Latest news with #Husted
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
How many tornadoes has Tennessee had so far? Why 2025 is already considered an 'above normal' year
It's been a busy year for tornadoes in Tennessee. Thus far in 2025 the Volunteer State has exceeded its 30-year average, although the majority have been of the weak, short-lived and small path length variety, said National Weather Service Meteorologist Ryan Husted in an email to the Tennessean. There have been eight tornadoes this year considered "strong" — rated EF-2 or higher. This includes two EF-3 tornadoes with winds between 136-165 mph and six EF-2 tornadoes with winds between 111-135 mph. Although the spring tornado season has come to a close, that doesn't mean the state won't observe more tornadoes in the fall or even in the summer. Here's what to know about the active tornado season and what else Tennesseans can expect. Tennessee has observed 46 total tornadoes so far in 2025, with the most recent impacting East Tennessee on May 31, said Husted. The EF-0 tornado touched down in Union County and caused five injuries. To date, the worst tornadoes to impact Tennessee in 2025 have been the two tornadoes that hit Grand Junction and Selmer in southwest Tennessee, both of which were rated EF-3 with maximum winds of 160 mph. "This would be classified as an 'above normal' year already," said Husted. Over the last 30 years Tennessee has averaged 31 tornadoes. According to historical data from the weather service, dated from 1995 to 2024, Middle Tennessee typically experiences the most tornadoes of the three regions, averaging 10 annually, while West and East Tennessee average six and three tornadoes per year, respectively. Tennessee sees most of its tornadoes from March to May, according to the weather service. As the seasons transition from the cold air of winter to the warm air of spring and summer, the mixture between the contrasting air masses can lead to the formation of tornadoes, potentially causing significant damage. Tennessee also experiences a secondary tornado season in the fall, which occurs due to the main polar jet stream shifting southward as fall transitions into winter. According to the weather service, this season begins in October, peaks in November and ends in December. Despite several major tornado events during the secondary season — including the deadly Dec. 9, 2023 tornadoes and the November 2018 tornado outbreak — the fall season is significantly less active than the spring season. Overall, the state usually sees one severe weather event each fall, added Husted, although in recent years it has happened more frequently in December. "We also can't rule out tornadoes during the summer in Tennessee, though they are much less frequent than the Fall/early Winter, and of course the Spring," he said. April 27, 2011 (30 tornadoes) April 3, 1974 (24 tornadoes) Jan. 30, 2013 (24 tornadoes) May 6-7, 1984 (18 tornadoes) Dec. 10-11, 2021 (16 tornadoes) May 18, 1995 (15 tornadoes) May 4, 2021 (14 tornadoes) Feb. 5-6, 2008 (14 tornadoes) May 4-5, 2003 (14 tornadoes) Nov. 15, 2005 (13 tornadoes) April 29, 1909 (62 deaths) Nov. 20, 1990 (41 deaths) April 3, 1974 (38 deaths) May 9-10, 1933 (37 deaths) March 18, 1925 (34 deaths) March 2-3, 2020 (25 deaths) Feb. 5-6, 2008 (22 deaths) March 14, 1933 (15 deaths) March 21, 1932 (12 deaths) April 5, 1936 (11 deaths) Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for the Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@ or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How many tornadoes has Tennessee had in 2025?
