Among the most dazzling meteor shower displays, the Geminids will peak this weekend (December 13-14) across the globe. Under ideal conditions, skywatchers could see up to 120 meteors per hour.

Luckily, this year’s waning crescent moon won’t wash out the show. Darker skies will make a better viewing experience, unlike the Perseids this past August, when moonlight overshadowed most meteor streaks. The final element to consider is cloud cover. Find the latest forecast updates as the weekend approaches HERE.

Observers in dark, rural locations stand the best chance of seeing over 100 meteors per hour. A typical suburban area should expect fewer meteors per hour, perhaps up to 30. In urban areas with heavy light pollution, like Baton Rouge or New Orleans, that number could drop even more. To maximize the viewing experience:

• Find a rural area, away from city lights.

• View several hours after sunset. The best window will be between 10 p.m. and dawn.

• Look for Jupiter. It will be near the constellation Gemini, where the meteors will appear to originate.

• Be patient! It may take a few minutes or longer to see a meteor.

Meteor showers happen when Earth passes through a trail of dust and debris in space. In the case of the Geminids, Earth crosses the debris trail from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. This is different from most meteor showers, which result from comets. Tiny particles that make up the debris trail hit the atmosphere at 78,000 miles per hour, burning up and creating bright streaks seen from the ground as meteors.

The Geminid meteor shower is an annual winter event, peaking around December 13-14 with a dazzling show. The name comes from the constellation Gemini, where meteors appear to originate from — otherwise known as the radiant point.

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and Twitter for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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It’s confirmed — a 252 mph wind gust measured inside Hurricane Melissa is the strongest ever recorded on Earth by a “dropsonde.” As National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hurricane Hunter aircraft flew through the storm in October 2025, they dropped a fleet of dropsondes into the storm. Such devices are parachuted through hurricanes to collect vital pressure, temperature, humidity, and wind information multiple times per second. Though many dropsondes sampled Melissa’s fury, an unprecedented 252 mph gust sampled around 800 feet above sea level particularly captured the National Hurricane Center’s (NHC) attention.

Collaborating with the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR), scientists took on the task of verifying the measurement. Part of the process included running the data through quality control software and confirming that the data aligned with the laws of physics and the typical behavior of a hurricane. No discrepancies were found. The 252 mph wind gust surpassed the previous record of 248 mph from Typhoon Megi over the Western Pacific in 2010.

Verifying the measurement is important. For instance, even stronger wind data was collected during Hurricane Katrina in 2005; however, substantial issues were found in the data upon further analysis.

Accurate data is crucial when it comes to forecasting hurricanes and issuing emergency alerts. Dropsondes are unique in their ability to look at a slice of a hurricane in great detail, including what’s going on at sea level, where people and property are most affected. In the case of Melissa, powerful winds and storm surge inflicted catastrophic damage in Jamaica and Haiti. Although Melissa ended up claiming nearly 100 lives in the process, without accurate data feeding the forecasts, the death toll almost certainly would have been worse.

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SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba (AP) — Flooding from Hurricane Melissa killed 25 people in Haiti while the storm still churned across Cuba on Wednesday after leaving Jamaica with widespread damage and power outages, officials say.

Jean Bertrand Subrème, mayor of the southern Haitian coastal town of Petit-Goâve, told The Associated Press that 25 people died after La Digue river burst its banks and flooded nearby homes. Dozens of homes collapsed and people were still trapped under rubble as of Wednesday morning, he said.

“I am overwhelmed by the situation,” he said as he pleaded with the government to help rescue victims.

Only one official from Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency was in the area, with residents struggling to evacuate amid heavy floodwaters unleashed by Hurricane Melissa in recent days.

In Jamaica, more than 25,000 people were packed into shelters Wednesday, hours after Melissa made landfall as a catastrophic Category 5 storm with top winds of 185 mph (295 kph), one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.

People kept streaming into the shelters throughout the day after the storm ripped off the roofs of their homes and left them temporarily homeless.

