Weather

A collection of 189 posts

Major Hurricane Hilary Tracks Towards Baja Mexico, California

Hurricane Hilary, classified as a "major" Category 4 storm, barreled toward Mexico's Baja California Peninsula and the Southwestern US on Friday, bringing heavy rains. Experts say it's expected to hit Southern California — currently projected as a tropical storm this weekend.

Weather

Maui Fires: County Emergency Manager Resigns

Herman Andaya, the Maui Emergency Management Agency Administrator — who defended his decision to not sound outdoor sirens while a deadly fire ravaged the island — has resigned from his position effective immediately.

Social issues

Canada: Wildfires Spark Evacuations in NW Territories

On Wednesday, residents of Yellowknife, the capital city of Canada's Northwest Territories, were given until noon on Friday to evacuate as a wildfire approaches the city. At the time of the order, the fire was 10 miles (16KM) outside of the city and expected to breach the city limits by the weekend.

Canada

Report: 25% of Global Population Faces Water Crisis

According to the Aqueduct Risk Atlas, published on Wednesday by the World's Resources Institute, 25% of the global population faces significant water scarcity and by 2050, another 1B people could experience the same.

World

Montana Youth Win Landmark Climate Change Case

On Monday, a Montana state court judge ruled in the case of Held v. Montana, deciding that the state had violated the rights of 16 youth and young adults when a law was passed that prohibited agencies from taking climate change into account when approving new fossil fuel projects.

United States

Hawaii Wildfires Kill at Least 96, Rescue Operations Continue

On Sunday night, Hawaii officials announced that the death toll from the catastrophic Maui wildfires had risen to 96 — the deadliest US wildfire in over 100 years. Search and rescue operations continue with teams using cadaver dogs to comb the burned areas for additional victims.

Weather

Europe Cracks Down on 'Direct Action' Climate Protests

European countries are reportedly clamping down on "direct action" climate change protesters who have made headlines recently for high-profile acts including defacing famous art and blocking traffic.

Social issues

Hawaii Wildfires Kill At Least 36, Force Thousands to Evacuate

On Wednesday, Maui County officials announced that at least 36 people have died in the fast-moving wildfires that have destroyed Lahaina, a resort city, and several surrounding neighborhoods on the western side of Hawaii's Maui island.

Weather

China: 30 Dead, 18 Missing After Beijing Floods

Record-breaking downpours have flooded Beijing and surrounding areas in recent weeks, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and killing at least 33 people, including five rescuers. Officials say 18 others are missing, while much of the country's north remains threatened by heavy rainfall.

Weather

Report: World's Oceans Break Heat Record

According to the EU's earth observation program Copernicus Climate Change Service, the average surface temperature of the world’s oceans hit a record-breaking 20.96C (69.73F) this week.

Weather

UAE to Allow Climate Protests at COP28

On Tuesday, in a joint statement with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said that environmental activists will be allowed to gather peacefully and protest at COP28.

Social issues

China: 20 Dead as Heavy Rains Batter Beijing

On Tuesday, Typhoon Doksuri brought heavy rain and widespread flooding to northern China, causing at least 20 deaths in Beijing. More than 52K have been evacuated, as Beijing saw an average of 10 inches of rain from last Saturday to Monday.

Weather

Iran: Two-day Holiday Declared for 'Unprecedented Heat'

On Tuesday, the government of Iran declared a two-day holiday covering Wednesday and Thursday in response to what it stated was an "unprecedented heatwave" that poses a threat to public health.

Weather

Beijing: Heaviest Rain in 70 Years Causes Severe Floods

Remnants of Typhoon Doksuri made landfall in China, bringing torrential rain triggering landslides, and flooding to parts of northern provinces. Heavy rains caused the worst flooding in Beijing for a decade, which swept away cars, destroyed roads, and knocked out power.

Weather

Biden Announces New Measures to Address Extreme Heat

As 180M Americans are under heat watches or warnings, US Pres. Biden announced measures on Thursday to try to tackle the effects of extreme heat. Major east coast cities, such as Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington DC, were under heat emergencies on Thursday.

Weather

UN: July Set to be Hottest Month Ever Recorded

On Thursday, the UN warned that new data from the World Meteorological Organization, collected in partnership with the European Copernicus Climate Change Service, indicates that July will be the hottest month ever recorded on Earth.

World

Report: July Heat Waves 'Virtually Impossible' Without Climate Change

In a "rapid attribution analysis," the World Weather Attribution Initiative found that the heat wave scorching the US, southern Europe, and China would have been "virtually impossible" without the contributions of human-caused climate change.

Weather

Mediterranean Wildfires Kill Dozens

Deadly wildfires burning in at least nine countries across the Mediterranean have so far claimed the lives of dozens of people as thousands of firefighters continue to bring the infernos under control.

Social issues

Greta Thunberg Fined Over Climate Protest

A Swedish court on Monday issued a fine to climate activist Greta Thunberg, after she was found guilty of disobeying a police order to leave a climate protest at an oil facility last month.

Social issues

Greece: Thousands Evacuated From Islands as Wildfires Grow

Over the weekend, Corfu became the second Greek island — along with Rhodes — to evacuate residents ahead of explosive wildfires. The Greek Coast Guard has evacuated over 20K on both islands.

Greece

NASA: July 2023 Likely to Be World's Hottest Month on Record

Top NASA climatologist Gavin Schmidt has stated that this July may be the world's hottest month in "hundreds, if not thousands, of years" as unprecedented heat waves are recorded in China, Europe, and the US.

Metaculus

UK Study: Eating Less Meat Reduces Greenhouse Emissions

A new scientific study published in Nature estimates that if big UK meat-eaters reduce their consumption of red and processed meats, it would be the equivalent of taking 8M cars off the road.

Social issues

Tornado Damages Pfizer Plant in North Carolina

On Wednesday, a powerful tornado severely damaged a Pfizer pharmaceutical plant in Nash County, North Carolina, reportedly strewing roughly 50K pallets of medicine across the facility.

Health

US Climate Envoy Kerry Meets Chinese Counterpart

On Monday, US climate envoy John Kerry visited Beijing to participate in his first extensive face-to-face meeting with Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua. The meeting marked the resumption of talks more than a year after they were paused due to trade and human rights disputes.

World

Farmers Insurance Pulls Out of Florida

Farmers Insurance announced Tuesday it was dropping home, auto, and umbrella policies across Florida due to increased risks of hurricanes. Though the company declined to say how many customers would be impacted, it's estimated that 93K-100K Floridians hold Farmers policies.

Weather