Climate

Deadly severe weather roars through several states, spawning potential tornadoes

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Deadly severe weather roars through several states, spawning potential tornadoes

Thousands of homes and businesses were without power Tuesday as severe weather roared through several states, causing at least one death and spawning possible tornadoes. Parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia and Georgia were under tornado watches into Tuesday night, while Wisconsin was experiencing a spring snowstorm. Storms in Northeastern … Read more

South Africa: Taps run dry after unprecedented water crisis hits Johannesburg

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South Africa: Taps run dry after unprecedented water crisis hits Johannesburg

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — For two weeks, Tsholofelo Moloi has been among thousands of South Africans lining up for water as the country’s largest city, Johannesburg, confronts an unprecedented collapse of its water system affecting millions of people. Residents rich and poor have never seen a shortage of this severity. While hot weather has shrunk reservoirs, … Read more

UN weather agency issues ‘red alert’ on climate change after record heat, ice-melt increases in 2023

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UN weather agency issues ‘red alert’ on climate change after record heat, ice-melt increases in 2023

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. weather agency is sounding a “red alert” about global warming, citing record-smashing increases last year in greenhouse gases, land and water temperatures and melting of glaciers and sea ice, and is warning that the world’s efforts to reverse the trend have been inadequate. The World Meteorological Organization said there is … Read more

Long recovery ahead for some in path of deadly tornadoes in central US

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Long recovery ahead for some in path of deadly tornadoes in central US

LAKEVIEW, Ohio (AP) — Residents in a swath of the central U.S. hit by deadly tornadoes were cleaning up, assessing damage and helping neighbors on Saturday. But it will be a long recovery from the storms that ripped through parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas. Thursday night’s storms claimed three lives in the Indian … Read more

Blizzard howls in Sierra Nevada, high winds closes roads and ski resorts

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Blizzard howls in Sierra Nevada, high winds closes roads and ski resorts

TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — A powerful blizzard that a meteorologist termed “as bad as it gets” howled in the Sierra Nevada mountains, closing a long stretch of Interstate 80 in Northern California, forcing ski resorts to shut down, and leaving thousands of homes without power. More than 10 feet (3 meters) of snow was expected … Read more

Mexico’s Popocatépetl volcano erupts 13 times in past day, prompting airport delays

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Mexico’s Popocatépetl volcano erupts 13 times in past day, prompting airport delays

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s National Disaster Prevention Center said Wednesday the Popocatépetl volcano, located just 50 miles from the country’s capital, has erupted 13 times in the past day and urged people to not try to climb it due to debris shooting out of the crater. Volcanic ash from the Popocatépetl disrupted flights out … Read more

Texas wildfires: Fire grows to second-largest in state history

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Texas wildfires: Fire grows to second-largest in state history

A fast-moving wildfire burning through the Texas Panhandle grew into the second-largest blaze in state history Wednesday, forcing evacuations and triggering power outages as firefighters struggled to contain the widening flames. The sprawling blaze was part of a cluster of fires that burned out of control and threatened rural towns, where local officials spent the … Read more

Feleti Teo is named Tuvalu’s new prime minister after elections that ousted Taiwan supporter

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Feleti Teo is named Tuvalu’s new prime minister after elections that ousted Taiwan supporter

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Tuvalu’s former Attorney General Feleti Teo was named prime minister of the tiny South Pacific nation Monday after elections a month ago ousted the last government leader. Teo was the only candidate nominated by his 15 lawmaker colleagues and Governor General Tofiga Vaevalu Falani declared him elected without a vote, government … Read more

Tractor protests threaten to drive the EU’s green farming policies into a ditch

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Tractor protests threaten to drive the EU’s green farming policies into a ditch

WESTROZEBEKE, Belgium (AP) — It was the puddles of green sludge left by the tires of massive tractors in western Belgium’s industrial farmlands that drew the attention of biological engineer Ineke Maes. The slime was destructive algae, the result of the excess of chemicals used by farmers to boost their crops, but at a high … Read more

Kayakers paddle in Death Valley after rains replenish lake

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Kayakers paddle in Death Valley after rains replenish lake

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — Kayakers have been paddling in one of the driest places on Earth after a series of record rainstorms battered California’s Death Valley and replenished Lake Manly. Park Ranger Nichole Andler said Badwater Basin at Death Valley National Park, which runs along part of central California’s border with Nevada, … Read more