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Will Middle Tennessee experience a ‘heat wave' this week?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — For the first time since last fall, Middle Tennessee will see three consecutive days in the 90s. Does this count as a heat wave, or is this normal for this time of year? According to the National Weather Service office in New York City, a heat wave is defined as three consecutive days of 90° or higher. The News 2 Weather Authority team is forecasting temperatures of 90° or higher from Tuesday, June 3, through Thursday, June 5. This would meet the National Weather Service New York City's office definition for a heat wave. New York is not Tennessee, so is the definition of a heat wave different here in the Volunteer State? According to Nashville National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Husted, a heat wave is a prolonged period of abnormally hot weather. This means the criteria for a heat wave in New York City would not work here in Middle Tennessee. This is because temperatures in the 90s are not abnormal. FORECAST: Middle Tennessee & Southern Kentucky Weather The average high temperatures in Nashville are 90° or higher from June 25 through August 26. This is more than two months where 90° is normal. Husted said in Middle Tennessee, abnormally hot conditions are when the heat index gets above 105°. 'For us, 90s in June is not abnormally hot. Now, if we have those temperatures approaching 100°, and if we have that humidity, those dew points of 75° or 80° with a temperature of 95°, making it uncomfortable, that's what we would constitute a heat wave,' Husted told News 2. The heat index, or feels-like temperature, is how hot it feels to a human. It takes into account the moisture in the air along with the temperature. This is because it feels much hotter when there is more moisture in the air. Below is a heat index chart that has the temperature on the y-axis and dew point on the x-axis. The National Weather Service office in Nashville will issue heat advisories when the heat index is higher than 105° and extreme heat warnings when it gets above 110°. The criteria for heat alerts across the United States are based on feels-like temperatures that are abnormally or dangerously hot. This means a heat wave in Middle Tennessee would be at least three days when the heat index is 105° or warmer. ⏩ Husted said this warm-up is not abnormal enough to be a heat wave, but it could be a shock to your system since it's been so cool lately. 'By the technical definition, we currently don't meet the criteria for this upcoming event, but that's not to diminish the potential impacts. It's our first heat event of the year, we're not used to it at this point,' Said Husted. Don't forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio Senator part of effort to make May National Foster Care Month
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WKBN) – The Senate passed a resolution to make May National Foster Care Month. Ohio Senator Jon Husted co-sponsored the resolution, which passed the Senate on Thursday. The legislation brings awareness to the challenges facing children in foster care, and encourages Congress to implement policies to improve their lives and support foster parents. Husted was adopted out of the foster care system. 'Loving foster families offer the stability and guidance when kids may need it most,' he said. 'I've seen how transformational a child's first years of life can be and strengthening the foster care system gives kids a better chance to achieve their version of the American dream. I'm honored to shine a light on foster families and the kids they love.' The number of Ohio kids in foster care has continued to increase during the opioid epidemic, outpacing the number of foster families in the state. It has estimated that half of children in foster care have one or both parents struggling with substance abuse, according to a recent study. The study shows that Ohio's foster care system serves more than 16,000 children, yet there are only 7,000 licensed foster families. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
07-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Freshman wishlist: Husted wants Congress to embrace AI
Freshman Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) wants to beat China at innovation, make U.S. students more competitive, balance the federal budget and save everybody time in the Capitol building — and he sees AI as the key. Why it matters: The Senate, with its median age of 65, is usually slow to grasp and adapt to new technologies. Husted hopes to buck the trend. Husted sees innovation as a driving force of economic prosperity, creating jobs, helping Congress to balance the budget and strengthening military might. "So what is it that's happening right now that can differentiate us? It's AI," he told Axios in an exclusive interview, "because AI is the most powerful assistive technology in my lifetime — probably in the history of the world." The intrigue: Husted is an avid user of artificial intelligence tools at work and home. He uses three AI apps that compare with each other. "I learned everything about you before you came in here today," he told Axios, laughing. He once used an AI chatbot while presiding over the Senate floor to help settle a debate about the parliamentarian and what actions were possible. Zoom in: Husted wants to be a leader on the issue in the Senate. He introduced bipartisan legislation with Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) that would ban the Chinese AI tool DeepSeek from government phones. He has also introduced legislation that calls for leveraging AI to streamline the code of federal regulations. Husted stressed the ways AI can help educators and students, something he worked on as lieutenant governor in Ohio. He applauded President Trump's recent executive order calling for schools to teach AI. "We just need to make sure that America is winning," Husted said, "and the policies and the laws of this land will determine whether we can go fast enough to keep up." Zoom out: Unlike his freshman colleagues, Husted will be on the campaign trail in 2026. He's not too worried, saying, "I'm a new senator, but I am not new to the voters of Ohio." Asked about the impact of Trump's tariffs on Ohio voters, he said he has faced a lot of questions and stressed the importance of trade deals getting reached quickly — especially with allies. "But I think people in Ohio are giving the president the benefit of the doubt on tariffs, because they have been the victim of China's cheating and taking their jobs," he said. The bottom line: Husted openly considered running for governor instead before ultimately deciding to take the Senate job.
