Updated 9:27 pm: Citing poor conditions on the Dragon spacecraft's flight path, NASA and SpaceX have postponed the Crew-8 launch to Sunday at 10:53 p.m.

Original story: Crew-8's launch day to the International Space Station – as long as the weather cooperates!

NASA and SpaceX are aiming for a 11:16 p.m. EST launch of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying four Crew-8 members aboard the Dragon Endeavor capsule from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center.

However, the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron puts the odds of “go to launch” conditions at only 40%, citing a moderate-to-high risk of precipitation, cumulus clouds and poor ascent corridor weather.

CNN
—

Blizzard conditions hit Northern California over the weekend with damaging winds and heavy snow dumped on mountain ridges and down into valleys.

While a blizzard warning is still in effect in the Sierra Nevada, about 6.5 million people across the Mountain West are under winter weather warnings.

The most extreme conditions are emerging at higher elevations, with whiteout conditions and hurricane-force winds in the Sierra Nevada.

Snow closed a 70-mile stretch of Interstate 80 near the Nevada state line for more than a day after highway officials reported stranded drivers Friday night.

“Heavy snowfall rates of 2-6 inches per hour and gusts of up to 100 mph at times will maintain impossible travel conditions in the Sierra Nevada,” the weather forecast center said.

Weather Service A “high to severe” avalanche danger has been issued for the Central Sierra and Greater Lake Tahoe region through Sunday afternoon.

About 5-12 feet of snow is forecast across the crest of the Sierra late Sunday, while damaging winds of “75 mph” are possible across the Intermountain West, according to the Weather Forecast Center.

“These winds will bring down trees and power lines, resulting in widespread power outages,” it said. “Also, cooler temperatures will move west behind the initial front, reducing snow levels in many valleys.”

Check out this interactive content on CNN.com

More than 12,000 homes and businesses were without power in California early Sunday morning — down from nearly 40,000 that morning. According to the monitoring website PowerOutage.us.

Several ski fields and chairlifts were closed Saturday, including Palisades Tahoe, Sierra at Tahoe and Mammoth, and some resorts warned of late Sunday starts.

Ski Resort Sierra-at-Tahoe at Twin Bridges shared the images with CNN. Snow piles up against the door The resort's maintenance shop and a car in the resort's guest parking lot were buried overnight in snow.

“Wind intensity will decrease, although some additional snow is expected throughout the day, particularly in the southern Cascades/Sierra, Wasatch and central Rockies,” the National Weather Service said. In its latest forecast discussion early Sunday.

The weather service said storm-force winds will start to blow in late Sunday, but a new pattern will follow Monday.

Whiteouts and 'impossible' travel conditions

The National Weather Service warned that snow and whiteout conditions will make travel “impossible” as heavy snow and howling winds hit parts of the Sierra and northern ranges.

The storm forced Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort to close the main road to US 395 for several hours Saturday, according to the California Department of Transportation.

The California Highway Patrol reported that I-80 was still closed between Truckee, the Nevada state line and Colfax as of Saturday evening.

Snowy and windy conditions left some vehicles stranded on the road Friday, with some motorists requiring rescue, according to CHP Truckee, which reported “multiple vehicles stranded on Donner Summit.”

“At one point, blizzard conditions made it difficult for emergency personnel and tow trucks to reach motorists,” the agency said.

Many roads in the area are closed due to the weather, and some are chained, requiring chains to keep vehicles on the road.

The California Highway Patrol released a photo Saturday afternoon of one of its cars stuck in the snow. “Even our officers sometimes get stuck in the snow! The blizzard-like conditions have not yet subsided, however, and our officers are working hard to keep everyone safe. Avoid traveling during these times and be aware of road conditions. He said on Facebook.

NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 is delaying its launch again due to bad weather. It was scheduled to take place on Saturday March 2nd, but has now been rescheduled for Sunday March 3rd. The launch has already been postponed from the originally scheduled date of March 1 due to weather.

Initially, NASA and SpaceX targeted the 11:16 p.m. EST Saturday launch of a Falcon 9 rocket to carry four Crew-8 members aboard the Dragon Endeavor capsule from Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. It is now being moved Sunday at 10:53 p.m. ET.

Before the mission was officially cleared, the Space Force's 45th Weather Wing had already flagged the weather as unfavorable to match the odds of “go-to-launch” conditions at 40%, citing precipitation, cumulus clouds and moderate-to-high threats. High risk of bad climbing corridor weather. Better weather is forecast for Sunday, barring any unexpected hiccups, giving hope that the launch will begin tomorrow.

