Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Zelia slams Australia's iron ore hub
SYDNEY — Tropical Cyclone Zelia made landfall on Australia’s west coast on Friday, the weather bureau said, lashing the world’s largest iron ore hub with heavy rain and wind gusts up to 180 miles an hour. The eye of the storm crossed the coast east of Port Hedland just after 12 p.m. (11 p.m. ET Thursday) as a category five cyclone, the highest rating on the scale.
Vehicle pileup shuts down Oregon interstate amid whiteout
Whiteout conditions in Oregon caused a pileup of as many as 30 cars, trucks and semi-trucks on Interstate 84 on Thursday near Multnomah Falls, officials said. High winds, snow, and ice caused hazardous conditions on roads, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Deputies responded to several crashes and stalled vehicles across the county, including a multi-vehicle pileup on Interstate 84, according to the sheriff's office.
California roads buried in mud after powerful storm triggers landslides
Crews began clearing roads across Southern California on Friday after an atmospheric river brought heavy rain that triggered rounds of evacuations and closures as it unleashed damaging mudslides throughout the fire-ravaged region. Mudslides and flash floods were reported through Thursday night. In the Los Angeles area, mud and debris covered several major roads including the Pacific Coast Highway, the 101 freeway and Mulholland Drive in the Hollywood Hills.
Northern lights may put on Valentine's Day show in some states: Where and when to see it Portrait of Greta CrossGreta Cross USA TODAY
The night sky may be providing the best Valentine's Day gift on Friday for Canada and some parts of the northern United States. The northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, may to be visible in a few northern states throughout Friday night if weather conditions allow. Though the colorful night-sky phenomenon is traditionally associated with the Earth's poles, a solar storm that began earlier this week could make the display more widely visible.
Purported Arkansas tornado video shows clips that are old, from Italy | Fact check
A Jan. 29 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows a montage of tornado and extreme weather footage. "Tornado in Roger Arkansas (sic)," reads text superimposed on the video. The post's caption reads, "Arkansas tornado today."
Soaking rain and heavy snow arrive on the West Coast
A new storm slamming the West Coast is causing mudslides in parts of Southern California, potential tornadoes in central California and deep snow in the Sierra.
Heavy rain and risk of ‘life-threatening’ debris flows prompt evacuation warnings in LA fire areas as snow hits the Midwest
Evacuation warnings have been issued in parts of Los Angeles County ravaged by deadly wildfires last month, as Southern California’s most significant storm in more than a year stokes fears of life-threatening debris flows and a high risk of mudslides. It’s just one of three winter storms this week brought about by a hyperactive weather pattern that’s been slamming the US with snow, ice and rain since the start of the month – another storm is currently hitting the Plains and Midwest with heavy snow.
Evacuations issued in Southern California as heavy rain brings threat of debris flows in areas scarred by wildfires
Southern Californians evacuated their homes for the second time this year, but this time, it’s for heavy rain and debris flows that threaten new destruction in areas still recovering from last month’s devastating wildfires. The strongest storm to impact parts of California in over a year has arrived and was drenching hundreds of miles of the state Thursday. Coastal areas and valleys in Southern California – including the Los Angeles basin – will see up to 3 inches of rain through Friday, according to the National Weather Service, with mountainous areas facing up to 6 inches.
Australia braces for 'very destructive winds' as Category 5 cyclone nears landfall
Northern Australia is bracing for a Category 5 tropical cyclone that is expected to bring “very destructive winds” and “very heavy rain” to its coastline Friday, with meteorologists warning of gusts up to 180 mph. As of Thursday, the slow-moving Cyclone Zelia was 90 miles north of Port Hedland and was forecast to hit the Pilbara Coast as early as Friday morning with winds of up to 130 mph, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said in an advisory.
Powerful storm triggers mudslides, evacuations and warnings in L.A.
LOS ANGELES — A winter downpour in Los Angeles on Thursday sent mud sliding over Mulholland Drive and prompted orders to evacuate near areas burned by devastating wildfires last month, officials said. Around 8 inches of mud slid over the famous roadway in the Hollywood Hills, closing it, but homes above the slide were determined to be stable, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.