Latest news with #MattDevitt
Newsweek
11 hours ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
'Incredible' Lightning Rainbow Strikes Florida
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Striking images and video shared on social media captured the dramatic sight of lightning and rainbows lighting up the Florida sky. The Context The southwest Florida coast was forecast to see multiple rounds of slow-moving showers and thunderstorms by the National Weather Service (NWS) on Thursday. The agency warned that several inches of rainfall was possible, potentially leading to flash flooding in urban areas. A photo posted to social media captures the striking moment when lightning bolts flashed beneath a rainbow-streaked sky. A photo posted to social media captures the striking moment when lightning bolts flashed beneath a rainbow-streaked sky. Matt Devitt/X What To Know The images were posted Thursday by WINK News chief meteorologist Matt Devitt on X, formerly Twitter. "WOW! Incredible lightning and double rainbow combo this evening in Southwest Florida," Devitt said of the first image. "Amazing rainbow and lightning combo illuminating the sky this evening in Port Charlotte, Florida," read his post accompanying the second. Amazing rainbow and lightning combo illuminating the sky this evening in Port Charlotte, Florida! Credit: @WINKNews viewer Katie Johnson @spann @stormhour — Matt Devitt (@MattDevittWX) June 20, 2025 The NWS said it issued a flood advisory for the Naples metropolitan area after heavy rainfall developed. The service said this followed between 2 and 4 inches of rain. On Friday, the NWS forecast office in Miami said that more showers and thunderstorms were expected in the afternoon, primarily across interior and western South Florida. Much of the region would be hot and humid, with highs in the low 90s, it said. What People Are Saying NWS Miami, Thursday on X: "A pinned gulf breeze combined with ample atmospheric moisture will result in the potential of heavy rainfall & localized flooding along the Gulf coast of South Florida as slow moving showers and storms develop. Lightning & gusty winds are also possible with storms! "Over the last several weeks, the focus of afternoon showers and storms has been across southwestern Florida while mainly dry conditions have continued along the east coast metro. Why? Slightly stronger easterly flow thanks to the persistent influence of the Bermuda High." Meteorologist Matt Devitt, Thursday on X: "Classic, rainy season day in Southwest Florida with big rainfall amounts. 2 - 5" for many communities, leading to street flooding. More storms Friday too!" What Happens Next Elsewhere in the U.S., a heat wave is expected to bake swaths of the country from the Midwest to the East Coast starting Friday, with about one-third of the country set to contend with challenging temperatures, according to forecasters at AccuWeather. Meteorologist Adam Douty told Newsweek that this stretch of heat will intensify over the Plains and Midwest through the weekend, shifting to the East by early next week. While temperatures are expected to ease in the middle or late next week, highs will still stay above normal in many regions, he said.
USA Today
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Jurassic' moment as massive alligator interrupts play at Florida golf course
'Jurassic' moment as massive alligator interrupts play at Florida golf course Only in Florida, it seems, can a golfer be trying to sink a putt with a giant alligator strolling alongside the green. The accompanying footage was shared Sunday by Matt Devitt of WINK Weather, under the title: 'Welcome to Jurassic Park.' The encounter occurred at Buffalo Creek Golf Course in Palmetto and Devitt described the gator as being 'massive.' ALSO: How fast is a grizzly bear? Montana video shows one pushing top speed We've shared the Instagram version, put to 'Jurassic Park' theme music. In the Facebook version, viewers can hear the golfer's companion issuing a profane statement as if to imply, 'It's time to get outta here.' According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, alligators can measure up to 14 feet and weigh more than 1,000 pounds. Adult alligators commonly prey on fish, snakes, turtles, small mammals, and birds. The aquatic reptiles typically remain in or near swamps or ponds during the day, so to encounter one in the open like this is unusual. As for the golfer in the footage, he did not appear unnerved but it was unclear if he made the putt.