“It’s not going to be an easy road, Jamaica,” said Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council. “I know persons … are wondering what their future are going to be like.”

Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s education minister, said that 77% of the island was without power Wednesday but the water systems weren't greatly affected.

At least one death was reported in the island nation’s west when a tree fell on a baby, state minister Abka Fitz-Henley told local radio station Nationwide News Network.

Cuba still riding out the storm
Officials reported collapsed houses, blocked mountain roads and roofs blown off in Cuba on Wednesday, with the most destruction concentrated in the southwest and northwest. Authorities said about 735,000 people remained in shelters in eastern Cuba.

“That was hell. All night long, it was terrible,” said Reinaldo Charon in Santiago de Cuba. The 52-year-old was one of the few people venturing out Wednesday, covered by a plastic sheet in the intermittent rain.

Parts of Granma province, especially the municipal capital, Jiguaní, were underwater, said Gov. Yanetsy Terry Gutiérrez. More than 15 inches (40 centimeters) of rain was reported in Jiguaní’s settlement of Charco Redondo.

Melissa had top sustained winds of 100 mph (155 kph), a Category 2 storm, and was moving northeast at 14 mph (22 kph) according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. The hurricane was centered about 150 miles (245 kilometers) south of the central Bahamas.

Melissa was forecast to continue weakening as it crossed Cuba but remain strong as it moves across the southeastern or central Bahamas later Wednesday. It was expected to make its way late Thursday near or to the west of Bermuda. Haiti and the Turks and Caicos also braced for its effects.

The storm was expected to generate a surge of up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) in the region and drop up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain in parts of eastern Cuba. Intense rain could cause life-threatening flooding with numerous landslides, U.S. forecasters said.

The hurricane could worsen Cuba's severe economic crisis, which already has led to prolonged power blackouts, as well as fuel and food shortages.

“There will be a lot of work to do. We know there will be a lot of damage,” Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said in a televised address, and urged the population not to underestimate the power of Melissa, “the strongest ever to hit national territory.”

Jamaica rushes to assess the damage
Jamaican officials reported complications in assessing the damage, while the National Hurricane Center said the local government had lifted the tropical storm warning.

“There’s a total communication blackout on that side,” Richard Thompson, acting director general of Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, told the Nationwide News Network. More than half a million customers were without power late Tuesday.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness plans to fly over the most affected areas, where crews were still trying to access areas and determine the extent of the damage, Dixon said.

Extensive damage was reported in parts of Clarendon in the south and in the southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth, which was "underwater,” said Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council. He said the storm damaged four hospitals and left one without power, forcing officials to evacuate 75 patients.

Santa Cruz town in St. Elizabeth parish was devastated. A landslide blocked main roads. Streets were reduced to mud pits. Residents swept water from homes as they tried to salvage belongings. Winds ripped off part of the roof at St. Elizabeth Technical High School, a designated public shelter.

“I never see anything like this before in all my years living here,” resident Jennifer Small said.

“The entire hillside came down last night,” said another resident, Robert James.

The government said it hopes to reopen all of Jamaica’s airports as early as Thursday to ensure quick distribution of emergency relief supplies.

The U.S. government said it was deploying a disaster response team and search and rescue personnel to the region. And the State Department said non-emergency personnel and family members of U.S. government employees were authorized to leave Jamaica because of the storm's impact.

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Hurricane Melissa strengthened Tuesday before making landfall in Jamaica, where residents braced for catastrophic winds, flash flooding and landslides from the Category 5 storm, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history.

The streets in the capital, Kingston, remained largely empty as Melissa approached with 185 mph (295 kph) winds, save for the lone stray dog crossing puddles and a handful of people walking briskly under tree branches waving in a stiff wind.

The Jamaican government said it had done all it could to prepare as it warned of devastating damage from the strongest hurricane to hit the island since recordkeeping began 174 years ago.

“There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness said. “The question now is the speed of recovery. That’s the challenge.”

