Weather - wdbj7.com

Slight risk of evening storms; Cooler air ahead

Meteorologist Brent Watts — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:41:00 EDT

Scattered showers and storms are developing once again ahead of a strong cold front. The main concern would be slow-movers and prolonged downpours that could produce localized flash flooding. Storms may produce hail and gusty wind along with heavy rainfall. Instability will be modest across our region this afternoon, with the greatest severe risk through central and southern Virginia.

Virginia hurricane preparedness sales tax holiday begins Saturday

WDBJ7 Web Staff — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:30:00 EDT

Several items will not be subject to sales tax from May 25-31.

Virginia’s hurricane preparedness tax holiday gets started on Friday, and runs through May 31.

National Weather Service has new weather warning in place

Orlando Salinas — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:06:00 EDT

The people in Oklahoma were well warned that a tornado was on the way, 10 or 15 minutes before it hit.

Get NOAA weather radio on your smartphone

Meteorologist Brent Watts — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:32:00 EDT

It has never become more apparent that you need to be able to receive the latest severe weather alerts, wherever you go. Now you can have the power of NOAA weather radio on your smartphone.

Oklahoma tornado victims astounded at how they survived

Carey Gillam and Ian Simpson — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:00:00 EDT

MOORE, Oklahoma (Reuters) - Tornado survivors thanked God, sturdy closets and luck in explaining how they lived through the colossal twister that devastated an Oklahoma town and killed 24 people, an astonishingly low toll given the extent of destruction.

Powerful tornadoes strike in four central U.S. states

Chris Francescani — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:17:00 EDT

(Reuters) - A massive storm front swept north through the central United States on Sunday, hammering the region with fist-sized hail, blinding rain and tornadoes, including a half-mile wide twister that struck near Oklahoma City. News reports said at least one person had died.

All missing residents accounted for after Texas tornadoes

Jana J. Pruet — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:17:02 EDT

GRANBURY, Texas (Reuters) - All seven people listed as missing after a monster Texas tornado that tore homes from their foundations and uprooted trees on Wednesday have now been accounted for, leaving the death toll at six, authorities said on Friday.

Three massive solar flares in 24 hours -- are more on the way?

By Deborah Netburn — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:56:00 EDT

The sun put on another fireworks display Monday evening, releasing a dramatic flash of ultraviolet radiation and sending solar matter hurtling through space.

Climate change may be baring Mount Everest

By Geoffrey Mohan — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:16:00 EDT

A warming climate is melting the glaciers of Mount Everest, shrinking the frozen cloak of Earth’s highest peak by 13% in the last 50 years, researchers have found.

Common plants, animals threatened by climate change, study says

By Neela Banerjee — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:00:00 EDT

WASHINGTON -- Climate change could lead to the widespread loss of common plants and animals around the world, according to a new study released Sunday in the journal Nature Climate Change.