Latest news with #Sosnowski
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
40 years ago: Pennsylvania's deadliest tornado outbreak, only F5 twister
Friday, May 31, 1985, was a spring day like any other. Trees and flowers were in full bloom, Memorial Day weekend was in the rearview mirror, and most residents of Pennsylvania, Ohio and southern Ontario were looking forward to the weekend. By the end of the day, however, 44 tornadoes had ripped through the region, killing 89 people. One massive twister moved from Ohio into Pennsylvania, destroying everything in its path, and still stands as the only F5 tornado on the Fujita Scale to strike Pennsylvania. Eight F4 tornadoes were also documented. The outbreak caused unprecedented damage and also remains Pennsylvania's deadliest severe weather outbreak to this day. An AccuWeather meteorologist remembers the day Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski was working at AccuWeather on that fateful day. "I remember the days before the outbreak. We kept ramping up our concern for tornadoes in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. We forecast 'a swarm of tornadoes' the day before, which was very unusual for that area," Sosnowski said. "We didn't have cell phones or internet then, so we couldn't watch it happen in real time," Sosnowski explained. "When I got to work around midnight, the mood was somber. The word had come through that lots of people were injured or killed." 5 Boy Scouts miraculously survived an F4 tornado One F4 tornado tracked 69 miles from Penfield to Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, and destroyed an estimated 88,000 trees in the Moshannon State Forest. Five Boy Scouts at Parker Dam State Park were lucky to survive in a cabin surrounded by destruction. Carey Huber, an Environmental Education Specialist at Parker Dam, told WTAJ in 2018 that the destruction around the cabin "looked like matchsticks or toothpicks laying in different directions all over the place." Watching the deadly storm on radar Radar was available in 1985 but only at some television stations and universities. Lee Grenci, a lecturer at Penn State University, was in the Penn State "radar room," watching the Doppler with other Penn State faculty members. It was a black and white screen, but forecasters could hold up a piece of paper to the screen to see the locations of towns and roads. They were awed by what they saw, a supercell thunderstorm with a curled hook echo north of State College, Pennsylvania, home to Penn State University (PSU). "[We] were mesmerized by the radar, and, out of the dead silence, [PSU Professor] Greg Forbes said, people are dying right now. I never, ever forgot that moment," Grenci said. Storm left scars on the land Stephen Corfidi of the Severe Local Storms Unit of the National Severe Storms Forecast Center, as the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) was known in those days, was amazed by the strength of the F4 twister north of State College. "Eight years after the event, the path of the nearly mile-wide monster storm remained nearly devoid of trees - in stark contrast to the richly green forest surrounding it," Corfidi said. The storm's scar was visible on satellite maps until the early 2000s. An infamous and rare video of the F5 tornado The strongest storm of the outbreak, an F5 tornado, began in Portage County in Ohio and tracked across Trumbull County into Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Home video cameras were rare in those days, but one resident filmed the infamous storm. For the 40th anniversary of the outbreak, WFMJ talked to Ron Alfredo, who took the rare video of the tornado in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. After seeing unusually large hail, he said, the tornado came into view. He kept the video rolling. "I thought it was papers flying," Alfredo said of swirling debris that he later realized was buildings being torn apart. A dozen killed in Ontario In southern Ontario, 14 tornadoes left massive damage north of Toronto, killing 12 people. Three tornadoes were rated F3 on the Fujita Scale. "The tornado hit so hard that in some places, there was simply nothing left," CBC's Vicki Russell said at the time.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
In oddball May heat wave, it's hotter in North Dakota than in Florida
A May heat wave is scorching portions of the central United States with near record-breaking high temperatures, raising concerns about wildfires and heat stress on people not used to the summer-like warmth. Temperatures will soar well into the 90s and may even approach 100 degrees through May 13 over a thousand square miles of the northern Plains, AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. This is significantly warmer than some locations in the southeast U.S., including Miami, Florida, which should only see highs in the mid-80s. Extreme heat will also scorch much of Texas, where the National Weather Service warned that "many will not be acclimated to this type of heat so early within the year and thus the risk for heat-related illness is higher than normal. Please practice heat safety!" Heat safety reminders include to "drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors," the weather service said. Days of downpours: Storm that soaked Southeast to drench Mid-Atlantic Indeed, residents throughout the Plains should plan ahead to find ways to stay cool and hydrated. In southern Texas, major heat-related impacts may stick around through the second half of the week, said meteorologist Peter Mullinax in the National Weather Service's short-range forecast discussion. "In some cases, temperatures will be 30-40 degrees above the historical average for May and shatter daily record highs by several degrees," Sosnowski said in an online forecast. The