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Nick Austin

Nick is a meteorologist with 20 years of forecasting and broadcasting experience. He was nominated for a Midsouth Emmy for his coverage during a 2008 western Tennessee tornado outbreak. He received his Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Florida State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Management from the Georgia Tech. Nick is a member of the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association. As a member of the weather team at WBBJ-TV in Jackson, Tennessee, Nick was nominated for a Mid-South Emmy for live coverage of a major tornado outbreak in February 2008. As part of the weather team at WRCB-TV in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Nick shared the Chattanooga Times-Free Press Best of the Best award for “Best Weather Team” eight consecutive years.
Oct - 2021 -
21 October
Nick Austin

Prolonged stormy pattern to slam Pacific Northwest

Truckers will hit periods of flooding and whiteout conditions in the Pacific Northwest for the next several days (video forecast included).

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Nick Austin

Colorado trucking company takes ‘huge hit’ from I-70 closures

“Unprecedented” summer rains, mudslides and interstate closures have Colorado carriers digging themselves out of a hole.

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20 October
Nick Austin

What does ‘containing a wildfire’ actually mean?

Crews have to “contain” wildfires before they can extinguish them. This installment of AskWaves explains why — and what “containment” means.

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Nick Austin

Storms threaten truckers from Midwest to East

Heavy rain and strong winds could impact freight movement the next two days from the Midwest to the East Coast (video forecast included).

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19 October
Nick Austin

New snowstorm trucking across Rockies

Truckers will battle a second early season Rockies snowstorm in as many weeks, with whiteout conditions possible (video forecast included).

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18 October
Nick Austin

Snowstorm returning to Western states

Truckers will have to chain up early this week in the Sierra Nevada and Rockies as another snowstorm cranks up (video forecast included).

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15 October
Nick Austin

Hot Shots: Blizzard, flood, wildfire and more

A compilation of the past week in social media images includes a Rockies blizzard, Southern floods, a new California wildfire and more.

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Nick Austin

Major US highway in California reopens near Alisal wildfire

Truckers can go back to using Highway 101 in Southern California after it was closed due to a spreading wildfire.

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Nick Austin

Weekend of high winds, high heat in Southern California

Truckers face an elevated risk of rollovers as weekend winds increase in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

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14 October
Nick Austin

Flood risk keeps trucking through the South

Truckers face another day of delays as heavy rain and flash flooding persists from Texas to Arkansas (video forecast included).

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13 October
Nick Austin

Hurricane Pamela threatens to flood parts of Mexico, US

Truckers face delays in the Plains the next two days as the remnants of Hurricane Pamela approach the U.S. (video forecast included).

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12 October
Nick Austin

Wildfire shuts down highway in Southern California

Flames from a new California wildfire have forced the closing of more than 20 miles of U.S. Highway 101.

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Nick Austin

Blizzard keeps trucking through Rockies

The first big Rockies snowstorm this season could delay truckers as well as operations at intermodal hubs and oil facilities (video forecast included).

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11 October
Nick Austin

Snowstorm to slam Rockies early this week

Two feet of snow, along with blizzard conditions, will impact truckers in the Rockies the next two days (video forecast included).

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08 October
Nick Austin

Hot Shots: Beer spill, flash floods, memorial on a truck and more

A compilation of the past week in social media images includes a botched beer haul, Southern flash floods, a mobile memorial and more.

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Nick Austin

Flood threat continues on Southeast trucking lanes

Several more inches of rain could douse parts of the Southeast, leading to potential road closures for truckers.

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07 October
Nick Austin

Biggest tsunamis in US history

Earthquakes and landslides have produced some killer tsunamis in the U.S. since the late 18th century.

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Nick Austin

1st big snowfall of season possibly coming to Mountain West

Truckers may have to chain up as several inches of snow hits parts of the West over the next week.

