Latest news with #KTRKTV
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Meteorologist sheds light on intensity of deadly flash flooding in Texas: 'How could this happen?'
As recovery efforts following devastating flash floods in Texas continued, with a death toll the Associated Press is now reporting to be tragically over 100, Houston-based meteorologist Travis Herzog used Facebook to address a common question: "How could this happen?" At 1:14 a.m. on Friday, July 4, a National Weather Service flash flood warning marked "considerable" was issued for Bandera and Kerr counties, per ABC News. NWS guidelines advise using the "considerable" flash flooding tag "rarely," solely when flooding is deemed "capable of unusual severity or impact is imminent or ongoing," and when "urgent action is needed to protect life and property." Alerts were upgraded at 3:35 a.m. and 4:03 a.m., the latter warning of a "particularly dangerous situation" and urging residents to get to higher ground immediately. KTRK-TV Meteorologist Travis Herzog said in his Facebook post that he was "born and raised" in Texas Hill Country, the term he used for the area affected by the deadly flash floods, and he noted that floods have "always been a part of life" for residents. Herzog explained broadly causative "naturally-occurring rainstorms that stall out are infrequent but not unprecedented" for the area, leading into what is a hallmark of extreme weather. As Herzog observed, the underlying rainfall and flooding were common for the region. What was new was their severity, strength, and sudden onset. As temperatures rise and oceans heat, atmospheric changes have a compounding effect on extreme weather, increasing its severity, its frequency, and the deadly risks it poses. Herzog described the relationship between higher-than-average temperatures and the deadly Texas floods as "pretty simple" in terms of physics. "Warmer oceans release more moisture into the atmosphere, and warmer air also holds more moisture. This enhances rainfall amounts above and beyond what would happen in a cooler world with cooler oceans," he explained. Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Meteorologists in the United States openly fretted after abrupt, drastic cuts hit the NWS, NOAA, and FEMA as hurricane season began, and Herzog weighed in on that issue. "It certainly didn't help the situation that the Austin/San Antonio NWS weather forecast office is understaffed by 22% and without a Warning Coordination Meteorologist, but I see no evidence yet that it hurt the situation either with what I know," he said. On Monday, July 7, rescuers continued their search for those still missing in the wake of the flooding, with at least 104 confirmed dead and at least 11 still missing. Much of the region remained under an "extended flood watch," with several inches of rain expected that night. In light of the horrific scope of the tragedy in Texas, GoFundMe compiled a verified list of campaigns for those affected by the incident. TCD also published a wider list of organizations working to help, such as the Kerr County Relief Fund. World Central Kitchen was among the first on the scene to assist victims of the Texas flash floods, and the organization is accepting donations to support its work. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Video Of Crazy Tow Truck Incident Goes Viral Because, As Noted, It's Crazy
A broken axle on a sedan led to perhaps the craziest towing video in recent memory. On Monday afternoon, after a Saab broke down on the Interstate 610 loop in Texas, the driver called his girlfriend for help towing the vehicle as they could not afford a towing company, according to ABC Houston affiliate KTRK TV. The couple apparently decided to tow the vehicle using a chain, but, at some point, an axel on the Saab broke, causing it to swerve back and forth between various freeway lanes, according to CBS affiliate KHOU TV. 'It was like err err, like losing control, I heard when his tire blew out, just lots of swerving,' Ken Collins, who witnessed the terrifying tow job, told the station. TikTok user @cindyibarra22 posted a video showing how Mr. Tow's Wild Ride looked from a Houston office building. Video taken by X account @StormChaserHTX shows how the swerving looked to drivers on the road. Spoiler alert: It's terrifying. According to Collins, the two cars eventually stopped on a feeder road and a woman came out of the SUV while a man exited the blue Saab. 'It was crazy, I thought they was [about to] fight, I thought he was going to jump on the driver. He was yelling at the lady, he hit his hood,' Collins said. Although the woman was trying to talk to the man, Collins said, 'He didn't want to hear nothing of it. He was like, 'you messed up my car, you [messed] up my car.'' Collins is still perplexed why the two drivers decided to pull the Saab from the back. 'Normally, on a chain you pull a car from the front but that's my only thought. Why did they pull it from the back, especially on the freeway?' he said. 'It looked like a scene from ′Fast & Furious,''David Chairez, who was driving with a co-worker when they saw the terrifying tow job, told KTRK. 'That was very reckless, and that was very dangerous.' To make matters worse, Chairez said the woman driving the SUV appeared to be laughing throughout the incident, adding, 'To see something like this, this is not normal.' Although the incident definitely caused traffic issues, Houston Police did not cite either driver for their method of vehicle towing. The man was arrested for an active warrant from Georgia, according to KTRK TV.
