While people in at least New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island heard a loud noise around 2:05 p.m. local time, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Geostationary Lightning Mapper may have actually captured evidence of its cause on radar.

NOAA's GOES-19 Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) detected an unusual signal near the coast of Cape Cod at the time the sonic boom was reported.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the widely felt sonic boom reported at 2:05 p.m. was caused by a "suspected bolide", a meteor that exploded in the atmosphere.

The anomaly, visible in a satellite screen grab as a distinct, irregularly shaped detection, may indicate a meteor entering the atmosphere, though its exact source has not been officially confirmed by NASA.

In the event that it was a meteor, an explosion could have triggered a sonic boom that would have packed enough punch to startle the New England area. The U.S. Geological Survey has not reported any earthquakes, ruling out one potential explanation.

"Although we do not yet know the cause, there are no known emergency police or fire requests connected to these reports, and we do not believe there is any public safety threat," the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety in a post on X.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

According to the National Weather Service in Boston, nothing has been confirmed, but early indications suggest the object may have been a meteorite. However, NASA has not yet verified that possibility.

Security cameras across the region recorded the startling boom, while first responders and emergency management officials quickly took to social media to acknowledge residents, with authorities saying there is no indication of a threat to the public.

The mysterious boom comes just days after a similar incident startled residents across South Carolina's Midlands region. 

The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed Thursday's home-shaking sound in South Carolina was a sonic boom, though the source of the event has yet to be identified.

ALASKA LANDSLIDE UNLEASHED ONE OF THE LARGEST TSUNAMIS EVER RECORDED, NEW STUDY SHOWS

While investigators continue to examine what caused Thursday's noise, today's latest report adds another chapter to a string of startling booms in the eastern United States.

This is a developing story. 

Days of severe weather may be fading into the rearview mirror, but the storm system responsible isn't done yet. Instead, it's gearing up for a dangerous second act, with heavy rain and flooding.

ATLANTA FLOODING CONTRIBUTES TO 'UNPRECEDENTED' NUMBER OF DEAD FISH IN GEORGIA RIVER

Starting Saturday and lasting through Monday, an upper level area of low pressure will move over the Northern Rockies to the High Plains region on Saturday – putting western Montana within an area that will tap into an exceptionally deep plume of moisture.

This common spring storm setup leads to heavy rain across Montana, and this time will be no different.

Forecast confidence is growing that multiple inches of rain, combined with spring snow melt, will be a threat, triggering the placement of Flood Watches.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, "a reasonable worst-case scenario" brings 3.5 to 4 inches of rain to areas along and west of the Interestate 15 corridor across north-central Montana.

KNOW YOUR FLOOD TERMINOLOGY: WHAT FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS AND EMERGENCIES REALLY MEAN

While that may not seem like a ton of rain, especially to those in the Pacific Northwest, Montana typically only sees 2 to 3 inches of rain per month in May and June. There is a high chance that places including Missoula and Great Falls could see a month's worth of rain with this storm.

This isn't an anomaly. According to the FOX Forecast Center, 2 inch rainfalls across a two-day period happens about every 2 to 5 years in the Great Falls area.

Flash Flood Watches have also been issued for vulnerable burn scar areas, including the areas impacted by the Elk, Robertson Draw and the East Side wildfires into Saturday evening.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

While the risk for flooding remains low overall, concerns for localized areas near stationary thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, especially in the burn scar areas.

With potentially months-worth of rainfall and vulnerable burn scar areas sealing the threat, that isn't the only concern. 

While spring temperatures have melted out the seasonal snowpack for many mountains in the region, there are a few areas along the divide that do have snow, especially Glacier National Park. Snowmelt is another factor that could raise flood concerns for rivers.

Current river forecasts for Saint Mary and the Sun River are expected to go into flood stage late Sunday into Monday – though forecasts are heavily dependent on the precipitation amounts and could change before then.

These bacteria are called enterococci. It lives in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals, including humans, and is commonly found in fecal matter, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

HEALTH ADVISORIES ISSUED FOR POPULAR FLORIDA GULF COAST BEACHES DUE TO FECAL BACTERIA IN WATER

Enterococci can be found in wastewater treatment plant outflow, leaking septic systems, stormwater runoff, domestic animal and wildlife waste, improper land application of manure or sewage and runoff from manure storage areas, pastures, rangelands and feedlots, the EPA said. 

There are also natural sources of enterococci that don't come from fecal material. Such sources include plants, sand, soil and sediments, the EPA said. 

ATLANTA FLOODING CONTRIBUTES TO 'UNPRECEDENTED' NUMBER OF DEAD FISH IN GEORGIA RIVER

When it rains a lot and flooding occurs, stormwater runoff happens. 

Stormwater runoff happens when rain and snowmelt flow over land or surfaces like concrete, pavement and building rooftops and doesn't soak into the ground. 

"Runoff can pick up and deposit harmful pollutants like trash, chemicals and dirt/sediment into streams, lakes and groundwater," the EPA reported. 

ADVISORIES ISSUED FOR POPULAR MISSISSIPPI BEACHES DUE TO FECAL BACTERIA FOUND AFTER SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL

Stormwater runoff carries into whatever open source it can. Often times, this includes rivers, creeks and oceans. 

City officials do routine testing of water at public beaches to monitor bacteria levels to ensure people can enter the water safely. 

When bacteria such as enterococci come back at high levels, this prompts officials to advise against or close beaches to keep people safe. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

The EPA said the presence of enterococci isn't necessarily considered harmful to people, but the presence of them can mean that other disease-causing agents like viruses, bacteria and pathogens could be in the water. 

Coming into contact with these things can make people sick. 

Stay up to date on the latest water conditions in your area by checking in on local government and beach pages, especially after a recent storm or flooding. 

Storms began on Friday, impacting Texas and Oklahoma, bringing hail, damaging winds and thunderstorms. 

NEW ENGLAND FACING ANOTHER GLOOMY, RAIN-FILLED WEEKEND TO CLOSE OUT SPRING

On Saturday, the best chance for severe storms stretches from South Dakota into Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. 

A small level 3 out of 5 threat exists for central Kansas for strong, gusty winds. The FOX Forecast Center said wind gusts could reach 75 mph or higher. 

Areas like North Platte, Rapid City and Wichita are under a level 2 out of 5 severe storm threat for Saturday. 

In this region, storms are expected to strengthen throughout the day, according to the FOX Forecast Center. 

A level 1 out of 5 threat reaches from Texas all the way to Montana across the Plains. 

FLASH FLOOD THREAT CONTINUES ACROSS FLORIDA, SOUTHEAST AS TROPICAL DOWNPOURS BRING DROUGHT RELIEF

The main concerns are large hail and damaging winds, but a small tornado threat also exists. 

On Sunday, the severe storm threat continues, shifting east to cover Iowa and Missouri. 

A front cutting through the region will interact with warm and unstable air, setting the stage for afternoon and evening thunderstorms. 

TROPICS WATCH: SEASON’S FIRST DISTURBANCE IN EASTERN PACIFIC GIVEN HIGH CHANCE OF DEVELOPMENT

While a building ridge of high pressure leaves some uncertainty around exact storm coverage, any cells that do manage to develop will have enough energy to become organized, the FOX Forecast Center said. 

A level 2 out of 5 threat covers southeastern South Dakota, into western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. 

Cities like Sioux Falls, Lincoln and Omaha are all under the level 2 threat zone. 

The primary threats again will be large hail and damaging winds on Sunday.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Headed into the new work week, the threat for severe storms widens as the cold front starts to stall. Along the front, severe storms will be possible. Pockets of energy will roll along, allowing for the chance of severe storms to develop during the day.

Stay with FOX Weather for the latest forecasts through the storms. 

As the nation looks ahead to celebrating America's 250th anniversary, here are 10 scenic coastal towns across the United States that are well worth a visit this summer, according to Travel and Leisure.

Starting off on the West Coast, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a small village on California’s Monterey peninsula known for its white-sand beaches and scenic coastal views. 

Strolling the sand on Carmel Beach and nearby attractions like the scenic 17-Mile Drive and Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, where oceanfront hiking trails with scenic lookouts for marine life make for a perfect summer day in the must-visit coastal town. 

Shifting over to the East Coast, Bald Head Island is a quiet barrier island off the coast of North Carolina known for its wide beaches, maritime forests, and most notably, for it's absence of cars, with most visitors getting around by golf cart or bicycle.

Summer travelers visit the barrier island to kayak, fish, bike and climb Old Baldy, the state’s oldest standing lighthouse, while the island’s protected dunes and nature preserves give it a laid-back, uncrowded feel. The combination of coastal scenery, family-friendly outdoor activities and a slower pace that brings you far away from the hurdles of a congested life has made Bald Head Island a must-visit coastal location. 

St. Augustine is a historic coastal city in northeast Florida known for its Spanish colonial architecture, brick-lined streets, and waterfront setting along Matanzas Bay. Visitors are drawn to landmarks like Castillo de San Marcos, the historic downtown district, and nearby Atlantic beaches, along with summer activities including boat tours, seafood dining and outdoor live music.

The city’s mix of history, walkability, and beach-town atmosphere gives it a different feel from Florida’s larger resort destinations.

Just off the coast of Rhode Island, Block Island is a destination known for its coastal bluffs, wide beaches and classic New England summer atmosphere. During peak tourist season, visitors flock to the island for biking, boating, beach days, seafood restaurants and hiking trails along the Atlantic Ocean.

An all-around scenic ocean destination, Mohegan Bluffs and Southeast Lighthouse top the list of must-do's if you're looking to enjoy the day outdoors. Its limited development and easy ferry access from the mainland give Block Island a quieter, more laid-back feel than many larger East Coast beach towns.

Provincetown sits at the tip of Cape Cod and is known for its beaches, arts scene, and lively summer atmosphere.

Visitors come for whale-watching tours, bike rides through the Cape Cod National Seashore, dune excursions, seafood restaurants, galleries and some of the most active nightlife on the New England coast.

On North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Ocracoke is a small village known for its beaches, laid-back pace and strong connection to the region’s fishing and boating culture. A ferry to the island opens the door to biking through the village, kayaking and exploring long stretches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. 

The island is also home to the historic Ocracoke Lighthouse and a number of waterfront seafood spots that will make your visit worthwhile.

Moving back out West, Friday Harbor is the main town on Washington’s San Juan Island.

Known for its waterfront setting, walkable downtown and easy access to the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Whale-watching tours, kayaking, sailing and hiking offer the perfect mix of coastal charm. 

The town also serves as a gateway to the broader San Juan Islands, where scenic ferry rides, coastal parks, and opportunities to spot orcas, seals and even bald eagles draw travelers throughout the season.

Edisto Beach is a small coastal community on South Carolina’s Edisto Island known for its relaxed atmosphere, uncrowded shoreline, and lack of large-scale resort development. This South Carolina getaway offers premier beach combing, fishing, boating and kayaking, and invites you to get lost exploring nearby Edisto Beach State Park, which offers trails through maritime forest and salt marsh landscapes. 

The area is also popular for its fresh seafood, family-friendly pace and natural scenery that provides a quieter alternative to South Carolina’s busier beach destinations.

In southwest Florida, Sanibel Island is a Gulf Coast destination known for its shell-strewn beaches, abundant wildlife, and commitment to preserving its natural environment. Visitors come for shelling, biking along miles of paved trails, kayaking through mangrove waterways, and explore the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, one of the region’s premier bird-watching spots. 

With miles of bike paths, abundant wildlife, and some of the country’s best shelling beaches, Sanibel offers a distinctly nature-focused coastal getaway.

Port Aransas is a laid-back beach town on Mustang Island along the Texas Gulf Coast, known for its wide sandy beaches, boating culture and year-round connection to the water. Summer visitors come for fishing charters, dolphin cruises, kayaking, bird-watching and beach days, while the town’s marinas, seafood restaurants, and live music venues keep the waterfront lively.

Its mix of outdoor recreation, coastal scenery and casual island atmosphere has made it one of Texas’ most popular seaside escapes.

Some storms are expected across Texas and parts of Oklahoma on Friday, with the possibility of small hail and some damaging winds. 

A level 2 out of 5 severe storm threat stretches from the bottom tip of Kansas through western Oklahoma and down into west Texas through Amarillo and down to Fort Stockton.

A broader level 1 out of 5 threat exists across parts of Colorado, Wyoming and Kansas, as well as Oklahoma and Texas.

NEW ENGLAND FACING ANOTHER GLOOMY, RAIN-FILLED WEEKEND TO CLOSE OUT SPRING

However, the FOX Forecast Center said storms will become more organized on Saturday, with the best chance for storms in western Nebraska and into South Dakota. 

Areas like North Platte and Rapid City are under a level 2 out of 5 severe storm threat for Saturday. 

In this region, storms could form in the afternoon and strengthen as they move east, according to the FOX Forecast Center. 

A level 1 out of 5 threat reaches from Texas all the way to Montana across the Plains. 

TROPICAL DOWNPOURS RAMP UP FLASH FLOOD THREAT ACROSS FLORIDA, SOUTHEAST AS SOAKING RAINS BRING DROUGHT RELIEF

On Saturday, the main concerns will be large hail and damaging winds, but a small tornado threat also exists. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

The FOX Forecast Center said some storms could organize into clusters. 

Stay with FOX Weather for the latest forecasts through the storms. 

Laguna Beach, Beach Drive and Carl Gray Park in the Panama City Beach area all tested positive for high levels of enterococci bacteria on Tuesday, according to the Florida Department of Health. 

The beaches are not closed at this time. 

ADVISORIES ISSUED FOR POPULAR MISSISSIPPI BEACHES DUE TO FECAL BACTERIA FOUND AFTER SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL
 

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, enterococci are bacteria that live in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals, including humans, and are commonly found in fecal matter. 

When enterococci is found in lakes, rivers or ocean water, it can be caused by a number of factors, including stormwater runoff. 

Florida has seen excess rainfall in the past week, with flash flooding being a primary concern. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

The health advisories issued for these beaches indicate that contact with the water at these locations could cause an increased risk of infectious disease, the Florida Department of Health said. 

The advisories will remain in effect until enterococci levels return to normal. 

Until then, officials advise against swimming or water contact in these areas. 

FLASH FLOOD THREAT REIGNITES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST AFTER TEXAS WATER RESCUES AS RAIN BRINGS DROUGHT RELIEF

A broad Level 1 out of 4 flash flood threat stretches from eastern Kansas southward to parts of the Gulf Coast and eastward to the Atlantic coasts of Georgia and South Carolina Friday.

A more significant Level 2 threat covers parts of Northern Georgia, including Atlanta, where soils remain saturated from storms earlier this week.

Parts of coastal South Carolina and Georgia could see 2 to 3 inches of rain through the weekend and other parts of the region could receive up to 5 inches of rain through next Thursday.

Miami and Fort Lauderdale were both under a flash flood threat Thursday.

This comes after the same weather pattern targeted Texas earlier in the week, bringing heavy rainfall, gusty winds and flash flooding that led to numerous water rescues across parts of the state.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the system has pulled a deep surge of moisture from the Gulf and Atlantic, creating the perfect setup for several days of repeated heavy rainfall.

On Saturday, the system is expected to intensify as an upper-level low pressure system develops near the Southeast. This will increase moisture along the coast, leading to heavy rainfall in Georgia and the Carolinas as well.

NEARLY 50 RECORD HIGHS SHATTER AS OMEGA BLOCK LOCKS IN A SUMMER SIZZLE ACROSS THE NORTHERN TIER

HOW HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE DRIVE THE WEATHER

A flash flood threat is expected farther north near Charleston, while some low-lying coastal areas may experience minor localized flooding. Rainfall totals are forecast to exceed 2 to 3 inches in some locations.

Moving into early June, the system will slowly shift as high pressure builds in from the north. However, with deep tropical moisture remaining stalled across the Gulf, additional rounds of heavy rain are expected to develop.

TROPICAL DEVELOPMENT CHANCES RISING IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC AHEAD OF EARLY JUNE

While saturated soils from last week's precipitation increase the risk of more flash flooding, storms will help provide drought relief, particularly for Florida, where many municipalities remain 5 to 14 inches below their average rainfall since last August.

Stay with FOX Weather for the latest updates on this developing system.

Video captures Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploding into a huge plume of flames at Launch Complex 36 around 9 p.m.

NASA SHIFTS FROM VISITING THE MOON TO BUILDING ON IT

"I was standing outside, and the night sky completely lit up, and we all heard the boom," Cape Canaveral Mayor Wes Morrison said on Facebook.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said NASA is aware of the incident, and no injuries have been reported. All personnel are accounted for and safe, officials said.

"It’s too early to know the root cause, but we’re already working to find it," Jeff Bezos, who founded Blue Origin, said on social media.

Officials called the incident an "anomaly" and said Blue Origin will "rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back flying."

Space Launch Delta 45, which oversees the Eastern Range at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center, said the incident occurred during a hot-fire test of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket.

They said the Eastern Range remains fully mission capable for National Security Space Launch and continues to support operations at all other launch complexes.

CRYSTAL BALL NEBULA SEEN IN STUNNING NEW SPACE IMAGE 1,500 LIGHT-YEARS AWAY

"The Eastern Range serves as a Department of War test and training range supporting critical development, testing, evaluation and launch activities that advance national security and space capabilities. These operations often involve developmental systems and emerging technologies, and the nature of such testing carries inherent risk, including the potential for anomalies," Space Launch Delta 45 said in a statement.

Isaacman said NASA will provide information on any impacts on the Artemis and Moon Base programs as it becomes available.

NASA’S PERSEVERANCE ROVER CAPTURES STUNNING SELFIE IN ANCIENT MARTIAN TERRAIN

"Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult. We will work with our partners to support a thorough investigation of this anomaly, assess near-term mission impacts, and get back to launching rockets," Isaacman said on social media.

Our affiliate, FOX 35 News, said emergency management and fire rescue officials are allowing the contained fire caused by the explosion to burn itself out.

On Blue Origin's website, the New Glenn rocket is described as "our giant, reusable rocket built for bigger things."

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

Blue Origin is an official commercial launch vehicle contracted to fly agency payloads, and it honors NASA history by being named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Millions of residents in Miami and Fort Lauderdale could be impacted by flash flooding, as some areas may receive 3 to 5 inches of rain.

FLASH FLOOD THREAT REIGNITES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST AFTER TEXAS WATER RESCUES AS RAIN BRINGS DROUGHT RELIEF

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 1 out of 4 flash flood threat for Miami.

This comes after the same weather pattern targeted Texas earlier in the week, bringing heavy rainfall, gusty winds and flash flooding that led to numerous water rescues across parts of the state.

The active pattern shifted eastward on Thursday as an upper-level disturbance interacted with a cold front moving southward, which then stalled over the region.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the system has pulled a deep surge of moisture from the Gulf and Atlantic, creating the perfect setup for several days of repeated heavy rainfall.

For millions of residents, this rain will be a welcome relief to help alleviate the historic drought that has been plaguing the region.

NEARLY 50 RECORD HIGHS SHATTER AS OMEGA BLOCK LOCKS IN A SUMMER SIZZLE ACROSS THE NORTHERN TIER

However, the FOX Forecast Center notes that due to the high moisture, localized flash flooding may become a concern beginning Thursday across South Florida, where the disturbance will readily trigger clusters of heavy storms.

As the stalled cold front lingers, rain and thunderstorms will become even more widespread by Friday.

HOW HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE DRIVE THE WEATHER

On Saturday, the system is expected to intensify as an upper-level low pressure system develops near the Southeast. This will increase moisture along the coast, leading to heavy rainfall in Georgia and the Carolinas as well.

A flash flood threat is expected farther north near Charleston, while some low-lying coastal areas may experience minor localized flooding. Rainfall totals are forecast to exceed 2 to 3 inches in some locations.

Moving into early June, the system will slowly shift as high pressure builds in from the north. However, with deep tropical moisture remaining stalled across the Gulf, additional rounds of heavy rain are expected to develop.

TROPICAL DEVELOPMENT CHANCES RISING IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC AHEAD OF EARLY JUNE

Overall rainfall totals through next Thursday are projected to be highest across the Florida Peninsula, where widespread amounts of 3 to 5 inches are expected, and isolated totals of 5 to 8 inches are possible.

Stay with FOX Weather for the latest updates on this developing system.

We compiled a list of 10 of the best beaches to visit across America this summer, as we ring in the America 250 celebration, highlighting the country in all its glory.

The U.S. is filled with amazing beaches. Some of which are hidden gems, others are really popular and well-known.

From Florida to Washington, check out 10 of the best beaches in America:

Voted one of the best beaches in the world on more than one occasion, Siesta Beach in Sarasota County, Florida, is a fan-favorite.

Known for its white sands and turquoise waters, Siesta Beach is a perfect family-friendly getaway filled with activities for everyone.

10 OF AMERICA'S HIDDEN GEM SPOTS YOU CAN'T MISS THIS SUMMER

This Michigan beach is viral on social media for the massive 450-foot climb it takes to reach Lake Michigan at the bottom of the sand dunes.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is worth the hike, though, with the stunning blue of the lake extending as far as the eye can see from both the top and the bottom of the dunes.

ATLANTIC OCEAN TURNS TROPICAL, TURQUOISE BLUE AHEAD OF PEAK TOURISM SEASON ON THE EAST COAST

La Jolla Shores Beaches in San Diego, California, have a variety of landscapes including wide-open sandy shore, massive 300-foot sea cliffs and rocky coves perfect for snorkeling.

Surfing, boogie boarding and scuba diving are all allowed at parts of the beach, with the stunning views of the Pacific Ocean sure to take your breath away.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC BOARDWALKS IN AMERICA TO EXPLORE THIS SUMMER

Perhaps one of the most famous beaches in the world, Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, offers breathtaking views of Diamond Head and the crystal blue waters of the central Pacific Ocean.

TOP 10 BEST BEACHES IN THE WORLD FOR 2026 ANNOUNCED

Waikiki Beach is perfect for a Hawaiian getaway, and one of the best beaches for surfing, swimming and sunbathing. It's a must-see on a Hawaii vacation.

This iconic beach is located in Chilmark, Massachusetts, on Martha's Vineyard. Located in the heart of the fishing village, the sunset on Menemsha Beach is supposedly the best on Martha's Vineyard.

Menemsha offers clear, calm waters and is perfect for families. Plan to check it out on your next visit to coastal New England.

JUNE SKYWATCHING GUIDE: FROM PLANET CONJUNCTIONS TO NEW MOONS, HERE IS WHAT TO LOOK UP FOR

This spectacular beach is unlike any other on this list. Located within Olympic National Park in Washington, Ruby Beach is a classic Pacific Northwest escape.

TOP 10 CITIES IN AMERICA WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SKYLINES WORTH SEEING

Unique rock and driftwood formations lined the rocky coastline of Washington to make this beach beautiful. A nationally protected landscape, Ruby Beach is home to thousands of different marine species.

Another Florida Gulf Coast beach, Clearwater Beach, is known for being laid back and well-loved by tourists and locals alike.

Clearwater's sugary sands and emerald waves make up a stunning beach destination to relax and soak in the sun.

DEEP-SEA NIGHTMARE: THE BONE-CHILLING FISH LURKING ALONG THE OCEAN FLOOR

Like something out of a movie set, Treasure Island Beach in Laguna Beach, California, is an incredible beach experience.

THE MYSTERY BEHIND THE 'SAILING STONES' OF DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Treasure Island Beach is a great spot for picture-taking, swimming, tidepooling and sunbathing.

This coastal beach escape is located on the shores of Maine, offering a wonderful summer vacation spot, especially for families.

Old Orchard Beach is the perfect picture of New England charm with calm waters, incredible views and amazing dining experiences right along the beach.

FROM SPACE TO SEA: HOW SATELLITE DATA IS SHAPING MAINE'S OYSTER INDUSTRY

Lanikai Beach is located on the eastern shores of O'ahu. A gem of Hawaii, this beach is peaceful and beautiful.

The beach is great for kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming and relaxing on your next vacation.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Lanikai offers an amazing view of the offshore islands and looks out to crystal clear waters.

Lanikai is about 40 minutes from downtown Honolulu and is great for catching the sunrise and sunset.

While dispatched to a call to rescue someone stuck in their car on a flooded roadway, Madison Township Fire Department heard a baby deer being carried through floodwaters next to the road.

WOMAN DEAD AFTER BEING SWEPT AWAY BY SWIFT WATER DURING FLASH FLOODING IN TENNESSEE

The occupant of the car was able to get themselves out without the help of the fire department, so they jumped in to save the baby animal.

Video shows Capt. Joe Sinclair in full water rescue gear and attached to a cable entering high muddy floodwaters to save the deer.

As he entered the water, the head of the fawn was seen being pulled through the current.

ATLANTA FLOODING CONTRIBUTES TO 'UNPRECEDENTED' NUMBER OF DEAD FISH IN GEORGIA RIVER

Sinclair quickly reached out to grab the animal, letting go of his grip on the ground.

"Got her?" one person asked Sinclair in the water.

YOUNG BOY KILLED IN FREAK ACCIDENT WHILE WHITEWATER RAFTING ON FIELD TRIP TO THE POCONOS

"Yep, pull me in," Sinclair said to his teammate.

Together, the firefighters outside the water began yanking him back to land, with his head going underwater at one point because of the rushing water.

Eventually, Sinclair made it back to land.

Photos showed the wet fawn held by its rescuers after being pulled from the waters.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Madison Township Fire Department said the deer was cared for by medics on scene and transferred to a local wildlife rescue.

Original price: $189

Frigidaire's 5,000 BTU air conditioner cools spaces up to 150 square feet, making it a smart choice for a bedroom or home office. The washable filter cuts down on replacement costs, while the extra long cord helps you avoid bulky extension cords.

Original price: $614.27

Built for spaces up to 700 square feet, the BLACK+DECKER air conditioner keeps rooms cold with three cooling modes and three fan speeds. Auto mode adjusts the temperature automatically to help save energy without letting your space get too warm. At 30% off, it's also the biggest discount on our list.

Original price: $429

Another Frigidaire model, this 10,000 BTU air conditioner cools larger spaces and offers three fan speeds to choose from. Eco Mode helps maintain a comfortable temperature while lowering energy use, and Dry Mode helps remove excess moisture from the air on especially humid days.

Original price: $249

Get relief from hot temperatures with LG's 6,000 BTU air conditioner. Its low setting runs quietly, so it won't interrupt sleep. Designed for rooms up to 250 square feet, it also includes a remote control that lets you adjust the temperature without leaving the couch.

READ MORE: Don't sweat your commute: Beat the heat with car accessories under $25

Original price: $459

GE’s ClearView air conditioner balances evenly on both sides of the window for easier installation and added stability. It's also one of the quieter models available and built-in Wi-Fi lets you control the temperature from anywhere using the SmartHQ app. You can even connect it to Alexa or Google Assistant for hands-free voice control.

Original price: $509.99

Midea’s 12,000 BTU air conditioner cools large rooms and small homes with an airflow range of up to 20 feet. The unit is 35% more energy efficient than similar models, helping keep electricity costs down. Built-in Wi-Fi also lets you control the temperature from anywhere through the SmartHome app or with Alexa and Google voice commands.

READ MORE: The best cooling pajamas for hot sleepers, starting at $14

Original price: $179.99

Midea's EasyCool air conditioner offers seven temperatures to help keep small rooms comfortable. It runs quieter than a refrigerator, so you can watch TV or hold a conversation without extra noise. The washable filter also helps cut down on the cost of replacements.

For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals

The Windmill 6,000 BTU air conditioner features a sleeker, more modern design than many traditional units and setup only requires a few parts for quick, easy installation. You can control the unit from anywhere with the Windmill Air app or through Alexa and Google commands. The washable filter also helps reduce pollen and other airborne allergens.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

According to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, a party of five boaters was traveling down the Lehigh River in East Penn Township in an inflatable raft that was part of a larger group excursion with a guide.

The raft capsized and ejected all five occupants into the river, officials said, including the 12-year-old, who did not immediately resurface.

MAN DIES WHILE RAFTING ON COLORADO RIVER THROUGH GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

Search and rescue operations ensued, and the missing child was recovered and confirmed deceased by authorities. The other four boaters were recovered safely.

The accident occurred while the sixth grade class from the Sag Harbor Union Free School District on Long Island was on a field trip to the Poconos, according to the district's website. 

Our affiliate, FOX 5 New York, reported that Sag Harbor school officials issued a letter to district families, identifying the student killed in the accident.

WATCH: AIRLINE PASSENGER CAPTURES MASSIVE DUST STORM SWEEPING THROUGH NEW MEXICO CITY

"It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of the passing of our beloved sixth grade student, Cesar Albarracin Guncay," the New York school district wrote.

Whitewater Rafting Adventures, a boating service that first opened its doors near the Lehigh River in 1980, confirmed the death of the boater on a rafting excursion.

Company owners Hilary and Steve Bretzik said, "Our entire team is heartbroken by what occurred, and our first concern is for the family and friends of our guest."

According to the company website, Steve Bretzik began working for Whitewater Rafting Adventures in 1996, and purchased the company in 2023.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

The Bretziks said that their team is still gathering information about the incident, and that they are cooperating fully with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, which is leading the investigation, along with support from the Pennsylvania State Police.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission said the incident remains under investigation.

According to officials, a 64-year-old woman died outside her home after strong, swift water conditions took her downstream.

TROPICAL DOWNPOURS TRIGGER FLASH FLOOD THREAT IN DROUGHT-STRICKEN FLORIDA DAYS BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON KICKOFF

Members of the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office said the woman was outside her home and was close to a nearby vehicle when the strong flow of the floodwater swept her away.

"Swift water teams and other first responders were able to recover the victim from the water and was pronounced deceased," a statement from Sheriff C.J. Ball of the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office reads.

FLASH FLOOD THREAT REIGNITES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST AFTER TEXAS WATER RESCUES AS RAIN BRINGS DROUGHT RELIEF

The chance of more rain and thunderstorms continues  across the county through Friday night, as the wet weather doesn’t seem to let up.

Flash Flood Warnings were issued early Thursday in Cocke and Greene counties in East Tennessee.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation shut down part of State Route 160 and posted an image of powerful floodwaters spilling over the road.

WHAT FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS AND EMERGENCIES REALLY MEAN

The weather pattern that triggered water rescues in Texas earlier this week has shifted eastward, with a flash flood threat covering more than 50 million people across a broad swath of the Southeast, through Friday morning.

Officials recommend completely avoiding or limiting exposure to floodwaters due to the dangers they present.

An Omega block weather pattern occurs when a large ridge of high pressure is sandwiched between two areas of low pressure, forming the Omega shape.

WHAT IS AN OMEGA BLOCK?

An Omega block has anchored across the country and will keep the East and West coasts in a weather pattern.

An area to monitor is the Pacific Northwest, where a rare severe storm threat emerged on Thursday, with the primary threats being damaging hail and winds.

"This region historically sees very few severe storms in May; in fact, parts of the inland Northwest have not seen a severe thunderstorm watch issued in over three years," the FOX Forecast Center said.

FLASH FLOOD THREAT REIGNITES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST AFTER TEXAS WATER RESCUES AS RAIN BRINGS DROUGHT RELIEF

Meteorologists are monitoring an upper-level low moving over the West Coast, which could trigger severe storms in northern portions later this evening.

Pleasantly sufficient heat and moisture will combine to allow severe storm development, bringing a threat of potentially damaging winds and hail, along with a marginal tornado threat.

This line of storms is expected to move into eastern Washington late Thursday evening.

By Friday, the severe threat will shift out of the Pacific Northwest and into the Northern Rockies, where a more defined area of low pressure will begin to develop.

ANOTHER GLOOMY, RAINY WEEKEND ON THE WAY FOR NEW ENGLAND TO ROUND OUT SPRING

Parts of western Montana are under a Level 1 out of 5 severe storm threat, with a higher chance of damaging hail and winds.

Populated locations such as Boise, Idaho, are under a Special Weather Statement as these conditions continue to develop.

HOW HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE DRIVE THE WEATHER

A low-end flash flood threat will also need to be monitored, as these severe storms could produce high rain totals starting Thursday and continuing through Friday to start the weekend.

OMEGA BLOCK WEATHER PATTERN TO BRING LATE SEASON SNOW, HEAVY RAIN AND COOLER TEMPS TO THE WEST COAST

This heat is set to lock in for the remainder of the week as an omega block will keep the unseasonable warmth anchored over the region.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, May has featured the largest temperature anomalies of the season across this region.

