Hurricane Melissa has joined the record books with 185 mph winds, devastating Jamaica, Cuba, and The Bahamas before turning toward Bermuda. On this week’s Carolina Weather Group, we discuss Melissa’s Category 5 strength, new video from inside the storm’s eye, and the Outer Banks’ ongoing home collapses — five more this week in Buxton and Avon.

Our guest Peter Forister joins to unveil his new “Most Memorable Hurricanes” map, a fascinating look at which storms stand out most in the Carolinas’ collective memory, county by county. Plus, he gives a final fall foliage color update as the leaves peak across the Southeast.

Later in the show, we preview the Mid-Atlantic Severe Weather Conference with organizer Chris White, highlighting emergency management topics, storm chasing stories, and meteorology education.

📍 Topics Covered

Hurricane Melissa’s record-setting winds & damage path

New video from inside the eye of Melissa

OBX coastal destruction and repeated home collapses

Peter Forister’s “Most Memorable Hurricanes” project

Fall foliage update for North Carolina & Virginia

Upcoming Mid-Atlantic Severe Weather Conference preview

🎙️ Hosts: James Brierton, Frank Strait, Sam Walker

🎧 Guest: Peter Forister, Chris White

📅 Recorded October 29, 2025

⏱️ YouTube Chapter Timestamps

00:00 – Cold Open: Hurricane Melissa headlines & OBX homes collapse

00:43 – Welcome & panel introductions (James, Frank, Sam, Peter)

01:05 – Peter’s new “Most Memorable Hurricanes” map explained

02:20 – How social media crowdsourced storm memories

04:04 – Revisiting the original XKCD hurricane map

05:00 – Helene, Hugo, and the Carolinas’ most recalled hurricanes

06:25 – Sam’s Outer Banks perspective: Irene vs. Isabel

07:45 – Community storm memories and regional impacts

08:45 – How far back storm memories go: Hazel to Camille

10:06 – How to contribute to Peter’s map

11:03 – Fall foliage color update across the Carolinas & Virginia

13:05 – Blue Ridge Parkway road trip & color peak timing

14:00 – Audience comments and storm memory chat

17:00 – Sponsor segment: Queensboro apparel

18:20 – Mid-Atlantic Severe Weather Conference preview with Chris White

20:10 – Storm chasers, emergency managers, and guest lineup

22:15 – Ricky Matthews & Virginia Tech storm chase legacy

23:00 – Ticket deadline and conference info

23:55 – Hurricane Melissa update: 24 hours after landfall

24:15 – Satellite imagery and Hurricane Hunter turbulence

25:18 – Melissa’s record winds and shutdown-impacted missions

27:00 – Could Melissa have reached 190 mph?

29:00 – Sentinel-2 satellite captures Melissa’s eye in detail

31:00 – How high-res satellite imagery tracks storm motion

33:40 – Bermuda’s hurricane warning & storm path ahead

36:00 – OBX impacts expected from offshore Melissa swells

38:30 – Five more homes collapse in Buxton and Avon

40:30 – Highway 12 flooding and overwash footage

43:00 – Why Hatteras Island is so vulnerable to erosion

45:30 – Sam explains geography and failed nourishment projects

46:45 – Six straight weeks of coastal damage updates

47:40 – Outro & closing remarks

#weather #northcarolina #southcarolina #ncwx #scwx #podcast

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...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 5 MELISSA ABOUT TO MAKE LANDFALL IN JAMAICA... ...CATASTROPHIC WINDS, FLASH FLOODING, AND STORM SURGE OCCURRING ON

THE ISLAND...

Breaking coverage as Category 5 Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica with catastrophic winds near 185 mph, storm surge up to 13 feet, and rainfall totals exceeding 30 inches.

