A report filed with federal regulators reveals the offshore pipeline that spilled tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil off the Southern California coast in October did not have a fully functioning leak detection system.

Israel has launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip for a second time since a shaky cease-fire ended last month’s 11-day war.

YUCATAN PENINSULA, Mex. However, there’s still two months left in hurricane season and we have to stay vigilant as more tropical waves organize and strengthen. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) says Tropical Storm Gamma has formed in the western Caribbean. Official Gamma forecast track (WSLS)As the storm slowly moves north and then west, it will dump torrential rainfall on the Yucatan and western Cuba, causing dangerous flash flooding. Tropical headlines (WSLS)Gamma is the 24th named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, and the third on the Greek alphabet list.

Roanoke and Blacksburg set new daily rainfall records yesterday with 1.67″ and 1.31″ of rain respectively. As high pressure tries to build in from the southwest, clouds will partially erode through the midday and afternoon. VT Football Forecast (WSLS)Sunday looks like a decent day with temperatures warming to near 80 degrees by the afternoon. Right now, we’re forecasting Tuesday as the wettest day of the week, but some showers and/or storms can’t be ruled out Monday or Wednesday. Behind the front, we expect cooler and drier air to filter into the region for the late stages of the week.

ROANOKE, Va. – It’s looking to be a wet commute for us as the remnants of Beta finally pass over our area. CommuteBy the time Beta exits the region, 1-2″ of rainfall will be possible along and south of 460. Rain TotalsWhile most of the rain is expected to fall during the morning hours, rain will linger through the afternoon and evening. Highs will reach the mid to upper 70s on Saturday and the low 80s by Sunday. While rain chances can’t be ruled out, they are looking to be very isolated so no need to cancel any weekend plans!

ROANOKE, Va. – Clouds continue to increase after a stretch of beautiful, fall weather. Hourly temperature planner for Thursday, 9/24/2020While you may see a few sprinkles Thursday, most of the rain holds off until the evening and nighttime. FutureTracker late Thursday night - early Friday morningAs the remnants of Beta team up with energy to our northwest, the rain will become heavier at times Friday morning. We’ll likely start with pockets of fog Saturday morning with clouds gradually decreasing by the afternoon. The last weekend of summer felt like fall, and the first weekend of fall will have hints of summer.

HOUSTON – As Tropical Storm Beta neared the Texas coast Monday, the biggest unknown was how much rainfall it could produce in areas that have already seen their share of damaging weather during a busy hurricane season. Rain from Beta was already coming down Monday in the Houston area. Earlier predictions of up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) in some areas were downgraded Monday to up to 15 inches (38 centimeters). Forecasters and officials reassured residents Beta was not expected to be another Hurricane Harvey or Tropical Storm Imelda. Harvey in 2017 dumped more than 50 inches (127 centimeters) of rain on Houston, causing $125 billion in damage in Texas.

ROANOKE, Va. – Many of you took note of the sunset Saturday evening and sent us some gorgeous pictures. Full Screen 1 / 24 Mark Matthews - WythevilleThis was all due to the clouds streaming in off Tropical Storm Beta. Satellite imagery from around sunset Saturday shows those clouds drifting off the storm. Satellite and radar imagery of Tropical Storm Beta from 9/19/2020These clouds were around airplane level. At this level, the air was so cold that the clouds were made primarily of ice crystals (cirrus clouds).

Forecasters said Beta was not expected to bring the same amount of rainfall that Texas experienced during either Hurricane Harvey in 2017 or Tropical Storm Imelda last year. The first rain bands from Beta reached the Texas coast on Sunday, but the heaviest rain wasn't expected to arrive until Monday into Tuesday. If the system makes landfall in Texas, it would be the ninth named storm to make landfall in the continental U.S. in 2020. A tropical storm warning was in effect for Bermuda. Wilfred, which had been a tropical storm, weakened to a tropical depression earlier Sunday.

Location 60 miles NNE of Birmingham Alabama Wind 10 mph Heading NE at 10 mph Pressure 29.83 Coordinates 86.3W, 34.3NDiscussionAt 400 AM CDT (0900 UTC), the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Beta was located near latitude 34.3 North, longitude 86.3 West. The post-tropical cyclone is moving toward the northeast near 10 mph (17 km/h) until it becomes indistinguishable within the background wind and pressure field by mid-afternoon Friday. Maximum sustained winds are near 10 mph (20 km/h) with higher gusts. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1010 mb (29.83 inches). Tropics Satellite at 3:39 Friday Night, September 25thWatches and WarningsThere are no watches or warnings in effect.