Tonight on the Carolina Weather Group, we talk with Kelly Wells from the North Carolina Department of Transportation about the relaunched drivenc.gov website. Wells provides a walkthrough of the new site, which features over 1,000 live streaming traffic cameras across the state. The site includes map layers for traffic congestion, road closures, incidents, road work, and weather events. Users can view real-time conditions for ferries and rest areas, and see the warnings currently displayed on highway message signs. The site also integrates weather radar, National Weather Service alerts, and weather forecasts directly onto the map. Through the "My Drive NC" feature, travelers can select favorite cameras, save routes, and draw custom regions on the map to receive targeted email or text alerts for road conditions. The platform also feeds this traffic data to navigation apps like Waze, Google Maps, Apple Maps, and TomTom. NCDOT monitors the roads using five traffic management centers across the state, which now receive proactive push alerts for traffic incidents. A Drive NC mobile app is also now available for download.Also in this episode, Sam Walker details traffic management on the Outer Banks, including the Barco diversion at the intersection of US 158 and NC 168, which is used during hurricane evacuations to divert traffic away from bridge-tunnels in Virginia. Frank Strait provides the Carolina weather forecast, tracking ongoing flash flood warnings and severe thunderstorms. He outlines an incoming heatwave that will bring high temperatures near 100 degrees and heat index values between 105 and 110 degrees, before a cold front brings cooling showers by Sunday and Monday.The panel also discusses the CoCoRaHS rain gauge network, a destructive 4th of July thunderstorm in New York, and Colorado State University's updated forecast lowering the season's prediction to nine named storms. 🤝 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL & GET PERKS📹 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmhGiYbMDccQcdSjpf87nGg/join🧢 MERCH: https://carolinaweathergroup.qbstores.com/💸 LEAVE A TIP: https://streamelements.com/carolinawxgroup/tip🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/carolinaweather🔔 SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://patreon.com/carolinaweathergroup💻 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://carolinaweathergroup.com 🌤️ ABOUT THE CAROLINA WEATHER GROUPThe Carolina Weather Group operates a weekly talk show of the same name. Broadcasting each week from the Carolinas, the show is dedicated to covering weather, science, technology, and more with newsmakers from the field of atmospheric science. With co-hosts across both North Carolina and South Carolina, the show may closely feature both NC weather and SC weather, but the topics are universally enjoyable for any weather fan. Join us as we talk about weather, the environment, the atmosphere, space travel, and all the technology that makes it possible.

The future of Carolina's first commercial radio station, WBT 1110 AM, seems questionable - at best. Big broadcast companies are moving away from news radio formats, with their regular weathercast formats. Some big stations are shutting down or moving off the dial. Even Canada's national weather arm is shutting down their verison of NOAA weather radio, with the United States agency examining its next steps for the over-the-air weather service.Where does radio go from here? We're talking with Johnny Caudle, a broadcaster, weathercaster and digital reporter based in North Carolina. 🤝 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL & GET PERKS📹 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmhGiYbMDccQcdSjpf87nGg/join🧢 MERCH: https://carolinaweathergroup.qbstores.com/💸 LEAVE A TIP: https://streamelements.com/carolinawxgroup/tip🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/carolinaweather🔔 SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://patreon.com/carolinaweathergroup💻 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://carolinaweathergroup.com 🌤️ ABOUT THE CAROLINA WEATHER GROUPThe Carolina Weather Group operates a weekly talk show of the same name. Broadcasting each week from the Carolinas, the show is dedicated to covering weather, science, technology, and more with newsmakers from the field of atmospheric science. With co-hosts across both North Carolina and South Carolina, the show may closely feature both NC weather and SC weather, but the topics are universally enjoyable for any weather fan. Join us as we talk about weather, the environment, the atmosphere, space travel, and all the technology that makes it possible.

