A dangerous heat wave is spreading across the US Southwest and California, with triple-digit temperatures expected across Arizona, Nevada, and inland California through mid-June. The National Weather Service has warned of 'record-breaking heat' in a coast-to-coast pattern driven by a strong ridge of high pressure. The event follows a March 2026 heat wave already ranked among the six most astonishing weather events of the century by climate scientists at Yale Climate Connections. Little overnight cooling in urban areas is raising heat stress risks, with elevated wildfire danger across dry vegetation.
El Nino has officially arrived and forecasters say this one could be a strong event, threatening global crop production and boosting temperatures worldwide. Australia declared the El Nino pattern the strongest in decades. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Arthur formed near the Texas coast, bringing life-threatening flooding to the Gulf region. Separately, scientists identified 64,000 square miles of coral reef capable of surviving climate change, and UNICEF reported that almost all of the world's children are now exposed to at least one climate hazard.
Australia's weather bureau warned that an El Nino weather pattern has formed in the tropical Pacific and could intensify to become one of the strongest in seven decades, threatening crops, water supplies, and wildfire conditions across the Asia-Pacific region. In parallel, scientists identified 64,000 square miles of coral reef across the globe that appear capable of surviving climate change, offering hope for marine conservation. A tropical cyclone also formed off the Texas coast threatening flash flooding during the World Cup.
Australia has declared the current El Nino event the strongest in decades, with far-reaching consequences for global weather patterns. Youth and advocacy groups have sued the Canadian government over climate rollbacks. Scientists identified 64,000 square miles of coral reef capable of withstanding warming waters. A new wave energy program in California turns ocean movement into renewable electricity.
A deadly typhoon has made landfall in Vietnam after tearing through the Philippines, causing widespread damage and casualties. Meanwhile, India's weather department forecasts moderate to strong El Nino conditions during the monsoon season, threatening agricultural output. In the US, California's wave energy program shows promise for renewable power generation.
A powerful storm system spawned large tornadoes across the central United States this week, with Illinois hit hardest. Multiple fatalities were reported as tornadoes leveled homes and downed trees across several states. The storm threat shifted eastward Friday after days of destruction. Illinois has now recorded more tornadoes in 2026 than any other state, continuing a dangerous trend.
Last month was the second-hottest May ever recorded globally, EU scientists confirmed, as climate change continues to drive extreme weather. In Indonesia, deadly floods and landslides wiped out at least 7% of the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan population on Sumatra. Hungary's Lake Velence is drying up, threatening tourism and wildlife. Meanwhile, Turkey proposed a 2035 global electricity target as COP30 host, and the 2026 World Cup faces scrutiny over its climate impact.
NOAA officially declared El Niño conditions are present in the Pacific Ocean, with a 63% chance the event will intensify into a very strong El Niño by winter 2026-27. The declaration raises concerns about extreme weather globally, including intensified flooding, heat waves, and disruptions to the Atlantic hurricane season. The event could rival the strongest on record including 1997-98 and 2015-16.
May 2026 was the world's second-hottest May on record, EU scientists confirmed, as an El Niño event officially formed in the Pacific Ocean. Meteorologists warn the El Niño, described as nature's chaotic climate agent, has formed in a warmed-up Pacific and is expected to grow to historic strength. The findings raise fears of extreme weather events and higher global temperatures. Separately, a study found that four days of extreme rain killed 7% of the world's rarest orangutans, and Indonesia braces for rising forest fire risks from the dry season.
Arctic sea ice reached its lowest winter maximum ever recorded in 2026, with the annual peak hitting just 13.76 million square kilometers on March 13, according to the US National Snow and Ice Data Center. The record low comes amid unprecedented global heat, with scientists racing to understand the implications for weather patterns, wildlife, and coastal communities. Meanwhile, the EPA eased limits on coal plant mercury emissions, and a California community faces glacial lake outburst flood threats for the third consecutive year.