Latest news with #WKMG
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Massive Sahara dust cloud is cloaking the Caribbean on its way to U.S.
A massive plume of Saharan dust is covering the Caribbean as it makes its way toward to the United States, where it is expected to impact the Gulf region and other areas. Dust was covering Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and other parts of the region on Tuesday, according to CBS Miami's NEXT Weather radar. The plume was forecast to move northwest and reach Florida mid-week, then hit other states including Georgia, the Carolinas, Texas and Louisiana by Friday. A dust plume from Africa already made its way to Florida over the weekend, CBS Orlando affiliate WKMG reported. Radar showed dust lingering over the state on Monday. By mid-week, a larger plume will be over Florida, affecting air quality in the state. It will then flow northward, radar shows, more widely affecting southeastern U.S. states and the Gulf region. Dust from Africa typically move across the Atlantic every year. It is known the Saharan Air Layer, and dust activity tends to peak from late June to the middle of August, meteorologist Jason Dunion told NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service in 2020. New dust plume "outbreaks" can be seen every few days and reach as far west as Texas. As dust hits the U.S. this week, air quality is also being impacted in some states by wildfire smoke from Canada, where more than 100 fires were burning "out of control" on Tuesday, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. January 6 defendant refuses Trump's pardon Everything we know about the Boulder attack on Israeli hostage march Exclusive discounts from CBS Mornings Deals
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Massive Saharan dust plume is heading for Florida
Saharan dust is heading toward Florida and could be seen over the state by this weekend, radar shows. Dust is forecast to hit south and central Florida on Saturday and stay for at least several days, according to CBS Miami's NEXT Weather radar. Computer models show that after an initial dust wave, a larger and denser plume could be seen in Florida by the middle of next week, CBS Orlando affiliate WKMG reports. Radar also shows dust over south Texas on Monday. Saharan dust was already seen in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands this week, the National Weather Service in San Juan reported on Tuesday. It noted dust impacts included reduced visibility and hazy skies, and said more dust is forecast to move in Saturday and linger through at least Tuesday. Satellite imagery showed dust above most of the Atlantic's tropical waters on Thursday — spanning all the way from Africa's coast to the Gulf, the National Hurricane Center's Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch said in a post on X. It noted that the dry air suppresses the development of storms. Hurricane season officially starts on Sunday. It is typical for dust to move across the Atlantic every year in early summer, WKMG reports. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says it is called the Saharan Air Layer, which is "a mass of very dry, dusty air that forms over the Sahara Desert during the late spring, summer and early fall." Its activity usually "ramps up" in the middle of June before peaking from late in the month to the middle of August, meteorologist Jason Dunion told NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service back in 2020. New "outbreaks" — formed when "ripples" in the atmosphere along the edge of the Sahara Desert kick up dust — can occur every few days and reach as far west as Florida and Texas. Dust sometimes covers areas over the Atlantic as large as the continental United States, Dunion said. The National Weather service said the dust can impact allergies and lead to eye irritation. SpaceX loses contact with its Starship, spins out of control Sneak peek: My Mother's Murder Trials - Part 1 Latest Israeli proposal includes Hamas hostage release timing, temporary ceasefire, official says
CBS News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Viral video captures moment Florida crews find 5-foot alligator "just chillin'" in storm pipe
A curious discovery during a routine pipe inspection in Oviedo, a city just north of Orlando, has local residents buzzing online after municipal crews spotted a 5-foot alligator relaxing deep inside a stormwater pipe beneath a busy street. Contractors were examining the concrete pipe for cracks and irregularities when a robotic inspection camera came face-to-face with the alligator, about 90 feet in. Video released by the city shows the unbothered reptile resting in a puddle before casually retreating another 250 feet farther into the darkness — pausing only to shoot the camera what officials jokingly described as "serious side-eye." The city posted the footage to Facebook on May 15, including a tongue-in-cheek caption in a second post that same day: "He's back! … just chillin'." Though they can't confirm it's the same alligator, officials noted a similar-looking alligator was recorded in the same underground system during a 2023 pothole investigation. "The alligators can easily maneuver in and out of the pipes, and the Econlockhatchee River is in this area," the city told CBS affiliate WKMG, adding that no structural issues were found during the inspection. Oviedo residents react with humor — and livestream requests Oviedo's four-wheel robotic camera followed the creature for approximately 340 feet through the tunnel, capturing footage that's already drawn thousands of views. Within a day, more than 5,000 people had watched the clip, with some suggesting the city launch a 24-hour livestream of the gator's sewer adventures. Residents have even begun brainstorming nicknames, including "Pipe Puppy" and "Oviedo Pipe Gator." Officials reassured residents that, despite the unexpected visitor, the infrastructure remains intact and that the reptile appears to be navigating the system without issue.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Strange-looking orange lizards are popping up across Florida. Here's how they could upend its ecosystems
