Canada wildfires: Thousands flee Prairie communities as fires intensify
More than 25,000 people have been forced out of their homes across parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. With more hot, dry weather forecast in the Prairies, there are fears the growing wildfire situation may erupt in the coming days – especially if the winds shift.
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CBS News
35 minutes ago
- CBS News
Wildfire smoke continues into the Pittsburgh region along with multiple storm chances
Thursday begins on a very warm and smoky note across most of Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia. Wildfire smoke and haze have mixed down to this surface, resulting in code yellow to code orange air quality, meaning that the condition of the air is unhealthy for those with any underlying health conditions. WEATHER LINKS: Current Conditions | School Closings & Delays | Submit Your Weather Photos This wildfire smoke and haze will continue to be in place across our area through 2-3 p.m. this afternoon before thunderstorms develop. The outflow winds from these thunderstorms should finally help to stir up the atmosphere a bit and mix out the smoke. Severe weather chances over the next three days KDKA Weather Center Ahead of the storms, high temperatures will easily reach the low to mid-80s, which is a few degrees above normal for this time of year. Speaking of storms, the SPC has most of our area in a level 1 out of 5 severe risk for today and tomorrow. Storms should form in the increasingly moist air ahead of a cold front and a weak disturbance moving in from the northwest. We should see development around 3 p.m. Thursday, with the highest coverage generally in our northwest zones, although some models suggest there could be simultaneous development in the Laurel Highlands and Ridges as well. Initially, coverage will be isolated, but as storm tops collapse and weaken, this may spawn new development in different areas. Low temperatures and rain chances on Thursday evening KDKA Weather Center Storm coverage should diminish after 8-9 p.m. with only scattered showers overnight, but another disturbance moving in during the mid-morning hours of Friday will likely re-ignite storms during the midday and afternoon hours. There will not be a ton of wind shear today and tomorrow, so these will be more pulse-like, disorganized storms with a localized "microburst" wind threat along with hail. Winds could gust upwards of 60-70mph in isolated spots along with pea to quarter-sized hail. Rain chances over the next week KDKA Weather Center The cold front will eventually sag south into the region by early Saturday with a chance of early morning showers. Most of Saturday into Saturday night is trending drier as we will be in between systems. On Sunday, moisture will return north ahead of a strong low system and cold front poised to arrive on Monday. We could see storm chances increase as early as Sunday afternoon, with the higher chances moving in on Monday. This system will have much stronger winds aloft accompanied by sufficient moisture and some instability, so we will need to keep an eye on the severe weather threat with next Monday's system. Lingering showers and storms will continue on Tuesday, before a cold front moves in, resulting in drier conditions by the following Wednesday. 7-day forecast: June 5, 2025 KDKA Weather Center Stay up to date with the KDKA Mobile App – which you can download here!
New York Times
43 minutes ago
- New York Times
Healthy Leon Draisaitl gives Oilers the edge they lacked in last year's Stanley Cup Final
EDMONTON – It seems there's quite a difference between the Leon Draisaitl who was hampered by injuries in the Stanley Cup Final a year ago and the one who was on the ice Wednesday. Draisaitl scored twice, including the overtime winner, as the Edmonton Oilers downed the Florida Panthers 4-3 in Game 1 on Wednesday. Advertisement 'He is a top-three player in the world. That's what he shows,' Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. 'When he's healthy, it's a great thing for our club. He's a game-breaker for us. He's a game-changer for us.' From the moment his shot beat Sergei Bobrovsky just 1:06 into the game, Draisaitl looked like a different player compared to the guy battling through last year's Final. As the crowd roared to celebrate him sniping a rebound off a Kasperi Kapanen shot, Draisaitl raised his left arm in the air, drifted toward the boards and pumped his right fist. The first goal of the Final was Draisaitl's first career goal in a Final. LEON DRAISAITL OPENS THE SCORING IN GAME 1 OF THE #STANLEYCUP FINAL 🚨 🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT & @SportsonMax ➡️ @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ — NHL (@NHL) June 5, 2025 'He's always dialled in,' Oilers blueliner Brett Kulak said. 'Sometimes in a big game – Game 1, Stanley Cup Final – it might take you a couple shifts to get into it. But he's locked in and ready to go right from puck drop.' And that was before he scored the overtime winner, his third such goal of the playoffs to tie a record for a single postseason. That power-play goal at 19:29 after passes from Corey Perry and then Connor McDavid almost blew the roof off the arena. 'It's tough to describe,' Draisaitl said of the emotions. 