Storm damage costs are often a mystery – that’s a problem for understanding extreme weather risk

Forecasters already patch together very rough estimates, and ending NOAA’s ‘billion-dollar disasters’ list means less access to insurance data. Texas’ state climatologists explain why that matters.

William Baule, Research Assistant Professor in Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University • conversation
June 4, 2025 ~9 min

Extreme weather’s true damage cost is often a mystery – that’s a problem for understanding storm risk, but it can be fixed

Forecasters already patch together very rough estimates, and ending NOAA’s ‘billion-dollar disasters’ list means less access to insurance data. Texas’ state climatologists explain why that matters.

William Baule, Research Assistant Professor in Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University • conversation
June 4, 2025 ~9 min


For many island species, the next tropical cyclone may be their last

Species-rich islands are in the crosshairs of stronger storms as the climate crisis escalates.

David Jorge Pereira, PhD Candidate, Conservation Science, University of Birmingham • conversation
May 23, 2025 ~6 min

In 2025, Tornado Alley has become almost everything east of the Rockies − and it’s been a violent year

A storm scientist explains what’s been driving deadly tornado outbreaks and how tornado season has been changing.

Daniel Chavas, Associate Professor of Atmospheric Science, Purdue University • conversation
May 23, 2025 ~9 min

What is a downburst? These winds can be as destructive as tornadoes − we recreate them to test building designs

Engineers use giant fans in the Wall of Wind test facility to study the destructive ways these powerful winds can interact with tall buildings.

Omar Metwally, Graduate Research Assistant, Extreme Events Institute, Florida International University • conversation
April 30, 2025 ~9 min

Two key ingredients cause extreme storms with destructive flooding – why these downpours are happening more often

Rising global temperatures increase the risk of extreme downpours, as a climate scientist explains.

Shuang-Ye Wu, Professor of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, University of Dayton • conversation
April 8, 2025 ~6 min

Why some storms brew up to extreme dimensions in the middle of America – and why it’s happening more often

Rising global temperatures increase the risk of extreme downpours, as a climate scientist explains.

Shuang-Ye Wu, Professor of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, University of Dayton • conversation
April 8, 2025 ~6 min

What causes the powerful winds that fuel dust storms, wildfires and blizzards? A weather scientist explains

One long line of powerful winds can whip up dust storms, spread wildfires, spin up tornadoes and fuel blizzards – all at the same time across different states.

Chris Nowotarski, Associate Professor of Atmospheric Science, Texas A&M University • conversation
March 20, 2025 ~8 min


The world regulated sulfur in ship fuels − and the lightning stopped

An unplanned experiment takes scientists closer to solving a long-standing mystery: To what extent, if any, have human-created emissions influenced thunderstorms?

Chris Wright, Fellow in Atmospheric Science, Program on Climate Change, University of Washington • conversation
March 11, 2025 ~8 min

How are clouds’ shapes made? A scientist explains the different cloud types and how they help forecast weather

Puffy to wispy, barely there or dark and menacing, clouds come in many shapes and sizes. Each tells a story about what’s going on in the atmosphere.

Ross Lazear, Instructor in Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York • conversation
March 3, 2025 ~5 min

/

20