Page 2 - Hurricane

Beryl strengthens to hurricane in Atlantic, to hit Caribbean as major storm

Beryl strengthened into a hurricane Saturday as it churned toward the southeastern Caribbean, with forecasters warning it was expected to become a dangerous major storm before reaching Barbados late Sunday or early Monday. A major hurricane is considered Category 3 or higher, with winds of at least 111 mph (178 kph). On Saturday night, Beryl was a Category 1 hurricane, marking the farthest east that a hurricane formed in the tropical Atlantic in June, breaking a record set in 1933, according to Philip Klotzbach, Colorado State University hurricane researcher. A hurricane warning was issued for Barbados, St Lucia, Grenada, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. A tropical storm warning was posted for Martinique and Tobago and a tropical storm watch for Dominica. It's astonishing to see a forecast for a major (Category 3+) hurricane in June anywhere in the Atlantic, let alone this far east in the deep tropics. #Beryl organizing in a hurry over the warmest waters ever recorded for late Jun

Tropical storm Beryl swirls toward Caribbean, may strengthen into hurricane

Tropical Storm Beryl chugged toward the southeast Caribbean on Saturday and could strengthen into the year's first hurricane before reaching Barbados late Sunday. A hurricane watch was issued for Barbados as the island's meteorological service warned of flash flooding and power outages. Beryl is expected to strengthen into a Category 2 storm before reaching Barbados, with its center forecast to pass some 26 miles (45 kilometers) south of the island, said Sabu Best, the meteorological service's director. On Saturday, Beryl was located about 975 miles (1,570 kilometers) east-southeast of Barbados, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph). It was moving west at 21 mph (33 kph). We need to be ready, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley said in a public address late Friday. You and I know when these things happen, it is better to plan for the worst and pray for the best. She noted that thousands of people are in Barbados for the Twenty20 World Cup cricket final, with India and So

Cooler hurricane-helping La Nina to replace El Nino that adds heat to Earth

The strong El Nino weather condition that added a bit of extra heat to already record warm global temperatures is gone. It's cool flip side, La Nina, is likely to breeze in just in time for peak Atlantic hurricane season, federal meteorologists said. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Thursday pronounced dead the El Nino that warms parts of the central Pacific. The El Nino, while not quite a record breaker in strength, formed a year ago has been blamed, along with human-caused climate change and overall ocean warmth, for a wild 12 months of heat waves and extreme weather. The world is now in a neutral condition when it comes to the important natural El Nino Southern Oscillation, which warps weather systems worldwide. Neutral is when weather gets closer to long-term averages or normal, something that hasn't happened as much recently as it used to, said NOAA physical scientist Michelle L'Heureux, who is the lead forecaster of the agency's ENSO team. But it likely won't ...

Hurricane Otis death toll rises to 48, 36 missing as search ops underway

At least 48 people died when Category 5 Hurricane Otis slammed into Mexico's southern Pacific coast, most of them in Acapulco, Mexican authorities said on Sunday as the death toll continued to climb and families buried loved ones. Mexico's civil defense agency said in a statement that 43 of the dead were in the resort city of Acapulco and five in nearby Coyuca de Benitez. Guerrero state's governor had earlier raised the number of missing to 36 from 10 a day earlier. The death toll increased after authorities had raised it to 39 on Saturday. In Acapulco, families held funerals for the dead on Sunday and continued the search for essentials while government workers and volunteers cleared streets clogged with muck and debris from the powerful Category 5 hurricane. Kathy Barrera, 30, said Sunday that her aunt's family was buried under a landslide when tons of mud and rock tumbled down onto their home. Her aunt's body was found with the remains of their three children ranging in age from

