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Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
What Is A Heat Dome? Explaining The Deadly Weather Pattern Behind America's Most Dangerous Summer Days
They're known by many names: Heat dome. Ridge of high pressure. Death ridge. Blocking high. But do you really know what these are and why they can produce deadly weather? These expansive bulges of warm air can stretch for 1,000 miles during the spring and summer months and provide sinking air over much of the country. (MORE: Preparing For The Upcoming Heat Wave: What You Need To Know) It's that sinking air that is often problematic. Descending air compresses and warms as it drops closer to the surface. Temperatures can often reach the century mark in the eastern two-thirds of the United States. In the West, these death ridges can push temperatures into the 110s and 120s in the desert. (MORE: Further beef up your forecast with our detailed, hour-by-hour breakdown for the next 8 days – only available on our Premium Pro experience.) Days-long heat waves are often the result. This sinking, warm air also dries out the ground and the air above it. Thunderstorms have a tough time sprouting due to the suppressive motion of the air. Drought can begin or worsen under ridges of high pressure that last for longer than a week. The air directly under such a system can become still with little to no wind. During the middle of the summer, this can become a vicious cycle of warming and drying. These domes can strengthen and expand during this cycle until something comes along to push the high-pressure system elsewhere. Heat is the No. 1 weather killer in the U.S., with hundreds of fatalities each year. Many of these fatalities occur under heat domes. (MORE: For even more granular weather data tracking in your area, view your 15-minute details forecast in our Premium Pro experience.) There is one benefit that these domes bring: They can deflect tropical systems away from the United States. They act like a shield for the Gulf Coast or Atlantic seaboard. While not seen as a benefit, another pattern can emerge on the periphery of death ridges: the ring of fire. No, this isn't the chain of volcanoes that lines the edges of the Pacific Ocean. (MORE: Heat Safety Tips From The ring of fire is a curved line or roughly oval-shaped ring of thunderstorms that can encircle a high-pressure system. The thunderstorms are often severe due to the summertime heat and humidity. In June or July, these thunderstorms can become derechos. By later in the summer, if the placement of the ridge is right, the Southwestern monsoon can get a boost. MORE FROM - Should You Turn Off Your A/C Or Leave It On When You Leave Home? - Heat Advice From An ER Doctor - Here's How To Cool Down Quickly In Extreme Heat - Think You're Ready To Hike This Summer? Check This First Jonathan Belles has been a digital meteorologist for for 9 years and also assists in the production of videos for The Weather Channel en español. His favorite weather is tropical weather, but also enjoys covering high-impact weather and news stories and winter storms. He's a two-time graduate of Florida State University and a proud graduate of St. Petersburg College.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
June 6-12, 2025 Sky Watch: Strawberry Moon, Planetary Conjunctions And The Milky Way On Display
As summer evenings stretch longer and the air hums with warmth, the night sky prepares a dazzling display for those who know to look up. This week, the cosmos invites us into its theater of wonder, where planets cross paths, the Moon beckons with its glow, and our galaxy itself is on grand display. Whether you're a seasoned stargazer or simply in need of a little magic, these celestial events promise awe, beauty, and a deeper connection to the universe above. Here's what to look forward to: On June 6, the Moon reaches its waxing gibbous phase, providing an excellent opportunity to observe lunar craters and mountains as sunlight casts shadows across its surface. Additionally, Mercury transitions into the astrological sign of Gemini, marking a shift in planetary energies. On June 8, look west after sunset to witness a close approach between Jupiter and Mercury. The two planets will appear less than 2 degrees apart in the sky, making for a striking visual pairing. This conjunction is often seen as bringing good luck. It's best observed with the naked eye or through binoculars in the constellation Taurus. The Full Strawberry Moon occurs on the evening of June 10, peaking just before 4:00 a.m. on June 11. Named by indigenous tribes to mark the perfect ripening of the season's strawberries, this full moon will appear large and low on the horizon, casting a warm, sometimes rosy, glow over the landscape. During June, the Milky Way becomes especially visible in the summer sky. Its galactic core—the brightest, most photogenic region—rises just after sunset and remains visible all night, reaching its highest point around midnight. This period marks the beginning of the prime Milky Way viewing season, which continues through August. Pick a night with minimal moonlight interference for ideal conditions to marvel at our galaxy stretching overhead. This week, the universe will write a story across the darkness, but you don't need to be an expert to read it. Just check the weather for clear skies, step outside and look up. lead editor Jenn Jordan explores how weather and climate weave through our daily lives, shape our routines and leave lasting impacts on our communities. MORE ON Gorgeous View Of Northern Lights Over Pennsylvania Astronaut Marvels At Lightning From Space Are The Moon And Earth Drifting Apart?
