STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — AccuWeather.com — Rumors have been spreading that the National Weather Service (NWS) is getting rid of wind chill values, which describe how cold it feels with wind factored in.

The truth is NWS offices in the Dakotas and Minnesota are not eliminating wind chills; they are changing the way they warn the public about extreme, dangerous cold.

In the past, the NWS issued Wind Chill Watches and Warnings when wind chill values were expected to fall below a certain level.

The problem the NWS encountered was when extreme cold was predicted in the absence of wind, it did not have a warning product that could be issued.

“On clear nights when the wind goes calm and we have deep snow cover, that is when we get our coldest temperatures in North Dakota. It can get down to minus 30 or minus 40,” said John Paul Martin, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Bismarck, N.D.

“We didn’t have a product for a warning for that,” Martin continued. “Now we’re using Extreme Cold Watches and Warnings instead, which are all-encompassing. If it’s 30 below or colder, either air temperature or wind chill, we’ll issue a warning.”

The NWS will still include wind chills in their reports and daily forecasts. However, in cases when dangerous cold is predicted, they will issue an Extreme Cold Watch or Warning rather than a Wind Chill Watch, Warning or Advisory.

The NWS Weather Forecast Office in Bismarck has more details on the changes and the new Extreme Cold Watches and Warnings.

“To me, as a meteorologist, if it’s 30 below, wind chill or air temperature, it’s dangerously cold, and a warning should be issued,” Martin stated. “People need to be aware of it.”

Another issue the Dakotas and Minnesota face is that they are some of the coldest states in the country and deal with subzero cold quite frequently throughout the winter.

“The problem is we tend to issue a lot of wind chill advisories,” explained Chris Franks, meteorologist with the National Weather Service Office of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. “The goal is to reduce the number of ‘cold headlines’ we have out and to make the product stronger so that if we do issue a warning, it will be for exceptional events… the most dangerous.”

Extreme Cold Watches and Warnings are Experimental

“It’s an experiment, and we’re looking for feedback,” said Martin. “Typically, experiments run for several years, but it depends on the feedback. My hope is that the feedback is positive, because this is the direction I think the National Weather Service needs to be moving in.”

Several NWS offices in Montana have expressed interest in switching over to Extreme Cold Watches and Warnings as well, but this change would not take effect until next winter at the earliest.

Criteria for the watches and warnings would vary region by region, depending on climatology. For example, states in the southern U.S. would likely have much lower criteria, perhaps zero or 10 degrees below zero, for a warning to be issued than northern states, where residents are more acclimated to extreme cold.

AccuWeather.com provides its own measure of how cold it feels with the wind factored in, and that is through AccuWeather.com RealFeel temperatures. RealFeel temperatures are given on our local forecast pages, which can be accessed by entering your city and state in the search box at the top of this page.

Story by Heather Buchman, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — AccuWeather – A powerful storm that resembles a hurricane with snow, a “snowicane”, continues to pound western Alaska. “The potentially historic ‘superstorm’… is making ‘landfall’ in Alaska today with a pressure equivalent to a Category 4 Hurricane,” said AccuWeather.com’s Jesse Ferrell.

Part of this fierce storm will dive into the contiguous United States on Friday, once again revving up the Northwest’s storm train.

“For people in the Bering Sea region, including shipping and fishing interests, this is considered to be a life-threatening storm situation,” warned Accuweather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

The powerful storm is unleashing damaging winds, blizzard conditions, huge waves and coastal flooding. A 7-foot storm surge hit Nome, Alaska with water reportedly reaching the base of buildings. There have also been reports of roofs in Nome being blown off.

One incredibly impressive observation with this storm came from a coastal station that measured ice accretion of 23.5 inches per hour Tuesday night, according to Ferrell, who has more statistics on this historic storm in his blog.

AccuWeather.com International Expert Meteorologist Jim Andrews has never seen worse conditions at the Tin City Military Airport, Alaska, than that was observed overnight Tuesday.

For more than six consecutive hours, persistent Category 1-hurricane wind gusts slammed the military airport. The winds peaked at 85 mph at 4 a.m. EST.

The worst of the storm will continue to pound northwestern Alaska, including Nome, today before shifting to southwestern Alaska tonight.

A piece of the storm will also move into the Gulf of Alaska tonight before delivering a shot of rain and mountain snow to the Alaska Panhandle, including Juneau.

The storm will then drop through the Northwest Friday into Friday night with a quick shot of disruptive snow for the mountain passes, low-elevation rain and gusty winds.

Friday’s storm will actually mark the start of a parade of Northwest storms.

Numerous storms will follow the first into the Northwest through next week.

The details of each will unfold in the upcoming days, but it appears to AccuWeather.com meteorologists that snow levels will progressively drop as each storm swings through into the middle of next week.

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com. AccuWeather.com meteorologist Heather Buchman also reported on this story.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — AccuWeather — A number of sizable dust storms, ongoing drought and intense heat this past summer have many wondering if another Dust Bowl is in the works.

The Dust Bowl Era was a series of drought years spanning the early and middle 1930s, which was made worse by wind storms that blew away a large amount of topsoil on the Great Plains.

The most recent dust storm in Lubbock, Texas, along with other large storms near Tucson, Ariz. in early October and the haboobs in Phoenix during July, to name a few, certainly are signs of the times.

Much of the region has been in the throws of a drought since last fall. Phoenix only receives an average of 8.50 inches of rain per year. However, as dry is the place normally is, only 4.50 inches of rain has fallen since October 1, 2010.

Lubbock has received only about 30 percent of their normal rainfall since Oct. 1, 2010, which is a mere 6 inches or so, compared to a normal of 20.50 inches.

The AccuWeather.com and the National Weather Service winter forecast outlooks are not good for the region in terms of rainfall. Both are projecting below-normal precipitation in a nutshell from Arizona eastward to Texas and northward into the southern Plains.

Two rainfall prospects over the next week seem to be drying up before they even arrive.

However, Expert Agricultural Meteorologist Dale Mohler points out that it may not be quite as dry as last winter in the region.

“The indication is that while a La Nina is in the making, it may not be as strong, nor as long lasting, as last year,” Mohler said.

That could mean a few attempts at rain for the region. Rain was nearly non-existent in much of the area last winter.

This winter, there will be storms that pass north of the southern Plains and Southwest, which periodically kick up wind and dust. These episodes can lead to brief low visibility for ground travel and will raise the risk of the spread of wildfires.

However, even if these storms bring little or no rain to the region, we should not see the vast expanse of the 1930s dust storms returning.

Moisture will be plentiful over the central and northern Plains this winter. In fact, much of the northern Plains is forecast to have harsh cold, rather than unusual warmth.

Modern agricultural techniques in southern areas such as irrigation and cover crops mitigate the loss of water due to evaporation and the loss of soil due to wind.

“If the La Nina is weaker and of shorter duration than last year, there is a chance of the return of substantial rain next spring in Texas and the southern Plains,” Mohler said.

Rainfall during the early and middle 1950s was well below normal in many areas of Texas.

According to AccuWeather.com Forensics, in Lubbock, every year from 1950 through 1955 brought below-normal rainfall and had a cumulative effect.

The current drought and warmth have so far lasted just a little over a year. However, it has been much more intense than during much of the 1950s era with well-below-average rainfall and well-above-average warmth.

There has been one to several inches of rain in recent weeks in a large part of Texas and the southern Plains.

“The rain has come in time for the planting of winter wheat on the southern Plains,” Mohler said.

“However, the status of pastureland grasses remains poor in Texas and Oklahoma,” Mohler added.

Much more rain is needed on a regular basis to green-up the pastureland, begin filling reservoirs, and replenish the water supply.

All it would take is a couple of big, wet storms over winter to get the ball rolling in the right direction.

According to AccuWeather.com Long Range Expert Paul Pastelok, “While anything is possible over the winter, we just do not see a pattern very favorable for the type of rain that is needed in much of the region.”

“We cannot say for sure what the next year or next several years will bring,” Pastelok added.

While black and white images of mass migration during the 1930s Dust Bowl Era are not likely to be repeated, more hardship for agriculture in the region may be ahead.

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — AccuWeather.com — Whipping winds will threaten more dust storms and fires across Texas through the middle of this week.

Gusts greater than 40 mph across much of Texas will follow a potent cold front, keeping the threat high for these dangers. The howling winds will help pick up dust due to the bone-dry conditions gripping the Lone Star state.

