CNN-Weather/Environment

By Michelle Watson, Amanda Musa, Mary Gilbert, CNN (CNN) — Significant flooding in northern West Virginia claimed the lives of at least six people, including a 3-year-old and her mother, over the weekend and two others remain missing, officials say. All six deaths occurred in Ohio County, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said at a Monday news

By Andrew Freedman, CNN (CNN) — For the past four years, a fleet of drone vessels has purposefully steered into the heart of hurricanes to gather information on a storm’s wind speeds, wave heights and, critically, the complex transfer of heat and moisture between the ocean and the air right above it. These small boats

CNN Meteorologist Mary Gilbert, CNN Lead Meteorologist Brandon Miller, Amanda Musa (CNN) — At least 11 people are dead and several others are missing after intense flash flooding covered roadways and swept away vehicles in San Antonio, Texas, triggered by heavy rainfall the area has not seen in more than a decade. The death toll

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — A wildfire burning out of control in Oregon, near the state’s border with Washington, has destroyed homes and forced hundreds of evacuations and closures of major roadways as gusty winds threaten further spread and challenge firefighting crews. The Rowena Fire has burned 3,800 acres since it ignited on

By Andrew Freedman, CNN (CNN) — The National Hurricane Center is “fully staffed” and any suggestion that the Trump administration fired meteorologists at the National Weather Service is “fake news,” “preposterous and silly,” Commerce Sec. Howard Lutnick testified to Congress this week. But the administration did fire meteorologists, and the nation’s top hurricane forecasting office

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Air quality is taking a hit in parts of the central and eastern United States as smoke from out-of-control wildfires in Canada pours south – but that isn’t the only thing millions of people will notice in the sky this week. A plume of dust originating from Africa’s

By Andrew Freedman, CNN (CNN) — After losing more than 560 employees to layoffs and early retirement incentives earlier this year, the National Weather Service has received permission to hire about 125 new meteorologists and specialists for its forecast offices around the country, sources tell CNN, as an active hurricane season looms. The temporary lifting

By Alaa Elassar, CNN (CNN) — At least one person is dead and seven others were injured after an unexpected tornado struck a rural Kentucky county early Friday morning as a line of severe storms moved eastward across the state. The man was killed on Long Run Road in the Deep Creek area of Washington

CNN By Andrew Freedman, CNN (CNN) — Massive wildfires burning out of control in western and central Canada are forcing thousands to flee as dire forecasts for the country’s fire season come to fruition. The intensifying blazes are also sending hazardous smoke toward major cities in the United States. The premiers of Manitoba and Saskatchewan

By Andrew Freedman, CNN (CNN) — Massive wildfires burning out of control in western and central Canada are forcing thousands to flee as dire forecasts for the country’s fire season come to fruition. The intensifying blazes are also sending hazardous smoke toward major cities in the United States. The premiers of Manitoba and Saskatchewan provinces

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer for many in the United States, but it won’t feel like that in the East leading up to the holiday thanks in part to a rare May nor’easter. A one-two-punch of storms is delivering soaking rain and gusty winds

CNN, KHBS, WLKY, WFIE, KMOV, SEE PREFONTS By Mary Gilbert, Hanna Park, Emma Tucker, Taylor Romine (CNN) — Multiple tornadoes and intense storms hit the eastern half of the United States on Tuesday as a relentless severe weather pattern that left 28 people dead in recent days began to wind down. Damaging storms tore through

By Mary Gilbert, Hanna Park, Emma Tucker, Taylor Romine (CNN) — Multiple tornadoes and intense storms hit the eastern half of the United States on Tuesday as a relentless severe weather pattern that left 28 people dead in recent days began to wind down. Damaging storms tore through parts of 10 states – including areas

WLKY By Hanna Park, Matt Rehbein and Ray Sanchez, CNN (CNN) — A violent, tornado-spawning storm system tore across the central US, leaving at least 25 people dead in Missouri and southeastern Kentucky as it cut a path of destruction through several states. The storm made its way towards Kansas and Oklahoma late Sunday, where

By Andrew Freedman, CNN (CNN) — As a severe weather outbreak became increasingly likely Friday, meteorologists at the National Weather Service office in Jackson, Kentucky, made the decision to call everyone in and staff the overnight shift, according to Tom Fahy, who represents the NWS Employees Union. The Jackson office is one of at least