'There were some incredible plays that made easy for me to put that home.' There were so many positive components for the Oilers on Wednesday. That they won and in comeback fashion given how poorly they started last year's Final. That Stuart Skinner was excellent and arguably outplayed counterpart Sergei Bobrovsky. But the way Draisaitl performed is perhaps the aspect that bodes best for their prospects of capturing the Stanley Cup they couldn't quite reach 12 months ago. Advertisement What a difference time has seemed to make for Draisaitl, who had a measly three assists the seven-game series against the Panthers a year ago. That's not to rip Draisaitl's efforts — rib and hand injuries hampered his ability to perform anywhere close to his peak abilities. Few players are completely healthy in the fourth round of the playoffs. But whatever's troubling Draisaitl this go-around, if anything, it's clearly not enough to slow him down. 'It feels good,' Draisaitl said. 'I think that goes for a lot of our guys. Some of our guys got pretty banged up early last year in the playoffs. Sometimes the fatigue seems to set in a little bit quicker. It's nice to feel good and healthy. Hopefully it stays that way.' Part of the reason the Oilers are in better stead, coach Kris Knoblauch has explained, is how much fresher they are now compared to this point in last year's run. They dispatched the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars like a well-oiled machine over the last two series, needing three fewer games through those rounds than they did in 2024. Draisaitl was a major factor in that. There were his offensive exploits to help turn around that opening matchup against the Los Angeles Kings, highlighted by a four-point performance and the overtime marker in Game 4. There was his second extra-time goal in Game 2 against Vegas and the way he contributed to shutting down superstar Jack Eichel. There was how he recorded nine points in five games against the Stars. And then there was Game 1. 'You can't put a number on it,' McDavid said of Draisaitl's contributions through 17 games. 'He's invaluable. Clutch, faceoffs – you name it, he does it. He doesn't get enough respect of credit for his defensive capabilities. 'When he's dug in, there's not many better. Maybe nobody better.' There was no question who the Conn Smythe Trophy winner should have been last season. McDavid had 42 points, including an NHL-record 34 assists. He was one first-place vote shy of winning the playoff MVP award unanimously. Advertisement Draisaitl has, at the very least, made the Conn Smythe a debate if the Oilers win the Stanley Cup – and perhaps even if they don't. He was unquestionably the Oilers' best player in the regular season, won the Rocket Richard Trophy thanks to his 52 goals and was named a Hart Trophy finalist. He set an NHL record with six overtime goals, too. His overtime exploits in the playoffs are just part of a remarkable resume this postseason. His three extra-time goals tie a recorded shared by the Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk (2023), Perry (then with Anaheim in 2017), Maurice Richard (1951) and Mel Hill (1939). Draisaitl and McDavid both had two points on Wednesday. Draisaitl is now up to 27 points, remaining one back of his good buddy for the playoff scoring race. 'Just the way he's playing right now, after the season's he's had, is as good as I've seen,' Oilers blueliner Brett Kulak said. 'He can elevate his game, and he always finds another gear above everyone else.' That he scored twice with his parents, Peter and Sandra, in the building was just the icing on the cake. 'That's everything,' he said. LEON DRAISAITL WINS GAME 1 IN @ENERGIZER OVERTIME FOR THE EDMONTON OILERS‼️ #StanleyCup — NHL (@NHL) June 5, 2025 Even without Zach Hyman, whose season is over because of a dislocated wrist, the Oilers might be in better shape than they were at this point last year. Their defence is better and now has the stabilizer Ekholm back and nearing full power. He scored the tying goal 6:33 into the third period. Evander Kane was approaching being unplayable, but he's now battling Tkachuk with the same gusto he did back in 2022. But Draisaitl is a whole other beast. For the Oilers to have a shell of that player in the Final last year factored greatly into their heartbreaking loss. For the Oilers to have that player at close to full strength now factored greatly into them getting their first-ever series lead on the Panthers in the playoffs. Advertisement 'He's a huge part of our team,' goaltender Stuart Skinner said. 'He really slows the game down. He's got a lot of patience. The way that he reads the game and his IQ level is just absolutely incredible.' Draisaitl was locked in on Wednesday. That's good news for the Oilers, who are 24-3 all-time in series when leading 1-0. Per the NHL, teams that win Game 1 in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final hold an all-time series record of 65-20 (.765), including a 52-10 (.839) mark when starting at home. The Oilers are in an excellent place, and so is Draisaitl. 'We don't win the game tonight without him, so that tells you that story,' Ekholm said. 'He's one of the top two guys on our team, and maybe in the league. He just looks very confident — very, very comfortable. He's doing his thing.'
