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CARL AZUZ: As the last full week of October gets started,
so does another 10 minute installment of our show.
I'm Carl Azuz, happy to see you this Monday.
It has been said that the United States has the most
violent weather in the world.
And while they may not all be destructive,
some pretty significant weather events are expected
across the country this week.
We'll go from west to east.
First, rapidly dropping pressure and a river of precipitation
were expected for the start of the week in California.
You might think this would be good news
for areas recently scorched by wildfires, however--
DEREK VAN DAM: What's unique about this
is it's pulling in moisture from the Pacific Ocean
from an atmospheric river and that
is going to translate to very heavy
rain and very heavy snowfall across the mountainous regions.
Future forecast radar lighting up like a Christmas tree
with plenty of precipitation taking place
but of particular danger is the debris
flows from the recent burn scars across the region.
Take Santa Barbara County, for instance.
The Alisal burn scar actually under a mandatory evacuation
order.
That means there is a direct threat to life and property
within that area because simply, the ground cannot handle that
amount of rain considering that we've got a scorched Earth
and with that mountainous terrain across the region,
means debris flows are possible.
By the way, debris flows can pick up rocks, mud, trees,
and they travel anywhere from 30 to 50 miles per hour,
so they can cause significant damage.
So you'll want to heed evacuation warnings in your
community, if you do have them.
CARL AZUZ: Moving inland over the Sierra Nevada and Cascade
Mountain ranges, this atmospheric river
was expected to dump feet of snow on Sunday and Monday.
Weather officials said that could lead to road closures,
with driving conditions expected to be impossible anyway.
And over the central part of the US
as a cold front from the north bulldozes into warmer
humid air, officials said severe weather
was possible early this week in Arkansas, Illinois,
Indiana, and Missouri.
That could include everything from damaging winds
and hail to tornadoes.
The front will drag down temperatures as it moves east
and meteorologists say if strong, northeasterly winds
develop over the American Northeast, the type of storm
called a nor'easter is possible.
They're not sure yet if this will happen,
but they said on Sunday that some computer models were
showing potential for coastal flooding,
and as much as half a foot of rain
for New England that could take place about midweek.
Everything weather related would coincide with peak fall
foliage season in the US.
CNN Tech contributor Tyler Mauldin explains
why the leaves change color.
TYLER MAULDIN: This is the best time of the year, Carl.
Cooler temperatures, the holidays,
pumpkin spice everything and oh yeah, fall colors.
But why do the leaves change color?
To understand why, think back to photosynthesis and chlorophyll.
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants or trees
create their own energy through sunlight,
water, and carbon dioxide.
Chlorophyll is a key component of this process
and as the reason leaves have a green color.
Photosynthesis comes to a halt as the amount of daylight
shortens during fall, telling the tree
to shut down for winter.
The chlorophyll breaks down when this happens.
The colors that come next depend on the temperature
and the amount of rain received.
Days that are sunny and warm but not too hot
and nights that are cool but not freezing
are ideal for vibrant colors.
The cherry on top is a mild drought at the onset of fall
after having a great growing season.
If these factors aren't spot on, the colors will be duller.
If the temperature and drought are too extreme,
the leaves could possibly just turn brown and fall
off before ever changing color.
We typically see fall color at its best
in the mountains in northern states in the month of October.
It slowly makes its way south and southern states see their
peak color throughout November.
Fingers crossed Carl, this is a great fall color season
for you and your Instagram.
CARL AZUZ: 10 second trivia.
What was the name of the historic satellite
launched in 1957?
Mir, Apollo, Mercury, or Sputnik?
[countdown tones]
The first object people ever put in his space
was named Sputnik 1.
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Quote, "There is going to be a major shortage
of toy products this year."
That's what the CEO of a large toy company told CNN in August
and problems with the international supply of goods
have gotten worse since then.
Toy executives say Americans need to do their Christmas
and holiday shopping early and to be
prepared for higher prices.
One big factor in this is that only 15%
of the toys sold in America are actually made in America.
Companies and stores depend on shipping to stock their shelves
and with multiple disruptions in the supply chain,
planning for the shopping season is
an uncertain process at best.
CLARE SEBASTIAN: Staff at this New York City toy store
had no idea they'd be getting this delivery of books and toys
today or that all of the orders would be incomplete.
CHRISTINA CLARK: We're placing orders every day
constantly, as many as we can think of.
One of my bigger companies I ordered
a huge order in February and it just shipped a couple of weeks
ago.
So it's so hard to determine when and if
things are going to come.
CLARE SEBASTIAN: The enticing displays
here mask an unprecedented inventory problem.
Many items running out.
CHRISTINA CLARK: I have three of these.
There's no more downstairs.
I have three of these.
There's no more downstairs.
CLARE SEBASTIAN: Others in oversupply.
CHRISTINA CLARK: I've got about 20 times that in my basement.
CLARE SEBASTIAN: And behind the scenes.
CHRISTINA CLARK: This is what my very messy office
looks like with shipping out to be done
and shipping in to process.
CLARE SEBASTIAN: Christina Clark says
she was warned by suppliers to stockpile
ahead of the holidays.
85% of all toys sold in the US are imported, according
to the Toy Association, and right now
the ships that carry them mostly from Asia
are stuck in a giant maritime traffic jam.
The result of surging demand as economies
recover and ongoing COVID related disruptions.
It's not just a shipping crisis affecting the toy supply chain.
There's also port congestion piling on
and a shortage of truck drivers to get
them to their destination.
- That combination of online shopping, COVID shutdowns,
resupplying things that were out of stock,
and the holidays together have all combined into what,
you know, really is a crisis of shipping
and a crisis of consumer products.
CLARE SEBASTIAN: And it's sending costs skyrocketing.
- The average shipping container has
gone from somewhere, right around $3,000 to around $24,000
on the spot market.
CLARE SEBASTIAN: Christina Clarke
says many of her suppliers have raised prices twice this year
and some are now tacking on a shipping
surcharge, most of which she isn't
passing on to her customers.
Financially, how is this affecting you?
CHRISTINA CLARK: (laughter) I just have a lot of debt.
I have a huge amount of debt and--
and hope.
Hope that it will be covered.
CLARE SEBASTIAN: Her message to customers, start
your holiday shopping now.
This will not be over by Christmas.
Clare Sebastian, CNN, New York.
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CARL AZUZ: Near a Spanish territory
that borders the nation of Morocco,
fishermen recently hauled in this.
A massive sunfish that had gotten tangled in fishing nets.
Before setting it free, they measured it at 10 and 1/2 feet
long and 9 and 1/2 feet wide and scientists estimate
it weighs around 4,400 pounds.
They couldn't find out for sure because the scale
on the fishing boat was in danger of breaking.
Sunfish are believed to be the largest bony
fish on the planet, but there's a lot that scientists
just don't know about them.
So would you say that was a fish story?
That the fishermen were just fishing for attention to hook
catch and free you into an ocean of wonder?
That's not what they're all a trout.
In the group, were pictures prove they're
in the swim and making waves.
The only thing fishy about it was
that it was a fin chance for us to leave
you awash in a sea of puns.
Despite the fish, today's show is for the birds.
The Ricebirds.
That's the mascot of Stuttgart High
School in Stuttgart, Arkansas.
We're glad you Arkansas today's show.
And we hope to see everyone again tomorrow.
I'm Carl Azuz.
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