2025-08-27 06:44:55.745

PHOENIX (AP) — Crews cleaned up downed trees and got electricity mostly restored for thousands of people Tuesday after a powerful dust storm roared through the Phoenix area. The wall of dust towering hundreds of feet (meters) high dwarfed the city’s neighborhoods. Called a haboob, the wind-driven phenomenon blackened skies and initially knocked out electricity for 55,000 customers late Monday afternoon. Drenching rain followed. Flights came to a halt at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, where material from a terminal roof blew onto the tarmac. Contractors worked through the night to repair roof damage, airport spokesperson Jon Brodsky said. By Tuesday afternoon, things were mostly back to normal, with power largely restored and only minor flight delays reported. But for residents in metro Phoenix, the haboob was both frightening and spectacular. Bernae Boykin Hitesman was driving her son and daughter, ages 9 and 11, home from school when the storm arrived in Arizona City, about 60 miles (95 kilometers) southeast of Phoenix. She quickly pulled over as the storm engulfed the car. “I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face if I put my hand outside,” she said. Boykin Hitesman could taste the dust and feel the strong wind rattling her car until it finally passed about 15 minutes later. “I was nervous,” she said. “My kids were really, really scared, so I was trying to be brave for them.” In the suburb of Gilbert, bird feeders fell from swaying trees at the home of retired university professor Richard Filley. Fine dust got into “every little crack and space,” he said. “The windstorm part of it, I’m glad it’s gone,” he said. “You look at the photos of haboobs, and they are a spectacular natural phenomenon. They are kind of beautiful in their own way.” Not all dust storms are haboobs, which are specifically associated with downdrafts from thunderstorms. The phenomenon usually happens in flat, arid areas and is not unusual in Arizona. The rain that followed was welcome in Phoenix, where conditions have been drier than usual this year. The desert city usually gets roughly 7 inches (18 centimeters) of annual precipitation, with a third to half of that falling during the monsoon season of on-and-off thunderstorms between mid-June and mid-September. But so far it has recorded only about 2 inches (5 centimeters) of precipitation, or more than 2.5 inches (6 centimeters) below normal, according to the National Weather Service. That includes the almost one-third of an inch (8 millimeters) of rain that came with Monday’s haboob, according to Tom Frieders, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Phoenix. “It’s not going to make a big dent,” Frieders said. Parts of southeast and north-central Arizona, meanwhile, have had a fair amount of rain, according to meteorologist Mark O’Malley with the weather service in Phoenix. “But that’s typical for a monsoon, very hit and miss,” he said. The weather was warm and clear in the Phoenix area Tuesday, with scattered thunderstorms giving way to hot and dry weather through the rest of the week.

2025-08-17 00:00:37.091

Hurricane Erin intensified into a Category 5 storm in the Atlantic, rapidly escalating from a tropical storm in just one day. While its center is not expected to make landfall, it poses a significant threat of flooding rains to the northeast Caribbean. The hurricane's maximum sustained winds reached 160 mph (255 kph), more than doubling in 24 hours. The National Hurricane Center warned of potential flash flooding, landslides, and mudslides, issuing tropical storm watches for several islands. Despite its compact size initially, Erin is expected to grow significantly. The rapid intensification is considered unusual, especially for this time of year, with only four other Atlantic hurricanes reaching Category 5 status this early in the season. Scientists attribute such rapid intensification to climate change, linking it to warmer ocean temperatures and increased water vapor in the atmosphere. While the storm's eye is expected to remain offshore, powerful rip currents are anticipated along the U.S. East Coast. In Puerto Rico, residents and tourists largely continued their daily routines despite warnings, while the U.S. government deployed FEMA and other agencies as a precaution. The Bahamas also prepared shelters.

2025-06-30 06:00:30.133

MIAMI (AP) — A depression that was formerly Tropical Storm Barry dumped rain on eastern Mexico late Sunday as Tropical Storm Flossie brewed off its southwestern Pacific coast. The weakening and ill-defined depression came ashore south of Tampico and had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. It was moving northwest at 9 mph (15 kph). All tropical storm warnings and watches were lifted, but rainfall and a risk of flooding were expected through Monday. In the Pacific, Tropical Storm Flossie maintained its strength with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph). It was centered about 215 miles (345 kilometers) south-southwest of Acapulco and was moving west-northwest at 8 mph (13 kph). A tropical storm watch remained in effect for Mexico’s southwest coast from Zihuatanejo to Cabo Corrientes. A watch means tropical storm conditions are possible in the area within two days. Flossie is expected to rapidly intensify into a hurricane late Monday or Tuesday, then skirt the coast for a few days. While its center is forecast to remain offshore, moderate rain was likely in parts of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco through early next week.

