CNN-Weather/Environment

By Jennifer Gray, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Once a tropical storm strengthens into a hurricane, it earns a category designation on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale: 1 through 5. Knowing about each category can help predict what damage an incoming storm may inflict – and how best to prepare. The categories are defined by wind

CNN By Jordan Valinsky and Gregory Wallace, CNN New York (CNN) — All flights from Tampa International Airport have been canceled Tuesday as Hurricane Idalia barrels toward the Florida’s Gulf Coast. So far, that’s the only major airport significantly affected by the storm, which strengthened into a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph

CNN By Nouran Salahieh, Joe Sutton and Rachel Ramirez, CNN (CNN) — Idalia has strengthened into a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and stronger gusts and is expected to intensify considerably into a powerful Category 3 hurricane before making landfall in Florida on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm

By Christina Maxouris and Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN (CNN) — Hurricane Idalia could hit Florida’s west coast as an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm Wednesday morning, the National Hurricane Center warned as Idalia continued to intensify and churn toward the state late Tuesday. Officials across coastal communities repeatedly pleaded with residents Tuesday to immediately evacuate, stressing

By Mary Gilbert, Robert Shackelford, Nouran Salahieh and Joe Sutton, CNN (CNN) — Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to strengthen into a powerful Category 3 hurricane Monday and could bring potentially catastrophic winds, heavy rain and flooding to Florida’s Gulf Coast later this week, prompting evacuations and school closures in parts of the state. By

By Mary Gilbert, Caitlin Kaiser and Brandon Miller, CNN (CNN) — A hurricane watch has been issued for portions of Florida’s Gulf Coast as the state braces for Tropical Storm Idalia, which is expected to strengthen to a hurricane and make landfall this week. The hurricane watch stretches from Englewood to Indian Pass, including Tampa

By Mary Gilbert, Caitlin Kaiser and Brandon Miller, CNN (CNN) — Tropical Depression Ten has formed near the Yucatan Peninsula in the western Caribbean, according to the National Hurricane Center, and it could become a hurricane by Tuesday afternoon that would make landfall in Florida as early as Wednesday. A tropical storm warning has been

By Mary Gilbert and Holly Yan, CNN (CNN) — Nearly two dozen cattle died in Nebraska, more than 100 Missouri nursing home residents were evacuated and an ice cream shop in Iowa was forced to close as record-shattering heat engulfs more than 20 states. Excessive heat warnings, the most severe form of heat alert, spanned

CNN Editorial Research (CNN) — Here’s a look at the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March of 2011. March 11, 2011 – At 2:46 p.m., a 9.1 magnitude earthquake takes place 231 miles northeast of Tokyo at a depth of 15.2 miles. The earthquake causes a tsunami with 30-foot waves that damage several

By Steve Almasy and Dakin Andone, CNN (CNN) — Almost half of all deaths from tropical cyclones come from storm surge. While many people focus on the storms’ wind speed, the bigger danger often comes from water flowing in from the ocean. “A storm surge is a rise in water level caused by a strong

By Mary Gilbert and Nouran Salahieh, CNN (CNN) — Harold has weakened to a tropical depression as it continues to plow through Texas, triggering flash flooding and tornado warnings as the gusty storm pushes toward Mexico. Harold made landfall as a tropical storm just before 10 a.m. CT (11 a.m. ET) on Padre Island, Texas,

CNN Editorial Research (CNN) — Here is a look at the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. Past coverage of the 2022 and 2021 hurricane season and the latest weather news can also be found on CNN. Follow the storm tracker for the path and forecasts of the latest storm. Facts The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season runs

By Jennifer Gray, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Areas along the South Texas coast are under tropical storm alerts for a system – currently a tropical depression – that could start lashing the area with wind, rain and coastal flooding as soon as Tuesday morning. Tropical Depression 9 formed in the Gulf of Mexico late Monday