Category Archives: US weather

‘Brutal’ Arctic blast expected to bring frigid temperatures to North America

Posted on by

Extreme cold warning issued in Canada as US forecasters warn of wind chills in Texas and major snow in midwest and east coast

A “bitter” blast of cold Arctic air is set to bring dangerously frigid temperatures to swaths of North America, forecasters have warned.

In Canada, frigid Arctic air is being pushed from the Northwest Territories down into the province of Alberta, where Environment Canada has issued an extreme cold warning. The largest city, Calgary, could see temperatures plummet to -34.6F (-37C) on Friday, reaching a daytime high of -23.8F (-31C). This would mark the coldest January day in two decades for the city. Over the weekend, strong winds could make temperatures feel closer to -58F (-50C). In these conditions, experts say exposed skin can succumb to frostbite in less than a minute.

Continue reading...

Searches under way after avalanche roars through Lake Tahoe ski resort

Posted on by

Authorities say currently no reports of missing people as a major snow and wind storm moves into the California region

An avalanche roared through a section of expert trails at a California ski resort near Lake Tahoe on Wednesday, sweeping up four people and killing one, as a major storm with snow and gusty winds moved into the region, authorities said.

The avalanche prompted Palisades Tahoe to close 30 minutes after it opened, and search crews combed the area to see if anyone was injured or trapped.

Continue reading...

Winter storm brings heavy snow and freezing rain to parts of US north-east

Posted on by

Meanwhile, Sierra Nevada storm with heavy snow in the west shut down a stretch of interstate and leaves thousands without power

A major winter storm bringing heavy snow and freezing rain to some communities spread across New England on Sunday morning, sending residents scurrying to pull out their shovels and snowblowers to clear sidewalks and driveways.

Winter storm warnings and watches were in effect throughout the north-east, and icy roads made for hazardous travel as far south as North Carolina.

Continue reading...

Strong waves trigger evacuation alerts on California coast on third day of storms

Posted on by

Central coast officials warn of 20ft waves while San Francisco Bay Area braces for 26-30ft waves

California’s coastal communities, already battered by powerful swells from Pacific storms on Friday, faced another round of towering waves and possible flooding on Saturday.

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles forecast significant flooding in low-lying coastal areas with powerful waves and strong rip currents posing an “exceptional risk” of drowning and damage to structures like piers and jetties.

Continue reading...

Eight people taken to hospital as waves up to 30ft high pound California coast

Posted on by

Six million people under high surf warning as powerful storms sweep through California and Oregon

Massive waves as tall as 30ft crashing on to California’s coast have caused injuries and property damage, prompting evacuation warnings.

At least eight people needed hospital treatment after towering waves crashed over seawalls in southern California on Thursday, engulfing seaside neighborhoods. On Friday, more than 6 million people remained under a high surf warning across California and Oregon. The National Weather Service (NWS) has predicted waves up to 40ft, warning: “Stay away from rocks, jetties, piers, and other waterside infrastructure. Never turn your back to the ocean!”

Continue reading...

Blizzard conditions hit US northern plains and upper midwest

Posted on by

Freezing weather affecting more than a million people expected in parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado

Snow, freezing rain and high winds are hitting the northern plains and upper midwest states, with the National Weather Service warning that “blizzard conditions for central South Dakota into parts of Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado [are] resulting in difficult to near impossible travel” soon after Christmas.

Parts of South Dakota were expected to receive up to 13in of snow, with wind gusts as high as 55 mph, according to the weather forecasting agency. The conditions affecting more than a million people could last through early Wednesday, forecasters said.

Continue reading...

Severe rainstorms hit southern California, with more to come

Posted on by

Torrents of rain on Wednesday night submerged streets and prompted rescues of people and pets

A strong, slow-moving storm unleashed torrents of rain on southern California on Wednesday night, submerging streets and prompting water rescues, and residents across the region are bracing for more wet weather.

Evacuation orders were issued in parts of Ventura county due to the extreme rainfall, where the deluge dumped more than 3in of rain in a single hour, and emergency responders were inundated with calls for help through the night. The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Oxnard and the city of Ventura at 1.28am due to the high-intensity thunderstorm; it expired an hour later as the risks calmed. However, the rain continued.