Respiratory problems can result from blowing dust, especially for sensitive groups such as people with asthma.

Blowing dust could suddenly reduce the visibility below a quarter of a mile to near zero at times, creating a very dangerous situation for motorists.

Pictures and videos from the Lubbock Dust Storm on Monday show how significantly and quickly the visibility can drop in these nasty dust storms.

Meanwhile, travel will be tricky at times even without blowing dust for high profile vehicles such as campers and semi-trucks. The highest wind gusts could topple these vehicles.

With low humidity and high winds, the conditions will be ripe for wildfires through the middle of the week. Hard hit central Texas, burnt by destructive wildfires such as the Bastrop Fire, is in the heart of the fire threat area.

Winds will be strong enough to down tree branches onto power lines, heightening the risk of grass and brush fires.

By Meghan Evans, meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — AccuWeather.com — A sluggish storm will bring a chilly rain to many parts of the Northeast through early this week, but hope for rain-weary people is in sight.

The jet stream, a river of high winds aloft that steers storms across the country, is positioned well to the north over Canada. The Northeast storm is well south of the jet stream. As a result, the storm will not be steered away from the region in the near future.

This will result in plenty of clouds, damp and chilly weather through at least Tuesday for most across the Northeast.

Pockets of persistent or heavier rain over the next few days could prompt more flooding in the region. The ground across the Northeast is already saturated from record rainfall over the past two months.

Any flooding will likely be focused in poor-drainage and low-lying areas. No major river flooding is forecast.

Despite the latest round of rain, a major pattern change is on the way next week.

The stubborn low will shift into Nova Scotia by next Wednesday as an expansive high pressure system settles into the region in wake of the storm.

The high pressure system will bring widespread sunshine for the latter half of next week. Early indications point to dry weather that could last into the middle of October for many across the Northeast.

“Beautiful fall weather will rule the Northeast by next weekend,” said Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller.

Temperatures will rebound back to normal late next week and the sunshine will make it feel even warmer. The extended period of dry weather and warmth will set the stage for some beautiful fall-foliage sightseeing.

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — AccuWeather.com — Heading in soon to clean up the mess in your home following the record flooding from Lee? There are some things to consider first.

Take it from a pro who has been there and done that.

When an area is flooded, there is other damage in addition to just that from the water alone. The high, and sometimes forceful, water brings with it mud, fuel oil, contamination and other toxins. Is your house at risk?

For this reason, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett stated that the area faces a public health emergency.

Sewer and water systems may have been compromised.

Do not drink tap water until authorized to do so. Once the “all clear” has been given, thoroughly flush your drinking water lines. During the transition, officials may issue a “Boil Water Advisory.”

Only venture back into a flooded area after officials deem it to be safe and have lifted restrictions.

Before heading out in cleanup operations, be sure you have had a recent tetanus shot or booster. Chances are you will get some sort of cut or bump that breaks the skin as you labor.

Be sure to wear protective clothes, especially waterproof boots, gloves and safety glasses. Have bottled water or beverages on hand to drink. Take a cooler with you filled with ice to keep your food cold.

Once you get there, if you smell gas, get out of the house and call the utility company immediately.

Propane tanks may have shifted, severing lines.

Natural gas lines could have been damaged in areas where the flood water was forceful, or the furnace may have moved when the water came up, then went down.

Again, do not drink tap water until officials have given the all clear. When the all clear is given, be sure to thoroughly flush tap water lines by leaving them run for a time.

Be careful when venturing into your home or business. Animals, such as snakes and rodents, may have been displaced and taken up a new residence.

If the power was cut in your area for more than 24 hours, chances are the food in your refrigerator or freezer has spoiled. Don’t take any chances. The food could have thawed, spoiled and refrozen. Throw it out.

As for the actual cleanup, if any toxins, such as fuel oil, have gotten into clothes, furniture, etc., throw them out. Soap and water will not get rid of the fuel oil smell!

According to former Wilkes-Barre, Pa. resident Trish Mikita, “Just prior to the flooding disaster of September 2011, you could walk into some homes and businesses that were flooded in June of 1972 and still smell flood mud/fuel oil.”

If you can’t handle the cleanup on your own, call in professionals.

Remember, mold will quickly grow and spread on surfaces that remain damp, including walls. And If you have allergies or respiratory problems you could be at an even greater risk.

According to Kristi Layland of Disaster Blaster, “Drywall, plaster, carpet, and laminate flooring that got wet should be removed or stripped to the framing to be safe.”

In addition to the removal of porous material, Layland recommended three key factors for mold prevention, which are “Airflow, ventilation and dehumidification.” If you have

Ceramic, brick, stone, hardwood and linoleum flooring should be okay, if cleaned thoroughly.

Electrical switches, outlets and main boxes may have been damaged or could still be wet. Don’t venture into any areas, including your basement, where the power is on and water remains. Contact an electrician first.

Thoroughly dry and internally inspect appliances and outlets before attempting to use them. They may be damaged or still wet, and you could be electrocuted.

Appliances that cannot be easily taken apart, cleaned, repaired and reassembled, and are questionable should be thrown out.

As always, safety first along with common sense.

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

STATE COLLEGE, PA — AccuWeather.com – Although Irene is now history, she won’t be forgotten in the minds of millions of Easterners who dealt with her wrath this past weekend.

At least 21 deaths have been attributed to Irene, which is now barreling across southeastern Canada as a post-tropical storm.

Wind gusts above 100 mph, rainfall totals north of a foot and battering waves that poured ashore along coastlines from Georgia to Maine has left millions, if not billions, of dollars in damage for residents and officials to clean up in the days to come.

It will also take days to restore power, and for swollen rivers to recede to bankfull after swallowing buildings and bridges whole in some communities. Record inland flooding, especially throughout interior New England, will end up being the legacy of this storm.

Impacts: Caribbean to Bahamas

The Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas were the first to feel the wrath of Irene as a hurricane, just two days after forming well east of Guadeloupe.

At the height of the storm, the power was out for more than 1.5 million people in Puerto Rico, with widespread damage prompting President Obama to sign a disaster declaration for the island.

In the Bahamas, estimated 100-mph winds from Irene destroyed 90 percent of homes and structures in the southeastern Acklins and Crooked islands. YouTube videos from Bahamians underscored the need for Americans to prepare.

Impacts: Carolinas, Delmarva Region

The first images of Irene’s destruction came as the storm was making landfall in eastern North Carolina early on Saturday morning.

Water from Irene rushed inland along the Pamlico and Ablemarle sounds, leading to more than 200 water rescues from those who chose to stick around and ride out the storm.

Along the Outer Banks, battering waves destroyed at least five portions of Route 12, cutting off Hatteras from the mainland.

Scores of structures suffered at least some wind damage from the storm, with wind gusts above 100 mph recorded.

“People’s lives are turned upside down,” said North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue, whoassessed the damage on Sunday.

Excessive rainfall totals were found well inland across North Carolina and north into southeastern Virginia and along the Delmarva Peninsula, flooding out numerous homes and closing roadways.

Impacts: Mid-Atlantic Big Cities

The megalopolis along I-95 from Washington to New York braced for Irene’s impact, which came later on Saturday and early Sunday.

Public transit ground to a halt in Philadelphia and New York and thousands of flights were canceled as New York’s five major airports shut down.

For the first time ever, low-lying areas of New York City were ordered to evacuate, while a state of emergency was declared in Philadelphia for the first time since 1986.

The combination of soggy ground and strong winds brought down numerous trees over the mid-Atlantic, even as far west as York, Pa., where AccuWeather.com blogger Jesse Ferrell rode out the storm.

Farther east in New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie warned residents to stay at home today. “If you don’t have to go to work tomorrow, don’t go to work tomorrow,” said Christie in a Sunday news conference.

Jersey Shore points and even New York City dealt with a storm surge of around 4 feet, including along the boardwalk at Battery Park, N.Y., where the surge coincided with high tide. On Long Island, whole structures were pushed ashore by the force of the water.

Impacts: New England

Perhaps some of the worst destruction from Irene was felt across interior parts of New England, where excessive runoff from rainfall led to severe flooding.

According to Meteorologist Evan Duffey, at least 10 rivers or creeks were at or above record flood levels from New Jersey to Vermont, with most centered over eastern New York and in the Green Mountain state.

“We’ve seen nothing like this,” said Barbara Sondag, town manager of Wilmington, Vt. Rampaging waters from the Deerfield River were flowing directly through her town as of late on Sunday.

