Weather and Climate News

Global Conveyer Belt: Ocean Current Slowing

June 8 is World Oceans Day, a time to raise awareness about the importance of the oceans to our planet. Ocean currents and broader circulations move vast amounts of water around the world, redistributing heat and energy, and helping regulate the global climate. Wind-driven currents like the cold California Current and the warm Gulf Stream are

These Images Show Hurricane Matthew’s Storm Surge Potential

Hurricane Matthew has a chance to break the decade-long major hurricane drought in the U.S. The storm could bring punishing winds, heavy rains and storm surge to Florida as early as Thursday. The potential risks that storm surge poses are particularly worrisome for parts of Florida as the center of Matthew is likely to approach the coast on Friday

Hermine is Set to Ruin Labor Day Weekend for the Mid-Atlantic

If you live on the East Coast, you could be in for a soggy, windy, wavy long weekend thanks to Tropical Storm Hermine. Parts of the Mid-Atlantic could see a top-10 flood event from the storm as it heads up the coast and then parks in the region for days on end. Hermine has already caused the fifth-highest water level in Cedar Key, Fla., and left

Hawaii Faces a Rare Dual Hurricane Threat Through This Weekend

For the third year in the row, Hawaii is being haunted by hurricanes. Despite being a small target in the middle of the Pacific, two storms are taking aim at the state. Hurricane Madeline is the first in line with Lester hot on its heels. Hurricane watches are up for the Big Island, and if one of the storms makes landfall, it would be the first

Florida Reefs Are Dissolving Much Sooner Than Expected

It wasn’t supposed to happen this fast. Some of the reefs around the Florida Keys are dissolving. They may have crossed a tipping point due to increasing ocean acidification, raising the alarm that climate change impacts in the ocean are continuing to happen at a much quicker pace than scientists previously suspected. Rising carbon dioxide levels

Climate Change is ‘Devastating’ The Great Barrier Reef

Warm ocean waters that sucked the color and vigor from sweeping stretches of the world’s greatest expanse of corals last month were driven by climate change, according to a new analysis by scientists, who are warning of worse impacts ahead. Climate change made it 170 times more likely that the surface waters of the Coral Sea, which off the

This Is How Surfers Are Helping Fund Climate Science

Surfing is synonymous with riding waves all day, jamming to Jack Johnson, chilling around a beach bonfire by night and sleeping in a VW van before doing it all over again. But there’s another word idea that should also come to mind when imagining the idealized life of a surfer dude or dudette: science. In particular, research on ocean health

2015 Was a Year for the Climate Record Books

The long-term warming of the planet, as well as an exceptionally strong El Niño, led to numerous climate records in 2015, including milestones for global temperatures, carbon dioxide levels and ocean heat, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s annual State of the Climate Report. “The future is happening now,” WMO Secretary-General

A Monster El Niño Transforms the World's Weather

From crippling drought in southern Africa to a record number of February tornadoes in the U.S. Southeast, an exceptionally strong El Niño has been making headlines around the globe as it tampers with the world’s weather. While the event has begun its slow decline, those wide-ranging impacts will continue to be felt for weeks and months to come

A Lesson on Building For Resiliency From Winston

Tropical Cyclone Winston ravaged the islands of Fiji 12 days ago, pummeling the islands with category-5 winds. The death toll from this storm has reached 42, according to a Monday blog post from Jeff Masters and Bob Henson. Their blog post also provides early estimates of economic losses. While this is the deadliest cyclone in the modern history

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The Shum Show: Down Under the Sea

Whether you’re underwater or under your umbrella, this week was drenched with water news. Severe thunderstorms came to the East Coast, and Climate Central released an analysis of how human-caused climate change has boosted nuisance flooding by 67% since 1950. Farther out to sea, coral reefs are suffering both from the heat and from ocean acidificat

Natural & Human-caused Coastal Flood Days in the U.S.

Since 1950, human-caused global sea level rise has tipped the balance to account for two-thirds of coastal flood days in the U.S., according to our latest sea level rise analysis. Even minor coastal flooding, defined as nuisance flooding by NOAA, affects communities and their infrastructure. Human-caused climate change has been contributing to