drought News

Europe’s Most Important Trade Route Is at Risk From Climate Change

The Rhine River has been a reliable shipping lane for centuries, helping spawn industrial giants along its banks. But those days are coming to an end, and the scramble is made all the more urgent as Germany’s government fails to …

Washington Declares Drought Emergencies in a Dozen Counties

A drought emergency was declared in a dozen counties of Washington state because of early snowmelt, a lack of spring rain and low-flowing streams. Some wells in Whatcom County in the northwestern part of the state are dry, and one …

California Overtime Law Threatens Use of Grazing Goats to Prevent Wildfires

Hundreds of goats munch on long blades of yellow grass on a hillside next to a sprawling townhouse complex. They were hired to clear vegetation that could fuel wildfires as temperatures rise this summer. These voracious herbivores are in high …

Cloud Seeding Catching on Amid Rocky Mountain Drought

Garrett Cammans and his brothers sometimes don’t talk about their toughest moments on the job in the cloud seeding business, like the time when one of them got stuck in deep mountain snow and had to hike out alone in …

Drought Dwindles to Less Than 9% of California

Only remnants of California’s three-year drought remain after winter’s epic storms. The U.S. Drought Monitor reported last week that areas of drought cover less than 9% of the state, down from more than 99% at the Oct. 1 start of …

Long-Term Drought in Spain Expected to Bring More Heatwaves, Wildfires

MADRID (AP) – Spain has officially entered a period of long-term drought, owing to high temperatures and low rainfall over the past three years, and likely faces another year of heatwaves and forest fires. The country’s Aemet weather agency said …

Natural Catastrophes Cost Insurers $125 Billion in 2022: Swiss Re

Natural disasters in 2022 brought global economic losses of US$275 billion, of which insurance covered 45%, or US$125 billion, according to Swiss Re’s latest sigma report. Claims from Hurricane Ian in Florida, record breaking losses from hailstorms in France, floods …

Half of California Freed From Drought Thanks to Rain, Snow

Tremendous rains and snowfall since late last year have freed half of California from drought, but low groundwater levels remain a persistent problem, U.S. Drought Monitor data showed. The latest survey found that moderate or severe drought covers about 49% …

New Mexico Seeking Changes to U.S. Rules for Wildfire Claims

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas is asking that changes be made to rules proposed by the U.S. government as it processes damage claims from a historic wildfire sparked by forest managers. Balderas filed comments on the Hermit’s Peak-Calf Canyon …

Colorado River Nearing Crisis Point 100 Years After Compact

The intensifying crisis facing the Colorado River amounts to what is fundamentally a math problem. The 40 million people who depend on the river to fill up a glass of water at the dinner table or wash their clothes or …