Weather
1 reason people don’t evacuate for hurricanes? Rising costs, and they’re getting pricier
One researcher estimates evacuations can cost residents more than five times the amount they did 20 years ago.
In Louisiana, mutual aid networks help residents prepare for the peak of hurricane season
Groups like Micah 6:8 Mission are forming mutual aid networks to help fill in the gaps left by federal funding — pooling and volunteering resources.
Should heat waves get names like hurricanes? Some believe it could help save lives
As heat waves and heat domes become more intense, the idea of naming extreme heat as we do with other major disasters is gaining traction with some experts.
1 year after devastating tornado, Rolling Fork mobile home park residents fight to return home
Modern building codes, rebuilding expenses and a low inventory of existing permanent housing have made returning to a normal life in Rolling Fork a struggle.
How Gulf South outdoor workers dealt with the hottest August on record
With no federal or state guidelines regarding extreme heat, outdoor workers and employers in the Gulf South are coming up with their own methods for protection.
6 months later, Mississippi communities hit by March tornado fear they’ve been abandoned
As national attention wanes and volunteers head to other disasters, residents of Rolling Fork and nearby Silver City have been left to recover on their own.
Q&A: Why New Orleans’ unhoused people face increased danger from relentless heat
Delaney Nolan discusses her report for The Guardian that revealed a spike in heat-related illness calls among New Orleans’ unhoused people this summer.
A ‘catastrophic’ loss: Severe heat puts a heavy strain on rural farmers in the Gulf South
For one family of farmers in Louisiana, this year’s record-breaking extreme heat is taking a toll on both their crops and their health.
As the peak of hurricane season nears, Southwest Louisiana is still recovering from 2020 storms
Three years after Hurricanes Laura and Delta, Lake Charles residents are anxious about the chances of a new storm.
As ‘overwhelming’ heat dome settles over the Gulf South, unhoused residents seek refuge
The Fourth of July holiday brought sweltering temperatures to the Gulf South. Here’s how some of the people most vulnerable to the heat are dealing with it.
Volunteers are driving in to offer hot meals, necessities to Mississippi tornado survivors
The gym of a Rolling Fork school has become a makeshift hub to get much-needed emergency aid, meals and hope for thousands affected by the tornadoes.
In Rolling Fork, a congregation comes together to save a century-old church
After a deadly EF-4 tornado, a Mississippi town finds hope in the hands of volunteers.
‘We’re going to help them’: How Mississippians are banding together after a devastating tornado
Officials, aid organizations and volunteers sprung into action on Saturday to help Mississippi begin rebuilding in the aftermath of a powerful tornado.
What came together to make a deadly Alabama tornado
Experts say a natural La Nina weather pattern, unusually warm moist air juiced by climate change, and long-term shift in where tornadoes hit all are factors in Thursday's devastating tornado in Alabama.
Tornado hits Selma; 9 deaths reported across South
Seven deaths were recorded in hard-hit Autauga County, Alabama.
‘Dangerous’ Alabama tornado slams buildings, uproots trees
The National Weather Service in Birmingham said a “large and extremely dangerous tornado” caused damage as it moved through Selma.
EXPLAINER: Why the South gets more killer tornadoes at night
Killer tornadoes hit the Southeast far more than they do in Kansas, Oklahoma or Texas. An Associated Press analysis shows that nearly 89% of tornado deaths since 2000 have happened from Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana east.
Applications close soon for flood damage relief in central Alabama
Jefferson and Shelby counties experienced flooding in October 2021. The federal applications for flooding relief close soon.
Warming stations become a hot topic as temperatures in Birmingham hit freezing
The City of Birmingham will host a warming station at the BJCC Thursday and Friday night in collaboration with One Roof, an agency dedicated to ending homelessness.
You’re Right, It Has Been Raining More Than Usual This Summer In Birmingham
Rainfall was higher than normal this summer across much of Central Alabama.
More Extreme Weather In Gulf States Means More Power Outages. Are Energy Companies Ready For It?
The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season is likely to be as active as last year’s, when thousands in the Gulf South were without power for weeks after hurricanes Laura, Zeta, Cristobal and Delta. With that increased activity comes a bigger threat to the region’s power grid. How prepared are Gulf States’ energy companies for the threat to come?
The Tornado Outbreak Of April 27, 2011: Are We Better Prepared Now?
It's been roughly a decade since April 27, 2011, a day that marked U.S. weather history. Some of the tornadoes that day tracked more than 80 miles long, bringing wind speeds up to 210 mph in some areas. The storm killed about 250 people in Alabama, alone.
Survivors Continue To Cope 10 Years After Historic Tornado Outbreak
The powerful tornadoes that hit Alabama 10 years ago killed hundreds and left behind significant destruction. With trauma, time doesn’t always heal. Some of the survivors continue to show the scars.
How To Prepare For A Tornado
Maybe you've weathered multiple storms or perhaps it's your first season. Either way, it can be difficult to keep up with the latest on how to prepare. We've got you covered with this guide.
Residents Clean Up After Deadly Tornadoes
Recovery efforts continue across Alabama after yesterday’s storms left widespread destruction. Some of the worst damage was in Calhoun County, where five people died.
Tornado Causes Damage In Alabama; More Twisters Forecast
Numerous tornadoes hit central Alabama Thursday.
Alabama Tornado Outbreak Rips Off Roofs, Snaps Trees As State Braces For More
Storms are expected to last through the night and into Thursday morning.
Alabama Schools Announce Closures Ahead Of Possible Severe Weather
Central Alabama is expected to see strong storms beginning Wednesday at 2 p.m. through Thursday at 4 a.m., according to new modeling by the National Weather Service in Birmingham
Fultondale High School Too Badly Damaged By Tornado To Use Again
Fultondale High School is permanently closed because of damage from last week's tornado.
Tornado Destroys Areas In North Jefferson County Killing At Least One
There's been extensive damage to homes, businesses, and schools in the area.
Gov. Kay Ivey Surveys Aftermath of Hurricane Sally
"It’s really, really bad. I think that I only saw two piers that were still standing. The rest are just sticks in the water," said Gov. Ivey.
Hurricane Sally Affects The Environmentally Fragile Alabama Coastline
Dauphin Island was hard hit by Hurricane Sally causing flooding on the already nearly two mile wide island. But the effects of climate change on the island have been taking place for years.
