As wildfire season continues in the US, fire activity is occurring in ten states, where 33 large wildfires are currently burning and have consumed 425,000 acres. During June, drought coverage expanded and intensified across much of the Great Plains and Intermountain West, and fire activity intensified as fine fuels became critically dry. This drought expansion into the core o ... Continue Reading »
CAT Resource Center
Weather Sentinel: 2020’s Transition to Summer Wind
Despite an extremely below average May in terms of severe weather activity, recent events, particularly a number of which were wind-driven, have seen an uptick during the first third of June. Three separate derechos were observed in just the first 10 days of June, in addition to other widespread convective activity: A widespread wind and hail event brought damaging hail up ... Continue Reading »
Weather Sentinel: SCS Moderate Risk – Ohio Valley, Central Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Valley
A threat for severe thunderstorms today will affect areas from the Ohio Valley to the Central Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Valley, including Southern Ontario Canada. The U.S. Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has flagged areas under threat today, with a rare moderate risk area for portions of the Lower Great Lakes. ... Continue Reading »
Weather Sentinel: Significant Wildfire Potential Outlook; June 2020
With fires already burning in Florida and the Southwest, seasonal dryness and heat are beginning to cure fuels in the western US. Portions of the Rockies, Southwest, and Northern California have experienced large precipitation deficits over winter, and significant wildfire potential is above normal. ... Continue Reading »
Weather Sentinel: 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook
Looking forward to the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, seasonal outlook providers are forecasting an active season in the North Atlantic Basin. The numbers include a forecast of nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes in the Basin, relative to averages of six and two, respectively, according to Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University. The season is already off to a record ... Continue Reading »
Weather Sentinel: 2020 SCS Season – A Tale of Three Perils
With two thirds of May in the rear-view mirror, we are nearing the usual peak of US severe thunderstorm activity. Significant outbreaks are still possible across much of the US during the rest of the calendar year, and this activity tends to decline heading into the deep summer months. Here is a look at some of the intermittent severe weather that impacted the US during the ... Continue Reading »
CAT-i Report: Typhoon Vongfong (Ambo)
In the Northwest Pacific Basin, Typhoon Vongfong made landfall in the Philippines on May 14 around 12:15 PM local time (0415 UTC), in the municipality of San Policarpo, Eastern Samar Province. Just after moving inland, the typhoon carried 1-minute sustained winds of around 185 km/hr (115 mph), a category-3 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale according to the Joint Typhoon Warning ... Continue Reading »
Weather Sentinel: Active SCS stretch to end April
Multiple rounds of severe weather impacted the United States over the second half of April. What began as a relatively quiet start to the month quickly changed one week in and maintained a steady pace of heightened activity throughout the remainder of the month. Notable headlines from the past two weeks include: Another weekend outbreak in the Deep South, exactly one week ... Continue Reading »
Weather Sentinel – Damaging Severe Hail/Wind Risk Southern Plains
North Texas, Oklahoma and the southern Mississippi River Valley are increasingly at risk for a severe outbreak through tonight with severe winds and hail the most damaging perils. Expansion of the area of moderate risk and significantly severe wind and hail threats now include the Dallas Ft. Worth Metroplex as well as Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK. ... Continue Reading »
Weather Sentinel: US SCS Activity Trending Above Average for April
Severe weather activity saw an uptick over the first half of April, bringing significant impacts to much of the south, central and eastern portions of the United States: A large storm system from April 7-9 brought widespread hail and wind in addition to a few isolated tornadoes to a broad area generally east of the Mississippi River. Significant hail and high wind reports ... Continue Reading »
