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Thursday, December 18, 2025

Tag: weather
December 2, 2025
News

Arctic Vortex to Chill 235 Million Across U.S.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A polar vortex is set to bring extreme cold temperatures and winter storms to the United States, affecting up to 30 states.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The National Weather Service issued advisories; climatologist Judah Cohen provided analysis.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Beginning Tuesday night, impacting regions from Maine to Nebraska, with the Midwest and Great Plains particularly affected.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “The cold the first week of December is the appetizer and the main course will be in mid-December.” – Judah Cohen

🎯IMPACT: Dangerous cold, crashes, school closures, and snowstorms already affecting millions, with more to come.

IN FULL

Winter weather warnings have been issued across 30 states as a polar vortex prepares to bring some of the coldest temperatures on Earth to the United States. The National Weather Service has issued advisories, warning of extreme temperatures that could feel as low as -30°F, along with potential snowstorms.

A polar vortex is a large, low-pressure system of cold air that typically resides above the North Pole. Normally held in place by strong winds, this vortex has been disrupted by storms and high-pressure systems, sending icy Arctic air southward into the U.S., potentially chilling 235 million Americans.

Winter storms are expected to stretch from Maine to Nebraska, with wind chills making temperatures feel as low as -10 to -30°F in regions like the Midwest and Great Plains. The storm system has already caused significant disruptions, including crashes and school closures in Missouri, over a foot of snow in Iowa, and poor visibility for drivers in New York.

The East Coast is bracing for similar conditions, with areas such as Albany already experiencing cold weather. Several states in the Midwest, including Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, are also facing snowstorms and temperatures dropping into the single digits. A 45-car pileup on Interstate 70 in Indiana over the weekend highlighted the dangers, though no serious injuries were reported.

Judah Cohen, a climatologist and research scientist at MIT, stated, “My thinking is that the cold the first week of December is the appetizer and the main course will be in mid-December.” He noted that computer models predict the most extreme cold will stretch from the Canadian Plains to the U.S. East Coast in the third week of December, though snow predictions remain uncertain beyond a few days.

Image by Mx. Granger.

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November 26, 2025
News

Blizzards, Wind, Rain, and Winter Storms Set to Cause Travel Chaos for Thanksgiving.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Severe winter weather and strong winds are sweeping across the U.S., affecting Thanksgiving travel plans for millions.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Millions of travelers, American Airlines, and other airlines preparing for record travel numbers.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Wednesday through Saturday, across the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes region, Appalachians, and other areas of the U.S.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Weather’s coming. Execute the plan. Get customers back on track.” – Mark Ewing, American Airlines Customer Service Director

🎯IMPACT: Travel disruptions, flight delays, and hazardous road conditions are affecting millions during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

IN FULL

Freezing temperatures and winter weather, along with strong winds, are expected to impact large parts of the U.S. as an estimated one-in-five Americans travel for Thanksgiving. The Upper Midwest could see up to two feet of snow, while 52 million people are under wind alerts stretching from the Plains to the Great Lakes and into the Appalachians. Wind gusts could reach up to 60 mph in affected areas, including major cities like Chicago and Detroit.

Blizzard warnings are in effect for parts of northern Wisconsin and Michigan‘s Upper Peninsula. In areas east of Lakes Erie and Ontario, lake-effect snow warnings are in place, with snowfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour and wind gusts above 30 mph making travel nearly impossible. Up to 3 feet of snow is possible in northern Wisconsin and Michigan, while areas downwind of lakes Erie and Ontario could see up to 20 inches of snow.

The Pacific Northwest is also experiencing wet and snowy weather, while showers and storms are affecting cities along the Interstate 95 corridor. In New York City, wind gusts of up to 35 mph could cause balloons in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade to fly lower than usual. Early travel disruptions include semi-trucks rolling off roads in Minnesota and icy conditions causing vehicles to slide in North Dakota.

Flight delays are also climbing, with over 630 flights within the U.S. delayed as of early Wednesday, according to FlightAware. Tuesday saw significant disruptions, including an air traffic control tower evacuation in Atlanta due to tornado concerns. American Airlines, which has been preparing for months, expects Wednesday to be its busiest travel day, with 81,000 flights scheduled over the Thanksgiving weekend. “Weather’s coming. Execute the plan. Get customers back on track,” said Mark Ewing, the airline’s customer service director.

Image by Sayamindu Dasgupta.

