Latest news with #severeWeather
CTV News
a day ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Warmer than normal summer ahead, preparing for severe weather in Simcoe County
The City of Barrie has a haze over it as wildfires burn across Ontario and Quebec. (CTV News Barrie) After a cool spring season, Environment and Climate Change Canada released their summer forecast on June 1; the official start of the meteorological summer season. Meteorologists are predicting that Ontario will see above normal temperatures for the months of June, July, and August. Geoff Coulson, warning preparedness meteorologist for Environment Canada, said the warmer weather could possibly bring more thunderstorm activity to the Simcoe County region. 'In addition to the warmth that it brings, it also brings a fair amount of humidity and that low level moisture in the atmosphere is one of the key ingredients that we look for in the development of, thunderstorm activity,' said Coulson. Preparing for severe weather conditions: Coulson added that residents need to be prepared for severe weather including tornadoes, thunderstorms, hail, heavy rain and wind. 'Stay, informed on what the current forecast is for your area, if you're planning travel, it's checking the forecast enroute and at your destination because it can be highly changeable from where you are right now to where you're going,' said Coulson. Central Ontario is no stranger to severe weather with the community remembering the 40th anniversary of the 1985 tornado on May 31. Dr. David Sills, executive director of Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University said the beginning of May is when the region starts to see tornadoes. 'We've had tornadoes in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec so far,' said Sills 'Eight tornadoes in total so far in the season that's just a bit up from the six we had at this time last season.' Severe Weather Storm clouds brew over Highway 400 between Midland and Barrie July 8, 2013. (Katherine Ward / CTV Barrie) Tornado data: Thanks to a climatology study released this year, experts now have data on how many tornadoes have touched the ground over the last 30 years. 'Ontario is now the number one province for tornado occurrence at 18.4 tornadoes per year,' said Sills. Barrie and the surrounding region are known to have significantly more tornados than other areas of the country. 'That's actually, a byproduct of having the Great Lakes around us,' said Sills. 'The tornadoes, thunderstorms don't tend to form over the Great Lakes as much so that leads to this corridor roughly from Sarnia to Barrie, to Ottawa, and then to Quebec City, so Barrie is right in the middle of that alley and seen its fair share of serious tornadoes.' Coulson said over the last 15 years, severe weather has shifted east of Lake Simcoe but now enough data has been collected to say Ontario's tornado alley is shifting. 'I think it's a little too early to say whether we're seeing a movement eastward, of where this axis of strongest storms is occurring,' said Coulson. 'So, we're going to have to keep a close eye of where this activity is occurring over the next few years to get a better sense of... are we seeing a trend in the in the motion of where most of these storms are occurring.' Barrie tornado May 31, 1985 Barrie tornado May 31, 1985 Here's how wildfires impact weather: Wildfire season has started this year with Western Canada already experiencing severe cases. The smoke from the wildfires may also have an impact on the severe weather in Ontario. 'It is quite possible if we do have an active wildfire season, some of that smoke will find its way down into the Barrie area, and that can, can act to inhibit some of the formation of thunderstorms,' said Coulson. Sills adding that the smoke eliminates the potential for severe weather. 'When you have that much smoke in the atmosphere, it tends to cut off the sunlight getting through and without that sunlight, you're not reaching your daytime maximum high temperatures,' said Sills. 'The energy for thunderstorms isn't quite there and if they do form, they're not as intense. The effects that wildfire smoke has and its relation to severe weather are now starting to be studied. The technology has also changed how storms are being tracked and recorded with newer technology allowing meteorologists to stay ahead of severe storms. 'We continue to use things like lightning detection capability, which can track, changes in lightning activity, which is now been linked to, potential development of severe storms as the lightning frequency changes,' said Coulson. Wildfire A wildfire is shown in this undated image. Public awareness: Sills adding that with new technology and a raised awareness of severe weather has a positive impact on the public. 'We noticed that the number of fatalities and injuries associated with tornadoes has gone way down, so obviously there's something good happening, and that I think is mostly due to people's awareness of tornadoes and what to do when tornadoes are forecast or there's a warning,' said Sills. Severe weather watches are now being sent out to the public hours in advance of the system reaching the area in hopes the public acts on them before an actual warning is put in place later in the day. 'The idea with the tornado watch is it gets out six hours before the event could happen,' said Sills. 'It's not saying that a tornado will happen says the ingredients are there, that it could happen so that's the time to prepare for, a tornado possibility.' Adding that having a plan to stay ahead is the right thing to do. Closing all windows and doors, tie down outdoor furniture and trampolines,' said Sills. 'Have a plan if a tornado warning is issued, where to go in the house, what supplies you have with you.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Storm Center PM Update: Storms Possible Monday; Cooler Tuesday