Nick Sorenson and Brandon Staley were the first to interview with coach Kyle Shanahan for the 49ers' defensive coordinator job.

Clearly, Shanahan was duly impressed. He is said to be planning to hire both of them.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Sorensen, 45, will be promoted to defensive coordinator after two years as a 49ers assistant. The coordinator position opened when Shanahan fired Steve Wilks three days after the 49ers' Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Sorensen, Played 10 NFL seasons On defense, he will work closely with Staley, a former Los Angeles Chargers coach. Staley, 41, will reportedly join the 49ers staff as an assistant head coach.

The 49ers' takeaways have skyrocketed over the past two seasons with Sorensen's staff. He was tasked with coming up with ways to emphasize creating turnovers, and the 49ers excelled in that area, with 42 interceptions while surrendering 40 touchdown passes.

Staley met with Shanahan and 49ers general manager John Lynch for an interesting interview. Shanahan and Lynch first spent time with Staley in August 2021, when the 49ers and Chargers spent two days in Costa Mesa for a joint practice leading up to their preseason game.

Shanahan and Lynch were impressed with Staley's knowledge of the game and the way he presented his perspective. After three seasons as the Chargers head coach, Staley will work closely with Shanahan in all areas.

Former 49ers' assistant head coach, Anthony Lynn, He was hired last month Dan Quinn to join staff with Washington Commanders as sports coordinator.

After participating in interviews in Santa Clara, Lynch traveled to Indianapolis this week for the NFL scouting combine. He outlined what the 49ers are looking for from their new defensive coordinator.

“We love who we are and what we do for safety,” Lynch said Tuesday. “I think we don't want some wholesale deviation from that. We like the style we play, an attacking four-down front.

“Having said that, I think you always have to evolve, and you see an opportunity like this to look at different ways we can evolve. Often, a lot of these ideas come up in these interviews.

Staley served on his staff in Chicago and Denver under former 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. The Rams hired Staley as defensive coordinator in 2020. He stayed there for one season before landing the Chargers head coaching job. Staley compiled a 24-25 record over three seasons, including 0-1 in the playoffs.

Sorenson's promotion from 49ers passing game specialist/nickel backs coach ends a 17-day search for a new defensive coordinator. The 49ers also interviewed defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks, Kansas City defensive backs coach Dave Merritt and Las Vegas defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander.

Sorensen became a defensive coordinator for the first time. He was hired by the 49ers as a defensive assistant in 2022 and was promoted to defensive passing game/nickel backs coach last season.

Sorenson appeared in 134 games over 10 seasons in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns. He served as a backup safety and special-teams contributor.

He came to the 49ers after spending one season as the special teams coordinator in Jacksonville.

Sorenson began his NFL coaching career in 2013 with eight seasons on Pete Carroll's staff in Seattle. He started as a special teams assistant, then moved to secondary coach (2017-19) and secondary coach/nickel specialist in 2020. He worked with the Seahawks under defensive coordinators Chris Richard and Ken Norton.

Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast

When the largest wildfire in Texas history arrived in the city of Pampas earlier in the week, 15-year-old Nathan Slater told ABC News he immediately knew where he wanted to be.

Minutes after his mother, Christy, picked him up from school Monday after classes were suspended because of the fire, he said he had to respond to a page from the Hoover Volunteer Fire Department. Last two months as a junior firefighter.

“It was my first fire. I was excited and nervous at the same time,” Nathan told ABC News.

When he arrives at the station, he discovers that he's not the only teenage member of the squad to answer the call.

Throughout the week, nine junior members of the volunteer fire department were recruited and paired with more experienced adults to battle wildfires around the city, which forced the evacuation of some homes.

The teenagers, aged between 14 and 17, were given various tasks by their supervisors – delivering water and supplies to members in the field, cutting fires and hot grass.

Since March 1, the Smokehouse Creek Fire, centered in the North Texas Panhandle, has burned more than a million acres in Texas and 25,000 acres in Oklahoma, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

As of March 1, the forest department said the fire was 15% contained.

Gage Hartman, 15, told ABC News he spent three days working until the early hours of the morning to help put out the fire.

He said he felt a sense of fear when he came close to the smoke and fire, but at the same time, there was an adrenaline rush as he helped put out the fire.

“It's not scary once you get used to it,” he said, adding his mindset as he moved through the fire was, “It's 'get over it, you'll be fine'.”

Kade Preston, 17, told ABC News that the platoon's top officers were careful to make sure everyone was safe as they performed their duties. The teenagers also looked out for each other's well-being during their shifts, Kate said.

“If we get out of line … we'll check on each other, see how we're doing, give them water, if there's water, check on them mentally and physically and see how they're feeling,” he said.

