Latest news with #midwest
The Guardian
18 hours ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
Eastern US swelters from heatwave as high temperatures affect half of country
The eastern half of the US is facing a significant heatwave, with more than 185 million people under warnings due to intense and widespread heat conditions on Monday. The south-east is likely to endure the most dangerous temperatures as the extreme heat spread across the region on Monday, spanning from the Carolinas through Florida. In these areas, heat index values (how hot it feels once humidity is accounted for) are forecast to range between 105 and 113F (40.5 to 45C). Some locations in Mississippi and Louisiana face an even greater threat, with the heat index possibly soaring as high as 120F (49C). Meanwhile, the midwest isn't escaping the heat. Conditions there remain hazardous into Monday and Tuesday, after a weekend in which temperatures felt as if they were between 97 and 111F (36 to 44C) in areas from Lincoln, Nebraska, north to Minneapolis. Cities such as Des Moines, St Louis, Memphis, New Orleans, Jacksonville and Raleigh are under extreme heat warnings. In these locations, temperatures will climb into the mid-90s and low 100s, with heat indices potentially reaching 110 to 115F. The most dangerous conditions, classified as level 4 out of 4 on the heat risk scale, encompass much of Florida and extend north into Georgia and the Carolinas. A broader level 3 zone stretches from the eastern plains through the midwest and into the mid-Atlantic. This follows a weekend already dominated by extreme temperatures. Tampa experienced an unprecedented milestone on Sunday when it reached 100F (37.8C). Other cities also broke daily temperature records, and more are expected to follow suit. The dangerous heat and humidity are expected to persist through midweek, affecting major metropolitan areas including St Louis, Memphis, Charlotte, Savannah, Tampa and Jackson, Mississippi. Actual air temperatures will climb into the upper 90s and low 100s, while heat index readings are expected to remain between 105 and 115F for several days due to high tropical moisture. Relief will be hard to find, even during the night. Overnight and early morning temperatures are forecast to dip only into the 70s or above, keeping conditions uncomfortable around the clock. However, a cold front moving in later this week is expected to bring a drop in temperatures across the eastern US, offering a much-needed break from the extreme heat by the weekend. Elsewhere, triple-digit temperatures will dominate the central US. The combination of soaring heat and dense humidity in the Mississippi River valley and central plains could make conditions especially hazardous, with some areas possibly seeing the heat index reach 120F. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion Data suggests that there are more than 1,300 deaths per year in the US due to extreme heat, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. While no one single weather event can be blamed on the global climate crisis, the warming world is experiencing a greater frequency of extreme weather incidents. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), excessive heat is already the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the US, and the problem is only intensifying. For vulnerable populations, such as migrants, prisoners or schoolchildren in under-cooled buildings, the burden of rising temperatures is compounded. Despite the increasingly crucial need to find solutions for the rising temperatures, many US agencies are currently understaffed due to cuts from the Trump administration and the so-called 'department of government efficiency' (Doge). Federal science agencies such as Noaa are now operating at reduced capacity despite the outsized weather threats. Hundreds of meteorologists have left the National Weather Service in recent months, and several offices, including Houston, have had to scale back the services they provide.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
Eastern US swelters from heatwave as high temperatures affect half of country
The eastern half of the US is facing a significant heatwave, with more than 185 million people under warnings due to intense and widespread heat conditions on Monday. The south-east is likely to endure the most dangerous temperatures as the extreme heat spread across the region on Monday, spanning from the Carolinas through Florida. In these areas, heat index values (how hot it feels once humidity is accounted for) are forecast to range between 105 and 113F. Some locations in Mississippi and Louisiana face an even greater threat, with the heat index possibly soaring as high as 120F. Meanwhile, the midwest isn't escaping the heat. Conditions there remain hazardous into Monday and Tuesday, after a weekend in which temperatures felt as if they were between 97 and 111F in areas from Lincoln, Nebraska, north to Minneapolis. Cities such as Des Moines, St Louis, Memphis, New Orleans, Jacksonville and Raleigh are under extreme heat warnings. In these locations, temperatures will climb into the mid-90s and low 100s, with heat indices potentially reaching 110 to 115F. The most dangerous conditions, classified as level 4 out of 4 on the heat risk scale, encompass much of Florida and extend north into Georgia and the Carolinas. A broader level 3 zone stretches from the eastern plains through the midwest and into the mid-Atlantic. This follows a weekend already dominated by extreme temperatures. Tampa experienced an unprecedented milestone on Sunday when it reached 100 degrees. Other cities also broke daily temperature records, and more are expected to follow suit. The dangerous heat and humidity are expected to persist through midweek, affecting major metropolitan areas including St Louis, Memphis, Charlotte, Savannah, Tampa and Jackson, Mississippi. Actual air temperatures will climb into the upper 90s and low 100s, while heat index readings are expected to remain between 105 and 115F for several days due to high tropical moisture. Relief will be hard to find, even during the night. Overnight and early morning temperatures are forecast to dip only into the 70s or above, keeping conditions uncomfortable around the clock. However, a cold front moving in later this week is expected to bring a drop in temperatures across the eastern US, offering a much-needed break from the extreme heat by the weekend. Elsewhere, triple-digit temperatures will dominate the central US. The combination of soaring heat and dense humidity in the Mississippi River valley and central plains could make conditions especially hazardous, with some areas possibly seeing the heat index reach 120F. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion Data suggests that there are more than 1,300 deaths per year in the US due to extreme heat, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. While no one single weather event can be blamed on the global climate crisis, the warming world is experiencing a greater frequency of extreme weather incidents. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), excessive heat is already the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the US, and the problem is only intensifying. For vulnerable populations, such as migrants, prisoners or schoolchildren in under-cooled buildings, the burden of rising temperatures is compounded. Despite the increasingly crucial need to find solutions for the rising temperatures, many US agencies are currently understaffed due to cuts from the Trump administration and the so-called 'department of government efficiency' (Doge). Federal science agencies such as Noaa are now operating at reduced capacity despite the outsized weather threats. Hundreds of meteorologists have left the National Weather Service in recent months, and several offices, including Houston, have had to scale back the services they provide.
