Flooding on the Boston Harborwalk from a Wicked High Tide event in October 2019. (Credit: Janine Myszka)

boston flooding king high tide

King tides happen when the Earth, Sun and moon align, sometimes creating "sunny day flooding." To understand how sea level rise will change future flood patterns, researchers and citizen scientists are teaming up to map areas that are already impacted.

Wicked High Tides: Citizen Scientists Plan for Sea-Level Rise

A massive thunderstorm system boiling up over Texas starting on April 28, 2021 and continuing on the 29th. The image consists of weather satellite data from the visible and infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. See below for an animation of the storm as it grew and moved to the northeast. (Credit: RAMMB/CIRA)

Satellite Image of Severe Thunderstorms Over Texas

The storms boiled up on the Mexico-Texas border and pelted more than 10,000 square miles with hail.

Dramatic Satellite Video Follows Along as Supercell Thunderstorms Dump Softball-Sized Hail

On March 25, 2021, a family of six managed to survive in a closet of this house as it was torn apart by a tornado in Calhoun County Alabama. (Credit: National Weather Service Birmingham, Alabama via Facebook)

Tornado Damage in Alabama

From a loopy jet stream to climate change, an in-depth look at the factors that have shaped U.S. weather so far this year.

What's Up With 2021's Weather?

cherry trees in Japan

 An exceptionally warm spring has led to the early arrival of cherry blossoms in Japan, causing researchers to draw patterns between local temperature increases and global warming. 

Japan Just Had Its Earliest Peak Bloom of Cherry Blossoms in 1,200 Years. Is Climate Change to Blame?

Green sky

But not always — so make sure you're relying on official warnings about potential twisters

Yes, Skies Sometimes Really Turn Green Before Tornadoes

Spring Showers

Ah, springtime: The sun is finally out, birds are chirping, buds are blooming — and your plans are likely getting rained on. Here’s why the onset of spring is followed by months of rain.

Why Does It Rain So Much in Spring?

Dyatlov Pass

Nine Russian hikers died mysteriously in the mountains more than 60 years ago. New research suggests that an avalanche may have sealed their fate.

The Dyatlov Pass Incident: Can Science Explain What Happened to the Hikers?

A satellite image shows fallstreak holes, as well as longer canal clouds, west of Atlanta, Georgia on January 29, 2021. (Credit: NASA Earth Observatory)

Fallstreak Holes Over Georgia

They're called "fallstreak holes," and they occur when parts of a cloud suddenly fall away toward the surface.

Holy Moly, Clouds With Holes in Them?

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Our ancestors were pretty good at predicting the weather, but they didn’t always know what they were talking about. 

Old Wives' Tales to Predict Weather: What’s Based in Science and What’s Just Folklore?

Here's how temperatures around the globe varied from the long-term mean in January of 2021. According to NASA's estimate, the month was the sixth warmest January in records dating back to 1880. (Credit: NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies)

Global Temperature Anomalies January 2021

Emphasis on the word 'relatively': Globally, last month was still among the 10 warmest Januaries on record

Earth Is Off to a Relatively Cool Start in 2021

Sunspot

Famous for his drastic weather predictions, Albert F. Porta's name could be seen in local papers across the country in the early 1900s. His story is a cautionary tale of how fake news spreads when the world is in disarray.

Planetary Alignment Didn’t End the World in 1919. But One Professor Thought It Would

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A few unfortunate factors make some western states more susceptible to strong, damaging storms. Researchers are collecting data to better predict when hail will fall.