Fires rage, spread across Carolinas as central US braces for severe weekend weather
Fires rage, spread across Carolinas as central US braces for severe weekend weather
Show Caption
Hide Caption
100 million at risk for severe weather this weekend
Widespread severe weather is possible across dozens of states, with threats including damaging winds and tornadoes.
As wildfires continued to spread across the Carolinas on Friday, storms dropped heavy rain over parts of Texas and Louisiana as forecasters warned of a weekend outbreak of severe weather.
Red flag warnings and wind advisories were active Friday throughout the central and eastern U.S., including in North and South Carolina, where a breakout of wildfires has triggered evacuations and destroyed homes. Flood advisories stretched from South Texas and Louisiana as a potent storm dropped 5 to 12 inches of rain.
Through the weekend, forecasters say over 100 million people are at risk of severe weather, from torrential rain and possible tornadoes in the Plains region to hail and high winds in the Mississippi Valley, according to AccuWeather.
More: Monster storm heading east this weekend to spew tornadoes, hail and snow
On Saturday, strong storms will impact a zone from Texas to Nebraska, Arkansas and Iowa. The next day, the volatile weather will broaden, bringing a threat of hail, flash floods and possible tornadoes to a large swath of the country, from Michigan to the Gulf Coast.
As the storms move eastward, they could snarl traffic and disrupt flights Monday in several major cities, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.
Wildfires rage in the Carolinas
In North Carolina, wildfires continued to spread in parts of the state ravaged by Hurricane Helene about six months ago. The largest of the blazes, the Black Cove Complex Fire, is the "the highest priority fire in the U.S.," leading surrounding states to deploy resources to assist in containing it.
The Black Cove Complex Fire, burning outside the city of Saluda, is 3,288 acres in size and 17% contained as of Thursday night, according to the North Carolina Forest Service. Officials have determined it was caused by a downed powerline. Meanwhile, northwest of Columbus, the Deep Woods Fire grew to 3,373 acres and was 30% contained.
In South Carolina, two large wildfires have torched 16 square miles of land and have continued to grow in recent days. On Friday, forecasters warned of continued high winds and dry conditions in the region.
"Weather conditions tomorrow are a concern for increased fire activity, as relative humidity is expected to fall to 23%, and wind gusts could reach nearly 30 mph," said the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
5 hours ago
- UPI
Here's why a hurricane has never crossed the equator
1 of 3 | The Atlantic stirs up in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton in Vero Beach, Fla., in October 2024. The Coriolis force is responsible for deflecting winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, and that is responsible for hurricanes or tropical storms never crossing the equator. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo Did you know that a hurricane or tropical storm has never crossed the equator? The reason behind this fascinating phenomenon lies in a meteorological principle related to the rotation of the Earth: the Coriolis force. The Coriolis force is responsible for deflecting winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. "This force is what gives tropical systems their iconic swirl -- counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere," AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva explained. At the equator, however, the Coriolis force is essentially zero, making it impossible for a tropical system to cross over from one hemisphere to another. Typhoon Vamei in 2001 was the closest storm to the equator Most tropical systems remain north of 5 degrees north latitude or south of 5 degrees south latitude. The closest a tropical storm or hurricane has ever come to crossing the equator was Typhoon Vamei in December 2001 in the western Pacific, which got within 100 miles of the equator, forming at only 1.4 degrees North latitude. An unnamed tropical depression in 1973 formed farther south The closest a tropical depression has ever formed to the equator was an unnamed storm in December 1973. This storm formed at 0.5 latitude. It later became a tropical storm around 0.7 latitude, according to the China Meteorological Administration. The official record by the U.S. National Hurricane Center disagrees, saying it did not have tropical-storm-force winds until later in its path, north of 10 degrees north latitude. This is likely due to the different ways that the two agencies measure winds in a tropical system. Another fact you may notice on the world tropical cyclone map is that there have been no tropical storms in the southeastern Pacific west of South America and few subtropical or tropical storms off the east coast of the continent. Why are there so few tropical storms in the South Atlantic? Only one hurricane has ever formed off the coast of South America: an unnamed storm locally called Catarina in 2004. According to the NHC, only two additional unnamed tropical storms have ever roamed the southern Atlantic basin, in 2010 and 2011. The other storms shown on the map above are subtropical storms, a designation for a cyclone with high winds that is not 100 tropical in nature. Average sea-surface temperatures above the threshold for tropical storm development (26 C) between 1982 and 1995. The Peru Current brings cold water up the west coast of South America while the Brazil current brings warm water southward off South America's east coast. Adapted from (AccuWeather/NOAA WPC) The lack of activity off the west coast of South America is primarily because of colder waters, DaSilva says. The Peru Current brings cold water northward along the coast. Another factor is higher wind shear, which tears apart most tropical storms before they can strengthen. "The waters off Brazil are not as cold, because the offshore currents are from the north, but the wind shear is still too strong to support many tropical storms," DaSilva explained.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
