- Helldivers 2 devs tell players to put down the lightning guns to prevent the game from freezing, which sounds like a Terminid in disguise to me Gamesradar
- In a rare message from Helldivers 2 Game Master Joel, Arrowhead confirms the war is bugged and not being tracked properly amid a spike in crashes after a new patch Gamesradar
- Helldivers 2 Patch 1.000.103 Nerfs Planet Hazards, Patrols Spawning on Players, and More IGN
- How to fix Helldivers 2 friend request not working PCGamesN
- Bold new era of Helldivers 2 lightning combat short-circuits as Arc Throwers start crashing games PC Gamer
Tag Archives: lightning
Matthew Macfadyen Cast in ‘Death by Lightning’ Netflix Drama – TVLine
- Matthew Macfadyen Cast in ‘Death by Lightning’ Netflix Drama TVLine
- ‘Succession’ Alum Matthew Macfadyen, Michael Shannon to Star in Netflix Series About President James Garfield’s Life & Assassination Variety
- Michael Shannon & Matthew Macfadyen To Star In President Garfield Assassination Series ‘Death By Lightning’ For Netflix Deadline
- Game Of Thrones Creators Reveal Their Next Show, And It’s Totally Different GameSpot
- Matthew Macfadyen to star in series from ‘Game of Thrones’ showrunners Entertainment Weekly News
Lightning Round: Icahn Enterprises probably has another 10% higher to go, says Jim Cramer – CNBC Television
- Lightning Round: Icahn Enterprises probably has another 10% higher to go, says Jim Cramer CNBC Television
- Corporate raider Carl Icahn recovers $1 billion in his fortune as loan deal with big banks alleviates short-seller assault Fortune
- Hedge Fund and Insider Trading News: Carl Icahn, Millennium Management, Bridgewater Associates, Domo Inc (DOMO), Walmart Inc (WMT), and More Insider Monkey
- Carl Icahn gets breathing room from banks after short seller Hindenburg’s attack New York Post
- Monday Morning’s Moves Have Carl Icahn Smiling The Motley Fool
- View Full Coverage on Google News
These Apple-like Target Tech Accessories Are 50% Off Right Now
Target’s first exclusive electronic’s brand, Heyday, is having a 50% sale on many of their products right now—and you may notice that a lot of these products have a striking similarity to Apple products. So if you’re in the market for an Apple-like product and don’t mind not having the real deal, this might be the time to give Heyday a shot. These deals are online-only.
What is Heyday?
Heyday was first launched in 2018 by Target as a way to target millennials and Gen Z shoppers. The line includes headphones, earbuds, Bluetooth speakers, Lightning cords, Apple Watch bands, phone cases, and other accessories. Their main aim is to have affordable, quality tech accessories that Gen Z and millennials would want. Here are some of the best deals you can get right now from Target’s Heyday sale—and how they compare in price to their more expensive Apple counterparts.
This Heyday silicone case for AirPods with a clip is half off, and it’s comparable to Apple’s equivalent, which goes for $30 on their website. Honestly, nobody will know the difference.
G/O Media may get a commission
Up to 40% off
Samsung Smart TVs
Vivid colors and deep blacks
It’s Oscar season which means it’s time to binge all the nominations before the big day. Why not enjoy these pieces of art on a new TV from our friends at Samsung?
This Bluetooth keyboard is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Chrome (that’s two more than Apple’s keyboard). You can connect up to three different devices and switches between them with a tap, and it uses two AAA batteries. Or if you’d rather pay $100 for Apple’s equivalent, it’s your money.
Sure, Heyday’s iPhone stand will not hold your fancy Apple Watch along with your iPhone, but it will hold your phone just as well and charge it with the same MagSafe wireless charging. And it’s less than a fifth of the price to Apple’s (really Otterbox’s) equivalent at $130.
This charger, or wall adapter, gives you the ability to charge up to two devices at the same time. It’s compatible with Android, Apple, and personal computers. It also has surge and short circuit protection. Apple’s equivalent will run you $59.
Heyday’s charging pad has the same MagSafe technology to charge your phone wirelessly. It has a display charge indicator light to let you know the device is charging. Just place your phone on top and watch it magically juice up. Apple’s equivalent costs $39.
This one isn’t Heyday’s, but it’s still over 50% off on Target. The iPhone 13 Pro case has MagSafe technology just like Apple’s and will run you less than half the price as Apple’s equivalent.
OK, Heyday’s power bank is not nearly as good as Apple’s MagSafe battery pack, but look at those pretty colors. Also, it’ll run you a tenth of the price for the minor inconvenience of being a wired charger.
Straightforward win here: Unless Apple is getting their plastic for their Apple Watches’ band from a different planet, you’ll very likely to get a similar product for five times cheaper.
