Keyword
drought
First of three more storms hits California as drought retreats
January 19, 2017 John Antczak - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSLOS ANGELES – The worst area of drought in California has significantly narrowed to a small region northwest of Los Angeles that has stubbornly failed to benefit from Pacific storms that have drenched much of the state since the fall…
15 U.S. weather and climate disasters in 2016 caused US$46 billion in damages: NOAA
January 9, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe United States experienced 15 “weather and climate disasters” last year – each with losses exceeding US$1 billion – for a total of US$46 billion, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported on Monday. The disasters, which included eight…
2016 costliest 12 months for natural catastrophes in the last four years: Munich Re
January 4, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe US$175 billion in natural catastrophes losses in 2016 – the lion’s share of which were uninsured – dwarfed those in the previous year and were just shy of 2012’s US$180 billion total, Munich Re reports. The research released Wednesday…
Southern U.S. drought relents but not over, despite recent rains
December 8, 2016 Jeff Martin - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSATLANTA – Recent showers and storms across much of the South have eased the severe drought in the region, but experts say it wasn’t enough to make up for months of dry conditions before the rain finally fell. More rain…
Death toll in storms sweeping southern U.S. increases to five
November 30, 2016 Bill Fuller and Rebecca Yonker - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSPossible tornadoes swept through parts of Alabama and Tennessee overnight, killing five people and injuring more than a dozen as heavy rains from storms moving across the South produced flooding in areas previously suffering from months of drought. Possible tornadoes…
Wildfires scorch tourist area in Tennessee; thousands flee
November 29, 2016 Steve Megargee and Jonathan Mattise - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSPIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – Wildfires fueled by high winds roared through parts of the Great Smoky Mountains, burning the doorstep of the Dollywood theme park, destroying a resort and chasing thousands of people from their homes. National Guard troops arrived…
Wildfires, smoke shroud southern end of Appalachian Trail
November 11, 2016 Jeff Martin - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSATLANTA – All but a few of the nation’s largest active wildfires Thursday were burning in the South, where a relentless drought has turned pine trees into torches and forced evacuations in dozens of communities in the Appalachian foothills. High…
Alberta’s Brazeau County declares state of agricultural disaster
November 3, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterBrazeau County in Drayton Valley, Alta. has declared a state of agricultural disaster “due to the hardship that weather conditions, specifically, excessive and persistent precipitation have placed on local farmers.” During the Nov. 1 Brazeau County Council meeting, council unanimously…
Tale of two summers: Farmers deal with drought in the east, rain on the prairies
August 11, 2016 Ian Bickis and Peter Goffin -THE CANADIAN PRESSIt’s a tale of two summers this year in Canada, with rain – and the lack of it – causing concerns about the state of the country’s crops. In Ontario, officials are forecasting a strong fruit harvest but add that…
Alberta invests in flood and drought resiliency projects
July 21, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterThe province of Alberta is investing nearly $1 million in flood and drought resiliency projects in Calgary and other communities to help protect against the effects of severe weather. Twelve organizations in southern Alberta “and other vulnerable communities across the…
Federal investment will help Manitoba farmers predict the effects of flood and drought on farmland
June 13, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has announced an investment of more than $1.1 million to develop a hydrology model of Manitoba’s Assiniboine River Basin that will help predict the effects of flooding, excess moisture and extreme drought on agriculture lands.…
As risk of farm losses rise, so too do number of farmers buying crop insurance
May 10, 2016 Ian Bickis - THE CANADIAN PRESSCALGARY – Kelly McIntyre has tilled the soils of northwestern Alberta for more than 30 years, but only this spring did he conclude that he needed crop insurance. “There just seems to be increased risk, more risk all the time,”…