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Intense rainstorms are becoming more frequent in most of the U.S. — though experts say where they occur and whether they cause catastrophic flooding is largely a matter of chance. More than 100 people died in Texas Hill Country over the weekend after 12 inches of rain fell in just hours. Last year, Hurricane Helene dumped more than 30 inches of rain on western North Carolina, where flooding killed 108. Experts say human-caused climate change is setting the stage because a hotter atmosphere holds more water. But it's impossible to predict where flooding will occur in any given year.
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Former federal officials and outside experts have warned for months that President Donald Trump's staffing cuts to the National Weather Service could endanger lives. After torrential rains and flash flooding struck Friday in the Texas Hill Country, the weather service came under fire from local officials who criticized what they described as inadequate forecasts. Democrats wasted little time linking staff reductions to the disaster, which is being blamed for the deaths of at least 80 people. Former federal officials and experts have said Trump's indiscriminate job reductions at NWS and other weather-related agencies will result in brain drain that threatens the government's ability to issue timely and accurate forecasts. Trump said job cuts did not hamper weather forecasts.
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Kerr County, Texas, Sheriff Larry Leitha says that 11 campers and a camp counselor are still missing after powerful floods inundated central Texas. Dozens of people have been killed since raging floodwaters slammed a portion of central Texas starting Friday. The death toll from flash floods rose to nearly 70 on Sunday after searchers found more more bodies in the hardest-hit Kerr County. The victims include children who were camping along the Guadalupe River banks. Officials have said they will not stop searching until every person is found.
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While Chantal moves away, there will be plenty of moisture being pulled over Florida on Saturday that, combined with local effects, could mean stormier conditions for some areas.
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A forecast for inclement weather has prompted cancelations of a number of events planned for the Fourth of July across Southwest Florida.
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The July 4th holiday is almost here and we are expecting higher than normal rain and thunderstorm activity as we monitor a tropical system that could develop.
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The first named storm of Hurricane Season has kicked off what it expected to be a busy storm period. A new app has been released the offers up-to-date information about a variety of weather concerns.
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It is hurricane season, and this week brings the chance for tropical formation near Florida. This is what we currently know.
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Weather experts are warning that hurricane forecasts will be severely hampered by the upcoming cutoff of key data from U.S. Department of Defense satellites. It is the latest move by the Trump administration with potential consequences for the quality of forecasting. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it would stop collecting and distributing data from three weather satellites that it jointly runs with the Defense Department. The data is used by scientists, researchers and forecasters including the National Hurricane Center. It helps peer under a regular image of a hurricane or a tropical cyclone to see what is going on inside the storm, and is especially helpful at night.
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Tropical Depression Two forms, and it is forecast to become Tropical Storm Barry on Sunday. Much of Florida remains ´dusty´.
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