Ash falls like snow in Seattle as wildfires rage in Pacific Northwest

By Evan Bush 5 September 2017 (The Seattle Times) – Ash fell like snow in Seattle Tuesday morning as Washington’s wildfires sent plumes of smoke into the atmosphere. It was so thick that dispatchers serving Eastside Fire Rescue received concerned calls about smoke in the area and ash settling on cars. “There is no local […]

Heat, smoke, and fire assault states across U.S. West – All-time temperature record set in California

By Bob Henson  3 September 2017 (Weather Underground) – The steamy, fiery summer of 2017 hit a new crescendo this weekend across the U.S. West, which is getting its hottest Labor Day weekend on record in many locations—and in some spots, the hottest weather ever observed. Overall, “this is the greatest statewide heat wave ever […]

Stronger science means more climate litigation risk for business and government

By James Thornton 28 August 2017(Earth and Water Group) – Governments and business may be increasingly at risk of litigation for failing to prevent foreseeable climate-related harm to people and infrastructure, as cutting-edge climate science improves.  This is the conclusion of a report published in Nature Geoscience today, which says event attribution studies are now […]

Raging wildfire north of downtown Los Angeles grows to one of the largest blazes in city history

By Ruben Vives, Andrea Castillo, and Alene Tchekmedyian 2 September 2017 (The Los Angeles Times) – A brush fire in the Verdugo Mountains north of downtown Los Angeles has burned more than 5,000 acres, making it one of the largest fires in the city’s history and one that officials warn could grow larger if erratic weather […]

After Harvey, does Trump still think climate change is a hoax?

By Paul Thornton 2 September 2017 (The Los Angeles Times) – Good morning. I’m Paul Thornton, and it is Saturday, 2 September 2017. For those of us in and around Los Angeles who still have electricity, here is a helpful tip for keeping the A/C humming throughout this hellish heatwave (hint: turn something else off […]

Hot Siberia summer ends with cold blast and “abnormal” August snow

31 August 2017 (The Siberian Times) – Yakutia is in a white blanket as temperatures dip to minus 6C as winter “comes too soon”.This region is the coldest in the world, yet locals also enjoy warm and even hot summers, but this year the season ended abruptly in several districts.Snowfalls hit the towns of Neryungri […]

Record heat, lightning, fires, intense rain: California’s extreme weather gets wilder

By Joseph Serna 1 September 2017 (The Los Angeles Times) – The heat wave that has gripped California for a week took a dramatic turn Thursday as lightning storms sparked brush fires, knocked out power to thousands and caused downpours across the region. Forecasters said the extreme weather will continue through the weekend, with some […]

B.C. premier, forests minister tour wildfire-affected regions – Record 10,600 square kilometres burned so far in 2017

KAMLOOPS, B.C., 28 August 2017 (The Canadian Press) – British Columbia’s premier spent Monday touring some communities affected by this year’s unprecedented wildfire season, promising financial assistance but cautioning it will take more than cheques to help with the recovery. John Horgan said it will take years for ranchers, tourism operators and communities to recover […]

19 wildfires have merged to create the largest wildfire ever recorded in British Columbia – Single blaze is estimated to be more than 467,000 hectares

By Mike Laanela and Brady Strachan Aug 22, 2017 (CBC News) – Hundreds of firefighters and dozens of aircraft are working to contain the largest wildfire ever recorded in British Columbia’s history. Nineteen wildfires have merged in the province’s Interior, creating a single blaze that’s estimated to be more than 467,000 hectares [1.15 million acres] […]

Super-heatwaves of 55°C to emerge if global warming continues – “Humid-heat waves with these conditions were never exceeded in the present climate, but are expected to occur every other year at 4°C global warming”

8 August 2017 (JRC) – Heatwaves amplified by high humidity can reach above 40°C and may occur as often as every two years, leading to serious risks for human health. If global temperatures rise with 4°C, a new super heatwave of 55°C can hit regularly many parts of the world, including Europe.A recently published study […]

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