The Drive
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Non-Existent Tesla Roadster Claimed To Be "Last Best Driver's Car":TDS
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Good morning and welcome to The Down Shift , or TDS for short. The Down Shift is a new weekday early morning quick rundown of the latest news that's bubbling. It's meant to be something that can be easily glanced at while drinking that first cup of coffee. Each day TDS will start with a quick paragraph, maybe an update on what I'm driving, and then about five headlines each summarized in a sentence with a link for those seeking to read more and go deeper into the stories. The formatting will absolutely evolve, and feedback in both the comments and via email are welcome at tips@ TDS is light, it's quick, and it's meant to pair with your coffee. I'm already one cup into the day. Lets get into it. 🚘 What I'm driving: I just spent a long weekend with the 2025 Lexus LC 500 Convertible and it makes the most lovely sounds. 🔋 Tesla's Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy claimed in front of a crowd at X Takeover 2025 that the upcoming Tesla Roadster, which debuted in 2017, will be the 'last best driver's car.' 💰 Audi had a 'challenging' first half of the year due to 'tariffs and expenses,' and the result will be a 'fundamental realignment of Audi,' according to the automaker. ⚙️ Santo Ficili, CEO of both Maserati and Alfa Romeo, said a 'few-off' set of cars could come from the Trident and the manual transmission might even be revived. 🌎 As the midwest gets pummeled with heat and storms the EPA reportedly drafted a plan to end the agency's ability to fight climate change and remove limits on tailpipe emissions. 🏎️ With the results of the F1 Belgian Grand Prix over the weekend it sounds like Max Verstappen won't be able to trigger his supposed exit clause with Red Bull for the 2026 season, if that was part of the champ's plans. Have feedback on the formatting of TDS? Send us a note: tips@
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Iconic Aussie park fights to save incredibly rare plant facing 'big threats'
An iconic Aussie park is fighting to save an incredibly rare plant that is facing 'big threats' as its population dwindles to just 85. The precious orchid — commonly known as the Northampton midget greenhood or western swan greenhood — can be found in just seven locations in Western Australia's midwest. Despite its reputation for being a 'tough survivor' due its ability to endure harsh summers and multi-year droughts, serious concerns for its survival have emerged in recent years due to habitat loss from historic land clearing for agriculture and the spread of invasive weeds. Threats to the species also include changes to hydrology and overland water flow, damage to habitat and plants by pigs, road maintenance and an increasingly drying climate. This has prompted scientists and horticulturists at Perth's Kings Park to take matters into their own hands. Rare orchid seeds collected from remaining seven wild locations Following unusually high rainfall in early 2021, more of the plants emerged from dormancy than previous years, providing experts with the perfect opportunity to gather Northampton midget greenhood (Pterostylis sinuata) seeds and fungi for propagation, Dr Belinda Davis, a research scientist for the Kings Park Science Program specialising in orchid conservation, told Yahoo News. 'Orchid species have complex symbiotic relationships with fungus species — at each stage of an orchid's lifecycle they are dependant on a fungus,' she explained. 'For many orchid species, this relationship is specific to a single fungus species. So it is critical that both orchid and fungus material are collected together.' To propagate, the seeds and the fungus were introduced to each other in a laboratory to 'encourage the symbiotic partnership' between the pair. Afterwards the seedlings were moved to the park's onsite glasshouses. 'The seed and fungi have also been placed in long-term secure storage in liquid nitrogen to ensure this material is available for conservation efforts in the future such as translocations,' Dr Davis said. 'Having plants growing in the glasshouse now means that we are able to study the species and better understand its ecology.' 🏝️ Man's 'spectacular' beach find Aussies can go years without seeing 🌸 Rare plant that grows in two places in the world found in secret Aussie location 🌱 Scientists stumble upon 'rare' Aussie bush flower thought extinct for 86 years What have scientists learnt so far? The Northampton midget greenhood had been previously collected but never successfully germinated, Dr Davis told Yahoo. During the propagation process, scientists found that not all of the fungi was able to germinate seed. 'Previous germination attempts did not have the 'right fungus' to enable germination,' Dr Davis explained. 'We now have the 'right fungus' in long-term storage, helping secure the future for this tiny plant.' And as of just this week, the first flowers are starting to form on the first plants in captivity. 'These precious plants will become the foundation of a seed orchard from which we will be able to keep harvesting precious seed and fungi without impacting on wild populations,' Dr Davis said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Climate