CNN By Hanna Park and Matt Rehbein, CNN (CNN) — A violent, tornado-spawning storm system tore across the central US, leaving at least 21 people dead in Missouri and southeastern Kentucky as it cut a path of destruction across several states. The 14 deaths in Kentucky come on the heels of fatalities reported hours earlier

By Hanna Park, Matt Rehbein and Ray Sanchez, CNN (CNN) — A violent, tornado-spawning storm system tore across the central US, leaving at least 25 people dead in Missouri and southeastern Kentucky as it cut a path of destruction through several states. The storm made its way towards Kansas and Oklahoma late Sunday, where significant

KSDK, CNN By Mary Gilbert, Emma Tucker, Taylor Ward, Zoe Sottile, CNN (CNN) — A storm that produced a devastating tornado in the St. Louis, Missouri, area Friday afternoon has left at least five people dead and at least 10 injured, according to local authorities. The deaths come after a string of tornadoes and severe

By Mary Gilbert, Emma Tucker, Taylor Ward, Zoe Sottile, CNN (CNN) — A storm that produced a devastating tornado in the St. Louis, Missouri, area Friday afternoon has left at least five people dead and at least 10 injured, according to local authorities. The deaths come after a string of tornadoes and severe storms damaged

CNN By Mary Gilbert, Emma Tucker, Taylor Ward, CNN (CNN) — An incredibly dangerous day of severe thunderstorms including the potential for long-lasting, powerful tornadoes and hurricane-strength wind gusts is underway in the eastern half of the United States. The threat for tornadoes and damaging winds is escalating Friday after the same system already produced

WISN By Mary Gilbert, Taylor Ward, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — A busy stretch of severe thunderstorms is underway due to record heat and now the threats are ramping up, putting major metro areas from Chicago to Nashville under threat as the country hits the peak of tornado season. Severe thunderstorms rocked parts of the central

By Mary Gilbert, Taylor Ward, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — A busy stretch of severe thunderstorms is underway due to record heat and now the threats are ramping up, putting major metro areas from Chicago to Nashville under threat as the country hits the peak of tornado season. Severe thunderstorms rocked parts of the central US

By Andrew Freedman, CNN (CNN) — The National Weather Service is seeking to fill 155 positions at offices throughout the country by offering reassignment opportunities for qualified National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) employees, who are currently working elsewhere. The scale of the voluntary reassignments illustrates how depleted the nation’s top weather forecasting agency is

CNN By Cindy Von Quednow, Taylor Ward, CNN (CNN) — Alley Wade was at work when she heard that her sons’ school in Allegany County, Maryland, was flooded and rescues were underway. She was 30 minutes away, and when she finally came within blocks of Westernport Elementary School, she was told by a police officer

By Cindy Von Quednow, Taylor Ward, Lauren Mascarenhas, Mary Gilbert, CNN (CNN) — Dangerous flash flooding forced search and rescue operations in multiple states Tuesday, including boat rescues at a Maryland elementary school and a search for a 12-year-old boy swept away by floodwaters in Virginia. The boy was caught in rushing water at around

By Andrew Freedman and Mary Gilbert, CNN (CNN) — A dangerous round of early season extreme heat is on tap for parts of Texas this week in a prelude to what’s expected to be an abnormally hot summer across much of the United States. Long-standing records could fall across central and southwest Texas, including in

By Allison Chinchar, CNN (CNN) — Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, but Mother Nature does not always follow that calendar – and it looks like this year could also defy the timeline. In recent days, some forecasting models have hinted at the possibility of a head start to the

By Andrew Freedman, CNN (CNN) — With less than a month until hurricane season, three House Democrats have expressed concerns over staffing shortages, including vacancies in all management positions, at the National Weather Service’s Houston-Galveston forecast office in a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s acting head. The letter follows CNN’s reporting that

By Andrew Freedman, CNN (CNN) — National Weather Service offices around the country are on guard after recent threats to agency infrastructure — specifically Doppler weather radars — from a violent militia-style group, emails from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s security office show. The group Veterans on Patrol, which the Southern Poverty Law Center

By Andrew Freedman, CNN (CNN) — The National Weather Service is in worse shape than previously known, according to interviews with current and former meteorologists, due to a combination of layoffs, early retirements and preexisting vacancies. The nation’s forecasting agency is in tatters as what could be a destructive hurricane season nears. Several current and

