Relief from putrid, dangerous air spewing from massive wildfires across the West won't come until later in the week or beyond, scientists and forecasters say, and the hazy and gunk-filled skies might stick around for even longer.
Hurricane Sally, a plodding but powerful storm with winds of 85 mph, crept toward the northern Gulf Coast early Tuesday, with forecasters warning of potentially deadly storm surges, flash floods spurred by up to 2 feet of rain and the possibility of tornadoes.
Forecasters from the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sally is expected to become a hurricane on Monday and reach shore by early Tuesday, bringing dangerous weather conditions, including risk of flooding, to a region stretching from the western Florida Panhandle to southeast Louisiana.
Recovery crews have located a missing airplane in a water-filled quarry near the Mississippi River on Grey Cloud Island in Washington County, authorities say. Three people were in the single-engine Cessna aircraft when it left Fleming Field in South St. Paul Sunday afternoon.
The thick smoke helped firefighters by blocking the sun and turning the weather cooler as they tried to get a handle on the wildfires. But warnings of low moisture and strong winds that could fan the flames added urgency to the battle.
Despite rumors circulating on social media, law enforcement officials in Oregon say they have seen no evidence of people affiliated with antifa or other political groups starting fires. They say the rumors divert resources away from battling the wildfires.
Residents of Bermuda were urged to prepare to protect life and property ahead of Hurricane Paulette. Meanwhile, a hurricane warning for strengthening Tropical Storm Sally was issued for parts of Louisiana and Mississippi — including New Orleans.
In northern California, the deadly Bear Fire forced the evacuation of parts of the town of Paradise, which nearly burned to the ground in 2018. For Camp Fire survivors from Paradise, the trauma is all coming back.
Extreme fires are more likely with climate change, and they're making it harder for some tree species to regenerate. Ecologists say this could transform large areas of Western forest into grassland.
Tropical Storm Sally formed Saturday off south Florida, becoming the earliest 18th-named storm on record in an Atlantic hurricane season as it enters the Gulf of Mexico amid signs of strengthening further.
When it comes to staying informed in Minnesota, our newsletters overdeliver. Sign-up now for headlines, breaking news, hometown stories, weather and much more. Delivered weekday mornings.