North Carolina town still without clean running water months after Helene
Months after devastating floods caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene, Chimney Rock, North Carolina, is still struggling. As tourists return to nearby towns, locals say their recovery has been slower. Janet Shamlian reports.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Resident frustration grows as Sarasota County explores new stormwater department
The Brief Commissioner Tom Knight of Sarasota County wants a stormwater department and manager who can help the system and residents. One couple off of Bell Avenue said they've been asking for ditch clearing for nearly a year as the street continues to flood. The Sarasota County administrator is expected to present what the department could look like next month. SARASOTA, Fla. - Residents off of Bell Avenue in Sarasota County said ditches were covered with overgrown with weeds, trees and debris before last year's hurricane season, and it's only gotten worse. They nearly flooded last year, and they're not alone. As they continue to ask for help, Sarasota County commissioners are considering a new department to tackle storm water management. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Local perspective For 16 years, Sue and Mark Inman have lived off of Bell Avenue in Sarasota County. "This is not a flood zone. This should not be happening," said Sue. The last year has been full of uncertainty for the couple. READ: St. Pete approves projects to make sewer system more resilient "I shouldn't have to worry about my house flooding if the county would do their job that I'm begging for help," she said. The Inman's saw water creeping up with Hurricanes Helene and Milton. During Tropical Storm Debby, water came right up to their house and poured inside their bathroom. "The water had come to a point where it just was coming in. We had to vacuum so we had two vacuums going, and we vacuumed the water all night," said Mark. Sue said before Debby hit, she had been calling for help in clearing ditches in their neighborhood. MORE: Lake Bonny residents brace for new hurricane season after Milton's devastating flooding "It's a huge problem," she said. "We have, there's ditches right down the street from us here that have trees and bushes growing out of the ditches. It's obvious nothing has been done." Sue and Mark said they've contacted Sarasota County not just once, but more than a dozen times, and the only action she's seen are these white flags saying proposed excavation that have gone up. "Every time I call they say it's in progress. Well I'm not seeing any progress and we need help," she said. Why you should care They're not alone. Countless other residents have expressed concerns to Sarasota County commissioners. "It is such an urgency for this community. It is important. I think public confidence has waned in us," said County Commissioner Tom Knight. READ: Tampa Bay residents learn DIY ways to keep floodwaters out this hurricane season Big picture view That's why Knight has proposed a new department to take on stormwater management. "It's a heavy lift on one division, especially after a hurricane, and we hear commentary that we are still digging out from last hurricane," he said. Knight wants an expert who knows the ins and outs of stormwater management and can help maintain the system and waterways like Midnight Pass and Phillippi Creek. "It's a freestanding position. I think this county has grown so rapidly that we want to make sure there is public confidence in what we are doing, and I think we've heard them loud and clear," said Knight. Sue said she has reached out to Knight, Governor Ron DeSantis and others, and with no response, she and her husband are preparing now for what they could face. MORE: St. Pete playwright writes kid's audiobook to help navigate hurricane stress during storm season "What they have working now is not working," said Sue. The other side In a statement to FOX 13, Sarasota County said they will expedite the request to clear storm drains off of Bell Avenue. Here's a statement from the county: "We are aware of the concerns on Bell Avenue, and we are actively working to excavate all ditches throughout the county. We have hired contractors to assist us in meeting this demand. One will be starting this week excavating ditches, with the second joining later this month that will be responsible for cleaning the pipes that connect ditches. The locates have been called in and the ticket for the infrastructure to be notated and marked to be excavated." What's next Next month, Sarasota County commissioners will hear from County Administrator Jonathon Lewis about options for creating a new stormwater division. Commissioners have said this should not duplicate services already offered. The Source Information was gathered by FOX 13's Kimberly Kuizon from concerned residents and from the June 3, 2025, Sarasota County Commission meeting. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