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami warned people in the storm's path as landfall neared Tuesday morning that this is the “last chance to protect your life.” The storm is expected slice diagonally across the island and hit Cuba shortly afterward.

Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council, urged people to seek shelter and stay indoors as the storm crosses the island.

“Jamaica, this is not the time to be brave,” he said.

Melissa is the fifth most intense Atlantic basin hurricane on record by pressure and the strongest to make landfall since Hurricane Dorian in 2019, according to hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry.

It is "a worst-case scenario unfolding for Jamaica,” he said.

Landslides, fallen trees and numerous power outages were reported ahead of the storm, with officials in Jamaica cautioning that the cleanup and damage assessment would be slow. The storm is expected to enter near St. Elizabeth parish in the south and exit around St. Ann parish in the north, forecasters said.

“Total structural failure is possible near the path of Melissa’s center,” the National Hurricane Center said.

Jamaica prepares for the aftermath
McKenzie said the government was prepared for potential rescues immediately after the storm.

“We have boats, helicopters, you name it,” he said.

A life-threatening storm surge of up to 13 feet (4 meters) is expected across southern Jamaica, with officials concerned about the impact on some hospitals along the coastline. Health Minister Christopher Tufton said some patients were relocated from the ground floor to the second floor, "and (we) hope that will suffice for any surge that will take place.”

The storm already was blamed for seven deaths in the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.

On Tuesday morning, Melissa was centered about 40 miles (60 kilometers) south-southeast of Negril, Jamaica, and about 235 miles (380 kilometers) southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba. The system had maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 kph) and was moving north-northeast at 9 mph (15 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Colin Bogle, a Mercy Corps adviser based near Kingston, said most families are sheltering in place despite the government ordering evacuations in flood-prone communities.

“Many have never experienced anything like this before, and the uncertainty is frightening,” he said. “There is profound fear of losing homes and livelihoods, of injury, and of displacement.”

Necephor Mghendi, the International Red Cross’ regional head of delegation for the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, said an estimated 1.5 million people in the storm’s path will be affected but many others may be as well.

“The entire population may feel the impact one way or the other,” he said by video link from Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

More than 240,000 customers were without power before landfall, and about one-fourth of the telecommunications system was offline, said Darryl Vaz, transport and energy minister.

He said crews will clean and run tests at the island's two main international airports Wednesday in hopes of receiving emergency relief flights as early as Thursday.

“We will get through this. God bless Jamaica,” he said.

U.N. agencies and dozens of nonprofits had food, medicine and other essential supplies prepositioned as they awaited a distribution rush after the storm.

Matthew Samuda, Jamaica’s water and environment minister, said he had more than 50 generators available to deploy after the storm, but warned people to set aside clean water and use it sparingly.

“Every drop will count,” he said.

Melissa takes aim at Cuba
Melissa was expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba late Tuesday.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Las Tunas and Holguin provinces, while a tropical storm warning was in effect for Camaguey. Up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain were forecast for parts of Cuba, along with a significant storm surge along the coast.

Cuban officials said Monday that they were evacuating more than 600,000 people from the region, including Santiago, the island’s second-largest city.

Melissa also has drenched the southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with a tropical storm warning still in effect for Haiti.

The hurricane was forecast to turn northeast and strike the southeast Bahamas by Wednesday evening.

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Hurricane Melissa made landfall around 12 p.m. CDT near New Hope, Jamaica, as a powerful Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds at 185 mph with gusts topping 220 mph. This ties with the 1935 “Labor Day” hurricane for the strongest landfall on record in the Atlantic — both by wind speed and minimum central pressure. Catastrophic winds, flash flooding, and storm surge were occurring all over the island.

The strongest winds are occurring in the eyewall, or very close to the center of circulation. Total structural failure is likely near Melissa’s path, especially in higher elevations where winds might be 30% stronger on the windward sides of hills and mountains. Winds taper farther from the storm’s center, but hurricane-force winds still extend up to 30 miles from the center. The entire island will experience tropical storm-force winds.

