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Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
First named tropical storm forms in Atlantic. What this means for 2025 hurricane season
The first named tropical storm of the 2025 season, Tropical Storm Andrea, formed in the Atlantic Ocean on June 24. As of Tuesday morning, the storm was spinning in the open waters of the Atlantic, heading away from the U.S. mainland, USA Today reported. Tropical Storm Andrea is not considered a major safety concern, as the storm is forecasted to have a short lifespan, however, the storm does mark the beginning what's expected to be an active hurricane season. Tropical Storm Andrea was detected to have maximum sustained winds of about 40 mph with higher gusts. The storm was forecasted to begin weakening Tuesday night, June 24, and to dissipate by Wednesday night, June 25, according to the National Hurricane Center. Tropical Storm Andrea has since weakened into a post-tropical cyclone, meaning that the system has lost its tropical characteristics. The storm had begun moving toward the east-northeast at 17 mph, a direction and pace that quickly brought the storm into cooler waters, USA Today reported. The tropical storm swiftly dissipated as it reached chilly waters and strong wind shear, according to The Weather Channel. Currently, activity within the upper atmosphere has been contributing to storm activity in the eastern Pacific, and contributing to winds that help keep storms suppressed in the Atlantic. Now, the Climate Prediction Center's long-range outlook shows that this pattern could continue for a couple of weeks, USA Today reported. In June, tropical storms typically develop close to the U.S., off of the southeast coast, in the Gulf Coast or in the Caribbean. Later in the season, storms usually form out of tropical waves moving off the coast of Africa, The Palm Beach Post reported. Early tropical storm activity can indicate an active hurricane season, although, this is not a definitive predictor. While early activity can suggest a more active season, it's possible that an active June and July can be followed by a quieter year, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NOAA has predicted this hurricane season to be above-normal, citing a number of factors for an above-average season, including continued ENSO-neutral conditions, warmer-than-average ocean temperatures, weak wind shear and the potential for higher activity from the West African Monsoon. Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@ This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Was Tropical Storm Andrea the first named storm of the season?
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Staff vacancies hit Texas weather offices as they brace for a busy hurricane season
FORT WORTH — With hurricane season underway and an above-normal activity forecast, some National Weather Service offices like Houston — where as many as 44% of positions are vacant — are operating with staff shortages, prompting concerns about their capacity to monitor future storms. The shortages stem from federal cuts that slashed roughly 10% of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's workforce and triggered a wave of early retirements. While no staff members from the Houston/Galveston office were laid off, several hundred employees at NOAA, which hosts the National Weather Service, took a voluntary early retirement package. Among those stepping down: Jeff Evans, longtime meteorologist-in-charge in Houston, who retired after 34 years with the NWS, 10 of those in Texas. He told KPRC Click2Houston that it was 'an honor and a privilege' to serve Texas through countless disasters. The Houston office has 11 vacancies — 44% of its regular staffing. The NWS provides weather warnings for tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires and floods, and produces river and hydrological outlooks and long-term climate change data. It serves as the forecast of record for many, including TV meteorologists, journalists and researchers, as well as emergency managers, who use it to plan for potential evacuations and rescue coordination during extreme weather events. Mark Fox, who usually works at the Oklahoma office, has stepped in to help as acting meteorologist-in-charge in Houston. Despite the strain, Fox and other local meteorologists say they're committed to delivering life-saving forecasts and supporting emergency preparedness. 'We can continue 24/7 with the staff that we have,' Fox said. 'If we need to augment staff to kind of help out and give some people a break, we can do that. But the mission is going to be fulfilled.' Hurricane season started June 1 and goes to November 30. NWS forecasters predict an above-normal hurricane season, citing warm Atlantic waters and weak wind shear, which are changes in the wind's speed and direction. The agency forecasts 13 to 19 named storms, three to five of which could become Category 3 or higher hurricanes with wind speeds of at least 111 miles per hour. For context, last year's forecast included 17 to 25 named storms and the season saw 18 named storms, 11 of which were hurricanes. Among them were Tropical Storm Alberto and Hurricane Beryl — a Category 1 that left millions of Texans without electricity for days. NOAA defines an average Atlantic hurricane season as one with 14 named storms, of which three are stronger hurricanes, based on data from 1991 to 2020. NOAA has a 70% confidence level in these predictions and warns that the peak of the season — typically late August through October — could be intense. The West African Monsoon, a key hurricane trigger, is also expected to be stronger than usual. However, Fox says, this isn't just about numbers. It's about readiness. 