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Newsweek
10 hours ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
Three Tropical Storms May Form at the Same Time
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Two more tropical storms could form at the same time this week as National Hurricane Center (NHC) experts track another tropical storm and a hurricane in the Pacific Ocean. Why It Matters Hurricane Iona formed on Monday after undergoing rapid intensification. Shortly after Iona formed, Tropical Storm Keli also took shape. Both storms are considered part of the Central Pacific season. Meanwhile, two more named storms could join them in the coming days as NHC meteorologists monitor two disturbances in the Eastern Pacific. What To Know As of the most recent update from the NHC, Iona is a Category 1 hurricane with windspeeds of 75 miles per hour. The storm is located in the central Pacific basin well southeast of Hawaii. Tropical Storm Keli, which is east of Iona, has maximum sustained windspeeds of 40 mph. Neither storm is likely to cause hazards to nearby land, the updates said. Meanwhile, in the Eastern Pacific, the NHC is monitoring two other potential systems. One disturbance is located in the western East Pacific, further east than the two storms in the Central Pacific. It is about 1,600 miles east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, the NHC forecast said. There's a 60 percent chance the system will strengthen into a tropical storm within the next 48 hours. "Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development, and a tropical depression could form during the next day or two," the NHC said. "The system is forecast to move generally westward around 10 mph and enter the Central Pacific basin around midweek." AccuWeather meteorologists anticipate the storm could form between July 28 and 29. However, it might face some challenges. AccuWeather senior meteorologist Scott Homan told Newsweek that in the wake of the other two storms, this disturbance will likely have a lower chance at strengthening. "The chances of all three of them becoming a tropical storm or a hurricane at the same time is close, but I do feel like the third is going to have a heck of a time trying to develop," he said. Then, the NHC also is tracking "a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms located a few hundred miles south of the southern coast of Mexico." This disturbance also has a 60 percent chance of development within the next 48 hours, and a 90 percent chance of developing within the next seven days. AccuWeather meteorologists anticipate the storm could form between July 29 and 31. Although this system is not yet tracked by the NHC, AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring another area of potential development south of Mexico that could form between August 2 and 5. A map from the NHC shows where three tropical storms and one hurricane could form at the same time. A map from the NHC shows where three tropical storms and one hurricane could form at the same time. National Hurricane Center What People Are Saying NHC in a public advisory about Hurricane Iona: "Strengthening is forecast during the day or two. Gradual weakening is expected to begin around midweek." NHC in a public advisory about Tropical Storm Keli: "Some strengthening is possible during the next day or so, however, weakening should begin around the middle of the week." What Happens Next? NHC meteorologists currently aren't forecasting Iona to become a major hurricane. The NHC also doesn't anticipate that Keli will strengthen into a hurricane. Regarding the other two storms, it remains to be seen when they could become named storms, and if they will form before the other two storms have a chance to weaken.