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06 October
Nick Austin

Potential flooding rain could delay truckers in South

Torrential rain will continue to drench the South this week, potentially slowing down freight flows through one of the nation’s busiest markets.

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Sep - 2021 -
28 September
Nick Austin

Hurricane Sam spins toward Caribbean with 130-mph winds

Hurricane Sam will disrupt some Atlantic shipping lanes throughout the week, but should avoid landfall.

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27 September
Nick Austin

Self-described ‘shaman’ arrested in California wildfire arson

A Palo Alto woman has been arrested on suspicion of starting the latest California wildfire, which has destroyed more than 150 structures.

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Nick Austin

Hurricane Sam churns toward Caribbean, Bermuda with 130-mph-plus winds

Hurricane Sam will make big waves in Atlantic shipping lanes, but should avoid landfall.

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24 September
Nick Austin

Hot Shots: Flash floods, summer snow, choppy landing and more

A compilation of the past week in social media images features Northeast flooding, late summer Rockies snow and a white-knuckle helicopter landing.

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Nick Austin

Most dazzling fall foliage spots for truckers

A FreightWaves survey reveals some of the best places for truckers to see eye-popping fall foliage.

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Nick Austin

Hurricane Sam to intensify on way to Caribbean

Hurricane Sam will make big waves in Atlantic shipping lanes this weekend, gaining strength as it approaches the Caribbean.

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23 September
Nick Austin

Truckers face ongoing flood threat in Northeast

Additional periods of heavy rain and flooding could slow down truckers for another day in the Northeast.

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22 September
Nick Austin

How and why do hurricanes get their names?

The naming of hurricanes was changed in the 1950s to simplify their tracking and improve communication of storm information.

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Nick Austin

Flooding rain, severe storms for truckers east of the Mississippi

Truckers will face flooding rain and potential road closures the next two days from the Midwest to the Northeast.

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21 September
Nick Austin

Windy weather keeping wildfire crews on their toes

Drought and wind keep the threat of spreading wildfires elevated in Northern California.

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20 September
Nick Austin

Los escuadrones de bomberos luchan contra las llamas y los problemas de la cadena de suministro

“Hace unas semanas tuvimos una unidad de comida aquí en el Norte de California que no podía recibir su pedido de comida al por mayor. Así que cogimos conductores y camionetas de nuestra unidad de suministro y fuimos a recoger la comida del proveedor y la llevamos al incendio”, explicó Cunningham.

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Nick Austin

Flood threat keeps trucking across South this week

Truckers will hit more delays and flooded roads this week as heavy rain continues to drench the South.

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17 September
Nick Austin

Hot Shots: Hurricane, summer snow, container ship cluster

A compilation of the past week in social media images features a Gulf Coast hurricane, summer mountain snow, container ships stuck off the West Coast and more.

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Nick Austin

Flood threats for Gulf Coast, Northwest this weekend

Truckers will hit delays and some flooded roads this weekend in the northern Gulf Coast as well as the Northwest.

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16 September
Nick Austin

Truckers to hit more potential flooding along Gulf Coast

The remnants of Hurricane Nicholas could delay drivers the next couple of days due to heavy rain and potential flooding.

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15 September
Nick Austin

Flood threat keeps trucking across South

Truckers will hit delays as Nicholas continues to dump heavy rain from Louisiana to Florida. Flooding is possible.

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Nick Austin

Wildfire crews battling blazes — and supply chain kinks

“If you send us the right resources at the right time, we can up that containment very quickly,” one official said about fighting wildfires amid this year’s broken supply chains.

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14 September
Nick Austin

Officials warn of Tropical Storm Nicholas’ potential ‘life-threatening flash floods’

Freight flows will be delayed as Tropical Storm Nicholas floods roads and prompts port closures.

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13 September
Nick Austin

Tropical Storm Nicholas prompts port restrictions, flood watches

Truckers are likely to hit delays this week from Texas to Louisiana due to Tropical Storm Nicholas. The Coast Guard has set vessel restrictions at one port so far.

