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.

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 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.