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October 9, 2025
News

Super Typhoon Could Trigger Unprecedented Weather Turmoil on U.S. West Coast.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Typhoon Halong, which narrowly missed Japan, is expected to influence weather patterns across the Pacific and western United States, potentially causing hazardous conditions.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Meteorologists, the National Weather Service (NWS), and residents in Japan, Alaska, and the western U.S. are monitoring the storm’s effects.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The typhoon formed in the Northwest Pacific Ocean this week, with potential impacts expected in the western U.S. starting early next week.

🎯IMPACT: Heavy rain, snow, and potential flooding are expected in California and other western states, with ongoing weather model uncertainties.

IN FULL

A super typhoon named Halong, which narrowly missed Japan this week, is expected to detrimentally influence weather patterns across the Pacific and western United States. While Tokyo avoided what could have been the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane, meteorologists warn that the storm’s remnants could drive heavy rain and snow in California by early next week.

As Typhoon Halong moves into the North Pacific, it is predicted to energize the jet stream, intensifying storms along its path. The National Weather Service (NWS) noted that the storm could produce hurricane-force winds in Alaska’s Bering Sea, drawing comparisons to Typhoon Merbok in 2022, which caused significant damage in the region.

Forecasts suggest that the typhoon’s energy could push subarctic air southward into Washington, Oregon, and California by Monday. If this coincides with a coastal storm, Northern California might experience significant rainfall in the Bay Area and several feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains. However, meteorologists caution that recurving typhoons make weather predictions less precise, and forecasts are subject to change.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla is moving north in the Pacific, with its path expected to affect southern California and Arizona. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued warnings for several southwestern states, including New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada, which could see heavy rain and flash flooding from the storm’s moisture.

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September 30, 2025
News

Great Lakes Closed to Millions Amid Dangerous Waves and Currents.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The National Weather Service (NWS) issued beach hazards statements for the Great Lakes region, warning of life-threatening waves and currents through Wednesday evening.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The National Weather Service, local authorities, and residents and visitors in affected areas.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Warnings are in effect through Wednesday evening for areas around Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario, spanning multiple states including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New York.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Swimmers should not enter the water. Currents can carry swimmers away from shore through a sand bar and along structures extending out into the lake.” – NWS Cleveland

🎯IMPACT: Millions of residents and visitors are advised to avoid swimming and lakefront activities due to hazardous conditions, with warnings expected to be re-evaluated regularly.

IN FULL

Millions of residents and tourists along the Great Lakes are being warned to stay out of the water this week due to dangerous conditions. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), which issued beach hazards statements across the Great Lakes region, beachgoers face life-threatening waves and strong currents.

This marks the final beach hazards statement of the season, according to NWS meteorologist Jim Sullivan, who noted, “The beaches usually close in October and the lake isn’t as warm.”

The Great Lakes, a popular summer destination, draw millions annually. Persistent high winds and wave action have created hazardous swimming conditions, posing risks even to experienced swimmers. Recent years have seen numerous drownings in the region, underscoring the importance of adhering to official warnings. Affected areas include lakeshore regions in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New York, covering Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.

According to NWS statements, waves may reach up to six feet, with strong rip and longshore currents increasing the risk of swimmers being pulled away from shore or swept off piers. An NWS Cleveland statement cautioned: “Wind and wave action will cause currents on the lakeshore. Swimmers should not enter the water. Currents can carry swimmers away from shore through a sand bar and along structures extending out into the lake.” Similarly, the NWS Buffalo office warned of “strong currents and dangerous swimming conditions.”

Jim Sullivan explained that winds as low as 20 mph can cause Lake Erie waves to reach four feet, which is considered high-risk for swimmers. The NWS has urged residents and tourists to stay out of the water during the hazards period, emphasizing that even skilled swimmers are vulnerable. Local authorities may have also posted signs or closed access to certain beaches.

The NWS advises avoiding swimming, piers, and shoreline structures during this time. Similar conditions are reported along the East Coast and in California. An NWS Duluth statement noted: “High wave action can make swimming difficult on days such as this. Incoming waves in rapid succession can tire even an experienced swimmer quickly.” Officials recommend staying informed through local NWS channels, with advisories to be re-evaluated as conditions evolve.

Image by NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.

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April 30, 2025
News

Destructive Derecho Claims 3 Lives, Leaves 700,000 Powerless.

PULSE POINTS:

âť“What Happened: A line of severe thunderstorms transformed into a derecho, resulting in intense wind gusts across the Ohio Valley and interior Northeast, causing fatalities and power outages.

👥 Who’s Involved: Residents and emergency services in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and particularly Pittsburgh, were affected.

đź“Ť Where & When: The events unfolded Tuesday evening, impacting areas from Indianapolis eastward across western and central Pennsylvania.