“I feel like it eased some of the nerves in my system. I learned that some of my friends are with me,” Cage added.

For the parents of some junior firefighters, the experience was both terrifying and poignant.

Christy Slater, Nathan's mother, told ABC News she was in tears when she dropped her son off at the station on Monday and returned from her shift early Tuesday morning.

“I was kind of in shock about the whole situation. So yeah, it takes a while to realize what your kid is really going through when fighting that fire,” she said.

Nathan said his family was on his mind as he worked to put out the fire.

“It was devastating as it got closer and I stood back and watched my parents get out as I helped them. But I knew they were safe and I was going to be safe because I had everyone in the fire department around me.” he said.

Heather Hartman, Gage's mother, told ABC News that she was proud of her son's courage and all the help the community had to offer when he needed it.

“He's surrounded by really amazing people. So I think it's a good opportunity for him to find out what he wants to do down the road,” she said.

“If your kids decide they want to join the Army or the Navy, or whatever these days, there are negative consequences for everyone. So stay positive and support your kids, and let your kids show the world that there's still hope. Young people and they're just not, you know, On the way,” Hartman added.

Many of the junior firefighters told ABC News they got involved because they had something to do and wanted to stay out of trouble. After fighting wildfires, many said they plan to contribute as much as they can to the firehouse and possibly become a first responder as a career when they grow up.

For now, as wildfires continue to spread and many parts of the Texas Panhandle continue to burn, the boys hope their work, camaraderie and spirit will inspire others to lend a hand in dark times.

“I believe there are still good ones out there,” Nathan said of his teammates' dedication.

(CNN) – A devastating wildfire sweeping across the Texas Panhandle has killed at least two people and threatens to destroy more homes, livestock and livelihoods as the largest inferno in state history continues to engulf more land by the minute.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire has now burned more than 1 million acres in Texas alone, making it the largest on record in the state. The fire had burned more than 31,500 acres in Oklahoma as of Thursday evening, according to the state's Forest Service. Overall, the fires are the largest in the Lower 48 since reliable recordkeeping began in the 1980s.

Inferno is one of three fires burning in the Texas Panhandle — with no end in sight.

Check out this interactive content on CNN.com

Although the region received light rain on Thursday, dry air and Strong winds are expected to return Friday and the weekend – may fuel the flames.

The wildfire has already burned about 2,000 square miles — roughly the same size as the entire state of Delaware.

Smokehouse Creek fire kills two Cindy Owen was found dead in Hemphill County, Chris Ray, a Texas Department of Public Safety sergeant, told CNN.

In Hutchinson County, 83-year-old Joyce Blankenship died in the fire, her family said.

“The house is gone,” said his grandson, Nathan Blankenship. “There's no way she can get out.”

• Power outages are a major concern, with North Plains Electric Cooperative saying it is “reconstructing approximately 115 miles of the line.”

• In Hemphill County alone, 400,000 acres have burned, scores of homes have been destroyed and thousands of livestock have died, said Andy Holloway, Hemphill County AgriLife Extension agent. According to agriculture officials, more than 85% of cattle in Texas are raised on the Panhandle.

• In addition to Mammoth Smokehouse Creek FireThe Air duct fire 142,000 acres have burned in Texas and were 50% contained as of Thursday afternoon.

• The Smokehouse Creek fire that jumped into Oklahoma is now 40% contained, Oklahoma Forestry Services spokesman Keith Merks told CNN Thursday evening.

• The Grapevine Creek Fire 30,000 acres burned and 60% contained.

• The Magenta fire Still burning, more than 2,500 acres are 65%.

• The 687 Reamer fire More than 2,000 acres burned before joining the Smokehouse Creek fire on Thursday.

• President Joe Biden on Thursday pledged to help victims of the wildfires, while using his remarks to call out his “Neanderthal friends” who don't believe in climate change.

• Texas Governor Greg Abbott authorized additional state resources to fight the blaze, including 94 firefighters, 33 fire engines and six air tankers.

• A farm with a 120-year history says 80% of its nearly 80,000 acres have burned. The Turkey Track FarmAlso the site of the Battle of the Adobe Walls of 1864 and 1874, nicknamed the Price of the Panhandle. “The loss of livestock, crops and wildlife, … as well as other farms and homes throughout the region, is, we believe, unparalleled in our history,” the Turkey Track Ranch Family Group said in a statement.

• According to a news release from Texas Parks & Wildlife, the Smokehouse Creek Fire is 98% contained within the 5,394 acres of the Jean Howe Wildlife Management Area along the Canadian River on the northern rolling plains of Hemphill County.

