Latest news with #RonSmiley
CBS News
04-07-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Thousands expected to gather for Canonsburg 4th of July parade
Thousands of people are expected to gather in Canonsburg today for one of Pennsylvania's largest 4th of July parades. People in Canonsburg have been ready for the parade for days and started setting up their chairs on Wednesday. The events of the day are set to kick off at 7:30 a.m. for the Whiskey Rebellion 5K, a longtime tradition put on by the Canon-McMillan cross country boosters. At 9:00 a.m., a ringing of church bells will take place to signal the opening of the ceremonies for the day. The parade will step off at 10 a.m. and make its way down Pike Street where the spots along the road have been reserved for days, a Canonsburg tradition. Parking chairs are lining W. Pike Street in Canonsburg where one of Pennsylvania's largest 4th of July parades is set to take place. KDKA Photojournalist Brian Smithmyer KDKA First Alert Meteorologist Ron Smiley will be one of the grand marshals for the parade. After the parade, the focus shifts to Canonsburg Town Park from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. with free admission to the pool, a rock wall, face painting, inflatables, and more. Gates open at 8 p.m. at Canon-McMillan AHN Stadium for the fireworks finale that starts at 9:30 p.m. and a rain date is set for tomorrow if needed.
CBS News
25-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Duquesne Light says Wednesday's severe weather, extreme heat could lead to power outages
Duquesne Light said Wednesday's severe weather and extreme heat could lead to power outages in the Pittsburgh area. In a news release on Tuesday, Duquesne Light said it is preparing for the potential severe weather on Wednesday, when wind gusts could reach between 60-70 miles per hour. KDKA First Alert Meteorologist Ron Smiley said rain will be spotty, but those who see it will see downpours that could potentially lead to flash flooding. "Strong winds combined with extreme heat can have an impact on the grid and damage electrical equipment, potentially resulting in service disruptions," Duquesne Light said in the press release. Duquesne Light, which covers parts of Beaver and Allegheny counties, added that it will increase staffing on Wednesday to respond to any outages. In April, hundreds of thousands of customers in the Pittsburgh area were left without power for days after storms slammed the region. Duquesne Light said over 325,000 customers lost power at one point. It took about seven days for full restoration. A state lawmaker then held a public hearing to determine how everyone can be more prepared for future storms after the prolonged outages. Power outages tips To be prepared for any power outages, keep your devices charged and have an emergency kit with items like non-perishable food, water and batteries. If power does go out, Duquesne Light customers can report it online or call 888-393-7100. Also, do not forget to check on older family, friends and neighbors who live alone.
CBS News
02-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Northern lights could be visible throughout parts of western Pennsylvania on Monday night
Northern lights could be visible throughout parts of western Pennsylvania on Monday night Northern lights could be visible throughout parts of western Pennsylvania on Monday night Northern lights could be visible throughout parts of western Pennsylvania on Monday night The aurora borealis will take to the skies again across Pennsylvania Monday night. From inside the KDKA-TV studios, meteorologist Ron Smiley tackles a busy day forecasting, hosting, and hopefully crossing off a life goal. "I've never gotten to see them," said Smiley, talking about the northern lights. "I've tried a couple of times, I've never gotten to it, so it's still on my bucket list of things to do." However, Smiley knows exactly what to do to increase the chances of seeing the northern lights in person and how it works. "What it boils down to is electrons slamming into our atmosphere, our magnetic field. That creates the light," said Smiley. It's like a neon light on a grander scale. When is the best time to see the northern lights? "It's really hard to time out these ejections of gas or plasma that's heading our way at thousands of miles per hour," said Smiley. The darkest hours bring the best luck, generally after 10 p.m. and before 5 a.m., but your location also matters. To best see the aurora borealis, move away from the city lights. You can even use the camera on your phone to scan the sky and see the colors even better. "(The) best chance by far is going to be off to our north," Smiley said. "But if we have a storm that's more active than what we would normally be expecting to see, then that means our skies are going to light up as well," said Smiley. We saw that a couple of times last year, but this year we've got smoke from wildfires in Canada. That smoke is causing hazy conditions. It's supposed to thicken up overnight. "It could actually make it even better viewing for us to see it by ourselves," said Smiley. He also recommends searching for a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast. It shows a 20-30-minute window to help you catch this bucket list moment. "We know overnight we'll have a chance, but once you see that 20-30-minute window light up and they're saying, 'Hey, it's going to come,' that's when you know you have a good shot," Smiley said.