'It only takes one,' Fox said. 'We'll be watching the skies from here until the end of the season, and take whatever Mother Nature throws at us.' Since the start of the year, the National Weather Service has lost nearly 600 employees due to cuts ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency under the Trump administration. After backlash, earlier this month, 126 positions, including 'mission-critical' ones, were approved for hire as exceptions to a federal hiring freeze. Erica Grow Cei, a National Weather Service spokesperson, said these were approved to 'stabilize frontline operations' and added that the new hires will fill positions at field offices where there's "the greatest operational need." The nearly 600 employees that NWS has lost in the last six months has been about the same amount the agency lost in the 15 years prior, according to Tom Fahy, the legislative director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization, a union that represents weather service employees. Fahy called the quick exodus unprecedented, saying it "definitely disrupts the entire staffing requirements for the National Weather Service" in a way previous reductions did not. Jeff Masters, former NOAA Hurricane Hunter and a meteorologist who writes about extreme weather for Yale Climate Connections, says most of those roles won't be filled in time to help this hurricane season. 'This was done very inefficiently,' Masters said. 'First, all of the probationary employees were fired, then incentives were given to get the most experienced managers out through early retirement. Now they're trying to do some rehiring, and then it's just not being done very efficiently.' Masters said that the local offices have lost critical institutional knowledge and expertise. Nationwide, reduced staffing has also meant fewer balloon launches, which are essential for collecting upper-atmosphere temperature, humidity and wind speed data critical to accurate storm modeling. A reduction in launches may lead to larger errors in hurricane tracking, says Masters. Faced with these gaps, offices across the country are lending staff — either in person or virtually — to ensure continuous coverage during major weather events. Fahy said that this is what will keep Texas as whole 'in very good shape and ready for hurricane season.' 'It's kind of like binding hands and helping each other out wherever we can,' said Jason Johnson, hydrologist in charge at the NWS Fort Worth office. 'We've expanded our training so meteorologists and hydrologists in other regions are ready to support us if needed.' Despite the cuts, Johnson says Texas NWS offices remain focused on protecting lives and property. 'We're not expecting any drop in the quality or quantity of information that we provide,' he said. Local officials are also stepping up their preparation efforts. 'Now more than ever, local preparation is key,' said Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones, who represents portions of Houston, Katy, Stafford, Tomball and Waller, at a press conference. 'With drastic cuts… what we do here at home in Houston and Harris County is extra important.' Her office is hosting 11 hurricane preparedness workshops and has distributed hundreds of portable air conditioners, emergency kits, and bottled water. They also plan to clear more than 7 million feet of ditches to prevent urban flooding. 'We can't wait,' Briones said. 'So local government, with our nonprofit community, with our private sector, with our places of worship, our schools, this is up to all of us.' Meteorologists and emergency officials alike urge residents to stay informed, prepare emergency kits, and heed evacuation orders if issued. 'It's your responsibility to monitor the weather,' Fox, the meteorologist at the Houston office, said. 'On a beautiful day, just think about your plan — because when the time comes to act, it's too late to start planning.' Big news: 20 more speakers join the TribFest lineup! New additions include Margaret Spellings, former U.S. secretary of education and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center; Michael Curry, former presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church; Beto O'Rourke, former U.S. Representative, D-El Paso; Joe Lonsdale, entrepreneur, founder and managing partner at 8VC; and Katie Phang, journalist and trial lawyer. Get tickets. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
NOAA predicts ‘above normal' Atlantic hurricane season. CT experts say outlook is a call to action.
