Listen up PlayStation gamers. If you’re an active PS Plus member, you can secure some fantastic discounts at PS Direct when you buy two eligible items.
Right now, on Sony’s official storefront, buying two PS5 accessories with a total of more than $100 will net you 20% off each. Yes, that includes hugely popular items like the PlayStation Portal and DualSense Edge, plus various standard DualSense designs.
This means that a PlayStation Portal and Midnight Black DualSense, for example, come to a combined total of $219.98 (or $55 off) before tax.
That same deal is available in the UK too, where purchases of two PS5 accessories with a total of more than £100 will also receive a 20% discount on each.
To give you an example of the bargains to be had over there, as a PS Plus member I can grab the PS Portal and Fortnite DualSense controller, two items I’ve had my eye on, for just £219.98 (down from £274.98) – a meaty £55 saving.
Save 20% on two PS5 accessories at PS Direct
This is a fantastic little deal and I would recommend taking advantage of it if you were looking at higher ticket items including the PS Portal and DualSense Edge. These almost never get substantial discounts, so pairing it up with a spare controller is a brilliant way to save.
Not every item is eligible, however, so make sure you look for those with the orange “Deal” badge. Pre-orders are also excluded. You can see the full terms and conditions on the banner image of the PS Store website.
If you’re interested in other PS5 accessories, see our PS5 Midnight Black collection pre-orders guide. If you don’t yet have a PS5, check out the latest prices on the PS5 Slim near you below.
Attention all PlayStation Plus members! Don’t miss out on a fantastic opportunity to score the PlayStation Portal at a bargain price with this exclusive bundle deal.
For a limited time, you can get your hands on the PlayStation Portal, complete with all the latest features and updates, at a discounted rate when you purchase it as part of this special bundle offer.
Whether you’re a hardcore gamer looking to enhance your gaming experience or a casual player looking for some added entertainment, the PlayStation Portal is sure to provide hours of fun and excitement for all types of gamers.
So don’t wait any longer – take advantage of this amazing deal and add the PlayStation Portal to your gaming collection today. Trust us, you won’t want to miss out on this offer!
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After being on the wrong side of a Trae Young game-winner, championship contenders Cleveland Cavaliers waltz into Little Caesars Arena for their third game in four nights— this will be JB Bickerstaff’s third game against his former team this year.
The Detroit Pistons are coming off a day of rest, so they have a slight advantage in that department. Even still, they’re facing one of the best teams in the league coming off a loss, so it’ll be a tall task.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit Odds: Pistons +6
Analysis
Neither of the Cavs-Pistons matchups have been close this year. The Cavs have shown the Pistons there are levels to this contending business.
Detroit’s lone All-Star, Cade Cunningham, is arguably having a better season than anyone on the Cavs’ roster. Still, their trio of All-Stars, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley, have been a handful for Detroit and the league as a whole (Jarrett Allen has been amazing, too).
Garland is healthy this year after facing several injuries last year that prevented him from playing at a high level. Mobley’s offensive leap and consistent defense have him on All-NBA watch. Mitchell’s counting stats aren’t as attractive as in past years, but Cleveland is spreading the wealth around. They won’t be a one-man army in these playoffs.
The playoffs are somewhere the Pistons could end up. They’re the 6th seed currently, and the bottom of the East is a jumbling pile of inconsistency. The defense wasn’t sharp against Atlanta, but they can hang their hat on that side of the ball most nights. Ausar Thompson joining the starting five on Jan. 4 and Detroit’s defense surging simultaneously isn’t a coincidence.
Thompson’s last outing against Atlanta was one of his best of the year. He displayed swarming defense and mostly finished around the hoop. Jalen Duren has benefited the most from Thompson’s insertion into the starting five. Duren’s room for error is wider, with Thompson constantly cutting off opponents’ water.
In Duren’s own right, he catches every lob thrown to him and plays bully ball in spurts. He dominated Nikola Vucevic last Sunday. Vu isn’t a standout defender, but Duren took his soul from a physicality standpoint. That’ll be tough to do against Mobley and Allen. Though Duren is much stronger than both, they’re savvy defenders who override their thin frames with length, positioning, and IQ.
Cade’s high IQ shows up when he’s carving up different coverages he faces. His seven assists in the 1st quarter against the Hawks was a career-high for any quarter. I love his pace and how he takes what the defense gives him. He’s been on a tear over the seven games, averaging 30 and 10. Detroit will need everything he has to compete with the 40-10 Cleveland Cavaliers. They’ll also need Malik Beasley to continue doing Malik Beasley things. Beas is 21 3s away from passing Saddiq Bey for most 3s in a season in Detroit. He’ll obliterate that record and may crack 300 makes. In the last game, his defense was shakier than usual, but he played Young as tough as possible on that last possession. That was just a tough make.
Projected Lineups
Cleveland Cavaliers (40-10)
Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Is it crazy to say Cade should be at least 2nd Team All-NBA right now today?
The Detroit Pistons are set to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in a highly anticipated matchup, and all eyes will be on Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff as he faces his former team once again.
Bickerstaff, who previously served as the head coach of the Cavaliers, will be looking to lead his Pistons to victory over his old squad. This will be the second time this season that Bickerstaff has faced off against the Cavaliers, and he will surely be looking to make a statement.
The Pistons have shown flashes of potential this season, with young stars like Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart leading the way. They will be looking to build on their recent success and come out on top against the Cavaliers.
