Alerts Stayed Silent as Flash Flood Swept Victims in Central Texas
Officials, emphasizing their focus on the recovery operations, have been reluctant to detail their alert and emergency preparedness efforts in the lead-up to the deadly disaster. But what's known for certain is that despite the area's history of deadly deluges, it lacked public alarms or warning sirens — partly due to the expense required to set them up — that could have woken people up and sent them to higher ground. Read more from Brian K Sullivan, Kara Carlson, and Joe Lovinger today on CityLab: No Alerts Heard in Deadly Texas Flash Flood as 161 Still Missing
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CBS News
3 hours ago
- CBS News
Flash flood threat as severe storms move into the Chicago area on Friday
Severe storms moving into the Chicago area are bringing dangerous flash flood threats on Friday afternoon. Torrential rain rates of 3 inches per hour are possible and storms are sitting in place, leading to extremely high rain totals potentially exceeding 5 inches this afternoon in parts of the city. Basement and roadway flooding are likely during severe weather. If you encounter a flooded roadway, never drive through it-"Turn around, don't drown!" The storm threats remain in place on Friday and through the weekend – leading to additional rounds of flooding in parts of the area.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
National Hurricane Center now tracking 4 waves in Atlantic, Caribbean, rain from Gulf system
The low-pressure system bringing rain and thunderstorms across Florida the last few days is expected to move out of the Gulf inland over southeastern Texas or western Louisiana going into the weekend, ending any chances for further development, according to the National Hurricane Center's July 25 update. "Today will be the last day of widespread heavy rainfall across the Gulf Coast," said National Weather Service meteorologist Mussie Kebede. "Troughing along the coast has offered a lifting mechanism for storm development/organization over the last few days, but should wind down as an upper ridge in the vicinity strengthens. "1-3 additional inches of rain are anticipated from the Florida panhandle to the central Texas coast by Sunday morning. Fortunately, the threat of flash flooding remains marginal due to the relatively low rain rates, resilient soils and efficient runoff methods," the forecaster said. Elsewhere, the NHC is now tracking four tropical waves moving westward across the Atlantic: one near the Lesser Antilles, one in the open Atlantic, a third off the coast of Africa, and a new one in the Caribbean. It's still hot out there. Heat index values ('real feel" temperatures) are expected to reach 100-107 in different areas around the state, but there are no heat advisories in effect today. However, the unusual heat and humidity the country has suffered through the last week will continue through early next week, Labede said, while building across the Southeast and Mid-South this weekend. ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location The next named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season will be Dexter. Historically, the fourth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season arrives Aug. 15. The last two named storms of the season — Barry and Chantal — developed earlier than normal. Here's the latest tropical advisory from the National Hurricane Center as of 8 a.m. July 25: Where is the low-pressure area? A broad area of low pressure located about 100 miles south of the coast of southwestern Louisiana continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. This system is moving west-northwestward toward the Texas coast, and it has limited time to develop before it moves inland tonight. Regardless of formation, locally heavy rainfall is likely over portions of the northwestern Gulf coast during the next couple of days. Formation chance through 48 hours: Low, 10% Formation chance through 7 days: Low, 10% What else is happening in the tropics? The National Hurricane Center is tracking four tropical waves. Tropical wave 1: A tropical wave is analyzed over the eastern Atlantic near 20W, from 17N southward moving westward at 10 to 15 kt. Isolated moderate convection is depicted just west of the wave axis. Tropical wave 2: A central Atlantic tropical wave is near 40W, from 18N southward, moving west at 10 to 15 kt. No significant convection is active with this wave. Tropical wave 3: A central Atlantic tropical wave is near 56W, from 18N southward, moving at 20 to 25 kt. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are active from 10N to 14N between 54W and 57W. Tropical wave 4: A Caribbean tropical wave is analyzed near 76W, from 19N southward moving west at 25 kt. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 15N to 19N between 75W and 78W. Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida Florida weather radar for July 25, 2025 National Weather Service Florida forecast for July 25 : Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 4 p.m. High near 87. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Tallahassee, central Panhandle: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 4 p.m, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. : A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 103. Southeast wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. : A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 90. Heat index values as high as 102. Light south-southeast wind becoming east southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning. : A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon. Sunny, with a high near 86. Heat index values as high as 100. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. : A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 107. East wind 6 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. : Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Heat index values as high as 101. East southeast wind around 10 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. ➤ How to set up emergency cellphone notifications for flash flood warnings and safety tips ➤ Excessive rainfall forecast 2025 hurricane season so far An average Atlantic hurricane season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes. Here's when this year's named storms have developed, compared to historical averages: Tropical Storm Andrea: formed June 24. Average start date: June 20 Tropical Storm Barry: formed June 29. Average start date: July 17 Tropical Storm Chantal: formed July 5. Average start date: Aug. 3. Next up, Dexter: Average state date: Aug. 15, with the average first hurricane forming Aug. 11. Hurricane names for 2025 season Here are the names for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, along with how to pronounce them: Andrea (June 24) Barry (June 29) Chantal (July 5) Dexter: DEHK-ster Erin: AIR-rin Fernand: fair-NAHN Gabrielle: ga-bree-ELL Humberto: oom-BAIR-toh Imelda: ee-MEHL-dah Jerry: JEHR-ee Karen: KAIR-ren Lorenzo: loh-REN-zoh Melissa: meh-LIH-suh Nestor: NES-tor Olga: OAL-guh Pablo: PAHB-lo Rebekah: reh-BEH-kuh Sebastien: se-BAS-tee-en Tanya: TAHN-yuh Van: van Wendy: WEN-dee When is the Atlantic hurricane season? The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Ninety-seven percent of tropical cyclone activity occurs during this time period, NOAA said. The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America, as the Gulf of Mexico is now known in the U.S. per an order from President Trump. NOAA and the National Hurricane Center are now using Gulf of America on its maps and in its advisories. When is the peak of hurricane season? National Hurricane Center map: See what forecasters watching now Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center include: Why does NHC say 'tropical cyclone' on its maps instead of hurricane or tropical storm? Tropical cyclone is the generic term used by the National Weather Service, NOAA and the National Hurricane Center for any tropical system, even if it's in the tropical Atlantic basin. To be more precise, a tropical cyclone is a "rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has closed, low-level circulation," NOAA said. Once maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph, what it is called is determined by where it originated: : for storms in the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific. : for storms in the Northwest Pacific. : for storms in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean. Interactive map: Hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed near your city Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text What's next? We will update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hurricane Center tracks tropical waves, Gulf system with rain
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fires engulf Turkey's Mediterranean coast as government declares 2 disaster zones
ISTANBUL (AP) — New wildfires broke out on Turkey's Mediterranean coast Friday, as the government declared two western provinces in the country to be disaster zones. Images showed flames and smoke billowing into the sky close to high-rise apartment buildings in Antalya, where local and foreign visitors flock during the summer months. Homes were evacuated in the city center and the outlying district of Aksu as the fire advanced, privately owned news agency DHA reported. Firefighters struggled to extinguish the blazes before strong winds could spread the fire, which closed a major coastal road. Further along the coast, homes in the city of Manavgat were also threatened. Local residents with hoses and buckets rushed to assist firefighters as water-dropping helicopters and planes also battled the flames. Police water cannons and municipal water trucks were also enlisted in the firefighting efforts. Antalya Gov. Hulusi Sahin said that the fires were under control apart from one in Aksu, which was 'showing a tendency to grow,' and another in Gazipasa, east of Manavgat. 'The fires were truly disturbing and dangerous, because they occurred in city centers, among houses,' he said. 'We evacuated some of our homes ... There are no deaths or injuries.' Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, meanwhile, said Friday that Izmir and Bilecik provinces had been declared 'disaster areas affecting public life," one step below the most serious level of emergency. Between June 27 and Thursday, residents from 120 neighborhoods nationwide were evacuated, Yerlikaya added, and more than 12,000 workers under the ministry's authority, such as police and rescue staff, had fought the fires. In a social media post, the minister said 311 homes had been destroyed or seriously damaged during the monthlong blazes and 85 temporary housing units were set up across three western provinces for those made homeless. Speaking after Friday prayers, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey was 'faced with a truly great disaster.' He said that 25,000 personnel were fighting fires across the country, assisted by 27 planes, 105 helicopters and 6,000 ground vehicles. Turkey has faced widespread outbreaks of forest fires since late June. Thirteen people have died, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers killed Wednesday in a fire in Eskisehir, western Turkey. The funerals for the 10 were on Thursday. Temperatures above seasonal norms have been exacerbated by strong winds and dry conditions, resulting in dozens of wildfires. East of Antalya, fires broke out in Adana and Mersin on Friday. Elsewhere in the country, firefighters continued battling blazes in Eskisehir and nearby Karabuk that have been raging for several days. The heat wave in the eastern Mediterranean region saw 1,000 firefighters and soldiers battle flames in Albania as temperatures reached 42 C (107 F). In the Albanian city of Elbasan, firefighters have been combating a weeklong blaze in the country's central mountain forests. Fires have also broke out near the southern border with Greece. ___ Llazar Semini contributed to this report from Tirana, Albania. ___ A previous version of this story was corrected to show that the 10 people killed in Eskisehir died on Wednesday, not Thursday. Andrew Wilks, The Associated Press
