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Forbes
4 hours ago
- Climate
- Forbes
Northern Lights Alert: These 10 States Could See Aurora Borealis Saturday
The northern lights may make an appearance in up to 10 U.S. states Saturday night, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which has issued one of its most favorable aurora forecasts in weeks. Saturday's viewing line for the northern lights stretches as far south as central South Dakota. ... More (Photo by) NOAA forecasters have issued a Kp index of four, a geomagnetic activity metric that suggests an increase in auroral activity and lights that 'can be quite pleasing to look at' for observers in the right places. The Kp index is forecast to reach its highest points from 4 p.m. CDT to 4 a.m. CDT. The curved viewing line for Saturday goes as far south as central South Dakota, encompassing areas within 10 states, although the farther north people are located, the better chance they will have at seeing the northern lights. The northern lights forecast for Sunday calls for less auroral activity, so observers thinking about getting a look at the aurora should probably do so Saturday night. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here. The lights may be visible in Alaska, Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, the northern half of South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan (including the Michigan Peninsula) and Maine. As usual, much of Alaska and Canada will have the highest likelihood of seeing the northern lights. Saturday's viewing line. The window of time between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time generally provides the best way to get a glimpse of the northern lights. Areas with clear skies and little to no light pollution can also improve viewing chances. Smartphone users should avoid using flash and turn on night mode when trying to snap a picture of the northern lights. Those with standard cameras should use wide-angle lenses, low shutter speeds and high apertures. Solar events like the northern lights are expected to continue into next year, as the sun reached a 'solar maximum' in October, marking its peak solar activity in an 11-year cycle. Events like solar flares and coronal mass ejections contribute to northern lights activity, which occurs when electrons collide with molecules of nitrogen and oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere and produce energy in the form of light. Get Ready For 50 Years Of Intense Northern Lights, Scientists Say (Forbes)
Chicago Tribune
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Turmoil, worry swirl over cuts to key federal agencies as hurricane season begins
WASHINGTON — With predictions for a busy hurricane season beginning Sunday, experts in storms and disasters are worried about something potentially as chaotic as the swirling winds: Massive cuts to the federal system that forecasts, tracks and responds to hurricanes. Experts are alarmed over the large-scale staff reductions, travel and training restrictions and grant cut-offs since President Donald Trump took office at both the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which prepares for and responds to hurricanes, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which tracks and forecasts them. 'My nightmare is a major catastrophic storm hitting an area that is reeling from the impact of all of this nonsense from the Trump administration and people will die. And that could happen in Florida, that could happen in Texas, that could happen in South Carolina,' said Susan Cutter, the director of the Hazards and Vulnerability Research Institute at the University of South Carolina. Representatives of both NOAA and FEMA say the agencies are prepared. About 2,000 full-time staff have left FEMA since Trump took office in January, a loss of roughly one-third of the agency's full-time workforce, amid Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) mandated cuts. Scholars who study emergency management are concerned by both the reduction in capacity and the 'brain drain' of experienced staff. 'There's really been a brain drain within FEMA in addition to the loss of overall employees,' said Samantha Montano, who teaches emergency management at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. She noted that many who left were in critical management positions. The agency is run by an acting chief, David Richardson, a former Marine Corps officer who served overseas and worked as the Department of Homeland Security's assistant secretary for countering weapons of mass destruction. He does not appear to have any experience in managing disasters. Emergency management requires knowing where to get things, who to call, how things work and how to get it done quickly — which comes from experience and establishing relationships with state officials, Montano and Cutter said. What's happening reminds former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Craig Fugate of 2005, the year Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana and exposed inexperienced and poorly prepared governments at all levels, especially the then-FEMA chief who came from a horse-rearing association. Fugate said he's especially worried about top experienced disaster people leaving FEMA. FEMA canceled various emergency management trainings this spring, moved others online and restricted travel to events such as the National Hurricane Conference. Some trainings have resumed. 'Given the reduction in staffing, being unable to do trainings, participate in conferences, there's potential that the federal government's ability is diminished,' said former Florida Emergency Management chief Bryan Koon, now president of the disaster preparedness firm IEM. FEMA has also cut disaster resilience programs. Making areas more survivable saves up to $13 for every dollar spent, said Lori Peek, director of the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado. The federal government promises to be ready for hurricane season, which runs through November. 