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

Health

Natural disasters will push the US further into crisis mode Natural disasters will push the US further into crisis mode

satellite image of hurricane harvey

Environment

We can no longer rely on historical data to predict extreme weather We can no longer rely on historical data to predict extreme weather

Environment

Even fish at the bottom of the ocean can’t escape climate change Even fish at the bottom of the ocean can’t escape climate change

By Kate Baggaley

snow squall over Crested Butte, Colorado.

Environment

What’s a snow squall? What’s a snow squall?

By Marion Renault

Environment

Hurricanes lay waste to mangroves, but they also help them flourish Hurricanes lay waste to mangroves, but they also help them flourish

By Kate Baggaley

thin ice on water

Environment

What’s a frost quake? What’s a frost quake?

By Marion Renault

Environment

Dissecting a lightning strike, from flash to boom Dissecting a lightning strike, from flash to boom

Environment

Humans need bumble bees—and they are disappearing faster than we thought Humans need bumble bees—and they are disappearing faster than we thought

Sunrise and ice floe in Antarctica

Environment

Antarctica is hotter today than it’s ever been Antarctica is hotter today than it’s ever been

By Sara Kiley Watson

Person playing with snow

Environment

What the happiest cold-weather countries on the planet know about winter What the happiest cold-weather countries on the planet know about winter

By Paul Nicolaus

A green iguana on a palm tree trunk in Key West, Florida.

Environment

Iguanas are falling out of trees in Florida, and it’s completely fine Iguanas are falling out of trees in Florida, and it’s completely fine

By Frank Mazzotti/The Conversation

map of the world's temperatures

Environment

2019 was the second warmest year on record—here’s what this means for our future 2019 was the second warmest year on record—here’s what this means for our future

By Kate Baggaley

a pile of french fries and a bowl of ketchup

Environment

Our french fry supply is safe for now, but the future is uncertain Our french fry supply is safe for now, but the future is uncertain

Cars in a blizzard caused by a bomb cyclone

Environment

What the heck is a bomb cyclone? What the heck is a bomb cyclone?

By Rachel Feltman

a house destroyed by a hurricane

Environment

Hurricanes really are becoming more destructive Hurricanes really are becoming more destructive

Arctic blast forming over the US.

Environment

An Arctic blast is headed our way this week, and it’s earlier than usual An Arctic blast is headed our way this week, and it’s earlier than usual

By Sara Kiley Watson

California is primed to burn—but humans aren’t exactly helping

Environment

California is primed to burn—but humans aren’t exactly helping California is primed to burn—but humans aren’t exactly helping

By Eleanor Cummins

Frogs in tiny taffeta shorts paved the way for human in-vitro fertilization

Science

Frogs in tiny taffeta shorts paved the way for human in-vitro fertilization Frogs in tiny taffeta shorts paved the way for human in-vitro fertilization

By Popular Science Team

The weirdest things we learned this week: Deadly rainbows, face blindness, and mysterious pink snow

Science

The weirdest things we learned this week: Deadly rainbows, face blindness, and mysterious pink snow The weirdest things we learned this week: Deadly rainbows, face blindness, and mysterious pink snow

By Popular Science Team

Among Hurricane Harvey’s many bad effects: riskier childbirth for women

Health

Among Hurricane Harvey’s many bad effects: riskier childbirth for women Among Hurricane Harvey’s many bad effects: riskier childbirth for women

By Nicole Wetsman

Having too much time to prepare for a hurricane could actually be a bad thing

Environment

Having too much time to prepare for a hurricane could actually be a bad thing Having too much time to prepare for a hurricane could actually be a bad thing

By Nicole Wetsman

Nuking hurricanes out of the sky ‘doesn’t make sense at all’

Science

Nuking hurricanes out of the sky ‘doesn’t make sense at all’ Nuking hurricanes out of the sky ‘doesn’t make sense at all’

By Erin Blakemore

Extreme weather is making these spiders extra feisty

Environment

Extreme weather is making these spiders extra feisty Extreme weather is making these spiders extra feisty

