Latest news with #LakeOntario
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Eyewitness Weather Forecast for Memorial Day: Looking Pleasant Returning Back to Work Tuesday!
Here's your latest Eyewitness Weather Forecast for Memorial Day, from Meteorologist Jordan Reed… Tonight, we'll cool down into the 40s! Some patchy fog might develop overnight, especially in valleys and near Lake Ontario. We're in for some great weather through Tuesday, with sunny skies and warm temperatures thanks to a strong area of high pressure. Expect highs in the low to mid-70s during the day. Things begin to shift late Tuesday night as a storm system moves in from the Midwest. Rain will return by Wednesday, and while Thursday might bring a short break from the wet weather, particularly in the western areas, more showers and even a few thunderstorms are expected later Thursday into Friday as a couple of cold fronts pass through. By the end of the week and into the weekend, it'll feel cooler than usual, though not as cold as it was last week. There's still a bit of uncertainty in how the weather systems will play out, but it looks like we'll be dealing with occasional showers through the weekend, especially away from the lakes. Some warmer weather could start to return by next Monday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
23-05-2025
- Science
- New York Times
Historic Shipwrecks Come to Light in the Great Lakes
Last week, the Lake Guardian left the port of Oswego, N.Y., preparing to sail into the nation's past. The research vessel, which belongs to the Environmental Protection Agency, is exploring the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary, a 1,722-square-mile expanse that stretches from the shoreline of New York State to the (watery) border with Canada. There, 63 ships rest beneath hundreds of feet of cold, clear water. Many had sailed in the service of nation-building some time during the 19th century, only to succumb to bad weather, rough seas, the vagaries of fate. Now, the maritime archaeologists aboard the Lake Guardian — experts with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, students from the University of Rhode Island — aim to create detailed three-dimensional computer models of the wrecks, starting with about a dozen ships. They will do so with the help of Rhody, a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, outfitted with a high-definition camera that has provided astonishing images on which those models will be based. (On Friday morning, the team began a YouTube livestream, accessible in the link below, of a vessel marked on a previous survey. In an early morning email, the researchers said they were 'blown away and stunned by what we have found.') 'There's lifetimes worth of research potential here,' Benjamin Ioset, a NOAA maritime archaeologist, said as the expedition commenced. A native of central New York, he began diving in these waters when he was 14. 'I've always been in love with this region,' Dr. Ioset said. Now, he is a conduit to that region's prosperous, industrial past. When the Lake Guardian returned briefly to port on Thursday in order to host a visit from Oswego High School students, he was inspired by the teenagers' curiosity, their amazement at the secrets buried in the familiar lake. Shipwrecks, after all, belong in the Mediterranean or the Arctic … don't they? In fact, the Great Lakes make for a world-class shipwreck museum, albeit one that can be reached only by competent SCUBA divers or ROVs like Rhody, depending on the wreck's depth. 'These are very clear waters — you have great visibility of some of the most intact and preserved shipwrecks in the entire world, and some of the oldest,' said Michael R. Pittavino, curator of the H. Lee White Maritime Museum in Oswego. 'The deep, cool water of the Great Lakes really slows down the degradation of these vessels.' In fact, just three days into the trip, the Lake Guardian's sonar system discovered a new shipwreck, the marine sanctuary's 64th: probably a commercial vessel from the early 19th century, though Dr. Ioset said it would take 'a little bit of detective work' to nail down the craft's identity. For the most part, the goal of the trip is not to find new ships but to use Rhody's powerful cameras to capture clear images of ones already known: the Farmer's Daughter, possibly the oldest ship in the sanctuary; the steam-powered tugboat Philip Becker; the Roberval, a steamer whose steel hull proved no match for an enormous wave that sank it in 1916. Distance and weather, among other factors, provide challenges of their own. The expedition's second day was devoted to fixing a technical issue. Then, it took longer than expected to get into position to investigate the Philip Becker, which sank on Nov. 17, 1879. Along with several other ships, it had made its way down the St. Lawrence River, only to be caught in a blizzard on the way to Oswego. Rhody's dives last four to six hours and produce images of exceptional clarity and detail. It doesn't hurt that the ships are well preserved, save for the quagga mussels that seem to cling to every surface. The pilot house and ship's wheel on the Philip Becker's deck were clearly visible. Lit by Rhody's cameras, the ship emerged from the darkness with haunting immediacy. The compact contours of Rhody, designed by the Norwegian firm JM Robotics, allow for unique vantage points. It managed to peer inside the hold of the Farmer's Daughter, where Dr. Ioset said he could make out ceramics, farm tools and barrels that appeared 'intact.' 'It feels like the team onboard is hitting our stride,' Jason Fahy, an ocean engineer at the University of Rhode Island and the expedition lead, wrote in an update on the expedition's fifth day, shortly after the survey of the Farmer's Daughter. 