WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.919 Welcome back to Meteorology Matters, everyone. 00:00:02.060 --> 00:00:04.000 Get ready because we have a weather pattern coming 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:06.120 up this week that's going to impact just about 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:08.880 the entire US. Yeah, we're going to see a mix 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:12.160 of some extreme weather from. coast to coast, 00:00:12.740 --> 00:00:15.439 pretty much everything from severe thunderstorms 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:17.739 and maybe some tornadoes to blizzards. And we've 00:00:17.739 --> 00:00:19.879 even got critical fire weather conditions. Yeah, 00:00:20.059 --> 00:00:21.640 it's definitely going to be a busy week for all 00:00:21.640 --> 00:00:24.300 of us weather enthusiasts. So let's let's break 00:00:24.300 --> 00:00:25.679 it down and make sure you know what's heading 00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:28.059 your way. And hey, if you want more weather insights 00:00:28.059 --> 00:00:30.539 throughout the week, don't forget to follow meteorologist 00:00:30.539 --> 00:00:33.399 Rob Jones. That's right. You can find them on 00:00:33.399 --> 00:00:36.939 Instagram at Meteorologist on TikTok at TV Meteorologist 00:00:36.939 --> 00:00:40.179 and on YouTube. Follow Rob Jones Hurricane, where 00:00:40.179 --> 00:00:42.420 you can also find the Meteorology Matters podcast 00:00:42.420 --> 00:00:45.240 playlist. So let's start with the main event. 00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:47.960 We've got this massive storm system developing 00:00:47.960 --> 00:00:52.560 a real cross -country kind of a behemoth that's 00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:54.619 going to make its presence known from the Pacific 00:00:54.619 --> 00:00:57.920 coast all the way to the Atlantic. It's expected 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:00.600 to hit the Pacific Coast first on Wednesday and 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:02.600 then begin its eastward journey, dragging all 00:01:02.600 --> 00:01:04.719 sorts of wild weather along with it. And we're 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:06.599 not talking about just a little rain shower here. 00:01:07.060 --> 00:01:09.519 This storm has the potential to be one of the 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:11.959 strongest we've seen in a while, especially in 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:15.060 terms of low pressure. You know, that low pressure 00:01:15.060 --> 00:01:16.939 is often a sign that things are about to get 00:01:16.939 --> 00:01:19.459 intense. It means we could be looking at power 00:01:19.459 --> 00:01:22.959 outages, travel disruptions, and a whole host 00:01:22.959 --> 00:01:25.629 of dangers from the various weather hazards it's 00:01:25.629 --> 00:01:28.230 bringing. Right. And what's interesting here 00:01:28.230 --> 00:01:30.989 is how quickly the storm is intensifying. That 00:01:30.989 --> 00:01:32.810 rapid intensification is something we're seeing 00:01:32.810 --> 00:01:35.030 more and more of these days. And it makes it 00:01:35.030 --> 00:01:37.530 even trickier for us meteorologists to provide 00:01:37.530 --> 00:01:40.409 accurate warnings. So folks, pay attention to 00:01:40.409 --> 00:01:42.409 your local forecasts, because things could change 00:01:42.409 --> 00:01:44.590 quickly with this one. OK. So let's get into 00:01:44.590 --> 00:01:46.689 the specifics of what this storm has in store, 00:01:46.849 --> 00:01:49.030 starting with the West Coast. Yeah. What can 00:01:49.030 --> 00:01:51.290 people in California and the surrounding areas 00:01:51.290 --> 00:01:54.069 expect? Well, the coastal regions of California 00:01:54.069 --> 00:01:56.629 are going to get hit with a ton of rain. We're 00:01:56.629 --> 00:01:59.150 talking potential