La Niña News

La Niña Has 55% Chance of Waning During March-May, Says National Weather Service

The current La Niña phase of the climate cycle will most likely transition during the March-May season to ENSO-neutral conditions, a U.S. government weather forecaster said on Thursday, a development that brings equatorial Pacific Ocean temperatures, rainfall patterns and winds …

La Nina Adds to Wildfire Threat in South Central, Plains States

Conditions are ripe for winter wildfires from the mid-South through the Great Plains thanks to a combination of weather factors, including the climate phenomenon known as La Nina, that have left a lot of dry growth. In addition to the …

El Niño or La Niña Weather Patterns Unlikely in 2017-2018 Season: Forecaster

A U.S. government weather forecaster said on Thursday there were no active El Niño or La Niña patterns, and neutral conditions were favored in the Northern hemisphere through the 2017-18 winter. However, the chances of neutral conditions were likely to …

Earth on Track to Hit Warmest Year on Record: NOAA

The earth is on track for its warmest year on record after October temperatures equaled the third-warmest for the month ever, a U.S. government agency said on Thursday. October globally was 1.31 Fahrenheit (0.73 Celsius) above the 20th century average …

Sea Level Is Rising, but at Fluctuating Rates due to Volcanic Eruption: Study

Climate scientists have long warned of a rise in sea level as global warming melts the world’s glaciers. But while the level has been increasing at about 3.5 millimeters a year, the rate of increase itself has fluctuated, leading some …

Just 2% of China’s July Floods Covered by Insurance, vs. Nearly 70% in U.S.: Aon

China’s seasonal “Mei-Yu” rainfall in July led to the worst flooding since 1998, bringing total combined economic losses of an estimated US$33 billion, according to a report published by Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield’s catastrophe model development team. Affecting the Yangtze …

Global Insured Losses Hit $30B in 1H 2016, 30% of Economic Losses: Aon Benfield

Preliminary global economic losses reached US$98 billion during the first half of 2016, while global insured losses hit US$30 billion – their highest levels since 2011, according to Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield’s catastrophe model development team. These losses – economic …

Storms & Earthquakes Drive Up Insured Losses in 1H 2016: Munich Re

Economic losses caused by natural catastrophes in the first half of 2016 totaled US$70 billion, a significant increase from the $59 billion reported for the first half of last year, according to a loss review issued by Munich Re. While …

Non-Life Cat Bond Issuance Hits $2.8B During 1H 2016: Willis Towers Watson Report

Total non-life catastrophe bond market issuance for the first half of 2016 rose to $2.8 billion, according to the latest ILS market update from Willis Capital Markets & Advisory (WCMA), the investment banking business of Willis Towers Watson. After starting …

Global Flood Events Rack Up $5B in Economic Costs in June: Aon Report

Major floods across the globe during June – topped by events in China and the U.S. – are expected to bring economic costs in excess of US$5.0 billion, according to Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield’s catastrophe model development team. Seasonal “Mei-Yu” …