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Heavy rainfall hits DC region, flood watch in effect till early Monday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:21 GMT

Listen live to WTOP for the latest on storm damage and outages.After an afternoon of high heat and humidity, with temperatures climbing up to almost 90 degrees, the D.C. region is facing heavy rainfall on Sunday night. The severe storm threat is low, but even Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour is not safe from the flood watch that has been issued. Here’s what you need to know.The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch from 8 p.m. Sunday night to 2 a.m. on Monday morning that extends from Stafford County, Virginia, to Annapolis and Baltimore in Maryland.The storms are projected to produce 1-2 inches of rainfall in a short time frame as they quickly move through the region.Over 60,000 Beyoncé fans at FedEx Field were under a shelter in place order at 6:40 p.m. due to lightning in the area. The stadium announced in a tweet that fans inside were being asked to shelter under covered concourse and ramp areas, while concert-goers that were still outside were told to go back ...

Denver weather: Below normal temperatures to start the workweek

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:21 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver's weather will stay cooler than normal with a spotty chance of showers to start the workweek. Bear attacks camper relaxing in hammock: CPW Weather tonight: Clearing, coolEvening showers will taper off Sunday night. This will be followed by clearing clouds and temperatures in the mid-50s, which is about 5 degrees cooler than normal. Temperatures overnight on Aug. 6 are lower than usual.Weather tomorrow: Sunshine bringing stormsMonday will return to this pattern of morning sunshine, followed by a few spotty showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Temperatures will stay cooler than normal and will just top off in the lower 80s. Looking ahead: Warmer and drier workweek Tuesday, temperatures will stay slightly below normal and only reach the mid-80s. This will be followed by the chance for a few spotty afternoon showers. The week starts cool on Aug. 7 and warms up by the weekend.Sunshine returns Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. This will aid in bringing high...

Rain increasing dangers of West Nile virus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:21 GMT

WELD COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) -- Rainfall in the forecast may increase the threat of West Nile virus across the Front Range.The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment confirms 12 cases in eight counties and one death in Weld County. How pets, livestock are affected by West Nile virus Increased rain during hot weather impacts mosquito breeding, which flourishes near standing water.“Between the amount of mosquitoes, the birds for migration patterns, temperature, it’s very possible that all of this rain has led to water that has more mosquito breeding sites,” Dr. Dan Pastula of UC Health said.Last year, the CDPHE reported 206 confirmed West Nile Virus cases in Colorado causing 20 deaths. West Nile virus is more of a threat this year than previous years, experts say The Centers for Disease Control reports 1 of every 5 people who contract West Nile virus will develop a fever and other symptoms.Less than 1% of those infected develop serious symptoms, but if you notice any c...

Boater who went missing off St. Augustine Beach found alive after daylong search

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:21 GMT

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (WSVN) — He was dehydrated, sunburnt and faced the threat of a shark attack, but a boater who went missing off the Florida coast was finally found after surviving for nearly 35 hours in the open water.Ben Lynn said he feared the worst when he saw a U.S. Coast guard boat speeding off. He had captured drone footage of crews off St. Augustine Beach, Saturday morning.“Immediately, the first thing I saw when I come out here was boats heading up to the north, which is very strange, ’cause usually you might see one or two fishing boats, but this was a lot,” he said, “and so, it looked like probably over 20, maybe almost 30 boats out there.”But this turned out to be a best-case scenario, as crews safely rescued 25-year-old Charles Gregory at around 10 a.m. after searching for him for about a day.Eight different agencies took part in the search, and at one point, rescuers almost lost hope.“We were able to saturate this entire area...

Port St. Lucie couple who survived fiery wreck near West Palm Beach thank good Samaritans who rescued them

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:21 GMT

A Florida couple say they’re lucky to be alive after they were trapped in a fiery crash near West Palm Beach.Video captured the victims’ mangled Kia Soul, crumpled like paper and burnt to a crisp, but somehow still standing.The wreckage is the end result of the July 29 crash that almost took the lives of Port St. Lucie residents Chris and Alex Redderson.“It’s the last thing on my mind to be in an accident,” said Alex.The Reddersons were headed to the airport when Chris was forced to swerve out of the left lane to avoid colliding with another car.His Kia ended up spinning out, crashing into the median and catching fire.“It happened really fast, and all I kept thinking was, ‘I hope she has her seat belt on,’ because the reality is, when I felt us lose control of the car, I knew we were going to hit something,” said Chris.“I remember all the air bags going off and all the smoke in the car. My husband screaming for me, ‘A...