flash flooding and debris flows, 00:01:59.370 --> 00:02:01.670 especially in areas that have recently been impacted 00:02:01.670 --> 00:02:04.750 by wildfires. Those burn scars are really vulnerable 00:02:04.750 --> 00:02:06.930 to flooding and landslides, so people in those 00:02:06.930 --> 00:02:09.550 areas need to be extra cautious. And while the 00:02:09.550 --> 00:02:12.050 coast is dealing with all that rain, what's happening 00:02:12.050 --> 00:02:14.060 up in the mountains? Yeah, the Sierra Nevada 00:02:14.060 --> 00:02:17.860 mountains are in for a big snowstorm. We're forecasting 00:02:17.860 --> 00:02:20.199 two to four feet of snow up there, which could 00:02:20.199 --> 00:02:22.800 significantly impact travel, especially over 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:25.860 mountain passes. And to add to the fun, the storm 00:02:25.860 --> 00:02:28.400 is also bringing strong winds to the west with 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:30.939 gusts potentially reaching 40 to 70 miles per 00:02:30.939 --> 00:02:33.280 hour. So if you're in the west, batten down the 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:35.639 hatches and get ready for a wild ride. Wow, that's 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:38.199 quite a one -two punch for the West Coast. All 00:02:38.199 --> 00:02:40.240 right, so this storm is churning its way eastward. 00:02:40.680 --> 00:02:43.379 What's next on its agenda? Well, as the storm 00:02:43.379 --> 00:02:45.699 moves into the central U .S., it's going to trigger 00:02:45.699 --> 00:02:48.419 a significant risk of severe thunderstorms from 00:02:48.419 --> 00:02:50.840 Friday through Saturday. We're talking about 00:02:50.840 --> 00:02:53.439 an area of almost half a million square miles 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:56.379 stretching all the way from Texas to the Dakotas. 00:02:56.500 --> 00:02:58.860 Half a million square miles. That's a huge chunk 00:02:58.860 --> 00:03:01.039 of the country. What kind of severe weather are 00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:02.900 we talking about specifically? We're looking 00:03:02.900 --> 00:03:05.439 at the potential for a tornado outbreak across 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:08.400 a wide swath of the central U .S. from the Gulf 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:11.780 Coast up to the Midwest. A tornado outbreak is 00:03:11.780 --> 00:03:13.939 when you have multiple tornadoes forming in a 00:03:13.939 --> 00:03:16.259 relatively short period of time over a pretty 00:03:16.259 --> 00:03:19.020 concentrated area. It's a really dangerous situation 00:03:19.020 --> 00:03:21.800 because it can really overwhelm emergency response 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:24.219 efforts. Oh, wow. That's definitely concerning. 00:03:24.409 --> 00:03:26.449 I know a lot of people think of tornadoes as 00:03:26.449 --> 00:03:29.310 a springtime phenomenon, but it sounds like we 00:03:29.310 --> 00:03:31.110 need to take this threat seriously, even though 00:03:31.110 --> 00:03:33.889 it's March. Absolutely. And it's not just tornadoes 00:03:33.889 --> 00:03:35.789 we have to worry about. We're also forecasting 00:03:35.789 --> 00:03:38.310 widespread damaging winds, potentially reaching 00:03:38.310 --> 00:03:41.669 65 to 75 miles per hour, with gusts possibly 00:03:41.669 --> 00:03:43.969 hitting 100 miles per hour. And on top of that, 00:03:44.050 --> 00:03:46.669 we could see large hail and flash flooding. So 00:03:46.669 --> 00:03:49.210 it's sounding like a real meteorological mess 00:03:49.210 --> 00:03:51.699 for the central US. This storm isn't pulling 00:03:51.699 --> 00:03:54.379 any punches. Nope, it's bringing the full arsenal 00:03:54.379 --> 00:03:57.020 of severe weather hazards. And you know, one 00:03:57.020 --> 00:03:58.419 thing that really stands out to me is that we're 00:03:58.419 --> 00:04:00.800 seeing this potential for severe weather right 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:03.580 on the heels of some unusually warm temperatures 00:04:03.580 --> 00:04:06.840 across much of the central and eastern U .S. 00:04:07.020 --> 00:04:10.370 Wait, hold on, blizzards. In spring... This is 00:04:10.370 --> 00:04:12.289 sounding more and more like a meteorological 00:04:12.289 --> 00:04:14.069 roller coaster. You're telling me we're going 00:04:14.069 --> 00:04:16.810 from record highs straight into blizzard conditions. 