Author: WeatherPreppers

Rain rates were up to 5 inches per hour at times. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Dozens of tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Milton caught many Floridians by surprise as they braced for heavy rain, strong winds and especially storm surges. Violent twisters were seen crossing highways, ripping off roofs and downing trees and power lines. There have been 38 preliminary eyewitness reports of tornadoes since Wednesday night, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm…

Rain rates were up to 5 inches per hour at times. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Dozens of tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Milton caught many Floridians by surprise as they braced for heavy rain, strong winds and especially storm surges. Violent twisters were seen crossing highways, ripping off roofs and downing trees and power lines. There have been 38 preliminary eyewitness reports of tornadoes since Wednesday night, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm…

Swift announced her generous donation to Feeding America. TAMPA, Fla. — Taylor Swift is helping hurricane-stricken communities by donating $5 million to Feeding America. The organization’s CEO, Clarie Babineaux-Fontenton, announced the music superstar’s generous donation to help victims of Hurricane Milton and Helene Wednesday on social media, saying they thank her for “standing with us in the movement to end hunger and helping communities in need…” “We’re incredibly grateful to Taylor Swift for her generous…

A Rutherford County family booked a hotel in their time of need, but ended up paying more than they expected. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Sisters Karen Metcalf and Sherri Splawn, along with their families, were left without power, water, or cell service after Hurricane Helene hit their Bostic Sunshine neighborhood in western North Carolina. With Metcalf’s mobility issues and Splawn’s daughter in a wheelchair, they were desperate to find a safe place to stay, so they…

Applications for jobless benefits are widely considered representative of U.S. layoffs in a given week, but they can be volatile and susceptible to historic events. WASHINGTON — The number of Americans filing for for unemployment benefits last week jumped to its highest level in a year, which analysts are saying is more likely a result of Hurricane Helene — and the Boeing machinist strike — than a broader softening in the labor market. The Labor…

Applications for jobless benefits are widely considered representative of U.S. layoffs in a given week, but they can be volatile and susceptible to historic events. WASHINGTON — The number of Americans filing for for unemployment benefits last week jumped to their highest level in a year, which analysts are saying is more likely a result of Hurricane Helene than a broader softening in the labor market. The Labor Department reported Thursday that applications for jobless…

As dawn broke Thursday, officials repeated that the danger had not passed. TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Milton barreled into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida, where it knocked out power to more than 3 million customers and whipped up 150 tornadoes. The storm caused at least four deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct hit. The system tracked to the south in the final hours and…

Though the deadly storm surge feared for Tampa appears not to have materialized, the situation in the area was still a major emergency. TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Milton barreled into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida, pounding cities with ferocious winds and rain, and whipping up a barrage of tornadoes. It caused at least four deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct hit. The storm tracked…

Albert Whitted Airport, which is just two miles from Tropicana Field, recorded wind gusts of 101 miles per hour. ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — Hurricane Milton brought devastating rains and damaging winds through the Tampa Bay area, including the iconic Tropicana Field. Video shows the roof completely ripped off the top of the Trop, exposing the stadium lights and inner workings of the baseball field. MILTON DAMAGES THE TROP: Video shows the roof of the…