Weather

From extreme weather and droughts to lightning and heat waves, this is the latest science on what's happening in the atmosphere right above your head.

Latest in Weather

Solar panel station in Australian outback in front of mountains

Indigenous calendars could make solar power more efficient Indigenous calendars could make solar power more efficient

Mysterious red sprite erupts in new astronaut photo Mysterious red sprite erupts in new astronaut photo

a woman douses herself with water from a plastic bottle on a hot, sunny day

What is a heat dome? What is a heat dome?

By Laura Baisas

Happy smiling little boy out in the rain

The science behind the smell of rain The science behind the smell of rain

clouds in a blue sky

How do clouds get their shapes? How do clouds get their shapes?

By Clarissa Brincat

a woman drinks water with the sun beating down

What is dew point? A meteorologist explains that sticky air. What is dew point? A meteorologist explains that sticky air.

By Laura Baisas

man looks at meterology

Weather forecasting improves with AI, but we still need humans Weather forecasting improves with AI, but we still need humans

By Mack DeGeurin

Close up of solar flare

The first US solar storm emergency drill did not go well The first US solar storm emergency drill did not go well

thousands of birds take to the sky

Weather radar picks up over 1 million migrating birds Weather radar picks up over 1 million migrating birds

By Margherita Bassi

A man suffering from hay fever next to a flowering shrub.

Why are some cities worse for allergies than others? Why are some cities worse for allergies than others?

By Laura Baisas

several lightning strikes in the distance. a man crouches down in a squatting position with his hands over his ears. a red circle with a line through it is over the image, indicating that this is not what to do during lightning

Actually, it’s not safe to crouch during a lightning storm Actually, it’s not safe to crouch during a lightning storm

By Laura Baisas

Ambient weather stations on sale for Amazon big spring sale

The best home weather station is cheaper than ever during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale The best home weather station is cheaper than ever during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale

By Stan Horaczek

Red sprite timelapse seen over Himalayan mountains

Astrophotographers help crack mystery of ‘sprite fireworks’ Astrophotographers help crack mystery of ‘sprite fireworks’

Best home weather stations sliced header

The best home weather stations The best home weather stations

By John Alexander

two side by side illustrations. on the left, a man with a red background sweating next to a thermometer with a high temperature. on the right, a man with a blue background shivering next to a thermometer with a lower temperature

What is ‘feels-like’ temperature? A meteorologist explains. What is ‘feels-like’ temperature? A meteorologist explains.

By Laura Baisas

a scientist holds a large rescued sea turtle in a lab

Dozens of cold-stunned turtles rescued in Florida Dozens of cold-stunned turtles rescued in Florida

By Laura Baisas

A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire while it burns homes at Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

This crowdsourcing app is a lifeline for Californians tracking wildfires This crowdsourcing app is a lifeline for Californians tracking wildfires

By Mack DeGeurin

a glacier hiker climbs in the foreground with a headlamp as a rainbow colored aurora dances above

11 sensational images from the Northern Lights Photographer of the Year awards 11 sensational images from the Northern Lights Photographer of the Year awards

By Popular Science Team

Snowcat car in a snow ski resort.

The science of ski grooming The science of ski grooming

By Alisha McDarris

a fire burns in the woods

Navigation app uses government data to help off-roaders avoid wildfire areas Navigation app uses government data to help off-roaders avoid wildfire areas

By Kristin Shaw