Why it matters: This storm offers a vivid demonstration of how climate change is likely interacting with weather and variability and increasingly standing out.
The Maui Police Department released a preliminary report Monday on authorities' response to the devastating wildfires that swept Hawai'i last August and razed the historic town of Lahaina.
The big picture: The Lahaina fire killed at least 100 people, and Maui Police Chief John Pelletier noted at a briefing announcing the "after-action" report that "the search is not over" for three people still listed as missing from the island's blaze that destroyed thousands of acres and structures.
Hurricanes are getting so strong in a warming world that a Category 6 intensity should be added to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind scale, a new study finds.
Why it matters: The research shows how significantly climate change is altering storm intensity and other characteristics, as well as further underscoring the limitations of the scale.
A powerful storm slamming California triggered evacuations and left over 800,000 residents without power into Monday, as forecasters warned "dangerous flooding rains," strong winds and heavy snow would impact central and southern areas for several days.
The big picture: California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an emergency proclamation for eight southern counties, including Los Angeles — which was at "high risk" from potentially deadly flooding during this atmospheric river event that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said had "the potential to be historic."
California's governor proclaimed a state of emergency for eight southern counties as a rapidly intensifying storm off the central coast brought a "high risk" of potentially deadly flooding to Los Angeles Sunday and Monday.
Threat level: It is rare for any major city, let alone a city as large as LA, to be under a high risk for excessive precipitation, but LA is in that category for Sunday and Monday, indicating the prolonged nature of the flood threat.