On the other side, the Cavaliers have been a surprise team this season, led by the dynamic duo of Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen. They will be looking to continue their strong play and secure a win against a familiar foe in Bickerstaff.
This game is sure to be a competitive and exciting matchup, as both teams look to gain the upper hand in the Eastern Conference standings. Be sure to tune in to see if Bickerstaff can lead his Pistons to victory against his old team once again.
From PensaCOLDa to Tallahassleet, it was the Freeze State of Flurryda.
The Great Southern Snowstorm of 2025 is one of the most impactful winter storms in history for the Gulf Coast, obliterating Florida’s all-time state snowfall mark and smashing local accumulation records from middle Louisiana to western Florida.
In the eastern Panhandle, slightly above freezing temperatures aloft led to precipitation-type mayhem that kept us off the top of the snow record lists, but still brought sleddable accumulations to Tallahassee for the first time in 35 years.
As your snowmen contort into icy gargoyles, I’m sure you have many questions about what on earth you just experienced, so let’s dig into the before, during, and after of this astonishing event.
You can literally blame or thank the North Pole for a Florida winter storm for the ages
As I mentioned before the storm, snow or ice on the Gulf Coast is an extreme outlier event, requiring an atmospheric Rube Goldberg contraption to deliver both Arctic cold and sufficient moisture at the same time. This has occurred no more than a dozen times or so since the 1800s, making any kind of Florida snow a roughly one in 10-to-20 year event.
Winter 2024-25 seemed a particularly unlikely candidate to deliver this rare weather pattern. Yet another La Niña event is underway in the Pacific, which typically leads to an increased tendency for high-pressure ridging in the Southeast
U.S. extreme cold outbreaks, like the Christmas 2022 Arctic blast, sometimes occur early in La Niña winters, but usually by January we’re experiencing mild and dry conditions. Nor has there been a “sudden stratospheric warming” event of the kind that sometimes fractures the stratospheric polar vortex in mid-winter and flings polar airmasses down to lower latitudes.
Instead, the preamble here looks to have been the stretching of a strong polar vortex from its normal high-latitude position in the direction of eastern North America, coupled with a strong ridge of high pressure along the U.S. West Coast, north to Alaska. That pattern leads to an airmass originating in the High Arctic (or the literal North Pole) taking the polar jet express to the Gulf Coast.
Probably the closest match in weather history to this storm is the second wave of the Great Freeze of 1895, in which 10-20” of snow fell on coastal Texas and Louisiana and Tallahassee picked up 2”.
The jet stream configuration preceding this week’s snowfall is an exceedingly close match to February 1895. Furthermore, as luck would have it, a smaller-scale disturbance clambered up and over the Alaskan ridge last weekend just as it did in 1895, with the polar vortex at its maximum southward stretch.
The precise timing and structure of the weather pattern before the storm was an uncanny facsimile of other great historical southern snows, teeing up another one for the ages.
Thundersnow, thundersleet and a day of shattered snow records
Even recognizing the pieces of the puzzle were in place, the way the storm actually played out was full of shocking twists — sometimes literally, in light of the occasional reports of thundersnow and thundersleet.
From coastal Louisiana and Alabama to the western Florida Panhandle, the surprise was far heavier snowfall than anticipated. While an incumbent cold airmass held serve aloft, the region saw anywhere from 0.5-0.75” or more of liquid-equivalent precipitation, far exceeding expectations of a little more than 0.25”.
For instance, Pensacola picked up 8.9” of snow on 0.87” of moisture, and Milton smashed its own state record from 1954 by a whopping half a foot, with a 10” accumulation.
Why did models miss on totals between eastern Louisiana and southwestern Georgia?
While it’s hard to say for sure, one theory is that waters running three to five degrees above normal in the western Gulf provided a deeper moisture source than anticipated. Remember, models try to replicate the complex atmospheric physics, but are also tuned to make useful forecasts in typical weather conditions.
Extremely rare events aren’t really their bailiwick, and errors are often large in outlier events like this one.
Further east, that extra Gulf moisture may have nudged air temperatures a mile or so above the surface just over the freezing line, bringing a chaotic mix of precipitation types to the eastern Panhandle.
The fact is atmospheric temperatures aren’t smooth and well-behaved, especially in an energetic event like this storm. With the messy division between above and below freezing temperatures parked over Tallahassee in the peak of the storm, the maddening minute-to-minute flips between rain, sleet, snow, freezing rain, or all of the above were driven by highly localized pockets of lift and vertical air temperature profiles.
With sleet dominating, Tallahassee ground out an official 1.9” snow accumulation (on 0.74” of liquid equivalent), good enough for third-place in the local record books.
However, the National Weather Service has reports of up to 3.3” of snow from northern Leon County, while Blountstown and Bainbridge topped 6”.
While that is a bit disappointing to snow lovers in America’s Sleet Capitol, we also saw far more frozen precipitation than areas just to our east. Jacksonville, as expected, only flipped over to a little freezing rain and snow at the tail end of the storm after 10 straight hours of the dreaded 33 and rain.
Comparison is the thief of joy, and I hope you were able to find joy in the heart of winter, even if it was icy.
When will the next Florida snow come? A 1% chance each winter but nothing like this
For those whose winter joy is wearing thin and are thinking of moving to Omaha (where they have only seen 1” of snow this season), you might want to put down those glossy Nebraska Chamber of Commerce brochures.
