visible as far south as the Mid-Latitudes.

    Aurora Borealis

    The sun is currently in an upswing of its 11-year solar cycle. Scientists notice more sunspots as they migrate toward the equator of the sun, and when their magnetic fields tangle, solar storms erupt.

    Earth’s magnetic field acts as a buffer to keep particles and energy ejected from the sun at bay. However, if the solar storm is strong enough, those particles can penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere, giving off light, the auroras we see.

    With such intense CMEs expected to arrive on Earth Thursday night, the severe storm might make the northern lights visible in Missouri, Oklahoma and even North Carolina. However, the better chance of viewing will be at higher latitudes. 

    The geomagentic storm magnitude is categorized by the K-index or the Planetary K-index. Kp is used by the Space Weather Prediction Center to send alerts and a good predictor of locations of the aurora borealis. A G4 storm can give off a Kp value of 8 or 9.

    NOAA Weather Space Center

    Tonight’s forecast

    Here is tonight’s forecast from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute. The northern lights are likely to be visible on Thursday night and early Friday morning for areas shaded in green, and they could be visible on the horizon for areas shaded in yellow.

    To ensure the best chance at getting a look at the northern lights tonight, look toward the northern horizon. The best viewing conditions are under cloud-free skies and away from bigger cities with light pollution.

    The best time to view the aurora borealis is 8 p.m and 3 a.m. Use the long exposure option on your phone or camera to get the best pictures. 

    This event could end up being similar to the northern lights event back in May of this year. 

    If you see the northern lights tonight, be sure to submit your photos on the Spectrum News App!

    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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  • Northern lights could be visible across U.S. on Thursday night

    Northern lights could be visible across U.S. on Thursday night

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    NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center has forecasted a strong (G4) geomagnetic storm, meaning the northern lights, or aurora borealis, could be visible for much of the Mid-latitudes across the United States Thursday night through Friday morning.

    What You Need To Know

    • The northern lights could be visible in the northern U.S. on Thursday

    • A severe geomagnetic (G4) storm is forecasted Thursday night into Friday morning

    • The sun is currently in an upswing of its 11-year solar cycle producing more solar storms


    A coronal mass ejection (CME) occurred earlier in the week. This eruption of solar material will arrive on Earth today, becoming a severe geomagnetic  storm (G4) and could make the northern lights visible as far south as the Mid-Latitudes.

    Aurora Borealis

    The sun is currently in an upswing of its 11-year solar cycle. Scientists notice more sunspots as they migrate toward the equator of the sun, and when their magnetic fields tangle, solar storms erupt.

    Earth’s magnetic field acts as a buffer to keep particles and energy ejected from the sun at bay. However, if the solar storm is strong enough, those particles can penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere, giving off light, the auroras we see.

    With such intense CMEs expected to arrive on Earth Thursday night, the severe storm might make the northern lights visible in Missouri, Oklahoma and even North Carolina. However, the better chance of viewing will be at higher latitudes. 

    The geomagentic storm magnitude is categorized by the K-index or the Planetary K-index. Kp is used by the Space Weather Prediction Center to send alerts and a good predictor of locations of the aurora borealis. A G4 storm can give off a Kp value of 8 or 9.

    NOAA Weather Space Center

    Tonight’s forecast

    Here is tonight’s forecast from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute. The northern lights are likely to be visible on Thursday night and early Friday morning for areas shaded in green, and they could be visible on the horizon for areas shaded in yellow.

    To ensure the best chance at getting a look at the northern lights tonight, look toward the northern horizon. The best viewing conditions are under cloud-free skies and away from bigger cities with light pollution.

    The best time to view the aurora borealis is 8 p.m and 3 a.m. Use the long exposure option on your phone or camera to get the best pictures. 

    This event could end up being similar to the northern lights event back in May of this year. 

    If you see the northern lights tonight, be sure to submit your photos on the Spectrum News App!

    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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  • Northern lights could be visible across U.S. on Thursday night

    Northern lights could be visible across U.S. on Thursday night

    [ad_1]

    NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center has forecasted a strong (G4) geomagnetic storm, meaning the northern lights, or aurora borealis, could be visible for much of the Mid-latitudes across the United States Thursday night through Friday morning.

    What You Need To Know

    • The northern lights could be visible in the northern U.S. on Thursday

    • A severe geomagnetic (G4) storm is forecasted Thursday night into Friday morning

    • The sun is currently in an upswing of its 11-year solar cycle producing more solar storms


    A coronal mass ejection (CME) occurred earlier in the week. This eruption of solar material will arrive on Earth today, becoming a severe geomagnetic  storm (G4) and could make the northern lights visible as far south as the Mid-Latitudes.

