As Houston and East Texas recover from Hurricane Harvey, an even stronger hurricane has formed in the Atlantic Ocean, headed to the Caribbean Sea, and likely Florida by this weekend, though there is uncertainty where it goes next.

"Hurricane Irma expanded into a 180mph 'superstorm' on Tuesday as officials warned of life-threatening winds, storm surge and rainfall in several Caribbean islands and emergency planners in Florida escalated preparations for a possible weekend strike," reports for the Guardian.
"Irma’s peak intensity so far ranks among the strongest in recorded history, exceeding the likes of Katrina, Andrew and Camille – whose winds peaked at 175 mph," report Brian McNoldy, senior research associate, University Of Miami and Jason Samenow, The Washington Post's weather editor.
First to feel the effects of Irma will be a group of Caribbean Islands known as the Leeward Islands on Tuesday, with Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on Wednesday. The Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, and the southeastern Bahamas are also in the path of Irma.
“The chance of direct impacts from Irma later this week and this weekend is increasing in the Florida Keys and portions of the Florida peninsula,” the National Hurricane Center senior hurricane specialist Dan Brown said in his advisory.
Landfall expected in Florida Keys or South Florida by the weekend
On Monday, Gov. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) declared a state of emergency for all 67 counties in response to Irma.
"It is impossible to say with certainty whether Irma will track up along the eastern side of the Florida peninsula, the western side, or straight up the peninsula," add McNoldy and Samenow.
Beyond the weekend, the scenarios really depend on which side of Florida it tracks. But for now, it’s safe to say that the southeast United States, including the Florida panhandle, Georgia and the Carolinas, should also brace for potential impacts, such as flash flooding, storm surge and strong winds.
If Irma makes landfall as a Category 4 or higher in the United States, joining Hurricane Harvey, it will become the first time two storms so strong struck the United States in the same season.
And that's not all that's brewing in the Atlantic, warn Noldy and Samenow. " Tropical Storm Jose formed in the eastern Atlantic Tuesday morning. This storm is also predicted to intensify into a hurricane over the coming days, but the latest track keeps it away from land areas for the most part."
If you're thinking climate change must be playing a role, Samenow, The Washington Post's weather editor, explains in a perspective how climate change can exacerbate the effects of hurricane, Harvey in particular, though he doesn't mention if it affects the quantity of hurricanes, perhaps because it was published on Sept. 1. He lists them "from high confidence to low confidence:"
- By raising sea levels, climate change increased the rise in ocean water or storm surge when the storm came ashore and the coastal flooding that resulted.
- By warming temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, climate change intensified the storm’s rainfall.
- By warming temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, climate change intensified the storm’s peak winds.
- By slowing down the jet stream, climate change increased the likelihood the storm would stall and unload rainfall over the same areas.
His bottom line: "Climate change probably made Harvey a little worse. But you’re on shaky ground to say any less or much more."
FULL STORY: Florida prepares as Hurricane Irma grows into 180mph 'superstorm'

The Shifting Boomer Bulge: More Bad News for America’s Housing Crisis?
In the first of a two-part series, PlaceMakers’ Ben Brown interviews housing guru Arthur C. Nelson on the sweeping demographic changes complicating the housing market.

New York Governor Advances Housing Plan Amid Stiff Suburban Opposition
Governor Kathy Hochul’s ambitious proposal to create more housing has once again run into a brick wall of opposition in New York’s enormous suburbs, especially on Long Island. This year, however, the wall may have some cracks.

A Serious Critique of Congestion Costs and Induced Vehicle Travel Impacts
Some highway advocates continue to claim that roadway expansions are justified to reduce traffic congestion. That's not what the research shows. It's time to stop obsessing over congestion and instead strive for efficient accessibility.

Historically Redlined Neighborhoods Have Higher Rates of Pedestrian Deaths, Study Says
The consequences of historic redlining continue to have consequences in the present day United States. Add another example to the list.

Tolling All Lanes
Bay Area transportation planners are studying a radical idea to reduce traffic congestion and fund driving alternatives: tolling all lanes on a freeway. Even more radical, the plan considers tolling parallel roads.

Federal SMART Grants Awarded for Transportation Safety, Equity Projects
The grant program focuses on the use of technology to improve safety, accessibility, and efficiency in transportation.
City of Greenville
City of Greenville
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
City of Spearfish
City of Lomita
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.