Climate Extreme Weather
All Stories
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![Man in yellow boots in floodwater]()
![Man in yellow boots in floodwater]()
Atmospheric rivers are battering California. Why don’t residents have flood insurance?
High costs, “disaster fatigue,” and regulatory gaps are all preventing Californians from getting the protection they need.
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![An aerial view of a mining pit next to a town.]()
![An aerial view of a mining pit next to a town.]()
Is the Southwest too dry for a mining boom?
Critical minerals for the clean energy transition are abundant in the Southwest, but the dozens of mines proposed to access them will require vast sums of water, something in short supply in the desert.
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![The aerial view of Maui that's in color but is almost entirely black and white because of the fire damage.]()
![The aerial view of Maui that's in color but is almost entirely black and white because of the fire damage.]()
Insurance companies are going after Hawaiian Electric to reimburse Lahaina fire claims
Insurers have paid more than $1 billion in claims related to the Lahaina wildfires and want reimbursement from the utility.
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![An aerial view of the Central Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project, an aquifer recharge project that has helped restore Tucson's depleted groundwater.]()
![An aerial view of the Central Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project, an aquifer recharge project that has helped restore Tucson's depleted groundwater.]()
Groundwater levels are falling worldwide — but there are solutions
New research shows how to protect the aquifers that hold most of the world’s fresh water.
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![Newly built homes bordering natural hillside vegetation in n the Winchester Ridge development in Winchester, California, on August 18, 2023.]()
![Newly built homes bordering natural hillside vegetation in n the Winchester Ridge development in Winchester, California, on August 18, 2023.]()
Why California’s housing market is destined to go up in flames
High costs and strict regulations are pushing development into fire country, putting homeowners in the crosshairs of climate change.
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![A mobile FEMA information center in Fort Myers following Hurricane Ian in 2022.]()
![A mobile FEMA information center in Fort Myers following Hurricane Ian in 2022.]()
FEMA to overhaul its disaster aid system after decades of criticism
The agency will offer upfront cash payments to disaster survivors and slash some of its infamous red tape.
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How climate disasters hurt adolescents’ mental health
Young people traumatized by Hurricane Maria were more likely to report substance use.
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![Mayabel Rents waits for a bus during a tidal flooding event in Miami Beach, Florida, in 2015.]()
![Mayabel Rents waits for a bus during a tidal flooding event in Miami Beach, Florida, in 2015.]()
Study: Climate migration will leave the elderly behind
Coastal populations will get older — and more fragile — as young people flee rising seas, according to new academic research.
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![A lake surrounded by trees and filled with yellow smoke.]()
![A lake surrounded by trees and filled with yellow smoke.]()
Persistent wildfire smoke is eroding rural America’s mental health
Besides physical effects, wildfire smoke can create economic anxiety, isolation, and despair. In rural areas, scientists see a link between smoke and higher suicide rates.
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![An aerial view of homes under construction in Buckeye, Arizona, outside of Phoenix. The state government paused new housing construction in the area last year over concerns about water availability.]()
![An aerial view of homes under construction in Buckeye, Arizona, outside of Phoenix. The state government paused new housing construction in the area last year over concerns about water availability.]()
Will Arizona close a loophole that lets developers build without water?
Despite water woes in “wildcat” neighborhoods, lawmakers may not act.
