Author: WeatherPreppers

By Bryan Mims, WRAL reporter Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. — One year ago today, Hurricane Isaias slammed into North Carolina, spawning tornadoes and floods. The category one hurricane made landfall at Ocean Isle Beach. The mayor says it triggered the worst flooding she had ever seen on the island. WRAL News revisited the island a year later, where the hardest-hit residents are still rebuilding – not from high water, but from flames. “This was my…

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The 2021 hurricane season is off to a slow start — thankfully! As of August 3, there have been five named storms and only one of those made landfall in the United States. Compare that to the 2020 hurricane season, which admittedly was the most active of all time: On August 3, 2020, Hurricane Isaias made landfall in North Carolina. It was the ninth named storm of the year and the…

As you drive along any road in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, an all too common sight. Dead, brown trees. A byproduct of California’s extensive drought, though may look depressing, Rachel Swigart sees an opportunity. Swigart is a third generation woodworker. Her father is a cabinet maker, as well as her grandfather. In fact he was one of the first in the Oakhurst, CA area, located just south of Yosemite National Park. “I didn’t think…

Parts of central North Carolina will have a slight risk for storms throughout Sunday. First Alert Meteorologist Steve Stewart said stalled frontal boundary will become the focus for unsettled weather today. Upper-level energy will stir up showers and thunderstorm activity as low-level moisture gets drawn northward and the frontal boundary buckles northward. Most of the activity activity will remain north of us this morning, rumbling across southern Virginia. However, in the afternoon, we can expect…

By Zach Maloch, WRAL meteorologist It should not surprise many of you that summer in North Carolina involves the heat, humidity and afternoon storms. We have seen it all this past week with heat index values climbing into the triple digits the past few days and severe storms producing localized downbursts, which caused damage on Wednesday. While the heat and humidity are easier to understand, those “pulse-severe,” localized storms are a bit more complex. In…

By The Associated Press BENSALEM, Pa. — At least five people were injured when severe weather struck an auto dealership, homes and other businesses in eastern Pennsylvania, authorities said. The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes touched down Thursday in Bucks County, sending trees falling and debris flying. The thunderous downpour flooded streets and roadways. “I have been doing this for 34 years, I haven’t seen that sort of devastation from a storm,” said Bensalem…

By The Associated Press MILWAUKEE — At least three tornadoes touched down in Wisconsin amid powerful thunderstorms that caused widespread damage that contributed to the death of a man who crashed into a fallen tree and power line, officials said Thursday. The severe weather stretched from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan and began Wednesday evening in northwestern Wisconsin. By 2 a.m. Thursday, the numerous tornado warnings around the state had expired. Hours later, one…

Tornado watches and tornado warnings have different purposes, and you should react to each differently, AccuWeather explains. A tornado watch is typically issued hours in advance by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC). It means that conditions are ideal for a tornado to form. A watch will not necessarily result in severe weather, AccuWeather explains. “A watch is issued when conditions are favorable, for example, either for a severe thunderstorm or tornadoes,” AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Dan…

By DAKE KANG, Associated Press XINXIANG, China — The night the rains came, all Yu Ruiping could do was huddle in her market stall. The electricity went out. Her phone went dead. And the water just kept rising. When the skies cleared, the market was surrounded by chest-high water — trapping Yu and her husband for two days with nothing to eat but a few packages of instant noodles. “It was the most water I’d…

By WRAL Weather Team Raleigh, N.C. — Much of central North Carolina is under a Level 1 or Level 2 risk for severe weather Wednesday as we enter a brutal three-day stretch of heat with some of the hottest temperatures of this summer so far. Storms on Wednesday will be isolated in nature, but any storms that do form could become severe with damaging wind gusts, according to WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth. Storms could pop…

By Joe Fisher, WRAL reporter Princeton, N.C. — As much as five inches of rain fell overnight, causing flash flooding in parts of Johnston and Harnett Counties. It flooded several homes and businesses in the town of Princeton in a matter of hours. Businesses on South Pine Street say these storm drains can not keep up with rain even in smaller storms — let alone the heavy rain they saw Monday night. But the town’s mayor is hoping these…

