Weather

La Réunion Island recorded 71.8 inches of rain in a single day in 1966—an amount that exceeds what Miami typically receives in an entire year. Its volcanic terrain and frequent cyclones help explain why the island is often described as one of the wettest places on Earth.

Drought conditions have expanded across nearly the entire Southeast after a warmer, drier La Niña winter and an unusually dry spring in many major cities. Forecast rain may offer limited short-term relief, while outlooks suggest drought could worsen into summer—bringing higher fire risk, stressed soil moisture and continued pressure on water supplies.

New research suggests the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could weaken more sharply than many earlier projections, potentially reshaping weather patterns, sea level along the U.S. East Coast, and temperature and rainfall patterns across multiple regions.

Forecast signals pointing to a strong El Niño and fewer Atlantic hurricanes may reduce a key source of warm-season rainfall for parts of the South and Southeast, where drought coverage has expanded sharply compared with a year ago.

A new forecast from The Weather Company and Atmospheric G2 points to a below-average 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, citing El Niño conditions and relatively lukewarm Atlantic waters as key factors. The outlook also raises the question of how it aligns with other forecasts released so far.

After a winter and early spring marked by a shortage of spring showers and mountain snowfall, a new pattern is bringing rain to lower elevations and feet of snow to the mountains across the West. The change offers needed relief, though snowpack remains extremely low and the overall deficit will take more time and additional storms to address.

A multi-day stretch of potentially severe thunderstorms is expected across parts of the Plains, with the threat possibly spreading into portions of the Midwest and the Mississippi River Valley by mid-week. Hazards may include hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes.

El Niño is expected to form later this year, raising questions about whether it could intensify into a “super El Niño.” Here’s what the term means and why it matters for weather and climate across the United States.

As the winter solstice signaled the start of astronomical winter, large crowds assembled at Stonehenge and Glastonbury Tor to observe the day, reflecting traditions that view the solstice as a moment of renewal and the sun’s return.

A new study says Earth’s oceans absorbed more heat than ever before in 2025. That extra stored energy can intensify the atmosphere and contribute to extreme weather across the globe, underscoring why ocean heat is a critical signal in modern forecasting.