00:04:16.870 --> 00:04:18.790 Yeah, it might sound strange, but that's exactly 00:04:18.790 --> 00:04:21.250 what we're looking at. This storm system is really 00:04:21.250 --> 00:04:24.490 packing a punch on multiple fronts. The Dakotas, 00:04:24.790 --> 00:04:26.870 Montana, Wyoming, and even parts of Minnesota 00:04:26.870 --> 00:04:29.430 are at the highest risk for blizzard conditions. 00:04:29.910 --> 00:04:32.730 We're talking heavy snow combined with high winds 00:04:32.730 --> 00:04:35.050 creating whiteout conditions that will make travel 00:04:35.050 --> 00:04:38.290 very dangerous. So if anyone was planning a road 00:04:38.290 --> 00:04:40.980 trip, through the plains this weekend. Maybe 00:04:40.980 --> 00:04:42.959 it's time to reconsider those plans or at least 00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:45.240 be prepared for some major delays and hazardous 00:04:45.240 --> 00:04:47.800 raid conditions. Good advice. However, there's 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:50.180 a silver lining to the snowstorm. It's going 00:04:50.180 --> 00:04:52.699 to bring some much needed moisture to this drought 00:04:52.699 --> 00:04:55.180 stricken region. So while disruptive in the short 00:04:55.180 --> 00:04:57.399 term, this snow will ultimately benefit the plains 00:04:57.399 --> 00:04:59.360 in the long run. And while the plains are getting 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:02.240 buried in snow, the southwest is facing a completely 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:05.680 different but equally dangerous threat. wildfires. 00:05:06.019 --> 00:05:08.600 Oh wow, so we've got flooding, blizzards, tornadoes. 00:05:08.959 --> 00:05:11.540 This storm really does seem to have it all and 00:05:11.540 --> 00:05:13.920 not in a good way. I'm getting concerned for 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:16.920 anyone in its path. What's causing the fire risk 00:05:16.920 --> 00:05:18.660 in the southwest if they're not getting rain? 00:05:18.860 --> 00:05:21.310 Good question. The southwest won't see much, 00:05:21.310 --> 00:05:23.329 if any, rain from this system, but they will 00:05:23.329 --> 00:05:26.069 be facing an elevated risk of wildfires due to 00:05:26.069 --> 00:05:29.170 low humidity and high winds. Western and central 00:05:29.170 --> 00:05:32.550 Texas, southeast Arizona, and southern New Mexico 00:05:32.550 --> 00:05:35.610 are the areas at the highest risk. Those winds 00:05:35.610 --> 00:05:38.629 can quickly spread fires through the dry vegetation 00:05:38.629 --> 00:05:40.910 out there, making them incredibly difficult to 00:05:40.910 --> 00:05:42.910 contain. And it sounds like we can't forget about 00:05:42.910 --> 00:05:44.829 the dust storms that impacted the region last 00:05:44.829 --> 00:05:47.209 week. Is it possible we could see a repeat of 00:05:47.209 --> 00:05:49.370 those conditions with this storm system? It's 00:05:49.370 --> 00:05:51.410 definitely something to watch out for. Now, as 00:05:51.410 --> 00:05:53.529 we wrap up the week, this massive storm system 00:05:53.529 --> 00:05:56.129 will finally reach the Atlantic coast by Sunday, 00:05:56.250 --> 00:05:59.029 impacting major cities along the I -95 corridor, 00:05:59.589 --> 00:06:02.209 including Washington, D .C., Philadelphia, New 00:06:02.209 --> 00:06:04.829 York, and Boston. So no part of the country is 00:06:04.829 --> 00:06:07.470 escaping this storm's wrath. Pretty much. While 