    Aurora Borealis

    The sun is currently in an upswing of its 11-year solar cycle. Scientists notice more sunspots as they migrate toward the equator of the sun, and when their magnetic fields tangle, solar storms erupt.

    Earth’s magnetic field acts as a buffer to keep particles and energy ejected from the sun at bay. However, if the solar storm is strong enough, those particles can penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere, giving off light, the auroras we see.

    With such intense CMEs expected to arrive on Earth Thursday night, the severe storm might make the northern lights visible in Missouri, Oklahoma and even North Carolina. However, the better chance of viewing will be at higher latitudes. 

    The geomagentic storm magnitude is categorized by the K-index or the Planetary K-index. Kp is used by the Space Weather Prediction Center to send alerts and a good predictor of locations of the aurora borealis. A G4 storm can give off a Kp value of 8 or 9.

    NOAA Weather Space Center

    Tonight’s forecast

    Here is tonight’s forecast from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute. The northern lights are likely to be visible on Thursday night and early Friday morning for areas shaded in green, and they could be visible on the horizon for areas shaded in yellow.

    To ensure the best chance at getting a look at the northern lights tonight, look toward the northern horizon. The best viewing conditions are under cloud-free skies and away from bigger cities with light pollution.

    The best time to view the aurora borealis is 8 p.m and 3 a.m. Use the long exposure option on your phone or camera to get the best pictures. 

    This event could end up being similar to the northern lights event back in May of this year. 

    If you see the northern lights tonight, be sure to submit your photos on the Spectrum News App!

    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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  • Leslie became a Category 2 hurricane but never made landfall

    Leslie became a Category 2 hurricane but never made landfall

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    Tropical Depression 13 formed in the eastern Atlantic on Wednesday, Oct. 2 becoming Tropical Storm Leslie on Thursday, Oct. 3. It was the twelfth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season and the eighth hurricane. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Leslie formed in the eastern Tropical Atlantic

    • It was the twelfth named storm of the season

    • At one point Leslie strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane but never made landfall


    Tropical Depression 13 formed in the eastern Atlantic on Wednesday, Oct. 2 becoming Tropical Storm Leslie on Thursday, Oct. 3. It was the twelfth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season and the eighth hurricane. 

    Despite following in Hurricane Kirk’s wake, Leslie was able to strengthen into a hurricane on Oct. 5. It remained a Category 1 hurricane for several days before weakening to a tropical storm on the morning of Oct. 8. 

    It looked as though Leslie would weaken and soon dissipate but as Leslie moved northwest it traveled over warmer water and on the night of Oct. 8, it strengthened back into a hurricane, even becoming a Category 2 hurricane early on Oct. 10. 

    By the next morning, however, Leslie moved north into a hostile sheared environment and was weakened to a tropical storm before dissipating shortly after. Leslie made no impact on land throughout its life cycle. 

    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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  • Hurricane Milton is breaking records before landfall

    Hurricane Milton is breaking records before landfall

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    Hurricane Milton continues to churn in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday along the west coast of Florida.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hurricane Milton peaked in intensity with winds of 180 mph

    • Surface pressure dropped to the fourth lowest at 897 mb

    • Its small size aided in explosive development in the Gulf of Mexico


    Ahead of expected landfall, this storm is breaking many records. From rapid intensification to maximum winds to minimum pressure, Milton will earn its place in history.

    Milton’s history

    Milton developed from a tropical disturbance in the Caribbean Sea. On Saturday, Oct. 5, it became Tropical Depression 14, and less than three hours later; it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Milton.

    Milton intensified into a hurricane by the afternoon of Oct. 6, and by the morning of Oct. 7, it had reached Category 3 or major hurricane status with winds of 125 mph. The storm began exploding, and by 5 p.m. eastern, winds were 180 mph.

    Rapid intensification

    As defined by the National Hurricane Center (NHC), rapid intensification is “an increase in the maximum sustained winds of a tropical cyclone of at least 35 mph in 24 hours.” Milton surpassed that by nearly three times that amount.

    The 5 a.m. Milton advisory on Oct. 7 had winds of 90 mph. Just 12 hours later, winds were 180 mph, some of the highest winds ever recorded in an Atlantic hurricane.

