April is living up to its reputation. Severe weather has been active across the US and this week is no exception. That makes a visit to the Severe Weather Preparedness and Tornado Safety page more than a suggestion. It’s the most important click you’ll make today. Beyond that, I’ve curated a thoughtful selection of reads this week spanning space exploration, climate science, your own garden, and much more. The latest Tornado Quest Chronicles essay is there when you’re ready for something more substantial. Stay informed, stay prepared, and keep that hunger for knowledge going strong.
- The Artemis II crew witnessed something no human has seen in over 50 years, and their commander says human minds ‘shouldn’t have to go through’ it.
- Check out this amazing image captured by the Artemis II crew.
- Find out how planting more street trees in the towns and cities you live in can make your neighborhood much more comfortable.
- As you gather seeds and soil this spring, pause to consider how the plastic packaging and tools you choose might silently pollute your garden’s living ecosystem with invisible microplastics.
- The world pinned its hopes on a ‘miracle’ technology to suck carbon from the air, but as the flagship project stalls, a surprising twist suggests its failure might actually be the best news we’ve received in years.
- The argument that fighting climate change will wreck the economy has been around for decades, but where did it actually come from?
- A powerful climate shift in the Pacific could reshape weather patterns worldwide in 2026…but what will it mean for the weather where you live?
SEVERE WEATHER AND TORNADO SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS
US DROUGHT MONITOR
April has had widespread warmth across the U.S., especially in the Midwest and Plains, while rain fell mostly in the West, Texas, and the Midwest, leaving the Southeast and Southwest dry. In the coming week, expect more storms and heavy rain from Kansas to the Great Lakes, with continued warmth in the northern Rockies and cooling in central Texas. Looking further ahead, the Southwest and New England may turn cooler, but most of the country will likely stay warmer and wetter than average, particularly from Louisiana to Indiana.
- NOAA’s US Drought Monitor website has the full regional details.
- The latest daily fire weather outlooks can be found at the Storm Prediction Center’s website.
NOAA WEATHER RADIO
Here’s your weekly reminder to check your NOAA weather radio’s batteries, programming, settings, and reception. NOAA has a comprehensive page on NOAA weather radio…a feature of the National weather Service in the USA that has saved countless lives.
CITIZEN SCIENCE
Citizen science lets everyday people actively shape real research by sharing observations and data. Join now to make a tangible impact, discover new insights, and become part of a global community driving scientific breakthroughs!
- 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, Oklahoma!
That’s a wrap for this week! Thanks for stopping by! See you next Saturday!
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