Why storms keep slamming Central Ohio
Why it matters: Recent tragedies in Texas, the Northeast and New Mexico show how intense storms can quickly turn dangerous and deadly.
Scientists who spoke to Axios say the events underscore the risk that climate change can worsen extreme rainstorms.
The big picture: Flash flood warnings are issued when a flood is imminent or already occurring.
NWS offices issued 3,160 nationwide this year through last Wednesday, according to a tracker at Iowa State University's Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
That's the most for that period in any year since tracking began in 1986.
The latest: The Wilmington, Ohio, office that covers Central Ohio has issued 36 warnings this year, with 11 so far in July.
Zoom in: On Thursday, some Buckeye Lake neighborhoods flooded. Two weekends ago, intense storms knocked out power for thousands of local residents, flooding parts of northern Franklin and Delaware counties.
Between the lines: Warmer air holds more water. As our planet gets hotter, that's why storms are getting more intense and dropping more rain.
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Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Late July's oppressive heat forecast isn't normal
As the clock ticks down the final days of July, thermometers will climb across much of the eastern half of the U.S., creating a dangerous and long-lasting heat wave that will put millions at risk of heat stroke and other illnesses. Those in the path of the heat wave should plan to take extra measures to stay cool through at least July 30. Keep things chill by staying in air-conditioned spaces, visit friends with pools, pile up the popsicles and lemonade and pull out the recipe for your favorite cold summer salad. 'This will be a long duration heat wave, with little to no overnight relief and high humidity levels, leading to an increased danger,' the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center said on July 24. Daily highs in the upper-90s to near 100 degrees are forecast to combine with humidity to create conditions where the 'feels like' temperatures could exceed 110-115 degrees, according to a July 25 forecast by Jennifer Tate at the prediction center. A dome of high pressure sitting over the eastern part of the country will help trap the heat while abundant moisture in the air will make actual temperatures feel several degrees warmer. The unusual heat and humidity could linger for several days, keeping heat risk in the major to extreme categories through the end of the month across much of the eastern United States. The dangerous heat will be longest lasting across the Tennessee Valley/mid-South region and the Southeast into the Carolinas, said a Friday forecast by Jennifer Tate at the Weather Prediction Center. Morning lows in the 70s "will not provide much relief." Farther north, into the Midwest, Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic can expect hotter-than-normal temperatures into the 90s. Forecast maps from the weather service show the United States blanketed in warm shades of purple, red and orange, signifying intense heat. By July 30 or 31, a cold front is expected to help cool things in the Ohio valley region. Anyone who absolutely must be outside should take extra precautions to stay hydrated and keep their body safe, according to the American Red Cross. The heat isn't the only danger presented by the high pressure area dominating conditions. Interactions in the atmosphere around the perimeter of the heat dome are forecast to trigger thunderstorms and heavy rain. 'Not your grandmother's heat wave' It has always been hot during the summer. "We've always had heat waves," said Max Holmes, president and CEO of the Woodwell Climate Research Center in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. "But it's happening a lot more, with greater intensity, greater duration and greater frequency." "This is exactly what we expected to happen," Holmes said. "As the earth gets warmer, we see more extremes and it's the extremes that get us. They kill us. They make us sick." Heat may be the most obvious, but there are others, including drought and the extreme rainfall that caused the deadly flash flooding in Texas Hill Country on July 4, he said. These extremes can be seen in the current heat wave, with forecasts for record breaking temperatures under the high pressure area, and intense rainfall in storms around the perimeter of the heat dome. June 2025 was the seventh hottest June on record, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. During the first two weeks of July 2025, temperatures across the country were an average of 1.5 degrees warmer than the most recent 30-year normal. Historical data from the weather service shows average temperatures in July have trended roughly 2.7 degrees warmer since 1950. If a human body temperature is normally 98.6 degrees and warmed 2.7 degrees, it would be the equivalent of having a fever of 101.3. In nature, such an increase has a similar effect, scientists explain. Average overnight temperatures across the country have climbed even higher than daytime high temperatures, the weather service data shows. That means the landscape, trees and buildings don't get a chance to cool down, so they can heat up even faster the next day. Why is it so hot? If you live in a city, the answer might surprise you. Extreme levels of heat stress have more than doubled over the past 40 years, according to NASA, and that trend is forecast to continue. An analysis by Climate Central, published July 21, concluded human-caused climate change made the recent excessive heat at least three times more likely for nearly half the population of the United States. 