Scientists steer lightning bolts with lasers for the first time | Physics
Scientists have steered lightning bolts with lasers for the first time in the field, according to a demonstration performed during heavy storms at the top of a Swiss mountain.
The feat, which involved firing powerful laser pulses at thunderclouds over several months last year, paves the way for laser-based lightning protection systems at airports, launchpads and tall buildings.
“Metal rods are used almost everywhere to protect from lightning, but the area they can protect is limited to a few metres or tens of metres,” said Aurélien Houard, a physicist at École Polytechnique in Palaiseau. “The hope is to extend that protection to a few hundred metres if we have enough energy in the laser.”
Lightning bolts are huge electrical discharges that typically spark over two to three miles. The charge carried in a bolt is so intense that it reaches 30,000C, about five times hotter than the surface of the sun. More than a billion bolts strike Earth each year, causing thousands of deaths, 10 times as many injuries, and damage that runs into tens of billions of dollars.
Traditional lightning rods date back to Benjamin Franklin who used to chase thunderstorms on horseback before his famous kite experiment in 1752. But in more recent times, scientists have looked for other ways to protect buildings and objects from damaging strikes.
Writing in the journal Nature Photonics, Houard and colleagues in Switzerland describe how they carted a powerful laser to the top of the Säntis mountain in north-eastern Switzerland and parked it near a 124m-high telecoms tower that is struck by lightning about 100 times a year.
The scientists waited for storms to gather and between July and September last year, fired rapid laser pulses at thunderclouds for a total of more than six hours. Instruments set up to record lightning strikes showed that the laser diverted the course of four upward lightning discharge over the course of the experiments.
Only one strike, on 21 July, happened in clear enough conditions for the researchers to film the path of the lightning from two directions using high speed cameras several kilometres away. The footage shows that the lightning bolt followed the laser path for about 50 metres, suggesting that the pulses helped steer the strike.
The laser diverts lightning bolts by creating an easier path for the electrical discharge to flow down. When laser pulses are fired into the sky, a change in the refractive index of the air makes them shrink and become so intense that they ionise air molecules around them. This leads to a long chain of what the researchers call filaments in the sky, where air molecules rapidly heat up and race away at supersonic speeds, leaving a channel of low density, ionised air. These channels, which last for milliseconds, are more electrically conductive than the surrounding air, and so form an easier path for the lightning to follow.
The laser is powerful enough to be a risk to the eyes of overflying pilots, and during the experiments air traffic was closed over the test site. But the scientists believe the technology could still be useful, as launchpads and airports often have designated areas where no-fly restrictions apply. “It’s important to consider this aspect of safety,” said Houard.
More powerful lasers that operate at different wavelengths could guide lightning over longer distances, he added, and even trigger lightning before it becomes a threat. “You avoid it going somewhere else where you cannot control it,” Houard said.
“The cost of the laser system is very high compared with that of a simple rod,” said Professor Manu Haddad, director of the Morgan-Botti Lightning Laboratory at Cardiff University. “However, lasers could be a more reliable way to direct the lightning discharge, and this may be important for the lightning protection of critical ground installations and equipment.”
Trees fall onto SF bus; hail, lightning hit Bay Area
Intense storms continue to slam into California, bringing near-historic levels of rain in many regions. The San Francisco Bay Area woke up to an intense hail storm on Tuesday morning, with reports of overnight thunder and lightning across the region, and The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning until 3 p.m. for San Francisco, Daly City, and South San Francisco. Damages from flooding and high winds have been widespread, and are expected to worsen after last night’s gales.
The list of flooded communities, evacuations, mudslides, downed trees and road closures continued to grow Monday, with more rain and high winds expected through Tuesday. In addition to the possibility of isolated thunderstorms, the conditions created a risk of landspouts and weak tornadoes.
Residents in the Santa Cruz Mountains received the brunt of the active weather as strong winds and heavy rainfall added stress on already saturated soils. The San Lorenzo River flooded earlier than expected, reaching its second highest water level since record keeping began in 1937.
Latest updates:
Evacuation for Spreckels in Monterey County
People in the Spreckels community outside of Salinas are being ordered to evacuate due to storm conditions, with evacuation warnings now upgraded to mandatory, the Monterey County Sheriff tweeted. Included are businesses at the intersection of Highway 68 and Spreckels Boulevard, effective immediately. The community is along the Salinas River.
Muni service back for some lines after tree-falling incident | 2:25 p.m.
The southbound 8, 30 and 45 buses are back to regular service following a temporary rerouting after a large tree fell on a Muni bus on Sutter Street at the corner of Stockton. A Muni spokesman says the northbound 30 and 45 and southbound 15 are still being rerouted.
2 rescued when tree falls on vehicle in S.F.’s Richmond District
Two people were rescued when a tree fell on a vehicle near Golden Gate Park, but they “will be OK,” the San Francisco Fire Department said. The incident happened at Fulton Street and 19th Ave, and people are advised to avoid the area. the department said.
