Business
(VIDEO) 10 Surprising Facts About Flash Flooding Most People Don’t Know, According to NOAA and Weather Service
Flash flooding kills more people in the United States each year than tornadoes, hurricanes or lightning, yet many Americans significantly underestimate the danger this common weather hazard poses. Here are 10 facts about flash flooding, drawn from the National Weather Service, NOAA and the National Severe Storms Laboratory, that most people don’t know.
1. Flash floods can develop in as little as three hours
According to the National Weather Service, a flash flood is defined as flooding that begins within six hours, and often in as little as three hours, of heavy rainfall. That narrow window means water can rise dramatically before residents have any meaningful time to prepare, let alone evacuate.
2. Water can rise dozens of feet in under an hour
The speed at which flash floods develop can be extraordinary. During the deadly July 2025 Texas Hill Country flooding, fast-moving waters along the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes before dawn, washing away homes and vehicles in the process, according to PBS News.
3. Just six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet
Most people fail to appreciate the sheer physical force of moving floodwater, according to NOAA. Just six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock an adult off their feet, 12 inches can carry away a car, and 24 inches of moving water can pick up an SUV or a truck entirely.
4. More than half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles
According to SERVPRO, citing National Weather Service data, more than half of all flash flood deaths occur when someone is swept away while driving into flooded roads. NOAA separately notes that nearly half of all flood fatalities specifically are auto-related, and that it takes only 18 inches of water to float a typical vehicle, while just two feet of flowing water is enough to sweep most vehicles downstream entirely.
5. Flash flood deaths outpace both lightning and tornadoes on average
While the exact number of fatalities varies significantly from year to year, the national 30-year average for flood deaths in the U.S. stands at 88 people annually, according to NOAA. That compares with a 30-year average of just 41 deaths from lightning and 68 deaths from tornadoes over the same period, making flooding the deadlier hazard of the three, despite receiving comparatively less public attention than tornado warnings.
6. 2025 brought the most flash flood warnings issued in decades
The National Weather Service issued more than 3,400 flash flood warnings through July 2025 alone, the highest number of warnings issued in a single year since the 1980s, according to WeatherWorks. Some of that increase reflects genuine improvements in forecasting technology and warning capabilities rather than a purely proportional rise in actual flooding events.
7. Dry creek beds and urban pavement dramatically increase flash flood risk
Densely populated areas face elevated flash flood danger specifically because of how much they’ve been paved over, according to NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory. The construction of buildings, highways, driveways and parking lots increases surface runoff by reducing how much rainfall the ground can naturally absorb, directly increasing flash flood potential in cities and towns compared with more rural, undeveloped terrain.
8. Streams routed underground can flood roads and buildings from below
In many cities, streams have been routed underground into storm drain systems rather than left flowing above ground, according to NOAA. During heavy rainfall, those storm drains can become overwhelmed or clogged with debris, causing water to back up and flood nearby roads and buildings even when no visible stream or river is nearby, a risk factor many urban residents remain unaware of.
9. Meteorologists are now using AI to predict where flash floods will strike
Forecasters have developed increasingly sophisticated tools to anticipate flash flooding before it happens, including a system called Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor, or MRMS, which combines data from weather radars, rain gauges, satellites and numerical models into a single, high-resolution real-time picture. Greg Waller, senior coordination hydrologist at NOAA’s West Gulf River Forecast Center, described the life-saving impact of that improved forecasting capability. “Better inputs lead to better public safety. It’s not hyperbolic to say that this advancement in technology as helped save lives. Because it has improved the accuracy of the forecast and improved the lead time,” Waller said. NOAA researchers are now building on that foundation with the Warn-on-Forecast System, which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to model multiple potential storm scenarios and predict where and how intensely rainfall is likely to fall.
