National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Stories 1 - 20 |  Next >>

Video Shows the Moment Hurricane Hunters Get Jolted

NOAA aircraft flew into Hurricane Milton to study it

(Newser) - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration uses its "Hurricane Hunters"—two Lockheed WP-3D Orion aircraft—to fly into the eyes of these storms and collect data. Even so, it's jarring to watch a video from onboard one of the planes, dubbed "Miss Piggy," and watch...

NOAA's May Hurricane Forecast Is Biggest Ever

It predicts up to 25 named Atlantic storms

(Newser) - It's an ominous pronouncement: "The forecast for named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes is the highest NOAA has ever issued for the May outlook," said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad in a Thursday news conference. NOAA predicts eight to 13 hurricanes and 17 to 25 named Atlantic storms,...

'Not Done Yet!' The Sun Emits Another Massive Solar Flare

This one appears to have only glanced Earth, so don't expect amazing auroras

(Newser) - The sun produced its biggest flare in nearly two decades Tuesday, just days after severe solar storms pummeled Earth and created dazzling northern lights in unaccustomed places, per the AP . "Not done yet!" the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced in an update. It's the biggest flare...

NOAA Issues Rare Storm Watch for Weekend

Solar event headed toward Earth could disrupt communications, spur northern lights sightings

(Newser) - A strong solar storm headed toward Earth could produce northern lights in the United States and potentially disrupt communications this weekend. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare geometric storm watch—the first in nearly 20 years. The watch starts Friday and lasts all weekend, per the AP...

Off the Florida Keys, 'Emergency Response' Over Spinning Fish

NOAA has implemented an 'emergency response' to strange behaviors of dying smalltooth sawfish

(Newser) - Endangered smalltooth sawfish, marine creatures virtually unchanged for millions of years, are exhibiting erratic spinning behavior and dying in unusual numbers in Florida waters. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced what it calls an "emergency response" focused on the Florida Keys starting next week. A NOAA news release...

NOAA: Spring This Year Is Set to Hit the 'Sweet Spot'

Forecast says it shouldn't be a drought- or flood-heavy season, though with some weather asterisks

(Newser) - The United States can expect a nice spring break from the too rainy or too dry extremes of the past, federal meteorologists predicted Thursday. After some rough seasons of drought, flooding, and fires, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's spring outlook calls for a less hectic season that should...

Earth Sets 3rd Heat Record This Week
'Uncharted Territory:'
Heat Record Falls Again
the rundown

'Uncharted Territory:' Heat Record Falls Again

The planet set a 3rd heat record in a single week

(Newser) - Stop us if you've heard this before: Thursday was the hottest day on record for planet Earth, reports CNN . That now marks four straight days in which the all-time high was either tied or broken, and it makes July 3-6 the hottest four-day stretch on the books, notes Axios...

$20K Reward Offered for Those Who Drowned Stranded Dolphin

Texas beachgoers accused of harassing animal, leading to its death

(Newser) - A reward of up to $20,000 is up for grabs in exchange for information leading to the identification, arrest, or conviction of Texas beachgoers accused of harassing and ultimately drowning a stranded dolphin. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the reward following the April 10 episode at Quintana...

People Love to Swim With These Dolphins. No More

Under Marine Mammal Protection Act, NOAA bans close encounters with nocturnal spinners

(Newser) - US regulators on Tuesday banned swimming with Hawaii's spinner dolphins to protect the nocturnal animals from people seeking close encounters with the playful species. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rule under the Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits swimming with or getting within 50 yards of a spinner dolphin...

Normal Hurricane Season Means More Storms Now

Agency also rethinks 'normal weather' as temperatures rise

(Newser) - A recordkeeping change has altered expectations for the number of tropical storms in an Atlantic hurricane season. The average number of named tropical storms in a year is now 14, up from an average of 12 before the change, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. The numbers are based...

'SharpieGate' Report Describes Political Pressure, Broken Rules

Investigation finds NOAA chief violated agency's scientific integrity policy

(Newser) - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's chief violated the agency's scientific integrity policy last year in backing President Trump's claim that a hurricane was headed for Alabama . In reproving employees for contradicting Trump, NOAA Acting Administrator Neil Jacobs "engaged in the misconduct intentionally, knowingly, or in...

A Dolphin Murder Is Followed by 2 More

Animals found dead within a week in Florida, prompting $20K reward

(Newser) - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is offering $20,000 for information on a dolphin killer or killers after two animals were found dead within a week. Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found a dolphin that appeared to have been shot in the face off Naples...

Emails Show Fallout After 'Crazy' Trump Claim

NOAA scientists reacted to Trump saying that Hurricane Dorian would hit Alabama

(Newser) - A flurry of newly released emails from scientists and top officials at the federal agency responsible for weather forecasting clearly illustrates the consternation and outright alarm caused by President Donald Trump’s false claim that Hurricane Dorian could hit Alabama, the AP reports. A top National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration...

Report: Wilbur Ross Intervened After Trump's Dorian Tweet

Sources say commerce chief threatened firings at NOAA

(Newser) - Hurricane Dorian is now dissipating over the North Atlantic—but the political storm that began with President Trump's incorrect claim that the hurricane was expected to hit Alabama is still with us. Sources tell the New York Times that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross threatened to fire senior National Oceanic...

Before Alabama Controversy, NOAA Staff Had Been Warned

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told staff not to contradict Trump

(Newser) - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Friday issued a statement backing President Trump's claim, nearly a week prior, that Alabama faced serious risk from Hurricane Dorian. NOAA's support of Trump was a head-scratcher, because the National Weather Service (a NOAA agency) had quickly refuted Trump's claim...

NOAA Takes on NWS in Trump Storm Controversy

NOAA backs Trump; head of NWS Employees Organization calls NOAA remarks 'disgusting'

(Newser) - We're in Day 6 of the metaphorical storm swirling around President Trump regarding a literal storm, and now the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been dragged into it. CNN reports the government agency issued a statement Friday backing the president's claim on Sunday that the state of...

Sharks Dined on a Swordfish. Then, 'Oh, My Gosh!'

Wreckfish seen swallowing shark in rare deep-sea footage

(Newser) - Researchers in pursuit of a World War II shipwreck have had to settle for observing a "once-in-a-lifetime event." The NOAA Ocean Exploration and Research team was using a remotely operated vehicle to explore 1,500 feet below the surface of the ocean off South Carolina when it spotted...

'Nuisance Flooding' Is Happening a Lot More Often

'Nuisance flooding' tied or set records last year in more than a quarter of the 98 places monitored

(Newser) - A new report finds that high-tide flooding is happening across the US at twice the rate it was just 30 years ago and predicts records for such flooding will continue to be broken for decades as sea levels rise, the AP reports. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday...

Giant Antarctic Ice 'Cork' Is Deteriorating

Scientists prepping for $27.5M study of Thwaites Glacier, how sea level rise will be affected

(Newser) - An Antarctic glacier is losing so much ice that it contributed to about 4% of the planet's total sea level rise in recent years—and scientists are now concerned this rapid melting could remove one of the few "corks" keeping the West Antarctic Ice Sheet at bay. That'...

NOAA: 2016's Weather Was Far From Normal

'Very extreme' year is concerning, scientists say

(Newser) - Last year's global weather was far more extreme or record-breaking than anything approaching normal, according to a new report. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its annual checkup of the Earth on Thursday, highlighting numerous records including hottest year, highest sea level, and lowest sea ice in...

Stories 1 - 20 |  Next >>