Join James Brierton of the Carolina Weather Group and Dr. Michael Brennan, Director of the National Hurricane Center, for the latest official update as the eye of Melissa crosses the island. Brennan details the immediate threats—life-threatening winds, flash flooding, landslides, and complete structural failure near the eyewall—while urging all residents to shelter in place.

Inside this video:

Real-time analysis of Melissa’s approach and eyewall structure

Live update from Dr. Brennan on rainfall, wind, and storm-surge impacts across Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas

Rare NOAA Hurricane Hunter footage from inside Melissa’s eyewall showing the “stadium effect” and near-200 mph winds

Discussion on outer impacts reaching the Carolina coast, including continued beach erosion and new home collapses in Buxton, NC

This is a historic and catastrophic hurricane, ranking among the strongest ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin.

Stay tuned for continued coverage and live analysis on the Carolina Weather Net, and join us Wednesday at 9 PM ET for the next Carolina Weather Group podcast.

#HurricaneMelissa #MichaelBrennan #NationalHurricaneCenter #HurricaneHunters #Jamaica #CarolinaWeatherGroup #ExtremeWeather #Category5 #LiveUpdate #NOAA

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The 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.

It’s a wild weather week across the Carolinas! 🌪️ James Brierton and Frank Strait are live for Episode 562 of the Carolina Weather Group with Stormy the Weather Cat making a cameo. We’re talking:Blowing dust at Charlotte Douglas Airport and gusty 30 mph winds turning the sky orangeTropical Storm Melissa spinning in the Caribbean — could it become a major hurricane?Drought conditions, fire danger, and the first freeze watch of the season in the North Carolina mountains ❄️Fall color updates from the Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mountain, and Lake Lure 🍁Continuing recovery in western NC after Helene, and another Outer Banks home collapse 🌊Viewer Q&A: why you need redundant ways to receive weather alerts (weather radios, apps, etc.)Plus: local shoutouts, your live comments, and an early look at next week’s rain chances.📍 Recorded live October 23, 2025👕 Merch made locally in Wilmington, NC — shop now at Queensboro.com to support the show!#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.comThe 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.

Two of the South’s most dedicated storm chasers, Brett Adair and Chris Jackson, join the Carolina Weather Group fresh off their trip to North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where a powerful nor’easter battered the coastline.

They share what it was like witnessing the crashing surf, coastal flooding, and erosion first-hand — and what happened when NC 12 closed, trapping them on Hatteras Island as the storm raged. From dramatic scenes of homes teetering over the Atlantic to the tense moments wondering which structures might fall next, Brett and Chris recount the raw power of nature and the resilience of coastal communities.

👉 Hear how this nor’easter compares to hurricanes they’ve chased in the past and what it reveals about the future of North Carolina’s fragile barrier islands.

🌀 Guests: Brett Adair, Chris Jackson

🌊 Topics: Outer Banks erosion, coastal flooding, NC 12 closure, storm chasing, barrier island vulnerability

📍 Location: Hatteras Island, North Carolina

#OuterBanks #Hatteras #StormChasing #NorEaster #CarolinaWeatherGroup #CoastalErosion #NC12 #HatterasIsland

#weather #northcarolina #southcarolina #ncwx #scwx #podcast

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The 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.

A powerful new coastal storm is taking shape off the Carolinas — and it’s bringing major flooding risks, pounding surf, and strong winds to the coast just days after king tides and ongoing erosion. 🌊

In this episode of the Carolina Weather Group, meteorologist Frank Strait breaks down the timeline for this developing nor’easter, expected to lash Charleston, Buxton, and the Outer Banks with high water and beach erosion. Reporter Sam Walker joins live from the coast to share the latest on conditions in Buxton, Rodanthe, and Ocracoke, where recent storms have already claimed multiple homes.

Then — go inside NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) in Asheville, North Carolina, where the nation’s official climate archives preserve weather records dating back to the 1700s. See rare artifacts and historic weather logs — from the first weather record at the South Pole, to Hurricane Helene, Mount St. Helens, and Ben Franklin’s handwritten observations.