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10 September
Nick Austin

China ports bracing for Super Typhoon Chanthu

Two of China’s main ports are preparing for the arrival of Typhoon Chanthu, which could slam Taiwan first.

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Nick Austin

Hot Shots: Dust devil, huge hail, earthquake and more

The past week in social media images features a large dust devil, softball-size hail, a nighttime earthquake and more.

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Nick Austin

Hurricane Larry making waves in Atlantic shipping lanes

Hurricane Larry is forecast to make landfall Friday night in eastern Canada, impacting the port city of St. John’s.

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09 September
Nick Austin

Winds could spread Western wildfires out of control again

Drivers may hit more areas of low visibility and potential road closures as wildfires and smoke spread across the West (forecast video included).

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Nick Austin

Hours-of-service relief part of response to historic Minnesota drought

“There’s some desperation in some of these people’s voices,” a Minnesota hay farmer said about the current drought’s impact on the community.

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08 September
Nick Austin

Strong earthquake rocks southwestern Mexico

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake Tuesday night knocked out electricity and caused damage in portions of Mexico.

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07 September
Nick Austin

Major Hurricane Larry heading toward Bermuda

Hurricane Larry will keep Atlantic container ship captains on their toes this week as it heads toward Bermuda (forecast video included).

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04 September
Nick Austin

Worst Labor Day hurricanes in US history

These are five of the worst hurricanes since the 1930s that have struck on or around Labor Day, causing death and damage.

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03 September
Nick Austin

Hot Shots: Historic flooding, hefty haul and more

The past week in social media images features deadly Northeast flooding, a 75-ton piece of industrial boiler on a flatbed and more.

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Nick Austin

Ida death toll rises in Northeast

“I have no words,” said a New York City resident about the deadly flooding from what was once Hurricane Ida (forecast video included).

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02 September
Nick Austin

Ida dumps deadly flooding rain on Northeast

“Stay off the subways. Stay off the roads,” Mayor Bill de Blasio told the people of New York City Wednesday as Ida’s remnants caused major flooding (forecast video included).

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01 September
Nick Austin

5 states with toughest chain laws for truckers

These are the states where truckers can face the heftiest fines for not chaining up, and where chain laws last the longest each year.

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Nick Austin

Raging wildfire inches closer to Lake Tahoe

Road closures and evacuations continue as the Caldor fire spreads toward the Lake Tahoe resort area.

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Aug - 2021 -
31 August
Nick Austin

Ida’s flood threat keeps trucking across US

Despite weakening to a tropical depression, Ida isn’t done wreaking havoc on portions of the country. More flooding and tornadoes are likely over the next few days from the Gulf […]

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30 August
Nick Austin

Ida causing widespread road closures in Louisiana

Hurricane Ida’s flooding and winds have led to impassable roads in parts of southeastern Louisiana.

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29 August
Nick Austin

Category 4 Hurricane Ida nears Gulf Coast; Biden coordinating response

President Biden is working with FEMA and governors to coordinate recovery response as Hurricane Ida approaches the Gulf Coast.

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28 August
Nick Austin

Hurricane Ida nears Gulf Coast; evacuations underway

State and local leaders have told people to leave parts of the Gulf Coast as Hurricane Ida likely approaches Sunday landfall.

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27 August
Nick Austin

Hot Shots: Truck spill, fearsome fires and more

The past week in social media images features a sticky Northwest truck spill, a raging California wildfire and more.

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Nick Austin

Major hurricane could hit US Gulf Coast this weekend

Carriers, shippers and receivers should begin preparing as Ida could be a major hurricane Sunday at landfall in the northern Gulf Coast.

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26 August
Nick Austin

Truckers facing severe storm threat in Midwest

Truckers will experience temporary delays at times as severe storms hit the Midwest over the next few days (forecast video included).

