Climate Central
Coverage of Climate Central in the Nexus archive.
- From heat waves to flooding: How they’re connected
The Carolinas have experienced consecutive weather extremes, including heat waves and flooding, linked by a warming climate. Rising temperatures increase atmospheric moisture, intensifying rainfall and flash flooding during storms. Climate experts warn that extreme heat and heavy rainfall events will become more common in summer months.
- Another super typhoon just pummeled the Pacific
Super Typhoon Bavi hit the Mariana Islands with 180 mph winds, causing widespread damage and displacing residents still recovering from a previous typhoon. Indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian communities, who contribute little to climate change, are disproportionately affected by intensifying storms linked to warming ocean waters.
- How climate change endangers historic sites like Jamestown
Rising seas and coastal erosion threaten historic sites like Jamestown, Virginia, as the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary. Archaeologists are working urgently to uncover and preserve historical artifacts before they are lost to climate change impacts.
- Louisiana summers are getting hotter and more humid, researchers say
Louisiana's summer temperatures have risen since 1970, with record heat-related deaths and emergency room visits in recent years. Climate Central reports average summer temperature increases of 4.1 degrees in New Orleans and 4.3 degrees in Shreveport. In 2023, 88 heat-related deaths and 6,187 ER visits were recorded.
- Asia’s ‘dangerous’ humid heatwaves push human body to its limits
Southeast Asia is highly vulnerable to increasing humid heatwaves that strain human limits, with global extreme weather periods more than doubling since the 1970s. The average annual duration of extreme weather now stands at 23 days, up from 10 days, according to a Climate Central report.
- Scientist tracks melting glaciers for nearly half a century
The world’s glaciers are receding rapidly, losing over a trillion tons of ice annually due to climate change, which is raising sea levels and threatening coastal communities. A scientist and his family have observed this glacial melt firsthand for nearly 50 years.
- What to know about Show Your Stripes Day
Show Your Stripes Day on June 20 highlights global climate awareness through temperature data, with blue and red stripes representing cooler and warmer years in Nashville. NOAA’s Regional Climate Centers tracks the data, showing temperatures nearing record highs, while Climate Central notes public concern about climate change may be underestimated.
- Philadelphia had its 3rd-warmest spring on record. A hotter-than-normal summer could be coming
Philadelphia experienced its third-warmest spring on record with an average temperature of 57.8°F from March to May. Forecasters predict a hotter-than-normal summer due to a strong El Niño and long-term warming trends. Since 1970, Philadelphia's spring and summer temperatures have risen by approximately 3°F.
- ‘Super El Niño’ could make Arizona’s already brutal summers even worse, climate scientists warn
Climate scientists warn Arizona may face record-breaking heat, deadly flooding, and intense wildfires this summer due to a 'Super El Niño' forming in the Pacific Ocean. Phoenix experienced 113 consecutive days of 100°F+ temperatures in 2024, with state-wide annual average temperatures rising 3.4°F since 1970. Experts predict drier, hotter conditions with potential late-summer precipitation delays.
- Georgia wildfires come as much of America is ready to burn
Georgia's wildfires, fueled by drought, high winds, and Hurricane Helene debris, have destroyed over 120 homes and reflect a broader trend of severe fire seasons across the U.S. National data shows 1.8 million acres burned as of April 24, double the 10-year average, with experts citing fuel buildup, urban expansion in fire-prone areas, and climate change as key drivers.