13 Florida counties under freeze watch as blast of Arctic air moves in. See what's ahead
Thirteen Florida counties were under a freeze watch Wednesday as a blast of Arctic air moves into the state.
The watch remains in effect until Friday morning.
Temperatures will be below normal for this time of year, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location
Rain was moving through the Panhandle and North Florida before sunrise. Rain and a few thunderstorms are expected to move through the Florida peninsula late Wednesday afternoon and into the evening.
Locally gusty winds, occasional lightning, and locally heavy downpours are possible until the system of low pressure moves offshore.
Elsewhere in the U.S., an extreme cold warning extends from North Dakota into South Texas, prompting meteorologist Jim Cantore with The Weather Channel to post on X the "insane" wind chills of -50 — yes, that's MINUS 50 degrees — in North Dakota and Montana early Wednesday
A freeze watch was issued Tuesday night for 13 counties in North and North Central Florida. The watch is in effect until 9 a.m. Friday
"Sub-freezing temperatures as low as the upper 20s to around 30 are possible across portions of northeast and northern Florida from late Thursday night through Friday morning.
Counties including in the watch are:
Alachua
Baker
Bradford
Clay
Columbia
Duval
Gilchrist
Hamilton
Marion
Nassau
Putnam
Suwannee
Union
Below normal high temperatures for this time of year can be expected to persist as temperatures reach the upper 50s and lower 60s in the Florida Panhandle and middle to upper 70s in Central and Southern Florida Wednesday and Thursday, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Low temperatures will fall into the lower 30s to low 40s across North Florida, with portions of the Panhandle falling below freezing Wednesday night. Feels-like temperatures will drop into the upper teens to lower 20s across the western Panhandle and middle 20s to middle 30s across the eastern Panhandle and into the western Big Bend by sunrise Thursday morning.
By Thursday night sub-freezing temperatures in the middle 20s to middle 30s will expand across North Florida. Feels-like temperatures will fall into the middle to upper teens and lower 20s throughout North Florida, middle to upper 20s across the southern Suwannee Valley and lower to middle 30s from Nature Coast and north of the I-4 corridor.
Central Florida will see lower temperatures in the upper 40s to upper 50s across Wednesday night before falling into the upper 30s to middle 40s Thursday night.
South Florida will see low temperatures Wednesday night fall into the 60s to low 70s before falling into the upper 40s to upper 50s.
"The coldest temperatures will be across the entire state on Friday morning," according to the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network.
"Across the Panhandle, some temperatures will be around the upper 20s to low 30s, and a few spots could develop a freeze or frost.
"For Central Florida, low temperatures will be between the low 40s and mid-40s, with the coldest range dominating the rural areas.
"For South Florida, low temperatures will be between the upper 50s and low 60s, with a few spots over Southwest Florida in the low-50s."
"This is a much-welcome change as high temperatures (before the arrival of the cold front) were more on par with the average temperatures much of Florida would have in April or May."
Pensacola is under a cold weather advisory until 9 a.m. CST Thursday.
Wednesday: Rain, mainly before noon. High near 57. Breezy, with an east wind 10 to 20 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night: Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 33. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. Breezy, with a north wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 46. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Breezy, with a north wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 58. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.
Follow National Weather Service Mobile on X, formerly known as Twitter
Wednesday: Rain, mainly before 1 p.m. High near 56. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Tonight: A 10 percent chance of rain before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 52. North northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 28. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Patchy frost after 2am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 35.
Saturday: Areas of frost before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 60.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Follow the National Weather Service Tallahassee on X, formerly known as Twitter
Today: Showers, mainly before 3pm. High near 62. Northeast wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 44. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 56. Breezy, with a northwest wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. Wind chill values as low as 26. North wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 49. Breezy, with a northeast wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.
Follow the National Weather Service Jacksonville on X, formerly known as Twitter
Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4 p.m. High near 73. East wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 51. North northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday: Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 62. North northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. North northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 65. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. East southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. North northwest wind around 5 mph.
Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter
Today: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. West wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 68. North northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. North northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. East northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70. East wind around 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. East southeast wind around 5 mph becoming west southwest after midnight.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north northeast in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter
Today: A slight chance of showers before 9 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Light and variable wind becoming south southwest 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight: A slight chance of showers between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. North northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. East northeast wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Calm wind.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming north northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Calm wind.
Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Breezy, with a south wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph becoming west after midnight.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers between 8am and 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Breezy, with a north wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Windy, with a north wind 20 to 22 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Breezy, with a northeast wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Windy, with a northeast wind 16 to 21 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70. East wind 13 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind 8 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind 8 to 11 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Follow the
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 8 to 13 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind 8 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind 8 to 11 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Breezy, with a north wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Breezy, with a northeast wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northeast wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. East wind 10 to 13 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind 6 to 9 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 6 to 8 mph.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Follow the
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.
Tonight: A slight chance of showers before 9pm, then a slight chance of showers after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday: A 10 percent chance of showers before 7am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Northeast wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 74. Northeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Northeast wind 8 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77. East wind 7 to 9 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. East wind 6 to 9 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Follow the
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Light and variable wind becoming south southwest 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. West southwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. North wind 7 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. North northeast wind 8 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 72. North northeast wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Northeast wind 7 to 9 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 76. East wind 6 to 8 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. East wind 3 to 6 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Light and variable wind becoming north 5 to 8 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Follow the National Weather Service Tampa Bay on X, formerly known as Twitter
Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Southeast wind 8 to 14 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph becoming north northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Breezy, with a north wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Breezy, with a north northeast wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Breezy, with a northeast wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. Northeast wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70. East wind 8 to 11 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. North northeast wind around 7 mph becoming east after midnight.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Northeast wind 8 to 11 mph.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Follow the National Weather Service Tampa Bay on X, formerly known as Twitter
Today: A slight chance of showers before 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. East wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely before midnight, then a slight chance of showers between midnight and 2 a.m.. Cloudy, with a low around 55. West southwest wind around 10 mph becoming north northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday: Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 66. North northwest wind around 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. North wind around 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 61. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 69. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. North northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph.
Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter
We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida weather forecast: Arctic blast brings freezing temps
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
How wildfires in Canada are creating health hazards in the Midwest
Dozens of wildfires in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba have spread out of control this week, displacing residents and causing smoke that has made its way into the American Midwest. Wildfire season in Canada typically runs from March to October, and fire activity in western Canada usually has an uptick in May, according to The New York Times. The season is already off to a grim start after a wildfire in Manitoba killed two people and forced the evacuation of an entire town earlier in May. Canada's fire season is earlier than Utah's, which is typically from July to October. The smoke from the fires has been dragged by a cold front into states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. A cold front has pushed the smoke from the Canadian fires across the border into Minnesota's northern region and tribal nations, according to The New York Times. This has generated a reading of red on the air quality index, used by states to track particle pollution. A red reading means it is unhealthy for many people in the general public. Air quality alerts have also been issued across the entire state of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, according to The Weather Channel. The smoke that is blowing into these areas is near-surface smoke, which can be unhealthy to breathe since it is at lower levels. Meteorologists in Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said that the levels of fine particulate in the air would be elevated in the state into Saturday. Those in sensitive groups who may be more susceptible to smoke were advised to take precautions, including adjusting outdoor activity, The New York Times reported. These groups include those with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, pregnant people and outdoor workers. As the fires burn in Canada's prairies in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the two neighboring provinces have declared states of emergency. The premier of Saskatchewan, Scott Moe, issued the emergency order on Thursday, following Wab Kinew of Manitoba who did the same on Wednesday, per The New York Times. Across northern Saskatchewan, a rural region housing several Indigenous reserves, 15 communities have been evacuated. The emergency orders will last for at least 30 days, enabling public safety officials to mobilize resources quickly and get help from other provinces. Firefighting crews from British Columbia and Nova Scotia are already at work in Saskatchewan. Around 17,000 residents of Manitoba are under evacuation orders as fires burn in the north and east areas of the province, per The New York Times. Throughout the weekend, the greatest concentrations of smoke will be in the Midwest and northern Plains; as winds continue to blow, lesser concentrations will move into the South and East. Weather patterns will change Monday into Tuesday, turning winds out of the South and central U.S. ahead of a cold front from the West. Wildfire seasons across the country, including Utah's, are increasing in length, per Axios. These increases are straining fire departments and other organizations that control and contain wildfires. Between 1973 and 2024, the number of 'fire weather' days along most of the Wasatch Front rose by 12 to 15 days, according to an analysis from Climate Central. In western Utah, fire weather days have increased by 34. A 'fire weather day' is defined as 'one with temperatures of at least 45°-55°F (depending on the season), relative humidity within 5% of regional thresholds, and sustained wind speeds of 15mph or more — all happening together during at least two hourly measurements on a given day," according to Axios.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Smoke from Canadian Wildfires That Forced 17,000 to Evacuate Is Expected to Hit the U.S.