'FEMA is shifting from bloated DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens,' Associate FEMA Administrator Geoff Harbaugh said in a email. 'FEMA is fully activated in preparation for hurricane season.' Richardson promised to push more responsibilities to the states. He warned that the agency will only do what the law requires and shift more costs to states. But Koon noted that states haven't budgeted for FEMA's changes, adding: 'The biggest issue right now is just the uncertainty.' Some states — which coordinate disaster operations — are experienced in catastrophes, have well trained staff and will do fine, such as Texas and Florida, Fugate said. But it's the poorer states that worry the experts. The feds often pick up the entire bill in big disasters and most of it in smaller ones. In the Trump administration, disaster declarations have been denied or delayed. When disaster declarations were issued for nine states last week, some had been pending for two months and others were only partially approved. 'We've just relied on FEMA for so much for so long and not knowing who's going to fill the gap and how we're going to fill it is really scary,' said University at Albany emergency management professor Jeannette Sutton. NOAA, the parent agency of the National Weather Service, has undergone a series of dramatic job cuts, with some people then reinstated. A sizable chunk of the weather service's 121 local field offices as of late March had vacancy rates of more than 20%, what's seen by outsiders as a critical level of understaffing. Local weather offices are crucial in helping people translate national warnings into what to do locally. 'It should be all hands on deck and we're being hollowed out,' former NWS director Louis Uccellini said. But the National Hurricane Center, which tracks and warns of hurricanes in the Atlantic, Pacific and Caribbean, has been spared. Acting NOAA Administrator Laura Grimm, National Weather Service Director Ken Graham and National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said the agency is prepared for the season with the Miami-based storm center fully staffed and so are the planes that fly into storms. For the first time this year, the hurricane center will incorporate artificial intelligence into forecasting because it has shown to improve predictions generally, Brennan said. 'Our services have never been better,' Graham said. 'Our ability to serve this country has never been better. And it will be this year as well.' But beyond the hurricane center, weather balloons launches have been curtailed because of lack of staffing. In some places, balloon launches have dropped from twice a day to once a day. NOAA hopes to get more balloons launched if needed, Brennan said. Data from the balloons is crucial for understanding steering currents and needed for forecasts, Uccellini said. He said when hurricanes threatened during his tenure he would order the launch of several extra balloons in the Great Plains to help figure out if storms would hit the United States. 'Hurricane forecasts, I'm expecting not to be as accurate this year because of that lack of balloon data,″ said former NOAA meteorologist Jeff Masters, now at Yale Climate Connections.
Time of India
a day ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Witness Northern Lights Tonight: These 15 US States have a rare chance to see Auroras this weekend. Here's the list and viewing tips
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) has reported that 15 US states could see the northern lights tonight and through the weekend. Increased geomagnetic activity is creating a wider viewing range than usual. This is due to high-speed solar winds currently affecting Earth's magnetic field. Solar Wind Increases Geomagnetic Activity Earth is experiencing strong solar winds. These winds are pressing against the planet's magnetic field. As a result, a geomagnetic storm has formed. The NOAA says this storm may lead to visible auroras in many states. The NOAA currently predicts a minor G1 storm. But space weather changes fast. Earlier this week, a surprise G3 storm caused auroras to be seen in 17 states and even reached Italy. That storm was only forecast to be a G1. The current Kp index is expected to peak at 4.67 this weekend. This index measures auroral activity from 0 to 9. A higher number means stronger auroras. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Also Read: And Just Like That Season 3: How to watch series online? See release date, time, episode schedule, cast, storyline and where to watch Chances to See Auroras in US Alaska has the highest chance to see auroras. Other northern states may also see the lights if G1 conditions occur. If the storm level reaches G3 again, auroras may stretch as far south as Illinois and Oregon. Live Events Below are the 15 states with a chance to see auroras. They are listed from most likely to least likely based on their location: Alaska Montana North Dakota Minnesota Upper Michigan Wisconsin Idaho Vermont Maine New Hampshire New York South Dakota Wyoming Washington Iowa Also Read: Virgin River Season 7: What to expect in Season 7? Here's filming and new cast members details Tips for Viewing Northern Lights If you live in one of these states, try to find a dark area away from city lights. Face north and watch the skies between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. This time may offer the best chance to see the lights. As summer nears, nights are shorter. This reduces the window to see auroras. Using space weather apps can help you plan. Some apps include 'My Aurora Forecast & Alerts' and 'Space Weather Live,' both available on iOS and Android. FAQs What causes the northern lights to appear in more states than usual? High-speed solar winds increase geomagnetic activity, pushing auroras farther south than usual and making them visible in more areas. What is the best time to view the northern lights? The early morning hours between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. are best, especially in areas with little or no light pollution.
