Latest news with #Farmers'Almanac
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Catch a glimpse of the ‘strawberry moon' and other night sky events this June
Whether you're waking up early to spot Venus in the pre-dawn sky, staying up late to peep the Lagoon Nebula, or spending the whole night on the hunt for meteors, June's night sky has something for every stargazer. Here's what to keep an eye out for when you look up this month. (9 must-see night sky events to look forward to in 2025.) On June 1, Venus will reach its farthest distance west of the sun from the perspective of Earth—a point known as greatest western elongation. This is a particularly good time to get a glimpse at Earth's neighboring planet, as it won't be drowned out by sunlight. In some time zones, the exact timing of this event occurs on May 31, while in others, it's on June 1. But the best time to view Venus is just before dawn, when it rises in the eastern sky in the Northern Hemisphere, or the northeastern sky if you're in the Southern Hemisphere. Missed seeing the "well-placed" globular clusters in May? The Great Hercules Cluster, or Messier 13, reaches its highest point in the night sky on June 2, putting it in a prime viewing position. Discovered in 1714 by English astronomer Edmond Halley, for whom the iconic Halley's Comet is named, the Great Hercules Cluster is a collection of more than 100,000 stars densely packed into a glittering, spheroidic shape. While it can be hard to discern with the naked eye, it's easily visible through binoculars. As its name implies, the prolific daytime Arietid meteor shower doesn't peak at night, but during the day. That, of course, makes most of the meteors nearly impossible to see. But there's still a chance of spotting shooting stars in the predawn hours on June 7, just before the estimated peak during the daylight hours. And if you want to "see" the daytime activity, visit the NASA Meteor Shower Portal and look for colored dots—those indicate meteors associated with the active meteor shower. This month's full moon, known as the "Strawberry Moon," won't take on the red hue of its namesake fruit, but it is lovely nonetheless. The nickname, popularized by the Farmers' Almanac, is derived from Indigenous traditions in North America that link full moons to annual harvesting and hunting events. In June, that's the ripening of wild strawberries. (Learn about the lunar cycle and the origins of each month's full moon name.) Old European nicknames for the June full moon include the Mead or Honey Moon. According to NASA, this might be tied to the honey harvesting that happens during this month—and it could be the inspiration for the modern honeymoon, as ancient traditions called for June weddings. Mars and the bright star Regulus—known for its colorful twinkling—will have a close encounter on June 16, with peak viewing occurring around 90 minutes after sunset. Regulus is a four-star system, as opposed to a single star, but only three of those four individual stars will be visible during this event through the eye of a telescope. Then, around midnight, the Butterfly Cluster will be "well-placed" in the night sky, reaching its highest point above the horizon. To see this butterfly-shaped open cluster of stars, grab a pair of binoculars. Star clusters aren't the only "well-placed" celestial objects this month. The Lagoon Nebula, or Messier 8, is a swirling cloud of interstellar gas where stars are born, located some 5,200 light years away. It reaches its highest point in the night sky around midnight on June 22. From mid-latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, the Lagoon Nebula can sometimes be seen with the naked eye under ideal viewing conditions. Otherwise, binoculars or a telescope is the best way to spot them. On this night, there's a new moon lunar cycle, which means the sky will be plenty dark for stargazing. While brighter celestial objects like planets and stars are typically visible through the moon's light pollution, dimmer ones like distant galaxies and nebulae will be easier to see during the new moon, particularly through a telescope. (These are the best stargazing sites in North America.) If you're a photographer, this is the perfect time to try your hand at astrophotography. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Milky Way's galactic core rises high in the night sky throughout the summer, making it a prime focal point. The Bootids are a notoriously variable meteor shower, producing astonishing displays of hundreds of shooting stars some years, and just a few other years. If you're willing to try your luck, the meteor shower is expected to peak on June 27. And luck is already on your side—the moon will be barely illuminated as a waxing crescent, so it won't impede your view of fainter shooting stars. To close out the month, the waxing crescent moon and Mars will put on a little show. Our celestial neighbors will pass within 1°16' of each other; if you hold your arm out fully toward the moon and stick your pinky finger up, your finger's width is about the distance between the pair, so you'll be able to see them simultaneously through binoculars. Keep an eye out for the "earthshine" phenomenon, where light reflected from Earth makes the unlit part of the crescent moon glow faintly. This most commonly happens just after sunset or right before sunrise.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Big Country Summer Outlook: It's going to be hot & that's not clickbait!
