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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Thunderstorms to follow high heat, wildfire smoke in Massachusetts on Thursday
Massachusetts is in for a sweltering Thursday with soaring temperatures, humidity and a haze of wildfire smoke in the air — all followed with a chance for thunderstorms. An air quality alert has been issued until 11 p.m. for some parts of Eastern Massachusetts by the National Weather Service, as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to roll in. The affected counties include Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. The air is considered in the 'unhealthy' range for sensitive children and adults, including those with asthma, lung or heart disease and older adults. Those groups are recommended to limit outdoor activity on Thursday, the Weather Service said. Temperatures are forecast to reach the 90s statewide during the daytime, with sunny skies — minus the wildfire smoke haze — light winds and high humidity. Rain chances rise this afternoon, with showers possible after 1 p.m. in Eastern Massachusetts, 2 p.m. in Central and 4 p.m. in the western part of the state. Isolated thunderstorms and downpours will also be possible, and could continue into the evening, forecasters warned. Temperatures will dip to the high 60s overnight and aren't expected to rebound past the 80s on Friday, the Weather Service said. However, the continued humidity will allow for more thunderstorms to develop throughout the day statewide. Rain is expected to reach Western Massachusetts first on Friday, possibly before noon, with thunderstorm chances increasing after 2 p.m. Central Massachusetts should see rain and storms by around 3 p.m., while Eastern Massachusetts may be hit by storms starting around 2 p.m. Rainfall amounts could total up to a half-inch in Central Massachusetts during the day on Friday, while Eastern and Western may receive up to a quarter-inch. Damaging winds and flooding are forecasters' main concerns from these 'stronger, slow-moving storms,' with pockets of torrential rainfall causing localized street flooding. The storms are projected to continue throughout Friday evening and into Saturday. Forecasters are eyeing a cold front to bring temperatures back down into the 70s by Sunday. A hidden waterfall in Worcester is flowing for the first time in four years Air quality alert in place for 3 Massachusetts counties Thursday Air quality alert active for Hampden County until early Thursday Mass. weather: Heat wave brings wildfire smoke, hazy skies Mass. weekend weather: Upcoming rainy weekend may mark 12-week streak Read the original article on MassLive.
Daily Maverick
5 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Maverick
Forecast U-turn: Southwest SA now seen having a very wet midwinter
One key trend that remains largely unchanged from previous forecasts is that across most of South Africa, the winter and spring of 2025 are expected to be warmer than usual. While this will be welcomed by many, it is worrying on a number of fronts. The South African Weather Service has made a U-turn in its rolling five-month outlook for the southwest and the eastern coastal regions of the country. From midwinter, the southwest is expected to have above-normal rainfall during its annual wet season, but then things will dry out as winter fades and spring emerges. But the eastern coastal areas are expected to get drenched right through to spring. This is a marked departure from previous forecasts, which predicted an unseasonably dry winter for these areas. 'During winter and early spring, the areas that receive significant seasonal rainfall are limited to the southwestern parts of the country and the southern and eastern coastal areas,' the Weather Service said in its monthly Seasonal Climate Watch that looks five months ahead — in this case from June to October. 'During midwinter the southwest and eastern coastal areas are expected to receive above-normal rainfall, however during late winter and early spring only the eastern coastal areas' expected rainfall remains above normal, with the southwest's outlook changing to below normal rainfall.' One key trend that remains largely unchanged from previous forecasts is that across most of South Africa, the winter and spring of 2025 are expected to be warmer than usual. What this means A mild winter means you may not have to bundle up as per usual and crank up your heating systems. But on the global climate stage, the past decade has been the warmest on record with frightening implications for societies and the environment, and this is in keeping with that worrying trend. Not having to wear a sweater as often as in past winters is not a good sign. While this will be welcomed by many, it is worrying on a number of fronts — warmer is not better against the backdrop of rapid climate change linked to fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions. 'The anticipated above-normal rainfall over the southwest and eastern coastal areas during midwinter and late winter and early spring over the eastern coastal areas might not be significant enough to benefit water resources in terms of improving the water levels in reservoirs,' the report said. 'Possible benefits are likely to cancel out due to the anticipated above-normal temperatures, further impacting water levels in areas such as the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga, where a number of settlements are still impacted by the ongoing drought conditions.' Dam levels in the Western Cape are currently at 57.2%, according to the latest data from the Department of Water Affairs. At this time of the year they are typically lower than other provinces because of regional rainfall patterns, but they will need good rains to top up properly. This rolling outlook is never set in stone and it could change again next month when it will look ahead to November. DM
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Thunderstorms sweep across SoCal, with lightning bringing risk of fire-starts
An unseasonable series of thunderstorms were sweeping across Southern California on Tuesday, bringing with them the potential for fire-starting lightning strikes in areas with limited rainfall. In the Los Angeles area, storms gathered around the San Gabriel Mountains in the morning before descending into urban areas and traveling southwest across the region and along the coast, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Kittell. Every part of L.A. is within earshot of thunder today, he said. The storms have brought significant thunder and lightning but generally have been accompanied by light rainfall, a tenth of an inch or less. "It is kind of a dry lightning setup where you get the lightning that could start a fire but not the rain that would put it out," he said. "Thankfully so far we haven't seen any reports of any fire. We hope it stays that way." In addition to posing the risk of igniting a wildfire, lightning also poses a danger to human and animal health. "Almost 100 people are killed every year from being struck by lightning in this country," said Kittell. "Definitely heed nature's warning call when you hear that thunder and find shelter." Fortunately, the lighter rainfall levels have decreased the risk of a debris flow taking place in the Eaton and Palisades fire burn scars, a possibility forecasters warned of Monday. But the storm system is bringing heavier rains farther inland, and the Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for San Bernardino County, where some areas had collected up three-quarters of an inch of rain by 4:30 p.m. The heaviest rainfall in the Los Angeles region was in higher mountain regions, with Mt. Baldy recording 0.31 inches of rain by 4:30 p.m., Kittell said. Tuesday's storms are a rare occurrence as the Southland typically sees the bulk of its thunderstorms in August and September. "It's really an unusual low pressure system pulling in this moist, tropical air from Mexico," said Kittell. "We just don't see that kind of system move through our area this time of the year." The storms are forecast to continue rolling through Southern California on Tuesday evening before gradually exiting the region by around 10 p.m., Kittell said. Wednesday will also see high humidity and the chance of scattered showers. More typical June weather is forecast to return Thursday, with a marine layer hovering over the coast and moderate temperatures across the Los Angeles County. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Frost Advisory issued for areas of Pennsylvania despite it being June
