The Columbian

Weather & Climate

Parts of Springfield Middle School lay on the ground after being ripped off by a tornado, spawned by Tropical Storm Debby, in Lucama, N.C., Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

Tropical Storm Debby spins up tornadoes, dumps rain in North Carolina

August 8, 2024, 7:51am Nation & World

One person died in a home damaged by a tornado, Wilson County, N.C. authorities said Thursday, raising Tropical Storm Debby’s death toll to 7. Read story

Patrick Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Weather Eye: Wildfire smoke and heat to give way by Friday

August 8, 2024, 6:01am Clark County News

Local officials have issued an Air Quality Advisory for smoke and ozone. It says, “Wildfires burning in the region combined with forecasted conditions will cause air quality to reach unhealthy levels due to smoke and ozone at times through 8 p.m. this evening.” Read story

Smoke from a wildfire rises on a road near La Pine, Ore., Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The fire prompted mandatory evacuations in the small town in central Oregon and was growing rapidly in hot, dry conditions.

Oregon on track to set new wildfire record for acreage burned

August 7, 2024, 2:31pm Latest News Free

The wildfire season in Oregon has likely not yet peaked and already 1.3 million acres have been blackened or are ablaze, with 34 large fires burning. Read story

New growth is seen on the historic banyan tree on July 6, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. When a deadly wildfire tore through Lahaina on Maui last August, the wall of flames threatened the 150-year-old banyan tree along the historic town’s Front Street. But the sprawling tree survived the blaze, and thanks to the efforts of arborists and dedicated volunteers, parts of it are growing in a sign of resilient life.

How Lahaina’s more than 150-year-old banyan tree is coming back to life after devastating fire

August 7, 2024, 2:13pm Latest News

When a deadly wildfire tore through Lahaina on Maui last August, the wall of flames scorched the 151-year-old banyan tree along the historic town’s Front Street. But the sprawling tree survived the blaze, and thanks to the efforts of arborists and dedicated volunteers, parts of it are growing back —… Read story

City of Isle of Palms councilman John Bogosian calls local officials informing them flooding water on Palm Blvd as Tropical Storm Debby approaches, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Isle of Palms, S.C.

Tropical Storm Debby swirls over Atlantic, still dumping rain on the Carolinas before moving north

August 7, 2024, 8:19am Nation & World

Tropical Storm Debby was swirling over coastal Georgia and Carolinas on Wednesday, its wide bands of rain swelling inland waterways before it slowly marches north. Read story

This image provided by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities shows high water in a neighborhood in Juneau, Alaska, Monday, Aug. 6, 2024, following an outburst of flooding from a lake dammed by the Mendenhall Glacier.

Glacier releases water down river in Alaska, damaging 100 homes

August 6, 2024, 10:09pm Nation & World

An outburst of flooding from a lake dammed by Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier damaged at least an estimated 100 homes in what has become a perennial hazard for nearby neighborhoods. Read story

People attach a towline to a stranded vehicle on a flooded street after heavy rain from Tropical Storm Debby, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Savannah, Ga. (AP Photo/Stephen B.

Tropical Storm Debby is expected to send flooding to the Southeast. Here’s how much rain could fall

August 6, 2024, 8:59am Nation & World

Northern Florida, the coastal regions of Georgia and South Carolina and parts of North Carolina are bracing for severe rain and catastrophic flooding this week as the Debby storm system moves up and east. Read story

Firefighters put out hot spots from the Park Fire along Highway 32 near Forest Ranch, Calif., Tuesday, July 30, 2024.

Fast-moving San Bernardino wildfire torches hillside community, forcing evacuations

August 6, 2024, 8:51am Nation & World

Several homes burned Monday as a fast-moving wildfire torched a California hillside community, triggering evacuations while hundreds of firefighters tried to control the blaze. Read story

An SUV plows through a flooded street after heavy rain from Tropical Storm Debby, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Savannah, Ga. (AP Photo/Stephen B.

Slow-moving Tropical Storm Debby bringing torrential rains and flooding to southeastern US

August 6, 2024, 8:40am Nation & World

Tropical Storm Debby has moved menacingly into some of America’s most historic Southern cities, bringing prolonged downpours and flooding Tuesday after slamming into Florida and prompting the rescue of hundreds from flooded homes. Read story

Around the community of Stehekin, firefighters have been working on community protection measures. These measures include working on firelines around the community including clearing brush and leaf litter as well as felling standing dead trees that could fall across the fireline. Water pumps with hoselays and sprinklers are being set up throughout the community to further protect structures and the fireline.

Pioneer fire within quarter-mile of Stehekin in Chelan County

August 6, 2024, 8:00am Latest News

A blast of hot, windy weather will challenge the nearly 730 firefighters battling the 55-square-mile Pioneer wildfire this week, which has crept to about a quarter-mile from the boat-in resort town of Stehekin on the northern shore of Lake Chelan, fire officials said. Read story