Tonight on a very special edition of the Carolina Weather Group, we are pull off a broadcasting first and tracking breaking news from every corner of the globe! 🚢 LIVE FROM THE ATLANTIC OCEANHost Greg Fischel makes history as the first CWG panelist to broadcast live via satellite from a moving cruise ship deck in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean! Greg checks in between a private island and Nassau, Bahamas, to share his tropical observations and preview his upcoming excursion to Atlantis. 💥 BREAKING GLOBAL EARTHQUAKE NEWSWe shift to major breaking seismic activity reported across the globe. We break down the initial data from the USGS: Venezuela: A massive dual earthquake event (7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes occurring just 40 seconds apart) causes building collapses and power grid failures. We look at how seismographs as far away as Jenkinsville, SC, felt the planet shake. Japan: A strong 6.9 magnitude earthquake triggers close attention in the Pacific Rim. California: Northern California gets rattled by a 5.6 magnitude earthquake north of San Francisco. 📱 EXPLORING WEATHERFRONTJohn Banghoff, operational meteorologist from State College, PA, joins the show to give us a tour of the innovative weather visualization tool, Weatherfront. John breaks down their highly requested new desktop web app, advanced customizable street-level mapping, and a powerful time-of-arrival tracking tool. Plus, he shares an exclusive sneak peek and pro-tip for Android users awaiting the upcoming mobile launch! 🔥 THE CAROLINAS FORECAST: DANGEROUS HEAT & SEVERE DROUGHTFrank Strait details a temporary dry and beautiful reprieve before a massive upper-level ridge sets up shop, triggering a dangerous summer heat spell with triple-digit temperatures. We also check out the staggering statistics on our ongoing exceptional drought —exploring exactly how many inches of rain cities like Raleigh and Charlotte need to fully recover. Finally, we review a National Weather Service storm survey confirming 50–70 mph straight-line wind damage in Currituck, NC. Follow Weatherfront:💻 Try the web app: http://app.weatherfront.com 🤝 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL & GET PERKS📹 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmhGiYbMDccQcdSjpf87nGg/join🧢 MERCH: https://carolinaweathergroup.qbstores.com/💸 LEAVE A TIP: https://streamelements.com/carolinawxgroup/tip🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/carolinaweather🔔 SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://patreon.com/carolinaweathergroup💻 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://carolinaweathergroup.com 🌤️ ABOUT THE CAROLINA WEATHER GROUPThe Carolina Weather Group operates a weekly talk show of the same name. Broadcasting each week from the Carolinas, the show is dedicated to covering weather, science, technology, and more with newsmakers from the field of atmospheric science. With co-hosts across both North Carolina and South Carolina, the show may closely feature both NC weather and SC weather, but the topics are universally enjoyable for any weather fan. Join us as we talk about weather, the environment, the atmosphere, space travel, and all the technology that makes it possible. #HurricaneSeason #NOAA #NationalHurricaneCenter #CarolinaWeather #WeatherForecasting #TropicalStorms #Meteorology

The Carolina Weather Group is tracking Tropical Storm Arthur and the rainfall and flooding threat it poses to parts of the Carolinas.🤝 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL & GET PERKS📹 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmhGiYbMDccQcdSjpf87nGg/join🧢 MERCH: https://carolinaweathergroup.qbstores.com/💸 LEAVE A TIP: https://streamelements.com/carolinawxgroup/tip🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/carolinaweather🔔 SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://patreon.com/carolinaweathergroup💻 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://carolinaweathergroup.com 🌤️ ABOUT THE CAROLINA WEATHER GROUPThe Carolina Weather Group operates a weekly talk show of the same name. Broadcasting each week from the Carolinas, the show is dedicated to covering weather, science, technology, and more with newsmakers from the field of atmospheric science. With co-hosts across both North Carolina and South Carolina, the show may closely feature both NC weather and SC weather, but the topics are universally enjoyable for any weather fan. Join us as we talk about weather, the environment, the atmosphere, space travel, and all the technology that makes it possible. #HurricaneSeason #NOAA #NationalHurricaneCenter #CarolinaWeather #WeatherForecasting #TropicalStorms #Meteorology

