Latest news with #IslandPacket
Hindustan Times
06-07-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Tropical Storm Chantal: What time will the storm make landfall in South Carolina? Latest forecast here
Tropical Storm Chantal, which formed in the Atlantic on Saturday morning, July 5, is expected to reach South Carolina's coast on Sunday, July 6, the National Hurricane Center said. Chantan is set to be the first system to impact the US this Atlantic hurricane season, which started June 1. Tropical Storm Chantal: What time will the storm make landfall in South Carolina? (Unsplash - representational image) When will the storm make landfall in South Carolina? Landfall is predicted between Charleston and Myrtle Beach in South Carolina around 8 am Sunday. It will turn into a depression upon going inland in North Carolina on Sunday night. "As tropical cyclones go, this storm will be relatively minor and short-lived," Frank Strait, severe weather liaison with the South Carolina State Climate Office, told the Island Packet. Chantal had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph in the 8 pm EDT update. At the time, it was traveling northward at 7 mph. The storm went on to become a tropical depression Friday night off the coasts of Northeast Florida and Georgia. The most widespread impact will be rainfall, Accuweather reported. It will fall from Florida all the way to the Delmarva Peninsula. While a broad zone of 1-2 inches of rain is predicted, 2-4 inches of rain is expected to drench an area from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to northern coastal South Carolina, nearest to where the center makes landfall. A small area of 4-8 inches is also expected to fall between Wilmington, North Carolina and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. "The heavy rainfall can lead to flooding, especially in low-lying and poor drainage areas," warned AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys. While most of the wind that comes with Chantal will remain offshore, coastal areas of South Carolina and southern North Carolina could expect wind gusts of 40- to 50-mph. "The strongest winds are expected near and to the east of where the storm makes landfall and can produce tree damage, localized power outages and some structural damage," said Roys.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tropical Storm Chantal forms, forecast to reach Carolinas by Sunday
July 5 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Chantal formed in the Atlantic on Saturday morning and is projected to reach South Carolina's coast on Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said. South and North Carolina are already encountering dangerous rip and surf conditions during the Fourth of July holiday weekend Chantal, the third named storm of the season, will be the first system to impact the United States this Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1. Landfall is predicted between Charleston and Myrtle Beach in South Carolina at 8 a.m. Sunday and will become a depression upon going inland in North Carolina on Sunday night, NHV said. "As tropical cyclones go, this storm will be relatively minor and short-lived," Frank Strait, severe weather liaison with the South Carolina State Climate Office, told the Island Packet. In the 2 p.m. EDT update, Chantal had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was traveling northward at 3 mph. In the 11 a.m. update, the winds were 40 mph. The storm became a tropical depression Friday night off the coasts of Northeast Florida and Georgia. Chantal was about 105 miles south-southeast of Charleston, S.C., and about 185 miles south-southwest of Wilmington, N.C. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the South Santee River, S.C., to Surf City, N.C. A tropical storm watch goes from Edisto Beach to South Santee River. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles east of the center. "Chantal has barely moved since last night, but a motion to the north-northwest is expected to begin soon," NHC forecasters said. "The main steering features appear to be a mid- to upper-level low over the Gulf and a narrow mid-level ridge across the mid-Atlantic region." Some strengthening is expected before Chantal reaches the coast, NHC said. A turn to the northeast is forecast by Sunday night, NHC said. On the forecast track, the center of Chantal is expected to move across South Carolina's coast Sunday morning. Chantal is expected to produce heavy rainfall in the Carolinas through Monday with 2 to 4 inches and local amounts of 6 inches. NHC said these rains could cause flash flooding "The combination of storm surge and tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline," NHC said. Storm surge is forecast at 1-3 feet from South Santee River to Surf City and 1-2 feet from Edisto Beach to South Santee River. Also, isolated tornadoes are possible Saturday night into Sunday along South Carolina's eastern coast and much of North Carolina, NHC said. "This was a classic example of homegrown development, by which a tropical storm formed close to the southeast Atlantic coast and in an area where it is typical for July," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said. In Wilmington, N.C., red flags were up at the beach. "The rip current advisory is going to be high for today and potentially tomorrow as well. If you see red flags, under no circumstances should you get into the water," Sam Proffitt, the Ocean Rescue Director at Wrightsville Beach, told WRAL-TV. "Although it might look calm out there and we don't have 8-foot swells coming in, rip currents can occur at any time, anywhere along the beach." There were 192 rip current drownings reported from 2000 to 2024 in North and South Carolina. "For most swimmers, the only thing that they notice is that they are unable to make it back to shore. They start swimming into shore and they notice that they are moving backwards, and that's typically where the panicking process starts, and the whole drowning process then begins," Proffitt said. Officials are also warning beachgoers about possible lightning in the area. In the Charleston area, WCIV-TV meteorologist Sonya Stevens said there is high surf and high rip current risk Saturday and water activities are discouraged, including boating. Andrea and Barry, the first two named systems of the Atlantic hurricane season, have dissipated.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Trail cameras capture never-before-seen footage of elusive species high in mountains: 'Critical insights'