While the landfall location does spare eastern Jamaica from the strongest winds, it does not spare it from impacts. Heavy rain on the order of 15-30” or more will cause numerous instances of flash flooding and landslides. Storm surge is also an issue, with peak heights of 9 to 13 feet above ground level near and to the east of where Melissa made landfall. Large and destructive waves will accompany such a surge. On the northwest coast of Jamaica, near Montego Bay, 2 to 4 feet of surge is possible.

Melissa will pull away from Jamaica later on Tuesday, but will also be on a collision course for eastern Cuba and the Bahamas. Hurricane Warnings are in effect for those areas.

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A National Weather Service survey team confirmed two tornadoes in Livingston and Tangipahoa Parishes from storms early Sunday. The full damage survey summary was released on Tuesday by the National Weather Service. Their findings are listed below.

Whitehall, LA: EF-0 Tornado

• Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph

• Path Length: 0.12 miles

• Maximum Path Width: 50 yards

• Start: 4:40 a.m. CDT, 4 miles E of Whitehall

• End: 4:41 a.m. CDT, 4 miles E of Whitehall

Tornado damage was surveyed on Bear Island Road south of Highway 22. The damage was mostly tree-related; however, one house did sustain minor roof damage along with a large metal canopy thrown about 25 to 40 yards. The tornado likely began in marshy areas before crossing Bear Island Road and continuing northeast back into the marsh. The marshy areas were inaccessible, so the track information might be refined at a later date using satellite data.

Hammond, LA: EF-1 Tornado

• Estimated Peak Wind: 95 mph

• Path Length: 1.36 miles

• Maximum Path Width: 75 yards

• Start: 5:48 a.m. CDT, 3 miles NW of Robert

• End: 5:54 a.m. CDT, 4 miles NW of Robert

This tornado was rated an EF-1 with peak winds estimated at 95 mph. Damage was first noted on River Road and Arbuthnott Drive, but the most significant was seen along Dummyline Road, where multiple large trees were snapped. The tornado continued north, crossing the Tangipahoa River thereafter. Most of the path was unsurveyable, and high-resolution satellite imagery will be used in the coming days to see how much tree damage occurred. Additional damage was surveyed on the Camp Living Waters grounds, where one tent was destroyed and 25-30 trees were taken down. The track information might be refined at a later date using satellite data.

It is also worth noting that an EF-0 tornado was also confirmed from late Saturday in Sulphur, LA — stemming from the same storm system.

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Hurricane Melissa has explosively intensified into a Category 5 hurricane, becoming one of the most powerful storms of the season as it inches toward Jamaica.

Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft found maximum sustained winds near 160 mph and a central pressure of 917 millibars — confirming Melissa’s status as a Category 5 hurricane. The storm’s eye is only 10 miles wide, surrounded by towering thunderstorms, a sign of extreme intensity.

Melissa is moving slowly west near 3 mph but is expected to turn toward the northwest and north within the next 24 hours. The National Hurricane Center forecasts the hurricane to make landfall on Jamaica’s south coast Tuesday morning, crossing the island before emerging north by afternoon.

Forecasters warn that there’s little difference between a Category 4 and 5 impact — both capable of catastrophic damage. Jamaica is expected to see devastating winds, life-threatening storm surge, and widespread flooding and landslides.

Heavy rain and dangerous conditions are also expected in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, eastern Cuba, and the southeastern Bahamas through midweek.

Residents across the region are urged to complete final preparations and stay sheltered as Melissa approaches.

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A National Weather Service survey team confirmed three tornadoes occurred in Tangipahoa Parish early Monday morning. A band of mini-supercell (rotating) thunderstorms in a tropical air mass moved through the region between 3 and 6 a.m. CDT. The following data is preliminary; further updates may be needed pending additional analysis.