00:06:07.470 --> 00:06:09.250 there's still some uncertainty about the specific 00:06:09.250 --> 00:06:11.389 impacts on the East Coast, it's safe to say they 00:06:11.389 --> 00:06:13.689 could see some severe weather, including damaging 00:06:13.689 --> 00:06:16.949 winds and even isolated tornadoes. It really 00:06:16.949 --> 00:06:19.389 does seem like this is shaping up to be an unprecedented 00:06:19.389 --> 00:06:22.069 weather event. It certainly does. But before 00:06:22.069 --> 00:06:24.290 we dive into the weekend's severe weather, there's 00:06:24.290 --> 00:06:27.709 another twist. Unseasonably warm temperatures 00:06:27.709 --> 00:06:30.829 are expected across much of the central and eastern 00:06:30.829 --> 00:06:33.089 U .S. ahead of the storm. Yeah, it's a strange 00:06:33.089 --> 00:06:34.850 combination, but that's what we're looking at. 00:06:35.290 --> 00:06:37.689 Cities like Chicago, Kansas City, and Minneapolis 00:06:37.689 --> 00:06:40.430 could see record highs. And down in southern 00:06:40.430 --> 00:06:42.750 Texas, temperatures could soar into the triple 00:06:42.750 --> 00:06:45.470 digits. Wow. Talk about a temperature whiplash. 00:06:45.980 --> 00:06:48.519 record -breaking warmth followed by severe weather. 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:51.420 Is this a sign of the times, do you think? That's 00:06:51.420 --> 00:06:52.980 a great question and one that a lot of people 00:06:52.980 --> 00:06:55.600 are asking. Is this just a fluke or are we seeing 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:58.420 a pattern of increasing weather volatility? It's 00:06:58.420 --> 00:07:00.480 definitely something to ponder as we watch this 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:02.160 storm unfold. I think you're right. It's definitely 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:04.040 food for thought. Well, we've covered a lot of 00:07:04.040 --> 00:07:06.000 ground here. Can you give us a quick recap of 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:08.189 what we've learned so far? Absolutely. We've 00:07:08.189 --> 00:07:10.730 got this massive storm system, a real powerhouse 00:07:10.730 --> 00:07:12.589 that's going to impact every region of the U 00:07:12.589 --> 00:07:14.870 .S., bringing with it a whole smorgasbord of 00:07:14.870 --> 00:07:17.589 weather hazards. Yeah, from heavy rain and potential 00:07:17.589 --> 00:07:20.930 flooding on the West Coast to severe thunderstorms 00:07:20.930 --> 00:07:23.610 and tornadoes in the central U .S. blizzards 00:07:23.610 --> 00:07:26.529 in the Plains and wildfires in the Southwest. 00:07:27.189 --> 00:07:29.810 This storm seems to be hitting us with everything 00:07:29.810 --> 00:07:32.930 it's got. And don't forget the record breaking 00:07:32.930 --> 00:07:35.089 warmth ahead of the storm, adding another layer 00:07:35.089 --> 00:07:38.100 of complexity to this whole meteorological mess. 00:07:38.439 --> 00:07:41.319 Yeah, it's a truly remarkable and somewhat alarming 00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:45.100 event. This unusual pattern of record warmth 00:07:45.100 --> 00:07:47.160 immediately followed by a severe weather outbreak 00:07:47.160 --> 00:07:49.259 really highlights the kind of weather volatility 00:07:49.259 --> 00:07:51.079 we're increasingly seeing. It's like the atmosphere 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:53.939 is on a seesaw, swinging from one extreme to 00:07:53.939 --> 00:07:55.720 the other. It's definitely making me wonder if 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:58.060 this is just a taste of what's to come. Are we 00:07:58.060 --> 00:07:59.620 gonna have to get used to these kinds of weather 00:07:59.620 --> 00:08:01.459 wear -plash events? Well, you're not alone in 00:08:01.459 --> 00:08:03.829 thinking that. Scientists have been warning about 00:08:03.829 --> 00:08:06.089 the potential for more extreme weather events 00:08:06.089 --> 00:08:08.870 