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — While we've had smoky skies over most of KELOLAND, we've still been able to get in on a warm day. It's little solace, considering we've also had to deal with poor air quality for a better part of the day. The good news is that we get a frontal boundary to come along by Monday to help sweep this smoke out of the region…so air quality is expected to improve as we head beyond the Monday outlook. The bad news is that we'll have to contend with showers and thunderstorms…especially in the second half of the day. Some of those storms may become strong to severe in central and eastern KELOLAND. A 'Slight Risk' for severe weather is in place for most of eastern and southeastern South Dakota, the Marshall and Luverne areas in Minnesota, and portions of northwestern Iowa. A 'Marginal Risk' surrounds that for areas around Mission, Redfield, Sisseton, and Worthington. Damaging gusts and large hail are the main concerns, though there's always a non-zero isolated tornado risk. Please stay weather aware. Showers and a storm or two may linger through the first half of the day on Tuesday to the east and southeast, while West River locations get in on a pretty quiet and pleasant day with cooler temperatures. The pattern flips on Wednesday, with a mainly quiet day East River and scattered showers moving back into the picture in central and western KELOLAND. Daily chances for showers and a storm or two on both sides of the river will return by Thursday and stick around through the first half of the weekend. While no day is a total wash-out, you'll want to watch and see if you need to bring an umbrella where you go. All the while, temperatures will be much closer to average as we head through the second half of the week and into next weekend. Beyond the 7 day forecast, odds for near to above average temperatures are favored West River, while we have better chances to remain near average to the east. Here's a look at your extended forecast: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Record setting 20 inches of rain to end spring
Over the past two months, the Ozarks have received more than 20 inches of rain, driven by relentless waves of severe weather. 2025 dethroned an 80-year-old record for the wettest April and May combined. This made me curious about the record for any two months. So I dove into the record books to find out. I found these two months rank as the third-wettest on record for Springfield. Date Total Precipitation 1958 – June & July 23.81″ 1945 – March & April 21.01″ 2025 – April & May 20.86″ 1943 – May & June 20.85″ This recent stretch of heavy rainfall trails only the summer deluge of 1958 and the spring storms of 1945. What makes this especially noteworthy is the frequency and intensity of the storms, many of which brought tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail along with the rain. Missouri is tied for top spot in tornado count by state with a shocking 105 so far this year. Click here to check out the story Chief Meteorologist Jamie Warriner wrote recapping the active tornado season. As we head into June, as most locals know, we will slowly transition away from the stormier pattern into calmer and warmer conditions. This year will be no exception, especially once we get into the middle of the month. Regardless, April and May of 2025 have already secured their place in the weather history books. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Partly sunny, then evening stray showers
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)– Happy first day of June! Temperatures are chilly this morning in the upper-50s and lower-60s. We gradually warm into the lower and mid-80s by the afternoon. We will see a mix of sun and clouds, making for partly sunny skies for the first half of Sunday. A small chance for a stray shower or two is possible later this afternoon and evening. Some NC counties and parts of the Pee Dee are in a level 1 of 5, Marginal Risk for severe weather. The biggest threats being strong wind gusts. Not everyone will see this chance, most look to stay mainly dry. We'll see a decrease in cloud coverage as we head into the overnight hours. Tonight lows will stay near normal and dip into the mid and upper-60s. The start of your new work week will be dry, with lots of sunshine. A chance for showers and storms arrives by the end of the week. Temperatures will start near normal, then quickly warm to above average with many in the Pee Dee forecasted to see lower-90s by the weekend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Temperatures to hit the upper 80s, 90s in North Texas ahead of possible isolated storms
Happy first day of Meteorological Summer! A meteorological season is based on the annual temperature average of a three-month period, versus an astronomical season, which is due to the tilt of the Earth in relation to the sun. Astronomical Summer starts June 20. Meteorological Spring ended as the 7th warmest, with the average temperature in DFW being 68.7 degrees. However, the record stands at 70.8 degrees set in 2012. Sunday, highs will top out in the upper 80s across most of North Texas, and cities west of Fort Worth will reach into the 90s. Winds will be from the southeast, around 5 to 10 mph. A storm complex moving from Oklahoma to Texas Sunday morning will bring the chance for isolated to scattered severe storms. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted a chance of severe storms across North Texas. Hail and damaging winds are the primary threats, but the tornado risk is non-zero. The unsettled weather pattern continues into next week. A low near the Baja of California will slide east. In addition to the upper-level disturbance, a stalled front and a dryline to the west will all play a role in the daily rain chances. Especially Tuesday into Wednesday. Another risk of severe weather is likely. More storms will be possible through the rest of the week. Stay tuned for the latest weather updates!
