A sudden and uncoordinated closure of a 17-mile stretch of Interstate 5 in San Clemente caused significant traffic delays and frustration among residents and officials, with critics questioning the necessity and timing of the military live-fire exercise and the lack of communication from authorities.
Ten years ago, a winter storm paralyzed metro Atlanta, leading to thousands of stranded motorists, hours-long commutes, and over 1,000 traffic accidents. With more than 2 inches of snowfall, it took over 18 hours for traffic to return to normal, resulting in at least $10 million in property losses. The chaos prompted Gov. Nathan Deal to declare a state of emergency, and the event served as a stark reminder for Atlanta to take winter weather threats seriously.
Two lanes of the Bay Bridge in San Francisco will be closed during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, causing potential traffic chaos. The closures will allow unfettered access for California Highway Patrol vehicles for APEC security. Other parts of Bay Area highways will also be affected, and signage will be posted to warn of on-ramp closures. Caltrans encourages people to take public transit to San Francisco during the summit. Additionally, parts of San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood will be closed to private car traffic, drawing criticism from some residents.
A rare, heavy summer storm named Poly hit the Netherlands, bringing roaring winds at speeds of up to 146 km/h (90 mph) and causing one death. The storm downed trees, disrupted transportation, and prompted authorities to issue warnings for people to stay indoors. More than 300 flights were canceled at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, train services were suspended, and a highway was closed due to falling trees. The storm, the strongest summer storm on record in the country, highlights the vulnerability of the Netherlands to extreme weather conditions and the effects of climate change.