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Global warming makes French reservoir a winter resort for migrating cranes

The Lac du Der was once just a passing glimpse for hundreds of thousands of cranes flying from Scandinavia in search of sunshine, but with global warming the French reservoir has become an attractive winter retreat.

'I'm out of here': French town waits for flood to recede

Residents of a flooded French town on Thursday waited for the water to drain away from its streets, after a nearby river did not rise out of its bed quite as high as expected.

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Hurricane Otis weakens after making landfall in Mexico

Hurricane Otis was downgraded to a Category 4 storm after making landfall near Mexico's Pacific beach resort of Acapulco on Wednesday, though it was still generating "damaging" winds and "life-threatening" storm surge, according to US forecasters.

'Potentially catastrophic' Hurricane Otis hits Mexico

A major Category 5 hurricane made landfall near Mexico's Pacific beach resort of Acapulco early Wednesday, threatening to wreak "catastrophic" damage, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Climate change and filthy water drive disease in Iraq

A worried Iraqi father points at a blister on the face of his one-year-old daughter, the result of a parasitic infection carried by sandflies in her remote village.

'Potentially catastrophic' Hurricane Otis heads for Mexico

Hurricane Otis on Tuesday strengthened to a powerful Category 4 storm as it barreled toward Mexico's Pacific coast, the US National Hurricane Center said, warning it could be "potentially catastrophic" upon landfall early Wednesday.

Life on Earth under 'existential threat': climate scientists

Climate change poses an "existential threat" to life on Earth, prominent scientists warned Tuesday, in an assessment on this year's avalanche of heat records and weather extremes that they said are hitting more ferociously than expected.

In Louisiana, salt water in the Mississippi... and faucets

In southern Louisiana, where most things are surrounded by water, residents are being forced to buy bottled water to drink, bathe and even give to their pets.

Himalayan fog that stopped World Cup match 'wonderful thing'

New Zealand batsman Daryl Mitchell said the blanket of Himalayan fog which stopped play in Sunday's Cricket World Cup match against India at Dharamsala was "a wonderful thing".

Fog stops World Cup match at Dharamsala

Thick fog stopped play in the Cricket World Cup clash between India and New Zealand at Dharamsala in the shadows of the Himalayas on Sunday.

Storm Babet triggers flooding, power cuts in northern Europe

Deadly Storm Babet unleashed extensive flooding and damaged towns in Denmark and Norway late Friday and early Saturday, while continuing to sweep across the UK.

Hurricane Norma strengthens to Category 3 ahead of Mexico landfall

Hurricane Norma on Friday once again strengthened to a Category 3 storm as it approaches a tourist hotspot on Mexico's Pacific coast.

Hurricane Norma downgraded to Category 2 ahead of Mexico landfall

Hurricane Norma weakened Friday to a Category 2 storm ahead of landfall near a tourist hotspot on Mexico's Pacific coast.

Three dead as storm Babet batters Scotland and Scandinavia

Three people died and emergency services battled to rescue families trapped by flood waters in Scotland Friday as Storm Babet moved east, forcing the cancellation of flights and ferries in Scandinavia.

Deadly Storm Babet batters Scotland and Scandinavia

Two people died and families were trapped in flooded homes in Scotland Friday as Storm Babet moved east, prompting the cancellation of flights and ferries in Scandinavia.

Two dead, residents trapped as Storm Babet batters Scotland

Two people died and families were trapped in flooded homes in Scotland on Friday as Storm Babet moved east after pounding Ireland.

Headed for Mexico, Hurricane Norma downgraded to still-dangerous Category 3

Hurricane Norma weakened Thursday to a Category 3 storm as it headed for Mexico's Pacific coast -- still strong enough to cause flash floods and damage, forecasters said.

CO2 pollution expected to hit new record in 2023: researchers

Global emissions of planet-heating carbon dioxide are expected to rise around one percent to reach a new all-time high in 2023, the climate scientist behind the preliminary research said Tuesday.

Virtually certain 2023 will be warmest year on record: US agency

Following another month of record-breaking temperatures throughout the globe in September, the year 2023 is all but certain to be the warmest on record, a US agency said Friday.

Over 40% of Antarctica's ice shelves lost mass in 25 years: study

More than 40 percent of Antarctica's ice shelves lost volume in 25 years, increasing the risk of sea levels rising and with human-induced warming the likely cause, scientists said on Thursday.

WWF urges end to deadlock on new Antarctic reserves

Members of a multinational group on Antarctic conservation must end a years-long deadlock and agree on new marine reserves in the region as sea-ice shrinks to record lows, the WWF urged Wednesday.

ExxonMobil to buy Texas shale producer Pioneer for about $60 bn

ExxonMobil sealed a megadeal to acquire Pioneer Natural Resources for about $60 billion, bolstering its holdings in the Permian Basin, a key US petroleum region, the companies announced Wednesday.

Lidia leaves at least one dead in Mexico, weakens to storm

Hurricane Lidia was downgraded to a tropical storm early Wednesday as it weakened after making landfall on Mexico's Pacific coast, where it left at least one dead and caused flooding and blocked roads, officials said.

'Extremely dangerous' Hurricane Lidia heads for Mexico

Hurricane Lidia became an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm on Tuesday as it headed toward beach resorts on Mexico's Pacific coast, threatening to bring flooding and mudslides, forecasters said.

Hurricane Lidia strengthens on course for Mexico

Hurricane Lidia gained strength Tuesday as it headed toward Mexico's Pacific coast, threatening to bring flooding and mudslides to a region that is home to a string of beach resorts, forecasters said.

Climate change main culprit for hot South American winter

A wave of unusually extreme heat at the end of South America's winter was made 100 times more likely by climate change, according to a study published Tuesday.

The river disappearing in drought-hit France

The once deep and coursing waters of the Doubs river in eastern France have shrunken to a dry bed that locals can cross almost without getting their feet wet.

Beer faces unbitter future due to climate change: study

Climate change threatens the cultivation in Europe of aromatic hops which gives beer its bitterness, according to a study published Tuesday in Nature Communications.

14,000 displaced in Myanmar after record rain sparks floods

Residents of Myanmar's flood-hit Bago city salvaged food and belongings from their waterlogged homes on Tuesday after record rainfall triggered floods that authorities said have displaced 14,000 people.

Hong Kong halts trading, closes schools post-typhoon

Asian finance hub Hong Kong halted trading at its stock exchange on Monday and closed schools, after Typhoon Koinu generated torrential rainfall overnight.

Typhoon Koinu skirts Hong Kong, heads for southern China's Hainan island

Typhoon Koinu tracked towards China's resort island of Hainan on Sunday night after skirting Hong Kong, bringing heavy rains and powerful gusts while prompting the closure of transport services and schools in the financial hub.

Hong Kong closes schools, raises warning for Typhoon Koinu

Hong Kong issued its third-highest storm warning signal on Sunday, prompting the closure of some transport services and schools, as Typhoon Koinu skirted the financial hub, bringing rains and powerful gusts.

World can't 'unplug' existing energy system: COP28 head

The president of the upcoming COP28 climate talks in Dubai called on Sunday for governments to abandon "fantasies" such as hastily ditching existing energy infrastructure in pursuit of climate goals.

Indian flood toll up to 77 as waters recede

At least 77 people are confirmed dead in the floods that hit India's northeast, authorities said Sunday, with destroyed roads and bridges leaving thousands more still cut off despite waters receding.

The Japan Times - Weather (English)