Environment

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Tropical Storm Ernesto is steadily growing stronger as it slams the northern Caribbean with heavy rain, gusty winds and rough seas Tuesday, lashing the Virgin Islands and heading toward Puerto Rico. Hurricane watches were in effect for the US and British Virgin Islands, Vieques and Culebra, as forecasters

By Nell Lewis, CNN (CNN) — At the end of July, Colorado became the latest US state to battle the spread of wildfires. Four blazes broke out, and while most are now contained, sustained hot, dry conditions this summer could spark more. Around the same time, on August 1, a giant balloon was launched from

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Tropical Storm Ernesto has formed in the Atlantic and is racing through the Caribbean islands and toward Puerto Rico with heavy rainfall, gusty winds and dangerous seas as a predicted hyperactive hurricane season ramps up. The center of the storm is moving through the eastern Caribbean’s Leeward Islands

By Elizabeth Wolfe, Robert Shackelford, Mary Gilbert and Alaa Elassar, CNN (CNN) — Fast-rising floodwaters from Debby’s extreme rainfall has overwhelmed communities and fueled a dangerous situation in the Northeast, damaging homes, inundating roads and forcing rescues. Rare flash flood emergencies – the most severe flood alert – were issued early Friday afternoon for portions

CNN By Elizabeth Wolfe and Robert Shackelford, CNN (CNN) — Debby weakened to a post-tropical cyclone Friday morning but it is still threatening to whip up flooding rains, damaging winds and tornadoes as it quickly moves north through the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. The storm had winds of 30 mph with stronger gusts early Friday and

CNN By Elizabeth Wolfe, Robert Shackelford and Mary Gilbert, CNN (CNN) — After causing at least six deaths in the Southeast, Debby weakened to a tropical depression Thursday but remained a dangerous storm as it picked up speed, spreading its torrential rain and tornado threat north. The center of the system was 45 miles east

CNN By Elizabeth Wolfe and Robert Shackelford, CNN (CNN) — After causing at least six deaths in the Southeast, Debby has weakened to a tropical depression and is still dumping rain and threatening tornadoes Thursday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center. Tropical Depression Debby is now centered 45 miles east of Charlotte, North Carolina,

By Elizabeth Wolfe, Robert Shackelford and Mary Gilbert, CNN (CNN) — After causing at least six deaths in the Southeast, Debby weakened to a tropical depression Thursday but remained a dangerous storm as it picked up speed, spreading its torrential rain and tornado threat north. The center of the system was 45 miles east of

By Jennifer Gray, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Once a tropical storm strengthens into a hurricane, it earns a category designation on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale: 1 through 5. Knowing about each category can help predict what damage an incoming storm may inflict – and how best to prepare. The categories are defined by wind

By Jennifer Gray, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — When a hurricane undergoes rapid intensification, its maximum sustained winds increase by at least 35 mph in 24 hours or less – driving up the danger the storm could pose to life and property. “Rapid intensification is associated with a sharp increase in intensity in a short amount

CNN, WSB, WCJB, MICHAEL PRESLEY BOBBITT, GOV DESANTIS OFFICE, MAYOR VAN JOHNSON, BEACH TALK RADIO By Jennifer Gray, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — When a hurricane undergoes rapid intensification, its maximum sustained winds increase by at least 35 mph in 24 hours or less – driving up the danger the storm could pose to life and

CNN By Elisa Raffa, Ashley R. Williams, Dakin Andone and Brandon Miller, CNN (CNN) — Hurricane Debby, the fourth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and the second named hurricane, has become a Category 1 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm, located about 100 miles west-northwest of Tampa, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 75

By Elisa Raffa, Ashley R. Williams, Dakin Andone and Brandon Miller, CNN (CNN) — Hurricane Debby, the fourth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and the second named hurricane, has become a Category 1 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm, located about 100 miles west-northwest of Tampa, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, is

CNN By Nouran Salahieh, Eric Zerkel, Mary Gilbert and Elisa Raffa, CNN (CNN) — Tropical Storm Debby has sustained winds of 45 mph and is located about 250 miles south of Tampa, Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 11 p.m. ET Saturday update on the storm. The storm is moving northwest at about 14

By Nouran Salahieh, Eric Zerkel, Mary Gilbert and Elisa Raffa, CNN (CNN) — Tropical Storm Debby has sustained winds of 45 mph and is located about 250 miles south of Tampa, Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 11 p.m. ET Saturday update on the storm. The storm is moving northwest at about 14 mph

CNN By Mary Gilbert and Taylor Ward, CNN Meteorologists (CNN) — A tropical storm warning has been issued and a state of emergency declared in parts of Florida in anticipation of Tropical Storm Debby – a storm that hasn’t yet formed but could unleash multiple days of heavy, flooding rainfall to the state and the

By Mary Gilbert and Taylor Ward, CNN Meteorologists (CNN) — A tropical storm warning has been issued and a state of emergency declared in parts of Florida in anticipation of Tropical Storm Debby – a storm that hasn’t yet formed but could unleash multiple days of heavy, flooding rainfall to the state and the southeast

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — The eerie calm over the Atlantic basin that settled in after historic Hurricane Beryl is about to be shattered. It’s been more than three weeks since deadly Beryl made its final landfall in Texas. Dry, dusty air has helped keep the Atlantic hurricane-free ever since. But a disorganized

By Alisha Ebrahimji and Kara Mihm, CNN (CNN) — Emergency responders sprang into action early Tuesday to rescue residents in flooded areas of northeast Vermont after a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event created a surge of dangerous floodwaters for the second time in a matter of weeks. Ten swift-water rescue teams completed about two dozen rescues in

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — A routine part of the job for Southwest Airlines flight attendants is turning into a dangerous mess as a searing summer heat and the airline’s beverage management practices have made soda cans volatile mid-flight. There were more than 100 reports of soda cans exploding on flights in June, Southwest flight attendant union president Bill

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — The Atlantic Ocean has been on a nearly three-week long rest after producing historic Hurricane Beryl, but the basin is about to wake up. “There’s definitely some (tropical activity) coming,” Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane expert and research scientist at Colorado State University, said. “It’s coming sooner rather than

By Alex Leeds Matthews, CNN Over the last couple decades, wildfires have increased in number and size, particularly in western states. This is likely due to climate change, which can affect precipitation, wind, temperature, vegetation and other factors that drive wildfires. These longer, more active fire seasons combined with increased housing have put more homes

By Rachel Ramirez, CNN (CNN) — Hundreds of people may have died from heat in Arizona’s Maricopa County amid another record-breaking summer in the state. Heat has killed 27 people in the county, which is home to Phoenix, and is suspected as the cause of 396 other deaths so far this year, according to figures

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Dangerous wildfires forced a town and a major national park in Canada’s Alberta province to evacuate overnight Monday. Evacuation orders were issued around 10 p.m. for “everyone” in Jasper and Jasper National Park, according to the province’s emergency alert system. On Tuesday evening, the park said on Facebook

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Dangerous flash flooding in Arkansas and Missouri forced evacuations and washed out at least one bridge after months of rain fell in just a few hours Wednesday morning. A rare flash flood emergency was issued for around 5,000 people in Yellville and surrounding areas of Marion County after

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Heat is normal during the summer, but this year’s has been anything but, and halfway through the season’s hottest month it’s clear this one is for the record books. Hundreds of cities in nearly every US state – including parts of Alaska and Hawaii – are on track