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Video: Pregnant woman suffering from heat exhaustion rescued from Florida wilderness

Tue, 12 May 2026 19:53:38 -0400

MARION COUNTY, Fla. – Members of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office jumped into action in Florida on Friday regarding a pregnant woman in distress deep in the wilderness.

First responders had a busy start to the weekend as they were dispatched to help rescue crews in locating a pregnant woman, a man and three dogs in the Juniper Prairie Wilderness, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

PHOTOS: FIREFIGHTERS RUSH TO RESCUE 3 FROM WISCONSIN HOME AMID RISING FLOODWATERS

The couple had ventured deep into the wilderness, admitting they were unprepared and had underestimated the heat for the day, with little water, according to officials.

Due to temperature and medical concerns, and the risk to a woman who is 25 weeks pregnant, Marion County Rescue Crews utilized a helicopter to locate the group.

Helicopter footage from the sheriff’s office shows how they quickly located the couple, with the man giving a thumbs-up while the woman lies on the ground to rest.

An additional team of deputies and rescue crews reached the hikers and immediately provided water and medical care.

According to officials, the woman was showing blatant signs of heat exhaustion and was given an IV drip to help with dehydration before being extracted by way of ATVs through the extensive trail.

10 PEOPLE RESCUED AFTER PLANE CRASHES INTO THE OCEAN OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA

The couple and all three dogs were safely evacuated from the wilderness area.

It is always important to know your physical limits when venturing into the great outdoors and to properly prepare for the environment you are traveling to.

TRIPLE-DIGIT HEAT RETURNS TO THE WEST AS DOZENS OF MAJOR CITIES EYE RECORD-BREAKING TEMPERATURES

Officials suggest these tips when planning a hike outdoors in the heat:

How many launches will SpaceX complete in May after a very active April?

Tue, 12 May 2026 18:39:58 -0400

FLORIDA – It has been an active May so far for space lovers, as a plethora of rockets have been launched over the course of the month.

As SpaceX operations continue, the Falcon 9 uncrewed rocket has once again blasted off into space on Monday.

Falcon 9 is a reusable two-stage rocket designed for reliable and safe transport of people and supplies into Earth's orbit and beyond.

This would mark the 4th launch so far this month, with an additional five planned launches over the next nearly 2 weeks.

Currently, prediction markets over at Kalshi are expecting a 90% chance of over 10 launches.

Those same markets are expecting a 37% chance of at least 12 total rocket launches by the end of May, two more than SpaceX has scheduled for flight.

10 PEOPLE RESCUED AFTER PLANE CRASHES INTO THE OCEAN OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA

The world's leader in reusable rockets completed 12 launches in April, giving reason to believe this could happen again.

NASA STARTS PREPARATIONS FOR ARTEMIS III MISSION WITH SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM ROLLOUT

SpaceX will continue to update the public on upcoming missions and the status of each flight.

What is an Omega block?

Tue, 12 May 2026 18:05:29 -0400

Many weather patterns earn their name simply by how they look – an Omega block is one of them.

WHAT ARE EL NINO AND LA NINA CLIMATE PATTERNS?

An Omega block is a stagnant weather pattern named for its resemblance to the Greek letter Ω.

It occurs when a large ridge of high pressure becomes sandwiched between two areas of low pressure on either side – creating the Omega image.

This setup acts as an "atmospheric traffic jam" – bringing the existing weather patterns to a halt in place, allowing existing conditions to persist for longer than normal.

HOW HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE DRIVE THE WEATHER

In this blocking pattern, cooler temperatures and precipitation accompany the lows, while warm and clear conditions prevail under the high.

Omega blocks are usually large, which means they are one of the more stubborn blocks to break down.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

This can create concerns about flooding where the wet weather persists, and drought worries where the dry weather happens.

11 people rescued after plane crashes into the ocean off the coast of Florida

Tue, 12 May 2026 16:37:58 -0400

MELBOURNE BEACH, Flo. – First responders were sent scrambling after a plane carrying 11 people crashed into the ocean off the coast of Florida on Tuesday afternoon.

The U.S. Coast Guard's Southeast Division said they're actively searching for an airplane that crashed about 80 miles off Melbourne.

CLEANUP EFFORTS UNDERWAY AS LARGE AMOUNT OF SARGASSUM SPOTTED ON MIAMI BEACH

It's unknown why the plane crashed, but storms were reported in the area at the time, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

Weather conditions in Melbourne, Florida, consisted of 17 mph wind speeds, with a high chance for showers and thunderstorms, and an 80% chance of precipitation, according to the National Weather Service.

The Coast Guard said all 11 people are reportedly accounted for and are being brought to emergency medical services for further evaluation.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told our affiliate, FOX 35, that the plane was traveling between islands in the Bahamas when it crashed, and the cause remains under investigation.

Everyone onboard the plane has been taken to the hospital for treatment, according to Brevard County officials.

SEVERE STORMS TO DRENCH FLORIDA WITH MUCH-NEEDED RAIN AMID EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS

Stay with FOX Weather for the latest information about this story.

Brewing ‘Super’ El Niño may self-destruct after reaching record peak, triggering rapid La Niña return

Tue, 12 May 2026 14:14:58 -0400

A historically strong Super El Niño is forecast to take hold sometime this summer, virtually shutting down hurricane formation in the open waters of the Atlantic and unleashing a stormy second half of the year for the southern U.S.

However, the record-breaking strength of this El Niño could lead to its own rapid collapse.

NEW DATA REVEALS 100% CHANCE OF STRONG ‘SUPER’ EL NIÑO FORMING THIS YEAR

According to the FOX Forecast Center, since 1970, there have been five recorded Super El Niño events followed by a swift decline into either neutral or La Niña conditions.

WHAT ARE EL NINO AND LA NINA CLIMATE PATTERNS?

El Niño is one of three phases of a climate cycle called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). It describes natural temperature changes in the central Pacific Ocean that alter atmospheric circulation and can greatly influence global weather.

El Niño describes warmer than average water across the equatorial Pacific, while La Niña describes colder than average water conditions, and ENSO neutral refers to a state where temperatures are close to average.

BREWING SUPER EL NIÑO COULD TURN THE CALIFORNIA COAST INTO A SUMMER HOTSPOT FOR GREAT WHITE SHARKS

During El Niño, above-average water temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean produce strong winds that hinder tropical development in the Atlantic and enhance development in the Eastern Pacific, where hurricane season begins this Friday.

Furthermore, El Niño tends to bring increased storms across the southern U.S., from California to Florida, as well as drier conditions for the Northern Tier from Washington to Ohio.

It also tends to spike temperatures worldwide, as heat is released from the Pacific Ocean.

WARM WATERS AND POTENTIAL SUPER EL NIÑO COULD 'SUPERCHARGE' START TO EASTERN PACIFIC HURRICANE SEASON

In a strange twist, the storms that define El Niño, which are fueled by the same warm water, eventually lead to its downfall.

