Weather

U.N. Report Gives Post-Tsunami Assessments of Sri Lanka, Maldives

Indian Ocean tsunami taught the world "shocking lessons," U.N. official says

21 June 2005

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) issued a new report June 17 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, that focused on post-tsunami assessments in the Maldives and Sri Lanka, according to a UNEP press release. "The tsunami in the Indian Ocean taught the world some hard, shocking but important lessons which we ignore at our peril,” said UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer.    » read more »

Researchers, Forecasters Work to Improve Severe Storm Prediction

New models will give public more time to prepare for storms, agency says

21 June 2005

Thunderstorms with lightning, hail, strong winds and tornadoes can be devastating, and researchers and forecasters in Oklahoma are working to improve the tools forecasters use to predict such storms, according to a June 20 press release from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Ultimately, this work will give the public more time to prepare for severe thunderstorm events and more specific information about what type of severe weather to expect.    » read more »

U.S. Agency Deploys Seven New Hurricane Buoys

Data buoys will enhance global weather monitoring, forecasting, agency says

20 June 2005

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Data Buoy Center in Mississippi has launched six new weather data buoy stations designed to enhance hurricane monitoring and forecasting around the world.    » read more »

Lightning Losses Real, Yet Preventable

* In Support of National Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 19-25, 2005

ST. JOSEPH, Mo., June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Hurricanes and tornadoes receive the news coverage, but lightning is actually one of the nation's deadliest and most destructive weather phenomena. According to the National Weather Service, over 40 million lightning strikes occur each year, resulting in approximately 100 deaths and billions of dollars in total property losses. A 2003 Insurance Research Council survey, listing the most frequent perils leading to homeowner insurance claims, cited lightning or hail at the top of the list (25% of all claims), followed by water from indoor appliance or plumbing failures at 17%, and theft at 14%.    » read more »

Tropical Storm Arlene Advisory

Number 12
4 AM CDT Sat June 11, 2005

NWS TPC/National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL -- Arlene becomes somewhat less organized continuing Northwestward toward the Northern Gulf Coast.    » read more »

Post-Tsunami Workshop to Address All-Hazards Systems

WASHINGTON, June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The development of modern warning systems and response capabilities to deal with potential future crises in Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean areas will be the focus of an international workshop in Hawaii on June 6-10. Sponsored by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in partnership with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and in cooperation with other U.S. government agencies, the workshop is intended to raise the capacity of economies to deal with a range of potential future natural disasters and other hazards.    » read more »

NOAA/EPA Extends Reach of Air Quality Forecasts

WASHINGTON, June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Air quality forecasts produced by NOAA's National Weather Service and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been enhanced and expanded to better serve more regions of the United States. Forecast information for ground-level ozone that has been available for the northeastern United States will now include areas from just east of the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Hour-by-hour forecasts, through midnight the following day, are available online, providing information for the onset, severity, and duration of poor air quality to more than 180 million people.    » read more »

NOAA Highlights the Dangers of Deadly Rip Currents

Olympic Swimmer Ian Crocker Joins National Effort to Educate Public

WASHINGTON, June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- With millions of people converging on beaches this time of year, NOAA's National Weather Service is educating the public on a deadly water hazard during its inaugural Rip Current Awareness Week, June 5-11, 2005. Rip currents are channels of fast-moving water that can pull even seasoned swimmers away from shore. Panic and exhaustion can cause victims to drown. Rip currents kill an estimated 100 people each year.    » read more »

American Red Cross Urges You to Take Livesaving Steps Now to Prepare for This Year's Hurricane Season

WASHINGTON, Wednesday, June 01, 2005 — Hurricane season 2004 was unprecedented, with four major hurricanes wreaking havoc within a six-week period. A new hurricane season begins June 1, and hurricane forecasters are predicting another above-normal hurricane season, with the possibility of at least 12 to 15 tropical storms, and seven to nine of them becoming hurricanes. In anticipation of this year’s hurricane season, the American Red Cross encourages each of us to begin preparing now.    » read more »

NASA Launches New Hurricane Web Page

Public resource compiles data from satellites, computer models

01 June 2005

NASA launched an Internet resource page May 31 that highlights the agency’s diverse hurricane research. According to a NASA press release, the site -- available at http://www.nasa.gov/hurricane -- opens in time for the 2005 Atlantic Ocean hurricane season, which officially runs from June 1 through November 30. The Web page, a compilation of data from satellites and computer models, explains why and how the National Aeronautics and Space Administration investigates hurricanes and compares NASA’s research focus with that of other U.S. agencies.    » read more »

American Red Cross Urges You to Take Lifesaving Steps Now to Prepare For Hurricane Season This Year

WASHINGTON, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Hurricane season 2004 was unprecedented, with four major hurricanes wreaking havoc within a six-week period. A new hurricane season begins June 1, and hurricane forecasters are predicting another above-normal hurricane season, with the possibility of at least 12 to 15 tropical storms, and seven to nine of them becoming hurricanes. In anticipation of this year's hurricane season, the American Red Cross encourages each of us to begin preparing now.    » read more »