Latest news with #AccuWeatherNetwork
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
How climate change is influencing tornadoes
Are tornadoes getting worse because of climate change? It's a question many are asking, especially as headlines highlight unusual outbreaks and shifting storm patterns. A recent National Geographic article explored that connection, and AccuWeather Climate Expert Brett Anderson sat down with Senior Meteorologist Dan DePodwin to unpack the science behind it on a new episode of Climate in the News on the AccuWeather Network. Tornado numbers: correlation without causation Although the number of observed tornadoes has increased over the past 50 years as the globe has warmed, much of that uptick is likely due to advancements in Doppler radar technology, increased storm chasing and better video documentation, Anderson said. Interestingly, there has been no significant observed change in the frequency of major tornadoes, because those higher-end tornadoes are less likely to go unnoticed. Two twisters spinning side-by-side in Akron, Colorado. (AccuWeather/Tony Laubach) More heat but less wind "Climate change adds heat to the atmosphere. Heat provides energy. So you'd think we'll see stronger tornadoes." Anderson explained. "However, with added heat, we're seeing weaker jet streams because the Arctic is warming very rapidly. So the temperature difference between the north and the south is less. The jet stream's weaker. So you have less wind shear, which is critical for the formation tornadoes." Tornado alley has shifted Another notable finding is the shift or expansion of "Tornado Alley" from the Great Plains to the southeastern United States over the past few decades. Anderson believes this is primarily due to the warming of the Gulf of America, which adds substantial heat energy to the atmosphere. Consequently, the region has seen an increase in strong tornadoes occurring outside of the traditional tornado season, particularly in late winter and early spring. Good news: Fatality rate is down The southeastern U.S. is home to a more vulnerable population, with many residents living in manufactured homes that are not securely anchored to the ground. Despite this vulnerability, the fatality rate for tornadoes has decreased over the years, thanks to advancements in technology and improved warning systems.
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Fire country: Here's the national spring and summer wildfire forecast
Fire country: Here's the national spring and summer wildfire forecast Show Caption Hide Caption Tips for texting, calling after a wildfire, major storm Phone lines can be busy in the aftermath of a devastating weather event. Here are some tips on how to communicate with your loved ones. Problem Solved Wildfires are predicted to burn up to 9 million acres in the U.S. in 2025, exceeding the 7 million acre historical average. The highest spring fire risk is in the drought-stricken southern Plains and interior Southwest. A surge in wildfire activity is expected this summer in the Northwest, northern Rockies, Southwest, and south-central states. The horrific firestorm in January in California has already marked 2025 as a disastrous year for U.S. wildfires. Blazes in the Carolinas in March and current fires in New Jersey are signs of what could be a long, arduous year for firefighters across much of the country. Private forecaster AccuWeather, in a prediction released April 23, said that wildfires are expected to scorch more land across the U.S. than the historical average, with up to 9 million acres expected to burn in 2025. A typical year sees 7 million acres charred. 'The firestorm that ripped through Southern California in early January caused catastrophic damage and heartbreaking loss," AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok said in a statement. "Families and businesses need to prepare for yet another active year of wildfires in America." 1 million acres burned so far; up to 9 million possible "We've seen fires reported across 20 states that have already burned nearly 1 million acres so far this year," Pastelok said. For example, the fires in New Jersey this week have been part of trend: So far in 2025, New Jersey has experienced nearly twice as many wildfires as usual. Nationally, "AccuWeather is forecasting 7 to 9 million acres to burn across the country this year, which is more than the historical average,' he said. AccuWeather's 2025 wildfire season forecast AccuWeather's Paul Pastelok was live on the AccuWeather Network on April 23 to discuss the 2025 wildfire season in the United States. Spring wildfire forecast Fire danger should be highest this spring in the drought-plagued southern Plains and interior Southwest, AccuWeather said. "Despite a few early spring storms, drought conditions remain deeply entrenched," Pastelok said. "Dry, windy and low-humidity days are expected to be frequent across the region, leading to rapid drying of available fuels and an increased number of high-risk wildfire days.' Abnormally dry conditions and warm weather could also increase fire danger across along much of the Eastern Seaboard through the rest of this spring. In fact, the risk of fires along the East Coast the rest of spring extends as far south as parts of southern Florida. The Carolinas are of particular concern thanks primarily to the devastation from Hurricane Helene last year: 'There is an ongoing risk of fires across parts of the Carolinas and the southern Appalachians this spring. The trees that toppled over during the extreme winds from Helene have left behind piles of timber that act as fuel for any fires that spark,' Pastelok said. 'We fear the risk of fires in the southern Appalachians will intensify over the next two years as all of the trees knocked down by Helene continue to dry out.' Summer wildfire forecast A surge of wildfire activity is expected this summer in the Northwest, northern Rockies, Southwest and south-central states. "While the season may start slowly, there is strong potential for rapid escalation as drought conditions and heat set in," Pastelok said. 'This is the time of year when grasses, brush and other vegetation really start to dry out as trigger mechanisms kick in, like lightning and wind.' Fires are possible throughout California this summer, but most of the activity is expected later in the year. What causes wildfires? While heat, drought, wind, lightning and other weather and climate conditions can be conducive for sparking or spreading fires, roughly 90% of all wildfires in the US are caused by humans, including sparks from downed power lines, discarded cigarettes, campfires, fireworks, lawn equipment, trains and vehicle backfires. Contributing: Reuters
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tornadoes and softball-sized hail strike Iowa, Nebraska
A small but intense cluster of thunderstorms struck eastern Nebraska and western Iowa Thursday evening, with destructive winds up to 86 mph, grapefruit-sized hail and multiple tornadoes. Just northwest of Omaha in Irvington, Nebraska, drone video showed several homes missing their roofs, with debris scattered around them. The Irvington Fire Department said on Facebook that "patients were transported," but it's unclear how many people were injured. A tornado emergency, the most severe type of tornado warning, was issued for Essex, Iowa, at 8:51 p.m. CDT. The wind snapped power poles and trees just west of the town. AccuWeather Meteorologist and Storm Chaser Tony Laubach's car windshield was smashed in by baseball-sized hail just outside of Fremont, Nebraska, as he was reporting for the AccuWeather Network. Softball-sized hail shredded the siding off a nearby home, leaving behind a trail of splintered panels and exposed insulation and walls. In York, Nebraska, a bystander was caught in a dusty gustnado. A gustnado is a type of tornado that forms when the edge of the downdraft of a severe thunderstorm -- a gust front -- causes the air to spin, from the ground up. A gustnado does not connect to a cloud as it would with a larger, supercell tornado. A wind gust of 86 mph was clocked at Coburg, Iowa, while an 82-mph gust was recorded in Fremont, Nebraska. The National Weather Service will investigate the damage to determine where the tornadoes fall on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Additional rounds of severe thunderstorms are predicted through the weekend, threatening areas from Texas to Ohio.
