Gulf coast

For years, scientists have warned us that climate change will lead to bigger, more intense, and more frequent major storms by driving warmer oceans and more moisture into the air.

Water levels will continue to fluctuate as the storm's intensity increases, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service told Newsweek.

Tampa International is so far the only airport in the region to shut down, with others shutting down soon or monitoring the storm's development.

At least two deaths have been reported after a tornado touched down in a Gulf Coast neighborhood on Saturday morning.

"This has never happened in modern times," Dr. Pamela Plotkin, a sea turtle biologist, said after Kemp's ridley sea turtle eggs were found on a Texas beach.

A number of factors play into how prices at the pump can vary substantially among the nation's states.

"That is the kindest thing I've seen in a long time," wrote one commenter on a now-viral post shared by Orange Beach Surf Rescue.

Wednesday's storms put roughly 65,000 customers without power in Texas and Louisiana.

The storm will bring most areas about five to 10 inches of rain, though some isolated places could receive up to 15 inches.

The U.S. Energy Department said that nine Louisiana refineries were forced to close, at least temporarily, due to the storm.

Fuel industry analysts predict an increase in gas prices due to the storm as the country heads into Labor Day weekend.

Ida intensified rapidly on Friday from a tropical storm to a hurricane with winds reaching up to 80 mph as it hit western Cuba.

"Ida is expected to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it approaches the northern Gulf coast on Sunday," the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory.

The National Weather Service in New Orleans has warned that "dangerous impacts will be possible" from Ida when it hits the U.S. on Sunday morning.

"After Memorial Day, it was, 'Everything is back to normal, go to the beach, take off your mask,'" Dr. Bert Eichold said.

Texas beaches were worse than the national average, with 82 percent of its 220 beaches listed as "potentially unsafe" on at least one day last year.

"Highway 23 is open at this time, just watch out for alligators," an emergency center director in Louisiana said on Saturday.

The update continued, "Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin today in areas near and well to the east of the center along portions of the central Gulf Coast from Intracoastal City, La., to the Okaloosa/Walton County line, Fla., including New Orleans."

Gerri Womack Garon was enjoyed a beautiful day in Orange Beach, Alabama when she spotted the reptile.

Voluntary evacuation orders are in place in parts of Texas as Gov. Greg Abbott urges Texans to: "take the necessary precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones out of harm's way."

Fire ants, which do not need to be provoked to attack, inject venom that causes an intense burning pain.

Sally is forecast to produce 10 to 20 inches of rainfall, with isolated amounts of 30 inches, from the Florida Panhandle to the Alabama/Mississippi border.

Tropical Storm Sally is expected to make landfall on Tuesday, bringing heavy rainfall and storm surge flooding to the Gulf Coast less than a month after Hurricane Laura hit the area.

Sally is the earliest 18th-named tropical storm to form in a single Atlantic hurricane season.

A westward-moving tropical wave located a couple hundred miles east of the Cabo Verde Islands could be the 14th-named storm of this Atlantic hurricane season.

As the Level 3 hurricane approaches the Gulf Coast, the City of Galveston, the City of Port Arthur, Jefferson County and Orange county have all issued mandatory evacuation orders for Hurricane Laura's impending arrival.

Forecasters predict that Hurricane Laura will strengthen to a major hurricane as it moves over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, before making landfall on Wednesday.

According to the latest forecast models, the next wave of dust will reach southeastern Texas, Louisiana and southern Mississippi.

Trade winds blow dust from the Sahara westwards over the Atlantic every year.

The dust can pose a health risk, particularly for those with respiratory issues, such as asthma and allergies.