dry heat is fueling wildfires in the upper Midwest, as another day of volatile fire weather is expected in northeast Minnesota on May 13, as crews continue to battle large wildfires burning out of control, Minnesota Public Radio reported. AccuWeather warned that dry grasses and leaves leftover from the winter will become a prime source of fuel for any wildfire that ignites. "Small fires can rapidly escalate into major blazes and threaten lives and property," Sosnowski said. The heat will also be felt in Texas this week, with highs in the triple digits along the Rio Grande Valley and into central Texas. Temperatures have a high chance of setting new daily record highs and are expected to near, if not exceed, all-time record highs for the month of May, the National Weather Service in New Braunfels, Texas, said. The heat will continue May 14: "Wednesday (May 14) sees the footprint of 80s and 90s temperatures grow across the Heartland with the hottest temperatures once again making their home in Texas," Mullinax said. More opportunities for both record-breaking highs and record warm minimum temperatures will be common in parts of the Southern Plains and Upper Midwest through May 14, he added. Farther west, winter is hanging on in the northern Rockies, as Mullinax said there is some high-elevation mountain snow in parts of Montana and Wyoming. "Over a foot of snow is forecast across Montana's southwest mountains, Wyoming's western mountain ranges, and Wyoming's Big Horn Mountains. Treacherous travel for recreation in those areas are likely." This storm system also ushered in a considerably cooler air mass that will advance across the western U.S. through mid-week, he said. Temperatures from the West Coast to the Great Basin and Northern Rockies could be on the order of 10 to 20 degrees below normal May 13, with similar temperature anomalies throughout much of the Intermountain West on May 14. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: May heat wave scorches central US, fueling wildfires
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Storms expected across Texas throughout Easter holiday weekend. Here's the forecast
If you were hoping for sunny skies on Easter Sunday for picnics and egg hunts, you might want to make backup plans. Storms are expected across much of Texas throughout the weekend. "Multiple rounds of thunderstorms will rattle vast areas of the United States into Easter Sunday," said AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski in an online forecast. "Some packing large hail, high winds and tornadoes will pose a significant risk to lives and property." A few areas may experience severe conditions for several days in a row. Organized, potent thunderstorms are forecast to ramp up starting Thursday with subsequent rounds of severe weather right through Easter on Sunday, April 20, mainly focused on the central United States, AccuWeather said. As the weekend begins on Friday and Saturday, 'the severe weather threat will become more elongated and stretch for 1,000 miles or more each day — from central Texas to parts of Ohio, and even as far north as Michigan and as far east as West Virginia,' said Sosnowski. On Easter Sunday, the most dangerous storms are expected to target areas from central Texas and northwestern Louisiana through eastern Kansas, Missouri, and parts of western Illinois. Here's the chance for storms across Texas this weekend: Friday: Cloudy, 18% chance of precipitation Saturday: Evening thunderstorms, 37% chance of precipitation Sunday: Morning thunderstorms, 74% chance of precipitation Friday: Partly cloudy/windy, 4% chance of precipitation Saturday: Morning clouds and afternoon sun, 14% chance of precipitation Sunday: Partly cloudy, 24% chance of precipitation Friday: Mostly cloudy and windy, 6% chance of precipitation Saturday: Thunderstorms, 73% chance of precipitation Sunday: Morning showers, 55% chance of precipitation Friday: Mornings clouds and afternoon sun, 10% chance of precipitation Saturday: Cloudy, 24% chance of precipitation Sunday: Thunderstorms, 63% chance of precipitation Friday: Partly cloudy, 0% chance of precipitation Saturday: Mostly sunny, 3% chance of precipitation Sunday: Sunny, 0% chance of precipitation Friday: Mostly cloudy, 1% chance of precipitation Saturday: Mostly sunny, 5% chance of precipitation Sunday: Sunny, 8% chance of precipitation Friday: Morning clouds and afternoon sun, 17% chance of precipitation Saturday: Cloudy and windy, 15% chance of precipitation Sunday: Thunderstorm, 64% chance of precipitation Friday: Mostly cloudy, 1% chance of precipitation Saturday: Partly cloudy, 23% chance of precipitation Sunday: Sunny, 2% chance of precipitation Friday: Mostly cloudy, 10% chance of precipitation Saturday: Afternoon thunderstorms, 43% chance of precipitation Sunday: Morning thunderstorms, 79% chance of precipitation Friday: Cloudy and windy, 17% chance of precipitation Saturday: Afternoon thunderstorms, 48% chance of precipitation Sunday: Morning thunderstorms, 69% chance of precipitation This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Easter weather forecast: Storms to drench much of Texas this weekend
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Stormy weather could impact Easter travel plans in parts of the US as millions hit road for holiday weekend