No injuries when massive tree fell, says Muni | 2 p.m.
No one was injuried when a towering tree crashed atop a Muni bus near Stockton and Sutter streets Tuesday in downtown San Francisco, Muni spokesman Stephen Chun told The Chronicle. There was no estimated time for when the area would reopen to traffic.
Muni bus lines affected by toppled tree | 1:30 p.m.
San Francisco transportation officials said Tuesday that transit bus lines 8/8AX/8BX, 15, 30 and 45 have been affected by the falling of a large tree that toppled on top of a bus near Sutter and Stockton streets in downtown and crashed across the rain-slicked traffic lanes. Muni officials could not immediately be reached for comment, but tweeted that southbound service is being rerouted via Columbus Avenue to Montgomery Street to Market Street to Fourth Street, according to Muni officials. Northbound service is rerouted via Kearny Street to Columbus back to the regular route.
S.F. to get a break from severe weather
The bulk of the thunderstorms is spreading inland. Brief, weaker thundershowers will be possible in SF through the next 2 to 3 hours before things finally settle down, Chronicle meteorologist Gerry Diaz reports.
BART is running slow in storm conditions
BART says high winds, heavy rain and hail have caused the trains to run at lower speeds. The transit agency urged riders on Tuesday to add extra travel time.
Tree falls on bus in downtown S.F.
A large tree uprooted and fell near the Stockton parking garage in downtown S.F., landing on top of a MUNI bus and appearing to block traffic, on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.
Provided by Owen ThomasA large tree uprooted and fell near the Stockton parking garage in downtown San Francisco, landing on top of a MUNI bus and appearing to block traffic.
Storms to shift northward on Wednesday
A majority of Tuesday’s storms impacted southern and central California but the extreme weather pattern is expected to shift north on Wednesday, according to an update from the National Weather Service.“We will continue to see some moderate precipitation about San Francisco northward,” said meteorologist Eric Schoening, who forecast 1 to 3 inches of rain for the region. “For areas across the southern half of the state, you’re going to see a break in the rain.”
Alameda urges residents to stay off the roads as thunder, lightning and hail pummel the area
The city of Alameda urged residents to stay off the roads and out of city parks as the city saw lightning, wind, rain and hail. For regular storm updates, click here.
Lightning flashes above San Francisco
Lightning has now joined the mix of weird weather for the Bay Area. After hail was reported pounding the pavement around downtown and other areas, lightning flashed in the sky shortly before 1 p.m. Monday. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning until 3 p.m. for San Francisco, Daly City, and South San Francisco. Residents are advised to move to higher ground and avoid walking or driving through flood waters. The warning impacts over 1.1 million people, 165 schools, and 16 hospitals.
Caltrans urges people to stay off roads
Amid severe weather impacts across Northern California, the state’s transportation agency on Tuesday urged people to stay off the roads. “Travel highly discouraged for unsafe conditions,” Caltrans tweeted.
Hail pounds S.F., East Bay
Shortly after San Francisco blasted out an emergency flood alert, hail began pounding down on the city and on Oakland across the bay, stirred up by strong winds.
San Francisco issues flash flood warning alert
Phones blared in San Francisco with “Emergency Alert: A Flash Flood warning is in effect for this area until 3:30 p.m. PT.”
Hundreds of homes damaged in Santa Cruz County
Some 300 homes have been damaged by rising floodwaters in the Watsonville area, according to Ray Cancino, CEO of Santa Cruz County nonprofit Community Bridges, an organization providing aid throughout the region. Those impacted are predominately residents in low-income senior housing. Some of those properties are so severely flooded and damaged that elderly residents have not been able to return home, Cancinco said, despite floodwaters dissipating and the bulk of evacuation orders being downgraded to warnings.
Next round of storms rolling into San Francisco
The next round of thunderstorms are rolling into San Francisco and slated to bring scattered lightning, small pea-sized hail, strong winds gusting to 35 mph and heavy downpours.
Satellite video shows atmospheric river walloping California
The NOAA Satellite service on Tuesday posted a timelapse video loop showing the atmospheric river events hitting the West Coast between Jan. 6 to Tuesday.
Lightning strikes Sutro Tower
Lightning strike Sutro Tower on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.
Provided by Daniel HaireSutro Tower in San Francisco suffered a lightning strike shortly before noon Tuesday, according to radar data.
Thunderstorm warning for Northern California: “Go indoors”
The National Weather Service on Tuesday warned that thunderstorms will likely roll across the interior regions of Northern California between noon to 8 p.m., with potential impacts that include lightning, heavy rain, small hail, gusty winds, and even brief tornados. “When thunder roars, go indoors!” the agency said.
Oakland, Berkeley, Sea Ranch warned of high wind and hail | 11:51 a.m.