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Possible Derecho threatens the Northern Plains
Millions of Americans are bracing for hurricane-force winds as a severe thunderstorm is set to slam into the Northern Plains on Monday. AccuWeather experts said the system could evolve into a derecho, a rare but destructive complex of thunderstorms that is expected to unleash wind gusts of up to 100 mph across four states. The greatest threat zone includes parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa, which could also experience hail, flash flooding and tornadoes. The potential derecho is expected to reach its peak strength sometime in the late afternoon or early evening in eastern South Dakota or southern Minnesota. Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said: 'The high risk of severe weather Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning encompasses a large swath of the 'Corn Belt' of the US, which poses additional economic and logistical risks to the region.' Residents are urged to prepare emergency supplies, including medications, flashlights, batteries and a fully charged cellphone. Officials recommend seeking shelter in a basement or interior room if a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning is issued. 'People should have multiple ways to receive weather alerts, especially at night when most are sleeping,' AccuWeather said in a statement. 'Do not rely on outdoor sirens alone.' Derechos are defined by straight-line winds exceeding 58 mph across a path of more than 250 miles. They often topple trees, destroy buildings, and cause long-lasting power outages. A recent derecho in April knocked out power across eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania for several days. The storm is expected to form over the High Plains, fueled by a dome of high pressure and a surge of tropical moisture. As thunderstorms initially develop in Montana and the Dakotas Monday afternoon, it is possible for storms to congeal into a powerful derecho,' said Buckingham. 'In turn, AccuWeather meteorologists have added a high risk for severe thunderstorms from eastern South Dakota into southwestern Minnesota and northwestern Iowa.' Major airports, including Minneapolis-St. Paul International, may experience flight delays or cancellations. Ground transportation could also be disrupted, especially for high-profile vehicles vulnerable to intense wind gusts. Power grids already strained by ongoing heatwaves could face added stress, potentially prolonging outages, AccuWeather warned. A heat dome over the central US is driving the volatile weather expected this week. Travelers on the road or in the air should be cautious, as the combination of soaring heat and severe storms could cause power outages and disrupt transportation. AccuWeather warned the storm system may continue advancing into the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes on Tuesday, threatening Milwaukee, Chicago and Indianapolis with flooding rain and damaging wind during the morning commute. 'Enough instability may be present across the Midwest Tuesday morning for any complex of thunderstorms to maintain intensity continuing the risks for damaging wind gusts and flash flooding,' adds Buckingham. By Wednesday, the storm is expected to push into New England and the Mid-Atlantic, where torrential downpours could trigger flash flooding, particularly in areas already saturated from recent storms. Severe weather threats will persist Thursday in parts of the mid-Atlantic as the risk moves south to include the Carolinas.
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Derecho fears grip four US states as darkness descends and ominous warnings ring out
Millions of Americans are bracing for hurricane-force winds as a severe thunderstorm is set to slam into the Northern Plains on Monday. AccuWeather experts said the system could evolve into a derecho, a rare but destructive complex of thunderstorms that is expected to unleash wind gusts of up to 115 mph across four states. The greatest threat zone includes parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa, which could also experience hail, flash flooding and tornadoes. The potential derecho is expected to reach its peak strength sometime in the late afternoon or early evening in eastern South Dakota or southern Minnesota. Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said: 'The high risk of severe weather Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning encompasses a large swath of the 'Corn Belt' of the US, which poses additional economic and logistical risks to the region.' Residents across the Plains and Midwest are urged to prepare emergency supplies, including medications, flashlights, batteries, and a fully charged cellphone. Officials recommend seeking shelter in a basement or interior room if a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning is issued. 'People should have multiple ways to receive weather alerts, especially at night when most are sleeping,' AccuWeather said in a statement. 'Do not rely on outdoor sirens alone.' AccuWeather experts said the system could evolve into a derecho, a rare but destructive complex of thunderstorms that can unleash wind gusts of up to 115 mph over hundreds of miles Derechos are defined by straight-line winds exceeding 58 mph across a path of more than 250 miles. They often topple trees, destroy buildings, and cause long-lasting power outages. A recent derecho in April knocked out power across eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania for several days. The storm is expected to form over the High Plains, fueled by a dome of high pressure and a surge of tropical moisture. As thunderstorms initially develop in Montana and the Dakotas Monday afternoon, it is possible for storms to congeal into a powerful derecho,' said Buckingham. 