2025-06-25 06:01:09.54

A long-lasting extreme heat wave reached its dangerous crescendo Tuesday, bringing the hottest day in a decade to some major East Coast cities and putting millions of already fatigued Americans at risk. The brutal conditions, spurred by a potent heat dome, peaked Tuesday after building over the weekend in the central US and reaching levels rivaling summer’s hottest weather in the East Monday. It’s already taken a serious toll. A St. Louis-area woman died after going without water or air conditioning for at least three days, police said Tuesday. The region has been gripped by searing heat that often felt above 100 degrees in recent days. The 55-year-old was discovered in her home Monday, according to St. Ann Police Chief Aaron Jimenez. Here’s what else has happened: Nearly 160 million people in the eastern half of the US were under heat alerts Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Heat remains the deadliest form of extreme weather in the US. Globally, heat waves are becoming more frequent, more severe and longer-lasting as the world warms due to human-caused climate change. Nighttime temperatures are taking the hardest hit from climate change, and are warming faster than daytime highs. Record-breaking heat continues Tuesday was the hottest day of the week for many in the East, but a level 4-of-4 extreme heat risk is in place through at least Thursday that stretches from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic and includes parts of the Northeast. It felt more like July, summer’s hottest month, than June for many locations Tuesday as temperatures rise 15 to 20 degrees above normal. Multiple major cities along the I-95 corridor were at or near 100 degrees by the mid-afternoon. Boston reached 102 degrees, setting a new June high temperature record. Also in Massachusetts, the New Bedford-Fairhaven swing bridge – located in the southern part of the state along Route 6 – will be closed for several hours due to “heat impacts,” the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said in a news release Tuesday evening without disclosing how the heat has impacted bridge operations. Philadelphia also marked its first 100-degree temperature reading since 2012, reaching 101 degrees Tuesday, setting the record for the city’s hottest-ever day this early in the summer. The city broke Monday’s daily high temperature record when it reached 99 degrees. Records were also broken in Providence, Rhode Island where temperatures reached 100 degrees – a new June high temperature record. Meanwhile, Newark, New Jersey reached 103 degrees, tying with the current June high temperature record. New York City nearly hit 100 degrees for the first time in over a decade on Tuesday; the temperature in Central Park was hovering around 99 degrees by mid-afternoon. New York City’s last triple-digit temperature happened on July 18, 2012, but it hasn’t been 100 degrees during June since 1966 – nearly 60 years. In parts of the city, temperatures climbed above the three-digit mark. John F. Kennedy International Airport, in Queens, hit 102 degrees on Monday afternoon – the first time since 2013 and the first time ever in the month of June. LaGuardia Airport, also in Queens, saw a high temperature of 101 degrees, tying its record for the month of June. Con Edison, New York City’s main energy provider, asked millions of customers to conserve energy and protect its power grid as temperatures soar. “By working with all our customers to cut usage during peak demand, we protect the system and support neighborhoods individually,” the energy company said in an X post Tuesday afternoon. Customers can do so by setting window air conditioning units to 76 degrees and avoiding unnecessary appliance use, according to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul who also noted that staying safe should be everyone’s priority. “Find a cooling center near you, especially if you’re a senior citizen or have health concerns. Working together, we can easily get through this critical period,” Hochul said in a statement. Washington, DC, reached a scorching 99 degrees, almost seeing its first 100-degree day of the year on Tuesday – something that doesn’t typically happen until mid-July. Rail temperatures in the capital city reached 135 degrees, the Metro system said in a post on X, forcing operators to slow train speeds. When will it end? Parts of the East Coast will start to see some relief from the historically hot weather Wednesday, though it’ll be a slow start. Wednesday will still be very hot, but not quite as extreme for many. Record-breaking temperatures are possible, mainly in the mid-Atlantic, but triple-digit temperatures will be a thing of the past for the Northeast. Heat more typical of late June will arrive on Thursday, but it will still be quite warm in the morning and prolong the agonizing wait for relief. Much of the Northeast will see highs in the 70s, with 80s and a few lingering 90s in the Mid-Atlantic. Cooler, more typical, overnight low temperatures will finally reappear Friday in the East, and normal late-June heat will last through the weekend. But temperatures are likely to creep back up above average early next week. This week’s heat wave is likely only the opening act of a hot summer to come for the East. A hotter than normal summer is expected for the entire Lower 48, according to the Climate Prediction Center.

