Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Hang on, the dog days of summer come at a cost

By John Roach, AccuWeather staff writer




cute dog on bike
Summertime and the livin' is easy, though a little more costly. (AP Photo/Ivan Pierre Aguirre, File)

The dog days of summer are howling now as the heat and humidity that much of the southeastern United States experienced in June and earlier July are hitting other areas of the country. And with the higher temperatures come escalating costs to beat the heat.
Estimated costs for cooling from May 1 through July 30 compared to normal cooling costs are higher in a number of U.S. cities, according to an AccuWeather analysis.
Boston (31.6% higher), Atlanta (25.6%), Gainesville (24%) and Washington, D.C., (23.9%) have seen substantially higher estimated cooling costs compared to normal.
Others with elevated estimated costs include Philadelphia (19.9%), Cincinnati (19.1%), Birmingham (17.2%), Raleigh-Durham (16.9%) and Charleston, S.C. (16.4%).
There could be relief in the short term, with a cool front and then rain expected across the Appalachians and into the East Thursday and into the weekend, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. In the Ohio Valley and Midwest, humidity levels should drop off over the next few days.
There are a handful of exceptions where cities are experiencing lower-than-normal temperatures so far this year.
Coming off a hot 2018, Dallas-Fort Worth has estimated cooling costs 26.4% lower than this time last year, though they are just 5.1% lower than normal. And Oklahoma City is down 27.7% from its estimated 2018 costs and 18.6% lower than normal.
“You have pockets in the Midwest that are very cool,” said AccuWeather Founder and CEO Dr. Joel N. Myers.
The cooling season, which typically begins May 1, can last until late in the year in many U.S. cities. The costs of cooling, including electricity, vary from year to year and from place to place, so the percentage change in your bill may vary from these percentages.

Download the free AccuWeather app to see the forecast for your location. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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Thousands of water bottles intended for Hurricane Maria victims found unopened in Puerto Rico

By Amanda Schmidt, AccuWeather staff writer
By Monica Bielanko, AccuWeather senior producer




Nearly two years after catastrophic Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, tens of thousands of water bottles issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for survivors were found on a field, unopened and expired. Emergency aid officials confirmed the existence of the water bottles Monday.
International news agency AFP captured footage that shows crates of water sitting in the middle of a private estate in Dorado, located about 25 miles west of San Juan.
Following the release of the footage, FEMA has issued a response. A FEMA spokesman confirmed to AFP that the water bottles had been provided as part of relief for Hurricane Maria, which slammed into the island in September 2017. The powerful storm resulted in the deaths of thousands, destroyed infrastructure and devastated the island.
Puerto Rico Maria Water Bottles 7-2019
Tens of thousands of FEMA water bottles for hurricane victims were discovered unopened and expired in farmland in Puerto Rico. (Video Screenshot/ Ricardo Arduengo/ AFP)

Much of Puerto Rico spent months without power or water after the storm ripped through the United States territory.
Several news agencies - including CBS News - contacted FEMA with questions about the water, including why it was never delivered to victims. CBS News Correspondent David Begnaud received a response from FEMA and shared it on Twitter.
“FEMA had a surplus of water in its inventories that is now near or passed their expiration dates. FEMA followed federal acquisition processes in order to dispose of the expiring water that included offers to federal and territorial governments and public auction,” FEMA told CBS News in a statement Monday, July 29. “As a final step in the process, FEMA contracted to have the expired water removed and disposed. This process is underway, in accordance with contract terms, and is on target for September 2019 completion.”
Questions have arisen since the video was shared, with many wondering why the bottles weren't delivered to victims or how there was a surplus when the need was so high for so long in the wake of Hurricane Maria. These questions remain unanswered.
Beyond the questions, many Puerto Ricans who lived through the deadly storm and its aftermath, expressed anger upon the discovery of the water supply. One man noted that people had no water to shower with and were using rainwater to flush toilets. Meanwhile, others reportedly had to gather water from mountain springs for months.
"People on the island fell very ill or died because they were drinking contaminated water. Knowing this in contrast to the images of the water bottles is infuriating," one Twitter user said.
After Hurricane Maria, at least 74 Puerto Ricans were suspected to be suffering from leptospirosis. The disease is the result of contact with water that has been contaminated by animal urine, and some of those affected by leptospirosis in Puerto Rico at the time likely fell ill after drinking local stream water.

