Storm Team 3: Severe storms possible Thursday and Friday
The stormy pattern that the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry has been experiencing will continue for the rest of the workweek.
Heavy rain and storms are likely across the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry Thursday and into Friday along with a few strong to severe storms.
The biggest concern on Thursday will be widespread heavy rain. Rainfall rates will be in excess of 2″ per hour with some of the stronger cells that develop.
A few isolated storms may become severe with damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 mph as the main concern. Some hail is possible also.
The best timing for storms on Thursday afternoon will be between 1 and 9 p.m.
Friday will be a Weather Aware Day due to the possibility of scattered severe storms.
Damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 mph will again be the main threat. Hail and isolated spin-up tornadoes are possible.
The tornado risk will be low, just not zero.
Heavy rain and localized flooding will be an issue in areas with poor drainage. Rainfall rates will be in excess of two inches per hour.
Friday's storms will be moving though the region ahead of a strong frontal boundary which will lead to strong and gusty conditions even without severe storms.
Storms on Friday will begin to move in from the west around noon and will continue through the later afternoon. Most storms should be off of the coast with the cold front by 6 p.m.
It is a good idea to think about what you would to in the even that a severe thunderstorm warning or tornado warning is issued for your area. Have a plan to get indoors and to the lowest level of a sturdy structure away from windows and doors.
You also need a reliable way to receive critical weather alerts. A NOAA Weather Radio is a great tool to have in your home or place of work. They are dependable, even when the power and cellular service may be disrupted.
Another great tool to have ready is the WSAV Weather NOW app which can receive weather alerts directly to your mobile device anywhere you are. It is free and is available in the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Storm Team 3 will have you covered as conditions change, stay tuned for the latest forecast.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Scientific American
29 minutes ago
- Scientific American
Why This Hurricane Season Has Experts on Edge
June 1 marks the official start of the hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean—and once again, the season looks like it will be busy. Though it is impossible to tell this far in advance exactly when storms will form and where they might hit, the presence of hurricane-friendly environmental conditions this season—along with the federal government cuts and policy chaos —have experts worried about the accuracy of forecasts and the resulting safety of communities. Scientific American asked several forecasters and hurricane researchers what they were most concerned about this year. Warm oceans may mean a busy hurricane season On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. Seasonal forecasts—including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's— put the odds in favor of having more storms than average this season, which will last until November 30. NOAA predicts 13 to 19 named storms, meaning those of tropical storm strength (with winds of 39 to 74 miles per hour) or higher. Of those, six to 10 are expected to become hurricanes (with winds of more than 74 mph). And among those hurricanes, three to five are expected to reach major hurricane status—meaning they will have winds that will fall within Category 3 (those of 111 to 129 mph) or a stronger category on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The expectations of an active season arise from a combination of a favorable atmospheric environment and abundant ocean heat to fuel storms. 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It's a situation that has played out many times in recent years, including with Hurricanes Beryl and Milton last season. 'The sticky heat of the Gulf is a worrisome trend that's undoubtedly fueling the spate of big hurricane hits along the Gulf Coast over the past decade or so,' Lowry says. 'This is consistent with recent research that suggests the Gulf has seen a significant increase over the past 42 years in the number of days where it can support high-end hurricanes.' Because of that abundant hurricane fuel, 'I would not be surprised if we see early-season activity well ahead of the peak' of activity in September, says Marshall Shepherd, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Georgia. Several experts noted that this year's conditions have some slight differences from the most recent seasons. 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Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
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Airoso Blvd. Morningside Elementary at 2300 S.E. Gowin Drive The special-needs shelter is at Treasure Coast Elementary School, 8955 85th St. in Sebastian, and the pet-friendly shelter is at Liberty Magnet Elementary School, 6850 81st St. in Vero Beach. There are 13 others: Sebastian Elementary School at 400 Sebastian Blvd. Fellsmere Elementary School at 50 N. Cypress St. Sebastian River Middle School at 9400 County Road 512 Sebastian River High School at 9001 90th Ave. Pelican Island Elementary School at 1355 Schumann Drive, Sebastian Storm Grove Middle School at 6400 57th St., Vero Beach Gifford Middle School at 4530 28th Court VBHS Freshman Learning Center at 1507 19th St., Vero Beach Glendale Elementary School at 4940 8th St., Vero Beach Oslo Middle School at 480 20th Avenue S.W., Vero Beach Osceola Magnet School at 1110 18th Avenue S.W., Vero Beach Indian River Academy at 500 20th Street S.W., Vero Beach Vero Beach Elementary School at 1770 12th St. Tornadoes can strike at any point during the year, but Florida twisters are most common in spring and summer. They are categorized by the Enhanced Fujita Scale based on their winds: EF0: 65-85 mph EF1: 86-110 mph EF2: 111-135 mph EF3: 136-165 mph EF4: 166-200 mph EF5: Over 200 mph The Treasure Coast was hit with at least 14 tornadoes before Hurricane Milton made landfall, which resulted in six deaths in the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village mobile home community northwest of Fort Pierce. The most destructive tornado was an EF3 with winds from 136-165 mph that touched down in St. Lucie and Indian River counties. People living in manufactured homes and low-lying, flood-prone areas should have a storm emergency plan and disaster kits ready to go if tornado, flood or hurricane threats hit the area, said St. Lucie County Public Safety Director Ron Guerrero. Here's what the different tornado alerts mean and tornado safety tips to follow, in