Recent cold snap results in fourth-largest withdrawal from underground natural gas storage
Colder-than-normal temperatures across much of the United States in mid-January increased natural gas consumption, resulting in the fourth-largest reported weekly withdrawal from natural gas storage in the Lower 48 states, according to our Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report (WNGSR). During the week ending January 24, 2025, stocks fell by 321 billion cubic feet (Bcf), which was nearly 70% more than the five-year (2020–24) average withdrawal for the same week in January. With withdrawals in January totaling nearly 1,000 Bcf, U.S. natural gas inventories are now 4% below their previous five-year average after being 6% above the five-year average at the
Rarely used oil, coal helped power New England during recent cold snap
Below average temperatures in the eastern United States during the week of January 19, 2025, resulted in high demand for electricity. On January 21 at 6:00 p.m. eastern time, ISO-New England (ISO-NE), the organization operating an integrated grid in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, recorded peak hourly demand of 19,600 megawatts (MW). Although demand was elevated, it was lower than the 20,308 MW that ISO-NE forecast peak demand would be in its 2024/2025 winter assessment published on November 7, 2024. Temperatures were more moderate in New England than in the Midwest, which tempered electricity demand somewhat
Volcano Watch — Recent lava fountains highlight Pele’s Hair hazards
Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. On January 16–17, persistent lava fountaining at Kīlauea summit, coupled with Kona wind conditions, resulted in Pele's hair falling on nearby communities and within parts of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. This photo was taken near Kīlauea Visitor Center, where strands of the fine volcanic glass had accumulated into tubular tumbleweeds of Pele's Hair reaching up to 56 centimeters (22 inches). USGS photo by K. Mulliken. Pele’s Hair is the name for the strands of volcanic glass that are created when
The Rotorcraft Collective Recent Releases
The Rotorcraft Collective Latest Releases on FAA YouTube The Rotorcraft Collective is a joint workgroup between the FAA and industry professionals that produces short helicopter-focused safety videos in collaboration with the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) and the United States Helicopter Safety Team (USHST). Team members include engineers, pilots, mechanics, accident investigators, and communication specialists from various FAA offices, Vertical Association International (VAI), Helicopter Institute, Airbus Helicopters, Hughes Aerospace, and Pilot Institute. Please join us in viewing the two most recent video productions at: Just Say No! The Rotorcraft Collective: Just Say No! (youtube.com) Master Your Mission in a Sim
Volcano Watch — Potential long-term outcomes of recent intrusions in Kīlauea East Rift Zone
Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. Chain of Craters within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park before 1969, when several craters were partly or completely filled with lava. Now the Chain of Craters Road turns south, away from its pre-1969 route, between Pauahi and ʻAloʻi, a pit crater buried in 1969 by Maunaulu lava flows. The junction with the Hilina Pali Road is essentially at Devil’s Throat. The eruption in and near Nāpau Crater on September 15–20 is an example of a brief eruption in this area. If
USGS scientists Wes Thelen and Alex Iezzi talk about what they are doing to learn more about recent earthquake activity at Mount Adams (November 20, 2024)
In September, the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) and Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) located six earthquakes at Mount Adams ranging in magnitudes from 0.9 to 2.0. While six doesn’t sound like much, earthquakes at this volcano are typically located at a rate of about one earthquake every two to three years. With permission, CVO scientists rapidly installed three temporary seismic stations closer to the volcano to enlarge the permanent monitoring network. The temporary stations included a seismometer buried in the ground, a plastic case that contained batteries charged by a solar panel, and a cell antenna so data could