Tropical Storm Chris has intensified into a hurricane off the coast of North Carolina, with maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour, along with higher gusts.
What to watch: Computer model projections and the official Hurricane Center forecast predicts that Chris will move roughly parallel to the East Coast, bringing the threat of high waves and dangerous rip currents to beaches from North Carolina to Maine. The storm could hit the Canadian Maritimes directly, including a potential landfall in Newfoundland as a hurricane or tropical storm on Thursday night or Friday morning.
Southern California's intense heat wave, which has shattered dozens of temperature milestones, including all-time records, is exactly the kind of event that is becoming more likely and severe due to global warming, scientists told Axios.
Why this matters: The heat wave has sparked destructive wildfires and threatened public health for millions of Californians, and is a stark reminder that even a small amount of global warming can push climate extremes into new and far more dangerous territory.