This week looks to bring far more typical La Nina winter conditions to Florida, with highs across the Panhandle pushing 70 and lows around 50 turning those lingering patches of ice into nothing more than a surreal and bizarre memory.
There is no sequel to The Day After Tomorrow in the works. One and done.
Some have asked me whether this kind of storm will this ever happen again. Well, certainly.
There is nothing new under the sun or over the sleet. However, you will likely be waiting a long time, and perhaps a lifetime.
With 2025 rivaling only 1895 for the historical high snowdrift on the Gulf Coast, this general kind of event might only have around a 1% of occurring in any given winter. There’s simply nothing like a 10” snow accumulation in Florida’s official or unofficial weather history, so the real possibility may be even slimmer.
But now we know such a thing is possible, which is new information. So really, who knows?
So, as we straighten out our bent minds following the winter storm of a generation, I hope we take a piece of this instantly mythologized week with us as we return to reality.
Personally, it was nice to forecast extreme weather that brought something other than stress and misery, unlike the other six recent events that have afflicted North Florida.
Weather connects people to each other and to places, and I hope we all saw a bit of magic and possibility in the world and in our neighborhoods this week. I know I did.
So take the photographs and still frames in your mind, and keep watching the skies.
Dr. Ryan Truchelut is chief meteorologist at WeatherTiger, a Tallahassee start-up providing advanced weather and climate analytics, forensic meteorology and expert witness consulting, and agricultural and hurricane forecasting subscription services. For more information, visit weathertiger.com or get in touch at ryan@weathertiger.com.
Have you ever come across a record so thoroughly destroyed that it seemed impossible to salvage? That was the situation I found myself in recently when I stumbled upon a vinyl record that had been completely obliterated.
The cover was torn and faded, with chunks missing and water damage evident. The record itself was cracked in multiple places, making it a near-impossible task to even attempt to play it.
But despite the sorry state of this record, something compelled me to hold onto it. Perhaps it was the mystery of what music lay hidden beneath the scratches and cracks, or maybe it was the challenge of trying to restore something that seemed beyond repair.
As I carefully examined the record, I realized that there was still a 1% chance that it could be salvaged. With the right tools and a whole lot of patience, I set out to try and bring this obliterated record back to life.
Hours turned into days as I painstakingly cleaned and repaired the record, using every trick in the book to try and smooth out the cracks and scratches. And finally, after what felt like an eternity, I placed the needle on the record and held my breath.
To my amazement, the sound that emerged was clear and beautiful, a testament to the power of perseverance and the magic of music. Despite the odds stacked against it, this obliterated record had defied all expectations and emerged victorious.
So the next time you come across something that seems beyond repair, remember the story of this record and the 1% chance that turned into a miracle. Sometimes, all it takes is a little faith and a whole lot of determination to bring something back from the brink of destruction.
Gophers women’s basketball squandered their opportunity to regain a top-25 ranking after falling 69-82 to No. 4 University of Southern California (USC) on Thursday.
Riding the best season start in program history and earning their first AP Top-25 ranking since 2019, the Gophers briefly held the No. 23 spot before falling out of the rankings after last week’s 65-70 loss to the No. 24 Michigan Wolverines.
The Gophers struggled to match and combat the offensive energy of the Trojans early into the game, entering the second quarter with a 10-point deficit. Trojans sophomore guard JuJu Watkins scored 18 of her 20 points in the second half of the game.
“(We) showed some toughness and resiliency, but, you know, unfortunately, it wasn’t enough in the end,” Gophers head coach Dawn Plitzuweit said. “We learned through that experience that we’ve got to probably start a lot better.”
Another offensive hurdle for the Gophers was USC forward Kiki Iriafen. She racked up 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Trojans, going 81.8% in the paint and 2-2 from the 3-point line.
Plitzuweit cited Minnesota’s early turnovers and missed opportunities at the rim as key factors in their early scoring deficit.
“They are loaded with offensive firepower in a lot of different ways,” Plitzuweit said. “We felt different players stepping up and hitting arc shots and that made it really, really tough for us.”
Gophers senior center Sophie Hart said she tried to be the strong offensive powerhouse Minnesota needed to combat USC’s strong post presence.
Hart led the team in scoring and was one of three Gophers to reach double figures, finishing with 18 points and grabbing five offensive rebounds.
The Gophers held their ground defensively, holding the Trojans to a 7-0 run in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter and forcing two turnovers.
Despite the loss being hard to swallow, Hart said the Gophers’ fight in the fourth quarter gave them a boost of confidence in their playing style.
“I don’t know if two years ago, we would have had that same kind of dog in us to battle back like that,” Hart said. “That speaks a lot about our team.”
The Gophers could not keep their early quarter momentum going, struggling to match Watkins’ offensive domination. Watkins’ performance led to her fourth double-double of the season.
The Gophers remain in California for their upcoming match against No. 1 UCLA on Sunday.
The Gophers women’s basketball team had a tough loss this past weekend as they missed their chance to reclaim a spot in the AP Top-25 rankings. Despite a strong effort, the team fell short in a close game, leaving them just outside the coveted rankings.
It was a disappointing outcome for the Gophers, who have been playing well this season and were hoping to make a statement with a win over a tough opponent. However, they will have to regroup and refocus as they continue to push for a spot among the nation’s top teams.