The National Weather Service warned that Oakland, Berkeley, Concord and Sea Ranch could get 50mph winds and pea-sized hail. The agency urged residents to seek shelter “in a sturdy structure.” The warning is in effect until Tuesday at 12:15 p.m.
Bay Area radar shows thunderstorm rolling into San Francisco | 11:45 a.m.
A strong thunderstorm cell is quickly heading toward Daly City and the west side of San Francisco. Biggest impacts will be heavy downpours and the chance for small hail, gusts over 35 mph and occasional lightning.
I-80 in Sierra Nevada closed due to strong winds, whiteout conditions | 11:39 a.m.
A portion of Highway 80 in Truckee was closed Tuesday because of whiteout weather conditions that make it difficult to drive, the California Highway Patrol said. Westbound lanes at the California-Nevada border and eastbound lanes at Colfax will be closed indefinitely.
Gov. Newsom to survey Santa Cruz County storm damage
Gov. Gavin Newsom is planning to visit storm-impacted areas in Santa Cruz County on Tuesday. His media team said Newsom will discuss storm response and recovery with local and state officials.
Evacuation warnings for Russian River lifted
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday morning that all evacuation warnings for the areas along the Russian River have been lifted. The agency warned residents of flooded creeks, downed trees and road closures, but said no evacuation orders or warnings are in place for the area.
Storm blows off portion of roof in South S.F.
Did the storm blow off a roof of an apartment complex in South San Francisco? Kind of.
Around 2 a.m. Tuesday, winds kicked up in San Mateo County with reported wind gust of up to 70 mph at San Francisco International Airport. S
hortly after, 911 callers reported that roof damage at a four-unit complex on Susie Way in South San Francisco, said Matt Samson, the city’s deputy fire chief.
Upon arrival, crews discovered that wind removed the outer layer of the roof – which Samson referred to as the water-proofing membrane.
“It’s a flat roof,” Samson said. “Then on top of that is a water proofing membrane that keeps the rain out and that’s what was separated. Crews arrived and made sure all the residents were safe and were able to evacuate them out the building without any injury.”
The residents of the two units on the bottom floor were able to return to their units, but 10 residents of the two upper units were moved to a shelter due to water damage, Samson said.
California death toll reaches 15, state officials say
The number of people who have died from the winter storms pounding California rose to 15 on Tuesday, according to governor’s Office of Emergency Services. The number of storm-related deaths rose from Monday, when Gov. Gavin Newsom announced 14 people had been killed.
San Francisco rains reaching historic levels
The 12.37 inches of rain that fell in San Francisco from Dec. 26 through Jan. 9 made for the city’s third-wettest 15-day period since the Gold Rush, according to Bay Area meteorologist Jan Null. Rains in 1862, which produced a megaflood that drenched the state, produced a staggering 19.77 inches in just 15 days.
Search for 5-year-old boy swept away by flood waters called off
Rescuers have ended the search for a 5-year-old boy who was swept away by floodwaters in central California Monday morning, the Associated Press reports. A roughly 7-hour search for the missing boy turned up only his shoe before officials called it off as water levels were too dangerous for divers, officials said. The boy has not been declared dead, said spokesperson Tony Cipolla of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office. The boy’s mother was driving a truck when it became stranded in floodwaters just before 8 a.m. near Paso Robles, a small city inland from California’s central coast, according to Tom Swanson, assistant chief of the Cal Fire/San Luis Obispo County Fire Department. Bystanders were able to pull the mother out of the truck, but the boy was swept out of the vehicle and downstream, likely into a river, Swanson said. There was no evacuation order in the area at the time.
‘Travel is not advised’ in Yosemite:
Several roads are closed in Yosemite National Park, including Wawona Road (Highway 41) between Wawona and Yosemite West — with no access to Yosemite Valley via Highway 41, according to the National Park Service.
Outside the park, Highway 140 is closed between Midpines and El Portal. Big Oak Flat Road (the continuation of Highway 120 from the west) is open, the park service said, but it added that “Travel is not advised. Road conditions may change quickly.”
People should bring chains if they are visiting the park, and can call 209-272-0200 for the latest information on road closures.
Storms keep many East Bay parks closed
The East Bay Regional Park District reported that most regional parks remain closed due to the storm. However, some parks along the bay shoreline and delta have reopened. For a full list, click here.
Eye of the storm on satellite imagery this morning
Radar images showed strong thunderstorm cell quickly heading toward Daly City and the west side of San Francisco.
RadarscopeThe heart of the storm responsible for today’s intermittent thunderstorms and their heavy rainfall, strong winds and hail is sitting off the coast of Eureka this morning. Satellite imagery off GOES-West shows that more thunderstorm cells are pinwheeling their way into Bay Area this morning, prompting the NWS Bay Area to issue more special weather statements to the Peninsula and San Francisco. These cells will continue into the rest of the morning and early afternoon hours.