What China really thinks about Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:21 GMT

Mark Leonard is co-founder and director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, and he is the author of “The Age of Unpeace.”What does China really think about Ukraine? That question has been nagging away at Ukrainian minds — as well as their supporters in the West. Some may have hoped to get answers at the recently held, and grandly named, World Peace Forum (WPF) in Beijing — an annual event first launched in 2012, with goal of demonstrating that China can contribute to solving problems of war and peace on a global level.But Western observers at the conference were surprised to find Ukraine had instead been relegated to the forum’s marginalia, and were disappointed that the only guests talking about Ukraine were Russians — as it appeared no Ukrainians had been invited.However, to those studying China’s evolving position, this shouldn’t have come as a surprise. In addition to attending the WPF, we spent the last 18 months conducting dozens of interviews with Chinese think...

Beijing re-schedules Borrell visit for the fall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:21 GMT

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday invited EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and his delegation for a visit in the fall, after Beijing canceled a trip initially planned for July. The visit will allow for preparations ahead of an expected EU-China summit with “extensive and in-depth exchanges,” Wang was quoted as saying in a statement published by the Chinese Foreign Ministry after the two officials spoke on the phone. The leaders’ summit will occur before the end of the year, Wang indicated in the statement.“China and the EU should carry out more institutional dialogues, make up for the missing exchange lessons between China and the EU in the three years of the epidemic, and inject new strong impetus into the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership,” Wang was cited as saying. Borrell said he looks forward to “visiting China as soon as possible,” according to the statement. The EU’s top diplomat was scheduled to v...

Mets Notebook: Grant Hartwig earning more responsibilities in Mets bullpen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:21 GMT

BALTIMORE — With the focus now firmly turned toward the future, the rest of the season will be an audition of sorts for some of the Mets. Right-handed reliever Grant Hartwig has shown well in his audition so far.The Detroit-area native who put off medical school to give baseball a shot seems to have made the right decision. Hartwig is 3-1 with a 3.66 ERA over 19 2/3 innings. The Mets have slowly given him more work and more difficult work, using him in high-leverage situations or to face tough spots in the batting orders.Hartwig started off solid after the Mets called him up in June. He didn’t allow an earned run over his first four appearances (four innings). But after allowing earned runs in back-to-back appearances for the first time right after the All-Star break, Hartwig noticed the league making some adjustments to him. So, he countered with one of his own by using his cutter against right-handed hitters.“I didn’t use it at all in AAA, but I saw some re...

Evacuation warning prompted in Mountain Empire area due to vegetation fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:21 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- What started as a single-vehicle fire in the Mountain Empire area Sunday afternoon turned into a vegetation fire that prompted an evacuation warning.That's according to Cal Fire San Diego, who reported at 4:39 p.m. that a burning vehicle spread into vegetation in the Boulevard area. Officials said, "Initial reports put the fire at 3 to 4 acres with a moderate rate of spread."At 5:56 p.m., the San Diego County Sheriff's Department reported that the shaded area shown in the map below was put under an evacuation warning:Evacuation warning area, (San Diego County Sheriff's Department)The department noted on Twitter, "a temporary evacuation point is being set up at Golden Acorn Casino located at 1800 Golden Acorn Way in Campo."Cal Fire San Diego reported that the westbound lanes of Interstate 8 would close in the area of fire, with California Highway Patrol diverting traffic onto Ribbonwood Road and Old Highway 80.Later at 6:41 p.m., Cal Fire San Diego confirmed the spread o...

North Korean leader Kim tours weapons factories and vows to advance his arms and his war readiness

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:21 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toured the country’s key weapons factories, including those producing artillery systems and launch vehicles for nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, and pledged to speed up efforts to advance his military’s arms and war readiness, state media said Sunday.Kim’s three-day inspections through Saturday came as the United States and South Korea prepared for their next round of combined military exercises planned for later this month to counter the growing North Korean threat.Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest level in years as the pace of North Korea’s missile tests and the joint U.S.-South Korea military drills, which Kim portrays as invasion rehearsals, have both intensified in a tit-for-tat cycle.Some experts say Kim’s tour of the weapons factories could also be related to possible military cooperation with Moscow that may involve North Korean supplies of artillery and other ammunition as Russian President Vla...