as the climate changes. And while it's difficult 00:08:08.870 --> 00:08:11.470 to directly link any single event to climate 00:08:11.470 --> 00:08:14.430 change, the overall trend is clear. We're seeing 00:08:14.430 --> 00:08:17.009 more intense storms, more frequent heat waves, 00:08:17.129 --> 00:08:19.629 and more prolonged droughts. But haven't there 00:08:19.629 --> 00:08:22.649 always been extreme weather events? How do we 00:08:22.649 --> 00:08:25.009 know this isn't just natural variability? That's 00:08:25.009 --> 00:08:27.629 a great question. It's true that weather has 00:08:27.629 --> 00:08:30.209 always been variable, but what we're seeing now 00:08:30.209 --> 00:08:32.990 is a shift in the intensity and frequency of 00:08:32.990 --> 00:08:35.820 these events. Think of it like this. The overall 00:08:35.820 --> 00:08:38.659 energy in the atmosphere is increasing, and that 00:08:38.659 --> 00:08:40.759 can lead to more amplified weather events both 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:43.539 hot and cold, wet and dry. So it's not just that 00:08:43.539 --> 00:08:45.820 the average temperature is rising, it's also 00:08:45.820 --> 00:08:47.860 about how that extra energy gets distributed, 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:50.940 leading to more intense swings in weather patterns. 00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:53.580 Exactly. And that's why we're seeing these seemingly 00:08:53.580 --> 00:08:55.940 contradictory events happening closer together, 00:08:56.440 --> 00:08:58.779 record -breaking heat waves followed by massive 00:08:58.779 --> 00:09:01.659 snowstorms or prolonged droughts punctuated by 00:09:01.659 --> 00:09:04.169 sudden intense flooding. It's almost like the 00:09:04.169 --> 00:09:07.129 atmosphere is trying to find a new equilibrium, 00:09:07.870 --> 00:09:11.429 but is doing so in a rather chaotic way. So is 00:09:11.429 --> 00:09:13.750 this just a glimpse of what the future holds? 00:09:14.129 --> 00:09:16.669 Are we in for a wild ride from here on out? It's 00:09:16.669 --> 00:09:18.870 hard to say for sure, but the science suggests 00:09:18.870 --> 00:09:20.649 that yes, we should expect to see more of these 00:09:20.649 --> 00:09:23.129 types of events in the future. As the Earth's 00:09:23.129 --> 00:09:25.309 atmosphere continues to warm, it holds more moisture, 00:09:25.389 --> 00:09:27.450 which can lead to heavier rainfall and more intense 00:09:27.450 --> 00:09:30.490 storms. And warmer temperatures also create conditions 00:09:30.490 --> 00:09:33.049 that are more favorable for wildfires. So what 00:09:33.049 --> 00:09:35.570 can we do about it? Is there any way to mitigate 00:09:35.570 --> 00:09:37.730 these risks? There are certainly things we can 00:09:37.730 --> 00:09:40.629 do both individually and collectively. On an 00:09:40.629 --> 00:09:42.730 individual level, we can make choices that reduce 00:09:42.730 --> 00:09:45.769 our carbon footprint, such as driving less using 00:09:45.769 --> 00:09:47.850 energy -efficient appliances and eating less 00:09:47.850 --> 00:09:50.809 meat. And collectively, we need to advocate for 00:09:50.809 --> 00:09:53.350 policies that promote clean energy and reduce 00:09:53.350 --> 00:09:55.490 greenhouse gas emissions. Those are all great 00:09:55.490 --> 00:09:58.210 points. It's easy to feel helpless in the face 00:09:58.210 --> 00:10:01.029 of these huge global challenges, but it's important 00:10:01.029 --> 00:10:03.690 to remember that even small actions can make 00:10:03.690 --> 00:10:06.649 a difference. Absolutely. Every little bit helps. 00:10:07.070 --> 00:10:08.990 And it's not just about mitigating the risks, 00:10:09.149 --> 00:10:11.549 it's also about adapting to the changes that 00:10:11.549 --> 00:10:13.850 are already happening. That means things like 00:10:13.850 --> 00:10:16.289 strengthening our infrastructure to withstand 00:10:16.289 --> 00:10:19.029 more extreme weather, developing early warning 00:10:19.029 --> 00:10:21.830 systems for natural disasters, and investing 00:10:21.830 --> 00:10:25.059 in drought -resistant crops. all crucial steps. 