Latest news with #AlexSosnowski


Newsweek
7 days ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
Flood Warning Issued As North Carolina River Rises to 45 Feet
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Several rivers across North Carolina remain flooded on Thursday, including one river that was measured at 45 feet, amid torrential rains that have battered the East Coast for days. The flooding threat across the region could persist into the weekend as slow-moving thunderstorms continue to dump rain on the region, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski told Newsweek. Why It Matters This week's flood warnings mark the latest chapter in a period of intense rainstorms that have affected North Carolina, as well as much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Earlier in the week, heavy rain from Tropical Depression Chantal caused rivers to rise rapidly and flooding roads. The National Weather Service (NWS) has continued to monitor river levels and issue alerts as water moves downstream, with warnings covering both minor and moderate flood threats across several counties. Residents are reminded that flooding can become life-threatening, especially for drivers entering flooded roadways What to Know Flood warnings were in place for numerous rivers across North Carolina, including the Cape Fear River south of Fayetteville. The flooded Cape Fear River is seen on September 20, 2018, in Lillington, North Carolina. The flooded Cape Fear River is seen on September 20, 2018, in Lillington, North Carolina. Joe Raedle/Getty Authorities urged North Carolinians to avoid flooded roads and heed safety warnings. The agency further cautioned against walking near swollen riverbanks and emphasized the unpredictability and risks associated with rising water. Cape Fear River flooding Among the flooding rivers is the Cape Fear River at William O'Huske Lock and Dam 3, which was measured at 45.5 feet on Thursday morning. The floods will impact parts of Cumberland and Bladen counties. "At 45.0 feet, Flood waters will affect lowlands along the east bank of the river with some minor overflow along the west bank," the flood warning said. Flood stage occurs when the river reaches 42 feet. It will fall to 42 feet on Friday evening, the warning said. However, the river will then rise again to a crest of 43.5 feet on Saturday afternoon. Haw River flooding The Haw River in Alamance County recorded a stage of 21.5 feet at 8:45 a.m. EDT Thursday, exceeding the flood stage of 18.0 feet. The NWS forecast indicated the river would fall below flood stage late Thursday evening. At these heights, significant overflow on the right bank opposite the water treatment plant and flooding of Red Slide Park and Lang Street was expected. The Haw River also flooded near Bynum in Chatham County. Minor flooding began as the river reached a stage of 10.8 feet at 9:16 a.m. EDT, nearing the flood stage of 11.0 feet. The river was forecast to crest at 11.6 feet Thursday evening, with floodwaters spreading to 400 feet across, inundating pastureland and woodlands near the banks. Water levels were forecast to recede just after midnight. Lumber River flooding Farther south, the Lumber River near Lumberton continued rising following sustained rainfall. At 9:50 a.m. EDT, its stage was 15.8 feet, above the minor flood stage of 13.0 feet. The river was forecast to reach a moderate flood crest of 16.4 feet Friday morning. Flood impacts included worsening conditions in the Pines and Coxs Pond regions, road flooding, and potential risks to businesses near the river. What People Are Saying NWS Wilmington in a flood warning about the Cape Fear River: "Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas." NWS Raleigh in a hazardous weather outlook: "Scattered thunderstorms are expected again Friday. While coverage will be less than the last few days, heavy rainfall and isolated instances of flash flooding are still possible, especially in urban areas and where excessive rainfall has already occurred. A few storms could also become strong to severe, with damaging wind gusts the main threat." What Happens Next River levels are forecast to gradually recede across affected areas over the coming days if rainfall subsides. Continued rainfall or new storms could prolong or worsen flooding conditions, while subsiding water will still pose risks near riverbanks and in low-lying zones.