Hilary makes landfall along Mexico's Baja, carrying deluge to California

Tropical Storm Hilary made landfall along Mexico's Baja California coast Sunday as concerns mounted over the storm causing what could be deadly flash flooding in the border city of Tijuana, Southern California and places as far north as Idaho that rarely get such heavy rain. Hilary hit the coast in a sparsely populated area about 150 miles (250 kilometers) south of Ensenada. The storm has already caused flooding in places across Mexico's arid peninsula and threatens to unleash torrential rains on mudslide-prone Tijuana, where many improvised houses cling to steep hillsides just south of the U.S. border. Forecasters warned the storm could cause extreme flooding, mudslides and even tornadoes. Parts of the U.S. Southwest could be hit with once-in-a-century rains and there is a good chance Hilary could break all-time records as the wettest known tropical cyclone to douse Nevada, Oregon and Idaho. As of 11 a.m. Pacific time, Hilary was located about 215 miles (340 kilometers) ...

Hilary downgraded again to category 1 hurricane as Mexico braces for impact

Hurricane Hilary roared toward Mexico's Baja California peninsula late Saturday as a downgraded but still dangerous Category 1 hurricane likely to bring catastrophic flooding to the region and cross into the southwestern US as a tropical storm. The National Weather Center in Miami said in the most recent advisory at 9 p.m. that the maximum sustained wind speed is 90 mph and the storm was about 175 miles (281 kilometres) south of Punta Eugenia, Mexico, and 535 miles (855 kilometres) from San Diego, California. Meteorologists warned that despite weakening, the storm remained treacherous. One person drowned Saturday in the Mexican town of Santa Rosalia, on the peninsula's eastern coast, when a vehicle was swept away in an overflowing stream. Rescue workers managed to save four other people, said Edith Aguilar Villavicencio, the mayor of Mulege township. It was not immediately clear whether officials considered the fatality related to the hurricane, but video posted by local officials

Tornadoes, hail and hurricane-force winds tear through west Texas, kills 4

A line of severe storms produced what a meteorologist calls a rare combination of multiple tornadoes, hurricane-force winds and softball-sized hail in west Texas, killing at least four people, injuring nine and causing significant damage around the town of Matador, a meteorologist said Thursday. The storms produced strong winds that swept across Texas, from the Panhandle to Houston, causing damage north of the city, weather officials said. Gov. Greg Abbott added six counties in the region to a disaster declaration on Thursday. The declaration was first issued June 16 and amended three times in response to severe weather. His statement said the declaration will help state authorities respond swiftly to devastated communities. Storms were forming again Thursday afternoon, and National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Ferguson in Amarillo said they were possible into the night, with a chance of more large hail up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) in diameter and winds up to 70 mph (113

Hurricane Nicole forms after pounding Bahamas; Florida awaits Nov storm

A Florida-bound storm strengthened into Hurricane Nicole on Wednesday after pounding the Bahamas as U.S. officials ordered evacuations that included former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club. It's a rare November hurricane for storm-weary Florida, where only two such hurricanes have made landfall since recordkeeping began in 1853 the 1935 Yankee Hurricane and Hurricane Kate in 1985. Nicole was expected to reach Florida on Wednesday night and unleash a storm surge that could further erode many beaches hit by Hurricane Ian in September before heading into Georgia and the Carolinas later Thursday and Friday. It was expected to dump heavy rain across the region. Nicole's center was located 105 miles (170 kilometers) east of West Palm Beach, Florida on Wednesday night, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said. It had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and was moving west at 12 mph (19 kph). The sprawling storm became a hurricane as it slammed into Grand Bahama, hav

Major hurricane Roslyn heads for hit on Mexico's coast, likely to grow

Hurricane Roslyn grew to Category 3 force on Saturday as it headed for a collision with Mexico's Pacific coast, likely north of the resort of Puerto Vallarta. The US National Hurricane Centre said Roslyn's maximum sustained winds had increased to 120 mph (195 kph) early on Saturday, and it was expected to grow still further. The storm was centered about 200 miles (320 kilometres) south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes the point of land jutting into the Pacific south of Puerto Vallarta and moving northwest at 7 mph (11 kph). The forecast called for Roslyn to begin shifting to a northward movement and then northeast, putting it on path that could take it close to Cabo Corrientes and the Puerto Vallarta region on Saturday night or early Sunday before making landfall in Nayarit state on Sunday morning. Hurricane Orlene made landfall on October 3 a little farther north in roughly the same region, about 45 miles (75 kilometres) southeast of the resort of Mazatlan. Hurricane-force winds ..

