Axios

A new assessment from the World Meteorological Organization finds that the ongoing El Niño peaked in the top 5 on record, even as it wanes.

Why it matters: The weakening climate cycle, plus other factors, sets the stage for powder keg-like conditions during the Atlantic hurricane season.

China's rapidly rising electric vehicle exports are forcing the White House to weigh climate goals against industrial policy — and the latter has the upper hand for now.

Why it matters: The world's second-largest economy is cranking out lots of affordable EVs, just as the White House increasingly views chargeable cars as a weapon in the fight against global warming.

Summer vacations in colder climates like the Arctic are getting more popular, travel experts say, as people turn to "coolcations" to avoid record-breaking heat.

Why it matters: Despite the wince-inducing name, "coolcationing" could potentially reshape the travel and resort industries — as well as real estate investments, as climate change alters where people choose to recreate.

Brace for rising gas prices this March and April with the average national price climbing 10 cents, according to GasBuddy data.

Why it matters: Gasoline prices can drive consumer sentiment and how positively or negatively Americans view the economy.

A Californian man pleaded not guilty on Monday after being arrested and charged for allegedly smuggling greenhouse gases from Mexico into the U.S. and selling them for profit, prosecutors said.

Why it matters: Michael Hart, 58, of San Diego, faces the first-ever prosecution in the U.S. to include charges related to the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act) for allegedly smuggling hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a potent greenhouse gas used in refrigeration and air conditioning.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire in Hutchinson County remained at 1,078,086 acres as firefighters managed to contain the wildfire to 15% as of Monday afternoon.

The big picture: The fire began as a fast-moving grass fire last Tuesday and exploded in size, to become the largest in state history.

The fierce blizzard that battered California's Sierra Nevada mountains for four days dropped more than 100 inches of snow in some locations.

Why it matters: The extreme snow totals cut off some mountain towns and shut down I-80 for days, but it will greatly improve summer water resources.

A new open letter out Monday calls for further actions to cut emissions of short-lived pollutants such as soot, methane and refrigerant gases.

Why it matters: These substances warm the climate over far shorter time periods than carbon dioxide and are key to achieving short-term climate goals.

March has barely begun, and the West is coping with a ferocious blizzard, while Texas is battling its largest wildfire on record.

Why it matters: These extremes are occurring against the backdrop of a record warm U.S. winter of 2023-24, and milestone-setting global warmth as well.