Extreme Weather
At least five dead after snowstorm in Austria
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At least five people have died in Austria following a heavy snowstorm, including avalanche victims in Tirol. Vienna airport temporarily halted operations, and there were power outages and road closures. Avalanche risk remains high in the Alps.
Scientists forecast an 80 percent likelihood that an El Niño will form by September, with most models pointing to a moderate event. Some simulations indicate the possibility of a much stronger episode. Global warming is expected to intensify the effects of any such occurrence.
Reported by AI
The World Meteorological Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization have issued a joint report detailing how extreme heat is disrupting global food production. The document highlights severe effects in Brazil and other countries, urging better adaptation strategies. It responds to a United Nations call to address heat risks for workers and food systems.
Climate Central has resurrected the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's billion-dollar disaster database, which the Trump administration discontinued in May. The nonprofit updated the tool to track escalating costs of weather and climate catastrophes amid federal cutbacks. This effort highlights a growing reliance on nonprofits to preserve climate data as government resources diminish.
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Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic storms on record, struck Jamaica as a category 5 hurricane on October 28, 2025, fueled by unusually warm sea surface temperatures linked to climate change. Meteorologists expressed alarm over its rapid intensification and potential for catastrophic damage, including up to one meter of rain. Three people died in preparations for the storm.