By Judson Jones, CNN meteorologist May and June mark the peak of tornadic weather in the US. It is also the peak of wildfire season in the Southwest. And it’s all connected. Storm systems deliver moisture and instability in the Plains to create tornado-producing storms, and at the same time provide dry air and gusty
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By Judson Jones, CNN Meteorologist Powerful tornadoes and very large hail could threaten Oklahoma and Texas on Wednesday — and it all hinges on how hot it gets early in the day. “If you are in the risk area, sunshine is not your friend today,” CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said. “The more sun … the
Continue Reading By Aya Elamroussi and Michelle Watson, CNN A powerful tornado tore through the Wichita, Kansas, area Friday night, leveling dozens of structures in the city of Andover, according to officials. The twister touched down in Sedgewick County before traveling to Andover in Butler County, the city’s fire chief Chad Russell said during a news conference.
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By Allison Chinchar, CNN Meteorologist Two separate weather systems will bring severe storms to more than a dozen states this weekend, some of the same ones that were hit Friday night. The system that brought over 150 severe storm reports to the central Plains on Friday will now push east on Saturday. All severe weather
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By Michelle Watson, Andy Rose and Paradise Afshar, CNN At least one tornado tore through the Wichita, Kansas, area late Friday, damaging dozens of buildings, officials said. Worst hit appeared to be the town of Andover, which is about 14 miles east of Wichita. “We’re currently rescuing people from their homes because they’re unable to
Continue ReadingCNN Editorial Research Here’s a look at the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. Facts The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration defines a hurricane as “an intense tropical weather system with well-defined circulation and sustained winds of 74 mph (64 knots) or higher.” In the western North Pacific Ocean, hurricanes
Continue ReadingCNN Editorial Research Here’s a look at Mount St. Helens, the most active volcano in the Cascade Mountains in Washington. Facts Mount St. Helens is located in Washington, about 55 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon, and 95 miles south of Seattle. It is administered by the National Forest Service, not the National Park Service. Over
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By Caitlin Kaiser and Taylor Ward, CNN Life-threatening heat waves arrived in India a month earlier than normal, shattering temperature records, with highs reaching over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) — and it will only get hotter. The worst of the heat wave is expected late this week into this weekend with high temperatures
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By Jennifer Gray, CNN meteorologist Intense hurricanes and typhoons — the most devastating storms on the planet — could more than double by 2050 in nearly all regions of the world because of climate change, scientists reported Wednesday. The study, published in the journal Science Advances, defined intense storms as the equivalent of a category
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By Monica Garrett, CNN Meteorologist New Mexico has seen wildfires burn more acres so far this year (over 173,000) than in seven of the last eight years, according to statistics from the Southwest Coordination Center, which coordinates the mobilization of resources between the twelve Federal and State Dispatch Centers of the Southwest Area. And fire
Continue Reading By Monica Garrett, CNN Meteorologist New Mexico has seen wildfires burn more acres so far this year (over 173,000) than in seven of the last eight years, according to statistics from the Southwest Coordination Center, which coordinates the mobilization of resources between the twelve Federal and State Dispatch Centers of the Southwest Area. And fire
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By Jennifer Gray, CNN meteorologist Seventy-six: It’s the number of tornadoes the Jackson, Mississippi, area has experienced in less than five weeks. Seventy-six. If it doesn’t sound exhausting, I don’t know what does. Every week, having to monitor the weather for the potential for severe weather — tornadoes, hail, damaging winds — all of it.
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By Allison Chinchar, CNN Meteorologist When a sudden, violent and cold gust of wind sweeps down from the mountains, you know the williwaws have arrived. And if bora winds are in the forecast, make sure to set your clothes out to dry along with your prosciutto. Haven’t heard of williwaw and bora winds before? Maybe
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By Allison Chinchar, CNN Meteorologist The official start of Atlantic Hurricane Season is less than six weeks away, and forecasters will be getting an essential upgrade just in time for the season to begin. New technology from the University of Wisconsin will help with preparation of more detailed forecasts and provide more reliable information to
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By Haley Brink, CNN meteorologist Hot, dry and windy conditions mean drought-stricken areas of the Southwest face an “extremely critical” threat of fire Friday, from central and eastern New Mexico to eastern Colorado, including Denver. Other higher population centers threatened include Albuquerque in New Mexico and Colorado Springs in Colorado. “A dangerous and dire weather
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By Paradise Afshar and Steve Almasy, CNN Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Thursday declared a state of emergency in Coconino County due to the 20,000-acre Tunnel wildfire. The blaze started Sunday just north of Flagstaff and is 0% contained, according to the InciWeb website, a national wildfire clearinghouse. At least two dozen buildings have been
Continue Reading By Paradise Afshar and Steve Almasy, CNN Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Thursday declared a state of emergency in Coconino County due to the 20,000-acre Tunnel wildfire. The blaze started Sunday just north of Flagstaff and is 0% contained, according to the InciWeb website, a national wildfire clearinghouse. At least two dozen buildings have been
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By Judson Jones, Monica Garrett, Chad Myers and Brandon Miller, CNN Meteorologists Fierce winds across drought-stricken areas will bring the highest fire danger Friday to the Southwest and High Plains, while the same system triggers severe storms with possible isolated tornadoes in the central and southern Plains and a snowstorm across the northern Rockies and
Continue Reading By Judson Jones, Monica Garrett, Chad Myers and Brandon Miller, CNN Meteorologists Fierce winds across drought-stricken areas will bring the highest fire danger Friday to the Southwest and High Plains, while the same system triggers severe storms with possible isolated tornadoes in the central and southern Plains and a snowstorm across the northern Rockies and
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By Caitlin Kaiser and Brandon Miller, CNN Critically dry weather conditions continue to fuel fires across the Southwest, bringing yet another week of fire danger. It has been an extraordinarily busy start to the fire year in the South and Southwest, with more than 19,000 wildfires reported through Tuesday, according to the National Interagency Fire
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