Stormy weather could impact Easter travel plans for millions of Americans across the central U.S. throughout the weekend. Millions of Americans are expected to head to airports, and others will hit the road to visit with family or take a break from school. 'No matter the destination, travelers are ready to unwind after a long winter,' Josie Nicotra, the director of travel at AAA Western and Central New York, said in a statement. 'For many, Easter vacation is a family tradition. This year, many families are traveling with grandparents as multigenerational travel continues to trend upward.' But, vacations could be marred by dangerous driving conditions and flight delays amid stormy weather. 'Multiple rounds of thunderstorms will rattle vast areas of the United States into Easter Sunday, but some packing large hail, high winds and tornadoes will pose a significant risk to lives and property,' AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski warned. Storms were already bringing 60 mph winds and quarter-sized hail in Kansas, according to local forecasters. From Thursday afternoon to evening, severe thunderstorms may bring hail the size of baseballs to residents in Iowa. By Friday and into Saturday, the severe threat will stretch across 1,000 miles from Texas to Michigan. 'All modes of severe weather will be possible Friday and Saturday in this extensive zone. The threats will range from large hail and flash urban flooding to damaging wind gusts and tornadoes,' Sosnowski said. The risk of flash flooding will increase with each round of rainfall over multiple days, causing rises on some rivers that avoided flooding earlier this month. 'Towns hit hard by flooding and tornadoes in early April could be impacted yet again by flooding rainfall and severe weather through the holiday weekend. The risk of downpours, flash flooding, hail, tornadoes and damaging wind gusts could disrupt repairs and recovery efforts,' AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin cautioned. However, the worst of the rain will remain to the northwest of areas hit the hardest in Kentucky and Missouri. As many as four to eight inches of rain may fall in communities from central Texas to central Illinois. On Easter, the most dangerous storms could slam Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. Those impacts are anticipated in the afternoon hours, with storms reaching their peak in the evening when people may be headed home from egg hunts and dinners. 'The most intense storms later Sunday will pack damaging hail, powerful wind gusts and tornadoes. The severe weather threat is likely to continue past sunset, which will add to the danger for people heading home or sound asleep after a busy weekend full of activities,' Sosnowski noted. Peter Mullinax, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center, said that the unsettled weather pattern could continue beyond the Easter weekend, according to The New YorkTimes. 'There's still going to be an ongoing active weather pattern across the eastern two-thirds of the country,' he said.
The Independent
17-04-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Stormy weather could impact Easter travel plans in parts of the US as millions hit road for holiday weekend
Stormy weather could impact Easter travel plans for millions of Americans across the central U.S. throughout the weekend. Millions of Americans are expected to head to airports, and others will hit the road to visit with family or take a break from school. 'No matter the destination, travelers are ready to unwind after a long winter,' Josie Nicotra, the director of travel at AAA Western and Central New York, said in a statement. 'For many, Easter vacation is a family tradition. This year, many families are traveling with grandparents as multigenerational travel continues to trend upward.' But, vacations could be marred by dangerous driving conditions and flight delays amid stormy weather. 'Multiple rounds of thunderstorms will rattle vast areas of the United States into Easter Sunday, but some packing large hail, high winds and tornadoes will pose a significant risk to lives and property,' AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski warned. Storms were already bringing 60 mph winds and quarter-sized hail in Kansas, according to local forecasters. From Thursday afternoon to evening, severe thunderstorms may bring hail the size of baseballs to residents in Iowa. By Friday and into Saturday, the severe threat will stretch across 1,000 miles from Texas to Michigan. 'All modes of severe weather will be possible Friday and Saturday in this extensive zone. The threats will range from large hail and flash urban flooding to damaging wind gusts and tornadoes,' Sosnowski said. The risk of flash flooding will increase with each round of rainfall over multiple days, causing rises on some rivers that avoided flooding earlier this month. 'Towns hit hard by flooding and tornadoes in early April could be impacted yet again by flooding rainfall and severe weather through the holiday weekend. The risk of downpours, flash flooding, hail, tornadoes and damaging wind gusts could disrupt repairs and recovery efforts,' AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin cautioned. However, the worst of the rain will remain to the northwest of areas hit the hardest in Kentucky and Missouri. As many as four to eight inches of rain may fall in communities from central Texas to central Illinois. On Easter, the most dangerous storms could slam Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. Those impacts are anticipated in the afternoon hours, with storms reaching their peak in the evening when people may be headed home from egg hunts and dinners. 'The most intense storms later Sunday will pack damaging hail, powerful wind gusts and tornadoes. The severe weather threat is likely to continue past sunset, which will add to the danger for people heading home or sound asleep after a busy weekend full of activities,' Sosnowski noted. Peter Mullinax, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center, said that the unsettled weather pattern could continue beyond the Easter weekend, according to The New YorkTimes. 'There's still going to be an ongoing active weather pattern across the eastern two-thirds of the country,' he said.