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:27.139 So while the forecast for this week might be 00:10:27.139 --> 00:10:29.419 a bit daunting, it's also an opportunity for 00:10:29.419 --> 00:10:31.960 us to reflect on the bigger picture and consider 00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:34.460 what we can do to protect ourselves and our planet. 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:37.279 Well said. Now let's go back to the specifics 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:40.200 of this week's forecast. We've talked about the 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:42.460 potential for severe weather in the central U 00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:45.419 .S., but it's worth emphasizing that not everyone 00:10:45.419 --> 00:10:47.799 in that region is going to experience the same 00:10:47.799 --> 00:10:50.169 level of risk. It's important to check your local 00:10:50.169 --> 00:10:52.490 forecasts and heed any warnings that are issued 00:10:52.490 --> 00:10:55.509 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 00:10:55.509 --> 00:10:57.690 and local authorities. Right. And remember, even 00:10:57.690 --> 00:10:59.769 if your area isn't directly in the path of the 00:10:59.769 --> 00:11:02.350 most severe weather, you could still experience 00:11:02.350 --> 00:11:04.929 heavy rain, strong winds or hail. So it's always 00:11:04.929 --> 00:11:07.649 best to be prepared. Exactly. Have a plan in 00:11:07.649 --> 00:11:09.809 place. Stock up on essential supplies like food, 00:11:09.830 --> 00:11:12.090 water and batteries and nowhere to go to seek 00:11:12.090 --> 00:11:14.289 shelter if needed. And don't forget about your 00:11:14.289 --> 00:11:16.909 furry friends. Make sure they have a safe place 00:11:16.909 --> 00:11:20.929 to ride out the storm as well. Good point. Now 00:11:20.929 --> 00:11:23.149 let's shift our focus to the plains where blizzard 00:11:23.149 --> 00:11:25.610 conditions are expected. This is going to be 00:11:25.610 --> 00:11:28.370 a major snowstorm with the potential for significant 00:11:28.370 --> 00:11:31.149 accumulations and whiteout conditions. I can't 00:11:31.149 --> 00:11:33.950 even imagine trying to drive in those conditions. 00:11:34.149 --> 00:11:35.710 It's definitely not something you want to do. 00:11:35.950 --> 00:11:38.129 If you live in the affected area, stay home if 00:11:38.129 --> 00:11:41.230 possible. And if you absolutely must travel, 00:11:41.450 --> 00:11:43.610 make sure your car is properly equipped for winter 00:11:43.610 --> 00:11:46.200 weather and let someone know your route. and 00:11:46.200 --> 00:11:48.399 expected arrival time. It's always better to 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:50.500 err on the side of caution when it comes to winter 00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:53.580 storms. Absolutely. Now while the planes are 00:11:53.580 --> 00:11:55.980 bracing for a blizzard, the Southwest is facing 00:11:55.980 --> 00:11:59.820 a very different kind of threat. Wildfires. The 00:11:59.820 --> 00:12:02.500 combination of low humidity, high winds, and 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:05.639 dry vegetation creates a tinderbox -like situation, 00:12:05.940 --> 00:12:08.500 making it very easy for fires to start and spread 00:12:08.500 --> 00:12:10.779 rapidly. It's scary to think about how quickly 00:12:10.779 --> 00:12:13.769 a wildfire can get out of control. It is. And 00:12:13.769 --> 00:12:17.110 with these strong winds, even a small spark can 00:12:17.110 --> 00:12:20.090 quickly turn into a major blaze. So what can 00:12:20.090 --> 00:12:22.429 people in the Southwest do to protect themselves 00:12:22.429 --> 00:12:24.929 from wildfires? The most important thing is to 00:12:24.929 --> 00:12:27.230 be