Latest news with #AnaTorres-Vazquez
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Gigantic Saharan Dust Cloud Barrels Toward Florida: Here's What That Means
A gigantic cloud of dust drifting from the Sahara Desert is expected to impact southern and central parts of Florida late Tuesday into early Wednesday Its effects, including hazy skies, are likely to be seen until the weekend The dust cloud has already drifted into the CaribbeanFlorida, along with some of its surrounding states, is in the path of a gigantic cloud of dust drifting from the Sahara Desert. According to Scientific American, between late spring and early fall, dust from the Sahara Desert is blown out over the Atlantic Ocean every three to five days. When the conditions are right, the air masses, referred to as the Saharan Air Layer (SAL), filled with dust, make their way to North America. The dust cloud has already drifted into the Caribbean. The National Weather Service for San Juan, Puerto Rico, stated on X that "peak concentrations" of the dust were expected to arrive midday on Monday, June 2. The dust will impact southern and central parts of Florida from late Tuesday into early Wednesday, potentially causing residents to see hazy skies, especially during sunrise and sunset, until the weekend, ABC News affiliate WFTS-TV reported. The dust is also forecast to impact skies and reduce visibility across the Southeast, per Fox Weather. 'When you have Saharan dust or any other kind of particulate, if the sun is coming in at an angle, like during sunrise or sunset. It can hit those particulates that are close to the ground just right and result in those different, kind of orangey-reddish colors," Ana Torres-Vazquez, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Miami office, told Scientific American. According to WFTS-TV meteorologist Greg Dee, Saharan dust is usually "not an issue for us here right at the surface, most of the dust is high up in the atmosphere." "But occasionally, some folks that are very sensitive to particles, particulates in the air, may experience a little bit of discomfort," he said As far as its environmental impact, WJXT reported that the Saharan Air Layer can suppress the development of tropical cyclones as well as cloud development and storms. This is due to its characteristics of "warm, dry air with strong winds." Moist and dry air are expected to alternate between the Caribbean and as far north as Florida waters in the Gulf and Atlantic over the next 10 days, per Accuweather. AccuWeather reported that it is monitoring an area along the Southeast coast for "potential subtropical or tropical development." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "While the risk of development is low, impacts such as heavy, flooding rain that can disrupt outdoor plans, minor coastal flooding, rip currents and rough surf are all possible mid-to-late week," its website states. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County warned of major to extreme heat risk
A record challenging heat is stifling South Florida with temperatures not typically seen until deep summer as a loitering area of high pressure pushes out over the next few days. The National Weather Service in Miami noted pockets from West Palm Beach through Miami where the risk of heat related illnesses has been elevated to "extreme" — the highest warning level on a new heat risk index introduced in 2024. For West Palm Beach, the daytime high temperature is forecast to reach 94 degrees on May 21, just two degrees shy of the 2008 record of 96 degrees. The normal high temperature for May 21 is 86 degrees. It's not until mid July that the average peak temperature as measured at Palm Beach International Airport reaches 90 degrees. "It's going to be very uncomfortable," said Ana Torres-Vazquez, meteorologist with the Miami NWS office. "For the past several days we've had an area of high pressure over South Florida and a lot of subsidence, or air pushing down, and that tends to make things hotter." At the same time, an approaching front attached to an area of stormy weather over the Mid-Atlantic, will shift winds out of the west. That cuts off the cooling afternoon sea breeze for coastal Palm Beach County and means any air moving in has been warmed by its travel over the steamy Everglades. More: Climate change triggers new Florida heat warning chart that alerts when it could be deadly outside The "feels like" temperature or heat index could hit 102 degrees on May 21. As smothering as that it is, it's not high enough to trigger a heat advisory. In Palm Beach County, a heat advisory is issued when heat-index temperatures are forecast to reach 108 degrees or higher for at least two hours. In Broward and Miami-Dade counties, a heat advisory is issued if heat-index temperatures of 105 or higher are expected for at least two hours. The weather pattern shifts on Thursday as the front moves through with winds turning out of the northwest. Temperatures are forecast to reach into the low 90s in Palm Beach County but there is also a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms during the day that increases to 70% in the evening. More: Best ice cream shops, gelato, ice pops and more cool treats in Palm Beach County The National Weather Service introduced the new heat risk index last year in the hopes it will better translate the possible health complications triggered when the mercury rises to misery. Like the Air Quality Index and the UV Index, the new ranking system assigns numbers to risk levels that include who is most susceptible to health problems at each level and actions that should be taken to reduce risks. Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate, weather, and the environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@ Help support our local journalism, subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Record challenging high temperatures in South Florida how hot will it get
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
7.6 magnitude quake hit Caribbean, spurring tsunami alert. Is South Florida affected?
A 7.6-magnitude earthquake slammed the Caribbean Sea — prompting several tsunami warnings, which were later canceled, weather officials say. The earthquake began Saturday night about 130 miles south-southwest of George Town, the capital of the Cayman Islands, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A tsunami threat was initially forecast for 20 countries and islands, including the Bahamas, Belize, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Turks and Caicos. The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center had issued an advisory for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, though it was later retracted. The Caribbean has seen aftershocks, smaller earthquakes, since the 7.6-magnitude quake, said Ana Torres-Vazquez, a meteorologist at NWS Miami. The aftershocks haven't caused any reported damage. The sea has also had no tsunami activity, and South Florida was not impacted, Torres-Vazquez added.
Miami Herald
09-02-2025
- Climate
- Miami Herald
7.6 magnitude quake hit Caribbean, spurring tsunami alert. Is South Florida affected?
A 7.6-magnitude earthquake slammed the Caribbean Sea — prompting several tsunami warnings, which were later canceled, weather officials say. The earthquake began Saturday night about 130 miles south-southwest of George Town, the capital of the Cayman Islands, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A tsunami threat was initially forecast for 20 countries and islands, including the Bahamas, Belize, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Turks and Caicos. The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center had issued an advisory for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, though it was later retracted. The Caribbean has seen aftershocks, smaller earthquakes, since the 7.6-magnitude quake, said Ana Torres-Vazquez, a meteorologist at NWS Miami. The aftershocks haven't caused any reported damage. The sea has also had no tsunami activity, and South Florida was not impacted, Torres-Vazquez added.
