Alaska's Glacier Flood Threat Prompts Juneau to Urge Evacuations
The Suicide Basin, adjacent to the Mendenhall Glacier above Juneau, has been gushing water into the Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River since Tuesday. The National Weather Service projects the Mendenhall River will crest Wednesday morning, which could lead to catastrophic flooding.
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USA Today
33 minutes ago
- USA Today
Heat, floods and a 'glacial outburst'
Intense rain, heat and flooding disrupted lives in scattered locations across the country this week. Welcome to Climate Point, your weekly guide to news on climate change, energy and the environment. I'm Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, coming to you from the Sunshine State where my car thermometer on Aug. 13 told me it was 100 degrees at 7:30 p.m. According to the National Weather Service, the average overnight minimum temperature in at least one Central Florida location has increased by 3 degrees in my lifetime. Madeline Heim at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel looked at how climate change is increasingly fueling extreme rainfall events, a topic that keeps emerging as flood after flood occurs across the United States. In Wisconsin, the National Weather Service reported some parts of Milwaukee received more than a foot of rain, which would shatter the state's 24-hour rainfall record if verified. River heights soared. The record rain was called a 1 in 1,000 year event. The 2010s were Wisconsin's wettest decade since record-keeping began around 1900. Between 2010 and 2019, the state experienced at least 21 "100-year" rainfall events, meaning a 1% chance of the event occurring in a given year,' Hein reported. Since Milwaukee's weather records began in 1871, there have only been 11 days when the city has seen more than four inches of rain. Seven of those occurred in the past 30 years. A 'glacial outburst' in Alaska Flooding in Juneau, where temperatures have been rising in recent years, also has been attributed to climate change. Water from a melting glacier caused a river near the capital city to swell to historic levels amid a "glacial outburst" event that prompted flooding fears and evacuations. Emergency barriers installed through the city appeared to successfully funnel floodwaters away from neighborhoods as planned. As students begin returning to school and a couple of cold fronts have hinted at cooler temperatures to come, heat continues to blaze in some areas of the country. On August 10, neary 30 million people across the nation were enduring heat advisories or extreme heat warnings. Conditions caused concern in the Pacific Northwest on Aug. 11 and 12. Some Oregonians experienced consecutive days of record-breaking heat. U.S. weather officials have released a first fall forecast for the season, but it's not necessarily great news for some. Trump administration actions draw concern Controversy over the actions of the Trump administration has roiled environmental advocates on several fronts, including the proposed rollback of the agency's landmark endangerment finding and a report by a small group of experts drafted by the U.S. Department of Energy that contradicts major prior environmental reports. A report by the Arizona Republic found that experts say the rollback of the endangerment finding could undermine the nation's established framework for containing the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving the intensification of heat waves, droughts and flooding. The EPA also has rescinded impairment ratings for some rivers. The agency rescinded a controversial decision to place seven segments of the Cedar, Des Moines, Iowa, Raccoon and South Skunk rivers on the state's list of impaired waters because of high nitrate levels. Energy action by Trump administration A Biden-era initiative to build a nationwide network of electric vehicle chargers has come to an abrupt halt after the Trump administration blocked any additional spending on the effort to install chargers at gas stations, rest stops and other locations. A coalition of Democrat-led states and nonprofits has sued to get the funding restarted, but there's been no final decision yet, and the installations remain on hold. But nuclear power is experiencing a kind of renaissance as it's championed by the new administration. The White House wants three new small-scale reactors fueled and running by the country's 250th anniversary next summer, in addition to endorsing expansions of existing plants. State wildlife officials at work In Florida, bear advocates were frustrated with a decision by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to approve a hunt of Florida black bears. The hunt comes a decade after the state's first bear hunt in years killed more bears than originally intended and further ignited tensions over hunting. Florida officials also recently concluded the state's annual python hunting championship, where hunters team up to try to help state officials eradicate the invasive species that preys on the state's native and protected species. In California, the state's Fish and Game Commission unanimously voted to declare the Quino checkerspot butterfly a candidate for listing under the state's Endangered Species Act, after a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Endangered Habitats League. The imperiled butterfly is known for its red, black and cream-colored checkered wings
CNET
2 hours ago
- CNET
Want Your Lawn to Thrive This Summer? Use These Tips for Emerald Green Grass