'This is not your grandmother's heat wave," said Kristina Dahl, Climate Central's vice president of science. "Yes, July is usually a hot month, but climate change is making this heat wave significantly hotter — and therefore more dangerous — than heat waves of the past.' How hot is too hot for people? Prolonged exposure to warmer temperatures can cause serious, life-threatening complications including dehydration, a rapid or irregular heart beat and exacerbation of existing medical conditions. Scientists in recent studies have indicated the warmest temperature that human bodies can withstand without losing their ability to regulate temperature is lower than commonly believed. They've come to rely on a measurement known as wet bulb temperature to determine the dangers. It uses a thermometer with a wet wick over its bulb and measures the effect of humidity on temperatures. Humidity can impair the body's essential cooling mechanism – sweat doesn't evaporate. Scientists previously thought the warmest temperature a human body could take before losing its ability to regulate its own temperature was roughly 95 degrees at 100% humidity or 115 degrees at 50% humidity. A 2022 study co-authored by scientists at Penn State concluded the actual maximum temperature humans could take for prolonged periods was even lower using a wet-bulb thermometer, about 87 degrees at 100% humidity, even for people who are young and healthy. Among those even more at risk, such as the elderly and young children, the maximum temperature is probably even lower, the study found. See how a heat dome will trap dangerous temperatures over the central and southern U.S. What can you do to protect yourself and others from extreme heat? In short, the Red Cross advises: Know who's most at risk – Look out for older adults, young children, pregnant women, those with disabilities or medications for a chronic health conditions, people who live alone and athletes. Stay hydrated – Drink water every 20 minutes, even if you aren't thirsty and avoid sugary drinks, caffeine and alcohol. Stay cool – Seek out an air-conditioned location if your home gets too hot, limit outdoor activity and dress in lightweight, loose-fitting clothes. If your air-conditioning goes off, it might be cooler outside in the shade than staying inside the house. Act fast – Take measures to cool a person down quickly if they develop signs of heat exhaustion or stroke, such as cramps, heavy sweating, clammy skin, dizziness, fainting or nausea and vomiting. Move them to a cooler place, remove extra clothing and cool them with a wet cloth or cool bath and have them sip water or a sports drink, but not "energy" drinks. Where can you get more information? Resources are available to learn more about the dangers of heat-related illnesses and how to help yourself and others stay safe, but not as many as there used to be. A heat risk tool maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to track heat risk and heat illnesses was taken out of service this year and is no longer active. The website is still available, but no new information is being added. Trump administration officials have taken steps to curb what they refer to as climate alarmism, and have changed wording about climate change, no longer including it as an environmental topic on the home page of the Environmental Protection Agency, and stopped maintaining other websites, such as and a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention page to track heat risk and heat illnesses. A tool on the CDC page now shows an error message. Reporting by the administration's Department of Government Efficiency shows the termination of more than 350 grants that mentioned climate change, including dozens that mentioned heat specifically. NOAA's proposed budget for the coming year stated it would no longer support the National Integrated Heat Health Information System, the federal website on heat and heat-related illnesses that brings together information from NOAA and more than a dozen other departments and agencies. For now, the comprehensive guide launched during the Biden administration to try to reduce the rising rate of heat illnesses in the United States is still online. To Holmes, much of the information being obscured is factual, not political. "There are combinations of temperature and humidity the human body just can't tolerate," Holmes said. "Trying to hide the truth doesn't help people." "I see zero rationale for trying to bury that information. It's shameful that our government is doing so," he said. "It's not a partisan thing, it's a fact thing." Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, covers climate change, weather, the environment and other news. Reach her at dpulver@ or @dinahvp on Bluesky or X or dinahvp.77 on Signal. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This heat forecast for eastern US in late July isn't normal Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
