Articles tagged with Extreme Weather Events
A new University of Washington study shows that past emissions from carbon majors will continue to impact the environment for decades to come. The research, published in PLOS Climate, highlights the long-term effects of fossil fuel emissions on global warming.
China's 2025 climate report reveals distinct warm-wet conditions, with the national annual-mean temperature tied as the highest on record. Annual precipitation was above normal, with new records set for rainfall amount and duration in various regions.
Researchers developed a mathematical model to predict areas with high rescue needs, prioritizing search efforts and expediting recovery operations. The tool uses socio-demographic data and machine learning to identify areas at risk of flooding and population vulnerability.
New research shows wheat is more sensitive to heat waves before flowering, but later heat waves reduce grain weight after an early heat wave. Sequential heat waves may also provide 'priming' protection against later heat waves.
Research highlights advances in global weather modeling, sea ice convergence, and changes in seasonal drought patterns. Tornado emergencies are also explored, with a focus on Latinx communities and the importance of building trust and partnerships.
A survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that climate change is increasingly affecting Americans' daily lives, from electricity bills to outdoor activities and sleep. The survey also reveals that 76% of respondents report that extreme outdoor heat affected their daily activities at least sometimes in the past year.
Compound heatwave-PM2.5 events are becoming more frequent in India, driven by climate-driven atmospheric circulation changes. Large-scale circulation patterns intensify heat and promote secondary aerosol formation, increasing particle concentrations and health risks.
Researchers used snail shells to recreate prehistoric cyclones in South East Queensland, Australia, by analyzing growth rings and stable isotopes. The study showed that snails responded to extreme rainfall events, not annual wetness, providing a new climate archive for the region.
A new study finds that extreme heat events have expanded globally, with some regions experiencing more frequent heat events in spring and fall. This shifts the focus from average temperatures to individual extreme heat events, which are harder on the body when arriving at unexpected times.
Compound hot-dry events on the Tibetan Plateau are modulated by ENSO and North Atlantic Oscillation, with regional differences in surface energy processes driving warming and drying, and local land-atmosphere interactions exacerbating feedback loops.
A new study found that forests with greater tree species diversity show smaller declines in productivity during compound climate extremes and recover more effectively afterwards. Biodiversity acts as a form of biological insurance, helping forests maintain stability in an increasingly unpredictable climate.
A Swedish study found that short-term exposure to cold spells and higher ambient temperatures increased the risk of heart failure hospitalization within days. The study highlights the need for time-sensitive management and more urgent response strategies during heatwaves.
MIT engineers develop a tool that generates plausible extreme events and worst-case scenarios without relying on extreme data, enabling planners to prepare for unprecedented scenarios. The algorithm takes a statistical approach to learn from available data, excluding implausible weather scenarios, and projects how extreme events might ...
The climate impact taxonomy provides a shared framework linking measurable climate changes with risks and adaptation options, helping policymakers and practitioners make informed decisions. The taxonomy identifies key patterns, including regional scales and the need for both mitigation and adaptation.
A recent review of 40 studies on building resiliency found that most life cycle assessments fail to consider key aspects of inoperability, leading to underestimated environmental costs. A new framework developed by Fernanda Cruz Rios factors in the environmental costs and benefits of resilience, informing designers' choices on building...
A new study found that nearly a third of culverts studied are single points of failure, cutting off entire neighborhoods from hospitals. Disconnection can leave up to 30% of the population without access to emergency care.
A PSU study finds that historically underinvested neighborhoods with lower median incomes and higher racial diversity are most vulnerable to multiple climate hazards. These areas, including East Portland, face the highest risk from landslides, wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat.
Climate researchers have discovered a significant increase in neighborhood-level hurricane warnings, widespread wildfires in the US, and unprecedented changes in Earth's energy budget. These findings suggest that greenhouse gases are driving these trends, with smoke and fire-related carbon emissions rising due to increased aridity.
Researchers used X-band phased-array radar data to improve tornado simulation capabilities, enhancing disaster risk reduction in vulnerable regions. The study found that assimilating radar wind data strengthened the storm's spinning motion, predicting the tornado's path most accurately.
Hankelformer improves forecasting of extreme weather events by capturing local spatiotemporal dynamics and enhancing feature invariance. It achieves state-of-the-art performance on multiple datasets, including energy, transportation, and extreme weather domains.