Tickfaw, LA: EF-1 Tornado

• Estimated Peak Wind: 90 mph

• Path Length: 7.32 miles

• Maximum Path Width: 75 yards

• Start: 3:59 a.m. CDT, 2 miles NE of Hammond

• End: 4:14 a.m. CDT, 3 miles E of Independence

This tornado touched down near the Hammond Northshore Regional Airport just before 4 a.m., snapping large branches. The tornado continued northwest across Highways 443 and 1064 where it continued to snap small branches. The twister was nearing peak intensity while approaching the intersection of Faller Road and Tycer Lane around 4:06 a.m.. There, a house lost an awning and parts of its roof. Additional tree damage was noted throughout the rest of its lifetime. The tornado began weakening while making its way north-northwest across the Tangipahoa River before lifting shortly before Highway 40 near Independence.

Loranger, LA: EF-0 Tornado

• Estimated Peak Wind: 70 mph

• Path Length: 2.60 miles

• Maximum Path Width: 50 yards

• Start: 4:57 a.m. CDT, 4 miles N of Robert

• End: 5:04 a.m. CDT, 7 miles N of Robert

This brief EF-0 tornado touched down just north of Highway 445 on Bailey Loop Road, snapping off patches of large branches. The tornado continued north into forested areas before arriving at Bradford Lane at 5:04 a.m.. There, more tree damage was caused before the tornado lifted along Highway 40.

South Robert, LA: EF-1 Tornado

• Estimated Peak Wind: 90 mph

• Path Length: 3.42 miles

• Maximum Path Width: 100 yards

• Start: 5:11 a.m. CDT, 6 miles SSE of Robert

• End: 5:21 a.m. CDT, 4 miles SE of Robert

The third tornado touched down along Traino Road, where a few small limbs were snapped. The twister quickly gained strength thereafter as it moved toward Highway 22, reaching peak intensity along Highway 20 just east of the Fairhope Subdivision. The tornado maintained this intensity with 90 mph winds as it moved toward Crown Drive, producing more tree damage and inflicting partial roof damage to a manufactured home. The tornado then continued northeast before lifting just southwest of Jasper Lane, to the south of Robert, LA.

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Two tropical systems in the Atlantic may soon engage in a rare meteorological phenomenon. Tropical Storm Humberto and a disturbance expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Imelda are close enough that they could interact through the Fujiwhara Effect.

The Fujiwhara Effect occurs when two storms move within about 800–900 miles of each other and begin rotating around a shared center. Sometimes one absorbs the other; they merge into a bigger system, or they spin off in new directions.

Every case plays out a little bit differently, which makes determining the outcome of two storms in a Fujiwhara Effect scenario a difficult forecast. In this case, the most likely scenario is that Humberto, the stronger storm, could pull Imelda in and absorb it. It is also possible that there is a merger that might create a more powerful storm with an entirely different track. Even less likely is that the two storms could disrupt one another and weaken. 

A Fujiwhara Effect is only possible at this time since Imelda has not actually developed yet. However, there is strong computer model agreement for Imelda to eventually form and interact with Humberto. 

There are some recent examples of the Fujiwhara Effect playing out during hurricane season. In 2020, Tropical Storms Laura and Marco did not fully engage in the Gulf of Mexico because Marco weakened before it was in close enough proximity to Laura. In 2017, Hurricanes Hilary and Irwin performed a textbook Fujiwhara interaction around each other before merging and dissipating without impacting land.

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Satellite images show Hurricane Gabrielle has quickly intensified into a major hurricane with a well-defined eye. The National Hurricane Center now estimates Gabrielle’s maximum sustained winds at 120 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Forecasters expect Gabrielle to strengthen further today, with peak winds near 130 mph possible by this evening. While the storm remains well east of Bermuda, gusty winds and showers are expected there as Gabrielle passes nearby.

Large swells generated by the hurricane are already reaching Bermuda and spreading toward the U.S. East Coast, Atlantic Canada, and parts of the Caribbean. These swells will bring dangerous surf and rip current conditions over the next few days.