Cities like Minneapolis, Green Bay and Detroit, were recording temperatures several degrees below normal. 

As the summer-like heat has finally arrived, nearly 50 record highs have tumbled across the Northern Tier and Upper Midwest.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

The initial spike early this week was driven by a standard, progressive ridge of high pressure tracking across the country. But Thursday and Friday bring the real staying power for this warmth.

The atmospheric pattern is forecast to buckle and lock into a powerful omega block. 

Thursday’s forecast features more high temperatures rising up to 20 degrees above average from the Northern Plains through the Upper Midwest.

This setup features a massive ridge of high pressure trapped between two deep areas of low pressure on either side. 

WHAT IS AN OMEGA BLOCK?

Once the omega block establishes itself, it will act like an atmospheric roadblock, keeping the unseasonable warmth anchored over the region for days.

That said, as the Upper Midwest finally begins to sizzle, let’s pivot to what prediction markets are saying about Chicago's potential low temperatures on Thursday. 

Ultimately, through the first week of June, long-range outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center continue to show much of the Northern Tier remaining above average after a chillier start to May. 

Officials across the state are trying to think outside the box to address the issue.

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

Now, researchers at three universities, Florida International University (FIU), Florida State University and Florida Atlantic University, are exploring ways to turn the foul-smelling seaweed from waste into valuable food and medicine products.

"It’s not edible, but it has some food components that can be utilized," Imran Ahmad, a co-author of the study and a food scientist at FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, said. "And it’s already been utilized in the food industry from other sources."

The research teams found that sargassum contains compounds such as alginate, which can be extracted at extremely high levels.

Alginate is a complex carbohydrate commonly used in sports nutrition products. It is also widely used throughout the food industry as a stabilizer and thickening agent in dairy and dairy-like products, including ice cream and cream sauces.

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"It’s a natural compound. It’s a carb, it is a complex polysaccharide, and it digests slowly in our body," Ahmad said. "Instead of using some other modified starches, it’s a natural solution for our food industry."

To extract alginate from sargassum, the researchers used a process called high-pressure processing.

Instead of using heat, which can damage nutrients and structures, the team applies extremely high pressure to kill bacteria and other contaminants while keeping the material fresh.

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Once it is preprocessed, the sargassum is dried and undergoes ultrasonic processing, which removes unwanted components while isolating the alginates.

"Think of putting the equivalent of 10 elephants on top of something," Ahmad said in an FIU article. "That high pressure kills harmful microorganisms, but preserves the useful compounds we want to extract."

Although the team found a way to make sargassum usable in food-related products, regulations surrounding its classification as a food source remain a challenge.

According to Florida law, the seaweed can carry harmful bacteria or contaminants. There are also regulations governing how it can be collected, and it must wash ashore naturally before it can be handled.

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"We are not really allowed to harvest it from the ocean because it is part of the coral reef and the ecosystem," Ahmad said. "So once it’s dead and washed up on the shore, only then can we collect it. We move it to the lab, we clean it with chlorinated water, and then we start our processing."

For now, researchers are working on turning their discoveries into actual products the public could eventually use.

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But Ahmad said that reality is still a long way away and would require more testing, funding and regulatory approval.

"Sargassum has economic and environmental impacts which affect tourism, create cleanup costs and can even cause public health concerns. If we can turn it into something useful, we shift the conversation from disposal to opportunity. It’s all about sustainability."

SPRING STING: PORTUGUESE MAN O' WAR RETURNS TO GULF COAST BEACHES

The department took to Facebook regarding the recent ocean current activity, sharing a picture of the painful stinger and warning that the water is not the only place to be alert, as these creatures can still send a nasty zap on shore.

"If someone is stung, remove the tentacles as quickly as possible, and put vinegar on the affected area to deactivate the stinging cells," they said. 

Since the Portuguese man o' war is mostly found in tropical and subtropical seas, these species typically wash ashore along the Gulf Coast and U.S. Southeast coast. 

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The species is a highly venomous and very closely related to a jellyfish that floats like a blue, violet or pink-colored balloon atop the ocean surface.

While rarely fatal to humans, a man o' war sting leaves painful, burning welts on exposed skin.

Most recently, these dangerous creatures were spotted from Florida to Texas in early April, including an incident where a young boy was stung on Galveston Island.

FLASH FLOOD THREAT REIGNITES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST AFTER TEXAS WATER RESCUES AS RAIN BRINGS DROUGHT RELIEF

Krysti Griffith and her family were vacationing on the island when her 3-year-old son picked up a dried-up man o' war, not knowing exactly what he had just set into motion.

Roughly 30 seconds later, the young boy was in agonizing pain.

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The family rushed him to hospital, where he was treated with a "jellyfish paste" made up of vinegar, meat tenderizer and lidocaine, which caused the pain to subside.

Now that venomous wildlife has been washing ashore in Myrtle Beach, officials are advising all beachgoers to stay alert, monitor their surroundings and seek assistance if stung. 

WHAT IS AN INVEST?

The NHC is giving this area of thunderstorms a 20% chance of developing into a tropical system over the next seven days.

7 FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT HURRICANES

Regardless of development, this system is expected to remain out at sea and will not impact land.

The FOX Forecast Center noted that this area is not the same area of interest that government forecasters were highlighting earlier this week.

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) continues to highlight an area closer to the southwestern coast of Mexico that may have an increased probability of tropical development later into June.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TROPICAL DEPRESSION, TROPICAL STORM, AND HURRICANE?

"Development during this timeframe would not be unusual, as the first named storm in the Eastern Pacific typically forms around June 10," the FOX Forecast Center said.

This comes just a few weeks into the Eastern Pacific hurricane season, which runs from May 15 to Nov. 30, and just days before the start of the Atlantic season on Monday.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

Nearly 50 record highs have already been broken, with Minneapolis eyeing its first 90-degree day since last October. 

According to the FOX Forecast Center, May has featured the largest temperature anomalies of the season across this region.

FLASH FLOODING CONTINUES TO SWAMP TEXAS, THE SOUTH AS RENEWED ROUNDS OF HEAVY RAIN SLAM THE WATERLOGGED REGION

Cities like Minneapolis, Green Bay and Detroit, were recording temperatures several degrees below normal. 

However, temperatures are finally surging into summer-like territory and will last most of this week as an omega block will keep the unseasonable warmth anchored over the region.

OMEGA BLOCK WEATHER PATTERN TO BRING LATE SEASON SNOW, HEAVY RAIN AND COOLER TEMPS TO THE WEST COAST

Thursday’s forecast features more high temperatures rising up to 20 degrees above average from the Northern Plains through the Upper Midwest.

Minneapolis was very close to reaching 90 degrees on Wednesday with a high of 89 and could flirt with 90 degrees again on Thursday.

This would mark the city’s warmest temperature since October 2025.

That said, heat alerts are also in effect across portions of Montana through Thursday. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

While the record temperatures started to wane on Wednesday after 50 record highs fell within the prior two days, the FOX Forecast Center reminds us that despite the heat, water temperatures remain chilly, generally in the middle to lower 50s. Thus, relief from the heat may be a shock to the system.

The initial spike early this week was driven by a standard, progressive ridge of high pressure tracking across the country. But Thursday and Friday bring the real staying power for this warmth.

The atmospheric pattern is forecast to buckle and lock into a powerful omega block. 

Named for its resemblance to the Greek letter Omega, this setup features a massive ridge of high pressure trapped between two deep areas of low pressure on either side. 

WHAT IS AN OMEGA BLOCK?

Once this block establishes itself, it will act like an atmospheric roadblock, keeping the unseasonable warmth anchored over the region for days.

Through the first week of June, long-range outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center continue to show much of the Northern Tier remaining above average after a chillier start to May. 

An interstellar visitor, sometimes referred to as an interstellar object or interstellar interloper, is a natural astronomical object that originated outside the solar system and is observed passing through it on a trajectory that will carry it back into interstellar space.

NASA SHIFTS FROM VISITING THE MOON TO BUILDING ON IT

According to NASA, the first confirmed object from another star to visit our solar system, named ‘Oumuamua, was observed on Oct. 19, 2017 by the University of Hawaii’s Pan-STARRS1 telescope. 

Observations suggest that this object, whose shape and size are unlike those seen in our system, had been floating through the Milky Way for hundreds of millions of years before encountering our star system, NASA said.

"It’s a strange visitor from a faraway star system, shaped like nothing we’ve ever seen in our own solar system neighborhood," said Paul Chodas, manager of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory upon the discovery of the foreign object. 

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The "visitor", named after the Hawaiian word meaning "a messenger from afar arriving first", is an elongated, rocky cigar-shaped object with a red hue that behaves more like a comet than an asteroid, though scientists still aren’t certain which it was — or whether it may have been some hybrid of the two.

ʻOumuamua was the first observed interstellar visitor to pass through our solar system. Let’s see what prediction markets are saying about if we will see a visitor before 2027. 

While trading has varied, there have only been two observed interstellar visitors to our solar system. 

Borisov, the first confirmed interstellar comet, was discovered by Crimean amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov on Aug. 30, 2019, according to NASA. 

After its discovery, Borisov became a phenomenon discussed and examined by amateur and professional astronomers around the world. After a week of observations, scientists determined that the comet was visiting from outside our solar system.

"Whereas 'Oumuamua appeared to be a rock, Borisov is really active, more like a normal comet. It's a puzzle why these two are so different," said David Jewitt of the University of California, Los Angeles, leader of the Hubble team that observed the comet.

Photographs of Borisov were captured on NASA's Hubble Space Telescope as the roughly 3,200-foot comet in length across soared around 110,000 mph through the solar system.

Though neither object threatened Earth, NASA keeps a close watch on the countless objects moving through space. That means the next time an interstellar traveler swings through our solar system, astronomers will be ready to catch a glimpse.

As these amazing creatures thrived for millions of years, their time came to an abrupt end when a large asteroid wiped out many dinosaurs.

SEE IT: MASSIVE MEGALODON TOOTH FOUND BY DIVER OFF FLORIDA COAST

Despite this cataclysmic asteroid that wiped out so much life, some "dinosaurs" live on in the form of modern-day relatives such as birds.

As we look at the modern-day relatives of these once powerful creatures, it makes you wonder what it would be like to experience the apocalyptic dinosaur-killing asteroid that wiped out millions.

Approximately 66 million years ago, an asteroid measuring six miles wide crashed into Earth at a speed 58 times faster than the speed of sound and landed in the area of what is now the Caribbean.

The impact produced as much explosive energy as 100 teratons of TNT, 4.5 billion times the explosion power of the Hiroshima atomic bomb, according to the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Professor of Vertebrate Paleontology, Michael J. Benton, and Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences, Monica Grady, break down what the agonizing experience would have been like on the day of the asteroid impact, and how things progressed afterward.

'ALMOST COMPLETE' DINOSAUR FOSSIL REVEALED AFTER HISTORIC FLOODING RAINS IN BRAZIL

Leading up to a week before the event, the asteroid would only be visible at night as it steadily hurled towards the planet.

In the last 24 hours before impact, the asteroid was visible during the daytime, but still appeared like a star or planet, growing brighter as landfall approached.

Leading up to the impact, it was just a typical day of chaos for these early creatures, with experts noting it was a pleasantly warm, wet day, with temperatures around 78 degrees.

If you were unlucky enough to be close to the impact zone, you would have experienced a brief light and sound show, entailing crackling or fizzing noises.

Due to the intense light and heat of the fireball, the ground and the air above it warm, generating pressure waves and sound.

What comes next is a sonic boom, the result of the asteroid moving faster than the speed of sound, vaporizing everything nearby, including the asteroid itself, about 10 seconds after impact.

WATCH THE MOMENT A FIREBALL SMASHES INTO EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE AND EXPLODES DURING THE ORIONID METEOR SHOWER

The asteroid’s humongous energy formed a crater in only a matter of seconds and increased in size to much larger than the space rock itself.

Simulations by experts suggest the crater’s cavity was at least 30km (98,425 ft) deep, with the crater rim measuring twice the height of Mount Everest.

The crater was at least 115 miles wide, according to National Geographic.

This gigantic feature lasts for less than a minute before collapsing, then repeats the process two minutes later.

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Five minutes following the impact, winds would have eased down to Category 5 hurricane strength, flattening everything that hasn’t already been burnt within 1,500 km of ground zero. 

"This would feel like being inside an oven – causing burns, heatstroke and death," a statement from the study by both professors from theconversation.com said. "Wood and plant matter ignite, creating fires everywhere."

Since the asteroid landed in the sea, it triggered megatsunami waves that crashed into what is now the Gulf of America, slamming into any surviving animals and ensuring their demise.

If you were located around 2,000 to 3,000km (1,800 miles) away, you would have most likely died from the aftermath of the event, including overheating, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires and tsunami-driven floods.

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Interestingly, dinosaurs in what is now China and New Zealand had very different fates.

An hour after impact, dust and soot engulf the entire planet as the sky darkens, unaware of the horrors on the other side of the globe.

Temperatures start to drop as dust blocks the sun. Trees and plants shut down as if winter is here, unable to sustain life, along with any animals that rely on warm conditions, and ultimately hunker down and die.

At this point, the sky has grown darker and darker to the point of no return, dropping temperatures to at least 41 degrees.

Most dinosaurs, including large flying and swimming reptiles, likely died within a week, with some smaller ones surviving longer.

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The continuous cooling temperatures and cloud cover resulted in wet weather, but not just any bad conditions; storms of acid rain fell across the planet.

"The dropping temperature ultimately allows water vapor to condense into drops, and the sulfur and nitrogen oxides dissolve to form sulfuric and nitric acids," a statement from the study reads. "This is sufficient to generate a rapid drop in pH. Early models suggest that the pH of the rain might be as low as 1 – the same acidity as battery acid."

At this point, the planet is a rotting wasteland, as the acid rain kills any remaining plant life and shallow marine wildlife that are unable to burrow or live underwater.

FOSSILIZED FECES, VOMIT REVEAL HOW DINOSAURS DOMINATED EARTH

After a year of chaos, the wildfires have been extinguished, and the oceans have calmed. However, the atmosphere is still full of dust, keeping the world in darkness, with temperatures as low as 60 (15 degrees Celsius) degrees below average compared to before the impact.

Any dinosaurs or reptiles that survived the initial impact would have died very soon after, experts said. Only the rotted skeletons of these once powerful creatures remain.

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The animals with the best chances of survival consist of mammals the size of rats or insects that would nestle in crevices for relief, and were barely able to survive on remaining scraps, as over 50% of the plants on the planet died out due to the cold and lack of sunlight.

After a decade of darkness and nonstop ferocious winter conditions, dust and soot particles remain in the atmosphere, leaving the average surface temperature about 41 degrees (5 degrees Celsius) below average.

Experts say the only species that could have survived this long are those that can burrow or live underwater.

WATCH: MASSIVE 60-TON ANIMATRONIC DINOSAUR CATCHES FIRE AT KANSAS PARK FOLLOWING LIGHTNING STRIKE

Surviving plants and animal groups that still roam amongst us today include turtles, smaller crocodiles, lizards, snakes, ground-dwelling birds and small animals that would go on to repopulate the planet.

These animals reside in relatively safe areas where there is just enough light to support plant life.

Slowly but surely, life makes an astonishing comeback and begins to rebuild.

Eventually, a variety of species returned to devastated landscapes, forming completely new ecosystems, but without the large threat of the monstrous dinosaurs that once ruled the world.

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Over millions of years, enough species survived this cataclysmic event, either by luck of location when the asteroid made impact or by their ability to adapt to the vast changes of the new world.

Over time, as the world returned to normal, animals had the opportunity to expand on the old adaptive habits that predators often prevented them from developing.

Despite this enormous event, it helped shape the beautiful planet we now inhabit, perfect for humans.

WHERE DINOSAUR BONES ARE REVEALED BY THE WEATHER

Professors Benton and Grady both suggest that, if it were not for this destructive asteroid, primates might never have reached the level we are at today.

On May 20, Atlanta and surrounding areas experienced heavy excessive rain after months of extremely dry conditions. 

Flooding impacted major roadways, leading to water rescues and flooded cars.

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Over the next day, a large amount of polluted stormwater swept into Peachtree Creek, which then traveled downstream into the Chattahoochee River, according to Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK).

On May 22, the Riverkeeper discovered an "unprecedented" number of dead fish in the river, south of Peachtree Creek.

Video from CRK showed the dead fish floating in several places along the river.

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The Riverkeeper said the Chattahoochee River has seen near-historic low flow over the last several months due to the drought conditions across Georgia and the Southeast. 

CRK said they believe several factors led to the high number of dead fish in the river downstream of Peachtree Creek. 

The agency said stormwater would've been at a warmer temperature than the creek's typical temperature, which can harm the natural environment.

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Additionally, CRK said a discharge of untreated sewer water mixed with the stormwater that flowed into Peachtree Creek.

CRK said it believes the low river flows combined with the highly polluted water and the sewer water create the conditions that led to the fish kill.

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"For decades, CRK has consistently advocated for higher river flow levels to ensure public health and safety downstream," Chattahoochee Riverkeeper said. "Warmer temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, high pollutant loads, overwhelmed infrastructure and inadequate minimum flows stressed the river to the point of breaking with an unprecedented fish kill as evidence."

Clips from CRK showed them collecting samples of the water from Chattahoochee River following the flood event.

CRK said the fish kill didn't impact the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. The incident is being investigated. 

Now, rescuers are orchestrating a massive extraction effort to bring the group to safety and continue the search for the two remaining missing individuals.

Five of the seven missing villagers were found on a rock and surrounded by floodwater inside an underground cavern in the province of Xaisomboun on Wednesday, the New York Post reported.

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The villagers entered the cave on May 19, but heavy rain triggered flash flooding that blocked the exit of the cave, the Associated Press reported.

After sifting through the dark, muddied cave floodwaters and squeezing through narrow tunnels, video footage shows the moments the group of rescue teams found the stranded villagers sitting on top of a rock.

Heartwarming footage captures a team of rescuers rejoicing upon hearing the news the lost villagers were found in the cave. 

When the flooding began, one villager who went into the cave with the group of seven was able to escape and alerted the emergency of the trapped villagers.

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In June 2018, the eyes of the world shifted to Thailand when a group of youth soccer players became stranded in a cave during the monsoon season, triggering the deployment of an elite world-class dive team that successfully extracted all 12 players and their coach.

Now, several members of that same group of divers have been deployed to Laos and are assisting in another high-stakes rescue operation.

While celebrations ensued following the news of finding five of the villagers alive, a challenging rescue and extraction awaits while two members of the group remain missing.

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This is a developing story. Stick with FOX Weather for future updates.

NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN FISH FOUND MORE THAN 3 MILES UNDER THE SEA

The stargazer fish, known for its creepy face and deadly ambush tactics, has electric organs capable of delivering up to 50 volts, venomous spines and bulging eyes that appear to migrate across its head.

According to BBC Wildlife, the species got its name from its grotesque upturned face, complete with upward-facing eyes and nostrils that allow it to burrow into the sandy seafloor while waiting for unsuspecting prey, such as fish or crustaceans, to swim overhead.

If the poor prey makes the mistake of getting too close, the stargazer opens its large mouth and engulfs them whole.

In some cases, this terrifying fish lures its prey using a worm-like piece of skin that is growing out of its face. The wiggling appendage resembles a juicy worm, tricking nearby fish into coming in for a bite.

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Once the fish realizes it's in danger, it’s too late— they are already the stargazer’s next meal.

There are around 50 species of stargazers in the Uranoscopidae family found throughout the world, inhabiting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Black, Mediterranean and Red Seas, per the American Museum of Natural History.

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This ambush predator can grow up to 17.7 inches long and have special organs behind its eyes capable of generating an electric charge to defend itself from threats.

Some species also have venomous spines located above their pectoral fins.

Unlike most fish, stargazers can breathe through their nostrils rather than their gills.

To make them even creepier, they also have fleshy fringes around their mouths and nostrils that help keep sand out while buried beneath the ocean floor.

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On top of their spine-chilling features, this fish has large pectoral fins that help them dig deep holes into the sand, allowing them to bury their flat bodies almost completely out of sight.

Their brownish coloring and hidden positioning make them highly effective ambush predators while also helping them avoid predators of their own.

Although encounters with humans are rare, some stargazer species, including the whitemargin stargazer, can pose a threat to people who accidentally step on or touch them. However, according to Fishbase, in most cases, the stargazer’s venom will only cause a painful wound.

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For now, the stargazer remains one of the ocean’s most terrifying and fascinating ambush predators.

There have been more rainy weekends than not this spring, with some cities in New England having seen double-digit precipitation totals since March 1.

WHAT IS AN OMEGA BLOCK?

Unfortunately, the FOX Forecast Center said this rainy pattern isn't letting up quite yet, with another widespread 1 to 2 inches of rain possible in parts of New England for the final weekend before the start of meteorological summer begins on Monday.

An Omega block pattern is settling in this week, allowing for an area of low pressure to move into New England from southeastern Canada on Saturday.

The system will bring cooler air into the region, but it will be lacking rich moisture, which means rainfall is likely to remain light. 

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Rain will start in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine on Saturday morning before quickly moving out of the area, the FOX Forecast Center said.

This slow-moving area of low pressure will allow rain to linger across interior New England and into Massachusetts through Saturday afternoon.

Since the start of meteorological spring on March 1, Boston has recorded precipitation for 10 out of 13 weekends. This weekend could be number 11. 

OMEGA BLOCK WEATHER PATTERN TO BRING LATE SEASON SNOW, HEAVY RAIN AND COOLER TEMPS TO THE WEST COAST

Portions of Maine could see rain through Sunday.

Morning low temperatures early Sunday could fall into the mid to lower 40s, with even temperatures in the mid-30s possible across the higher terrain of New Hampshire and Maine.

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The FOX Forecast Center said due to the cooler air, Mount Washington and the highest peaks of the far northern White Mountains could see some snow.

Looking farther ahead, this gloomy weekend pattern may finally begin to break down, the FOX Forecast Center said.

The Climate Prediction Center's eight to 14-day temperature and precipitation outlooks highlight above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation heading into the first week of June.

The FOX Forecast Center has been tracking potential tropical activity closely, especially with El Niño expected to develop rapidly into summer.

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Now, the latest two and three-week outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center highlight an area off the southwestern coast of Mexico with an increased probability of tropical development between June 3 and June 9.

Being that the first named storm in the Eastern Pacific typically forms around June 10, development during this timeframe would not be unusual.

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Some longer-range forecast models, including the American GFS model and the European ECMWF model, have also highlighted this potential in their latest runs.

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Although the average first storm occurs in June, May tropical activity in the Eastern Pacific remains relatively common.

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According to the FOX Forecast Center, since 1950, there have been 25 tropical storms and 19 hurricanes during May, for a total of 44 named systems.

The last storm in the Eastern Pacific in May was Hurricane Agatha in 2022, which moved into Mexico on May 30 as a Category 2 hurricane.

With that, ocean temperatures continue to run warmer than average across much of the basin and are expected to become even more conducive for development in the coming weeks as waters continue warming.

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Warmer ocean temperatures in the Eastern Pacific typically indicate the presence of an El Niño climate pattern. 

Sea surface temperatures off the coast of Mexico and extending westward into the open Pacific are currently running roughly 2 to 3 degrees above average.

HOW ARE HURRICANES RATED? THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE EXPLAINED

With that, increasing attention will continue to focus on these anomalously warm waters across the basin, along with the ongoing development of El Niño.

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To put things into perspective, a typical Eastern Pacific hurricane season averages 15 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major Category 3 or higher hurricanes.

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By comparison, during El Niño years since 1990, those averages have increased to approximately 17 named storms, nine hurricanes and five major hurricanes, highlighting a measurable uptick in seasonal activity.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, there were three occupants on board the recreational vessel, including the victim and his father. 

Local news outlets report that the teenager was trying to bring the animal on board when the shark bit him, and his father applied a tourniquet to help stop the bleeding. 

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The U.S. Coast Guard said Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received notice from the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office around 3 p.m. regarding three people aboard a vessel traveling toward Galveston Yacht Basin with an injured teen onboard.

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The vessel subsequently became disabled near the Galveston South Jetties as it was racing back to shore and lost power, local news reports indicate.

Watchstanders directed the launch of the boatcew to the scene and once they arrived, they transferred the injured teen and his father aboard the Coast Guard vessel.

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The 17-year-old boy was then transported to Coast Guard Base Galveston, where emergency medical personnel met him. The teen was reported to be in stable condition.

A local news station in Houston shared that he was transported to the University of Texas Medical Branch for treatment.

Further details about his condition and the injury have not been released at this time. 

In the video, waves of thick dust hang over the city beneath the plane.

The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque warned of blowing dust through southern and central parts of the city through Monday afternoon. 

As the plane continued to fly away from the city, the dust got thicker as it blew toward Albuquerque. 

According to the NWS, a dust storm is a wall of dust and debris that is blown into an area by strong winds from thunderstorms.

VIDEO SHOWS POWERFUL DUST STORM CREATING BLIZZARD-LIKE CONDITIONS ON WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA HIGHWAY

Rain, thunderstorms and the threat of flash flooding have been prevalent across New Mexico in recent days. 

The NWS said dust from dust storms can be miles long and thousands of feet high, as made clear by the video. 

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In the video, the clouds of dust expanded for as far as the eye could see, met by gray cloudy skies. 

As the camera panned toward the front of the plane, more and more dust could be seen. 

The ground below was barely seen as the dust moved through. 

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Dust storms are typically very short, but can quickly cause a multitude of problems for people driving, outdoors or with health conditions. 

New images of the floating nebula NGC 1514, nicknamed the Crystal Ball Nebula, were captured by the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) on the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii.

The Crystal Ball Nebula was first discovered by astronomer William Herschel in 1790 and is located in the constellation Taurus.

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A nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space, some of which comes from the explosions of dying stars, such as supernovae, according to NASA.

Other nebulae in the universe are regions where new stars are beginning to form, and for this reason, some nebulae are called "star nurseries."

According to experts at the International Gemini Observatory, the most recent image captures the final stages of a star’s life from around 1,500 years ago.

The Crystal Ball Nebula was classified as a planetary nebula after Herschel observed its spherical features, which reminded him of planets.

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A planetary nebula represents the final and brief stage in the life of a medium-sized star like our sun, according to NASA.

Experts say that at the heart of the Crystal Ball Nebula lie two actual stars that orbit each other every nine years.

As the two stars orbit each other, they mold an expanding shell of gas and winds, forming the lumpy outer layers observed in the image.

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As we continue to monitor this luminating phenomenon, we often receive new observations and insights into the lives of these celestial wonders.

As one of the worst droughts continues in Florida, forecasters are predicting some relief is on the way for millions. 

This comes as Florida recently experienced the 32nd driest April since 1895, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System.

Currently, Florida is experiencing its most widespread and severe drought since 2012, with rainfall totals running 20 to 30 inches below average.

According to the National Weather Service, the Miami area has only received 3.7 inches of rain so far this month.

Starting on Thursday and continuing through the weekend, forecasters expect a surge of tropical moisture from the Gulf of America and the Atlantic Ocean to move back into the region as a stationary front.

"Into the weekend, a firehose of Caribbean moisture will be pulled northward directly over the state," read a statement from the FOX Forecast Center. "Due to the potential for high rainfall rates on Thursday and Friday, a level 1/4 flash flood risk is in place across parts of Southeast Florida, including Miami and West Palm Beach."

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As the odds of much-needed rainfall increase over the weekend, prediction markets at Kalshi are expecting a 95% chance of the Miami metro area receiving more than 4 inches of rain in the month of May. 

According to the FOX Forecast Center, starting early June following the weekend, the same deep tropical moisture will spread across the Gulf of America, adding additional rounds of heavy rain across Northern Florida.

TORRENTIAL RAIN TRIGGERS FLASH FLOODING IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AREAS STILL RECOVERING FROM HURRICANE HELENE

From now through the beginning of June, areas across Central and Southern Florida could experience several inches of rain, with some areas receiving less than others, but it will still be beneficial.

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As hurricane season begins, expect weather conditions to steadily ramp up, but not before brief, wet weather brings beneficial rain to areas experiencing severe and exceptional drought.

TROPICAL DOWNPOURS TRIGGER FLASH FLOOD THREAT IN DROUGHT-STRICKEN FLORIDA DAYS BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON KICKOFF

As an area of high pressure remains off the East Coast, abundant Gulf and Atlantic moisture will continue to be pulled northward across much of the Southeast, and more notably into the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley.

Overnight, heavy rain impacted portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. 

The downpours continue today, with a Level 1 out of 4 flash flood risk remaining in effect in this area, mainly due to the persistent nature of this rainfall.

KNOW YOUR FLOOD TERMINOLOGY: WHAT FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS AND EMERGENCIES REALLY MEAN

Already saturated soils cannot absorb much more rain, so even a smaller thunderstorm or downpour could increase the flash flood threat through the afternoon.

Extending northward, a bigger threat arises in the Ohio Valley, where Flood Watches remain in effect through the afternoon for areas including Columbus, Ohio; Cinncinati and Charleston, West Virginia.

This is where an area of low pressure and its extended warm front will be slow to move. As heavy rain pivots along this front, persistent storms will increase the risk of flash flooding.

This is where a Level 2 flash flood threat has been issued.

Localized rain totals could reach 1 to 2 inches or more through the day before high pressure to the north pushes the precipitation out of the region.

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Farther east, as more sunshine breaks out, severe storms could erupt, mainly across the Mid-Atlantic.

This is where a Level 2 out of 5 severe storm risk is in place, including major cities such as Washington, D.C., Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia. Storms that develop through the afternoon are capable of producing damaging wind gusts.

As high pressure builds across the Great Lakes, portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley will start to dry out into Thursday and Friday.

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Meanwhile, rain will continue to increase the flood risk across the Southeast into late this week.

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

The agency unveiled new contracts for crewed lunar rovers and uncrewed cargo landers bound for the moon.

NASA leaders also shared target launch timeframes and upcoming milestones for the first Moon Base infrastructure and exploration missions to the lunar South Pole region.

"The Moon Base will be America’s and humanity’s first outpost on another celestial world," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said. "Every mission, crewed and uncrewed, will be a learning opportunity as we return to the lunar surface, build the infrastructure to stay, and master the skills required to live and operate in one of the most demanding and dangerous environments imaginable."

NASA said there will be three Moon Base missions designed to begin building sustained lunar operations.

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The first mission will launch no earlier than fall 2026 using Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander to deliver NASA payloads.

The equipment will include the Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies instrument to study how thrusters interact with the moon’s surface, as well as the Laser Retroreflective Array, which will help orbiting spacecrafts determine precise locations.

NASA said the mission is intended to validate landing and operational capabilities needed for future crewed Artemis missions planned for 2028.

Moon Base II will launch later in 2026 and deliver more than 1,100 pounds of cargo.

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Finally, Moon Base III, which is also targeted to launch this year, will fly the first payload selected through NASA’s Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon initiative.

Agency officials said the three missions are only the beginning of a much broader campaign, with more than a dozen additional Moon Base missions expected to be announced later this year.

NASA also announced major investments in lunar transportation and mobility systems.

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The agency awarded contracts worth more than $439 million combined to Astrolab and Lunar Outpost to develop the first generation of Lunar Terrain Vehicles that astronauts will eventually use to travel across the moon’s surface.

Officials said the long-term goal is to establish a sustained human presence near the lunar South Pole, where scientists believe water ice is trapped in permanently shadowed craters. The ice could one day provide drinking water, breathable oxygen and rocket fuel for deep-space missions.

Additionally, NASA shared new updates on MoonFall, a mission that will send four drones to fly short hops across the lunar surface while surveying potential landing sites for Artemis astronauts.

The drones will land on the lunar surface and gather high-resolution imagery of hard-to-reach terrain. NASA said the mission will help establish a sustained U.S. presence at the lunar South Pole.

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Finally, NASA announced plans to send astronauts on increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the moon. The agency said the missions will support scientific discovery, economic benefits and future crewed missions to Mars.

"We will go for the science, for all we stand to gain from an economic and technological perspective, for the innovations that will make life better here on Earth, and to prepare for where we will inevitably go next," Isaacman said.