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25 August
Nick Austin

Update: I-84 in Oregon reopens after truck crash

More than 100 miles of Interstate 84 in Oregon are off-limits to commercial vehicles after a truck crash.

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Nick Austin

Potential tropical storm could hit US Gulf Coast

The next tropical storm could impact the U.S. just a week after Henri drenched parts of the Northeast (forecast video included).

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24 August
Nick Austin

Ferocious California wildfire spreading toward Lake Tahoe

Stopping the spread of the Caldor wildfire toward Lake Tahoe is a “huge priority,” one fire official said.

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Nick Austin

Dangerous heat, humidity linger from Midwest to Gulf Coast

Drivers should do everything they can not to get stuck on the side of the road as the heat index exceeds 105 degrees In more than a dozen states (forecast video included).

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23 August
Nick Austin

Wildfire woes continue in the West

Crews made only slight progress over the weekend containing the nation’s largest wildfires, with no rain in sight (forecast video included).

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20 August
Nick Austin

Hot Shots: Fierce fires, ferocious floods, train derailments and more

The past week in social media images features a menacing wildfire in California, tropical storm deluges, a train hitting a tractor-trailer and more.

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Nick Austin

Top 5 US spots for truck-animal collisions

The Northeast is the most likely region for collisions between commercial trucks and wild animals. These are the top five specific locations.

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Nick Austin

Tropical Storm Henri eyeing New England landfall this weekend

Tropical Storm Henri could strengthen into a hurricane before making a potential New England landfall over the weekend.

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Nick Austin

Long view: Preparing logistically for extreme weather

“Companies have to make really smart bets,” supply chain consultant Evan Quasney said about planning for extreme weather.

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19 August
Nick Austin

Humongous Dixie fire threatening more California towns

“You might as well be safe and get out now,” a fire official said, encouraging people to evacuate areas in the path of the life-threatening Dixie fire.

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18 August
Nick Austin

How do wildfires get their names?

Unlike hurricane names, which come from predetermined lists, wildfire names are a bit more arbitrary.

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Nick Austin

Triple threat of tropical weather continues

Two tropical systems are likely to cause flooding and wind damage over the next few days, while another could just kick up big waves (forecast video included).

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17 August
Nick Austin

3 tropical systems simultaneously impacting North America

Three simultaneous tropical systems could temporarily delay freight flows in parts of North America over the next few days (forecast video included).

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13 August
Nick Austin

Hot Shots: Fire whirl, train derailments, huge hail and more

The past week in social media images features a fire whirl in Northern California, train derailments in the Plains, humongous hail and more.

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Nick Austin

Heat waves scorching two coasts heading into weekend

Truckers have to beat more heat and humidity this weekend in the Northwest and Northeast.

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12 August
Nick Austin

Tropical Depression Fred making likely comeback as tropical storm

Fred has lost some steam but will likely strengthen back to a tropical storm prior to South Florida landfall this weekend (forecast video included).

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11 August
Nick Austin

CDOT working feverishly to reopen damaged area of I-70

“The corridor is vital for everything from long-haul freight to movement of agricultural products,” Colorado officials said of mudslide-damaged areas of Interstate 70.

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Nick Austin

Tropical Storm Fred eyes US landfall this weekend

Tropical Storm Fred may cause temporary delays in freight flows in the Southeast (forecast video included).

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10 August
Nick Austin

Dixie fire spreading, now second biggest in California history

Crews are having trouble controlling the Dixie fire in northern California, which is now the second largest in the state’s history.

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09 August
Nick Austin

Scorching heat waves this week in Northwest, heartland

Truckers will have to beat 100-degree heat and sweltering humidity in two regions of the country this week.

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06 August
Nick Austin

Hot Shots: Mudslides, floods, wildfires and more

The past week in social media images features a mudslide-damaged highway, a truck rollover during a flood, destructive wildfires and more.

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05 August
Nick Austin

Western wildfires spreading out of control

Gusty winds have made it challenging for crews to contain large wildfires in Western states (forecast video included).

