Record-breaking heat wave scorches Southeast US
The all-time high temperature at Tampa International Airport was broken on Sunday when the thermometer hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius). The previous record had been 99 F (37.2 C) in June 2020.
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USA Today
17 hours ago
- USA Today
Tropical Storm Gil forms in the Pacific, expected to become hurricane: See tracker
Iona has weakened into a tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean while another storm – Tropical Storm Gil – has formed and continues to strengthen. In an advisory issued at 11 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time on Wednesday, July 30, the National Hurricane Center said Gil has formed well to the south-southwest of the southern Baja California peninsula. The hurricane center said the storm was located about 785 miles away from the southern tip of the peninsula with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph with higher gusts, with a turn to the north-northwest expected over the next couple of days. "Some strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days, and Gil is forecast to become a hurricane on Friday," hurricane center forecasters said July 30. Iona, meanwhile, will continue on its westward path into Friday, followed by a gradual turn toward the north-northwest over the weekend, according to the NHC. Iona has maxiumum sustained winds near 50 mph with higher gusts, with additional weakning expected through Thursday. Tropical Storm Gil path tracker This 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. Tropical Storm Gil spaghetti models This 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. NHC tracking two other systems in the Pacific The hurricane center said in a July 30 advisory it is also keeping tabs on two other systems in the Pacific Ocean. The first system is a broad area of low pressure located about 800 miles southest of Hilo, Hawaii that is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. "Although the system lacks a well-defined low-level center at this time, some additional development is possible, and a short-lived tropical depression could still form during the next day or so," the hurricane center said in the advisory, noting that after that time, environmental conditions are expected to become less conducive for further development. The hurricane center gives the system a 40% chance of formation through the next 48 hours. A second area of low pressure is expected to form well south of southwestern Mexico in the next couple of days, hurricane center forecasters said. "Environmental conditions appear conducive for some gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form over the weekend or early next week" as the system moves west-northwestward, the hurricane center said, giving the system a 70% chance of formation through the next seven days. How do hurricanes form? Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression. A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reach 39 miles per hour. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane. Prepare now for hurricanes Delaying potentially life-saving preparations could mean waiting until it's too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," NOAA recommends. Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
This city could run dry ‘within weeks' as it grapples with an acute water crisis
Iran's capital Tehran could be weeks away from 'day zero,' experts say — the day when taps run dry for large parts of the city — as the country suffers a severe water crisis. Key reservoirs are shrinking, authorities are scrambling to reduce water consumption and residents are desperately trying to conserve it to stave off catastrophe. 'If we do not make urgent decisions today, we will face a situation in the future that cannot be solved,' President Masoud Pezeshkian said at a cabinet meeting Monday. Water is inherently short in supply in this arid nation. The difference is this crisis is hitting the capital, said Kaveh Madani, director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health. Tehran, home to around 10 million people, could run out of water altogether if consumption levels are not reduced, experts fear. 'We are talking about a possible day zero within weeks,' said Madani, who previously served as the deputy head of Iran's Department of Environment. The roots of the crisis lie in a tangle of factors including what engineers describe as decades of poor water management and an increasing imbalance between supply and demand. It's all compounded by climate change. Iran is experiencing one of its worst droughts on record, and its fifth consecutive year of drought. The country is also baking under brutal heat. Temperatures spiked above 122 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the country this month, according to climatologist and weather historian Maximiliano Herrera. 'Iran seems almost perennially in a record-heat status,' he told CNN. In response to the crisis, authorities have reduced water pressure in Tehran by almost half, affecting around 80% of households, the governor of Tehran Province Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian said Monday. For people living in tall apartment buildings, that can mean no water supply at all. One man who lives on the 14th floor in Tehran says his taps often run dry. Water is being delivered to the capital by tankers, and residents who can afford it are rushing to install storage tanks, Madani said. 'We have never had a situation like this… this is new to Tehran.' Last week, the Iranian government declared a one-day public holiday in Tehran Province, as well as other regions across the country, in an effort to save water and electricity. It's now considering giving people in Tehran a week's public holiday, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said in a press briefing Monday, in hopes people will temporarily leave the city, cutting water demand. Water experts point to mismanagement as a big factor in the crisis. Human activities, including excessive groundwater pumping, inefficient farming practices and unchecked urban water use have pushed the region 'toward what can only be described as water bankruptcy,' said Amir AghaKouchak, a professor of civil and environmental engineering and Earth system science at the University of California, Irvine. Madani echoes this. It is 'water bankruptcy, because it's not a crisis anymore… (it's) a situation where some of the damages are irreversible,' he said. In Tehran, so much water has been pumped from aquifers to support its increasing population that parts of the city are sinking, sometimes by more than 10 inches a year. The capital 'is grappling with a systemic, long-term imbalance that threatens the very foundations of water security for its residents,' AghaKouchak told CNN. Climate change is making a bad situation much worse. Iran has seen a more than 40% decrease in rainfall this year compared to the long-term average, and the Tehran Regional Water Company says dams that supply the capital are at about 21% of their capacity, according to Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency. All but one of Iran's 31 provinces are experiencing water stress, said Iran's energy minister Abbas Aliabadi, as reported by Mehr News. When asked about the possibility of water rationing, he said: 'I hope this does not happen.' Experts say there are no easy answers to this crisis. The government is opting for 'band aid' measures, such as new water transfer projects, Madani said. Technical solutions such as desalination and wastewater recycling must be part of picture, he added, but 'these address the symptoms for a while without curing the cause.' He advocates for a wholesale overhaul of the economy to move away from water-intensive agriculture — which currently accounts for about 90% of Iran's water use — toward services and industry with a much lighter water footprint. This kind of reform is likely to be painful and costly, both economically and politically, and highly unlikely under the current government and given the sanctions imposed on Iran by the US and others, he said. Ultimately, the roots of the crisis are not just environmental or technical but 'deeply political and systemic,' AghaKouchak said. 'Iran's water crisis cannot be separated from its broader governance crisis.' For now, the country is waiting for the fall and hoping it will bring rain. 'If Tehran survives until the end of September then there is hope for avoiding day zero,' Madani said. Solve the daily Crossword
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Sunshine and smokey air: What to expect for weather into the August holiday weekend
Sunshine and perfect summer weather is settling into Hamilton and most of southern Ontario for the August long weekend. However, a special air quality statement has been issued Thursday on the heels of a just cancelled heat warning. Forest fires in the Prairies are blowing east and pushing the city's Air Quality Health Index into the high risk danger zone Thursday. The smoke is causing or expected to cause poor air quality and reduced visibility before dropping to a moderate risk on Friday and low risk Friday night, according to Environment Canada . The National Weather Service has forecast a mix of sun and cloud Thursday with a high of 21 Celsius, feeling like 26 with humidex. Thursday is the worst day for smoke pollution which will vary considerably from hour to hour. The service warns residents to take precautions. Friday's weather changes to mainly sunny skies, a high of 24 C but will feel like 26. Temperatures will drop to 12 C overnight into Saturday when we will clear skies and daytime highs of 27-28 Saturday and Sunday. The holiday Monday will see a few clouds move overhead but temperatures will stay around 28 C. Precautions from the weather service for Thursday's air quality statement warn residents to limit time outdoors, think of reducing or rescheduling outdoor sport and events. Watch for eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or mild cough. Those more at risk from air pollution include infants, young children, those over 65 years-old, pregnant, or with existing illness. Learn more at . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
