Author: WeatherPreppers

By ROD McGUIRK, Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s most populous state declared a state of emergency on Monday due to unprecedented wildfire danger as calls grew for Australia to take more action to counter climate change. New South Wales state Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said residents were facing what “could be the most dangerous bushfire week this nation has ever seen.” Fires in the state’s northeast have claimed three lives, destroyed more than…

By ADAM BEAM, Associated Press CHICO, Calif. — Amber Blood got to Chico on Nov. 8, 2018, wearing pink slacks and her favorite white peacoat. It was all she had left. Blood was among tens of thousands forced to flee as a wildfire roared through Paradise and nearby communities in Northern California, killing 85 people and destroying roughly 19,000 buildings. Nothing burned in Chico, the closest big city. And within hours, another city had moved…

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER, Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Authorities lifted all evacuation orders as firefighters made progress Sunday on a large blaze that sent thousands fleeing homes and farms northwest of Los Angeles. Crews working in steep terrain were tamping down hotspots and keeping an eye on lingering gusts in mountain areas that could carry embers, said Ventura County Fire Capt. Steve Kaufmann. “I’d say we’re cautiously optimistic,” Kaufmann said, citing calmer winds overall and…

Crews fought a pitched battle against the last remaining large wildfire in Southern California as the stubborn flames threatened nearly 2,000 homes and other buildings.

Sebastian Aho had two goals and an assist to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 7-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night. Andrei Svechnikov, Nino Neiderreiter, Martin … Click to Continue »

By JOHN ANTCZAK, Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Firefighters struggled Friday to contain a big Southern California wildfire amid shifting winds, forcing authorities to expand evacuations as forecasters extended fire weather warnings into the weekend. The blaze dubbed the Maria Fire erupted late Thursday northwest of Los Angeles during what had been expected to be the tail end of a siege of Santa Ana winds that fanned destructively across the region, but a tug-of-war developed…

By SAM MEDNICK and TOM ODULA, Associated Press NAIROBI, Kenya — More than 1 million people in East Africa are affected by flooding after higher than normal rainfall, an aid group said Friday. Parts of the region are bracing for a tropical storm, Kyarr, that could worsen an already dire humanitarian situation. The International Rescue Committee said many people had been reeling from an earlier period of severe drought. Now the rains in parts of…

Lynn Darst and her husband were camped out in their motor home on the edge of their seats for four days wondering if their house would survive yet another wildfire … Click to Continue »

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — It was a wet, windy and potentially dangerous Halloween as severe weather moved through the state. Eastern parts of Wake County are under tornado warning until 9:45 p.m. Franklin County is also under this tornado warning. Mecklenburg County, Virginia remains under a tornado warning until 9:30 p.m… Other counties remain under severe thunderstorm warnings or watches. The weather took a toll on festivities across the area, including on Franklin Street in…

A large swath of central North Carolina is under a tornado watch as a line of storms approach the region, which is under a Level 3 risk for severe weather. At a glance: A line of fast-moving storms are moving through the region. The entire region is under a tornado watch until 11 p.m. For full list: Click here There are reports of trees down in Orange County and about 1,000 customers are without power….

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Ghouls, goblins, witches, and zombies better keep an umbrella in their candy sack and an eye to the sky this evening. Tornado warnings put parts of the Triangle and surrounding areas on alert as severe weather moved through the area. Mecklenburg County, Virginia remains under a tornado warning until 9:30 p.m… A tornado watch has been issued for much of North Carolina, including Wake County, Edgecombe County, Franklin County. Nash County,…

Parts of eastern Wake and southern Franklin counties were under a tornado warning from roughly 9:05 to 9:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Areas of concern included Knightdale … Click to Continue »

By Alfred Charles, WRAL.com managing editor Raleigh, N.C. — A large swath of central North Carolina is under a tornado watch as a line of storms approach the region, which is under a Level 3 risk for severe weather. A tornado warning has been issued for several central North Carolina counties, including central Caswell County, southeastern Rockingham, and southwestern Caswell and northern Guilford County. Anyone in that area was asked to take cover because of…

By Alfred Charles, WRAL.com managing editor Raleigh, N.C. — A large swath of central North Carolina is under a tornado watch as a line of storms approach the region, which is under a Level 3 risk for severe weather. A tornado warning has been issued for several central North Carolina counties, including southeastern Rockingham, and southwestern Caswell and northern Guilford County. Anyone in that area was asked to take cover because of the threat of flying…

Trick-or-treaters are in for a rough night. A heightened risk of tornadoes and strong winds is at play as storms develop along the cold front, forecasters warned. The Charlotte region … Click to Continue »

A large swath of central North Carolina is under a tornado watch as a line of storms approach the region, which is under a Level 3 risk for severe weather.

By Elizabeth Gardner, WRAL meteorologist Raleigh, N.C. — The region is under a level 3 risk for severe weather on Halloween night with dangerous conditions expected to move into the Triangle by 8 or 9 p.m. “The timeline for severe weather is going to be critical for folks headed out to trick-or-treat,” said WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner. Spotty showers across the region Thursday afternoon could give way to gusty winds and isolated tornadoes in the…

By BRIAN MELLEY and MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ, Associated Press SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — Strong winds fanned new fires in Southern California on Thursday, burning homes and forcing residents to flee in a repeat of a frightening scenario already faced by tens of thousands across the state. The latest blazes erupted in the heavily populated inland region east of Los Angeles as strong, seasonal Santa Ana winds continued to blow with gusts of up to 60…

Durham, N.C. — A giant moon hanging above the CCB Plaza in Durham is already wowing crowds. But visitors won’t be able to see it on Halloween, organizers say. Strong winds anticipated Thursday forced organizers to take down the Bull Moon Rising exhibit. The hanging moon, which has a diameter of nearly 23 feet, was created by Luke Jerram, an artist from the United Kingdom. The Triangle is under a level 3 risk for severe…

Beware — severe weather is forecast for the Midlands on Halloween. Thunderstorms, damaging winds and tornadoes are all possible Thursday, according to the National Weather Service office in Columbia. Hail … Click to Continue »

Ghouls, goblins, witches and zombies better keep an umbrella in their candy sack this evening.

Sam Jankovich, the Miami Hurricanes’ athletic director when they won their first three national championships in football, has died. He was 85. Jankovich died Wednesday in Hayden Lake, Idaho. A … Click to Continue »