Through a process known as atmospheric venting, these storms transfer heat from the ocean surface. Warm water sends air rising high into the atmosphere, releasing that heat in the form of clouds and thunderstorms.

This dispersal of heat is exactly why global temperatures often spike during El Niño years; the ocean is effectively exhaling its stored warmth across the globe.

EL NIÑO EXPECTED TO DRIVE ATLANTIC STORM ACTIVITY AS COUNTDOWN TO HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS

However, this massive energy displacement cannot last forever.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, once that reservoir of heat is exhausted, the system reaches a breaking point and the chain reaction reverses.

"As the ocean surface begins to cool, the trade winds that had weakened or reversed during the peak of the event surge back to life," the Forecast Center said.

HURRICANE SEASON 2026: THESE ARE THE STORM NAMES YOU'LL SEE THIS SEASON

"These winds push any remaining warm water toward Asia, which allows for upwelling. This process pulls cold water from several hundred meters below the surface back up to the top, rapidly chilling the Pacific."

The rapid cooldown leads directly to a La Niña.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

In looking at the previous Super El Niño years since 1970, four out of five instances were followed immediately by La Niña the next year.

If this pattern holds, the extreme heat of the current cycle is setting the stage for a return to La Niña in 2027.

La Niña is generally characterized by colder, wetter winters across the Northern Tier, while the southern U.S. is generally drier.

La Niña also tends to supercharge the hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean's Main Development Region.

Cleanup efforts underway as large amount of sargassum spotted on Miami Beach

Mon, 11 May 2026 22:26:52 -0400

MIAMI, Flo. - A large amount of seaweed known as sargassum has washed up along the shores of Miami Beach.

FLORIDA FRENZY: SARGASSUM, DEAD DOLPHINS AND COCAINE SHARKS MAKE HEADLINES DURING SPRING BREAK

Officials said the sargassum bloom has persisted for months and could become record-breaking this year.

The City of Miami Beach, in coordination with Miami-Dade County Parks, is using beach-friendly equipment to blend the sargassum across the city’s 7.5-mile stretch of beach each day.

Beach operations crews drive tractors equipped with rear-mounted blades along the shoreline during high tide to mix and disperse the seaweed. Crews also use barber rakes in areas where larger amounts accumulate.

Once the seaweed is removed and allowed to dry, it is transported to a landfill.

HERE'S WHY PEOPLE IN THE SUNSHINE STATE NEED TO BE ON ALERT DURING ALLIGATOR MATING SEASON

According to the City of Miami, before crews begin the process, the county’s sea turtle conservation program surveys the area for nests and hatchlings to ensure no sea turtles are harmed during this process.

Sargassum is a naturally occurring brown seaweed that floats in large masses across the ocean and commonly impacts Florida coastlines.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AS FLORIDA'S SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON KICKS OFF

Many beaches in South Florida, including Fort Lauderdale Beach, are currently experiencing heavy accumulations of sargassum.

According to NOAA, sargassum releases hydrogen sulfide gas as it decomposes on beaches, producing a smell similar to rotten eggs.

Sargassum can contain high levels of arsenic, heavy metals, organic contaminants and marine debris that may be harmful to humans.

SARGASSUM SEAWEED BLOOMS PLAGUING ATLANTIC BEACHES TRACED BACK TO WEST AFRICA

The Florida Department of Health said hydrogen sulfide can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and may be especially problematic for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.

In order to protect residents and visitors, officials in Miami are continuing cleanup efforts as sargassum season is expected to continue throughout the summer months.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

City crews said they will continue to remove excess seaweed as the blooms continue to wash ashore.

Spanish archaeologist uncovers massive 2,400-year-old ship graveyard

Mon, 11 May 2026 20:07:04 -0400

A group of Spanish archaeologists discovered a massive 2,400-year-old ship graveyard in the Bay of Gibraltar.

PHOTOS SHOW POSSIBLE TREASURE FROM 300-YEAR-OLD 'HOLY GRAIL' OF SHIPWRECKS OFF COLOMBIA

While working on a three-year research initiative known as Project Herakles, researchers from the University of Cádiz and the University of Granada uncovered at least 150 archaeological sites, most of them shipwrecks.

Some of the discoveries date back to the fifth century B.C.

Many of the wrecks were found on the seafloor of the Bay of Gibraltar, also known as the Bay of Algeciras. The narrow waterway sits at the northern end of the Strait of Gibraltar, linking the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

The bay has been known for its rough waters, which have claimed vessels ranging from ancient Roman ships to British and Spanish warships.

HOW WEATHER TURNED THE GREAT LAKES INTO A SHIPWRECK GRAVEYARD

"Before starting Project Herakles in 2019, only four underwater sites were known in the area. Today, we have information on more than 150 documented sites in just three years of work," Felipe Cerezo Andreo, a lecturer in archaeology at the University of Cádiz, told FOX News Digital.

Andreo said the discoveries were the result of years of extensive research and exploration.

"They can now be studied, protected and shared," Andreo said.

Researchers identified numerous vessels spanning multiple eras, including medieval ships and World War II-era wrecks.

NEW 3-D IMAGES OF TITANIC SHOWS SHIPWRECK IN INCREDIBLE DETAIL

"The bay was a very important space in antiquity," Andreo said. "We have evidence of settlements such as Carteia and Iulia Traducta that used these waters as their main port."

When the researchers first began the project, they combed through historical research, interviewed local fishermen, divers and utilized advanced marine scanning technology to locate, map and find the wrecks.

ELUSIVE SHIPWRECK FOUND ON BOTTOM OF LAKE MICHIGAN AFTER 139 YEARS

The archaeologists were then able to find the shipwrecks, most that are from the 18th to 20th centuries, but also Phoenician, Punic and Roman ships buried under the sand.

According to the team, one of the most exciting discoveries was the wreck of the Puente Mayorga IV, a small late-18th-century gunboat used to attack British ships.

"The bay has functioned as a funnel of global history, and this is reflected in a seabed that preserves archaeological evidence," Andreo said.

To show the findings, researchers created virtual models and 360-degree videos of the sites that the public can access online and at local museums and town halls.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

"We want society to feel that these shipwrecks are their ‘museums beneath the sea,’" Andreo said. "Ultimately, protecting these remains is about protecting the pages of the book that explain who we are today."

Southern California beachgoers face foul smell as untreated wastewater pollutes popular waters

Mon, 11 May 2026 19:57:20 -0400

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Thousands of residents in San Diego are dealing with an awful stench emanating from the Tijuana River, posing health risks and the potential closure of Southern California’s best-known beaches.

The Tijuana River Valley, which lies between the City of Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, has been affected by untreated wastewater, which is beginning to affect businesses such as the upscale resort city of Coronado, California.

MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WASTEWATER OVERFLOW DURING EXTREME FLOODING IN MICHIGAN

The Hotel del Coronado, an iconic and astonishing venue with a long and rich history dating back to 1888, has long suffered from the foul stench.

