Infographic courtesy NOAA/National Weather Service

Heads up, weather watchers! Your summer safety suite starts now! The Atlantic hurricane season is officially underway, and we’ve already seen three named storms. Right now, conditions might seem quiet, but this calm is your cue. It’s the perfect time to prep for the storm you hope never knocks. You’ve got a plethora of hurricane preparedness information this week. I’m also spotlighting summer heat safety tips, because triple-digit temps and humidity don’t mess around. You’ll get your regular dose of science that sticks, the latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor, and a reminder that your NOAA weather radio deserves a quick check. A simple test now could be a life-saver later. Let’s get started.

Tornado Quest podcast for July 12 – 19, 2025

It’s summer across the Northern Hemisphere and that means summer heat hazards. Here’s a concise overview of summer heat safety info you’ll find helpful.
Earth’s shifting climate history reveals how fragile and unusual our current moment is especially as human activity now drives the planet toward an unprecedented warming path.
The UK’s climate is warming rapidly, with 2024 shattering multiple heat and rainfall records, reflecting a dramatic shift in weather patterns driven by greenhouse gas emissions.
False claims linking deadly Texas flash floods to cloud seeding circulated online, despite experts confirming no connection between the tragedy and weather modification.
Despite extreme weather killing nearly 700 people in the past decade, Texas failed to use $730 million in federal disaster mitigation funds intended to protect residents, letting much of it remain idle or be relinquished.
Artificial Intelligence could be seen by conservatives as a cheap way to get weather forecasts at the expense of inimitable human experience and knowledge, but it failed miserably on predicting the recent deadly Texas floods.
Here’s an overview of the recent Texas flood timeline, before, during, and after the Hill Country region was deluged.
The National Weather Service in Norman, OK shares a compelling video on seasonal severe weather preparedness, spotlighting the challenges of forecasting and their commitment to public education.
The CoCoRaHS project invites weather enthusiasts to become citizen scientists by submitting daily precipitation reports that support forecasting and climate research even on dry days.
Another path into becoming a citizen scientist is using the free mPING app! Your weather reports go directly to the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, OK!

US DROUGHT MONITOR

Here’s the latest update on the US Drought Monitor. Across much of the contiguous USA, drought conditions have improved significantly across the east coast, deep south, and parts of the southern plains. The latest fire weather outlooks can be found at the Storm Prediction Center website where they are updated daily.

NOAA WEATHER RADIO

Here’s your weekly reminder to check your NOAA weather radio’s operation and its batteries. NOAA has a comprehensive page on NOAA weather radio…a feature of the National weather Service in the USA that has saved countless lives.

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

Three named storms have already struck, and forecasters warn: this year is pacing well above average. The Atlantic is primed, and peak season hasn’t even hit. Here is a very comprehensive overview from NOAA of the season ahead and what is expected this year.