TROPICAL DOWNPOURS TRIGGER FLASH FLOOD THREAT IN DROUGHT-STRICKEN FLORIDA DAYS BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON KICKOFF

As an area of high pressure remains off the East Coast, abundant Gulf and Atlantic moisture will continue to be pulled northward across much of the Southeast, and more notably into the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley.

Overnight and into Wednesday, heavy rain will impact portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. A Level 1 out of 4 flash flood risk remains in effect in this area, mainly due to the persistent nature of this rainfall.

KNOW YOUR FLOOD TERMINOLOGY: WHAT FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS AND EMERGENCIES REALLY MEAN

Already saturated soils cannot absorb much more rain, so even a smaller thunderstorm or downpour could increase the flash flood threat through the afternoon.

Extending northward, a bigger threat arises in the Ohio Valley, where Flood Watches remain in effect through the afternoon for areas including Columbus, Ohio; Cinncinati and Charleston, West Virginia.

This is where an area of low pressure and its extended warm front will be slow to move. As heavy rain pivots along this front, persistent storms will increase the risk of flash flooding.

Localized rain totals could reach 1 to 2 inches or more through the day before high pressure to the north pushes the precipitation out of the region.

HOW HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE DRIVE THE WEATHER

Farther east, as more sunshine breaks out, severe storms could erupt, mainly across the Mid-Atlantic.

This is where a Level 2 out of 5 severe storm risk is in place, including major cities such as Washington, D.C., Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia. Storms that develop through the afternoon are capable of producing damaging wind gusts.

As high pressure builds across the Great Lakes, portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley will start to dry out into Thursday and Friday.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Meanwhile, rain will continue to increase the flood risk across the Southeast into late this week.

An Omega block weather pattern is starting to take shape across the lower 48 states, with a large area of high pressure pushing the jet stream north.

WHAT IS AN OMEGA BLOCK?

As this occurs, two other areas of low pressure are expected to form across the Northeast and West Coast, allowing cooler weather to spread across both regions.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the western edge of the Omega block will begin to develop on Wednesday and Thursday.

As cooler air settles across the West Coast, snow will develop on the higher terrain of the Sierra Nevada.

"One oddity with this setup is that the main flow is coming from the north as low pressure sits over Nevada and the Rockies," the FOX Forecast Center said. "Typically, snow across this region occurs when atmospheric rivers move down the West Coast, with winds out of the southwest pulling in Pacific moisture."

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As a result of this developing system, a round of rain and snow will arrive during the day on Wednesday, then slowly taper off by the next morning, before being followed by one more round of mountain snow on Thursday night.

At least 8 to 12 inches of snow are possible, with some higher elevations potentially experiencing 12 to 18 inches, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

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Persistent strong winds will also be possible for much of the southwest, as wind advisories are in place through Thursday for portions of Nevada and California.

It is worth noting that higher elevations across Alpine County are also at risk of significant snowfall, but the main Tahoe area should experience minimal impacts.

This is an uncharacteristic amount of snowfall for this late in spring.

SUMMER-LIKE HEAT LOCKS IN OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS, UPPER MIDWEST AFTER COLD START TO MAY

A location such as Mammoth Lakes, California, could experience as much as 3 to 5 inches of snow through Thursday.

The latest snow on record for this area occurred on June 16, 1995.

The color of the ocean is appearing brighter than normal with a turquoise blue tint along the Mid-Atlantic coast, and there's a reason for it.

Satellite imagery from NASA showcases the color change, with the ocean appearing much brighter than normal in areas such as the Jersey Shore. You can see enormous swirling patches offshore, fueled by a mixture of spring sunlight, nutrient-rich waters and seasonal ocean upwelling, according to NASA.

THIS IS WHAT NEW TRAVEL DATA UNCOVERS ABOUT THIS SUMMER'S BIGGEST TRENDS

Starting in early April, satellites started detecting a patch of brownish, blue-green water lingering off the coasts of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

The colors and patterns appear to be most intense in the shallow coastal zone where the waters of Raritan Bay, Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay merged with the Atlantic Ocean — an area known as the Mid-Atlantic Bight.

The Mid-Atlantic Bight falls between Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. In this area, coastal phytoplankton blooms initiate in the winter and summer, although the timing and size of blooms varies from year to year.

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The area is not typically known for its Caribbean-like water. In fact, scientists consider the Mid-Atlantic to be "noisy" or "dirty" because rivers often discolor coastal waters with plumes of suspended sediment, water stained with colored dissolved organic matter and an array of microscopic and aquatic plant life, according to NASA.

When this matter mixes with phytoplankton blooms, it becomes more difficult for scientists to distinguish and categorize blooms in shallow coastal zones compared to deeper, darker, more uniform waters of the open ocean, NASA said.

Scientists say the blue waters come from phytoplankton, which are microscopic plant-like organisms that float near the ocean's surface.

WATCH: COUPLE SAVES SEA TURTLE ENTANGLED IN FISHING NET IN MALDIVES

When sunlight hits chlorophyll inside dense concentrations of the organisms, the water reflects bright blue and turquoise tones visible from aircraft and orbiting satellites.

The ocean off New Jersey typically appears darker green or gray because of sediment, algae and changing light conditions. This bloom changes that appearance dramatically.

But if you're on a boat in the middle of the ocean, the water might not look all that different to you.

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As phytoplankton multiply rapidly in nutrient-rich water, chlorophyll absorbs portions of sunlight while reflecting blue-green wavelengths, producing the glowing turquoise effect which is now visible in the Mid-Atlantic, according to NASA.

As a result, locals and visitors are comparing the coastline to tropical destinations, like the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

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NASA's Earth Observatory and Goddard Space Flight Center have been closely tracking the bloom as it expands across the Mid-Atlantic coast.

These blooms happen every year, but the scale and vivid coloring of this year's bloom have drawn attention. NASA said the combination of weather, nutrient levels and ocean currents this spring produced one of the region's most visually striking displays in recent memory.

Last year's bloom turned water in the Atlantic and Cape May counties a bright blue for several weeks before disappearing, according to NASA.

"The colors are caused by light interacting with high concentrations of phytoplankton near the surface," scientists explained in NASA observations of the event.

Luckily, the bloom poses little danger to those on the water, including swimmers, surfers and beachgoers, officials said.

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Phytoplankton form the foundation of the marine food chain and are essential to ocean ecosystems. Similar blooms happen every spring as temperatures rise and sunlight increases.

However, scientists say extremely large blooms can sometimes create temporary stress on marine life if massive amounts of phytoplankton die off at once.

When algae dies and sinks to the ocean floor, it is consumed by bacteria. This process consumes oxygen in the water and if the levels drop too low, it can stress and potentially kill fish and shellfish, according to researchers. These impacts tend to be very limited and short-lived.

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Oceanographers with Rutgers University said the bloom will likely fade once available nutrients in surface waters are depleted.

Unless storms, river runoff or additional upwelling replenish those nutrients, the tropical appearance will dissipate within weeks as ocean conditions return to normal.

THE BEST CELESTIAL EVENTS IN 2026 YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS

From the conjunction of two of the brightest plants in our galaxy to the June Solstice, this month has countless opportunities to witness life-changing astronomical events.

Here is everything you can look forward to this month.

May is kicking off with the Venus-Jupiter Conjunction, which is when both planets will appear a little more than one degree from each other in the sky.

This is about the width of a thumb held at arm’s length.

LOOK UP: RARE BLUE MOON AND 4 PLANETS WILL SHINE ACROSS THE SKY AT THE END OF MAY

Skywatchers will be able to view the two brightest planets in the western sky just after sunset.

As a bonus, Mercury may also make a rare appearance just below the two bright planets.

Just a few days after the Venus-Jupiter Conjunction, Mercury will reach its widest apparent separation from the sun.

This means that the planet will be at its greatest eastern elongation of 24.5 degrees from the sun.

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This will be the best time for skygazers to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point in the evening sky.

On the same day that Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation, a new moon cycle will begin.

This moon will not be visible in the night sky, making it the best time of the month to observe galaxies and star clusters.

At the June solstice, the sun will reach its northernmost point. During this solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is more tilted towards the sun.

This means that in the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice marks the shortest nights and longest days of the year. For the Southern Hemisphere, however, it marks the longest nights and shortest days.

Once the solstice passes, the sun will begin to move towards the south.

June is ending with a full moon known as the Strawberry Moon.

This moon was named for the traditional strawberry harvest in parts of North America.

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This will be the first full moon of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and will be the second-smallest full moon of the year.

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This rare celestial event will occur on May 31, and despite its name, the moon will not actually appear blue.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the term Blue Moon refers to when multiple full moons occur within the same month. However, there are actually two definitions of the term, though the more common usage describes the type of moon occurring this month.

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A seasonal Blue Moon refers to the third full moon in a season that contains four full moons. Meanwhile, a calendrical Blue Moon is the second full moon within a single month.

Experts say a calendrical Blue Moon is relatively rare because the moon’s phases last about 29 ½ days, while most months have 30 or 31 days. A full moon typically falls on the first or second day of a month — except in February.

As a result, a Blue Moon occurs about once every 30 months on average.

THE BEST CELESTIAL EVENTS IN 2026 YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS

This will be the first time two full moons have appeared in the same month since August 2023, and it won’t happen again until December 2028.

Additionally, early-rising skygazers may be able to catch a glimpse of Mars and Saturn in the eastern sky. Experts recommend setting your alarm 45 to 60 minutes before sunrise and looking toward the east.

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On top of that, skywatchers may also get a chance to see Venus and Jupiter as they inch closer together. The best time to view this phenomenon is about 30 to 45 minutes after sunset.

A family was dining at the Driftwood Grill in Clarendon County, South Carolina, when the unthinkable happened: a woman was struck with deadly force by a flying umbrella.

"The decedent and her husband were dining at the local restaurant on the patio when a sudden strong wind blew an umbrella from a table, which struck the decedent in the head and neck area," read a press release from the Clarendon County Coroners Office.

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According to the Clarendon County Coroner’s Office, dispatchers received a call regarding a laceration wound at around 9:40 p.m. in Summerton, South Carolina.

Upon arrival at the scene, law enforcement and EMS found the woman unresponsive with a life-threatening wound to the head and neck area.

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First responders performed life-saving measures but were unable to revive the woman, and she was pronounced dead just over an hour later.

An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday in Charleston, as this case is being investigated as an accident.

The setting sun is about to fall in perfect alignment with Manhattan’s east-west grid, creating a glowing corridor between the city’s towering skyscrapers. It is time for Manhattanhenge!

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The phenomenon takes the stage with a partial alignment on Thursday night, followed by the highly anticipated full alignment on Friday.

So, prepare your cameras now, because the stunning view only lasts a few short minutes and occurs only four times a year.

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The phenomenon was coined "Manhattanhenge" by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson in 1997.

According to PBS News, Tyson thought "that the setting sun framed by Manhattan's high-rises could be compared to the sun's rays striking the center of the Stonehenge circle on the solstice."

But unlike Stonehenge, designed and built to align with the summer solstice, Manhattanhenge occurs roughly three weeks before the summer solstice and three weeks after, happening by architectural coincidence.

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The "half-sun" view is set to take place at 8:14 p.m. on Thursday. Meanwhile, the "full-sun" view will grace the New York City sky at 8:13 Friday night.

The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation lists the following locations to catch the most epic views:

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The department also recommends getting to your preferred location early and facing west towards the sunset, while moving further east to grab the best shot of the afterglow, illuminating the towering buildings.

Planning on catching these picture-perfect views? Be sure to send in all your best shots and videos to Foxweather.com/connect!

And if you miss this month's glowing cityscape, July will bring the final two chances of the year to witness the phenomenon.

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The sun will align perfectly with the city grid on July 11 and 12.

RENEWED FLOOD THREATS TARGET WATERLOGGED TEXAS, THE SOUTH WITH DAYS OF HEAVY RAIN

The worst of the flooding was concentrated in the northern part of the county in the Gerton, Bat Cave and Fletcher communities, near the Buncombe County line south of Asheville.

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Parts of Henderson County received over 4 inches of rain on Memorial Day, according to the local National Weather Service (NWS) office. Asheville set a daily rain record on Monday with 2.89 inches of rainfall.

Images from Charlotte Highway near the county border showed buckled and compromised roadways early Tuesday.

The Fairview Volunteer Fire Department said a 12-foot hole was found underneath part of the highway and extended repairs would be needed. 

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The Gerton volunteer fire department said it responded to numerous flood calls and reports of flooded roads and asked people to stay home Tuesday. Video from Sunday showed streams and creeks overflowing their banks in Bat Cave.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation said Tuesday that crews were on the scene assessing damage near the Henderson-Buncombe county line. Part of US 74A was closed in that area.

Western North Carolina remains under a Level 2 out of 4 flash flood threat through Wednesday morning, according to NOAA's Weather Prediction Center (WPC).

LAKE LURE BEGINS REFILLING AFTER HURRICANE HELENE

Henderson and Buncombe counties were among the hardest-hit in the country by Hurricane Helene in Oct. 2024. The historic storm killed 56 people and destroyed nearly 1,500 buildings in those areas, according to the state's Department of Health and Human Services and damage assessments compiled by UNC Asheville.

Many homes and national parks in the area are still being rebuilt. Interstate 40 in the Pigeon River Gorge is being reconstructed and slated to reopen in late 2028, according to the state DOT.

But how is it possible that these stones are dragged across the ground, with no physical push? For decades, this mystery perplexed scientists. And no—it’s not a ghost.

The answer is a rare, specific combination of weather events, including ice, water and wind.

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According to the National Park Foundation, the rocks — composed of dolomite and syenite, just like the surrounding mountains — tumble down to the valley floor due to erosion. Once on level ground, they travel horizontally with no apparent force.

"Many of the largest rocks have left behind trails as long as 1,500 feet, suggesting that they've moved a long way indeed from their original location," they said. 

Study of their movement dates back to the 1900s, but until December 2013, no one had physically seen them move. And it wasn't until August 2014 that a scientific explanation was formally published.

Because the stones can sit for decades without traveling, researchers initially never expected to see them move in person, explained the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

THESE POPULAR NATIONAL PARKS ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR 2026 VISITOR RESERVATIONS

A team led by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, paleobiologist Richard Norris, set up an experiment in winter 2011 with permission of the Park Service. 

With the chance of years without movement, the team monitored the rocks by installing a high-resolution weather station capable of measuring gusts to one-second intervals and attaching tracking devices to 15 different stones in the Valley.

"The National Park Service would not let them use native rocks, so they brought in similar rocks from an outside source," Scripps said.

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And what Ralph Lorenz of the Applied Physics Laboratory at the Johns Hopkins University thought would be "the most boring experiment ever," all changed with what Norris called a scientific "element of luck."

"We expected to wait five or ten years without anything moving, but only two years into the project, we just happened to be there at the right time to see it happen in person," he said.

Their observations concluded that rock movement occurs with a specific combination of events, involving water, ice and wind.

According to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Racetrack Playa Valley first fills with water, which must be deep enough to create floating ice formations during colder winter temperatures, but shallow enough to still expose the rocks. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

When temperatures plunge over the frigid winter nights, the water freezes to form sheets of "windowpane" ice, which can be described as a thin sheet of ice that forms over a body of water, typically showing glass-like clarity. 

That said, the sheet must be thin enough to move freely but thick enough not to break.

Then, on sunny days when the ice begins to melt, they break up into large floating panels, as light winds drive them across the water-covered ground.

THIS ROCK IN ARCHES NATIONAL PARK WILL FALL, IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME

These ice sheets then catch the rocks and drag them along, leaving a visible track in the mud beneath the shallow water.

Ultimately, these stones can stay in motion for anywhere from a few seconds to over ten minutes, moving multiple times before coming to complete rest. 

The FOX Forecast Center has been tracking this activity for over a week as we rapidly approach the start of the 2026 hurricane season. 

EL NIÑO COULD MEAN MORE TROPICAL ACTIVITY FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC

Initially, tropical activity was forecast to begin in early June. However, updated tracking shows a surge of tropical moisture aimed over the region, bringing potential drought relief by late week. 

Florida is possibly looking at a long-duration heavy rain event and, combined with heavy rainfall rates, portions of the state are under a Level 1 out of 4 flash flood threat beginning Thursday and lasting through Saturday.

LOOK OUT: POWERFUL WINDS SEND BOUNCE HOUSE TUMBLING THROUGH YARD AND INTO SUV IN FLORIDA

That said, Florida is currently enduring its most widespread and severe drought since 2012, with rainfall deficits running an astonishing 20 to 30 inches below normal along the Interstate 10 corridor.

Starting Thursday and lasting into the weekend, a surge of tropical moisture from the Gulf and Atlantic will move back into the region as a stationary front slowly sags southward across portions of the Southeast. 

Into the weekend, a firehose of Caribbean moisture will be pulled northward directly over the state, unleashing rain at potentially high rates. 

This has prompted a Level 1 flash flood risk in place across parts of southeast Florida, including Miami and West Palm Beach.

Now looking longer term into early June, this front is forecast to slowly shift as high pressure builds in from the north. With deep tropical moisture continuing to pool across the Gulf of America, additional rounds of heavy rain may develop along a cold front draped across northern Florida.

DOWNPOURS TURN DEADLY AS RENEWED FLOOD RISK CONTINUES IN THE SOUTH DUE TO ATMOSPHERIC FIREHOSE

"From now through the beginning of June, areas across Central and Southern Florida could see several inches of rain, with lighter but still beneficial totals extending into the Panhandle," the FOX Forecast Center said.

As strong wind shear is expected in early June, any low-pressure system that attempts to develop near this front will likely remain disorganized, minimizing the threat for a classified tropical system and keeping the focus instead on a long-duration and beneficial rainfall event.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

So for Florida, the official start of hurricane season may not bring a named storm, but it could bring exactly what the state needs most. 

Stick with FOX Weather as we continue to monitor any trends and developments leading up to the start of the 2026 hurricane season.

DOWNPOURS TURN DEADLY AS RENEWED FLOOD RISK CONTINUES IN THE SOUTH DUE TO ATMOSPHERIC FIREHOSE

Flash flooding was ongoing early Tuesday in Henderson County, North Carolina, where the local fire department said it was responding to numerous calls and reports of inundated roads.

Video from Sunday showed heavy flooding in nearby Bat Cave, North Carolina.

Meanwhile, one person died as a result of flooding in Forest County, Mississippi, on Monday, according to Governor Tate Reeves.

Rain over the weekend also soaked much of Texas and the Southeast Gulf Coast. Police in Beeville, in Texas' Coastal Bend, had to rescue a driver and an infant from fast-moving floodwaters Saturday.

WATCH: FIRST RESPONDERS RESCUE INFANT AFTER CAR IS TRAPPED IN RUSHING TEXAS FLOODWATER

Since Friday, 6 to 8 inches of rain have fallen across parts of the Southeast.

Several storm systems will move across the southern U.S. and tap into more tropical moisture that will produce drenching rain through the workweek.

Soils are saturated across much of the South after last week's precipitation and are vulnerable to more flash flooding.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

However, the rain will help provide relief for a region that has been gripped by Extreme Drought conditions.

A Level 2 out of 4 risk of flash flooding covers a corridor from New Orleans to southern Virginia through Wednesday morning, according to NOAA's Weather Prediction Center (WPC).

Meanwhile, a new storm system is pushing toward the Southern Plains Tuesday and will stall over the region, triggering repeated rounds of heavy thunderstorms.

HOW FLOODWATER CAN MAKE YOU VERY SICK

Parts of North and Central Texas is in the bull's-eye of Tuesday's threat, with a Level 2 flood threat covering Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.

On Wednesday, the flood threat will shift into Corpus Christi, Houston and Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The FOX Forecast Center emphasized that this will not be a quick-hitting event, with storms expected to target the same corridors from the Texas coast through the lower Mississippi Valley through Friday.

Another widespread  2 to 3 inches of rain is expected through the workweek.

Check back for updates on this developing story. 

With reports of human-induced "earthquakes" making headlines around the world, telling a rock band to "rock the Richter scale" is not far from an impossible task.

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Every so often, there are reports of concerts and sporting events setting off an "earthquake" due to the massive amounts of human energy in synchronization – whether it be cheering, dancing, screaming or all three at once.

Earlier this month, during a concert in Athens, Greece, the world-famous American heavy metal band Metallica drew an enthusiastic audience of 80,000 fans, with the show registering minor tremors on nearby earthquake equipment, Greek news outlet eKathimerini reported.

Can concerts and sporting events actually trigger real earthquakes? According to a U.S. Geological Survey seismologist, the answer is no.

LOOKING BACK AT JAPAN’S HISTORIC TSUNAMI DISASTER 15 YEARS LATER

Dr. William Barnhart, assistant coordinator of the USGS Earthquake Hazard Program, said, "There are lots and lots of phenomena on Earth that can cause vibrations in the Earth, and the role of a seismometer, which is a scientific instrument, is to record those vibrations. Earthquakes are one process that produces vibrations and seismometers record them."

So, when 60,000 music lovers, sports fans or humans in general get together – regardless of genre – they often produce human-induced ground vibrations that are picked up by nearby seismometers.

"There are lots of other things that cause those vibrations, too. Really anything that shakes the ground will be picked up by these seismometers. So, if you put a whole bunch of people in a stadium, and they get really excited, and they start cheering and jumping, that creates vibrations that get recorded by these instruments," Dr. Barnhart said. 

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This micro-seismic activity, which is, ironically, a fantastic name for a metal band, is recorded using the same seismometers that register earthquakes, but don't drop to your knees just yet.

Dr. Barnhart said it's very easy to mistake the reading from an earthquake.

"The ‘MetalliQuakes,' of course, especially when you start playing ‘Enter Sandman’ and you get everybody moving at the same time and in the same way, then all of a sudden, that noise gets really pronounced because all of that is happening together with the same frequency, so those seismic waves get bigger which get really well recorded on these instruments and look like a really big signal," Dr. Barnhart said.

One such scenario occurred on May 7, 2025, at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium when a sold-out crowd of over 60,000 produced a "MetalliQuake" that made national headlines during the performance of the group's 1991 hit song "Enter Sandman."

METALLICA CONCERT REGISTERS AS SMALL EARTHQUAKE AFTER ROCKING VIRGINIA TECH SO HARD

Whether sparked by a metal concert or a game-winning play, a synchronized stadium eruption may feel earth-shaking in the moment — but it isn't a real earthquake.

One of the earliest and most famous examples of a human-caused seismic event came during one of the defining sports moments of the 2010s, when Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch broke loose for a 67-yard touchdown run to seal a win in the NFL Wild Card playoffs on Jan. 8, 2011 — a moment that became immortalized as the "BeastQuake."

In front of a sold-out crowd of more than 65,000, Lynch's iconic touchdown run garnered enough noise and energy on his goose-chase of a play evading New Orleans Saints defenders to set off a tremor at the nearby Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, with a strength of magnitude 2.0.

The shaking hasn't stopped there.

SCIENTISTS FIND THESE 5 TAYLOR SWIFT SONGS CREATED BIGGEST 'SWIFTQUAKES' AT ONE CONCERT

Taylor Swift's Era's Tour sent shock waves around the world as the highest-grossing music tour ever – with numerous "SwiftQuakes" recorded on her record-breaking tour.

During her performance of "Shake It Off," Swifties took shaking quite literally. In Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium, the strongest tremor was equivalent to a magnitude 2.0 earthquake during Swift's 2014 hit song, according to a study.

In many cases, for example at Seattle's Lumen Field, the reason why they are recorded is that the stadium is instrumented to see how it would handle a real earthquake.

Engineers then use information from concerts and sporting events as a shaking source that stimulates the building to understand how it will withstand different types of seismic energy, Dr. Barnhart said.

WATCH: STRONG EARTHQUAKE SHAKES CAMERAS, SPOOKS PETS ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

In regions where earthquakes are particularly common, large stadiums are designed to handle large earthquakes that far exceed that of fans cheering and jumping around to their favorite song or a game-winning touchdown.

While these human-induced ground vibrations pose no real threat other than to opposing fans, that doesn't mean humans haven't done their part in triggering massive, destructive earthquakes.

Induced earthquakes are caused or influenced by human activity, whether it's oil and gas production, wastewater disposal or mining, there is a broad range of earthquakes that are entirely human-caused.

SEVEN FACTS ABOUT EARTHQUAKES

While humans have certainly played a role in triggering significant earthquakes, Swifties, sports fans and metalheads shouldn't fear that their cheering, screaming or dancing alongside thousands of fellow fans will spark the next big one.

Off the coast of the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, a tiny blue octopus roams the sandy landscape, unknown to most.

SEE IT: RARE BUS-SIZED PHANTOM JELLYFISH CAUGHT ON DEEP SEA VIDEO OFF ARGENTINA'S COAST

This tiny blue creature was first discovered during a deep-sea expedition in 2015, as researchers used a remotely operated underwater robot (ROV) to explore the ocean floor at a depth of around 5,800 feet, according to a peer-reviewed publication on Eureka Alert.

Through the ROV, researchers were able to collect dozens of this newly discovered species and take them for further evaluation at the Charles Darwin Research Station.

The researchers had difficulty identifying the species of this octopus and sent it to octopus expert Janet Voight at the Field Museum in Chicago for examination.

WATCH: MASSIVE ALLIGATOR MUNCHES ON SMALLER ALLIGATOR IN FLORIDA WILDLIFE PARK

Through advanced micro-CT scanning at the museum's X-ray laboratory, researchers compiled 3D images of the octopus's interior, revealing the fine details of its organs, mouth and other wild features, all without cutting into the wondrous creature.

This information was crucial when declaring a new species to science.

The new species, named Microeledone galapagensis, was discovered and classified by Janet Voight and her team of scientists.

WHITE SHARK 'GOODALL' TRACKED MOVING THROUGH POPULAR CARIBBEAN TOURIST DESTINATION

As water covers 71% of the planet, each discovery from the ocean is a humble reminder of how much remains to be explored and what else could be hiding below the surface, waiting to be discovered for years to come.

A white sedan made the mistake of traveling through a low-lying water-crossing area along a creek, triggering dangerous flooding that swiftly turned the road into a rushing river on May 23.

The rapid floodwater halted the vehicle and its occupants, the driver and an infant child, in the middle of rushing water with no way to escape.

HOW FLOODWATER CAN MAKE YOU VERY SICK

Body-camera footage from an officer from the City of Beeville Police Department captured the moments an officer trudged through surging floodwater to the stranded vehicle.

With floodwater passing by the officer's legs, the driver handed over the infant in a carrier, and the officer and a volunteer firefighter quickly covered the child with a rain jacket.

"When heavy rain hits, conditions around our low water crossings can change fast. What may look passable one minute can quickly become dangerous the next," the City of Beeville Police Department said on Facebook.

WATCH: GOOD SAMARITAN CARRIES STRANDED DRIVER THROUGH ATLANTA FLOODWATER

The intense, rapid rain flooded the roadway before first responders could establish barricades – and that's when the white sedan attempted to drive through the flooded road.

WATCH: DOG ‘CONTINUOUSLY SHIVERS’ AFTER HARROWING RESCUE FROM FRIGID NEW YORK RIVER

Police said a member of the fire department on scene tried to warn the driver to stop them from entering the water, but unfortunately, the driver did not see him.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Thankfully, nobody was hurt – but this potentially dangerous incident underscores an important message from the Beeville Police Department: "No errand, shortcut or destination is worth risking your life or your family’s safety."

Travelers are already packing their bags for everything from quick domestic adventures, international escapes, road trips and more — even blending work with play.

Whatever the case may be, this summer's travel trends are shaping up in a new way.

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Are you planning a getaway this summer? Let’s dive into Expedia’s breakdown of the season's hottest travel trends.

According to Expedia, domestic travel has been commanding summer travel plans this year, highlighting that social conversations about domestic vacations have increased by 77% year-over-year globally.

That said, 63% of U.S. travelers are planning a domestic trip this summer, as many are drawn to nearby beaches and mountain towns for hiking and national parks.

Here is a look at some of the many domestic destinations seeing the biggest surge in search interest:

Expedia breaks down Hotel Hop travel into three categories: event hopping, road tripping and bleisure hopping.

When it comes to "event hopping," travelers have been planning more of their summer trips around concerts or sports games.

"Pairing a hotel near the concert venue or stadium with a second stay in a different part of the city means travelers can experience more of the destination in one trip," Expedia said.

Road trips have also been on the rise, with many having increased interest in iconic roadways such as Route 66, Blue Ridge Parkway, Great River Road and the Pacific Coast Highway.

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Moving onto "bleisure hopping," this type of trip blends work and fun as travelers add extended leisure to their work trips.

"Bleisure travel is trending online with over 165K mentions," Expedia said.

Find the list of the most recent "hotel hop" travel hotels here.

"Books are becoming must-pack items for summer travel as more travelers build vacations around reading, relaxation and quality time with loved ones," Expedia said.

In fact, Expedia mentions that reading-related reviews on Vrbo have skyrocketed 285% year-over-year.

Some of these "readaway" travel destinations include:

HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC BOARDWALKS IN AMERICA TO EXPLORE THIS SUMMER

Along with that, some of the most popular beach destinations have increased by over 30% in contrast to last summer, according to Expedia analysts.

Not only is reading having a pull on summer travel destinations, but so are TV shows and movies. Expedia considers this trip as "set-jetting" travel.

Films such as "Wuthering Heights," "Moana" and "The Odyssey" are bringing more travelers' interest to Yorkshire, England; Samoa; Hawaii; and Peloponnese, Greece.

TOP 10 MOST VISITED US NATIONAL PARKS AND MEMORIALS

Here is a list of some of the "set-jetting" destinations and their film inspirations:

Muskoka, Canada, has also seen an increase in interest travelers by 110% after the debut of "Heated Rivalry," according to Expedia.

Expedia also highlights the influence of the World Cup games in portions of North America this summer.

THESE 5 STATES HAVE SOME OF THE MOST SNAKE-FILLED WATERS IN THE NATION

While some are jet-setting off to gaming destinations, others are taking advantage of the lack of crowds elsewhere, such as Europe, Asia and South America.

Some top "Kick Off" destinations include:

Meanwhile, some "Take Off" destinations include:

TOP 10 BEST BEACHES IN THE WORLD FOR 2026 ANNOUNCED

With that, no matter where you head this summer, enjoy the ride, book, themed adventure, concerts, sports games and more!

But some people encountered quite the surprise when a massive bounce house came flying across their yard and into a car over the weekend.

SOUTH DRENCHED BY STUBBORN DOWNPOURS AS ATMOSPHERIC FIREHOSE REIGNITES DAYS OF TORRENTIAL RAIN AND FLOOD RISKS

South Florida was slammed by nasty weather this weekend, bringing heavy rain and powerful winds, dampening any chance of an early Memorial Day celebration.

As if the storm conditions weren't enough, the intense winds were able to pick up and blow a large bounce house through a yard in Miami-Dade County, Florida, on Sunday.

In an instant, the tropical-themed bounce house is thrust through the property, completely flips over and slams into a red SUV, knocking out the back left tail light before continuing on its sporadic journey.

This is a prime example of how severe the weather conditions are in Florida, especially as summer inches closer, bringing the threat of tropical storms and hurricanes.

BENEFICIAL RAIN TO EASE HISTORIC DROUGHT CONDITIONS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST THIS WEEK

According to the National Weather Service, the area received just over half an inch of rain on Sunday, with wind gusts reaching 38 mph.

The winds were able to pick up the large bounce house with ease, sending it flying through the air.

TRACKING THE TROPICS: HINTS OF TROPICAL TROUBLE POSSIBLE FOR FIRST WEEKS OF HURRICANE SEASON

Thankfully, residents in the region had much nicer conditions for Memorial Day, with sunny skies and a high of 90 degrees — ideal conditions to spend time outdoors and celebrate the holiday.

But these initial heavy downpours are just the beginning, as a completely separate disturbance is set to stall, drenching portions of the region straight through Friday, heightening more flooding risks. 

By midweek, an atmospheric firehose is set to lock in over the Gulf Coast, tapping into a stalled corridor of deep tropical moisture to unleash days of torrential rain across Texas and Louisiana.

The FOX Forecast Center notes the chance for flash flooding every day this week. 

