Weather

Broken Dam and Island-Wide Blackout Stir Fear in Puerto Rico

A local looks at the devastation left by Hurricane Maria, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. (AP) SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A failing dam prompted emergency evacuations of two towns in northwestern Puerto Rico on Friday as the U.S. territory struggled with flooding, an island-wide blackout and other dangers in Hurricane Maria’s wake. The National Weather…

Maria Knocks Out Power, Triggers Flooding in Puerto Rico

Satellite image taken Tuesday, Sept. 19 show Hurricane Maria southeast of Puerto Rico (NOAA via AP) SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in over 80 years destroyed hundreds of homes, knocked out power across the entire island and triggered heavy flooding Wednesday in an onslaught that could plunge the U.S. territory deeper into…

Wisconsin Trees May Have Less Vibrant Fall Colors This Year

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – With the first day of autumn right around the corner, experts predict recent weather conditions in Wisconsin could mean fall colors will be less vibrant. Colleen Matula is a forestry specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Ashland. She tells Wisconsin Public Radio that increased rain this year means many trees are getting fungal disease…

Strong Storms Cause Heavy Damage in Central Minnesota

Damage on a farm in Kerkoven, Minn. after strong storms ripped through the area early Wednesday morning. (Photo courtesy of Darlene Henry via FOX 9) MELROSE, Minn. (AP) – Residents in and around Melrose are cleaning up trees, branches, and debris after a strong thunderstorm moved through the area. City leaders say there are a lot of trees down at…

Hurricane Maria Slams Dominica, Now Takes Aim at Puerto Rico

Satellite image taken Tuesday, Sept. 19 show Hurricane Maria southeast of Puerto Rico (NOAA via AP) ROSEAU, Dominica (AP) — Dominica’s leader sent out an emotional plea for help as Hurricane Maria smashed into the Caribbean island and caused “mind-boggling” devastation, but an ominous silence followed as the country lost all communications on Tuesday and the Category 5 hurricane took…

Hurricane Maria Grows, Threatening Storm-Battered Caribbean

GOES East Satellite Image provided by NASA taken at 7:45 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Sept. 17. (NASA via AP) SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Hurricane Maria grew into a Category 3 storm on Monday as it barreled toward a potentially devastating collision with islands in the eastern Caribbean. Forecasters warned it was likely to grow even stronger. The storm…

Five St. Louis County Roads Closed Due to Flooding

County Road 338 (Aurora Road) south of the Townline Road (Photo: St. Louis County Public Works) ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. – Heavy rain overnight has caused several County Roads in the area near Palo, Markham, and Makinen to flood. St. Louis County Public Works has announced the temporary closure of these roads until high waters recede: County Road 338 (Aurora…

Winter Gear Already Hitting Store Shelves

Local Business Says This is the Best Time of the Year to Sell Skis

DULUTH, Minn.-After temperatures reached 80-degrees yesterday, the Northland will be hit with a dose of reality soon. We are getting very close to feeling that fall chill on our skin and local businesses are already getting out their winter gear. One we spoke to today, says now is the time to get your winter gear. “If you are in the…

Northland Residents Enjoy Warm Weather

Temperatures to Dip into 60s Over Weekend

DULUTH, Minn.-We are about a week away from when fall officially begins and many Northland residents are having one last hurrah as they enjoy summer time weather. Highs were expected to be in the 80s today with temperatures dipping into the 60s over the weekend. Today we caught up with one family enjoying one of the last hot days, as…

FEMA Estimates 25 Percent of Florida Keys Homes are Gone

A roof is strewn across a home’s law as Rick Freedman checks his neighbor’s damage from Hurricane Irma in Marco Island, Fla., Monday, Sept. 11, 2017 (AP) LOWER MATECUMBE KEY, Fla. (AP) — Search-and-rescue teams made their way into the Florida Keys’ farthest reaches Tuesday, while authorities rushed to repair the lone highway connecting the islands and deliver aid to…

Irma Weakens Into a Tropical Storm But Keeps Causing Misery

A man returns to his flooded home in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in Bonita Springs, Fla., Monday, Sept. 11, 2017 (AP) TAMPA, Florida (AP) — Hurricane Irma weakened into a still-dangerous tropical storm Monday as it pushed inland, triggering record flooding in Florida’s northeastern corner, while rescuers in its soggy, wind-battered wake mobilized to reach victims and learn the…

Duluthian Living In Virgin Islands: Hurricane Irma ‘Changed Me’

DULUTH, Minn. – Laura Von Lokken, a lifelong Duluthian, recently moved to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands with her husband Paul. They were hunkered down for Hurricane Irma as it blasted the island as a category-five storm with winds around 180 mph. FOX 21’s Dan Hanger reached Laura via Facebook Messenger video chat who says the experience before,…

Former Duluthian Prepares For Irma

DULUTH, Minn. – Nichole Phillips, a Duluthian who now lives in Clearwater, Florida, is bracing for the worst as Hurricane Irma moves through the state. She experienced the mega ‘Halloween Blizzard of 91’ in the Northland but she says nothing like Irma. “I can deal with snow. Snow you can shovel away. Water you can’t run from. Wind is picking up….

Family From Hermantown Moves To Florida, Faces Hurricane Irma

DULUTH, Minn. – We’re learning about Northlanders who are riding out the storm in Florida, including the Pfingsten family of Hermantown who are hunkered down in the Ft. Lauderdale area. Gina and her husband Matt Pfingsten still own Pelican Coffee in Hermantown. They moved to Florida only three weeks ago, along with their five children. The family is staying in…

Local Red Cross Volunteers Helping With Hurricane Relief

Red Cross Officials May Soon Move Resources to Help With Irma Recovery

DULUTH, Minn. – With Hurricane Harvey and now Irma planning her destruction, the Red Cross is finding itself a little thin with volunteers. Volunteers from the Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross are in Texas now, but as Hurricane Irma blows through the Caribbean, more volunteers may soon be needed elsewhere. Those fourteen local volunteers are operating shelters, and…

Hurricane Aid Measure Grows to $15B as Irma Bears Down

In this geocolor image captured by GOES-16 and released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Hurricane Irma, a potentially catastrophic category 5 hurricane, moves westward, Tuesday morning, Sept. 5, 2017, in the Atlantic Ocean toward the Leeward Islands. This image was capured as daylight moves into the area, right, with nighttime features on the left side of the…

Hurricane Irma Causing Travel Worries

Airport Officials Say Travelers Should Stay in Contact with Airlines

DULUTH, Minn. – People’s travel plans and vacations are in limbo because of Hurricane Irma. But as for the Duluth International Airport, officials say flights in and out of there are not being affected and likely won’t change. Officials say travelers should pay close attention to the hurricane’s path and stay in contact with their airline. “Even if they’re traveling…

Northland Weather Could Be Impacted By Hurricane Irma

National Weather Service Officials Say Hurricane Could Make Our Weather Stagnant

DULUTH, Minn. – While Hurricane Irma is causing a lot of worry in the Caribbean and Florida, meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Duluth are also eyeing the storm. They tell us turbulent weather in the Atlantic could affect us here in the Northland. The National Weather Service in Duluth typically focus on weather in the Northland but they…