Live Updates: Weather Tidbits, August 12
Here are the other weather headlines we're tracking today.
(12:45 p.m. EDT) It's Never Too Early To Prep For Hurricane Season
You can't wait until you're in the eye of the storm to frantically search for your hurricane essentials. Severe weather could mean being without power for days – or even weeks – and having no power source will make it impossible to stay in your home, especially in the aftermath of a weather event.
If you missed out on the big sales events in July, never fear. There are still some portable generator deals happening on Amazon. Not sure about the difference between gas, propane or solar options? We break it out in our complete guide to portable generators, as well as a quick roundup of some popular generators currently on sale.
(12:30 p.m. EDT) Lightning Causes Fireball Over South Carolina Drivers
A police officer's dash cam captured the dramatic moment lightning struck a power pole, causing a towering explosion during a rainy Monday morning commute in South Carolina. The exploding transformer created a towering fireball over drivers in Mount Pleasant, just outside of Charleston. Watch the incredible video here.
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CNET
8 minutes ago
- CNET
10 Cheap Home Cooling Tricks That Make Me Feel Alive Again
Another summer, another series of heatwaves sweeping across the US -- and we're not even through with them yet. When the temperature gets that high, it's important for your health and home safety to keep as cool as possible, especially if you're caring for pets, kids or older family members. That makes managing indoor temperatures a priority when they start spiking. Unfortunately, blasting the AC also blasts your energy bills into the stratosphere. That's why I've collected my top devices and tips to help keep your home cool in hot weather while also saving as much money as possible. Put these steps in motion when you start getting heat warnings, and your household will thank you for it. 10 Home Cooling Hacks to Get You Through Heat Waves 1. Use a portable air conditioner and monitor room temperature carefully Arlo sensors can do nearly anything and are easy to move whenever you want. Arlo Whole-house air conditioners remain very important in heat waves, especially when combined with other cooling methods. But not all homes have whole-house AC, and in severe heat waves, they may not be enough. Another option is a smart portable air conditioner that you can plug in and move from room to room, depending on where you're spending time. Take a look at our list of the top portable air conditioners. You'll find models with remotes, voice assistant support, timers, dehumidifier functions and much more. Expect to spend around $400 for a good model that you can use for summers to come. Important note: Once temperatures start rising well above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, basic ceiling fans don't really make a difference, especially when addressing health issues. It's important to focus more on home insulation and air conditioning. In many homes, some rooms can get much hotter than others, which doesn't help central thermostats do their job. Consider home monitoring devices that can sense temperature, like these all-in-one Arlo security sensors we tested. That way, you can constantly monitor the temperature in a particular spot (sitting room, bedroom, baby's room, etc.) and take action if it gets too high. 2. Set a strict curtain schedule for your windows Sunlight streaming through your windows can heat up objects and air inside your home, making a heat wave worse. Close your blinds completely during the hottest temperatures for better protection. You can also search for smart blinds and curtain retrofits to let you set automatic schedules to make this process easier. Once the outside temperature drops significantly below indoor temps, your insulation starts working against you. So, if your region experiences cooler nights, wait for the temperature difference and open windows around your home to create cool air flow. 3. Replace your HVAC filter and order an inspection Kangaroo includes a climate sensor, aka leak detector, in its expanded eight-piece home monitoring kit. Kangaroo To prepare for a heat wave, you'll want to replace your home HVAC filter, which is typically located right at the fan system that pushes air around your house. It's a good idea to keep several properly sized filters nearby so you can switch them out a couple of times a year, or when you really need efficient airflow. If you have time, you should also schedule a maintenance visit from a professional HVAC contractor. Among other things, they can test the refrigerant levels in your AC system. Refrigerant can leak out over time and make your air conditioning less efficient. Making sure you have the proper levels is important ahead of a hot period. Read more: HVAC Maintenance Guide: What to DIY and When to Call a Pro 4. Install leak detectors and monitor for leaks Home leaks are often associated with freezing temperatures when pipes crack in the dead of winter. But heat waves can cause an opposite, yet similar, problem: Pipes can expand and damage their valves and other components, which also leads to leaks. Also, AC units can go into overdrive and may leak more than usual in your basement or garage. Most home security systems, like Abode, offer leak detector add-ons that you can place in susceptible areas to get alerts or alarms when water on the floor is detected. You can also find standalone units from Eufy and other brands. 5. Keep your outdoor home devices out of direct sunlight Cutting down on drafts helps keep the cool air inside. BanksPhotos via Getty Shade is your friend when placing outdoor electrics like home security cameras or outside sensors -- even robot lawnmowers. High temps can wreak havoc on batteries, make sensitive electronics overheat and may even cause plastics to melt. So when the temperature starts shooting up, bring your electronics inside or into the shade until the hot spell is over. And please watch where you install your home cameras. 6. Check and replace your weather stripping Weather stripping refers to those small strips of felt and rubber at the edges of windows and doors. They play a vital role in home insulation: When they wear down or get ripped off, the gaps notoriously cause drafts. That's unpleasant in wintertime, but during a heat wave it can sap all the cool air that your AC has created, keeping your home from cooling down fully and increasing the risk of heat-related health problems. Prep for heat waves by checking weatherstripping and blocking any drafts from worn materials. You can find weather stripping yourself for a DIY project, but it's important to get the right kind to match your doors and windows. 