Sierra pummeled by snow
Nearly 36 inches of snow is expected to fall in the Sierra over the next day, according to the U.C. Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab. That’s on top of the 9 inches of snow that just fell in the region over the past 24 hours. The lab recorded 172% of average precipitation and 178% of average snow water equivalent. Over the next 24 hours, snowfall rates are expected to increase and between 18 to 36 inches are expected over the next day, according to the lab.
Storms snarl Santa Cruz County highways | 9:32 a.m.
Here is a list of highways currently closed in Santa Cruz County, according to the California Highway Patrol. Estimated times for reopening were not immediately available.
- State Route 9 at Keystone Way
- State Route 9, between Glen Arbor Road and Holiday Lane
- State Route 9, north of State Route 236
- State Route 9 at Lazy Woods Road
- State Route 35 at Bear Creek Road
- State Route 236 at Little Basin Road
Massive cleanup underway in Santa Cruz County
About 20,000 people were without power in Santa Cruz County on Tuesday morning, and multiple trees and power lines were impacting roads, said county spokesperson Jason Hoppin. No injuries have been reported, he said.
Wind, hail warning for S.F, Oakland, Concord
The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement for San Francisco, Oakland and Concord warning of the possibility of pea-sized hail and winds of up to 40 miles per hour. The statement is in effect until 9:45 AM.
This map shows where hundreds of S.F. trees have fallen
A wave of recent storms brought heavy winds and rainfall to the Bay Area, causing flood damage and power outages. Data shows that San Franciscans are also dealing with a huge spike in fallen trees as a result of recent inclement weather.
Extreme winds from the atmospheric river storm last Wednesday downed numerous trees, disrupting traffic and disabling electrical lines.
Data from the city’s 311 database shows that the highest number of reports were made on Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 114. The following day, 78 reports about fallen trees were called in. Read more here about reported fallen trees in San Francisco.
Russian River avoids flood levels
Jack Raschke of Monte Rio walks across the Monte Rio Bridge to look at the Russian River flooding on Tuesday.
Marlena Sloss, Freelance / Special to The ChronicleA series of atmospheric rivers took more southerly routes than predicted, dumping far less rain on the North Bay region so far this week. Models show the Russian River crested about 5 a.m. today just below flood stage at 31.8 feet.
But with more rain in the forecast, people should remain alert, said National Weather Service meteorologist Cindy Palmer. Mudslides, falling trees and some flooding are still major risks given that the ground is is saturated and the creeks are overly full.
“We’re going to be monitoring the rivers streams and creeks closely,” Palmer said. “We are not out of the woods just yet.”
Thousands still without power in Bay Area | 9:02 a.m.
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. reported that thousands of customers throughout the Bay Area were still without power. Power outages impacted more than 5,300 customers in Sonoma County – the highest in the Bay Area. Across Northern California, about 93,000 customers were without power as of Tuesday morning, with nearly 22,000 in the Central Coast.
Here is the breakdown of all Bay Area counties:
- Marin County: 4,382 customers
- San Mateo County: 3,479 customers
- Alameda County: 840 customers.
- Solano County: 609 customers.
- Contra Costa County: 550 customers.
- Santa Clara County: 547 customers.
- Napa County: 18 customers.
Monterey County issues evacuation order for Salinas River region
The Monterey County Sheriff issued an evacuation order for residents in the low-lying areas of Salinas River early Tuesday morning due to flooding The order for the areas surrounding San Ardo and San Lucas is in effect until further notice.
Transit experiencing storm-related delays
Caltrain said Tuesday morning it was experiencing delays up to 30 minutes because of the storm weather conditions. BART riders should also expect slower trains and up to 20-minute delays, officials said.
Isolated thunderstorms continue to roll into the Bay Area this morning
Thunderstorms with 35 to 55 mph gusts, heavy downpours and small hail are dotting the Bay Area this morning as the storm begins to make landfall on the Eureka Coast.
This means that most cities in the region will experience thunderstorm activity through the rest of the morning and into the early afternoon.
Wind and hail advisory for parts of East Bay
Satellite images showed thunderstorms with 35 to 55 mph gusts, heavy downpours and small hail are dotting the Bay Area this morning.
GOES-West Satellite ImageryThe National Weather Service on Tuesday morning issued a special weather advisory for Antioch, Livermore and Pleasanton, warning of 40-mile-per-hour winds and hail.
S.F. residents urged to avoid these areas due to “obstructions”
San Francisco is asking the public to avoid several intersections due to “obstruction,” likely from storm-related damage, according to AlertSF.
- Union Street / Hyde Street
- Mission Street / Van Ness Avenue
- Pierce Street / Post Street
- Area near 122 Guerrero Street
- Mission Street and Van Ness Avenue
- Area near 155 Fell Street
Highway 9 in Santa Cruz closed due to downed tree
A seven-mile stretch of Highway 9 was closed Tuesday morning due to a downed tree, Caltrans officials said. The highway is closed approximately seven miles north of Santa Cruz, and it was not immediately known what time it will reopen.