WET WEATHER EXPECTED TO DAMPEN PLANS FOR MILLIONS ON THE EAST COAST THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

While the current system slowly tracks eastward, a new, distinct upper-level disturbance will dig into the Southwest and push toward the Southern Plains on Tuesday. 

As it does, it will tap into a massive reservoir of tropical moisture over the Gulf of America, driving up moisture levels and triggering renewed rounds of rain. 

This fresh upper-level energy will stall over the region, providing the continuous lifting mechanism needed to spark the widespread, repeated rounds of heavy thunderstorms.

WATCH: GOOD SAMARITAN CARRIES STRANDED DRIVER THROUGH ATLANTA FLOODWATER

"The main concern with this second disturbance is that the heavy rain will point directly at areas in Texas and Louisiana that are already dealing with a thoroughly soaked landscape from this past week," the FOX Forecast Center highlighted. 

This has prompted a Level 2 out of 4 risk for flash flooding on both Tuesday and Wednesday, pinned over south-central Texas, eastern Texas, and western Louisiana. 

Areas impacted on Tuesday include San Antonio, Austin, San Angelo and down into the Rio Grande, while Wednesday shifts more into Corpus Christi, Houston and Lake Charles.

This setup will not be a quick-hitting event as the upper-level low is forecast to remain sluggish and stuck over the South-Central U.S. even through Thursday and Friday. 

KNOW YOUR FLOOD TERMINOLOGY: WHAT FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS AND EMERGENCIES REALLY MEAN

This means that day after day, storm complexes will repeatedly roll over the same corridors from the Texas coast through the lower Mississippi Valley. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

With these conditions locked in place for the second half of the workweek, the rain is going to pile up, resulting in another widespread 2 to 3 inches of rainfall through Friday, with locally higher amounts possible. 

Stay with FOX Weather as we continue to track the latest forecast. 

BEYOND SUPER EL NIÑO: THE SECRET OCEAN PATTERN THAT COULD FUEL HURRICANES IMPACTING HAWAII THIS YEAR

The Western Pacific typhoon season is off to a fierce start, with a destructive super typhoon already striking the region — and El Niño could fuel even more activity ahead.

The presence of El Niño is already cooking – FOX Forecast Center's Tropical Threat shows a moderate chance of a tropical system developing east of the Philippines and off the coast of China.

TRACKING THE TROPICS: HINTS OF TROPICAL TROUBLE POSSIBLE FOR FIRST WEEKS OF HURRICANE SEASON

In the event this storm develops, the steering pattern could move it toward Japan.

As waters warm across the equatorial Pacific due to El Niño, waters also begin to warm not only across the Eastern Pacific, but the Northwest Pacific as well – heating up just in time for typhoon season.

NOAA REVEALS 2026 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON ACTIVITY FORECAST AS SUPER EL NIÑO LOOMS

Typically, as El Niño intensifies, warmer waters develop across the more eastern portions of the Western Pacific Basin.

As ocean waters warm farther east, storms forming in that region can spend more time tracking westward over warm water — the fuel that powers tropical systems. The longer a storm remains over those waters, the greater its potential to intensify.

TYPHOON SINLAKU MAKES DIRECT HIT ON US TERRITORIES IN PACIFIC, BLASTING SAIPAN WITH 130 MPH WINDS

In the Western Pacific, typhoon season is already off to an active start, with four named storms, one typhoon and one major typhoon so far — Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which unleashed 175 mph winds on April 12, caused extensive damage across the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, and became the second-strongest typhoon ever observed.

From 1991 to 2020, the Western Pacific averaged 26 named storms, 16 typhoons and nine major typhoons per season.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

The active trend in the Western Pacific could continue as El Niño intensifies.

MILLIONS FACE GROWING FLOOD THREAT ACROSS SOUTH THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY AND BEYOND AMID DAYS OF DOWNPOURS

That is all about to end as temperatures are forecast to run up to 20 degrees above average into Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving Minneapolis eyeing its first 90 degree day since October 2025.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, May has featured the largest temperature anomalies of the season across this region.

TRACKING THE TROPICS: HINTS OF TROPICAL TROUBLE POSSIBLE FOR FIRST WEEKS OF HURRICANE SEASON

Cities from Minneapolis to Green Bay and Detroit recorded average temperatures several degrees below normal, and are now expected to surge to summer-like territory through midweek. 

High temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday are forecast to climb 10 to 20 degrees above average from the Northern Plains through the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. 

HOW TO RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF HEAT ILLNESS

In fact, Minneapolis could flirt with 90 degrees on Tuesday, which would mark the city’s warmest temperature in 231 days. 

While a few record highs may be possible across the Northern Plains early next week, the FOX Forecast Center highlights a bigger shock bring shock being the rapid transition to the summer-like heat.

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"The warmer air is also a good reminder that, despite the heat, water temperatures remain chilly, generally in the middle to lower 50s," they said. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Through early June, long-range outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center continue to show much of the Northern Tier remaining above average after a chillier start to May. 

A Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk continues across portions of the region through Wednesday, leaving 20 million Americans at risk of more flash flooding into the week. 

WET WEATHER EXPECTED TO DAMPEN PLANS FOR MILLIONS ON THE EAST COAST THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Friday alone brought over half a foot of rain near Mobile, Alabama, causing the Bayou Sara at Saraland to reach major flood stage.

Along with that, recent rainfall brought totals of 7+ inches to Sinton and Freeport, Texas; Winona, Mississippi and Collinsville, Oklahoma. 

This is all due to a deep plume of tropical moisture surging northward from the Gulf of America that will continue to interact with a series of slow-moving upper-level disturbances and a stalling frontal boundary.

WATCH: GOOD SAMARITAN CARRIES STRANDED DRIVER THROUGH ATLANTA FLOODWATER

As multiple storm complexes move over the same corridors, well over 3 to 5 inches of rain is possible from eastern Texas into Louisiana and Mississippi through Friday. 

That said, localized amounts of 5 to 8 inches or more are possible from the Louisiana-Texas border through southern Mississippi, with major cities from Houston to New Orleans in the bullseye for the highest totals.

The Fox Forecast Center said that because of the surplus rainfall so far this month across regions along the Gulf Coast, soils remain saturated, and any additional rain could lead to flash flooding. 

KNOW YOUR FLOOD TERMINOLOGY: WHAT FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS AND EMERGENCIES REALLY MEAN

Currently, some Gulf Coast cities are running over 3 inches above average for the month of May.

This has prompted a Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk for coastal Louisiana on Sunday, and as another system moves in from the west, this flood threat will re-ignite across central and eastern Texas into Tuesday and Wednesday, where another Level 2 threat is present. 

These areas include San Antonio, Houston, and Austin, with Flood Watches also in place through Monday from southeast Texas into southern Louisiana. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

In total, across the Southern region, a widespread 3 to 5 inches of rainfall is forecast through Friday. 

Stay with FOX Weather as we continue to track the latest forecast. 

Sometimes, when running in cooler air, our lungs can feel heavy and constricted, while warmer temperatures can make us feel drained or significantly weighed down.

So, does temperature really impact your running? Let's break it down.

Temperature has a direct impact on running performance, mainly because it changes how your body regulates heat and uses energy, with performance shifting as your body prioritizes internal climate control over speed.

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Dr. Monica Kelly, an exercise and sport science expert at Deakin University, explains that running distances over 800 meters can be negatively impacted by temperatures higher than 77 degrees. She notes that there are "reports of slower race times by up to 3% during exercise in the heat."

When running in the heat, our bodies are in a competition between maintaining a steady pace and protecting themselves from overheating, according to Dr. Amelia Carr, another exercise and sport science expert at Deakin University, thus, making it harder to run.

HEAT KILLS MORE AMERICANS THAN FLOODING, TORNADOES, HURRICANES OR LIGHTNING

On the flip side, cooler temperatures ranging from 50 to roughly 64 degrees can have a positive impact on pace for endurance runners.

In fact, it is the peak running temperature for endurance runners, according to Dr. Kelly.

However, to make this even more intriguing, "For sprinting events like 100 meters to 400 meters, air temperature can have the opposite effect, with performance often improved by 1 to 2% in hot conditions," Dr. Kelly said.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

With that, it’s also good to note that other factors such as humidity or wind speed can also play a role in running performance.

Across the Southeast, one of the worst droughts in years is unfolding, with the most severe conditions centered across Arkansas, southern Georgia and the Florida panhandle.

A handful of damaging wildfires have been reported in the past few months, including a few separate blazes in the Florida Everglades.

FIREFIGHTERS GAIN GROUND ON WILDFIRES THAT CHARRED THOUSANDS OF ACRES, FORCED EVACUATIONS ACROSS THE US

Arkansas currently has 100% of the state under some level of drought, with 63% experiencing extreme and exceptional drought conditions.

Georgia is also entirely under drought conditions, with 78% of the state experiencing extreme or exceptional drought.

So far this year, more than a dozen locations across the region are experiencing one of their 10 driest starts to a year on record. This includes major cities such as Atlanta, Charlotte and Orlando.

MILLIONS ACROSS SOUTH FACE FLASH FLOOD THREAT AS ROUNDS OF STORMS TARGET REGION THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Here is a breakdown of some of the most significant precipitation departures year-to-date, according to the FOX Forecast Center:

As the storm pattern across the South shifts eastward, heavy rain will move into many of these areas and is expected to persist through much of the week.

HOW HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE DRIVE THE WEATHER

Periods of downpours and thunderstorms will push through the region as deep Atlantic and Gulf moisture is drawn inland by a large area of high pressure positioned far from the East Coast.

From now through Friday, a widespread 2 to 3 inches of rain is possible from Mississippi through Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas. Localized amounts of 3 to 5 inches or more are possible in inland locations.

Portions of the Florida panhandle will see some rain, but are once again expected to miss out on the highest totals. 1 to 2 inches of rain is likely across the panhandle through Friday.

But will this end the drought in the Southeast? The answer is, unfortunately no.

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

Portions of Arkansas need nearly 13 to 20 inches of rain in just one month to eliminate the drought, and similar deficits exist across much of the region.

Fortunately, longer-range outlooks for June keep the Southeast and portions of Florida above average for precipitation.

TRACKING THE TROPICS: HINTS OF TROPICAL TROUBLE POSSIBLE FOR FIRST WEEKS OF HURRICANE SEASON

The ongoing rainy pattern and upcoming hurricane season will likely allow for gradual improvement of drought conditions.

According to Kids and Cars Safety, these deaths marked five total child hot car deaths in the country so far this year.

4-YEAR-OLD TRAGICALLY FOUND DEAD INSIDE HOT CAR IN THE GOLDEN STATE

On Tuesday in Los Angeles, a 4-year-old girl was found dead inside a hot car by police.

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in downtown Los Angeles reached 87 degrees on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, two children died.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC BOARDWALKS IN AMERICA TO EXPLORE THIS SUMMER

One hot car death occurred in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where temperatures reached 97 degrees. The child was 2 months old, according to Kids and Car Safety.

Police said the child was left in a hot car by its mother while she was at work. The child was taken to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Another child died in Brookwood, Alabama, on Wednesday, where temperatures hit 90 degrees.

Kids and Car Safety reported that the child was 1 year old.

Young children and infants are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses and death, as their bodies are less able to adapt to heat than adults.

According to Kids and Car Safety, approximately 86% of children who die in hot cars are age 3 or younger.

Typically, we spend the first few weeks of hurricane season in the Atlantic waiting for activity, with the first named storm climatologically not forming until June 20, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

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This year, we may not have to wait long, as early forecasts from the European model highlight an area off the Southeast Coast for a low developing within the first two weeks of June.

The odds of tropical development are very low right now, and whether something tropical actually forms is too early to tell.

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Regardless, tropical or not, rain is guaranteed, and it's much-needed for the Southeast, which overwhelmingly is in severe or extreme drought.

As the calendar switches to June, tropical moisture will settle over the Gulf and Caribbean, stopped from moving north by a strong area of high pressure hanging over the U.S.

The FOX Forecast Center said with the moisture in place and the high pressure, all that's needed for tropical activity is a trigger.

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Currently, it looks like a trigger will come in the form of a stalled front, which is forecast to settle over the region, sparking widespread thunderstorms and heavy rain.

These storms could cause an area of low pressure to develop, and possibly take on enough characteristics to become a tropical depression or named tropical storm.

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A tropical depression is a tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained winds below 39 mph. Once a tropical depression forms, the National Hurricane Center gives it a number based on its order of formation in the hurricane season.

The FOX Forecast Center stressed that it remains very uncertain if anything will form, but if it does, strong wind shear will keep things messy and disorganized, meaning heavy rain will be the largest threat.

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For now, the FOX Forecast Center will continue to monitor the forecasts as we get closer, and it becomes more evident if tropical activity will occur.

On the cusp of America's 250th birthday, let's take a look at the top 10 boardwalks to spend a sunny day with family, friends and loved ones this summer, according to TripAdvisor.

The Santa Monica Pier is one of America's most iconic beachfront attractions – and for good reason.

The more than 100-year-old pier is a California historic landmark, and offers fun for the entire family.

A vibrant summer hotspot just outside Los Angeles, more than eight million visitors are attracted to the pier for its famed carnival attractions, arcade games, aquarium and restaurants.

In addition to fun for the family, the pier serves as a scenic lookout point for breathtaking, panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, the Southern California coastline and the surrounding mountains.

San Francisco’s iconic Fisherman’s Wharf sits right on the San Francisco Bay, serving up postcard-worthy views of Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge and the stunning Bay Area waterfront — all wrapped in a lively atmosphere.

If you love seafood, Fisherman’s Wharf is the place for you. Famous for its "fresh-off-the-boat" seafood, breathtaking bay views and rich historic charm, this lively waterfront destination is a must-visit when exploring San Francisco.

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With historic boats and memorabilia catching the attention of all visitors – it's the live attraction that draws in visitors.

At Pier 39, hordes of barking sea lions bask under the California sun – a spectacle that will have the whole family drawn in.

Heading over to the East Coast, the Virginia Beach Boardwalk puts you front and center along a vibrant stretch of sandy shoreline, rolling Atlantic waves and nonstop oceanfront energy.

With beachside cafés, live entertainment, bike paths and stunning sea views at every turn, it’s the perfect place to soak up the classic coastal vibe.

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The three-mile oceanfront promenade is the perfect place to people-watch, shop and unwind beside the beach.

Dedicated lanes for bicycling and rollerblading make it easy to cruise smoothly along the Virginia Beach boardwalk and enjoy the ocean breeze at your own pace.

Towering above the boardwalk, the legendary King Neptune statue commands attention with its massive bronze presence, dramatically overlooking the beachfront like a guardian of the Atlantic. This iconic 34-foot masterpiece is one of Virginia Beach’s most photographed landmarks, adding a larger-than-life touch to the already vibrant oceanfront scene.

The Florida Keys are the perfect getaway in any season, and Mallory Square in Key West is where the island truly comes alive.

Famous for its nightly Sunset Celebration, this lively waterfront gathering spot is packed with street performers, local artists, live music and delicious food vendors serving up fresh island flavors.

Families can stroll the harbor, watch daring acrobats and magicians, shop for handmade souvenirs or simply kick back and take in the spectacular sunset views over the Gulf.

With its laid-back tropical energy, colorful atmosphere and nonstop entertainment, Mallory Square is the ultimate place to relax, explore and let your hair down in the Keys.

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Florida draws millions of visitors each year, and no trip to the Sunshine State feels complete without experiencing the energy, glamour and iconic beaches of Miami.

Its famous oceanfront boardwalk stretches alongside white sand beaches and swaying palm trees, lined with outdoor cafés, lively bars, boutique shops, street performers and scenic spots perfect for biking, jogging or simply soaking up the vibrant Miami atmosphere.

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The famed "305" energy, blending sun-soaked white sand beaches with iconic art installations and an electric coastal vibe make Miami Beach a must-stop visit on a trip to Florida.

Families can enjoy the wide sandy shoreline, scenic parks, bike paths and calm ocean breezes, while the city’s famous nightlife, colorful architecture and vibrant street scene keep the atmosphere buzzing well after sunset.

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From relaxing beach days to glamorous nights out, Miami Beach delivers the ultimate South Florida escape.

The Big Apple isn't just about the iconic skyline, world-class entertainment and endless urban activities – Coney Island offers a getaway and front row steps to the Atlantic Ocean.

Just an hour-long subway ride from Manhattan's Times Square, Coney Island delivers classic New York beachfront nostalgia with a lively boardwalk packed full of excitement.

From the iconic Cyclone roller coaster and colorful amusement rides to arcade games, carnival treats, street performers and the legendary Nathan’s Famous hot dogs, there’s something around every corner for visitors of all ages.

The historic 2.5-mile Riegelmann Boardwalk connects the sand to the amusement parks, shops and restaurants that pairs perfectly with an East Coast beach day.

Clearwater sits along Florida’s Gulf Coast, offering some of the most breathtaking sunsets in the Sunshine State — and Pier 60 is the best spot in town to catch the show.

Pier 60 is the heart of the city’s vibrant waterfront scene, stretching out into the sparkling Gulf waters with stunning sunset views in every direction.

By day, visitors can fish off the pier, spot dolphins along the shoreline or relax on the sugar-white sand beaches nearby.

As the sun goes down, Pier 60 transforms into a lively festival atmosphere with street performers, local artisans, live music and family-friendly entertainment during the nightly Sunset Celebration.

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With its laid-back coastal energy and picture-perfect Gulf views, it’s one of Florida’s ultimate beachfront experiences.

Ocean City’s iconic Maryland boardwalk blends classic beach-town charm with nonstop family-friendly fun along the Atlantic shoreline.

Stretching for nearly three miles beside the sandy beach, the lively promenade is packed with amusement rides, arcades, souvenir shops, bike rentals and famous boardwalk eats like fresh fries, funnel cakes and saltwater taffy.

Visitors can spend the day soaking up ocean views, riding roller coasters at Jolly Roger, enjoying street performers and live entertainment or simply taking in the nostalgic summer atmosphere that has made Ocean City a beloved East Coast destination for generations.

Hollywood Beach’s famous boardwalk offers a laid-back slice of South Florida paradise, stretching nearly two and a half miles along the Atlantic Ocean.

It's lined with swaying palm trees, open-air cafés, ice cream shops, live music venues and charming beachfront boutiques.

The lively promenade is perfect for biking, rollerblading, jogging or simply enjoying the ocean breeze.

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Families can relax on the wide sandy beach, grab waterfront dining or catch live entertainment at the Hollywood Beach Theatre, all while soaking in the boardwalk's classic old-Florida charm and tropical energy.

It wouldn't be a proper list without mentioning New Jersey.

Atlantic City’s legendary boardwalk delivers classic East Coast energy with a mix of beachfront excitement, iconic casinos and nonstop entertainment along the Jersey Shore.

Stretching for miles beside the Atlantic Ocean, the historic promenade is lined with casinos, restaurants, candy shops, arcades, live music venues and famous attractions like Steel Pier’s amusement rides and games.

Visitors can stroll the boardwalk with ocean views on one side and bright city lights on the other, while families can enjoy beach access, carnival-style fun, shopping and classic boardwalk treats like saltwater taffy and funnel cake.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Day or night, Atlantic City’s boardwalk buzzes with a larger-than-life atmosphere that makes it one of America’s most iconic seaside destinations.

National parks, national forests, beautiful beaches, cities, mountains and dozens of other stunning landscapes are what make America beautiful. 

We've put together a list of 10 places you may not know about to visit in the U.S.: 

This massive lake is the deepest in all the United States, created more than 7,700 years ago when a volcano erupted atop a mountain, weakening the mountain and causing it to collapse and a crater to form which fills with water. 

Crater Lake in Oregon is known for its stunning blue waters, year-round, as the lake rarely freezes due to the heat beneath the lake's surface. 

CELEBRATING AMERICA: THE LIST OF FLEET WEEK AND SAIL250 FESTIVITIES AROUND THE NATION AHEAD OF JULY 4

Roughly an hour's drive from the California-Oregon border, this lake is sure to take your breath away. 

Tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, North Carolina is a stunning destination filled with things to do. 

Known for its River Arts District and southern charm, the Blue Ridge Mountains offer tons of hiking trails, scenic drives and mountains of history, including the famous Biltmore Village and Biltmore Mansion. 

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Asheville is a year-round destination worth checking out. 

Perhaps one of Maine's more well-known places to go, Portland is a storybook coastal New England town that combines blue-collar America with incredible charm and cuisine. 

The iconic Portland Head Light is set along the rocky coastline, making it a picture-perfect vacation spot. 

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Fly into Portland or drive up scenic Interstate 95 in New England to visit the city for a sure-good time. 

Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S. with an array of opportunities for exploration, including guided tours, boating, camping, biking and bird-watching. 

This national park takes you through flora and fauna and extensive bio-diversity in both its wet and dry seasons. 

WATCH: MASSIVE ALLIGATOR MUNCHES ON SMALLER ALLIGATOR IN FLORIDA WILDLIFE PARK

Everglades National Park is a can't-miss spot on your next South Florida vacation. 

This hidden lake is the largest naturally occurring lake in the state of Texas, at a whopping 25,400 acres. 

Caddo Lake has the largest cypress forest in the world, with stunning bald cypress trees throughout the lake. 

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Located on the border of Texas and Louisiana, Caddo Lake offers so many things to do, including paddling, hiking and camping. 

Housing 6 million acres of wild land, Denali National Park in Alaska offers so much more to see than just the Denali mountains. 

Denali has so many incredible photography opportunities, as well as backpacking, hiking and mountaineering options. 

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Open year-round, Denali National Park is the easiest to get to in the summer, but in winter, visitors can still come explore the park when snow and ice dominate the landscape. 

Typically, open May through October to tourists, Mackinac Island is a serene city off Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 

What makes this city unique is the fact that it's car-free, only reachable by ferry. The city enacted the rule in 1898 to keep the historic charm. 

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Grab a bike and enjoy the island with its world-famous fudge and horse-drawn carriage tours. 

Glass Beach, located in Fort Bragg, California, is one of the state's most incredible natural wonders. 

For decades in the early to mid-20th century, residents of Fort Bragg used to dump things off the seaside bluffs. Over time, the ocean wore these items down, creating smooth, colorful pebbles. 

TOP 10 CITIES IN AMERICA WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SKYLINES WORTH SEEING

Absolutely worth seeing, the sea glass is unable to be taken home as the beach is protected under MacKerricher State Park, but the photos you take will last forever. 

Sitting at over 10,000 feet and overlooking a half-mile amphitheater, Cedar Breaks National Monument is a gorgeous natural landscape among Utah's many scenic terrains. 

The open sky offers the perfect place for hiking, skiing and snowmobiling, as well as night sky tours hosted by the National Monument rangers. 

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Found in southwest Utah, Cedar Breaks National Monument is definitely a hidden gem worth visiting. 

Easily accessible on the Big Island of Hawaii, Kahalu'u Beach Park is a great family-friendly beach perfect for swimming, snorkeling and surfing. 

Contained by an underwater rock wall built by ancient Hawaiians, the bay only sees calm, small waves. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Because the water is shallower, sunlight nourishes the coral, allowing for snorkelers to catch a glimpse of unique, brightly-colored fish. 

On May 22, 2011, an extremely dangerous EF-5 tornado that registered winds over 200 mph and reached a maximum width over a mile wide killed 161 people, injured over 1,000 more and wreaked havoc on a path of utter destruction.

THE DEADLIEST TORNADOES, TORNADO OUTBREAKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

Across a 22-mile path, around 7,500 homes were damaged, 3,000 of which were heavily damaged or completely destroyed, decimating the southwestern Missouri town that continues to mourn one of the worst severe weather disasters in U.S. history 15 years later.

The infamous tornado etched itself into the record books as the deadliest tornado in modern U.S. history since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) began keeping records in 1950.

TORNADO SAFETY: THE SAFEST AREAS TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND WHY TO AVOID OVERPASSES

Roughly 75% of Joplin sustained damage, with nearly a quarter of the city destroyed, while the storm caused an estimated $2.8 billion in damage, making it the costliest tornado in U.S. history at the time.

In the immediate aftermath of one of the deadliest and most devastating weather disasters in U.S. history, the eyes of the world turned to Joplin. 

Fifteen years later, the city stands as a symbol of resilience — rebuilt, renewed and forever marked by the deadly tornado that scarred the community.

"if someone didn’t now that an EF-5 tornado happened 25 years ago, driving through those areas, you would not know that that occurred," FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray said.

While thousands of residents were displaced and left with only rubble where their homes once stood, the devastating tornado destroyed many of the city’s most important landmarks and institutions.

HOW TO STAY SAFE IN YOUR MOBILE HOME DURING A TORNADO

Among them were St. John’s Regional Medical Center, a nine-story hospital; Joplin High School, which served more than 2,000 students; the Franklin Technology Center; Greenbrier Nursing Home, a wood-framed facility that became one of the deadliest sites struck by the tornado; St. Mary’s Catholic Church and School; Irving Elementary School; Harmony Heights Baptist Church; and numerous retail stores along a commercial strip that included Walmart and Home Depot.

At its peak strength, the EF-4/EF-5 damage path was roughly six miles long through densely populated areas of the city.

Satellite images from the impacted area captured the wide-scale devastation that left a physical scar on the Earth where it traveled, underscoring the sheer size and strength of the horrifying tornado.

In the immediate aftermath of the storm, local, state and federal agencies rushed to the scene to begin the colossal recovery effort in the devastated city.

A nearby university was transformed into a makeshift hospital, while residents used pickup trucks as ambulances to transport the injured.

WE ALL LOVE THE MOVIE 'TWISTER,' BUT IS IT SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE?

Torn-off doors and debris were repurposed as stretchers, local restaurants rushed food to survivors and first responders, and donations poured in from across the country.

Meanwhile, an army of volunteers from around the U.S. lined the streets, helping communities begin the long process of cleanup and recovery.

"How we respond when the storm strikes is up to us. How we live in the aftermath of tragedy and heartache, that’s within our control. And it’s in these moments, through our actions, that we often see the glimpse of what makes life worth living in the first place," President Barack Obama said while speaking to the people of Joplin during a memorial service a week after the tornado.

"In the last week, that’s what Joplin has not just taught Missouri, not just taught America, but has taught the world. I was overseas in the aftermath of the storm, and had world leaders coming up to me saying, ‘let the people of Joplin know we are with them; we’re thinking about them; we love them’. Because the world saw how Joplin responded."

The story of Joplin, both then and now, is one of resilience and perseverance that is evident in the city that stands today: rebuilt and forever mindful of the tragedy that changed it 15 years ago.

For residents of Joplin, Missouri, May 22, 2011, began as a normal Sunday – with people attending church and thousands attending a high school graduation at a nearby college.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TORNADO WATCH, TORNADO WARNING AND TORNADO EMERGENCY?

A timeline of the major warning events, according to the National Weather Service, is as follows.

At 1:30 p.m. CDT, a Tornado Watch was issued for southwest Missouri, including Joplin, as the atmosphere became primed for violent tornadoes.

Hours later, at 5:09 p.m., a Tornado Warning was issued for western Jasper County, including northeast Joplin – immediately followed by a three-minute siren alert at 5:11 p.m.

At 5:17 p.m., a Tornado Warning was issued for southwest Jasper County and Joplin.

Less than 20 minutes later, the approximate tornado touchdown occurred at 5:34 p.m. ½ mile southwest of Joplin city limits.

TORNADO SAFETY: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TAKING SHELTER DURING SEVERE WEATHER

Four minutes later, at 5:38 p.m., a second three-minute siren alert was sounded for Jasper County, and EF-4 damage began as the tornado approached Schifferdecker Avenue in western Joplin.

Thousands of stories emerged from the devastation of May 22, 2011 — including one from FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray, who still vividly remembers the heartbreaking destruction he witnessed in Joplin, a scene that remains etched in his memory 15 years later.

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On the anniversary of the devastating tornado, Ray is back in Joplin, tracing the steps of the violent storm that once reducted the city of 50,000 to rubble.

"To witness that on the ground 15 years ago was a humbling and frightening experience," Ray said. "And to return here now and to walk the once piles of debris in neighborhoods that have been rebuilt is stunning."

WHERE IS TORNADO ALLEY? EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT THE AMERICAN TWISTER HOTBED

In an instant, thousands of homes were destroyed and lives were forever changed by the staggering loss caused by the tornado. In the years since, the city has rebuilt from the disaster, cementing a legacy of hope and resilience.

"You talk to people here and although incredible progress has been made, those that went through it, the scars will last forever," Ray said.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

The devastation of Joplin served as a turning point in tornado warning technology and emergency communication that included stronger tornado warning language, the nationwide rollout of impact-based warnings and wireless emergency alerts to cell phones.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake was reported at about 9:46 p.m. Hawaii time. 

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The earthquake originated about 14 miles beneath the surface, about 13 miles south of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii and 23 miles north-northwest of Kailua-Kona. 

The most significant shaking was reported across the Big Island, but the USGS has reports of weak and light shaking in Maui and the other islands. 

Two aftershock earthquakes were reported a short time later. 

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A magnitude 3.2 at 9:52 p.m. and then a magnitude 2.6 an hour later at 10:50 p.m. local. 

Weak shaking was reported with both of the aftershocks. 

There was no tsunami threat with these earthquakes, according to the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management.  

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

No reports of damage were immediately noted. 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

The tradition of U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard ships docking together to celebrate started in the 1890s, following the Spanish-American War.

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By 1935, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt expanded the celebration to the West Coast, where thousands of officers and hundreds of ships and aircraft descended on San Diego. The traditional Fleet Week began in New York City in 1982.

That tradition has now spread across the nation. Ahead of July 4th, the U.S. Navy is starting the Sail250 event that coincides with Fleet Week festivities across the country. Here are upcoming events ahead of Independence Day:

Kicking off on May 22, the 10th Annual Los Angeles Fleet Week runs through Memorial Day weekend.

Along with Battleship IOWA, the port will be home to more than 90 military and first responder exhibits, culinary and singing competitions, sports tournaments, aircraft flyovers and demonstrations and other live entertainment.

Free tours of active duty military ships, including U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Naval vessels, will be held throughout the weekend. 

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Kicking off the Sail250 event will be New Orleans. 

The Big Easy will welcome a nationwide celebration for America's 250th anniversary of signing the Declaration of Independence. The gathering of ships includes tall ships, sailing vessels and modern military ships.

Festivities kick off May 27 and run through June 1 along the Mississippi River, with ships expected to arrive on May 28. 

Like Los Angeles, public ship tours will be available throughout the weekend, with a firework show, sports day and cook-off scheduled along the way.

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The second stop along the Sail250 route is Norfolk, Virginia. 

Beginning on June 19, 10,000 officers, cadets and crews of more than 60 ships will anchor in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Live music, family activities and even World Cup viewing parties will line the city of Norfolk.

Tours will be available for the tall ships and vessels in the area.

Some ships will be located in affiliated harbors, including Cape Charles, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach.

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The Old Line State joins in the festivities beginning June 24 with Sail250 Maryland taking place in Baltimore along with an airshow.

Taking place at Baltimore's Inner Harbor and lasting through June 30, the event will feature U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels, Navy Blue Angels, flyovers and festivals.

Along with the Inner Harbor Festival, the Fells Point Festival will host tall ships and Navy Vessels, while the Baltimore Peninsula Festival will host airshows and other events. Both festivals begin June 26.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

For the first time since it started in 1982, the traditional New York Fleet Week has been moved from Memorial Day weekend. It will now begin on the eve of Independence Day on July 3. 

Ships will cover the New York and New Jersey Harbor, with Class B tall ships kicking off the festivities with a sail from Hell Gate Bridge in Queens to Gravesend Bay in Brooklyn.

Throughout the week, spectators can view the magnificent ships from areas all around New York City.

On July 4, spectators can book a trip to Governor's Island to view the Parade of Sail, or they can view the massive formation of U.S. and International fixed and rotary wing aircraft parading over the Verrazzano Bridge being led by the Blue Angels.

Free visitations of tall ships and sightseeing cruises will be available for spectators throughout the week until July 8.

New York will wrap up pre-up July 4th Sail250 festivities, with SailBoston wrapping up the event from July 11–16. 

On May 22, 2011, an extremely dangerous EF-5 tornado that registered winds over 200 mph and reached a maximum width over a mile wide killed 161 people, injured over 1,000 more and wreaked havoc on a path of utter destruction.

