El Niño is back – that's good news or bad news, depending on where you live

The official forecast calls for a strong El Niño by winter, but other models suggest it might dip in and out. An atmospheric scientist explains.

Bob Leamon, Associate Research Scientist, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
June 9, 2023 ~8 min

African plumes bring heat of the Sahara to UK – but climate change could make them less frequent

Heatwaves are often the result of these bursts of warm, southerly air.

Richard Washington, Professor of Climate Science, University of Oxford • conversation
June 8, 2023 ~6 min


Farmers face a soaring risk of flash droughts in every major food-growing region in coming decades, new research shows

If greenhouse gas emissions continue at a high rate, breadbaskets of Europe and North America will see a 50% chance of a flash drought each year by the end of this century.

Jordan Christian, Postdoctoral Researcher in Meteorology, University of Oklahoma • conversation
May 25, 2023 ~8 min

Drought recedes in Britain after a wet spring – but much of Europe is parched

March 2023 was the wettest for 40 years in England and Wales.

Hannah Cloke, Professor of Hydrology, University of Reading • conversation
May 12, 2023 ~6 min

Cloud seeding can increase rain and snow, and new techniques may make it a lot more effective – podcast

Cloud seeding – spraying materials into clouds to increase precipitation – has been around for nearly 80 years. But only recently have scientists been able to measure how effective it really is.

Nehal El-Hadi, Science + Technology Editor & Co-Host of The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation • conversation
May 4, 2023 ~7 min

Why the UK has only had one named storm so far this winter – an expert explains

An expert explains why the UK’s winter has been relatively calm.

Len Shaffrey, Professor of Climate Science, National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Reading • conversation
Feb. 23, 2023 ~6 min

Why forecasting snow is so difficult in the UK

It’s important to be prepared for snow but UK winter weather forecasts can be unreliable. Here’s why.

Rob Thompson, Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Meteorology, University of Reading • conversation
Jan. 24, 2023 ~5 min

Scientists have started steering lightning with lasers – here's how

This high voltage experiment isn’t one you’ll be able to try at home.

Ian Whittaker, Senior Lecturer in Physics, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
Jan. 20, 2023 ~6 min


Five things you probably have wrong about rain

On average, Sydney and Rome get more rain than London each year.

Rob Thompson, Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Meteorology, University of Reading • conversation
Nov. 16, 2022 ~7 min

How we tracked one small seabird species' remarkable flight into a typhoon

A team of scientists used unique tracking data to study how streaked shearwaters fly into typhoons strong enough to destroy houses.

Emily Shepard, Professor in Biosciences, Swansea University • conversation
Oct. 6, 2022 ~6 min

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