The upscale resort has fallen victim to pollution due to millions of gallons of wastewater infiltrating the water along the beach every day.

"Untreated wastewater flows, contaminated sediment loads, and trash influxes plague the Tijuana River watershed, adversely impacting the affected environment, surrounding communities, and overall public health and safety of the region," a statement from the California State Lands Commission reads.

This occurs because transboundary flows from Mexico into the U.S. regularly occur due to inadequate water infrastructure that becomes overwhelmed by wastewater, debris, and heavy rainfall.

DOZENS OF EARTHQUAKES RATTLE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN REPORTED SWARM

Untreated wastewater and sewage overflows impede public access to the coast, forcing beaches to close for prolonged periods due to fecal contamination and poor air and water quality.

In fact, the iconic Hotel del Coronado closed down for 129 days in 2025 due to this ongoing issue.

Recently, a member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Paloma Aguirre, has made numerous attempts to seek help from state government officials to declare a State of Emergency.

BRAIN-EATING AMOEBA DETECTED IN WATER AT ICONIC US NATIONAL PARKS, STUDY FINDS

"We aren’t just smelling a rotten egg odor; we are breathing in a gas that causes immediate sickness," Aguirre said.

"Our air is toxic. Our beaches are hazardous to our health. Our families feel trapped indoors," Aguirre said.

According to officials, wastewater from the city of Tijuana is supposed to be diverted before entering the Tijuana River Valley in California, then discharged five miles out into the ocean.

Thousands of people continue to suffer from poor air quality caused by Aerosolization and stenching pollutants carried through the water flows.

BREWING SUPER EL NIÑO COULD TURN THE CALIFORNIA COAST INTO A SUMMER HOTSPOT FOR GREAT WHITE SHARKS

As summer approaches, the issue could cause serious health and financial problems for thousands of Americans in the region.

People are calling on local, state and federal officials to take the necessary actions to solve the problem in the long term.

A plethora of agencies are involved in efforts to resolve and improve the many issues affecting water quality, air quality, infrastructure and public health, so Californians can safely enjoy the outdoors.

TOP 10 BEST BEACHES IN THE WORLD FOR 2026 ANNOUNCED

President Trump has called upon Mexico to address the flow of untreated wastewater entering the U.S., posing a serious health risk to thousands of people.

Severe storms take aim at millions across Southern Plains and Midwest this weekend following record heat

Mon, 11 May 2026 18:54:05 -0400

Record heat, which is beginning to arrive for millions across the Central U.S. will give way to the next rounds of severe weather by this weekend.

OMEGA BLOCK EXPECTED TO LEAVE MAJORITY OF US IN A LULL OF STAGNANT WEATHER THIS WEEK

An Omega block weather pattern is starting to take hold across the U.S., which is shifting record heat from the west over the middle of the country. Omega block weather patterns get their name because the upper air pattern looks like the Greek letter omega (Ω).

WHAT IS AN OMEGA BLOCK?

Temperatures will soar well into the 80s across the Plains through the workweek, with the hot weather peaking on Thursday and Friday.

This Omega pattern is expected to quickly break down shortly after and a dip in the jet stream will usher in several rounds of severe weather into the Central and Southern Plains, as well as parts of the Mid-Mississippi and Tennessee valleys by the weekend.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, as these systems emerge from the West, they will quickly begin to pull moisture from the Gulf northward into the heart of the country, which will fuel weekend storms.

HOW HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE DRIVE THE WEATHER

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a Level 2 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms across a corridor from southern Iowa to parts of North Texas on Saturday. This includes areas Wichita, Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls, Texas metro areas.

Saturday's storms will be driven by a dryline — the boundary between dry air from the west and moist air from the Gulf — that is forecast to set up across west Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. This setup could fuel the development of supercell thunderstorms.

SUPER EL NIÑO ACCELERATING: EXPECTED TO SUPPRESS ATLANTIC HURRICANES, PRODUCE WET PATTERN ACROSS SOUTHERN US

The biggest risk for supercells that do develop are large hail and damaging winds, but a few tornadoes are also possible.

A second, more powerful storm system is expected to develop across the region Sunday.

A complex of severe storms is likely to organize by late Sunday afternoon, tracking across Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. A broad Level 2 threat covers this area as well as parts of northwestern Missouri and central Oklahoma.

TRIPLE-DIGIT HEAT RETURNS TO THE WEST AS DOZENS OF MAJOR CITIES EYE RECORD-BREAKING TEMPERATURES

According to the Forecast Center, Sunday's storms could carry an enhanced risk of tornadoes, but the exact details of the forecast will be fine-tuned through the week.

Beyond the weekend, above-average rain appears likely for the second half of May, with a pattern that's even more conducive for storms Central U.S. expected to take shape.

Stay with FOX Weather for the latest on this weekend's potential storms.

Omega weather pattern to bring heat, storms and gloomy conditions to majority of US throughout the week

Mon, 11 May 2026 16:07:21 -0400

Millions of Americans are bracing for a wave of stagnant weather this week with the potential for soaring temperatures and severe storms across the country.

An Omega block weather pattern is starting to take hold across the U.S., leaving various regions under the same conditions all week long.

WHAT IS AN OMEGA BLOCK?

Omega block weather patterns get their name because the upper air pattern looks like the Greek letter omega (Ω).

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an Omega block is a combination of two cutoff lows, with a blocking high sandwiched between them.

This weather pattern occurs when a large ridge of high pressure (the hump) is sandwiched between two troughs of low pressure on both sides.

HOW HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE DRIVE THE WEATHER

This setup creates a type of atmospheric traffic jam because weather systems normally zip across the country from west to east.

Still, this system often becomes stuck over regions for days, leading to prolonged periods of the same weather.

This could entail heat, rain, fog, cloudy skies and much more.

SEVERE STORMS TO DRENCH GULF COAST, SOUTHEAST WITH POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WINDS, LARGE HAIL AND FLASH FLOODING

It is worth noting that this Omega block is lacking in the "blocking" category, but it will be better determined by Wednesday, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

Forecasters predict that, given the current weather pattern, a surge of southerly winds could reach the Northwest U.S., potentially bringing record heat and rain.

The left side of the Omega block, a low-pressure system, will hover over the Pacific Northwest, where rounds of light to moderate rain will drench the region until the end of the work week.

TRIPLE-DIGIT HEAT RETURNS TO THE WEST AS DOZENS OF MAJOR CITIES EYE RECORD-BREAKING TEMPERATURES

"These storms will be more of an annoyance than a major event," the FOX Forecast Center said. "Expect repetitive rounds of light to moderate rain."

The center of the Omega block features a massive ridge (the hump) of high pressure, which is responsible for the upcoming surge in heat across states in the Central U.S.

As the ridge continues towards the center and heat shifts from the west to the Central U.S., the warm air will halt and sink over the region, leading to clear skies and temperatures soaring 15 to 25 degrees above average, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

The opposite will occur on the right side of the Omega, where the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions will experience a round of severe storms that could bring damaging hail and winds.

