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Deadly Threat Lingers as Rain Looms Over Los Angeles Wildfire Zones

Deadly Threat Lingers as Rain Looms Over Los Angeles Wildfire Zones

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
While firefighters continue to battle wildfires in the Los Angeles area, another danger is fast approaching. Rain expected over the weekend of January 25–26 may help extinguish the flames, but it also carries the risk of triggering deadly debris flows in the burned hillsides. These fast-moving torrents of water, ash, and debris can wreak havoc, destroying homes, infrastructure, and lives in minutes. The phenomenon is not new to California. In 2018, the hills above Montecito, scorched by the Thomas Fire, gave way during a storm, unleashing a devastating debris flow that killed 23 people and damaged over 400 homes. Similar events now threaten wildfire-affected areas near Los Angeles, where experts warn that the conditions for another disaster are already in place. When wildfires scorch...
New York City’s Record Snow Drought Persists Despite Winter Storm: 692-Day Streak Continues

New York City’s Record Snow Drought Persists Despite Winter Storm: 692-Day Streak Continues

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment
New York City's historic two-year snow drought may not end with the current winter storm system. Despite the arrival of the storm passing through the East Coast, as of 7 p.m. Saturday, only 0.2 inches had been recorded in Central Park. The National Weather Service forecasted only 0.8 inches of accumulation before the storm moves out to sea late on Sunday night. The city's 8.5 million residents have not seen more than 1 inch of snowfall in Manhattan's Central Park since February 13, 2022, marking a record-long streak of 692 days. The lack of snow in New York City is considered another sign of how climate change is affecting global weather patterns.