2020 and 2016 are virtually tied for the hottest year on record. That means more powerful hurricanes, more intense wildfires, less ice and longer heat waves.
Iota, now a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 160 mph, is expected to hit Nicaragua on Monday evening, bringing catastrophic winds, life-threatening storm surge and extreme rainfall.
After lashing Central America and the Florida Keys, the storm is expected to make landfall north of Tampa on Thursday, bringing heavy rain and potentially dangerous storm surge.
There's only been one other year — 2005 — that Greek names have been needed. The National Hurricane Center on Friday announced storms called Alpha and Beta have formed in the Atlantic.
Most buildings in Lake Charles, La., were damaged by Hurricane Laura. As the city tries to rebuild amid a global pandemic, Mayor Nic Hunter worries the country will look away.
Hurricanes, wildfires, heat waves and disease outbreaks are all a preview of our hotter future. Dramatically cutting greenhouse gas emissions would help.
Laura is blamed for at least 10 deaths, and it's estimated to have caused anywhere from $4 billion to $12 billion in damages. But officials and experts say the price tag could have been far worse.
One of the most powerful storms to hit the state in living memory leaves destruction and misery in its wake, with debris from homes and businesses scattered about and at least one death.
Hurricane Laura will have winds of at least 130 mph - a Category 4 storm - when it makes landfall near the Louisiana-Texas border. Its storm surge could be up to 14 feet.
Laura is expected to make landfall on the Texas-Louisiana border late Wednesday or early Thursday. Forecasts have both storms bringing heavy rain to some of the same areas in Louisiana.