    Milton intensified from a tropical depression with winds of 35 mph on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. to a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 160 mph on Monday, Oct. 7 at 11:55 a.m. This sets a record for the fastest intensification from a depression to a Cat 5 storm, 48 hours 55 minutes.

    History-making pressure

    On Monday, Oct 7, Milton’s surface pressure plummeted to 897 mbar, the fourth lowest surface pressure ever recorded in the Atlantic basin in the modern satellite era. Only Hurricanes Rita and Wilma from 2005 and Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 had lower pressures.

    How Milton intensified so quickly

    For a hurricane to develop, certain ingredients are needed, including water temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, rising air and light winds aloft to support thunderstorm development and a low pressure. Milton had all of this and remained small in size, all aiding in explosive development.

    “Due to Milton’s tiny core, it was able to wrap up very quickly. When a storm is extremely small, you tend to have a much faster ramp up, and down, of intensity due to it avoiding some of the more hostile air to the north,” explains Spectrum News 13 Orlando Meteorologist Zach Covey.

    Here’s the latest track of Milton. 

    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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    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

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  • Luis Tiant, who pitched the Red Sox to the World Series brink, dies at 83

    Luis Tiant, who pitched the Red Sox to the World Series brink, dies at 83

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    Luis Tiant, the charismatic Cuban with a horseshoe mustache and mesmerizing windup who pitched the Red Sox to the brink of a World Series championship and himself to the doorstep of the Hall of Fame, has died. He was 83.

    Major League Baseball announced his death in a post on X on Tuesday, and the Red Sox confirmed that he died at his home in Maine.

    Known as “El Tiante,” Tiant was a three-time All-Star whose greatest individual season came in 1968, when he went 21-9 with 19 complete games and nine shutouts — four of them in a row. But it was his 1.60 ERA — the best in the AL in half a century — that, combined with Bob Gibson’s 1.12 mark in the NL, helped convince baseball to lower the pitching mound to give batters more of a chance.

    The son of a Negro Leagues star, the younger Tiant was 229-172 in all with a 3.30 ERA and 2,416 strikeouts. He had 187 complete games and 47 shutouts in a 19-year career spent mostly with Cleveland and Boston.

    His death comes one week after that of all-time baseball hits leader Pete Rose, whose Cincinnati Reds faced Tiant’s Red Sox in the 1975 World Series — still considered one of the greatest in baseball history.

    Tiant won Game 1, shutting out the Reds, threw 155 pitches in a complete game victory in Game 4 and was back on the mound for eight innings of Game 6, which Boston won on Carlton Fisk’s home run in the bottom of the 12th.

    After his retirement, Tiant was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame but never made the national shrine in Cooperstown, New York, receiving a high of 30.9% of the votes in 1988, his first year on the ballot.

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    Associated Press

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  • The meteorological setup that caused the catastrophic flooding in the southeast

    The meteorological setup that caused the catastrophic flooding in the southeast

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    The cleanup continues in parts of the southeast after a combination of storms, including the remnants of Hurricane Helene, devastated the area. As of Oct. 7, fatalities have reached the hundreds, with the number expected to rise.

    What You Need To Know

    • A stalled frontal boundary brought days of rain to the southeast prior to Helene making landfall

    • Orographic lift enhanced the rain in the mountains

    • Meteorologists and government officials did their best to relay the messages of flash flooding dangers


    Rainfall totals in the mountains of North Carolina and South Carolina were measured by feet. However, the tremendous amount of rain can’t solely be blamed on Helene. Another synoptic-scale meteorological feature was at play.

    Spectrum News Charlotte Chief Meteorologist Jeff Crum explains the unfortunate events, “Days ahead of Helene, we had heavy rain in the region right over the mountains. Some areas had 6-10” and then Helene hit. It was a recipe for disaster.”

    The timeline

    The National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted a region in the western Caribbean Sea on Sept. 17 for possible tropical development. It took a few days for it to become organized, but it began to get its act together and formed a low pressure on Sept. 22. Due to its proximity to land, the NHC designated it as Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 the next day.

    At the same time, a strong cold front was slowly moving through the Midwest. This front was forecast to cross the Ohio Valley and eventually stall along the Appalachian Mountains by midweek.

    On Sept. 23, National Weather Service outlets in South Carolina and North Carolina began messaging about the potential impact of a Florida Big Bend landfalling hurricane that could occur in northeastern Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina Thursday night into Friday.

    Crum says, “NWS and our mets, started warning people Tuesday (Sept. 24)/Wednesday (Sept. 25) of the catastrophic potential.”