Newsweek
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Democrats' Chances of Beating GOP's Jon Husted in Ohio, According to Polls
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Republican Senator Jon Husted of Ohio has an early lead over two potential Democratic challengers in the latest poll of the Buckeye State's 2026 Senate race. "I will work hard and win," he told Newsweek. However, a professor of political science at Bowling Green State University, which conducted the poll, said Democrats could yet retake the seat if the economy worsens, by regaining their standing as the party of the middle and working class. Newsweek also reached out to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) for comment via email. Why It Matters Democrats face a potentially challenging Senate map next year, as they will need to flip at least two states President Donald Trump won by double digits to secure a majority. This means Democrats will need to win states like Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Ohio or Texas, where they have not won major statewide races for years, if not decades. Ohio, which was a swing state for much of the 2000s, is viewed as perhaps Democrats' best chance beyond Maine and North Carolina, the two most competitive races. Husted, the former lieutenant governor, was appointed to the position by Governor Mike DeWine to replace Vice President JD Vance's term. Democrats are hoping a strong national environment will give them a chance at flipping the Senate seat, but Republicans are hoping its conservative lean will keep it off the board. What to Know A new poll conducted by Bowling Green State University asked voters who they would vote for in hypothetical matchups between Husted and two prominent Democrats floated as potential candidates. The poll surveyed 978 registered voters from April 18 to April 24, 2025. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.08 percentage points. Senator Jon Husted, an Ohio Republican, questions Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy during a hearing on April 2, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Senator Jon Husted, an Ohio Republican, questions Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy during a hearing on April 2, 2025, in Washington, a hypothetical race against former Senator Sherrod Brown, Husted held a slight lead of three points (49 percent to 46 percent), with 5 percent saying they would vote for someone else. He held a slightly larger lead against former Representative Tim Ryan, who lost to Vance in the 2022 Senate race, holding a 6-point lead (50 percent to 44 percent), while 6 percent said they preferred other candidates. The Ohio Senate race is an "uphill battle" for Democrats but could become competitive under the right conditions, Robert Alexander, Ph.D., professor of political science and founding director of the Democracy and Public Policy Network at Bowling Green State University, told Newsweek. "Midterm races notoriously fare poorly for the president's party and Democrats had a historic wave during Trump's first midterm in 2018 capturing 40 seats. If voter perceive the economy is in worse shape in 2 years, Democrats would certainly have a chance to retake the seat," he said. Republicans have done well in the state by focusing on culture war issues and painting Democrats as out of touch, Alexander said. Democrats will need to "turn that on their head" to improve their standing in the state. Husted expressed confidence about his chances of victory in a statement to Newsweek. "I have run statewide four times and have won by double digits in three of the four races. It doesn't matter if I am ahead or behind in the polls, I will work hard and win," he said. Alexander pointed to Trump's tariff policy as a potential sticking point for voters in Ohio, many of whom believe they will not benefit from the economic policy. "If I were a Democrat in Ohio, I would beat that drum consistently—that our side is for the middle and working class and their side is for the wealthy and corporate class," he said. A February BGSU poll found Husted leading Brown by 6 points and Ryan by 7 points. Trump won Ohio by about 11 points in 2024, and 8 points in both 2016 and 2020. Brown lost last year's Senate race to Republican Bernie Moreno by about 3.6 percentage points. Vance defeated Ryan by about 6 points in 2022. What People Are Saying David Niven, professor at the University of Cincinnati's School of Public and International Affairs, told Newsweek: "Democrats running statewide in Ohio are 1-27 since 2014. The outlook is never all that rosy for Democrats in Ohio these days. "That one win was Sherrod Brown (in 2018). Brown lost his seat in 2024, in the most expensive senate race in U.S. history. There is certainly an expectation that if Brown runs again in 2026, he will be a potent candidate. If Brown runs for governor—or doesn't run at all—Democrats have no candidate of any profile to take on the senate race. "Appointed senators have a rather shaky record in holding onto the seats they didn't win in the first place—so Republicans do have to deal with that liability as well as any Trump economic discontent that may take hold." Brown told CNN in November: "I'm not dismissing anything at this point." What Happens Next No prominent Democrats have jumped into the Senate race at this point, and Brown and Ryan haven't said what their plans are for 2026. Ohio voters will head to the polls next November to determine whether or not to reelect Husted. The Cook Political Report currently classifies the race as Likely Republican, meaning it is "not considered competitive at this point" but has "the potential to become engaged." Democrats' top targets are Maine, which former Vice President Kamala Harris won by about 7 points, and North Carolina, which Trump won by about 3 points.