Montpelier, Vt., was also especially hard hit. The Winooski River washed out bridges that connected the town to other areas, while residents across portions of the capital city were told to evacuate.

Forecasts call for major flooding to continue across rivers in the Northeast for days.

Irene’s Historic Landfalls

When Irene moved ashore near Cape Lookout, N.C., on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. EDT, she became the first hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. since Ike plowed ashore in Galveston, Texas, on Sept. 13, 2008.

A second landfall occurred nearly 24 hours later at Little Egg Inlet, N.J., marking the first time since 1903 a hurricane made a direct landfall along the Jersey Shore.

Even more impressive, the center of Irene, although weaker as a tropical storm, passed directly over New York City, marking the first time that has happened since 1821.

Irene By The Numbers

As Irene tracked north over millions, her impacts were recorded by hundreds or thousands of weather stations. The more impressive stats are available here in a list compiled by AccuWeather.com Meteorologists Cory Mottice and Frank Strait.

The peak wind gust measured from Irene occurred in Cedar Island, N.C., where the anemometer clocked in at 115 mph. Not too far to the west, an unofficial report of 19.00 inches of rain was received from Aurora, N.C.

Of course, even before any rain drops fell from Irene it was already an incredibly wet month across the mid-Atlantic.

New York City (18.95 inches), Newark (18.79 inches), Trenton (14.85 inches) and Philadelphia (19.31 inches), all have set new records for the wettest month on record, thanks in part to Irene.

Story by Bill Deger, Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — AccuWeather — Thunderstorms that moved through Middlesboro, Ky. overnight caused part of a mine to collapse, trapping three miners inside. The miners are reported to be safe inside the mine.

Rainfall since midnight measured in Middlesboro was 4.74 inches, and in 24 hours, 4.84 inches of rain fell. The bulk of the rain came between 3:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Monday morning.

Story by Henry Margusity, Expert Senior Meteorologist

STATE COLLEGE, PA — AccuWeather — A wound-up storm rolling out of the Rockies has potential to bring the worst tornado outbreak since May to parts of the Plains into tonight.

The combination of very warm, humid air at the surface, shifting of winds with height, and a strong jet stream overhead has the atmosphere locked and loaded from Oklahoma to Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and the northwestern half of Missouri.

There is an elevated risk for multiple violent thunderstorms in this corridor, and a number of which can produce strong tornadoes.

There is substantial risk to lives and property from late today into tonight, when the storms will reach maximum intensity.

According to Severe Weather Expert Henry Margusity, “This situation seems likely to produce a number of tornadoes of EF-3 strength.”

Tornadoes of this magnitude on the Enhance Fujita Tornado Damage Scale produce winds of 136 to 165 mph and can not only bring severe damage to structures, but also pose a major threat to lives due to flying debris.

Major metropolitan areas at risk of being hit by the tornado swarm include Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Omaha, Kansas City, Topeka, Wichita, Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

The area of concern also includes many farms and ranches over the open countryside, as well as dozens of smaller towns and cities.

Among the list of cities that may be under attack from the atmosphere tonight is tornado-ravaged Joplin, Mo.

Part of the Missouri city was leveled by a powerful tornado on May 22, 2011. The large wedge EF-5 tornado killed over 150 people.

“This is a rare situation for June in that we don’t usually see a setup for tornadoes quite like this, so late in the season,” Margusity said.

The threat for severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes, will continue to shift “slowly” eastward into the Midwest at midweek.

The swath from Chicago and Milwaukee to St. Louis and Little Rock may be in the heart of the tornado threat Tuesday and Tuesday night.

Meteorologist Katie Storbeck describes the severe weather risk in other areas, including the Midwest to the Virginias, into tonight in this story.

Story by Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist.

Even before the effects of global warming started to kick in, the vast majority of America’s coastlines were reeling from threats including habitat destruction, sewage outflows and industrial pollution. Pictured: Flooded area of northwest New Orleans and Metairie, Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. (Coast Guard photo)

Coastal regions in the U.S. are more popular—and more heavily populated—than ever. But even before the effects of global warming started to kick in, reports the non-profit World Resources Institute, more than half of the coastal ecosystems of the world—including the vast majority of America’s coastlines—were reeling from threats including habitat destruction, sewage outflows, industrial pollution and the impacts of non-native species introductions.

Recently, though, a string of unprecedented natural disasters, including hurricanes like Katrina and tsunamis like that which devastated Japan, has made many people re-think the wisdom of moving to the coast. And the federal government has begun to advocate that coastal communities adopt tougher building codes and zoning ordinances, but there is little public officials can do to deter people from being drawn in by the lure of the coast—even as ice caps melt, sea levels rise and storms brew fiercer and fiercer.

Critics say the federal government should be doing more to protect coastal areas which, besides being attractive to home buyers, are among the richest storehouses of biodiversity we have. But traditionally, such responsibilities have fallen to local and regional officials. In the case of New Orleans following 2005’s disastrous hurricane season, the Louisiana state legislature formed the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) to protect, conserve, restore and enhance coastal wetlands, barrier shorelines and reefs so as to protect the city from the impacts of future hurricanes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now working with Louisiana authorities to implement CPRA’s master plan. Of course, restoring wetlands and other natural buffers that have been decimated by a half century of development and overpopulation is no small task. It’s unfortunate that such plans only come to pass after a disaster of huge magnitude takes place, instead of beforehand.

In response to such concerns, green groups, consumer advocates, taxpayer associations, insurance companies and other organizations have come together as Americans for Smart Natural Catastrophe Policy (also known as SmarterSafer.org). Coalition members, which include the Sierra Club, Liberty Mutual Group, Americans for Tax Reform, the United Services Automobile Association and others, have aligned behind shared goals of restoring coastal wetlands and increasing protection for barrier islands while influencing local officials to make smarter decisions about where to allow development in light of the expected effects of climate change and other problems.

The coalition applauds the vision and work of CPRA in Louisiana, and would like to see such planning take place in other U.S. coastal regions as well. Furthermore, it is critical of the federal government for pumping funds into the National Flood Insurance Program, which it says only spreads the costs of natural disasters around instead of taking measures that would prevent damage in the first place. Such approaches, the coalition argues, “provide a perverse incentive to encourage development in risky coastal areas” and “expose taxpayers, including those who do not live in at-risk coastal areas, to significant financial costs.”

CONTACTS: CPRA, www.lacpra.org; Smartersafer.org, www.smartersafer.org.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Severe thunderstorms will ride over the northern rim of heat expanding into the Midwest and the Northeast.

A storm system shifting eastward across the northern Plains will produce a trigger for the storms, while the hot, muggy air will act as the fuel.

Communities from northern Minnesota to western New York and western Pennsylvania are going to lie in the path of the dangerous storms.

Duluth, Minn., Marquette and Alpena, Mich., and Erie and Pittsburgh, Pa., are among the cities and towns at risk for getting hit by violent thunderstorms today.

The threat for western New York, western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio will mainly be through the first part of the day. A complex of strong storms over southern Ontario, Canada, early Tuesday morning will follow steering flow into these areas.

Damaging wind gusts over 60 mph and large hail will be concerns of the severe storms both in the Northeast and Midwest. The winds will be capable of knocking down trees and power lines, potentially causing damage to homes and vehicles and cutting power to some areas. The largest hail, up to the size of golf balls, could dent cars and break windows.

A few of the strongest thunderstorms could spawn tornadoes.

Northern Minnesota into extreme northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan will have the greatest threat for twisters, mainly later in the day. The higher tornado threat will be due to the fact that there will be weaker southerly winds at the surface and strong west-southwest winds high in the atmosphere. This will set the stage for a strong rotation in the storms.

Overnight, the threat for nasty storms will be finished for southern Ontario, Canada, and the Northeast. Farther west, severe storms could continue well into the night across eastern Minnesota, northern and central Wisconsin and northern Michigan.

Gulf Coast Severe Threat

Hot and muggy weather and daytime heating will allow another round of severe afternoon storms near the Gulf Coast.

Houston, Texas, New Orleans, La., and Mobile, Ala., may get rattled by damaging storms. Strong wind gusts and large hail will be the primary threats of these storms.

By Meghan Evans, Meteorologist

DALLAS — Several tornadoes hit Oklahoma City and nearby communities during the busy afternoon rush hour Tuesday, leaving at least two people dead and seriously hurting several children.