BIG COUNTRY, Texas () – Heading into summer, especially here in the Big Country, we all know what to expect: hot and dry conditions. However, each month, the Climate Prediction Center releases a seasonal outlook that helps explain why we can expect specific weather patterns and how intense they may become. Let's take a closer look. Abilene records hottest day ever with sweltering 113°F, more record breaking heat ahead First, the Farmers' Almanac, a well-known publication that has been around since the 1800s, uses a combination of tools, including climatological patterns, sunspot activity, lunar tides, and other atmospheric data, to make seasonal predictions. According to the Summer 2025 outlook, it's expected to be hot and dry. Sure, we already had a feeling, but according to them, this summer is shaping up to be a real scorcher. That being said, they aren't expecting things to get out of hand right away. June is forecast to be near normal, which still means it'll be plenty warm around here. But once we head into July and August, that's when they're predicting the heat could really ramp up, possibly even to record-breaking levels. Last summer, we recorded one of the hottest summers on record. Nationwide, temperatures were approximately 2.5 degrees above normal, marking the hottest summer on Earth since global records began in 1880. Unfortunately, this year could be just as intense, if not hotter. As for rainfall, the Farmers' Almanac says precipitation across the country will range from near to slightly below average. For Texas, that doesn't take much. We're typically already running a deficit by the time July rolls around. Beat the Big Country heat, signs and symptoms of dehydration Looking at the Climate Prediction Center's latest outlook, they're forecasting above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation for the Big Country from June through August. This forecast is based on several factors, one of which is the current El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) pattern. ENSO is a vital climate phenomenon that influences temperatures and precipitation globally. Right now, we're in what's called an ENSO-neutral phase, meaning there's no strong El Niño or La Niña influence. That leaves the door open for other drivers, such as local soil moisture and sea surface temperatures. One thing the CPC paid close attention to this time was soil moisture. Thanks to recent rains across the Big Country, we've seen some improvement. That added moisture can help limit just how fast temperatures climb early in the season. However, if the dry trend continues, and there's a decent chance it will, it won't take long for hot and dry conditions to return. That raises the risk of worsening drought and triple-digit temperatures, especially later in the summer. How Abilene firefighters battle both fire and 100°+ temperatures Looking even farther out, there's a possibility that La Niña could start to develop by fall. If that happens, we could see the dry pattern shift slightly to the southeast; however, for now, there is still a lot of uncertainty. So, all in all, we're expecting a classic Big Country summer: hot, dry, and potentially even more intense than what we saw last year, especially in July and August when we typically hit peak heat. Make sure to practice heat safety and always be aware of the signs of heat illness. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
More storms expected in Central Texas. How much rain did Austin get over the weekend?
The holiday weekend began with clear, sunny skies on Friday, but severe storms quickly developed across Central Texas, offering a brief break from the region's unseasonably warm temperatures. While the storms posed minimal tornado risk, they brought heavy rain, strong winds, and localized flooding. Austin has already reached triple-digit temperatures — more than a month earlier than its average first 100-degree day since 2000, which typically falls around June 24. Severe weather is expected to continue in Austin this week, even as much of the Lone Star State cools off after a cold front swept through Sunday, dropping highs into the 80s. Here's what to expect. Another round of showers and storms is expected to develop late Tuesday along the Rio Grande and move eastward. Isolated to scattered severe storms are possible, with threats including large hail, damaging winds, and the chance of one or two isolated tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service office in Austin. These scattered storms are likely to continue with minimal impacts through Friday. Clear skies are expected to return by the weekend, with highs climbing back near triple digits by Sunday afternoon. Weekend rain totals: 2.31 inches Monthly rain totals: 3.95 inches 2025 rain totals: 11.48 inches Year-to-date normal totals: 14.23 inches Weekend rain totals: 19.2 inches Monthly rain totals: 5.56 inches 2025 rain totals: 13.45 inches Year-to-date normal totals: 14.42 inches Weekend rain totals: N/A Monthly rain totals: 5.35 inches 2025 rain totals: 12.36 inches Year-to-date normal totals: 14.56 inches Weekend rain totals: N/A Monthly rain totals: 3.35 inches 2025 rain totals: 8.53 inches Year-to-date normal totals: 12.91 inches Weekend rain totals: 2 inches Monthly rain totals: 2.50 inches 2025 rain totals: 8.11 inches Year-to-date normal totals: 12.28 inches Weekend rain totals: 3.05 inches Monthly rain totals: 5.60 inches 2025 rain totals: 10.61 inches Year-to-date normal totals: 12.62 inches Texans can expect a season of sizzling heat, scattered storms and heightened hurricane risk, according to multiple long-range forecasts. The Farmers' Almanac, which predicted a wet and stormy spring followed by rising temperatures, appears to have been accurate so far this year. After a cooler-than-average start to spring across Texas, Oklahoma, and the Great Plains, the region has transitioned into above-average warmth by May — just as forecasted. That warming trend is expected to continue into summer, with the Almanac now calling for hot and dry conditions across much of the state, punctuated by what it describes as a "sizzling, showery" summer. While much of the U.S. is expected to see near-average precipitation, the West will likely remain drier than normal — raising concerns about widespread wildfires. In contrast, the Farmers' Almanac predicts that Texas and other Southern Plains states, along with the Gulf Coast and Florida, are expected to experience