Hurricane Lala drenched Hawaii with enough water to fill nearly 2 million Olympic-sized pools

"Polo, Nolo, Lala? What's the deal with all the Pacific hurricane names that are just two repeating syllables? " — KevinA lot of this comes down to coincidence and time of the year, but there are some linguistics embedded in the Central Pacific names that tipped the chances of repeated syllables. Let’s start with Marco Polo, err… Polo 'n Nolo. These are the names that have gotten the most chatter in the newsroom and online in the last few weeks. Coincidental timing of names has been a theme this year, starting with Tropical Storm Dolly being named within days of Dolly Parton’s death. That name first appeared on naming lists when Dolly Parton was just 7 years old. It happens to be on a list that rotates every six years, and nobody knew or planned for that name to be on the list in the same year the beloved singer and philanthropist would pass. Likewise, Polo is on another rotating list that appears every six years and goes from A to Z through the year. This was just the 16th storm of this season in the East Pacific. Polo isn’t a popular name in English-speaking countries, but it is a nickname in Spanish and Italian for common names like Paolo and Pablo.

Hawaii faced flooding from Moke just a week after destructive flooding and winds from Hurricane Lala last weekend.(MORE: Hurricane Lala cleanup begins in Hawaii, 100 Big Island homes damaged)Where is Moke right now? Moke was pronounced "MOH-keh. "The National Hurricane Center issued its first advisory on Tropical Depression Two-C Thursday morning. It was upgraded to a tropical storm Friday morning. It then weakened to a tropical depression over the weekend. (MORE: What tropical terms mean)What were the impacts to Hawaii? The most serious concern is additional heavy rain and flash flooding just days after Hurricane Lala triggered damaging flooding on the Big Island, and locally flooding rain in other parts of the island chain. Get More of Our News on GoogleSet The Weather Company as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value. A flood watch was in effect for the Big Island.

Tropical Storm Moke and Hurricane Lala will likely be the most impactful back-to-back storms to have affected Hawaii within about a week's time in records since the mid-20th century. Lala, then MokeLast weekend, Hurricane Lala lashed the Big Island with up to 43 inches of rain and damaging winds, leading to destructive flooding and landslides that washed out roads and flooded some communities. Tropical Storm Moke will then make its closest pass to Hawaii about a week after Lala, with more locally heavy rain possible, including the flood-ravaged Big Island. Both systems have been juiced by a rapidly strengthening El Niño, which often results in more active Central Pacific hurricane seasons. This is a rarity for HawaiiPoring through NOAA's database, we found only one other time since 1950 that Hawaii was affected by two tropical storms or hurricanes within a week's time. That was 10 years ago. Get More of Our News on GoogleSet The Weather Company as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value. In 2016, Hurricane Madeline weakened to a tropical storm, then brushed south of the Big Island from August 31 to September 1.

A meteor streaks across the sky over a desert in China during the Orionid meteor shower on Oct. 22, 2023.(VCG/VCG via Getty Images)The Orionid meteor shower is peaking this week, and it promises to be one of the most dazzling displays of the year. And while some of you will have clear skies, rain and clouds could impact the view for others. Here's what you need to know about the Orionids and your forecast:Fast factsPeak day: The meteor shower peaks Wednesday night, Oct. 21, into the early hours of Thursday morning, Oct. 22. Peak time: From midnight to dawn are the best hours to catch the meteors streaking through the sky, so plan on a late night or really early morning. What the Orionids are known for: The Orionid meteors are known for their brightness and their speed. As they streak across the sky at around 41 miles per second, the meteors leave behind a glowing "train" that can last several seconds to minutes. While you can make the perfect plan to catch the Orionids, the key to stellar viewing is still in Mother Nature's hands. The good news is that many of you should have good meteor shower-watching conditions. Much of the central and eastern U. S.

(urbanbuzz/shutterstock)Could a cheap roll of duct tape help protect your home from flooding? New research suggests it could make a surprisingly big difference. In controlled tests, correctly applied duct tape on the outside of a household door reduced water leakage by 97-98%. The findings suggest that a simple low-cost measure could substantially reduce the amount of water entering a home during a flood. This is important as one of the key lessons from flood resilience research is that the best time to protect a property is before floodwater arrives. The UK government’s 2025 FloodReady Review called for practical, affordable measures that help households understand their risks and to prepare for flooding. And one potential contribution to this agenda might sound unlikely, at first glance. Duct tape is more commonly associated with household repairs than flood protection. However, tests colleagues and I conducted at the University of Hull demonstrated how much water can enter a property through an unprotected doorway during a flood. Three doors, ready for flood-testing.

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.