Latest Catastrophe Headlines

All the headlines from our Catastrophe Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Tropical Storm Harold Makes Landfall on South Texas Coast

Aug 23 2023 // PADRE ISLAND, Texas (AP) – Tropical Storm Harold made landfall on the South Texas coast Tuesday, where it is expected to bring wind gusts of up to 50 mph (80 kmh) in areas along the U.S.-Mexico border.Forecasters said...

Climate Change Doubled Odds of Eastern Canada’s Extreme Wildfire Weather: Research

Aug 23 2023 // This summer’s wildfires in eastern Canada have raged so intensely that smoke from them darkened skies as far away as Portugal. From the outset, scientists said that Canada’s historic wildfire season bore the...

Grant Extended to Fire-Harden Homes, Businesses Damaged by Oregon Wildfires

Aug 23 2023 // The Oregon Building Codes Division has partnered with counties on a grant to help homeowners and businesses rebuild after the 2020 and 2021 Oregon wildfires.People who own a home or business damaged or destroyed by the...

Weather Service Confirms Five Tornadoes Hit New England Last Week

Aug 23 2023 // The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down in Connecticut last Friday, joining a spate of four other twisters detected Friday in New England, including three in Massachusetts and another in Rhode...

Moody’s RMS Estimates $4B to $6B in Economic Losses from Hawaii Wildfires

Aug 22 2023 // Moody’s RMS issued estimates on Tuesday showing economic losses from the recent Lahaina Conflagration and Kula wildfires in Hawaii at $4 billion to $6 billion.The loss estimate reflects property damage, contents, and...

Insured Losses From Natural Catastrophes Set to Top $100 Billion for 3rd Year in a Row

Aug 22 2023 // Claims for weather-related incidents are set to exceed $100 billion for the third year in a row, as floods, hail and wildfires linked to climate change become more frequent.Munich Re has put the total global insured costs...

Tropical Storm Hilary Damage and Economic Loss Estimate in Western U.S. is $7B to $9B

Aug 21 2023 // AccuWeather’s preliminary estimate of the total damage and economic loss from Tropical Storm Hilary in the U.S. is $7 to $9 billion.Hilary brought widespread flooding through Southern California, washing out roads...

Sentry to Contribute $275K to Maui Wildfire Recovery

Aug 21 2023 // Sentry Insurance announced an initial contribution of $275,000 for immediate relief and recovery in response to the wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii and throughout Maui.Stevens Point, Wisconsin-based Sentry sponsors the annual...

3 Tropical Storms Churn Across Atlantic as Most Active Part of Hurricane Season Begins

Aug 21 2023 // Three tropical storms are currently churning across the Atlantic Ocean in a dazzling start to the most active part of hurricane season. Traditionally, the basin starts to spin up its most powerful storm after Aug. 20 with...

One Dead, 185 Structures Destroyed in Eastern Washington Wildfire

Aug 21 2023 // A wind-driven wildfire in eastern Washington state had destroyed at least 185 structures, closed a major highway and left one person dead over the weekend.The blaze began shortly after midday Friday on the west side of...

Rare New England Tornado Damages Homes, Floods Roads, Topples Trees

Aug 21 2023 // A rare Rhode Island tornado lifted a car off an interstate highway Friday as severe weather swept already storm-weary New England, damaging homes, flooding roads and toppling trees.Tornadoes were reported in several spots...

Hawaii Wildfires Killed at Least 111, Burned 2K-Plus Homes and Businesses

Aug 18 2023 // The Hawaii wildfires have killed at least 111 people with many still unaccounted for, and they have burned more than 2,000 burned homes and businesses.CNN reported that Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said it’s likely that...

Allstate Starts Q3 With $313M in Catastrophe Losses in July

Aug 18 2023 // Allstate Corp. said estimated catastrophe losses for the month of July were $313 million or $247 million, after-tax.July has 18 events, highlighted by widespread wind and hail storms, with estimated losses of about $349...

Raging Wildfires Prompt Evacuation of Northern Canadian City, Yellowknife

Aug 18 2023 // Wildfires have forced an evacuation of Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories.Officials with the territorial government told residents in the highest-risk areas to evacuate immediately. Other...

How Climate Change Drives Heatwaves and Wildfires in Europe

Aug 18 2023 // Europe is once again battling scorching temperatures this summer, with wildfires blazing across the continent from the Mediterranean to Spain. Here’s how climate change drives these events.HOTTER, MORE FREQUENT...

Hurricane Hilary Threatens Flooding Rain in California, Nevada and Arizona

Aug 17 2023 // AccuWeather meteorologists say Hurricane Hilary is anticipated to bring heavy rain, flash flooding and strong winds to parts of California, Nevada and Arizona.The meteorologists issued the forecast in a media alert that...

California-Oregon Wildfires Prompt Evacuation Orders

Aug 17 2023 // Growing fires near the California-Oregon border have prompted evacuation orders.A Siskiyou County wildfire, the Head Fire, started in the Klamath National Forest after a bout of thunderstorms and lightning. A social media...

Texas Governor Issues Widespread Disaster Declaration Due to Wildfires

Aug 15 2023 // Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a wildfire disaster declaration for about 75% of Texas counties, allowing them to use all available state resources to respond to any new fires as the state continues to bake under triple-digit...

What Sparks US Wildfires: Power Lines, Burning Trash and Lightning

Aug 15 2023 // The fast-moving fire that ripped through Maui’s historic town of Lahaina killed more than 90 people, making it the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation,...

Typhoon Lan Grounds Flights, Halts Trains as It Crosses Japan

Aug 15 2023 // Typhoon Lan reached the coast of central Japan early Tuesday, grounding flights and halting trains as residents braced for heavy rain, flooding and landslides.Known locally as Typhoon No. 7, the storm has been traversing...