Maine's Freak Waves Have Experts Stumped

Tornadoes claim victims in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama

(NEWSER) - A total of seven people have been killed in violent storms in Alabama, bringing the total death toll to 17 as a devastating storm system works its way across the South. A spate of tornadoes ripped through towns, tossing mobile homes around like toys. "The tornado hit and jumped and hit and jumped again," says an Alabama official. "It would do some damage and then move on." Deaths have been reported in Oklahoma and Arkansas. More»

Rare macroburst also tore through city, says weather service

(NEWSER) - The National Weather Service is confirming that the storm system that ripped through New York City Thursday spawned two tornadoes and a rare "macroburst," or intense downdraft, reports the New York Post. The first tornado rammed through Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood with winds up to 80mph; the second hit Queens with winds of 100mph; the macroburst then howled through Forest Hills at 125mph. The wind tore up some 1,100 trees, and many roofs and vehicles. More»

(NEWSER) - Maine lobster prices are uncharacteristically low, leaving the industry unsettled on the eve of the all-important summer tourist season, the Portland Press Herald reports. Wholesale prices are as low as $3.25, and retail prices start at $5.50. But some aren’t worried by the mercurial interplay of supply, demand, weather, and gas prices. "I think that we're going to have a good season," said one lobster dealer. More»

Storm will hit Bahamas next, probably miss Florida

(NEWSER) - Tropical Storm Noel hit Cuba today as its rains kept drenching the Dominican Republic and Haiti, CNN reports. The ex-hurricane's 40 mph winds and 5 to 15 inches of rain are expected to stay over Cuba tonight before moving north tomorrow. Forecasters say the storm will likely miss the US, but a tropical storm watch may apply to southeastern Florida. More»

Category 5 storm packs severe winds, but leaves no immediate deaths, damage

(NEWSER) - Tearing into history as the most intense Atlantic storm to make landfall in two decades, Hurricane Dean today pounded the Yucatan peninsula, battering Mayan ruins and swinging toward oil rigs, the AP reports. Pummeling homes and trees in sparsely populated, mostly evacuated areas, the fierce Category 5 storm shrunk to a Category 3, and left no immediate deaths or major damage. More»