This photograph of geese is courtesy of Photos.com
Although the topic is still under debate, many people believe animals are able to sense an impending hurricane.
Sharks swimming out to deeper water, birds "waiting out" storms or animals moving to higher ground have all been reported before storms. Do animals have an acute sense that allows them to "predict" impending disasters?
Some animals are believed to be sensitive to the low frequency sound waves emitted by hurricanes. They can also detect the slight drops in air and water pressure that signal a storm's approach.
Researchers reported that they found birds were sensitive to the air pressure changes that accompany storms. As storms approach, the birds often land and wait for the storm to pass, according to pbs.org.
Just before a hurricane approached, researchers witnessed tagged sharks swim out to deeper water.
Not all scientists are convinced that animals flee to avoid storms or earthquakes. Some believe the animals react to the sound of an approaching storm or the shaking of the earth by fleeing to the safety of the forest.
The reason the animals are fleeing the storm, the sound, air pressure or water pressure changes may be in dispute, but it is a fact that some animals can sense an approaching hurricane.
A complex of thunderstorms is forecast to hit areas from Dallas to Abilene, Texas late Monday night into Tuesday.
Weather favoring the spread of wildfires will increase over California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona Tuesday into Wednesday.
Join us this Thursday for another edition of AccuWeather LIVE, where we will answer your questions and discuss hurricane season and the start of summer.
Strong, fast-moving storms will impact Boston and Hartford through Monday evening.
Strong storms are occurring across the South Monday night.
Ahead of the thunderstorms, temperatures will soar to between 85 and 95 degrees, mostly 15 to 20 degrees above normal, on the hottest one to three days between north-central France and Poland.
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | N/A | |
| Low | N/A | |
| Precip | N/A |
New England (1875)
Severe coastal storm (a possible hurricane)
from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia. Eastport, MA
reported 57 mph winds.
Indianapolis, IN (1992)
The control tower at the airport was evacuated
early in the morning during a severe thunderstorm.
One-inch hailstones fell, a 62 mph wind gust
occurred, and a tornado was spotted two miles
northwest of the airport.
Elizabeth City, NC (1991)
2.83" of rain in 2.5 hours.
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