'From the vessel crew to our most junior undergraduate, everyone has been caught in a state of wonder watching the ROV feed.' The project is the culmination of an effort by local officials to gain recognition for their stretch of the Great Lakes. A year ago, the Biden administration designated a large stretch of eastern Lake Ontario a national marine sanctuary, which confers certain protections — and a measure of clout. Local and state officials hope that the mostly commercial ships now submerged in hundreds of feet of freshwater spur interest from history buffs and recreational divers. They point to Thunder Bay, a marine sanctuary in northern Michigan whose shipwrecks attract thousands of diving enthusiasts each year to the tiny town of Alpena. Lake Champlain, which straddles New York and Vermont, has also become a diving destination. (Unsurprisingly, shipwreck exploration makes for compelling YouTube videos). 'The sanctuary holds enormous potential to elevate Oswego as a premier destination for history enthusiasts, divers and visitors eager to explore the rich heritage of the Great Lakes region,' Oswego's mayor, Robert A. Corradino, wrote in an email. Oswego was once the nation's main hub for lumber. 'Shipping on the Great Lakes was a huge thing,' said Lisa M. Glidden, director of the Great Lakes Institute at SUNY Oswego. That was especially the case as the population of American cities on the East Coast exploded in the 19th century and demand for raw materials like lumber surged. 'But coming across that lake can be really dangerous,' Dr. Glidden said. 'Even today, people mostly stay close to the shore.' Waves on the lake are shorter than those on the ocean but more frequent, Mr. Pittavino, the Oswego curator, explained. 'You have a much more condensed wave pattern that has much more of an ability to destroy a vessel,' he said. Nor could a ship 'outrun a storm on Lake Ontario like you could on an ocean,' he added. 'There's really nowhere to go.' Technological advances and renewed public interest have led to what some have called a 'golden age' of sea-wreck exploration. At the same time, the warmer waters and more turbulent storms caused by climate change could cause sunken ships to deteriorate at a more rapid pace. And the relative accessibility of SCUBA diving could lead to vandalism and looting. 'These will eventually deteriorate,' Dr. Ioset said. 'We may have better tools in the future,' but waiting too long may leave little to explore. 'Now is really the time to try to preserve them, because once these are damaged, we can't get them back.' The expedition comes as scientific budgets, including at NOAA, are facing severe cuts. Mr. Fahy, who is also a retired Navy commander, argued that shipwreck exploration of the kind he and Dr. Ioset were conducting remained a sound investment, since it was 'refining' technology that could have applications across a variety of sectors, including the military. And the wrecks speak to the parts of American history that President Trump seems to favor: commerce, manufacturing, expansion, trade. 'These provide irreplaceable, tangible connections to our history,' Dr. Ioset said. He did lament that 'we don't make shipwrecks like we used to.' But that's for the best, he quickly added.
Globe and Mail
17-05-2025
- Climate
- Globe and Mail
Sauna culture wins Canadian converts as mobile businesses bring the heat to them
On a spring morning in Toronto, Sedar Sauna's first group of the day takes a dip in Lake Ontario so they can warm themselves in the cedar box across the beach. to view this content.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Weather Forecast: Sunshine and blue skies for the weekend
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Thank you, high pressure! Skies have remained clear throughout the day today and will remain that way throughout the rest of the weekend. Temperatures have climbed into the upper 60s for highs and will fall into the low 40s for overnight lows under clear skies. A cold front, with no weather associated with it, will pass through the region during the overnight hours. This will result in a wind direction change and cooler temperatures. We'll see a northerly flow off of Lake Ontario, resulting in the lakeshore towns having colder temperatures than those of us more inland. Temperatures will likely stay in the 50s for highs on Sunday. However, skies will remain clear and the sun will continue to shine. Temperatures, again, will fall into the low 40s for overnight lows. High pressure remains our friend for the beginning of the week. Sunshine will continue to persist throughout the day on Monday. Temperatures, on the other hand, will be much warmer than the days prior. They will soar into the upper 70s, making for a beautiful way to start off the week. Temperatures will stay warmer throughout the overnight hours as clouds begin to roll in. 8-Day Forecast While clouds move back in for Tuesday, it looks to remain dry for some of the day. Temperatures will soar into the 70s again, but it's likely that rain will move back into the area for the afternoon/evening hours. Scattered showers will remain a factor for Wednesday, but it doesn't look to be a complete washout of a day. Temperatures, again, will climb into the 70s. The warmth will continue through the rest of the week. However, the rain chances also look to stick around. While we are too far out to know any of the exact timing or severity of the incoming system, it looks like rumbles of thunder and lightning could be a possibility. Scattered rain showers look to stick around for the first half of next weekend, but looks to clear out for the second half. It looks like it is going to be a warm week for the Lilac Festival! Overall, not too shabby with the weather also. May have to dodge a shower or two, but it could be worse. Enjoy! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A midsize city in upstate New York is the country's toughest housing market this spring