A Virginia Tech team analyzed over 1,000 storm surge events to identify distinct patterns that depend on both storm characteristics and coastal geography. The findings could help engineers design infrastructure to withstand unique flood timelines and support better planning and decision making for coastal communities.
Researchers developed a method to predict which hurricanes are likely to intensify rapidly, providing local officials with crucial time to make lifesaving preparations. The new technique uses statistical analysis of past storms and sea surface temperatures to calculate the probability of rapid intensification.
Researchers found that the Agulhas Current supplies heat and moisture that strengthen weather systems, causing severe floods in the Western Cape. In contrast, the Benguela Upwelling System has a minor role in intensifying rainfall.
Researchers analyzed the 2025 Texas Hill Country floods, which killed at least 135 people, including 28 at Camp Mystic. Experimental models showed they could have predicted extreme flows with greater lead time.
The study found that weather- and human-driven changes directly impacted the mixing of microbes in the Great Salt Lake, extending beyond the immediate vicinity. The analysis showed significant changes in microbial diversity between the north arm's hypersaline microbes and the less saline south arm.
A new study reveals that summer concurrent hot and dry events in China intensify due to different physical driving mechanisms in western and east-central regions. Western China's trends are driven by anthropogenic warming, while east-central China's hazards stem from coupled monsoon decline, drought amplification, and heat feedback.
A new study finds that a slowing Atlantic Ocean current will strengthen powerful storms in California while reducing snowfall over Greenland. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation's weakening is projected to increase atmospheric moisture and high-altitude winds, creating more destructive atmospheric rivers.
A study found that forecast error types influence public emotion during disasters, with anxiety and worry being the most common emotions. The researchers suggest that communicating forecast uncertainty effectively could improve public trust and reduce emotional distress during future extreme weather events.
Researchers at Hiroshima University have applied black-box optimization algorithms to model rainfall minimization through weather control. They demonstrated that Bayesian optimization can effectively design weather interventions, even under a limited budget of expensive weather simulations, by optimizing only a small number of trials.
A 15-year study found that extreme weather events, particularly sudden spring frosts and wildfires, have a significant impact on White Stork survival. Juvenile storks are most vulnerable to these conditions, with only 33% of fire-related incidents resulting in rehabilitation.
Researchers propose 'nudges' could alter hurricane tracks, weaken freezes and reduce extreme rainfall through carefully-timed cloud seeding operations. The approach aims to complement conventional disaster management and encourage more favorable outcomes from potentially devastating weather events.
A new study reveals that climate models reproduce extreme heat but struggle to capture the gradual atmospheric buildup leading up to it. The researchers propose a process-based framework for evaluating climate models to improve prediction capabilities and enhance preparedness for extreme heat events.
New studies reveal potential for 30-day forecast accuracy boosts using machine learning and explore the impact of vegetation on ocean currents during the Little Ice Age. Researchers also find that La Niña events can slow global warming by amplifying each other's cooling effects.
A study predicts climate change will trap air pollutants over coastal areas, increasing health risks for millions in Barcelona. Ozone concentrations are projected to rise substantially along the coastline by 2100.
Climate change is expected to make historically rare tropical storms in Southern California produce significantly more precipitation, increasing landslide risk. Exposure to landslide risk will grow fastest among low-income households.
Researchers found that atmospheric rivers have intensified in recent decades, leading to more frequent extreme rainfall events in Japan. This trend aligns with global warming and increased atmospheric water vapor content.
A new study finds that hail conditions are changing due to global warming, with warmer regions experiencing a decrease in summer hail risk and cooler regions facing an increase in winter hail risk. The shift is attributed to changes in atmospheric conditions, including the melting of frozen hailstones and the formation of stronger storms.
Researchers identified two weather patterns associated with an increased risk of headaches in the Northeast US. The study found that approaching cold fronts and high-pressure systems, such as the Bermuda High, can trigger new-onset headaches in people with episodic migraines.
A new AI-powered translation program developed by the National Weather Service (NWS) translates weather forecasts into multiple languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Samoan, and French. The program aims to provide life-saving information to over 68 million US residents who do not speak English at home.
A new study warns that the UK's failure to protect the most vulnerable people from extreme heat is becoming a public health threat. The research highlights gaps in building regulations, weak enforcement, and low public awareness as key factors contributing to the problem.
Research reveals that rivers are exceeding their resilience limits, leading to local extinctions, food chain collapses, and permanent changes in services provided by rivers. A paradigm shift is needed from reactive actions to proactive large-scale strategies for watershed management and river resilience.
