Latest news with #USNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration
Time of India
2 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Northern lights set to shine over Canada tonight; Millions could witness rare solar storm display
A powerful solar storm is set to light up the skies over Canada on Monday night(June 2), offering a rare opportunity for millions to witness the mesmerizing aurora borealis . Cities where you can watch the northern lights tonight The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) has forecasted that the northern lights will be visible directly overhead across nearly all of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon , and the Northwest Territories, including cities like Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Yellowknife, and Whitehorse. Large parts of Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada may also catch a glimpse of the lights overhead or on the northern horizon. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Undo Timings and conditions The celestial display is expected to peak overnight between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. EDT. However, viewing conditions will depend on clear and dark skies, away from city lights. In areas near the southern edge of the aurora's visibility, such as parts of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and southwestern Ontario, an unobstructed view of the northern horizon will be essential. This heightened aurora activity is due to a coronal mass ejection (CME) that occurred on May 31, originating from the highly active sunspot region AR4100. Live Events The CME reached Earth on June 1, leading to a G4-class geomagnetic storm, one of the more severe classifications. Such storms can cause disruptions in satellite operations, communication systems, and power grids, but they also produce spectacular auroras, with the northern lights potentially visible at lower latitudes than usual. While the northern lights are typically confined to regions like Alaska and Northern Canada, stronger solar activity in recent years has extended visibility farther south. In 2024, the lights were visible as far south as Texas, a rare occurrence. Although the current forecast does not confirm if Texas is included this year, past events raise the possibility that the state could again witness the aurora. Places away from city lights are ideal For those hoping to catch a glimpse of this natural wonder, it's advisable to find a location away from city lights with a clear view of the northern horizon. Even in areas where the lights could be visible directly overhead, avoiding light pollution and having clear conditions will provide the best viewing experience. The northern lights will also be visible on Tuesday night(June 3), but with a more limited range. As always, the best viewing conditions depend on clear, dark skies and minimal light pollution.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Advertiser
Sahara dust cloud smothers Caribbean, approaches US
A massive cloud of dust from the Sahara desert has blanketed most of the Caribbean in the biggest event of its kind this year as it heads toward the United States. The cloud extended about 3200km from Jamaica to well past Barbados in the eastern Caribbean, and 1200km from the Turks and Caicos Islands in the northern Caribbean down south to Trinidad and Tobago. "It's very impressive," said Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert with AccuWeather. The hazy skies unleashed sneezes, coughs and watery eyes across the Caribbean, with local forecasters warning that those with allergies, asthma and other conditions should remain indoors or wear face masks if outdoors. The dust concentration was high, at .55 aerosol optical depth, the highest amount so far this year, said Yidiana Zayas, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The aerosol optical depth measures how much direct sunlight is prevented from reaching the ground by particles, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The plume is expected to hit Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi late this week and into the weekend, DaSilva said. However, plumes usually lose most of their concentration in the eastern Caribbean, he noted. "Those islands tend to see more of an impact, more of a concentration where it can actually block out the sun a little bit at times," he said. The dry and dusty air known as the Saharan Air Layer forms over the Sahara desert in Africa and moves west across the Atlantic Ocean starting around April until about October, according to NOAA. It also prevents tropical waves from forming during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to November 30. In June 2020, a record-breaking cloud of Sahara dust smothered the Caribbean. The size and concentration of the plume had not been seen in half a century, prompting forecasters to nickname it the "Godzilla dust cloud". A massive cloud of dust from the Sahara desert has blanketed most of the Caribbean in the biggest event of its kind this year as it heads toward the United States. The cloud extended about 3200km from Jamaica to well past Barbados in the eastern Caribbean, and 1200km from the Turks and Caicos Islands in the northern Caribbean down south to Trinidad and Tobago. "It's very impressive," said Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert with AccuWeather. The hazy skies unleashed sneezes, coughs and watery eyes across the Caribbean, with local forecasters warning that those with allergies, asthma and other conditions should remain indoors or wear face masks if outdoors. The dust concentration was high, at .55 aerosol optical depth, the highest amount so far this year, said Yidiana Zayas, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The aerosol optical depth measures how much direct sunlight is prevented from reaching the ground by particles, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The plume is expected to hit Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi late this week and into the weekend, DaSilva said. However, plumes usually lose most of their concentration in the eastern Caribbean, he noted. "Those islands tend to see more of an impact, more of a concentration where it can actually block out the sun a little bit at times," he