A severe thunderstorm alert from the National Weather Service (NWS) has turned a quiet Tuesday evening into a night of weather anxiety for Mecosta County and Isabella County in Michigan, with a potent mix of pea-sized hail, gusty winds, and even the potential for funnel clouds.

The warning, issued at 9:29 p.m. EDT on June 24, 2025, is expected to remain active until 10:30 p.m. EDT. According to NWS radar data, a strong thunderstorm was tracked 7 miles southwest of Lake Isabella—moving east at 20 mph—just minutes before the alert went public.

Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible, the alert states.

Residents of Mount Pleasant, Shepherd, Lake Isabella, Remus, Millbrook, Winn, and Blanchard are within the impact zone, with winds that could peak at 40 mph and hail measuring 0.25 inches in diameter.

What’s especially concerning is the favorable environment for weak, brief funnel clouds. While not as dangerous as full-blown tornadoes, these phenomena can still pack a punch if not taken seriously. The NWS advises anyone spotting such a cloud to immediately seek shelter indoors and report sightings.

Why You Should Take Lightning Seriously

The United States experiences nearly 25 million lightning strikes annually, and according to the NWS, around 20 people lose their lives to these strikes every year. The risk peaks during active thunderstorms, even when the storm appears to be moving away.

To stay safe:

• Have a lightning safety plan if you’re outdoors.
• If you hear thunder, that’s your cue to find shelter.
• Stay indoors for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.
• Avoid electrical appliances, plumbing fixtures, and even cord phones during a storm.
• If indoors isn’t an option, stay away from open fields, hilltops, tall trees, water bodies, and metal objects.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the safest place during a lightning storm is a fully enclosed building or a metal-topped vehicle.

Driving in Downpours? Here’s What You Must Know

Driving through heavy rain poses another major risk. Flood-prone roads, poor visibility, and slippery surfaces can turn your commute into a nightmare.

Expert Tips from the NWS:

• Avoid drainage ditches and culverts, where water flow intensifies rapidly.
• Maintain a safe following distance—double the usual space.
• Slow down and let your vehicle naturally reduce speed.
• Stick to middle lanes to reduce hydroplaning risk.
• Turn on your headlights, even in daylight, to improve visibility.
• Watch for large vehicles, whose tire spray can blind you momentarily.
• During the first 30 minutes of rainfall, roads are most slippery due to oil and grime.
• If visibility is lost, pull over safely and wait it out.

When stopping is necessary, position your vehicle far from moving traffic, ideally beyond guardrails, and activate your emergency lights.

What’s Coming Next?

Weather watchers are keeping a close eye on this storm system. With recent alerts warning of isolated tornadoes and damaging winds across Northern Michigan, including the Traverse City region, it’s clear this pattern is far from over.

Conditions are evolving fast. Even pea-sized hail and 40 mph gusts can disrupt life if you’re not prepared, a local emergency planner told Daily Global Diary.

As always, stay updated via the National Weather Service, keep your emergency kits ready, and avoid risky travel if storms intensify.

A leading global tech company has officially confirmed the closure of two major branches in Argentina, citing an urgent need to cut costs and restructure as financial pressures escalate worldwide. The closures — affecting offices in Buenos Aires and Córdoba — have sent shockwaves through Argentina’s tech workforce and fuelled fears that more shutdowns could soon follow across Latin America.

Company executives released a statement late Wednesday acknowledging the decision, describing it as “painful but necessary” amid a broader push to consolidate operations and return to sustainable profitability. “Like many in the sector, we must adapt to new market realities and challenging macroeconomic conditions, especially in high-risk economies,” the statement read.

Local industry insiders say the company’s struggle mirrors a broader crisis facing big tech firms post-pandemic. Slowing global demand, tightening venture capital, and rising costs have forced many companies to lay off thousands worldwide, abandon expansion plans, and re-evaluate investments in emerging markets like Argentina.

In Argentina, the closures are particularly hard-hitting. The country’s surging inflation, currency devaluation, and strict import controls have long complicated supply chains and operations for multinational tech giants. Now, hundreds of employees are facing sudden job uncertainty, with some offered relocation or remote reassignment, but many bracing for redundancies.

Union representatives and labor groups have already condemned the move, demanding fair severance packages and urgent government intervention to protect Argentina’s fragile tech ecosystem.

One laid-off employee from the Córdoba branch told Daily Global Diary, “We knew the global layoffs were coming, but we didn’t expect our whole office to disappear overnight. It’s devastating — jobs like this are hard to replace in this economy.”

Insiders warn these may not be the last closures in the region. Branches in Chile, Brazil, and Colombia are reportedly under review as the tech giant weighs further cuts to weather the economic downturn.

Market analysts note that while cost-cutting might soothe investors in the short term, exiting strategic markets could weaken the company’s long-term regional foothold — leaving rivals an opening to swoop in.

As Argentina’s tech talent reels from this abrupt blow, the country’s startup community is urging the government to offer support and incentives to keep highly skilled workers from leaving the country altogether.

For now, all eyes are on whether this high-profile pullback marks the start of a bigger retreat by tech multinationals in Latin America — and what it means for the future of innovation in the region.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing mounting pressure over his government’s $368 billion AUKUS submarine deal, as the geopolitical landscape shifts with the rising possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House. The historic defense pact, designed to bolster Australia’s military might and deepen strategic ties with the U.S. and U.K., now stands on increasingly shaky ground — politically and financially.

The AUKUS agreement, signed under the Morrison government and endorsed by Albanese, is Australia’s largest-ever military commitment, promising a future fleet of nuclear-powered submarines to deter growing threats in the Indo-Pacific. But with Trump widely speculated to be plotting a 2024 presidential comeback, the long-term reliability of U.S. involvement — and the stability of the deal — is suddenly uncertain.

Trump, during his first term, repeatedly questioned America’s role in global alliances, criticized NATO spending, and flirted with isolationist policies. If reelected, experts warn he may adopt a similar stance toward AUKUS, leaving Australia holding a multi-billion-dollar investment without guaranteed delivery or long-term strategic backing.

Despite the risks, Albanese has made it clear: Australia is all in. During recent public appearances and national security briefings, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to the pact, describing it as “an essential investment in our sovereignty and future security.” Behind closed doors, however, senior defense officials are reportedly scrambling to shore up contingencies in case a future Trump administration tries to renegotiate or abandon the deal.

Critics at home are also beginning to voice their doubts. Opposition figures and defense analysts have raised concerns about the astronomical cost, the decades-long timeline, and the political volatility of the United States, questioning whether this is a wise use of taxpayer money in an era of budget constraints and growing domestic pressures.

On the global stage, China has predictably condemned the deal, calling it a destabilizing move in the region. Meanwhile, U.K. officials remain cautiously optimistic, focusing on their role as the third pillar of the trilateral agreement and hoping that a U.S. power shift won’t derail the broader vision.

For now, Albanese is betting that bipartisan support in Washington and strong military-to-military ties will keep AUKUS afloat, even if Trump returns. But with billions already committed and construction timelines stretching into the 2040s, the Prime Minister’s gamble is no longer just strategic — it’s personal, political, and potentially historic.