Last September, a similar situation unfolded, when thousands of pallets of bottled water were discovered sitting on a runway in Ceiba.
The latest water bottle findings are released at a time when tensions are running high among Puerto Ricans and government officials. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló resigned last week amid widespread protests that erupted both in the island, as well as around the world.
The scandal emerged in part due to leaked private chat messages between Rosselló and members of his staff in which they insulted victims of Hurricane Maria and used sexist and offensive comments to describe other Puerto Ricans.
In addition, six government officials were recently charged with embezzling $15 million in hurricane reconstruction money.
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Tropics set to erupt with multiple threats in the West Pacific next week

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist




It has been more than five months since the last typhoon roamed the western Pacific; however, that streak may come to an end in early August.
While Tropical Storm Wipha soaks southeastern China and northern Vietnam in the coming days, the west Pacific will become even more active next week with multiple tropical cyclones possible.
Two distinct areas will be the potential breeding grounds for tropical cyclones across the basin next week.
West Pacific 7/31

The South China Sea, where Wipha organized this week, could be home to a new tropical cyclone by early next week. This potential cyclone would form in the same area as Wipha and a track toward the west would again result in the highest risk area from southeastern China to northern Vietnam.
Strengthening into a tropical storm or typhoon would be possible depending on where the potential storm organizes and how long it remains over the open water. Another round of heavy rainfall across southeastern China and northern Vietnam shortly after Wipha could lead to devastating flooding and a high risk for mudslides.
Strong winds may impact areas with already saturated ground, which would make those areas more susceptible to tree damage, potentially resulting in power outages and damages to homes and property.
A second threat area will stretch from the Philippines Sea into the open Pacific Ocean to the southeast of Japan. Very warm ocean water combined with light to moderate wind shear will provide a large area for tropical activity.
Multiple tropical cyclones may form in the area between the Philippines, Mariana Islands and Japan as early as Monday.
Due to the uncertainty of where and how many tropical cyclones will form during this time, anyone with interests in the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea should closely monitor this situation.
Any tropical system developing in this region will be capable of significant strengthening and may become a typhoon or even a super typhoon as it tracks over very warm ocean water.
Download the free AccuWeather App to get the latest updates on weather hazards in your area.
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Downpours to escalate in southeastern US, increase risk of flash flooding

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist




Drenching showers and thunderstorms will gather over the southeastern corner of the nation and raise the risk of flash flooding and travel disruptions as tropical and non-tropical features converge into this weekend.
The unfolding pattern may ruin a day at the beach and create hazards for boaters in nearby coastal waters.
A cool front that has been making slow but steady progress so far this week is forecast to stall along the southern Atlantic coast by this weekend.
Thurs to Sat

At the same time, a southward dip in the jet stream will hang out in the same general area.
Meanwhile, tropical moisture will flow northward, while a tropical disturbance lurks in the western Atlantic.
That disturbance still has a chance at becoming a tropical depression, despite being torn apart by the mountainous terrain of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.
Caribb

Downpours will continue to drench these islands and spread across the Bahamas through Thursday with the risk of localized flooding.
On Tuesday, torrential rain associated with the disturbance triggered flooding in parts of Puerto Rico.
The non-tropical features alone will be enough to produce drenching downpours and locally gusty thunderstorms.
However, the boost in moisture from the tropics has the potential to enhance rainfall greatly in parts of the region.
Thursday SE

The area at the most risk of downpours that can disrupt travel and outdoor plans as well as cause urban and low-lying area flooding will extend across the southeastern half of the Florida Peninsula and may brush the coasts of the Carolinas.
A byproduct of the pattern will also agitate surf in the region. Swimmers and rescue personnel should anticipate stronger and more frequent rip currents than average into this weekend.
Friday SE

Some locations in this swath may receive upwards of 4 inches of rain over a two- to three-day period. Much of that rain may fall in several hours, however.
Farther northwest, the non-tropical features will be the main influence on the downpours.
Saturday SE

Heavy rainfall from the Florida Panhandle to Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the southern parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey this weekend will be more localized but can still lead to isolated urban flooding, travel slowdowns and disruptions to outdoor activities.
Eventually, the southward dip in the jet stream will direct the tropical disturbance progressively farther away from the United States coast later this weekend to early next week.
Despite the risk of localized flooding, some areas ranging from neighborhoods to several counties could stand a thorough soaking. Some portions of the region are experiencing moderate drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Elsewhere in the tropical Atlantic, there is a new area of interest. A robust tropical disturbance has potential to develop prior to reaching the Leeward Islands this weekend to early next week.
Download the free AccuWeather app to keep track of the latest tropical activity. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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Coalnado? Towering, dark-colored dust devil caught on camera