Experts are predicting the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season to be 'above-normal' this year, as scientists say warm sea surface temperatures may lead to more frequent and intense storms, urging those along the East Coast to be prepared. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association said the outlook for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, predicts a 30% chance of a near-normal season, a 60% chance of an above-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season, according to officials. Hurricanes, fueled by warm ocean waters and thunderstorms, often form at sea and then move toward land where they can cause catastrophic damage and loss of life, according to Dr. Jennifer Marlon, senior research scientist at the Yale School of the Environment. According to NOAA, the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season produced 18 named storms. Of those, 11 became hurricanes and five strengthened into major hurricanes. Bob Child / ASSOCIATED PRESSThese boats broke from their moorings and were blown onto rocks in New London, Connecticut on Friday, Sept. 27, 1985, during Hurricane Gloria. Winds of more than 90 miles per hour battered Connecticut's coast during the storm, but damage was minimal. John Long / Hartford CourantScenes like this one, at Groton Long Point during Hurricane Gloria last Sept, may become more common in CT as the green house effect causes the sea level to rise. Michael McAndrews / Hartford CourantHurricane Gloria's damage seen on the shoreline in Milford. Stephen Dunn / Hartford CourantHurricane Gloria hit the coast line hard sending dozens of pleasure boats up onto the railroad tracks looking like parallel parked cars in Stonington. Show CaptionBob Child / ASSOCIATED PRESS1 of 5Boats lie on the shore in Milford harbor on Sunday, Sept. 29, 1985, two days after Hurricane Gloria hit Connecticut. The same thing happened to boats all along the Connecticut more as they were torn from moorings by the hurricane winds in excess of 90 NOAA is forecasting 13 to 19 named storms this year with winds of 39 mph or higher. Of those, six to 10 are expected to reach hurricane strength, officials said. 'The projected above-normal activity is due to warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Atlantic (Ocean),' said Marlon. NOAA said that additional factors including weaker winds and the potential for higher activity from the West African Monsoon, a primary starting point for Atlantic hurricanes, is another reason for the projection. All of these elements tend to favor tropical storm formation. The higher heat on the ocean surface provides more energy to fuel storm development, while weaker winds allow the storms to develop without disruption, Marlon said. 'In my 30 years at the National Weather Service, we've never had more advanced models and warning systems in place to monitor the weather,' said NOAA's National Weather Service director Ken Graham. 'This outlook is a call to action. Be prepared. Take proactive steps now to make a plan and gather supplies to ensure you're ready before a storm threatens.' The last hurricane to make landfall in Connecticut was Category 1 hurricane Gloria in 1985 that brought heavy rainfall and winds of 74–95 miles per hour, according to NOAA. The commonly called 'storm of the century' killed at least six people, caused power outages for about 700,000 residents, and was considered the worst hurricane to hit Connecticut since 1938. Connecticut has been impacted by several strong tropical storms over the past few decades. Tropical Storm Irene impacted the state in August 2011. As a result of its 96 miles of coastline, some Connecticut towns are subject to storm surges during major weather events. While it was a hurricane initially, it weakened to a tropical storm by the time it hit the state. Hurricane Sandy hit Connecticut in 2012, but it was also not a hurricane by the time it reached the state. Tropical Storm Isaias, which hit the state in 2020, caused widespread power outages and over $50 million in damage. The names in the 2025 hurricane season are Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dexter, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Imelda, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, and Wendy, according to the National Hurricane Center. Recommendations from the National Weather Service include understanding whether your home is vulnerable to storm surge, flooding, or wind and this should be checked long before any storm might hit. Know your zone: Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation area by contacting your local government/emergency management office or by checking the evacuation site website. Because of the coastline along Long Island Sound, Connecticut has multiple evacuation areas, data shows, Assemble Emergency Kit: Put together a basic emergency. Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, generators and storm shutters. Have a Family Emergency Plan: Before an emergency happens, sit down with your family or close friends and decide how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go, and what you will do in an emergency. Keep a copy of this plan in your emergency supplies kit or another safe place where you can access it in the event of a disaster. Start at the emergency plan webpage. Review insurance 'policies to ensure that you have adequate coverage for your home and personal property.' Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@
