Category: Weather & Tides

‘Life-Threatening Cold’ Expected as Polar Vortex Stretches Across U.S. After Deadly Weekend Flooding

2/16/2025 - By apnews.com. Harsh weather moved west on Monday as a polar vortex was expected to grip the Rockies and the northern Plains after winter storms pummeled the eastern U.S. over the weekend, killing at least 10 people, including nine victims in Kentucky who died during flooding from heavy rains. The National Weather Service warned… SEE MORE

Another Blast of Arctic Air: This Time, with a Stretched but Strong Polar Vortex

2/6/2025 - By Butler and Laura Ciasto. We’re briefly popping in because another surge of very cold air looks to drop down from the Arctic over a large region of the central US this weekend and into early next week. We know that the question will be asked: is the cold related… SEE MORE

We are Absolutely Confident that Some Expected La Niña Impacts will Bust this Winter

2/5/2025 - By Michelle L'Heureux. Right now, with La Niña conditions currently underway, I guarantee at least one of our readers is currently thinking “This alleged ‘La Niña’ is going to bust so hard in my region. It’s supposed to be DRY and it’s been WET so far. What the heck is wrong… SEE MORE

Image Credits: Temperatures were well below freezing (blue) across much of the U.S. Southeast on the morning of January 22, 2025. NOAA Climate.gov image, based on RTMA/URMA data.

Historic January 2025 snowstorm in the Southern U.S.

2/4/2025 - By Nicole Collins. An Arctic blast plunged into the southeastern United States on Sunday, January 19, arriving just in time for the on-average coldest stretch of the year. It brought record-breaking low temperatures and fueled a winter storm that dropped historic snowfall for parts of the South. On January 22,… SEE MORE

After the storm clouds cleared on January 22, 2025, satellites captured an unusual sight: a swath of snow arcing around the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Southeast. Climate.gov image based on NOAA-21 satellite data from the VIIRS sensor.

Historic January 2025 Snowstorm in the Southern U.S.

1/27/2025 - By climate.gov. An Arctic blast plunged into the southeastern United States on Sunday, January 19, arriving just in time for the on-average coldest stretch of the year. It brought record-breaking low temperatures and fueled a winter storm that dropped historic snowfall for parts of the South. On January 22, the… SEE MORE

Grading the Groundhogs: The Weather Predicting Rodents

1/26/2025 - By noaa.gov. In honor of Groundhog Day and in the spirit of fun, we pitted groundhogs from all over the United States against each other — and data from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information — to see who’s the most accurate. Groundhog Day has been celebrated in the United States since… SEE MORE

Rain Douses Wildfires in Southern California Without Causing Serious Mudslides

1/25/2025 - By apnews.com. The first significant storm of the season brought snow and downpours to Southern California that doused wildfires and caused some ash and mud to flow across streets in the Los Angeles area on Monday. More than an inch (2.5 centimeters) of rain fell in many areas, loosening Los… SEE MORE

The Sea Level Calculator: A Comprehensive Data Resource for Coastal Communities

1/14/2025 - By coast.noaa.gov. With changing sea levels and more frequent and intense storms, tens of millions of people in the U.S. are at risk from coastal hazards. Communities need to understand how sea level and flooding are changing in their location so they can adapt to these risks. NOAA combined existing… SEE MORE

Image Credits: The Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Marine Weather Forecasts Are Getting an AI Upgrade

11/24/2024 - By Vanessa Minke-Martin Machine learning systems—powered by new data—are taking some of the guesswork out of maritime safety. Jake Spink fished British Columbia’s craggy coast for four decades. Now, as the president of the British Columbia Coast Pilots—an association of highly trained captains that guide thousands of tankers, cruise ships,… SEE MORE

Is Deforestation Supercharging Cyclones?

11/22/2024 - By Erica Gies. The airborne water cycle, destabilized by industrial logging and other land use, may be a hidden force behind growing superstorms. Hurricane Helene devastated the southeastern United States at the end of September 2024, dumping unprecedented levels of rain. Then, just two weeks later, Hurricane Milton rapidly revved… SEE MORE