Why Have Some South Carolina Beaches Had Such Beautiful Blue Water Lately?
The waters along South Carolina’s Grand Strand have been a gorgeous blue as of late, prompting some visitors to make comparisons to the Caribbean. It’s called the blue water phenomenon — waters are clearer due to a lack of storms. Water temperatures play a role in the water’s color as well. Oceans Are Changing Colors, […]
Smarter: Should Your Window Fan Face In or Out?
For the first eight years I lived in New York City, I managed to do the near impossible: I hardly turned my AC on in the summer. Part of it was practicality. I was barely making enough money in the first few years, and I wanted to keep my electricity costs low. Second and perhaps […]
History-making heat set to spread after weekend of triple-digit temperatures
The center of the heat wave is expected to move eastward Monday, with extreme temperatures continuing through at least next weekend. A history-making heat wave that baked Southern U.S. communities with triple-digit temperatures over the weekend will offer little relief this week and could spread dangerous conditions farther across the Sun Belt. About a third […]
Earthquake Off The Alaska Coast Triggers Brief Tsunami Advisory, Sending Some Residents to Shelters
The earthquake was felt widely throughout the Aleutian Islands, the Alaskan Peninsula and Cook Inlet regions, according to the Alaska Earthquake Center. In Kodiak, Alaska, sirens warned of a possible tsunami and sent people driving to shelters late at night, according to video posted to social media. The United States Geological Survey wrote in a […]
The year of wildfire smoke: Why the U.S. faces a brutal season
Wildfire season hasn’t officially started in the U.S., but a Stanford analysis found it already qualifies as the worst on record by smoke exposure per person. It’s the summer of smoke with no end in sight. Canadian wildfires sent so much smoke into U.S. cities in June that this season already qualifies as the worst […]
NOAA Launches New, More Accurate Hurricane Forecast Model
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) launched a new model for hurricane forecasts this season called the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System (HAFS). According to a press release, HAFS is as good at forecasting storm intensity as existing NOAA models but is better at predicting rapid intensification. The model is also 10%-15% better at […]
Vermont governor seeks major disaster declaration from White House as state braces for more storms – as it happened
Vermont governor formally submits request to President Biden for major disaster declarationDays after devastating rainfall deluged Vermont and with more severe storms on the way, Phil Scott, the state’s governor, said he is seeking an additional major disaster declaration from the White House. If approved, the declaration could open up the state to receive additional […]
Why Nighttime Temperatures Are Also Dangerous And Deadly During Heat Waves
During a heat wave, many might think they’ll get some relief as the sun goes down, but unfortunately that is not always the case. Why are overnight lows concerning? Warm nighttime temperatures, especially 80 degrees or warmer, do not allow people to recover from daytime heat. When warm low temperatures are combined with high humidity, […]
Webb Space Telescope spots most distant black hole yet — and more may be lurking
Detected in February, this particular black hole is active and actually puny as they go — equivalent to about 9 million times the mass of our sun. Astronomers have discovered the most distant black hole yet using the Webb Space Telescope, but that record isn’t expected to last. The black hole is at the center of a […]
Northern lights unlikely to be seen across U.S. despite early forecast
A projection indicated the northern lights could be visible this week in more than a dozen states. It was updated Monday evening to show only modest auroral activity. The northern lights may light up skies at high latitudes this week, though likely not in cities in the lower 48 states, as previously forecast. An early […]