7. Find cooler alternatives for cooking Keep kitchens calm and cool during a heat wave. Brothers91 via Getty Cooking and baking produce a lot of heat in the kitchen, so you may want to reduce those activities during a heat wave. That's why we have an entire guide on how to keep your kitchen cool when temperatures rise, including prepping meals beforehand or cooking late in the evening. Also, this may be a great time to check out meal delivery services. Read more: Don't Turn Your Oven on During a Heat Wave. Do This Instead 8. Search for electronics to unplug and stop using Large electronics can produce a lot of background heat even when they're in standby mode. When the heat gets really bad, try unplugging larger electronics entirely. That can include A/V receivers, game consoles, desktop computers and televisions -- depending on what you plan to use that day. On that note, refrain from running heat-producing appliances like dishwashers and dryers, or at least wait until nighttime when the temperature drops. Read more: Heat Wave: Keep Your Phone From Overheating in Record Temps 9. Replace your lighting with smart lights There's one other surprising part of the home that produces a lot of heat -- your incandescent lights, which are terribly inefficient at using energy (touch one to find out). Newer LEDs (light-emitting diodes) found in smart lights create almost no heat and tend to last much longer. The key is finding high-quality, affordable smart lights, which is why you should head over to our list of the best smart lights available. Switch out those sweaty lights with LEDs and your house will start feeling cooler. 10. Create easy access to emergency medical services An Echo can help during a heat wave emergency. Amazon If it looks like someone is suffering from heatstroke or a similar condition, it's important to get medical attention immediately to help them out. Signs include lots of sweating accompanied by headache, nausea and disorientation. If someone shows problems like these, get them in a cool spot and contact emergency services. You can also bathe their feet in cool water to help them get relief. Some home security plans can make this easier. The Alexa Emergency Assist plan ($6 per month) is a good option, since it works with existing Alexa speakers and lets you immediately call for help and notify family emergency contacts with a command. That can be especially important for elderly relatives who may live alone and are more susceptible to heat-related conditions. For more temperature management choices, visit our guide to the best smart thermostats and look at the top DIY security monitoring systems. It's also a good idea to brush up on heatstroke safety and how to stay safe when air quality is really bad.
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
A glacier outburst sent a surge of water downstream into Juneau. Flood barriers protected the city from disaster
For the third consecutive year, a wave of water gushed out of an Alaskan glacial lake, threatening the state's capital city of Juneau. But, flood barriers installed by the city managed to prevent disaster from unfolding in the picturesque port town despite record-breaking water levels this week. The outburst began Tuesday at Suicide Basin, a glacial lake attached to the Mendenhall Glacier that runs up against the western portion of Juneau, about 10 miles from the city's center. The basin formed as parts of its glacier melted and retreated and now acts like a giant bucket, filling up with rain, snow and ice that slowly melts over the summer. Eventually, Suicide Basin gets so full that it escapes the surrounding ice of the Mendenhall Glacier. When that happens, water gushes out into the nearby Mendenhall Lake and eventually surges down the river. The Mendenhall River, which flows along the west side of the city, eclipsed its previous record high level of 15.99 feet Wednesday morning after rising more than 7 feet in under 24 hours. It crested at a new record of 16.65 feet Wednesday morning, according to the weather service, well above the previous record crest set just last August. River levels started dropping quickly not long after and by mid-afternoon the river had decreased to 10 feet. Lingering minor flooding will continue into Wednesday evening, but the river is expected to return to normal Thursday. How flood barriers protected the city While the Mendenhall River reached a new record high during this year's event, the worst-case scenario was avoided largely due to flood prevention efforts made by state and local officials in response to past flooding. A similar glacier outburst last year unleashed destructive flooding that impacted more than 100 homes in Juneau. City officials characterized the flood severity as 'unprecedented.' The river level in 2024 topped the one reached during 2023's early August glacial flood by a full foot. Last year, a flood barrier was installed in flood-prone areas where roughly 1,000 residents and businesses reside, according to a city spokesperson. Some of the resources that helped keep floodwaters at bay were provided by the Army Corps of Engineers earlier this year, an official said, including about 37,800 feet of HESCO barrier, which are sturdy modular bags filled with sand used to assist in blocking floodwaters – these bags are beneficial during natural disasters like flash flooding and hurricanes, according to HESCO's website. Over 100,000 sandbags were also used to mitigate flooding, according to Brig. Gen. Joseph Goetz, commander and division engineer for the US Army Corps of Engineers Pacific Ocean Division. HESCO is a company that manufactures barrier systems. Local authorities have been working with the US Army Corps of Engineers to monitor the barriers. 'The HESCO barriers really have protected our community. If it weren't for them, we would have hundreds and hundreds of flooded homes,' Juneau City Manager Katie Koester said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. Water was seeping through some of the barriers, but they had not been breached, according to a Wednesday morning update from the city. 'That being said, there still will be impacts, there still will be flooded homes and we will be working… to assess that damage and help our residents,' Koester added. There were no rescues or incidents involving the water as Wednesday afternoon, according to Sam Russell, assistant fire chief for Capital City Fire/Rescue, which serves the city and borough of Juneau. Russell urged the public to stay away from any flooded areas until crews could assess the situation. On Sunday, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a preemptive disaster declaration to better streamline emergency response efforts to the outburst. 