said. The dry and dusty air known as the Saharan Air Layer forms over the Sahara desert in Africa and moves west across the Atlantic Ocean starting around April until about October, according to NOAA. It also prevents tropical waves from forming during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to November 30. In June 2020, a record-breaking cloud of Sahara dust smothered the Caribbean. The size and concentration of the plume had not been seen in half a century, prompting forecasters to nickname it the "Godzilla dust cloud". A massive cloud of dust from the Sahara desert has blanketed most of the Caribbean in the biggest event of its kind this year as it heads toward the United States. The cloud extended about 3200km from Jamaica to well past Barbados in the eastern Caribbean, and 1200km from the Turks and Caicos Islands in the northern Caribbean down south to Trinidad and Tobago. "It's very impressive," said Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert with AccuWeather. The hazy skies unleashed sneezes, coughs and watery eyes across the Caribbean, with local forecasters warning that those with allergies, asthma and other conditions should remain indoors or wear face masks if outdoors. The dust concentration was high, at .55 aerosol optical depth, the highest amount so far this year, said Yidiana Zayas, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The aerosol optical depth measures how much direct sunlight is prevented from reaching the ground by particles, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The plume is expected to hit Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi late this week and into the weekend, DaSilva said. However, plumes usually lose most of their concentration in the eastern Caribbean, he noted. "Those islands tend to see more of an impact, more of a concentration where it can actually block out the sun a little bit at times," he said. The dry and dusty air known as the Saharan Air Layer forms over the Sahara desert in Africa and moves west across the Atlantic Ocean starting around April until about October, according to NOAA. It also prevents tropical waves from forming during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to November 30. In June 2020, a record-breaking cloud of Sahara dust smothered the Caribbean. The size and concentration of the plume had not been seen in half a century, prompting forecasters to nickname it the "Godzilla dust cloud". A massive cloud of dust from the Sahara desert has blanketed most of the Caribbean in the biggest event of its kind this year as it heads toward the United States. The cloud extended about 3200km from Jamaica to well past Barbados in the eastern Caribbean, and 1200km from the Turks and Caicos Islands in the northern Caribbean down south to Trinidad and Tobago. "It's very impressive," said Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert with AccuWeather. The hazy skies unleashed sneezes, coughs and watery eyes across the Caribbean, with local forecasters warning that those with allergies, asthma and other conditions should remain indoors or wear face masks if outdoors. The dust concentration was high, at .55 aerosol optical depth, the highest amount so far this year, said Yidiana Zayas, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The aerosol optical depth measures how much direct sunlight is prevented from reaching the ground by particles, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The plume is expected to hit Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi late this week and into the weekend, DaSilva said. However, plumes usually lose most of their concentration in the eastern Caribbean, he noted. "Those islands tend to see more of an impact, more of a concentration where it can actually block out the sun a little bit at times," he said. The dry and dusty air known as the Saharan Air Layer forms over the Sahara desert in Africa and moves west across the Atlantic Ocean starting around April until about October, according to NOAA. It also prevents tropical waves from forming during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to November 30. In June 2020, a record-breaking cloud of Sahara dust smothered the Caribbean. The size and concentration of the plume had not been seen in half a century, prompting forecasters to nickname it the "Godzilla dust cloud".
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Stargazers in Germany may catch rare glimpse of Northern Lights
Stargazers in Germany may catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights on Sunday night. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has registered a mass ejection of charged particles from the sun heading towards Earth, which could trigger such a spectacle. "The chances of seeing the Northern Lights for the coming night are indeed very high, even at mid-latitudes, meaning up to the Alpine region," Carolin Liefke from the House of Astronomy in Heidelberg said. However, she noted that precise forecasts are, as always, difficult to make. In Germany, the best prospects for viewing the colourful celestial display are in the centre of the country and the north-western half, from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia towards the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, a meteorologist from the German Weather Service said. In the south and east, the meteorologist expects predominantly clouds, with occasional showers and thunderstorms. Nevertheless, he added that there could also be significant clear-sky periods in those areas. The colourful lights in the sky can occur when mass ejections from the sun, which are massive clouds of charged particles, collide with Earth's magnetic field. The Northern Lights visible across large parts of Germany in May 2024 were triggered by a category G5 storm, the highest category. The cycle of strong and weak solar activity occurs in approximately 11-year cycles. The current cycle is currently in its maximum phase, which can last a few years and is characterized by relatively frequent solar eruptions.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Memorial Day 2025 weekend USA weather forecast: Location wise snow, rainfall details are out