10. Standard homeowners insurance almost never covers flood damage
Many homeowners mistakenly assume their existing insurance policy will cover flood-related losses, but according to SERVPRO, standard homeowner’s insurance typically does not include flood coverage at all. Protecting a home against flood damage generally requires a separate policy, usually purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program, and that program typically carries a 30-day waiting period before coverage takes effect, meaning homeowners cannot simply purchase a policy in the days immediately before a major storm arrives and expect coverage to apply.
Flash floods remain, according to NOAA, “the most dangerous kind of floods, because they combine the destructive power of a flood with incredible speed.” The agency’s guidance for staying safe during flash flood conditions remains consistent regardless of location: monitor NOAA Weather Radio or a trusted news source for real-time updates, move immediately to higher ground if flooding occurs, avoid already-flooded or fast-moving water entirely, and never attempt to drive through a flooded roadway, since the road bed underneath the water may no longer be intact. As NOAA puts it directly in its official guidance to the public, if floodwater rises above the knee while attempting to cross a flowing stream on foot, the agency’s advice is unambiguous: “TURN AROUND DON’T DROWN.”
Business
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Business
Where Will Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Get Income Once They Move Back to Britain? Here Is What We Know
LONDON — As Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, prepare to relocate to Britain after six years in California, one question has followed the couple since they first stepped back from royal duties in 2020: how do they support themselves, and what happens to that income once they are living in the U.K. again?
The short answer, according to years of financial reporting on the couple, is that their money no longer comes from the British taxpayer. It comes from entertainment deals, a growing consumer products business, book royalties, speaking fees and private wealth — a commercial operation that is expected to continue largely unchanged regardless of which country they call home.
No public funding, no working-royal income
When Harry and Meghan gave up their roles as working members of the royal family, they also gave up funding from the Sovereign Grant, the public money that supports the monarch’s official duties. They likewise lost government-funded police protection for their U.K. visits, a separate issue that has required them to rely on private security. None of that changes with a move back to Britain; the couple are returning as private citizens, not as working royals, and are not expected to receive royal income or automatic police protection.
Netflix remains the anchor deal
The single largest driver of the couple’s income has been their partnership with Netflix. The original agreement, signed through their Archewell Productions banner in 2020, was reported at the time to be worth roughly $100 million, according to multiple outlets including Euronews. The deal produced the 2022 docuseries “Harry & Meghan,” which drew more than 23 million viewers in its opening weeks, along with other titles such as “Heart of Invictus,” “Live to Lead” and “Polo.”
Not every project has landed with audiences. Meghan’s 2025 lifestyle series “With Love, Meghan” received a mixed reception, and Netflix ultimately opted not to renew the original overall agreement. The couple has since moved to a narrower, “first-look” arrangement with the streamer for future film and television projects, according to the Independent. Even so, Netflix has continued working with the Sussexes; announcing an extended multi-year agreement, chief content officer Bela Bajaria said Harry and Meghan “are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere.”
Meghan’s As Ever brand has grown into a real business
Increasingly, the couple’s income is tilting away from streaming and toward Meghan’s consumer products company, As Ever, launched last year as a food and lifestyle brand. The label started with jam-style fruit spreads and has since expanded into wine, candles, tea and limited-edition items such as a hand-stamped leather bookmark that sold out within minutes of its launch, according to People magazine.
Reporting on the brand’s performance has varied widely. A stock inventory glitch on the company’s website suggested close to a million units of its signature fruit spread gift box had been produced, with industry estimates placing revenue from that single product line at roughly $36 million, according to Luxurylaunches. Other reporting, including from Newsweek using Similarweb data, found the brand’s website traffic fell sharply in the first half of 2026. As Ever also recently ended its distribution partnership with Netflix, with a company spokesperson saying the brand had reached a stage where it was ready “to stand on its own.” Speaking about the venture generally, Meghan has said, “As Ever is a brand that I created and poured my heart into.”
Book royalties and speaking fees add to the total
Harry’s 2023 memoir, “Spare,” became one of the fastest-selling nonfiction books in publishing history and remains a continuing source of royalty income. The couple also earns money through paid speaking engagements; Harry was reported to be paid around $50,000 for an appearance at the 2026 IAPP Global Summit in Washington, though neither he nor Meghan publicly list standard speaking fees.