Newsweek
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Map Shows Where Dangerous Flash Floods Could Hit Next
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists issued widespread flood watches across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic on Wednesday as severe thunderstorms containing excessive rainfall move through the region. "We are concerned that there will be more flooding downpours in the East coming in rounds today through Friday," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski told Newsweek. "We may continue to see this getting into the weekend and beyond." Why It Matters The flood risk for the East Coast comes as the nation reels in the wake of deadly flash floods that hit Central Texas over the weekend. The floods have killed at least 109 people, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic in Kerr County. Flooding is the second-deadliest weather hazard in the U.S. after extreme heat. Most fatalities occur when vehicles are swept away by water. A map from AccuWeather shows the six states most at risk for flash floods on Wednesday. A map from AccuWeather shows the six states most at risk for flash floods on Wednesday. AccuWeather What To Know Severe storms hit the East Coast on Tuesday, prompting numerous flash flood and severe weather warnings. The storms will continue on Wednesday. So far, flood watches have been issued for six states in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. A map from AccuWeather warned that the highest-risk areas for flash flooding are Southern New Jersey, Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, much of Maryland, Eastern and Central Virginia and Northern North Carolina. Downpours associated with the storms could be severe enough to cause travel disruptions and flash floods, the map said. Some areas remain saturated from Tropical Storm Chantal's path earlier this week, including Virginia and North Carolina. These areas are "especially vulnerable to flash flooding and stream overflows," AccuWeather reported. The heavy rain is caused by a stalled cold front, according to a Facebook post from the NWS on Wednesday. Rain is likely to hit the drenched region again on Thursday. The NWS included a map of the highest-risk area in its post. South-central Virginia, including Richmond, and far Northern North Carolina have the highest chance for excessive rainfall. Sosnowski told Newsweek that a "big sweep of dry air" is needed to alleviate the rain, but with the high humidity and weak steering breezes, the region is not seeing that. "These thunderstorms can get really tall. They are slow-moving, and they can drop a lot of rain, inches of rain per hour," Sosnowski said. "Even with the high evaporation rates we have in July, you get a pattern like this and you can't really overcome it." What People Are Saying NWS, on Facebook: "A stalled cold front and a second boundary will serve as a focus for potentially heavy rain across the Mid-Atlantic for today and Thursday. A broad area of a slight chance for excessive rain surrounds a more-focused area where there is a moderate chance for excessive rain mainly in Virginia. NWS office for Blacksburg, Virginia, in a flood watch: "Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. "Thunderstorms with torrential rains on already saturated soils may lead to flooding this afternoon and evening." What Happens Next People in the flood watch areas are urged to remain on alert and follow local weather guidance, especially areas near creeks, rivers and streams.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
More storms, temperatures swings ahead for the Northeast
A pattern more reminiscent of the middle of spring rather than the middle of June will result in frequent showers, thunderstorms and fluctuating temperatures across the Northeast into next week. Wet weather has been common across the region, with weekends especially prone to rain. This has resulted in disrupted landscaping projects, outdoor weddings, graduation ceremonies and recreational plans. AccuWeather forecasters say that Father's Day weekend will be no different, at least for part of the region. A slow-moving storm with ample moisture will trigger clouds and pockets of rain into early next week. The steadiest rain and most frequent downpours will be across the mid-Atlantic, where localized flooding can occur. Residents and visitors from Pittsburgh to Richmond, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore should prepare for showers and thunderstorms at times and the potential need to seek shelter when outdoors. Those heading to the 250th anniversary parade of the U.S. Army in Washington, D.C., on Saturday should be prepared for a drenching shower or gusty thunderstorm, though the whole day will not be a washout. "The rain is not welcomed due to a wet spring and already saturated soil," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said. Although the stormy weather will be widespread and can repeat across the Ohio Valley, southern Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic, some communities may be spared from wet weather for much of the weekend, due to the hit-or-miss nature of the shower and thunderstorm the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+ Across northern New England, a wedge of cool air has settled into the region following a backdoor cold front, and the cool conditions are expected to linger into next week. Backdoor fronts are named after their atypical movement from the northeast to the southwest. They more typically cross the region during the middle of spring. "A pocket of dry air may dip down from Canada on Sunday and may be just enough to keep rain away most of the day in parts of New England and eastern upstate New York, resulting in good weather for Father's Day barbecue plans, fishing trips or a day at the ballpark," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. High temperatures through Monday will be in the 60s and 70s F across the Northeast, which is around 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit below historical averages and a far cry from the burst of heat experienced during the middle and latter portion of this week. AccuWeather's team of long-range meteorologists expect the atmospheric pattern to shift and allow summer heat to return during the middle and latter part of next week. "An extended period of heat, with warm and humid nights, is possible from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast starting during the second half of next week, making it feel more like summer," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. The buildup of heat and humidity will create additional opportunities for showers and thunderstorms to develop, especially during the afternoon. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
