Fewer lanternflies this summer? Maybe, and you can thank this week’s deep freeze
One upside to the frigid cold — there should be fewer pesky spotted lanternflies this summer. The mottled, brilliant red and white plant hoppers lay eggs inside a sac that clings to trees and resembles a bag of baked beans, but some of those sacs likely will not survive this...
Over 50,000 under evacuation orders or warnings as wildfire imperils homes north of Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES — More than 50,000 people were under evacuation orders or warnings Wednesday as a huge and fast-moving wildfire swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles, as parched Southern California endured another round of dangerous wind and two major previous blazes continued to smolder. The Hughes Fire broke...
Subzero temperatures require caution and planning
The region’s bout with frigid temperatures is not to be taken lightly, area doctors say. While Western Pennsylvania is familiar with the cold, it’s been some time since low temperatures dipped below zero, and that makes the cold more dangerous than usual. The last time it was this cold was...
Warnings for dangerous wind extended in Southern California as new wildfires break out
LOS ANGELES — Forecasters warned that dangerous winds will buffet Southern California for at least two more days as new wildfires broke out on Tuesday, a pair of major Los Angeles-area blazes burned for a third week, and officials made preparations to protect scorched neighborhoods from toxic ash runoff ahead...
Frigid storm drops rare snow on Houston and New Orleans as Florida readies plows in the Panhandle
NEW ORLEANS — A rare frigid storm charged through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast on Tuesday, blanketing New Orleans and Houston with snow, closing highways, grounding nearly all flights and canceling school for millions of students more used to hurricane dismissals than snow days. The storm prompted the first...
Snow means flurry of work for road crews across Western Pennsylvania
Many, if not all, municipal road crews around the area might agree with Plum public works director Bill Binnie: “It’s like Groundhog Day.” And it’s true — snowflakes flew on a daily basis for the first 16 days of January, said Timothy Cermak, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in...
Frigid now, but forecasters say coldest temps still to come
More than 300 schools and community centers closed down Tuesday as the region battled subzero wind chills and blustery conditions. But we haven’t even felt the worst of it yet, forecasters said. “The coldest night will be tonight, and we should be looking at -8 or -9 tomorrow morning,” said...
Western Pa. schools go remote as temperatures plummet
Hundreds of Western Pennsylvania school districts have moved to remote learning Tuesday morning as an arctic blast of near-record-low temperatures are anticipated through Wednesday. Pittsburgh Public Schools, whose 20,350 students make it the largest district in Allegheny County, will go remote Tuesday, officials said online. A number of others, including...
Worsening wind forecast brings new L.A.-area fire risk beginning Monday: ‘This is a time to act’
The Santa Ana wind forecast for Southern California has worsened, and forecasters now expect to issue a red flag fire weather warning starting Monday, with the “risk of large fire growth” should ignitions occur. “This is now a strong Santa Ana wind event and extreme fire weather,” said Rose Schoenfeld,...
Heavy snow and frigid Arctic blast put 70 million across the U.S. under winter storm warnings
BOSTON — Tens of millions of residents along the East Coast are bracing for several inches of snow Sunday followed by dangerously cold temperatures that will grip much of the country from the Northern Plains to the tip of Maine. Winter storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service have...
Snowfall is prelude to 3 days of dangerously cold temperatures
Snow falling on Sunday in Southwestern Pennsylvania was the prelude to an arctic blast with sub-zero temperatures expected early this week. National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Modzelewski predicts 2 to 4 inches in parts of Westmoreland County and between 1 and 3 inches in Allegheny County with 5 to 9...
Extreme cold prompts opening of warming shelters in Allegheny, Westmoreland, Armstrong counties
As single-digit temperatures loom in Southwestern Pennsylvania’s forecast for early next week, warming shelters in Allegheny, Westmoreland and Armstrong counties will be available for those seeking a break from the cold. Temperatures in the Pittsburgh area are forecast to dip from 6 degrees on Monday to as low as minus-10...
Snow in the forecast for Western Pa.
