Hurricanes are intense tropical cyclones that form over warm ocean waters and are characterized by a low-pressure center, organized deep convection, and strong cyclonic surface winds. They derive energy from latent heat released during condensation within deep convective clouds, requiring sea surface temperatures typically above ~26–27 °C, sufficient Coriolis force to initiate rotation, and weak vertical wind shear to maintain structural integrity. Hurricanes exhibit a warm-core structure, an eye and eyewall, and spiral rainbands, and are classified by maximum sustained wind speed. They are central topics in atmospheric science, climate research, and risk modeling due to their role in heat transport, extreme precipitation, storm surge, and high-wind hazards.
El Niño, Nature's chaotic climate agent, has formed in a warmed-up Pacific Ocean and is expected to grow to historic strength, meteorologists announced Thursday.
Environment
Jun 11, 2026
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When Hurricane Dorian slammed into the Bahamas on Sept. 1, 2019, its Category 5 winds devastated two islands over three days, destroyed infrastructure, left thousands missing or homeless, and caused more than 70 recorded ...
Environment
Jun 11, 2026
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Climate change could make historically rare tropical storms in Southern California produce significantly more precipitation in the next few decades, and when they strike, landslides are likely to become a bigger risk across ...
Earth Sciences
Jun 10, 2026
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Human-caused sea-level rise has significantly increased the frequency of extreme coastal flooding worldwide, according to a new study led by a Tulane University researcher. The research, published in the journal Nature Climate ...
Earth Sciences
Jun 10, 2026
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A severe tropical storm brought torrential rain to Tokyo on Wednesday, swelling rivers, grounding flights, and sparking calls to evacuate for hundreds of thousands of people across wide swaths of Japan.
Environment
Jun 3, 2026
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There is an 80% chance of the warming El Niño phenomenon developing between June and August, increasing the risk of extreme weather events, the World Meteorological Organization said Tuesday.
Environment
Jun 2, 2026
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Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have categorized a unique, previously unclassified type of heat wave in Japan, so-called "moist heat waves" which are accompanied by an approaching tropical cyclone. These heat ...
Earth Sciences
May 25, 2026
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Hurricanes can be a devastating force—leveling trees, erasing beaches and damaging homes. But what do they do to wildlife? The answer ranges from the good to the bad to the ugly. Hurricanes sometimes help native species, ...
Evolution
May 22, 2026
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US forecasters on Thursday predicted the Atlantic hurricane season is likely to be "below normal" in 2026, but cautioned that "it only takes one."
Environment
May 21, 2026
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Cities don't just change the landscape, they change the weather. According to a new study analyzing tens of thousands of rain events in Texas, whether urban areas make rain worse, lighter or simply different depends strongly ...
Environment
May 20, 2026
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