The deadly Tropical Cyclone Freddy is threatening to make landfall in Mozambique again after lashing Madagascar for a second time as it continued its historic run Monday.
The big picture: Thursday marks 34 days since Freddy formed. It "does appear to be a new record holder for 'longest-lasting' recorded tropical cyclone," per a statement Monday from Randall Cerveny, the World Meteorological Organization's rapporteur for weather and climate extremes.
An atmospheric river event is making its way toward Northern and Central California and is expected to arrive Thursday and last through Friday.
Why it matters: This will be a milder storm than the series of blizzards that have hit the Golden State in recent weeks, delivering rain on top of snow even at mid-to-high elevations. With a near-record snowpack, that presents flood risks.
The smoke released by major wildfires likely contributes to the destruction of ozone, the vital atmospheric shield that protects the planet by absorbing most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation, according to a new study published in Nature on Wednesday.
Why it matters: Wildfires are projected to become more frequent and intense over the coming decades due to global warming and land-use change.