Canadian County, Okla. County emergency director Jerry Smith told the Associated Press that the storm hit the communities of El Reno and Piedmont, just west of the capital. There was no word on injuries.

Three children were hurt in Piedmont, and firefighters were rushing to a natural gas explosion at a Devon Energy Corp. facility near El Reno.

A main thoroughfare, I-40, was closed west of Oklahoma City as the storm crossed the area.

The tornadoes add length to the string of deadly weather that has struck the American midwest over the past few weeks.

The National Weather Service has determined that the devastating tornado that directly hit Joplin, Mo. was in fact an EF-5, the highest classification of tornadoes.

This means that Joplin, a city of more than 100,000 people, was battered by winds in excess of 200 miles per hour.

Tornadoes rarely strike cities directly and are much more common in flat, wide open spaces. An EF-5 tornado directly striking a city is extremely rare.

The Joplin tornado is the deadliest on record, taking at least 116 lives and flattening much of the city.

The death toll from the tornado that destroyed Joplin, Mo., on Sunday has reached 116 according to a city official, putting it in a tie for the single deadliest twister to hit American soil since the National Weather Service began keeping records 61 years ago.

The last time a tornado caused this much human loss was June 8, 1953, in Flint, Mi.

City Manager Mark Rohr told CNN that people from more than 40 agencies are searching for survivors, despite the continual severe weather.

“We’re going to cover every foot of this town,” Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said from the National Guard Armory in Joplin. “We are … optimistic that there are still lives to be saved. But (first responders) have seen a tremendous amount of pain already.”

The storm left Joplin unrecognizable, and destroyed many public facilities such as the local high school and hospital.

“Everybody’s going to know people who are dead,” said CNN iReporter Zach Tusinger, who said his aunt and uncle died in the tornado in an article on cnn.com. “You could have probably dropped a nuclear bomb on the town and I don’t think it would have done near as much damage as it did.”

More tornadoes are expected to tear through the Midwest early this week, according to the National Weather Service. They report that there is a 45 percent chance of another tornado outbreak, with peak time between 4 p.m. and midnight on Tuesday.

Wreckage at the Joplin Walmart. (Media credit/KOAM TV via Twitter. Original photo by Ashley Sandbothe.)

A tornado struck the city of Joplin, Mo., on Sunday, killing at least 116 people and causing catastrophic damage.

Nearly a quarter of Joplin has been destroyed — not damaged, but removed from the earth.

A massive search and rescue operation has been going on in Jasper County, with temporary morgues going up in the streets.

There are reports of casualties and damage at the St. John’s Regional Medical Center, at Joplin High School, at a Walmart, and an apartment complex, with people killed, injured and trapped.

The tornado appears to have drawn a telltale line of destruction through neighborhoods, crushing everything in its path. It also directly hit the hospital.

“There are homes completely destroyed, and there are a lot,” a rescuer in the area said over the radio around 9 p.m. Central Time.

Rescuers are also showing concern for their own families, with police officers on the radio asking other officers on the road if their homes are safe.

St. John’s reportedly has severe structural damage and is sending its critical patients to other hospitals as far away as Arkansas and northern Missouri.

St. John’s hospital was hit so hard — and the storm was so powerful — that one resident, nearly 45-miles away, reported that his yard was full of medical supplies and x-rays marked as belonging to the hospital.

A roadside temporary morgue was set up in Joplin Sunday night.

There are also reports of casualties at a Baptist church.

Click here to listen to live audio of the search and rescue efforts.

According to KMBC in Kansas City, Doug Heady, the chief meteorologist at KOAM-TV in Joplin, said “the storm flipped tractor-trailers and cars. People are reported to be trapped in their vehicles.”

The station also reports that the roofs at two fire houses have collapsed.

House-to-house searches are going on, and there are reports of looting in Joplin.

Meteorologists believe the tornado was at least an EF-3 classification. Reports indicate it may have been more than 3/4 of a mile wide.

KOAM also reports that multiple twisters may have actually hit Joplin.

The National Guard has been activated and a state of emergency was declared.

KOAM and Fox 14, both of Joplin, have taken to Facebook to keep viewers informed.

KOAM photographer Crystal Albright, at 15th and Range Line in Joplin, reported that a Burger King restaurant was gone and a King’s Palace Chinese restaurant was on fire.

AccuWeather reports that some 50 tornadoes struck the Midwest Sunday. More thunderstorms rocked the area on Monday.

Joplin in in southwest Missouri, near the Kansas and Oklahoma borders and about 40 miles north of Arkansas.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Accuweather reports that as if the 6 to 12 inches of snow was not enough for portions of New York and Pennsylvania, more snow is coming from the same storm system.

There is plenty of energy and moisture left with the storm and it appears that cold air will hold its ground in the swath stretching from upstate New York to northeastern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey and southwestern New England.

There is the potential for an additional 6 to 12 inches of snow to fall in part of this rather narrow corridor, which could push snowfall totals to 18 to 24 inches from this storm.

Essentially, if you got snow Wednesday morning, you could double what you have on the ground by Thursday morning.

The crazy storm will cause travel delays, power outages and school closings in some areas.

The snow is clinging to trees and the additional weight could bring some of them down, taking power lines with them and blocking secondary roadways. This is especially true as winds pick up later tonight and Thursday morning.

Cities in line for another round of snow include, Rochester, Elmira, Binghamton and Middletown, N.Y., as well as Scranton, Pa., and Sussex, N.J.

The snow was coming down in Knowlton, N.J., Wednesday. Photo by AccuWeather.com Facebook fan Deb M.

Thunderstorms with hail erupting over the eastern part of the Ohio Valley into the central Appalachians and coastal areas of the southern mid-Atlantic. The storms will affect a heavily populated area and will include the swath from Pittsburgh to near Philadelphia.

Severe Weather Expert Meteorologist Henry Margusity can see how hail from the thunderstorms covers the ground in part of this region.

“The moisture from these thunderstorms being flung to the northeast will help fuel the heavy snow zone,” Margusity said.

Snow Could Shift Southward

As we warned you about last week at this time, there is still concern for the snow pressing southward Wednesday night into Thursday.

This is a snapshot of the middle of Wednesday night. The snow and thunderstorms will tend sag southward and eastward with time.

The storm center will track off the mid-Atlantic coast during this time. As it does, colder air will be drawn in and to the south.

It is possible snow reaches as far south as the West Virginia mountains, northern Maryland, northernmost Virginia, southern Pennsylvania, northern Delaware and southern New Jersey for at time.

The question is will this occur as harmless snow flurries or will it be a burst of heavy snow, as both are possible due to the highly unstable nature of the storm in this sector caused by thunderstorm activity.

A period of accumulating snow is in store for much of central and southern New England later tonight into Thursday morning and will cover the swath from New York City and Albany to Boston.

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — AccuWeather — The risk of major flooding across the nation remains rather low into early next week, but there will be some minor problems and ice jam concerns.

Most rivers across the nation were below flood stage as of Thursday morning, February 17, 2011, but an increasing number of rivers were rising, compared to the start of the week. A few were expected to climb above flood stage into the weekend.

Runoff from melting snow was working into some stream and rivers over the Plains and Midwest and was leading to rising water levels. The runoff and the problems it creates will spread into parts of the Northeast over the next couple of weeks.

A flood warning was issued by the National Weather Service for the Illinois River in La Salle and Bureau counties Thursday. The river was forecast to peak just above flood stage, leading to lowland flooding.

A portion of the Blackwater River in Missouri had risen to flood stage Wednesday morning and had climbed roughly 15 feet in 48 hours. Part of the Little Wabash River in Illinois was just above flood stage. Minor flooding was occurring along the Petite Saline Creek in Missouri.

Officials in Fargo, N.D., were not taking any chances after two years in a row of major flooding and major flooding in four of the last six years. Filled sandbags were being stockpiled and stored in recent weeks for potential use at a later date this winter or spring.

The Red River of the north flows from south to north, similar to many rivers in northern Canada and Russia. This action often leads to springtime flooding in that the headwaters thaw out first and empty into frozen areas below.

The warm-up that began over the weekend and will come into full bloom into many northern parts of the nation this week will lead to significant melting of the snowcover. In many cases, the snowcover will be totally wiped out by the thaw.

Warm, dry winds and little or no rainfall will help to get rid of much of the snowcover in a way as to minimize runoff and not lead to widespread stream and river flooding.

