Brittany Van Voorhees

2 weeks ago | wcnc.com | Brittany Van Voorhees

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Since 2000, there have been 192 fatalities along the Carolina coast due to rip currents. Not surprisingly, this is the number one weather-related killer in the coastal Carolinas. The National Weather Service is launching its . A rip current is a narrow channel of fast-moving water that can reach speeds up to 8 feet per second, which is faster than an Olympic swimmer.

1 month ago | 13newsnow.com | Brittany Van Voorhees

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There are three key components to igniting a wildfire: fuel, heat and oxygen. This is commonly referred to as the fire triangle. Fuel for a wildfire is any kind of flammable material, like trees, dry brush and even homes. According to North Carolina State University, these materials emit a vapor, which can be taken to their flashpoint by a heat source. An item’s flashpoint is the lowest temperature it can ignite.

Nov 27, 2024 | ourcommunitynow.com | Brittany Van Voorhees

Share CHARLOTTE, N.C. — This winter, changes are coming to the cold-weather alerts issued by the National Weather Service. The NWS has been working on hazard simplification for the last few years. Now, they’re consolidating and changing some of their cold-weather communication. Trisha Palmer, the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the NWS in Greenville-Spartanburg, said these changes help with messaging and reduce the overall number of alerts-types they issue.

Oct 6, 2024 | ktvb.com | Brittany Van Voorhees

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, cloud seeding is a type of weather modification that requires a release of chemicals into the atmosphere. By releasing the particles, the goal is to have water condense or freeze on them and become heavy enough to produce rain. Note: NOAA does not participate independently in these types of activities.

Jun 1, 2024 | 13wmaz.com | Brittany Van Voorhees

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Preparation is crucial when it comes to hurricane season. While you’re packing your emergency supplies and making your plan, don’t forget about prepping for your pets' needs, too. The most important thing is to know where your pets would go if you had to leave your home quickly. Director of disaster response for the ASPCA Susan Anderson said to arrange a safe haven since many shelters don’t take animals.