Tropical Storm Roslyn at Mexico's south Pacific coast may form hurricane

Tropical Storm Roslyn formed off Mexico's southern Pacific coast, and forecasters expect it will strengthen to a hurricane and hit land somewhere between the resorts of Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan over the weekend. The US National Hurricane Center said Roslyn had winds of about 75 kph on Thursday evening and was centred about 390 km south-southeast of the port of Manzanillo. The storm was moving west at 11 kph, but atmospheric conditions are likely to steer Roslyn on a more northerly course in coming days. Mexico issued a tropical storm warning from the port of Manzanillo to Cabo Corrientes. Roslyn could have winds as high as 160 kph when it draws near land. Mexico's National Water Commission said rains from Roslyn could cause mudslides and flooding.

28 dead as Hurricane Julia drenches Central America with heavy rainfall

Now a tropical depression, former Hurricane Julia drenched Guatemala and El Salvador with torrential rains Monday after it reemerged in the Pacific following a pounding of Nicaragua. At least 19 people were reported dead as a direct or indirect result of the storm. Guatemala's disaster prevention agency said five people died after a hillside collapsed on their house in Alta Verapaz province, burying them. Authorities in El Salvador said five Salvadoran army soldiers died after a wall collapsed at a house where they sought refuge in the town of Comasagua, where hundreds of police and soldiers have been conducting anti-gang raids. Another soldier was injured. Two other people died in the eastern El Salvador town of Guatajiagua after heavy rains caused a wall of their home to collapse. Another man in El Salvador died when he was swept away by a current, and another died when a tree fell on him. Rivers overflowed their banks and El Salvador declared a state of emergency and opened 80

US' death toll from Hurricane Ian crosses 110; 300,000 still without power

The death toll from Hurricane Ian in the US has exceeded 110, while hundreds of thousands of people remain without power

Hurricane Orlene makes landfall in Mexico's Pacific coast near Mazatlan

Hurricane Orlene made landfall on Mexico's Pacific coast near the tourist town of Mazatlan on Monday before quickly weakening over land into a tropical depression over land. Electrical cables swayed and sent off showers of sparks in the town of El Rosario, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of Mazatlan, close to where the hurricane hit. Authorities did not immediately report any damage, but along the coast they suspended classes, closed seaports and set up shelters. Orlene lost some strength after roaring over the Islas Maria, a former prison colony being developed as a tourist draw. The main island is sparsely populated, mainly by government employees, and most buildings there are made of brick or concrete. The hurricane's winds, once at Category 4 force, had slipped back to 85 mph mph (140 kph) as it hit land about 45 miles (75 kilometers) southeast of Mazatlan Monday morning, according to the US National Hurricane Center. By midday, Orlene had weakened to a tropical storm wit

Nasa pushes back Artemis I Moon mission launch to November amid Ian havoc

The US space agency has pushed back the Artemis I Moon mission launch to November in the wake of Hurricane Ian

Hurricane Ian leaves dozens dead as focus turns to rescue, recovery

Dozens of Florida residents left their flooded and splintered homes by boat and by air on Saturday as rescuers continued to search for survivors in the wake of Hurricane Ian, while authorities in South Carolina and North Carolina began taking stock of their losses. The death toll from the storm, one of the strongest hurricanes by wind speed to ever hit the U.S., grew to nearly three dozen, with deaths reported from Cuba, Florida and North Carolina. The storm weakened Saturday as it rolled into the mid-Atlantic, but not before it washed out bridges and piers, hurdled massive boats into buildings onshore and sheared roofs off homes, leaving hundreds of thousands without power. At least 35 people were confirmed dead, including 28 people in Florida mostly from drowning but others from Ian's tragic aftereffects. An elderly couple died after their oxygen machines shut off when they lost power, authorities said. As of Saturday, more than 1,000 people had been rescued from flooded areas alo