SUPER EL NIÑO ACCELERATING: EXPECTED TO SUPPRESS ATLANTIC HURRICANES, PRODUCE WET PATTERN ACROSS SOUTHERN US

Popular cities that could be affected by severe weather include Chicago, Milwaukee and Kansas City.

Once this severe threat passes, the "stuck" nature of the Omega block pattern will keep dark clouds and scattered showers in the forecast through Friday for the Northeast, while the Midwest and the rest of the Southern U.S. will enjoy spring warmth to end the week.

ALASKAN TOWN SEES ITS LAST SUNSET FOR 84 DAYS AS THE 'MIDNIGHT SUN' PHENOMENON OF NON-STOP DAYLIGHT BEGINS

Overall, much of the U.S. will experience days of stagnant weather due to the Omega block, which will taper off a bit, but conditions will linger after the worst of it throughout the week.

Accelerating 'Super' El Niño expected to suppress Atlantic hurricanes, bring stormy pattern to southern US

Mon, 11 May 2026 15:11:18 -0400

Recent data from the Pacific Ocean shows that the transition to what is expected to be a "Super El Niño" climate pattern is accelerating, which could suppress the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season and also spell a wet winter for the entire Southern Tier of the U.S.

NEW DATA REVEALS 100% CHANCE OF STRONG ‘SUPER’ EL NIÑO FORMING THIS YEAR

Water temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean have already begun to warm to the 0.5 degrees Celsius threshold, the benchmark qualification for El Niño, which is expected to completely develop sometime this summer.

WARM WATERS AND POTENTIAL SUPER EL NIÑO COULD 'SUPERCHARGE' START TO EASTERN PACIFIC HURRICANE SEASON

WHAT ARE EL NINO AND LA NINA CLIMATE PATTERNS?

Furthermore, computer forecast models suggest that this summer's El Niño will not only likely be a "Super El Niño" — which is declared when water temperatures in the Central Pacific reach at least 2 degrees Celsius — but also one of the strongest El Niño events ever observed.

EL NIÑO EXPECTED TO DRIVE ATLANTIC STORM ACTIVITY AS COUNTDOWN TO HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS

While sea surface temperatures are beginning to reach 0.5 degrees Celsius in the Central Pacific, these are just instantaneous observations.

The most dramatic changes are occurring 100 to 200 meters below the surface.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, a massive pool of warm water that has been building in the Western Pacific is now "sloshing" eastward.

Driven by winds from the west and several other physical factors, this warm water will reach the El Niño zone sometime this summer, further increasing temperatures.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

There is currently a very high probability that El Niño conditions will persist through the end of 2026.

As El Niño strengthens, it will begin to "bend" the Pacific jet stream, which acts as an atmospheric conveyor belt for storms and is responsible for most of the rain seen across the Lower 48.

Long-range forecast models predict that El Niño will strengthen the jet stream and shift it southward, leading to a wetter-than-average pattern for California and the South in the second half of the year and through the winter months.

HOW TO FIND YOUR HURRICANE EVACUATION ZONE

While such a strong El Niño is expected to virtually shut down hurricane formation in the open waters of the Atlantic this year, the stormy pattern for the southern U.S. could actually generate tropical activity in the northern Gulf and along the Southeast coast.

In fact, the long-range European forecast model predicts near-normal tropical activity close to the U.S. mainland.

Both the FOX Forecast Center and FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross cautioned that it only takes one storm to cause major impacts.

The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30.

Meanwhile, this El Niño is expected to supercharge the Eastern Pacific Hurricane season, which begins this Friday and where sea surface temperatures are already 2 to 3 degrees above average.

Smarter grids, shorter outages: Inside New England's power restoration technology

Mon, 11 May 2026 13:41:19 -0400

New technology is helping a major energy provider restore power quicker in the three New England states they service.

The tech - called smart switches — is transforming the electrical grid by restoring power a lot quicker and more efficiently.

You've probably seen them, and don't even know it. They're devices that are installed on power lines to monitor electricity in real time and protect the system when something goes wrong — like a tree branch hitting a line, animals, lightning or a car hitting a pole.

But the goal is for them to revolutionize power restoration all the time — including during severe weather. It would mean shorter wait times and fewer trucks deployed.

"Just a simple tree coming down and sitting on a wire. Every one of those events requires a truck to be rolled. So, if we didn't have this device, what would happen is [a] tree limb comes down, hits the wire and causes a disturbance to electricity," David Gladey, Eversource vice president of distribution engineering, said.

WHY SOME POWER COMPANIES SHUT OFF ELECTRICITY AHEAD OF A HURRICANE

The devices talk to each other and isolate outage events, making outages a lot smaller than they normally would have been.

"What would have happened is that event would have gone all the way back to the beginning of our circuit…taking out all the customers along that circuit," Gladey said. "The smart devices are really allowing us to automatically restore customers, and it's also given us the exact location where the real problems are, where we can focus our resources on to get customers back even sooner."

During a power outage, the smart device recloser senses an electrical event or fault and quickly shuts off power to prevent damage. But most outages are temporary, so the device automatically turns the power back on after a few seconds.

If the issue has cleared, customers may just see a brief flicker instead of a long outage, according to Eversource.

If the problem is serious, it stays off and isolates only the affected section, so fewer people lose power.

Eversource hopes to advance this technology, and they're already evaluating the next level of smart devices that can detect other critical system performance needs such as downed electrical wires, leaning or downed poles, wildfire detection and predicting equipment failures.

"We know that we cannot continue just to rely on tree trimming as the way to solve this problem. We know that engineering-wise, we have to think about how we continue to automate and isolate these areas quicker and faster. That’s what this all does," Gladey said.

WATCH: DRIVERS SWERVE AS WINDS TOPPLE POWER LINES IN ARIZONA

Eversource has internally built a benefit cost analysis — a tool that allows them to input all of their reliability data, analyze the number of customers and the type of construction that's out there today.

The tool shows Eversource where they should add smart switches to get the highest value.

The technology currently covers over 15,000 miles of overhead circuits across Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Eversource has already installed around 8,500 across these states, and they continue to install between 300 and 400 smart switches each year. The energy provider said this tech prevents around 3.8 million customer outages each year.

In Connecticut alone, 1.5 million customer interruptions are avoided annually, and without the smart switches that are already installed, customers would experience four to six more outages each year.

"There’s always a lot of talk about big events, right? And none of us ever want to see those hit, but you know, it’s the smaller events, actually, that are becoming more frequent for us. And those events are becoming more impactful. Because you’re seeing basic wear and tear on the system. You’ve seen the wear and tear on the vegetation," Gladey said.

Over the years, Eversource has made progress installing these smart switches in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and part of Connecticut.

But garnering support from the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, or PURA, has proved to be quite difficult.

WHAT HAPPENS TO EXPENSIVE ELECTRONICS WHEN THE POWER GOES DOWN, ARE THEY SAFE?