The study reveals climate change is a growing social crisis, disrupting connections and community belonging, with impacts felt through heatwaves, air pollution, and economic strain. Vulnerable populations, such as those on low incomes or living with disability, are disproportionately affected by climate-related isolation.
Recent studies investigate the relationship between weather conditions and extreme events like heat-related mortality, tropical cyclone hazards, and changes in precipitation patterns. Researchers also explore new modeling methods to predict visually appealing atmospheric phenomena like 'ornamental twilight'.
A high-resolution model developed by University of Pennsylvania researchers shows that river levels once expected every 50 years now occur every few years due to climate change. The 1-in-100-year threshold marks a tipping point when flooding spreads rapidly across the urban landscape.
Researchers found that adding organic matter can increase soil resistance to heat waves and preserve phosphorus reserves. Organic amendments like olive pomace proved effective in boosting soil resilience.
A study by Dartmouth researchers shows that annual rainfall is increasingly concentrated into bigger and wetter storms with longer dry periods in between. This means less water is available for land, soil can only absorb so much at once, and what's not soaked up evaporates more readily.
Researchers develop new concept to accurately model wind turbine loads, focusing on local gusts' impact on material fatigue. This enhances turbine design and efficiency by reducing uncertainties in load estimations.
New research from the American Meteorological Society explores AI forecasting limits, the impact of climate change on hurricane trends, and simplifies the heat index. The studies find that machine learning can outperform numerical physics-based models in certain conditions, but not universally.
A new study reveals that tropical cyclones and post-tropical cyclones are responding differently to surface warming, resulting in increased rainfall intensity and longer-lasting storms. Warmer temperatures lead to wetter tropical cyclones, especially in warm, low-latitude regions.
Researchers project that 28% of the global population will face heightened exposure to hot-dry extremes by the 2090s, concentrated in low-income, tropical nations. Limiting emissions could avert a lot of risk, with about 18% of the population facing this level of exposure under current climate action plans.
Researchers at Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo and George Mason University developed a new method called Lagged Ensemble Analog Sub-selection (LEAS) to improve air temperature forecasts one to five weeks in advance. This approach selectively retains past ensemble members with high predictive skill, improving fo...
The study found that complex terrain, particularly orographic gravity wave drag, significantly affects the location and intensity of extreme precipitation. Without this effect, the low-level mesoscale vortex moves westward, leading to decreased rainfall intensity and a northwestward shift of the rainfall center.
Researchers have identified fungal proteins that can catalyze ice formation at high subzero temperatures, making them a potential alternative to toxic silver iodide in cloud seeding. The discovery could lead to safer weather modification and improved food preservation techniques.
Researchers investigated the Mississippi River's hydrological trends, ocean carbon storage, and gender dynamics in flood mortality. A study found that precipitation increases, but soil moisture decreases, while high-resolution models reveal stronger Southern Ocean carbon absorption. Additionally, data showed men are overrepresented in ...
A recent study led by UMass-Amherst biologists found that the 2021 Great Texas Freeze killed up to 27% of purple martins' breeding population, with effects felt for decades. The study also revealed that the affected birds delayed reproduction and hatched fewer chicks, and their population is already declining in Texas and Louisiana.
Climate researchers developed a new method for computing hazards from extreme events, finding a tenfold increase in extreme heat over Europe. The study provides a basis for better quantifying damage to people, ecosystems, and infrastructure.
A new study finds that U.S. tornado activity is shifting southeastward due to the relationship between extratropical cyclones and low-pressure systems. Additionally, global warming has led to a fourfold increase in tropical cyclone rapid slowdown events in coastal areas.
A new report by Anglia Ruskin University and the University of York identifies key weaknesses in the UK's food system and recommends interventions to prevent disruptions from escalating into a crisis. The study suggests increasing energy security, diversifying food value chains, and promoting varied diets to reduce risks.
Researchers at Newcastle University and the UK Met Office identified a three-layered atmospheric structure associated with heavy rainfall developing within minutes. The findings help explain record-breaking rainfall and flash floods in the UAE and Oman in April 2024, and may aid future improvements in identifying risk.
A new study led by climatologists at the University at Albany found that extreme heatwaves in the Caribbean have increased significantly over the last five decades. The study reveals that heatwaves are lasting longer and occurring more often, especially in Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.