Month: December 2019

By TRISTAN LAVALETTE, Associated Press PERTH, Australia — Wildfires burning across Australia’s two most populous states Tuesday trapped residents of a seaside town in apocalyptic conditions and killed at least two people while more property along the country’s east coast fell victim to a devastating fire season. About 4,000 residents in the southeastern town of Mallacoota in Victoria state fled toward the water Tuesday morning as winds pushed an emergency-level wildfire toward their homes. The…

What NASA describes as a “fire-breathing storm system” has formed over a region of Australia threatened by wildfires. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology tweeted Monday that a pyrocumulonimbus cloud developed 16 kilometers (10 miles) over the East Gippsland region of Victoria, where out-of-control wildfires were forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. NASA describes pyrocumulonimbus clouds as a “dragon” of a cloud. A normal cumulonimbus cloud is dangerous enough: The massive, anvil-shaped storm systems can hurl thunderbolts,…

By TRISTAN LAVALETTE, Associated Press PERTH, Australia — Sydney will set off its iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks after being granted an exemption to a total fire ban Monday, with other Australian cities canceling their celebrations due to a worsening wildfire risk. Pressure had built for Sydney’s spectacle to be scrapped before the New South Wales Rural Fire Service approved the event on Monday. The popular celebrations are expected to attract around a million people…

Sydney will set off its iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks after being granted an exemption to a total fire ban Monday, with other Australian cities canceling their celebrations due to … Click to Continue »

By TRISTAN LAVALETTE, Associated Press PERTH, Australia — Thousands of koalas are feared to have died in a wildfire-ravaged area north of Sydney, further diminishing Australia’s iconic marsupial, while the fire danger increased in the country’s east on Saturday as temperatures soared. The mid-northern coast of New South Wales was home to up to 28,000 koalas, but wildfires have significantly reduced their population in recent months. Koalas are native to Australia and are one of…

A code red was issued in South Australia on Friday as temperatures hit 42 degrees Celsius (108 Fahrenheit) in the state’s capital, while firefighters battling wildfires in New South Wales … Click to Continue »

Carolina Hurricanes (22-13-2, fifth in the Metropolitan Division) vs. New York Rangers (17-15-4, seventh in the Metropolitan Division) New York; Friday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Carolina visits the New … Click to Continue »

By Gilbert Baez, WRAL Fayetteville reporter Fayetteville, N.C. — Christmas 2019 took on an added layer of celebration for a former Fort Bragg soldier and victim of Hurricane Matthew. For the first time in three years, Tomeka Rich and her five children woke up on Christmas morning in their own home. “This has been amazing,” she said. Since Hurricane Matthew chased her out of her house, Rich and her children bounced around. For awhile, they…

SPRING LAKE, N.C. (WTVD) — Christmas is a big deal at the Evan’s household. For the first time since Hurricane Florence, they finally have a home to deck the halls. “Hurricane Florence came in, left five feet ten inches of water here in the house,” said Regina Evans. ABC11 first introduced you to Regina Evans back in March. The disaster recovery specialist and grandmother recently adopted her grandkids and was struggling to recover herself. Spring…

By Deborah Strange, WRAL digital journalist Thousands of videos were published on WRAL.com in 2019, including coverage of a devastating hurricane, tension amid racist words and acts and some very good dogs. Here are some of the most memorable videos of the year. A racial slur and no apology In July, a white woman was filmed calling two black women a racial slur at a North Hills restaurant. Chanda Stewart and Lakesha Shaw said they…

RALEIGH (WTVD) — Hurricane victims in North Carolina are bracing for another Christmas without their wish, even as state officials work hard to answer their questions. Monday was the last day for them to submit comments before officials submit their plan for storm relief and mitigation efforts for federal approval. North Carolina’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency, known as NCORR, is the lead agency in the Tar Heel State’s restoration efforts from Hurricanes Matthew (2016),…

RALEIGH (WTVD) — Thousands of North Carolinians will be spending another Holiday Season wishing for a full recovery from recent storms, and state officials are giving some those affected one last chance to speak up about how to spend millions in new federal relief money. North Carolina’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency, known as NCORR, is the lead agency in the Tar Heel State’s restoration efforts from Hurricanes Matthew (2016), Florence (2018) and Dorian (2019)….

This article is published through the N.C. News Collaborative, a partnership of BH Media, Gannett and McClatchy newspapers in North Carolina that aims to better inform readers throughout the state. … Click to Continue »

SEATTLE — Record rainfall and darkness has hit Seattle as a major storm begins to lift across western Washington on the first day of winter, though the region is still at risk for flooding, mudslides and avalanches. Friday became the wettest day in Seattle in the past 10 years, and the most rain recorded for Dec. 20 since record-keeping at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport began in 1945. The National Weather Service said the airport recorded 3.25…

Raleigh, N.C. — North Carolina has been awarded nearly $3.4 million from the federal government to help local school districts that suffered damage during Hurricane Dorian in September. The state Department of Public Instruction applied for the grant in October and announced the award Thursday. School systems that are eligible to receive the funds are: Dare County Schools Edgecombe County Schools Hyde County Schools Lenoir County Schools The school systems cited needs including instructional materials,…

Showers and a few thunderstorms will move across North Carolina on Tuesday, bringing a severe weather risk for the area.

By Elizabeth Gardner & Aimee Wilmoth, WRAL meteorologists Raleigh, N.C. — Strong thunderstorms are expected to roll into the Triangle early Tuesday afternoon, as parts of North Carolina are under a level 1 threat for severe weather. A level 1 threat means isolated severe thunderstorms are possible, and they’ll be limited in intensity and duration, according to the National Weather Service. The storms are part of a system that’s responsible for three deaths in Louisiana…

Check out the ABC11 weather forecast for more on the severe weather moving across NC and the risk in your area Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019. … Click to Continue »

By Elizabeth Gardner, WRAL meteorologist Raleigh, N.C. — Strong thunderstorms are expected to roll into the Triangle early Tuesday afternoon, as parts of North Carolina are under a level 1 threat for severe weather. A level 1 threat means isolated severe thunderstorms are possible, and they’ll be limited in intensity and duration, according to the National Weather Service. The storms are part of a system that’s responsible for three deaths in Louisiana and Alabama. Suspected…

By Mihir Zaveri, New York Times A storm system that was sweeping across the country Monday left at least seven people dead over the weekend and placed more than 60 million people under winter weather advisories and warnings with threats of continuing snow, freezing rain and other types of severe weather. The seven people all died in crashes on slick, icy roads Sunday in Nebraska and Missouri, authorities said. And multiple tornadoes touched down across…

Showers and a few thunderstorms will move across North Carolina on Tuesday, bringing a severe weather risk to the area. Temperatures are above normal this morning, showing 60s in some spots, with clear skies. But a line of showers moving in from our west will change that. Counties south and east of the Triangle are under a marginal risk for severe weather. There’s a small chance for an isolated storm that could produce gusty winds….

VERNON PARISH, Louisiana — At least one death has been reported in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, amid dangerous storms on Monday, local authorities said. Images posted by the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office show widespread damage including downed power lines and a tree fallen on top of a home. At least seven tornadoes have been reported in Louisiana and Mississippi. This is part of a major storm system stretching from the South, to the Midwest and into…

The 29-year-old son of accused police killer Fred T. Hopkins Jr. was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday morning on a criminal sexual conduct charge involving one of his … Click to Continue »