Latest news with #Pastelok
Mint
6 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Alberta Wildfires Approach Oil Sands, Threaten More Output
(Bloomberg) -- Wildfires in Alberta are threatening almost half a million barrels of daily crude production as heat and wind push the flames closer to massive oil sands well sites. A total of 29 out-of-control fires are burning in the province amid hot, dry weather, bringing flames within 20 kilometers (12 miles) of about 459,000 barrels of daily oil production, according to data from Alberta's energy regulator and wildfire department. The province had only four out-of-control fires on Monday. An expanding fire near Alberta's border with Saskatchewan is the biggest threat to oil output. MEG Energy Corp.'s Christina Lake oil sands facility, which pumped 93,000 barrels a day in April, is within about 4 kilometers of the blaze. MEG said in an email that it has evacuated non-essential workers from the site, but hasn't curtailed production. Part of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.'s Jackfish oil sands site, which produced almost 38,000 barrels a day in April, is within about 3 kilometers of an expanding fire near Cold Lake, in the heart of the Canadian oil sands, according to Alberta Energy Regulator and Alberta Wildfire data. Other parts of Jackfish that produced a combined 83,000 barrels a day are within about 10 kilometers. CNRL didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Canada, the world's fourth-largest crude producer, has long seen its energy output threatened by wildfires that rage through the dense forests of northern Alberta in spring and summer. In 2016, a blaze shut down the massive oil sands mines just north of Fort McMurray, taking more than 1 million barrels of daily production offline. The situation is strengthening prices for Canada's oil. Canadian heavy crude for July traded at a discount to the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate of as little as $8.70 a barrel on financial markets versus $9.30 on Thursday, according to a person familiar with prices and General Index prices compiled by Bloomberg. Fire danger across most of Alberta is still considered extreme today, according to Natural Resources Canada, though it's expected to subside somewhat over the weekend as the weather shifts, bringing cooler temperatures and a chance of rain by Sunday. Meanwhile, fire crews in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba are facing 'very, very bad conditions' as gusty winds continue to scour the region, said Paul Pastelok, a senior meteorologist for AccuWeather Inc. Those dry gusts can make it challenging to gain control over existing fires and may also spread embers, Pastelok added, sparking new blazes. Smoke from the fires is expected to drift across the US Upper Midwest Friday, causing hazy skies and somewhat reduced air quality in Chicago and Minneapolis. 'You can get a whiff of that smoke coming down to the ground,' Pastelok said, 'but it won't be as strong as what they've gone through in past years.' --With assistance from Mia Gindis. (Updates with map, heavy Canadian crude price in sixth paragraph) More stories like this are available on
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Over 3 million in Maryland still facing drought despite recent rain
Despite a recent stretch of rain, large swaths of Maryland remain parched, with over 3 million residents living in areas affected by drought, according to the latest federal Drought Monitor. Parts of Baltimore, Carroll and Harford counties continue to experience unseasonably dry conditions. Liberty Reservoir — a major source of drinking water for the region — has dropped to its lowest level in nearly 20 years, prompting the Baltimore Department of Public Works earlier this month to issue voluntary water restrictions for the city and surrounding counties. Statewide, 43% of Maryland is experiencing moderate drought, while 24.6% is considered abnormally dry, according to drought data released Thursday. Weather experts say several factors are contributing to the drought, including persistent wind patterns and a lackluster winter snowfall. 'This past spring has been windy with prevailing winds from the west and northwest. Any cold fronts tend to lose moisture heading through,' AccuWeather lead long-range expert Paul Pastelok said in an email. 'In addition, it has been a very windy spring and any rain that falls runs off or dries out before it's absorbed. Also, it was not a very snowy winter. Snow in the winter helps the deeper layers of soil stay moist in the spring, and helps with deeper root systems. 12.7 inches of snow fell this winter, compared to the historical average of 19.3 inches.' The impacts of drought conditions are being felt in Baltimore's surrounding areas. In Harford County, 244,826 people are affected by drought conditions. From January through April, the area experienced its fifth driest start to the year in 131 years of monitoring precipitation. Baltimore County is also struggling: From January through April, rainfall totals were 4.39 inches below normal, with last month being the 60th driest April on record over the past 131 years, drought data shows. Over 78% of Carroll County residents are experiencing drought, with January through April ranking the third driest year to date over the past 131 years. In Anne Arundel County, 38% of residents, or 204,365 people, are affected by drought. Relief might be on the horizon, according to Pastelok. 'Late May and June still look active, with more cold fronts and rainfall that could ease drought conditions,' Pastelok said. 'We expect near to slightly above average rainfall this summer. If tropical systems from the Gulf track north, that could quickly boost rainfall totals — though pockets of drought may linger into early summer. Drier weather could return later in the season if those storms miss the region.' Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@ or on X as @ToddKarpovich
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Memorial Day weekend weather forecast: Will rain ruin your plans?