Keeping your lawn green and healthy during a heat wave isn't always easy, but mowing it can do wonders. By properly taking care of your lawn, you can ensure that it isn't dying from the scorching heat. It isn't just about water either. By knowing when, and how, to mow your yard you can keep it from thinning out, or dying entirely. Cutting your grass too short, mowing in the middle of the day, and using dull blades can all put unnecessary stress on your lawn. Instead, try raising your mower height so your grass has a better chance of holding onto moisture. Mowing early in the morning or later in the evening helps avoid the most intense heat, and leaving the clippings behind can create a protective layer that keeps the soil cooler and more hydrated. These simple tweaks add up fast, and you don't need to overhaul your routine to see results. With just a few smart changes, you can keep your yard vibrant while the rest of the block turns dry and brittle. Want to learn more? These five gardening tips helped transform my lawn into the best-looking one on the street. Don't miss any of CNET's unbiased tech content and labs-based reviews. Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome. 1. Keep it long A short trim can cause damage to your lawn, especially during hotter months. Chris Wedel/CNET For some, a perfect lawn is always well-trimmed and consistently kept short. Unfortunately, while this may look nice, it can be a detriment to the overall life of your grass. During the hottest days of summer when your yard is competing with sweltering heat, blazing sun and less rain, it's best to keep the grass about 4 inches high after a cut. That may seem long but taller grass retains more water and has longer, healthier roots. 2. Wait until the grass is dry Mowing when there is still dew on the ground can damage your lawn. Russell Holly/CNET It may seem obvious during the summer when it reaches unbearable temps during the day to try and get started mowing early in the cool morning hours. But if there's still dew on the ground, you can lose time and damage your lawn. This is caused by the high likelihood that wet grass will clump up in the discharge chute (that flappy thing on the side), requiring you to stop and remove the clog. Plus, your mower tires won't get great traction either and could put tracks in your yard. Instead, wait until later in the morning when the dew dries, or mow the lawn late in the day before the evening dew. Also, time your sprinklers to start up in the late evening or at night so there isn't extra moisture on the grass when you mow. Here are some more watering tips for your lawn. 3. Go slower Keep your speeds low to make mowing go fast. Alina Bradford/CNET Short on time or just want to get the chore over faster? Then going fast makes the most sense, right? But while it's tempting to go fast while mowing, it can actually create more work for you. By not taking your time and letting the mower do its job properly, there's a good chance it will leave some areas uncut and give the lawn an uneven, sloppy look. This means you'll have to take more time to re-mow it to make the lawn look correct. Instead, take the path of the turtle -- slow and steady. A slower, mid-speed mowing session is faster and better for your lawn than zooming around the grass and ultimately needing to re-mow it later. Also, remember that the choke needs to be lower for slower speeds to run properly. 4. Be consistent My yard has never had such a professional look. Chris Wedel/CNET Mowing randomly across your lawn can take up more time and lead to an uneven cut. Follow a pattern instead, using this technique: Start on the edge of your lawn with the discharge chute pointing toward your lawn Mow around the perimeter of your lawn When you get to your starting point, make a U-turn so the discharge chute is facing the strip you just cut Keep mowing around the perimeter, making sure the discharge chute is pointed toward where you just mowed. In the end, your lawn will end up with a nice pattern and the discharge chute won't clog. How to Prep Your Lawn Mower for the Season How to Prep Your Lawn Mower for the Season Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 2:58 Loaded : 3.40% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 2:58 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. How to Prep Your Lawn Mower for the Season 5. Prep your mower for the next round Regular maintenance on your mower is important to ensure it is reliable and does a great job each and every time you take it out. Spending a little time after you finish mowing will keep your mower in tip-top shape and lasting longer. Start by turning the mower over and rinsing the blades and discharge chute with a garden hose before putting it away. This will prevent grass from building up, drying out and being much harder to remove. If the air filter on your push mower looks dirty, give it a good wash with some mild dish soap and rinse it with the garden hose. Set the filter aside to dry so you can put it on right before mowing next time. One of the best time savers is keeping your lawn mower blade sharp. A dull blade will require you to go over the same patch of lawn more than once to cut any raggedy bits left behind. A sharp blade allows you to zip around your lawn just once and still get great results. Most mower repair shops will sharpen the blades for a small fee, or you can do it yourself with these tips. FAQs to help you get the best-looking lawn What order should I mow my lawn? It's best to start mowing around the edges of your lawn, with the grass clippings going into your uncut grass. After cutting around the entire perimeter of your yard, turn back around and mow in the opposite direction, with the grass chute pointing toward the perimeter grass you already cut. Continue this mowing direction until complete. Want to make watering your lawn easier? Here's CNET's guide to making your own automated lawn watering system.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Where is Tropical Storm Erin? Will Sarasota, Bradenton be impacted?