By Mary Gilbert, Taylor Romine, Andi Babineau, CNN (CNN) — Another day of extreme weather is unfolding in the United States on Wednesday after violent storms roared through more than a dozen states on Tuesday and turned deadly, bringing hurricane-strength wind gusts, massive hail and tornadoes. Severe weather left at least four people dead in

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — At least one person is dead as new rounds of severe thunderstorms are underway and potentially catastrophic flooding risks are brewing in the central and eastern United States on Tuesday. Storms led to more than 700,000 power outages across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast by evening. Some of the

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Millions in the Upper Midwest face the possibility of a severe thunderstorm outbreak Monday that could bring rounds of dangerous storms capable of unleashing damaging winds, large hail and strong tornadoes — the start of several days of extreme weather threats across the country this week. The first

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — A record-breaking, triple-digit wind gust roared through part of Texas on Tuesday, but it wasn’t from a tornado or a hurricane. An airport weather station in Midland, Texas, recorded a wind gust of 111 mph Tuesday evening – the first triple-digit gust in its 94-year-history in weather reporting.

By Ella Nilsen, CNN (CNN) — Disaster survivors in Arkansas left homeless by recent tornadoes have been blocked from receiving federal recovery aid after President Donald Trump rejected the state’s request to declare a major disaster in March. The Trump administration denied Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ request for individual and public assistance following an

By Michelle Watson, Diego Mendoza Diaz, Matthew Rehbein, Hanna Park, CNN (CNN) — Severe weather in Oklahoma over the weekend has left at least five people dead, including a 12-year-old boy, a 7-year-old girl and their mothers after their vehicles were swept away by floodwaters, officials say. Police in Moore, about 10 miles south of

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — An exceptionally powerful atmospheric river fueled the deadly early April flooding disaster in the central and southern United States — a historic flood event and a poignant example of how the phenomenon acts differently in the East than it does in the West. It could signal added danger

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Back-to-back-to-back deadly and destructive tornado outbreaks in recent weeks have put a punctuation mark on what’s been an unusually active start to the year for thunderstorms in the United States. The typical peak of severe thunderstorm season is still a few weeks away, so why has it been

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — The short-lived reign of La Niña has come to an end. La Niña – a natural climate pattern that can influence weather worldwide – arrived at the start of this year but had a very short and odd life. The atmosphere first started to take on a La

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — After more than a week of deadly severe thunderstorms and flooding, winter is making an unwelcome return for tens of millions in the eastern half of the United States. Meanwhile, the West is gearing up for a taste of summer. Temperatures from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast

WTVA, LARRY DEVORE, CNN By Hanna Park, Mary Gilbert, Andy Rose, CNN (CNN) — A dayslong deluge of rain finally subsided across the South and Midwest on Monday, but, like the extensive flooding that followed, the danger for many communities will be slow to recede. “As long as I’ve been alive — and I’m 52

CNN By Hanna Park, CNN (CNN) — Floodwaters inundated communities across the South and Midwest on Sunday, the result of days of rain from a dangerous line of storms that has claimed at least 19 lives since the middle of last week. Over a foot of rain has fallen across the mid-South since Wednesday. On

By Hanna Park, Mary Gilbert, Andy Rose, CNN (CNN) — A dayslong deluge of rain finally subsided across the South and Midwest on Monday, but, like the extensive flooding that followed, the danger for many communities will be slow to recede. “As long as I’ve been alive — and I’m 52 — this is the

By Karina Tsui, Gene Norman and Susannah Cullinane, CNN (CNN) — Rising river levels in Kentucky are prompting evacuations and warnings to move to safer ground, with water rescues under way in flooded areas. The National Weather Service earlier this week warned of the possibility of “generational” flooding, stemming from a stagnation in the current

WSMV, JARED AUERBACH, CNN By Gene Norman, Karina Tsui, Rebekah Riess, CNN (CNN) — Severe thunderstorms and relentless rain are triggering catastrophic flooding across the middle of the US this weekend, as areas already hit hard by a recent string of storms and tornadoes remain in the path of this current system. The storms have

By Gene Norman, Karina Tsui, Rebekah Riess, CNN (CNN) — Severe thunderstorms and relentless rain are triggering catastrophic flooding across the middle of the US this weekend, as areas already hit hard by a recent string of storms and tornadoes remain in the path of this current system. The storms have killed at least 16

