Latest news with #DanDePodwin
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Iconic 'sinking city' home to over 300,000 Americans faces terrifying new threat
An iconic American city already sinking at an alarming rate now faces a fresh threat as a monster storm approaches the Gulf Coast, threatening heavy rain and flash flooding. New Orleans is sinking by up to 2 inches a year as its marshy clay soil compresses under the weight of buildings. This ongoing subsidence is compounded now by a surge of tropical moisture brought by tropical weather system Invest 93L, increasing the risk of flash floods and putting additional strain on the city's drainage systems. 'Much of the infrastructure and drainage systems were designed for rainfall patterns typical of 50 to 100 years ago,' Dan DePodwin, vice president of forecast operations at AccuWeather, told the Daily Mail. 'It is not for the intense and extreme rainfall events we are experiencing right now.' Forecasters are also monitoring the system as it moves north, dragging deep tropical moisture into the central US. The National Weather Service (NWS) has predicted the system will churn through Arkansas by Saturday, then bring repeated thunderstorms to the Midwest and Ohio Valley into early next week. This puts more than 30 million Americans across 11 states under the threat of flash flooding through the weekend. A major tropical rainstorm brought heavy rain to New Orleans (pictured), an area of the US that is sinking at a concerning rate (Stock Image) Volunteers filled sandbags for New Orleans residents on July 16, 2025, before heavy rains the Gulf Coast storm arrived Areas south and west of New Orleans have been projected to be flooded with up to 8 inches of rain due to the storm 'This has been a tremendously impactful and dangerous year,' AccuWeather meteorologist Jonathan Porter said regarding nationwide flooding tragedies. 'The number of flash flood reports this year to date has been a staggering 70 percent above the 10-year historical average.' Earlier this week, the system dumped nearly 8 inches of rain in Pierre Part, over 6 inches in Little Woods and close to 6 inches in New Orleans' Desire neighborhood. On Friday, radar showed the storm's core largely remaining south of New Orleans, with only light showers reaching the city. The worst of the weather stayed offshore. The NWS lowered its rainfall forecast to a range of just 1.5 to 2 inches through Saturday, from an earlier prediction of 4 to 8 inches. As of now, no street flooding has been reported in New Orleans or Jefferson Parish. Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather's lead hurricane expert, told the Daily Mail, 'The tropical rainstorm, once labeled Invest 93L, has lost its structure. But leftover moisture is still capable of triggering localized flash floods across Louisiana through Saturday.' New Orleans (pictured) is home to more than 360,000 people, but much of the city is below sea level A Virginia Tech study has estimated that up to 225,000 people are at risk of death or displacement in sinking coastal communities (Stock Image) Now pushing into the Midwest, the remnants of Invest 93L are colliding with a stalled weather front stretching from Iowa to West Virginia. This setup is expected to bring repeated rounds of heavy thunderstorms through early next week, raising flash flood risks across parts of the Midwest, Ohio Valley and Appalachians. According to AccuWeather, cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh could receive 2 to 4 inches of rain by Monday, with isolated spots potentially seeing over a foot. 'The ample moisture from the tropical rainstorm is expected to be drawn northward,' DePodwin said. 'The flooding could be significant in places that have already been soaked this month.' Experts warn that saturated soils and swollen creeks could lead to rapid water rises in some areas, especially where rainfall rates reach 1 to 3 inches per hour. 'We're increasingly concerned about the risk of flooding through the weekend as the moisture from this tropical rainstorm surges northward,' DaSilva warned. 'Some already waterlogged areas could receive another 4 to 8 inches of rain.' The tropical rainstorm impacting Louisiana also threatens to bring flash flooding to parts of the Midwest, Ohio Valley and Appalachians Where rainfall rates reach 1 to 3 inches per hour, forecasters caution of 'life-threatening flash flooding', landslides and overwhelmed drainage systems. Porter advised, 'Don't let your guard down. People should be prepared to move to higher ground if they receive a flash flood warning.' Although Invest 93L never developed into a named storm, it has nonetheless caused widespread damage. Meanwhile, forecasters are tracking another potential storm near the Gulf, which was expected to develop starting July 21. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) anticipates up to 19 named storms this season, including 10 hurricanes - of which, as many as five are expected to be categorized as major - that could impact the US.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Could a Spain-Portugal–style power outage happen in the U.S.? Here's what the consequences could be
Could the US Face a Power Outage Like Spain and Portugal? America's Aging Power Grids Live Events The Potential Impact of a Widespread Blackout in the US FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel When a sudden, mass power outage recently struck Spain and Portugal, it took many by surprise and had experts scrambling for explanations, as per a report. Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, attributed that the outage had resulted from a "strong oscillation," but warned that no conclusions about the cause could be determined yet, according to a massive blackout has led many Americans to wonder: could it happen here? AccuWeather meteorologist Dan DePodwin explained the process and said it could happen in the United States, as per USA Today. During an interview with USA Today, DePodwin said that rapid changes in temperature or wind speed or a long period of extreme temperatures can lead to what he called "induced atmospheric vibrations," as per the USA Today said, "The atmosphere does something to induce vibrations in power lines, which can lead to outages," as quoted by USA Today. He said that it can occur "anywhere there are transmission lines," which also includes the United States, reported USA United States gets electricity from three large grids, the Eastern Interconnection, the Western Interconnection, and the Texas grid, as per the Independent. They are linked to local networks, which are often outdated and under more pressure from escalating demand and severe weather, as per the report. Even with attempts to update them, dangers, from space, the climate, and cyberspace, remain on the rise, according to the Stone, director of the Urban Climate Lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology said, 'I think it's an absolute certainty that we will have an extreme heat wave and an extended blackout in the United States,' as quoted by the consequences of such an outage are immense. In America, where much of life hangs on continuous power, from communication networks to public transit to hospitals, a sudden blackout across several states could be disastrous. Traffic systems would come to a standstill, air conditioning equipment might fail in the heat, and hospitals would have to rely on backup can be caused by "induced atmospheric vibrations," which happen during sudden changes in temperature or wind Experts say the atmospheric conditions that triggered the Spain and Portuga blackout could also affect American power lines.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Damaging thunderstorms to accompany flooding risk in central US into next week
Rounds of severe storms packing damaging winds, large hail, tornadoes and the potential for significant flash flooding will impact more than a dozen central U.S. states through Sunday, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. The stormy weather coincides with a busy holiday weekend marked by increased travel and outdoor activities, making it especially important for residents and visitors to monitor changing conditions and stay aware of local weather alerts. "Towns hit hard by flooding and tornadoes in early April will be impacted yet again by flooding rainfall and severe weather through the holiday weekend," AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin said. "We expect travel, business, supply chain and shipping disruptions across the region." Severe risk on Easter Sunday to span from Texas to Illinois Easter weekend began with clusters of showers and thunderstorms lining up along a roughly 1,500-mile-long stretch from just west of Dallas to Syracuse, New York. Thunderstorms along this corridor can pulse to severe limits into Saturday night. The highest concentration of high winds, large hail and a few tornadoes will be across Texas. Storms with small hail and gusty winds can sweep close to or just north of New York City and into southeastern New England late Saturday afternoon and into the evening. This radar image from the mid-morning hours of Saturday, April 19, shows clusters of showers and thunderstorms spanning the corridor from Texas to New York. (AccuWeather) A portion of this zone will again be at risk for widespread vigorous thunderstorm activity to close out the weekend. "For Easter Sunday through Sunday night, the threat of severe weather will reach its peak from Arkansas through the Missouri Valley," AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex Duffus the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+ AccuWeather severe weather experts expect reports of wind damage and large hail to be numerous within this zone and have issued a broad moderate risk as a result, which includes the metro areas of Little Rock and St. Louis. A few tornadoes are also possible, though damaging straight-line wind gusts in excess of 70 mph will be most likely as the storms develop into a fast-moving squall line. Storms may remain gusty on Monday farther east Thunderstorms will lose much of their vigor as they progress eastward into the Ohio and Tennessee valleys during the early morning hours of Monday. By later in the day, storms can occasionally pulse to feisty levels and produce hail and strong wind gusts, along with sudden downpours. Central US to face more rounds of storms next week Additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms will frequent the middle of the nation during the middle and latter portion of next week. Areas that have been inundated with rain in recent weeks may experience a renewed flood risk, while areas of the Plains states that are dealing with drought conditions will benefit from the wet pattern. "The rounds of rain will be very welcome for drought relief across the High Plains," AccuWeather Lead Storm Warning Meteorologist Tristan Irish said. Next week's pattern will remain conducive for severe thunderstorms, particularly across the central and southern Plains. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Massive winter storm rolls across U.S. with blizzard conditions, thunderstorms and threat of tornadoes and wildfires
A powerful storm system that unleashed severe weather for millions of Americans from coast to coast this week is taking aim at the nation's midsection, bringing blizzard conditions to the northern Plains, thunderstorms and the threat of tornadoes to the Midwest and South and an elevated risk of wildfires to the southern Plains. 'Families and businesses in the region need to prepare for what could be the biggest severe weather outbreak so far this year," AccuWeather's Dan DePodwin warned. "Strong tornadoes could strike after dark, which is extremely dangerous, especially during the overnight hours while many people are asleep.' • Friday-Saturday: According to the National Weather Service's latest forecast, the storm system will produce showers and severe thunderstorms over the central and southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley. "Significant tornadoes, widespread damaging winds and large hail are likely," the weather service said. The system will also continue to produce heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada on Friday before heading east. Combined with wind gusts of up to 70 mph, heavy snow developing on the back side of the storm will create blizzard conditions across the northern Plains through Saturday. • Saturday-Sunday: As the front moves eastward, showers and severe thunderstorms will develop over parts of the Ohio, Tennessee and lower Mississippi valleys and other parts of the Southeast. "There is an additional threat of EF2-EF5 tornadoes," the weather service warned, with thunderstorms again accompanied by high winds and large hail. Severe thunderstorms and the threat of tornadoes will persist across the Southeast through most of the weekend, while heavy rainfall and high winds associated with the storm are expected in parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast by Sunday. The weather service issued critical fire weather warnings across much of the southern Plains through the weekend, as high winds combined with low humidity and dry conditions on the back side of the storm will create an elevated risk for wildfires. "This sprawling and dynamic system will also pull warm, dry air from the Desert Southwest into the Southern Plains where tightening pressure gradient will generate strong winds and the potential for fire weather," the NWS said. 