Latest news with #Gretna
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Gretna community ‘devastated,' by loss of beloved restaurant to fire
GRETNA, Va. (WFXR) — The Town of Gretna is still gathering its thoughts after a Tuesday morning fire left Jack's Quick Snack heavily damaged. 'It's a shock to the system but it's devastating to my life,' said owner Shirley Shelton, who opened the restaurant in 1972 with her husband, Jack, whom the restaurant is named for. She was inside the building when the fire started and said an employee alerted her to the flames. 'As she walked through the door she yelled, 'Shirley, it's a fire,' and I jumped up and ran,' she recalled. Shelton said she thought the fire started on the grill, but the Pittsylvania County Director of Public Safety told WFXR Wednesday that a cause for the fire has not yet been determined. Nearly a dozen fire crews from the surrounding areas were on scene to battle the fire, which Gretna Fire and Rescue deputy fire chief Ryan Crews said was already pretty advanced when they arrived on scene. 'When we arrived on scene, there was heavy smoke showing from the roof line all the way across,' he said, before calling the structure, 'pretty much a total loss.' Crews did confirm that everyone inside made it out safely and no injuries were reported. Fire destroys Jack's Quick Snack in Pittsylvania County But the damage to the building and the blow to the Gretna community was extensive. 'It just felt like our whole town died yesterday afternoon,' said Kathryn Jefferson Cook, who has lived in the area her whole life. Cook said she was at work when the fire happened, and was shocked as she saw photos trickle in through Facebook. 'My heart just sank and by the end of the day I was close to being sick on my stomach,' she said. Cook was just two years old when the restaurant opened, and recalled stopping by to drink milkshakes and catch up with friends after Friday night football games as a kid. As an adult, she would frequent the spot during lunch breaks and would often take her kids by after practices. 'It's so sad to look at it and think back to everything that had collected and gone on there and now it's just gone,' she said. Shelton told WFXR that she had listed the restaurant for sale last week, in hopes a new buyer would continue its legacy for years to come. The community said it hopes that happens, but the future is much less certain now. The Pittsylvania County Fire Marshal is continuing to investigate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
NOAA to release hurricane forecast for 2025 Atlantic season
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is set to release its outlook for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season on Thursday morning. FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell is at the event in Gretna, Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans, with a preview.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Dumfries screening for film about Scotland fan who cycled 800 miles to Euro 2024
Make It To Munich tells the story of promising footballer Ethan Walker who made the epic journey just months after suffering life-threatening injuries. A film about a Scotland fan who cycled 800 miles to Euro 2024 in Germany is to get a special screening in Dumfries. Make It To Munich tells the story of promising footballer Ethan Walker who suffered life-threatening injuries – including multiple fractures and two brain haemorrhages – after a road traffic accident while on a football scholarship in America. With the help of pioneering surgeon professor Gordon Mackay, he decided to cycle from Hampden for Scotland's opening match against Germany in Euro 2204, which was just after his accident. And Scotland captain Andy Robertson gave him the match pennant to carry on his back and deliver in time for the big game. He was joined on the 800-mile journey by Gordon, Scotland fan Stephen Collie and the film's director Martyn Robertson. Make It To Munich will be shown at the Robert Burns Centre in Dumfries on Thursday at 7.30pm. As well as watching the documentary, people will also be able to hear from Gordon, Martyn Robertson and former Gretna player Kenny Deuchar, who is a qualified doctor. Martyn said: 'Make it to Munich is a film that will attract cinema goers, Scottish football fans and cyclists in equal measure – it's a celebration of all things Scottish and follows the journey of an inspirational young person. "I'm delighted to be travelling with the film and our special guests to meet audiences around Scotland. "Come along and watch the film and take part in a unique conversation between the cast, myself and a local sporting legend.'
