Latest news with #MaxDefender8
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Something brewing in the Caribbean? Meteorologists say it's social media hype
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — You may have seen it on social media: eye-catching graphics of GFS model projections featuring a monster hurricane headed straight for the Gulf coast. Some accounts posted about this hypothetical storm weeks in advance, stoking anxiety in a hurricane-weary region of the country. What to expect during the 2025 hurricane season | Tracking the Tropics On Tuesday's edition of Tracking the Tropics, our team of meteorologists addressed those concerns and issued a warning to social media users who encounter these long-range projections online: Don't buy into the hype. 'Especially coming off of such a terrible season for Florida, where so many folks are going to be recovering for the next couple of years, there's just a heightened sense of anxiety. Storm anxiety is a real thing,' WKRG Chief Meteorologist Ed Bloodsworth said. 'Nerves are just heightened now. Folks are trying to rebuild their lives, get back to what will be their new normal. The last thing you want to do is scare them with nonsense. That's why you want to trust your local meteorologists.' Long-range models, like the GFS, often spin up phantom storms that don't come to fruition. These projections have low confidence more than a few days out. 'No, we're not going to see a Category 4 hurricane in 10 days in the Gulf. That's just not going to happen,' Max Defender 8 Meteorologist Rebecca Barry said. 'The confidence is so low. It's not even worth worrying about at this point.' The social media graphics and video thumbnails may look official, but our team of meteorologists says you should listen to the experts – not influencers who rely on clicks and follows. 'I get paid whether I post anything on Facebook or not. I get paid to do my job as a meteorologist,' Barry said. 'There are a lot of people on social media that are getting paid through social media, so if they don't post something that gets a lot of likes, shares and interactions, they don't get paid that day. That leads them to make different decisions than I would on social media. Some of them I would consider not the best decisions.' Barry's advice? Look at everything on social media with a critical eye. 'I just want people to think about who they follow on social media. Think before you share one of those posts,' Barry said. 'What are the motives? If the confidence is that low, it doesn't deserve any space in your brain or in your day.'Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
NHC watching area off Florida coast for potential tropical development
Video above: What to expect during the 2025 hurricane season TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The National Hurricane Center is watching an area off the coast of Florida for potential tropical development. A non-tropical area of low pressure is expected to form near or offshore of the southeastern coast of the U.S., the NHC said Monday. VIDEOS: Tampa battered by quarter-sized hail The system has the potential to develop tropical or subtropical characteristics if it remains offshore. It is moving northeast at 10 to 15 mph. It has a near-zero percent chance of development over the next 48 hours and a 10% chance of development in the next week. 'The NHC is tracking the first area of potential development of the season, stretching from the coastline of Northeastern Florida up through the Outer Banks,' Max Defender 8 Meteorologist Rebecca Barry said. 'While there is a very little chance for this system to develop, even if it were to develop it would have almost no effect on our area. It may pull moisture away from the state and dry us out a bit.'Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Warm Finish to the Week with Increasing Rain Chances This Weekend
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — We're wrapping up the workweek with sunshine and warmth across the Tampa Bay area. Afternoon highs top out near 89. Rain chances remain low today at just 10%, mainly for isolated inland showers this evening. Heading into the weekend, the pattern begins to shift. Saturday brings a slightly muggier feel, with highs reaching 88°. Expect a mix of sun and clouds through the day and a 20% chance of isolated showers popping up inland during the afternoon and drifting toward Orlando. By Sunday, we'll see more cloud cover and slightly better chances for showers. Temperatures stay warm, with a high near 86°, but there's a 30% rain chance during the morning and late afternoon. The east coast and inland areas like Lake Wales, Sebring, and Lakeland have a better chance of seeing showers. The new week starts off with a slightly unsettled pattern with a 30-40% chance of showers and storms on Monday, but it turns drier again by Tuesday. Temperatures climb into the low 90s midweek, with plenty of sunshine and just a stray shower chance each day. Morning lows remain seasonably mild in the low to mid-70s. Keep checking back with Max Defender 8 for updates as we continue to track rain trends through the weekend and into the start of next week. Forecast models are not in great agreement on the rain we could see Sunday into Monday. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
7-Planet Parade: Here's how to see the planets in Tampa Bay
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tampa Bay residents will be able to see several planets in the evening sky Thursday and Friday. According to Max Defender 8 Meteorologist Amanda Hollly, five of the planets in our solar system will be visible to the naked eye, but you'll need a telescope to see Neptune and Uranus. Busch Gardens announces full concert lineup for 2025 Food & Wine Festival While there will be some cloud cover Thursday night, it should be nice and clear Friday night for anyone who wants to go planet gazing. 'You have to do it at a specific time if you want to see all seven,' Holly said. '6:40 is when I suggest going outside, p.m.' The reason why you need to go looking for the planets at sunset is because two of the planets, Mercury and Saturn, will go under the horizon and disappear from sight. 'I suggest getting somewhere along the beach so that you have a clear view of the horizon,' Holly said. If you have trouble seeing the planets, you can use the Sky Guide mobile app to help identify what you're seeing. You can find it on the App Store for Apple or use the Star Map app for Android. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