Continue reading...

‘Gut punch’ US north-eastern storm leaves at least six people dead

Posted on by

Deadly winter storm leaves hundreds of thousands without power and deposits flooding and freezing temperatures in its wake

At least six people were killed and hundreds of thousands were left without power as a deadly winter storm swept across the north-eastern US on Monday, depositing flooding and freezing temperatures in its wake.

Two of the deaths were in Maine in separate cases involving fallen trees, authorities said. Other deaths were reported in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and New York.

Associated Press contributed reporting

Continue reading...

Two possibly killed in storms caused by atmospheric river in north-west US

Posted on by

Rivers swell to dangerous levels and forces road and rail closures as rain relieves parched states of Washington and Oregon

An atmospheric river deluged the US north-west for a third day on Tuesday, swelling rivers to dangerous levels, forcing road and rail closures, and possibly killing two people who may have been swept up in floodwaters, officials said.

The rain has helped relieve the parched states of Washington and Oregon, which missed much of the historic rain that fell on California a year ago and ended that state’s extended drought. Much of Washington and Oregon still face severe or moderate drought, according to the US Drought Monitor.

Continue reading...

One dead after super fog causes spate of road accidents near New Orleans

Posted on by

Portion of Interstate 10 closed after wildfire smoke combines with fog to severely reduce visibility

At least one person died as several vehicle accidents were reported near New Orleans after an extremely dense fog rolled into the area on Tuesday morning.

Officials closed a portion of Interstate 10 in both directions after a combination of wildfire smoke and fog produced what is known as a super fog in the area. Visibility for drivers on Tuesday was reduced to about a quarter of a mile, the National Weather Service said.

Continue reading...

Hurricane Otis: storm strengthens to Category 5 in a matter of hours as it nears Mexico

Posted on by

Hurricane Otis is forecast to make landfall near the Mexican resort of Acapulco, with the US National Hurricane Center warning of ‘nightmare scenario’

Hurricane Otis strengthened from a tropical storm to a dangerous Category 5 hurricane in a matter of hours on Tuesday as it approached Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, with the president urging residents to seek shelter.

The storm was forecast to make landfall near the resort of Acapulco early on Wednesday and the US National Hurricane Center warned it will cause catastrophic damage.

Continue reading...

‘A gorgeous sight’: delight and wonder as US viewers watch annular solar eclipse

Posted on by

Amid varying levels of cloud cover, Americans gathered and donned special glasses for rare celestial show

It was a moment that won’t happen again for 16 years – and Mother Nature obscured it in some places.

“It was supposed to be sunny in Corpus Christi today and now is clouds everywhere. Trying to see where we have to drive to,” one frustrated eclipse viewer in Texas posted on the Total Solar Eclipse 2024 Facebook page. (The title references next April’s total eclipse, which will be visible in some areas of the US.)

Continue reading...

Government shutdown could hurt weather disaster responses, Fema says

Posted on by

The House reached a budget deal on Saturday to extend funding for 45 days but Fema looks beyond at potential delays

The budget deal Republicans and Democrats reached in the House on Saturday included a 45-day funding extension for disaster relief funds. Lawmakers had been warning that without that provision, a government shutdown would hamper responses to any new weather disasters, leave hazardous waste sites uninspected, and stop work at federal Superfund clean-up sites.

“Federal emergency management agency (Fema) staff will still respond to emergencies, but all long-term projects will be delayed due to a lack of funding in the disaster relief fund,” warned the Illinois Democrat Lauren Underwood on Friday.

Continue reading...

New York mayor dismisses claims he was slow to react as heavy rain causes major flooding – as it happened

Posted on by

This live blog is now closed. You can read our latest full report on the flooding here:

Governor Kathy Hochul’s office has issued the following steps to residents to remain safe amid the heavy rainfall and flooding:

Develop a household disaster plan and know how to always contact family members. Identify an out-of-town friend or family member to be the “emergency family contact” and make certain all family members have the contact info

Designate an emergency meeting spot - a familiar location where family can meet if the residence cannot be accessed

Know hurricane and storm risks in your community

If you live near coastal areas, learn about your area’s storm surge history and your community’s warning signals and evacuation plans, including safe routes inland and the location of official shelters