the event of one: Tornado watch: Possibility of tornadoes in or near the watch area. Tornado warning: A sighting or weather radar indicating a tornado. Try to move to an interior room on the lowest level in a sturdy building and stay away from windows. Tornado emergency: Issued when a violent tornado has touched down in the watch area. Here are some safety dos and don'ts if you find yourself caught in a tornado, according to NOAA: Seek shelter immediately, especially if in a mobile home, vehicle or outdoors. Move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. If you're driving, it is recommended to find shelter in a ditch or remain in your vehicle and cover your head. If in a mobile home, get to a sturdy shelter as soon as possible. If not, take shelter in a nearby ditch, low spot or underground culvert. Make sure to lie flat covering your head with your hands. Stay as low as possible by moving into an interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy building, making sure to stay away from windows, doors and outdoor walls. Interior rooms can be bathrooms, closets or halls with no windows. Use your hands, pillows, heavy coats, blankets, quilts, or helmets to shield your head from flying debris. Leading up to a storm, make sure to be prepared with an emergency kit with these items, according to NOAA: Backpack or storage tub to hold your supplies Bottled water, one gallon per person is recommended Non-perishable food and a can opener for canned foods Flashlight with extra batteries First aid supplies Bandages Ointment Disinfectant wipes Any daily or prescription medication taken Tissues Toilet paper and bags with ties for personal sanitation Paper and pen or pencil (to take notes, play games, etc.) Sleeping bag or warm blanket Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Personal hygiene items Whistle to signal for help Important documents (identification, insurance information, banking information, wills, etc.) Emergency reference materials such as a first aid book Battery-powered radio and a NOAA weather radio Formula and diapers for infants Extra pet food A dust mask or cotton T-shirt to help filter the air Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place Cups and utensils A change of clothes for each person in your home Rain gear Cash Paper towels Fire Extinguisher Cards or games Do not stay outside; get to shelter as quickly as possible Avoid being by windows, doors and outside walls Do not wait until you see or hear the tornado Do not open windows or doors Do not take shelter under a highway overpass if you're caught in a tornado while in your car You can sign up for emergency alerts on your phone at Check with your service provider to find out if your cell phone or mobile device is compatible with receiving wireless emergency alerts. However, not all wireless service providers offer wireless emergency alerts, and some participating service providers may not offer it on all mobile devices, according to the Federal Communications Commission. NWS recap: 11 tornadoes confirmed, 3 more suspected on the Treasure Coast Exclusive look: Inside Spanish Lakes after Hurricane Milton killed six people If you do not receive emergency alerts, check with your service provider to see if your mobile device is compatible. If it is, and you still don't receive messages, check out your user manual, or if you have an iPhone, follow these steps: Go to settings and click on the notifications tab. Scroll to the bottom of the screen. Under government alerts, turn the type of alert on or off. Each county has its own alert system. You can sign up for AlertMartin, and Alert Indian River on the Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie county websites. Part of preparing for a hurricane is knowing what government agencies to contact in an emergency. Phone: 772-226-3900 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-462-8100 Website: Phone: 772-287-1652 Website: Twitter: Phone: 772-569-6700 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-220-7000 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-462-7300 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-978-4600 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-646-6309 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-589-5233 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-467-6800 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-871-5000 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-287-1122 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-226-3993 Website: Phone: 772-621-3400 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-288-5710 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-288-5360 Website: Gianna Montesano is TCPalm's trending reporter. You can contact her at 772-409-1429, or follow her on X @gonthescene. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hurricane 2025 season forecast shows Florida storm predictions
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Who Should Consider Getting Flood Insurance? These Days, Almost Everyone.
With the Atlantic hurricane season about to start, this may be good time to consider buying flood insurance for your home — even if you don't live in a hurricane-prone area. Officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said this month that they were expecting more than the average number of hurricanes during the season, which begins June 1 and runs through November. NOAA predicts as many as 19 named storms, with six to 10 of them strengthening into hurricanes. An average season has 14 named storms with seven becoming hurricanes. Flood insurance should not be seen as important only for property owners near the ocean, insurance experts note. While properties near the coast are in particular peril, areas far inland have had severe flooding in recent years as a warming climate spawns intense storms that drop heavy rainfall. Won't my homeowner insurance policy cover flood damage? No. Standard homeowner insurance policies don't cover damage from floods, which are the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States. Flood protection — which typically covers damage from rising water entering a home — requires a separate policy, available from the federal government's National Flood Insurance Program or from certain private insurers. Borrowers with federally backed mortgages in certain high-risk areas are generally required to carry flood coverage, but it's largely optional otherwise. What if I don't live near a coastline? You should still evaluate buying flood coverage, insurance experts say. Consider this example. In September, Hurricane Helene made landfall on Florida's gulf coast as a powerful Category 4 storm, then moved inland, traveling hundreds of miles north. The storm drenched parts of six states and caused record flooding in western North Carolina. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