However, there will be rises on many of the rivers and some small streams will approach bank full over portions of the Midwest and the Northeast in the coming weeks. For the most part this is a normal springtime process, but there will be some trouble spots. (The Passaic River in New Jersey and the Connecticut River in New England are examples of some rivers to keep an eye on in the next few weeks, due to the extent of existing snowcover in their basins.)

Though not expected to be a widespread problem, the risk of isolated ice jams will increase over the Midwest and the Northeast this week.

As stream and river levels rise over frozen portions of the waterways, the ice breaks up and flows downstream. The chunks of ice may then clog up downstream, perhaps creating a natural dam. The clog or ice jam then forces water to rise up stream and spill into low lying areas along the river.

It appears it will stay cold enough over the northern Plains, the Upper Midwest and northern New England with a lack of big rainstorms to minimize this concern greatly in the short term.

However, you can still get an ice jam during a thaw without heavy rain.

The area approaching a marginal moderate risk of flooding stretches form parts of the central Plains to the Ohio Valley states, parts of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England.

Flood watches have been issued by the National Weather Service for parts of western New York for the potential of ice jam flooding.

Farther south from the southern Plains to the Southeast, the risk of flooding is negligible due to a lack of moisture in recent snow, no snowcover or lack of rain altogether.

Away from streams and rivers, urban flooding problems will continue as the snow melts, while piles of snow and debris lead to blocked storm drains.

Water running off your roof into frozen downspouts or onto frozen ground can lead to basement flooding.

As we stated earlier on AccuWeather.com, beware as those puddles on some roads may be quite deep containing potholes!

In rural areas, standing water will lay in some fields for a time.

Where the water flows across the road by day and subsides at night, ice can form on these untreated areas.

Otherwise, flooding aside, the next couple of weeks are going to be a rather sloppy period in the history of the winter of 2010-2011.

Just remember, even though while we seem to be breaking the back of winter and much of the nation will have their share of warmth in the coming weeks, the pattern can easily flip for a couple of days. There have been some surprise heavy snowstorms into the first part of April.

The areas that are most likely to get more episodes of snow over the next seven days or so stretch from the northern Plains and northern Great Lakes to northern New England. However, putting shovels away in areas farther south is not recommended.

By Alex Sosnowski, Senior Expert Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — AccuWeather.com — The latest indications continue to point toward a large storm forming amidst a building temperature contrast over the middle of the nation. Precipitation and strong cold air/warm air circulation around that storm will affect many millions of people from the interior West to the Atlantic Coast as next week progresses.

We are calling this system the Groundhog Day storm, and it will likely severely impact ground travel, and lead to canceled flights, school delays and closures. The storm is not only a concern for Wednesday, but for much of the week as the system moves along.

Warm air building over the Plains now will be dramatically replaced by a charge of arctic air that will lead to blinding Stormy, Cold Next Weekupslope snow along the High Plains and the Front Range of the Rockies.

As the cold air charges southward and becomes more shallow, a substantial ice storm may unfold for portions of the southern Plains. Meteorologist and former resident of the southern Plains, Heather Buchman, said, “This is the type of storm that could shut down the region with high winds, plunging temperatures, ice, snow and a rapid freeze-up on roads.”

Expert Senior Meteorologist John Kocet points out, “Some parts of the Plains and Rockies may have a daily temperature drop of 50 degrees or more, caused by the storm.”

If the storm develops to its full potential, parts of the Plains will experience life-threatening AccuWeather.com RealFeel® temperatures.

Nasty cold air, marked by near- or below-zero temperatures, could possibly grip areas during the day as arctic high pressure builds over the northern Rockies and Plains as the storm passes by.

The charge of cold air clashing with warm air will likely lead to heavy, perhaps severe, thunderstorms sweeping eastward through parts of the Mississippi Valley and South.

Depending on the storm’s configuration as it heads to the eastern half of the nation, a zone of heavy snow and ice may form from parts of the Ohio Valley to the mid-South and mid-Atlantic.

Depending on the track of the storm and how quickly it re-forms along the Atlantic Coast, heavy snow could blast part of the Great Lakes and much of the Northeast.

Some benefits from the storm would be more needed rain in the Deep South, moisture for the southern Plains, and the stirring out of fog over parts of the interior West.

How nasty the storm gets and the primary form of precipitation for the Northeast, Midwest, interior South, and Plains depend on the exact track of the storm, still days away.

The storm will have many negative effects, especially in parts of the Northeast, where snow-removal budgets are are blown and roofs are stressed to the failure point from the magnitude of prior, record-breaking snowstorms.

According to AccuWeather.com Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams, “Kids in portions of Kentucky have missed over two weeks of school already this winter.”

Meteorologist Mark Mancuso stated, “This storm and perhaps a second storm could impact travel to the Super Bowl in Dallas next weekend, potentially from areas of ice, snow, high winds and cold.”

The system expected to parent the storm over the middle of the nation was located 500-1,000 miles off the coast of the Northwest U.S. Friday

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

The first thing I saw when I woke up today was a window plastered white. I left the house at 7 a.m. and stepped out into the second major snowstorm of this Boston winter.

It’s exactly 2.44 miles from my apartment in Allston to Johnnie’s Fresh Market in Brookline. I have to go to my paying job, and I’m slightly worried about my journey.

Residents of Allston are apparently waking up late this morning because barely anything is plowed.

By the time I am out the door, the streets are only cleared by the force of cars driving over the snow, and the sidewalks are indistinguishable. It seems that everyone else awake has the same idea as me: we must walk on the streets.

The Green Line does not seem like much of an option as each person realizes that not even the tracks are fully plowed and shoveled out. From a nearby train I can hear the conductor announcing to passengers that they must crowd to the front door in order to enter and exit the train car.

Gradually as I make my way towards Brookline the streets are clearer with each step. The sidewalks are plowed and the Boston University Campus Services are rushing to plow the areas surrounding St. Mary’s Street.

A Boston University employee that I recognize pulls over in his snowplow and acknowledges my insanity for commuting during the storm, but I feel a wave of relief when I see that Dunkin’ Donuts is open for business.

The businesses on Beacon Street that are opening at regular hours are salting and shoveling their storefronts for the safety of customers. Finally, I make it to work.

Needless to say, once I returned to my apartment this evening, I wasn’t planning to leave.

It looks like The Blizzard of 2010 will be followed immediately by the Blizzard of 2011

The National Weather Service in Taunton has issued a Blizzard Waning for the entire East Coast of Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, Boston, and up to Gloucester.

The warning goes from 2 a.m. all the way to 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

Up to 16 inches of snow will come down, blowing at times, with gusts up to 45 miles per hour.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency has issued guidelines for resident safety during the projected blizzard set to hit the area on Sunday and Monday.

“MEMA recommends all travel be completed in the morning hours before the roads get treacherous as well as postpone any unnecessary travel if possible,” said Peter Judge, an agency spokesman. “Once the heavy snow begins, please stay off of the roads during the overnight hours to allow road crews to safely complete their tasks.”

MEMA will activate the state’s emergency bunker, the Emergency Operations Center, in Framingham at 4 p.m. Sunday as well as three regional centers in Bridgewater, Tewksbury and Agawam to help coordinate state efforts to deal with up to 20 inches of snow.

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino has an emergency meeting scheduled at 10 a.m. Sunday.

(National Weather Service)

The National Weather Service has upgraded the Winter Storm Warnings issued around Massachusetts to more serious blizzard warnings.

Blizzard Warnings were issued for the following areas/counties: Central Middlesex, Eastern Essex, Eastern Norfolk, Eastern Plymouth, Northern Bristol, Southeast Middlesex, Southern Bristol, Southern Plymouth, Southern Worcester, Suffolk, Western Essex, Western Norfolk and Western Plymouth.

The Blizzard Warning all of Eastern Massachusetts Cape Cod and the Islands and all of Rhode Island except for Block Island. Coastal Connecticut is also under a Blizzard Warning.

The warnings include Boston and all of Suffolk County.

The warning in Suffolk County starts Sunday at noon and does not expire until 5 p.m. on Monday.

The Weather Service expects 15-20 inches of snow to call in those areas with significant drifts, high winds, white out conditions, and the potential for power loss.

Light snow will start in the early afternoon and become heavy by the evening. Very heavy snow will fall Sunday night with 2-4 inches per hour likely. Snow will continue heavy until it tapers off Monday afternoon.

Wind gusts of 50-60 miles per hour are expected.

