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Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
2025 hurricane season starts: This year's outlook, how Florida residents can prepare
The Brief The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1, with NOAA and CSU predicting above-average activity due to warm oceans and favorable conditions. Forecasts call for up to 19 named storms, 10 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes. How likely will a hurricane or tropical storm make landfall in the U.S. this year? CSU explains. ORLANDO, Fla. - The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1, and much like last year, the FOX 35 Storm Team expects a lot of ocean heat content to fuel the potential for an above-average season. Experts at both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Colorado State University (CSU) share a similar outlook: What we know NOAA's hurricane forecast: 13-19 named storms 6-10 hurricanes 3-5 major hurricanes (Cat. 3 or higher) CSU's hurricane forecast: 17 named tropical storms Of which, 9 become hurricanes Of which, 4 reach "major" hurricane strength (Cat. 3 or higher) Big picture view According to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center, an average Atlantic hurricane season sees: 14 named tropical storms 7 hurricanes 3 "major" hurricanes (Category 3 or higher) Dig deeper There are a multitude of factors in the atmosphere that will heighten the chance of an above-average season. The climate pattern has been shifting, and it's looking like we're going to remain in the Neutral Phase of ENSO. With that, we typically see reduced wind shear in the Atlantic Basin which means storms can form and strengthen rapidly. That strengthening is only exacerbated by the warmer than average ocean temperatures. That along with more active Western African Monsoon can help spin-up more tropical systems. Colorado State University also looks at the probability of whether a "major" hurricane – Category 3, 4, or 5 storm – will make landfall in the U.S., along Florida's Coast, or within the Gulf Coast. 51% for the entire U.S. coastline (average from 1880–2020 is 43%). 26% for the U.S. East Coast, including the Florida peninsula (average from 1880–2020 is 21%). 33% for the Gulf Coast from the Florida panhandle westward to Brownsville, Texas(average from 1880–2020 is 27%). 56% for the Caribbean (average from 1880–2020 is 47%) Here are the tropical cyclone names for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. Click here to view the pronunciation guide. Andrea Barry Chantal Dexter Erin Fernand Gabrielle Humberto Imelda Jerry Karen Lorenzo Melissa Nestor Olga Pablo Rebekah Sebastien Tanya Van Wendy It's never too early to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season – or any emergency. It's important to have a plan, have ways to communicate and get emergency information, save and protect important documents, medication, and have extra food and water. Click the links below for helpful guides on what to pack in your emergency kit: Florida Disaster Supply Kit Checklist emergency kit Here are a few other key ways to prepare for hurricane season in Florida: Know your evacuation zone and route by checking Stay informed by downloading weather apps, signing up for local alerts, and monitoring trusted news sources. Plan for pets and vulnerable family members, including elderly relatives or those with medical needs. Back up important digital files and contacts in case of power outages or loss of access. The FOX 35 Storm Team and newsroom will be with you every step of the way during hurricane season. Download the free FOX Local app to your smart phone for the latest breaking news, weather updates, and tropical forecasts. Download the FOX 35 Weather app to track the latest weather forecasts and tropical cones on your cell phone. Install the FOX Local app to your smart TV to stream FOX 35 newscasts. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the FOX 35 Storm Team on June 1, 2025.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is here. What to know about forecasts, emergency alerts
The 2025 hurricane season, which runs June 1-Nov. 30, is predicted to have above-normal activity — with 17 named storms, including nine hurricanes, four of which could be major. Colorado State University's early predictions show a 65% probability of a hurricane making landfall in Florida and a 35% chance of it being a major hurricane, over a Category 3. CSU further broke down the probabilities and Florida's East Coast, including the Florida Peninsula, has a 26% probability, which is 5% higher than the average. Last year, there were 18 named storms during the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, according to NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service. Five were major hurricanes with winds over 111 mph; 11 were hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or greater; and Florida got hit with three hurricanes: Debby, Helene and Milton. Leading up to Hurricane Milton's landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast, at least 14 tornadoes spawned throughout the Treasure Coast, resulting in six people dying at Spanish Lakes Country