'Extreme' Hurricanes Loom • Clinton's Emails Are Back • What To Do If We Get Nuked: Patch Morning Briefing

Good morning! It's Thursday, and the week is more than half over. Here's what you need to know to start your day.

'Extremely Active' Hurricane Season Possible: NOAA's Adjusted Forecast

With the high point of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season just days away, forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have upped their predictions for an above-normal number of storms. Back in May, NOAA forecast a 45 percent chance of an above-normal season. On Wednesday, that number rose to a 60 percent chance.“The season has the potential to be extremely active, and could be the most active since 2010,” NOAA warned in issuing its revised forecast. Here's what that means. (Patch)

Hillary Clinton's Emails Are Back

We know you've missed them, so now they're back. Hillary Clinton's emails — and even better, her Benghazi emails — are once again in the spotlight after a judge ordered the State Department to dredge up any of the former secretary's emails related to the 2012 attack on an American embassy that may exist on its servers.
Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, continues to press for the release of Clinton's emails under the Freedom of Information Act. (Patch)

Here's What To Do If We Get Nuked

We've heard the kinds of threats currently coming out of North Korea before. And at this point, many experts remain doubtful Kim Jong-un has the technology he would need to launch a nuclear bomb far enough to hit the North American mainland. But whatever happens, there's no such thing as being too prepared, right? So take a deep breath, send some heart emojis to your loved ones and brush up on what to do if your city gets nuked in 2017. (Patch)

Quick Hits

World Lion Day 2017: 5 Reasons To Love The Biggest, Loudest Cat (Patch)

No, Students Shouldn't Choose Their Own Grades (Patch)

MIT Breakthrough Might Help Restore Memories Of Those With Alzheimer’s (Patch)

Statue At Disney World Honors 2-Year-Old Boy Killed By Gator (Patch)

'Dear Mr. Google Manifesto': Epic Response From Chemical Engineer, Corp VP, Mother Of 5

“I decided to pen this,” Melissa Aquino said, “because women in science and engineering fields need to start telling their stories, showing the real challenges they face in pursuing male-dominated fields.” (Patch)

Vietnam Veteran Presents Dog Tag Of Fallen Marine To Magnolia Family

Sgt.Maj. Eddie Neas, who found the dog tag on a trip to Vietnam, returned the dog tag to the family of the Marine killed 49 years ago. (Patch)

Giant, Inflatable Chicken With Trump Hair Erected Across From White House

A giant balloon shaped like a chicken and topped with an unmistakable golden tuft of Donald Trump hair was erected Wednesday afternoon on the lawn of the Ellipse, a public park located just south of the White House. (Patch)

Oregon Raises Age To Legally Purchase Tobacco Products

The new law, signed by Gov. Kate Brown Aug. 9, will prohibit anyone under 21 from buying cigarettes as of Jan. 1, 2018. (Patch)

Campaign Records Raided: Rep. Duncan Hunter Possibly Linked To Fraud

A search warrant shows that a Virginia campaign consulting shop was raided for all campaign records related to the congressman. (Patch)

Audio: Senator Implies McCain's Tumor Behind Health Care Vote

McCain said the bill fell short of the Republican promise to repeal and replace Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act with meaningful reform. (Patch)

This Day In History

1821 — Missouri becomes the 24th state to join the union

1961 — The U.S. military uses Agent Orange, a poisonous herbicide linked to health issues in those exposed to it, in the Vietnam War

Famous Birthdays

1814 — Henri Nestlé, the founder of the company Nestlé

1938 — Jimmy Dean, the singer, actor and performer best known for his line of sausages

Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images