James Brierton and Greg Fishel sat down for a fascinating chat with Evan Bentley, the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC). If you’ve looked at the SPC severe weather maps recently, you might have noticed some big visual updates.The SPC has officially rolled out its new Conditional Intensity Groups (CIGs)—often referred to as "Intensity Levels"—to Day 1, 2, and 3 convective outlooks.Here is a quick look behind the scenes at what this change means and what James, Greg, and Evan discussed to keep you ahead of the storm:📊 What are Conditional Intensity Groups (CIGs)?In the past, the SPC used a binary "hatched" area on their maps to indicate a 10% or higher chance of "significant severe" weather (like an EF2+ tornado, 2"+ hail, or 75+ mph winds). However, this didn't give forecasters a way to separate a common severe day from a truly catastrophic, historic outbreak without forcing you to dig deep into the written text forecast.The new CIG system replaces that single hatching with a multi-tiered intensity framework. It is conditional, meaning: “If a severe hazard occurs at your location, how intense is it expected to be?”Instead of just forecasting the chance of severe weather, the SPC can now map out the Reasonable Maximum Intensity based on the atmospheric environment and storm mode:Tornadoes (Levels 1 to 3): Level 1 points to a reasonable max intensity of an EF2 tornado. Level 2 targets EF3 potential. Level 3 is strictly reserved for those rare, violent EF4+ outbreak days (the kind of wording reserved for only one or two days a year).Damaging Winds (Levels 1 to 3): Gauges peak wind threats ranging from standard severe gusts (Level 1: 75+ mph), to organized bow echoes or derechos (Level 2: 85+ mph), up to high-end, destructive derecho events (Level 3: 95+ mph).Hail (Levels 1 to 2): Level 1 highlights 2 to 3.5-inch hail (tennis ball to baseball size). Level 2 steps up to the monster, destructive stuff—3.5 inches or greater (softball size).🗺️ The Maps Look Different, But the Risks Haven't Changed!Evan emphasized a major takeaway for our groupies: The baseline 1-to-5 risk categories (Marginal, Slight, Enhanced, Moderate, High) are NOT changing. A Slight or Moderate risk day in the future will represent the exact same historical frequency and general threat level as it did in years past.The difference is that the SPC now has a much more nuanced toolkit. For example, they can now map out a day that has a lower coverage/probability of storms but carries an extremely high-end conditional intensity if a supercell manages to breach the cap.📺 How We'll Be Communicating This to YouAs Greg and Evan talked about in the interview, looking at a map overlaid with multiple types of hatching, probabilities, and risk levels can get incredibly complicated for the public.As broadcasters and weather communicators, our goal at the Carolina Weather Group isn't to bog you down in mathematical weeds or scare you with low-context probability percentages. Instead, we'll be breaking these graphics down into bite-sized pieces: first focusing on your overall chance of being impacted, and then explicitly highlighting the areas where the worst-case scenario or higher-intensity storms are possible.#weather #northcarolina #southcarolina #ncwx #scwx #podcast📹 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmhGiYbMDccQcdSjpf87nGg/join🧢 MERCH: https://carolinaweathergroup.qbstores.com/💸 LEAVE A TIP: https://streamelements.com/carolinawxgroup/tip🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/carolinaweather🔔 SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://patreon.com/carolinaweathergroup💻 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://carolinaweathergroup.com

Another home has collapsed into the ocean on the Outer Banks, severe drought conditions persist despite recent torrential downpours, and the weather world is buzzing about a potential record-breaking swing toward a "Super El Niño."In Episode 586 of the Carolina Weather Group, James Brierton (Charlotte), Greg Fischel (Raleigh), and Frank Strait (Columbia) are joined by Outer Banks expert Sam Walker to break down a wild week of weather across North and South Carolina.What’s Inside This Episode:Outer Banks House Collapse: Sam Walker shares the sad story behind the latest home to fall into the ocean in Buxton, the upcoming beach nourishment projects, and how new live NCDOT traffic cameras are changing the game for real-time storm tracking.The Carolinas Drought Reality Check: Yes, it rained—heavily in some spots (with parts of western NC seeing nearly 8 inches)—but the region remains dangerously deep in a rainfall deficit. We look at the latest drought maps and the statistical probability of ending the drought this year.Is a Super El Niño Coming?: Greg Fishel breaks down his fascinating research into the Relative El Niño Index (RONI). We explore the unprecedented data swing from a cold La Niña to a potentially historic "Super El Niño" and what it actually means for the Atlantic hurricane season.Podcast Housekeeping: Get a sneak peek at our upcoming interview with the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) about their new intensity categories, plus an update on our 24/7 Carolina Weather Net streaming platform featuring next-gen AI voice alerts.🤝 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL & GET PERKS📹 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmhGiYbMDccQcdSjpf87nGg/join🧢 MERCH: https://carolinaweathergroup.qbstores.com/💸 LEAVE A TIP: https://streamelements.com/carolinawxgroup/tip🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/carolinaweather🔔 SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://patreon.com/carolinaweathergroup💻 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://carolinaweathergroup.com 🌤️ ABOUT THE CAROLINA WEATHER GROUPThe Carolina Weather Group operates a weekly talk show of the same name. Broadcasting each week from the Carolinas, the show is dedicated to covering weather, science, technology, and more with newsmakers from the field of atmospheric science. With co-hosts across both North Carolina and South Carolina, the show may closely feature both NC weather and SC weather, but the topics are universally enjoyable for any weather fan. Join us as we talk about weather, the environment, the atmosphere, space travel, and all the technology that makes it possible. #HurricaneSeason #NOAA #NationalHurricaneCenter #CarolinaWeather #WeatherForecasting #TropicalStorms #Meteorology

