Tropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm of the Atlantic season, is bringing heavy rains and flash flood warnings to the northwestern Gulf Coast. Expected to move inland over Louisiana, it could drop up to 20 inches of rain, posing a significant threat even after dissipation.
This summer season will be the longest until 2037, lasting 106 days from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Meteorologists attribute this to calendar quirks, while climate change and El Niño are expected to bring hotter temperatures, increased wildfire risk, severe storms, and potential major hurricanes.
El Nino's expected return in May brings hotter, drier conditions to Southeast Asia, damaging agriculture and increasing forest fire risks, yet may also cause dangerous localized flooding despite overall dryness, exacerbating challenges for emerging economies already strained by geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs.
Flash floods caused by heavy rain submerged roads and affected vehicles in Ringlet, Cameron Highlands. Local police reported no injuries and confirmed that floodwaters receded within two hours.
