Cookie Monster coming back to sing the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley Field again tonight is what we all needed. Legend.

While long anticipated, it is confirmed that 2025's Eaton Fire was ignited by "electrical arcing on an out-of-service transmission tower." Expect subrogation recoveries by insurance carriers from the California Wildfire Fund; which has $21 billion. FULL REPORT: file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/lac...

August 2 AM: Latest NFIC wildfire perimeters suggest that a sizeable number of homes and structures were likely affected in the Old Trails Fire in Spokane, Washington. Awaiting official word from state / local firefighters as assessments begin.

August 1 5:30 PM PT: Active fires burning uncomfortably close to the Spokane (WA) metro area. Evacuations are underway for some city residents. Extreme / Critical fire conditions in place across much of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana today.

Here is initial info from the USGS from today's earthquake in southern Japan in Kumamoto Prefecture. This will likely be a damaging and expensive event. FYI: The 2016 Kumamoto EQ sequence (M7.0 & M6.8) resulted in $53 billion in economic losses; of which $8 billion were insured (2026 USD).

July 26: Genevieve becomes the 9th global tropical cyclone in calendar year 2026 to undergo extreme rapid intensification (>50 knots in a 24-hour period). Of the 19 TCs to reach hurricane intensity this year, 11 have reached Category 3+ intensity. Eight (8) of those have been Category 4/5. (1/2)

Six years old. It was time for her to experience the Original NES. "Dad! Is this like Nintendo Switch? Where is Luigi? Is Jack Black in this game?" I've never felt older.

Significant wildfire situation across parts of France and Spain amid record-setting summer heat in Europe. Yes, humans are a leading igniter of wildfires. Yes, climate change has absolutely enhanced conditions that bring such rapid fire spread / extreme fire behavior. apnews.com/article/spai...

More than 200,000 people flee raging wildfires in France and Spain, some escaping by boat

Massive forest fires are raging out of control in southwestern France and central Spain, forcing authorities to evacuate around 200,000 people.

apnews.com

July 22: #Bertha has officially made landfall in Louisiana as a 45 mph tropical storm. I must admit, I cannot immediately recall a landfalling tropical cyclone that has such minimal rainfall associated with it. Bizarre!

A+ thread with actual receipts, as always, by @zekehausfather.com / The Climate Brink.

Zeke Hausfather@zekehausfather.com · 2w ago

A recent viral graph found fewer days in the contiguous US above 95F/100F/105F today than in the 1930s. But the graph is misleading – it fails to correct for changing measurement times and techniques, and overstates regional warmth. I take a deep dive at The Climate Brink: www.theclimatebrink....

July 21: Seasonal tally of Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has finally surpassed... 1 (!). It is 1.23 as of today. This is the lowest ACE total YTD since 2009 (0.0). That was a season with El Niño conditions in place during the peak months (Aug/Sep/Oct).

Tropical Depression Two (soon-to-be Bertha) has formed in the Gulf of Mexico. While not currently expected to become a hurricane before landfall, it's worth paying attention. Many (not all) storms in the Gulf have shown an increasing tendency to overperform as water temperatures continue to warm.

July 16: Can confirm that heavy smoke has made its way to the northern Chicago suburbs this morning. Though not as bad (yet) like what areas further north into Wisconsin / Michigan are seeing -- and what the Northeast endured.

Today we at Gallagher Re have released our H1 2026 Natural Catastrophe and Climate Report. Headline: Below average global catastrophe losses, but still extremely meaningful societal / humanitarian impacts. Economic Loss: >$142 billion Insured Loss: >$46 billion (1/n) www.ajg.com/gallagherre/...

Heatwaves are not just a health risk. Climate change is bringing hotter / drier conditions that can increase the risk of subsidence, as shrinking soils cause ground movement that can damage foundations of homes and businesses. Here's a UK study with global relevance. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/latest-...

Latest research emphasises climate-related subsidence risk to millions of British homes - British Geological Survey

New data from BGS highlights the projected future impact of warmer, drier summers and underlines the need for mitigation measures in susceptible regions.

bgs.ac.uk

Good article highlighting how hail is a massive annual driver of catastrophe losses. It's also a big reason why insurance costs continue to accelerate. Though the article says hail costs $1bn a year. Nope. In the past 5-10 years? Hail averaging $15-20bn+ a year. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/w...

Inside the United States’ Billion-Dollar Blind Spot

nytimes.com

My thanks to @politico.com for including me in this article. Fully funded NOAA agencies and fully staffed forecast offices are essential. Weather balloon data? A cornerstone to more confident forecasts that bring advanced warnings to protect life and property. www.politico.com/news/2026/07...

Update: A new report from the United Nations has updated the estimated direct economic damage cost for the June 24 Venezuelan earthquakes to a staggering $37 billion. This represents more than 30% of the country's GDP. www.undrr.org/media/118988...

#Bavi quickly organizing and, per JTWC, expected to become a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon. The Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and elsewhere in Micronesia are still recovering from April's Typhoon Sinlaku -- which affected the region as a Category 4. The storm caused >$1.5 billion in damage.

Major expected insurance claim due to damage at a South Dakota wind farm following >100 mph straight-line wind gust(s). This claim is a big loss for the renewable energy market. It also opens up questions on weather-related loss costs if highly exposed data centers are impacted in the future.

This is ridiculous. It is brutally hot here in the northern Chicago suburbs today...

June 27 PM: Several large wildfires burning across the US West (UT, CO, AZ, NM) as extreme fire weather conditions persist. This is a consequence of record low previous winter snowpack, prolonged drought, and abundant vegetation ripe for fast spread.

Much talk about a strong El Niño and implications for the Atlantic hurricane season. Do not sleep on the Western Pacific. YTD activity already well above normal. Storms tracking further northeast follow a "classic" El Niño pattern may bring more risk to Japan & the Korean Peninsula this season.

The scale of devastation in Venezuela continues to unfold. Sadly, it is likely that the loss of life will notably increase in the coming days. The World Bank cites the country's GDP at ~$120 billion. If USGS PAGER estimates are close, damage costs could equal a notable percentage of the economy.

Hosted a London Climate Week event today, and the irony is not lost on anyone that the UK reached its hottest June temperature on record. It feels quite tropical, and the UK has very few homes with air conditioning. As someone who comes to London a lot... this heat is quite shocking.

The specific concentration of tornadic activity in Illinois and Indiana during June has been... unusual. This past weekend's latest twisters will officially push 2026 into the record book for highest confirmed number of annual tornadoes on record in Illinois (since 1950).

Update: Confirmed US tornado counts show that Illinois leads the next closest states by a wide margin. This data accounts for state touchdown locations. IL: 132* MS: 70 IA: 68 OK: 63 MO: 58 IN: 40 AL: 36 KS: 36 *The Illinois record for most tornadoes in a year is 139 (2024). Records began in 1950.

Incredible rainfall "bullseye" in Louisiana from the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur plus an influx of moisture interacting with a frontal boundary in the Southeast. Some areas have now recorded more than 30 inches of rain in the past 72 hours; with much of it in the past 24 hours.

Early season monsoon stats in India showing rainfall already ~40% below normal. With El Niño strengthening, this is likely to bring a notable impact to crop yields as forecasts suggest the country's weakest monsoon in a decade. India is among the world's biggest producers of rice, sugar, and cotton.

June 17 8am CT: Powerful line of storms exiting Iowa and headed into Illinois. Significant straight-line winds already recorded, and this line (derecho?) will intensify in the coming hours. Strong tornadoes, intense straight-line winds, and large hail all possible.