Tropical storm Dexter forms over the western Atlantic, NHC says
The tropical storm was about 300 miles per hour (480 kilometers) west north-west of Bermuda, with packing maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (70 kph), the Miami-based forecaster said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
Maui firefighters battle blaze near area of devastating Lahaina wildfires two years ago
Nearly two years to the day since devastating wildfires that killed more than 100 people and left thousands homeless the Hawaiian island of Maui is fighting another blaze in roughly the same location. The Maui Emergency Management Agency said on Monday that firefighters were "slowly containing" a brush fire in the hills above Ka'anapali, about two miles north of the deadly 2023 Lahaina wildfire. The Honoapiilani Highway was closed for about two and a half hours on Monday afternoon while helicopters drew water from the ocean to dump on the fire, officials said. "This is an emergency evacuation order. Leave immediately," the agency told Ka'anapali residents at around 1.48 p.m. local time. "Do not delay. Evacuate now and drive away from fire. Smoke and debris may be hazardous." In under an hour the evacuation order was lifted after firefighters succeeded in stopping the blaze from spreading any further. The wildfire that broke out in the same area on August 8, 2023, was the country's fifth deadliest such event on record, tearing through and almost destroying the historical town of Lahaina. After five months, more than 6,000 people on the island were without permanent long-term shelter with the American Red Cross housing displaced residents in empty rooms in hotels and condos. The tragedy , while a later investigative report . But now officials say things have changed. 'We're all more aware,' Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen told Maui Now last week. "I think we're more on guard. I think we probably all do a better job of taking care of each other, helping each other." The Maui Fire Department's total budget has grown from $60 million to $70m, with another $190m for housing assistance, recovery, repairs, and disaster mitigation. More firefighters and support staff have been hired, as well as more inspectors to check on potential fire hazards. New job roles have also been created to help relieve some of the demand on fire battalion commanders. More emergency vehicles have been ordered, and existing ones have been upgraded with thermal imaging devices. There are also more weather stations and cameras, and a new electricity plan that calls for power lines to be shut down when the risk of fire is particularly high.
The Independent
11 hours ago
- The Independent
Grand Canyon ‘megafire' timelapse shows rare fire cloud forming
A time-lapse video shows a fire cloud rolling over the Grand Canyon as a 'megafire' continues to rage on across northern Arizona. Footage taken on Thursday (31 July) shows a pyrocumulus cloud, which forms when air over a fire becomes superheated and rises in large, smoky columns, moving over the national park. The rare weather phenomenon can also spread smoke into neighbouring areas, which officials warn can pose a danger if breathed in. The Dragon Bravo fire, which first ignited on 4 July, has become the largest wildfire in the continental US this year, consuming at least 111,000 acres and destroying the historic lodge at the national park. It was upgraded to 'megafire' status after it crossed the 100,000-acre threshold.
The Independent
12 hours ago
- The Independent
Wildfires mapped: Where will be affected by smoky conditions this week?
Wildfire smoke continued to choke millions of residents across the Upper Great Lakes region on Monday, as massive blazes burned in Canada and throughout the western U.S. Minneapolis saw the second worst air quality in the world on Friday, with an air quality index of 159, thanks to the fires. The city of Detroit had the fourth worst air quality in the world, with an air quality index of 154, according to air quality tracker IQ Air. Any measurement above 150 is considered to be unhealthy and potentially result in more serious health impacts for sensitive groups. Recent research has linked wildfire smoke exposure to a higher risk of premature death and developing dementia. 'It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases like asthma. Monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat, and eyes,' the National Weather Service's Detroit office warned in a post on social media. An advisory was issued through Monday evening for the whole state of Michigan . In nearby Chicago, air quality also remained degraded following a very hazy weekend. By Monday, smoke was hanging on in neighboring Wisconsin. Several counties there were shown to be threatened by unhealthy air. The air pollution has shifted eastward since last week, according to national forecasters, with air quality alerts in effect across the Upper Mississippi Valley and Northeast regions. In New York City, the air quality was also unhealthy, and temperatures were expected to jump up nearly 30 degrees over the course of the day. In addition to worsening wildfire conditions, higher temperatures can make air quality worse, leading to increases in ozone pollution, which is commonly known as smog. The combination of smog and wildfire smoke can be particularly harmful, potentially leading to cardiovascular and respiratory issues. This wildfire smoke is tied to fires burning in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba. Nearly 4,000 fires have scorched more than 16 million acres this year thus far across the country, and 739 are still active, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. But, Canadian wildfires aren't the only potential threat to Americans and skies around the nation. In the West and Southwest, major wildfires were tearing through California and Arizona. The Golden State's Gifford Fire in Los Padres National Forest had ballooned to more than 65,000 acres, forcing evacuations. Its cause remains under investigation. In Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park, the lightning-sparked Dragon Bravo 'megafire' kept spreading, now spanning more than 116,000 acres. That makes it the largest fire in the country. 'This fire behavior we're seeing is unprecedented,' Lisa Jennings, a spokeswoman for the Southwest Area Incident Management Team, told The New York Times on Saturday. 'We have had consistently gusty winds with this dry spell for the past eight days. There's lots of fuel to burn through.'