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04 August
Nick Austin

Flood risk rising in southern states

Several inches of rain could flood parts of the South this weekend. (forecast video included).

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03 August
Nick Austin

Severe mudslides trigger I-70 closure in Colorado

Truckers will have to take detours in Colorado after severe mudslides shut down a section of Interstate 70 (forecast video included).

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02 August
Nick Austin

‘Full-court press’: Trucking industry relieved I-40 bridge repairs almost done

“The fix wasn’t sitting on a shelf,” Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Clay Bright said about the Hernando de Soto Bridge repairs that started in mid-May.

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Jul - 2021 -
30 July
Nick Austin

Hot Shots: Fire train, dust storm, fierce flood

The past week in images features train cars used to fight fires, a wreck caused by a dust storm, a trucker who flipped in floodwaters and more.

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29 July
Nick Austin

Northwest triple-digit heat wave coming this weekend

Truckers will have to deal with another Northwest heat wave as triple digits return the next few days (forecast video included).

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28 July
Nick Austin

What are truckers’ favorite weather apps?

Based on a FreightWaves survey, these are the mobile weather apps that truckers like the best while on the job.

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Nick Austin

Western wildfires heating up jet fuel demand

High demand for jet fuel out West from firefighting crews and airlines is affecting commercial flights and cargo (forecast video included).

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27 July
Nick Austin

Scorching heat wave returning to Plains, South

Truckers will face triple-digit temperatures and heat index readings this week from the northern Plains to the Deep South (forecast video included).

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26 July
Nick Austin

Large Western wildfires continue charring millions of acres

Truckers will run into areas of low visibility, poor air quality and potential road closures due to dozens of Western wildfires (forecast video included).

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23 July
Nick Austin

Hot Shots: Wildfires, floods, lucky landing and more

The past week in images features huge Western wildfires, devastating floods in Colorado, a successful emergency airplane landing and more.

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Nick Austin

Large wildfires still burning millions of acres out West

Truckers will keep hitting areas of low visibility, poor air quality and potential road closures due to dozens of Western wildfires (forecast video included).

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22 July
Nick Austin

Trucker named Highway Angel for rescuing driver from burning car

“She was in shock, in disbelief,” truck driver Trinidad Arebalo said about a woman he helped save from her burning car.

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Nick Austin

Largest wildfire in US nearly 400,000 acres in size

Oregon’s Bootleg wildfire, the largest in the country, is almost as big as Oklahoma City, the eighth-largest U.S. city by area (forecast video included).

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21 July
Nick Austin

6 ways truckers can spot potential severe storms

Detecting severe storms often requires sophisticated equipment, but truckers can use their senses to make a close prediction while on the road.

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Nick Austin

Flood risk for truckers across Southwest

Truckers will hit monsoonal storms and potentially flooded roads in the Desert Southwest through the weekend (forecast video included).

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20 July
Nick Austin

Elevated wildfire risk sweeping across the West

Drought, gusty winds and dry thunderstorms will keep the risk of new wildfire development elevated in many Western states (forecast video included).

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19 July
Nick Austin

Oregon’s Bootleg fire now as big as New York City

Smoke from Oregon’s Bootleg fire, and dozens of others in the West, could limit truckers’ visibility and produce poor air quality (forecast video included).

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16 July
Nick Austin

I-16 in central Georgia could reopen by Friday night

Officials are hoping to reopen a section of Interstate 16 in Georgia on Friday after a truck damaged an overpass.

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Nick Austin

Hot Shots: Dislodged bridge, deluge, dust storm and more

The past week in images features a Georgia overpass dislodged by a truck, big rigs wrecked during a New Mexico dust storm and vehicles floating in Arizona floodwaters.

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Nick Austin

Wet weekend ahead for truckers in Eastern US

A slow-moving system could flood some places this weekend from the Mississippi Valley to the East Coast (forecast video included).

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