Archivist Jason Cooper takes the Carolina Weather Group deep inside a vault holding more than 36,000 boxes and 120,000 microfilm reels of environmental data — everything from 19th-century weather logs and Civil War–era records to Ben Franklin’s weather notes and the first South Pole weather observation ever recorded.

See how NOAA preserves, digitizes, and protects these fragile documents from loss, and hear the incredible stories hidden within them — from the Iwo Jima weather records of World War II to the Mount St. Helens ash observations that changed forecasting forever.

📍 Filmed inside NOAA’s NCEI Archives in Asheville, North Carolina

🎙️ Featuring: Jason Cooper, NOAA Archivist

00:00:00 – Carolina Weather Group: Coastal Flood Impacts & NOAA Archive

00:00:14 – Opening and introductions from Charlotte & the Outer Banks

00:00:42 – Overview: Nor’easter forming off the Carolina coast

00:01:05 – Frank Strait: Storm setup and early model guidance

00:02:18 – Friday forecast: Winds, rain, and coastal impacts for SC

00:03:31 – Charleston king tides and potential major flooding

00:05:03 – Beach erosion and weekend improvements for South Carolina

00:06:41 – Sam Walker: Outer Banks erosion and home collapses

00:08:09 – Dare County emergency management urges early departures

00:09:46 – Third coastal storm since August; ongoing beach recovery

00:10:23 – Tropical Storm Jerry update and potential offshore effects

00:12:06 – Explaining “nor’easter” and why this storm is unnamed

00:14:24 – Flashback: Hurricane Matthew anniversary (2016)

00:15:21 – Transition: Inside NOAA’s National Weather Archive in Asheville

00:17:09 – Jason Cooper: Tour of NOAA’s 36,000-box climate archive

00:18:47 – How weather records are created, preserved, and digitized

00:20:17 – Historic records from Charleston (1830s) to Ben Franklin

00:22:31 – Iwo Jima, Ohio floods, and early Dakota Territory weather logs

00:24:17 – First South Pole weather record (1957) and its challenges

00:25:24 – Unique events in the archive: Hindenburg, Mt. St. Helens, Woodstock

00:27:54 – Personal reflections on Hurricane Helene and Asheville flooding

00:31:54 – Jared Rennie: Analyzing Helene’s one-in-1000-year rainfall

00:34:46 – Emotional and scientific look at the Helene disaster

00:38:00 – Evacuation, recovery, and NOAA’s storm data verification

00:52:40 – Closing thoughts: Data, resilience, and the Carolina spirit

#weather #northcarolina #southcarolina #ncwx #scwx #podcast

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On this week’s Carolina Weather Group (Episode 559 – October 1, 2025), James Brierton, Frank Strait, Sam Walker, and Joseph Naven unpack the federal government shutdown — and what it really means for the National Weather Service, NOAA, and hurricane operations across the Southeast.

The team discusses:

What services will continue during the shutdown (like life-saving forecasts and warnings)

Why NOAA’s social media and hurricane hunter updates are temporarily paused

How Hurricane Imelda’s unexpected right turn spared most of the Carolinas

Breaking news from the Outer Banks, where at least seven homes have collapsed into the Atlantic near Buxton

How the shutdown complicates cleanup efforts on Cape Hatteras National Seashore

A look back one year after Hurricane Helene, with updates from Asheville’s River Arts District and CSX rail repairs across western North Carolina

Plus: NASCAR’s Charlotte fall weekend forecast, and a look back ten years to the 2015 South Carolina floods

Whether you’re in the Carolinas or beyond, this episode highlights how weather and government operations intersect — and how resilient our communities remain.

#weather #northcarolina #southcarolina #ncwx #scwx #podcast

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The 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.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is joined by the National Weather Service and state officials to discuss preparations for Tropical Depression Nine, the storm forecast to become Hurricane Imelda in the days ahead. Impacts to the Carolina coast are forecast to include heavy rain, gusty winds and rough surf.

