Saltier waterways are creating dangerous 'chemical cocktails'

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181203080324.htm

A recent study led by University of Maryland researchers found that streams and rivers across the United States have become saltier and more alkaline over the past 50 years, thanks to road deicers, fertilizers and other salty compounds that humans indirectly release into waterways. The team named this effect "Freshwater Salinization Syndrome."

New research from the same UMD-led group takes a closer look at the global, regional and local consequences of Freshwater Salinization Syndrome. The group found that salty, alkaline freshwater can release a variety of chemicals, including toxic metals and harmful nitrogen-containing compounds, from streambeds and soils in drainage basins. The results further suggest that many of these chemicals travel together throughout watersheds, forming "chemical cocktails" that can have more devastating effects on drinking water supplies and ecosystems when compared with individual contaminants alone.

Many regions increasingly suffer hot, dry conditions at the same time

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181128141651.htm

A new study from Stanford University suggests that the kind of hot, dry conditions that can shrink crop yields, destabilize food prices and lay the groundwork for devastating wildfires are increasingly striking multiple regions simultaneously as a result of a warming climate.

According to the researchers, climate change has doubled the odds that a region will suffer a year that is both warm and dry compared to the average for that place during the middle of the 20th century. It's also becoming more likely that dry and severely warm conditions will hit key agricultural regions in the same year, potentially making it harder for surpluses in one location to make up for low yields in another.

Unexpected impact of hurricanes on Puerto Rico's watershed

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181210115759.htm



Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have found unprecedentedly high levels of nitrate, an essential plant nutrient, in streams and watersheds of Puerto Rico for a year after two consecutive major hurricanes in 2017. This high amount of nitrate may have important climate change implications that could harm forest recovery and threaten ecosystems along Puerto Rico's coastline by escalating algal blooms and dead zones.

Sierra snowpack could drop significantly by end of century

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181211090639.htm



A future warmer world will almost certainly feature a decline in fresh water from the Sierra Nevada mountain snowpack. Now a new study by the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) that analyzed the headwater regions of California's 10 major reservoirs, representing nearly half of the state's surface storage, found they could see on average a 79 percent drop in peak snowpack water volume by 2100.

HURRICANES, FLOODS AND WILDFIRES: 2018’S EXTREME WEATHER IN PICTURES

https://www.newsweek.com/hurricanes-floods-wildfires-2018-extreme-weather-pictures-1252076

Wild weather dominated the headlines in 2018. As early as January, the east coast of America was bitten by sub-zero weather conditions, breaking the record for the lowest temperatures in some areas.

A powerful blizzard deposited a foot of snow onto New England and caused flooding in coastal areas. Europe saw a similarly vicious cold snap on the arrival of a dramatic storm, dubbed the Beast From the East, the following month.

Volcanoes and earthquakes were responsible for some of the years’ worst natural disasters. In May, Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano began spewing streams of lava which covered entire neighborhoods. A 6.9-magnitude earthquake followed shortly afterwards, causing a minor tsunami along the coast.

Here's how climate change will impact your part of the country

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/27/health/climate-change-impact-by-region/index.html

There will be shorter winters and longer summers.

-- There will be a decline of species that support some of the most valuable and iconic fisheries, including Atlantic cod, Atlantic sea scallops and American lobsters.

-- Expect approximately 650 excess deaths per year caused by extreme heat by 2050

Health risks from contaminated flood waters. For example, because much of the historical development of industry and commerce in New England occurred along rivers, canals, coasts, and other bodies of water, these areas often have a higher density of contaminated sites, waste management facilities, and petroleum storage facilities that are potentially vulnerable to flooding.

Tackling climate change could save millions of lives, report says

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/05/health/climate-change-cop24-who-study/index.html

The new WHO report, launched at the COP24, is based on contributions from more than 80 health professionals, academic experts and representatives of civil society and international agencies who have worked on climate change and public health for more than three decades.

"The most direct link between climate change and ill health is air pollution," the authors wrote.

"Burning fossil fuels for power, transport and industry is the main source of the carbon emissions that are driving climate change and a major contributor to health-damaging air pollution, which every year kills over seven million people due to exposure inside and outside their homes," according to the report.

Why Hurricane Michael is a monster unlike any other

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/10/us/hurricane-michael-dangers/index.html

Even those jaded by hurricanes have never seen anything like this.

For the first time, a Category 4 hurricane slammed into the Florida Panhandle. And it's bringing an onslaught of deadly hazards.

"Unfortunately, this is a hurricane of the worst kind," said Brock Long, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Here's what makes Hurricane Michael especially dangerous:

Kilauea has been erupting nearly continuously since 1983. Now it may have stopped

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/04/us/hawaii-kilauea-volcano-eruption-pause/index.html

Kilauea has produced no lava on the surface of Hawaii's Big Island for three months -- neither at its summit, nor at its other vents, the lead scientist at US Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said Tuesday.

When volcanoes stop erupting magma for that long, the next eruption generally will happen in a different spot, marking a new eruptive event, said Tina Neal, the observatory's scientist in charge.

500-plus Monday flights are canceled and 200,000 customers are still in the dark after brutal Southeast storm

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/10/weather/winter-storm-monday-wxc/index.html

The brunt of the storm may have passed, but North Carolina residents still face perilous conditions after record-setting snow walloped the state.

"With a mix of snow, ice and rain still coming down in some areas, conditions remain treacherous in many parts of our state," Gov. Roy Cooper said Monday.

The storm, which pummeled the Southeast over the weekend, killed at least one person in North Carolina and grounded thousands of flights in the region, including more than 500 flights on Monday.

About 144,000 North Carolina households are still without power Monday morning, the governor said.

