Latest news with #MeganTollefsen
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
People in Florida Say Dense, Mysterious Fog With Chemical Smell Is Making Them Sick
Down in Florida, residents have been haunted by a strange specter: a lingering and super-dense fog that allegedly smells like chemicals and is making people sick. As USA Today reports, folks in large swaths of the Sunshine State are starting to freak out after encountering the mysterious fog repeatedly over the past few months. In response, many are turning to conspiracy theories to explain the strange happenings surrounding them. Nicknamed "Fogvid-24," the strange phenomenon is, according to the National Weather Service, likely sea fog that has rolled inland due to weather conditions in the balmy Southern state. But that hasn't stopped folks online from engaging in more sinister speculation about its origins. Geoengineering, an umbrella term for experimental attempts to cool the planet — which is a real thing, though controversial and so far limited to small-scale tests — seems to be the biggest suspect for the conspiratorially-minded. "Geo-engineered weather modification nano-particle toxic fog here in Florida," a user on X-formerly-Twitter wrote in January. "You can only see it with a flashlight." According to Megan Tollefsen, the Coastal Hazards Program Leader at the National Weather Service office in Central Florida, the particles visible are the same sort of tiny water droplets that make up any kind of fog. "If you shine, you know, any kind of light in the fog, what you're actually seeing are the very, very small water droplets," she told USA Today. "So that is likely what people are seeing." The water droplet reflections don't, however, explain the strange metallic smell — or, in some cases, taste — that people have reported coming from the fog. In a viral TikTok video posted last month, a South Florida man filmed himself walking around in the "crazy fog" that, according to him, smelled and tasted like fireworks. "The taste of the air, the only word I can think of is toxic," he said. "It's super weird and it's kind of worrying me a little bit... It smells like chemicals going down my throat when I breathe." As of now, it's unclear how many people have actually experienced the chemical-smelling fog because, as viral claims often go, much of the "evidence" people are posting on social media is unverified hearsay. More on weather conspiracy theories: Congresswoman Who Believed in "Jewish Space Lasers" Complains That Government Can't Just Use Weather Control to Shut Down LA Fires
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hurricanes aren't the only hazard so Florida has tornado drill today. Here's what happens
This week is Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week. The National Weather Service is highlighting a different hazard each day between Feb. 3 through Feb. 7. If you have a weather alert radio, watch for a tornado drill today. ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location "Severe Weather Awareness Week is a great reminder that Florida's weather can be unpredictable, making preparedness essential," said Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. "From hurricanes and tornadoes to thunderstorms and flooding, severe weather can strike at any time. Having a plan, staying informed and knowing how to respond are key to staying safe." A statewide tornado drill is scheduled for approximately 10 a.m. EST, weather permitting, the Florida Division of Emergency Services said. If severe weather is expected on Wednesday, the drill will be postponed to Friday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m. EST. "School districts, private schools, preschools and daycare centers are encouraged to participate in the drill to prepare their faculty and students on what to do for potential tornadic activity," the agency said. The tornado drill will be transmitted over weather radios, said Megan Tollefsen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Melbourne. It won't trigger the Florida emergency alert system, and you won't get an alert on your phone. So check your weather radio today to see if you received the drill. The week is a cooperative effort between the National Weather Service and the Florida Division of Emergency Management intended to spread "awareness of severe weather hazards" residents could encounter. The agencies said they want to "ensure that Florida residents and visitors are better informed and prepared for potential severe weather." Each day of Florida's Severe Weather Awareness Week highlights the information and preparation tips on different types of severe weather as follows: Monday, Feb. 3: Lightning Tuesday, Feb. 4: Marine hazards and rip currents Wednesday, Feb. 5: Thunderstorms and tornadoes Thursday, Feb. 6: Hurricanes and flooding Friday, Feb. 7 : Temperature extremes and wildfires We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida Severe Weather Awareness week 2025. Tornado drill Feb. 5