ALTOONA, PA. (WTAJ) — The National Weather Service out of State College has issued a Frost Advisory for parts of Pennsylvania. The advisory is in effect from 1 a.m. until 7 a.m. Monday, June 2. Counties included: Cameron, Clearfield, and Elk. Temperatures through the overnight hours into Monday morning will dip towards the mid to upper 30s within the Laurel Highlands and towards the I-80 corridor. Frost could harm sensitive vegetation in valley areas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Weather Service offices covering parts of rural Nebraska no longer monitor weather 24/7
Among the responsibilities of the Nebraska State Climate Office is to manage the state's "mesonet" system, which includes this weather monitoring station near Big Springs. (Courtesy of the Nebraska Mesonet system) LINCOLN — Two National Weather Service offices that cover some rural parts of Nebraska will no longer monitor local weather around-the-clock. The Weather Service offices in neighboring states that forecast parts of western and southwest Nebraska cut back from 24/7 coverage after staffing reductions were made under the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency. One office in Wyoming covers eight counties in the Nebraska Panhandle, and the other, in Kansas, forecasts for three counties in the southwestern corner of Nebraska. Those two offices in neighboring states are among only four nationally so short of staff that they lack enough meteorologists to staff an overnight shift. Other nearby forecasting offices — dealing with their own staffing problems — will have to handle the load during those shifts. They will be tasked with monitoring conditions and temporarily issuing forecasts and warnings each night for the two regions in addition to their normal coverage duties. Earlier this month, five former National Weather Service directors wrote an open letter to the public expressing fears that the cuts would endanger lives. An agreement last month between the Weather Service and its employees' union warned of 'degraded' services as more people leave. 'These shortages threaten public safety,' said Nebraska State Climatologist Deb Bathke, who works out of the State Climate Office based at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Bathke said staff may be unable to provide accurate and timely severe weather warnings, monitor for storm reports and monitor radar during severe weather because the offices are running thin. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokesperson Kim Doster told the Nebraska Examiner that the Weather Service has updated the service level standards for its weather forecast offices to manage impacts from shifting personnel. The same NOAA spokesperson told the New York Times that 'several local NWS offices are temporarily operating below around-the-clock staffing.' 'These revised standards reflect the transformation and prioritization of mission-essential operations, while supporting the balance of the operational workload for its workforce,' Doster told the Examiner. The Trump Administration fired roughly 600 workers at NOAA and NWS in March as it tried to reshape the federal bureaucracy. NWS was understaffed long before Trump's second term, but the recent cuts required 'urgent action,' according to NOAA. NOAA is offering paid moving expenses to get employees to move voluntarily to fill positions across the country, including the Kansas office that covers Nebraska. Like other rural areas across the U.S, rural Nebraska has fewer news outlets providing crucial, time-dependent information, such as weather alerts, to the public. Many of those areas rely on rural radio stations. Nebraska Rural Radio Association, also known as Rural Radio Network, is a group of stations owned by farmers and ranchers that provides news and weather reports for rural areas of the state. NRRA's Bill Boyer, who manages the Scottsbluff market, said the change 'raises concern' due to the possibility of a missing severe weather alert. Boyer said that western Nebraska had its own NWS office in the 1990s, but it was shut down, and the remaining operations were moved to the Cheyenne office in Wyoming. 'More troubling is that we received no communication from the National Weather Service,' Boyer said. Kevin Spencer, manager of the biggest city in the Panhandle, Scottsbluff, told the Examiner that the city is monitoring the changes to the Cheyenne NWS office and working with the Scotts Bluff County Emergency Management Office to do so. 'We support NWS staff and have complete confidence in their ability to manage their time effectively, ensuring we receive accurate information in the event of inclement weather,' Spencer said. 'We have been assured that staff will be available in case of severe weather.' The two parts of Nebraska affected by the recent staffing cuts in forecasting are in U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith's congressional district and include his Gering-area home. Smith said timely and reliable weather warnings can make all the difference in a region of the state where severe weather can arise suddenly. 'I am working to get additional information from the NWS to ensure Nebraskans have access to the information they need when it counts,' Smith said. Russ Pankonin, who lives in the state's southwestern corner, in Imperial, said this is the first time the region has felt a direct effect of DOGE. Pankonin said the area shouldn't feel an impact if the other offices tasked with the overnight shift can handle it. He ran the rural Imperial Republican newspaper and several nearby papers for years. This isn't the first DOGE cut to the Weather Service affecting Nebraska this year. In April, an NWS office in the Omaha area and other Great Plains offices announced pausing the deployment of weather balloons. That decision was reversed after some of the state's federal delegation pushed back on those DOGE cuts. At the time, U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., said he hoped to introduce legislation that would reclassify National Weather Service employees as public safety personnel because it would exempt them from future hiring freezes and buyouts. Flood has since said the station is launching two weather balloons a day. However, the Omaha area NWS office has said it is still facing staffing issues. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