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
NOAA's 2025 Atlantic hurricane season forecast predicts above-normal number of storms
Ten days before start of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced their forecast for how many tropical storms and hurricanes to expect this year. The current outlook predicts a 60% chance of an "above-normal" hurricane season, with between 13 to 19 named storms. Six to 10 of those are expected to strengthen into hurricanes, and three to five could become major hurricanes, forecasters said. They estimated there's a 30% chance of a "near-normal" season and a 10% chance of a "below-normal" season. NOAA, the federal agency in charge of weather and climate predictions, releases its seasonal hurricane outlook each spring. It incorporates research from the Climate Prediction Center, the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service, all branches of the agency. Acting NOAA administrator Laura Grimm and National Weather Service director Ken Graham presented the findings during a news conference Thursday morning at the Jefferson Parish Emergency Operations Center in Gretna, Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans. They chose that location to commemorate the victims and destruction of Hurricane Katrina, 20 years after that storm devastated the area. In their remarks, Grimm and Graham each emphasized the technological developments that have allowed NOAA and the weather service to produce forecasts that are more accurate with each passing year. "The United States is fortunate to have the worlds best scientists, meteorologists and computer modeling experts," said Grimm. "These experts are constantly learning from current and past events." The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 until November 30, with peak activity typically occurring between mid-August and mid-October. An average season produces 14 named storms, including seven that develop into hurricanes. Three of those, on average, become major hurricanes, meaning a Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained wind speeds of at least 111 miles per hour. Category 5, the top of the scale, brings wind speeds of at least 157 mph. CBS News Every Atlantic hurricane season since 2015 has produced more storms than the "average" — a standard based on annual hurricane activity recorded over the period from 1990 to 2020 — although four seasons since then have produced two or three major hurricanes, either below or on par with the 30-year norm. According to forecasters, there are a "confluence of factors" influencing the number of storms that materialize over the course of the season. A significant one in 2025 is the neutral phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO, cycle, which often plays a substantial role in the intensity of tropical activity in the Atlantic. Warmer than average ocean temperatures and weak wind shear in the forecast may also lead to a more active season, the outlook said, as could the potential for higher storm activity from the West African Monsoon, the weather system from which most Atlantic hurricanes originate. Some seasons are more active than others, and hurricanes at times can occur outside of the designated six-month window. Science has shown in recent years that climate change is contributing to the intensity of these storms, which are fueled by warmer waters. Researchers are continuing to explore connections between rising temperatures and more destructive tropical weather. Because each year is different, NOAA's hurricane forecast provides a framework for communities in storm-prone areas to prepare for the season ahead. The agency may also release an updated hurricane forecast later in the season should their assessment change. NOAA's forecasting model, the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System or HAFS, is expected to undergo an upgrade that officials believe could increase the accuracy of storm tracking by about 5%. "In my 30 years at the National Weather Service, we've never had more advanced models and warning systems in place to monitor the weather," said Graham in a statement. "This outlook is a call to action: be prepared. Take proactive steps now to make a plan and gather supplies to ensure you're ready before a storm threatens." Last year, NOAA predicted an above-average number of storms, with between 8 and 13 hurricanes. The 2024 season ended up producing 11 hurricanes, five of which strengthened into major hurricanes. Five hurricanes made landfall in the continental U.S., including two — Helene and Milton — that hit as major hurricanes. Grimm said last year's forecast "was right on the money," within NOAA's predicted range. Threat of an above-average hurricane season When researchers from Colorado State University's Tropical Cyclones, Radar, Atmospheric Modeling and Software team published their annual forecast earlier this spring, they also predicted an above-average hurricane season for 2025, likely producing stronger and more frequent storms than a typical year but fewer than last season. Their predictions have tended to more or less align with those released by NOAA. Levi Silvers, who leads the research team at Colorado State, told CBS News in April that their predictions are "fundamentally dependent on the observations that NOAA collects all around the globe," especially in the oceans, so they generally reach similar conclusions. Silvers and his team predicted there would be 17 named storms this season — tropical storms with sustained wind speeds of at least 39 mph. According to their forecast, nine of the storms will grow into hurricanes, with three developing into major hurricanes. That would place hurricane activity at roughly 125% of the