How much rain did south-central Kansas get? Here are totals for Wichita, other spots
Some areas of Kansas saw heavy rains late Thursday and overnight Friday. Wichita saw a much lower amount than other areas of the state, with 0.64 inches falling since Thursday morning. About 0.16 inches of that fell since midnight. There were no reports of flooding in Wichita, which had been a concern in the forecast. One report near the area of the Ninnescah River that flows into Cheney Lake, where Wichita gets its water, saw 4.42 inches of rain during Thursday and Friday morning. 'That is definitely something of note,' said Scott Smith, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Wichita. Wichitans have had restrictions on water use during a drought. But levels at Cheney Lake have been rising because of recent rains. More rain is forecast Friday too. The effect of these rains on lake levels is not yet know. Cheney was 96.62% full at a measurement taken Monday. Here is a look at rainfall around the state on Thursday and overnight into Friday: A station in Butler County measured 3.65 inches of rain Thursday and then 0.42 inches since midnight Friday. A station 10 miles southwest of Hutchinson measured 2.34 inches of rain since midnight Friday and 0.04 inches on Thursday. There was some flooding in Rice County, Smith said. Quarter-sized hail was reported in Newton around 8:45 p.m. Thursday. So far this month, as measured at the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, Wichita has had 3.86 inches of rain. Wichita has had 27.54 inches of rain so far this year compared to the normal 30-year running average of 20.64 inches, NWS data shows. Solve the daily Crossword
Newsweek
13 hours ago
- Newsweek
Electronics Warning Issued to Hundreds of Thousands
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists issued an alert on Friday urging hundreds of thousands of people to move electronics to higher ground amid coastal flooding triggered by king tides. Newsweek reached out to NWS Honolulu via phone for comment. Why It Matters The NWS office in Honolulu, Hawaii, issued a coastal flood statement for Maui County and the Big Island on Friday, warning the public of minor flooding due to elevated afternoon high tides. The advisory holds significance, as it highlights the vulnerability of local communities—and their property, including electronic devices and vehicles—to the hazards of coastal flooding. Earlier this month, similar advisories were issued in the San Francisco Bay Area, warning people to use caution when traveling near coastal areas. High tide in Maui. High tide in Maui. Francis Joseph Dean/Getty What To Know The NWS issued a minor coastal flooding statement through Friday afternoon for the following areas: portions of Kahoolawe, Lanai, Maui, Molokai and the Big Island. Water levels were observed at approximately half a foot above predicted values, with the trend anticipated to persist into the afternoon before easing by the weekend. The advisory pinpointed risks including localized minor flooding along shorelines, temporary coastal erosion, saltwater inundation and the potential for flooding of typically dry beaches and some low-lying coastal areas. The NWS statement specifically cautioned residents and visitors to protect vulnerable property during potential flood conditions. Key recommendations included moving electronics, vehicles and other valuables to higher ground. The agency also advised drivers to avoid traveling through flooded roadways, and highlighted the importance of rinsing vehicles with fresh water if exposure to salt water occurred. For those managing boats or personal watercraft, it recommended monitoring for over-wash and ensuring vessel mooring lines do not become overtightened due to increased water levels. The advisory emphasized the prompt need for precautionary measures, particularly concerning the safety and potential damage of electronic equipment and vehicles due to saltwater exposure. The NWS also encouraged the public to document and submit coastal flooding observations for scientific research via the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program's King Tides Project. The program is designed to help better understand impacts from sea level rise and other coastal hazards. What People Are Saying NWS Honolulu, in the coastal flood statement: "Avoid driving through flooded roadways. If you are forced to drive through salt water, be sure to rinse your vehicle with fresh water. Move electronics, vehicles or other valuables to higher ground." The King Tides Project, on a webpage: "King Tides, or the highest high tides of the year, are a unique coastal hazard. The timing of these extreme water level events can be anticipated through the use of tidal predictions yet their impacts (e.g., coastal flooding and inundation in low lying areas) can have devastating consequences for coastal inhabitants, particularly when combined with severe weather or high wave events." What Happens Next According to the NWS, water levels are forecast to drop below flood thresholds following the afternoon high tides, likely before the coming weekend. Residents and authorities are expected to remain vigilant, following preparedness guidance until coastal conditions normalize. Should minor flooding persist or intensify, further advisories may be issued by weather authorities.