'In turn, AccuWeather meteorologists have added a high risk for severe thunderstorms from eastern South Dakota into southwestern Minnesota and northwestern Iowa.' Major airports, including Minneapolis-St. Paul International, may experience flight delays or cancellations. Ground transportation could also be disrupted, especially for high-profile vehicles vulnerable to intense wind gusts. Power grids already strained by ongoing heatwaves could face added stress, potentially prolonging outages, AccuWeather warned. The storm could also bring hail, flash flooding and the risk of tornadoes. The greatest threat zone includes parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa A heat dome over the central US is driving the volatile weather expected this week. This dome creates a highly unstable atmosphere that fuels rapid development of severe thunderstorms. Rising temperatures and humidity provide ideal conditions for storms to form and intensify quickly. Even areas outside the derecho's path will face extreme heat and humidity, making travel uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. Travelers on the road or in the air should be cautious, as the combination of soaring heat and severe storms could cause power outages and disrupt transportation. AccuWeather warned the storm system may continue advancing into the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes on Tuesday, threatening Milwaukee, Chicago and Indianapolis with flooding rain and damaging wind during the morning commute. 'Enough instability may be present across the Midwest Tuesday morning for any complex of thunderstorms to maintain intensity continuing the risks for damaging wind gusts and flash flooding,' adds Buckingham. By Wednesday, the storm is expected to push into New England and the Mid-Atlantic, where torrential downpours could trigger flash flooding, particularly in areas already saturated from recent storms. Severe weather threats will persist Thursday in parts of the mid-Atlantic as the risk moves south to include the Carolinas. Heavy downpours could cause flooding, especially in low-lying areas and places with poor drainage. While flooding remains the main concern, damaging winds are possible with any thunderstorm.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tropical development possible near Southeast coast as August begins
After a quiet stretch in the Atlantic, AccuWeather hurricane experts are monitoring three areas for tropical development into the first part of August, including near the Southeast coast. In a pattern similar to what led to the formation of Tropical Storm Chantal back in early July, a slow-moving front is expected to move towards the Southeast coast and stall, which could be enough to generate tropical activity during the beginning of August. Disruptive breezes (wind shear) in the region are anticipated to be weaker in early August as the front stalls. In turn, there is a low chance of tropical development Aug. 2-5. "The good news is that if anything develops, it is likely to move away from the U.S.," said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva. Regardless, as the front moves into the region on Friday before stalling over the weekend into early next week, rounds of showers and thunderstorms will spread from eastern Louisiana into eastern North Carolina. Due to the persistent nature of storms, there will be a heightened risk of localized flash flooding. Individuals visiting area beaches will need to be on alert for rough surf and rip currents. •Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+ Elsewhere across the Atlantic, two additional areas are being monitored for potential tropical activity. A cluster of showers and thunderstorms currently east of the Bahamas has a short window for tropical development through Tuesday. While wind shear is low in the area, there is a copious amount of dry air, which will inhibit how much this cluster strengthens. Meanwhile, a tropical wave that has emerged off Africa will track westward over the coming days, approaching the Lesser Antilles during the middle to late parts of the week. "Conditions are marginal for development between July 30 and Aug. 2 as the wave moves west," adds DaSilva. "Any interests in the Lesser Antilles will want to keep an eye on this wave as it moves east." The 2025 Atlantic Hurricane season has been off to a relatively fast start so far, with three named storms in the basin. The historical average for formation of the third named storm is early August. Meanwhile, the average date for the first hurricane is Aug. 11. The next name on the list is Dexter. The average date for the fourth named storm is Aug. 15, meaning an additional storm into early August would set this season just over two weeks ahead of average. AccuWeather's team of hurricane experts expects 13 to 18 tropical storms, of which seven to 10 will become hurricanes and three to five are likely to evolve into major hurricanes, for the 2025 season. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Heat dome continues to raise temps across South and Midwest, will begin to move into Northeast