The National Weather Service Pittsburgh released this forecast Thursday morning: The area is under a winter weather advisory until 4 a.m. Friday. Widespread accumulating snow is predicted to start Thursday morning and will continue all day, impacting both the morning and afternoon rush hours. Accumulation in the lower elevations will...
As wind chills plummet below zero, officials undeterred: ‘It’s winter’ in Western Pa.
Burrell Superintendent Shannon Wagner makes a flurry of decisions before 5:30 each morning, especially this time of year. On Monday, when temperatures are expected to nosedive below zero for the first time since 2022, Wagner will be up at 4:45 a.m. to review road conditions with Upper Burrell and Lower...
Fire tornadoes are a risk under California’s extreme wildfire conditions
As if they aren’t already facing enough, firefighters in California also could encounter fire tornadoes — a rare but dangerous phenomenon in which wildfires create their own weather. The National Weather Service warned Tuesday that the combination of high winds and severely dry conditions have created a “particularly dangerous situation”...
Stronger wind threatens to spread wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area
LOS ANGELES — A growing force of firefighters battled massive infernos across the Los Angeles area on Monday as more powerful wind moved in and threatened recent progress against wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people. Planes doused homes and hillsides with bright pink...
Southern areas hit by winter storm thaw, power slowly returns
After a freezing winter storm shut schools, cut power and cancelled or delayed flights, the South was slowly thawing Sunday. Crews worked furiously and by Sunday morning power had been restored to parts of North Carolina and South Carolina where tens of thousands of customers lost electricity over the last...
Powerful winter storm that dumped snow in South maintains its icy grip
ATLANTA — Flight cancellations piled up and officials warned of continuing dangerous roads Saturday in the wake of a winter storm that brought biting cold and wet snow to the U.S. South, leading to school closures and disrupting travel. The storm was moving out to sea off the East Coast...
Climate change will continue with warmer, wetter conditions predicted
Jim Bonner used to associate mockingbirds with the southern part of the United States. His backyard is home to one, it’s indicative of how weather changes have impacted the avian species, and likely will continue for other types of birds. “I see more mockingbirds now that I ever did 20...
Powerful winter storm dumps heavy snow, causing flight delays, slick roads and school closings
ATLANTA — A powerful winter storm that dumped heavy snow and glazed roads with ice across much of Texas and Oklahoma lumbered eastward into Southern U.S. states Friday, making for dicey travel and a rare snow day for many students. Arkansas and North Carolina mobilized their National Guards for tasks...
Earth records hottest year ever in 2024 and the jump was so big it breached key threshold
Earth recorded its hottest year ever in 2024, with such a big jump that the planet temporarily passed a major climate threshold, several weather monitoring agencies announced Friday. Last year’s global average temperature easily passed 2023’s record heat and kept pushing even higher. It surpassed the long-term warming limit of...
Frigid temperatures continue, snow forecast for evening
Western Pennsylvanians woke to frigid temperatures Friday morning, and could see some snow showers this evening. In a month that has not risen above freezing since New Year’s Day, the Pittsburgh region saw a new monthly low temperature — 6 degrees — according to the National Weather Service. Some school...
A powerful winter storm’s heavy snow and sleet cancels flights and closes schools across the South
DALLAS — A powerful winter storm brought heavy snow and icy conditions to parts of the South on Thursday, forcing officials to close schools, cancel flights and warn residents in some of the worst-hit areas to stay off roads as it lumbered eastward through Oklahoma and Texas. Arkansas Gov. Sarah...
Hollywood Hills fire breaks out as deadly wildfires burn out of control across Los Angeles area
LOS ANGELES — A fast-moving fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday night, threatening one of Los Angeles’ most iconic spots as firefighters battled to get under control three other major blazes that killed five people, put 100,000 people under evacuation orders and ravaged the city from the...
Many structures already destroyed in Pacific Palisades wildfire, California governor says
LOS ANGELES — Firefighters scrambled to corral a fast-moving wildfire in the Los Angeles hillsides dotted with celebrity homes as a fierce windstorm hit Southern California on Tuesday, fanning the blaze seen for miles as scores of residents abandoned their cars and fled on foot to safety with roads blocked....
