May 2025

[LibertyBell]

39 minutes ago, TriPol said:

Heartbreaking photos and videos coming out of Laurel County, KY.

omg 14+ people dead?

this is one reason I won't be upset when we finally have weather modification. To divert or even destroy tornadoes and hurricanes before they can hurt anyone is the holy grail of weather modification.

 

[donsutherland1]

5 minutes ago, LibertyBell said:

omg 14+ people dead?

this is one reason I won't be upset when we finally have weather modification. To divert or even destroy tornadoes and hurricanes before they can hurt anyone is the holy grail of weather modification.

 

A more practical measure that can be taken now is to assure that NWS offices that provide critical warning are adequately staffed. The extremely short-sighted DOGE staff reductions can endanger lives.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/weather/nws-cuts-kentucky-tornado.html?unlocked_article_code=1.H08.v8uv.eGs_YqT7fDtY&smid=url-share

[LibertyBell]

Just now, donsutherland1 said:

A more practical measure that can be taken now is to assure that NWS offices that provide critical warning are adequately staffed. The extremely short-sighted DOGE staff reductions can endanger lives.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/weather/nws-cuts-kentucky-tornado.html?unlocked_article_code=1.H08.v8uv.eGs_YqT7fDtY&smid=url-share

I'm not sure this can be done in rural areas though, Don.

Omg the updated report is now 23 dead across three states. =\

 

[LibertyBell]

1 minute ago, donsutherland1 said:

A more practical measure that can be taken now is to assure that NWS offices that provide critical warning are adequately staffed. The extremely short-sighted DOGE staff reductions can endanger lives.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/weather/nws-cuts-kentucky-tornado.html?unlocked_article_code=1.H08.v8uv.eGs_YqT7fDtY&smid=url-share

This DOGE shortsightedness definitely needs to be stopped across multiple areas.

But with these late night storms especially in rural areas I'm not sure how much we can do.

[LongBeachSurfFreak]

28 minutes ago, LibertyBell said:

This DOGE shortsightedness definitely needs to be stopped across multiple areas.

But with these late night storms especially in rural areas I'm not sure how much we can do.

That’s why Dixie ally has always been especially dangerous. 
Suns out and temps skyrocketing. Increasing cape, but is there even a mechanism? 

[MANDA]

1 hour ago, LongBeachSurfFreak said:

They are all over Suffolk along the LIE. Many Oaks defoliated. They destroyed the last large remaining old growth coastal oak forest on the east coast in the late 70s on Gardiners Island. I would have done anything to see 600 year old white oaks. The island is pretty much off limits now anyway. 

This is ongoing now or in the past?  

If Walt had not posted I would not have known they were active anywhere in the area.  Hope it does not get out of hand here in Jersey.

The spotted lantern fly was a bit of a problem Summer of 2023 but just saw a handful last Summer so hopefully that problem is over?  Have not heard much on them either.

[SACRUS]

 

82 here

 

1PM ROundup

ACY: 82
EWR: 81
BLM: 81
New Brnswck: 81
PHL: 80
TTN: 79
NYC: 77
TEB: 76
LGA: 76
ISP: 73
JFK: 73
 

[LongBeachSurfFreak]

Just now, MANDA said:

This is ongoing now or in the past?  

If Walt had not posted I would not have known they were active anywhere in the area.  Hope it does not get out of hand here in Jersey.

The spotted lantern fly was a bit of a problem Summer of 2023 but just saw a handful last Summer so hopefully that problem is over?  Have not heard much on them either.

Yeah that was as of yesterday. 
Honestly I have been closely monitoring the SLF and while numbers exploded the second year they have leveled off. They are definitely a threat to vineyards but I’m not convinced they are the plague they were originally thought to be. Gypsy, emerald ash borrer beetle, Asian longhorn beetle and southern pine bark beetle all are far greater threats in my opinion.

[psv88]

78 and beautiful 

[Dark Star]

With the nature of tornadoes, I don't think we can save many more lives.  If you warn someone of it coming, and it never materializes, people become numb to the warnings.  And in hurricanes, many people have to be pulled out of their homes to get them out.  The whole idea of blanket cutbacks is to see what is really needed and to find ways to become more efficient.  Everyone will rationalize that their department, their specific area is the most important.  The only way to find out what is most essential is to make cuts across the board and restore the areas that become obvious at a later date (hopefully sooner than later).  Also, many of the proposed cuts do not occur, or are negotiated down.  The government is too big to be able to surgically remove what is true waste.  Pharmaceutical companies are a good example.  There used to be people going to work at was once called "country club" environments, read a newspaper, and fall asleep.  

[Dark Star]

57 minutes ago, MANDA said:

This is ongoing now or in the past?  

If Walt had not posted I would not have known they were active anywhere in the area.  Hope it does not get out of hand here in Jersey.

The spotted lantern fly was a bit of a problem Summer of 2023 but just saw a handful last Summer so hopefully that problem is over?  Have not heard much on them either.

They first said that there were no natural enemies, but I think I heard after the fact that indeed they did have new natural enemies here in the US.

[IrishRob17]

2 hours ago, wdrag said:

After they feast on the leaves fort a while, they tend to die off, if not sprayed-controlled-killed.  

The oaks will have a second leafing in late June and attempt to recover.  This is our second year in a row.  So far minor but noticeable.  

Can't hear them eating the leaves yet when you walk the street kr see the brown caterpillar poop on th street. Hope it doesn't get too bad.

 

State is spraying certain sections of Wantage NJ

 

 

 

 

They defoliated many trees in my area last year. It was surreal seeing bare trees in a June sun angle. Haven't seen much here yet this year, hoping for the best. 
 

Edit: Right after posting this I found a small one in my beer fridge. Dammit. 

[MANDA]

1 hour ago, LongBeachSurfFreak said:

Yeah that was as of yesterday. 
Honestly I have been closely monitoring the SLF and while numbers exploded the second year they have leveled off. They are definitely a threat to vineyards but I’m not convinced they are the plague they were originally thought to be. Gypsy, emerald ash borrer beetle, Asian longhorn beetle and southern pine bark beetle all are far greater threats in my opinion.

Wow, had no idea Gypsy Moths were so active on L.I.

Agree with your list of biggest threats. Especially Ash borer and Asian Longhorn, they have been a problem for a while and really show no sign of easing up anytime soon. Big problem with those two.

[TriPol]

2 hours ago, LibertyBell said:

omg 14+ people dead?

this is one reason I won't be upset when we finally have weather modification. To divert or even destroy tornadoes and hurricanes before they can hurt anyone is the holy grail of weather modification.

 

Looks like 28 dead now.

[Cfa]

Southern Pine Beetles are annihilating the Pitch Pines in Suffolk. Entire stands of dead trees visible along the LIE and William Floyd Parkway. The ones that died 2-3 years ago are coming down in 40 mph wind events.

[WestBabylonWeather]

Can we have todays weather next Saturday sheesh 

[MJO812]

3 hours ago, LibertyBell said:

I wouldn't count on that, 10 day forecasts don't work out so well.

It looks like that. 50s and 60s next week.

[BobbyHolikWillFindYou]

I need to purchase one of those laser thermometers because the metal handle on my front door just made me jump back a few feet. Wow.