Earlier ventures have also contributed to the couple’s finances over time, including a Spotify podcasting deal reported to be worth about $20 million to $25 million when it was signed in 2020, though that partnership ended in 2023.
Private wealth and real estate
Beyond entertainment and commercial deals, Harry holds private wealth tied to his family, including inheritance connected to his late mother, Princess Diana, and other royal family sources built up over decades. The couple’s primary residence, a roughly $14.65 million estate in Montecito, California, purchased in 2020, is expected to remain in the family’s hands even as they establish a base in Britain, according to the Royal Observer, alongside a holiday property in Portugal.
Estimates of the couple’s combined net worth vary considerably depending on the source and how much of Harry’s family wealth is included, ranging from tens of millions of dollars up to $60 million or more in some reporting, according to NewsNation. Because Netflix’s payment schedule, As Ever’s finances and the couple’s other holdings are private, no single verified figure has been publicly confirmed.
New costs are also part of the picture
The couple’s finances are not moving in only one direction. In August, Prince Harry and co-claimants including Elton John were ordered to pay roughly $13 million in legal costs after losing a privacy case against the Daily Mail over allegations of unlawful information-gathering, according to Parade. That financial hit has been cited by some reports as a factor in the timing of the couple’s decision to return to Britain.
Income stream, not royal funding, going forward
Taken together, the picture that emerges is of a couple whose income in Britain will look much as it has in California: a mix of media deals, a growing product business, book royalties, appearance fees and private family wealth, entirely separate from the funding structures that support working members of the royal family. Representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not issued a public accounting of their finances, and neither Buckingham Palace nor Archewell has commented specifically on how the couple’s income arrangements might change now that they are relocating to the U.K.
Business
Global Market Today: Nasdaq futures, Asian stocks rise on Nvidia outlook
Contracts for the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index climbed 1.2%, while those for the S&P 500 Index added 0.6% after Nvidia signaled strong sales growth in 2028. The company’s shares rallied 4.2% in extended trading. The upbeat outlook also lifted other AI stocks, including Marvell Technology Inc. and Sandisk Corp., in after-hours trading.
The optimism helped lift MSCI’s Asia Pacific stock gauge 0.6%, with South Korea’s Kospi Index — a bellwether for AI investments — leading the gains.
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Elsewhere, Brent crude extended its declines, trading around $87.20 a barrel as traders weighed diplomatic progress in the Middle East against rising Russia-Ukraine tensions. Still, caution lingered in bond markets as traders boosted bets on a Federal Reserve interest-rate hike this year after a key US inflation gauge remained above the Fed’s target.
Short-dated Treasuries underperformed in the US session and the dollar rose, with money markets fully pricing an increase by December.
Nvidia’s outlook offered fresh evidence that spending on AI infrastructure remains robust, easing concerns that the investment boom is losing steam. The upbeat forecast comes as investors increasingly scrutinize whether heavy AI spending can sustain earnings growth after a volatile stretch for technology stocks.“Nvidia shares are rising without waiting for analysts to revise their forecasts following the earnings release, suggesting the market is taking a somewhat positive view of the company’s outlook,” said Takashi Ito, a senior strategist at Nomura Securities.
Nvidia expects to grow revenue by approximately 70% in fiscal 2028, Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress said during a post-earnings conference call. Analysts have projected an increase of about 45% for that year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
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Navan Stock: This Business Travel Software Firm Flies High
This software company may not be a household name, but it is making its mark in the business travel arena. Recent initial public offering Navan (NAVN) is Tuesday’s IBD 50 Growth Stock To Watch. The travel booking firm raised its revenue outlook in its latest earnings report after a strong quarter. Its booking engine connects with leading artificial intelligence platforms. Navan…
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Sunny Optical H1 2026 slides: Pan-IoT surge drives diversification

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Can Lumino Industries IPO deliver long-term growth for high-risk investors?
