Weather Explainer Archives | The Cool Down

A hand holds a lit candle near an electrical panel in a dimly lit room.

Tech

California led the U.S. in power outages over 20 years, with vandalism the top cause

Aerial view of residential homes partially submerged in floodwaters.

Tech

On US coasts, storm surge follows 8 patterns, and some linger long after winds stop

A wildfire in Canada.

Tech

Study warns Canada's extreme fire weather is no longer a once-in-40-years threat

Wildfire smoke in Spain.

Tech

In France and Spain, the biggest danger from wildfires isn't the flames — it's the smoke

A wildfire near a lake.

Outdoors

British Columbia wildfire smoke set to hit the Lower Mainland as blazes grow out of control

A view of Earth from space, highlighting illuminated areas of Europe against a starry background.

Tech

Orange skies over Chicago and Madrid signaled a shared smoke, heat, and wildfire crisis

An undeveloped field near industrial buildings.

Tech

California's Sacramento Valley sank during drought pumping, and the damage may be permanent

A person speaking about tornado ratings next to an image of a tornado.

Tech

Oklahoma tornado's rating could reshape how twisters are rated nationwide

A panoramic view of rolling hills and forests near the coast.

Tech

The US Southwest's fires surged, but in Australia, a Pacific shift helped blunt the rise

A large wildfire spreads across a grassy hillside with thick smoke and flames.

Tech

Across Southern Europe, summer days primed for wildfires have doubled, even as fires fall

A topographic map.

Tech

Atlantic hurricanes could soon come with 5-day warnings before rapid intensification

An aerial view of a coastal landscape with eroded cliffs.

Tech

New study finds Canada's Arctic seafloor traps most carbon washing out of thawing ground