aware of the risk and take steps to prevent 00:12:27.230 --> 00:12:29.730 fires from starting in the first place. That 00:12:29.730 --> 00:12:32.629 means things like properly extinguishing cigarettes, 00:12:33.230 --> 00:12:35.429 avoiding using fireworks, and making sure any 00:12:35.429 --> 00:12:38.149 outdoor machinery has spark arrest doors. And 00:12:38.149 --> 00:12:41.169 if a fire does start, what should people do? 00:12:41.909 --> 00:12:44.309 Evacuate immediately if ordered to do so by local 00:12:44.309 --> 00:12:47.049 authorities. Don't try to fight a wildfire on 00:12:47.049 --> 00:12:49.549 your own. It's simply too dangerous. Those are 00:12:49.549 --> 00:12:52.190 good tips. It's important to have a plan in place 00:12:52.190 --> 00:12:54.230 for any type of natural disaster, whether it's 00:12:54.230 --> 00:12:56.950 a tornado, a blizzard, or a wildfire. Exactly. 00:12:57.070 --> 00:12:59.470 And remember, we're here to help you stay informed 00:12:59.470 --> 00:13:02.169 and prepared. Be sure to check your local forecasts, 00:13:02.309 --> 00:13:04.309 follow us on social media, and don't hesitate 00:13:04.309 --> 00:13:06.710 to reach out if you have any questions. Now let's 00:13:06.710 --> 00:13:08.850 move on to the East Coast, where the storm is 00:13:08.850 --> 00:13:11.210 expected to arrive by Sunday. The impacts on 00:13:11.210 --> 00:13:13.210 the East Coast are still a bit uncertain, but 00:13:13.210 --> 00:13:15.309 we know that the storm will bring rain and strong 00:13:15.309 --> 00:13:17.769 winds. And there's also a chance of severe weather, 00:13:17.850 --> 00:13:20.950 including tornadoes. Yes, it's possible, especially 00:13:20.950 --> 00:13:23.909 in the southeastern states. So even though the 00:13:23.909 --> 00:13:25.809 storm will have weakened by the time it reaches 00:13:25.809 --> 00:13:28.429 the East Coast, it's still important to be prepared 00:13:28.429 --> 00:13:31.309 for the possibility of strong winds, heavy rain, 00:13:31.690 --> 00:13:34.870 and even isolated tornadoes. It sounds like this 00:13:34.870 --> 00:13:36.509 storm is really going to keep us on our toes 00:13:36.509 --> 00:13:40.090 all week long. It certainly will. But, by staying 00:13:40.090 --> 00:13:42.590 informed and prepared, we can all weather the 00:13:42.590 --> 00:13:45.590 storms safely. Now, before we wrap up this episode, 00:13:45.629 --> 00:13:47.769 let's take a moment to appreciate the beauty 00:13:47.769 --> 00:13:50.590 and power of nature. Even though storms can be 00:13:50.590 --> 00:13:53.309 destructive, they also play an important role 00:13:53.309 --> 00:13:55.990 in our planet's ecosystem. They bring much -needed 00:13:55.990 --> 00:13:59.029 rain, help to regulate temperatures, and even 00:13:59.029 --> 00:14:01.370 create stunning displays of lightning and thunder. 00:14:01.570 --> 00:14:03.470 It's a reminder that we're all part of something 00:14:03.470 --> 00:14:05.529 much bigger than ourselves. And that we need 00:14:05.529 --> 00:14:07.870 to respect and protect the natural world, Bell 00:14:07.870 --> 00:14:10.059 said. Thanks for joining us for this episode 00:14:10.059 --> 00:14:12.799 of Meteorology Matters. And remember to follow 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:15.320 meteorologist Rob Jones for more in -depth weather 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:17.860 analysis and updates. You can find him on Instagram, 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:21.659 Meteorologist, on TikTok, TV Meteorologist, and 00:14:21.659 --> 00:14:24.059 on YouTube, follow Rob Jones Hurricane, where 00:14:24.059 --> 00:14:26.740 you can also find the Meteorology Matters podcast 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:28.980 playlist. Now, before we wrap up completely, 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:31.159 let's circle back to something we touched on 00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:34.460 earlier. This unusual pattern of