Latest news with #MercerCounty
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flash flood warning issued for Bucks County
A flash flood warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Mount Holly at 7:38 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16. This warning applies to Mercer and Bucks counties. The NWS warns: "Turn around, doN't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles." See weather radar for Bucks County What are NWS meteorologists saying? At 7:38 p.m., the NWS issued a statement: "The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a Flash Flood Warning for: West Central Mercer County in central New Jersey, Southeastern Bucks County in southeastern Pennsylvania, Until 11:45 p.m. EDT. At 7:38 p.m. EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.5 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. HAZARD: Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms. SOURCE: Radar. IMPACT: Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets, and underpasses as well as other drainage and low lying areas. Some locations that may experience flash flooding include: Philadelphia, Trenton, Bensalem, Ewing, Pennington, Yardley, Newtown, Langhorne, Woodside, Langhorn, Levittown and Washington Crossing." What is a flash flood? A flash flood is a flood caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time, generally less than 6 hours, according to the NWS. Flash floods are usually characterized by raging torrents after heavy rains. A flash flood can be sudden and violent and take just minutes to develop. It is possible to experience a flash flood in areas not immediately receiving rain. What's the difference between a flash flood watch and a flash flood warning? A flash flood warning is issued when a flood is imminent or occurring, the NWS says. If you are in a flood prone area, you should move immediately to high NWS issues a flash flood watch when flash flooding is possible. What to do during a flood warning If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Use a battery-operated radio or television to get the latest emergency information. Do not walk through floodwater. Just six inches of floodwater can sweep you off your feet if it is moving swiftly. Turn around, don't drown; do not drive into a flooded street. Cars can be swept away by two feet of moving water or there may be unseen damage to the road. If you come to a flooded area turn around and go another way. Most flood-related deaths are caused by people driving through water. Watch out for fire hazards. Move to higher ground. Stay alert, turn weather notifications on. Do not allow children to play in flowing water. Waters can hide rocks, trees and debris. Reporters Jana Hayes and Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez contributed to this article. This weather report was generated automatically using information from the National Weather Service and a story written and reviewed by an editor. See the latest weather alerts and forecasts here This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Flash flood warning issued for Bucks County
CBS News
6 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Osprey recovering after nest catches fire in Mercer County
A young osprey is recovering after its nest caught on fire on top of a utility pole in Mercer County. Tamarack Wildlife Center in Crawford County said it received a young osprey on June 27 that was suffering from respiratory distress and singed feathers after a fire at her nest near Clark. In a Facebook post, the wildlife center said smoke inhalation is a "critical medical emergency" for birds. The bird, named Smokey, was given supplemental oxygen and medication. After treatment, the wildlife center said Smokey stabilized and has a good prognosis. She no longer needs oxygen support and she started self-feeding this week. Ospreys in Pennsylvania migrate south, sometimes as far as South America, but since Smokey's flight feathers were damaged, she won't be able to fly this fall. The wildlife center said she'll need a complete molt before she's released. When she molts, she'll also replace her singed contour feathers, which help keep water away in the rain and play an important role in thermoregulation. The National Audubon Society says ospreys' preference for tall, open platforms often leads them to nest on utility poles. After the pesticide DDT was banned in 1972, ospreys have flourished and expanded their nesting range. The Audubon Society says one study showed nearly nine in 10 osprey pairs build their nests on human-made structures. The Tamarack Wildlife Center thanked everyone who helped Smokey, including the local fire chief, game warden, volunteers and rehabilitators.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Precinct consolidation in Mercer County continues
PRINCETON – Consolidating two voting precincts is on the Mercer County Commission's agenda today while the county clerk's office prepares for new voter photo identification requirements coming into play for the 2026 elections. Voting on whether to consolidate Precinct No. 60-Crane Creek into Precinct No. 69-Montcalm Elementary is on the county commission's agenda. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the Mercer County Courthouse. County Clerk Verlin Moye said Monday that if the county commission approves consolidating the two precincts, it will reduce the county's overall number of precincts from 44 to 43. 'We paid particular attention not to inconvenience any of our voters, and Crane Creek is very small,' Moye said. 'And 30% of the voters there vote early in any of our four locations.' Less than 100 voters use the Crane Creek polling place. Consolidating it into Montcalm Elementary, which is on the way to Crane Creek, would free up five poll workers who could work at other precincts, he said. 'It shouldn't inconvenience any of our voters,' Moye said. 'That's one of our main concerns, and between early voting, absentee voting and voting in Montcalm, there's no opportunity to disenfranchise any of our voters.' Several of the county's precincts has been consolidated since Moye became county clerk. People who have moved or for any other reason are unsure where to vote during an election can call the Mercer County Voter Registration Office at 304-487-8338 or 8339, Moye said. The next election in West Virginia is the Primary Election in May 2026 followed by the General Election in November 2026. Registered voters going to the polls will see some changes in the voting process. 'We're already starting to look at it,' Moye said. 'There was some new legislation that affects the upcoming election. One of the changes was the picture ID. We're requiring now a photo ID more so than in the past.' Photo identification can include driver's licenses, student IDs, non-driver's licenses and passports, Moye said. People who do not have a photo ID can obtain one from the West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Registered voters can also go to the Mercer County Voter Registration Office and get a photo to go with their voter registration card. 