Latest news with #MattWoods
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Climate
- Perth Now
Everything you need to know for best shot at seeing aurora
Perth's astronomy fans are being told to look up to the sky tonight with Perth in for its best shot at seeing an aurora since the start of the year — as long as the clouds don't ruin the show. According to Perth Observatory's Matt Woods this is the best chance to see an aurora since January 1, with recent solar flares mostly hitting south west WA during the day or during heavy cloud cover. He said the central Wheatbelt would likely be the best spot to see the aurora but areas like Mundaring Weir, Herron Point or Lake Leschenaultia were your best bets closer to Perth. To have the best chance of seeing it you need a clear view to the south, away from city lights. Using a camera with a long exposure setting will make it more likely to see the vibrant colours. 'What we're seeing is a solar storm that was released from the sun back yesterday and it's finally starting to arrive and hit the Earth,' Mr Woods said. 'It's going to probably hit later in the evening so probably early-evening onwards. 'What we're seeing is the solar particles that are coming back along the magnetic field lines to the north and south pole and interacting with the oxygen and nitrogen in our atmosphere and causing them to excite like a neon sign and glow.' Mr Woods said the exact timing of the Aurora could be unpredictable. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian While the predictions are pointing towards the light-show hitting on Sunday night, Mr Woods said you'll have to play a patient waiting game. 'That's the thing with auroras, they're like meteor showers, comets and also with cats, only they know what they'll do,' he said. 'It's just one of those things you've just got to get prepared and start and just have a plan on where you're going to go and just go out there. 'Even if it is cloudy just sit there and just relax and just take in the scenery, that's all you can do. If you're driving home after not being able to see it, at least you've gone out there and had just a quiet night to yourself or to the family.'
Newsweek
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
People in Multiple States Advised To Avoid the Sun for 2 Days
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. Millions of residents across California, Nevada, and Arizona have been warned to stay out of the sun on Friday and Saturday as temperatures are set to soar into the triple digits. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued heat advisories and extreme heat watches across the three states as the Southwest braces for an incoming heat wave. Why It Matters Extreme heat is now considered one of the deadliest weather risks in the United States, causing an estimated 1,220 deaths annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The current heat advisories carry particular urgency for the Southwest, where low humidity and persistent drought have made wildfires significantly more destructive and difficult to contain. In January of this year alone, California wildfires killed at least 30 people and forced 200,000 to evacuate. More than 16,000 homes and business were destroyed. What To Know High temperatures across California's Central Valley, inland Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona are forecast to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit over the course of the heat advisories, with official warnings expecting "limited overnight relief." In Nevada's Death Valley, temperatures are forecast to reach up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Residents are urged to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. The sun rises in Southern California. The sun rises in Southern California. johnemac72/Getty The NWS also warned residents not to leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. "Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes," the service warned. The heat warnings will occur from Friday morning through Saturday evening and, in some areas in California, will continue through to Sunday morning. Even in Las Vegas, the temperatures are above normal. NWS meteorologist Matt Woods, who works at the Las Vegas office, told Newsweek that temperatures this weekend will be around 10 degrees warmed than normal. Normal high temperatures in Las Vegas this time of year are 94 degrees Fahrenheit. Meteorologists attributed the intensity of the heat wave to a persistent high-pressure system over the region combined with offshore wind patterns, which block cooler ocean air from reaching inland communities. For those without access to air conditioning, local officials and organizations will be opening cooling centers. What People Are Saying Dr. Gregory Hartt, the ER medical director at Mercy Medical Center Redding, told Newsweek: "As temperatures climb, we anticipate a corresponding increase in ER visits due to heat-related illnesses. A critical component of heat wave preparedness is proactively ensuring adequate staffing levels, supplies, and cooling measures are in place to effectively manage the influx of patients." NWS Sacramento, on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday: "With well above normal temperatures expected this week, Moderate HeatRisk and areas of Major HeatRisk are in the forecast. Widespread triple digits are possible on Friday, with near record to record highs. Practice heat safety!" What Happens Next In most cases, the heat wave will continue through Saturday evening, at the time of writing. People in the affected areas should monitor their local weather guidance throughout the surge in temperatures.
West Australian
21-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
KPMG says Perth clear to ditch the boom-bust tag with 192,000 new jobs predicted by 2030
Perth is on track to have 192,000 jobs up for grabs in the next five years, driven by an influx of young working professionals and a strong housing pipeline. KPMG Perth Partner Matt Woods was encouraged by the figures from the professional services firm, saying it showed the city had broken free of its reputation as a boom-bust town. AUKUS, the State Government's Made in WA plan, and a raft of new energy projects prompted KPMG to take an even more bullish outlook than its forecast last year of an extra 159,000 jobs by 2030. There are currently 1.3 million working people in Perth out of a population of 2.4 million across Greater Perth. While unlikely to dent Perth's rock solid reputation as a mining town, it was the healthcare sector that recorded the biggest employment growth in 2024 with an additional 23,500 jobs added. 'That's perhaps not unexpected given the population increase that we've had, people migrating into Perth to take advantage of those employment opportunities, coupled with the ageing population necessitates growth in that sector.' Mr Woods said. An extra 10,500 new positions in white collar professional services work, and another 6500 jobs in construction and education respectively were added, according to KPMG's Enterprising Cities report. 'I think the historical view that Perth is a bit of a boom-bust town is dead. We've seen six years of economic growth and Budget surpluses and an economy that is starting to diversify which is really positive for those of us that live in Perth.' Net overseas migration was the biggest driver of Greater Perth's population growth in the 2023-2024 financial year, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. KPMG noted in its report covering the calendar year that the 20–29 age group increased the most, growing by 22,700 people. The 30s cohort followed, increasing by 12,000 people. 'I suspect that's as a result of the opportunities that exist for employment in Perth,' Mr Woods said. 'What's really important is we're getting the workforce migrating to Perth . . . the workers that are going to come here and deliver into those job opportunities.' The prospect of accommodating those workers — an issue not unique to Perth — is also improving, according to KPMG. Dwelling approvals in 2024 rose to 16,583, a meaningful increase on the 10,481 approvals in 2023 and above the five-year average of 15,360. 'The problem is by no means solved but the metric is moving in the right direction,' Mr Woods said.