Historic Church in Wakefield, Massachusetts Struck By Lightning as Severe Weather Rolls Through Northeast

https://weather.com/storms/severe/video/historic-church-in-wakefield-massachusetts-struck-by-lightning-as-severe-weather

The First Baptist Church in Wakefield, Massachusetts was struck by lightning during severe weather in the Northeast Tuesday.

Flooding in Sicily Kills At Least 12, Two People Missing

https://weather.com/storms/severe/news/2018-11-04-sicily-italy-flooding-deaths

Divers pulled the bodies of nine occupants from the house after a river overflowed its banks Saturday in the countryside near Palermo. The victims included a 1-year-old baby, a 3-year-old child, and a teenager.

In addition to the children, the BBC said, the dead included the mother of two of the children, her brother, her sister and their parents — and the mother of one of two men who weren't in the home when the flood hit. The two families had gathered in the country villa for the weekend. 

One man at the house had gone out to walk a dog, the Associated Press reports.  A father and daughter who were also staying at the home had gone out on an errand at the time,according to the BBC. 

Two Dozen Tornadoes Hit South in Deadly Severe Weather Outbreak

https://weather.com/news/news/2018-11-06-severe-tornado-storms-south/

A total of 24 confirmed tornadoes across six states were spawned by a severe weather outbreak in the South overnight Monday into Tuesday morning, leaving a trail of damage and killing at least one person.

Angie Walker, 41, was killed and two others were injured in Christiana, Tennessee, about 35 miles southeast of Nashville, where a tornado destroyed several homes, authorities said. She was an adjunct professor of psychology at Middle Tennessee State University, and her husband, Scott, is the president at WGNS Radio, according to WSMV.com.

Tornadoes, Damaging Winds Raked Parts of the South Nov. 5-6 (RECAP)

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https://weather.com/storms/severe/news/2018-11-02-severe-thunderstorms-tornado-wind-hail-south-lower-mississippi-valley

The longest track tornado of the event was an EF2 which tore a 39.8 mile-long path through Franklin, Coffee and Grundy Counties, Tennessee.

Two homes were damaged near the town of Estill Springs, about 50 miles west-northwest of Chattanooga. A fire truck was blown off the road trying to respond to the damage. A commercial nursery was heavily damaged. 

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Seven tornadoes were confirmed in Louisiana, including an EF2 near Marthaville and another EF2 tornado that carved a 19.7-mile path through parts of Sabine and Natchitoches Parishes.

Dry air to end Texas' flooding plight before sweeping away urban flooding risk in southeastern US

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/dry-sweep-of-air-to-end-texas-flooding-plight-reach-across-southeastern-us-this-weekend/70006441

Portions of Texas have received two to four times their average monthly rainfall during October.

The rain initially caused flash and urban flooding. However, that quickly escalated to include record-challenging flooding on some rivers and lakes in the central part of the state.

This extended period of rain-free weather will allow officials to drain reservoirs and rivers to recede slowly. Levels along many rivers will remain high and dangerous through this weekend.

Photos: Damaging storms, confirmed tornado hit Massachusetts, Rhode Island

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/photos-damaging-storms-possible-tornado-hit-massachusetts-rhode-island/70006434

Locally damaging storms rumbled across southern New England on Tuesday afternoon, leaving behind downed trees and power outages.

The strongest storms hit Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, where winds brought down trees and caused delays during the Tuesday evening commute.

"Some of the most significant damage was reported in North Providence and Lincoln, Rhode Island, where some trees were knocked down and a roof was ripped off a home," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson said.

Halloween storm to soak trick-or-treaters, raise flood risk from southern Plains to Ohio Valley

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/halloween-storm-to-soak-trick-or-treaters-raise-flood-risk-from-southern-plains-to-ohio-valley/70006474

Soaking rain and thunderstorms will threaten to not only disrupt Halloween plans, but also cause localized flooding across part of the Central states around midweek.

People from the southern Plains to the Ohio Valley may feel like Mother Nature is giving out more tricks than treats this year.

"Those hoping to go trick-or-treating Wednesday evening from eastern Texas to Ohio will have plans ruined by heavy rain and even a few thunderstorms," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun said.

21 killed after flash flood sweeps away students, teachers near Dead Sea

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/18-dead-after-flash-flood-sweep-away-students-teachers-near-dead-sea/70006455

A Dead Sea area is seen after flash floods in Jordan Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. The body of a 12-year-old girl, was recovered early Friday, a day after middle school students and teachers visiting hot springs in the area were swept away by the torrent. Civil defense officials say the surge, caused by heavy rains, carried some for several kilometers (miles) toward the Dead Sea. (AP Photo/Omar Akour)

At least 21 people have died and at least 35 others injured. An unknown amount of people are missing.

Will chilly, autumn weather stick around this week in the Northeast?

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/will-chilly-autumn-weather-stick-around-this-week-in-the-northeast/70006342

Temperatures will rise to above-normal levels once more across eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland up to the Hudson Valley on Monday. Philadelphia, where the normal high is around 67 degrees Fahrenheit, will have temperatures peaking around 70.

However, a dip in the jet stream will make way for two separate fronts to bring in waves of cooler air: one on Monday night and another on Tuesday night.

For many areas it will seem like the weather skipped over September and October and and went right to November.

Dozens remain unaccounted for in Florida following Hurricane Michael's devastation

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/dozens-remain-unaccounted-for-in-florida-following-hurricane-michaels-devastation/70006348

Nearly a week after Hurricane Michael left parts of the Florida Panhandle in ruins, emergency officials rushed to deliver aid, coordinate resources and clear debris as the search continued for survivors.

At least 46 people are still missing in the town of Mexico Beach, according to ABC News. Mexico Beach is near where Michael roared onshore with 155-mph winds. One fatality was reported in the town, but 18 deaths have been reported overall in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia, as a result of the storm.