Trail cameras at a nature reserve in Guatemala finally captured what conservationists had long suspected: the presence of jaguars and pumas. The Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve (SMBR) is a large protected area in northeastern Guatemala, internationally recognized for its rich biodiversity. According to UNESCO, the area supports 885 species of birds, mammals, and reptiles. Researchers identified the site as capable of supporting jaguars and pumas, but the cats proved elusive. As a research paper published in the Journal of Biodiversity Data said, "To date, no published records, museum specimens, or media evidence confirm the presence of jaguars and pumas." Researchers set up trail cameras and spent years monitoring the movement of local wildlife. As the Island Packet reports, those efforts paid off, as they made a handful of sightings of jaguars and pumas. The discovery of jaguars at a much higher elevation than expected was especially exciting for the researchers. Both cats have threats to their survival in the form of habitat destruction and hunting. Land clearance for cattle rearing also brings them into conflict with humans. Jaguars and pumas play vital roles in the ecosystem. The former is an opportunistic predator that uses its powerful jaws to pierce the craniums of its prey. Jaguars maintain an area's biodiversity by keeping their prey population under control, and their carrion provides sustenance for other creatures. Additionally, the jaguar holds significant cultural value in Central and Latin America. Pumas have a similar role and are one of the widest-spread mammals in the world. They're usually called mountain lions in North America, but they are the same animal. They are also called cougars. You can find them in the northern reaches of British Columbia and throughout South America. They interact with over 485 species and are truly one of "nature's brokers," as a study by Panthera discovered. The story underlines how useful trail cameras can be in conservation efforts. They help researchers learn more about animals in their natural habitat in a noninvasive way, which helps to inform future policies to ensure their long-term survival. As the study's conclusion said: "The occurrence of Jaguars and Pumas across the SMBR provides critical insights into the distribution of these apex predators in the region. … These findings contribute to a broader understanding of the ecological range of both species in Guatemala." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Prominent Beaufort Pastor Kenneth Hodges has died. ‘It's a shock to the whole congregation'
The Rev. Kenneth Hodges — a prominent pastor of one of Beaufort's oldest churches, a former state lawmaker, businessman, community minded promoter and photographer whose pictures ranged from civil rights icons to famous entertainers — has died. He was 73. Hodges, of Burton, was the pastor at Beaufort's Tabernacle Baptist Church in the center of downtown. After guiding the church for some 30 years, he was as iconic as the weathered wooden church with the massive steeple on Craven Street. The legendary church is a historic landmark where the enslaved first went to worship in the mid-1800s and continues as an active congregation. He leaves behind a legacy of community activism and preserving the history of the church and historic figures with ties to it including Harriet Tubman and Robert Smalls. As a state lawmaker, he supported small businesses in rural areas where he said self-employment was a way out of poverty. Friends and church members confirmed that Hodges died at Beaufort Memorial Hospital Tuesday morning. 'It's a shock to the whole congregation,' said Ed Allen, a church member and former Beaufort County coroner. Hodges had been in the hospital since last Sunday, April 13 after complaining of weakness in his side, Allen said. But congregation members had expected him to recover, said Allen, who had spoken with Hodges this week. Allen described Hodges as a 'community person.' One example, he said, was how he spearheaded a monument to abolitionist Tubman that was erected at the church in June. The storied Tabernacle Baptist Church that Hodges led was officially established in 1863 as a church for Blacks worshipers, although the building dates to 1811. Hodges once described himself as a steward of the church and its history. When whites fled Beaufort following the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, Hodges told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet in 2021, 'Blacks remained and worshiped here.' One of his crown jewels was the monument to Tubman which he promoted for years leading fundraising efforts that finally culminated in a sculpture by Colorado-based artist Ed Dwight depicting Tubman leading a faction during the Combahee River Raid in 1863. The statue captures the moments when Tubman joined Col. James Montgomery on an armed steamer sailing from Beaufort on a raid at the Combahee Ferry. Tubman, who had extensive local knowledge of the waters of the Lowcountry, directed the three steamboats with Black soldiers under Montgomery's command past mines to assault several plantations to free 750 formerly enslaved people. 'He was very engaged in the community, no question,' said Fred Washington Jr., a church member and former Beaufort City Council and Beaufort County School Board member. 