Warning polygons show where a storm threat is expected to move, which can be more useful than a county-wide alert.
Category - Environment
Akshay Dinesh
What a 40 Percent Chance of Rain Really Means
A 40 percent chance of rain means measurable rain is possible at your location during the forecast period, not that rain will cover 40 percent of the day.
Why the Hottest Days Come After the Summer Solstice
The longest day is not usually the hottest because land, water, and air keep storing heat for weeks after the solstice.
How Heat Advisories and Extreme Heat Warnings Are Different
Heat advisories and extreme heat warnings both signal danger, but they point to different levels of risk, timing, and public action.
How to Read Hurricane Spaghetti Models Without Getting Misled
Spaghetti models show possible hurricane tracks, but their spread, timing, and agreement matter more than any single line.
Why One Thunderstorm Can Trigger the Next One
Thunderstorm outflow boundaries spread cool air along the ground, lifting warm air and sometimes triggering new storms miles away.
How Wind Shear Can Tear Hurricanes Apart
Wind shear can tilt a hurricane, push storms away from the center, and keep warm ocean energy from building a stronger cyclone.
What PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Mean for Drinking Water
PFAS can persist in water and soil for years. Learn why these chemicals are hard to remove and how drinking water rules measure risk.
How the Gulf Loop Current Can Feed Stronger Hurricanes
The Gulf Loop Current can store deep ocean heat that helps some hurricanes strengthen quickly before landfall.
Why Fireworks Smoke Can Make Air Quality Drop Overnight
Fireworks can briefly raise PM2.5 pollution when calm overnight air traps smoke near the ground after big celebrations.
How Hailstones Grow Inside Thunderstorms
Hailstones grow when strong thunderstorm updrafts lift ice through supercooled water, adding frozen layers before they fall.
Why Hurricane Evacuation Zones Are Not the Same as the Forecast Cone
Evacuation zones show who may need to leave before storm surge arrives, while the forecast cone tracks the storm center.
Why Dew Point Tells You More Than Humidity in Summer
Dew point often explains muggy summer air better than relative humidity because it shows how much moisture is actually in the air.
What a Flash Flood Warning Means Before the Water Rises
A flash flood warning means dangerous water may rise fast. Learn how warnings work, why floods form quickly, and what actions matter most.
How El Niño Changes Weather Before It Reaches the Forecast
El Niño starts in the tropical Pacific, but its ocean and wind changes can reshape rainfall, storms, and seasonal forecasts far away.