'This is a dangerous combination of gusty winds in areas with low humidity levels and dry brush,' Kines said. 'Any fires that spark could spread rapidly and be extremely difficult to contain. Fires could quickly pose an extreme risk to lives, property and livestock in these conditions. People should also be prepared for dust storms, power outages and travel disruptions as these winds blow through the region.' The storm is the latest in a series of systems to bring extreme weather to parts of the United States this winter. On Monday, a possible tornado touched down near Orlando, Fla., destroying several homes and hitting a local TV station in the middle of a live weather forecast. WOFL-TV meteorologist Brooks Garner was on the air when he realized and told everyone in the studio to take cover. "Get to your safe space under your desk. We're catching debris right now on the roof," Garner said. "This is a tornado." There was minimal damage to the building, and there were no reports of injuries. A preliminary survey from the weather service indicated the tornado briefly reached EF-2 strength, with winds estimated at up to 115 mph. "I've been doing this for a very long time,' Garner told viewers after the storm passed. 'That's the first time a tornado has hit me while I'm doing the weather.'
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Massive winter storm rolls across U.S. with heavy rain, snow and threat of tornadoes and wildfires
A powerful storm system is producing severe weather for millions of Americans from coast to coast, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to California, heavy snow to the Rockies, blizzard conditions to the Plains, thunderstorms and the threat of tornadoes to the Midwest and South and an elevated risk of wildfires to the Southwest and southern Plains. 'This is a powerful storm that will have dangerous and disruptive impacts felt across the country,' AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines warned. 'The West Coast will be hammered with rain and mountain snow. Gusty winds and very dry conditions will create a dangerous fire risk across the Southwest. The risk of severe thunderstorms will increase by the end of the week, as this storm advances eastward.' • Thursday: According to the National Weather Service's latest forecast, the storm system will continue to bring heavy snow and powerful wind gusts across parts of the Sierra Nevada and Northern California. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. "Powerful wind gusts of 40 to 70 mph combined with heavy snow will create treacherous to potentially impossible travel," the weather service said. Meanwhile, heavy rain continues to trigger flash flood warnings across portions of Southern California. The Los Angeles Fire Department issued evacuation warnings and orders through Thursday night for residents in some areas scorched by the recent wildfires "due to high mudslide and debris flow risk." And parts of several major roads, including the Pacific Coast Highway, were shut down. • Friday-Saturday: The system will then move on toward the central and Southern U.S., with "widespread damaging winds, strong tornadoes and large hail" possible from the Mississippi Valley to the Gulf Coast, forecasters say. 'Families and businesses in the region need to prepare for what could be the biggest severe weather outbreak so far this year," AccuWeather's Dan DePodwin warned. "Strong tornadoes could strike after dark, which is extremely dangerous, especially during the overnight hours while many people are asleep.' • Saturday-Sunday: The system will continue to track east, with severe thunderstorms and the threat of tornadoes continuing across the Southeast and heavy rainfall and high winds in parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast by Sunday. The weather service issued critical fire weather warnings across much of the southern Plains through the weekend, as high winds combined with low humidity and dry conditions on the back side of the storm will create an elevated risk for wildfires. "This sprawling and dynamic system will also pull warm, dry air from the Desert Southwest into the Southern Plains where tightening pressure gradient will generate strong winds and the potential for fire weather," the NWS said. 'This is a dangerous combination of gusty winds in areas with low humidity levels and dry brush,' Kines said. 'Any fires that spark could spread rapidly and be extremely difficult to contain. Fires could quickly pose an extreme risk to lives, property and livestock in these conditions. People should also be prepared for dust storms, power outages and travel disruptions as these winds blow through the region.' The storm is the latest in a series of systems to bring extreme weather to parts of the United States this winter. On Monday, a possible tornado touched down near Orlando, Fla., destroying several homes and hitting a local TV station in the middle of a live weather forecast. WOFL-TV meteorologist Brooks Garner was on the air when he realized and told everyone in the studio to take cover. "Get to your safe space under your desk. We're catching debris right now on the roof," Garner said. "This is a tornado." There was minimal damage to the building, and there were no reports of injuries. A preliminary survey from the weather service indicated the tornado briefly reached EF-2 strength, with winds estimated at up to 115 mph. "I've been doing this for a very long time,' Garner told viewers after the storm passed. 'That's the first time a tornado has hit me while I'm doing the weather.'