This week on the Carolina Weather Group, we are joined by David Bilstrom, a volunteer reporter for the WatchDuty app. David explains how the free app uses collaboration and various data signals to monitor wildfires, relay evacuation notices, and track firefighting aircraft in real time. He also shares his insights on building "Firewise" homes and reacts to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety's wind-driven fire experiment.

Also in this episode:

The Drought & The Deluge: We review recent heavy rainfall across the Carolinas, including some staggering totals of up to 12.7 inches near Lake Murray. While the rain was beneficial to the region, it did not entirely end the ongoing drought.

Charlotte's Radar Gap: We dive into the frustration race fans experienced during the Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway when rain disrupted the event despite barely showing up on radar. This phenomenon was caused by precipitation falling below the radar beam from the 88D, which sits over 5,000 feet high.

Weekend Forecast: Panelist Frank Strait shares the upcoming forecast, highlighting a cold front that will bring cooler, less humid air to North Carolina by Friday.

Hurricane Season & Tropics: The panel discusses NOAA's outlook for an average or slightly below-average hurricane season, while cautioning that "it only takes one" major storm to make it a bad year. Frank also addresses the GFS model's hints at early June tropical development.

Too Many Tabs: We explore new moving traffic cameras available on DriveNC.gov, review ongoing I-40 repairs from Helene, and discuss ways the public can provide feedback on NOAA Weather Radio and the COOP observer network.

Join us next week when we talk to the Storm Prediction Center about their new severe weather intensity categories!🤝 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL & GET PERKS📹 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmhGiYbMDccQcdSjpf87nGg/join🧢 MERCH: https://carolinaweathergroup.qbstores.com/💸 LEAVE A TIP: https://streamelements.com/carolinawxgroup/tip🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/carolinaweather🔔 SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://patreon.com/carolinaweathergroup💻 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://carolinaweathergroup.com 🌤️ ABOUT THE CAROLINA WEATHER GROUPThe Carolina Weather Group operates a weekly talk show of the same name. Broadcasting each week from the Carolinas, the show is dedicated to covering weather, science, technology, and more with newsmakers from the field of atmospheric science. With co-hosts across both North Carolina and South Carolina, the show may closely feature both NC weather and SC weather, but the topics are universally enjoyable for any weather fan. Join us as we talk about weather, the environment, the atmosphere, space travel, and all the technology that makes it possible.

What's changing with hurricane forecasting this year? 🌀 In this episode of the Carolina Weather Group, we sit down with Robbie Berg from NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) to discuss the latest advancements in tropical weather forecasting.Robbie breaks down how the NHC is improving public safety messaging and helping communities better understand tropical storm hazards. We dive deep into new and improved products that better incorporate vital forecast inputs—including storm track, wind intensity, and wind radii. Whether you're a weather enthusiast or living in a hurricane-prone zone, you won't want to miss these crucial updates!🤝 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL & GET PERKS📹 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmhGiYbMDccQcdSjpf87nGg/join🧢 MERCH: https://carolinaweathergroup.qbstores.com/💸 LEAVE A TIP: https://streamelements.com/carolinawxgroup/tip🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/carolinaweather🔔 SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://patreon.com/carolinaweathergroup💻 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://carolinaweathergroup.com 🌤️ ABOUT THE CAROLINA WEATHER GROUPThe Carolina Weather Group operates a weekly talk show of the same name. Broadcasting each week from the Carolinas, the show is dedicated to covering weather, science, technology, and more with newsmakers from the field of atmospheric science. With co-hosts across both North Carolina and South Carolina, the show may closely feature both NC weather and SC weather, but the topics are universally enjoyable for any weather fan. Join us as we talk about weather, the environment, the atmosphere, space travel, and all the technology that makes it possible. #HurricaneSeason #NOAA #NationalHurricaneCenter #CarolinaWeather #WeatherForecasting #TropicalStorms #Meteorology