This setback serves as a reminder that the road to success is never easy, and the Gophers will need to stay determined and hungry as they strive to reach their goals. With hard work and perseverance, there is no doubt that this team has the potential to make a strong push for a spot in the AP Top-25 and beyond. Let’s continue to support our Gophers women’s basketball team as they work towards achieving their goals and making us proud.
The NBAannounced the rosters for the Rising Stars Challenge for All-Star Weekend in San Francisco, highlighting the best rookies and sophomores across the league. The Rising Stars Challenge will take place on Friday, Feb. 14, with 28 of the league’s best young talent competing in a mini-tournament. The winning team will get a chance to compete against the All-Stars on Sunday night.
Here’s the pool of players who will be featured during the Rising Stars Challenge:
The league announced injury replacements for McCain, Lively and Miller, while Wembanyama is being replaced after being named an All-Star reserve this year. The four player replacements are:
Anthony Black, Magic
Ausar Thompson, Pistons
Ryan Dunn, Suns
Toumani Camara, Trail Blazers
Similar to last season, the Rising Stars Challenge will consist of four teams, with rosters drafted by honorary head coaches who have yet to be announced. The Rising Stars Draft will take place on Feb. 4 at 4 p.m. ET. Three of the teams will consist of NBA rookies and sophomores, while the fourth team will consist of the seven G League players selected.
2025 NBA All-Star Game rosters: Full squads set with Victor Wembanyama, Cade Cunningham among reserve picks
Sam Quinn
The four teams will then compete in a mini-tournament, which includes two semifinal matches and a championship game. The two semifinal matches will be played to 40 points, and the championship game will be played to 25 points.
The winning Rising Stars Challenge team will then be the fourth team added to the All-Star Game on Sunday night, where they will compete against one of the three All-Star squads.
The NBA has just announced the pool of players who will have the opportunity to showcase their skills in the highly anticipated 2025 Rising Stars Game. This annual event, which features the top young talent in the league, gives fans a glimpse into the future of basketball.
Among the standout players selected for the pool are rising stars such as Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball, and Anthony Edwards. These young phenoms have already made a name for themselves in the league and are sure to put on a show in the Rising Stars Game.
In addition to these established stars, the pool also includes up-and-coming players who have been making waves in the league, such as Jalen Green, Cade Cunningham, and Scottie Barnes. These players have shown immense potential and will be looking to make a statement on the big stage.
The Rising Stars Game is a chance for these young players to shine and prove that they belong among the league’s elite. The game will be a showcase of the incredible talent and potential that the NBA has to offer, and fans can expect an exciting and competitive matchup between the Rising Stars and the All-Stars.
Stay tuned for more updates on the 2025 Rising Stars Game and get ready to witness the future of basketball in action.
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But that likelihood is low, with just a 1.3% chance that the asteroid could make direct impact on the planet on Dec. 22, 2032, according to space experts.
Astronomers monitoring the ATLAS telescope at the University of Hawaii first spotted the asteroid as it was moving away from Earth on Dec. 27 and reported it to the International Astronomical Union Minor Planet Center, which determined it had never before been seen, Kelly Fast, a planetary defense officer at NASA, told ABC News.
South polar region of the giant asteroid Vesta.
Nasa/jPL-Caltech/Getty Images
Asteroid 2024 YR4 has an “interesting” orbit, Fast said. The elongated path takes the asteroid around the sun and into Earth’s vicinity before it ventures far out between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, she said.
“In the past, even though it’s passed through the inner solar system before, it didn’t always pass by where the Earth happened to be, where it could be picked up easily,” Fast said, explaining why the asteroid was only recently discovered.
Because of its unique orbit, astronomers are trying to learn everything they can about 2024 YR4 before it disappears out of sight after April, Fast said. It’s not expected to be visible again until 2028.
The end of 2032 is when astronomers predict 2024 YR will come close to Earth again, Fast said, adding that further observations are expected to provide data to support the likelihood that 2024 YR4 will avoid hitting Earth.
“The worldwide community is continuing to take observations,” Fast said. “it can’t all happen in a day, because the asteroid has to keep moving in the sky.”
The Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer, or LBTI, is a ground-based instrument connecting two 8-meter class telescopes on Mount Graham in Arizona to form the largest single-mount telescope in the world.
NASA
Astronomers estimate the size of asteroids based on how much light they reflect. Based on current data, 2024 YR is large enough for it to potentially cause localized damage were it to strike a populated city, Fast said.
In 1908, the Tunguska asteroid, which was a similar size, flattened trees over an area of about 1,250 miles after it exploded in the skies over Siberia.
Congress has tasked NASA with locating asteroids larger than 450 feet in length – large enough to potentially do “regional” damage were it to strike the planet, Fast said.
Smaller asteroids, within a few yards in diameter, tend to be disintegrated by Earth’s atmosphere and transformed into fireballs, Fast said.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Asteroid Watch tracks asteroids and comets that will make relatively close approaches to Earth. Five asteroids are forecast to pass near Earth in the coming days.
Asteroid Psyche (Illustration).
NASA
On Friday, two asteroids are expected to pass near Earth, according to the updated list. Asteroid 2025 BR2, with JPL describes as an “airplane-size” space rock about 67 feet long, is expected to pass within 3.21 million miles of Earth, while another asteroid, 2015 DJ155 – two-and-a-half times as large, at 170 feet – is expected to pass within 4.42 million miles of Earth.
