Erick strengthens into a Category 3 major hurricane approaching Mexico’s coast
ACAPULCO, Mexico — Hurricane Erick powered up into a dangerous Category 3 major hurricane Wednesday evening as it bore down on the southern Mexico coast, threatening to unleash destructive winds, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge on the region in coming hours, forecasters said. Swiftly strengthening from a Category...
Heat dome will blanket much of U.S., with worrisome temperatures in Midwest
Summer will make a dramatic entrance in the U.S. this week with a heat dome that will bring stifling temperatures and uncomfortable humidity to millions. The heat will be particularly worrisome this weekend across wide stretches of Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa, where forecasters are warning of extreme temperature impacts....
‘Mother Nature at its worst:’ Death toll from flash floods climbs to 6 in West Virginia
WHEELING, W.Va. — The death toll from weekend flooding in West Virginia rose to six as residents tried to clean up with the threat of more rain on the way. At least two people remained missing in the state’s northern panhandle after torrential downpours Saturday night, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said...
Prepare for a rainy week in Western Pennsylvania
It’s time to break out the umbrellas for rain in Western Pennsylvania. There’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms every day this week, according to Liana Lupo, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon. “It’s going to be more of a scattered coverage,” she said, which is similar to...
Flash flooding kills 5 in West Virginia, rescue teams searching for missing people
Flash flooding caused by torrential rains killed five people in northern West Virginia and rescue crews were searching for three other people who were missing Sunday as authorities assessed damage to roads, bridges, natural gas lines and other infrastructure. Officials said 2.5 to 4 inches of rain fell in parts...
Alerts issued for air quality, high temperatures across Pittsburgh region
Authorities have issued advisories for air quality and high temperatures Thursday in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Smoke from Canadian wildfires is the primary reason for the National Weather Service issuing an air quality notice. While the smoke has recently been at high levels in the atmosphere, causing hazy skies, an inversion will...
Consistent rain this spring has some local farmers frustrated
A rainy day is not always good news for Hempfield farmer Neil Palmer. “This is a time of year when we want to be out frequently doing tillage, planting, seeding, cultivation, all of that,” said Palmer, who has sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, onions and cabbage planted. “When we’ve got consistent...
Murrysville and Export assess damage from weekend storm, flooding
Friday’s downpour generated so much stormwater that it destroyed a culvert built by Murrysville public works crews along Lyons Run. “Forty-eight tons of R-7’s and asphalt are now somewhere else,” Murrysville Public Works Director Bill Paiano said in a memo to town officials in his initial assessment of the damage...
Tropical Storm Barbara becomes a hurricane
MIAMI — Tropical Storm Barbara has strengthened into a hurricane, the first of the eastern Pacific hurricane season. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Monday swells generated by the storm system will affect portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico during the next few days. These swells are likely...
Little time to dry: More storms headed for Pittsburgh region after flooding
The Pittsburgh region won’t have much time to recover from weekend flooding, as more storms are expected to roll in Monday evening, meteorologists said. Mike Kennedy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Moon, said residents can expect continued thunderstorms to begin Monday around 6 p.m. and to continue...
Canadian wildfire smoke to linger over Western Pa.
Canadian wildfire smoke is here to stay in Western Pennsylvania — at least for this week. “Right now, it looks like it could be a decent portion of the week,” said Andrew Kienzle, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon. By Thursday during the day, though, some rain...
Thousands evacuated in 3 provinces as Canadian wildfires threaten air quality into some U.S. states
FLIN FLON, Manitoba — More than 25,000 residents in three provinces have been evacuated as dozens of wildfires remained active Sunday and diminished air quality in parts of Canada and the U.S., according to officials. Most of the evacuated residents were from Manitoba, which declared a state of emergency last...
Northern lights to be visible through Sunday night
What scientists call “a geomagnetic storm watch” is in effect for Sunday night. In plain language, that means: Look for vibrant northern lights across the nation — visible anywhere in Pennsylvania. Authorities from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center said “a coronal mass ejection” will likely...
