Natural Disasters
A Weather Radio Can Save Your Life
There are many ways to stay informed during a disaster. A weather radio is one of the most reliable
Natural Disasters742 articles archived since 1845
Natural Disasters
Canary Islands Eruption Resets Volcano Forecasts
A volcanologist says the eruption on the island of La Palma is a unique window into the “personality” of basaltic volcanoes...
Climate Change
Global Weather Disasters Cost $101 Billion in 2021
Hurricane Ida and flooding in Europe topped the list of costliest disasters
Weather
Quad-State Tornado May Be Longest-Lasting Ever
Why some tornadoes are able to travel so far and persist so long
Weather
Why the Southern U.S. Is Prone to December Tornadoes
The ingredients that come together to produce such storms make nighttime tornadoes more common in the region
Weather
Rare December Tornado Outbreak Was a ‘Worst-Case Scenario’
The deadly storms are likely to be the 19th billion-dollar disaster to hit the U.S. in 2021
Natural Disasters
Deadly Indonesia Eruption Was Triggered by Heavy Rains
External influences on volcanoes can make predicting unrest more difficult
Climate Change
Devastating Pacific Northwest Floods Could Carry a Climate Warning
So-called atmospheric rivers could become more intense and drop more rain in the future
Robotics
Firefighting Robots Go Autonomous
Both independent and remote-controlled machines can save lives
Natural Disasters
Deaths from Hurricane Ida Expose Flaws in FEMA Flood Maps
The New York City homes where 11 people drowned were in areas marked as low risk for inundation
Climate Change
How Climate Change Helped Fires Cross the Sierra Nevada for the First Time
High, rocky peaks are no longer an insurmountable hurdle for ever fiercer flames fueled by heat and drought
Water
Democrats Seek ‘Historic’ Changes to U.S. Flood Program
Proposed legislation includes funding to redo badly out-of-date flood risk maps
Natural Disasters
‘Explosive’ Dixie Fire Could Become Biggest in CA History
Extremely dry conditions could help the blaze overtake last year’s August Complex fire as the record holder
Natural Disasters
Hurricane Ida May Spark Mass Migration
Like Katrina before it, the storm may make living conditions untenable in hard-hit areas
Natural Disasters
Understanding Pyrocumulonimbi, aka ‘Fire Clouds’
Caused by wildfires, they can trigger lightning, create fire tornadoes and turbocharge winds that accelerate the spread of a conflagration
Climate Change
How Hurricane Ida Got So Big So Fast
An eddy in the Gulf of Mexico and some heavy vapor played key roles
Weather
Hurricane Ida: How Climate Change Is Influencing Storms
Rising temperatures are increasing the hurricane risks to New Orleans and other coastal area
Natural Disasters
Home Seismometers Provide Crucial Data on Haiti’s Quake
A volunteer network helps to monitor aftershocks and illuminate the country’s earthquake hazards
Weather
How Warming Is Affecting Northern Storms Such as Henri
Tropical cyclones are wandering farther north and maintaining high intensity
Natural Disasters
Tropical Storm Henri Could Bring Dangerous Storm Surge
The moon, wind direction, atmospheric pressure and seafloor shape all help determine how high a surge will be
