
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.
For the young dad, it was a moment that was decades in the making. See the incredible pictures here.
More than 20 people have been rescued after becoming trapped in floodwaters while thousands are without power as storms threaten to smash NSW for a second day in a row.
A woman was hiking on a popular trail over the weekend when she was confronted by what she described as 'disgusting behaviours'.
Experts have warned the woman's behaviour could have led her to being scalped. Find out why.
Aussies in one state have been warned to brace for destructive wind gusts of up to 160km/h and possible flash flooding as a cyclone moves in.
Residents in North Queensland have been urged to stay safe as another barrage of rain is set to hit, leaving already saturated areas at risk of further flooding.
A woman has been charged with animal cruelty after 10 dead animals were found in her home. Detectives executing a search warrant found nine dead sugar gliders (a type of possum) and one dead snake. A "pungent" smell of "noxious air and an odour of faeces, urine and rot […] made personnel cough and gag" as they started the search, a local animal welfare group in Suffolk County, in the US state of New York, said.
Winter weather kicked into high gear in the United States and it’s not slowing down anytime soon.
Researchers with Ocearch, a nonprofit ocean animal research and education organization, recently caught and tagged the largest male white shark yet found by their group in the northwest Atlantic shark population.Scientists with Ocearch captured, tagged, and released the shark, dubbed “Contender,” on January 17.“At 13.8 feet long and weighing an estimated 1,653 pounds, Contender is a mature male now contributing to Ocearch’s mission of shark research and ocean conservation,” Ocearch said on its page for the shark.The tag attached to Contender “will provide valuable real-time data for approximately five years, helping us track his movements and understand his migration patterns. Additionally, we’ve collected important biological samples, including urogenital material, which are currently being analyzed,” Ocearch said.The average length for an adult male white shark is 11 to 13 feet, according to Smithsonian. Credit: Ocearch via Storyful
Wild winds have torn parts of a major city apart, ripping large trees out of the ground and smashing into power lines, leaving thousands without power.
The UK is currently gripped by gloomy and chilly weather. Temperatures are a "good few degrees" below where they should be for this time of year, according to the Met Office, and various places such as Northumberland and County Durham have already been covered in snow. High pressure over Scandinavia has led to a blocked weather pattern across the UK and Ireland, Sky News meteorologist Jo Robinson says.
Three more quakes above 4.0 magnitude are registered on Monday near the Greek tourist hotspot.
The Met Office predicted ‘colder than average weather’ throughout the week
The move has divided locals, some of which say it could end up punishing those who are doing the right thing.
Stock up on winter captions to get you and your brrreathtaking photos through the season: couples, selfie, and general captions for snow days and cold weather
One of the escaped crocodiles is still at large, sparking fears among locals
A Southern California man returned home after evacuating last month’s devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires to discover an unexpected resident lurking beneath it.
More and more Aussies are being mindful of wildlife when they make changes to their yards.
An estimated 20 feral pigs have been spotted in the Scottish Highlands following a suspected illegal release. The animals have been seen in woodlands near Kingussie in the Cairngorms National Park - where four lynx were dumped last month. "The Park Authority condemns any illegal release of animals in the strongest possible terms."
The RSPCA is investigating how the snake came to be left by the main entrance in a plastic box.