Articles by Brian K. Sullivan

Month-Long Halt in Hurricanes Thanks to Dry Air and Atmospheric Lull

This year’s hurricane season started out as one of the most prolific in the modern era. Then suddenly, in October, the storms stopped. As of Friday, the Atlantic hasn’t produced a single new tropical storm in a month. Such a …

Pounding Rain Raises Flash Flood Threat in New York, New England

The powerful storm battering the U.S. Northeast will inundate New York City with lashing rain and possible flash floods through Tuesday night, then unleash the worst of its fury on New England. As much as 4 inches (10 centimeters) could …

La Nina Arrives, Threatening More Droughts, Storms and Supply Disruptions

A weather-roiling La Nina appears to have emerged across the equatorial Pacific, setting the stage for worsening droughts in California and South America, frigid winters in parts of the U.S. and Japan and greater risks for the world’s already strained …

U.S. Endures 18 Major Weather and Climate Disasters in 2021

The U.S. has endured 18 major weather and climate disasters so far this year that killed a combined 538 people and inflicted more than $100 billion in damage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The calamities that each …

Ida’s Inland Path May Reveal Hidden Risk, Test Mapping Methods of Hurricane Floods

With remnants of Ida delivering downpours and fierce winds from North Carolina to New Jersey, U.S. government methods for assessing flood risks may be put to the test this week. While coastal communities would seem to have the biggest risk …

Storm Henri Causes Flooding, Power Outages in Northeast; Heavy Rains to Continue

Henri is soaking the U.S. Northeast with rain and disrupting transport after being downgraded to a tropical depression. The former hurricane will produce additional rainfall of 1 to 3 inches, with locally higher amounts possible, over portions of Long Island, …

Tropical Storm Henri Could Strike New York, New England as Hurricane Starting Sunday

Tropical Storm Henri is set to grow into a hurricane before slamming the U.S. Northeast anywhere from Long Island to Massachusetts, bringing heavy rain, a flooding storm surge and thrashing winds to the region starting Sunday. Hurricane watches have been …

California Wildfires Are Exhausting 10,000-Strong Army Fighting Them

There are over 10,000 firefighters battling unprecedented blazes in California, but that isn’t enough, and the state is having a hard time finding more as flames rage across the western U.S. and Canada. Twelve major wildfires now burn in the …

Tropical Storm Warnings Posted in Eastern Caribbean as System Gathers Power

Tropical storm warnings have been posted across the eastern Caribbean as a system gathers power and takes shape southeast of Dominica, the National Hurricane Center said. With winds of 35 miles (56 kilometers) per hour, the system will likely become …

‘Sunny Day’ Floods Will Increasingly Inundate U.S. Coasts as Sea Levels Rise: NOAA

Record high-tide flooding washed over U.S. coasts in the past year, and rising sea levels are expected to send the deluges into streets, homes and businesses even more frequently over the next decade, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. …