Robert Speta

1 month ago | firstcoastnews.com | Robert Speta

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season beginning June 1, the National Hurricane Center has already started issuing daily tropical weather outlooks, which began Thursday. That might raise eyebrows, but history shows tropical systems don’t always wait for the calendar to flip to June. Since official records began in 1851, a total of 32 named tropical and subtropical storms have developed in the Atlantic Ocean during the month of May.

1 month ago | firstcoastnews.com | Robert Speta

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It's that time of year again along the First Coast—when the sea breeze becomes a daily conversation. This natural phenomenon not only offers some relief from the heat near coastal areas but also plays a key role in the development of afternoon showers and even thunderstorms. But what exactly causes the sea breeze? The answer lies in a basic principle of physics: water takes longer to heat up than land.

1 month ago | firstcoastnews.com | Robert Speta

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Hurricane Awareness Week spans from May 4-10, with the focus on equipping communities with vital knowledge about the dangers associated with hurricanes and the critical steps for preparation. Sunday's theme, "Know Your Risk from Water and Wind," underscores the multifaceted threats posed by hurricanes, tropical storms and depressions. From storm surge flooding to destructive winds and tornadoes, understanding these hazards is paramount for safeguarding lives and property.

2 months ago | firstcoastnews.com | Robert Speta

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On April 10, 1996, a powerful Cyclone blew across Barrow Island off the northwestern coast of Australia, setting a world record that still stands nearly three decades later. A midst a series of high wind gust a peak wind speed of 253 miles per hour (407 kilometers per hour) was accurately measured by an anemometer during Tropical Cyclone Olivia, making it the highest wind speed ever recorded on Earth.

Mar 29, 2025 | firstcoastnews.com | Robert Speta

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The First Coast News weather team has set a weather impact alert day for Sunday with storms developing through the late morning and early afternoon hours. This will bring scattered across the First Coast with a few strong to possibly severe storms impacting local events. WHEN: Sunday, March 30, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. IMPACT: Scattered rain showers Sunday afternoon including thunderstorms with a few becoming strong to severe.