heat News

Blackouts in Extreme Weather Drive Demand for Cleaner Backup Power

Software engineer Kenna Ofoegbu in Houston, Texas tries hard to keep his three kids cool during the summer and that means air conditioning. Yet their house has lost power three times in just the past two and a half months. …

Is Heat Causing Branches to Fall Off Trees? Scientists Aren’t Sure

In 2003, as Paris sweltered through a heat wave that would go on to kill an estimated 15,000 people across France, one oasis of cooler air remained off limits: the city’s roughly 400 public parks. They were temporarily closed due …

Texas Grid Faces Biggest Test of Summer With Extreme Heat

Texas is facing its biggest test of the summer this week to keep the power on — and air conditioners running — as temperatures hit triple digits and push electricity consumption to all-time highs. Power use on the state grid …

North Texas Wildfire Continues to Grow amid High Heat

A North Texas wildfire continued to grow Tuesday amid sweltering temperatures and dry conditions after burning at least a dozen structures, officials said. The Chalk Mountain Fire about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Fort Worth was the largest active …

Greek Wildfires: Multinational Force Fights to Tame Flareups

PEFKI, Greece (AP) — Hundreds of firefighters from across Europe and the Middle East worked alongside Greek colleagues in rugged terrain Wednesday to contain flareups of the huge wildfires that ravaged Greece’s forests for a week, destroying homes and forcing …

The Cost of Killer Heat: A Rising Risk of Death in Poor Nations

A few years ago, several top climate researchers joined forces to launch a data-intensive economics research project that promised the most careful estimates yet of how much damage warming may bring and what it implies for the cost of climate …

October Third Warmest for Earth, 2016 Likely Breaks Record

While last month merely tied for the world’s third warmest October in history, 2016 is still on track to be the hottest year on record, federal meteorologists said Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that the globe averaged …

New York City Bank Thieves Stole $5M in Cash, Diamonds

Bank burglars reminded New York’s top police official of a Hollywood movie as they pulled off two nighttime heists, snatching about $5 million in cash, diamonds, jewelry, coins and baseball cards from safe deposit boxes before they were caught, authorities …

As Vehicle Thefts Decline, Incidence of Stolen Car Parts Rise

While car thefts are declining across the country, the thefts of some parts and accessories are proving to be a lucrative business for professional thieves. In the Detroit area, it’s become a huge problem that‘s costing consumers, insurance companies, car …

Heat and Smoke Make Things Miserable in California

Sweltering heat and a blanket of smoke from California wildfires are making it a miserable week for Sacramento residents. The Sacramento Bee says wildfires burning in most every direction are sending smoke into the region. Day care centers are keeping …