All articles tagged with #noaa
Tropical Storm Moke is bearing heavy rain toward Hawaii, bringing flood risks to islands still recovering from recent damage, with satellite imagery showing bands of rainfall and potential flash floods. Iselle has also formed far offshore in the eastern Pacific and could strengthen, generating large swells along Baja California.
An 18-year-old La Jolla resident, Tyler Muehl, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge under the Marine Mammal Protection Act for repeatedly kicking a California sea lion at La Jolla Cove on July 22, 2026. The attack, captured on video and shared on social media, prompted a federal NOAA investigation. While the maximum penalties can include up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine, a plea deal is expected to reduce the punishment; sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 20.
Forecasters say this year’s El Niño is likely to reach “super” strength—odds above 90%—and peak between October and December, potentially the strongest since 1950. Expect a hotter late summer with Southeast heat, a wetter winter in the southern U.S., and drier conditions in the North, along with suppressed Atlantic hurricane activity; the pattern is expected to persist into early 2027, though stronger events don’t always guarantee bigger impacts.
An 18-year-old La Jolla teen, Tyler Muehl, pleaded guilty in federal court to violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act after a viral video showed him repeatedly kicking a sea lion at La Jolla Cove; the incident prompted a NOAA investigation, and he faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine, with sentencing scheduled for Oct. 20.
NOAA says the developing El Niño could become the strongest on record, likely peaking in late fall to early winter and boosting global temperatures amid a warming world. While background warming may modulate signals, scientists expect unprecedented heat and regionally varied impacts—wet conditions from California to Florida and milder/drier winters in parts of the Midwest—though effects will vary by location and remain uncertain. The event is likely to push 2027 to the hottest-year record (with 2026 possibly joining), influenced by the hotter baseline from climate change.
NOAA forecasters say a “super” El Niño is highly likely this year, with about a 95% chance of becoming very strong and potentially the strongest on record since 1950. If it unfolds as expected, Southern California could see above‑average winter rainfall and more tropical moisture, increasing the risks of coastal flooding, higher seas and erosion. Past strong El Niños have varied in impact, but the pattern typically brings heavier storms to the region from December through March, and warming global temperatures could amplify these effects.
A powerful upper-level heat dome is forecast to blanket Florida and the Southeast this weekend into next week, with highs in the mid-90s to around 100F and heat indices of 105–115F due to high humidity; NOAA says dozens of heat records could be broken and more than 30 million people will be under extreme heat, with the pattern persisting through next weekend.
July 2026 was the hottest month on record in the United States, with an average of 76.9°F—3.3°F above the 20th‑century average. Overnight temperatures drove the record, all 48 contiguous states posted above‑average temperatures, and Wyoming recorded its warmest July ever. Rainfall was generally below average and wildfire activity remained high; globally, July was among the warmest on record, aided by El Niño. The NOAA outlook for August suggests continued above‑average heat across the central and southern U.S. and elevated wildfire potential.
NOAA data show July was the hottest month on record for the contiguous United States, averaging 3.3F above the 20th‑century average and surpassing all prior July/month records back to 1895. Three heat dome events drove extreme temperatures, with Wyoming recording its hottest July. Widespread wildfire smoke and heat-related disruptions affected daily life, and scientists link the trend to human-caused climate change. An ongoing strong El Niño could push global temperatures to new highs next year, potentially breaking more records as emissions continue.
NOAA data show July 2026 was the hottest month on record in the United States since 1895, with the Lower 48 averaging 3.3°F above the 20th‑century average, edging out July 1936 and July 2012. Heat domes stretched from the East Coast to the Plains and Southwest, 13 states posted top‑5 warm Julys, and Wyoming logged its hottest month on record; scientists link the extreme heat to long‑term climate change and a developing El Niño. The heat helped fuel wildfires and drove Lake Mead to a record low, while Europe also faced severe heat waves.
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has started unusually slowly, with NOAA forecasting 8–14 named storms, 3–6 hurricanes, and 1–3 major hurricanes, while CSU keeps its July forecast at nine named storms (four hurricanes, one major). So far two tropical storms—Arthur and Bertha—have formed in the Gulf. Forecasters expect the peak from mid-August to mid-October, but signals point to below-average activity due to a strengthening El Niño and cooler Atlantic waters that raise wind shear in the main development region. A few storms could still form, but this season is shaping up to be among the quietest in years; the Pacific is more active, and the lingering El Niño could influence 2027 as well.
A disturbing La Jolla Cove video shows a man kicking a sea lion; NOAA is reviewing the incident and could press federal charges for animal assault. PETA condemns the act and authorities are seeking tips from the public. Sea lions are protected, and experts warn that human interaction with pups during mating season can increase pup mortality.
NOAA and climate models indicate El Niño will strengthen and likely persist into early 2027, dampening Atlantic tropical development via increased wind shear and forecasting a below-average 2026 hurricane season (CSU projects about 9 named storms, 4 hurricanes). For South Florida, the pattern points to a cooler, wetter, and potentially stormier winter driven by a persistent subtropical jetstream, signaling notable contrasts to the prior winter.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center now puts an 81% chance that this El Niño will reach a “very strong” level by fall, up from 63% in June, with a 97% chance it lasts into early 2027. Only about seven of the last 75 El Niño events have been “very strong,” so this could be among the strongest on record. Very strong El Niños tend to reshape global weather—bringing heat waves, droughts, and heavy rainfall in different regions—while likely reducing Atlantic hurricane activity and potentially yielding a milder winter for parts of the U.S.; it may also raise high-tide flooding risk on the West Coast and affect marine life and algal blooms. The strongest on record was the 1982-83 event (RONI +2.5°C). Forecasts can still shift and impacts are not guaranteed.
Lightning near the Mexico City stadium activated FIFA’s weather protocol for World Cup 2026, delaying the Mexico v England last‑16 match; NOAA rules require stopping play if a lightning strike is detected within eight miles, triggering a 30‑minute countdown that resets with each strike and can lead to a restart on a shortened timeline or, if conditions don’t improve, a postponement with the clock resumed from the pause.