USA Today
09-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
15-foot alligator casually strolls across golf course while player putts
15-foot alligator casually strolls across golf course while player putts You may know the name "Chubbs" from Happy Gilmore, but this is more about an alligator that goes by the same name in Palmetto, Florida at Buffalo Creek Golf Course. And that giant gator has been known to take a stroll around the course sometimes, even when there are humans playing through. We've written about gators taking over golf courses before, whether it's in Gulfport, Mississippi or some giants walking around in South Carolina and yes, others in Florida. This time? Let's focus on the gator who we think is Chubbs, in a video posted by WINK meteorologist Matt Devitt. It shows the 15-pound gator walking on the course as some brave soul putts on the green, unconcerned there's the creature walking behind him. I'd be inclined to scream LOOK BEHIND YOU, but I guess Chubbs isn't there to do anything but take a walk.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Fast-moving airborne threat approaching US triggers public health warnings
A large cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert is moving across the Atlantic and is expected to reach Florida and parts of the southeastern US in the coming days. The dusty air may linger for several days, leading to poor air quality and potential health risks. Experts warn that it can make breathing difficult, especially for people with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory issues, because it carries fine particles that can irritate the lungs. Meteorologist Matt Devitt of WINK Weather in Fort Myers, Florida, shared a time-lapse video on Facebook Tuesday, showing the Saharan dust cloud drifting near Key West, spreading into the Gulf of Mexico, and looping back into South Florida by Friday. As of Wednesday, the cloud had reached the Caribbean Sea. 'The Saharan Air Layer contains about 50 percent less humidity, which can weaken tropical systems and slow down activity in affected areas,' Devitt said . As a bonus, the plume can create stunning sunrises and sunsets, adding a warm, colorful glow to the sky. Saharan dust clouds like this one can travel more than 5,000 miles and often reach the Gulf Coast and Florida each summer. The Saharan Air Layer is a dry, dusty air mass that forms over the Sahara Desert, the largest and hottest desert in the world. Each summer, seasonal weather patterns like the West African Monsoon and high-pressure systems create strong winds that sweep across the Sahara. These winds pick up tiny particles known as aeolian dust and lift them into the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the Bermuda-Azores High, a high-pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean, produces steady east-to-west winds that help carry the dust across the ocean. Another pattern, the African Easterly Jet, helps push the dust higher into the air and even farther west. Together, these wind systems can transport Saharan dust over 5,000 miles, often reaching the Caribbean, Florida, and the Gulf Coast. Dust activity usually peaks between June and mid-August, though the amount of dust varies from year to year. While the dust can lower air quality and pose problems for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions, it also has a silver lining: the dry air and strong winds help suppress hurricanes by making it harder for tropical storms to form and grow. The Saharan dust plume is expected to reach Florida by the weekend, bringing hazy skies, vibrant sunsets, and a drop in air quality. Experts cite guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Weather Service (NWS), which warn that elevated dust levels can trigger asthma attacks and worsen conditions like COPD and allergies. The fine dust particles can also irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Health officials say children, older adults, and people with heart or lung issues are especially vulnerable during these dusty events. In June 2020, a massive Saharan dust cloud, nicknamed the 'Godzilla plume,' swept from West Africa across the Atlantic, bringing hazy skies from Texas to the Carolinas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) called it the largest event in nearly 50 years, with reduced visibility and air quality alerts issued across multiple states. Then in July 2023, another thick wave of Saharan dust blanketed Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, turning skies orange and pushing air quality into 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' in cities like Miami and Houston. This year's plume is different as it's earlier, denser, and more concentrated, with higher levels of fine particles. As a result, health officials and meteorologists are keeping a close eye on its impact. The size and intensity of these dust clouds vary from year to year, but scientists believe that shifting wind patterns and climate change may be contributing to more frequent and powerful plumes.
Miami Herald
11-04-2025
- Miami Herald
‘Stunning' creature with ‘balloon-like float' spotted on AL beach, officials say
A jellyfish-like creature — resembling an 18th century Portuguese warship — washed up along an Alabama beach, officials said. 'Stranded but still stunning,' the City of Orange Beach Coastal Resources said in an April 9 post on Facebook. 'Nature's beauty comes with a sting!' Though interesting to look at, the Portuguese man-of-war's venom can be deadly to small fish and painful to humans, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The creature has a colorful 'balloon-like float' and long tentacles that can be up to 30 feet, NOAA said. Man-of-wars are often found in tropical and subtropical waters, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Commonly mistaken for jellyfish, man-of-wars are made up of a 'colony of numerous organisms (called polyps) that live together,' experts said. Man-of-wars have also recently been spotted on beaches in Southwest Florida, meteorologist Matt Devitt said in an April 8 Facebook post. 'Their stings are pretty painful, lasting up to 1-3 hours,' he warned. 'Make sure to avoid!' Orange Beach is about a 25-mile drive southwest from Pensacola, Florida.