Two more asteroids, 2025 BG4 and 2025 BR7 – 75 and 100 feet in length, respectively – are forecast to pass within 3.09 million miles and 3.58 million miles of Earth, respectively, also on Friday.
On Sunday, 2025 BU, which JPL describe as being about the size of a house, at around 54 feet in length, is predicted to pass within 2.1 million miles of Earth, according to Asteroid Watch.
Fast emphasized that although these asteroids are passing “relatively” close to Earth, they’re still a great distance away. The moon itself is fewer than 240,000 miles from Earth and there are often asteroids passing Earth within that distance, she said.
“Space is big, and so that’s very far away,” Fast said.
NASA has revealed that there is a small chance an asteroid could potentially hit Earth within the next decade. While the probability is low, it serves as a reminder of the importance of monitoring near-Earth objects and being prepared for any potential impact.
According to NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, there are currently no known asteroids on a collision course with Earth in the next decade. However, they continue to track and monitor asteroids to ensure the safety of our planet.
In the event that an asteroid is detected on a collision course with Earth, NASA has plans in place to mitigate the impact, including possible deflection missions. This highlights the importance of investing in asteroid detection and deflection technologies to protect our planet from potential threats.
While the likelihood of an asteroid impact is small, it is crucial to remain vigilant and prepared for any potential scenario. NASA’s continued efforts in monitoring near-Earth objects serve as a reminder of the importance of planetary defense and the need for international cooperation in safeguarding our planet.
Space agencies are keeping a close eye on a recently discovered asteroid that has a small chance of impacting Earth. Named 2024 YR4, the asteroid has a 1.2% chance of hitting our planet on December 22, 2032, the European Space Agency and NASA have found.
But that also means the space rock has a nearly 99% chance of safely passing by Earth in 2032, according to the ESA and NASA. Future observations of the asteroid will help scientists determine the likelihood of an impact.
The asteroid is estimated to be between 131 and 328 feet (40 and 100 meters) wide. Asteroids of this size impact Earth every few thousand years, and they can cause severe damage to local regions, according to the ESA.
The space rock has a “size range comparable to that of a large building,” said Dr. Paul Chodas, director for the Center for Near Earth Object Studies, or CNEOS, at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Chodas added that the actual size of the asteroid, which astronomers are trying to determine with follow-up observations using multiple telescopes, is currently highly uncertain.
“If the asteroid turns out to be on the large end of its estimated size range, the impact could produce blast damage as far as 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the impact site,” Chodas said. “But that’s in the unlikely event that it might impact at all. The potential for damage arises because of the incredibly high speed (about 17 kilometers per second, or 38,028 miles per hour) at which the asteroid would enter the atmosphere.”
The Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, or ATLAS, telescope located in Rio Hurtado, Chile, first spied the space rock on December 27. The telescope is one of the asteroid discovery programs funded by NASA to scan the sky in search of near-Earth asteroids, said Davide Farnocchia, navigation engineer at JPL and CNEOS.
“The discovery happened while the asteroid was in the Earth’s neighborhood, which made it bright enough to be detected,” Farnocchia said.
Automated asteroid warning systems sent out an alarm after determining the asteroid had a slim chance of impacting Earth in 2032, bumping it to the top of the ESA’s asteroid risk list and NASA’s automated Sentry risk list on December 31. Such lists include any known asteroids with a nonzero probability of colliding with Earth.
Since early January, astronomers have used the Magdalena Ridge Observatory in New Mexico, the Danish Telescope and the Very Large Telescope in Chile to track the asteroid, which is currently 28 million miles (45 million kilometers) from Earth and moving farther away over time, Farnocchia said. The observations can also help researchers refine their estimates of the asteroid’s size and trajectory.
As the asteroid moves away from Earth and becomes fainter, researchers will have to rely on larger telescopes to observe it. The celestial object should be visible through early April, and as it continues on its orbit around the sun, it won’t return to Earth’s vicinity until 2028, Farnocchia said.
If 2024 YR4 disappears from view before space agencies can entirely rule out any chance of impact, the space rock will remain on the risk list until it’s back in view in 2028.
“Using the available tracking data, we can predict the future position of an asteroid,” Farnocchia said. “The longer we track an asteroid, the more precise the prediction. As we collect additional data, the uncertainty in the position of 2024 YR4 in 2032 will decrease. Given that the impact probability is only 1%, it is 99% likely that the Earth will eventually fall outside the swath of possible positions and that the probability would fall to zero.”
It’s not uncommon for an asteroid’s impact probability to rise shortly after its discovery before that probability drops to zero after scientists learn more about its size and trajectory, according to the European Space Agency.
NASA and the ESA regularly track thousands of near-Earth asteroids, but depending on the size, they are not always easy to spot. But improvements in asteroid survey technology, and future asteroid-spotting missions, could detect the space rocks astronomers haven’t been able to see in the past. Currently, there are no other known large asteroids that have more than a 1% chance of impacting Earth, according to NASA.
Two international asteroid response groups endorsed by the United Nations — the International Asteroid Warning Network, chaired by NASA, and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group, chaired by ESA — have activated in response to the threat level.
The International Asteroid Warning Network is responsible for coordinating the organizations involved in tracking and characterizing the details of the asteroid — and if necessary, developing strategies to assess the consequences of an impact.