THE DEADLIEST TORNADOES, TORNADO OUTBREAKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

Across a 22-mile path, around 7,500 homes were damaged, 3,000 of which were heavily damaged or completely destroyed, decimating the southwestern Missouri town that continues to mourn one of the worst severe weather disasters in U.S. history 15 years later.

The infamous tornado etched itself into the record books as the deadliest tornado in modern U.S. history since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) began keeping records in 1950.

TORNADO SAFETY: THE SAFEST AREAS TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND WHY TO AVOID OVERPASSES

Roughly 75% of Joplin sustained damage, with nearly a quarter of the city destroyed, while the storm caused an estimated $2.8 billion in damage, making it the costliest tornado in U.S. history at the time.

In the immediate aftermath of one of the deadliest and most devastating weather disasters in U.S. history, the eyes of the world turned to Joplin. 

Fifteen years later, the city stands as a symbol of resilience — rebuilt, renewed and forever marked by the deadly tornado that scarred the community.

"if someone didn’t now that an EF-5 tornado happened 25 years ago, driving through those areas, you would not know that that occurred," FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray said.

While thousands of residents were displaced and left with only rubble where their homes once stood, the devastating tornado destroyed many of the city’s most important landmarks and institutions.

HOW TO STAY SAFE IN YOUR MOBILE HOME DURING A TORNADO

Among them were St. John’s Regional Medical Center, a nine-story hospital; Joplin High School, which served more than 2,000 students; the Franklin Technology Center; Greenbrier Nursing Home, a wood-framed facility that became one of the deadliest sites struck by the tornado; St. Mary’s Catholic Church and School; Irving Elementary School; Harmony Heights Baptist Church; and numerous retail stores along a commercial strip that included Walmart and Home Depot.

At its peak strength, the EF-4/EF-5 damage path was roughly six miles long through densely populated areas of the city.

Satellite images from the impacted area captured the wide-scale devastation that left a physical scar on the Earth where it traveled, underscoring the sheer size and strength of the horrifying tornado.

In the immediate aftermath of the storm, local, state and federal agencies rushed to the scene to begin the colossal recovery effort in the devastated city.

A nearby university was transformed into a makeshift hospital, while residents used pickup trucks as ambulances to transport the injured.

WE ALL LOVE THE MOVIE 'TWISTER,' BUT IS IT SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE?

Torn-off doors and debris were repurposed as stretchers, local restaurants rushed food to survivors and first responders, and donations poured in from across the country.

Meanwhile, an army of volunteers from around the U.S. lined the streets, helping communities begin the long process of cleanup and recovery.

"How we respond when the storm strikes is up to us. How we live in the aftermath of tragedy and heartache, that’s within our control. And it’s in these moments, through our actions, that we often see the glimpse of what makes life worth living in the first place," President Barack Obama said while speaking to the people of Joplin during a memorial service a week after the tornado.

"In the last week, that’s what Joplin has not just taught Missouri, not just taught America, but has taught the world. I was overseas in the aftermath of the storm, and had world leaders coming up to me saying, ‘let the people of Joplin know we are with them; we’re thinking about them; we love them’. Because the world saw how Joplin responded."

The story of Joplin, both then and now, is one of resilience and perseverance that is evident in the city that stands today: rebuilt and forever mindful of the tragedy that changed it 15 years ago.

For residents of Joplin, Missouri, May 22, 2011, began as a normal Sunday – with people attending church and thousands attending a high school graduation at a nearby college.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TORNADO WATCH, TORNADO WARNING AND TORNADO EMERGENCY?

A timeline of the major warning events, according to the National Weather Service, is as follows.

At 1:30 p.m. CDT, a Tornado Watch was issued for southwest Missouri, including Joplin, as the atmosphere became primed for violent tornadoes.

Hours later, at 5:09 p.m., a Tornado Warning was issued for western Jasper County, including northeast Joplin – immediately followed by a three-minute siren alert at 5:11 p.m.

At 5:17 p.m., a Tornado Warning was issued for southwest Jasper County and Joplin.

Less than 20 minutes later, the approximate tornado touchdown occurred at 5:34 p.m. ½ mile southwest of Joplin city limits.

TORNADO SAFETY: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TAKING SHELTER DURING SEVERE WEATHER

Four minutes later, at 5:38 p.m., a second three-minute siren alert was sounded for Jasper County, and EF-4 damage began as the tornado approached Schifferdecker Avenue in western Joplin.

Thousands of stories emerged from the devastation of May 22, 2011 — including one from FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray, who still vividly remembers the heartbreaking destruction he witnessed in Joplin, a scene that remains etched in his memory 15 years later.

HOW TED FUJITA BECAME A FORCE OF NATURE IN TORNADO SCIENCE

On the anniversary of the devastating tornado, Ray is back in Joplin, tracing the steps of the violent storm that once reducted the city of 50,000 to rubble.

"To witness that on the ground 15 years ago was a humbling and frightening experience," Ray said. "And to return here now and to walk the once piles of debris in neighborhoods that have been rebuilt is stunning."

WHERE IS TORNADO ALLEY? EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT THE AMERICAN TWISTER HOTBED

In an instant, thousands of homes were destroyed and lives were forever changed by the staggering loss caused by the tornado. In the years since, the city has rebuilt from the disaster, cementing a legacy of hope and resilience.

"You talk to people here and although incredible progress has been made, those that went through it, the scars will last forever," Ray said.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

The devastation of Joplin served as a turning point in tornado warning technology and emergency communication that included stronger tornado warning language, the nationwide rollout of impact-based warnings and wireless emergency alerts to cell phones.

Intense rain drenched the Atlanta metro area on Wednesday, flooding major roadways and bringing traffic to a standstill as numerous drivers found themselves stranded in rising water with nowhere to go.

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As Mary Brathwaite and her husband George drove along a dry stretch of road beside the flooded I-75/I-85 downtown connector, they noticed a stranded driver on top of her waterlogged white sedan.

George shouted, "Hey, you need some help?"

Without hesitation, he left the dry confines of his vehicle and walked across the flooded Georgia highway – submerging himself in waist-deep floodwater – and trudged across two lanes to the stranded white sedan.

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"I'll get you some more shoes," Mrs. Brathwaite said to her husband before braving the floodwater.

Sitting on top of her car, the stranded driver quickly assumed a piggyback position and was carried to safety on the dry land where Mary waited in the car filming the heroic save.

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Panning across the flooded road, video footage captured a red truck also submerged in floodwater as intense rain swamped the popular Georgia roadway.

The water-logged roadway forced Georgia state troopers to shut down the heavily traveled downtown connector during Wednesday’s peak rush hour, snarling traffic across the heart of Atlanta.

On May 22, 2011, an extremely dangerous EF-5 tornado that registered winds over 200 mph and reached a maximum width over a mile wide killed 161 people, injured over 1,000 more and wreaked havoc on a path of utter destruction.

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Across a 22-mile path, around 7,500 homes were damaged, 3,000 of which were heavily damaged or completely destroyed, decimating the southwestern Missouri town that continues to mourn one of the worst severe weather disasters in U.S. history 15 years later.

The infamous tornado etched itself into the record books as the deadliest tornado in modern U.S. history since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) began keeping records in 1950.

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Roughly 75% of Joplin sustained damage, with nearly a quarter of the city destroyed, while the storm caused an estimated $2.8 billion in damage, making it the costliest tornado in U.S. history at the time.

In the immediate aftermath of one of the deadliest and most devastating weather disasters in U.S. history, the eyes of the world turned to Joplin. 

Fifteen years later, the city stands as a symbol of resilience — rebuilt, renewed and forever marked by the deadly tornado that scarred the community.

"if someone didn’t now that an EF-5 tornado happened 25 years ago, driving through those areas, you would not know that that occurred," FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray said.

While thousands of residents were displaced and left with only rubble where their homes once stood, the devastating tornado destroyed many of the city’s most important landmarks and institutions.

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Among them were St. John’s Regional Medical Center, a nine-story hospital; Joplin High School, which served more than 2,000 students; the Franklin Technology Center; Greenbrier Nursing Home, a wood-framed facility that became one of the deadliest sites struck by the tornado; St. Mary’s Catholic Church and School; Irving Elementary School; Harmony Heights Baptist Church; and numerous retail stores along a commercial strip that included Walmart and Home Depot.

At its peak strength, the EF-4/EF-5 damage path was roughly six miles long through densely populated areas of the city.

Satellite images from the impacted area captured the wide-scale devastation that left a physical scar on the Earth where it traveled, underscoring the sheer size and strength of the horrifying tornado.

In the immediate aftermath of the storm, local, state and federal agencies rushed to the scene to begin the colossal recovery effort in the devastated city.

A nearby university was transformed into a makeshift hospital, while residents used pickup trucks as ambulances to transport the injured.

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Torn-off doors and debris were repurposed as stretchers, local restaurants rushed food to survivors and first responders, and donations poured in from across the country.

Meanwhile, an army of volunteers from around the U.S. lined the streets, helping communities begin the long process of cleanup and recovery.

"How we respond when the storm strikes is up to us. How we live in the aftermath of tragedy and heartache, that’s within our control. And it’s in these moments, through our actions, that we often see the glimpse of what makes life worth living in the first place," President Barack Obama said while speaking to the people of Joplin during a memorial service a week after the tornado.

"In the last week, that’s what Joplin has not just taught Missouri, not just taught America, but has taught the world. I was overseas in the aftermath of the storm, and had world leaders coming up to me saying, ‘let the people of Joplin know we are with them; we’re thinking about them; we love them’. Because the world saw how Joplin responded."

The story of Joplin, both then and now, is one of resilience and perseverance that is evident in the city that stands today: rebuilt and forever mindful of the tragedy that changed it 15 years ago.

For residents of Joplin, Missouri, May 22, 2011, began as a normal Sunday – with people attending church and thousands attending a high school graduation at a nearby college.

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A timeline of the major warning events, according to the National Weather Service, is as follows.

At 1:30 p.m. CDT, a Tornado Watch was issued for southwest Missouri, including Joplin, as the atmosphere became primed for violent tornadoes.

Hours later, at 5:09 p.m., a Tornado Warning was issued for western Jasper County, including northeast Joplin – immediately followed by a three-minute siren alert at 5:11 p.m.

At 5:17 p.m., a Tornado Warning was issued for southwest Jasper County and Joplin.

Less than 20 minutes later, the approximate tornado touchdown occurred at 5:34 p.m. ½ mile southwest of Joplin city limits.

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Four minutes later, at 5:38 p.m., a second three-minute siren alert was sounded for Jasper County, and EF-4 damage began as the tornado approached Schifferdecker Avenue in western Joplin.

Thousands of stories emerged from the devastation of May 22, 2011 — including one from FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray, who still vividly remembers the heartbreaking destruction he witnessed in Joplin, a scene that remains etched in his memory 15 years later.

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On the anniversary of the devastating tornado, Ray is back in Joplin, tracing the steps of the violent storm that once reducted the city of 50,000 to rubble.

"To witness that on the ground 15 years ago was a humbling and frightening experience," Ray said. "And to return here now and to walk the once piles of debris in neighborhoods that have been rebuilt is stunning."

WHERE IS TORNADO ALLEY? EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT THE AMERICAN TWISTER HOTBED

In an instant, thousands of homes were destroyed and lives were forever changed by the staggering loss caused by the tornado. In the years since, the city has rebuilt from the disaster, cementing a legacy of hope and resilience.

"You talk to people here and although incredible progress has been made, those that went through it, the scars will last forever," Ray said.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

The devastation of Joplin served as a turning point in tornado warning technology and emergency communication that included stronger tornado warning language, the nationwide rollout of impact-based warnings and wireless emergency alerts to cell phones.

University of Glasgow researchers recently recovered lost manuscripts of the letters of St. Paul after they were disassembled at the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, Greece, in the 13th century.

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Since then, the surviving fragments have been scattered across libraries throughout Europe.

The New Testament is a collection of religious and historical accounts by those who knew Jesus Christ personally or followed him.

The university research team, led by Professor Garrick Allen, explained that the manuscripts themselves had already been re-inked over time, an important starting point for experts.

"The chemicals in the new ink caused ‘offset’ damage to facing pages, essentially creating a mirror image of the text on the opposite leaf – sometimes leaving traces several pages deep, barely visible to the naked eye but very clear with the latest imaging techniques," Allen told FOX News Digital.

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Using new imaging technology, researchers employed multispectral imaging to process the "ghost" text that no longer appears to the naked eye.

This allows experts to retrieve multiple pages of information from every single physical page.

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"The book was re-inked in its entirety at some point in its working life, meaning that someone rewrote over the existing text...in an attempt to keep the book usable for a new generation," Allen told FOX News Digital.

Essentially, the New Testament is a bridge from the Old Testament.

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The words of the Old Testament had come true, and the Messiah, Jesus Christ, had come.

The other writers of the Gospel and New Testament include Saint Mathew, Mark, Luke, John and the Apostle Paul, all of whom played a vital role in the creation of these texts, which demonstrate, through their personal accounts, the life of Jesus Christ.

They tell stories and quote scriptures in these historical contexts, all for the purpose of showing that Jesus freed the world from sin, giving a detailed account of his death and resurrection.

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Thanks to dedicated preservation, we have stumbled upon a glorious new piece of evidence from these sacred scriptures, and we offer the opportunity to enhance our understanding of the readings.

Goodall was tagged off the coast of Nova Scotia by Tancook Islands Marine Field Station Team in collaboration with OCEARCH back in September 2025.

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Since then, OCEARCH has monitored her movements as she swam 6,000 miles from Canada all the way down to Florida's Gulf Coast and back around out into the Atlantic, where she's now swimming in the Northwest Providence Channel off Grand Bahama Island.

"This movement path is a bit unusual," said OCEARCH Scientist John Tyminski, who noted that the only other OCEARCH-tagged white shark to make this detour was Breton back in 2022.

Tyminski said Goodall's movement could be a response to environmental conditions or changing prey availability.

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Deep water channels like the Northwest Providence Channel can serve as migration paths for large fish and marine animals, Tyminski said.

"Because white sharks are opportunistic predators, Goodall's route may reflect foraging behavior linked to shifting prey distributions," he said.

At the time of her tagging, Goodall measured in at just over 13 feet and weighed nearly 1,400 pounds. She was named in honor of Dr. Jane Goodall.

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Summer shark migration is underway, with white sharks making their way to the north for cooler waters.

Tyminski said Goodall's latest stop is just a reminder that white shark migration isn't always linear or predictable.

OCEARCH is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to researching and protecting sharks, whales, sea turtles and other ocean life, tagging these animals to track and study their migration habits and behaviors from afar.

Intense rain drenched the Atlanta metro area on Wednesday, flooding major roadways and bringing traffic to a standstill as numerous drivers found themselves stranded in rising water with nowhere to go.

KNOW YOUR FLOOD TERMINOLOGY: WHAT FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS AND EMERGENCIES REALLY MEAN

As Mary Brathwaite and her husband George drove along a dry stretch of road beside the flooded I-75/I-85 downtown connector, they noticed a stranded driver on top of her waterlogged white sedan.

George shouted, "Hey, you need some help?"

Without hesitation, he left the dry confines of his vehicle and walked across the flooded Georgia highway – submerging himself in waist-deep floodwater – and trudged across two lanes to the stranded white sedan.

HOW FLOODWATER CAN MAKE YOU VERY SICK

"I'll get you some more shoes," Mrs. Brathwaite said to her husband before braving the floodwater.

Sitting on top of her car, the stranded driver quickly assumed a piggyback position and was carried to safety on the dry land where Mary waited in the car filming the heroic save.

7 FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FLASH FLOODS

Panning across the flooded road, video footage captured a red truck also submerged in floodwater as intense rain swamped the popular Georgia roadway.

The water-logged roadway forced Georgia state troopers to shut down the heavily traveled downtown connector during Wednesday’s peak rush hour, snarling traffic across the heart of Atlanta.

On Sunday afternoon, drivers participating in the Indianapolis 500 will hope to put the pedal to the metal on time, as wet weather could impact the race.

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The FOX Forecast Center has issued a medium risk of weather impacting (ROWI) the overall event, starting at 2 pm, as precipitation chances increase.

Reports from the National Weather Service indicate a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m.

Rain is the primary concern, as slick conditions could directly affect tire grip and overall car handling.

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According to the FOX Forecast Center, by the time the race begins, there is a low risk of weather Impacting (ROWI) the event, with temperatures in the low 70s and minor wind gusts. 

Despite the pleasant news at the start, rain could affect the event later.

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The greatest odds for wet weather will come nearly four hours into the race, with forecasters predicting a 37% chance of rain.

Stay with FOX Weather for the latest weather impacts on Indy 500.

McLuck analyzed and ranked U.S. city skylines by combining skyscraper data, satellite-derived brightness levels and online popularity signals to rank which stood out as most beautiful.

Check out which ones made the list:

It's no secret that New York has one of the most iconic skylines in America with beautiful and uniquely designed skyscrapers that make the skyline stand out.

The Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the Chrysler Building and the Freedom Tower are just a few of the most magnificent monuments and skyscrapers that make up the Big Apple's skyline.

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The Windy City took second place. Chicago's skyline has a few famous buildings that set it apart on Lake Michigan's shoreline. The Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, is probably the most iconic.

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Other notable buildings that make up the skyline include St. Regis Chicago and 875 North Michigan Ave.

Miami's skyline nabbed third-best in the U.S., with bold, modern skyscrapers making up the city's horizon.

Some of the most iconic buildings in Miami include One Thousand Museum, a unique futuristic building along the coast, as well as Miami Tower, another notable skyscraper.

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Texas' third-largest city stole fourth place on the list. While maybe not quite as iconic as the three water-adjacent cities above, land-locked Dallas has a skyline you can't miss.

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The glowing Bank of America Tower, along with the Reunion Tower observation deck and the angular, all-glass design of Fountain Place are some of the buildings that make Dallas' skyline unique.

Georgia's capital and largest city has a great skyline. One of the biggest aviation hubs in the country, thousands of people fly into Atlanta every day, getting a glimpse of the city's horizon.

Made of a mix of skyscrapers and historic architecture, some of Atlanta's most notable buildings include the Bank of America Plaza with its intricate design, along with Truist Plaza and the soon-to-be completed skyscraper at 1072 West Peachtree.

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The only city in New England to make the list, Boston's skyline is defined by historic buildings and modern-era architecture.

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Some of the iconic buildings to make up the skyline include the Prudential Tower and 200 Clarendon Street, formerly known as John Hancock Tower as well as Custom House Tower, one of the city's very first "skyscrapers" at 492 feet tall.
 

Las Vegas, also known as Sin City, has so many buildings that make it stand out in the middle of the Mojave Desert in Nevada. 

The newly-constructed Sphere Las Vegas, the Stratosphere, Paris Las Vegas' Eiffel Tower and the High Roller Observation Wheel are just some of the iconic infrastructure along the Las Vegas strip.

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Probably the most iconic in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle's skyline is characterized by two main features: The Space Needle and Mount Rainier in the background.

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Other famous buildings in Seattle include Columbia Center and the uniquely-shaped Rainier Tower.

Houston, the most populated city in Texas, is one of several large cities in Texas and the second city in the state to make the list.

Some of Houston's most famous buildings include the TC Energy Center with its interesting postmodernist multi-gabled design, as well as Heritage Plaza and Williams Tower.

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Los Angeles rounds out the top 10 list of most beautiful skylines in the U.S. with a bang. Set in front of the San Gabriel Mountains, the City of Angels has a stunning skyline.

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Some of the buildings that make it stand out include the Wilshire Grand Center with its sail-shaped top and glass exterior, US Bank Tower with its circular design and the tall rectangular black glass design of AON Center.

The anticipated test flight is debuting the next generation Starship, the most powerful version yet of the megarocket to date. Super Heavy vehicles are powered by the next evolution of the Raptor Engine, one of the most advanced rockets ever built, and launching from a newly designed pad at Starbase. Safe to say, this latest test launch marks another major step in SpaceX’s ambitious future in spaceflight.

The primary goal of the Starship test flight is to demonstrate these new upgrades in space for the first time, aimed at enabling full and rapid reuse of the rocket system.

The mission will test the upgraded Super Heavy booster and Starship vehicle through launch, stage separation, operations in space, and reentry as SpaceX continues developing a fully reusable rocket system in preparation for the next phases of the Artemis program.

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SpaceX’s Starship was selected by NASA to serve as a commercial lunar lander as part of the agency’s effort to return humans to the moon, with test flights like Thursday’s playing a critical role in the continued development of the highly advanced rocket system as it pushes the boundaries of modern spaceflight.

This test flight is one of several launches in what has been a busy month of May for SpaceX, with more missions planned before the month wraps up. Let’s take a look at how trading on prediction markets anticipate SpaceX's final May launch total.

In addition to Thursday’s test flight, SpaceX has four more Starlink missions planned before the end of the month as the company gears up for an increasingly aggressive summer launch schedule and continued development of its next-generation spaceflight systems.

To begin the weekend, Americans along the West Coast luck out, with mild temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above average, sunny skies and dry conditions through Memorial Day.

Forecasters are predicting little to no impact on major travel hubs such as Denver, Los Angeles and Seattle to start the weekend.

Unfortunately, this weather pattern will be the opposite for portions of the Southern Plains, Southeast and Northeast U.S., as rounds of persistent heavy rain are expected for most of the weekend.

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Over 145 million people plan to travel for the holiday, anticipating travel disruptions at major airports in New York, New Jersey, Atlanta, Georgia, and New Orleans amid the unpleasant weather.

The FOX Forecast Center does not expect these widespread storms to be severe.

Still, a few strong ones could develop across the Southern Plains, as persistent heavy rain will bring a Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk for most of the Texas Gulf Coast, including Houston and parts of southern Louisiana.

RECORD 45 MILLION AMERICANS EXPECTED TO TRAVEL THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AS STORMS TARGET PLAINS, NORTHEAST

By Sunday, portions of the North and Central Plains will see dry conditions return, bringing temperatures into the low-to-mid 80s, a perfect late spring feel for this time of year.

Conditions will remain soggy and wet across the Northeast as an area of low pressure moves through Southern New England.

This could bring scattered showers, continuing the trend of possible delays in airport travel.

The Northeast will not be the only region experiencing unfavorable conditions leading into Memorial Day, with wet weather expected to persist across portions of Texas and Louisiana, bringing another Level 2 out of 5 flash flood risk.

By Monday, conditions will begin to steadily improve across the Northeast and Great Lakes region following a weekend of wet and stormy weather.

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"High pressure building in from the west is expected to push moisture farther south and east, bringing warmer temperatures and drier conditions back to millions from the Midwest into New England," the FOX Forecast Center said.

Despite this hopeful push toward warm, dry conditions, the potential for showers and downpours will linger across the Carolinas, the Tennessee River Valley and portions of the Gulf Coast.

The lucky streak for Americans on the West Coast will continue under dry, sunny conditions, with temperatures slightly above average.

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There is a chance of rain in the Pacific Northwest through Sunday afternoon, with increased cloud cover and temperatures in the 50s and 60s, but overall, the West Coast will have the best chance of enjoying a pleasant weekend outdoors for the holiday.

The wolf was born to the former Beyem Seyo Pack in 2023, but BEY03F dispersed from her pack prior to livestock conflicts in 2025 that caused several members of the pack to be lethally removed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

In May 2025, BEY03F was tracked on a CDFW camera in the zone of the Yowlumni Pack, where she was captured and collared for tracking, then released.

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Since then, CDFW has monitored her movements throughout California.

CDFW tracks these wolves to conserve and observe the population across the state.

Earlier this year, BEY03F was tracked south in Los Angeles County, according to John Marchwick with California Wolf Watch on Facebook.

Gray wolves are built to travel long distances. BEY03F reportedly traveled more than 370 miles from her pack in Plumas County down into Yowlumni territory, then even further south into Los Angeles County.

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Now, she's making the trek up north again. It's unclear if BEY03F is traveling in a pack or alone through Sequoia National Park, and how long she'll stay there.

Gray wolves are listed as endangered in California by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2011, gray wolves naturally reintroduced themselves into the state.

In 2026, there are nine known and monitored gray wolf packs in California, but CDFW understands there is likely an unknown number of individual wolves that are in California that may have dispersed from packs in California or from adjacent states.

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You can keep up with BEY03F and other tracked wolves in California through the CDFW Wolf Tracker.

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In comparison, an average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, including 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.

NOAA emphasized the suppressive impact it expects the developing El Niño climate pattern will have on tropical development in the Atlantic Ocean.

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Government forecasters said El Niño will likely overcome the influence of expected above-average ocean temperatures, which would ordinarily fuel hurricane formation.

NOAA's forecast parallels Colorado State University's (CSU) April outlook, which called for 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes, which include 2 major (Category 3+) hurricanes this year. This is the fewest number of storms that CSU has predicted since 2019 — the university was the pioneer of early-year hurricane season forecasts beginning in 1984.

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CSU anticipated that a Super El Niño will become the dominant factor in determining tropical weather patterns this season.

This comes as data out of the Pacific Ocean points to a historically strong Super El Niño that is forecast to take hold sometime this summer. 

WHAT IS A SUPER EL NINO?

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.

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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.

While such a strong El Niño is expected to virtually shut down hurricane formation in the open waters of the Atlantic this year, it would still allow for so-called "homegrown" tropical systems in the northern Gulf and along the Southeast coast, where storms tend to form during the first half of the season.

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Although these systems tend to be weaker and shorter-lived compared to storms that develop farther out in the Atlantic, they also generally have shorter lead times before impacts occur, the FOX Forecast Center said.

Climatologically, the first named storm in the Atlantic typically does not form until around June 20, while the first hurricane usually develops closer to August 11.

Furthermore, forecasters qualify that exactly when El Niño forms will play an almost equal role in how much of the hurricane season is suppressed. 

"Although El Niño’s impact in the Atlantic Basin can often suppress hurricane development, there is still uncertainty in how each season will unfold," NOAA’s National Weather Service Director Ken Graham said in a Thursday press release.

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

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NOAA generally releases an updated hurricane forecast in August, ahead of the peak of the season in the Atlantic.

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

Check back for updates to this developing story.

Following a warm period, temperatures dropped sharply, with lows in the 20s, which was terrible timing, as crops were destroyed during the critical development stage.

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A prolonged warm spell in mid-April pushed temperatures above 90 degrees in some areas of the state, causing fruit trees and other crops to flower earlier than normal, according to New Jersey state officials.

Some farmers anticipate losing 100% of certain crops due to the dropping temperatures from April 19 to 22.

Due to the tremendous loss and agricultural damage from prolonged freezing temperatures, early estimates from state officials suggest at least $300 million in total crop losses for growers and farmers.

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As a result, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has declared a state of emergency across all 21 counties, which will take action to preserve farm operations and stabilize local economies during this ongoing situation.

"The April freeze caused serious damage to our growers, and those losses demand decisive action," Governor Mikie Sherrill said in a statement. "This executive order mobilizes a whole-of-government recovery effort out of Trenton, cutting through bureaucracy and accelerating results for impacted farmers and families."

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Findings from damage assessments led to the state of emergency being issued.

After the nuclear accident occurred and humans fled Fukushima, a population of domestic pigs escaped and began breeding with wild boars in the area.

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A new study, published in the Journal of Forest Research, highlights these mutant pigs and their rapid interbreeding, especially as it relates to population control and genetic turnover since the accident.

The study states that breeding of wild and domesticated animals is an issue worldwide for wildlife management and conservation as well as how it disrupts evolutionary processes.

These hybrid pigs offer scientists the chance to study these animals and their genetics in a natural environment. So, scientists analyzed mitochondrial DNA inherited from these pigs' mothers, along with nuclear genetic markers, from 191 wild boar and 10 domestic pigs collected between 2015 and 2018.

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Scientists used the DNA to find out how many generations had passed since hybridization and how much of their domestic ancestry remained.

"We hypothesized that the domestic swine’s unique trait, a rapid, year-round reproductive cycle, might be the key," co-author of the study, Dr. Donovan Anderson of Hirosaki University, said.

The DNA actually revealed that the wild boar carrying domestic pig's DNA had significantly less pig-derived genes than hybrids whose mothers were wild boars.

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Because domestic pigs' reproductive cycles are much faster than that of a wild boar, scientists found that hybrids with pig maternal lines were already five generations removed from the original hybrid cross.

The study showed that lack of human intervention allowed for the wild boar population to increase rapidly. Combined with the ability to breed more often, which was passed down from the pig mothers, also helped the pigs and wild boars' genes mix together more quickly.

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The results of the study highlighted the importance of monitoring hybrid populations for both genetic understanding and wildlife management moving forward.

During a phenomenon known as Lāhainā Noon, the sun passes almost directly above the islands, causing upright objects to cast little to no shadow.

As an isolated archipelago located in the central Pacific Ocean roughly 2,400-miles from the closest U.S. mainland, Hawaii fosters phenomenons the rest of the U.S. can't relate to.

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Lāhainā Noon is one such thing, and the astronomical phenomenon only occurs when the timing is perfect.

Twice a year, in May and July, the sun passes directly overhead parts of the Earth at a perfect 90-degree angle – a phenomenon the Bishop Museum, the State of Hawaiʻi Museum of Natural and Cultural History, coined Lāhainā Noon.

During a Lāhainā Noon, as the sun directly passes over the island, upright objects like flagpoles, utility poles and fire hydrants cast no shadow.

The unique phenomenon can only occur within the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, making Hawaii the only U.S. state where the "Zero-Shadow" can be observed.

ALASKA LANDSLIDE UNLEASHED ONE OF THE LARGEST TSUNAMIS EVER RECORDED, NEW STUDY SHOWS

The annual shade-taking phenomenon was a normal thing for islanders, but there wasn't an "official" name to describe the rare sun show. So, the Bishop Museum held a contest to award a name to the phenomenon, and the winner was Lāhainā Noon.

According to the Bishop Museum, the dates, times and locations in Hawaiʻi where Lāhainā Noon can be observed are listed below.

MILLIONS OF AMERICANS TO EXPERIENCE HEAVY RAIN AND COOLING TEMPERATURES FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

The sinkhole was discovered around 11 a.m. while Port Authority officials were conducting their daily morning inspection of the airfield.

Once crews identified the sinkhole near Runway 4/22, the area was immediately shut down, so officials could determine the cause and complete the necessary repairs as quickly and safely as possible.

"The Port Authority is in close communication with airlines and airport partners and will continue providing updates as conditions evolve," LaGuardia Airport said in a social media post.

Officials warned that travelers should expect delays and cancellations, especially with thunderstorms forecast to develop later in the evening.

NOAA LAUNCHES NEW WEATHER FORECAST SYSTEM TO IMPROVE AIR TRAVEL SAFETY

Travelers are encouraged to check directly with their airline for the latest flight status information.

No injuries have been reported at this time.

As temperatures rose toward the end of spring, the worst-case scenario occurred when members of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) responded to a call on Tuesday afternoon.

It happened around 3:45 p.m. in the area of Bluebell Avenue and McCormick Street. Responding officers found a 4-year-old girl inside the vehicle, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

EXTREME HEAT SAFETY: RECOGNIZING SIGNS OF HEAT ILLNESS AND HOW TO TREAT IT

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner's Office told our affiliate, FOX 11, that the girl has been identified as Adina Nevo.

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures reached 87 degrees downtown on Tuesday.

Young children and infants are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses and death, as their bodies are less able to adapt to heat than adults.

FINAL LEG OF RECORD-BREAKING HEAT WAVE SCORCHES MORE THAN 70M ALONG EAST COAST AHEAD OF STORMY HOLIDAY WEEKEND

It's unknown how long she was inside the car. The LAPD was able to confirm the death of the child, but no additional information was immediately available.

MILLIONS OF AMERICANS TO EXPERIENCE HEAVY RAIN AND COOLING TEMPERATURES FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

According to data collected by Kids and Car Safety, since 1990, at least 1,175 children have died in hot cars in the U.S., with at least another 7,500 surviving various degrees of injury.

This marks the third child death in a hot car this year.

Historically, the first weeks of hurricane season in the Atlantic don't show a ton of activity, with the first named storm climatologically not forming until June 20, according to the FOX Forecast Center. 

