In 2022, there were 10 climate-fueled extreme weather events that caused more than $3 billion worth of damage each. That’s the disturbing conclusion of UK charity Christian Aid’s annual review of the year’s costliest and most destructive climate disasters, released December 27. “Having ten separate climate disasters in the last year that each cost more […]
At least 21 wildfires are burning across Oregon and thousands of people have been forced to evacuate or experienced preventative power shutoffs as several days of “red flag” warnings led to “extreme fire growth” across the state. The Cedar Creek Fire had burned nearly 87,000 acres and was completely uncontained as of Sunday evening. More […]
Hurricane Kay, which is currently churning off the coast of Baja California, could be the rare Northeast Pacific hurricane to impact the northern Mexican peninsula as well as drought-ravaged Southern California. The storm could bring relief to a state baking under a record-breaking September heat wave, but heavy rainfall poses risks as well. “[I]t’s never […]
What Are Wildfires? Wildfires, also commonly called forest fires or bushfires, are unplanned and uncontrolled fires burning in a vegetated landscape, such as a forest or grasslands. Many wildfires are sparked by human activity, such as campfires, or natural causes, like lightning. Dry conditions and prolonged droughts, which are becoming more frequent with climate change, […]
A fast-growing wildfire, named the McKinney Fire, has grown to more than 52,000 acres in two days, becoming California’s largest wildfire in 2022. Two people have been reported dead and nearly 3,000 residents have been asked to evacuate. It is 0% contained, although heavy smoke helped slow the growth on Sunday even as it kept most aircraft grounded. […]
A wildfire burning in California has spread from a national park into a national forest. The Washburn Fire ignited July 7 in Yosemite National Park and promptly forced the evacuation of hundreds of people from the town of Wawona and the closure of the park’s southern entrance, as The Guardian reported. Since then, it has […]
Europe is in the midst of a climate-fueled heat wave that has ignited dangerous wildfires from Portugal in the west to Turkey in the East. The fires come as EU Commissioner EU Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič warned last Thursday that 2022 could be one of the continent’s worst years for extreme weather events like drought and […]
Fourth of July firework shows are getting harder and harder to stage as high summer temperatures fueled by the climate crisis increase the risk that they will spark wildfires. But one town in the drought-stricken West has come up with a more environmentally-friendly alternative: a drone show. The town of Incline Village Crystal Bay on […]
Independence Day is coming soon, with celebrations prepared for the entire long weekend leading up to Monday, July 4, 2022. But with droughts and heat waves across the U.S., many cities are canceling fireworks shows for fear of sparking wildfires, along with staffing and supply chain issues related to the ongoing pandemic. Flagstaff, Arizona is […]