Raleigh North Carolina News

By CHRISTINA LARSON, AP Science Writer WASHINGTON — This year’s vast wildfires in far northeastern Russia were linked to broader changes in a warming Arctic, according to a report Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Wildfires are a natural part of many boreal ecosystems, but the extent of flames during the past fire season was directly influenced by climate change, said Alison York, a University of Alaska Fairbanks fire scientist and a contributor…

HILLSIDE, Australia — A rare and wild sight greeted residents of one Australian neighborhood when a strong wind storm blew a freakish amount of tumbleweeds into their development over the weekend. Residents said the grass, known locally as “hairy panic,” seemed to blow out of nowhere into Hillside, a suburb of Melbourne. It piled up across streets, yards and even a pool, reaching hip-height in front of one woman’s home. “Our garden is normally immaculately…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Much of the viewing area from the Triangle eastward is under a Level 1 risk for severe weather Friday night. Friday will be a mild, cloudy day before a chance for rain and thunderstorms. According to WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner, we may see some light sprinkles Friday morning and throughout the day, but rain and storms won’t arrive until after sunset. According to Gardner, rain is likely after dinner and…

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER, Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Powerful gusts pushed flames from a wildfire through Southern California canyons on Thursday, one of several blazes that burned near homes and forced residents to flee amid elevated fire risk for most of the region that prompted utilities to cut off power to hundreds of thousands. The biggest blaze began late Wednesday as a house fire in Orange County’s Silverado Canyon, where gusts topped 70 mph (113…

BAYONNE, New Jersey — The devastation caused by Hurricane Eta across Central America inspired two Jersey City cousins to take action and help the victims in Honduras. Using social media, Gabriela Casco and Norman Bonano, organized and called on their followers to assist with food, water, and essentials, without imagining the donations would exceed their expectations. “The majority of the communities that were devastated were ones that were already under the poverty line and in…

An overheating world obliterated weather records in 2020, creating an extreme year for hurricanes, wildfires, heat waves, floods, droughts and ice melt, the United Nations’ weather agency reported Wednesday. While the globe partly shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, extremes linked to human-caused climate change intensified, the World Meteorological Organization said in its State of the Global Climate report. The report kicked off a day when the United Nations pushed for new climate action…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A record-setting Atlantic hurricane season that saw the highest number of named storms officially came to a close Monday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season set multiple records while producing a record 30 named storms. There were so many that the list of 21 conventional names was exhausted and the Greek alphabet was used for only the second time. The season also saw the second-highest number…

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The record-breaking 2020 hurricane season is officially over. The last day of the season is Nov. 30, but it is still possible (although less likely) to get hurricanes out of season. The 2020 hurricane season was like no other. There were 30 named storms–more than any other season in recorded history. The previous record was 28 set in 2005 Of the 30 named storms, 13 of them became hurricanes. That was…

Monday marked the end of the Atlantic hurricane season, but are we really done? In the past 20 years, we’ve seen eight named storms in December. About 3% of storms happen outside the named hurricane season. Hurricane season starts on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30. WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell said with how active the 2020 hurricane season was, it would not be surprising to have a late season storm form. “The severity of…

Monday marked the end of the Atlantic hurricane season, but are we really done? In the past 20 years, we’ve seen eight named storms in December. About 3% of storms happen outside the named hurricane season. Hurricane season starts on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30. WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell said with how active the 2020 hurricane season was, it would not be surprising to have a late season storm form. “The severity of…

The threat for severe weather dropped from a Level 2 to a Level 1 risk overnight, lessening our chance for tornadoes and damaging storms Monday morning.

By WRAL Severe Weather Center A storm system will move into the Carolinas from the Gulf Coast, bringing rain and a minimal chance for some severe weather early Monday and into Monday morning, WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said. Maze added that the threat for severe weather will start to materialize after 4 a.m. on Monday. “The primary threat comes from a damaging wind gust with a small possibility for a tornado,” he said. “The air…

We’ll see showers and storms beginning Sunday night into Monday morning. There will be pockets of rain, a thunderstorm and a chance for strong winds and possibly an isolated tornado.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Tonight-Monday:Tonight showers will increase from southwest to northeast as a warm front lifts to the north, bringing some periods of heavy rain and gusty winds. Some of those strong storms could even turn severe, providing the potential for a damaging wind gust or even an isolated tornado. Showers & storms tonight into tomorrow AM. For most of us, this will be a rain event with gusty winds. However, there is the…

By WRAL Severe Weather Center Central North Carolina is in for one more warm day before the weather changes – first to rain and the chance for storms, then to wintry cold to start the work week. Sunday will dawn under cloudy skies, and those clouds will build in as the day goes on, WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said. “We should not see rain move into the area until very early in the evening. Rain…