'When he put his mind to something, he went after it.' Hodges also lobbied for a bridge over the Combahee River on U.S. Highway 17 in northern Beaufort County to be named after Tubman. It approved and dedicated in 2008. At the time, Hodges told the Beaufort Gazette he advocated changing the name to educate residents about Tubman's role in the June 1863 raid. Tabernacle Baptist is also known as the final resting place of Robert Smalls, who rose from slavery to Civil War hero and congressman, changing the course of Beaufort's history and he was instrumental in reconstruction after the Civil War. He is buried in the church's cemetery along with his two wives who preceded him in death. Washington said of Hodges, 'he was a student of the life of Robert Smalls.' Smalls died in 1915. Tabernacle Baptist emerged during the Civil War and its early members sent resolutions in support of President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation to the president on Jan. 1, 1863. Hodges told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet in 2021 that the resolutions, which are recorded in the Library of Congress, proved the important role of the early church in the formative years of a people as they moved from slavery to freedom, and showed the significance of prayer and praise in their lives. 'The church was the foundation of the Black community,' Hodges said in 2023. 'It's where people come together to worship, to educate their children and to focus on the challenges of each era. Over the decades — from slavery through Reconstruction through Jim Crow through the civil rights movement to today — the church was home to rallies, lectures, concerts. It was here that people became knowledgeable about the various issues impacting them.' Hodges grew up in Bennett's Point in Colleton County and attended Greenpoint Elementary and Walterboro High School. He earned an undergraduate degree at Clark Atlanta University and in 1986 and a master's of divinity at Morehouse University's School of Religion. He served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2015 until 2016, representing Beaufort and Colleton counties, where he supported legislation that helped people start small businesses and honored S.C. history. 'I believe in self sufficiency, and I believe in some of our rural and remote areas, self employment is their major (opportunity) out of poverty,' Hodges said at the time. Hodges ran unsuccessfully for the late state Sen. Clementa Pinckney's seat in the fall of 2015 after Pinckney, whom he considered a close friend and colleague, was gunned down alongside eight of his parishioners at his Charleston church in June of that year. Hodges lost in a Democratic primary runoff against Walterboro attorney Margie Bright Matthews. She went on to win and is now serving in the S.C. Senate. Tabernacle Baptist has 400 members. Its legacy includes 12 churches that spun off from the original, Hodges said in 2023. One of the biggest challenges today, Hodges said, is that the church is no longer surrounded by the Black community and Black businesses as it once was. 'How do you remain relevant when your community doesn't live right around you,' he wondered. Above the church's sanctuary is this scripture: 'Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.' Hodges also owned LyBensons' Gallery featuring some of his own photography including photos he took of famous figures such as jazz trumpet player Dizzy Gillespie, entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., poet Maya Angelou and Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks. The gallery was once located on 211 Charles Street in downtown Beaufort. Today it is located in The Gullah-Geechee Cultural Visitors' Center on St. Helena Island. Hodges told the Beaufort Gazette in 2012 that he started the business 35 years ago in Atlanta, where he had the opportunity to take pictures for area colleges and universities and those schools asked him to photograph important people who visited the city. One assignment, he noted, led him to the home of Coretta Scott King, the wife of Martin Luther King Jr. 'It was a unique experience,' Hodges said. 'When I went to Mrs. King's home for an assignment, she gave me an obituary from Dr. King's funeral. So that's something that I treasure.'
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Scientists make stunning discovery after setting up trail cameras on island known for all-night parties: 'Critical habitats'
Known for its pristine beaches and monthly full-moon parties, Ko Pha Ngan is one of the crown jewels of Thailand's crucial tourism industry. Hidden just out of the sight of the festivities are several important but elusive species that a recent study uncovered. Seeking to update "antiquated" records, researchers set up trail cameras to survey the island's wildlife. The results were astonishing. As the Island Packet reports, 28 mammals were documented over the course of the two-year study, and 19 of those were new records. Some creatures are much more outgoing than others; the long-tailed macaque is well-known for its cheeky personality and sticky fingers. The cameras also picked up more introverted primates like the endangered Sunda slow loris. The slow loris is a nocturnal primate that survives in the wild by moving quietly at night. In Indonesia, they're called malu-malu ("shy"). Primates like macaques and slow lorises play an important role in the ecosystem as seed dispersers. Their dietary habits prevent forest overgrowth, and their seed-loaded feces act as natural fertilizers. The trail cameras also found signs of the Sambar deer, which the Australian Deer Association describes as "extremely wary and shy." Their excessive caution is the key to their survival, and they are one of the most difficult game animals to hunt. One of the most exciting discoveries was the Sunda pangolin. This scaly critter protects the ecosystem by feasting on termites and mitigating the damage they do. The Nature Conservancy describes them as "guardians of the forest." Unfortunately, they are one of the world's most trafficked mammals and are critically endangered as a result (per the World Wildlife Fund). The study shed new light on Ko Pha Ngan's wildlife and underscores the importance of understanding and managing the environment. Biodiversity is the cornerstone of a healthy ecosystem. As the study's authors concluded, the results underline the importance of "...preserving national park forest areas and limiting further (human) encroachment into these critical habitats." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