State College, Pa. — AccuWeather.com — The first snow of the season greeted people across southern New England this morning with a coating to several inches blanketing areas from Connecticut into Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

In Burrillville, R.I., residents woke up to 2.5 inches of snow on the ground. Other snowfall totals that have been reported include 2.0 inches in Staffordville and Moosup, Conn., 1.5 inches in Greenville, R.I., 0.8 of an inch in Dighton, Mass., and 0.7 of an inch in North Providence, R.I.

Sleet and freezing rain have also mixed in with rain and snow across the region. Sleet was even falling around New York City this morning, while snow fell for a time on eastern Long Island.

Any snow or wintry precipitation that managed to accumulate will be short-lived, as the same storm system that brought the wintry weather soaks the region with plain rain this afternoon into Tuesday.

It will remain raw outside for people across all of New England through Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to remain mostly in the 40s, while howling winds make for a wind-whipped rain from southern New England to the coast of Maine.

AccuWeather.com RealFeel temperatures, which provide a measure of how cold it feels with the wind factored in, will range between 20 and 30 degrees in Boston, Mass., Hartford, Conn., and Providence, R.I., through tonight.

Warm, waterproof jackets will be more useful than umbrellas as winds whip the rain around.

The storm bringing nasty conditions will pull eastward away from the southern New England coast later Tuesday into Wednesday, allowing for drying from west to east across New England. Warmer air will also spread into the region Wednesday, allowing temperatures to rebound to more seasonable levels.

By Heather Buchman, Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

NEW YORK — Queens may be one of New York City’s less glamorous boroughs. But following the drama of Thursday evening’s storms, Broadway is not the only venue shrouded in a mist of theatricality. With 8,500 Queens residents still without power at noon on Saturday, Con Edison employees handed out dry ice in three locations to ensure residents could keep food cool.

Singing along to "Wicked" when reaching for the milk carton remains optional.

Dry ice is not the only Oz parallel. While Hurricane Earl passed New York City earlier this month not with a bang but a whimper, two tornadoes touched down in Brooklyn and Queens around 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The twin twisters are two of only ten tornadoes recorded for NYC in the past 60 years.

FEMA officials are surveying the 14-mile path of destruction, which includes Staten Island, to determine whether the area should be declared a disaster area.

Alfonso Quiroz, a Con Edison employee, told NY1 News that 45,000 city residents were without power immediately following the storm. The 8,500 still in the dark live primarily in the Queens neighborhoods of Flushing, Rego Park and Mayspeth.

Con Edison is advising dry ice recipients use caution and wear gloves when handling the substance, which can cause frostbite at its -109.3°F temperature. Children and animals should be kept away from the substance, which evaporates into carbon dioxide gas.

Barring, of course, the ubiquitous witches’ brew for trick-or-treaters on Halloween.

For more information on handling dry ice, download this New York Department of Health brochure.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — AccuWeather.com — The year 2010 is on track to become the hottest year on record since modern record keeping began, according to climate researchers at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

This follows confirmation that the first seven months of 2010 were the warmest since 1880, when the modern climate record began.

Worldwide, July was the second warmest July on record with an average temperature of 16.5 C (61.7 F). The warmest July recorded was July 1998.

But for land alone, July 2010 was the warmest on record.

All-time national record high temperatures were reached during July in Finland, Belarus and Ukraine due to the strength of severe European heat waves.

Moscow, Russia, had its highest temperature ever at 38.2 C, or 100.8 F.

Other nations reaching their highest-ever temperatures included Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Cypress, Chad, Sudan, Niger, Myanmar, Colombia and even the Solomon Islands.

By Jim Andrews, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

A worse case scenario mockup (AccuWeather Illustration)

AccuWeather.com meteorologists expect Tropical Depression 3 to track between South Florida and northwestern Cuba Friday and into the eastern Gulf of Mexico this weekend.

From there, a continuing west-northwest path is forecast at this time, a track that would mean a near-worst case scenario for driving oil inland over the Mississippi Delta in Louisiana.

In this track, east to southeast winds averaging 30 to 60 mph with higher gusts would drive the oil onshore.

The many marshes, estuaries and channels in the Delta Region could act like a sponge trapping the oil for a long period of time.

Wave action, on the order of 5 to 10 feet or more, would be too much for protective booms to handle. Waves carrying oil would over wash the booms. Winds and waves would push the booms onshore with the oil.TD 3

A major hurricane taking a similar path would be the “worst case” situation.

However, fortunately, the AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center does not expect this system to become such a monster. Instead, the system is forecast to fluctuate as a tropical storm with only a slight chance of reaching a minimal hurricane at this time.

In addition to clusters of thunderstorms and squalls rotating through the northern and eastern Gulf of Mexico and adjoining coastal areas from Florida to Louisiana and Texas, conditions will become progressively more stormy in this area this weekend.

Oil slick cleanup and containment crews and officials, as well as operations on other wells in the region are advised to take the necessary precautions.

Tropical systems over open waters can suddenly pulse or a squall with hurricane force winds can hit with little notice.

We can only hope the system remains weak, minimizing the push of oil through the Delta.

AccuWeather.com Hurricane Expert, Joe Bastardi says there is still a possibility of the system turning more to the northwest, over the Florida Peninsula. This would mean different winds and less impact on the oil spill area and more rain and squalls for central Florida.

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — AccuWeather.com — Tropical activity over the Gulf oil spill is possible this weekend as AccuWeather.com meteorologists monitor a tropical wave located near Hispaniola.

According to meteorologists, the likely path of tropical activity will be across southern Florida early this weekend. In this scenario, the tropical disturbance will enter the eastern Gulf as a weaker system by Saturday, bringing enhanced thunderstorms across the spill area.

Choppy seas and gusty winds on Saturday and Sunday could send skimming vessels to port, delay coastal cleanup operations and render containment and absorption boom useless.

Unsettled seas can work to break up the oil slick into smaller pieces, while also working to speed up the weathering process of the oil into tar balls.

Strong, prevailing winds from the south accompanying a tropical storm or strong system of thunderstorms can keep oil contained toward the coasts and push pieces of the oil slick even further into the marshes and beaches.

Generally, the motion of a tropical system generates a current that will act in keeping the spill confined to the Gulf.

If the tropical system were to strengthen into a tropical depression or tropical storm later this week, meteorologists predict the effects on the spill to be less than Hurricane Alex, which moved through the southern Gulf in later June.

However, because the track of the storm is still not set in stone, there is a small chance the wave could take a more westward track through the open waters between Florida and Cuba.

The open waters of the southern Gulf are deep and warm, which is favorable for the strengthening of tropical activity.

It is not out of the question for this storm to form into a hurricane if it makes a turn to the west and avoids interaction with land.

A hurricane entering the Gulf will increase the impacts on oil spill cleanup operations. Skimming vessels could be sent to port for several days and more complex containment efforts over the ruptured well could be suspended.

Unsettled conditions and gusty winds could wash oil even farther into fragile wetlands and coastal areas.

Current Conditions over the Spill
On Wednesday, the weather will worsen slightly with wave heights increasing to 3-4 feet and winds gusting from the southeast at 10-20 mph.

Wave heights over the spill site have the potential to build to more than 5 feet throughout the day and winds could gust as high as 25 mph as storms move through the area. Waves will be smaller along the coast.

Temperatures will continue to be hot, with highs rising into the 90s each day before cooling into the 70s overnight.

According to AccuWeather.com meteorologists, another calm period will begin on Thursday before tropical activity from the wave over Hispaniola begins early in the weekend.

By Carly Porter, Writer for AccuWeather.com

STATE COLLEGE, PA. — AccuWeather.com — After all oil skimming vessels in the Gulf were ordered into port on Tuesday due to unsettled weather conditions surrounding Hurricane Alex, waves are expected to calm enough for operations to resume by Friday.

“Alex’s waves will calm down over the oil spill area during the next several days,” said AccuWeather.com Chief Hurricane Meteorologist Joe Bastardi. “However, very heavy rains will remain a concern through the end of the week.”

According to AccuWeather.com meteorologists, weather conditions should subside beginning Thursday, as wave heights begin to diminish and winds become light and variable. Wave action could still be tumultuous today, with some waves reaching more than 8 ft.

Winds on Thursday will gust 8-16 mph out of the east-southeast, dropping to just over 10 mph by Friday. Wave heights will peak at between 6 and 8 feet throughout the day on Thursday and diminish to 3-6 feet on Friday.