Club Village in St. Lucie County. Leading up to this hurricane season, over 880 workers were cut from NOAA in February, which includes the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center, USA Today reported. Another 1,000 employees were later included in President Trump's plan to cut costs in fiscal year 2026. Whether you're a lifelong or longtime Floridian or recently moved to the Sunshine State, here's what you need to know about preparing for hurricane season. The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. The season peaks around mid-August and late October because the waters in the equatorial Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico get warm enough to help support tropical wave development. (President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.) Here are the CSU predictions for 2025 (compared to an average season): Named storms: 17 (14 on average) Named storm days: 85 (69 on average) Hurricanes: 9 (7 on average) Hurricane days: 35 (27 on average) Major hurricanes: 4 (3 on average) Major hurricane days: 9 (7 on average) Accumulated Cyclone Energy index (ACE measures overall activity): 155 (123 on average) ACE in the western half of the Atlantic basin: 93 (73 on average) Net tropical cyclone activity (NTC): 165 (135 on average) The National Hurricane Center this year will institute these changes to its prediction methods: May issue earlier advisories up to 72 hours — instead of 48 hours — before a system with storm surge and/or tropical storm-force winds Will narrow the cone of uncertainty by 3-6% Will use new symbols on weather maps representing the cone of uncertainty. An experimental cone of uncertainty launched in 2024 displayed watches and warnings for inland counties for the first time, as well as for coastal counties. Before that, the National Weather Service issued hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings for inland counties, but the National Hurricane Center's maps didn't show them, only those for coastal counties. Based on feedback, the National Hurricane Center decided to add a symbol this year — diagonal pink and blue lines — for counties where both a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning are in effect. Since 1953, the National Hurricane Center has released a list of names in alphabetical order for Atlantic tropical storms before each season begins, which it recycles every six years. But it retires names of storms that are excessively deadly or costly, if it would be insensitive or inappropriate to use them again. These are the 2025 Atlantic tropical cyclone names: Andrea Barry Chantal Dexter Erin Fernand Gabrielle Humberto Imelda Jerry Karen Lorenzo Melissa Nestor Olga Pablo Rebekah Sebastien Tanya Van Wendy Knowing if you live in an evacuation zone and where your evacuation routes are is vital if you need to leave quickly. Each county has designated evacuation zones, typically on barrier islands and in low-lying, flood-prone areas, especially for mobile homes and other unsafe structures. If you're unsure if you live in one, each county has an interactive map on its website showing evacuation zones and the best routes to take, whether an evacuation is ordered or if you're just being precautionary to relocate somewhere safer. Just type in your address to see if you fall within an evacuation zone in Indian River, Martin or St. Lucie. Hurricane shelters are opened if a storm threat is imminent, but they should be considered a refuge of last resort. The Treasure Coast has 39 shelters, which include four animal-friendly one and three for special needs. The shelters are designed to house residents of the barrier islands, low-lying or flood-prone areas, evacuation zones, mobile or manufactured homes, or those without shelter. Pre-registration for special needs shelters is available online on each county's website. The special-needs shelter is at Anderson Middle School, 7000 S.E. Atlantic Ridge Drive in Stuart. The pet-friendly shelter is at Willoughby Learning Center, 5150 S.E. Willoughby Blvd in Stuart. There are eight others: Port Salerno Elementary School at 3260 S.E. Lionel Terrace Warfield Elementary School at 15260 S.W. 150th St., Indiantown Jensen Beach Elementary School at 2525 N.E. Savannah Road Palm City Elementary School at 1951 S.W. 34th St. J.D. Parker Elementary School at 1050 S.E. 10th St., Stuart Citrus Grove Elementary School at 2527 S.W. Citrus Blvd., Palm City Indiantown Middle School at 16303 S.W. Farm Road Jensen Beach High School at 2875 N.W. Goldenrod Road The special-needs shelter is at the Havert L. Fenn Center, 2000 Virginia Ave. in Fort Pierce, and the two pet-friendly shelters are at Fort Pierce Westwood High School, 1801 Panther Lane in Fort Pierce, and Treasure Coast High School, 1000 S.W. Darwin Blvd. in Port St. Lucie. There are 11 others: Lakewood Park Elementary School at 7800 Indrio Road Fort Pierce Central High School at 4101 S. 25th St. Parkway Elementary School at 7000 N.W. Selvitz Road, Port St. Lucie Samuel S. Gaines Academy K-8 at 2250 S. Jenkins Road, Fort Pierce West Gate K-8 at 1050 N.W. Cashmere Blvd., Port St. Lucie Chester A. Moore Elementary at 827 N. 29th St., Fort Pierce Floresta Elementary at 