By Sara Chodosh

Melting ice probably isn’t causing extreme winter weather, but there is a connection

Environment

Melting ice probably isn’t causing extreme winter weather, but there is a connection Melting ice probably isn’t causing extreme winter weather, but there is a connection

By Donavyn Coffey

Recent wildfire smoke was so devastating, scientists used it to study nuclear winter

Environment

Recent wildfire smoke was so devastating, scientists used it to study nuclear winter Recent wildfire smoke was so devastating, scientists used it to study nuclear winter

By Donavyn Coffey

In some heatwaves, fans do more harm than good

Environment

In some heatwaves, fans do more harm than good In some heatwaves, fans do more harm than good

By Marion Renault

Your state probably isn’t prepared for droughts or floods

Environment

Your state probably isn’t prepared for droughts or floods Your state probably isn’t prepared for droughts or floods

Our best defense against space weather has been offline for weeks

Environment

Our best defense against space weather has been offline for weeks Our best defense against space weather has been offline for weeks

By Neel V. Patel

Tropical Storm Barry’s biggest threat is already on the ground

Environment

Tropical Storm Barry’s biggest threat is already on the ground Tropical Storm Barry’s biggest threat is already on the ground

By Marion Renault

These rare blue clouds could be headed your way

Environment

These rare blue clouds could be headed your way These rare blue clouds could be headed your way

By Jon Perrett/The Conversation

Vandals, angry artists, and mustachioed tinkerers: The story of New York City’s weather forecasting castle

Environment

Vandals, angry artists, and mustachioed tinkerers: The story of New York City’s weather forecasting castle Vandals, angry artists, and mustachioed tinkerers: The story of New York City’s weather forecasting castle

By Eleanor Cummins

We battled hordes of tourists to put a weather station in Everest’s ‘death zone’

Environment

We battled hordes of tourists to put a weather station in Everest’s ‘death zone’ We battled hordes of tourists to put a weather station in Everest’s ‘death zone’

By Tom Matthews/The Conversation

These flesh-eating bacteria are finding new beaches to call home

Health

These flesh-eating bacteria are finding new beaches to call home These flesh-eating bacteria are finding new beaches to call home

By Sara Chodosh

Antarctica’s mysterious ice holes are finally making sense

Environment

Antarctica’s mysterious ice holes are finally making sense Antarctica’s mysterious ice holes are finally making sense

Connecting the dots on hurricanes and mental health issues

Environment

Connecting the dots on hurricanes and mental health issues Connecting the dots on hurricanes and mental health issues

By Nicole Wetsman

Hurricane season is early—again

Environment

Hurricane season is early—again Hurricane season is early—again

By Alex Schwartz

What to expect from the 2019 hurricane season

Environment

What to expect from the 2019 hurricane season What to expect from the 2019 hurricane season

Even after Hurricane Sandy, many people wouldn’t prepare before a future storm

Health

Even after Hurricane Sandy, many people wouldn’t prepare before a future storm Even after Hurricane Sandy, many people wouldn’t prepare before a future storm

By Nicole Wetsman

Disastrous spring floods loom for half of the United States

Environment

Disastrous spring floods loom for half of the United States Disastrous spring floods loom for half of the United States

The midwest is in the midst of record-breaking, deadly floods

Environment

The midwest is in the midst of record-breaking, deadly floods The midwest is in the midst of record-breaking, deadly floods

Here’s what a ‘very likely’ sequel to California’s 1862 megastorm would look like

Environment

Here’s what a ‘very likely’ sequel to California’s 1862 megastorm would look like Here’s what a ‘very likely’ sequel to California’s 1862 megastorm would look like

By Eleanor Cummins

Boiling frog climate change Twitter analysis

Environment

Like a boiling frog, humans quickly normalize extreme temperatures Like a boiling frog, humans quickly normalize extreme temperatures

Cumulus clouds sky atmosphere climate change

Environment

Thank a cloud today Thank a cloud today

By Eleanor Cummins

climate 2080 cities forecast

Environment

Here’s how global warming will change your town’s weather by 2080 Here’s how global warming will change your town’s weather by 2080

By Sara Chodosh

frost frozen ground crack

Environment

What the heck is a frost quake? What the heck is a frost quake?