'Corn sweat' has increased temperatures throughout the Plains and Midwest this week. The 'heat dome' that has hovered over tens of millions of people in the South and Midwest this week is now spreading into parts of the Northeast on Thursday, according to the Weather Channel. A heat dome is a high-pressure bubble in the upper levels of the atmosphere that traps hot air and sun radiation underneath it. The Climate Reality Project, a nonprofit focused on climate change advocacy and education, compares heat domes to putting a lid on a hot pot; the lid keeps the hot air from leaving the pot and keeps the contents of the pot hot for a longer time. While late July usually is the hottest time of the year for most of the U.S., AccuWeather reports these temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the historical average. An 'Extreme Heat Watch' advisory alert, which warns 'dangerous heat is possible,' was issued for West Virginia on Thursday. An 'Extreme Heat Warning' alert, which warns 'dangerous heat is happening or about to happen,' was sent to areas in Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York on Wednesday. Some of these extreme heat warnings were sent to major cities like Boston, Detroit, New York City and Washington, D.C., where temperatures will reach the mid-90s by Friday, the Weather Channel reported. However, temperatures in these areas are expected to drop over the weekend. Parts of the Midwest and the South will still be in temperatures near or above 100 degrees through the rest of the weekend, and potentially into the middle of next week. Florida, which has been experiencing hot and muggy conditions across the state all week, will continue to experience high temperatures in the upper 80s to lower 90s on Thursday and Friday, according to Florida Disaster, a division of the state's Department of Emergency Management. The state's heat index values will be particularly high on the western side of the Florida Panhandle, compared to the rest of the state. (The National Weather Service (NWS) 'heat index' is a calculator that estimates what outdoor temperatures feel like to the human body.) Experts cannot determine exactly when the heat dome will end. Heat domes take a long time to break down, Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist at the NWS's Weather Prediction Center, told Scientific American, so the extreme heat is expected to last through the rest of the week for some areas. 'Corn sweat' drives up humidity in the Midwest As heat index values in the Midwest peaked this week because of the heat dome, high humidity levels have contributed to 'corn sweat' in these areas. Corn sweat is a colloquial nickname for evapotranspiration, which is when plants, like corn stalks, release water vapor into the air and essentially turn it into additional humidity that can drive up humidity levels and heat index numbers in the area, according to the Weather Channel. This mostly affects people in the Midwest, with residents in Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois and Kentucky experiencing heat index numbers in triple-digits because of the corn sweat, the Washington Post reported. The corn sweat has also affected these areas' dew points, which correlate to how much moisture is in the air, NWS explains. The higher the dew point, the more muggy and wet the air will feel. A dew point minimum of 75 equates to an extreme humidity level and feels 'oppressive, like a tropical rainforest,' according to the Washington Post. In areas affected by the corn sweat, such as southern Missouri, the dew point is at 88. Northeast, Midwest also warned about severe thunderstorms AccuWeather meteorologists alerted on Wednesday that severe thunderstorms are expected to move across the Midwest before hitting the Northeast in the next few days. These storms carry the potential for high winds and hail, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. The worst of the storms are expected to hit throughout Thursday afternoon and evening, mostly affecting cities like Chicago, Detroit, Oklahoma City and Kansas City, before shifting into the Northeast on Friday. While it's rare to see precipitation happen within a heat dome, severe thunderstorms are likely to form around its edges, often called the 'ring of fire.' "In the world of meteorology, the ring of fire deals with thunderstorms along the northern edges of strong upper-levels high,' AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. 'Oftentimes, this setup produces severe thunderstorms along the northern edges of the heat.' How to stay safe in extreme heat Extreme heat is the deadliest type of weather in the U.S., even more so than tornadoes, flooding or hurricanes, according to research by the NWS. Prolonged extreme heat, as is expected in the heat dome this week, is especially dangerous for people who do not have access to air-conditioning or who spend a lot of time outdoors. If you live in a place that will be affected by the heat dome, here's what to do to help protect yourself: Stay indoors and cool for as long as you can. Here is a list of public places you can go to for free air-conditioning. Stay hydrated. Adding electrolytes to your drinking water can further protect you from dehydration. If you need to go outside, protect your skin by wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, sun-protective clothing and UV-blocking sunglasses. Understand and look out for symptoms of heat-related illness. These include heavy sweating, fatigue, dizziness, muscle cramps, nausea and headaches. If you are experiencing these symptoms, move to a cool area to rest and hydrate. Solve the daily Crossword