1501 S.E. Floresta Drive, Port St. Lucie Bayshore Elementary at 1661 S.W. Bayshore Blvd., Port St. Lucie Oak Hammock K-8 at 1251 S.W. California Blvd., Port St. Lucie Port St. Lucie Community Center at 2195 S.E. Airoso Blvd. Morningside Elementary at 2300 S.E. Gowin Drive The special-needs shelter is at Treasure Coast Elementary School, 8955 85th St. in Sebastian, and the pet-friendly shelter is at Liberty Magnet Elementary School, 6850 81st St. in Vero Beach. There are 13 others: Sebastian Elementary School at 400 Sebastian Blvd. Fellsmere Elementary School at 50 N. Cypress St. Sebastian River Middle School at 9400 County Road 512 Sebastian River High School at 9001 90th Ave. Pelican Island Elementary School at 1355 Schumann Drive, Sebastian Storm Grove Middle School at 6400 57th St., Vero Beach Gifford Middle School at 4530 28th Court VBHS Freshman Learning Center at 1507 19th St., Vero Beach Glendale Elementary School at 4940 8th St., Vero Beach Oslo Middle School at 480 20th Avenue S.W., Vero Beach Osceola Magnet School at 1110 18th Avenue S.W., Vero Beach Indian River Academy at 500 20th Street S.W., Vero Beach Vero Beach Elementary School at 1770 12th St. Tornadoes can strike at any point during the year, but Florida twisters are most common in spring and summer. They are categorized by the Enhanced Fujita Scale based on their winds: EF0: 65-85 mph EF1: 86-110 mph EF2: 111-135 mph EF3: 136-165 mph EF4: 166-200 mph EF5: Over 200 mph The Treasure Coast was hit with at least 14 tornadoes before Hurricane Milton made landfall, which resulted in six deaths in the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village mobile home community northwest of Fort Pierce. The most destructive tornado was an EF3 with winds from 136-165 mph that touched down in St. Lucie and Indian River counties. People living in manufactured homes and low-lying, flood-prone areas should have a storm emergency plan and disaster kits ready to go if tornado, flood or hurricane threats hit the area, said St. Lucie County Public Safety Director Ron Guerrero. Here's what the different tornado alerts mean and tornado safety tips to follow, in the event of one: Tornado watch: Possibility of tornadoes in or near the watch area. Tornado warning: A sighting or weather radar indicating a tornado. Try to move to an interior room on the lowest level in a sturdy building and stay away from windows. Tornado emergency: Issued when a violent tornado has touched down in the watch area. Here are some safety dos and don'ts if you find yourself caught in a tornado, according to NOAA: Seek shelter immediately, especially if in a mobile home, vehicle or outdoors. Move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. If you're driving, it is recommended to find shelter in a ditch or remain in your vehicle and cover your head. If in a mobile home, get to a sturdy shelter as soon as possible. If not, take shelter in a nearby ditch, low spot or underground culvert. Make sure to lie flat covering your head with your hands. Stay as low as possible by moving into an interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy building, making sure to stay away from windows, doors and outdoor walls. Interior rooms can be bathrooms, closets or halls with no windows. Use your hands, pillows, heavy coats, blankets, quilts, or helmets to shield your head from flying debris. Leading up to a storm, make sure to be prepared with an emergency kit with these items, according to NOAA: Backpack or storage tub to hold your supplies Bottled water, one gallon per person is recommended Non-perishable food and a can opener for canned foods Flashlight with extra batteries First aid supplies Bandages Ointment Disinfectant wipes Any daily or prescription medication taken Tissues Toilet paper and bags with ties for personal sanitation Paper and pen or pencil (to take notes, play games, etc.) Sleeping bag or warm blanket Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Personal hygiene items Whistle to signal for help Important documents (identification, insurance information, banking information, wills, etc.) Emergency reference materials such as a first aid book Battery-powered radio and a NOAA weather radio Formula and diapers for infants Extra pet food A dust mask or cotton T-shirt to help filter the air Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place Cups and utensils A change of clothes for each person in your home Rain gear Cash Paper towels Fire Extinguisher Cards or games Do not stay outside; get to shelter as quickly as possible Avoid being by windows, doors and outside walls Do not wait until you see or hear the tornado Do not open windows or doors Do not take shelter under a highway overpass if you're caught in a tornado while in your car You can sign up for emergency alerts on your phone at Check with your service provider to find out if your cell phone or mobile device is compatible with receiving wireless emergency alerts. However, not all wireless service providers offer wireless emergency alerts, and some participating service providers may not offer it on all mobile devices, according to the Federal Communications Commission. NWS recap: 11 tornadoes confirmed, 3 more suspected