The destructive 1982-83 El Niño, then the strongest on record, eroded cliffs, leaving homes hanging precariously over the edges. A coastal scientist explains the escalating risks.
Tropical storms rarely survive in the cool water off California, but waves from storms far to the south can still damaged coastal areas. And flooding rain can sweep in.
Storms big and small can produce a lot of rain. What matters most is how fast they’re moving, as an atmospheric scientist and educator explains.
Several factors make for high water levels, and they conspired to worsen the storm surge that flooded coastal areas from North Carolina to New York.
The Hurricane Hunters are specialist aircrews that fly into tropical cyclones to collect vital measurements.
They predict that global land temperatures will be 2.1°F above normal in the coming months due to the current "Super El Niño" that began in June.
Only Hurricane Patricia, in 2015, was stronger, with a central pressure of 872 millibars and maximum sustained winds of 215 mph.
Storms like 2026’s Hurricane Polo that rapidly intensify can catch communities off guard and leave little time to prepare or evacuate. Being able to forecast those risks can save lives.
Harrisburg, Pa. — At the request of county officials, the Shapiro Administration will support a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) to assist individuals and families that sustained losses from damages caused by severe storms and heavy rain Sept. 2 and 3.
Cooler ocean temperatures east of the islands typically keep major hurricanes away, but El Niño is helping fuel this year’s risks.