Weather
Why California Is Being Deluged by Atmospheric Rivers
California has been hit by repeated storms fueled by torrents of moisture called atmospheric rivers that will only intensify in a warming climate
Weather461 articles archived since 1845
Weather
Why a Warming Climate Can Bring Bigger Snowstorms
It may sound counterintuitive, but a warming climate can actually lead to bigger snowstorms
Natural Disasters
Twitter Chaos Endangers Public Safety, Emergency Managers Warn
Twitter is a crucial communication tool during disasters, but impersonators and other problems under Elon Musk’s leadership have emergency managers on edge
Climate Change
Even Weak Hurricanes Are Getting Stronger as the Climate Warms
Data collected by thousands of scientific instruments scattered across the world’s oceans show that weak tropical cyclones are intensifying, not just stronger ones
Weather
Weird Weather: How to Tell a Williwaw from a Haboob
You may have endured a frost quake, pogonip or Saskatchewan screamer without knowing it. Take our tour of weird weather terms to find out
Weather
How Rare Are November Hurricanes?
November hurricanes and tropical storms such as Nicole are relatively rare, but they can—and do—form
Weather
Better Atmospheric River Forecasts Are Giving Emergency Planners More Time to Prepare for Flooding
Knowing when torrents of rain will strike can save property and lives
Climate Change
To Survive More Frequent Hurricanes, Puerto Rico Needs to Rethink Preparedness
Our leaders ignored the lessons learned from Hurricane Maria, and Fiona caused more destruction than it should have
Climate Change
Deadly Heat Dome Was a 1-in-10,000-Year Event
The record-smashing temperatures in the Pacific Northwest last year were an extraordinarily rare occurrence even in the age of climate change
Weather
How Hurricane Season Went from Quiet to a ‘Powder Keg’
For nearly two months, the Atlantic had no hurricane activity. Then September arrived with a flurry of storms
Weather
Three Reasons Hurricane Ian Poses a Major Flooding Hazard for Florida
Hurricane Ian will bring heavy rains and storm surge to Florida, potentially exacerbated by its size
Climate Change
Why Typhoon Merbok Was So Powerful when It Hit Alaska
Typhoon Merbok heavily damaged Alaskan communities, many of which are Indigenous and rely on subsistence hunting that residents would normally be doing right now
Natural Disasters
Poem: ‘My Father Flies into a Hurricane’
Science in meter and verse
Weather
Heat Waves Affect Children More Severely
Children “are not little adults”—they have more trouble regulating temperature than adults do
Natural Disasters
What Is a Flash Flood?
Flash flooding occurs in a short time frame after a precipitation event and is exacerbated by paved surfaces and already saturated soil
Oceans
Salty Sea Spray Keeps Lightning Strikes Away
Particles of sea salt in the air could stop clouds from charging up for a lightning strike
Climate Change
‘Zoe’ Becomes the World’s First Named Heat Wave
Blistering temperatures were ranked as a Category 3—the most severe tier—in Seville, Spain’s new heat wave system
Climate Change
Extreme Heat Breaks Daily Records across the Northeast
Tens of millions of Americans sweltered under heat advisories over the weekend
Weather
What Is a Heat Dome?
An atmospheric scientist explains how large, persistent bends in the jet stream can bake a region for days
Climate Change
How Hot Is Too Hot for the Human Body?
A study of healthy volunteers found that the combination of heat and humidity gets dangerous faster than many people realize