Power outages forces school closures in South Bay
Los Gatos High School and Saratoga High School in Santa Clara County will be closed Tuesday due to power outages at both campuses, school officials said.
Bay Area rivers under monitor stage
Forecasters are monitoring several rivers across the Bay Area as storms continue to hit California. The Russian River in Guerneville was in “monitor” stage on Tuesday morning, just below the flood stage, and is expected to gradually diminish, said National Weather Service meteorologist Brooke Bingaman.
The Pajaro River in Monterey County is also in monitor stage. But forecasters predict the water levels will rise on Wednesday, when another round of rain and strong winds are expected to return to the region after a brief break from wet weather on Tuesday evening, the NWS said.
Evacuations ordered in Merced County town
The entire town of Planada in Merced County was ordered to evacuate on Tuesday morning, according to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office. There is a shelter available at the Merced County Fairgrounds, officials said. Residents were urged to avoid unnecessary travel.
Planada, east of Merced, has a population of about 4,100 people.
“It felt like our house was gonna blow away”
People in Northern California were woken up starting around 2 a.m. by intense rain and, in some cases, thunder.
From Oakland to the Tri-Valley to San Francisco, people on social media said the sounds and sights of the storm were like nothing they had seen before.
In the East Bay, one Reddit user wrote: “That might have been some of the hardest hitting rain I’ve ever heard.”Others also woken up by the storm concurred: “It had me looking out the window thinking ‘what would happen if that tree fell on the house?’ I’ve never heard wind like that before.” Another user wrote they “saw and heard one intense lightning/thunder and it felt like our house was gonna blow away.”
A Campbell resident said a redwood tree uprooted and fell into the corner of their building: “This is where our bedroom is, so we’ve moved to our spare. Not sure what the extent of the damage is, but it’s holding for now. I imagine that this will take days to have removed.”
Hail reported in San Francisco
A storm system moving across the Bay Area early Tuesday morning brought hail to San Francisco, according to multiple reports.
Wind gust blasts SFO
A wind gauge at San Francisco International Airport measured a gust at 69 mph, according to an automated wind-speed alert.
Storms on Tuesday were expected to bring another round of powerful wind, rain and even hail storms to the Bay Area.
PG&E outages: 189,000 customers without power
About 189,000 Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers were without power Tuesday morning after the latest round of winter storms pounded the Bay Area and the Central Coast, according to the utility company.
“The storm activity included wind gusts exceeding 70 mph and more than 100 cloud to ground lightning strikes as of 5:30 a.m.” Tuesday, PG&E said in a morning update.
Morning storms could bring hail to parts of Bay Area
The next storm system set to rake across the Bay Area is expected to bring scattered thunderstorms Tuesday, along with gusty winds and even small hail, according to a forecast from the National Weather Service.
The storms are likely to lose steam throughout the day and taper off Tuesday evening, NWS said. “Another round of rain and gusty winds appears on tap for Wednesday, then drier conditions as we head into the latter part of the week,” NWS meteorologists wrote.
How high will rainfall totals be in the Bay Area?
Rain totals will likely tally around 1 to 2 inches in most of the Bay Area, says Chronicle meteorologist Gerry Díaz says, while the mountains could see as much as 4 inches as thunderstorms rain themselves out between valleys. It goes without saying that the additional rain and the strong winds from all these thunderstorms will only add to the stress on soils that are filled to the brim with moisture, along with the risk for debris flows as oversaturated trees fall over.
Tuesday’s weather forecast
Monday night’s thunderstorms will carry over into Tuesday morning, bringing rounds of heavy downpours, lightning and strong winds to the Bay Area and Santa Cruz Mountains. Unlike recent storms, Tuesday’s setup will host on and off rounds of heavy rainfall. This means that there will be places across the Bay Area where breaks in the rain might last anywhere from a couple minutes to a couple hours, depending on how many thunderstorm cells end up forming.
The North American weather model’s forecast for rain bands keeps them disorganized over the Bay Area, which is a strong signal for the isolated thunderstorms that will likely circle portions of the coast, San Francisco Bay and the mountains this morning and into the early afternoon hours.
Diaz, Gerry / Pivotal WeatherGo here for the full weather forecast for each Bay Area region.
Dozens of Teslas and other high-end cars ruined by storm flooding at S.F. repair shop
More than a week after the epic New Year’s Eve storm sent waist-high waters coursing through Alioto’s Garage on Folsom Street in San Francisco, the garage is still cleaning up – but 40 Tesla, Porsche and other pricey cars that got flooded are a total loss. Garage co-owner Matt Alioto said the local storm drain backed up in the storm and turned his repair shop into a little lake so fast that he and his staff couldn’t move the automobiles out of harm’s way. “We’ll probably be cleaned up enough to start taking cars in by the end of this week, or next week, but the damage is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Alioto told The Chronicle.