wetter-than-usual conditions due to frequent showers and thunderstorms. Looking ahead to holiday weekends, here's what the Farmers' Almanac predicts: Fourth of July: Expect big thunderstorms in Texas and severe weather across the broader region, with a possibility of tornadoes in Oklahoma. Labor Day: Forecasts call for clearing skies, providing a brief reprieve from an otherwise active summer. As for hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued an especially active outlook, predicting 13 to 19 named storms in the Atlantic basin — well above the seasonal average of 14. Of those, six to 10 could become hurricanes, with three to five expected to reach major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher). Texas is likely to be in the path of some of this activity. According to researchers at Colorado State University, the Lone Star State faces a 70% chance of experiencing a tropical storm, a 44% chance of a hurricane, and a 19% chance of a major hurricane making landfall within 50 miles. AccuWeather has echoed these predictions, pointing to 'analog years' as a basis for an elevated risk of direct impacts in Texas. For context, 2017 saw Hurricane Harvey cause catastrophic flooding in Texas in August, and Hurricane Irma devastate parts of the Caribbean and Florida in September. Earlier this week, AccuWeather also emphasized a heightened risk of tropical impacts reaching well inland again this year. 'We witnessed tragic examples of just how far inland the impacts from hurricanes and tropical storms can reach. Hurricane Beryl spun up more than 60 tornadoes along its nearly 1,200-mile-long path from the Texas coast to This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Severe weather to continue in Central Texas: See Austin rain totals
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
NH braces for heavy rain, winds as Nor'easter approaches. Here's the latest forecast
A Nor'easter has arrived in New Hampshire, and the stormy weather is here to stay for a few days. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) of Gray, Maine, Thursday and Friday will see heavy rain, high wind gusts and even possible snow throughout the state, with the worst storm conditions expected in the White Mountains and along the Seacoast. Currently, parts of New Hampshire are under a gale warning, a wind advisory and a hazardous weather outlook. Here's the latest forecast for the Nor'easter in New Hampshire, including the storm's timing and possible effects. According to the NWS, widespread, soaking rain will cover the state throughout Thursday and Friday, with over one inch of rain accumulation likely in most areas. Up in the White Mountains, the nor'easter will bring snow rather than rain, with wind chills in the single digits likely and several inches of accumulation possible at the highest elevation points. In terms of wind, the entire state is looking at gusts around 25-30 mph. A wind advisory has been issued for the Seacoast, where gusts of up to 45 mph are expected to blow around unsecured objects and tree limbs, which may cause some power outages. While the NWS has not issued a flood advisory for New Hampshire, forecasters warn that the Seacoast may see a storm surge around high tide on Thursday night, with splash over possible. While Thursday, May 22 and Friday, May 23 will be the worst days of the storm, the NWS forecasts that the nor'easter will not exit the region quickly, causing lingering rain showers throughout the day on Saturday, May 24. Warmer, dryer weather will start to return on Sunday, May 25. NH weather: When will it get hot in New Hampshire? See Farmers' Almanac summer forecast The NWS defines a nor'easter as a large, low pressure storm that brings heavy rain or snow, high winds, rough seas and occasional coastal flooding to the East coast of North America. The storms are called "nor'easters" because their signature strong winds are typically from the northeast. While nor'easters can happen at any time, they are most common and most violent between September and May. During the winter, nor'easters can produce harsh blizzard conditions, especially in New England. As of 9:30 a.m., some power outages are being reported in New Hampshire. See map for up-to-date information. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH weather: Power outages, flooding possible on Seacoast. See forecast
NDTV
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
May 2025's Rare Palindrome Dates Spark Viral Buzz Online
In an intriguing coincidence, May 2025 features an extraordinary sequence of palindrome dates-days that read the same forwards and backwards-creating a rare calendar phenomenon. According to the Farmers' Almanac, there are 11 palindrome dates this month, with an impressive streak of 10 consecutive days from May 20 to May 29, all of which can be written in formats that read identically backwards and forwards. The first palindrome date of May was May 2 (5/2/25), marking the beginning of this unusual pattern. However, the most notable stretch occurs later in the month, starting on Tuesday, May 20, and continuing daily through May 29. These dates are written as 5/20/25, 5/21/25, 5/22/25, and so forth, up to 5/29/25. Each date maintains the palindrome property, whether written in numerical form or expanded formats, captivating both calendar enthusiasts and superstitions alike. Calendar palindromes are considered rare and are often associated with good luck, adding an extra layer of excitement to this phenomenon. Such occurrences are infrequent but happen periodically; the next similar streak is expected in June 2026, with subsequent occurrences in July 2027, August 2028, and September 2029. This unusual alignment has gained attention on social media, with many sharing memes and predictions about the luck these dates might bring. Ten Straight Palindrome Dates When written in MM/DD/YY format, each of these dates reads the same backward. — NutSo-Crazy (@CrazyLadyTrader) May 21, 2025 For the next 9 days, each date will be the same forwards and backwards, a rare pattern known as 'palindrome dates.' — FearBuck (@FearedBuck) May 22, 2025 Ten Straight Palindrome Dates When written in MM/DD/YY format, each of these dates reads the same backward. — NutSo-Crazy (@CrazyLadyTrader) May 21, 2025 As these special days approach, many are curious whether the coincidence will indeed bring good fortune, making May 2025 a memorable month for calendar aficionados and superstition believers alike.
