As meteorologist Jonathan Belles recently noted, September is historically known as the most active month of Atlantic hurricane season. Is that reputation proving to be true this year?
Well, as we follow live updates of the weather today, we’ll be tracking the development of a tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic that may soon develop into Tropical Storm Gabrielle. Our early models show some concern for the Caribbean.
In the Pacific, Hurricane Lorena is causing flooding in western Mexico without even making landfall.
Follow along below for the latest live updates as they happen today.
(12:50 p.m. EDT) Wildfires Grow In California After Lightning Strikes
More than a dozen wildfires erupted in California on Tuesday, including the 6-5 Fire that has devastated the town of Chinese Camp east of Stockton. The sudden outburst of blazes followed a major lightning storm early Tuesday morning.
Cal Fire has grouped many of those blazes as the TCU September Lightning Complex and more than 1,000 emergency personnel have been deployed to help contain them.
Meanwhile, the Salt 14-2 Fire in Fresno County has grown to be one of the largest in the state currently, with 13,500 burned and only 7% containment.
(12:21 p.m. EDT) Storms Rip Roof Off Wichita-Area School
From staff writer Renee Straker:
Classes are canceled today at Elyria Christian School after wind gusts up to 75 mph tore off part of the school’s roof Wednesday evening. This morning school officials told us teams were up to 2 a.m. trying to patch the roof after rain damaged two classrooms and a hallway.
The storms also pelted Central Kansas with baseball-sized hail that damaged cars and knocked out power to thousands. Check out this video of how bad it got.
(11:53 a.m. EDT) Hurricane Lorena Causes Flooding In Mexico
From staff writer Renee Straker:
Even without landfall Hurricane Lorena caused some serious flooding in western Mexico. Posts across social media should flash floods running rampant through streets in popular tourist areas like Cabo San Lucas.
Then Mexico’s National Guard shared video and photos of soldiers cleaning up flooded streets, and digging cars out of the mud and debris.