"We’ve not had support from our regulator to be able to finance the investment we believe is needed to do that," Gladey said. "We have been very careful that we're not going to go to the next level of integration without clear regulatory direction."

Eversource and PURA have been engaged in a years-long series of legal and administrative disputes involving rate adjustments, regulatory oversight and other related issues.

A lawsuit filed by Eversource and other utilities in 2025 alleged that PURA disregarded state law and the chairwoman at the time, Marissa Gillett, acted independently in making major decisions rather than using the full commission.

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Gillett stepped down from her position as the PURA chairperson following the lawsuit filing and amid growing scrutiny. Thomas Wiehl has been serving as interim chairperson since then.

Eversource is urging Connecticut officials to consider the economic impact on the state when power outages aren't being addressed as fast as possible.

"Our entire response cost for a storm is less when you have those smart switches on the system because they're able to restore the power instead of us having to get a crew out there to analyze what exactly the fix is, and then to go ahead and make that fix," Gladey said.

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Gladey said Eversource is looking to install an additional 500 smart switches in Connecticut alone over the next five years.

"We are very committed that the right thing to do is to make that investment so we can shorten outages to the best of our ability," Gladey said. "We're excited to be able to work with them [PURA] to be able to convey what we think is needed, and those discussions are happening more and more, which is great."

But the change won't come without a rate increase for customers. Eversource is confident the additional cost will be worth it, saying investments are reflected in customers' bills, whether immediately or down the line.

"That money’s going back into the system to try and increase and improve our reliability and the resiliency of our system," a spokesperson said.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

"We haven't seen any areas where we've installed them, and they haven't provided the operational benefit," Gladey said. "The more you have the ability to strategically sectionalize and isolate, that’s gonna improve our ability to respond to customers."

PURA said they couldn't provide comment "due to ex parte communications" as they evaluate Eversource's next rate case.

You can read more about smart switches here.

Everglades wildfire scorches over 11,000 acres just outside Miami metro, Broward County

Mon, 11 May 2026 10:01:30 -0400

MIAMI, Flo. — A wildfire has scorched over 11,000 acres in Florida's Everglades, just outside the Miami metro suburbs, prompting officials to warn nearby residents of dangerous smoke.

The Max Road Miramar Fire is straddling the line between Miami-Dade and Broward counties. At least 11,000 acres have been burned, and the fire is 80% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service.

WHAT IS FIRE CONTAINMENT

The fire was first reported Sunday. The Pembroke Pines Police Department said that drivers stopping to watch the fires along US-27 were causing dangerous traffic backups.

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Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said they were working with state forest officials to protect nearby properties.

Florida Senator Rick Scott urged people on social media to adhere to any local road closures.

Aerial footage showed flames in the vicinity of a local subdivision, and smoke could be seen billowing for miles.

This comes in the middle of Florida's wildfire season, which is being compounded by a historic drought ongoing across the state.

THESE EVERYDAY COMMODITIES MAY COST YOU MORE AS SEVERE DROUGHT TRICKLES DOWN TO CONSUMERS

Almost 2,000 wildfires have burned nearly 120,000 acres just since the start of the year, the forest service said earlier this month.

Wildfires south of Jacksonville canceled and delayed Amtrak service last month.

While the vast majority of the state is under Exceptional or Extreme Drought conditions, Miami itself is roughly an inch below average rainfall, year-to-date. However, parts of the Everglades are also experiencing Extreme Drought.

SEVERE STORMS TO DRENCH GULF COAST, SOUTHEAST WITH POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WINDS, LARGE HAIL AND FLASH FLOODING

Fire officials are warning residents to take precautions if smoke is impacting your area. Those with respiratory conditions, older adults and children may be especially sensitive to smoke exposure.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue is advising people to stay indoors when possible and set home and vehicle A/C systems to recirculate.

Severe storms drench Florida with much-needed rain amid extreme drought conditions

Mon, 11 May 2026 03:31:53 -0400

Rain has finally returned to Florida in the form of severe storms as the state grapples with historic drought.

Storms developed along a cold front that lashed other parts of the Southeast and Gulf Coasts Monday with strong wind gusts and hail.

SUPER EL NIÑO ACCELERATING: EXPECTED TO SUPPRESS ATLANTIC HURRICANES, PRODUCE WET PATTERN ACROSS SOUTHERN US

Parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia were soaked with more rain Monday after picking up 3 to 6 inches over the weekend. Despite localized flash flooding, the rain is helping ease drought conditions that have completely covered the Southeast.

Social media video from Monday showed powerful wind gusts lashing Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as severe weather reached the Carolina coast.

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A Level 1 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms covers most of the Florida Peninsula from St. Augustine to Miami.

Storms rolled along the panhandle Tuesday morning, as the tail end of a cold front moved south through the day.

SEE IT: MISSISSIPPI DRONE VIDEO REVEALS DEVASTATION LEFT BEHIND BY TORNADO IN BOGUE CHITTO

Orlando, Tampa and Miami all had a chance of seeing severe storms as they fired south of the front Tuesday afternoon.

The biggest threat with any associated severe storms will be damaging wind gusts, as well as the potential for weak, isolated tornadoes.

The FOX Forecast Center said a widespread 1 to 2 inches of rain was possible from Tallahassee to Jacksonville. Localized amounts over 2 inches were possible where any slower-moving downpours set up.

Florida in particular is dealing with Extreme and Exceptional Drought conditions, with some of the biggest deficits in North Florida and the panhandle, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Tallahassee has measured only around 9 inches of rain so far this year, which is nearly 10 inches below its average of 18.37 inches.

EVERGLADES WILDFIRE SCORCHES 11,000 ACRES JUST OUTSIDE MIAMI METRO, BROWARD COUNTY

The dry conditions have contributed to a very active wildfire season, including a fire that erupted in the Everglades on Sunday, scorching nearly 11,000 acres just outside the Miami suburbs.

This severe weather pattern is typical for the month of May — when the region often sees its most frequent severe storms and tornadoes.

Alaskan town sees its last sunset for 84 days as the 'midnight sun' phenomenon of non-stop daylight begins

Sun, 10 May 2026 17:25:46 -0400

UTQIAGVIK, Alaska – The town at the northern tip of Alaska has seen its last moment of darkness for nearly three months as residents experience the phenomenon known to locals as "midnight sun."

In Utqiaġvik, Alaska (formerly Barrow), the northernmost village above the Arctic Circle, the sun has risen for the last time and will not set again for 84 days until August 2.

This event brings constant daylight to other areas, like Fairbanks, which will also experience 24 hours of daylight for the next 70 days.

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In places like Anchorage, the sun sets as late as 11:42 pm during the summer, an astonishing contrast to what other Americans experience on the East Coast.

The "midnight sun" occurs because of our planet’s tilt in relation to its orbit around the sun every year in the weeks surrounding the summer solstice.

The Earth’s axis between the north and south poles is angled 23.5 degrees away from the plane of the planet’s orbit around the sun, according to Alaska.gov.

