Articles on Extreme weather

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After a deadly tornado hit communities in rural southwest Michigan in March 2026, the state’s request for federal disaster aid was denied. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

How Trump’s disaster aid delays and FEMA cuts could galvanize the ‘movable middle’ in the 2026 elections

In communities across America, people recovering from floods, storms and wildfires have been left waiting much longer for federal aid – if it arrives at all.
Hurricane-force winds from the Wall of Wind test facility rolled mobile homes, showing where their anchoring systems fail. Margi Rentis/Florida International University

We blasted mobile homes with hurricane‑force winds to test how they fail – and found clues for making affordable housing safer

Engineers are using a unique test facility called the Wall of Wind to develop housing that’s both affordable and disaster-resistant. Their tests show the magnitude of the challenge.
The forest covering the slopes of Mont Ventoux, in France’s Vaucluse area, gripped by drought in 2022. Frédéric Jean

Without water, forests lose their ability to absorb CO₂

To survive dry spells, trees stop the water-rich process of photosynthesis. When nature’s natural carbon capture machine grinds to a halt entire forests end up producing more CO₂ than they absorb.
The Beast from the East storm hit the UK in February-March 2018. Ludovic Farine/Shutterstock

Why winter cold spells are getting milder

Across the northern hemisphere, cold spells are becoming milder as the temperatures rise, with their intensity decreasing by 0.3°C per decade.
Hurricane Irma rapidly intensified before hitting the Caribbean and Florida in 2017, but intensity is still hard to forecast. NASA

Why AI has trouble predicting the fury of hurricane intensity

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.

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