Will you be one of the record 45.1 million people that AAA says will be traveling this Memorial Day weekend? Read below to see how the weather will affect your plans. Temperature-wise, while most of the central and eastern U.S. will see below-average temperatures throughout the weekend, the western U.S. and Florida will see above-average warmth, reports. As for rain, a large chunk of the middle part of the country will see wet, potentially stormy weather this weekend as a system moves through the Plains. Folks starting a vacation early will encounter wet and nasty conditions in the Northeast on Friday, May 23. "Have the umbrellas, waterproof shoes and warm jackets handy," said AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. While that storm will diminish by Saturday, "the second half of the Memorial Day weekend looks to be mainly dry but quite cool," AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. "Watch those flowers and veggies, as there could be a frost in parts of Pennsylvania and Upstate New York by Sunday morning, if clouds break and the breeze diminishes." More: 'Severe weather threat' forecast for parts of US could ruin your Memorial Day weekend Farther south, AccuWeather said that most of the time from Friday, May 23 to Monday, May 26 will be free of rain. One exception to the dry weather in the Southeast will be over Florida. "Brief but drenching sea breeze thunderstorms are possible over the Florida Peninsula and will generally drift from east to west on a daily basis," Pastelok said. The likelihood of rain and thunderstorms will increase this weekend toward the central Gulf, the Tennessee Valley and the Plains states, AccuWeather said. More numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected for the second half of the weekend when the greatest risk of severe weather is likely in the Central United States. Cities like Kansas City, St. Louis, Little Rock and Nashville will see rain Saturday, May 24 into Sunday, May 25, predicts. The Southwest will be the hot spot for the holiday weekend, according to AccuWeather. "Temperatures should surpass 100 degrees in the deserts each day, while highs well into the 90s are in store for the central and southern part of the interior valley of California," Pastelok added. The Northwest, however, will not be completely dry through the holiday weekend with a couple of showers and thunderstorms extending into the northern Rockies, AccuWeather said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will it rain? Memorial Day 2025 weather forecast for weekend travelers
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Thinking about traveling over Memorial Day weekend? Millions of Americans will have to prepare for rain
A record number of travelers will have to brave the bad weather this Memorial Day holiday weekend as rains looks set to drench much of the U.S. Some 45.1 million people were set to take to the skies, roads and other transportation modes from Thursday to Monday, according to AAA. Travelers will also have to contend with cooler temperatures and storms across central and eastern U.S., according to forecasters. "The second half of the Memorial Day weekend looks to be mainly dry but quite cool," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. "Watch those flowers and veggies, as there could be a frost in parts of Pennsylvania and upstate New York by Sunday morning, if clouds break and the breeze diminishes." Following a rare May nor'easter and a rainy start to the month, more showers are expected for the Big Apple and the Northeast from Friday to Saturday. Down the eastern seaboard, families heading to Disney World, Orlando, may need to pack their rain coats. "Brief but drenching sea breeze thunderstorms are possible over the Florida Peninsula and will generally drift from east to west on a daily basis," Pastelok said. While much of the Southeast will be quiet, the likelihood of thunderstorms increases for the Gulf, Tennessee Valley, and Plains states, AccuWeather said. Thunderstorms are also expected around Memphis and Kansas City. "Fronts bobbing back and forth with mini storm systems moving along will kick off showers and thunderstorms, including severe weather over the Plains," Pastelok said. "Episodes of steady rain are possible farther north from the north-central Plains and farther to the east into the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys where the soil is more moist." The rain will help to east drought conditions in some parched areas, but people camping on oversaturated grounds could see the risk of possibly dangerous flash flooding. Some locations in the central states could see up to 10 inches of rainfall. Even farther west, thunderstorms could develop as far as the Rockies and New Mexico, and the Northwest will not be totally dry. However, it's going to be warm along the West Coast. Temperatures in the interior Northwest are expected to reach the 80s on Sunday and Monday. The Southwest will be even hotter. "Temperatures should surpass 100 in the deserts each day, while highs well into the 90s are in store for the central and southern part of the interior valley of California," Pastelok said.
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Memorial Day weekend weather forecast: Will rain ruin your plans?
Memorial Day weekend weather forecast: Will rain ruin your plans? A large chunk of the middle part of the country will see wet, potentially stormy weather as a system moves through the Plains. Show Caption Hide Caption AccuWeather's 2025 summer forecast Meteorological summer is just weeks away. Lincoln Riddle spoke with our long-range experts to find out what's in store for the United States this summer. Will you be one of the record 45.1 million people that AAA says will be traveling this Memorial Day weekend? Read below to see how the weather will affect your plans. Temperature-wise, while most of the central and eastern U.S. will see below-average temperatures throughout the weekend, the western U.S. and Florida will see above-average warmth, reports. As for rain, a large chunk of the middle part of the country will see wet, potentially stormy weather this weekend as a system moves through the Plains. Nasty weather in the Northeast Folks starting a vacation early will encounter wet and nasty conditions in the Northeast on Friday, May 23. "Have the umbrellas, waterproof shoes and warm jackets handy," said AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. While that storm will diminish by Saturday, "the second half of the Memorial Day weekend looks to be mainly dry but quite cool," AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. "Watch those flowers and veggies, as there could be a frost in parts of Pennsylvania and Upstate New York by Sunday morning, if clouds break and the breeze diminishes." More: 'Severe weather threat' forecast for parts of US could ruin your Memorial Day weekend Dry in the Southeast, except for Florida Farther south, AccuWeather said that most of the time from Friday, May 23 to Monday, May 26 will be free of rain. One exception to the dry weather in the Southeast will be over Florida. "Brief but drenching sea breeze thunderstorms are possible over the Florida Peninsula and will generally drift from east to west on a daily basis," Pastelok said. Stormy in Central US The likelihood of rain and thunderstorms will increase this weekend toward the central Gulf, the Tennessee Valley and the Plains states, AccuWeather said. More numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected for the second half of the weekend when the greatest risk of severe weather is likely in the Central United States. Cities like Kansas City, St. Louis, Little Rock and Nashville will see rain Saturday, May 24 into Sunday, May 25, predicts. Warm in the West The Southwest will be the hot spot for the holiday weekend, according to AccuWeather. "Temperatures should surpass 100 degrees in the deserts each day, while highs well into the 90s are in store for the central and southern part of the interior valley of California," Pastelok added. The Northwest, however, will not be completely dry through the holiday weekend with a couple of showers and thunderstorms extending into the northern Rockies, AccuWeather said.