#weather #northcarolina #southcarolina #ncwx #scwx #podcast

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The 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 National Hurricane Center has issued the first hurricane forecast cone for a storm system expected to become Imelda.

Impacts from Imelda are forecast to include heavy rain, gusty winds and rough surf along the Carolinas.

The storm is organizing itself just north of Cuba. Until it becomes better organized, the system is referred to as "Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine." It could become Tropical Depression Nine before assuming the Imelda name at the Tropical Storm or Hurricane stage.

#weather #northcarolina #southcarolina #ncwx #scwx #podcast

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The 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.

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeastern United States, bringing deadly storm surge, destructive winds, tornadoes, and record-breaking rainfall. Combined with a rare Predecessor Rainfall Event (PRE), the storm caused catastrophic flooding across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, leaving behind nearly $80 billion in damage.

One year later, the Carolina Weather Group brings you this anniversary special report, filmed on location across the Carolinas, documenting the lasting damage, recovery efforts, and ongoing rebuilding.

In this program, we visit:

Asheville, NC, where the River Arts District became the epicenter of national flood coverage after the French Broad River engulfed buildings and crippled the city’s infrastructure.

Black Mountain and East Asheville, where residents endured devastating flash flooding with little access to outside help.

Fletcher, NC, where the French Broad River crested 10 feet higher than the infamous 1916 flood.

South Carolina Upstate communities, where hurricane-force winds up to 106 mph brought down trees and power lines.

NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) in Asheville, where scientists managed without power or water to preserve vital U.S. climate archives.

The National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg office, where forecasters issued life-saving warnings while enduring the storm themselves.

This anniversary documentary blends firsthand accounts, scientific analysis, and official data to provide one of the most complete records yet of Hurricane Helene’s impact on the Carolinas and Appalachia.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Introduction: Hurricane Helene’s Landfall and Damage Overview

02:00 – On Location in Asheville: One Year After the Storm

04:30 – The River Arts District: Epicenter of Flooding and Destruction

07:15 – French Broad River Flooding: Buildings, Cars, and Infrastructure Lost

10:00 – Landslides and Debris Flows Across Appalachia

12:30 – Evan Fisher Joins: Walking Through Asheville’s Recovery

16:00 – Comparing Helene to the 1916 Flood in Western North Carolina

19:45 – Black Mountain: Floodwaters Overwhelm Neighborhoods

23:00 – Community Meetings and Radio: How Residents Stayed Informed

26:00 – Search, Rescue, and Reunification: Stories of Survival

30:00 – Inside NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (Asheville)

34:00 – Protecting America’s Weather Archives During the Storm

38:00 – Rainfall Data and “1-in-1,000-Year” Event Analysis

41:00 – National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg: Messaging a Catastrophic Storm

44:00 – Closing Reflections: Damage, Recovery, and Rebuilding the Carolinas

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The 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.

Tropical Storm Humberto officially formed in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday. It is one of two areas of tropical development being monitored by the WCNC Weather Impact Team.

At 5 p.m., NOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced that Tropical Storm Humberto had officially developed about 550 miles northeast of the Leeward Islands, moving northwest at 15 mph with sustained winds of 40 mph. Prior to 5 p.m., forecasters had been monitoring the area under the name Invest 93L, which denotes it as an area of potential tropical development.

There’s also another system nearby, Invest 94L, which could interact with Humberto and add more uncertainty to the forecast. The National Hurricane Center notes that confidence in the track beyond Day 3 is lower than usual, giving the potential impacts of both the cold front and Invest 94L on Humberto.

Invest 94L has an 80% of developing into an organized system. If it were to reach tropical storm status with winds of 39 mph, it would receive the name Imelda.

#weather #northcarolina #southcarolina #ncwx #scwx #podcast

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The 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.