EXPERTS CONFIRM THIS HAILSTONE BROKE THE RECORD AS THE BIGGEST IN TEXAS HISTORY

The farther north or south you travel from the equator, the more dramatic the changes in daylight are.

"Around June 21, the North Pole is pointed toward the sun, so as the Earth rotates on its axis, the sun appears to move in a circle in the sky without falling below the horizon," explained officials. "The lowest latitude at which this happens is the Arctic Circle."

The result is unimaginable to some: nonstop sunlight.

All areas north of the Arctic Circle at 66.3 degrees north latitude will have some days of 24-hour daylight.

An example of the opposite would be during winter, when Utqiaġvik experiences 64 days without daylight in the heart of the frigid season.

Starting today, locations such as Anchorage will experience 16 to 19 hours of daylight each day, forcing locals to push outdoor activities such as gardening, hiking, and fishing into the later part of the day, a common practice.

VIDEO: DENALI NATIONAL PARK PUPPY CAM GOES LIVE WITH NATIONAL PARKS-THEMED LITTER IN HONOR OF AMERICA 250

The last sunrise for the next 84 days in Utqiaġvik took place at 2:58 am on Sunday, as residents hunker down for a bright spring.

Triple-digit heat returns to the West as dozens of major cities eye record-breaking temperatures

Sun, 10 May 2026 12:15:45 -0400

Record heat has gripped millions across the West, with California's Central Valley forecast to reach 100 degrees Monday and other parts of the region expected to soar into the upper 80s and low 90s through Wednesday.

TRACKING POTENTIAL SUPER EL NINO: HOW COULD IT SHAPE WEATHER PATTERNS ACROSS THE US?

This comes on the heels of a winter season that was one of — if not the — warmest on record for more than 50 western cities. In March, a historic heat wave swept across the West, shattering all-time temperature records.

In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that March was the warmest on record across the Lower 48.

NOAA: WARMEST MARCH EVER RECORDED ACROSS LOWER 48 DRIVEN BY HISTORIC WESTERN HEAT DOME

More than 1,200 locations recorded one of their 10 warmest Marches ever, while nearly 400 experienced their warmest March on record.

A ridge of high pressure is anchored over the region, allowing warmth to increase alongside dry and sunny conditions.

High temperatures are expected to climb up to 30 degrees above average, with extreme heat warnings in effect for parts of Phoenix and Palm Springs, where triple-digit heat is expected to peak early this week.

Numerous cities will be 15 to 30 degrees above average with this pattern lasting through midweek. During this period, more than 60 daily record highs are in jeopardy across 10 states, from California to Nebraska.

Bakersfield, California, is forecast to reach 102 degrees Monday.

BREWING SUPER EL NIÑO COULD TURN THE CALIFORNIA COAST INTO A SUMMER HOTSPOT FOR GREAT WHITE SHARKS

Extreme heat warnings remain in effect through Tuesday for parts of inland Southern California, while heat advisories are also in effect for portions of California’s Central Valley, including Fresno and Bakersfield.

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Currently, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City are experiencing their warmest year-to-date on record, running up to 5 degrees above average so far this year, which is expected to continue into this week.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, Las Vegas typically averages highs in the mid-80s by May, but is already climbing into the triple digits.

MORE THAN 30 EARTHQUAKES RATTLE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN REPORTED SWARM

Temperatures across the West will begin to return closer to average beginning Wednesday, as the heat core shifts east into the Plains by late next weekend.

Dozens of earthquakes rattle southern California in reported swarm

Sun, 10 May 2026 08:28:36 -0400

CALIFORNIA — Dozens of earthquakes rattled parts of California on Saturday and into Sunday in what experts call an earthquake swarm, with many centered near Brawley in Imperial County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

While many of the earthquakes remained below magnitude 4.0, the swarm peaked with a magnitude 4.7 tremor just after midnight on Sunday. Reports of light shaking were felt from north of the city in the Coachella Valley, south to Calexico, and reaching into San Diego and Mexicali.

The initial quake that ignited the swarm in Brawley hit at approximately 4:14 p.m. local time on Saturday, measuring a 3.5 magnitude. It was centered 2 miles west-southwest of Brawley at a depth of about 8.5 to 9 miles, according to the USGS.

In fact, this past week in general has been active with earthquakes in the Golden State, stretching from the North Coast down through the Inland Empire and into the Imperial Valley.

The earthquakes in the Brawley swarm occurred at shallow depths, primarily ranging between 5 and 10 miles.

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Shallow quakes are typically felt more strongly than deeper ones because they occur closer to the earth's surface, according to experts.

There have been no reports of significant damage or injuries at this time. While larger quakes often trigger tsunami concerns, officials have ruled out any threat to the coast.

That said, experts will continue to monitor and review the seismic data.

Dangerous Mother’s Day storms to 'explode' across Texas with baseball-size hail and damaging winds

Sun, 10 May 2026 06:31:32 -0400

Significant severe weather capable of giant hail and destructive winds has begun to erupt across the southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley on Mother’s Day.

DAYS OF STORMS SOAK DROUGHT-STRICKEN GULF COAST, SOUTHEAST THROUGH MOTHER'S DAY WITH BREWING FLOOD THREAT

The greatest threat is across central Texas, from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to San Angelo, where a Level 3 out of 5 severe weather risk has been issued.

These storms all come as part of the continued multi-day threat that has brought severe storms across the Plains, Midwest, and Deep South over the past week, including powerful tornadoes.

SEE IT: MISSISSIPPI DRONE VIDEO REVEALS DEVASTATION LEFT BEHIND BY TORNADO IN BOGUE CHITTO

As a cold front pushed south on Sunday, it clashed with warm, humid air, causing storms to "explode" around midday.

Initially, these storms were expected to be discrete supercells capable of producing very large hail, with some stones potentially exceeding the size of a baseball.

As the afternoon progressed, the individual storms would have likely merged into a single, massive storm system traveling quickly across the region.

Because the lower levels of the atmosphere will be extremely warm and dry, these storms could produce significant damaging winds, with gusts potentially topping 70 mph, the FOX Forecast Center said.

A Level 3 out of 5 severe storm threat spans across central Texas, from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to San Angelo, with a broader Level 2 threat extending into parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

As a result of the growing storm threat, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott has activated state emergency response resources in anticipation of potential impacts across much of the state.

This comes as the National Weather Service has warned of significant thunderstorm activity starting Sunday night, including damaging winds that could exceed 75 mph and hail up to 2 inches in diameter.

During the month of May, these regions are typically the hotspot for severe storms and tornadoes, including states from Nebraska through central Texas, the heart of the well-known Tornado Alley.

Additionally, May also averages the highest number of tornadoes of any month during the year, which has not been the case so far this season. However, conditions may change toward the end of the month.

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Long-range forecasts suggest the atmospheric pattern will shift, bringing a return of troughing to the West.