By Sara Chodosh

Polar vortex snowbank meteorology

Environment

The polar vortex split apart. Here’s what to expect. The polar vortex split apart. Here’s what to expect.

Wildfire from above

Environment

We need to talk about extreme weather We need to talk about extreme weather

By Jillian Mock

Hurricane Florence in the Atlantic

Environment

The 2018 hurricane season was full of extremes. Here’s what we expect in 2019. The 2018 hurricane season was full of extremes. Here’s what we expect in 2019.

By Dennis Mersereau

hurricane florence from space

Environment

The 2018 hurricane season taught us some important lessons—so let’s not forget them The 2018 hurricane season taught us some important lessons—so let’s not forget them

By Dennis Mersereau

The surprising link between balmy winters and violent crime

Environment

The surprising link between balmy winters and violent crime The surprising link between balmy winters and violent crime

By Marlene Cimons

Hurricane Florence in the Atlantic

Environment

Florence and Michael might be retired from the Hurricane naming book Florence and Michael might be retired from the Hurricane naming book

By Dennis Mersereau

Scientists want to put ‘speed bumps’ in hurricane alley to slow down storms

Environment

Scientists want to put ‘speed bumps’ in hurricane alley to slow down storms Scientists want to put ‘speed bumps’ in hurricane alley to slow down storms

By Marlene Cimons

Extreme summer weather will be back next year . . . and probably forever

Environment

Extreme summer weather will be back next year . . . and probably forever Extreme summer weather will be back next year . . . and probably forever

By Neel V. Patel

When flying into a hurricane won’t work, meteorologists use these high-tech alternatives

Environment

When flying into a hurricane won’t work, meteorologists use these high-tech alternatives When flying into a hurricane won’t work, meteorologists use these high-tech alternatives

By Dennis Mersereau

This could be the fiercest Pacific hurricane season ever

Environment

This could be the fiercest Pacific hurricane season ever This could be the fiercest Pacific hurricane season ever

By Dennis Mersereau

The terrifying new climate change report has one silver lining

Environment

The terrifying new climate change report has one silver lining The terrifying new climate change report has one silver lining

By Erin Blakemore

There is simply no precedent for Hurricane Michael

Environment

There is simply no precedent for Hurricane Michael There is simply no precedent for Hurricane Michael

By Dennis Mersereau

a palm tree bending in the wind

Environment

Hurricane forecasts can be confusing—here’s a helpful glossary Hurricane forecasts can be confusing—here’s a helpful glossary

By Dennis Mersereau

Hurricane Michael is slamming into Florida as a devastating category 4

Environment

Hurricane Michael is slamming into Florida as a devastating category 4 Hurricane Michael is slamming into Florida as a devastating category 4

By Dennis Mersereau

a satellite view of hurricane florence

Environment

Hurricane categories consider windspeed but ignore one of the deadliest effects Hurricane categories consider windspeed but ignore one of the deadliest effects

By Dennis Mersereau

Here’s what you need to know about today’s unavoidable Presidential Alert notification

Environment

Here’s what you need to know about today’s unavoidable Presidential Alert notification Here’s what you need to know about today’s unavoidable Presidential Alert notification

By Stan Horaczek

A plane sprays a field with pesticides.

Environment

The Carolinas are waging war against nickel-sized hurricane mosquitoes The Carolinas are waging war against nickel-sized hurricane mosquitoes

By Charlie Wood

An uncommon storm called a ‘Medicane’ is headed for Greece

Environment

An uncommon storm called a ‘Medicane’ is headed for Greece An uncommon storm called a ‘Medicane’ is headed for Greece

By Dennis Mersereau

Hurricane Rosa could flood the parched Southwest next week

Environment

Hurricane Rosa could flood the parched Southwest next week Hurricane Rosa could flood the parched Southwest next week

By Dennis Mersereau