The latest forecast keeps Gabrielle on a track that takes it farther out into the Atlantic, with gradual weakening expected later this week as the system moves into cooler waters.

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GREENSBURG — St. Helena Parish has been placed under a burn ban, joining Tangipahoa Parish, where a ban has been in effect since Friday afternoon.

The burn ban went into effect in St. Helena Parish on Saturday afternoon, according to the parish's Facebook page. The ban is due to extremely dry conditions and a shortage of firefighters, the parish said. 

All outdoor burning, including bonfires, fire pits and the burning of trash or yard debris, is prohibited under the ban. 

The parish said the burn will remain in place until further notice. 

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Update: Officials have lifted the burn ban that was in place since Sept. 12.

AMITE — Tangipahoa Parish is under a burn ban effective immediately due to dry conditions in the area, according to the Hammond Fire Department.

The Tangipahoa Parish President, Robby Miller, announced the parish-wide burn ban on Friday afternoon. The ban will be in effect until further notice. 

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There has been a recent and welcome visit of drier, less humid air. After months of stowing away in air conditioning, it is tempting to get outside quickly and often. However, it's crucial to remember one common summer protection before opening the door—sunscreen. 

Though on the downward trend, the sun’s angle and ultraviolet (UV) rays remain high enough to pose a significant threat in September and October, especially on the Gulf Coast. Direct sunlight can still be quite powerful, especially during the late morning and early afternoon.

Adding to this risk is the typically drier air of the season. Lower humidity often means fewer clouds develop, which allows more UV radiation to reach our skin. This can increase the likelihood of sunburn even when the air doesn't feel as stiflingly hot.

Lower humidity might feel more comfortable, but it can negatively impact your skin's ability to protect itself. Low humidity pulls moisture from your skin, leaving it feeling dry and fragile. A dry skin barrier is less effective at defending against damage from UV rays.

Sun exposure is cumulative, meaning it adds up over your lifetime. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, this continuous exposure increases the future risk of skin cancer. Making sunscreen a daily habit is critical, regardless of past sun protection habits. Locations closer to the equator—like the Gulf Coast—receive more direct sunlight year-round and have a higher risk compared to regions farther north.

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The 2025 Atlantic Basin hurricane season has been quite a bit different than the last several. After a sluggish start, the basin produced a long-lived and powerful storm — Hurricane Erin — but since then, activity has dropped off sharply. In fact, the Atlantic has been quiet for nearly two weeks, right at the time of year that is normally the busiest. If no new storms form in the coming days, it would mark only the second time since 1950 that the Atlantic went from late August through Mid-September without a named storm.

Colorado State University’s TC-RAMS team – one of the major outfits that releases annual basin predictions – has shed some light on the sudden lull. First, the last several weeks have been marred by dry, stable air across the tropical Atlantic, which makes it harder for storms to build. Second, strong wind shear has continued over parts of the Atlantic, which tears developing systems apart. Third, conditions have been unfavorable over Africa, where the tropical waves that begin many storms originate.

Even with this quiet stretch, the season isn’t over. Computer models of the atmosphere suggest that conditions could become more favorable for storm development later in September as wind shear relaxes while ocean waters remain very warm. That could set the stage for more activity through October, especially in the Caribbean and western Atlantic.

Hurricane Season continues through the end of November. There have been plenty of impactful storms to the United States after the historic peak in September. Often, later-season storms develop closer to the country in the Gulf and Caribbean when water temperatures remain warmest, longest. Statistically, 53% of the energy generated in hurricane season occurs after September 10.

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A rare sight unfolded alongside Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano on Tuesday. Caught on camera, a brief but prominent whirlwind spun up beside a massive lava fountain, sending material several hundred feet into the air.

Such whirlwinds have been documented before, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). As intense heat from the spewing lava rapidly rises, an area of low pressure is created near the ground. Cooler surrounding air then rushes in to fill the low-pressure void. Under the right conditions, that air begins to rotate and create a vortex. The formation mechanism is similar to dust devils, but rather fueled by volcanic energy.

