wind News

Report: Iowa’s Derecho Crop Losses Increase By More Than 50%

DES MOINES, Iowa — Crop loss estimates from a rare wind storm that slammed Iowa in August have increased by more than 50%, a new report shows. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday that the number of crop acres …

California Braces for Power Shutoffs and Warm, Windy Weekend

SAN FRANCISCO — Firefighters and officials at California’s largest utility company braced for hot, dry and windy weather in northern and central areas of the state this weekend that may fan the flames of several major wildfires or ignite new …

Hurricane Sally Weakens as it Nears Mississippi River

Hurricane Sally has weakened as it approaches the U.S. Gulf Coast, with hurricane warnings being replaced by tropical storm alerts and a number of further storm warnings being discontinued. The storm’s maximum sustained winds slowed to 85 miles (140 kilometers) …

What’s Next? Devastating Fires Are Latest Challenge in West

SALEM, Ore. — The path of devastation spans thousands of miles where flames have consumed people, homes and cars while leaving a barren, gray landscape. But the massive wildfires aren’t done chewing through the West, shrouding the skies with choking …

Extreme Weather Has Gardeners Looking for Resilient Plants

Fiercer and more frequent natural disasters in recent years have many homeowners re-evaluating their landscaping. Many are restocking with trees and plants more resilient in the face of storms, fires and flooding. Scientists link the higher frequency of severe weather …

Allstate Ranks Texas’ Top 25 Counties for Hail, Wind and Lightning

Texas storms clobbered more Allstate insured homes in Midland than any other part of the state over the past five years, while Smith county saw the highest frequency of lightning. Allstate tallied the top 25 Texas counties affected by severe …

Wind Drops Tree on Oregon Traffic

Oregon State Police say wind caused a large tree to fall across traffic lanes on a bridge between Oregon City and Gladstone, damaging two vehicles. The Oregonian reports no one was hurt Friday afternoon in the accident on Oregon 99E. …

RMS: Hurricane Isaac Insured Losses between $1 to $2B from Wind and Surge

U.S. insured losses from Hurricane Issac’s wind and surge impacts on the U.S. Gulf Coast will fall between USD$1−2 billion, excluding rainfall driven flood losses and all National Flood Insurance Program losses, estimates catastrophe modeler Risk Management Solutions (RMS). This …

Wind and Hail Impacted Abilene and North Texas the Most in 2011

Allstate Wind and Hail Claims Jump 45% Statewide Last Year Hail and wind impacted more Allstate insured homes in the Abilene area and North Texas than in any other part of the state last year. Allstate tallied the top 25 …

New Mexico Insurance Division Issues Wind Declaration

New Mexico’s Insurance Division has issued a catastrophe declaration for insurers and adjusters after receiving thousands of claims stemming from last week’s damaging winds. New Mexico’s administrative codes say the division can issue a catastrophe declaration when it receives at …