seasonal average recorded between 1991 and 2020, according to their report. "It's a noticeable and important difference, because it matters for people along the coastlines whenever we have an above average season," Silvers said at the time. The Colorado State report largely attributed the higher activity expected this year to warm sea surface temperatures, which can essentially act as fuel for storms. But the findings also pointed to "considerable uncertainty" as to which phase of the ENSO cycle would coincide with the coming hurricane season. El Niño, the warmer half of the cycle, is often linked to conditions in a section of the equatorial Pacific that disfavor hurricanes, while La Niña, the colder inverse, is considered more conducive to hurricane formation. La Niña conditions ended shortly after CSU released its hurricane forecast and returned to "neutral," a state that researchers said could be favorable for hurricanes to develop in the absence of El Niño.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Get ready for another busy Atlantic hurricane season, but maybe not as crazy as 2024
With warmer than normal ocean waters, forecasters are expecting yet another unusually busy hurricane season for the Atlantic. But they don't think it will be as chaotic as 2024, the third-costliest season on record as it spawned killer storms Beryl, Helene and Milton. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday unveiled its outlook for the Atlantic hurricane season that begins June 1 and stretches through the end of November, with a 60% chance it will above normal, 30% chance near normal and just 10% chance it will be quieter than average. The forecast calls for 13 to 19 named storms with six to 10 becoming hurricanes and three to five reaching major status with winds of more than 110 mph (177 kph). A normal season has 14 named storms, seven of which strengthen to hurricanes and three power up further to major hurricanes. Ocean warmth is not quite as high as last year's off-the-charts heat. But it's sufficient to be the top reason for the busy forecast, National Weather Service Director Ken Graham said. 'Everything is in place for an above average season," he said. Despite massive job cuts at NOAA from the Department of Government Efficiency, 'our ability to serve this country has never been better and it will be this year as well,' Graham said at a news conference Thursday in Gretna, Louisiana, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. 'The hurricane center is fully staffed up and we're ready to go,' acting NOAA administrator Laura Grimm said. 'We are making this a top priority for this administration.' Since 1995, 21 of the 30 Atlantic hurricane seasons have been officially classified as above normal, with nearly half of those considered 'hyperactive,' according to NOAA. It classifies seasons based on their Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index, which takes into account the number and strength of storms and how long they last. In the last 10 years, only 2015 was below normal and 2022 was near normal. Last year started with a record early Category 5 hurricane in Beryl but then had a lull during the early part of peak storm season from mid-August to mid-October. But then six storms, including Helene and Milton, formed in just two weeks. With 18 named storms, 11 of those becoming hurricanes and five major hurricanes, 2024 was considered a hyperactive season in the Atlantic. And it was the third such in the last 10 years. 'With a warming climate, forecasting above the long-term mean is always a safe bet,' said Kristen Corbosiero, a University at Albany tropical meteorology professor who was not part of the NOAA research. Human-caused climate change has generally made storms more intense, wetter and slower-moving so they drop more rain, Corbosiero and other experts said. 'The main fuel source for hurricanes is warm ocean waters," Corbosiero said. 'Warmer ocean water, warmer atmosphere above it can hold more moisture, more fuel for storms.' Corbosiero said there are three main factors: Water temperature, the El Nino/La Nina cycle of natural ocean warming and cooling, and 'seeds' of storms coming off Africa as thunderstorms. The warmer-than-normal water pushes toward a busy season, the El Nino cycle is neutral and it's too early to know what's coming off Africa, she and other hurricane experts said. With climate change, hurricanes are powering up from almost nothing to intense storms more quickly, giving people less notice for whopper storms, meteorologists said. Every Category 5 hurricane that hit the United States was a tropical storm or weaker just three days earlier, Graham said. Several other groups besides NOAA — private, public and academic — have already made forecasts for the upcoming season and they average out to a busy, but not hyperactive year with 16 named storms, eight of which become hurricanes and four major hurricanes. Phil Klotzbach, who coordinates Colorado State's pioneering forecast program, is calling for a bit more than other forecasters — 17 named storms, nine hurricanes and four majors — heavily based on the warm waters and past trends. Still, it should not quite be like last year, he said. 'At least we're not looking at a crazy hot Atlantic like we did last year at this time,' Klotzbach said. 'We're still pretty toasty out there. So I don't have the warm fuzzies about 2025.' Even if it's a quiet year, Corbosiero said just one storm can change everything, recalling an ultra quiet 1992, when that one storm was the devastating Hurricane Andrew. 'We don't need a hyperactive season to have devastation in the U.S. or the Caribbean or anywhere,' Corbosiero said. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