Tuesday at 6:35 a.m. Hawaii time, large lava fountains started to emerge out of the Halema?uma?u crater located on Kilauea, with lava spewing up to 500 feet high. The eruption began in December 2024; this was the 32nd eruptive episode. The activity has been easily visible from many overlooks within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

Kilauea, the youngest and most active volcano in the Hawaiian Islands, sits on the Big Island. It ranks among the most active volcanoes in the world, sporadically erupting for centuries.

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More than two decades ago, a National Weather Service forecaster issued a warning about Hurricane Katrina that was so dire and unprecedented that its legitimacy was initially questioned. The bulletin, issued on August 28, 2005, by meteorologist Robert Ricks, used chilling and graphic language to highlight the potential impacts of the approaching storm.

The message, which was shared widely by national news outlets, contained specific predictions that proved to be hauntingly accurate. Ricks warned that "most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks—perhaps longer," that "high-rise office and apartment buildings will sway dangerously," and that "water shortages will make human suffering incredible by modern standards." He also cautioned that "persons, pets, and livestock exposed to the winds will face certain death if struck."

This powerful and emotional language was a departure from typical weather bulletins. Since Katrina and this message, meteorologists have heavily integrated with social scientists to craft messages that focus more on people, property, and impacts as opposed to strictly weather phenomena. 

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For more of WBRZ's coverage of Katrina's 20th anniversary, visit our YouTube Channel:

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MORGAN CITY — This week in WBRZ history, six different hurricanes made landfall, putting Morgan City's Shrimp and Petroleum Festival at risk each year. 

One particularly devastating storm that struck Morgan City — Hurricane Andrew — made landfall on Aug. 26, 1992. This was one week before the 57th festival. 

A mandatory evacuation was ordered, making Morgan City into a ghost town and causing the festival to be canceled for the first time in its history. 

When the storm made landfall, winds were gusting at more than 120 mph, causing damage to nearly every building in town. 

Six years after Andrew, Earl struck the Louisiana coast in 1998, but Morgan City still went on with the festival. 

The festival was never canceled again, but in 2005 and 2008, it was postponed when Katrina and Gustav made landfall, respectively. 

Watch more WBRZ history here: 

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MORGAN CITY — Morgan City's decades-old flood walls protect the coastal city from devastation from hurricanes and other floods. 

The concrete walls guard against floods that could swallow streets and homes in a matter of hours. 

It was a system born out of necessity after repeated flooding from the Atchafalaya River, including a flood in 1973 that left much of the area underwater. The walls, built as part of the federal flood control system, are designed to hold back river water when it pushes towards dangerous heights. 

"The plan was presented to the city to build a concrete slab down Main Street," architect Jim Firmin, who was brought on to help design the flood wall system, said. "I didn't particularly like that idea, so I came up with this idea of having something to engage the city with it." 

He designed a walkway atop the flood wall, allowing people to see the river from the walls themselves. 

The walls have also become a canvas to depict the city's shrimping heritage. 

For Morgan City, they represent resilience, culture and the unbreakable bond between the community and the water that surrounds it.

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Cars, driveways, pools, turned black after raining soot or oil this afternoon and evening around Roseland. This comes after a large fire erupted, emitting lots of black smoke. The raining soot, also called "Black Rain", has a meteorological explanation. 

When a large fire burns, it puts a lot of soot and smoke particles up into the atmosphere. On a dry day, these small particles would normally disperse into the atmosphere. If there are rain showers in the area, the raindrops can actually collect those particles as they fall.

Think of it like this: raindrops act almost like little scrubbers, sweeping soot and smoke out of the air. Instead of the soot just floating around as haze, it gets pulled down with the rain and ends up on the ground, cars, houses, and even people if they’re outside. That’s why many are seeing a dark, dirty residue on the ground right after the rain — the precipitation is basically washing the smoke out of the sky.

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