Extreme Weather News

RLI Sees Up to $75 Million in Catastrophe Losses from Hawaiian Wildfires in Q3

Property and casualty insurer RLI Corp said on Wednesday it expects to record pretax net catastrophe losses of between $65 million and $75 million from Hawaiian wildfires in the third quarter of 2023. Wildfires earlier this month on Hawaii’s Maui, …

California’s Desert and Mountain Towns Dig Out From Hilary’s Mud

Crews worked to dig roads, buildings and care home residents out of the mud across a wide swath of Southwestern U.S. desert Monday, as the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years headed north, prompting flood watches …

Severe Weather Set to Boost U.S. Disaster Funding Needs, FEMA Says

Growing extreme-weather risks mean President Joe Biden’s expected request for billions in extra disaster-relief funding might not be enough for the next fiscal year, FEMA head Deanne Criswell said. Biden’s roughly $12 billion request would cover the spending year ending …

Hilary Hammers California With Flooding Rain and Blackouts

The remnants of Tropical Storm Hilary pummeled California with flooding rains on Monday, disrupting flights and knocking out power across parts of the state. About 41,000 customers were without electricity as of 7:15 a.m. local time, according to PowerOutage.us. More …

Dam in Norway Partially Bursts After Days of Heavy Rain, Flooding and Evacuations

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A dam in southern Norway partially burst Wednesday following days of heavy rain that triggered landslides and flooding in the mountainous region and forced downstream communities to evacuate, officials said. Authorities initially considered blowing up part …

Swiss Re Says Natural Catastrophe Insured Losses Hit $50B in H1

LONDON —Insured losses stemming from natural catastrophes rose to $50 billion in the first half of 2023, the second highest reading since 2011, reinsurer Swiss Re said on Wednesday. Severe thunderstorms accounted for 70% of total insured losses, while the …

European Union Rushes Firefighters to Greece as Grueling Mediterranean Heat Wave Takes Toll

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Firefighting aircraft and ground crews from other countries headed to Greece on Thursday to help battle wildfires that have intensified as a heat wave baked much of southern Europe in temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 …

Progressive Caps Its Worst Day Since 2000 After Results

Shares of Progressive Corp. fell the most since 2000 after the insurance company released second quarter results that missed analysts’ estimates. The stock tumbled by about 13% on Thursday, following the report that its combined ratio — a measure of …

Springfield Residents Go Days Without Power After Derecho Winds

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The fierce derecho that tore through Springfield late last week snapped massive utility poles and trees, causing widespread power outages that are expected to leave many homes in the dark for several more days, officials said …

Chicago Flooding is Stark Reminder of Vulnerability of Major Cities During Extreme Weather

Heavy rains that flooded Chicago neighborhoods, rendered freeways impassable and wreaked havoc on NASCAR street races downtown Sunday are serving as stark reminders of urban centers’ vulnerability during extreme weather events. After a historic deluge in April in Fort Lauderdale, …