on the Treasure Coast Exclusive look: Inside Spanish Lakes after Hurricane Milton killed six people If you do not receive emergency alerts, check with your service provider to see if your mobile device is compatible. If it is, and you still don't receive messages, check out your user manual, or if you have an iPhone, follow these steps: Go to settings and click on the notifications tab. Scroll to the bottom of the screen. Under government alerts, turn the type of alert on or off. Each county has its own alert system. You can sign up for AlertMartin, and Alert Indian River on the Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie county websites. Part of preparing for a hurricane is knowing what government agencies to contact in an emergency. Phone: 772-226-3900 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-462-8100 Website: Phone: 772-287-1652 Website: Twitter: Phone: 772-569-6700 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-220-7000 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-462-7300 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-978-4600 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-646-6309 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-589-5233 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-467-6800 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-871-5000 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-287-1122 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-226-3993 Website: Phone: 772-621-3400 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-288-5710 Website: Facebook: Twitter: Phone: 772-288-5360 Website: Gianna Montesano is TCPalm's trending reporter. You can contact her at 772-409-1429, or follow her on X @gonthescene. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hurricane 2025 season forecast shows Florida storm predictions
USA Today
3 days ago
- Climate
- USA Today
Hazy outlook: Smoke, dust likely to impact US skies this weekend
Hazy outlook: Smoke, dust likely to impact US skies this weekend Show Caption Hide Caption 'Massive smoke plumes' from wildfires cover Canadian provinces Timelapse satellite imagery shows wildfires and thick smoke over two Canadian provinces on Monday, May 26. CSU/CIRA & NOAA via Storyful CSU/CIRA & NOAA Noxious wildfire smoke from Canada will infiltrate the U.S. through the north this weekend, just as African dust clouds approach from the east. They have nothing to do with the Trump tariffs and might not be as ominous as it sounds, but their presence will be noticeable. Meteorologists are especially keeping track of the smoke, emanating from wildfires in Canadian territory from British Columbia to Manitoba, which have the potential to cause health problems in American soil. Smoke has already been detected drifting in through Montana, North Dakota and northern Minnesota, where air quality alerts have been issued. The smoke is expected to spread across the upper Midwest on Friday and Saturday before heading southeast, where cloud cover would minimize its impact. While not on the same scale as the spring and summer of 2023, when 800-plus Canadian wildfires burned more than 40 million acres and blanketed large swaths of the U.S. Midwest and East with a gray haze, the current spate of approximately 150 blazes will have an extended impact across the border as the wind blows southeast. Chicago, Milwaukee in the smoke's path Major population areas in and around Chicago and Milwaukee will likely be in the smoke's path, and possibly Detroit and Indianapolis as well. 'We will see more smoke across parts of the Midwest, even down into portions of the Ohio Valley by Sunday,'' AccuWeather meteorologist Elizabeth Danco said. 'We are expecting some of it to get down into some of the lower levels of the atmosphere, which could cause some reduced air quality and some health hazards, especially for those with respiratory issues.'' How acute those become could be determined by the smoke's elevation in the atmosphere. At lower levels it can not only cause breathing difficulties but also impair driving visibility. When remaining high, the haze actually leads to vibrant sunrises and sunsets. That same phenomenon may be on display with the appearance of the Saharan dust clouds, which are fairly common this time of year. The first of two large ones is primed to arrive this weekend and is aiming for Florida and the Gulf Coast, in addition to the Caribbean, parts of Mexico and most of Central America, AccuWeather said. Some benefits to the dust clouds The second one is even bigger and will likely cover all of Florida and most of the gulf by Thursday morning, according to the outlet. Danco said neither one figures to present a health threat or affect air quality because they will mostly remain at high levels in the atmosphere. Dust clouds can actually have the beneficial effect of inhibiting storm formation or development because they carry such dry air, the opposite of what nourishes weather systems like hurricanes. In addition, the hazy skies they create can be quite vibrant as the sun rises and sets. 'They have a nice orange hue to them,'' Danco said. 'It's really cool to see the sky. There should be some good pictures coming out.''