'By issuing this declaration before the flood occurs, we can position state resources and personnel in advance to support local and tribal governments in their efforts to protect lives, homes, and essential services,' Dunleavy said in a statement. 'Our goal is to act early to reduce impacts and preserve community safety.' The capital of Alaska, Juneau has a population of about 33,000, according to the the US Census Bureau. The city is surrounded by coastal waters to the west and south. Why does this keep happening? The glacial lake outbursts have become a regular occurrence since 2011 and have worsened considerably each year since 2023. They are yet another consequence of climate change due to fossil fuel pollution. The Arctic, including Alaska, is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet as global temperatures rise. This is causing glaciers, like these in Alaska, to thin or melt altogether. Rising temperatures have severely reduced the expanse of the Mendenhall Glacier and its Suicide Basin, creating the annual glacial lake outburst hazard as ice gets replaced by liquid water and rises closer and closer to that 'bathtub' edge throughout the summer. Studies in recent years have shown that between 10 and 15 million people globally are exposed to impacts of glacial lake outburst flooding like what's unfolding in Juneau. Glaciers are melting and losing mass globally at an increasingly rapid rate as the world warms, producing more and larger glacial lakes, a 2024 study found. The uptick in number and size of glacial lakes is expected to increase the frequency of outburst flooding events in the future. CNN's Eric Zerkel, Chris Boyette, Zenebou Sylla and CNN Meteorologist Briana Waxman contributed to this report.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Will Tropical Storm Erin impact Daytona, Flagler? See the latest on strengthening storm
All eyes in Florida remain on Tropical Storm Erin as it moves westward across the Atlantic, but it's still too soon to tell what impact the strengthening storm might have on Daytona Beach, Volusia and Flagler counties, according to the National Weather Service. Tropical Storm Erin is expected to begin strengthening soon and is likely to become a hurricane in the next 48 hours, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Erin is moving fast across the Atlantic, at 22 mph. It's forecast not only to become the Atlantic season's first hurricane, but also a major hurricane. A major hurricane is one that's a Category 3 or higher, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph. Officials encourage residents to monitor Erin closely and to be prepared. 'It's still the same message, which is that it's too early to determine any sort of impacts to Central Florida, but it's a good opportunity to make sure that hurricane plans for yourself are in place, that you have your hurricane kit stocked and ready to go,' said Brendan Schaper, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne. Those in Volusia and Flagler counties are urged to keep an eye on the forecast and be aware that peak hurricane season is now upon us, the NWS stated. Tropical Storm Erin expected to turn to the northwest, but when? At 5 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, the center of Tropical Storm Erin was located near latitude 17.4 North, longitude 34.3 West. Erin is moving toward the west near 22 mph, and this motion is expected to continue for the next several days with a decrease in forward speed and a gradual turn toward the west-northwest. Daytona Beach, Flagler area forecast calls for hotter temperatures, rain Looking ahead to this week's forecast, temperatures are expected to trend hotter each day with heat index values approaching 102-107+ degrees, especially later in the week, according to the forecast discussion from the National Weather Service in Melbourne. Near normal rain and thunderstorm chances also are forecast, mainly along the path of the afternoon seabreeze, with higher coverage focused across the interior portions of Volusia and Flagler counties each day. 'It's going to trend hotter, especially later in the week,' Schaper said. 'Friday and Saturday are expected to be a couple of the hottest days, with temperatures to reach the mid-90s for most locations, with heat index values that could rise to potentially 109. 'It's kind of your typical summertime storm pattern.' A moderate risk of rip currents will continue at all area beaches through at least midweek. Those entering the ocean are advised to always swim in front of a staffed lifeguard station and never venture into the water alone. That risk could escalate depending on Erin's track, Schaper said. Daytona Beach weather radar Extended forecast for Daytona Beach Tuesday, Aug. 12: A 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90 and nighttime low around 77. Heat index values as high as 102. East southeast wind 5-10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Wednesday, Aug. 13: A 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91 and nighttime low around 77. Heat index values as high as 102. Light and variable wind becoming east southeast 5-10 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Thursday, Aug. 14: A 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 92 and nighttime low around 78. Calm wind becoming east southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Friday, Aug. 15: A 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 92 and nighttime low around 78. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon. Extended forecast for Palm Coast Tuesday, Aug. 12: A 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 91 and nighttime low around 76. Heat index values as high as 106. East wind 7-11 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph. Wednesday, Aug. 13: A 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87 and nighttime low around 78. South wind 5-10 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 16 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Thursday, Aug. 14: A 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88 and nighttime low around 78. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5-7 mph in the morning. Friday, Aug. 15: A 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 88 and nighttime low around 79. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: As Erin moves west in Atlantic what's the danger to Daytona, Flagler? Solve the daily Crossword