BREWING ‘SUPER’ EL NIÑO MAY SELF-DESTRUCT AFTER REACHING RECORD PEAK, TRIGGERING RAPID LA NIÑA RETURN IN 2027

Additionally, forecasts are calling for an El Niño year, which typically suppresses development in the Atlantic.

This doesn't make tropical activity impossible, as the FOX Forecast Center is watching for potential tropical activity within the first two weeks of June in the Atlantic off the Southeastern coast. 

As the calendar switches to June, tropical moisture will settle over the Gulf and Caribbean, stopped from moving north by a strong area of high pressure hanging over the U.S.

BEYOND SUPER EL NIÑO: THE SECRET OCEAN PATTERN THAT COULD FUEL HURRICANES IMPACTING HAWAII THIS YEAR

The FOX Forecast Center said with the moisture in place and the high pressure, all that's needed for tropical activity is a trigger.

And it's looking like that trigger comes in the form of a stalled front, which is forecast to settle over the region, sparking widespread thunderstorms and heavy rain.

These storms could cause an area of low pressure to develop, and possibly take on enough characteristics to become a tropical depression or named tropical storm.

A tropical depression is a tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained winds below 39 mph. Once a tropical depression forms, the National Hurricane Center gives it a number based on its order of formation in the hurricane season.

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

The first named storm in the Atlantic hurricane season would be given the name Arthur.

The FOX Forecast Center stressed that it remains very uncertain if anything will form, but if it does, strong wind shear will keep things messy and disorganized, meaning heavy rain will be the largest threat.

Current long-range forecasts suggest that the Atlantic off the Southeast U.S. is slightly more likely to be favorable for tropical development than the Gulf at this point.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Rain is going to happen whether something tropical forms or not, and it is much needed for the Southeast, which is experiencing one of the worst droughts on record.

FOX Weather will keep you updated with the latest forecasts as things become more clear. 

Memorial Day weekend is expected to bring widespread storms, with heavy rain and cool temperatures in some states.

Throughout the week, a high-pressure system hovering over the East Coast will funnel a plume of deep moisture from the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of America through the weekend.

At the same time, an atmospheric disturbance is expected to emerge across the Rockies and the American Heartland, posing a significant threat of rain and thunderstorms stretching across the South and even into the Northeast.

As for the Northeast, a cold front will move through starting Friday, bringing a weekend full of nasty weather, including rain.

Although forecasters note that the wet weather could ease by the time Memorial Day comes around, it is not a guarantee, as it could still entail dark, cloudy conditions.

Parts of the Northeast could experience the coolest Memorial Day in several years, with New York City expected to experience temperatures around the low-to-mid 60s.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, multiple inches of rain are possible across major cities such as Houston, Nashville and New York City over the weekend.

Flash flooding will be the primary concern in these locations due to the repeated rounds of persistent precipitation.

Prediction markets from Kalshi are expecting an 86% chance of Houston experiencing over 7 inches of rain by the end of the month.

RECORD 45 MILLION AMERICANS EXPECTED TO TRAVEL THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AS STORMS TARGET PLAINS, NORTHEAST

As over 45 million people are expected to travel for the long holiday weekend, major airports could experience delays due to the recurring wet weather.

Major travel hubs such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Atlanta International Airports are expected to experience showers and widespread thunderstorms likely through the weekend.

Despite the expected heavy rain, prediction markets are predicting a 75% chance of over 4 inches of rain in Dallas by the end of the month.

With no sign of the wet weather slowing down this weekend, be sure to check which major travel hubs are worth monitoring heading into the holiday, as the stormy pattern could disrupt traffic as well.

RISK OF FLOOD THREAT INCREASES ACROSS TEXAS, SOUTH THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AS HEAVY RAIN THREAT LOOMS

Stay tuned to FOX Weather all weekend for the latest news and updates on the latest conditions.

HAWAII’S KĪLAUEA VOLCANO ERUPTS FOR THE 47TH EPISODE, SENDING FOUNTAINS OF LAVA INTO THE AIR

Tephra is a catch-all term that describes various kinds of rocks blasted into the air during eruptions.

The swirl seen in this video is similar to a dust devil — where the ground warms a thin layer of air directly above it that rises. Surrounding air rushes in to fill that void and sometimes converges with a crosswind, producing a visible column of twisting air once debris is lifted.

WHAT IS A DUST DEVIL?

According to the USGS, lava or fresh tephra can create enough localized heat to cause surface-level air to rise.

USGS scientists have observed low-density tephra produced in recent eruptions become short-lived "Tephra Devils," spinning like small fiery tornadoes over the volcano's craters.

HERE ARE THE DIFFERENT ASHFALL ALERTS THAT COULD BE ISSUED DURING VOLCANIC ACTIVITY

Tephra can be carried by the wind and cause irritation to the eyes and respiratory system and, along with volcanic gas, are the main hazard to local communities during these events.

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted around 3:30 p.m. last Thursday, its 47th eruptive episode since Dec. 23, 2024.

BEYOND SUPER EL NIÑO: THE SECRET OCEAN PATTERN THAT COULD FUEL HURRICANES IMPACTING HAWAII THIS YEAR

Lava fountains reached a maximum height of 650 feet during this eruption.

According to scientists, the next eruption is expected between Friday, May 22 and Tuesday, May 26.

This period of frequent activity at Kiluea is being driven by magma chambers that are quickly refilling within the volcano. These short eruptions have not been strong enough to dramatically change the pressure in these chambers, which have reached something of an equilibrium.

WATCH: NIGHTTIME VIDEO OF KILAUEA'S 47TH ERUPTIVE EPISODE

"Since the ongoing eruption began in December of 2024, there has been little overall change in the amount of pressurization of the magma chambers beneath Kīlauea summit," the USGS said in a FAQ report on Kilauea.

Unless a stronger eruption occurs, it appears that this pattern will continue in the near-future.

AAA predicts a record-breaking 45 million people will be traveling at least 50 miles for the holiday between Thursday and Monday. 

This just slightly tops the number for last year, when 44.8 million people traveled for Memorial Day weekend. 

RISK OF FLOOD THREAT INCREASES ACROSS TEXAS, SOUTH THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AS HEAVY RAIN THREAT LOOMS

"Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and for most Americans, it’s a three-day weekend," said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. "Travel demand remains strong, and despite higher fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel during holiday breaks." 

THESE POPULAR NATIONAL PARKS ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR 2026 VISITOR RESERVATIONS

Despite an increase in gas prices overall, 39.1 million people are expected to hit the roads, up 100,000 from last year. 

Driving is the most popular way to travel, and AAA reminds people to drive safely and sober with so many people on the roads during the holiday weekend. 

AAA said average airline tickets have decreased for people who booked early, with an estimated 3.66 million flying for the weekend. 

THOUSANDS OF ACRES CHARRED ACROSS THE US AS NEW WILDFIRES ERUPT, FORCING EVACUATIONS AND THREATENING HOMES

Average flight prices for Memorial Day domestic weekend travel are around $800 per ticket, which AAA estimates is 6% cheaper than last year. 

Other modes of transportation like trains, buses and cruises, are expected to see the sharpest increase, 5.3%, this year over last year. 

An estimated 2.2 million people will travel a different way than by car or plane, AAA estimates. 

TOP 10 BEST BEACHES IN THE WORLD FOR 2026 ANNOUNCED

Some of the most popular domestic travel locations include Orlando, Seattle, New York City and Las Vegas. 

The holiday weekend forecast shows rain in the Northeast and South. 

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND FORECAST: WET, CHILLY WEATHER TO DAMPEN HOLIDAY PLANS FOR MILLIONS

For those flying in and out of major aviation hubs such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Atlanta, keep an eye on the forecast heading into the holiday weekend.

 The stormy pattern suggests potential disruptions for holiday travelers into the Northeast as well, according to the FOX Forecast Center. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Airports to the west will remain completely free from notable weather impacts, ensuring smooth travel conditions for hubs like Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Denver.

Stick with FOX Weather for the latest Memorial Day forecast for your travel plans. 

This multiday event is driven by moist air from the Gulf of America, which interacts with slow-moving disturbances in the upper atmosphere and a stalled front, fueling thunderstorm activity. 

BREWING ‘SUPER’ EL NIÑO MAY SELF-DESTRUCT AFTER REACHING RECORD PEAK, TRIGGERING RAPID LA NIÑA RETURN IN 2027 

These thunderstorms are capable of producing intense rainfall rates over the same areas for multiple days, increasing the risk of flooding.

An initial round of thunderstorms soaked parts of Central Texas on Tuesday night.

Severe storms are expected to fire Wednesday afternoon over West Texas, particularly over Midland and Fort Stockton, with hail and damaging wind gusts expected to be the main hazards. 

NOAA's Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has issued a Level 2 out of 4 risk of flash flooding across West and Central Texas, including San Antonio on Wednesday.

By Thursday, North, Central and East Texas, as well as parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas are in the main threat zone. 

KNOW YOUR FLOOD TERMINOLOGY: WHAT FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS AND EMERGENCIES REALLY MEAN

Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi should be on alert for flash flooding, with a Level 1 out of 4 flash flood risk for most of the week. 

The FOX Forecast Center warned that in these zones, rainfall rates will be high, with 1 to 3 inches falling in a short time. 

With pockets of severe to extreme drought across the region, the rain is likely to lead to more flooding because the ground can't soak up all the moisture. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

As multiple storm systems move over the region, rain totals will continue to rise. 

Through Memorial Day, upwards of 5 to 8 inches of rain could fall across pockets of East Texas, including Houston, and Louisiana. 

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND FORECAST: WET, CHILLY WEATHER TO DAMPEN HOLIDAY PLANS FOR MILLIONS

This long-lived event is likely to last into the weekend, disrupting Memorial Day plans for millions across the South. 

Stay with FOX Weather as we continue to track the latest forecast. 

Earlier this month, a first-grade student was on a school field trip in the Brandbu area, about 43 miles from the capital, Oslo, when he made an unlikely discovery.

According to the Inland County Municipality, the class was on a spring trip when they noticed something peculiar popping out of the ground.

It turned out to be a large sword from around 1,300 years ago, from the Merovingian Period, which marks the beginning of the Viking era.

The sword is known as a "negget," meaning it is only sharp on one side.

SEE IT: RARE GREEK COIN FROM 3RD CENTURY BC DISCOVERED BY 13-YEAR-OLD IN BERLIN

According to Professor of History at Yale University, Paul Freedman, the Merovingian era is an example of barbarian kingship in the post-Roman world, marked by the absence of a strong government.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Photos from the municipality showcase the large sword in remarkable condition for its age, with half of its length measuring 50 cm.

When compared with early representations of the weapon, it is clear why this era of kingship lasted over 250 years following the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century.

According to popular theories, the Merovingians are identified as the descendants of Jesus Christ, who escaped crucifixion and fled to France with a pregnant Mary Magdalene, according to History.com.

SUNKEN WWI SHIP 'TAMPA' FOUND OFF ENGLISH COAST, SOLVING CENTURY-OLD MYSTERY

According to a release from the Inland County Municipality, the group that had stumbled on this relic wisely contacted archeologists to share what they found before taking further action.

Authorities said the 58-year-old man from Santa Rosa was driving a black 2017 Honda Pilot southbound on Highway 1 when the vehicle crashed approximately 400 to 500 feet down a cliff just south of Greyhound Rock Beach.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver traveled off the west edge of the roadway, struck a call box, continued southwest through vegetation, and went over the cliff.

SAILOR RESCUED IN THE KNICK OF TIME AS MASSIVE, RECORD-BREAKING WILDFIRE ENGULFS CALIFORNIA ISLAND

Video shared by the CAL FIRE CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit showed emergency personnel from CAL FIRE, the Santa Cruz County Fire Department, San Mateo County Fire Department, California State Parks, and the California Highway Patrol-Santa Cruz responding to the scene in an effort to rescue the driver.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND OUTLOOK: SEE IF THE WET, CHILLY WEATHER IMPACTING MILLIONS WILL DAMPEN YOUR HOLIDAY PLANS

Once crews reached the beach, two Santa Cruz City lifeguards were sent to the area where the vehicle was located. 

Emergency personnel then found the driver and administered CPR before he was hoisted by helicopter to Highway 1 and transferred to a waiting ambulance.

Despite life-saving efforts, the driver suffered major injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel. 

Authorities believe he was the sole occupant of the Honda at the time of the crash.

VIDEO: US COAST GUARD RESCUES SEVERAL PEOPLE TRAPPED IN CAVE AT CALIFORNIA BEACH

Investigators said it is still unknown whether alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash. Officials said the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Summer-like temperatures have over 32 million under heat alerts extending from Philadelphia north to include New York City, Providence and Boston – the first alerts of the year for the I-95 corridor.

With both New York City and Philadelphia under a Heat Advisory in the month of May since 2022, let's take a look at how trading on prediction markets for two of the Northeast's most populated cities. 

With sweltering heat reaching the mid 90s in the Big Apple, Tuesday's low temperature is forecast to be from the mid 70s to 80 degrees. 

In Philadelphia, the lowest temperature forecast is closer to 70 degrees. 

While low temperatures are in line for the spring, it's the summer-like heat that's making headlines. 

If an Extreme Heat Warning is issued, it would mark the first time since May 2012 that both New York City and Philadelphia have been placed under one simultaneously.

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Washington D.C., and Philadelphia have only scraped the 80-degree mark twice this May, while New York City has managed it just once – and that is in the process of changing. 

These major cities and metro-areas are staring down up to four consecutive days in the 80s into Wednesday. 

The spring heat is eyeing the record-books. 

This will likely be the first official heat wave (3 consecutive days of 90 degrees or higher) of the season across the Northeast, including Philadelphia, New York City and Baltimore, which are currently forecast to reach the 90s on Monday and stay there through Wednesday.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

If New York City does eclipse 90 degrees Monday through Wednesday, it would be the first time with three consecutive days surpassing 90 degrees in the month of May since May 29 to 31, 1987.

The sweltering heat won't stick around for long. 

By the end of the workweek, a lurking cold front will send temperatures crashing back down into the comfortable 60s and 70s, proving that while summer is making an early cameo, spring isn't quite done yet.

This multi-day event is driven by moist air from the Gulf of America, which interacts with slow-moving disturbances in the upper atmosphere and a stalled front, fueling thunderstorm activity. 

BREWING ‘SUPER’ EL NIÑO MAY SELF-DESTRUCT AFTER REACHING RECORD PEAK, TRIGGERING RAPID LA NIÑA RETURN IN 2027
 

These thunderstorms are capable of producing intense rainfall rates over the same areas for multiple days, increasing the risk of flooding. 

Storms on Tuesday are primarily focused over central Texas, with a level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk in effect for major cities including Houston, Dallas and Austin. 

On Wednesday, the threat shifts into southwest Texas, focused over San Angelo. 

By Thursday, central Texas, Oklahoma and all of Arkansas are in the threat zone. 

KNOW YOUR FLOOD TERMINOLOGY: WHAT FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS AND EMERGENCIES REALLY MEAN

Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi should be on alert for flash flooding, with a level 1 out of 4 flash flood risk for most of the week. 

The FOX Forecast Center warned that in these zones, rainfall rates will be high, with 1 to 3 inches falling in a short time. 

With pockets of severe to extreme drought across the region, the rain is likely to lead to more flooding because the ground can't soak up all the moisture. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

As multiple storm systems move over the region, rain totals will continue to rise. 

By Memorial Day, upwards of 5 to 8 inches of rain could be possible. 

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND FORECAST: WET, CHILLY WEATHER TO DAMPEN HOLIDAY PLANS FOR MILLIONS

This long-lived event is likely to last into the weekend, disrupting Memorial Day plans for millions across the South. 

Stay with FOX Weather as we continue to track the latest forecast. 

It's a familiar scene, as 31 beach homes in Rodanthe and Buxton have collapsed into the ocean due to beach erosion and extreme weather events since 2020. 

Video from Jenni Koontz of Epic Shutter Photography showed the octagonal home, with its stairway long gone and its pilings leaning, proving the home was in its last days. 

SEE IT: ENTIRE HOUSE ON SMALL NORTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY CREATES UNUSUAL TRAFFIC JAM

Large sandbags lined the beach in front of the home to prevent debris from floating into the ocean as an excavator worked to rip it apart. 

With one crunch of the excavator's arm into the home, its pilings gave way and the home collapsed onto the beach with loud cracks and a crash. 

Inside the home, a mattress still sat in a bedroom, which the excavator later pulled out as it continued tearing into the house. 

OCEAN BATTLE: CREWS RUSH TO SAVE NORTH CAROLINA OUTER BANKS HOME FROM COLLAPSING INTO THE ATLANTIC

A look down the shore showed only one or two houses left standing in the ocean, while dozens of others teeter along the edge of the sandy beach and the ocean surf. 

Wind, waves and harsh weather conditions over the last decades have left these homes closer and closer to the ocean, when they used to be several feet back on the beach. 

In September and October, a series of homes collapsed into the surf in Buxton. FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne was posted in front of a home at risk of collapse on Oct. 2, preparing for a live hit with FOX Weather when the home collapsed. 

WATCH: 8TH NORTH CAROLINA BEACH HOUSE TO COLLAPSE CAUGHT LIVE ON FOX WEATHER

The house floated in the ocean after collapsing, with waves eventually tearing the house apart. 

So far in 2026, four houses have collapsed along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. 

The series of collapses occurred on Feb. 1 and 2 following a powerful nor'easter that slammed the Carolinas with blizzard-like conditions and powerful waves. 

Back in March, an entire house was transported on the back of a flatbed truck from Holden Beach to the town of Supply, NC.

The house was deemed salvageable despite the ongoing erosion and coastal flooding, and was relocated more inland.

WATCH: FOUR BEACHFRONT HOMES COLLAPSE OVER 2 DAYS FOLLOWING POWERFUL NOR'EASTER THAT SLAMMED CAROLINAS

Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Dare County, North Carolina have worked together to clear out debris from these homes post-collapse. 

Dare County said these threatened homes have to be removed or relocated at the cost of the homeowner in many cases. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

This house in particular was torn down as part of a beach nourishment project from Dare County, Jenni Koontz of Epic Shutter Photography told Storyful. 

STRONG SEVERE STORMS TARGET 100 MILLION AMERICANS FROM TEXAS TO MAINE IN FINAL CHAPTER OF MULTI-DAY THREAT

The Sandy Fire erupted in Southern California's Simi Valley just after 10 a.m. local time Monday, just outside of Los Angeles. The fires have scorched over 1,300 acres and more than 10,000 homes have been evacuated, according to the governor's office.

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS UNDERWAY AS WILDFIRE THREATENS SEVERAL HOMES AND STRUCTURES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Additional evacuation warnings are in place across parts of Ventura County and the fire is currently not contained. Local elementary schools were evacuated as the flames quickly spread Monday, when strong winds and low humidity helped fuel the wildfire's rapid growth.

According to CAL FIRE, helicopter water drops were able to limit growth overnight into Tuesday.

WHAT IS FIRE CONTAINMENT

Across the Santa Barbara Channel, a fire has now consumed more than 16,600 acres on Santa Rosa Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park off the California coast. 

The blaze was first spotted by aircraft last Friday. The Coast Guard said they airlifted a 67-year-old sailor who was stranded Friday, after his sailboat crashed against the rocks. 

SAILOR RESCUED IN THE KNICK OF TIME AS MASSIVE, RECORD-BREAKING WILDFIRE ENGULFS CALIFORNIA ISLAND

Images released by officials showed the mariner near large "SOS" letters carved into the scorched ground to attract attention from rescuers overhead.

The Santa Barbara Fire Department said the fire also forced the evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees.

According to the National Parks Service, the fire is human-caused, but the exact circumstances are still under investigation. Two unoccupied historic buildings have been destroyed, but crews have been able to set up fire defense for several other historic sites on the island.

Fire officials said they expect weaker winds to help fire suppression efforts into the weekend.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Severe storms last Thursday sparked several wildfires across southwestern Kansas that have now burned more than 100,000 acres, according to the state's forest service.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly declared a local State of Emergency last week and activated four National Guard helicopter units in response.

OVER 80 MILLION TO FACE 90-DEGREE HEAT AS POTENTIALLY RECORD-BREAKING MAY HEAT WAVE IMPACTS THE EAST

Officials said lightning strikes ignited dry vegetation, while winds simultaneously fueled several fires. The Meade Lake Complex has burned more than 92,000 acres and the Herman Range Complex is more than 23,000 acres. Both are uncontained.

More than 200 firefighters have been assigned to help tackle both major blazes.

Southwest Kansas is currently in Extreme Drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

A wildfire erupted just northeast of Bushland, Texas, Sunday afternoon, prompting mandatory evacuations around the Bishop Estates area, according to the Amarillo Office of Emergency Management. 

EVACUATIONS UNDERWAY AS LIGHTNING SPARKS MASSIVE GRASSFIRE AND BURNS THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN TEXAS

The Stinky Fire has burned more than 2,500 acres and is 20% contained. Officials from Potter County Fire-Rescue said several buildings were destroyed Monday. Air tankers are being used to help attack the fire.

The Texas Panhandle is also experiencing Extreme Drought.

An inter-agency team has taken command of the Sharpe Fire, which is burning across the Colorado-Oklahoma border. 

The fire has burned more than 28,000 acres across Baca County, Colorado, and Cimarron County, Oklahoma, according to officials.

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS ISSUED IN COLORADO AMID RAPIDLY SPREADING WILDFIRE

Baca County Emergency Management said that it crossed over U.S. Highway 287 and some people in and around the town of Campo, Colorado, were evacuated Sunday.

The U.S. Forest Service said the wildfires were initially sparked by lightning. Officials said the fire ignited in Oklahoma before crossing the border north over the weekend.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt activated additional resources to help quell the flames and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis verbally declared a Disaster Emergency Sunday.

Much of this region is experiencing drought after a notable lack of snow this winter.

This marks the largest fire that has ever burned on the island.

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS UNDERWAY AS WILDFIRE THREATENS SEVERAL HOMES AND STRUCTURES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

According to Cal Fire, crews are struggling to contain the blaze due to strong winds fueling rapid uphill fire runs. Officials say structures remain under threat, while coastal marine layer conditions and high winds have impacted the ability to use air operations.

Firefighters are also facing additional challenges, including ways to protect endangered wildlife and sensitive cultural and historical sites, as well as overcoming difficulties caused by the island’s remote location and limited communication infrastructure.

The wildfire was reported after a 67-year-old mariner fired an emergency flare gun to call for help when he crashed his sailboat into the rocks near the island on Friday.

A fast-moving wildfire that has since spread across Channel Islands National Park, was reported when dry vegetation ignited.

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS ISSUED IN COLORADO AS A LARGE, RAPIDLY-SPREADING WILDFIRE BURNS MORE THAN 13,000 ACRES

According to Coast Guard Air Station Ventura, rescue crews were dispatched after the man spent the night stranded on the island.

Images released by officials showed the mariner near large "SOS" letters carved into the scorched ground to attract attention from rescuers overhead.

Since the rescue, the fire has rapidly expanded and remains 0% contained, forcing the emergency evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED IN CALIFORNIA OVER INVASIVE SPECIES THREAT

Officials said the employees were safely transported from the housing areas that were threatened with being cut off by the fire to Oxnard Airport.

Authorities continue to monitor the fire and work to slow its spread amid the difficult weather conditions and challenging terrain.

As of now, there have been no reports of injuries related to the fire.

EVACUATIONS UNDERWAY AS LIGHTNING SPARKS MASSIVE GRASSFIRE AND BURNS THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN TEXAS

This comes as another blaze, the Sandy Fire, has scorched more than 1,300 acres across Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, California.

Authorities have ordered mandatory evacuations across the region as the fire continues to spread rapidly with 0% containment.

Fire officials said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Stay with FOX Weather for the latest updates.

According to officials at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the asteroid 2026 JH2 is about 62 feet wide and classified as a house-sized space rock.

Most asteroids orbit the sun between Mars and Jupiter in the main asteroid belt.

Despite this asteroid’s size, officials said it safely passed by Earth at a distance of roughly 56,000 miles.

"This small object is passing notably near Earth, much closer than the moon, but this kind of close approach occurs relatively often, nearly annually on average," Juan Luis Cano, a part of the European Space Agency Planetary Defense Office, said.

This distance is about a quarter of that between Earth and the moon, as the average distance between the two is 239,000 miles.

MAY SKYWATCHING GUIDE: FROM METEOR SHOWERS TO MICROMOONS, HERE IS WHAT TO LOOK UP FOR

Another asteroid that will harmlessly pass by Earth is Apophis, discovered in 2004.

The asteroid, which is more than 1,000 feet wide, will pass close to Earth on April 13, 2029, and caused a bit of concern at its initial discovery, as early calculations indicated a small possibility it would impact the planet.

ASTEROID DISCOVERED DAYS AGO TO MAKE CLOSE EARTH FLYBY ON MONDAY

The asteroid is expected to pass about 23,189 miles from our planet’s surface, which is also near the distance at which some spacecraft orbit Earth, according to NASA.

This is just one of thousands of asteroids in our solar system that will regularly pass by our planet.

RECORD HEAT TAKING AIM AT NORTHEAST, MID-ATLANTIC THROUGH MID-WEEK

Temperatures began to rapidly climb into the 80s and 90s on Sunday and are expected to continue through Wednesday, making jacket weather a distant memory.

In fact, some cities along the Interstate 95 corridor are seeing their first heat alerts of 2026. These Heat Advisories extend from Philadelphia northward to New York City, Providence, RI, and Boston.

This follows a stretch in which the first 15 days of the month ran two to five degrees below normal from the Mississippi Valley to upstate New York.

So far this year, cities including Detroit, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh have not recorded a single 80-degree day, let alone a 90-degree day. Farther east, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia have reached 80 degrees only twice this month, while New York City has done so just once.

HOW THE WEATHER YOU’RE ACCUSTOMED TO AFFECTS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEAT WARNINGS, ADVISORIES

That pattern is about to change, with every major city in the region expected to see four consecutive days in the 80s over the next week.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, nearly 75 million people will experience 90-degree heat by Wednesday, stretching from the Southern Plains into the Northeast.

Temperatures will run 15 to 25 degrees above average for mid-May, with the potential to challenge daily record highs in more than 60 locations.

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

Cities such as Charleston, WV, and Syracuse, NY, could see record highs by Monday, while Cleveland, Scranton, PA, and Hartford, CT, may do so by Tuesday.

The FOX Forecast Center also said a few cities could see their first official heat wave of the season, which is three consecutive days of 90 degrees or higher.

That includes Philadelphia, which is under its first May Heat Advisory since 2022, and Baltimore. Both cities are expected to reach over 90 degrees from Monday through Wednesday.

INTENSE HEAT BAKING THE EASTERN U.S. AS SUMMER-LIKE TEMPERATURES TAKE AIM AT MILLIONS

Officials expect Philadelphia to reach 98 degrees on Tuesday, which would break its all-time May record. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C. is also expected to experience 98 degrees, tying its second-hottest May temperature on record.

New York City is under its first Heat Advisory for the month of May since 2022 as Central Park could reach 94 degrees on Tuesday or Wednesday, which would mark its hottest May temperature in 30 years.

Meanwhile, Boston is bracing for its first 90-degree May day in five years, while Pittsburgh is expected to record its first 90-degree day in eight years.

EXTREME HEAT SAFETY: HOW TO PREPARE AND STAY COOL DURING A HEAT WAVE

However, the extreme warmth will not last long. A strong cold front is expected to arrive late in the week, sending temperatures tumbling back into the 60s and 70s.

For now, the region gets an early taste of summer before spring makes a return.

Ventura County Sheriff Emergency Services issued mandatory evacuation orders for parts of Simi Valley, along with evacuation warnings for the city of Thousand Oaks due to the rapid spread of the wildfire. Both cities are located northwest of Los Angeles.

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS ISSUED IN COLORADO AS A LARGE, RAPIDLY-SPREADING WILDFIRE BURNS MORE THAN 13,000 ACRES

In addition to residential neighborhoods, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library was evacuated. More than a dozen people work at the facility, which contains an enormous amount of historical material and presidential archives.

Officials warned residents in evacuation zones to leave immediately and follow directions from public safety personnel.

The wildfire, known as the Sandy Fire, began as a brush fire around 10:50 a.m. near the 600 block of Sandy Avenue. Since then, it has rapidly spread and remains 0% contained.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

According to a social media post from Congresswoman Julia Brownley, the fire is threatening several homes and structures.

The Simi Valley Unified School District said students in two schools have been evacuated and bused to the nearby high school due to the ongoing wildfire.

"To be clear, we were not told to evacuate these campuses or any other, but chose to do so and then immediately notified those families," the district said on social media.

Students in a few other schools are sheltering inside classrooms due to current air quality conditions, and outdoor activities have been suspended.

The wildfire comes nearly two years after the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires that erupted in Los Angeles County on Jan. 7, 2025.

Both fires killed at least 28 people, destroyed more than 16,000 structures, and displaced thousands of residents.

To this day, many residents are still recovering from the tragedy.

EVACUATIONS UNDERWAY AS LIGHTNING SPARKS MASSIVE GRASSFIRE AND BURNS THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN TEXAS

As of now, there have been no reports of injuries related to the Sandy Fire.

There is an evacuation shelter for neighbors impacted by the wildfire at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park on Los Angeles Avenue. Volunteers with the American Red Cross will provide safe shelter, food, water and resources to evacuees and pets.

Stay with FOX Weather for the latest updates.

This situation is part of a multi-agency rescue involving lifeguards and a variety of first responders, involving 11 people who became trapped in a cave as water levels steadily rose, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire).

SEE IT: US COAST GUARD RESCUES MAN STRANDED ALONG CLIFFSIDE IN OREGON

Officials said that several of the people trapped in the cave did not know how to swim.

Once rescuers arrived, they discovered that the cave had two exits.

According to officials, one of the exits requires you to swim through water, while the other involves a steep bluff from the beach that is too difficult for individuals to reach safely.

With the assistance of lifeguards who remained on scene, five individuals were able to swim out of the cave.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND OUTLOOK: SEE IF THE WET, CHILLY WEATHER IMPACTING MILLIONS WILL DAMPEN YOUR HOLIDAY PLANS

The remaining people who were unable to swim had to be rescued by a helicopter and hoisted out.

Footage shared by CAL Fire shows one of the victims being hoisted by U.S. Coast Guard members and placed at the top of the bluff, where others waited.

WATCH: COAST GUARD RESCUES 4 TRAPPED IN BOAT THROUGH 'CHALLENGING MISSION' IN ALASKA

It is always important to note your physical limitations when exploring the great outdoors, especially along the coastline, where rising waters can trap you against coastal cliffs or other dangerous structures.

It is always wise to wear safety equipment, such as a life vest, when traveling in or near the ocean, as tides can be unforgiving and even deadly.

BEACHGOERS WARNED AFTER FIRST WHITE SHARK OF THE SEASON CONFIRMED IN CAPE COD

The National Weather Service offers a surf forecast for popular beach locations to help beach-goers and swimmers prepare for what’s to come and what to avoid.

Ventura County Sheriff Emergency Services issued mandatory evacuation orders for parts of Simi Valley, along with evacuation warnings for the city of Thousand Oaks due to the rapid spread of the wildfire. Both cities are located northwest of Los Angeles.

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS ISSUED IN COLORADO AS A LARGE, RAPIDLY-SPREADING WILDFIRE BURNS MORE THAN 13,000 ACRES

In addition to residential neighborhoods, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library was evacuated. More than a dozen people work at the facility, which contains an enormous amount of historical material and presidential archives.

Officials warned residents in evacuation zones to leave immediately and follow directions from public safety personnel.

The wildfire, known as the Sandy Fire, began as a brush fire around 10:50 a.m. near the 600 block of Sandy Avenue. Since then, it has rapidly spread and remains 0% contained.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

According to a social media post from Congresswoman Julia Brownley, the fire is threatening several homes and structures.

The Simi Valley Unified School District said students in two schools have been evacuated and bused to the nearby high school due to the ongoing wildfire.

"To be clear, we were not told to evacuate these campuses or any other, but chose to do so and then immediately notified those families," the district said on social media.

Students in a few other schools are sheltering inside classrooms due to current air quality conditions, and outdoor activities have been suspended.

The wildfire comes nearly two years after the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires that erupted in Los Angeles County on Jan. 7, 2025.