Tropical storm Orlene expected to be hurricane off Mexico's Pacific coast

Tropical Storm Orlene is expected to grow into a hurricane by Saturday as its heads for an expected landfall on Mexico's northwestern Pacific coast. The U.S. National Hurricane Centre said Orlene had maximum sustained winds of 100 kph early Saturday. It was centred about 380 kilometres south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes and moving north at 7 kph. The centre said Orlene is a small, compact storm, with tropical storm-force winds extending out only 75 kilometres from the centre. It was forecast to grow to hurricane force by Saturday morning before falling back to tropical storm strength ahead of a forecast Monday landfall in Sinaloa state, in the region around the resort city of Mazatlan.

Hurricane Ian lashes South Carolina as Florida's death toll climbs

A revived Hurricane Ian pounded coastal South Carolina on Friday, ripping apart piers and flooding streets after the ferocious storm caused catastrophic damage in Florida, trapping thousands in their homes and leaving at least 17 people dead. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said the deaths included a 22-year-old woman ejected in an ATV rollover Friday because of a road washout and a 71-year-old man who died earlier of head injuries when he fell off a roof while putting up rain shutters. Many of the other deaths were drownings, including that of a 68-year-old woman swept into the ocean by a wave. Another three people died in Cuba earlier in the week as the storm churned northward. The death toll was expected to increase substantially once emergency officials have an opportunity to search many of the hardest-hit areas. Ian's center came ashore near Georgetown, South Carolina, with much weaker winds than when it crossed Florida's Gulf Coast on Wednesday as one of the stronges

Climate change responsible for intensifying Hurricane Ian's rainfall by 10%

Climate change added at least 10% more rain to Hurricane Ian, a study prepared immediately after the storm shows. Thursday's research, which is not peer-reviewed, compared peak rainfall rates during the real storm to about 20 different computer scenarios of a model with Hurricane Ian's characteristics slamming into the Sunshine State in a world with no human-caused climate change. The real storm was 10% wetter than the storm that might have been," said Lawrence Berkeley National Lab climate scientist Michael Wehner, study co-author. Forecasters predicted Ian will have dropped up to two feet (61 cm) of rain in parts of Florida by the time it stopped. Wehner and Kevin Reed, an atmospheric scientist at Stony Brook University, published a study in Nature Communications earlier this year looking at the hurricanes of 2020 and found during their rainiest three-hour periods they were more than 10% wetter than in a world without greenhouse gases trapping heat. Wehner and Reed applied the sa

Floods trap many in Florida as Hurricane Ian heads to South Carolina

Rescue crews piloted boats and waded through inundated streets Thursday to save thousands of Floridians trapped amid flooded homes and shattered buildings left by Hurricane Ian, which crossed into the Atlantic Ocean and churned toward South Carolina. Hours after weakening to a tropical storm while crossing the Florida peninsula, Ian regained hurricane strength Thursday evening over the Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center predicted it would hit South Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane Friday. The devastation inflicted on Florida came into focus a day after Ian struck as a monstrous Category 4 hurricane, one of the strongest storms ever to hit the U.S. It flooded homes on both the state's coasts, cut off the only road access to a barrier island, destroyed a historic waterfront pier and knocked out electricity to 2.67 million Florida homes and businesses nearly a quarter of utility customers. Four people were confirmed dead in Florida. They included two residents of hard-hit Sanib

Ian regains hurricane strength after causing significant damage in Florida

Ian regained hurricane strength after inflicting significant damage on Florida.