đź’¬ Key Quote: “Wind gusts in some areas were nearly 80 mph. For some communities, this derecho could be a once-in-10-year or even a once-in-20-year event,” stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Alan Reppert.

⚠️ Impact: There were at least three fatalities, significant property damage, and power outages for 700,000 customers, primarily in Pennsylvania. Strong winds reached 80 mph, toppling trees and power lines, causing disruptions.

IN FULL:

A swift-moving line of severe thunderstorms developed into a derecho on the evening of April 29, wreaking havoc across the Ohio Valley and the interior Northeast. This weather phenomenon resulted in at least three deaths and widespread power outages. Pennsylvania bore the brunt with the highest number of outages.

Particularly hard-hit areas included southeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Areas saw speeds typically associated with low-end tornadoes, but affected a broader region in this instance. “Wind gusts in some areas were nearly 80 mph. For some communities, this derecho could be a once-in-10-year or even a once-in-20-year event,” stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Alan Reppert.

In Pittsburgh, a man tragically lost his life due to electrocution from live wires, according to the public safety department. Emergency crews responding to St. Martin Street found the man deceased at the location. Another storm-related fatality was recorded in Allegheny County.

The severity of the derecho led to substantial disruptions, including 911 service outages in the Pittsburgh area. Public safety officials recommended that residents contact their local police if they experienced phone difficulties. Recorded wind gusts in Pittsburgh reached 71 mph.

A suspected tornado was also sighted south of State College while fierce storms ravaged parts of Pennsylvania. Central Pennsylvania faced substantial outages as trees and power lines were knocked down, affecting half a million customers across the state.

A tragic incident in State College claimed the life of a 22-year-old man who was electrocuted while attempting to put out a mulch fire near a damaged utility pole.

Experts categorize this as the first derecho of 2025. Derechos are long-lived storm lines causing straight-line wind damage over at least 400 miles, as this one did from near the Ohio-Indiana border to central Pennsylvania. The storm comes just over a month after powerful storms swept over the Midwest and South, leaving 42 people dead.

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January 8, 2025
William Upton
News

The California Wildfires: What Causes Them and Why Are They Happening?

A wildfire in California has forced the evacuation of over 30,000 people in the Pacific Palisades and parts of Santa Monica near Los Angeles as the flames rage out of control. The cause of the fire, which ignited yesterday, remains unclear. Despite the ‘wrath of nature’ narrative that has formed around the devastating fires, a series of human actions could either have caused the wildfires or at least fueled their rapid spread.

The conflagration has been primarily fueled by a months-long drought and powerful Santa Ana winds coming off the mountains to the east, exacerbated by the recent atmospheric bomb cyclone that brought snow to the Great Plains and the northeastern United States. However, state mismanagement may have greatly exacerbated the situation.

STATE MANAGEMENT. 

President-elect Donald J. Trump has repeatedly pressed California to focus on forest and brush management as a means of mitigating the massive wildfires that have come to devastate populated areas of the state every few years. A lack of state action has allowed large amounts of debris, including dried leaves, downed trees, and scrub, to build up, which can act as fuel for the fires.

In 2018, then-President Trump chastised Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) in the burned-out remains of the Town of Paradise after wildfires destroyed the locality. “You’ve got to take care of the floors, you know, the floors of the forests,” Trump said. “You look at other countries where they do it differently, and it’s a whole different story.”


President Trump repeated his advice again in 2020, after a new round of wildfires devastated parts of California. “I see again the forest fires are starting,” he said. “They’re starting again in California. I said, you gotta clean your floors, you gotta clean your forests — there are many, many years of leaves and broken trees and they’re like, like, so flammable, you touch them and it goes up.”

“Maybe we’re just going to have to make them pay for it because they don’t listen to us,” Trump added.

WHAT CAUSED THE FIRES? 

The source of the fires is not yet known, but in the past, they have been sparked by any number of natural and human causes. Lighting strikes have kicked off conflagrations, though this does not appear to be the case in this instance. More often than not, wildfires begin because of either an incident of arson—including illegal immigrants starting a campfire or simply flicking a cigarette into the dried brush—or because of high winds down a power line.

Even more troubling, though, is what can cause these fires to spread. Besides the powerful Santa Ana winds, which supercharge the fires and spread embers over vast areas, California’s water management is also partially to blame. Firefighters battling the current inferno have found a number of fire hydrants without water, frustrating their efforts.

The lack of hydrant water, sustained high winds, and months of tried brush fuel built up across the Pacific Palisades resulted in over 3,000 acres being consumed by flames by Tuesday night, even though the wildfires only began Tuesday morning.

