Weather & Science

More in Weather & Science

Atlantic Hurricane Season Poised to Break Record as Historic El Niño Suppresses Storms

The Atlantic hurricane basin remains without a single hurricane as of mid-September 2026, poised to break a satellite-era record. A historic El Niño pattern and Saharan dust are suppressing tropical development during what should be peak season.

5 min read

The shoreline in Galveston, Texas during a tropical storm warning on June 17, 2026

Endangered species face extinction threat in Wales' largest national park

A £1m restoration project launched in September 2026 aims to save endangered species including the ring ouzel bird and Tufted Saxifrage from extinction in Nant Ffrancon valley, Wales' largest national park. The three-year initiative will restore 1,635 hectares of habitats using innovative grazing...

6 min read

A green valley in Eryri national park. It has steep sides and is dotted with trees, a winding stream and a small stone cottage

August 2026 ties as world's hottest month as El Niño intensifies

August 2026 has tied as the world's hottest month on record, driven by climate change and a strengthening El Niño pattern. Global temperatures reached 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels, while ocean temperatures hit unprecedented highs. Western Europe experienced its warmest summer ever recorded.

5 min read

A number of people are crossing the street in Rome, in the shadow of the Colosseum, - several are holding umbrellas and sunhats as protection from the Sun. The sky is blue and cloudless on the left of the picture some city buildings and trees can be seen.

Evidence mounts that Earth's climate may be warming faster than previously estimated

Scientists increasingly believe that cleaner air is removing a cooling effect that had partially offset greenhouse warming, potentially accelerating global warming. New research suggests the climate may be more sensitive to greenhouse gases than previously estimated, with implications for future ...

10 min read

A treated collage of a ULEZ sign and industrial chimneys with smoke coming out

White-point moth reaches Scotland for first time after North Sea crossing

A white-point moth blown across the North Sea has been found at a Scottish nature reserve in what specialists believe is the first recorded sighting of the species in Scotland, captured during a community survey at St Abb's Head.

3 min read

A brown moth with a white point on its back on a large green leaf

Drought persists across UK despite wettest week since February

Drought conditions persist across Wales and most of England despite the wettest week since February. Temporary hosepipe bans remain in force across 10 water company areas affecting roughly 30 million people, though Welsh Water lifted its ban on 4 September. Reservoir levels continue to decline an...

5 min read

Commuters walking in the rain with umbrellas up

UK braces for cooler, wet and windy weather as summer ends

Low pressure systems will bring wet and windy weather to the UK this week, particularly affecting northern regions on Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures will drop significantly after Sunday's heat, with conditions stabilising from Wednesday. Early September is expected to remain wetter than average.

4 min read

A woman stands with a black umbrella next to a wall in the rain

Anak Krakatau eruption strands 270,000 across Indonesia as airports extend closures

A volcanic eruption at Anak Krakatau has stranded approximately 270,000 passengers across Indonesia after more than 2,000 flights were suspended. Jakarta's main airport and three others extended closures until Monday as volcanic ash continued to disrupt regional air traffic.

6 min read

Mount Anak Krakatau spewing volcanic materials into the air following an eruption in Sunda Strait, Indonesia

UN Votes to Replace Mercator Map with Equal Earth Projection to Show Africa's True Size

The UN General Assembly voted on September 4, 2026, to adopt the Equal Earth projection as an alternative to the Mercator map, which distorts Africa's size. The resolution passed with 164 votes in favor, addressing concerns that cartographic distortion has downplayed Africa's importance.

6 min read

Side-by-side maps of Africa comparing two map projections. The Mercator projection on the left makes Africa appear smaller in comparison with Europe to its north. The Equal Earth projection on the right shows a longer, more proportionally accurate shape of the continent.

Nepal's Hydropower Gamble Exposed as Glacial Floods Kill Over 1,000

A glacial collapse triggered devastating floods across Nepal's border with Tibet on 25 August 2026, killing over 1,300 people and destroying more than 10% of the nation's hydropower capacity. The disaster exposes critical vulnerabilities in Nepal's near-total dependence on hydropower and reignite...

10 min read

A buzzing hive of activity with shops and vehicles lit-up at an intersection in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal

First Humans in Ireland Likely Migrated from Wales Across Ancient Land Bridge, Cave Art Reveals

Researchers have discovered ancient rock art in eight Irish caves dating back at least 15,000 years, suggesting the first humans in Ireland migrated from Wales across a now-submerged land bridge during the last Ice Age.

6 min read

At a secret location on a hillside in south-west Ireland, a roughly circular natural cave entrance with moss-covered limestone surrounds, covered with ferns, ivy and brambles.

UN adopts resolution backing map that shows Africa's true size

The UN General Assembly voted on September 4, 2026, to endorse the Equal Earth projection as an alternative to the Mercator map, which has distorted Africa's size for centuries. The resolution passed 164-1, with only the US voting against it.

4 min read