Analysis

Dreaming of snow this winter? Look up the forecast in your area.

Most of the U.S. is expected to see less snow this year, continuing a long-term trend of snowfall decline as global temperatures rise. Look up your county.

By Harry Stevens and Ben NollNovember 21, 2024

Where the trees once stood

See how Hurricane Helene’s intense winds and floodwaters wiped out many of North Carolina’s forests, especially in the western regions near Asheville.

By Simon Ducroquet, Scott Dance, Niko Kommenda and John MuyskensNovember 9, 2024

See how the Inflation Reduction Act is affecting your community

Most of the clean investment since Biden’s landmark climate law has flowed to Republican districts.

By Niko Kommenda, Shannon Osaka and John MuyskensOctober 28, 2024
Analysis

The real reason billion-dollar disasters like Hurricane Helene are growing more common

As billion-dollar disasters like hurricanes Helene and Milton grow more common, many blame global warming. Others say disasters are more expensive because there is more to destroy.

By Harry StevensOctober 24, 2024

How Helene became a ‘worst case scenario’

What fueled Helene and caused so much devastation in North Carolina

By Simon Ducroquet, John Muyskens, Naema Ahmed, Nicolás Rivero and Niko KommendaOctober 5, 2024
Analysis

Britain ditched coal. Here’s what the world can learn from it.

It is one of the first countries, and the largest, to phase out coal by relying heavily on wind and solar.

By Niko Kommenda and Harry StevensOctober 4, 2024

See how Helene dwarfs other hurricanes that have hit the Gulf Coast

Hurricane Helene is one of the biggest storm systems to hit the U.S. See how it compares to other past hurricanes and tropical storms in the Gulf Coast.

By Scott Dance, Simon Ducroquet and John MuyskensSeptember 26, 2024

The disaster no major U.S. city is prepared for

Experts warn this type of catastrophe -- a power outage combined with a heat wave -- could yield a major death toll.

By Niko Kommenda, Shannon Osaka and Simon DucroquetSeptember 13, 2024

The world is burning an alarming amount of plastic, scientists say

Around 12 percent of all plastic waste produced in cities is burned in the open air, creating air pollution and health risks.

By Simon Ducroquet and Shannon OsakaSeptember 4, 2024
Analysis

Where mosquito season is getting longer

The Northeast, which has warmed faster than the rest of the country, saw the biggest jump in mosquito days. Look up how mosquito season has changed in your town.

By Harry StevensAugust 22, 2024
Analysis

Summer or winter: Which season is warming faster in your town?

Seasonal temperature trends show how, decade after decade, global warming is unfolding across the planet — from New York to Shanghai to your own backyard.

By Harry StevensAugust 8, 2024

What you can learn about salmon from its packaging

What do all those labels mean? We examined more than a dozen salmon packages and talked to experts to find out.

By Naema Ahmed and Allyson ChiuJuly 24, 2024
Analysis

How fracking could unlock a clean energy future

Fracking supporters have long touted it as a green technology. Enhanced geothermal energy is finally making that a reality.

By Harry StevensJuly 18, 2024
Analysis

We mapped weather forecast accuracy across the U.S. Look up your city.

Everyone complains about the weather forecast, but some people have more cause to grumble than others. Find out how accurate the forecast is where you live.

By Niko Kommenda and Harry StevensJuly 2, 2024

Anatomy of a flood

The Post installed cameras to capture how sea level rise worsens high-tide flooding in this N.C. town.

By Brady Dennis, Ray Whitehouse, Niko Kommenda and Emily WrightJune 11, 2024

The plastics we breathe

Every time you take a breath, you could be inhaling microplastics. See how tiny and dangerously invasive they can be.

By Simon Ducroquet and Shannon OsakaJune 10, 2024
Analysis

More than 1.5 billion people have faced dangerous heat this year

A Washington Post analysis of a trove of meteorological records shows the extent of life-threatening heat across the globe.

By Harry StevensJune 7, 2024

Schools that never needed AC are now overheating. Fixes will cost billions.

As heat waves creep north, they are baking schools that previously did not need air conditioning. Fixing the problem will be neither cheap, nor easy.

By Anna Phillips and Veronica PenneyMay 24, 2024
Analysis

Where heat waves might cause blackouts: Look up your area

New research shows that by 2050, large areas in California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas will experience months of temperatures high enough to compromise the grid.

By Harry StevensMay 22, 2024
Analysis

Bishop vanished. His species can still be saved.

This young whale survived a harrowing journey that has killed so many of his species. It wasn’t enough.

By Harry Stevens and Dino GrandoniMay 11, 2024