At a Glance The Lower 48 had its warmest average low temperature for any summer since 1895, NOAA announces.Every state in the contiguous U.S. had above-average minimum temperatures from June through August.It's part of a long-term trend where average lows are warming much faster than average highs. Low temperatures in the contiguous United States were the warmest on record for any summer since 1895, according to new findings from NOAA. by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, the report found...

At a Glance Hurricane Florence likely deposited trash from Haiti and the Dominican Republic along North Carolina beaches.The pieces of plastic were discovered by several people who cleaned up the coast at North Topsail Beach.The trash was likely brought in from several Atlantic Ocean garbage patches in the path of the storm. As if the power of Hurricane Florence wasn't evident enough, a discovery along a North Carolina beach served as yet another reminder. Over the past few days, residents...

A cherry blossom blooms along the Meguro River in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 18, 2018. (REUTERS/Kwiyeon Ha) At a Glance Japan has experienced a rare fall bloom of the famed cherry blossom trees.It's believed that a parade of typhoons in July, August and September allowed the trees to bloom.Those storms stripped the trees of their vegetation, and warm temperatures afterward might have tricked the trees into blooming. A spring tradition is happening in the fall months this year – the famed...

At a Glance In the wake of Hurricane Michael, one home survived in Mexico Beach, Florida.The house stayed upright because it was built last year to codes that were even more strict than laws required.It took reinforced concrete walls, 40-foot pilings driven deep into the ground and other factors to keep the house safe in the storm. A single home remarkably left standing on Florida's Mexico Beach after Hurricane Michael might very well become a prototype for how to build...

At a Glance In the Northern Mariana Islands, Typhoon Yutu left severe damage after landfall five days ago.For one island in particular – Tinian Island – residents have been left with little, devastated by the storm.Local leaders say stores on the island have run out of supplies, and they're not being restocked. It has been five days since Typhoon Yutu in the Northern Mariana Islands, but for one island inthis United States commonwealth, recovery is going to be a lengthy...

At a Glance A new study has found New Zealand's weather in the upcoming months could tell the future for the southwestern U.S.The New Zealand Index found the southwestern Pacific's July and August weather could signal what happens in the Southwest the next winter.The scientists say the signal is even stronger than the El Niño pattern, which has been used much the same way for years. Move aside, El Niño – a team of researchers believe they've found an even...

At a Glance Deaths were confirmed in Texas and Mississippi as severe storms battered the South.Damage was reported from several tornadoes in the Tampa area Friday afternoon.Planes were damaged by storms that hit the Baton Rouge airport early Thursday morning. Severe storms and tornadoes battered parts of the South and East Coast for the third day, leaving additional damageFriday afternoon in the Tampa area. Several tornado warnings were issued, and the storms were accompanied by multiple twisters in areas near...

At a Glance Some evacuees were allowed to return to survey the damage caused by California's Carr Fire.Near Redding, more than 1,550 buildings have been destroyed by the blaze, and 1,350 more are threatened.The fire is now twice the size of Sacramento, and is the sixth most destructive wildfire in state history.Two other deaths occurred in the Ferguson Fire, which is burning near Yosemite National Park. As a massive wildfire continues to torch entire square miles of land, burning through...

Residents walk along a flooded road after floodwaters from the Swar Chaung dam submerged villages in the Bago region of central Myanmar on Aug. 29, 2018. (THET AUNG/AFP/Getty Images) At a Glance A dam in central Myanmar failed Wednesday morning, sending floodwaters into numerous towns.No deaths have been confirmed, but at least two people are missing.The incident, which forced 50,000 to evacuate, came on the heels of intense monsoon rains. At least 50,000 people were chased from their homes by...

LeClaire Bryan (red shirt), mother of country music artist Luke Bryan, is comforted by James Whiddon after she becomes overwhelmed at the sight of her home, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Michael on Oct. 19, 2018 in Mexico Beach, Florida. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) At a Glance Hurricane Michael heavily damaged the home of the mother of country music star Luke Bryan.Her Mexico Beach, Florida, home sustained serious damage to both the interior and exterior.The town was one of the...

At a Glance Chunks of ice fell hundreds of feet from Chicago skyscrapers Thursday.Some of the ice chunks crashed into cars, causing damage.No injuries were reported, and surrounding roads were closed as a precaution. As ice and snow melted off Chicago's skyscrapers days after hindered travel in the city, large chunks of ice crashed down to the ground from hundreds of feet above the streets, damaging cars below. The falling ice became so dangerous around the former Hancock Center building...

At a Glance Evacuations were ordered for Paradise, Pulga and Concow in Northern California due to the Camp Fire.Authorities confirmed several injuries and hundreds of structures destroyed in Butte County.In Southern California, several fires burned in Ventura County, prompting evacuations. Fast-moving wildfires prompted evacuations in both Northern and Southern California on Thursday, sending residents fleeing for their lives on short notice. The largest inferno, sparked Thursday morning in Northern California, prompted numerous evacuations, including several entire towns.The Butte County Sheriff's...