Turmoil, worry swirl over cuts to key federal agencies as hurricane season begins
WASHINGTON — With predictions for a busy hurricane season beginning Sunday, experts in storms and disasters are worried about something potentially as chaotic as the swirling winds: Massive cuts to the federal system that forecasts, tracks and responds to hurricanes. Experts are alarmed over the large-scale staff reductions, travel and...
1 dead and several injured when storm rips through Kentucky community, authorities say
SPRINGFIELD, Ky. — The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia on Friday, hours after a harsh storm hit a remote area of central Kentucky, killing one person and injuring seven. In Kentucky, Washington County Judge-executive Timothy Graves said two or three...
Get ready for several years of killer heat, top weather forecasters warn
WASHINGTON — Get ready for several years of even more record-breaking heat that pushes Earth to more deadly, fiery and uncomfortable extremes, two of the world’s top weather agencies forecast. There’s an 80% chance the world will break another annual temperature record in the next five years, and it’s even...
Warmer temperatures coming to Western Pa., forecasters say
The temperatures have dipped as of late, but Western Pennsylvania should warm up soon, says the National Weather Service. How about the sun? Well, let’s not get greedy. “Right now … the outlook calls for a warmer than normal conditions and possibly wetter than normal conditions,” said meteorologist Timothy Cermak...
Western Pa. slated for good weather, heavy travel Memorial Day weekend
As Western Pennsylvania residents choose how to spend Memorial Day, the weather is shaping up for an ideal three-day weekend outdoors, according to the National Weather Service. Little chance of rain and steadily escalating temperatures are in the forecast, said Timothy Cermak, a meteorologist for the weather service’s Pittsburgh office...
Get ready for another busy Atlantic hurricane season, but maybe not as crazy as 2024
WASHINGTON — With warmer than normal ocean waters, forecasters are expecting yet another unusually busy hurricane season for the Atlantic. But they don’t think it will be as chaotic as 2024, the third-costliest season on record as it spawned killer storms Beryl, Helene and Milton. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric...
Weather Service investigating 2, maybe 3 other, tornado touch downs from Wednesday storms
National Weather Service investigators are trying to determine the strength of two tornadoes that touched down in Butler County during Wednesday’s storms and are looking into the possibility that two more twisters touched down in the region. NWS meteorologist Liana Lupo talked about one discovered near Center Township’s Unionville neighborhood....
Roundup: Flood watch issued for Southwestern Pa.; shootings in Homewood North
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, May 21: Flood watch for Southwestern Pa. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a flood watch for Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington, Greene and Fayette counties as more strong storms begin to move through the area Wednesday. TribLive...
While Trump overhauls FEMA, Mississippi tornado survivors await assistance
TYLERTOWN, Miss. — More than two months after a tornado destroyed his home, Brian Lowery still looks through the rubble, hoping to find a tie clip his mother gave him, made from the center stone of her wedding band. “I still have hope,” Lowery said. He, his wife and 13-year-old...
More severe weather pummels the central U.S. as thousands recover from deadly tornadoes
LONDON, Ky. — More tornadoes plowed through the central U.S. on Monday and thousands were without power as people from Texas to Kentucky continued to clean up from days of severe weather that killed more than two dozen people and destroyed thousands of homes and buildings. At least four tornadoes...
Residents dig out from tornado damage after storms kill 28 in Kentucky, Missouri and Virginia
LONDON, Ky. — Residents in Kentucky and Missouri sifted through damage in tornado-stricken neighborhoods and remained on edge Sunday for more severe weather ahead after storms swept through parts of the Midwest and South, killing more than two dozen people. Kentucky was hardest hit as a devastating tornado damaged hundreds...
Severe weather leaves at least 27 dead, including 18 in Kentucky
LONDON, Ky. — At least 27 people have been killed by storms systems that swept across part of the U.S. Midwest and South, with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announcing Saturday that 18 of the deaths came in his state and 10 others were hospitalized in critical condition. A devastating tornado...