• At least 13 homes have been destroyed in Oklahoma, a state emergency spokesman told CNN. Governor Kevin Stitt has activated emergency response teams. “As we closely monitor wildfires across the state, the safety of our fellow Oklahomans is a top priority,” he posted on X.

• Two firefighters for the Texas Panhandle city of Pampa in Gray County were treated for minor injuries in a fire Monday night, Pampa Community Services Director Dustin Miller told CNN Thursday.

• The city of Fritch, Texas is under a boil water advisory “It's difficult to do because many residents are without electricity and gas,” Hutchinson County announced. Officials said water bottles are being handed out at many churches and other places.

• Amarillo National Bank is launching a Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund with a $1 million donation for wildfire victims, according to a release from the financial institution.

A sudden change in wind direction caused the Smokehouse Creek Fire to explode in size on Tuesday. As of Thursday, only 3% remained in Texas.

“The wind came straight out of the north and moved a huge wall of fire across the landscape,” Texas A&M Forest Service spokesman Adam Turner said Wednesday.

In the town of Fritz, threatened by several wildfires, Frank Probst makes sure his elderly neighbors escape before they evict him – with almost no time left.

“Our main concern was getting them out first. We were the last to get out,” Propst told CNN.

His family was unable to grab any of their belongings before fleeing the devastating inferno.

“It happened very quickly. By the time the evacuation sirens went off, it was too late,” he said. “We jumped in the car and took off.”

Tyler McCain and his family woke up to smoky skies over Fritch on Tuesday, so they drove across town to his grandparents, he said. When it became clear the fire was getting worse, McCain's wife returned to the family home to get their two dogs.

When she arrived at her block, she found two of her neighbors' houses on fire. She retrieved the pets and the family stayed overnight in Amarillo.

On Wednesday, the parents and their three daughters returned to a pile of ash and rubble.

A tearful McCain told CNN that seeing her 3-year-old daughter Addison crying at their home broke her. “Things can change, but it's hard to see your children being ripped out of their lives like that,” she said.

Addison can't stop hearing about losing her home. “She keeps talking about all the things we've lost, and now she's like, 'Dad, are you going to build me a new house?'

McCain regrets not taking enough supplies before they leave. “I keep asking myself why I don't like everything she asks for? Her favorite stuffed animal, why don't I get that for her?” he said.

Check out this interactive content on CNN.com

In Hutchinson County — where the Smokehouse Creek, Windy Deuce and 687 Reamer fires are burning — at least 20 structures were destroyed in Stinnett, a few outside Borger and “some structures” in Fritch, a county official said Wednesday.

Probst said the Fritch resident, who helped his neighbors and later fled, returned to his neighborhood Wednesday. His home, bought six months ago, is gone, along with all the neighborhoods he passed through on his way to Amarillo, where his family will stay until they figure out what's next.

Truck driver Cindy Owen, 44, was working Tuesday about 50 miles north of Pampa, Texas, when the Smokehouse Creek Fire swept through the area, her sister-in-law told CNN.

“She couldn't breathe, she got out of the truck and tried to run for safety and didn't make it,” said Jennifer Mitchell, who is married to Owen's brother.

Owen was on video chat when it happened, so family members looked for someone to help him, Mitchell says.

“She was found with burns that covered 90% of her body,” Mitchell said.

Hemphill County rescuers were able to reach Owen and took him to INTEGRIS Burn Center in Oklahoma City for treatment, Mitchell said. CNN reached out to the hospital for comment, but did not hear back.

“She fought all day (Wednesday) … we were very positive at the end of the day that her life was coming back and she could hear us even though she was unconscious and on a ventilator,” Mitchell said. “But she fought until the last minute … that's who she is.”

Her sister-in-law did not come all night.

Mitchell said she has known Owen since dating her husband 16 years ago.

“Cindy was just Cindy. She was one of a kind,” Mitchell said. “She would do anything for anybody.”

According to Mitchell, she would give coats to people when they were cold, give food, money or clothes to the homeless, and help stray dogs. Owen also had a large family.

“He showed up to everybody's birthday parties and everybody's kids' stuff,” Mitchell said. “She was everybody's friend, everybody knew her. … Nothing bad could be said about her. She was just the best person ever.

Owen lives with his fiancee, Elaine Sanchez, Mitchell said.

CNN's Brandon Miller, Carol Alvarado, Amanda Jackson, Monica Garrett, Sharif Paget, Sarah Tonks, Lucy Kafanov, Andy Babineau, Andy Rose, Mary Gilbert, Samantha Waldenberg and Christina Zadanovich contributed to this report.