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Kick Off The First Day Of Summer With A Tomato Sandwich
There are a few infallible ways to kick off the first day of summer. You can jump in a swimming pool. You can drive to the beach. You go for a sunset hike. As for me? I'm standing over my kitchen sink eating a tomato sandwich. The kitchen sink is an important part of the recipe. Let me explain. There is nothing from the garden that says summer to me more than the tomato. It is sweet, tender, and, just like summer, painfully fleeting. I leave tomatoes on my kitchen windowsill, patiently waiting for them to hit peak ripeness. From the moment they do, the clock is ticking. Before long, they'll start to turn too soft, mealy and moldy. But in that brief glorious window of ripeness, just like the brief glorious window of summer, there is no better way to honor the summer tomato than the tomato sandwich. This may be the only sandwich recipe where cheap white bread produces the best results. The crust and texture of fancy sourdough loaf or the chewiness of a baguette are simply an unwelcome distraction from the main event of the tomato. Soft, fluffy bland white bread is the right vehicle to focus your attention on the tomato. (MORE: On The French Riviera, Gazpacho Tastes Like Summer) The only potential problem caused by cheap white bread is that, if let to sit for too long, it will get soggy and begin to disintegrate. Which is where the kitchen sink comes in. This is a sandwich made to eat immediately. As soon as you put that top slice of bread on it, stand over the kitchen sink and start eating. The sink will catch the juicy mess that drips down. There's no better way to spend the first day of summer. Here's a hint: If your tomatoes aren't perfectly ripe, slice them, sprinkle a little salt, and let them rest for ten minutes or so. That will draw out a little moisture and soften the texture, which makes for a much better bite. Ingredients 1 medium to large ripe tomato 2 slices white bread, cheap and soft 2 tablespoons Duke's mayonnaise Salt and pepper to taste Instructions Slice tomato in ¼ slices and salt and pepper to taste. Spread a generous amount of mayonnaise on the bread, covering edge to edge. Stack tomato slices in an even layer on bread and eat immediately over the sink. lead editor Jenn Jordan explores how weather and climate weave through our daily lives, shape our routines and leave lasting impacts on our communities. MORE ON Make Mint Juleps With This Simple Syrup Feeling Spicy? Make This Thai Chili Oil Make This Etouffee With Leftover Boiled Crawfish
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The Moon Is Slowly Drifting Away From The Earth, Could We Eventually Lose It?