'If they do not have a driver's license, we can do it here in the office,' said Marie Hill, deputy clerk in voter registration. Once a photograph is taken, it's sent to Charleston along with the voter's information. The voter registration card is then sent back to the county voter registration office or mailed to the voter's home. The new voter registration card is free, Hill said. 'People can come down anytime and we'll do it,' she said. 'No problem.' The Mercer County Voter Registration Office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. While many people register to vote just before an election, qualified residents can register anytime, Hill said. 'They can still come in,' she said. 'We can update their information and make sure everything's correct and do the card, too.' Voter information is also available at the website Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Heat advisories, excessive heat watch, warning differs by NJ county; see criteria, maps
An excessive heat advisory is in effect for several New Jersey counties as hot temperatures and high humidity will make feels-like temperatures reach near 100 degrees, a prelude to an impending heat wave that is expected to rock New Jersey this weekend. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 19 in Mercer County, with heat indexes expected to reach 97 degrees. A heat advisory is also in effect from 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 18, through 8 p.m. Thursday, June 19 in Camden, Gloucester and Burlington counties. The heat index is expected to reach 98 degrees, NWS said. Residents are urged to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms and out of the sun as the heat soars ahead of an incoming heat wave and heat dome expected to reach New Jersey by end-of-week. Here's the difference between a heat advisory, extreme heat watch and extreme heat warning. Did you know that heat advisory alerts are triggered differently depending on where you live in NJ? Each National Weather Service Forecast Office issues its own set of heat alerts: NWS Philadelphia (Mount Holly) covers 16 NJ counties, with NWS New York (Upton) covering Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Hudson and Union counties. Further, heat advisories, alerts and warnings are then narrowed into four groups, based on certain criteria for those areas, such as rural vs metro areas and more. These are the counties that are grouped together: Mercer, Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Hudson and Union The remaining 8 counties: Sussex, Warren, Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean A heat advisory is typically issued within 12 to 24 hours when the heat index value is expected to reach between 96 degrees and 104 degrees for two consecutive hours through June 30 in areas shaded in red on the map below, such as areas of Mercer, Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties. A heat advisory is triggered when the heat index is between 100 degrees and 104 degrees for two consecutive hours in the areas highlighted in yellow below, from Sussex County south into the New Jersey shore area. For the areas highlighted in orange, such as Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties, a heat advisory is issued when the heat index will be between 105 degrees and 109 degrees for two consecutive hours. In areas of Bergen, Passaic, Union, Hudson, and Essex counties, covered by the NY Office, the criteria was not listed on the NWS website, but archived criteria shows a heat advisory is issued when temperatures are expected to have a heat index of 100 degrees to 104 degrees for any period of time, or 95 degrees to 99 degrees or greater for two consecutive days. Depending on where you live in New Jersey, an extreme heat watch and extreme heat warning is issued by your local NWS office depending on certain criteria. The criteria is more widespread for excessive heat watches and warnings in NJ, as seen in the map below. These typically are issued when conditions are favorable for extreme heat, with the NJ DEP's Heat Hub stating conditions indicate a 50% or greater chance of excessive heat event in the next 24-72 hours. NWS indicates outdoor activities should be rescheduled, and to ensure children, the elderly and pets have areas to cool off. In the Mount Holly/Philadelphia Office coverage area: Heat index of 105 degrees or greater for two consecutive hours in Sussex, Warren, Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Ocean counties. In Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties, the heat index must be at least 110 degrees or greater for two consecutive hours. In the NYC Office coverage area: Issued 24 to 48 hours prior to the onset of a heat index of at least 105 degrees for at least two consecutive hours. This warning means dangerous heat is happening or about the happen and that outdoor activity and direct sunlight should be avoided. NWS advises to stay hydrated, find a cool interior place and check on children, the elderly and pets. In the Mount Holly/Philadelphia Office coverage area: Heat index of 105 degrees or greater for two consecutive hours in Sussex, Warren, Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Ocean counties. In Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties, the heat index must be at least 110 degrees or greater for two consecutive hours. In the NYC Office coverage area: Issued within 24 hours of a heat index expected to reach at least 105 degrees for at least two consecutive hours. Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. This article originally appeared on Heat advisory, heat watch, heat warning: What's the difference?
CBS News
19-06-2025
- CBS News
Las Vegas man taken into custody after fight turns into shots fired in Mercer County
A Las Vegas man is in custody, and police in the City of Sharon are investigating a fight that turned into shots fired on Wednesday. According to the City of Sharon Police Department, they were called to a home on Hull Street around noon. Once they arrived, the investigation began, and they learned that 33-year-old Stephen Hansen of Las Vegas had gone to the victim's house and attempted to enter his car. At that point, the victim exited his car, and a fight took place. The victim then retreated into his home, and Hansen followed him inside. That's when the victim fired multiple gunshots, causing Hansen to flee. Hansen ultimately went into a nearby vacant home and was taken into custody by police. According to police, no one was injured during the gunfire. Hansen is now facing what police have called "numerous crimes" in relation to the incident on Wednesday afternoon. Several law enforcement units responded to the scene, including the Mercer County Incident Response Team, Hermitage Police Department, Sharpsville Police Department, McGonigle Ambulance Service, and the Mercer County District Attorney's Office.