Both fires killed at least 28 people, destroyed more than 16,000 structures, and displaced thousands of residents.

To this day, many residents are still recovering from the tragedy.

EVACUATIONS UNDERWAY AS LIGHTNING SPARKS MASSIVE GRASSFIRE AND BURNS THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN TEXAS

As of now, there have been no reports of injuries related to the Sandy Fire.

There is an evacuation shelter for neighbors impacted by the wildfire at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park on Los Angeles Avenue. Volunteers with the American Red Cross will provide safe shelter, food, water and resources to evacuees and pets.

Stay with FOX Weather for the latest updates.

Storms are expected to ignite Tuesday afternoon along a cold front that's advancing east and was responsible for a violent tornado threat in the Central Plains on Monday.

LIVE UPDATES: TORNADO DANGER GROWS ACROSS PLAINS, MIDWEST AS SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK CONTINUES

Parts of the Central U.S., including parts of Iowa and Nebraska, are finally getting a reprieve after rounds of severe weather that began last Friday.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Meanwhile, Texas will remain in the threat zone, with large hail, 2 inches in diameter, being the main hazard for portions of north and central Texas on Tuesday.

Some thunderstorm activity from Monday night could last through the early morning hours Tuesday, particularly in the Great Lakes and the Mid-Mississippi Valley.

Ahead of the front, record-breaking heat is baking much of the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast with high temperatures in the 90s. This heat will provide fuel for storm development Tuesday afternoon along the cold front as it marches eastward through the day.

RECORD HEAT TAKES AIM AT NORTHEAST, MID-ATLANTIC THROUGH MID-WEEK

Severe weather is expected to develop across the eastern Great Lakes, as well as the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.

Quarter-sized hail and damaging wind gusts are expected to be the main threat, but a few tornadoes may be embedded in the line of thunderstorms that form.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a Level 2 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms that stretches from border to border, from the Big Bend of Texas to northern Vermont.

The cold front will arrive in the Northeast by Wednesday and break the heat wave with clusters of thunderstorms capable of strong wind gusts and large hail across the Interstate 95 corridor from Boston to Richmond, Virginia.

This will be the final act of a marathon severe weather threat that began last Wednesday.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND OUTLOOK: SEE IF THE WET, CHILLY WEATHER IMPACTING MILLIONS WILL DAMPEN YOUR HOLIDAY PLANS 

Behind the storms, temperatures will fall back into the 60s across I-95, lasting through Memorial Day weekend.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Headlights were barely visible amid the powerful wind gusts and driving rain. 

"Wow, that's going to be 70-plus mile-an-hour wind," FOX Weather Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari said while watching the storm live through cameras from Iowa's Department of Transportation, just after 7:30 p.m. local time.

TORNADO SAFETY: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TAKING SHELTER DURING SEVERE WEATHER

"If there was ever a legitimate Severe Thunderstorm Warning that said 70 mph-plus, that is the one," said Sarsalari.

Sarsalari noted that a tornado was confirmed by radar in the nearby city of Salix, Iowa.

The city government announced on social media that the Fire Department was serving as a shelter for residents in need of a safe space during the storm.

On Monday, the city opened part of a local baseball field for tree debris. There was no word on the extent of any other damage or injuries.

SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK TARGETS MILLIONS ACROSS 1,000+ MILES WITH VIOLENT TORNADOES POSSIBLE IN CENTRAL PLAINS

Over the weekend, there were more than 70 Tornado Warnings and 400 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, mostly concentrated across the Central Plains and parts of the Midwest.

Large tornadoes were seen tearing across rural parts of Nebraska Sunday.

This region is once again in the bull's-eye of severe weather Monday, including the threat of long-track, violent tornadoes over parts of Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. Iowa is under a Level 3 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms.

FOX Weather is your Severe Weather HQ: Watch FOX Weather for the LIVE severe storm tracking and the latest forecasts.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE DRIVING DURING A TORNADO

This potential outbreak follows severe weather that barreled through the Central Plains and Midwest over the weekend that produced several tornadoes, including a Tornado Emergency in Nebraska, as well as large hail and damaging wind gusts.

LIVE UPDATES: DANGEROUS SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK THREATENS MILLIONS

The highest risk of tornadoes will be early-to-mid Monday afternoon, as severe weather first develops, likely after 2 p.m. CT.

Supercell thunderstorms capable of generating violent, long-track tornadoes (EF-3+) and softball-sized hail will be possible across Central and northeastern Kansas, including Wichita.

However, if thunderstorms form as a group instead of lone supercells it would limit twister intensity and development.

The FOX Forecast Center also highlighted cool air left behind by morning rain as a factor that could limit the intensity of storms Monday afternoon. 

While tornadoes will still be possible, the threat is expected to decrease into the evening. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

A broader Level 3 threat extends into central Iowa, northwestern Missouri and northern Oklahoma.

By nighttime, storms are expected to organize into a line and damaging wind gusts up to 75 mph will become the main hazard.

Across parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, storms will fire along a cold front beginning Monday afternoon and lasting through the evening.

DEVELOPING EL NIÑO EXPECTED TO EMERGE IN COMING WEEKS WITH INCREASING POTENTIAL TO REACH 'SUPER' STATUS

Damaging wind, hail and heavy rain are expected to be the main threat and could cause localized power outages.

A broad Level 2 threat includes parts of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, including the Milwaukee and Chicago metro areas.

Severe storms are expected to persist into the overnight hours Tuesday as a wall of heavy rain and strong winds that will impact at least a dozen states. 

Across the Southern Plains, the primary threat will be from any supercells that are able to form in the afternoon. A Level 2 threat covers most of Oklahoma and parts of North Texas.

As storms continue into Tuesday, severe storms will expand into the Ohio Valley, where a Level 2 threat has been issued. 

Tuesday's storms will pack widespread 1–2 inches of rain from Northern Minnesota through northeastern Texas, where a minor risk of flash flooding is possible as well as these storms push east. 

BREWING SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK PACKING THREAT OF MONSTER HAIL, STRONG TORNADOES TARGETS A DOZEN STATES

The multi-day severe weather threat wraps up by the end of Tuesday, before the wet weather returns for millions of Americans headed into Memorial Day weekend.

As Memorial Day approaches, Americans traditionally are looking forward to heading outside, enjoying the warm weather and good food for the holiday weekend. 

Unfortunately, widespread rain and thunderstorms are likely as a high-pressure system anchored off the Eastern Seaboard will funnel moisture from the Atlantic and Gulf of America right into the holiday weekend.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

The combination of this high pressure and an atmospheric disturbance in the West moving across the Heartland will create a significant threat of heavy rain extending from the South to the Northeast.

This unwelcome round of wet weather is expected throughout the Northeast, where residents will yet again face a wet weekend and another shot of cool temperatures.

BEACHGOERS ON ALERT AFTER FIRST GREAT WHITE SHARK OF THE SEASON IN CAPE COD

The summer-like temperatures millions are feeling in the early part of this week won’t last, as temperatures will plummet to the upper 60’s as early as Thursday.

Multiple inches of rain are possible this weekend in popular cities such as Houston, Nashville and New York City, dampening any plans to enjoy the outdoors for the unofficial kick-off to summer.

ADVISORIES ISSUED FOR POPULAR MISSISSIPPI BEACHES DUE TO FECAL BACTERIA FOUND AFTER SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL

As these storms continue through the weekend, they pose a risk to millions of Americans traveling for the long weekend.

Major airports in cities like Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Atlanta are worth closely monitoring if you plan to travel for the holiday.

RARE LEVEL 4 OUT OF 5 THREAT ISSUED AHEAD OF MAJOR SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK STRETCHING 1,000 MILES ON MONDAY

Stay tuned to FOX Weather as we continue to track the latest forecast for your travel and holiday weekend plans.

Starting Monday, parts of central and northeastern Kansas stretching up into southeastern Nebraska are under a rare level 4/5 severe storm threat as the atmosphere will be primed for violent storms producing tornadoes and huge hail. 

Monday's setup comes as a strong upper-level storm system moving out of the Southwest U.S. will collide with a surge of hot and humid air across the middle of the country.

LIVE UPDATES: DANGEROUS SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK THREATENS MILLIONS

A highly volatile atmospheric powder keg will ignite, unleashing a severe weather outbreak including intense tornadoes just hours after Sunday's storms slammed the same region. 

Central Kansas, stretching through southeastern Nebraska, southwestern Iowa, and Northwestern Missouri, will be the primary threat zone for the strongest storms on Monday, as warm, humid temperatures fuel these conditions.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

By Monday afternoon, an atmospheric "lid" is expected to trigger explosive thunderstorm development along a cold front and dryline, according to the FOX Forecast Center. 

The initial storms will quickly intensify into rotating supercells in a primed environment that could be the perfect set of conditions to produce violent, long-track tornadoes.

As a result of the severe weather, large hail ranging from baseball to softball-sized is possible due to these supercells.

DEVELOPING EL NIÑO EXPECTED TO EMERGE IN COMING WEEKS WITH INCREASING POTENTIAL TO REACH 'SUPER' STATUS

The intense conditions are expected to persist into the overnight hours on Monday as a wall of heavy rain and strong winds that will impact at least a dozen states. 

As storms continue into Tuesday, severe storms will expand into the Ohio Valley, where a level 2/5 severe storm threat has been issued. 

Tuesday's storms will pack widespread 1–2 inches of rain from Northern Minnesota through northeast Texas, where a minor risk of flash flooding is possible as well as these storms push east. 

BREWING SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK PACKING THREAT OF MONSTER HAIL, STRONG TORNADOES TARGETS A DOZEN STATES

The multi-day severe weather threat wraps up by the end of Tuesday, before the wet weather returns for millions of Americans headed into Memorial Day weekend.

The Baca County Emergency Management office issued mandatory evacuations for the Town of Campo and areas along Road 24 from Highway 287 to the state line due to the wildfire's raging flames.

EVACUATIONS UNDERWAY AS LIGHTNING SPARKS MASSIVE GRASSFIRE AND BURNS THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN TEXAS

Officials warn that the fire could pose a threat to life and property.

"Active threat to life and property, do not wait," Baca County Emergency Management said in a social media post. "Evacuate to the north as fires are moving south to northwest."

According to the National Weather Service, a Red Flag Warning is in effect until 9 p.m. MST as gusty winds and low humidity continue to elevate fire danger across the region.

EMERGING THREAT: OFFICIALS NOTE RECORD NUMBER OF DRONES IN RESTRICTED AIRSPACE DURING FIRES

The Sharpe Fire began Friday in Cimarron County, Oklahoma, and has since spread toward Colorado’s southern border.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt posted on social media Sunday that the state has mobilized resources to respond to the fire, including Oklahoma Forestry Services, which is providing air support to assist crews on the ground.

"The Oklahoma Emergency Management is activated and is deploying resources to assist local partners responding to the fire," Stitt said. "We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as needed."

NEW JERSEY MAN FACES ARSON CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH JONES ROAD WILDFIRE THAT SCORCHED OVER 15K ACRES

As of now, there have been no reports of injuries.

Stay with FOX Weather for the latest updates.

Starting Monday, parts of central and northeastern Kansas stretching up into southeastern Nebraska are under a rare level 4/5 severe storm threat as the atmosphere will be primed for violent storms producing tornadoes and huge hail. 

Monday's setup comes as a strong upper-level storm system moving out of the Southwest U.S. will collide with a surge of hot and humid air across the middle of the country.

LIVE UPDATES: DANGEROUS SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK THREATENS MILLIONS

A highly volatile atmospheric powder keg will ignite, unleashing a severe weather outbreak including intense tornadoes just hours after Sunday's storms slammed the same region. 

Central Kansas, stretching through southeastern Nebraska, southwestern Iowa, and Northwestern Missouri, will be the primary threat zone for the strongest storms on Monday, as warm, humid temperatures fuel these conditions.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

By Monday afternoon, an atmospheric "lid" is expected to trigger explosive thunderstorm development along a cold front and dryline, according to the FOX Forecast Center. 

The initial storms will quickly intensify into rotating supercells in a primed environment that could be the perfect set of conditions to produce violent, long-track tornadoes.

As a result of the severe weather, large hail ranging from baseball to softball-sized is possible due to these supercells.

DEVELOPING EL NIÑO EXPECTED TO EMERGE IN COMING WEEKS WITH INCREASING POTENTIAL TO REACH 'SUPER' STATUS

The intense conditions are expected to persist into the overnight hours on Monday as a wall of heavy rain and strong winds that will impact at least a dozen states. 

As storms continue into Tuesday, severe storms will expand into the Ohio Valley, where a level 2/5 severe storm threat has been issued. 

Tuesday's storms will pack widespread 1–2 inches of rain from Northern Minnesota through northeast Texas, where a minor risk of flash flooding is possible as well as these storms push east. 

BREWING SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK PACKING THREAT OF MONSTER HAIL, STRONG TORNADOES TARGETS A DOZEN STATES

The multi-day severe weather threat wraps up by the end of Tuesday, before the wet weather returns for millions of Americans headed into Memorial Day weekend.

The epicenter was measured about 43.5 miles (70.1 kilometers) from the village of Codrington on the island of Barbuda at around 10:50 a.m. local time.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), shakes were reported as far west as Puerto Rico and as far south as Martinique. 

There is no threat of a tsunami at this time.

Since 2016, there have now been four magnitude 6.0 or higher earthquakes to rattle the Lesser Antilles, and 30 since 1900.

The record is a magnitude 7.5 quake in October 1974.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the group of islands lies on a fault line where the North and South American plates subduct beneath the Caribbean plate, which has led to the creation of many of the islands themselves.

Subduction is a process in which a tectonic plate slides beneath another and sinks into the Earth's mantle.

This is a developing story. Stick with FOX Weather for all the latest.

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued water contact advisories for Bay St. Louis Beach, Long Beach Beach, Gulfport West and Gulfport Harbor beaches and Biloxi East Central Beach. 

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEACHGOERS FACE FOUL SMELL AS UNTREATED WASTEWATER POLLUTES POPULAR WATERS

The advisories were issued for the high presence of bacteria called enterococci, which can sicken swimmers if they come into contact with it. 

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, enterococci are bacteria that live in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals, including humans, and are commonly found in fecal matter. 

BEACHGOERS WARNED AFTER FIRST WHITE SHARK OF THE SEASON CONFIRMED IN CAPE COD

When enterococci is found in lakes, rivers or ocean water, it can be caused by a number of factors, including stormwater runoff. 

The Bay St. Louis Beach advisory is the most recent, issued on Thursday. Other advisories are several weeks, or even months, old. However, the most recent water sample taken at these beaches was on Thursday, which has led to the advisories to remain in place.

In past weeks, other beaches were put on advisories, but were lifted once bacteria levels were safe for contact. 

While the beaches aren't closed, MDEQ advised people that swimming and contact with the water could make them sick. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Once bacteria levels have returned to normal and are safe for human contact, all remaining advisories will be lifted, MDEQ said. 

Storms are expected to bring a widespread threat of large hail and tornadoes to more than 62 million across the Midwest on Sunday and Monday. 

On Sunday, a strong dip in the jet stream will anchor itself over the western U.S., sending energy into the middle of the country. A deepening area of low pressure is forecast to intensify through Sunday afternoon as it tracks northeastward. 

TORNADO SAFETY: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TAKING SHELTER DURING SEVERE WEATHER

A surge of moisture from the Gulf, combined with warm temperatures, will fuel instability for storm development.

The heart of storm activity will stretch from central Minnesota to the Texas panhandle, where a broad level 2 out of 5 severe storm threat reaches on Sunday. 

WHAT IS A SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM?

On Sunday afternoon and evening, the primary concern will be the development of discrete, long-lived supercell thunderstorms.

These storms will be capable of producing very large hail, potentially 3 inches or larger, along with a risk for tornadoes. 

The potential chance for tornadoes will be the strongest at and after sunset. Some of these tornadoes could be strong, according to the FOX Forecast Center. 

Monday will feature a more widespread level 2 out of 5 threat, reaching from Michigan to Texas, spanning more than 1,000 miles. 

BREWING ‘SUPER’ EL NIÑO MAY SELF-DESTRUCT AFTER REACHING RECORD PEAK, TRIGGERING RAPID LA NIÑA RETURN IN 2027

Both Sunday and Monday feature a smaller, more concentrated level 3 out of 5 threat for severe storms, focused over portions of South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska on Sunday. 

On Monday, the level 3 out of 5 threat pushes south into much of Kansas, eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. 

Like Sunday, Monday's main threats will be large hail and damaging winds, but an increased risk of tornadoes is also taking shape. 

The FOX Forecast Center said tornadoes EF-3 or strong are possible. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

The threat extends once again into Tuesday, where a level 2 out of 5 storm threat is in effect from Oklahoma to Illinois. 

By the time storms wrap up on Tuesday, a widespread 1 to 2 inches of rain is possible from Minnesota to Texas, with locally higher amounts of 2 to 3 inches possible. 

Video shows the alligator chowing down on the tiny alligator, with the small gator's tail hanging out of the large alligator's mouth. 

The spectacle happened in Gatorland, a wildlife park with dozens of alligators ranging from babies to large adults, on March 30. 

In the video, several alligators laid around on the shore or in the waters, where the large gator was enjoying its baby gator snack. 

WATCH AS SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES WRANGLE AND CAPTURE TRESPASSING ALLIGATOR FROM FLORIDA RESIDENT'S YARD

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, one of young, small alligators' biggest predators is larger alligators. 

Alligators are cannibalistic animals, eating each other often due to territorial disputes. 

WATCH: POLICE WRANGLE MASSIVE 400-POUND ROLLING ALLIGATOR IN NORTH CAROLINA

The large alligator in the video could be seen tilting its head back, trying to get the small alligator down, as the little gator's tail flopped about. 

After finishing it off, the large alligator swam off as if nothing had happened. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Alligators' other prey include rough fish, snakes, turtles, small mammals and birds, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

On Sunday, a dead gray seal washed up on a beach in Martha's Vineyard with a large wound on its side. 

Suspecting a bite from a white shark, New England Aquarium in Boston said an investigation began, and the bite was reported to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.

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

Photos of the seal were examined by John Chisholm, an adjunct scientist in the Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, who confirmed it looked like a white shark bite. 

"This is just the beginning of white shark season in New England, and it serves as a good reminder to be mindful of the presence of these sharks in inshore waters. Their numbers will continue to increase throughout the summer with peak activity occurring in the fall," Chisholm said.

Chisholm and the New England Aquarium reminded people to be "shark smart" and keep an eye out for sharks' presence near beaches, especially in shallow waters. 

Beachgoers should also avoid any seals or schools of fish that may be food sources for sharks. 

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

Shark sightings can be reported via the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy's Sharktivity app. 

Sharktivity provides information and push notifications on white shark sightings, detections, and movements to raise awareness and help people and sharks co-exist.

"In addition to alerting others about the presence of sharks in near real time, these sightings contribute to our scientific understanding about sharks in our local waters, helping us to understand the health of their populations and the marine environment that supports them," Dr. John Durban, a senior scientist in the Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life said. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Public sightings submitted through Sharktivity will be verified by the New England Aquarium.

Storms are expected to bring a widespread threat of large hail and tornadoes to more than 40 million across the Midwest on Sunday and Monday. 

On Sunday, a strong dip in the jet stream will anchor itself over the western U.S., sending energy into the middle of the country. A deepening area of low pressure is forecast to intensify through Sunday afternoon as it tracks northeastward. 

TORNADO SAFETY: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TAKING SHELTER DURING SEVERE WEATHER

A surge of moisture from the Gulf, combined with warm temperatures, will fuel instability for storm development.

The heart of storm activity will stretch from central Minnesota to the Texas panhandle, where a broad level 2 out of 5 severe storm threat reaches on Sunday. 

WHAT IS A SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM?

On Sunday afternoon and evening, the primary concern will be the development of discrete, long-lived supercell thunderstorms.

These storms will be capable of producing very large hail, potentially 3 inches or larger, along with a risk for tornadoes. 

The potential chance for tornadoes will be the strongest at and after sunset. Some of these tornadoes could be strong, according to the FOX Forecast Center. 

Monday will feature a more widespread level 2 out of 5 threat, reaching from Michigan to Texas, spanning more than 1,000 miles. 

BREWING ‘SUPER’ EL NIÑO MAY SELF-DESTRUCT AFTER REACHING RECORD PEAK, TRIGGERING RAPID LA NIÑA RETURN IN 2027

Both Sunday and Monday feature a smaller, more concentrated level 3 out of 5 threat for severe storms, focused over portions of South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska on Sunday. 

On Monday, the level 3 out of 5 threat pushes south into much of Kansas, eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. 

Like Sunday, Monday's main concern is large hail and a few strong tornadoes. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

The threat extends once again into Tuesday, where a level 2 out of 5 storm threat is in effect from Oklahoma to Illinois. 

By the time storms wrap up on Tuesday, a widespread 1 to 2 inches of rain is possible from Minnesota to Texas, with locally higher amounts of 2 to 3 inches possible. 

DANGERS OF DUST STORMS

Video from the North Dakota Highway Patrol showed a wall of dust that made it nearly impossible to see. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Troopers responded to a crash involving tanker trailers on Highway 85 in Williams County around 1:30 p.m. local time. Police said the driver was saved by their seatbelt.

A pickup towing a trailer rolled over on Highway 83 south of Minot during the dust storm. Similar conditions were seen on Highway 28, north of Berthold and on Highway 40, south of Tioga.

A High Wind Warning for gusts between 40 and 70 mph was in effect and a Blowing Dust Advisory was upgraded to a Blowing Dust Warning just after 2 p.m.

LIGHTNING SPARKS MASSIVE GRASSFIRE AND BURNS THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN TEXAS

An area of low pressure in Canada pumped strong wind gusts across the Northern Plains Thursday and also fueled a Fire Weather Warning.

A Blowing Dust Advisory remains in effect for North Dakota Friday and police are asking drivers with high-profile vehicles to avoid peak winds.

WHAT IS A SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM?

The multiday threat began on Thursday when numerous Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, with wind gusts of 70 mph reported. Video on social media showed cloud-to-ground lighting during severe storms in southern Kansas.

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While a layer of warm air in the atmosphere has the potential to limit afternoon storms on Friday, supercell thunderstorms are expected to break through that "atmospheric cap" by the evening.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a Level 3 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms for Central Iowa, including Des Moines, which could see 3-inch hailstones with any supercells that develop.

While tornadoes are not the main hazard Friday, the Level 3 threat zone is where they would most likely form.

WHAT IS A DRYLINE AND WHY IS ITS LOCATION IMPORTANT IN SEVERE WEATHER FORECASTING?

A broader Level 1 threat stretches from Wisconsin through parts of North and West Central Texas, where isolated damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph are possible.

Large hail, 2 inches in diameter, will be possible across a corridor from southern Minnesota and the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. 

3-inch hail will remain the main threat through Saturday as severe storms reload over the Plains and parts of the Midwest.

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A Level 2 threat covers much of Nebraska and western and central Iowa, with a Level 1 threat expanding into Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

A similar pattern is expected to emerge Saturday with spotty storm coverage in the afternoon and supercells expected to consolidate by the evening when the threat of tornadoes starts to increase.

Severe weather is expected to last through the weekend and into the early part of next week.

The SPC is now warning that there is an "increasing chance of strong to intense tornadoes" on Monday afternoon in central Kansas into northern Oklahoma.

FOX Weather has live coverage of severe weather through the weekend and has the latest forecast updates.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

STRONG WINDS, DRY AIR EXPAND FIRE THREAT FROM THE PLAINS INTO THE ROCKIES AS SOUTHEAST RISK EASES

The Hunggate Fire began Thursday afternoon when a storm cell moved across Randall County, producing lightning that sparked a series of grass fires throughout the area.

As of Thursday evening, the fire had burned more than 7,000 acres and remained 0% contained.

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Crews from Texas A&M Forest Service and multiple local fire departments are actively working to contain the fire as numerous structures remain threatened in the impacted areas.

Mandatory evacuations have been issued for areas near Chaparral Villas in the Canyon area and near 13th Avenue in Randall County.

EMERGING THREAT: OFFICIALS NOTE RECORD NUMBER OF DRONES IN RESTRICTED AIRSPACE DURING FIRES

Officials are urging residents to avoid affected areas whenever possible and to use caution when traveling near emergency response operations.

With current dry conditions and an elevated fire risk, the public is encouraged to avoid activities that could spark additional fires, including parking on dry grass, outdoor burning or towing chains that may create sparks.

The Hunggate Fire is one of three fires that started in Texas on Thursday.

NEW JERSEY MAN FACES ARSON CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH JONES ROAD WILDFIRE THAT SCORCHED OVER 15K ACRES

Stay with FOX Weather for the latest updates.

HERE ARE THE DIFFERENT ASHFALL ALERTS THAT COULD BE ISSUED DURING VOLCANIC ACTIVITY

Episode 47 began when lava fountains burst from the crater, marking the start of the latest eruption.

The north vent fountains started to grow rapidly, reaching about 200 feet in the air at 4 p.m. HST.

The last eruption occurred over a week ago on May 5.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) noted that lava overflow began when the Halemaʻumaʻu south vent presented a strong glow and periodic flaming.

Both vents are currently erupting, with low-level activity in the south vent while lava fountains at the north vent were about 65 feet high.

Throughout the day, webcams showed precursory overflows from the south vent and a small stream of lava spewed out on the backwall of the north vent.

RARE ASHFALL WARNING ISSUED AS MOUNT KILAUEA VOLCANO ERUPTS FOR 43RD TIME, PRODUCING LARGE LAVA FOUNTAINS

As of right now, lava fountains have already reached 200 feet in this most recent eruption.

Authorities say residents should be aware of volcanic gas and tephra during this episode.

High levels of volcanic gas, including sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, continue to be released and may create vog, or volcanic air pollution, which can cause respiratory irritation and other health problems.

WATCH AS LAVA FLOW ERUPTS FROM KILAUEA CRATER IN HAWAII

Authorities also warned that tephra such as volcanic ash, pumice and Pele’s hair, may irritate the skin, eyes and lungs.

While the larger volcanic fragments fall near the vents, lighter particles are traveling at a greater distance due to the wind conditions.

The National Weather Service said the area is experiencing northeasterly winds of 5 to 15 mph, carrying the tephra to the southwest of the summit.

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Fountaining episodes typically last 12 hours or less, but ash can remain in the air for longer depending on wind and weather conditions.

Stay with FOX Weather as Kīlauea’s episode 47 continues.

According to data from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the asteroid 2026 JH2 was discovered in early May.

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Asteroids are rocky, airless remnants left over from the early formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago, according to NASA.

Data shows that on Monday, May 18, asteroid 2026 JH2 will pass roughly 56,000 miles from Earth.

That distance is about a quarter of that between Earth and the moon.

Given how recently it was discovered, there is high uncertainty about the exact orbit of the asteroid, but data suggest that 2026 JH2 is not a threat to Earth.

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The asteroid is an Apollo-classified Near-Earth Object (NEO), which happens when asteroids and comets are nudged into Earth's neighborhood by the gravity of nearby planets, NASA said.

About 99% of Earth's NEOs are asteroids, NASA said.

There are 1,542,623 asteroids in our solar system. While Earth has had some asteroid impacts in the past, they are very rare, NASA said.

It's highly unlikely that an asteroid will hit Earth in the next 100 years.

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2026 JH2 will be way too far away to see by the naked eye, but there is some chance of seeing it via a strong telescope. Set up after dark for the best chance of seeing 2026 JH2.

THE BEST CELESTIAL EVENTS IN 2026 YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center, residents in parts of the northern U.S. including New York, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana and Washington may be able to see the Northern Lights during this storm.

NOAA issued a Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Thursday and Friday, warning that the strongest geomagnetic activity is expected between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. EST.

The increase in geomagnetic activity is expected to continue into Friday night as the solar wind continues to impact Earth’s magnetic field.

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The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are colorful, dynamic and often visually delicate displays of "intricate dace of intricate dance of particles and magnetism between the sun and Earth," according to NASA.

Even though the auroras are very likely on Thursday and Friday, skywatchers having a chance to view them depends on several factors such as cloud coverage, the amount of darkness and how Earth’s magnetic field responds to the incoming solar winds, according to space.com.

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

Evening during the strongest geomagnetic storms, visibility isn’t guaranteed.

Officials say to view this magnificent event, it would be best to find an area that is far away from a city or streetlights. Lie flat on your back and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. In less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you may be able to see the Northern Lights.

MAY SKYWATCHING GUIDE: FROM METEOR SHOWERS TO MICROMOONS, HERE IS WHAT TO LOOK UP FOR

It is recommended to use a smartphone camera to help see faint auroras that may not be visible to the naked eye.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office District of Hawaii, Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Washington, was charged by criminal complaint on May 12, 2026, for harassing and attempting to harass an endangered Hawaiian monk seal in violation of the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act.

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Viral video footage filmed on May 5 captured Lytvynchuk on the sand of a Hawaiian beach hurling a rock at the beloved monk seal, Lani, in the Lahaina area of Maui.

SLEEPY GREY SEAL SHUTS DOWN BUSY STREET WHILE TAKING A NAP IN NEW JERSEY

Lytvynchuk was arrested on May 13, near Seattle, Washington, by Special Agents of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA.

According to the press release, the rock narrowly missed Lani's nose, startling her and causing her to rear up out of the water.

MASSIVE SEA LION NAMED CHONKERS IS CAPTURING HEARTS IN THIS COASTAL CITY

Witnesses confronted Lytvynchuk immediately, and told him they contacted law enforcement, to which Lytvynchuk reportedly responded that he was "rich enough to pay the fines," before walking away, the release said. 

After the event, witnesses said Lani remained stationary, causing great concern for the well-being of the endangered seal.

HAWAII OFFICIALS BLOCK OFF POPULAR WAIKIKI BEACH TO PROTECT NEWLY BORN ENDANGERED SEAL PUP

"The unique and precious wildlife of the Hawaiian Islands are renowned symbols of Hawaii’s special place in the world and its incredible biodiversity. We are committed to protecting our vulnerable wild species, in particular endangered Hawaiian monk seals, like Lani," U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson said.  "We pledge that those who harass and attempt to harm our protected wildlife will face rapid accountability in federal court."

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According to the release, if convicted, Lytvynchuk faces up to one year in prison for each charge, plus a term of supervised release. He also faces a fine of up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and a fine of up to $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

By Friday and Saturday, as a ridge of high pressure moves out of the West, heat shifting from the central Plains will begin spreading into areas that have been running 3–5 degrees below average so far this month. 

Temperatures in the low to mid 80s will move into the Midwest and Southeast by Saturday, with major cities like Atlanta, Nashville, and Cincinnati running 5–10 degrees above average.

Let’s see what trading activity on prediction markets  looks like for today’s high temperature in Atlanta.

By Sunday, the heat is forecast to build into the Mid-Atlantic and portions of the Northeast with temperatures ranging from the upper 90s in the southern Plains to near 90 in the Mid-Atlantic.

Unlike the brief stints of heat the East has seen recently, this stretch of heat is expected to persist. 

By Monday and Tuesday, temperatures across much of the Midwest and Northeast are forecast to run more than 20 degrees above average, with highs reaching the upper 80s to near 90 in major cities along the I-95 corridor.

Massachusetts State Police, Boston EMS and Massachusetts Port Authority Fire responded to the scene, along with other agencies.

All four people were rescued from the rocks and taken to a nearby hospital.

SEE IT: 11 PEOPLE RESCUED AFTER PLANE CRASHES INTO THE OCEAN OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA

Boston EMS said one person was critically injured. Massachusetts State Police later confirmed that the person had died.

Boston EMS said conditions were "difficult" due to the darkness and slippery shoreline.

WATCH AS SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES WRANGLE AND CAPTURE TRESPASSING ALLIGATOR FROM FLORIDA RESIDENT'S YARD

An investigation into what caused the crash is ongoing, according to state police.

First responders are ready for almost anything while on the job. Still, there isn’t much that could prepare anyone for a humongous swarm of termites flying through the area.

That's what happened in Abita Springs, Louisiana, on Tuesday.

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Footage shared by Deputy Justin Blackwell captured what he jokingly described to be six billion termites swarming through the New Orleans metro area overnight. It's almost like a scene out of a movie.