Miami Herald
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Miami Herald
Hurricane season is no joke to Floridians, Mr. FEMA director
The 2025 hurricane season is under way, but its start became a cringe-inducing moment for Floridians. Acting FEMA Director David Richardson, named in early May to run the crucial national disaster management agency, reportedly said he was surprised to learn that the U.S. has a hurricane season. That's according news reports based on staffers present at a briefing on Monday to discuss the hurricane season, which runs from June 1-Nov. 30. A Homeland Security spokesperson quickly tried to clean up the situation, saying Richardson was just joking. Maybe so, but that's one clunker of a joke down here in the hurricane zone. Floridians live nervously every year through an increasingly scary hurricane season. We know there's nothing to laugh about, especially considering the most recent batch of more intense and wetter hurricanes. So as Florida prepares for yet another active hurricane season, Richardson, head of the top emergency rescue agency, thinks it's amusing to feign ignorance about the season's very existence. This year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, we have reason to worry. This hurricane season activity is expected to be above normal, with 13 to 19 named storms and three to five major hurricanes predicted. Blame a confluence of factors, including warmer than average ocean temperatures, forecasts for weak wind shear and the potential for higher activity from the West African Monsoon, a primary starting point for Atlantic hurricanes. All of these elements tend to favor tropical storm formation, the agency said in a news release. Back to Richardson's disturbing 'joke.' He's a former Marine and Homeland Security official with no experience in emergency management and who is stepping into a battered FEMA. The agency has lost a quarter of its workforce. Richardson's predecessor, Cameron Hamilton, was forced out after expressing public support for FEMA's mission — an apparent contradiction to President Donald Trump's stance on reducing the size of the agency. Under the Trump administration's 'Big Beautiful Bill,' there are plans to cut $646 million from FEMA and reduce its long-term disaster recovery programs, with responsibility shifting to states. And yet Richardson reportedly told employees FEMA should handle this year's hurricanes the same way it did last year. 'The FEMA system is a broken system that, when fixed, will return power to state emergency management directors and make America safe again,' Homeland Security head, Kristi Noem, recently told a Congressional panel. Noem runs FEMA. However, critics on the panel warned that the cuts would weaken disaster readiness and shift an unsustainable burden to local governments. Also, Floridians know there can be drawbacks to a local response: When an entire area is hit hard by a hurricane, we are all incapacitated, including the local government. At those times, we need federal aid via FEMA, parachuted in and self-sustaining. Richardson may have been joking, but who will the joke be on if 'the Big One' strikes Florida? Click here to send the letter.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Georgians 'be prepared': NOAA predicts above-normal Atlantic hurricane season for 2025
Some Georgians are still haunted by the destruction of Hurricane Helene. But it wasn't the first storm and it won't be the last. On Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its outlook for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season (June 1 through Nov. 30). It doesn't look good: NOAA is predicting a 60% chance of above-normal hurricane activity, 30% chance of near-normal conditions, and 10% chance of below-normal conditions. The agency is forecasting 13 to 19 named storms (which happens when winds reach 39 mph). Of those, 6-10 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of at least 74 mph) including 3-5 major hurricane (at least a category 3 with winds of 111 mph or higher). Experts at NOAA have 70% confidence in these forecasts, with National Weather Service Director Ken Graham saying in his 30 years at NWS, they have never had more advanced models and warning systems in place. "This outlook is a call to action: Be prepared," Graham said. "Take proactive steps now to make a plan and gather supplies to ensure you're ready before a storm threatens." To get into the technical aspects, NOAA says this is due to a "confluence of factors" including ENSO-neutral conditions (essentially meaning average sea surface temperatures), warmer than average ocean temperatures, weak wind shear, higher activity from the West African Monsoon. This all tends to favor tropical storm formations. Andrea: AN-dree uh Barry: BAIR-ree Chantal: shahn-TAHL Dexter: DEHK-ster Erin: AIR-rin Fernand: fair-NAHN Gabrielle: ga-bree-ELL Humberto: oom-BAIR-toh Imelda: ee-MEHL-dah Jerry: JEHR-ee Karen: KAIR-ren Lorenzo: loh-REN-zoh Melissa: meh-LIH-suh Nestor: NES-tor Olga: OAL-guh Pablo: PAHB-lo Rebekah: reh-BEH-kuh Sebastien: se-BAS-tee-en Tanya: TAHN-yuh Van: van Wendy: WEN-dee Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X and Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: NOAA predicts above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. What we know
