Weather & Science

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Isle of May puffin colony faces 30% decline amid storms and food shortages

Puffin numbers at the Isle of May have fallen by 30% in two years due to extreme weather, violent storms, and declining sand eel populations caused by warming seas, conservationists warn.

4 min read

A puffin with a mouth full of silver sand eels looking out to sea.

Households urged to stockpile food as El Niño threatens UK supply chain

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle warns households to stockpile food as a record El Niño develops. The National Audit Office warns Britain's food supply chain faces risks from cyber-attacks, disease and extreme weather, with government strategy due by end of 2026.

6 min read

A cupboard filled with jars and tins of food.

Nepal-Tibet Border Floods Shift to Relief as Death Toll Exceeds 1,000

One week after a glacial collapse triggered catastrophic floods along the Nepal-Tibet border killing over 1,100 people, rescue operations have shifted toward relief and recovery. Nearly 3,000 remain missing across both regions, with authorities launching DNA identification campaigns and humanitar...

5 min read

A woman walks among the ruins of flash floods in Nepal's Nuwakot district on September 1, 2026.

British national found alive in Nepal nearly a week after catastrophic floods

A British national has been rescued in Nepal nearly a week after devastating floods killed over 1,000 people. More than 3,900 remain missing as authorities conduct DNA identification efforts.

1 min read

Rare Queen of Spain fritillary butterfly discovered at Eden Project in Cornwall

A Queen of Spain fritillary butterfly, an extremely rare migrant to Britain, has been spotted at the Eden Project in Cornwall by a six-year-old visitor. The sighting marks one of only a handful of confirmed UK records this year and reflects increasing continental butterfly arrivals linked to warm...

4 min read

An orange butterfly with small black dots on its wings sits on a shrub of purple flowers

Devon Wildlife Trust launches three-year project to save two of England's rarest ants

Devon Wildlife Trust and Buglife have launched a three-year conservation project to protect two of England's rarest ant species. The narrow-headed ant exists only in Devon, while the erratic ant is nationally scarce. The initiative aims to double narrow-headed ant nests and establish new colonies...

3 min read

A colony of erratic ants. The ants are dark brown-black and there are about 10 of them crawling over leaves and twigs. There are three masses of white eggs.

Met Office unveils 2026-2027 storm names chosen by public vote

The Met Office has released the 2026-2027 storm names, including Austen, Boelo, Chloe, Dano and Evelyn, selected from over 40,000 public nominations. The names will be used for severe weather systems forecast to cause significant disruption across the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands.

5 min read

Car partially submerged, surrounded by flooded fields following Storm Chandra

UK Summer 2026 Set to Break Heat Record as Met Office Confirms Hottest Season Since 1884

The Met Office is expected to confirm that summer 2026 has become the UK's hottest season since records began in 1884, with 40 days above 30°C and five major heatwaves shattering previous benchmarks.

6 min read

A woman uses an umbrella to shelter from the sun, surrounded by several other people, in a sun-drenched Trafalgar Square in London

Rescue teams blast hillside as families await news of 600 trapped hydropower workers in Nepal

Rescue teams blast hillside and pump air into tunnels as more than 600 workers remain trapped in mud following Nepal's catastrophic glacial collapse flood that has killed at least 939 people. Families await news as international rescue operation intensifies.

9 min read

Jit Bahadur Chaudhary, ei wraig a'u plentyn

Three calendars, three dates: when does autumn actually begin in 2026?

Autumn begins on three different dates depending on which calendar you follow: 1 August in the Celtic tradition, 1 September for meteorologists, and 23 September at the astronomical equinox. Each system reflects distinct human purposes and remains in active use today.

8 min read

A composite image showing Eimear Burke in her druid robes, BBC NI weather presenter Barra Best and astronomer Marc Sarzi

Two dead, one missing after flash floods devastate Grand Canyon

Two people have died and one remains missing after a devastating flash flood swept through the Grand Canyon on 29 August. Approximately 80 people were evacuated by air, with search operations continuing for the missing individual.

5 min read

A woman stands in front of a canyon and leans on a wooden sign that has two posts. The first says "boat, beach, emergency, phone, water", while the second reads "South Kaibab trail"

Disaster on Nepal-Tibet border as rescue efforts continue; Healey mulls bank and oil taxes

Rescue efforts continue on the Nepal-Tibet border as death toll exceeds 600 with nearly 1,000 missing. UK newspapers report on Chancellor Healey's windfall tax plans, train driver pay deal, X Factor revival talks, and health stories including heatwave deaths and dementia research.

6 min read

The headline on the front page of the Independent reads: 'We've not given up': Anguish of families as flood toll climbs.