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Czech economy accelerates in first quarter on higher household spending
PRAGUE (Reuters) -Czech economic output jumped by a faster-than-predicted 0.8% in the first quarter, the highest since late 2021, driven by a strong rebound in household spending and inventories, the Czech Statistical Bureau (CSU) said on Friday. The result marked an increase from a flash estimate of 0.5% expansion, and put year-on-year growth at 2.2%. The central European economy has been slow to recover from the COVID pandemic, which was followed by an inflation wave, high energy prices and weak demand in main trade partner Germany. A gradual rebound in real wages, as inflation waned, has been the main driver of the recovery. The CSU said household demand contributed 1.5 percentage points to the year-on-year expansion, followed by inventory adding 1.3 points, government spending with 0.4, while foreign trade and capital investments had negative contributions. "The year-on-year result is the best in nearly three years and was caused mainly by growing household spending," said Petr Dufek, chief economist at Banka Creditas. "The first quarter result lays the ground quite well for the full-year growth of roughly 2%." Chief Economist Pavel Sobisek of UniCredit CZ+SK said momentum would help the economy going forward but there would be negative effects of U.S. tariff policies. "That will undoubtedly cause fluctuations of growth and its overall reduction versus a situation of tariffs not being imposed," he said in a note. The crown was trading flat versus the euro at 24.945. Sign in to access your portfolio
USA Today
3 days ago
- Climate
- USA Today
Heavy smoke expected to hit the US as dangerous Canadian wildfires force 17K to evacuate
Heavy smoke expected to hit the US as dangerous Canadian wildfires force 17K to evacuate Blazes in the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan have forced thousands to evacuate. Smoke from the fires is expected to waft over the U.S. through the weekend. Show Caption Hide Caption 'Massive smoke plumes' from wildfires cover Canadian provinces Timelapse satellite imagery shows wildfires and thick smoke over two Canadian provinces on Monday, May 26. CSU/CIRA & NOAA via Storyful CSU/CIRA & NOAA As many as 17,000 people in Canada are being evacuated as active wildfires have charred hundreds of thousands of acres in the country, officials said, threatening to waft heavy smoke over the northern United States. Rising heat, winds, and dry air sparked blazes in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, according to the country's Department of Natural Resources. Residents in the United States are expected to face poor air quality from the fires as soon as May 30. "This is a very serious situation," Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said at a news conference on May 29. "I do fear things are going to deteriorate with the weather we have ahead of us in the days ahead." Active blazes have burned 696,000 acres in Saskatchewan and 173,000 acres in Manitoba, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. A total of nearly 1.5 million acres have burned across the two provinces so far this year, according to the fire center. Moe said he expected the fires to worsen until a two or three-day rainfall event. Smoke from the blazes is expected to fall heavily over Midwestern states, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, and cut across the country to reach the Carolinas by May 31, according to FireSmoke Canada, a team of forecasters at the University of British Columbia. Canadian authorities have called in the military to help with the "sheer scale" of the evacuations, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said at a news conference. "We're talking about hours instead of days to move this amount of people," said Kinew, adding it was the largest evacuation "seen in most people's living memory." The two provinces have declared a state of emergency. The blazes also stretch into the province of Ontario, where 130,000 acres have burned. Canadian wildfires, again The smoke drifting over the United States from the Canadian blazes comes after American cities in the Northeast, Midwest, and Plains encountered unhealthy air quality due to the nightmarish wildfires in Canada in 2023. Over 6,000 blazes left more than 37 million acres burned, an area larger than England, according to Canada's natural resources department. The American Lung Association's 2025 "State of the Air Report" found that a growing number of Americans were living with poor air quality due to the Canadian fires, even as other means of pollution were reduced. The report was based on data through 2023. As of May 29, 1,500 blazes have charred 1.8 million acres across Canada. 'We were not prepared': Canada fought nightmarish wildfires as smoke became US problem What to expect in the United States Smoke from the blazes is expected to waft over large parts of the United States starting in the Midwest, according to forecasters at FireSmoke Canada. Minnesota began feeling the impact of the blazes on May 29, according to the state's Pollution Control Agency. Upper Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan were expected to experience poor air quality by the evening. Smoke is expected to hit the Ohio Valley on May 30 and the Carolinas by the early hours of Saturday. Minnesota authorities warned of unhealthy levels of exposure to fine particles from the wildfires. Symptoms include everything from shortness of breath to heart attack and stroke.
