Extreme Weather

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Alaska landslide A landslide in southern Alaska on Sunday left one person dead and several others injured, and some residents have been ordered to evacuate as officials warn another slide could strike nearby. The slide sent a dense wave of snapped trees, toppled power poles and dirt crashing into a row of hillside homes in the coastal city of Ketchikan. All residents have been accounted for, officials said. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a disaster emergency declaration for the city, saying in a post on X that "all state agencies are directed to provide whatever assistance is needed." Ketchikan, with a population of about 14,000, is nestled along the southern portion of Alaska's Inside Passage — a water route famed for its stunning landscapes, fjords and glaciers. The city claims to be the salmon capital of the world.   Grand Canyon floods Flash flooding in Grand Canyon National Park has prompted the rescues of more than 100 people since Thursday. At least one hiker died in the floods triggered by monsoon storms, local authorities said. The hazardous conditions led Arizona's National Guard to use a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter to evacuate dozens of tourists and tribal members from a canyon on the lands of the Havasupai Tribe within the park on Saturday, video from the Arizona National Guard showed. A North Carolina couple told CNN as they hiked in the Havasupai Indian Reservation, they had to form human chains and hack through the thorny bushes and cacti for hours until they reached safety.

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Extreme weather

 

Francine has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane ahead of its landfall in Louisiana today. The most severe impacts are likely to be felt this week along the state's southern coast and in the New Orleans area. Authorities said flooding, powerful winds and potentially life-threatening storm surge could cause extensive damage and widespread power outages. Meanwhile, hotter temperatures due to human-made climate change are contributing to intense wildfires across the US. Parts of Southern California were especially hit hard Tuesday with three major fires, forcing evacuations and testing firefighting capacities. Other fires in Idaho and Nevada are also alarming officials as flames and record heat threaten the destruction of homes and businesses.

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North Carolina floods

Historic rainfall in North Carolina has flooded homes, stranded vehicles and forced water rescues. "It's probably the worst flooding that any of us have seen in Carolina Beach," Town Manager Bruce Oakley told CNN of the tourist town not far from Wilmington. Carolina Beach was placed under a state of emergency Monday after a "historic" 18 inches of rain fell there in 12 hours at one station, a once-in-1,000-year rainfall event, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington. Flood watches remain for over 10 million people across North Carolina and eastern Virginia, which will begin to expire throughout today, including in Charlotte, Raleigh and Richmond.

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New Mexico floods

At least two people have died and hundreds have been rescued in Roswell, New Mexico, after extreme overnight rainfall brought severe flooding, stranding motorists and sweeping away cars. The New Mexico National Guard and other agencies have rescued at least 290 people, including 38 who were taken to hospitals, the agency confirmed in a statement. No details have been released about the confirmed fatalities. The Weather Prediction Center indicated that rainfall rates reached around 2 inches per hour throughout the region. City officials asked residents to stay off the streets as response efforts continue and some areas remain dangerous.

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Extreme weather

An unprecedented 91 flash flood emergencies have been issued by the National Weather Service this year, more than any other year since this most-dire language was first used in 2003. Devastating flooding has killed dozens of people, altered entire landscapes and cost the US billions of dollars in the last several months. Climate experts say the most intense rain events are getting heavier and more frequent as the world warms due to fossil fuel pollution. A warmer atmosphere is capable of soaking up more moisture like a sponge and wringing it out in the form of gushing rainfall. Precipitation from hurricanes Debby, Francine, Helene and Milton accounted for about half of all flash flood emergencies issued this year, according to a CNN review.

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Severe weather

More severe weather is expected in the Southern Plains today as residents in Oklahoma survey the destruction from tornado-spawning storms that injured at least 11 people and leveled homes over the weekend. “Scattered severe thunderstorms, associated with tornadoes, large hail, and wind damage, are likely on Monday and Monday night from the Southern Plains north-northeastward into the Ozarks and mid-Mississippi Valley,” the Storm Prediction Center warned. “A few of the tornadoes could be strong.” A lower warning of severe storms will spread from central and eastern Texas to western Illinois — including Dallas, Houston, Austin and St. Louis — with the threat of damaging wind gusts, large hail and tornadoes, the center said.

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Flash flooding blamed for 5 deaths in Missouri, including 2 poll workers

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A couple in their 70s who served as election poll workers were among at least five people killed in Missouri after torrential rains caused flash flooding across the state.

https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-arkansas-tornado-52d3748c79e5a12e38c0130cd7c3b518?

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Severe weather

Around 27 million people in California are under Red Flag warnings, which are used to describe "extreme and life-threatening fire behavior." In Ventura County, firefighters are conducting rescues as they battle the Mountain Fire moving at a dangerously fast speed in a dense suburban neighborhood northwest of Los Angeles. Earlier this week, forecasters warned conditions appear concerningly similar to those responsible for "some of the worst fires in Southern California history." Separately, Hurricane Rafael slammed into Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday before losing some strength as it passed over the island and entered the Gulf of Mexico. Rafael, which caused the island's power grid to crash, is the fifth major hurricane of the year in the Atlantic and the strongest this late in the year since 2020.