The Australian
13-05-2025
- Science
- The Australian
Perth, WA: Witnesses stunned as ‘fireball' meteor lights up sky
Residents in Western Australia have been stunned by a 'fireball' meteor that lit up the skies, even taking astronomers by surprise. The bright fireball passed through the skies about 6am on Sunday over the Central Wheatbelt, producing a brilliant yellow flash and a trail of bright green. Witnesses were able to catch a glimpse of the early-morning meteor from Perth to the Goldfields, however, experts are yet to determine where it eventually landed. Residents in Western Australia have been stunned as a meteor lit up the skies on Sunday morning. Picture: Supplied The Perth Observatory said the astronomical sight was 'most likely an iron meteor' which had been 'orbiting within the inner Solar System'. 'To shine that brightly, the fireball — technically known as a bolide — would have been about the size of a cricket ball to a basketball,' the observatory said online. According to Perth Observatory astronomer Matt Woods, the meteor would have been travelling between 16 to 60km per second, leaving behind a trail of green as the built-up friction melted. It was a sight that took Mr Woods and the Perth observatory team off-guard. 'We weren't expecting this meteor at all,' he said 'The astronomy community does have wide-field telescope surveys constantly monitoring the night sky, and they occasionally detect larger meteors that are unlikely to cause damage a few hours before they enter the atmosphere. 'However, smaller meteors like this one often go undetected until they appear.' The 'fireball' meteor left a green trail in its wake Picture: Supplied Despite being an uncommon sight for everyday Australians, Mr Woods said the meteor wasn't 'as rare as you might think'. 'The earth is struck by around a hundred tonnes of debris each year,' he said. 'However, because about 70 per cent of the earth's surface is covered by water, most meteors fall over oceans or remote areas, making it relatively uncommon for people to witness them.' Some thought the light was the moon. Picture: Supplied The meteor was spotted across much of the state. Picture: Supplied Online, witnesses were dumbfounded by the 'spectacular' sight, with some believing it was an aeroplane. 'Never seen anything like it,' one person wrote. 'Thought someone was driving at us with high beams on at first,' said another, who watched it pass overhead from Newdegate. A resident from Mt Magnet said they initially thought the 'huge and burning bright orange-red' light was 'the moon until it moved'. The meteor created a bright orange and red light. Picture: Supplied Some thought the meteor was the Kosmos 482, a Soviet-era spacecraft that plunged back to earth more than 50 years after its failed launch to Venus. However, Curtin University astrophysicist Steven Tingay told the ABC it was unlikely the fallen spacecraft, which likely landed over the Indian Ocean on Saturday, though European and US agencies are yet to confirm its exact location. The meteor comes days after the Eta Aquarids meteor shower lit up the skies in Victoria, though Mr Woods told NewsWire Sunday morning's meteor was just a 'coincidence'. '(The meteor) wasn't related to the Eta Aquarids meteor shower; it's just a coincidence,' he said. 'The Eta Aquarids meteor shower consists of tiny ice and rocky particles left behind by Halley's comet as it has orbited the sun over millennia. 'In contrast, this meteor was much larger, estimated to be between the size of a cricket ball and a basketball. 'Around this time of year, the earth passes through the trail left by Halley's comet, but this particular meteor did not originate from that shower; it's most likely been orbiting around the sun within the inner solar system.'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama Senate OKs program for high school dropouts to earn diplomas
Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, stands in the Alabama House of Representatives on May 8, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Senate passed a bill Tuesday to create a program allowing high school dropouts to get their diplomas through the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System. HB 266, sponsored by Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, would be known as the Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School (REACH) Act. A 17-year-old student can leave high school early if their parents agree and after an exit meeting. The exit interview informs the parent or guardian about the potential negative impacts of dropping out, such as lower future earnings and a higher chance of unemployment, and the student is provided with information on the 'detrimental impacts and effects of early withdrawal.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The REACH Act would require students to be provided with information during the exit interview on options available after dropping out, and require local education boards to report to the Alabama State Department of Education on student withdrawal rates. The bill passed with no discussion on a 34-0 vote and goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. The Alabama Community College System endorsed the bill at its March meeting. Boone Kinard, executive director of external affairs, said then that more students would be able to take advantage of the system's adult education program, and the 'State Department of Education to get better data.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
