Climate Extreme Weather
All Stories
-
This simple metal tube helps scientists predict drought before it happens
We’re in a perilous moment for water. But the Church Sampler is one of the many devices scientists can use help us make better decisions.
-
![Cattle belonging to rancher Mike Wintz stand in a pasture 20 miles north of Ashby where they were relocated to after the Morrill Fire burned much of the rangeland where Wintz’s cattle previously grazed.]()
![Cattle belonging to rancher Mike Wintz stand in a pasture 20 miles north of Ashby where they were relocated to after the Morrill Fire burned much of the rangeland where Wintz’s cattle previously grazed.]()
In Nebraska, wildfires are turning cattle ranching into a tricky business
Nearly a million acres in the state have burned this year. One expert calls it ‘a new kind of wildfire era.’
-
![A helicopter pulls water from Kade Lake to respond to a growing wildfire near Cleveland, Texas, on March 20, 2025.]()
![A helicopter pulls water from Kade Lake to respond to a growing wildfire near Cleveland, Texas, on March 20, 2025.]()
These maps show exactly where the West might burn this summer
Amid drought and heat waves, April’s national wildfire forecast shows that nearly the entire Western U.S. will face an above-normal risk of wildfires at some point in the next four months.
-
![]()
![]()
Pocket gardens: The tiny urban oases with surprisingly big benefits
Little bits of greenery are popping up in cities, making summers more bearable for urbanites.
-
![An illustration of several young people sitting on a block of ice]()
![An illustration of several young people sitting on a block of ice]()
As climate change threatens student athlete safety, states try to adapt
But some school districts can’t afford to comply with requirements for special equipment or alternate practice schedules.
-
![A skier passes by an area of low snow coverage at Vail Ski Resort as temperatures reach into the 50s on March 18, 2026 in Vail, Colorado.]()
![A skier passes by an area of low snow coverage at Vail Ski Resort as temperatures reach into the 50s on March 18, 2026 in Vail, Colorado.]()
The West’s unprecedented winter could fuel a summer of disaster
Record-low snowpack and an early heat wave could mean a higher risk of drought and fire in coming months.
-
![A man stands looking at his phone next to the open door of a truck, with a power plant spewing smoke in the background]()
![A man stands looking at his phone next to the open door of a truck, with a power plant spewing smoke in the background]()
In Texas, Corpus Christi’s water crisis may be a glimpse into the future
A 5-year drought, a failed desalination plant, and poor planning may force the city to choose between residents and the oil and gas industry.
-
![A tractor rolls over an agricultural field]()
![A tractor rolls over an agricultural field]()
Fiber optic cables reveal a serious problem at the heart of modern farming
Tilling helps farmers control weeds and boost soil fertility. But that also degrades a field's ability to hold water and carbon.
-
![Four researchers in coats and hats stand around a hole dug in the ice on top of a glacier, while the sun peeks over the mountains behind them]()
![Four researchers in coats and hats stand around a hole dug in the ice on top of a glacier, while the sun peeks over the mountains behind them]()
Scientists race to decode data from Europe’s vanishing glaciers
Glacier ice contains valuable information about the climates of the past. Researchers are scrambling to study it before it's too late.
-
![]()
![]()
Why thinning a forest could get you more drinking water
Scientists have shown how actively managing forests to prevent wildfires can also boost the snowpack, a critical source of hydration in the American west.