Tropical Storm Erin is starting to strengthen as it continues its westward path across the Atlantic, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Erin is expected to become a hurricane Friday, Aug. 15, and a major hurricane by Sunday morning. A major hurricane is a Category 3 or stronger storm with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph. ➤ Track all active storms ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location The current forecast calls for Erin's winds to increase to 125 mph within five days, making it a strong Category 3 storm. A Category 4 storm has maximum sustained winds of at least 130 mph. Erin is expected to turn north at some point, staying away from Sarasota, Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida and the east coast of the United States. However, the "risk of dangerous surf and rip currents across the western Atlantic basin next week is increasing," the National Hurricane Center said. The fifth-named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Erin formed on Aug. 11, earlier than the historical average of Aug. 22. ➤ Hurricane drama vs. data: Why Erin is a minuscule threat to Florida, U.S. east coast Tropical Storm Erin update, path Special note on the NHC cone: The forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Location: 890 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands Maximum sustained winds: 60 mph Movement: west at 17 mph Pressure: 999 mb When will Tropical Storm Erin become a hurricane? Tropical Storm Erin is expected to become a hurricane Friday, Aug. 15. "Significant intensification" is possible Friday and Saturday, and Erin is expected to become a strong Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph in five days, according to the National Hurricane Center. ➤ Hurricane drama vs. data: Why Erin is a miniscule threat to Florida, U.S. east coast Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Erin. Where is the storm going? Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts. ➤ Track Tropical Storm Erin Is there a hurricane coming to Sarasota, Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida? No. Erin should gradually turn more west-northwestward Thursday night, with that path continuing into the weekend. On that path, Erin would remain over open water and away from Florida and the U.S. Remember, forecasts can change, so it's always best to be prepared. What impacts could Tropical Storm Erin have on Florida? "There is still a greater than normal uncertainty about what impacts Erin may bring to portions of the Bahamas, the east coast of the United States, and Bermuda in the long range," the National Hurricane Center said. However, "the risk of dangerous surf and rip currents across the western Atlantic basin next week is increasing." How strong is Tropical Storm Erin and where could it go? See the scenarios At 11 a.m., the center of Tropical Storm Erin was located near latitude 16.4 North, longitude 49.7 West. Erin is moving toward the west near 17 mph. A turn toward the west-northwest is expected tonight, with this motion expected to continue into the weekend. On the forecast track, the center of Erin is likely to move near or just north of the northern Leeward Islands over the weekend. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next day or so, and Erin is expected to become a hurricane on Friday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center. Key messages from the National Hurricane Center: What you need to know about Tropical Storm Erin Swells generated by Erin will begin affecting portions of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by this weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Erin is beginning to strengthen and is expected to become a hurricane Aug. 14. "There continues to be confidence that Erin will be a large and powerful hurricane over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean this weekend." There is still a greater than normal uncertainty about what impacts Erin may bring to portions of the Bahamas, the east coast of the United States, and Bermuda in the long range. Locally heavy rainfall, high surf and rip currents, and tropical-storm force winds could occur in portions of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico this weekend as the core of Erin passes north of those islands. The risk of dangerous surf and rip currents across the western Atlantic basin next week is increasing. Current forecast: How strong could Tropical Storm Erin get? At 11 a.m.: 60 mph 12 hours: 65 mph 24 hours: 75 mph 36 hours: 90 mph 48 hours: 105 mph 60 hours: 110 mph 72 hours: 115 mph 96 hours: 120 mph 120 hours: 125 mph Interactive map: What tropical storms, hurricanes have impacted your area in the past? Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text What's next? We will update our tropical weather coverage daily. 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 Sarasota Herald-Tribune: NOAA hurricane tracker: Tropical Storm Erin path. 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