Wildfire smoke, dangerous heat, and flooding that’s happening more often than our models predicted. This week’s links are a snapshot of a summer that isn’t letting up. Before you scroll, please check AirNow.gov for your local air quality right now. The link is in this post and worth bookmarking permanently. The Invisible Storm heat safety page is here on Tornado Quest for anyone who needs it, the US Drought Monitor update is in the post, and your NOAA Weather Radio deserves a fresh battery check this week. There’s my latest Tornado Quest Chronicles essay waiting as well. Ten links this week, from a T. rex’s final moments to a climate warning that forecasters are calling unprecedented. Plenty of good reads that are worth your time, so settle in.
- A newly studied fossil captures the final moments of a T. rex attack. What does it tell us?
- The mysterious “Hum” reported worldwide for decades may have a surprising explanation.
- Climate change is forcing a rethink of how we build highways. What’s the solution?
- Climate science is disappearing from federal sites. Where is it going now? A website that you need to check out.
- Wildfire smoke can turn your home’s air into a dangerous health threat, even for the healthy. Here are good tips on how to keep it clean.
- This link is worth a bookmark. AirNow.gov is the U.S. EPA’s official source for real-time air quality data, including the Air Quality Index (AQI) and forecasts.
- Keeping babies safe in extreme heat is critical. Here’s what every parent needs to know.
- Forecasters are warning of an unprecedented climate event this year. What could it mean for the world in general and your place in it?
- Texas’s ‘1,000-year’ floods are happening too often. Are we underestimating the risk?
- New research uncovers the deadly secrets behind the 2025 Texas Hill Country floods.
THE INVISIBLE STORM
SEVERE WEATHER AND TORNADO SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS
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.
US DROUGHT MONITOR
This week’s U.S. Drought Monitor shows a mixed picture: drought worsened in parts of the Plains, Upper Midwest, and Florida due to heat and dryness, while heavy rains brought relief to areas of the South, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast. In the West, some regions like Idaho and Montana improved with rainfall, but others, such as eastern Colorado and southeastern Wyoming, saw conditions deteriorate. Texas’s Hill Country experienced both drought relief and severe flash flooding from extreme rainfall. Meanwhile, reservoir levels in the West remain uneven, with California’s major reservoirs at or above average, while Lake Powell and Lake Mead hit historic lows. Looking ahead, heavy rain is forecast for parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, while above-normal temperatures are expected across much of the contiguous U.S., except for the Pacific Northwest and Northeast. Regardless, heat will still be a hazard for many weeks. See The Invisible Storm for a plethora of heat safety information.
- NOAA’s US Drought Monitor website has the full regional and state details.
- The latest daily fire weather outlooks can be found at the Storm Prediction Center’s website.
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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