WEATHER
Why Do Snow Piles Take Forever to Melt?
It's warm, sunny, and nearly spring. Giant piles of nasty, filthy snow are still lining your streets. What gives?
A Massive, 477-Mile Long Lightning Bolt Just Obliterated All Previous Records
The most metal of all weather events occurred in 2020, when a lightning bolt lit up the sky for nearly 500 miles.
What Causes a Rainbow If There Isn’t Any Rain?
As the saying goes, you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain. But you can have parhelia and circumhorizontal arcs.
The Key to Hassle-Free Snow Shoveling Is in Your Kitchen
Shoveling snow can put quite a damper on a snow day. Here’s a hack to make this chore slightly more tolerable.
If Your Dog Hates Booties, Use Petroleum Jelly to Protect Their Paws in the Winter
If you dread wrangling your pet into their winter booties, a swab of petroleum jelly can protect their paws from snow, ice, and salt in a pinch.
What Is Black Ice, And Why Is It So Dangerous?
Black ice on the road is a recipe for disaster. Here’s what it is, how it forms, and where it’s often hiding in plain sight.
5 Ways to Help Tornado Victims in the South and Midwest
Kentucky’s tornado damage might be the most severe, but other states have been affected, too. Here’s how to help.
Rainbow Disconnection: Why No Two People Can Ever See the Same Rainbow
How do rainbows form? It’s all about light waves, water, and angles—and that includes the angle from which you see one.
Bundle Up: The Old Farmer’s Almanac Predicts a 'Season of Shivers' Ahead, So Be Prepared for a Long, Cold Winter
According to 'The Old Farmer’s Almanac,' below-average temperatures will descend upon most of the U.S. for the 2021-2022 winter season.
The Rainiest City in Every Country
From Hilo, Hawaii to Londonderry, Northern Ireland, these are the rainiest cities in every country around the world.
Does Bad Weather Really Affect Your Internet?
“Why is my internet so slow?” is an evergreen question, but people tend to ask it more often during bad weather. Here’s why.
5 Organizations Helping Hurricane Ida Victims—and How You Can Contribute
Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana 16 years to the day that Hurricane Katrina struck the state. Here’s how to help residents recover.
How to Silence Emergency Alerts on Your iPhone
Your iPhone’s weather alerts (and other emergency notifications) are trying to keep you safe, but there is a way to make them do it more quietly.
5 Ways to Donate to Earthquake Relief Efforts in Haiti
Just days after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake, Haiti is now dealing with a tropical depression. Here’s how you can help.
8 Strange Cloud Types and What They Mean
The next time somebody points out a UFO-shaped cloud, you can whip out the word ‘lenticular.’ They’ll love it.
Record Temperatures Are Frying Live Shellfish on Canada's Pacific Coast
The brutal Pacific Northwest heatwave of summer 2021 has left Canada's beaches filled with cooked and rotting shellfish.
Funnel of Love: Mosquitoes Looking for Mates Formed ‘Mosquito Tornadoes’ in Siberia
A mosquito bite eventually goes away. The image of a mosquito tornado, meanwhile, will live in your brain forever.
How Hot Is Too Hot for Cats?
Your feline friend is heat-tolerant, but that doesn't mean they should be left unattended during a heat wave.
10 Tips for Coping With a Heat Wave
Record temperatures are here to stay, and safety precautions are a must. Here's how to keep your cool in a heat wave.
93 Names Have Been Retired For Atlantic Hurricanes and Tropical Storms—Is Yours One of Them?
The list of retired hurricane names includes some easy ones, like Katrina and Sandy—but also Beulah, Bob, and Klaus.
Rjukan, Norway: The Town That Relies on Giant Mirrors for Winter Sunlight
From late September through mid-March, three sun mirrors help make the town of Rjukan, Norway, a little brighter.
What the 'Probability of Precipitation' on Your Weather App Really Means
Seeing a 50 percent chance of rain on your weather app doesn't mean that rain will reach only half your area—or that it will rain for half the day.
What Are Those Domes on the Side of the Highway Used For?
The shingled, domed-shaped salt storage structures you see on the side of the highway are an example of clever design.