By The Associated Press INDIAN FALLS, Calif. — Cooler weather on Tuesday helped calm two gigantic wildfires in the U.S. West, but a tally of property losses mounted as authorities got better access to a tiny California community savaged by flames last weekend and to a remote area of southern Oregon where the nation’s largest blaze is burning. Scientists say evidence shows Oregon’s Bootleg Fire generated its own “fire tornado” this month, with winds higher…

By WRAL Weather Team Raleigh, N.C. — More rain could hit our state Tuesday afternoon and evening. Showers will likely hit the Triangle around 4 p.m. Thunderstorms dumped between 3 and 5 inches of rain in areas south and east of the Triangle overnight. The heaviest rain fell in Wayne and Sampson counties around 4:30 a.m. Parts of Johnston County and Harnett County saw flooded roads overnight and Flash Flood Warnings were issued. By 7…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center It’s been a beautiful weekend across the Triangle, but all that will change on Monday when our rain chances return. We’ll see scattered showers and thunderstorms pop up on Monday afternoon, starting in the north of our state and moving toward the south. The storms are coming as a cold front to the north moves down into our state. Some areas are under a Level 1 severe risk on Monday….

By The Associated Press LONDON — Londoners were cleaning up Monday after torrential rain left homes, roads and several subway stations flooded, the second unseasonal inundation in as many weeks. The Met Office weather agency said 41.6 centimeters (16 inches) of rain fell in central London on Sunday afternoon. Monday was drier, but the Environment Agency said four flood warnings remained in place for southeast England. Two London hospitals asked patients not to come to…

By The Associated Press NEW DELHI — Days of landslides and flooding triggered by heavy monsoon rains in western India’s Maharashtra state killed at least 113 people and injured 50, officials said Sunday, as rescuers scrambled to find at least 100 missing. A government spokesperson, Sandhya Garware, said over 130,000 people were rescued from nearly 900 affected villages across the state. Many were stranded on rooftops or atop buses on highways. India’s navy also said…

By NATHAN HOWARD, Associated Press BLY, Ore. — The nation’s largest wildfire raged through southern Oregon on Friday, but crews were scaling back some night operations as hard work and weaker winds helped reduce the spread of flames even as wildfires continued to threaten homes in neighboring California. The Bootleg Fire, which has destroyed an area half the size of Rhode Island, was 40% surrounded after burning some 70 homes, mainly cabins, fire officials said….

By WRAL Weather We’ve spent the last couple of days draped in smoke from wildfires from the western part of the United States and even Canada. The haze traveled all the way across the country into North Carolina. The smoke prompted a Code Orange alert for air quality over nearly all of the state on Thursday, which expired at midnight. Air quality will improve slowly each day through the weekend with a moderate (Code Yellow)…

By WRAL Weather We’ve spent the last couple of days draped in smoke from wildfires from the western part of the United States and even Canada that traveled all the way across the country into made North Carolina. The smoke prompted a Code Orange alert for air quality over nearly all of North Carolina on Thursday, but that alert is now set to expire at midnight. Air quality will improve slowly each day through the…

By Tony Rice, NASA Ambassador Smoke from wildfires across Western Canada, Southern Oregon, Northern California are riding upper level winds across the continent. These hazy conditions bring air quality concerns, but also provide the right conditions for sunsets ranging from brilliant to eerie.Sunlight is white, but it doesn’t stay that way When viewed from above the atmosphere, such as aboard the International Space Station, the Sun appears white. This is because sunlight is made up of all…

By Matt Talhelm, WRAL reporter, and Aimee Wilmoth, WRAL weather executive producer Raleigh, N.C. — Do you notice a haze to the sky or perhaps smell a little bit of smoke in the air outside? Believe it or not, smoke from wildfires over the western part of the United States and even Canada is traveling all the way across the country and has made it to North Carolina. The smoke prompted a Code Orange alert…

By Aimee Wilmoth, WRAL weather executive producer Raleigh, N.C. — Do you notice a haze to the sky or perhaps smell a little bit of smoke in the air outside? Believe it or not, smoke from wildfires over the western part of the United States and even Canada is traveling all the way across the country and has made it to North Carolina. The smoke is causing officials to issue a Code Orange alert for…

