Pittsburgh: Severe Weather Alert Day Sunday Afternoon A severe weather alert has been issued for Sunday afternoon in the Pittsburgh area, with scattered strong thunderstorms expected to develop late in the afternoon and continue into the evening. The primary threat from these storms includes damaging wind gusts, heavy downpours, and isolated instances of small to medium hail. Lightening is also a concern with any thunderstorm activity. Temperatures are projected to rise significantly on Sunday, with the day starting in the low 50s and climbing to mid-70s by late afternoon. However, the most active weather will occur after 4 p.m., when showers and thunderstorms are expected to form and move across the region. The earliest storms may arrive north of Interstate 80 around 3:30 to 4 p.m., gradually drifting southward and reaching the Pittsburgh area between 5 and 6 p.m. Areas south of Interstate 70 could see increased chances of severe weather after 6 p.m. The National Weather Service warns that the strongest thunderstorms will peak between 5 and 9 p.m., with the most intense activity likely near and north of I-80. While the severe weather threat is expected to diminish by 9 p.m., scattered showers and thunderstorms may linger until around 2 a.m., with the last remnants of rain clearing by Monday morning. Rainfall totals are anticipated to range from a half inch to an inch across the region, with isolated areas, such as Greensburg, possibly seeing up to an inch of rain. While these amounts are not considered life-threatening, they could lead to localized flooding, particularly in low-lying areas. The weather system will bring a sharp cooldown following the storm, with Monday morning temperatures dropping to the low 40s.#national_weather_service #interstate_80 #pittsburgh #interstate_70 #greensburg
A not-so-equal equinox: Why day beats night on the 1st day of spring The spring equinox marks the first day of spring today, but daylight actually lasts several minutes longer than night. Here's why the equinox doesn't appear perfectly equal. On March 20 at 10:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the vernal equinox occurs. At that moment, the sun aligns directly over the equator, casting equal light on both hemispheres. However, this moment is not the exact midpoint of day and night. For North Americans, spring officially begins on March 20, a shift from the traditional March 21. This change is due to the Earth’s elliptical orbit and the structure of the Gregorian calendar. From 1980 to 2102, the equinox will never fall later than March 20. In 2028, it will even occur on March 19 for the Western Hemisphere. The idea that days and nights are equal on the equinox is a common misconception. In reality, daylight is longer than darkness by several minutes. For example, in Pittsburgh, the equinox does not mark equal day and night but rather Saint Patrick’s Day. This discrepancy arises because sunrise and sunset times are calculated based on when the sun’s top edge appears on the horizon, not its center. The sun’s apparent diameter, about half a degree, contributes to this effect. Additionally, Earth’s atmosphere bends sunlight, creating an optical illusion. The U.S. Naval Observatory accounts for this refraction, noting that the sun’s geometric center is more than eight-tenths of a degree below the horizon at sunrise. As a result, we see the sun for a few minutes before it rises and after it sets. This atmospheric lens effect adds approximately six to seven minutes to daylight each day.#us_naval_observatory #pittsburgh #spring_equinox #earth_elliptical_orbit #joe_rao
Meteor explodes with force of 250 tons of TNT, creates sonic boom over Ohio A massive meteor weighing nearly seven tons lit up the skies over the U.S. Midwest on Tuesday morning, exploding high above Ohio with an energy release equivalent to 250 tons of TNT, according to NASA. The space rock, estimated to be about six feet in diameter, entered Earth’s atmosphere at an astonishing speed of nearly 45,000 miles per hour. The dramatic event startled residents across several states, many of whom reported hearing a loud boom and feeling ground tremors. The intense fragmentation produced a bright fireball visible across at least 10 states, as well as Washington, DC, and parts of Ontario, Canada. Eyewitnesses described the spectacle as a blazing streak of light cutting across the sky shortly before 9 a.m. Eastern Time. Reports quickly flooded in from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, where several residents also heard a powerful sonic boom. Some initially mistook the sound for an explosion or earthquake. One Ohio resident told local media that the shockwave was strong enough to shake their entire house. NASA explained that the loud boom resulted from the meteor breaking apart in the atmosphere, generating a pressure wave that traveled down to the ground. Despite the dramatic nature of the event, experts say such explosions, known as bolides, are not uncommon, though they rarely occur over populated areas. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed the object as a meteor and noted that it was detected using a geostationary lightning mapper, an instrument typically used to track lightning activity. The device identified a rapid atmospheric flash, similar to lightning, over the Cleveland area, capturing a distinctive green burst associated with the meteor’s breakup.#nasa #national_weather_service #pittsburgh #cleveland #jared_rackley