By Mark Puleo, AccuWeather staff writer




Some residents of Elkhorn, West Virginia, looked outside their windows and saw an unfamiliar sight on Monday afternoon: a dust devil hovering over a surface mine and kicking up a vortex of coal. Filmed by Randy Walters, an employee at a local coal mine, the whirlwind was promptly nicknamed a 'coalnado.'
According to Walters, the whirlwind spun over a coal stockpile that had been cleaned up and loaded away.
"Vortices most often occur in warm, dry weather and are caused by stark differences between the warm surface of the Earth and colder air above," said AccuWeather Meteorologist and Social Media Manager Jesse Ferrell. "The twisting columns of air can be amplified by many different materials. The most common instance is with dust, hence the name dust devil. Other common materials include dirt on baseball fields and hay in fields or leaves."
In the case of this coalnado, the black coal likely helped the vortex get going due to the heat it absorbed on the ground.
Walters said he has seen dust devils “pretty regularly,” but they are usually around 2 or 3 feet tall, according to the Storyful News Agency.
“It was very loud,” Walters said. “I heard it before I saw it.”
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Tropical Storm Wipha to unload heavy rain, gusty winds on China, Vietnam

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist




Tropical Storm Wipha, which formed in the South China Sea between the Philippines and China, will bring the risk of flooding and locally damaging winds to the region in the coming days.
Further strengthening is not expected as the storm will begin to interactive with land during the next 24 hours; however, it is expected to remain a tropical storm during this time.
Wipha Track 7/31

Locations from southeastern China into northern Vietnam and northern Laos will need to be on alert for potential flooding downpours and a heightened risk for mudslides. Locations from northern Hainan Island to the Leizhou Peninsula may take a direct hit from this storm on Thursday with a second landfall possible in Guangxi or northern Vietnam Thursday night or Friday.
Heavy rainfall will be the most widespread concern with Wipha as downpours can lead to flash flooding and mudslides. Total rainfall of 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) is expected across the region with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 380 mm (15 inches).
Wipha Impacts 7/31

Rough seas will also be stirred and create dangers for boaters and swimmers across the South China Sea from the Philippines to China. The Gulf of Tonkin will also be at risk for the same hazards.
Damaging winds are possible in locations near and just north of the storm's track. This risk extends from northern Hainan Island to southwest Guangdong, the coast of Guangxi and coastal locations of northeastern Vietnam.
Sustained winds of 65 km/h (40 mph) are possible with gusts of 80-95 km/h (50-60 mph) are possible in these areas with lower gusts farther from the track of the storm across southeastern China and northern Vietnam.
Hanoi is forecast to avoid Wipha's strongest winds but the city and surrounding areas will be at risk for flooding rainfall from Friday into Saturday with additional downpours possible on Sunday. Mudslides and travel delays will also be a concern across the region.
Rainbands from Wipha lashed Hong Kong on Wednesday and Wednesday night bringing around 100 mm (4 inches) of rainfall to the city.
The combination of downpours and frequent wind gusts of 50-65 km/h (30-40 mph) lead to the Hong Kong Observatory issuing a tropical cyclone signal 8, its third highest level, according to Reuters.
The education bureau closed schools on Wednesday, and authorities urged office workers to go home early.
Hong Kong's financial markets were closed early on Wednesday and will open late or remain closed on Thursday if a tropical cyclone signal 8 or higher is in effect.
Brief periods of intense rainfall and gusty winds are expected to continue into the day on Thursday, resulting in localized flooding and travel delays at times.
Wipha Satellite 7/31
Satellite image of Tropical Storm Wipha near China on Wednesday, local time. (Japan Meteorological Agency/Satellite image)

For anyone in the path of this storm, the time to prepare is right now. Heed all advice from local government officials and evacuate if asked. Keep gas tanks filled and cell phones charged.
Despite the storm tracking away from the Philippines, bands of rain will batter western areas of Luzon, including Manila, into this weekend. Localized flooding and travel disruptions are possible each day.
Additional tropical development is expected across the West Pacific during the first half of August with the potential for the first typhoon since Wutip in late February.
Download the free AccuWeather app to keep up to date on the latest weather forecasts for your location.
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Man missing at sea for nearly 2 weeks found alive in life raft off Washington coast

  One of two men missing at sea for nearly two weeks was found alive on Thursday by a Canadian fishing boat in a life raft in Canadian water...