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‘Bomb cyclone’ threatens Northern California and Pacific Northwest

SEATTLE (AP) — Northern California and the Pacific Northwest are bracing for what is expected to be a powerful storm, with heavy rain and winds set to pummel the region and potentially cause power outages and flash floods.

https://apnews.com/article/california-oregon-washington-atmospheric-river-bomb-cyclone-d5006d946cda1fc1f4ecb8fe5b94ba59?

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West Coast bomb cyclone hits with heavy rain, high winds

The West Coast is facing a long-lasting heavy rain event from a bomb cyclone that formed in the northeastern Pacific Ocean Tuesday, and which could lead to significant flooding.

https://www.axios.com/2024/11/18/bomb-cyclone-heavy-rain-california-oregon?

‘Bomb cyclone’ kills 2 and knocks out power to over half a million homes across the Northwest US

ISSAQUAH, Wash. (AP) — A major storm swept across the U.S. Northwest battering the region with strong winds and rain, causing widespread power outages, closing schools and downing trees that killed at least two people.

https://apnews.com/article/california-oregon-washington-storm-power-outages-aadbd4863dd989189d31c1c2187b5025?

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Storm dumps record rain and heavy snow on Northern California. Many in Seattle still without power

FORESTVILLE, Calif. (AP) — A major storm moving through Northern California on Thursday toppled trees and dropped heavy snow and record rain after damaging homes, killing two people and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands in the Pacific Northwest. Forecasters warned that the risk of flash flooding and rockslides would continue, and scores of flights were canceled at San Francisco’s airport.

https://apnews.com/article/northern-california-storm-rain-flash-flooding-8d3f42726c42c64355a47e3f25de27d0?

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Bomb cyclone

A powerful atmospheric river is unleashing torrential, flooding rainfall across Northern California and parts of the Pacific Northwest in the wake of a strong bomb cyclone — and another storm is on the way. A rare level 4 of 4 high risk of flooding rainfall is currently in effect, according to the Weather Prediction Center. An additional 5 to 7 inches of rainfall is possible across the region over the next 48 hours, with isolated totals of more than 10 inches. Already, some areas in Northern California have seen 11 to 17 inches of rainfall as of Thursday night. Meanwhile, in the Northeast, the first snowflakes of the season are beginning to fall as chilly air and stormy weather finally filter in after weeks without them caused a historic drought and unusual wildfires.

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Will a winter storm hit the US over Thanksgiving week? Here’s what forecasts show so far

WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Forecasters warned over the weekend that another round of winter weather could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving in parts of the U.S.

https://apnews.com/article/california-storm-rain-flooding-snow-northeast-e0b787685ad719b1a99c722658f484f8?

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Embracing November

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

As temperatures drop across much of America, many of us choose to spend more time inside. But one group is bucking the trend and leaning into outdoor workouts in the colder months. The November Project is a worldwide network of free, outdoor group exercise classes that run year-round. All you have to do is show up. Why it matters: Spending time outside is good for us — even in the winter. Exposure to natural light and nature boosts our mood and helps fight seasonal depression. ❄️ Catch up quick: The November Project started in Boston as a way to stay active during the New England winter, but it has spread across America and the globe, with workouts in Sydney, Hong Kong, London, Vancouver and beyond. Organizers say their participants range from Olympic medalists to couch potatoes looking to get fit. The workouts often include running and body weight exercises like squats or burpees, AP reports. But they've done active Easter egg hunts, sledding and even an intense game of duck duck goose. ? Zoom out: Accountability is a core tenet of the project, AP notes. When you tell your buddies you're going to show up, you usually do. And whether you live near one of the November Project's cities or not, finding friends to work out with is one of the most effective ways to stay active. Also, invest in some cold weather workout gear. It'll make building up the motivation to get outside that much easier.

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Thanksgiving storm

A potent Thanksgiving storm will impact much of the US this week with the coldest air in months, in addition to heavy rain and snow in some areas. Forecasts show the storm will roll through parts of the Midwest and South Wednesday night and spread across the East on Thanksgiving Day. The storm's exact path is still unclear, but two scenarios are in play that will dictate which cities will feel the brunt of the severe weather. Chilly air will also start to filter into the northern states early this week before a significant push of winter-like air becomes widespread on Thursday. Meteorologists say millions from coast to coast will be dealing with frigid temperatures by Friday.

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Drought is causing saltwater to creep up the Delaware River. Here’s what’s being done about it Salty oceanwater is creeping up the Delaware River, the source for much of the drinking water for Philadelphia and millions of others, brought on by drought conditions and sea level rise, and prompting officials to tap reservoirs to push the tide back downstream. Read more.