By Ella Nilsen, Mary Gilbert, CNN (CNN) — When a powerful thunderstorm spawns a tornado, people have what feels like only moments to gather their family and get to a safe place. “Every minute counts,” said David Stensrud, a professor of meteorology at Penn State and former research meteorologist at the National Severe Storms Laboratory,

CNN, WHBQ, KMBC, KSPR, KYTV, KFVS, TOSHA QUALLS, COLBY GEORGE, TMX, SAMM MUSICK, MIKE HOCKETT, X, TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL, RACHELJANEMARIE , X, MITCHELL DESPOT, MATT ZIEGLER, SHROUDEDGUARDIAN, REDDIT, KSPR/KYTV, Tosha Qualls, Colby George/TMX, Mike Hockett/x, racheljanemarie / X, Matt Ziegler/X, ShroudedGuardian/Reddit By Hanna Park, Mary Gilbert, CNN (CNN) — As communities in the central US

By Hanna Park, Mary Gilbert, CNN (CNN) — As communities in the central US grapple with widespread devastation from a line of deadly storms that spawned dozens of tornadoes this week, more grave threats to the region are underway: additional severe thunderstorms and relentless rain with the potential to trigger “generational” flooding into the weekend.

By Taylor Romine, CNN Meteorologist Mary Gilbert, Andy Rose (CNN) — Wednesday night’s tornado outbreak across at least six states had even the helpers scrambling to take cover as destructive storms beared down — and they all continued to help even as their own lives, workplaces and properties were in danger. TV meteorologist stays on

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — It’s only spring, but some weather forecasters are already focusing on this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. The season, which spans June through November, is shaping up to be a busy one, according to hurricane researchers at Colorado State University. CSU’s team of experts is calling for an above-average

By Karina Tsui, CNN Meteorologist Mary Gilbert (CNN) — A life-threatening outbreak of long-lived and strong tornadoes is expected today in parts of the central and eastern United States from a powerful, wide-reaching spring storm. Severe thunderstorms were already cutting through the Plains Wednesday morning ahead of the main threat later this afternoon and evening,

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Volatile spring weather will kick into high gear this week as a potential severe thunderstorm outbreak and life-threatening flooding loom large for tens of millions of people in the central and eastern United States. This next severe weather threat comes on the heels of the last, which tore

By Matthew Rehbein, Hanna Park and CNN Meteorologists Mary Gilbert and Gene Norman (CNN) — A dangerous, wide-reaching storm is threatening tens of millions of people along nearly the entire Eastern Seaboard Monday after touching off several tornadoes, dropping baseball-sized hail and killing at least seven people in the central US this weekend. Three children

By Hanna Park and CNN Meteorologists Mary Gilbert and Gene Norman (CNN) — Millions of people are under tornado watches across the central United States on Sunday – and confirmed tornadoes have been reported in Arkansas, Michigan and Missouri – as a volatile weather system has triggered power outages and huge hail. Roughly 170 million

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Unseasonable warmth is setting the stage for damaging thunderstorms capable of bringing powerful wind, large hail and tornadoes to nearly 175 million people in the central and eastern United States Sunday and Monday. March has already dealt a slew of potent storms and tallied up more tornado reports

KRGV By Karina Tsui, Mary Gilbert and Holly Yan, CNN (CNN) — Abandoned vehicles littered submerged roads across South Texas’ Rio Grande Valley Thursday and Friday after over half year’s worth of rain – approaching a full year’s worth in some places – caused at least four deaths and forced dozens of water rescues near

By Karina Tsui, Mary Gilbert and Holly Yan, CNN (CNN) — Abandoned vehicles littered submerged roads across South Texas’ Rio Grande Valley Thursday and Friday after over half year’s worth of rain – approaching a full year’s worth in some places – caused at least four deaths and forced dozens of water rescues near the

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — The Pacific Northwest is staring down a rare spring severe thunderstorm threat and Texas is preparing to see up to half a year’s worth of rain by the weekend as March continues its streak of unusually disruptive weather. Damaging thunderstorms are highly unusual in the Pacific Northwest any

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Murphy, a bald eagle who stole hearts around the world for incubating a rock like it was his own offspring, died after violent thunderstorms roared through Missouri this month. He was 33. Murphy was found dead by his caregivers at the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, Missouri,

By Karina Tsui, CNN (CNN) — High temperatures, strong winds and low humidity are causing a group of wildfires to spread rapidly through western North Carolina, risking further damage to areas already ravaged by Hurricane Helene. “In my career, 20-year career, this is the most fuel I’ve seen on the ground,” North Carolina Forest Service