Alioto’s Garage in San Francisco lost thousands of dollars worth of pricey cars to storm damage.
provided by Matt Alioto Jan. 9, 20223
Provided by Matt AliotoPhotos and video of Santa Cruz county damage
Sewage overflows into San Francisco Bay and city streets
Millions of gallons of storm water mixed with raw sewage made its way into creeks, the bay and city streets during recent heavy rainstorms that overwhelmed dozens of Bay Area sewers and some treatment plants.
A resident watches as water flows into a sewage drain in San Francisco on Jan. 4.
Jeff Chiu, STF / Associated PressSome raw sewage seeped out of manholes or backed up sewer drains, calling into question even the idea of kids splashing in their rainboots.
“Don’t jump in puddles. Especially in San Francisco — you want to be careful that there (could be) sewage in that,” said Eileen White, executive officer of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, referring to flooded areas when the city’s unique sanitary system that combines storm water and wastewater is backed up during heavy rain.
Read more about sewer overflows across the Bay Area.
Cramer’s lightning round: I love Eagle Materials
Eagle Materials Inc: “I love Eagle Materials. We’ve got so much money coming for infrastructure from the federal government.”
Apple Inc: “I’m still urging people to own it, don’t trade it, but I accept the fact that it’s going lower before it goes higher.”
Mativ Holdings Inc: “We’re not going to opine. … We’re going to do some homework and we’re going to come back.”
Mosaic Co: “I still think the fertilizers work. I am not giving up on them.”
Cellebrite DI LTD: “I’m going to have to take a pass. Need to do too much more work on it.”
SoFi Technologies Inc: “I think that SoFi, it’s finally going to be [CEO] Anthony Noto’s year. I genuinely believe it.”
Disclaimer: Cramer’s Charitable Trust owns shares of Apple.
MotorTrend Loves the Ford F-150 Lightning, but Can Drivers Actually Buy the Electric Truck?
MotorTrend named the Ford F-150 Lightning its 2023 truck of the year. The automotive publication even prefers the Lightning over the popular gas-powered F-150. The Ford F-150 Lightning beat out the most popular trucks in its class for the title, but can the average consumer get their hands on an F-150 Lightning?
The Ford F-150 Lightning boasts impressive specs
The F-150 Lightning is the second mass-produced electric pickup truck introduced in the United States (behind the Rivian R1T). It makes 426 horsepower and a massive 775 lb-ft of torque. Some upper trim levels are capable of producing 563 horsepower.
The standard-range F-150 Lightning can travel for an estimated 230 miles before needing to recharge. The extended-range battery pack is capable of 320 miles of driving range. Ford has developed several charging stations across the country and offers a home charging station as well.
The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning started at $39,974. It was eligible for the federal electric vehicle tax incentive of $7,500. So, some F-150 Lightning buyers were initially able to pay $32,474 before additional fees. Lightning order books filled up quickly, and the full-size pickup truck was able to rack up close to 200,000 pre-orders.
Ford is still working on delivering F-150 Lightning models. Demand for the new electric pickup truck is so high that the Blue Oval is building another factory to manufacture it.
The F-150 Lightning is getting harder to buy
The Ford F-150 Lightning will be increasingly difficult to buy for two reasons: demand and pricing. Positive F-150 Lightning reviews and awards are likely to make the electric truck even more popular as the nameplate evolves over time. There’s a market for the F-150 Lightning, and it will only grow larger as the electric future draws nearer.
The F-150 Lightning got a major price bump for 2023. According to InsideEVs, the 2023 model year starts at $56,000. That’s an increase of $16,000. It also doesn’t seem to be eligible for the revised federal electric vehicle tax incentive. So, the electric truck is significantly more expensive than the 2022 model year.
The F-150 Lightning is harder to buy from an affordability perspective. Its starting price is above the average new vehicle price of $48,000.
Can the average American driver buy the Ford F-150 Lightning?
The Ford F-150 Lightning is still affordable for thousands of Americans, but its new price makes it one of the more expensive pickup trucks on the market. It’s significantly more expensive than America’s favorite pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500. The Lightning also isn’t as readily available as more popular trucks.
Ultimately, the EV will only get harder to buy from an affordability standpoint year over year, but Ford should catch up with demand in the next few years. The Lightning may not be the average American consumer’s first choice for the money, but times change, and Ford’s electric pickup truck could become the most popular truck on the road in a decade’s time.
Cramer’s lightning round: I’m sticking with Nvidia
Nvidia Corp: “I know it’s overvalued right now. … I think a year from now, the stock’s going to be higher, and I’m sticking with Nvidia.”
