Watch as huge twin waterspouts swirl off Florida coast
The strange weather phenomenon was caught on camera by stunned witnesses in Manatee County, near Tampa Bay.
Waterspouts, which resemble tornadoes over water, can form when gusts of air from a thunderstorm crash into a sea breeze.
The weather phenomenon is not uncommon to see in Florida; however, the double sighting has been called 'pretty rare' by Stephen Shiveley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
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The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Summer celebrations meet closed beaches and warnings on US East Coast due to Hurricane Erin
From Florida to New England, people trying to enjoy the last hurrahs of summer along the coast were met with rip-current warnings, closed beaches and in some cases already treacherous waves as Hurricane Erin inched closer Wednesday. While forecasters remain confident that the center of the monster storm will stay far offshore, the outer edges are expected to bring high winds, large swells and life-threatening rip currents into Friday. But the biggest swells along the East Coast could come as early as Wednesday. New York City closed its beaches to swimming on Wednesday and Thursday, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered three state beaches on Long Island to prohibit swimming through Thursday. Several New Jersey beaches also will be temporarily off-limits, while some towns in Delaware have cut off ocean access. Off Massachusetts, Nantucket Island could see waves of more than 10 feet (3 meters) later this week. But the biggest threat is along the barrier islands of North Carolina's Outer Banks, where evacuations have been ordered. Erin has become an unusually large and deceptively worrisome storm, with its tropical storm winds stretching 230 miles (370 kilometers) from its core. Forecasters expect it will grow larger in size as it moves through the Atlantic and curls north. On Tuesday it lashed the Turks and Caicos Islands, where government services were suspended and residents were ordered to stay home, along with parts of the Bahamas before its expected turn toward Bermuda. Tropical storm watches were issued for Virginia and North Carolina as well as Bermuda. Erin lost some strength from previous days and was a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (161 kph), the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. It was about 540 miles (870 kilometers) south-southeast of North Carolina's Cape Hatteras. On the Outer Banks, Erin's storm surge could swamp roads with waves of 15 feet (4.6 meters). Mandatory evacuations were ordered on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. More than 1,800 people had left Ocracoke by ferry since Monday. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein warned coastal residents to be prepared to evacuate and declared a state of emergency Tuesday. Bulldozers shored up the dunes, and trucks from the local power company on Ocracoke were on hand to respond to downed wires. Some side roads already saw some flooding on Hatteras, and the owners of a pier removed a few planks, hoping the storm surge would pass through without tearing it up. Most residents decided to stay even though memories are still fresh of Hurricane Dorian in 2019, when 7 feet (2.1 meters) of water swamped Ocracoke, county commissioner Randal Mathews said. Tom Newsom, who runs fishing charters on Hatteras, said has lived there almost 40 years and never evacuated. He was not going to this time either. Comparing this hurricane to others he has seen, he called this one a 'nor'easter on steroids.' The Outer Banks' thin stretch of low-lying barrier islands jutting into the Atlantic are increasingly vulnerable to storm surges. There are concerns that parts of the main highway could be washed out, leaving some routes impassible for days. And dozens of beach homes already worn down from chronic beach erosion and the loss of protective dunes could be at risk, said David Hallac, superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Farther south, no evacuations were ordered but some beach access points were closed with water levels up to 3 feet (1 meter) over normal high tides expected for several days. Climate scientists say Atlantic hurricanes are now much more likely to rapidly intensify into powerful and catastrophic storms fueled by warmer oceans. Two years ago Hurricane Lee grew with surprising speed while barreling offshore through the Atlantic, unleashing violent storms and rip currents. ___ Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press journalists Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut; Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina; Gary Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina; Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; Hallie Golden in Seattle; Leah Willingham in Boston; Safiyah Riddle in Montgomery, Alabama; and Julie Walker in New York contributed.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Dangerous heat descends on California and the Southwest, raising wildfire risk
A dangerous heat wave descended on much of California and the U.S. Southwest, with triple-digit temperatures expected along with a higher risk of wildfires. Officials opened cooling centers this week in Los Angeles, where residents are warned to avoid strenuous outdoor activities. California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered state firefighting resources deployed in areas where blazes could ignite. Here's what you need to know. Sizzling hot The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for Southern California starting Wednesday into the weekend. If outdoor activities can't be avoided, forecasters say, they should be moved to early morning hours. And everyone should hydrate. Downtown Los Angeles was forecast to reach 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34 degrees Celsius), while valleys to the north braced for temperatures as high as 108 F (42 C). It will be several degrees hotter in desert areas. Candice Catlett, who uses a wheelchair, rolled herself toward some shade as temperatures started spiking Tuesday in downtown LA. 'It's sizzling hot out here,' Catlett said. 'I have sunblock. Hopefully, I can find some cold water. I'm trying to stay out of the direct sun.' Further north, nearly-always-hot Death Valley could see a severe 120 F (49 C), the weather service said. In Arizona, the peak of the heat wave will hit Thursday and Friday, with the mercury possibly reaching 110 F (43 C) in the southern and western parts of the state. Similar temperatures were likely in Las Vegas. Fire risk Red flag warnings, signaling elevated wildfire danger, have been issued across Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties until Saturday. 'If you live in a high fire danger area in the mountains or foothills, review your evacuation plans and route and stay tuned to your local emergency officials,' the weather service said in a statement. The state has sent 10 fire engines and multiple firefighting teams to LA County to assist local agencies if blazes break out. 'By prepositioning firefighting crews, equipment, and other resources in high-risk areas, we can respond faster and more effectively when needed," said Nancy Ward, director of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. In the Sierra Nevada, higher than normal temperatures, low humidity and the possibility of lightning storms will contribute to the fire risk. California's largest blaze this year, the Gifford Fire, reached 95% containment Tuesday after charring nearly 206 square miles (534 square kilometers) of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties since erupting on Aug. 1. The cause is under investigation.
