CNN-weather/environment

By Rachel Ramirez, CNN An extreme weather event or climate disaster has occurred every day, on average, somewhere in the world over the last 50 years, marking a five-fold increase over that period, a new UN analysis shows. Each extreme weather and climate-related disaster carried an average economic loss of a staggering $383 million, according

By Jennifer Gray, Brandon Miller and Taylor Ward, CNN New York declared a state of emergency early Thursday morning as the Northeast region was slammed by torrential rain from the remnants of Ida, causing heavy flooding and reports of numerous water rescues. In New York City, a travel ban was implemented until 5 a.m., according

By Aya Elamroussi, Joe Sutton and Theresa Waldrop, CNN Firefighters have been able to make some headway against the Caldor Fire around South Lake Tahoe, and the popular California tourist town may, with luck, be spared from flames — if conditions Wednesday night remain favorable, a fire official said. The fire was up in the

By Madeline Holcombe and Jason Hanna, CNN Hardships are compounding for southeast Louisiana residents days after Hurricane Ida crushed the area: With no electricity service in dangerous heat, families are scrambling to find food and gas as supplies dwindle. In the hard-hit city of LaPlace, west of New Orleans, Rae McMurray was one of numerous

By Kelly McCleary, CNN The governors of California and Nevada declared states of emergency Monday as the fast-moving Caldor Fire, now the 17th largest wildfire on record in California, prompted officials to tell everyone in the city of South Lake Tahoe to get out. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in

By Madeline Holcombe, Holly Yan and Eric Levenson, CNN The levees held. The power grid did not. Millions of Gulf Coast residents who survived Ida’s devastating winds and deluge of rain face a new danger — widespread power outages that are expected to last for weeks, coupled with a period of excessive heat. Ida, which

By Rachel Ramirez, CNN Human-caused climate change is making hurricanes more dangerous. They are producing more rainfall, moving slower once they make landfall and generating larger storm surges along the coast. Hurricane Ida was a prime example of those changes, and scientists say storms like this will become more common as the planet warms. Fueled

By Jennifer Gray, CNN Each time I see a storm rapidly intensify in the Gulf of Mexico, my stomach churns. I’m Jennifer Gray and I’ve been a meteorologist for 18 years and it doesn’t get any easier to watch. Louisiana is my home. My family, close friends and a lifetime of memories flood my mind

By Monica Garrett, CNN Tropical Depression Ten has strengthened and has been given the name Tropical Storm Kate, the National Hurricane Center said Monday. Kate is located in the central Atlantic Ocean and forecast to move north without threatening any land areas. Maximum sustained winds are estimated to be 45 mph with higher gusts. Meanwhile,

By Joe Sutton and Hollie Silverman, CNN People ordered to evacuate the city of South Lake Tahoe and the southern portion of the lake ahead of the raging Caldor Fire were stuck in gridlocked traffic Monday. All residents of the city were ordered to evacuate Monday as the fast-moving blaze continues to ravage parts of

By Jason Hanna, Madeline Holcombe and Steve Almasy, CNN Viewing the aftermath of Hurricane Ida from the air, US Coast Guard Vice Adm. Steven Poulin saw utter devastation. “It was catastrophic,” he told CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront.” “My heart breaks for the people in Louisiana.” Poulin said the pictures he’s seen in the media don’t

By Brandon Miller, Judson Jones and Haley Brink, CNN It usually takes several days or even a week for a tropical storm to grow into a powerful hurricane. But if conditions are just right, a major hurricane can develop in just hours. The process, known as “rapid intensification,” is happening with Hurricane Ida, which became

By Amir Vera and Jay Croft, CNN At least one person is dead as Hurricane Ida moves inland along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, officials said Sunday night. The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office said it received reports shortly after 8:30 p.m. CDT of a person injured from a fallen tree in Prairieville, Louisiana, about 18

By Brandon Miller, CNN Meteorologist Storm surge and strong winds from Hurricane Ida stopped the flow of the Mississippi River near New Orleans on Sunday and actually caused it to reverse — something the US Geological Survey says is “extremely uncommon.” Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana, early Sunday afternoon as an extremely dangerous

By Claire Colbert and Alta Spells, CNN As many in the southeastern United States brace for Hurricane Ida, across the country in California some San Diego County residents have been forced from their homes because of a new, fast-growing wildfire. The Chaparral Fire burning southwest of Murrieta began around midday Saturday and has burned more than 1,400