According to the City of New Orleans, the most common termite in the region is the Formosan subterranean termite, introduced to the U.S. after World War II from Eastern Asia via infested wooden cargo crates.

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It is estimated that these termite colonies can consist of one to four million, which makes sense when you look at the footage from the sheriff’s office.

Termite swarms are a pretty common occurrence in Louisiana, but the sight is not an easy one to prepare for.

The Louisiana State University Ag Center said the Formosan subterranean termites swarm and spread colonies around Mother's Day every year. The swarm season for this termite starts as early as April and lasts through June, with a peak in early to mid-May.

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This type of termite is an invasive species and the most destructive structural pest in the state of Louisiana. Termite infestations cost an estimated $1 billion a year in property damages, repairs and control measures, according to the USDA.

On April 14, the Lake County Sheriff's Office responded to a call from a homeowner in Paisley about an alligator on their property. 

The homeowners were worried about their pets, and a nearby school bus stop, where the alligator was spotted near prior to the call. 

The two responding officers made quick work catching the rogue reptile, pulling a rope from the back of their vehicle before approaching the gator. 

WATCH: POLICE WRANGLE MASSIVE 400-POUND ROLLING ALLIGATOR IN NORTH CAROLINA

Its tail was sticking out of some bushes, before it scurried into the resident's yard. The gator hissed as a deputy used a long metal wire to carefully coax a harness fashioned out of rope over the reptile's head. 

After successfully getting the rope in place, the deputy began tugging, forcing the alligator to come out of the bushes and toward him. The reptile fought back, rolling to try and escape. 

WATCH: 'DRUNK' DEER RUNS IN CIRCLES AFTER EATING FERMENTED FRUIT

Once the alligator was in a cleared area, the deputy handed the rope to his colleague before switching places with him and firmly sitting on the alligator, so it couldn't move. 

Using a jacket to cover its head and eyes, the deputy slowly pulled the gator's head upwards, holding its haw shut with both hands. 

The next clip shows the alligator grunting with its mouth taped shut, as the deputy dragged it by its tail out through the open fence gate and back toward the road. 

SEE IT: US WILDLIFE OFFICIALS FIND SEVERAL VENOMOUS SCORPIONS BEING SMUGGLED FROM HONG KONG

"You want him arrested or no?" the deputy asked the homeowners, who said yes. 

"All right. Trespassed?" the deputy asked, regarding the alligator's charges. 

MONSTER BLUE CATFISH WEIGHING IN AT OVER 73 POUNDS MAKES FLORIDA HISTORY FOR RECORD CATCH

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Lake County Sheriff's Office reported that the alligator was turned over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission after its capture. 

While there is uncertainty about how strong it will get and when it peaks, one thing is clear: El Niño will play a major role in shaping the upcoming hurricane season.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center updated its El Niño Southern Ossicilation (ENSO) forecast – and the chances that it reaches "Super" El Niño strength are increasing. 

The brewing El Niño is expected to emerge by this summer, as favorable conditions continue. In the ENSO update, the NOAA continued the El Niño Watch, setting the stage for a high chance of an El Niño developing between May and July.

With development as early as May, NOAA predicts that El Niño will rapidly build in strength each month – with increased chances of it reaching Super El Niño status by fall or winter. 

WHAT ARE EL NINO AND LA NINA CLIMATE PATTERNS?

Currently, ENSO neutral conditions are present and will continue to persist across the equatorial Pacific. The equatorial pacific is the heartbeat of El Niño—what happens there drives the entire pattern, shaping weather around the globe and setting the tone for hurricane season.

Sea surface temperatures continue to warm rapidly in the easternmost Pacific (Niño-1+2 region), where temperatures are already above average, alongside widespread above-average subsurface ocean temperatures.

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This warming trend is expected to continue heading into late May and the summer months, in addition to forecasts strongly suggesting that El Niño conditions continue into the upcoming winter months.

While the development of an El Niño is extremely likely, there is high uncertainty as to when the climate pattern will be at its peak strength.  

"Stronger El Niño events do not ensure strong impacts; they can only make certain impacts more likely," The Climate Prediction Center ENSO diagnostic update said.

The strength of an El Niño event does not directly correlate with more significant weather impacts, it does make certain seasonal anomalies and climate changes more likely.

SMELLY SARGASSUM SEAWEED BLOB INVADES FLORIDA BEACHES DURING BUSY SPRING BREAK TRAVEL SEASON

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

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

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.

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

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

The smelly seaweed is not only potentially harmful to humans, but it can also contain tiny bugs known as sea lice.

Officials have said that many Florida beaches, including those in Boca Raton that have seen an increase in sargassum, are also experiencing more sea lice.

Despite the name, sea lice are not the same as head lice, although they are about the same size, roughly 2 to 3 millimeters, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

According to Lice Lifters Palm Beach County, sea lice are actually the larvae of certain jellyfish, most commonly the thimble jellyfish. The microscopic larvae contain stinging cells.

SARGASSUM SEAWEED BLOOMS PLAGUING ATLANTIC BEACHES TRACED BACK TO WEST AFRICA

When sargassum washes ashore, the tiny larvae can ride along with it and sometimes become trapped under people’s bathing suits.

Friction from the swimsuit can trigger the stingers, causing them to release small amounts of jellyfish venom into the skin.

The stings can cause an itchy red rash called seabather’s eruption, which may appear within minutes or up to a day after exposure. The rash can look like small pimples, blisters or welts.

Officials said seabather’s eruption can be uncomfortable, but it is usually not a serious concern.

RECORD SARGASSUM LEVELS IMPACTING FLORIDA BEACHES DURING SPRING BREAK

Although most cases are mild and limited to an itchy rash, some people can develop more widespread symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting and malaise, which is a general feeling of illness or fatigue.

To help avoid sea lice, taking a few precautions may reduce your risk of developing a rash. Before swimming, check local beach health reports for any sea lice advisories.

If you feel tingling or irritation under your swimsuit while in the water, get out and remove your swimsuit as soon as possible.

Rinse your body with salt water if available, since fresh water can trigger trapped larvae to release toxins.

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Also, be sure to wash your swimsuit thoroughly before wearing it again, and consider applying vinegar containing 5% acetic acid after swimming to help deactivate any remaining larvae.

Fortunately, sea lice are usually more irritating than dangerous, but it is always best to try to avoid the little critters whenever possible.

BREATHTAKING VIEWS: NASA RELEASES 12,000 NEW PHOTOS FROM ARTEMIS II MISSION 

The rover assembled 61 images showcasing the region the mission team calls Lac de Charmes.

The selfie captures Perseverance "training its mast on a rocky outcrop on which it had just made a circular abrasion patch, with the western rim of Jezero Crater stretching into the background."

The photos were taken on March 11 during the rover’s westward journey beyond the crater rim. According to scientists, the Lac de Charmes region represents some of the most scientifically compelling terrain Perseverance has explored so far.

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"We took this image when the rover was in the ‘Wild West’ beyond the Jezero Crater rim — the farthest west we have been since we landed at Jezero a little over five years ago," Katie Stack Morgan, Perseverance’s project scientist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said.

Along with the selfie, the rover also captured 46 images of the "Arbot" area within Lac de Charmes. The photos offered some of the richest geological imagery of the mission, revealing a landscape filled with diverse rock formations.

"What I see in this image is excellent exposure of likely the oldest rocks we are going to investigate during this mission," Ken Farley, Perseverance’s deputy project scientist at California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, said.

The images provide NASA scientists with a clearer roadmap for investigating the ridge line and its wide variety of rocks.

THE BEST CELESTIAL EVENTS IN 2026 YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS

Some of the formations appear to be megabreccias, massive fragments, some the size of skyscrapers, hurled into place by a powerful meteorite impact.

"There is a sharp ridge line visible in the mosaic whose jagged, angular texture contrasts starkly with the rounded boulders in the foreground," Farley said. "We also see a feature that may be a volcanic dike, a vertical intrusion of magma that hardened in place and was left standing as the softer surrounding material eroded away over billions of years."

The rover also grinded down a portion of the rock's surface, allowing the team to see what’s inside a rocky outcrop nicknamed "Arathusa."

The team determined that the rock was composed of igneous minerals that likely predate the formation of Jezero Crater.

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"The rover’s study of these really ancient rocks is a whole new ballgame," Stack Morgan said. "These rocks especially if they’re from deep in the crust could give us insights applicable to the entire planet, like whether there was a magma ocean on Mars and what initial conditions eventually made it a habitable planet."

In the early hours of Aug. 10, 2025, a colossal landslide tore from a mountainside above a softening glacier in Alaska’s Tracy Arm fjord, sending debris into the water below and unleashing a massive wave that reached more than 1,500 feet high through the scenic area.

The 481-meter (1,578-foot) megatsunami tore through a scenic Alaskan waterway 45 miles south of Juneau. Now, a new analysis offers a rare glimpse into how the catastrophic landslide and wave unfolded.

The study, published in Science, identified the conditions that led to the landslide and the dangerous megatsunami that reached heights that exceeded New York City's Empire State Building. 

"Just an unfathomably large wave was generated. I can't imagine how terrifying it would have been to be a fly on the wall there," Dan Shugar, corresponding author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Earth, Energy and Environment at the University of Calgary, said.

WHAT IS A TSUNAMI?

While tsunamis are most often triggered by earthquakes, this one was driven by a massive landslide that hurled 64 million cubic meters of debris—enough to fill the Great Pyramid of Giza about 24 times—into the fjord, generating seismic signals detected worldwide for days.

Shagger likened the displacement of water to jumping into a swimming pool – with water rushing nearly 1,600 feet up the gigantic valley walls of the fjord below.

The colossal debris fall triggered what the study says is the second-largest tsunami wave of all time – narrowly behind the largest tsunami of all time recorded in Lituya Bay, Alaska, on July 9, 1958, that reached a run-up height of 524 meters, or 1,720 feet.

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The jaw-dropping scale of the megatsunami was made possible by its setting, with the narrow fjord amplifying the wave and driving water high up the surrounding mountain walls. A similar effect was observed in the Lituya Bay tsunami, which also occurred in a fjord.

As it turned out, there were no obvious warning signs that the second-largest tsunami in recorded history was going to happen. However, in the days leading up to the collapse, repeated microseismic activity in the Tracy Arm area increased in frequency, continuing until less than an hour before the slope finally failed.

According to the study, one of the main factors that led to the landslide was the retreat of the glacier below the wall, which Shugar said in the year before the slide had retreated 1,800 feet, removing support for the valley wall that eventually tumbled into the water below.

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

The study identified the blazing speed of the skyscraper-sized tsunami – with computer simulations estimating that the Goliath wave traveled over 150 mph, the cruising speed of a high-speed train — except in the form of a deadly 100-meter-high wall of water moving through a narrow fjord.

Understanding the landscape and geography of the Tracy Arm fjord is essential to understanding the landslide and megatsunami.

"The valley walls of that fjord are so steep and so tight, so narrow, that the water really has only one way to go, and that's up," Shugar said. 

Tracy Arm is a roughly 30-mile-long, 0.8-mile-wide fjord, about 380 meters deep, surrounded by towering peaks rising up to 2,000 meters.

When the landslide occurred, the powerful tsunami surged through the narrow valley, scouring the landscape and changing the face of the scenic waterway.

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The vibrant turquoise glacial tidewaters have popularized the scenic Alaskan landscape in the Tracy Arm area, frequently visited by tourists. During the summer months, more than 20 boats a day visit Tracy Arms and a neighboring fjord, including large cruise vessels that carry up to 6,000 passengers.

Thankfully, although the megatsunami had numerous witnesses across a wide area, no fatalities were reported. 

The landslide occurred around 5:30 a.m. local time—well before tourists typically enter the fjord. Had it happened later in the day, the consequences could have been catastrophic.

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The study highlighted a critical threat to the popular tourist area: the hazardous nature of tsunami landslides.

"It's important to remember that if this event had happened five or six hours later, it probably would have been a very different situation. A disaster with hundreds of people killed because this fjord is very popular with cruise ship traffic," Shugar said. "If they were up at the head of the fjord to look at the glacier caving, which is what they are there to go look at, I can't see any way that a ship would survive a wave like this."

Inspectors in Memphis received a tip about a suspicious package shipped from Hong Kong in February, according to a press release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Once officials began investigating, they uncovered 10 Asian scorpions hidden inside a toy intended for wildlife trafficking.

Officials found five species of the Mesobuthus genus, a venomous scorpion.

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All 10 of the scorpions were found dead, and wildlife personnel seized and froze the creatures for evidence for further investigation.

The estimated number of scorpion stings to occur in the U.S. is 1.2 million per year, according to the National Library of Medicine.

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"Shipping venomous animals without the proper licensing, documentation and package marking and labels poses serious safety risks to express carrier workers, inspectors and the public," a statement from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said.

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This type of wildlife smuggling can not only harm the animals themselves, but also seriously threatens the lives of workers transporting these packages.

The East Coast has struggled to find warmth in May, with temperatures staying cooler so far this spring.

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That'll change by the weekend and into next week, when temperatures rise into the upper 80s for parts of the Northeast.

OMEGA PATTERN BRINGS RECORD HEAT ACROSS CENTRAL US WHILE STORMS TARGET NORTHWEST AND NORTHEAST

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the warmth started out West early this week, and will begin shifting into the Plains and central states on Thursday, driving temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above average for May.

By Friday and Saturday, the heat will begin spreading into the Midwest and Southeast, areas that have been running 3 to 5 degrees below average so far this month.

Major cities like Atlanta, Nashville and Cincinnati are likely to see temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s, roughly 10 to 20 degrees higher than average.

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By Sunday, the heat pushes into the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Northeast.

Record high temperatures are possible for states stretching from Missouri to New Jersey, the FOX Forecast Center said.

The heat is expected to last, compared to other short one or two-day warm-ups.

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By Monday and Tuesday of next week, highs across much of the Midwest and Northeast will climb more than 20 degrees above average.

Major Interstate 95 cities are expected to see highs in the upper 80s to near 90 degrees.

After days of heat across the Central U.S., the high pressure system caught in the middle will now start to flatten, allowing a series of storm systems to pour into the Plains.

WHAT IS A SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM?

This comes as regions such as central Kansas, including Wichita, are under a Level 2 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Forecasters are expecting a mid-level wave to push eastward, along with a developing dryline that could allow severe storms to form.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, all the atmospheric parameters needed for storm development will be available.

HOW HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE DRIVE THE WEATHER

Still, a stout cap may shut down the odds of this severe setup.

A stout cap is a layer of relatively warm air hovering several thousand feet above the ground, which suppresses or delays the development of thunderstorms, according to NOAA.

If these storms develop, they could produce hail up to 2 inches, and the severe pattern could continue through Saturday, when a more robust area of low pressure will develop, allowing more moisture to fuel storms in the North.

Starting Sunday, the continuous atmospheric setup is expected to become more likely to change as an upper-level trough hovers over the western U.S., bringing strong southwesterly flow over the Great Plains.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEACHGOERS FACE FOUL SMELL AS UNTREATED WASTEWATER POLLUTES POPULAR WATERS

Due to this flow of development, a significant surge of low-level moisture with a surface dew point in the mid to upper 60s is expected across most of the North-Central U.S.

This upper-level energy will enhance the storm threat.

"A series of subtle shortwave troughs moving through this environment will likely trigger scattered to numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours," the FOX Forecast Center said.

WHAT IS A DRYLINE AND WHY IS ITS LOCATION IMPORTANT IN SEVERE WEATHER FORECASTING?

The greatest risk of severe storms will include supercells capable of producing large hail, damaging winds and possibly tornadoes.

This severe threat is mainly focused across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

In fact, popular locations such as Des Moines, Iowa, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, are under a Level 1 out of 4 flash flood threat as the chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms will persist throughout the weekend.

By Monday, this severe setup will continue, as a large Level 2 out of 5 severe storm threat is active across northern Wisconsin, stretching south into northern Texas.

ACCELERATING 'SUPER' EL NIÑO EXPECTED TO SUPPRESS ATLANTIC HURRICANES, BRING STORMY PATTERN TO SOUTHERN US

It is possible that extreme moisture combined with wind shear could support further development of stronger storms, but expect more wet weather to start next week.

The alligator, which measured 10 feet, 10 inches long and 400 pounds, was called in by a resident who said that a "15-foot" alligator was nearly on the road.

WATCH: 'DRUNK' DEER RUNS IN CIRCLES AFTER EATING FERMENTED FRUIT

Police responded and realized additional help was needed due to the size of the reptile, and called in animal control and additional police reinforcements.

Video showed at least three officers and animal control using a snare and rope to wrangle the massive alligator for relocation.

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

The alligator put up a fight, rolling to try and free itself from capture.

Police availed, though, and the gator was successfully caught and relocated.

The animal control officer told police he was grateful for the assistance, as this was the largest alligator he'd ever encountered in Sunset Beach.

COLORADO WILDLIFE OFFICIALS WARN OF RATTLESNAKE ENCOUNTERS AS THE REPTILES WAKE UP THIS SPRING

The alligator was estimated to be between 25 and 30 years old. It was safely released into a nearby lake.

The Sunset Beach Police Department said alligators are only relocated when there is a risk to the public's safety or the alligator's safety.

Alligator mating season runs through June, when male alligators are more active and mobile.

WATCH: RABID BEAVER FOUGHT OFF AFTER ATTACKING SEVERAL PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY PARK

Sightings are more common during this period.

Sunset Beach is reminding residents to:

An area of low pressure is locked in over the Northeast, opening the door for a severe weather threat starting Wednesday as stormy conditions are forecast to persist into the weekend.

WHAT IS AN OMEGA BLOCK?

A level 1/5 severe storm threat is present on Wednesday across western New York into Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia. That includes cities such as Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and Charleston, West Virginia, with storms capable of damaging wind gusts.

Once the severe threat moves through the region, clouds and scattered rain remain in the forecast through Friday courtesy of the area of low pressure locked in over parts of the region. 

As the prolonged gloom takes hold in the region, let's take a look at what prediction markets anticipate for rainfall totals in New York City this month. 

As the area of low pressure persists in the Northeast, conditions will remain damp and cool – bringing a feeling more akin to early March, rather than late May.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), U.S. 195 was closed in both directions between Cheney-Spokane Road and Watt Road in Spangle because of the crashes. 

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

The department said high winds were picking up dust, leading to several crashes.

A Dust Storm Warning was in effect for Spokane County, Washington, through 10:45 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

WAYMO RECALLS MORE THAN 3,500 SELF-DRIVING CARS AFTER DEFECT ALLOWS VEHICLE TO DRIVE INTO FLOODED ROADWAY

The FOX Forecast Center said winds up to 50 mph were possible, with less than a quarter-mile visibility through the warning.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

WSDOT said to avoid the area, as a detour had not yet been set up.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

El Niño alone doesn't necessarily mean more tropical activity for the Hawaiian Islands, but a positive Pacific Meridonal Mode (PMM) combined with El Niño, could increase activity. 

PMM is a climate pattern involving changes in ocean temperatures and trade winds north of the equator. It develops when trade winds weaken, allowing ocean temperatures to warm. A positive PMM phase can not only help trigger El Niño, but also strengthen it, according to the FOX Forecast Center. 

WHAT ARE EL NIÑO AND LA NIÑA CLIMATE PATTERNS?

When the PMM is in a positive phase, warmer than average water develops off the west coast of Mexico and can extend into the central Pacific near Hawaii.

Warmer waters further into the central Pacific could help storms forming in the Eastern Pacific maintain their strength longer as they move westward toward the islands, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

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

In past years, a positive PMM has led to several notable hurricane seasons with an increased number of storms, including in 1959, 1992 and 2018, when notable storms impacted Hawaii. 

In 1992 and 2018, activity was above-average, producing 25 storms and 21 storms, respectively. 

Hurricane Dot in 1959 and Hurricane Iniki in 1992 both made landfall on Kauai. In 2018, Hurricane Lane passed very dangerously close to the islands, but didn't make landfall, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

BREWING ‘SUPER’ EL NIÑO MAY SELF-DESTRUCT AFTER REACHING RECORD PEAK, TRIGGERING RAPID LA NIÑA RETURN IN 2027

However, history doesn't always repeat itself. 

In 2023, a positive PMM and El Niño were present, but the warmer waters associated with the PMM weren't as pronounced. Overall, that season was less active, producing 17 named storms in the Eastern Pacific.

 HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Overall, the already unusually warm Eastern Pacific combined with the potential for a positive PMM is likely to mean more activity this hurricane season around Hawaii. 

However, many other atmospheric and oceanic factors could still influence how hurricane season unfolds in the Eastern Pacific. 

ZOO ANIMAL KILLED AFTER DANGEROUS HAILSTORM BATTERS MISSOURI, CAUSING STATEWIDE DAMAGE

The French police, the Saône-et-Loire gendarmerie, are warning drivers to be on the lookout for an erratic deer that appeared intoxicated after eating fermented fruit.

"In spring, some wild animals consume buds, fermented fruit or decaying vegetation and can exhibit completely unpredictable behavior," the Saône-et-Loire gendarmerie said in a translated social media post.

In a video shared by the organization, a deer can be seen moving in unpredictable circles.

"No, ladies and gentlemen...not all road users are sober. The proof is in the picture," the police warned.

COLORADO WILDLIFE OFFICIALS WARN OF RATTLESNAKE ENCOUNTERS AS THE REPTILES WAKE UP THIS SPRING

When fruit overripens, natural sugars in it are broken down by yeast, which converts sugars into ethanol. This is the same type of alcohol found in beer, wine and liquor.

The department said that an intoxicated deer can be dangerous due to sudden crossing, incoherent movement, immobilization on the road or erratic behavior.

A collision can happen very quickly, especially at night or on secondary roads.

WATCH: RARE ALBINO DEER CAUGHT ON CAMERA WITH A FRIEND IN MISSOURI NEIGHBORHOOD

Officers recommend that residents slow down, avoid sudden steering movements and remain extra vigilant in wooded areas.

"If Bambi is overindulging in forest aperitifs, it might not be the time to drive as if the road were entirely yours...no?" police said.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

According to the FOX Forecast Center, there were two Flash Flood Warnings in effect in the San Antonio area on April 20, both of which were tagged with a "Considerable" threat. 

WHAT IS A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY?

Automated rain gauges and storm reports to the National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed a rapid water rise in low-lying areas and there was at least one swift-water rescue northeast of San Antonio International Airport.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) acknowledged Waymo's voluntary recall of 3,791 vehicles on May 1.

The defect in certain 5th and 6th Generation Automated Driving Systems may allow cars to slow, but still drive through flooded roads and standing water on higher speed roadways, according to the NHTSA recall filing.

The company said it is working to improve vehicle response to "untraversable flooded lanes."

"We are working to implement additional software safeguards and have put mitigations in place, including refining our extreme weather operations during periods of intense rain, limiting access to areas where flash flooding might occur," a Waymo spokesperson told FOX Weather.

"Waymo provides over half a million trips every week in some of the most challenging driving environments across the U.S.," the spokesperson said.

According to NHTSA, all affected vehicles received an interim update by April 20.

San Antonio International Airport received 4.42 inches of rain on April 20, marking their third-wettest single day in April on record.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

Florida Wildlife Commission biologists confirmed a new Florida state-record blue catfish caught in the Suwannee River.

The monster 73.6-pound blue catfish was reeled in by Justin Hodge on Feb. 21, 2026, in Dixie County. It measured 48.5 inches in length with a girth of 36.75 inches.

Hodge's historic fish broke the previous record set in 2015, when an angler caught a 69.5-pound blue catfish in the Choctawhatchee River in Washington County.

WATCH: RABID BEAVER FOUGHT OFF AFTER ATTACKING SEVERAL PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY PARK

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, the freshwater fish is native to the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio River basins, and has been stocked for fishing in nearly 20 states.

The Suwannee River, where the record cat was apprehended, is a more than 200-mile-long blackwater river that runs through south Georgia southward into Florida.

In Florida, when anglers reel in what they suspect might be a record fish – the path to the record books is a meticulous one.

When a potential record fish is caught, anglers arrange with the Florida Wildlife Commission to have an employee witness the official weigh, on a certified scale and take measurements.

For any fish other than a largemouth bass, a FWC fisheries biologist must certify the species by physically witnessing and inspecting the fish.

With the record officially verified by a biologist, Hodge’s massive blue catfish now stands atop the leader board as the largest of its kind ever caught in the Sunshine State.

COCAINE POLLUTION HAS SHARKS AND SALMON OFF THE RAILS — AND IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT

Blue catfish are not only prized for their size, but also valued as a flavorful and nutritious catch, in addition to being a strong, savvy fish that puts up a good fight.

Whether Hodge chose to mount his record-breaking fish or serve it at the table remains unknown, but one thing is certain—the catch secures its place as the largest blue catfish ever recorded in Florida.

The team, made up of members of the French Navy and France’s Department of Underwater and Submarine Archaeological Research (DRASSM), embarked on a three-day mission in April to study and carefully recover artifacts from the wreck.

SPANISH ARCHAEOLOGIST UNCOVERS MASSIVE 2,400-YEAR-OLD SHIP GRAVEYARD

The site, which researchers have named Camarat 4, was discovered by chance in March 2025 by the Center for Expertise in Human Diving and Underwater Intervention (CEPHISMER), a branch of the French Navy.

When the wreck was first discovered, researchers determined it measured about 90 feet long and 22 feet wide and contained a large collection of handmade ceramics. Historians believe the well-crafted artifacts originated in the Liguria region of Italy.

Now, the team is using a one-of-a-kind remotely operated robot from the company Travocean to explore the shipwreck, which lies more than 8,200 feet below sea level in the Mediterranean Sea.

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

The mission, led by Marine Sadania, a maritime archaeologist with DRASSM, utilized the robot, which is capable of operating at depths greater than 13,000 feet.

According to a social media post by DRASSM, the robot allowed the team to complete a full photogrammetric survey of the wreck. Processing of the 66,974 photographs is being carried out by Paul François of the Laboratory of Medieval and Modern Archaeology in the Mediterranean.

SEE IT: RARE GREEK COIN FROM 3RD CENTURY BC DISCOVERED BY 13-YEAR-OLD IN BERLIN

Researchers were also able to obtain, for the first time, a complete three-dimensional view of the archaeological site, allowing them to closely examine and precisely measure artifacts such as anchors, cannons, ceramics and cauldrons.

More than a dozen decorative pitcher patterns were also identified.

The mission also carried out limited and targeted recoveries of some of the ceramic artifacts while implementing specialized conservation protocols and enhanced monitoring of the objects’ condition.

SEE SOME OF THE MOST UNIQUE ITEMS EVER FOUND ON A SHIPWRECK LOST AT SEA

Three pitchers were recovered from areas near the cargo accumulation, including one featuring an unseen design, along with a plate taken from the forward section between a cannon and an anchor.

To preserve the artifacts, researchers implemented three conservation protocols, and will use archeometric analysis throughout the different stages of the preservation process.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Camarat 4 is considered the deepest archaeological site ever recorded in waters under French jurisdiction.

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:

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.

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 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.

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 10 people are reportedly accounted for and are being brought to emergency medical services for further evaluation.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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

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

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

As the ridge of high pressure caught in the middle of the country breaks down, it will likely allow for a series of compact storm systems to form in the Rockies and into the Plains.

WHAT IS AN OMEGA BLOCK?

This transition effectively reopens the "storm corridor" as the departing high pressure ridge makes room for a much more active and progressive jet stream.

As these systems emerge from the West, they will quickly begin to pull rich, unstable moisture from the Gulf of America northward into the heart of the country.

This moisture, combined with the energy of the incoming Pacific systems, will set the stage for the potential return of severe weather.

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

While the early part of the week may feel relatively quiet, the Plains should be prepared for an active stretch of weather by this weekend.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center highlights Saturday as a day to watch with a Level 2 out of 5 severe storm threat in place. This threat includes areas such as Wichita, Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls.

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

The Omega block weather pattern is also paving the way for soaring temperatures in the Central U.S.

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

As the week progresses, additional days with severe weather impacts are possible.

The FOX Forecast Center said above-average rain appears likely for the back half of May.

HOW HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE DRIVE THE WEATHER

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

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.

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

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.

WHAT ARE EL NINO AND LA NINA CLIMATE PATTERNS?

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.

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, 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.

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.

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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.

HOW MUCH ENERGY DOES IT TAKE TO POWER THE SUPER BOWL? THE ANSWER WILL SHOCK YOU

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 meters 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.

ELECTRICAL GRID-LOCK: HOW TO SAVE ENERGY DURING A HEAT WAVE

Gladey said Eversource is looking to install at least 1,000 more meters in Connecticut alone.

"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.

WHAT IS FIRE CONTAINMENT

The Max Road Miramar Fire is straddling the line between Miami-Dade and Broward counties. At least 4,800 acres have been burned, and the fire is 20% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service.

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. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

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.

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

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.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

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

Parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia have already picked up 3 to 6 inches of rain, setting the stage for additional flash flooding.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a Level 1 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms from the Carolina coast through Florida's Atlantic Coast. Storms in this area are expected to develop late Monday morning and last through the afternoon.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

A second Level 1 threat covers the Gulf Coast from Lake Charles, Louisiana to the western edge of the Florida Panhandle. These storms will develop later Monday afternoon and bring the greatest flood threat along the I-10 corridor from New Orleans to Jacksonville, Florida.

Damaging wind gusts and hail will be the primary hazards with any severe thunderstorms that form.

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This comes after significant severe weather erupted across the southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley on Mother’s Day, producing giant hail and destructive winds.

NOAA's Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has issued a Level 1 out of 4 threat for flash flooding, encompassing most of southern Louisiana through the Mobile area through Tuesday morning.

By Tuesday, this weather system is expected to shift into Florida. However, these storms are expected to be less intense and the rainfall will help ease Extreme and Exceptional Drought conditions ongoing across the state, as reported by the latest US Drought Monitor.

Despite localized flooding, the heavy rain this weekend has helped put a dent in the widespread drought ongoing across the entire Southeast.

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

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

The greatest concentration of storms will likely be along the I-10 corridor from New Orleans to Jacksonville, Florida.

The Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 1 out of 5 threat for severe storms due to the potential for destructive winds and extremely large hail.

This comes after significant severe weather erupted across the southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley on Mother’s Day, producing giant hail and destructive winds.

On top of that, the region has been experiencing an exceptionally wet stretch, with many areas from Louisiana through Alabama and Georgia already seeing widespread rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches.

As additional severe weather develops, more rain is expected. The FOX Forecast Center is monitoring a secondary area of low pressure to determine whether it will form off the coast. If that occurs, it could enhance rainfall totals closer to the coastline as the system shifts east along the front.

As a result, the Weather Prediction Center has also issued a Level 1 out of 4 threat for flash flooding, encompassing most of southern Louisiana through the Mobile area.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, as a cold front from Sunday’s system pushes through, it will clash with warm, humid Gulf moisture, creating the perfect environment for another round of severe thunderstorms.

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

By Tuesday, the front will shift into Florida. However, these storms are expected to be less intense, while the rainfall could help ease ongoing drought conditions. Some scattered downpours are still possible.

This weather pattern is typical for the month of May, as these regions are often hotspots for severe storms and tornadoes.

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. 

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

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Stay with FOX Weather as the severe weather threat continues to unfold.

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.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

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.

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

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

In places like Anchorage, the sun sets as late as 10:42 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.

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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.

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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.

DANGEROUS MOTHER’S DAY STORMS TO 'EXPLODE' ACROSS TEXAS WITH BASEBALL-SIZE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS

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

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

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

While conditions have been somewhat more seasonable over the past week, record heat has returned to the West and will peak into early this week, the FOX Forecast Center said. 

High temperatures are running 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.

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

By Monday, a ridge of high pressure will be situated over the region, allowing warmth to increase alongside dry and sunny conditions. 

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.

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.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

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

That said, the heat core will shift, with the Climate Prediction Center forecasting rising temperatures across the Plains late next weekend. Meanwhile, conditions in the West will finally begin to moderate.

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.

HOW TOW ATCH FOX WEATHER

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.

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 pushes south on Sunday, it will clash with warm, humid air, likely causing storms to "explode" around midday.

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

As the afternoon progresses, the individual storms will likely merge 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 will have the potential to 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.  

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. 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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. 

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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.

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

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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. 

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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. 

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

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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