
Dylan Stableford
Southern California finally received some much-needed rain this week after weeks of historically dry, windy weather fueled this month's deadly wildfire outbreak — but with it came the threat of landslides, mudslides and toxic ash runoff in burn areas.
According to the National Weather Service, more than an inch of rain fell in parts of Los Angeles over a three-day span, triggering flash flood watches and warnings. Some debris flows were reported along the Pacific Coast Highway, and snow in the surrounding mountains briefly shut down Interstate 5.
But the wet weather was also a boon to firefighters who continue to battle four active wildfires that have scorched more than 57,000 acres. The three biggest — the Palisades, Eaton and Hughes fires — are each more than 95% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The Border 2 Fire, which erupted in the Otay Mountain Wilderness area east of Chula Vista late last week, is now 90% contained.
Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Monday reiterating that people who are rebuilding their homes are not subject to environmental permit requirements laid out in the California Coastal Act.
“As the state helps the Los Angeles area rebuild and recover, we will continue to remove barriers and red tape that stand in the way," Newsom said.
The endangered species have to fight for survival as soon as they hatch, with only one in 1,000 surviving.
A severe weather warning has come as a surprise to a north Queensland resident who must now decide what to do with her three horses if flooding returns.
The discoveries were made at several Antarctic camps. Find out more.
Passengers hoping to get a flight out of a popular holiday spot have been turned away after a regional airport closed its doors amid wild weather.
There’s been a major update on a man missing more than a week in crocodile-infested waters, as the region is lashed by flooding.
The shocking incident in rural Victoria left three witnesses reeling.
The California wildfires were driven by gusting winds and extremely dry conditions
More than 11,000 people have already left the island of Santorini following a series of tremors in recent days.
An estimated 30,000 tonnes of household and construction waste, piled 15 feet high in places, was dumped
The year’s first deadly US tornado struck after dark Thursday, killing two people in a small East Tennessee community as the first of five back-to-back, jet stream-driven winter storms pummeled the eastern United States.
A puma cub that was being transported illegally was rescued from a vehicle near Girardota, Colombia, on Wednesday, February 5, officials said, and the driver charged with wildlife trafficking.Footage released by the Traffic and Transportation Directorate of the National Police of Colombia shows the baby animal, which was being held in a cage in the back of the vehicle.According to local news reports, officers stopped a truck for a routine inspection on a highway in the municipality of Girardota, and found the animal in the back.They asked the driver about the animal, and he “was unable to respond and acted nervously,” and was later arrested, according to news reports. Credit: @TransitoPolicia via Storyful
Pictures and videos show the intensely coloured water flowing into an estuary, the Rio de la Plata.
The storm has made roads treacherous and icy and forced school closures and delays
The crab got its nickname because of its hairy chest, which prompted comparisons with the Baywatch star David Hasselhoff.
A hippo named Bubbles at the Fort Worth Zoo has made her choice to win the Super Bowl on Sunday, plumping for the Kansas City Chiefs to take a third championship in a row.The 2,332-pound semiaquatic superstar had a tough call to make, choosing between apple and carrot slices, each stuck to her habitat glass with a honey adhesive.With a Chiefs logo on one side, and a Philadelphia Eagles one on the other, Bubbles locked in her pick in just three minutes, the zoo said.The Fort Worth Zoo admitted their animal oracles have a spotty track record, correctly predicting the winner only once in the last decade. As for Bubbles? She’s currently 0-1.“But hey, winning isn’t everything!” the zoo said. And really, when you spend your days floating in a private pool, who’s keeping score? Credit: Fort Worth Zoo via Storyful
Officials searching for a regional airline flight that disappeared in Alaska with 10 people aboard are committing more aircraft to the search on its second day Friday – a search complicated by the fact that the missing plane hasn’t communicated its position through an emergency transmitter – officials said.
There is a chance of wintry showers developing.
Scientists in Australia have successfully produced the world’s first kangaroo embryo through in vitro fertilization, or IVF, a feat they hailed as a “ground-breaking achievement” that could one day help save endangered species.
Floodwaters in North Queensland have cut off supply routes for an Aussie staple that will be in short supply at your local supermarket.
Several thousand earthquakes have been recorded near the Greek island since late January. So why is this happening?