By Tim Craig 26 February 2018 ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (The Washington Post) – Even though he works at a dump, Kenneal Smith used to enjoy the coastal and mountain views offered from his guard shack here at the island’s largest landfill. But after back-to-back hurricanes pinwheeled across the Virgin Islands in September, Smith […]
1 March 2018 (AFP) – Puerto Rico’s power grid broke down again on Thursday, leaving some 800,000 customers without power, as the US Caribbean possession struggles to recover five months after Hurricane Maria slammed the island. Justo Gonzalez, head of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), said that one of the island’s main transmission […]
By Dr. Jeff Masters 23 February 2018 (Weather Underground) – An unusually severe winter flood event is underway across the center of the U.S., from Texas to Michigan, thanks to heavy rains that fell during the week, fed by record to near-record atmospheric moisture for this time of year. The most significant flooding thus far […]
By Daniel Beekman 3 February 2018 (The Seattle Times) – Attention, Seattle residents: Have you noticed more steady, long-lasting rainstorms in a city better known for gray skies, short showers and drizzle? Turns out you’re on to something. Over the last 15 years, the city’s had more extreme rain, according to a new study by […]
21 February 2018 (Newcastle University) – A landmark study shows the impact of flooding, droughts and heatwaves by 2050-2100 will exceed previous predictions. The research, by Newcastle University, UK, has for the first time analysed changes in flooding, droughts, and heatwaves for all European cities using all climate models. Published today in the academic journal […]
By Danica Coto 18 February 2018 SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Associated Press) – Puerto Rico’s power company said Sunday that it will reduce its operating reserve to save money amid a cash shortfall as officials warned that the move could destabilize the U.S. territory’s fragile electrical grid. William Rios, director of generation at Puerto Rico’s […]
By Mitch McCann 18 February 2018 (Newshub) – A week ago, Tongans were bracing themselves for what was to be the most destructive cyclone in the island’s history.But amid concerns around health and housing, officials now fear for the country’s agricultural sector, which took a massive hit during the storm.David Soaki has farmed his land […]
13 February 2018 (AFP) – International aid began trickling in on Wednesday to areas of Tonga devastated by Cyclone Gita, as Fiji escaped the worst of the storm’s fury. Military aircraft from Australia and New Zealand flew emergency supplies to Nuku’alofa, which was battered early Tuesday by the most powerful cyclone ever recorded in the […]
By Eric Leister 13 February 2018 (AccuWeather) – Powerful Cyclone Gita caused widespread damage to parts of Samoa and American Samoa last week before targeting Tonga Monday night into Tuesday.An emergency declaration was made by the governor of American Samoa which was approved by President Donald Trump allowing aid to be distributed to the island […]
By Bianca Padró Ocasio 6 February 2018 (Orlando Sentinel) – A rat infestation closed down a government office in Kissimmee that was storing donations destined for Puerto Rico, contaminating boxes of supplies that were never sent to the island. The office of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration “does not have the budget to finance […]
