Power outages across the Plains: 4 questions answered about weather-driven blackouts
Heat waves, droughts and deep freezes can all strain the electric grid, leading utilities to impose rolling blackouts. Climate change is likely to make these events more common.
Feb. 16, 2021 • ~9 min
Where’s the sea ice? 3 reasons the Arctic freeze is unseasonably late and why it matters
The pattern of autumn sea ice growth has been completely disrupted, but are we really headed for a tipping point?
Oct. 28, 2020 • ~6 min
Wildfires force thousands to evacuate near Los Angeles: Here's how the 2020 Western fire season got so extreme
The 2020 wildfire season has shattered records across the West. It's a trend that's headed in a dangerous direction.
Oct. 27, 2020 • ~8 min
Extreme wildfires can create their own dangerous weather, including fire tornadoes – here's how
Persistent heat waves and dry lightning are part of the problem. For firefighters, the erratic behavior gets dangerous quickly.
Aug. 25, 2020 • ~6 min
Western wildfires are spinning off tornadoes – here’s how fires create their own freakish weather
Persistent heat waves and dry lightning are part of the problem. For firefighters, the erratic behavior gets dangerous quickly.
Aug. 25, 2020 • ~6 min
What's in wildfire smoke, and why is it so bad for your lungs?
Wildfires blanketing several Western cities are creating hazardous health conditions. Don't count on cloth masks to protect your lungs.
Aug. 20, 2020 • ~7 min
What's in that wildfire smoke, and why is it so bad for your lungs?
Wildfires blanketing several Western cities are creating hazardous health conditions. Don't count on cloth masks to protect your lungs.
Aug. 20, 2020 • ~7 min
How dangerous heat waves can kill
Heat waves can kill via dehydration caused by heavy sweating. Breathing or heartbeat may suddenly stop. Prolonged overheating can also create widespread inflammation.
Aug. 18, 2020 • ~8 min
Heatwaves often end with spectacular thunderstorms and lethal floods – but where and when they'll strike is hard to predict
Volatile, unstable air means that it is very tricky to work out exactly where each thunderstorm will be.
Aug. 13, 2020 • ~6 min
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