a day ago
- Climate
Every Floridian should have a plan for this year's hurricane season, DeSantis says
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Two days away from the start of hurricane season, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state's top emergency manager joked Friday that they didn't want to encounter each other again until the storm season ends in late November. Forecasts suggest that's unlikely. While the upcoming season, which starts Sunday, isn't expected to be as topsy-turvy as last season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there's a 60% chance it will be above normal, a 30% chance near normal and just a 10% chance it will be quieter than average. Relentless storms, including Debby, Helene and Milton, which landed in Florida last year, made for the third-costliest hurricane season on record last year. 'You just have to prepare and plan that we are going to have impacts,' DeSantis said at a news conference in front of shelves of generators at a Home Depot store in Jupiter, Florida. 'If you plan and it doesn't happen, you're never going to have regrets. If you don't plan and it happens, you're going to immediately be saying, 'Why didn't I do this?'' Ahead of any hurricanes headed toward the peninsula, Floridians should be prepared to have seven days of food, water and supplies for their households, including pets. If they need to evacuate, they don't have to travel hundreds of miles when traveling just a few miles inland to a hotel or shelter works, officials said. Floridians living on the coast should be familiar with their evacuation zone so they know which areas emergency officials are referring to if an evacuation is issued, said DeSantis and Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The NOAA forecast calls for 13 to 19 named storms with six to 10 becoming hurricanes and three to five reaching major status with winds of more than 110 mph (177 kph). A normal season has 14 named storms, seven of which strengthen to hurricanes and three power up further to major hurricanes. Normally, at the start of hurricane season, Floridians would be able to buy storm supplies under a state program that doesn't tax items like generators, batteries, flashlights, tarps and coolers. However, that is on hold since the Florida Legislature hasn't passed a budget, DeSantis said. Despite enjoying a GOP supermajority in both chambers, legislative leaders failed to pass the one bill Florida law requires, the state budget, ahead of the scheduled end of the regular session at the beginning of May. Lawmakers are expected to return to Tallahassee in June to hammer out a spending deal ahead of the July 1 start of the next fiscal year. 'So we don't have any tax holiday in place in the state of Florida,' said DeSantis, taking a jab at lawmakers who openly defied the Republican governor during this past legislative session in contrast to previous years of deference.
Toronto Star
a day ago
- Climate
- Toronto Star
Every Floridian should have a plan for this year's hurricane season, DeSantis says
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Two days away from the start of hurricane season, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state's top emergency manager joked Friday that they didn't want to encounter each other again until the storm season ends in late November. Forecasts suggest that's unlikely. While the upcoming season, which starts Sunday, isn't expected to be as topsy-turvy as last season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there's a 60% chance it will be above normal, a 30% chance near normal and just a 10% chance it will be quieter than average. Relentless storms, including Debby, Helene and Milton, which landed in Florida last year, made for the third-costliest hurricane season on record last year.