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
How I Assemble My Emergency Go Bag Before the Next Hurricane Hits
Floodwaters are rising. A fire has broken out next door. A tornado siren screams overhead. In a crisis, every second counts and every decision matters. Having a fully stocked emergency go bag means you won't be scrambling to find critical supplies, medications or documents when it's time to get out quickly. I live on the Gulf Coast in Florida in a town that's been hit hard by hurricanes in the past. With a new hurricane season underway as of June 1, I'm more on guard than ever. Hurricanes are nothing new to me -- I grew up near the water in North Carolina, where my parents still live -- but even still, news of a developing storm gets me anxious. That's why I'm always prepared with a bag of essentials. I've built my trusty emergency go bag from hard-won experience, including during last year's hurricanes Helene and Milton. (And this bag isn't just for hurricane preparation -- my sister lives in Oklahoma and has assembled her own go bag based on my recommendations for tornadoes.) Trust me: Having a bag ready can make a chaotic, terrifying moment a little more manageable. Read also: Tornadoes, Floods, Wildfires, Intruders: 4 Ways Your Phone Can Help in an Emergency What is a go bag, and why you definitely need one A go bag (also called a bugout bag) is a backpack or small duffel packed with essentials that you, your family and your pets might need in the hours or days after a natural disaster forces you to leave home. Emergency officials, especially in hurricane- or fire-prone areas, urge every household to have at least one on standby. Ideally, each family member has their own. That way, you're not lugging one massive bag or making heartbreaking choices about what stays behind. Why you should pack a go bag now Many disasters give us some forewarning, while others strike without mercy or notice. Even with a forecast, evacuation orders can come suddenly. You'll want to be ready to leave at a moment's notice if you live in areas that regularly face: CNET Hurricanes or tropical storms Flash floods Mudslides Tornadoes Earthquakes Wildfires Ice storms Tsunamis What to pack in your emergency go bag Here's a checklist of items to include in your go bag: Go bag essentials: Water filter bottle Flashlight (solar or crank-powered) Nonperishable food (MREs or calorie-dense freeze-dried meals) Personal hygiene items (soap, toilet paper, toothbrush, etc., in waterproof bags) First aid kit (bandages, antiseptic, meds) Phone charger and portable power bank (for either iPhones or Androids) Spare batteries Work gloves Medications and copies of prescriptions Important documents (IDs, insurance, passports, birth certificates in a waterproof bag) House and car keys Map and compass (don't rely on GPS) Cash (small bills and coins) Go bag extras: Paracord (strong, compact and versatile) Carabiners (for attaching gear) Whistle (to signal for help) Fire-starting tools (lighter, waterproof matches) Dust mask Blanket (vacuum-sealed to save space) Change of clothes and a poncho Sunscreen Family photo (for ID purposes, in waterproof bag) USB drive with digital copies of family photos Paper, pens and tape (for leaving messages) Other key considerations in case of an emergency Now that you know the vital items you should pack in an emergency, here are a few additional things to consider. Skip the gallons of water and pack a water filter instead Most emergency kits recommend storing three days' worth of water at home. But carrying that much water during an evacuation may not be realistic, especially if you're on foot. Instead, pack a water purification bottle like the LifeStraw Go Bottle or the Grayl GeoPress. These filter bacteria and contaminants from ponds, ditches or even puddles, turning sketchy water into a drinkable backup source. Both bottles can clip to the outside of your bag to save room. Just be sure to read the instructions since many filters must be primed with clean water before use. Opt for a solar flashlight A power outage is almost guaranteed during a major storm. Instead of packing batteries that may run out or get soaked, opt for a solar or crank-powered flashlight, such as the ThorFire LED Flashlight. Bonus points if it doubles as an AM/FM radio for weather updates. Don't forget your pets In the chaos of an evacuation, it's easy to overlook your pets' needs, but they rely on you just as much as children do. Whether you're evacuating for a few hours or a few days, packing an emergency kit for your animals is essential for their health, comfort and safety. Here's what to include in your pet's go bag: At least three days of pet food (stored in airtight containers or zip bags) Collapsible food and water bowls Treats (they'll need comfort, too) Pet ID tags with current phone numbers Microchip info, in case your pet gets separated from you Vaccination records and proof of ownership (these may be required at hotels) A secure leash and harness Crate or carrier labeled with your name and contact info A blanket or small bed with a familiar scent Toys or chews to ease anxiety during travel Waste bags for dogs Litter box and litter for cats (a small, disposable tray works well, too) Medications and dosage instructions Pet-safe wipes or a towel for quick cleanups How to choose the right go bag The best go bag is the one you can actually carry. Don't grab a giant duffel unless you're confident you can haul it long distances. A sturdy hiking backpack made from water-resistant canvas with padded shoulder straps and a chest strap is ideal. Look for one with lots of compartments and, if possible, a built-in water reservoir, also known as a hydration pack or CamelBak. One great option we recommend is the Sandpiper of California bugout backpack, which is durable, roomy and designed for quick evacuation. Additional resources Climate change is making hurricanes, wildfires and other disasters stronger and more frequent. Preparation is no longer optional -- it's essential. Taking a few hours to assemble and safely store a go bag could save lives, reduce stress and make evacuation just a little bit easier. While the devastation of these events can be harrowing, there are many steps you can take to protect yourself, your home and your loved ones from a natural disaster. Here are some additional resources: Hopefully, your go bag is something you'll never need. But if the day comes when you do, may it be ready, reliable and right where you need it.