Brewing Super El Niño could turn the California coast into a summer hotspot for great white sharks

Sat, 09 May 2026 14:42:08 -0400

A brewing super El Niño isn’t just set to rattle weather and fuel the start to the Eastern Pacific hurricane season—it may also push great white sharks farther up the California coast.

El Niño is a natural climate pattern that ushers in warmer-than-average surface water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean – opening the door for different species of sharks to venture closer and further north to the West Coast this summer.

"I think it's going to be a sharky summer off California this year," said Chris Lowe, professor of Marine Biology at Cal State, Long Beach, and Director of the Shark Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences.

With warmer surface waters, sharks that typically reside in the warmer waters of Baja California could venture north to Southern California and beyond.

WILDLIFE SERVICE OFFICIALS SEIZE 1,600 POUNDS OF ILLEGAL SHARK FINS IN ALASKA

Typically, great white, mako, and thresher sharks use the Southern California coast as an important habitat for nursing their youth.

During strong El Niño events, warmer waters reduce nutrient upwelling and overall productivity, prompting these species to shift farther north along the coast, Lowe said.

Similarly, warmer waters open the door to different species that otherwise wouldn't venture to the California coast, like bull sharks and tiger sharks.

"We always tell people when we get these unusual weather events that they really have to keep an eye out for species they don't normally see along their beaches," Lowe said.

GREAT WHITE SHARK MARKS MAJOR MILESTONE OFF NEW JERSEY COAST AS FIRST TAGGED SHARK TO MOVE NORTH

Sharks have species-specific thermal ranges that influence where they swim. Great white sharks often move northward or offshore when coastal waters warm.

"So what we expect is places off Baja where there are big white shark nurseries, those sharks might get moved into Southern California, and some of those Southern California white sharks might get moved up to Central California if the water gets too warm, which we suspect is going to be a cooker," Lowe said.

Typically, juvenile white sharks begin appearing in the spring, but this year they were observed as early as February. Lowe said researchers attribute this shift to a record-breaking heat wave that brought unusually high ocean temperatures to the West Coast.

WAYWARD SEA LION FINDS ITSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DURING DOWNPOUR IN WASHINGTON STATE

While warmer waters invite white sharks to venture farther north, they’re also rolling out the welcome mat for a longer stay.

July and August are typically the peak months for white shark activity in California, Lowe expects that peak to extend into the fall this year.

On the East Coast, Lowe said the El Niño weather pattern could push sharks that reside in Florida further north for the same reason.

WHAT ACTUALLY IS THE EL NINO CLIMATE PATTERN?

Don't flip out though – just because shark activity might increase, doesn't mean your beach days are finished.

White shark sightings are a regular occurrence in California and shark attacks are extremely rare.

While most people pray they never encounter the ocean’s apex predators, great white sharks do not consider humans prey.

According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, since 1950, there have been less than 250 shark incidents in California involving many species of sharks, the vast majority of which involved white sharks.

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While the Super El Niño could usher sharks further up the California coast, there are numerous ways to mitigate shark encounters.

Lowe advises staying aware of your surroundings and paying attention to wildlife activity, such as schools of fish or diving seabirds.

Swimmers should avoid murky water, where visibility is low, and opt to stay in groups at beaches with lifeguards on duty.

Brain-eating amoeba detected in water at iconic US National Parks, study finds

Fri, 08 May 2026 20:10:24 -0400

Sightseeing isn't the only thing happening at some of America's favorite national parks.

A new study shows that a devastating brain-eating amoeba has been detected in thermal waters at Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The footprint of this deadly pathogen that enters the body through the nose in warm freshwater is expanding, the study finds, into some of the most iconic tourist destinations and scenic landscapes across the United States at National Parks in Wyoming, Nevada and Arizona.

Researchers with the United States Geographical Survey (USGS) and Montana State University found traces of Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba, that poses a dangerously serious health risk present in hot springs and thermal environment in the popular western U.S. national parks, the New York Post reported.

The study published in ACS Publications tested 40 thermally impacted recreational waters across five western U.S. national parks and recreation areas were studied, with widespread detection – that reached levels of infection risks – occurring at the three popular national parks.

The study found that Naegleria fowleri can survive across a broad range of water temperatures—from about 63 degrees to nearly 131 degrees—highlighting its presence in both moderately warm and extremely hot recreational waters.

CHILD DIES FROM SUSPECTED 'BRAIN-EATING AMOEBA' AFTER SWIMMING IN NEBRASKA RIVER

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Naegleria fowleri thrives in warm freshwater lakes, rivers and hot springs and can infect the brain and destroy brain tissue.

While brain infections caused by the dangerous amoeba are very rare, they are nearly always fatal.

Across an eight-year period beginning in 2016, researchers collected 185 samples, detecting the deadly brain-eating amoeba in 34% of them.

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The highest detection amounts were recorded in hot springs at the Polecat Hot Springs in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park – with up to roughly 116 cells per liter.

The study detected Naegleria fowleri in several well-known public recreation spots, including Yellowstone’s Boiling River and Firehole River, as well as Granite Hot Springs in the Grand Teton region.

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The study—one of the first large-scale, multi-year surveys of Naegleria fowleri—identified previously unreported locations containing the amoeba, including Lewis Lake in Yellowstone, expanding the known geographic footprint of the devastating pathogen.

Naegleria fowleri typically enters a human through the nose after swimming or diving in a lake, river or other body of freshwater during the summer months, and there have been reports of traces in tap water, poorly maintained swimming pools and chlorine wave parks.

If the amoeba enters the nose and reaches the brain, it can cause a rare infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), an extremely deadly disease that has killed 163 of 167 patients in the United States between 1962 and 2024, according to the CDC.

While traces of the deadly amoeba have been recorded in some of the U.S.'s most coveted outdoor tourist destinations, there are several ways to mitigate the risk and protect yourself from Naegleria fowleri.

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The CDC recommends holding your nose or using a nose clip when jumping or diving into fresh water, keeping your head above water in hot springs, avoiding digging in shallow water where the amoeba is more likely to live, and using distilled or boiled tap water when rinsing your sinuses or cleansing your nasal passages.

Young great white shark 'Nori' marks major milestone off New Jersey coast as first tagged shark to move north

Fri, 08 May 2026 15:11:26 -0400

A young white shark named Nori is making big moves in the Atlantic, marking a significant moment for white shark seasonal migration this year.

Tagged by research nonprofit OCEARCH in October 2025 off Nova Scotia, Nori's name means seaweed in Japanese.

YOUNG GREAT WHITE SHARK SPOTTED OFF THE COAST OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE

The white shark is young, weighing 423 pounds and is 8 feet, 10 inches long, according to OCEARCH.

Nori is OCEARCH's first tagged white shark to make the move up north for the season, in search of cooler waters.

"Juvenile white sharks are not typically among the first sharks to begin this northward movement, making Nori’s early migration particularly interesting to follow," said OCEARCH Senior Scientist John Tyminski.

Nori was tracked moving from the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where she has hung out for several months, to being tracked up in New Jersey in recent days.