Speedy Claxton, Hofstra not backing down from chance to make March Madness noise: ‘Force to be reckoned with’ Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton is approaching March Madness with confidence, positioning his team as a contender capable of making a significant impact. The former NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs emphasized that Hofstra is not merely seeking to participate but to compete at the highest level. “We’re not going there just to be happy we’re there … we’re trying to win,” Claxton said, reflecting his team’s determination. The 24-10 Long Island squad has emerged as a formidable force, having challenged established programs in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and secured a hard-fought CAA championship. Their victories over Pittsburgh and Syracuse, including a 70-69 upset of the Syracuse Orange, underscore their growing reputation. Claxton described Hofstra as a “force to be reckoned with,” a label that aligns with their recent success and the expectations now placed on them. Hofstra’s journey to this moment has been long and arduous, marked by a 25-year drought since their last March Madness appearance. The program faced numerous challenges, including a global pandemic that canceled the 2020 tournament before Hofstra could qualify. Despite setbacks, the team persevered, culminating in a historic 88-78 upset over UCLA in 2020. However, the pandemic disrupted their path to the NCAA Tournament, leaving them without the chance to experience the spotlight. Claxton, who played for Hofstra under coach Jay Wright in 2000, has been instrumental in rebuilding the program since taking over in 2021. His mentorship under former coach Joe Mihalich provided a foundation for success, and the team has since made strides, including an overtime victory over Rutgers in the 2023 NIT.#atlantic_coast_conference #pittsburgh #speedy_claxton #hofstra #caa_championship
Country singer Hunter Hayes returning to Pittsburgh with new album ‘Evergreen’ Hunter Hayes will bring his Evergreen tour to Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale on March 27, 2026, as the country artist prepares to release his 10th studio album on March 6. The tour marks a return to Pittsburgh, a city Hayes recalls with a mix of nostalgia and vivid memories from his early career. Hayes, a five-time Grammy nominee who rose to fame with his hit single “Wanted,” shared stories of his formative years during a recent Zoom interview with TribLive. He recounted a memorable night in Pittsburgh when he was just 21, having recently launched his music career. Alongside a group of around 30 bandmates and crew members, Hayes and his team attended a James Bond movie premiere for Skyfall, followed by a martini bar visit where he ordered a Vesper cocktail. The experience, he admitted, was overwhelming for a newcomer. “I didn’t know that taking a Vesper would take some experience to get through,” he laughed. “We had a show the next day. I loved the movie, but I remember going back to my room and thinking, ‘I don’t know if I’m gonna be OK tomorrow.’” The Evergreen album, which Hayes described as a “brand new home” for his music, has been in the works for nearly a decade. He explained that the project began with his first independent album, Wild Blue, which he created while still under a label but released independently after leaving. The follow-up, Red Sky, expanded on that foundation, and Evergreen emerged as a concept that felt both grounded and aspirational. “I kept writing songs for it, and I think I wrote the title track in 2018,” he said. “There was this complicated relationship with it—like, I knew it felt peaceful and grounded, but I didn’t feel qualified to speak on it yet.#hunter_hayes #evergreen_album #mr_smalls_theatre #pittsburgh #james_bond_skyfall
School closings and delays for Massachusetts on Wednesday, March 4 Several school districts in Massachusetts have delayed the start of classes for Wednesday, March 4 due to snowfall overnight and icy road conditions this morning. The decision was made to ensure student safety amid the hazardous weather. The list of affected schools includes public institutions, private schools, and colleges, organized alphabetically. Delays are currently in effect for many districts, with updates provided as of the latest available information. In addition to Massachusetts, other regions such as Pittsburgh and Georgia have also experienced severe weather-related disruptions. The Pittsburgh area is under a winter weather advisory, with snow and high winds expected to impact transportation and school operations. Similarly, schools in Atlanta, Cherokee, and Meriwether counties in Georgia have canceled classes or delayed openings due to adverse conditions. Power outages have been reported across parts of Massachusetts following strong winds that knocked down trees and utility lines. These outages have further complicated efforts to clear roads and restore normalcy. The situation highlights the widespread impact of severe weather on daily life, with educational institutions and local governments working to prioritize safety over routine schedules. Updates on school closures and delays are expected to be posted as conditions evolve.#atlanta #pittsburgh #meriwether_county #massachusetts #cherokee_county