GoPro Inc: “I said sell that stock. … $95, never looked back.”
Home Depot Inc: “I think that the Fed is directly targeting renovation and building of homes. … But you have to stay the course.”
Lucid Group Inc: “Lucid is losing a huge amount of money. I don’t recommend stocks that are losing money.”
SoFi Technologies Inc: “I’m willing to back [CEO Anthony Noto] right here, right now.”
Disclaimer: Cramer’s Charitable Trust owns shares of Nvidia.
A USB-C iPhone Won’t Kill the Lightning Cable… Yet
In a rare occurrence this week, Apple provided a tangible clue about the iPhone’s future. Company executives confirmed that Apple will comply with the European Union’s mandate that all phones in the region adopt USB-C as the common smartphone charging port in 2024. This means that future iPhones will need to shift away from the Lightning connector that’s existed since 2012.
The transition to USB-C seems inevitable for the iPhone given the EU’s new requirements. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, speaking at the Wall Street Journal Tech Live conference, said that the company has “no choice” and that Apple would “comply with local laws” as it does around the world. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the Lightning cable is becoming extinct just yet. The Lightning port may play a bigger role in Apple’s lineup than you might expect, thanks to the multitude of accessories that still use it and the popularity of older iPhones.
It’s no secret that USB-C has become increasingly common on Apple products. It’s present on every iPad in the company’s current portfolio except for the ninth-generation iPad from 2021. You’ll find USB-C ports on Apple’s MacBook Pro and Air lineup as well.
But consumers and tech critics alike have been waiting for USB-C to arrive on the iPhone. An iPhone X that had been modified with a USB-C port even sold for $86,001 on eBay last year. After all, why wouldn’t you want to use the same cord to charge your iPhone, iPad and Mac? The EU’s new mandate represents a step toward a simpler charging experience in the long term. Yet there’s also a chance the transition period could cause some friction as consumers potentially bounce between chargers to power new iPhones alongside legacy accessories.
There are a handful of products that require a Lightning connection for wired charging, aside from the iPhone. Such devices include AirPods earbuds, the AirPods Max, the first-generation Apple Pencil (which is oddly the only model that works with the new USB-C-equipped iPad), the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard. That means owners of these devices might still find themselves swapping cables if they purchase an iPhone with USB-C in the future.
Apple didn’t immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment regarding whether it plans to retain the Lightning port on future versions of these products.
It’s also important to remember that not every iPhone shopper opts for the newest model. Apple often discounts older versions once a new iPhone arrives. Take its current lineup, for example, which still includes last year’s iPhone 13 and 2020’s iPhone 12. Apple also kept the iPhone 11 in the lineup at a lower price of $499 after introducing the iPhone 13 in September 2021. If Apple maintains that tradition, there will likely still be some Lightning-powered iPhones in its 2023 lineup too.
Even though many shoppers may flock to the newest iPhone, there’s a considerable market for older iPhones. The iPhone 11 was the fifth best-selling smartphone in 2021 even though it launched in 2019, according to Counterpoint Research. Sales of the iPhone 11, iPhone SE and 4-year-old iPhone XR accounted for 15% of US iPhone sales in the March 2022 quarter, according to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners.
Refurbished iPhones are also popular, with Apple accounting for more than 40% of the global market for secondary phones, according to a separate Counterpoint Research report. Considering all iPhones since 2012 charge through Lightning, it’s safe to say that those purchasing refurbished models in the future will want to hang on to their Lightning cables. That’s particularly relevant considering demand for refurbished phones increased 15% in 2021 as customers looked to avoid high prices and make more sustainable buying decisions, Counterpoint also reported.
People may also be inclined to hold onto their current phones for longer as inflation cuts into other daily expenses. Global smartphone shipments are expected to decline 6.5% in 2022 as inflation has weakened demand, according to the International Data Corporation. The average age of traded-in smartphones has also reached 3.5 years for the first time, according to Assurant, an insurance provider that also helps companies develop device trade-in programs. The more legacy iPhones remain in use, the more Lightning cables will remain in circulation.
Over the long term, the move to USB-C will be an improvement for iPhone owners. The change will make it possible to charge most recent iPads, Macs and eventually iPhones with a single cable – which is precisely why the EU made USB-C mandatory in the first place. The switch also comes at an ideal time considering iPhones are becoming less reliant on wired connections thanks to improvements in wireless charging, the increased popularity of Bluetooth accessories and Apple’s new MagSafe connection system.
But transitions like these take time. And there are still many unanswered questions about how Apple will comply with the EU’s decision. For example, we don’t know whether Apple will make the switch to USB-C in 2023 or if it will wait until 2024. We don’t know if Apple will use USB-C specifically for European iPhones or if it will become the standard globally.
What does seem clear, however, is that the arrival of a USB-C iPhone may be a step toward using one universal cable for everything. But it won’t happen overnight.