ET BureauGrowth Equation Power-sector capex offers the firm room to grow, but raw-material price volatility and customer concentration temper outlook
Business
Incorporated in 2005, Lumino Industries is an integrated engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company. It manufactures and supplies conductors, power cables, electrical wires, and specialised components to the power transmission and distribution industry. Manufacturing contributed nearly 70% of revenue in FY26, while EPC accounted for the rest. The company operates two manufacturing facilities in Howrah, West Bengal, with a combined capacity of 40,000 MT. The company had a closing order book of ₹3,149.9 crore as of March 31, 2026, comprising ₹1,991.9 crore of EPC orders and ₹1,157.90 crore of manufacturing orders. The government entities accounted for 53% of FY26 revenue, posing concentration risk. It is also exposed to metal prices volatility as it uses aluminium, copper and steel as raw material.
Financials
Revenue grew 20% annually to ₹2,041.1 crore in FY26 from ₹1,407.3 crore in FY24. Operating profit before depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) increased to ₹238.9 crore from ₹145.1 crore while the Ebitda margin improved to 11.7% from 10.3% during the period. It is within the peer range of 3.5-14%. Net profit rose 36% annually to ₹160 crore in FY26 from ₹86.6 crore in FY24. Return on equity increased to 24.6% in FY26 from 21.5% in FY24 compared with peer range of 1%-15.8%. Total debt rose sharply to ₹384 crore in FY26 from ₹40.9 crore in FY24 amid higher capital expenditure and increasing working-capital requirements. Its working capital cycle widened to 86 days in FY26 from 11 days in FY24.
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Valuation
The company demands a price-earnings (P/E) multiple of 15.6 on post-IPO basis compared with a P/E of 18.9 for KEC International, 57.6 for KEI Industries and 73.1 for Apar Industries.
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Dollar near eight-day high as US data lifts Fed hike bets
Markets will also look to a speech and press conference by one of the Bank of Japan’s two deputy governors, Ryozo Himino, on Thursday for clues on the likelihood of a September rate hike and the size and scope of any tightening path thereafter.
The U.S. Commerce Department data showed overnight that the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index increased 3.7% in the 12 months through July, unchanged from June and slightly above the 3.6% estimate of economists polled by Reuters. On a month-on-month basis, PCE rose 0.2% versus the estimate calling for a 0.1% increase, after falling 0.1% in June.
The reading on inflation kept the market’s expectation for a Fed rate hike by year-end live, though Chairman Kevin Warsh’s upcoming speech at Jackson Hole “will be the ultimate test,” Westpac economist Ryan Wells said in a note.
The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, rose 0.21% to 99.13, its highest level since August 19.
Against the yen, the dollar traded at 159.23, having given back most of its intervention gains but still well off a multi-decade low of about 164, with traders awaiting Himino’s speech due at 0130 GMT.
“In a speech shortly before the rate hike at the January 2025 meeting, Himino said policymakers would ‘discuss and decide whether to raise interest rates,’” Mitsubishi UFJ Bank senior analyst Akihiko Yokoo said in a note. “If similar wording is used this time, it would likely be taken as signaling a strong possibility of a rate hike at the September meeting.”Still, Yokoo added that active yen buying is likely to remain limited with Himino and Warsh due to speak.
Money markets are pricing in an 87% chance of a rate hike by the BOJ next month, according to data from money market broker Totan Tanshi.
The Canadian dollar held steady versus the greenback at C$1.388 per dollar. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday it was “time to teach Canada you can’t do this anymore,” just days after trade talks between the neighbouring countries broke down.
The euro traded at $1.1655, while the British pound was steady at $1.3592. The Australian dollar strengthened 0.18% versus the greenback to $0.7181 and New Zealand’s kiwi gained 0.1% at $0.5948.
In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin rose 0.55% to $78,874.60. Ether was up 1.07% to $2,498.35.
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