'HATTERAS HANGOUT': WHY DO WHITE SHARKS TEND TO LINGER AROUND THE NORTH CAROLINA OUTER BANKS?

The Outer Banks are a favorite hang out for white sharks like Nori. OCEARCH said the reason for this is likely because of ocean upwelling and temperature changes in the water.

The young white shark could continue her journey north and push back into Canadian waters like where she was tagged, but only time will tell.

By looking at OCEARCH's global shark tracker, it's clear that most of their tagged sharks are still hanging out in the Gulf, in the Atlantic around Florida or up in the Outer Banks.

OCEARCH TRACKER LIGHTS UP AS WHITE SHARKS SURGE ALONG EAST COAST AND GULF

To keep up with Nori and 400+ other ocean animals in real time, check out the free OCEARCH Global Shark Tracker app.

Indonesia's Mount Dukono volcano kills 3 hikers during eruption as 17 others, including tourists, evacuated

Fri, 08 May 2026 10:44:04 -0400

TOBELO, Indonesia — The Mount Dukono volcano in Indonesia erupted Friday morning local time, killing 3 hikers who had entered a restricted zone, according to local police.

The Police Chief of the North Halmahera Regency provided an update on KOMPAS TV, a state broadcast partner, that 20 climbers, including 9 tourists, were in a banned area during the eruption.

THE 46TH EPISODE OF THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT KĪLAUEA VOLCANO

He said the victims were two Indonesian citizens and one tourist. Their identities have not been released.

PERSON DIES AFTER GOING IN CLOSED-OFF AREA OF KILAUEA VOLCANO IN HAWAII NATIONAL PARK

The county's center for volcanology had issued a Level 2 alert, which indicated recent, heightened activity at Mount Dukono.

Officials said the eruption sent an ash plume more than 6 miles into the sky.

Indonesia is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire — a ring surrounding the Pacific Ocean, which holds 90% of the world's active volcanoes.

INDONESIA'S RUANG VOLCANO ERUPTS AS HUNDREDS EVACUATED AMID SPEWING LAVA, ASH CLOUDS

According to the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, Mount Dukono has been continuously erupting since 1933.

It sits on Halmahera Island which is roughly halfway between the Philippines and Australia.

Watch: Massive, ominous cloud approaches beach in Brazil, leaving onlookers stunned at phenomenon

Fri, 08 May 2026 07:09:28 -0400

An ominous-looking cloud stunned beachgoers in São Paulo, Brazil as it approached the South American beach.

SURREAL ROLL CLOUD SPOTTED IN OKLAHOMA IN WAKE OF THUNDERSTORMS

Footage captured by Gabriel Ferraz de Campos Naufel showed the unusual, tsunami-like cloud expanding across the sky.

"I was at Bonete Beach in Ilhabela, São Paulo, on my boat, when I saw a strange, cylindrical-shaped cloud approaching; it also seemed to have tentacles," Naufel told local news agencies.

In other videos posted during the phenomenon, people appeared mesmerized by the event.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the ominous-looking cloud was a phenomenon called a roll cloud, which is a low, horizontal, tube-shaped cloud associated with a thunderstorm.

During a roll cloud event, the cloud becomes completely detached from the thunderstorm base and typically appears to roll horizontally across the sky.

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The FOX Forecast Center says the roll cloud in São Paulo formed at the end of a thunderstorm, which sent a burst of cool air outward along the surface.

WATCH: 'FOG TSUNAMI' ROLLS OVER LAKE MICHIGAN, MESMERIZING VIDEO SHOWS

As the cooler air advanced, warmer, humid air was forced upward.

These conditions ultimately created the tsunami-like roll cloud seen over the beach.

Weekend severe storms threaten millions across Plains with Tornado Alley expected to reignite later in May

Fri, 08 May 2026 06:46:47 -0400

After a brief reprieve, a severe weather pattern is expected to return later this month across the Plains over the historical "Tornado Alley" which stretches from Nebraska south through Kansas, Oklahoma and parts of North Texas.

TWISTERS SLAM MISSISSIPPI INJURING 17 AND DAMAGING MORE THAN 300 HOMES DURING TORNADO EMERGENCY

Ahead of this pattern flip, severe storms are forecast to reignite over nearly 40 million people across parts of the Southern Plains through Mother's Day.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a Level 2 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms that covers central and eastern Oklahoma, as well as parts of North Texas on Saturday.

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This includes Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Tulsa and Wichita Falls, Texas. There's a chance of strong tornadoes rated EF-2 or higher for this area, the FOX Forecast Center said.

A broader Level 1 threat covers central and southwestern Kansas, parts of Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming, as well as much of the Gulf Coast east of Houston.

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Large hail and damaging winds are possible from Oklahoma up through Wyoming.

Different parts of the Southern Plains will see severe weather through Mother's Day.

A Level 3 severe threat covers Dallas and parts of Central Texas on Sunday.

The primary threats will be damaging wind gusts and hail, although isolated tornadoes are possible.

Historically, May sees the most tornadoes of any month during the year — primarily due to increased activity across Tornado Alley. While that has not been the case thus far, long-range forecasts indicate that a more traditional severe weather pattern will take shape over the Plains sometime mid-month.

SEE IT: MISSISSIPPI DRONE VIDEO REVEALS DEVASTATION LEFT BEHIND BY TORNADO IN BOGUE CHITTO

So far this season, the most severe storms have been concentrated in the Midwest, as well as parts of the South, including Mississippi, which was hit by several twisters during a Tornado Emergency earlier this week.

Currently, a large dip in the jet stream is suppressing severe storm development over the Plains, but by late May, many long-range forecasts expect that dip to move back over the West.

This allows warm air from the Gulf to rush across the Plains and fuel storms, similar to the pattern that resulted in the deadly April 23-28 tornado outbreak across the Southern Plains.

Long-range forecasts from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) show above-average rain expected across the Southwest and central Plains.

Like any long-range forecast, however, conditions can change, so the FOX Forecast Center will continue monitoring any changes.

America's most popular national park needs help after 33 dead vultures illegally dumped

Thu, 07 May 2026 17:52:23 -0400

GATLINBURG, Tenn.– Great Smoky Mountains National Park is looking for help finding the person who dumped nearly three dozen dead vultures within the national park.

The national park said park rangers noticed several dead birds on the side of the road along Foothills Parkway West.

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Wildlife rangers identified the birds as black vultures and said they had been dumped. They found 33 birds.

Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it is illegal to harm or kill black vultures without a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In addition to killing the birds, dumping anything on national park property is illegal, Great Smoky Mountains National Park said.

The national park is asking anyone who was in the area of the Foothills Parkway between Chilhowee and Walland on April 6 and has dash camera or photos/videos of the area, to contact them.

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"Information from park visitors is often very helpful to NPS investigators," Great Smoky Mountains National Park said.

Tippers can be anonymous if they wish, but any information can help.

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To leave a tip, email Great Smoky Mountains National Park.