To hear local Realtors tell it, losing a few bidding wars is a rite of passage for any prospective homebuyer in Rochester, N.Y. In the western New York city, homes typically go from listed to under contract in a matter of days. A well-kept home can command dozens of offers. Listing prices might as well be starting bids. Agents often advise clients surfing online listings to set their price filters well below what they actually hope to pay, to account for the inevitable bidding wars. By many metrics, Rochester, a city of 200,000 on the banks of Lake Ontario, has the most competitive housing market in the country. Zillow's market heat index, which measures factors like time on market, interest in active listings, and price cuts, ranks Rochester as a tougher place to buy a home than San Francisco, San Jose, Boston, and New York. The index considers any reading over 70 to be a strong seller's market. Rochester scores a 146.5. 'After one or two offers, they kind of get the hang of it, and then they listen to my advice,' said Talha Shahid, a real estate agent in the city. He tries to prepare his buyers for the reality that a home listed at $300,000 will likely sell for $350,000, and that any offers with inspection contingencies usually aren't competitive. Learn more: Is now a good time to buy a house? So, how did a city whose population peaked in 1950 end up with one of the most cutthroat real estate markets in the US? The answer, somewhat counterintuitively, has to do with its affordability. The median home in the metro area of about 1 million sold for $225,000 at the end of March, according to the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors. That's up 12.5% from a year earlier, but still cheap enough to be achievable for buyers earning $60,000 to $80,000. The area's median household income was around $67,000 in 2022, and major employers span several relatively well-paying industries like healthcare and higher education. Paychex, a publicly traded payroll provider, is headquartered in the city, while the corporate offices of East Coast grocery store chain Wegmans are in a nearby suburb. Read more: How much house can I afford with a $70,000 salary? 'We're catching up with the rest of the country,' said Jonathan Long, a Rochester-based mortgage loan consultant with 1st Priority Mortgage. 'The housing market is a little tough, and mortgage payments are a little tough right now, but all in all, I would still say it's a super affordable place to live.' 'Nothing out there' Meanwhile, the region has struggled for years with a deep inventory shortage. There were just 913 homes for sale at the end of March, down 8.1% from a year ago, according to the Realtors association. On average, a home spends just eight days on the market. 'There's nothing out there,' said Mark Siwiec, the CEO of Elysian Homes, a Rochester-based real estate brokerage. 'Post-Great Recession, we are shy 18,000 housing units.' Siwiec blames the inventory problem on multiple factors: a lack of building throughout the region due to factors including higher costs and local politics, homeowners staying in place longer, and, of course, people with 3% mortgages who don't want to move now that rates are more like 6.8%. Learn more: When will mortgage interest rates go down to 4%? Right now, homebuilders have little incentive to come to the area because low home prices often translate to thinner margins. According to Richard Deitz, a Buffalo-based economic policy adviser at the New York Fed, while Rochester is reinventing itself as a healthcare and education hub after decades of manufacturing job losses and the shrinkage of Eastman Kodak and Xerox, the area's economy is relatively weak and its population is slowly falling. 'This isn't a matter of a booming economy and population growth bidding up home prices,' Deitz said. 'There's so little for sale that it's bidding up prices of what's there.' With little new construction available, many buyers are considering older homes. Colonial styles are popular in the region, as are American Foursquares, a boxy two-story home type commonly constructed between the late 1800s and the 1940s. By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy Buyers are often a mix of investors, locals, and relocators. Homeownership costs in the region are fairly low compared to average rents, making it a popular place to own rentals. But Siwiec sees signs that the tides are turning, if only slightly. Since April, he says he's noticed the market slowing, which he thinks may be related to heightened economic uncertainty. He's cutting costs at his brokerage to prepare. 'Today, of the 18 properties we list for sale, I should have 18 sales under my belt,' he said. 'I will have 10 or 11. That's shocking.' Ahmed Munasser, 33, has plenty of experience navigating the Rochester market. He works in the mortgage industry and has previously purchased investment properties in the region. When it came time to buy a home for himself, he searched for about four months and switched real estate agents after several of his early offers didn't pan out. He ended up buying in the nearby suburb of Greece, N.Y., with a strategy that included a larger-than-typical deposit and giving the home's previous owners a month to vacate after closing. Despite the challenges, Munasser said this was one of his easier searches. These days, 'a lot of houses don't go for a lot more than the asking price,' he said. 'Some of them do — I was looking at one house that went for $120,000 over the asking price. But others only go like 20, 30 or 40K over.' His winning bid? $9,000 over list. Claire Boston is a Senior Reporter for Yahoo Finance covering housing, mortgages, and home insurance. Sign up for the Mind Your Money newsletter
