Severe Weather

7,000–11,000—The number of excess deaths caused by the average tropical cyclone in the United States, according to new research published in Nature.

“There is way more going on in thunderstorms than we ever imagined.”
—Steve Cummer of Duke University, on recent research that revealed a new kind of gamma-ray emission in many thunderclouds that Cummer and colleagues call “flickering gamma-ray flashes,” or FGFs.

After Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina, Rod Scott and five others were stranded at a remote B&B in the Pisgah National Forest, cut off by landslides and power outages. After five days, they hiked 2.5 miles through deep mud and fallen trees to reach safety.

2024 was a busy year for weather, from historic flooding in the southern Appalachians to a crippling ice storm in the Pacific Northwest, plus the eclipse and aurora borealis. Join Meteorologist Steve Glazier as we look back at the year’s most memorable and impactful weather events!

“We’re not talking about intensification out in the middle of the ocean. We’re talking about it happening right at the coastline, where it matters most.”
—Karthik Balaguru of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), on new research he led that shows a recent significant increase in the intensification of hurricanes near coastal areas.

Tropical Storm Helene hit Florida on Thursday. Watch for a recorded live webinar with Josh Wurman and Karen Kosiba from their Doppler on Wheels, moderated by Jen Walton of Girls Who Chase, as they track the storm in real time.

Curious about meteorology or storm chasing but not sure where to start? Watch our webinar for a conversation with weather experts like Ginger Zee, Elizabeth Leitman, Melanie Metz, and Karen Kosiba!

“What value to decision- making is a map that is red everywhere all of the time?”
—Justin Mankin of Dartmouth College, on a recent finding that the U.S. Drought Monitor may not be keeping up with actual drought conditions across the country.

On May 21, 2024, DOW radars near Greenfield, IA, recorded EF4 tornado windspeeds of 309-318 mph, among the fastest ever! Hear from scientists who've gotten up close with tornadoes in 2024, and learn how the NSF-funded BEST project will enhance tornado prediction and safety.

2024 temperatures are expected to be well above average and possibly even hotter. In the summer months, it is important to monitor how your body feels in the heat to prevent heat-related illnesses. This webinar explains what actions you can take to combat extreme heat impacts to your health this summer.

On 21 May, 2024, a powerful tornado struck Greenfield, Iowa, where an NSF BEST project team, including Karen Kosiba, PhD, and Jen Walton of Girls Who Chase, captured record-setting data. We spoke with them about their experiences and findings.

If you have awakened in the middle of the night to the sound of thunder and heavy rain, chances are, you have experienced a Mesoscale Convective System (MCS), or perhaps it’s larger sibling, the Mesoscale Convective Complex (MCC.) Using modern remote sensing tools and some good old fashioned ground truth observations, we can easily form an accurate picture of these weather systems and their impacts.

It is important to monitor how your body feels in the heat. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), extreme heat caused more emergency department visits associated with heat-related illnesses in May – September 2023 than previous years, especially among males ages 18-64. So, what actions can you take to prepare for extreme heat this summer?

Green sky supercell in Huntersville. 

Weather You Know: Severe Weather Trivia Night (May 2, 2024)

On May 3, 1999, the first-ever tornado to receive the "tornado emergency" distinction tore across central Oklahoma. That tornado was so high-end, and so close to a large metropolitan area, that forecasters decided to invoke "emergency" to convey a sense of the unusually serious peril. 

NHC Director Dr. Mike Brennan highlights improvements to NWS products and services and discusses recent social media chatter on creating a Category 6.