A summer’s worth of rain overwhelmed New Zealand’s largest city Friday
More than 10 inches of rain triggered severe flooding in Auckland that forced evacuations, blocked roads, closed airports and washed away a bridge.
By Scott DanceDeath toll in Buffalo blizzard rises; delayed emergency response cited
The announcement of three more deaths possibly attributed to EMS delays comes amid blowback from residents about the city’s preparation for December's blizzard.
By Brianna SacksEarth’s temperature could near danger point with return of El Niño
Climate scientists say an El Niño is increasingly probable by the fall and could push Earth’s temperature to a record high in 2023 or 2024.
By Scott DanceMajor storm bringing snow to Plains and Midwest, with tornado risk in South
More than a foot of snow is likely in parts of the Corn Belt, while a tornado watch is in effect from eastern Texas to central Arkansas.
By Matthew CappucciIt’s January, but tornadoes keep spinning up like it’s April
Abnormally warm air, fueled by climate change, is probably boosting the severe weather flare-up
By Matthew Cappucci and Jason SamenowAnother atmospheric river bears down on waterlogged California, but storms are weakening
Weather experts say the worst is probably over after nearly a month of atmospheric river storms that have deluged California.
By Kim BellwareFlood watch covers nearly all of California amid severe storms
New emergency evacuations were ordered and officials cautioned that more devastation is in store as the state braces for another wave of rain on Monday.
By Todd C. Frankel, Timothy Bella, Jason Samenow and Justine McDanielCalifornia deluge continues as governor urges ‘vigilance’
Atmospheric rivers have dumped about 24 trillion gallons of water onto California since Dec. 20, killing at least 19 people, officials say
By Timothy Bella, Matthew Cappucci and Justine McDanielCalifornia’s winter storms have been deadlier than any wildfire since 2018
The official death toll from a series of atmospheric rivers in California stands at 19. Experts say the fatalities show Californians have grown unaccustomed to the dangers of rain.
By Reis ThebaultTenth body found after tornadoes tore through Alabama, Georgia
Ten people were killed by the storms, eight in Alabama and two in Georgia, including a 5-year-old and a state employee responding to damage.
By Andrea Salcedo, Jason Samenow, Danielle Paquette, Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff and Natalie B. ComptonAt least 7 dead after storms and tornado ripped through Alabama and Georgia
A violent tornado crossed from Alabama to Georgia, causing major damage along its path
By Scott Dance, Jason Samenow, Ben Brasch, Justine McDaniel and Kelsey AblesIn graying Puerto Rico, the elderly face climate disasters alone
Puerto Rico is aging rapidly, driven by birth and mortality trends, but also emigration. Experts say the government is woefully unprepared for the challenges of having so many senior citizens.
By Arelis R. HernándezFlooding could isolate a California peninsula as river surges
Local officials warned the precise impacts or timing of potential flooding, road closures or evacuations are difficult to predict.
By Scott Dance and Joshua PartlowEurope’s snowless ski resorts preview winter in a warming world
Unusually warm weather in the Alps has caused temporary slope closures, canceled sports competitions and left recreational skiers clamoring for refunds.
By Rick NoackHow climate change will make atmospheric rivers even worse
Researchers estimate that atmospheric rivers in the western U.S. will become 15 percent larger in size and last six hours longer for every one degree Celsius spike in global temperatures.
By Kasha PatelDad recounts ‘worst thing imaginable’ after 5-year-old lost in Calif. flood
Kyle Doan was separated from his mother, Lindsy, as the two got caught in a flooded California river. His father spoke of that moment and the resulting search.
By Dan Rosenzweig-ZiffAtmospheric rivers hammer California, causing extreme rainfall, heavy wind and flooding
A "relentless parade of cyclones” hitting California was expected to shift farther to the north, the National Weather Service said Thursday, as the region continued to struggle with massive floods and landslides.
By Washington Post StaffWhat is a bomb cyclone? Here’s how they’re formed and what to know.
Bomb cyclones are the most intense mid-latitude winter storms, earning the distinction from an especially rapid drop in air pressure.
By Scott Dance and Matthew CappucciTop Buffalo-area official shoulders blame for late blizzard travel ban
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said he does not know whether instituting the ban earlier “would have changed anything but it was my decision and I bear full responsibility.”
By Brianna SacksBuffalo’s no stranger to snow. Why was the storm so deadly?
The devastating impact is, in large part, due to a collision of a historic blizzard, bad timing, a dearth of emergency management resources, and the immense difficulty of trying to force residents who are largely desensitized to severe weather to abandon much-needed jobs wages.
By Brianna Sacks and Emily Wax-Thibodeaux