2025-06-25 00:02:18.955

A long-lasting extreme heat wave reached its dangerous crescendo Tuesday, bringing the hottest day in a decade to some major East Coast cities and putting millions of already fatigued Americans at risk. The brutal conditions, spurred by a potent heat dome, peaked Tuesday after building over the weekend in the central US and reaching levels rivaling summer’s hottest weather in the East Monday. It’s already taken a serious toll. A St. Louis-area woman died after going without water or air conditioning for at least three days, police said Tuesday. The region has been gripped by searing heat that often felt above 100 degrees in recent days. The 55-year-old was discovered in her home Monday, according to St. Ann Police Chief Aaron Jimenez. Here’s what else has happened: Nearly 160 million people in the eastern half of the US were under heat alerts Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Heat remains the deadliest form of extreme weather in the US. Globally, heat waves are becoming more frequent, more severe and longer-lasting as the world warms due to human-caused climate change. Nighttime temperatures are taking the hardest hit from climate change, and are warming faster than daytime highs. Record-breaking heat continues Tuesday was the hottest day of the week for many in the East, but a level 4-of-4 extreme heat risk is in place through at least Thursday that stretches from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic and includes parts of the Northeast. It felt more like July, summer’s hottest month, than June for many locations Tuesday as temperatures rise 15 to 20 degrees above normal. Multiple major cities along the I-95 corridor were at or near 100 degrees by the mid-afternoon. Boston reached 102 degrees, setting a new June high temperature record. Also in Massachusetts, the New Bedford-Fairhaven swing bridge – located in the southern part of the state along Route 6 – will be closed for several hours due to “heat impacts,” the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said in a news release Tuesday evening without disclosing how the heat has impacted bridge operations. Philadelphia also marked its first 100-degree temperature reading since 2012, reaching 101 degrees Tuesday, setting the record for the city’s hottest-ever day this early in the summer. The city broke Monday’s daily high temperature record when it reached 99 degrees. Records were also broken in Providence, Rhode Island where temperatures reached 100 degrees – a new June high temperature record. Meanwhile, Newark, New Jersey reached 103 degrees, tying with the current June high temperature record. New York City nearly hit 100 degrees for the first time in over a decade on Tuesday; the temperature in Central Park was hovering around 99 degrees by mid-afternoon. New York City’s last triple-digit temperature happened on July 18, 2012, but it hasn’t been 100 degrees during June since 1966 – nearly 60 years. In parts of the city, temperatures climbed above the three-digit mark. John F. Kennedy International Airport, in Queens, hit 102 degrees on Monday afternoon – the first time since 2013 and the first time ever in the month of June. LaGuardia Airport, also in Queens, saw a high temperature of 101 degrees, tying its record for the month of June. Con Edison, New York City’s main energy provider, asked millions of customers to conserve energy and protect its power grid as temperatures soar. “By working with all our customers to cut usage during peak demand, we protect the system and support neighborhoods individually,” the energy company said in an X post Tuesday afternoon. Washington, DC, reached a scorching 99 degrees, almost seeing its first 100-degree day of the year on Tuesday – something that doesn’t typically happen until mid-July. Rail temperatures in the capital city reached 135 degrees, the Metro system said in a post on X, forcing operators to slow train speeds. When will it end? Parts of the East Coast will start to see some relief from the historically hot weather Wednesday, though it’ll be a slow start. Wednesday will still be very hot, but not quite as extreme for many. Record-breaking temperatures are possible, mainly in the mid-Atlantic, but triple-digit temperatures will be a thing of the past for the Northeast. Heat more typical of late June will arrive on Thursday, but it will still be quite warm in the morning and prolong the agonizing wait for relief. Much of the Northeast will see highs in the 70s, with 80s and a few lingering 90s in the Mid-Atlantic. Cooler, more typical, overnight low temperatures will finally reappear Friday in the East, and normal late-June heat will last through the weekend. But temperatures are likely to creep back up above average early next week. This week’s heat wave is likely only the opening act of a hot summer to come for the East. A hotter than normal summer is expected for the entire Lower 48, according to the Climate Prediction Center.