Memorial Day 2025 weekend is here and millions across the US will travel to their favourite destinations. Temperatures over the holiday weekend will be a study in contrasts — from warm across much of the South and West to cool across much of the Midwest and Northeast, said Peter Mullinax, a meteorologist at the federal Weather Prediction Center. A slow-moving nor'easter will cause chilly air, rain and gusty winds to remain in parts of the Northeast on Friday. Snow may fall over the highest elevations in New England. The rain will tend to be more showery from the Great Lakes to the central Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic. Much of the zone from the western Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley and the Carolinas can expect a dry day, well away from the storm's influence. Farther south, high pressure will provide mainly sunny and warm conditions for the Southeast states. One exception is South Florida, where some heavy thunderstorm activity is anticipated. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You won't believe what your old car is worth today Cars24 Book Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola Farther west, a gathering storm system will produce an expanding zone of showers and thunderstorms over the central and southern Plains. Some of the storms will become severe, with high winds, hail and tornadoes. Flash flooding is forecast to develop and expand around the Ozarks as the weekend progresses. In the West, many areas will be dry and warm with sunshine. Showers and spotty thunderstorms will occur from Montana to southwest Idaho and eastern Oregon. West Coast beaches can expect some afternoon sunshine after patchy low clouds and fog in the morning. Live Events Meanwhile, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Thursday predicted a more intense Atlantic hurricane season this year -- even as the Trump administration moves to gut the agency's workforce and slash its budget. NOAA is forecasting a 60 percent chance of an above-normal season, with between 13 to 19 named storms with winds of 39 mph (63 kph) or higher. Of those, six to 10 are expected to become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher, including three to five major hurricanes classed as categories three, four, or five, with sustained winds of at least 111 mph. There is also a 30 percent chance of a near-normal season and a 10 percent chance of a below-normal season, the agency said. Last year, five storms that were big enough that they were assigned names caused economic losses exceeding a billion dollars, adjusted for inflation, according to NOAA. The deadliest of these was Helene, responsible for 250 US deaths — the most since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. FAQs Q1. When is Memorial Day 2025 weekend starting? A1. Memorial Day 2025 weekend is starting from May 24. Q2. What is full form of NOAA? A2. The full form of NOAA is the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
eNCA
23-05-2025
- Climate
- eNCA
US braces for intense hurricane season as climate agency is gutted
WASHINGTON - The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted a more intense Atlantic hurricane season this year -- even as the Trump administration moves to gut the agency's workforce and slash its budget. NOAA is forecasting a 60 percent chance of an above-normal season, with between 13 to 19 named storms with winds of 63km/h or higher. Of those, six to 10 are expected to become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher, including three to five major hurricanes classed as categories three, four, or five, with sustained winds of at least 111 mph. There is also a 30 percent chance of a near-normal season and a 10 percent chance of a below-normal season, the agency said. The administration is also seeking to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), calling for it to be shut down and its duties instead handed to individual states. FEMA's acting head, Cameron Hamilton -- who was appointed by the Trump administration -- was fired earlier this month after saying that eliminating the agency was not "in the best interests of the American people." - Warming oceans - The forecast cites a confluence of factors: neutral conditions in the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate pattern, warmer-than-average ocean temperatures, predictions of weak wind shear, and increased activity from the West African Monsoon -- the starting point for Atlantic hurricanes. "As we witnessed last year with significant inland flooding from hurricanes Helene and Debby, the impacts of hurricanes can reach far beyond coastal communities," said Acting NOAA Administrator Laura Grimm in a statement. "NOAA is critical for the delivery of early and accurate forecasts and warnings, and provides the scientific expertise needed to save lives and property." But Rick Spinrad, the former NOAA administrator, told AFP he was deeply concerned about the agency's ability to respond following mass layoffs of meteorologists, technicians and other key personnel, spearheaded by Elon Musk's so-called "Department of Government Efficiency." "I worry about the ability to fly the aircraft, run the models, answer the phones as these storms start bearing down on the country -- at the same time that the Weather Service is going to have to be dealing with tornadoes, wildfires, floods, extreme precipitation," said Spinrad. Seawater temperatures have been rising for decades as a result of burning fossil fuels, Spinrad added. "So it's not a surprise, and undoubtedly, climate change has contributed to some of the ocean temperatures that are a major factor in this forecast." President Donald Trump is seeking to cut NOAA's research operations budget by $1.3 billion next year. Project 2025 -- the conservative blueprint the administration is using to guide its second-term agenda -- has labelled the agency a key driver of "climate alarmism." Last year, five storms that were big enough that they were assigned names caused economic losses exceeding a billion dollars, adjusted for inflation, according to NOAA. The deadliest of these was Helene, responsible for 250 US deaths — the most since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Trump administration announced earlier this month it will stop updating its billion-dollar disaster database, which for 44 years illustrated the rising cost of climate destabilisation.