40 years ago: Pennsylvania's deadliest tornado outbreak, only F5 twister
Friday, May 31, 1985, was a spring day like any other. Trees and flowers were in full bloom, Memorial Day weekend was in the rearview mirror, and most residents of Pennsylvania, Ohio and southern Ontario were looking forward to the weekend. By the end of the day, however, 44 tornadoes had ripped through the region, killing 89 people. One massive twister moved from Ohio into Pennsylvania, destroying everything in its path, and still stands as the only F5 tornado on the Fujita Scale to strike Pennsylvania. Eight F4 tornadoes were also documented. The outbreak caused unprecedented damage and also remains Pennsylvania's deadliest severe weather outbreak to this day. An AccuWeather meteorologist remembers the day Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski was working at AccuWeather on that fateful day. "I remember the days before the outbreak. We kept ramping up our concern for tornadoes in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. We forecast 'a swarm of tornadoes' the day before, which was very unusual for that area," Sosnowski said. "We didn't have cell phones or internet then, so we couldn't watch it happen in real time," Sosnowski explained. "When I got to work around midnight, the mood was somber. The word had come through that lots of people were injured or killed." 5 Boy Scouts miraculously survived an F4 tornado One F4 tornado tracked 69 miles from Penfield to Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, and destroyed an estimated 88,000 trees in the Moshannon State Forest. Five Boy Scouts at Parker Dam State Park were lucky to survive in a cabin surrounded by destruction. Carey Huber, an Environmental Education Specialist at Parker Dam, told WTAJ in 2018 that the destruction around the cabin "looked like matchsticks or toothpicks laying in different directions all over the place." Watching the deadly storm on radar Radar was available in 1985 but only at some television stations and universities. Lee Grenci, a lecturer at Penn State University, was in the Penn State "radar room," watching the Doppler with other Penn State faculty members. It was a black and white screen, but forecasters could hold up a piece of paper to the screen to see the locations of towns and roads. They were awed by what they saw, a supercell thunderstorm with a curled hook echo north of State College, Pennsylvania, home to Penn State University (PSU). "[We] were mesmerized by the radar, and, out of the dead silence, [PSU Professor] Greg Forbes said, people are dying right now. I never, ever forgot that moment," Grenci said. Storm left scars on the land Stephen Corfidi of the Severe Local Storms Unit of the National Severe Storms Forecast Center, as the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) was known in those days, was amazed by the strength of the F4 twister north of State College. "Eight years after the event, the path of the nearly mile-wide monster storm remained nearly devoid of trees - in stark contrast to the richly green forest surrounding it," Corfidi said. The storm's scar was visible on satellite maps until the early 2000s. An infamous and rare video of the F5 tornado The strongest storm of the outbreak, an F5 tornado, began in Portage County in Ohio and tracked across Trumbull County into Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Home video cameras were rare in those days, but one resident filmed the infamous storm. For the 40th anniversary of the outbreak, WFMJ talked to Ron Alfredo, who took the rare video of the tornado in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. After seeing unusually large hail, he said, the tornado came into view. He kept the video rolling. "I thought it was papers flying," Alfredo said of swirling debris that he later realized was buildings being torn apart. A dozen killed in Ontario In southern Ontario, 14 tornadoes left massive damage north of Toronto, killing 12 people. Three tornadoes were rated F3 on the Fujita Scale. "The tornado hit so hard that in some places, there was simply nothing left," CBC's Vicki Russell said at the time.


The Herald Scotland
30-05-2025
- Climate
- The Herald Scotland
Tropical Storm Alvin forms in the Pacific, an unusual first for 2025
Alvin's formation marks the end of an unusual drought of tropical activity in the Northern Hemisphere. In mid-May, forecasters noted that multiple storms, often in the western North Pacific, usually had formed by this point in the year. The oddity didn't stop the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from predicting an above-average hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean. More: See projected path, spaghetti models of Alvin (While all is quiet at the moment in the Atlantic, forecasters are keeping an eye on several weather systems ahead of the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season on June 1.) It is possible Alvin may strengthen further into a hurricane, AccuWeather said. The storm is expected to begin to lose wind intensity as it moves northward toward Mexico into the weekend and moves over cooler waters and an area of increased wind shear, which acts to tear storms apart. Alvin marks an early start to the eastern Pacific season. The average date for the first tropical storm of that season is June 10, according to the National Hurricane Center. Some rain, clouds may reach US southwest Alvin "may still wander far enough to the north along the west coast of Mexico to allow some moisture in the form of clouds and downpours to reach parts of Texas or New Mexico as early as this weekend," AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. Eastern Pacific tropical storms and hurricanes seldom have any major impact on the U.S. "While many eastern Pacific tropical storms and hurricanes move west-northwest and eventually fizzle in the open ocean, some do strike land, as we saw in 2023 with the remnant of Hurricane Hilary in the Desert Southwest and with Category 5 Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Mexico," noted meteorologist Sara Tonks in an online forecast. Map shows Alvin's projected storm path This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Below-average season expected in eastern Pacific The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in a seasonal hurricane forecast released May 22, said that a below-average eastern Pacific hurricane season is most likely. An average season sees 15 named storms. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season officially began on May 15, two weeks earlier than the Atlantic hurricane season.