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A wildfire in California has forced the evacuation of over 30,000 people in the Pacific Palisades and parts of Santa Monica near Los Angeles as the flames rage out of control. The cause of the fire, which ignited yesterday, remains unclear. Despite the 'wrath of nature' narrative that has formed around the devastating fires, a series of human actions could either have caused the wildfires or at least fueled their rapid spread. show more
November 25, 2024
News

HEADS UP! Winter Storms May Affect Your Thanksgiving Travel.

Travelers across the United States may face disruptions as wintry weather is forecasted just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Meanwhile, California and Washington state are still addressing the aftermath of severe storms that resulted in power outages and damage. The recent storms claimed two lives in California, with the victims discovered in floodwaters over the weekend.

A winter storm warning is in effect for the Sierra Nevada mountain region through Tuesday. Heavy snowfall at higher altitudes is predicted, coupled with wind gusts reaching 55 mph. The region anticipates approximately four feet of snow, with the most significant accumulation on Monday and Tuesday.

The Midwest and Great Lakes are expected to experience rain and snow on Monday, while the East Coast faces potential weather disturbances on Thanksgiving and Black Friday. According to predictions, a low-pressure system will bring rain to the Southeast early Thursday, moving toward the Northeast. The Northeast corridor from Boston to New York might see rainy and breezy conditions, with possible snow in areas like northern New Hampshire, northern Maine, and the Adirondacks.

Meteorologist Hayden Frank from Massachusetts indicated that, unless temperatures drop significantly, rain is expected along the I-95 corridor, advising travelers to prepare accordingly. He expects favorable driving conditions for Sunday return travel nationwide, though the East will cool down, and the West will warm.

The Pacific Northwest experienced fatalities following a “bomb cyclone” last Tuesday, which caused widespread power outages and damage. By Sunday evening, less than 25,000 people in the Seattle area remained without electricity.

Authorities found bodies in Sonoma County, California, confirming the persistence of flood risks and mudslide dangers in the region. These dangers were exacerbated by over 12 inches of rain around Santa Rosa.

Image by Kaboompics.com via Pexels.

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Travelers across the United States may face disruptions as wintry weather is forecasted just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Meanwhile, California and Washington state are still addressing the aftermath of severe storms that resulted in power outages and damage. The recent storms claimed two lives in California, with the victims discovered in floodwaters over the weekend. show more
October 9, 2024
News

Hurricane Milton Hits West Florida Tonight.

Hurricane Milton, a Category 4 storm with winds on the verge of becoming a Category 5, is projected to hit Florida’s west coast late this evening or early Thursday morning. Landfall is predicted to occur between Tampa and Fort Myers, with a high possibility of a direct hit on the coastal city of Sarasota. Currently, six million Floridians are under evacuation orders, and many coastal areas face a potential 15-foot storm surge.

Earlier on Wednesday, government officials ordered the closing of the bridge connecting Florida’s mainland with St. Pete Beach as weather conditions began to deteriorate. The closure, implemented by law enforcement agencies, comes amid mandatory evacuation orders for residents in the barrier islands west of St. Petersburg.

Sarasota County emergency officials have issued stern warnings to residents near water bodies, urging immediate evacuation due to the anticipated storm surge. “Storm surge likes to travel the path of least resistance,” said Sandra Tapfumaneyi, Sarasota County’s Emergency Management Chief, emphasizing the potential danger to those living near creeks and rivers.

Hospitals and health facilities across Florida’s Gulf Coast, already strained by Hurricane Helene, are evacuating patients in response to Hurricane Milton. The evacuation—termed the largest in state history—involves over 300 facilities, including nursing homes.

Meanwhile, the hunt for fuel has intensified across Florida, adding to pre-storm anxiety. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) assured residents that additional gas supplies were en route. Additionally, National Guard units and emergency services have already been mobilized to prepare for Milton’s impact.

President Joe Biden has postponed a scheduled foreign trip to focus on federal storm response efforts. “Hurricane Milton could be one of the worst storms in a century for Florida,” Biden stated, urging residents to evacuate as advised by local officials.

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Hurricane Milton, a Category 4 storm with winds on the verge of becoming a Category 5, is projected to hit Florida's west coast late this evening or early Thursday morning. Landfall is predicted to occur between Tampa and Fort Myers, with a high possibility of a direct hit on the coastal city of Sarasota. Currently, six million Floridians are under evacuation orders, and many coastal areas face a potential 15-foot storm surge. show more