    NWS-Greenville-Spartanburg, SC, messaged “A tropical disturbance over the Caribbean remains unnamed, but is expected to develop quickly into a hurricane by the end of Wednesday before bringing widespread heavy rainfall, flooding and possibly strong wind gusts to our area Thursday night and Friday.” Graphics used displayed the total possible precipitation for this region from Wednesday afternoon through Saturday morning with 4 to 6 inches in Asheville, Nor Car. And upwards of 8 to 10 inches in Tyron, Nor Car.

    Rain ahead of Helene

    On Wednesday, Sept. 25, rain began falling from the stalled frontal boundary along the Appalachians. Asheville, collected 4.09 inches. The same day, Helene moved into the Gulf of Mexico and was upgraded to a hurricane. 

    Rain continued to inundate areas along the Appalachians, and before Helene even made landfall, Asheville had already observed nearly ten inches of rain.

    Communication is key

    NWS was now messaging, “Prepare for catastrophic, life-threatening flooding.” Another message, that same day, contained the language: “This has the potential to be an extremely rare event with catastrophic flash-flooding that hasn’t been seen in the modern era… Numerous landslides expected.”

    In a storm like this, Crum says communication is key. How do you reach everyone and explain the impending dangers?

    “I think the frustration for the weather community is how that message was disseminated through state and local governments. In the mountains, a lot of folks don’t have the internet, cellphones or satellite TV. They don’t have cable out in the hollers. How in the heck that alert and dire warning was put out beyond what we do is a question for review among sociologists and such.” 

    Helene’s landfall

    Hurricane Helene made landfall just after 11 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26 as a Category 4 with winds of 140 mph along Florida’s Big Bend, near Perry, Fla. Once inland, Helene weakened, but also picked up speed.

     

    As it moved north in Georgia during the early morning hours on Sept. 27, it was downgraded to a tropical storm. The center of the storm stayed just west of Anderson, South Car. And Asheville, North Car.

    This put both areas on the eastern side of the storm. This side, also known as the “dirty side” contains heavy rain and wind. Thanks to the orographic lift and the influences from that stalled boundary, moisture was enhanced.

    Another 4.11 inches of rain fell during the morning hours in Asheville. This was on top of the nearly ten inches of rain they had picked up two days prior. Two hours after Helene made landfall, NWS was urging residents to “take action now!” showing a flood inundation map that suggested widespread flooding was forecast in Asheville.

    There was nowhere for the water to go. Although the rain ended midday on Sept. 27, the creeks and streams became backed up with many of the rivers not forecast to crest until later that night. A Flash Flood Emergency was issued, indicating life-threatening flash flooding with widespread life-threatening landslide activity expected across the mountains.

    Unfortunately, as seen through pictures and videos, this forecast became a reality and much of the area was devastated. The highest rainfall includes the higher elevations with Busick, North Carolina. picking up 30.78 inches throughout the event.

    At the time of this writing, there were still several hundred people missing, with the emotional and financial costs still yet to be tallied. This event will be remembered as one of the worst natural disasters to ever hit the United States, surpassing even Hurricane Katrina 24 years ago.

    More Storm Season Resources


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    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

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  • Kirk was a major hurricane that never made landfall

    Kirk was a major hurricane that never made landfall

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    Tropical Storm Kirk formed in the eastern Atlantic on Sunday, Sept. 29, becoming a tropical storm on Monday, Sept. 30. It was the eleventh named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season and the seventh hurricane of the season. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Kirk formed in the eastern Tropical Atlantic

    • It was the tenth named storm of the season

    • Kirk became a Category 4 hurricane at one point but did not impact any land


    Kirk formed in the eastern Atlantic on Sunday, Sept. 29, becoming a tropical storm on Monday, Sept. 30. It was the eleventh named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

    By Tuesday, Oct. 1, Kirk strengthened into a hurricane, making it the seventh hurricane of the 2024 season. 

    On the morning of Friday, Oct. 4, Kirk reached peak intensity with winds of 145 mph, making it the third major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) of the season. By the evening, it had weakened and winds decreased.

    Kirk moved north into colder waters, causing it to weaken and become extratropical as it accelerated off to the northeast on Oct. 7. Extratropical cyclone Kirk passed north of the Azores before the remnants arrived along the coast of France and western Europe. 

    Although Kirk never made landfall as a tropical system, high surf was reported along the east coast when Kirk was a hurricane and as a remnant low, the storm brought heavy rain and flooding, and gusty winds to parts of Spain, France and Portugal. Mudslides were even reported in the city of Galicia, Spain. 