The Sun
17 hours ago
- The Sun
UK weather: Brits face being lashed by rain on Bank Holiday weekend due to remnants of Hurricane Erin, Met Office warns
BRITS are facing a wet and windy Bank Holiday - with the tail end of Hurricane Erin expected to hit the country this weekend. The Met Office has warned that the major category three hurricane will cross the Atlantic, possibly reaching UK shores by Sunday night. 7 7 7 7 The forecaster said the weather could become increasingly unsettled, with the risk of heavy downpours and windy weather to come. No official weather warnings have been issued, but teams will continue to monitor the situation as the storm crosses The Pond. It could spell an end to the country's long spell of dry weather, with the UK on track for one of its hottest summers on record. Meteorologist Marco Petagna admitted there was still uncertainty as to how much of an impact the hurricane would have. He said: "Any remnants of the hurricane aren't expected to have an impact on the UK until early next week. "From late Sunday the uncertainty starts to kick in. There's a risk of rain developing, a potential for things to turn increasingly unsettled. "It's likely becoming more unsettled early to middle part of next week, at this stage we can't be too firm on the details. "We may need some rainfall warnings further down the line, but it's too early to say." Thousands of people have been left without power after Hurricane Erin battered the Caribbean and US. The hurricane brought heavy rainfall and vicious winds to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on Sunday, cutting power for 100,000 locals. Erin has been labelled category 3 after multiple fluctuations in the last several days. On Saturday, it was considered to be a catastrophic category 5 hurricane, with winds up to 140mph. Deputy Chief Meteorologist Stephen Kocher added: 'Hurricane Erin is currently a category three storm to the east of the Bahamas. 'We are closely watching Erin's track, with the possibility of the UK feeling the effects of ex-hurricane Erin at some point next week. "It could bring an area of low pressure to the UK and more unsettled conditions. 'This is still a week away, but it is possible we could see some wet and windy weather for the last week of August. 'We'll be keeping a close eye on the movements of Hurricane Erin over the coming days and updating our forecasts accordingly.' Back home, dry weather has dominated much of the UK both today and yesterday following last week's heatwave. Temperatures could reach as high as 25C today, with inland and western areas set to see sunny spells. Eastern coastal regions will remain cloudy, and light rain or drizzle will move south/south-west across northern and eastern Scotland. The Met Office said that showers are "possible" in the far south-west this afternoon and that these would be "locally heavy and thundery". As we progress through the week, skies will clear up but conditions will be cooler all round. Five day forecast Today Cloudy, with some bright or sunny spells. The cloud is thick enough for drizzle across northeast Scotland and perhaps northeast England. A continued risk of heavy showers across southwest England. Tonight Showers in the southwest gradually easing through the evening. Mostly dry with variable cloud overnight. Again, perhaps a little drizzle over the hills in the east. Tomorrow After a rather cloudy start, skies will brighten from the north as the day progresses with some pleasant spells of sunshine developing for most. Remaining cool along North Sea coasts. Thursday to Saturday High pressure will remain across the UK, with most places dry with some sunny spells. A little chilly at first, but signs that temperatures will rise by the weekend. Temperatures across most of the UK will reach the high teens to low 20s, with mid 20s expected in the south. Thursday will be noticeably cooler, with highs ranging from the mid-teens to the low 20s. And Friday will be a dry and pleasant day, with sunny spells lifting temperatures to highs of around 23 or 24°C. Last week, temperatures soared into the 30s as the fourth heatwave of the summer was declared in some areas. Brits flocked to beaches and parks across the country to bask in the sunshine. Somerset reached a high of 27.7C at the weekend, while parts of West Sussex and Inverness in Scotland also reached the 27C mark. 7 7 7