By AHMED AL-HAJ, Associated Press SANAA, Yemen — Flooding in Yemen killed at least 14 people this week after nonseasonal rainstorms hit parts of the country, security officials said. The provinces of al-Mahrah, Hadramawt, Shabwa, Abeen and Jouf in the south and east of Yemen have seen instances of flooding. In Shabwa, local officials said a father and daughter are believed to have drowned after swiftly moving waters carried their car away. Searchers had only…

RALEIGH, N.C. — A Code Orange air quality alert is in effect for North Carolina all day Thursday because of smoke from western wildfires. The alert means it can be dangerous for certain people to be outside for extended periods of time. The group at risk includes people with heart or lung disease, as well as children and older adults. According to the EPA, the biggest health threat is the fine particles from smoke that…

By Aimee Wilmoth, WRAL weather executive producer & Julian Grace, WRAL anchor/reporter Did you notice a haze to the sky or perhaps smell a little bit of smoke in the air outside? Believe it or not, smoke from wildfires over the western part of the United States is traveling all the way across the country and has made it to North Carolina. The smoke is causing officials to issue a Code Orange alert for nearly…

PORTLAND, Ore. — Wildfires in the American West, including one burning in Oregon that’s currently the largest in the U.S., are creating hazy skies along the East Coast as the massive infernos spew smoke and ash into the air in columns up to six miles high. Smoke from the wildfires has even made its way into North Carolina, with heavier plumes in the mountains. The risk for visible haze in the morning in central North…

ZHENGZHOU, China — Terrified subway passengers in central China were left clinging to ceiling handles inside flooded cars on Tuesday, trapped up to their necks in rising water, as record-breaking rains devastated parts of Henan province. At least 12 people have been confirmed dead in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, where more than 20 centimeters (7.8in) of rain fell in one hour on Tuesday, according to the meteorological observatory. More than 100,000 people have so far…

SAN BERNARDINO, California — A couple whose gender reveal ceremony sparked a Southern California wildfire that killed a firefighter last year were charged with involuntary manslaughter, authorities announced Tuesday. Refugio Manuel Jimenez Jr. and Angela Renee Jimenez pleaded not guilty Monday to charges involving the El Dorado Fire, San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson announced at a news conference. The charges included one felony count of involuntary manslaughter, along with other felony and misdemeanor…

By Aimee Wilmoth, WRAL weather executive producer Did you notice a haze to the sky or perhaps smell a little bit of smoke in the air outside? Believe it or not, smoke from wildfires over the western part of the United States is traveling all the way across the country and has made it to North Carolina. There are currently 80 large wildfires spanning 13 states out west. The largest fire is the Bootleg Fire…

By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. — Wildfires in the American West, including one burning in Oregon that’s currently the largest in the U.S., are creating hazy skies as far away as New York as the massive infernos spew smoke and ash into the air in columns up to six miles high. Skies over New York City were hazy Tuesday as strong winds blew smoke east from California, Oregon, Montana and other states. Oregon’s…

By WRAL Weather Team Expect to wake up to some lingering rain on Wednesday — but don’t worry — we will progressively dry out during the morning commute. “Areas that wake up with clouds will see them clear throughout the day,” said WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell. Wednesday afternoon will be mostly sunny with highs in the upper 80s. By Thursday, each day will feature more sun, hot temperatures and tiny rain chances, according to Campbell….

By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. — The threat of thunderstorms and lightning has prompted officials in fire-ravaged Oregon to ask for help from outside the Pacific Northwest to prepare for additional blazes as many resources are already devoted to a massive fire in the state that has grown to a third the size of Rhode Island. The 537-square-mile (1,391-square-kilometer) Bootleg Fire is burning 300 miles (483 kilometers) southeast of Portland in and around…

By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. — The monstrous wildfire burning in Oregon has grown to a third the size of Rhode Island and spreads miles each day, but evacuations and property losses have been minimal compared with much smaller blazes in densely populated areas of California. The fire’s jaw-dropping size contrasted with its relatively small impact on people underscores the vastness of the American West and offers a reminder that Oregon, which is…

By WRAL Weather Team A flood advisory in effect west of the Triangle has been expanded to include Wake and Franklin counties. Wake, Durham, Chatham, Orange, Alamance, Franklin, Granville and Vance counties are under a flood advisory until 3:30 p.m. Monday as rain soaks the Triangle. Download the WRAL Weather App for alerts and more WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said the rain is expected to become heavier around lunchtime, tapering off around 5 p.m. in…