2 pilots killed in helicopter crash while battling wildfire at popular national park

This photo provided by the National Park Service shows the Dome Fire burning in Yosemite National Park on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.(National Park Service via AP)Two helicopter pilots were killed when their aircraft crashed Sunday afternoon while conducting water drops on a wildfire at Yosemite National Park, officials say. The pilots were the only people on board. They were employed by the contract aircraft company Precision. One of the pilots was Greg King, who used to work for the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection and fought several wildland fires in that state before moving to Precision, agency spokesperson Emery Johnson said. King's close relatives work at the agency and gave their permission to release his name, Johnson said. The identity of the second pilot has not yet been released.(INTO THE INFERNO: What it feels like inside of a wildfire)At least 14 people have died while helping with wildfires in the U. S. this year, the most since 2022 when 25 deaths were recorded, according to government reports. In August, two helicopter pilots died while helping fight a fire in Utah and a helicopter pilot in Colorado crashed into a reservoir.

Hurricane Trudy will bring flood threat to the Southwest USTrudy is off the Mexican coast, however, its moisture will pour into the Southwestern U. S., helping fuel a multiday flood risk across seven states this week from California to Colorado. A dip in the jet stream will also funnel in moisture from the Pacific as a strong low pressure system moves into the region. Timing out this week’s rainfallWednesday: The highest risk of flooding on Wednesday covers much of Arizona and parts of New Mexico, as well as southern portions of Colorado and Utah. There will be an abundance of moisture available to support heavy downpours and training storms. This means storms will produce heavy rain over the same areas for long periods of time. The Weather Prediction Center is forecasting rainfall rates as high as 2 inches per hour. Some of the biggest concern will be the possibility of mudslides over recent burn scar areas as well as slow canyons and arroyos. If you have plans to visit any of the national parks in the West this week, make sure you check the forecast daily and pay attention to any warnings or advisories issued.

An October nor'easter is developing in the Atlantic, where it will bring high surf, rip currents, coastal flooding and winds to parts of the East Coast for several days this week. The National Hurricane Center has highlighted it as an area to watch this week for the potential development of Josephine. However, regardless of whether we call this system a nor'easter or Josephine, the impacts will be the same. The bottom line: This system will bring dangerous conditions to the East Coast for multiple days this week.(MORE: What is a nor'easter?)Fortunately, this nor'easter doesn't look to be as strong as the one in September. But the bad news? It could linger for much of the week, so impacts could have a longer duration. Coastal flood alerts are in effect for parts of coastal North Carolina and Virginia, where anywhere from 1 to 4 feet of inundation is possible. Get More of Our News on GoogleSet The Weather Company as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value. Key takeawaysWe do not expect this storm to be as strong as the late September nor'easter.

We have the maps you need to track all the systems ongoing in the Pacific and Atlantic below. Tracking the AtlanticTropical development areasSea surface temperatures Wind shear These are areas of strong wind shear, the difference in wind speed and direction with height, which are shown in purple. High wind shear is hostile to mature tropical cyclones and those trying to develop.(MORE: What is wind shear?)Get More of Our News on GoogleSet The Weather Company as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value. Dry, dusty airAnother nemesis of tropical systems is dry air. In hurricane season, plumes of dust-laden air stream across the basin from Africa's Sahara Desert, as you can see in the map below. This sinking, dry air squelches thunderstorm development, the building blocks of tropical storms and hurricanes. So areas in the brown shading below are generally unfavorable for development. Atlantic tracks so far this seasonThese are the tracks of systems that were at least tropical or subtropical storms so far in the Atlantic Basin.

Winter storm prep checklist: what to do 72, 48 and 24 hours outYou get the warning that a winter storm is coming: When you prepare matters as much as how you prepare. So I asked experts what you should do in the 72 hours, 48 hours and 24 hours before the storm arrives.(MORE: Your first freeze is coming — see average dates by region)Dan Stoneking spent a career in the U. S. Army and 15 years at FEMA. He’s now the founder and owner of Stoneking Strategic Communications. Remy Kennedy is a communications program manager with the American Red Cross. Both say you should create a checklist, and here’s what should be on it.72 hours before a storm: stock up and run errands“At 72 hours out, I like to tell people that’s basically the time you do all the things outside of your house,” Stoneking said. “One of the first things you want to do is evaluate your home situation,” Kennedy said. Who might need extra care in the cold? Kids, pets, older relatives, neighbors living alone.  Then you need to make your errands list.

The next fall nor’easter is brewing off the North Carolina coast, setting the stage for extensive impacts throughout the week. The National Hurricane Center is now highlighting this area for potential tropical development, with a 30% chance over the next seven days. WHAT IS A NOR’EASTER? Regardless of tropical development, the Outer Banks are expected to see long-term impacts, including intense wind gusts from the approaching nor’easter, while the storm sits off the coast. The main concern for the Outer Banks region will be intense wind gusts as strong as 40 to 60 mph, fueling moderate coastal flooding and destructive waves. A mandatory evacuation for locals on Hatteras Island is in effect, as storm conditions are expected to worsen, with the potential for significant ocean overwash. This graphic shows the Wind Alerts for the upcoming Nor’easter.(FOX Weather) According to the FOX Forecast Center, the impacts will last through late Wednesday evening and into Thursday, totaling three days of nasty storms with ferocious wind gusts.