Scattered thunderstorms will threaten the area through the end of the week, becoming much more widespread and lessened by Friday.

Rainfall will be the biggest concern as the outer bands of Hurricane Alex drop 3-6 inches of rain over the oil spill area through the end of the week.

Lightning from thunderstorms can spark fires in the oil slick and strike drill ships and workers performing cleanup operations at least 10 miles away from where it is raining.

Ships performing oil skimming operations were ordered back to shore on Tuesday, and all efforts on the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida continue to be halted as of Wednesday morning. Onshore clean up and recovery efforts were halted on Wednesday. However, the drilling of two relief wells attempting to stop the leak is still in progress.

Various areas along the Louisiana coast have been struggling to keep oil-soaking booms in place, and crews are remaining on high alert that booms do not become detached.

BP still expects capping operations to wrap up by mid-August, but interruptions from an active 2010 hurricane season could hamper the stopping of the leak.

“Alex is an example of how far away tropical storms can still impact the oil spill in Gulf,” said Bastardi.

Hurricane Alex, currently a Category 1 hurricane, is expected to strengthen into a Category 2 storm before making landfall late Wednesday evening on northeastern Mexico.

By Carly Porter, writer for AccuWeather.com

News

If you want an idea of where the iPhone could be headed, keeping tabs on what competitors have to offer is a great place to start. At Google’s I/O conference this week, Google unveiled, among a dizzying amount of new features coming from all corners of the Googlesphere, the new Android operating system, codenamed "Froyo." The OS, otherwise known as Android 2.2, has a couple of key features that Apple needs to take notice of.

First, no syncing! That’s right, any media that Android users download on their computer is automatically updated to their phone through the cloud eliminating the nuisance of plugging a phone into a computer. Any iPhone user that has been through the agony of attempting to sync their phone when they’re halfway out the door knows how big this is. Staying with the theme of easy access to media, Android 2.2 allows users to stream all of their-DRM free music from their computer’s library to their phone. Pretty cool.

Second, the platform is lightning fast. Google has claimed that the OS is up to five times faster than its predecessor, Android 2.1, and that the Froyo mobile browser will be the fastest in the world. Mobile platforms are all about ease of use, and speed plays a huge part in the user’s experience. This may be a bigger win for Google than even they currently realize as the mobile conversation shifts away from, "We have a smartphone," to "Our smartphone is better."

Third, the Android 2.2. OS will support USB tethering and can act as a WiFi hotspot for any WiFi device. The only question is whether all mobile carriers will support tethering, but the idea of a user’s mobile phone acting as a WiFi hub for all users mobile devices is titillating, to say the least.

And finally, the dagger. Froyo will support Flash 10.1, and it doesn’t look bad at all, despite Steve Jobs’ claims to the contrary. Considering what a big story Apple’s feud with Flash has become over the past couple of years, it’s no surprise that Google had their sites set on integrating their mobile OS with Flash. If Froyo’s integration with Flash turns out to be a big success, as I suspect it will, it could turn into a major black mark on Jobs’ credibility, as it completely undermines everything the Apple CEO has been claiming for years.

As it stands now, Google is done playing catch-up on the mobile platform; they’re not only keeping pace with Apple, they’re starting to outpace them. The question may soon become something unthinkable only a year ago: Can the iPhone keep pace with Android?

Apps

The past week’s weather serves as a pretty good indication of how volatile the weather is in Boston this time of year, so you need a go-to weather app before you eschew your boots for Crocs.

Outside: We want accurate and reliable weather forecasts first and foremost, sure, but a great weather application needs an enticing user interface to keep us coming back. Fortunately, Outside has the most engaging and enjoyable interface of any weather app in the App store. While most weather applications try to jam more information than the user could ever possibly need into an over-crowded screen, Outside has a simple virtual window view that gives the user a quick, appealing view of the current weather. Users can drag the screen down to see more information, but the ease of use and unique take on a weather application sets Outside apart, though at $2.99, it won’t make it’s way onto many iPhones. 3.5 out of 5 stars

The Weather Channel: The app has long been the de facto non-native weather application for the iPhone, and it’s duly deserved. The free app has everything a user could want while staying faithful to the TV channel layout we’ve all become so accustomed to. What makes the app great is that the added information The Weather Channel gives you isn’t just filler. Items like pollen forecasts, 10-day forecasts, full screen radars and traffic cams, all contribute to the most useable weather app out there. This is one app that users download and never let go of; it’s the perfect app for its genre. 4.5 out of 5 stars

Thermometer: If you travel a lot, this app may be all you need. Instead of results based on pre-set locations that can take costly time to load, Thermometer is geographically based, allowing users to quickly find, in both Celsius and Fahrenheit, what the outside temperature is. It’s simple, but the execution is flawless, and is a must own if you live out of your suitcase. 3.5 out of 5 stars

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — AccuWeather.com — While the oil leak disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is bad enough, many people have been wondering what could happen if a hurricane were to slam into the region.

AccuWeather.com hurricane expert Joe Bastardi is concerned but multiple threats from storms throughout the season in the Gulf of Mexico.

Bastardi attributes heat rising over the tropical Atlantic to a collapsing El Ni±o pattern in the Pacific. In turn, the rising warm, moist air over the tropical Atlantic is forecast to unleash a top-10 hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin.

With 16 to 18 tropical storms and/or hurricanes expected, a significant number of these are bound to make their way into the Gulf of Mexico. Bastardi expects a little more than 1 out of 3 tropical storms and/or hurricanes to impact U.S. coastal waters this season.

The hurricane seasons of 1998, 2005 and 2008 had similarities to the expected pattern this season.

Some locations could be hit by more than one storm.

In this scenario, much of the central and western Gulf of Mexico could be one of several targets for potential multiple tropical storm and/or hurricane landfalls this year.

Depending on the approach of a tropical storm or hurricane, increasing winds and building, massive seas would first halt containment operations.

Rough seas would dislodge or destroy protective booms, rendering them useless as the storm draws closer.

Even a glancing blow from a hurricane passing to the west of the oil slick could be enough for winds and wave action to drive the goo nearby onshore, or to more distant fishing and recreation areas, perhaps in foreign waters.

During the age of sail, winds occasionally blew ships hundreds of miles off course. The wind could have the same effect on the oil slick.

Now, imagine several storms during the season doing the same thing.

There has been some speculation on the impact an oil slick might have on hurricane intensity, perhaps to the point of limiting the storm’s heat/moisture grabbing properties. However, high winds from the storm would probably mix the surface of the water/oil to the point, where it would not significantly have an impact.

Given the untimely nature of the weather, this could be a nasty summer and fall dealing with hurricanes in the Gulf, Atlantic and Caribbean, their natural effects and disasters alone, let alone managing the complicating oil slick disaster from the short term weather.

By AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski

State College, Pa. — AccuWeather.com — Winds and waves will increase later in the weekend into early next week and may cause oil slick to shift. Concerns of hurricanes and drift remain for the weeks and months ahead.

Crews were lowering an over-sized funnel 5,000 feet down to the Gulf of Mexico floor Friday in an attempt to partially contain oil spewing from one of the damaged pipes. If successful, oil from that funnel will then be pumped to vessels on the surface. However, the operation has never been attempted at this depth before.

There already is a chemical dispersal system in place to help break up leaking oil before it reaches the surface. Planes are flying over the slick area delivering dispersal agents to combat the oil at the surface.

The long term effect of the slick and dispersal agents will have on the environment is uncertain.

Winds, Waves to Build Sunday

Seas over top of the source of the leaks were averaging a foot or less Friday morning and were expected to continue at this tranquil stage into Saturday night. During this same period, winds will remain light, but shifting from the south and southwest to the north and northeast by late Saturday.

During the period from Sunday into Monday, winds and correspondingly waves are forecast to increase. As winds swing around to the east and northeast and kick up to between 12 and 25 mph, waves will build to between 3 and 5 feet.

Wind and waves may cause some stability challenges for surface vessels.

Winds from this direction may also allow the massive oil slick or parts of it to shift westward along the southern Louisiana coast, while perhaps creating a little push away from the coasts of Alabama and the western part of the Florida Panhandle.

The slight chop expected later this weekend into next week may also work to break up parts of the oil slick, while lowering the efficiency and stability of boom systems

Meanwhile, approximately 5,000 feet down, there is no significant wave action. Even during a hurricane, the weather at the bottom remains relatively calm, aside from steady deep water currents.