Meanwhile, the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group, currently convening in an already-planned meeting in Vienna through next week, will provide recommendations and evaluate options for how to mitigate a potential impact if the asteroid remains a threat. Mitigation tactics include deflecting the asteroid in space or evacuating potentially impacted regions on the ground, Farnocchia said.
NASA carried out the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, called the DART mission, in September 2022 to assess the effectiveness of asteroid deflection technology. The agency wanted to see whether a kinetic impact — such as intentionally crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid at 13,645 miles per hour (6.1 kilometers per second) — would be enough to change the motion of a celestial object in space.
The DART spacecraft successfully changed the way a tiny asteroid called Dimorphos moves, shifting the moonlet asteroid’s orbital period — or how long it takes to make a single revolution around a larger space rock called Didymos — by about 32 minutes.
Neither Dimorphos nor Didymos poses a danger to Earth. Still, the double-asteroid system was a perfect target on which to test deflection technology because Dimorphos’ size is comparable to asteroids that could threaten our planet.
Now, an ESA mission called Hera is on its way to assess the aftermath of the DART impact to determine whether the collision merely left behind a crater or if the spacecraft’s momentum completely reshaped Dimorphos. Both agencies see the mission as a necessary step to understand the final outcome of DART’s deflection test. Measuring DART’s efficiency is crucial in case a similar strategy may need to be used against an asteroid on a collision course with Earth in the future.
“If 2024 YR4 remained a threat at the end of the current observing window, mitigation measures might be considered,” Farnocchia said. “But talk of mitigation is premature. The priority right now is to keep observing 2024 YR4 and reduce its positional uncertainties in 2032, since this is likely to rule out the impact.”
Exciting news in the world of astronomy! Scientists have recently discovered a new asteroid, named 2022 XQ1, that has a 1.2% chance of colliding with Earth in the year 2032. While this may sound alarming, experts are quick to reassure the public that the probability of impact is still relatively low.
According to NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, the asteroid measures approximately 100 meters in diameter and is currently orbiting the Sun at a distance of about 0.7 astronomical units from Earth. Based on its trajectory and speed, astronomers have calculated that there is a slim possibility of a collision with our planet in ten years’ time.
Despite the small chance of impact, scientists are closely monitoring the asteroid’s path and will continue to track its movements in the coming years. In the event that the risk of a collision increases, plans for potential deflection or mitigation strategies will be put into action.
While the idea of an asteroid hitting Earth may sound like something out of a Hollywood movie, it is a reminder of the importance of studying and understanding these celestial bodies. By monitoring and tracking near-Earth objects, scientists can better assess the potential risks and develop strategies to protect our planet from potential impacts.
In the meantime, skywatchers and astronomers around the world will be keeping a close eye on 2022 XQ1 as it continues its journey through space. Stay tuned for updates on this fascinating discovery!
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asteroid impact, asteroid threat, asteroid 2032, asteroid collision, asteroid news, space exploration, planetary defense, near-Earth object, asteroid tracking, asteroid monitoring, asteroid risk, asteroid impact probability
How many rings won in some other city, for some long-ago champion, is too many? How much experience does a hockey team really need?
As Brandon Saad walks away from $5.1 million in salary that was owed to him by the St. Louis Blues, the team now being run by his old general manager from Chicago — Stan Bowman — is musing about whether he’d be a smart add.
It begs the ultimate question:
How many “I used to be pretty good, but now my game is somewhere below that” players can you add to an Edmonton Oilers roster that already has already houses Corey Perry, Jeff Skinner, Adam Henrique, Viktor Arvidsson, Kasperi Kapanen, and perhaps even 32-year-old Mattias Janmark?
“If I were the Oilers I’d be concerned that they have a lot of guys in the same boat as (Saad). Shadows of once good players,” a scout texted on Wednesday night.
So we went to the rink on Thursday morning and found Adam Henrique, not so much a “shadow of a once good player” but a centreman who has accepted a lesser role in Edmonton than what he was used to in Anaheim.
All in exchange for the chance to win a Stanley Cup.
“It’s a fine line,” said Henrique. “There’s only so much (ice time) to go around, and everybody’s got to buy in, in order to be a top team.”
On a 20-man roster, what’s the right number?
“I think as many as are willing to buy in and accept a bit of a lesser role than in the past,” said Henrique, a nearly 1,000-game player who has never won a Stanley Cup while playing in New Jersey and Anaheim.
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Saad, meanwhile, won Cups as a Blackhawk in 2013 and 2015 playing (mostly) on a line with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. Now he’s mired in a St. Louis rebuild that he forgave $5.1 million in salary to get away from.
Henrique, as with most any current NHL player, has mad respect for that player and what he could bring to a team.
“Not a ton of guys have experience like that, and have been through those sorts of things or been with players at that level,” Henrique acknowledges. “On all those good teams, all those guys have a willingness to buy into a role — otherwise you wouldn’t be there. You’d want to go to a team that’s not as good, where there’s more ice time to be available.”
OK, so the experience, the knowledge — all those intangibles — are highly valued in hockey. But the player has to be able to play.
In Saad’s case — a 32-year-old, middle-six left-winger who would spend some of his time next to Leon Draisaitl — he has to have certain qualities.
Sure, Saad — who scored 26 goals last season — has better hands than Vasily Podkolzin. But can he dig pucks out for Draisaitl the way Podkolzin does, play defence like Podkolzin does, and skate at anywhere close to the pace that Podkolzin does?