- Forbes
OTUS Drones Are The Next Big Thing In Storm Chasing, Just Ask The Tuckers
The OTUS Project group via drone approaching a multi-vortex tornado near Parmelee, South Dakota, ... More July 20, 2025. The tornado season in the southwestern U.S. typically runs from late March to mid-June. But as June morphs into July, tornado alley tends to meander up into the midwestern plains, particularly the northern part. Earlier this year, I spent time storm-chasing in Texas, encountering half-a-dozen twisters with Tim Bovasso, Jeff Anderson and Chris Coach. Along the way, I also met a unique chaser group called the OTUS - Observation Of Tornadoes By UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) Systems - project. They seek out tornadoes, then actually fly special drones into the funnels to gather valuable information regarding near-ground wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, humidity and the like. I was so intrigued by OTUS' science work that I profiled the group last month (link below) with the idea that I might tag along next year to watch them in action. Lo and behold, they decided to give chasing one more go this year, in the midwest, so I met them in Omaha, Nebraska, this past weekend to chase for a few days. OTUS team member Louis Tucker prepares his special drone to fly into a tornado, South Dakota, July ... More 22, 2025. The first day, Sunday, according to weather models had the lowest odds of producing a tornado - zero - while Monday and Tuesday looked substantially better. Sunday, however, was eventually upgraded to 2%, later to 5%. Armed with drones and a rental car, our group set out toward South Dakota in the morning to intercept one of two promising supercells projected to initiate later in the afternoon. Louis Tucker, the pilot, readied his drone in the car while younger brother Nelson, closely monitored the weather and directed father Louis Sr., a former Navy Seal, to maneuver various back roads to position ourselves for the best potential intercepts. It was a family affair, if you will. Two other OTUS members, due to previous commitments, couldn't be there - Erik Fox and Tanner Beard. Once a decision had been reached as to which supercell to chase, we hightailed it to the desired location, just outside of Parmelee, South Dakota, to be close enough to deploy the drone if a tornado were imminent, basically a 5-mile radius. As we watched the wall cloud at the base of the supercell form, tension within the group mounted. Everything has to be perfectly right for a tornado to drop, and you never know. Sometimes you're absolutely sure - and poof, nothing. Other times you are taken completely by surprise. Louis (left) and Nelson Tucker at work identifying the best locales to chase twisters, South Dakota, ... More July 2025. The more we watched, the better we thought our chances were. Suddenly a small bowl of dancing dust appeared on the ground, then began to rise and tighten up. We had ourselves a tornado, a multi-vorticed one at that! Louis immediately deployed the drone, sending it at over 100 mph toward the thing which was probably three miles away. En route, though, there was a slight glitch, and Louis had to return it to base before penetrating the core. That said, he captured some stunning images of the tornado as it was forming, and valuable meteorological data as well, to be analyzed later this summer. Louis Tucker of OTUS flies his drone toward a supercell in Minnesota, July 22, 2025. The next two days, which were supposed to have the highest tornado probabilities, were total busts. We traversed South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska and even Minnesota scouring, putting in more than 1,500 miles in the process, to no avail. The only reassuring news was that no tornadoes were reported on those days, so it wasn't us at fault. In fact, the Sunday tornado we had found was the only one reported that day. These folks know their stuff. The extra time did give OTUS a chance to locate a precious drone worth a few thousand dollars that had been lost a month back. We also got to see and photograph some majestic supercells. So next spring it is. I'm hoping we can get close enough to some big twisters so Louis can fly us inside with his drones, allowing both scientists and the public alike to see things nobody has ever seen, or measured. Spectacular mothership structure in South Dakota, July 20, 2025. Make no mistake: What these OTUS guys are doing is pure exploration, not simply walking in the footsteps of others as is the case with the insane and dangerous overcrowding on Mt. Everest. Pay attention. You will hear more about OTUS again, I can assure you, and not just from me.