The moon feels like a beautiful constant for many of us, there every night, but Earth's satellite is actually slowly moving away from us, albeit very slowly. By NASA's calculations the moon is drifting away from our planet by about 1.5 inches every year. That's not just tortoise vs. hare slow, NASA says that's about the rate at which fingernails grow. That slow movement means our days are slowly getting longer, one study found that the length of an average day has increased by about one millisecond every century since the late 1600s. So how did NASA scientists even clock this slow motion drift? Well it all started with the Apollo missions more than 50 years ago. That's when astronauts left reflective panels on the moon's surface. Since then scientists have been shooting laser beams at the panels and recording the amount of time it takes for the light to come back to Earth. That's how they were able to measure with such accuracy how fast the moon is retreating. The slowly widening gap is caused by the gravitational tug-of-war between the two bodies. The moon's gravitational pull causes our oceans to bulge toward it. As NASA explains it, 'Because Earth rotates on its axis faster than the Moon orbits it, the higher gravity from Earth's bulge tries to speed up the Moon's rotation. Meanwhile, the Moon is pulling on Earth and slowing the planet's rotation. The friction that ensues from this tug-of-war forces the Moon into a wider orbit.' That wider orbit is what creates the slowly growing distance between the moon and us each year. So could we eventually lose the moon? The short answer is no. NASA says that about 50 billion years from now, the moon would be so far away and its orbit so large that it would tidally lock to the moon. The two bodies would stop moving away from each other. That means only one half of our world (and whomever is left on it) would ever see the moon. However, the sun would likely intervene long before that could happen. Scientists believe that in about 5 billion years, the sun will die, becoming a giant red star that obliterates both the moon and the Earth. Here's hoping that our future civilizations will be watching that happen from another planet we've learned to inhabit. MORE ON - Magma Discovery At Yellowstone - Megaquake Could Greatly Increase Flood Risk In The Northwest
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Like Spring, Asparagus Season Will Be Over Before You Know It
In Steven Satterfield's seasonal cookbook Root to Leaf, he writes 'As soon as daylight savings time begins, I start texting my produce guy. 'Have you seen any asparagus at the market yet?' I ask. 'No, maybe next week, still waiting.' Later that week, I prompt him again, 'Asparagus? Green garlic? Peas?'' Satterfield, the chef and owner of Miller Union in Atlanta, is not alone in his eager anticipation of asparagus, which might be the seasonal vegetable that most embodies the arrival of spring for many cooks. All winter, asparagus hides deep in the cold ground. The freezing temperatures help the plant slowly develop a sweet, grassy flavor and tender texture. As spring temperatures arrive and asparagus shoots finally emerge, they're not so different from many of us: pale, tired of winter, and eager to see the sun again. But this moment of spring doesn't last long. May is the peak of asparagus season for many parts of the country. If you're lucky to live close enough to a farmer's market to buy local asparagus in season, you'll be shocked by the difference. It is a complex but tender delicacy, subtle in some ways and bold in others. The asparagus available year-round in grocery stores simply doesn't compare. It can be bitter, woody, or simply not as flavorful as peak asparagus harvested in season. (MORE: Low Crawfish Prices Make For Plentiful Etouffee) Many chefs opt to prepare asparagus simply, roasting in the oven, shaving into slivers over a salad, or dropping it on the grill for a quick, smoky sear. It is also the ideal, bold ingredient for combining the spring bounty of a farmer's market trip into a large frittata. Made from fresh, local eggs, a big handful of herbs, asparagus, and a little cheese, it comes together quickly and keeps well in the refrigerator. A quiche with a crackling crust might be more elegant, but the simplicity of a frittata means that these ingredients shine. Farmer's Market Frittata 1 bunch asparagus 1 handful spring herbs, chives, pea shoots, tarragon or dill can work 6 eggs ½ cup goat cheese or other local soft cheese, crumbled Instructions Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss asparagus with olive oil and a pinch of salt and roast for ten to twelve minutes, until the stalks are no longer crisp but not yet soggy. Cool and chop into bite size pieces. Finely chop spring herbs. In a large bowl, combine eggs, cheese, chopped herbs, and season generously with salt and fresh cracked pepper. Beat until fully combined. In a twelve-inch skillet over medium heat, add chopped asparagus and drizzle generously with olive oil. Pour egg mixture into the pan, cooking until the top is almost set, four or five minutes. Finish in the oven for three minutes or until the eggs are fully cooked. writer Wyatt Williams is exploring the relationship between weather, food, agriculture, and the natural world. MORE ON Sweeten Your Easter With This Yummy Carrot Cake Cozy Springtime Brews For Rainy Days Tacos For Breakfast? Yes, Please.