record warmth 00:14:34.460 --> 00:14:37.399 immediately followed by a severe weather outbreak, 00:14:38.019 --> 00:14:40.299 it really highlights the kind of weather volatility 00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:42.240 we're increasingly seeing. Yeah, it's like the 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:44.960 atmosphere is on a seesaw swinging from one extreme 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:47.250 to the other. And that's a trend that scientists 00:14:47.250 --> 00:14:50.029 have been observing for a while now. As the climate 00:14:50.029 --> 00:14:52.850 changes, we're seeing these shifts become more 00:14:52.850 --> 00:14:55.110 pronounced. So it's not just that the average 00:14:55.110 --> 00:14:57.789 temperature is rising. It's also about how that 00:14:57.789 --> 00:15:00.370 extra energy gets distributed, leading to more 00:15:00.370 --> 00:15:02.690 intense swings in weather pattern. Exactly. And 00:15:02.690 --> 00:15:04.950 that's why we're seeing these seemingly contradictory 00:15:04.950 --> 00:15:07.909 events happening closer together. Record breaking 00:15:07.909 --> 00:15:10.850 heat waves followed by massive snowstorms or 00:15:10.850 --> 00:15:13.750 prolonged droughts punctuated by sudden, intense 00:15:13.750 --> 00:15:15.840 flooding. It's almost like the atmosphere is 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:19.279 trying to find a new equilibrium, but it's doing 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:21.679 so in a rather chaotic way. That's a good analogy. 00:15:22.059 --> 00:15:24.100 And it's important to understand that these shifts 00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:27.120 in weather patterns have real -world consequences. 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:30.200 They can impact everything from agriculture and 00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:34.039 infrastructure to human health and safety. So 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:36.539 while it might be tempting to simply marvel at 00:15:36.539 --> 00:15:40.159 the sheer power of nature, we also need to recognize 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:42.600 that these events are a wake -up call. They're 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:45.059 a reminder that we need to take action to mitigate 00:15:45.059 --> 00:15:47.299 climate change and adapt to the changes that 00:15:47.299 --> 00:15:49.200 are already happening. We can't just sit back 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:51.240 and wait for things to get worse. We need to 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:53.700 make changes on both individual and societal 00:15:53.700 --> 00:15:56.759 levels to reduce our carbon footprint, invest 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:59.179 in renewable energy and strengthen our resilience 00:15:59.179 --> 00:16:01.600 to extreme weather events. Absolutely. And it's 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:03.580 not just about protecting ourselves. It's also 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:06.120 about preserving the planet for future generations. 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:08.779 So as we wrap up this episode of Meteorology 00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:10.899 Matters, let's leave our listeners with a challenge. 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:13.360 Think about what you can do in your own life 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:16.320 to make a difference. Every small action counts. 00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:19.799 And remember, knowledge is power. Stay informed, 00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:23.159 stay prepared, and stay engaged. Thanks for joining 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:25.720 us. Until next time, stay safe and weather aware.