An invasive lizard species that looks as if its head was dunked in bright orange mac-and-cheese powder is taking over Florida. Peter's rock agama are darting around neighborhoods this spring, and experts say they're likely to be increasingly more common in coming months. That's concerning for native populations, including the Reef Gecko. Peter's rock agama may pose a threat to small native insects and reptiles by preying upon native species and out-competing them for resources. 'Peters's rock agama are larger than most geckos in Florida (note we only have one native species of gecko),' Dr. Steve Johnson told WKMG. 'The agama have spiny scales and a somewhat rough appearance, whereas our geckos have small, flat scales and look much smoother. Also, Peters's rock agama are active during the day, but the geckos are active mainly at night,' he noted. The males are up to a foot long, while the females are less than half that size. Breeding males have an orange or red head, a black or indigo body, and a multicolored tail. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, Peter's rock agama were first documented in the Sunshine State in 1976, and have been found in more than half of Florida's 67 counties, according to The Palm Beach Post. They're particularly hard to catch, according to the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The commission encourages residents to report sightings. 'Eradication of established populations in Florida is likely not feasible,' the agency notes. In addition to eating insects — such as the grasshoppers and crickets — they also eat their own young. They are allowed to be humanely killed on private property with landowner permission, and year-round without a permit or hunting license on 32 Commission-managed lands in southern Florida. Although they are confined largely to residential areas, they don't pose a threat to pets or people, although their bite could be painful, according to the University of Florida. Very little research has been conducted, but it seems unlikely that they have made significant negative impacts on Florida's environment. 'Because they feed on insects and other small invertebrates, they do have the potential to negatively impact imperiled butterflies, especially in south Florida and the Keys. However, this has not been studied,' the university said.
The Independent
05-05-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Strange-looking orange lizards are popping up across Florida. Here's how they could upend its ecosystems
An invasive lizard species that looks as if its head was dunked in bright orange mac-and-cheese powder is taking over Florida. Peter's rock agama are darting around neighborhoods this spring, and experts say they're likely to be increasingly more common in coming months. That's concerning for native populations, including the Reef Gecko. Peter's rock agama may pose a threat to small native insects and reptiles by preying upon native species and out-competing them for resources. 'Peters's rock agama are larger than most geckos in Florida (note we only have one native species of gecko),' Dr. Steve Johnson told WKMG. 'The agama have spiny scales and a somewhat rough appearance, whereas our geckos have small, flat scales and look much smoother. Also, Peters's rock agama are active during the day, but the geckos are active mainly at night,' he noted. The males are up to a foot long, while the females are less than half that size. Breeding males have an orange or red head, a black or indigo body, and a multicolored tail. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, Peter's rock agama were first documented in the Sunshine State in 1976, and have been found in more than half of Florida's 67 counties, according to The Palm Beach Post. They're particularly hard to catch, according to the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The commission encourages residents to report sightings. 'Eradication of established populations in Florida is likely not feasible,' the agency notes. In addition to eating insects — such as the grasshoppers and crickets — they also eat their own young. They are allowed to be humanely killed on private property with landowner permission, and year-round without a permit or hunting license on 32 Commission-managed lands in southern Florida. Although they are confined largely to residential areas, they don't pose a threat to pets or people, although their bite could be painful, according to the University of Florida. Very little research has been conducted, but it seems unlikely that they have made significant negative impacts on Florida's environment. 'Because they feed on insects and other small invertebrates, they do have the potential to negatively impact imperiled butterflies, especially in south Florida and the Keys. However, this has not been studied,' the university said.