2025-06-22 18:00:39.234

A dangerous heat wave continues to scorch the Midwest and East Coast, with tens of millions facing dangerously hot temperatures. Heat advisories are in effect across a large swathe of the country, from Minnesota to Maine, and parts of the South. Temperatures soared to 80°F in Chicago by 7:30 a.m., with heat indices predicted to reach 100-105°F. Pittsburgh anticipates heat indices exceeding 105°F, while Philadelphia declared a heat emergency, offering refuge in air-conditioned spaces and establishing a heat line. The extreme heat even impacted sporting events, with players falling ill and organizers adapting to the conditions. The heat broke temperature records in Minneapolis, reaching 96°F, and is expected to persist into the coming week, shifting eastward towards New York City, Boston, and Washington, D.C., with temperatures predicted to reach near or above 100°F in these cities.

2025-06-22 06:00:35.796

Powerful winds, including a confirmed tornado, swept across parts of the upper Midwest, resulting in three fatalities and significant damage to Bemidji Regional Airport. Two men and a woman died in Cass County, North Dakota, with two deaths initially attributed to a tornado striking a home. Another tornado touched down near Spiritwood, North Dakota. Bemidji, Minnesota, experienced wind gusts up to 106 mph, causing widespread tree damage, power outages, and gas leaks. The storm system, weakened, moved to Michigan and is expected to impact upstate New York. Concurrently, nearly 150 million Americans are under a heat advisory or warning, with temperatures soaring 20 degrees above normal in some areas. Cooling centers have opened in several cities, and two MLB players fell ill due to the heat. In Alaska, over 100 fires prompted evacuations near Fairbanks and Denali National Park.

2025-06-20 06:00:33.188

Summer is making a dramatic, and potentially dangerous, entrance to the US this week, with a heat dome bringing stifling temperatures and uncomfortable humidity to millions. The Midwest, specifically Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa, will be hardest hit this weekend, with forecasters warning of extreme temperature impacts. This will be the first taste of true summer weather for many across the Midwest and East Coast. The humid conditions will make temperatures exceeding 90°F (30°C) feel as much as 20 degrees hotter. A heat dome occurs when high pressure in the upper atmosphere traps heat and humidity. Daytime temperatures in the 90s°F (30s°C) and overnight temperatures only dropping to the mid-70s°F (mid-20s°C) are expected from the Great Lakes to the East Coast, lasting into next week. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico is fueling the muggy weather. The heat will be widespread next week, with Denver potentially reaching 100°F (38°C) on Friday, Chicago 96°F (36°C) on Sunday, Washington, D.C., 99°F (37°C) on Tuesday, and New York City reaching 96°F (36°C) on Tuesday. Several Midwest states could see dangerous temperature impacts over the weekend. Parts of Nebraska and Kansas will be in the highest risk category on Saturday, meaning anyone without effective cooling or hydration could face health risks. On Sunday, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Illinois will also see a high-risk rating. High humidity makes it harder for sweat to evaporate, hindering the body's ability to cool down, and can exacerbate pre-existing health conditions and lead to heat stroke.

2025-06-19 00:00:42.841

Hurricane Erick, having doubled in strength in less than a day, is rapidly intensifying as it approaches Mexico's southern Pacific coast. This rapid intensification, more common in warmer climates, is concerning scientists. Last year saw a record number of such events. Erick, though currently strong, gained 50 mph in 18 hours and is expected to be the strongest storm to hit that part of Mexico so early in the season. Its early arrival, being the fifth eastern Pacific storm of the season, is unusual. While Erick's rapid intensification is noteworthy, its location and timing differ from the devastating Hurricane Otis of 2023. Erick is an early-season storm, while Otis hit in October, benefiting from warmer, deeper waters. Experts note that despite cooler deep waters, surface waters are still warm enough to fuel Erick's intensification. Ideal atmospheric conditions, including high moisture and a well-formed eye, are contributing factors. While studies link climate change to increased rapid intensification, further study is needed to determine its specific role in Erick's development.

2025-06-09 18:00:42.015

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Barbara has strengthened into a hurricane, the first of the eastern Pacific hurricane season. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Monday swells generated by the storm system will affect portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Hurricane Barbara was located about 155 miles (245 kilometers) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 75 mph (120 kph). The storm’s center was moving northwest at 10 mph (17 kph). No coastal warnings or watches were in effect Monday morning. But the storm was expected to bring heavy rainfall to coastal areas of Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states, with the possibility of localized flooding. The hurricane center said swells from Barbara were likely to form life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the southwestern Mexican coast, with gusty winds likely. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Cosme strengthened slightly Monday but remained well off the coast of Mexico, about 630 miles (1,015 kilometers) south-southwest of the tip of Baja California, the NHC said. At 2 a.m. local time it had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 9 mph (14 kph). Cosme is expected to reach near-hurricane strength on Monday before turning to the northeast and picking up speed Tuesday into Wednesday.