Know where to relocate pets during a storm - most shelters will not allow pets

Keep the following supplies on-hand:

Enough non-perishable food and water supplies for 10 days

Battery-operated radios and flashlights and an ample supply of batteries

A first aid with supply of medicines

Important documents: Insurance policies, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc. in a waterproof container

Cash, checkbook, credit cards and ATM cards

An emergency contact list of people and organizations who may need to be called: schools, doctors, providers, and insurance contacts

1,426 large dump trucks

315 large loaders

81 chippers

80 wheeled and tracked excavators

28 traffic tower platforms

15 vacuum trucks with sewer jets

15 tree crew bucket trucks

Continue reading...

New York declares state of emergency amid heavy rainfall and flash flooding

Posted on by

About 8.5 million people under flash flood warnings with 1-2in of rain an hour expected in Brooklyn and Queens

Parts of New York City were swamped with dangerous flash flooding on Friday as intense rainfall continued after pouring all night, and a state of emergency was declared amid warnings from officials that the deluge could turn deadly.

About 8.5 million people were under flash flood warnings in the New York City area, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The city’s concrete and pavement exacerbated flooding, as overwhelmed sewers failed to adequately drain rainwater during the heavy and sustained downpours.

Continue reading...

Tropical cyclone Lee makes landfall in Nova Scotia as thousands lose power

Posted on by

Storm expected to approach New Brunswick, bringing winds of 70mph and relentless rainfall

Post-tropical cyclone Lee made landfall in Nova Scotia, Canada, on Saturday afternoon hours after it battered New England and eastern Canada with powerful winds and rains.

The storm cut off electricity to tens of thousands and inundated coastal roads in Nova Scotia, and left at least one person dead, according to the Associated Press. The 51-year-old man died after a tree limb fell onto his vehicle as he was driving in Searsport, Maine. The tree felled live power lines and workers had to turn off electricity before the man could be taken from his vehicle. He died at a hospital.

Continue reading...

Hurricane Lee heads north with landfall expected in Nova Scotia or Maine

Posted on by

Storm threatens to affect parts of Bermuda, New England and Atlantic Canada with winds up to 115mph

Hurricane Lee continues to grow larger in size as it moves northward and threatens to affects parts of Bermuda, New England and Atlantic Canada.

Moving at 7mph (11.3km/h) and packing winds of up to 115mph (185km/h), Lee was positioned 380 miles (612km) north of the northern Leeward Islands as well as 600 miles (965km) south of Bermuda, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Monday evening. That track triggered a tropical storm watch for Bermuda.

Continue reading...

Phoenix sets record in hellishly hot summer – but relief is in sight

Posted on by

The Arizona capital reached 55th day above 110F this year, but forecast says that cooler temps – even rain – are on the horizon

Residents in Phoenix, Arizona, are set to experience some relief from the blistering heatwave following the city’s record of the most days at or above 110F (43.3C) this year despite reaching 112F (44.4C) on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

On Sunday, the NWS announced that temperatures in Arizona’s largest city will finally begin to retreat “closer to the seasonal normal” with highs expected to range between 102F (38.9C) and 104F (40C) between Monday and Friday. Sunday’s temperature broke the daily high record of 111F (43.9C) set in 1990.

Continue reading...

Hurricane Lee prompts weekend beach warnings on US east coast

Posted on by

Dangerous surf and rip currents expected along most of Atlantic coast from Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Lee is making its way through the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to remain a powerful hurricane through early next week, prompting warnings of dangerous beach conditions on the US east coast over the weekend.

Between Wednesday and Thursday night, Lee evolved from a category 1 tropical storm to a category 5 hurricane. It then dropped down to a category 4 hurricane, the National Hurricane Center announced on Friday morning.

Continue reading...

How will the US cope next summer when it could be even hotter?

Posted on by

This year’s heatwaves have been a huge challenge – and scientists predict 2024 will likely break records again

It’s been a record-breaking summer of heatwaves across large parts of the US and the world, and trying to stay cool and safe has been an unprecedented challenge.

There has been a rise in heat-related fatalities; companies and organizations have been under greater pressures to protect workers; and officials from small towns to the White House have been scrambling to respond.

Continue reading...