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

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • Tropical Storm Milton now in the Gulf, taking aim at Florida next week

    Tropical Storm Milton now in the Gulf, taking aim at Florida next week

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    Tropical Depression 14 formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday morning, but was quickly upgraded to Tropical Storm Milton shortly after.

    What You Need To Know

    • TD 14 formed and was quickly upgraded to Milton

    • It could become a hurricane before making landfall in Florida

    • Official forecast track takes Milton into Central Florida midweek


    Milton was upgraded to a Tropical Storm about two hours after it was designated as a tropical depression. 

    Not much has changed with Milton except the minor strengthening to tropical-storm stateus. It has maximum winds of 40 mph and is moving north northeast at 3 mph. 

    The track won’t be identical to Helene, but regardless of intensity, heavy rain, wind and storm surge is forecasted for the Florida peninsula next week. 

    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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  • Joyce became a tropical storm but never impacted land

    Joyce became a tropical storm but never impacted land

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    Joyce formed in the eastern tropical Atlantic early on Sept. 26. It was the ninth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season and the sixth hurricane.

    What You Need To Know

    • Joyce formed in the eastern Tropical Atlantic

    • It was the ninth named storm of the season

    • Joyce peaked with winds of 50 mph and it never made landfall


    Joyce formed from an African Easterly Wave, a disturbance that moved off the coast of west Africa. It formed in the eastern tropical Atlantic early on Sept. 26, becoming a tropical storm on Sept. 27 with winds of 50 mph. 

    50 mph would be its peak intensity as it began to weaken, becoming a tropical depression on Sept. 29. It was downgraded to a remnant low by Oct. 1.

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

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    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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  • Tropical Storm Isaac forms in the north-central Atlantic

    Tropical Storm Isaac forms in the north-central Atlantic

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    Tropical Storm Isaac has formed in the north-central Atlantic Ocean.

    Isaac formed in the north-central Atlantic on Wednesday, Sept. 25. It’s the ninth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season .

    What You Need To Know

    • Tropical Storm Isaac formed late Wednesday night in the north-central Atlantic

    • It’s expected to become a hurricane by Saturday

    • It poses no threat to land


    Isaac has winds of 50 mph and is located about 750 miles east northeast of Bermuda. It is forecasted to become a hurricane by late Friday or early Saturday. 

    It will pass north of the Azores by late weekend or early next week and does not pose any risk to land. 

    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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  • Helene continues to strengthen; will become a hurricane today

    Helene continues to strengthen; will become a hurricane today

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    Tropical Storm Helene continues to strengthen as it moves toward the Gulf of Mexico. It’s expected to become a hurricane soon.

    Helene formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Tuesday, Sept. 24. It’s the eighth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Tropical Storm Helene continues to strengthen

    • It’s expected to become a hurricane today

    • Helene is forecast to become a major hurricane and make landfall in Florida


    Helene is moving northwest into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico with max winds of 70 mph. It will continue to strengthen as it turns north-northeast.

    Conditions are favorable for intensification in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, with warm water and low wind shear in place. It should allow Helene to quickly strengthen, becoming a hurricane sometime today.

    It’s possible that Helene could undergo rapid intensification in the eastern Gulf, making landfall as a major hurricane in the Big Bend.

    The latest forecast has Helene moving inland Thursday evening or night in the Florida Panhandle.

    The risk of life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds begins tonight through Thursday along portions of the Gulf Coast, especially the Florida Panhandle and Florida’s west coast.

    Tropical Storm and Hurricane Warnings are in effect across Florida and the Southeast.

    Along with hurricane-force winds, dangerous storm surge is expected and Storm Surge Warnings have been issued along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Storm surge will be highest in the Big Bend and Nature Coast area, with inundation up to 12 to 15 feet above ground level.

    There is still uncertainty in the specific track and intensity of the storm, but most models are consistent with the storm moving north across the eastern Gulf, making landfall somewhere around Florida’s Big Bend.

    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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  • Weather Explained: Understanding the forecast cone

    Weather Explained: Understanding the forecast cone

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    The forecast cone is one of the most recognizable forecast tools each hurricane season. It shows the public the uncertainty with time of where a tropical cyclone may head. 

    Fortunately, the average forecast error has improved considerably over the last decade thanks to advancements in satellites, weather models and forecasting.

    Watch the video above to learn more about the meaning of the forecast cone.

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    Meteorologist Nick Merianos

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