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Misty Drope was anxious. As she went about her day on Friday, March 14, a feeling of dread accompanied her. Severe thunderstorms were coming that night to her town of Paragould, Arkansas — she’d been hearing about them all week on the news. Tornadoes were likely. “I’m trying

By Robert Shackelford, Karina Tsui and Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — A powerful storm system is producing whiteout conditions in portions of the central United States and nearly 7 million people are under a tornado watch while residents in parts of the Plains remain under a threat for dangerous wildfires. It isn’t a carbon

CNN, KATV, KFVS, WFSA, KYTV, KAIT, WBRC By Hanna Park, Robert Shackelford, Rafael Romo and Mary Gilbert, CNN (CNN) — A powerful storm system that tore across the United States in recent days was winding down Monday, but in its wake are devastated communities hit with violent tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms spun off by

By Hanna Park, Robert Shackelford, Rafael Romo and Mary Gilbert, CNN (CNN) — A powerful storm system that tore across the United States in recent days was winding down Monday, but in its wake are devastated communities hit with violent tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms spun off by the massive system. At least 42 people

CNN By Daniel Wine, CNN Editor’s Note: CNN’s 5 Things newsletter is your one-stop shop for the latest headlines and fascinating stories to start and end your busy day. Sign up here. 👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! They’re called “exercise snacks” — short bursts of activity just 30 seconds long to five or 10 minutes

KCAL, KCBS, CAL FIRE RIVERSIDE, CNN By Mary Gilbert, Eric Zerkel, Zoe Sottile and Angela Fritz (CNN) — The strongest storm system of spring so far roared across the Midwest and South Friday night into Saturday morning, spawning what could end up being dozens of tornadoes that raked through towns in darkness — the most

By Mary Gilbert, Eric Zerkel, Zoe Sottile and Angela Fritz (CNN) — The strongest storm system of spring so far roared across the Midwest and South Friday night into Saturday morning, spawning what could end up being dozens of tornadoes that raked through towns in darkness — the most dangerous and deadly time for a

KCRA, LARRY PRICE, CNN By Mary Gilbert and Karina Tsui, CNN (CNN) — A powerful storm is dropping drenching rain on flood-prone Southern California and heavy snow on the state’s mountains. It’s the first act of a storm that will unleash a severe thunderstorm outbreak, dangerous fire conditions and a blizzard as it crosses the

By Mary Gilbert and Karina Tsui, CNN (CNN) — A powerful storm that dropped drenching rain on flood-prone Southern California is raising concern among forecasters that it could produce a dangerous, widespread outbreak of tornadoes, damaging winds and fires along with a blizzard as it crosses the entire United States in the coming days. The

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Incoming heavy rain from an atmospheric river-fueled storm that slammed into the West Coast early Wednesday is threatening mudslides and debris flows in Southern California and has already prompted evacuations in the Los Angeles area. But that’s not all this storm is capable of — its reach and

By Mary Gilbert, CNN Meteorologist (CNN) — Another unusually intense March storm is coming this week, and it may cause a bit of déjà vu, with severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, powerful wind gusts, wildfire risks and blizzard conditions possible across the country. But this powerhouse storm won’t be an exact copy of last week’s. One

WAPT By Mary Gilbert, Taylor Ward, Artemis Moshtaghian and Phil Gast, CNN (CNN) — A mammoth and multifaceted storm is slamming the eastern half of the United States with powerful winds, blizzard conditions and severe thunderstorms for the second consecutive day. The near-record strong March storm reached the East Coast early Wednesday after delivering deadly

By Mary Gilbert, Taylor Ward, Artemis Moshtaghian and Phil Gast, CNN (CNN) — A mammoth and multifaceted storm is slamming the eastern half of the United States with powerful winds, blizzard conditions and severe thunderstorms for the second consecutive day. The near-record strong March storm reached the East Coast early Wednesday after delivering deadly thunderstorms

By Mary Gilbert, Artemis Moshtaghian, Karina Tsui, Robert Shackelford and Zoe Sottile, CNN (CNN) — A powerful storm is moving across the country and spawning multiple fires and severe thunderstorms with hurricane-force wind gusts and tornadoes that are knocking out power and causing damage Tuesday. At least two people have been reported dead due to