Why this matters: The Delaware River provides drinking water for some 14 million people, including most of Philadelphia but also New Jersey and New York.   The salt front or salt line is where saltwater from the ocean and freshwater meet in the river. That boundary is typically somewhere around Wilmington, Delaware, but the recent drought in the Northeast has pushed it about 20 miles north, around Philadelphia International Airport. The farther the line moves upstream, the closer it gets to drinking water intakes, which officials have worked for decades to avoid.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Sand coming to Atlantic City’s eroding beaches is better late than never, casinos say   Feds outline ‘necessary steps’ for Colorado River agreement by 2026 but no recommendation yet   Severe droughts threaten the sustainable catch of the Amazon’s giant fish

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Extreme weather

As frigid temperatures sweep across a large swath of the US, parts of the Great Lakes region face up to 2 feet of additional lake-effect snow through Tuesday — the latest complication for cities already blanketed by snowfall as post-Thanksgiving travel winds down. Nearly 4 feet of snow fell on parts of western New York over the last few days, according to the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, with some places exceeding the 4-foot mark on Sunday. Across the country, nearly 70% of the continental US will see temperatures below 32 degrees over the next few days. Some cities, including New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis and Cincinnati, will experience below-average temperatures for the entire week.

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Great Lakes region braces for more snow while cleaning up after lake-effect storms

Even more snow could be on the way for places in the Great Lakes region that are still digging out after days of storms caused deadly wrecks, collapsed a barn on top of 100 cows and buried some towns under nearly 6 feet (1.8 meters).

https://apnews.com/article/snow-storm-new-york-pennsylvania-lakes-midwest-324c56a3ad3ca3eb03a56ed895074f65?

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Severe weather

A powerful Santa Ana wind event is bringing particularly dangerous fire conditions to Southern California. This comes just over a month after a similar wind event helped fuel the Mountain Fire, which scorched nearly 20,000 acres in Ventura County and sent residents scrambling for safety. More than 12 million people across the region are under red flag warnings through Wednesday. Meanwhile, a multi-day rain event is shifting from the Northeast to the Southeast, where the Weather Prediction Center has issued a slight risk for excessive rainfall from southeastern Alabama to upstate South Carolina. Winter weather watches are also in effect across parts of northern and western Michigan today.

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?️ Mapped: Where winter's warming most

Data: Climate Central. Map: Jacque Schrag/Axios Winters are rapidly warming across the Northern Hemisphere because of human emissions of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, Axios' Andrew Freedman writes from a new report by Climate Central. Why it matters: About 44% of cities analyzed saw at least an additional week's worth of days above freezing each year due to human-caused climate change. The cities with the greatest increase in warm winter days are located in Europe, the world's fastest-warming continent, and Asia.

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Snow situation

A weak La Niña is expected to bring colder and wetter conditions to northern parts of the US this winter, while the South may be warmer and drier than normal. Here’s what you can expect.

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Major storm pounds California’s central coast, blamed for man’s death and partially collapsing pier

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A major storm pounded California’s central coast on Monday, bringing flooding and high surf that was blamed for fatally trapping a man beneath debris on a beach and later partially collapsing a pier, tossing three people into the Pacific Ocean.

https://apnews.com/article/california-storm-high-surf-pier-collapse-39b4acb32a8baab53289d4cd990f9311?

California residents on edge as high surf and flooding threats persist on Christmas Eve

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Persistent high surf and flooding threats along California’s coast had residents on high alert a day after a major storm was blamed for one man’s death and the partial collapse of a pier, which propelled three people into the Pacific Ocean.

https://apnews.com/article/california-storm-high-surf-pier-collapse-adea01fbe1fa0a4745561ca13f4db576?

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Tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi kill 2 and injure 6 as severe weather system moves east

HOUSTON (AP) — A strong storm system threatened to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast on Sunday, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi.

https://apnews.com/article/texas-houston-tornado-thunderstorms-bd534f48c9ab76380aa09cb86b7ffb25?

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Severe weather

Severe thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes are forecast across parts of the southeastern US today after a line of strong storms tore through Texas and Mississippi over the weekend, killing at least four people. More than 14 million people are facing a threat of severe weather today, including residents in the North Carolina cities of Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro. This comes after multiple tornado sightings were reported Saturday as millions of Americans were warned of twisters across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Hundreds of flights within, into or out of the US were canceled Sunday, and over 6,600 flights were delayed, especially those headed into or out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport, an American Airlines hub.

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Mapped: Coming Arctic blast

Forecast of low temperatures next Wednesday. Image: Pivotal Weather via NOAA A long-lasting Arctic outbreak, with ties to the polar vortex, will deliver a winter storm over the weekend — and the coldest temps some U.S. cities have experienced in several years, Axios extreme weather expert Andrew Freedman writes. The storm is set to deliver upwards of a foot of snow in parts of the Plains, Midwest and Appalachians, with somewhat lower amounts for Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. ? Multiple states are forecast to see a thick layer of ice build-up that could lead to widespread, enduring power outages. During the next seven days — week one of an enduring cold snap that could stretch through Inauguration Day — 234 million people in at least 40 states could see temperatures at or below 32°F, according to WeatherBell Analytics. Keep reading.