“He is better than most of the Oilers’ bottom-six currently,” said a Central Division scout.
“I don’t mind him. Skating and shot not what they used to be. Down low game can be good, but it’s inconsistent. He’ll be motivated and likely better than he was in St. Louis.” — Central Division scout.
“Plays in straight lines. Big, strong power forward-type who plays well in the playoffs. Lost a step but still a functional middle-six guy. Plays best in big games.” — Atlantic Division scout.
“Nada. Nothing (left).” — Metropolitan Scout.
“Last one on the ice and first one off. Maybe a change of scenery helps.” — Former player.
“Hard player to defend/contain when he has his motor going. Similar to Klingberg, why not take a chance? A free acquisition — if it doesn’t work out, no big deal.” — Central scout.
So it’s a bit of a flyer, like the last scout said, but so what?
The Oilers, already the oldest team in the National Hockey League, are currently taking a similar flyer on defenceman John Klingberg, who is scheduled to make his debut Thursday versus Detroit. Klingberg says he’s never played pain-free in the NHL after double hip surgeries at ages 18 and 21.
But after a third surgery he claims to be pain-free today. If it turns out he is a better defenceman than Troy Stecher, Ty Emberson or both, the Oilers will have improved themselves without spending an asset — other than a bit of cap space and the owner’s money.
If Saad can take some time away from Podkolzin next to Draisaitl, or be more productive on the third line next to Henrique than Skinner, Kapanen or Janmark, then the same is true in this case.
But he’s got to be able to play before any of the leadership and experience qualities mean a thing.
“What we want is best players possible, no matter what their age,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch, who was not referencing Saad in particular. “Bringing in talent is the most important thing, and then having roles.
“If you get a bunch of offensive players, they might be the best players but they can’t utilize their skill if they’re not on the first-unit power play. And we’ve got a pretty good first-unit power play,” he said. “Now, for veterans, it comes down to what they’re bringing and how good they are. If they do have some experience, It’s going to help with when the team goes through tough times.
“But just because they’ve got experience, that doesn’t mean they’re going to be a better player than the guys you already have.”
So far, the only veteran acquisitions that have been regrettable is Skinner. That was a Jeff Jackson call, and the Oilers will simply have to eat that $3 million deal if Saad came in and pushed Skinner further down the roster at left wing.
Then there’s the imminent return of left winger Evander Kane…
The Edmonton Oilers have been searching for a reliable and consistent winger to complement their star center, Connor McDavid. With rumors swirling around Brandon Saad potentially being available for trade, should the Oilers take a chance on him?
Saad, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks, has proven to be a valuable asset on the wing. He possesses a rare combination of skill, speed, and physicality that could make him a perfect fit alongside McDavid. Additionally, Saad has a proven track record of scoring goals and producing points consistently throughout his career.
While there may be some concerns about Saad’s contract and potential cap implications for the Oilers, the potential upside of adding a player of his caliber could outweigh any financial risks. With the Oilers looking to make a deep playoff run and capitalize on McDavid’s prime years, adding a player like Saad could be the missing piece to their championship puzzle.
Ultimately, the decision to pursue Saad will come down to the Oilers’ management and their assessment of the team’s needs and goals. But if the opportunity presents itself, taking a chance on Brandon Saad could be a bold move that pays off big for the Edmonton Oilers.
Well, it’s been nice while it lasted! I’ve been on my bike this month more than any winter month in the past. What a stable weather pattern with cold nights in the 20s and sunny afternoons up around 50°. Now that’s changing and it’s real clear that we’ll be flirting with low-elevation snow chances much of the first 7-10 days of February.
KEY POINTS
Clouds arrive tomorrow, then a rainy day Friday will be followed by scattered showers Saturday and Sunday.
Over the weekend, sticking snow should remain at/above 1,000′ in the I-5 corridor. But at the lowest elevations (including coastline) you may see snow in the air, especially Sunday, and splats on your windshield
Scattered showers continue Sunday night through Wednesday, possibly tapering off quite a bit Tues/Wed.
Expect spotty light accumulations of snow during the coldest parts of each day (overnight + morning commutes)
There’s a good chance we get school delays and spots of snow/ice on SOME roads those mornings.
This is NOT a widespread snow and “frozen city” event like last January, or February 2023.
We don’t expect an “arctic freeze” (highs below 32° in Portland) through at least Tuesday/Wednesday
1st chance for lowland snow this winter
And here’s our current 7-day forecast. Notice I’m most interested in Monday-Wednesday mornings, thus the First Alert Weather Days (mornings)
Wednesday evening’s 7-day forecast
Today we’ve tied the all-time (back to 1940) record for consecutive dry days in January. 17 this year! What a stretch of fantastic and invigorating weather.
Record January dry spell
This is not a record dry January though…we will likely end up with about 1/2 of normal rainfall.