A Grim Hurricane Forecast

AccuWeather.com hurricane expert Joe Bastardi remains concerned about the possibility of a June hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico this year.

Typically in June, hurricanes form in the western Caribbean and drift northward toward regions such as the Gulf of Mexico.

While the potential effects of a hurricane on the oil slick are indeed a wild card, there are some scenarios to ponder.

Depending on the strength and track of tropical storms, periodic rough seas could be a serious problem for containment operations and may halt the process until the storms pass.

Strong winds could steer part of the existing surface oil slick toward the northern Gulf Coast, or elsewhere. High winds from a hurricane could also cause some oil to become airborne in blowing spray, while a storm surge could carry contaminants inland.

On the other hand, to some extent rough seas and heavy rain tend to work toward breaking up an oil slick.

Unpredictable Long-term Drift

While the factor of winds, waves and storms makes for a tremendous forecast challenge as to where the oil slick will end up, ocean currents take the problem to a whole new level.

The Loop Current, located in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, is a concern, as it links to the Gulf Stream, which carries warm water northward along the Atlantic Seaboard.

In theory, if the oil slick were to get caught in the Loop Current, it could be transported to the Gulf Stream around Florida waters, then up part of the East Coast, potentially impacting wildlife and shoreline communities along the way.

On one hand, prevailing winds over the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico this time of year are from the south. Since the slick is still over 100 miles away from the main circulation of the Loop Current in the southeastern Gulf, it would appear to not be an immediate concern.

However, small local spirals, known as eddies, often break off of the Loop Current and could cause the slick to wander and spread just about anywhere. The Loop Current itself often changes shape and location to some extent, adding more uncertainty to the mix.

Local currents along the shoreline may protect some communities and could bring the slick onshore in others. However, winds and tides can cause these local currents to shift by the hour.

One thing is for sure, the longer the leak goes unchecked, the greater the chance of the slick spreading to areas other than just the Louisiana shoreline.

By AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski

As recovery efforts begin after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, AccuWeather.com reports that the Caribbean nation is also overdue for a major hurricane, said chief meteorologist and long range forecaster Joe Bastardi.

In 1963, Hurricane Flora brought heavy rainfall and flooding to Haiti, damaging crops, buildings and trees. During that five year period in the 60s, Bastardi said, two more intense storms, Cleo and Inez, also hit Haiti.

“One has to worry that with it being over 40 years since the last direct hit from a major hurricane that the natural odds (of it happening again soon) would be a concern,” Bastardi said.

Major devastation from a direct hit is not as common in Haiti because of its location, as storms usually hit farther east, AccuWeather reported. Haiti’s mountainous geography also helps weacon storms before they do much damage, but wide deforestation has increased the risks for erosion and flooding.

Bastardi said what is more common in Haiti is for a slow-moving, developing system to stall and bring excessive rainfall, and this rainfall is as big of a concern to Haiti as the threat of a major hurricane.

“Past storms Hanna, Jeanne and Ike were not direct hits on the Haitian coast, yet excessive rain caused tremendous damage,” he said.

Bastardi also adds that for the upcoming hurricane season, at least 1-2 weak systems will bring enhanced rainfall to Haiti, which could hamper any continued earthquake recovery efforts.

A winter storm warning is in effect for most of Southern New England as a blizzard has crushed its way up the East Coast.

Spotters on the amateur Fire Radio System, which usually monitors fires around the state, announced they picked up the first signs of flakes falling in Boston at 11:43 p.m.

Snow is expected to cover the region. The warning is in effect until noontime on Sunday. Fifteen inches of snow could fall in the area, with southeastern Massachusetts getting the worst of it.

With the snow will come gusty winds up to 35 MPH.

The National Weather Service issues a winter storm warning when an average of 6 or more inches of snow is expected to fall in a 12-hour period or 8 inches in a 24-hour period.

State College, Pa. — AccuWeather.com — AccuWeather.com reports areas of wind-driven rain and snow will challenge even the heartiest shoppers on Black Friday from the Great Lakes to the coastal Northeast.

The track of the storm is still questionable as a jog farther east or west than now anticipated could mean the difference between rain and snow at your location.

That being said, it is looking more likely the area destined to be hit by snow will stretch from the mountains of West Virginia to eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, upstate and western New York and southern Ontario.

In the higher ground over this region, there could be several inches or more with slushy or snow covered roads.

Interstates that could be affected in this area include 70, 71, 77, 79, 80, 86 and 90.

As is typically the case, elevation and proximity to the shore of lakes Erie and Ontario will play a role. Lower elevations close to the lake will tend to get a mixture of rain and snow, or the snow may simply not stick to roads.

Farther west, narrow bands of heavy lake-effect snow can slow travel over the traditional snow belts of northern Michigan and Wisconsin.

Meanwhile, the most likely scenario for the Interstate 95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to New York City to Portland, Maine, drenching rain can easily lead to not only delays, but also flooding in poor drainage areas.

Fortunately, it appears the rain will end early Friday from Philadelphia southward to the nation’s capital.

Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski

Weather forecasters have announced that Tropical Storm Danny has formed east of Florida and is rapidly strengthening.

Danny is expected to gain hurricane strength by Friday and is projected to make landfall on Cape Cod by Saturday.

Blast will bring you more as this story develops.

I got stuck with a weather story on Tuesday at the Boston Globe.

I actually really like writing about the weather, and I love weather maps and statistics and even lightening storms.

But I wasn’t prepared for the response I’d get for a simple story about advection fog rolling over Boston on Tuesday.

There were emails about conspiracy theories — people thought the government was sending Swing Flu through the fog. There were emails calling my an idiot, telling me to get a real job and write about real things. There were references about Kennedy flatulence. And there were cool emails with photos.

Here are the photos.

Brush fires burned throughout New England Friday, including three Eastern Massachusetts communities — Cambridge, Gloucester, and a very large fire in Lexington that required dozens of fire units from across the state for mutual aid.

The Boston Globe reported that a fire broke out along the banks of the Charles River in Cambridge and that 35 acres burned in Gloucester. The Lexington fire was being battled most of the day.

Lexington fire officials said that 40 fire units were used from several communities, including 17 engine trucks and nine brush units.

Several outdoor fires were also reported in Boston.

There was no word on injuries.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag warning for most of New England and eastern New York until 8 p.m. this evening, and will probably continue the alert tomorrow.

According to the Weather Service, low humidity, 15-25 percent, and high wind gusts combined with a lack of rain lately have created perfect conditions for fires.

“A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly,” the Weather Service said.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — AccuWeather.com — Ahead of a potent storm, unseasonably mild air will pour across the eastern-third of the nation Wednesday. Temperatures will soar above typical mid-February highs by 10 to 20 degrees.

Highs today will rise into the 60s as far north as Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Temperatures will even eclipse the 50-degree mark in Boston and New York City. The warmth will challenge record highs in Philadelphia, Raleigh and Charlotte.

Today’s warmth will get swept away with the passage of the storm’s cold front. Howling winds will usher the cooler air into the Northeast and Carolinas tonight into Thursday.

The winds will be strong enough to potentially down tree branches and power lines, as well as overturn high-profile vehicles. The gusty winds could also lead to numerous flight delays at the major airport hubs on Thursday.

State College, Pa. — AccuWeather.com — All things considered, this has been a brute of a storm, and it’s not over yet. Across northern New England, heavy snow will continue for several hours Wednesday night with total accumulations reaching 12 to 18 inches. The excessive snowfall will spread into Maritime Canada as well.

In Ohio and western Pennsylvania, the worst of the snowstorm is over, and the storm will soon wind down across much of upstate New York.

The weather following the storm will be cold.

State College, Pa. — AccuWeather.com — A major winter storm with widespread snow and ice is in the process of overspreading the Northeast, and if what has already happened farther west is any indication, this may be one of the more potent systems this winter season.

Tuesday evening through Wednesday, a large area from Indiana to New England will pick up several inches of snow, with more significant accumulations possible, significant in the sense of a foot or more. The heaviest snow from the storm will stretch from northeastern Pennsylvania into northern New England. Portions of the mid-Atlantic will have their heaviest snow of the winter so far.

The storm will also produce a major ice event from the Ohio Valley into the mid-Atlantic region. The buildup of ice will no doubt bring down trees and power lines. In some areas of the Midwest and the central Appalachians, it could very well be a crippling ice storm.