CNN-weather/environment

By Elizabeth Wolfe and Mary Gilbert, CNN (CNN) — At least 27 people are dead and Acapulco, Mexico, has been left in ruins after Hurricane Otis slammed into the coast Wednesday as a record-breaking Category 5 storm. Four people are also missing, Mexican Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez said during a news conference on Thursday

By Rachel Ramirez, CNN (CNN) — The rapid intensification Hurricane Otis underwent in the hours before it slammed into southern Mexico is a symptom of the human-caused climate crisis, scientists say – and one that is becoming more frequent. When it happens right before landfall, as it did with Otis, it can catch coastal communities

CNN By Rachel Ramirez, CNN (CNN) — The rapid intensification Hurricane Otis underwent in the hours before it slammed into southern Mexico is a symptom of the human-caused climate crisis, scientists say – and one that is becoming more frequent. When it happens right before landfall, as it did with Otis, it can catch coastal

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — California’s Death Valley is the hottest place in the world and the driest place in North America. But two months after Hurricane Hilary’s epic rainfall, parts of the national park look more oasis than desert. Parched ground turned to ponds, wildflowers are in bloom in remote areas and

By Elizabeth Wolfe, Aya Elamroussi, Robert Shackelford and Mary Gilbert, CNN (CNN) — Hurricane Otis knocked out all communications and unleashed a “nightmare scenario” in Acapulco in southern Mexico on Wednesday morning. Tracking over the incredibly warm ocean water near the coast, the storm rapidly intensified just before landfall and gave officials and residents little

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — The first significant snowfall of the season is on the way for the northwestern US and parts of the Northern Plains, and by the time the last flake falls, many high elevation areas will be buried in more than a foot of fresh snow. A surge of cold

By Jason Hanna and Allison Chinchar, CNN (CNN) — Norma weakened to tropical storm strength Saturday after bringing hurricane-force winds, flash flooding and storm surge to Mexico’s Pacific coast. Meanwhile, another late-season storm continued to threaten island nations in the Atlantic. Norma made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 80 mph over

By Allison Chinchar, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Two hurricanes will strike land this weekend by two different ocean basins – Tammy in the Atlantic and Norma in the eastern Pacific. Neither are a threat to the US, but Norma has triggered hurricane warnings for Mexico, including the popular resort town of Cabo San Lucas, and

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Prepare for another dose of wet weekend weather in the Northeast, but this time, the dreary déjà vu comes with a twist – some snowflakes may fly in high elevations. It has rained on a Saturday or Sunday in parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic every weekend since

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Saturday’s ring of fire annular solar eclipse will alter weather conditions on the Earth’s surface as it plays out in the sky. Changes to temperature, wind speed and humidity occur as the moon crosses in front of the sun during a solar eclipse and casts a shadow on

By Mary Gilbert and Robert Shackelford, CNN (CNN) — A powerful storm will traverse nearly 1,500 miles of the US through the weekend and unload snow, severe thunderstorms and flooding rain along its path, culminating in the eighth consecutive dreary weekend in parts of the Northeast. The storm will dump the first significant snow of

By Eric Zerkel and Allison Chinchar, CNN (CNN) — At least one tornado damaged homes, cars and businesses in Florida as severe weather hit the state Thursday. A likely tornado damaged at least two homes in Clearwater Beach after it roared ashore early Thursday morning. No one was injured, Clearwater police said, but photos from

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — A “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse will put on a show from Oregon to Texas this Saturday – as long as clouds don’t spoil the fun. The moon doesn’t cover 100% of the sun in an annular solar eclipse like in a total solar eclipse, but instead

By Mary Gilbert, Nouran Salahieh and Robert Shackelford, CNN (CNN) — Lidia dissipated early Wednesday morning after slamming into western Mexico as a Category 4 hurricane Tuesday night. But what’s left of the formerly powerful storm will unload heavy rainfall, raising the threat of flash flooding across portions of western Mexico. Lidia’s center was shredded

By Aya Elamroussi, CNN (CNN) — Heavy rain will once again lash parts of the Northeast on Saturday, bringing a flood threat to New York City for the second consecutive weekend. A cold front followed by remnants of former tropical storm Philippe are set to drench areas from northern New Jersey to as far north

By Mary Gilbert and Eric Zerkel, CNN (CNN) — Philippe, a former tropical storm that is swiping Bermuda on Friday, will combine with a potent cold front to drench the Northeast and deliver gusty winds to parts of New England this weekend. Philippe had 50 mph winds and was making its closest approach to Bermuda

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Tropical Storm Philippe is on track to deliver a dreary weekend to the Northeast, including a slug of tropical moisture which is raising the risk of flooding rainfall in an area that has been soaked repeatedly in recent weeks. The tropical storm has 50 mph winds and is

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — A dramatic change is on the way as a robust cold front delivers the first hefty dose of fall weather by the weekend, sending temperatures tumbling by as much as 35 degrees. The cooldown is welcome news for millions in the South that have endured a brutally hot

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Experts fear an already active hurricane season could come to an eventful and exceptional end as unusually warm, storm-boosting ocean temperatures and a slow-to-emerge El Niño combine. The Atlantic season and its 18 named storms has already been above average, according to Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher with

CNN By Eric Zerkel, Mary Gilbert and Aya Elamroussi, CNN (CNN) — Record-setting rain overwhelmed New York City’s sewer system Friday, sending a surge of floodwater coursing through streets and into basements, schools, subways and vehicles throughout the nation’s most populous city. The water rose fast and furious, catching some commuters off guard as they