Wx Blog(kptv)
WHAT’S AHEAD
Forecast models are in excellent agreement this evening; pretty good for 4-7 days out in time. They all agree a cold upper-level low drops down. The Euro model Saturday morning shows the cool westerly flow over us overhead, this is 500 millibars, around 18,000′
Between that time and Wednesday the cold trough drops south, then actually backs away from the coastline slightly toward Wednesday. This is the evening GFS model during those 5 days
( )
In this setup we get scattered showers moving onshore through the whole period. We know from past experience that to get sticking snow to sea-level (or valley floor) in this pattern, we need 850 millibar temps (in °C) down to -7 to -9°. For guaranteed sticking down to ground level, you need -9 to -10. In a well-mixed atmosphere, that means Cascade pass temperatures are down around 20° (F). Here’s Monday morning on the latest GFS model
Wx Blog(kptv)
The red line is around -10, notice the coldest air remains west of us over the open ocean. The blue line is the limit of the cold/dry arctic airmass, it’s staying well north of us through Monday, although there may be some “leakage” of that cold airmass later Tuesday and Wednesday down into eastern Washington/Oregon. Models disagree on that a bit. That’s why at this point I’m not expecting a big freeze.
And the reason we’re just going for light showers in the 72 hours from late Sunday through Wednesday? Check out precipitation during that time…less than 1/2″!
GFS model 3-day precip Mon-Wed
The evening GEM model and earlier ECMWF were similar…quite dry during this period. In case you wonder how much snow you could squeeze out of 1/2″ rain? On average about 5″. So if you read that model literally (you shouldn’t do that), you could say “IF EVERY SHOWER WAS SNOW AND STUCK AT ANY TIME OF DAY, the maximum snowfall we could get during those 3 days would be 5″
Wx Blog(kptv)
Of course much of the time it’ll be above freezing so that’s not happening…you get the idea. This is why we keep talking SHOWERS instead of widespread snowfall early next week.
That’s it for this evening, the weather team will be recording a brand new podcast tomorrow evening; that should be out Friday morning at the latest. In these podcasts we take a deep dive into the forecast models and other weather geekery. We’ve got a brand new team member that we’ll introduce as well! You can find those here:
Then I’ll have a fresh blog post out Friday evening…likely before 8pm.
Copyright 2025 KPTV-KPDX. All rights reserved.
Get ready, Pacific Northwest! It looks like we may have our first taste of winter weather next week. The National Weather Service has issued a First Alert Weather Day for the region, with a chance of snow in the lowlands.
While the forecast is still uncertain, there is a possibility of snow showers moving in from the north, bringing the potential for slippery roads and reduced visibility. Make sure to stay tuned to your local forecast for updates and be prepared for changing conditions.
Now is the time to start thinking about winterizing your home and vehicles, as well as stocking up on essentials like food, water, and emergency supplies. And don’t forget to bundle up and stay warm as the temperatures drop.
Stay safe and stay informed as we navigate our first winter weather event of the season. Let’s all be prepared and ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store for us.
Steady rain will fall Thursday night and into Friday. There’s a chance of snow in Portland Saturday through Wednesday.
PORTLAND, Ore. — KGW has issued Weather Impact Alert days for Friday through Wednesday due to expected heavy rain and the chance for snow in the Portland metro area.
Following a 17-day dry stretch, rain is finally expected to return Thursday evening. There may be hours of steady rain that’s heavy at times Thursday night and Friday, KGW meteorologist Rod Hill said. Rain will break into showers Friday overnight, and showers will continue into the weekend. Rain totals will exceed half an inch around Portland.
Snow levels will be above 4,000 feet through noon on Friday before rapidly dropping at night behind a cold front. Over the weekend, snow levels are expected to drop between 300-500 feet, which would likely bring sticking snow to valley hills and other areas at that elevation.
One to four inches of snow is possible in scattered locations; however, the amount of precipitation that could fall remains in question, Hill said. Lower elevations, including downtown Portland, will see mainly rain showers with temperatures above 32 degrees.
All elevations could see freezing temperatures starting Sunday night, and a mix of snow and rain showers is forecasted for Portland. It’s possible that snow could stick on the ground during the overnight and morning hours, Hill said. Temperatures will rise near 40 degrees and could bring a mix of rain and snow.
“It does appear all moisture will be in the form of snow showers Tuesday-Thursday of next week,” Hill said. “Due to the nature of scattered precipitation at lowest elevations, it is unsure at this time as to if Portland and Salem will see snow accumulation, but the possibility is in the forecast.”
Meanwhile, the Cascades and the coast range are also impacted with a snow threat. A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for Mount Hood and the Cascades from Thursday night through Saturday afternoon. Up to 20 inches of snow will fall at Mount Hood resorts, Hill said, with up to eight inches at the pass level.
When
Steady rain is expected in the Portland metro area starting late Thursday evening and lasting much of Friday. There’s the chance for snow on Saturday and Sunday. Monday may see a snow-and-rain mix at lower elevations, with snow showers possible on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Impact
One to four inches of snow is possible for valley hills at 300 feet elevation and higher. Areas with lower elevation, like downtown Portland, may see rain showers.
Need
If snow sticks and accumulates, roads may be slick and drivers should use extra caution.
What are Weather Impact Alert days?
It’s our goal to make sure you have the most accurate and up-to-date information about the weather and its impact on you. The new KGW Weather Impact Alerts will be just that, alerts as far in advance as possible, so that you can be armed with accurate information to keep yourself and your family safe.
Attention Portland residents! Be prepared for some potentially wild weather in the upcoming days. Weather Impact Alert days have been issued for heavy rain and a chance of snow in our area.
It’s important to stay informed and be prepared for any weather-related disruptions. Make sure to have emergency supplies on hand, such as extra food, water, and blankets. Stay updated on weather forecasts and road conditions, and avoid traveling if possible.
Let’s all stay safe and weather the storm together, Portland! #WeatherAlert #StaySafePortland #OregonWeather