Canadian wildfires burning in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are expected to bring smoke and affect air quality in the Midwestern U.S. The fires have already prompted air quality alerts in states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota So far, 17,000 people in Canada have been forced to evacuate in a situation Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe called "very serious"Wildfires in Canada are expected to impact air quality in the United States as strong winds blow smoke south into the Midwest. Fires in Saskatchewan and Manitoba have triggered a statewide air quality alert in Wisconsin and regional alerts in Minnesota and Michigan, according to The Weather Channel, which reported that Chicago could also see a drop in air quality from the fires. The Washington Post reported that Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio may all see effects from the wildfires, too, when smoke is pushed into the region on Friday, May 30. While the smoke is expected to be concentrated mostly in the Midwest and Northern Plains from Friday through Sunday, June 1, The Weather Channel said that it could also move to the southern and eastern U.S. in lower concentrations. The smoke will likely be pushed north on Monday, June 2, according to The Weather Channel. The outlet reported that "relief from smoky skies and air quality issues should at least temporarily arrive" thanks to winds coming into the region from the southern U.S. The Canadian wildfires, which have already blazed through hundreds of thousands of acres, have forced 17,000 people in the country to evacuate so far, according to USA Today. Canada's Department of Natural Resources said "rising temperatures, steady winds and low relative humidity" have sparked the fires, which Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe called "a very serious situation." "I do fear things are going to deteriorate with the weather we have ahead of us in the days ahead," Moe said in a Thursday, May 29, press conference, USA Today reported. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The situation is so dire that the military has been called in to assist with evacuations, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said at a news conference, according to the paper. Kinew said the evacuation was the largest "seen in most people's living memory." The wildfires come two years after 2023 blazes in central Canada turned skies orange in the U.S., triggering air quality alerts across the country. At the time, New York City experienced the highest pollution level in the world on June 6, 2023. Read the original article on People
2 days ago
Every Floridian should have a plan for this year's hurricane season, DeSantis says
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Two days away from the start of hurricane season, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state's top emergency manager joked Friday that they didn't want to encounter each other again until the storm season ends in late November. Forecasts suggest that's unlikely. While the upcoming season, which starts Sunday, isn't expected to be as topsy-turvy as last season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there's a 60% chance it will be above normal, a 30% chance near normal and just a 10% chance it will be quieter than average. Relentless storms, including Debby, Helene and Milton, which landed in Florida last year, made for the third-costliest hurricane season on record last year. 'You just have to prepare and plan that we are going to have impacts,' DeSantis said at a news conference in front of shelves of generators at a Home Depot store in Jupiter, Florida. 'If you plan and it doesn't happen, you're never going to have regrets. If you don't plan and it happens, you're going to immediately be saying, 'Why didn't I do this?'' Ahead of any hurricanes headed toward the peninsula, Floridians should be prepared to have seven days of food, water and supplies for their households, including pets. If they need to evacuate, they don't have to travel hundreds of miles when traveling just a few miles inland to a hotel or shelter works, officials said. Floridians living on the coast should be familiar with their evacuation zone so they know which areas emergency officials are referring to if an evacuation is issued, said DeSantis and Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The NOAA forecast calls for 13 to 19 named storms with six to 10 becoming hurricanes and three to five reaching major status with winds of more than 110 mph (177 kph). A normal season has 14 named storms, seven of which strengthen to hurricanes and three power up further to major hurricanes. Normally, at the start of hurricane season, Floridians would be able to buy storm supplies under a state program that doesn't tax items like generators, batteries, flashlights, tarps and coolers. However, that is on hold since the Florida Legislature hasn't passed a budget, DeSantis said. Despite enjoying a GOP supermajority in both chambers, legislative leaders failed to pass the one bill Florida law requires, the state budget, ahead of the scheduled end of the regular session at the beginning of May. Lawmakers are expected to return to Tallahassee in June to hammer out a spending deal ahead of the July 1 start of the next fiscal year. 'So we don't have any tax holiday in place in the state of Florida,' said DeSantis, taking a jab at lawmakers who openly defied the Republican governor during this past legislative session in contrast to previous years of deference.
