For decades, whale migration and crabbing operated as a tag team. But now, the whales are coming sooner—widening the window for exposure to fishing gear.
Weather
The Bay Area is famous for its microclimates. Learn about the patterns of rain, sun, and wind that make our home what it is.
Rainy Day Roundup: All About Atmospheric Rivers
March 9, 2023 •
Gosh—is it raining again? When you’d rather stay inside reading about rain than go out and get wet, here’s a pile of stories from our archives.
Why Sneaker Waves Are So Insidious
November 17, 2022 •
Every now and then, the ocean sneaks up on the land, with a wave that’s bigger than all the rest. Scientists are working out where these dangerous waves come from.
A New Satellite Monitors Lightning Strikes and Fog to Map Weather Risks Faster
July 6, 2022 •
Nine of the 20 largest wildfires in California in the last 110 years were started by lightning strikes, including the devastating Lightning Complex fires in August 2020 that burned more than 750,000 acres in and around the Bay Area. Between … Read more
This Tropical Weather Phenomenon Can Have a Big Influence on California Rain and Snow, But Key Connections Remain a Mystery
March 21, 2022 •
In a famous experiment in the early 1960s, the mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz was running computer simulations of weather patterns, trying to see how they changed when he changed variables like wind or temperature at the start. One day, … Read more
We Can’t Rely on Drought-Busting Atmospheric Rivers Anymore
December 16, 2021 •
Atmospheric rivers are nothing short of a miracle for California. But climate change is altering their character.
Why October Rain Matters
October 19, 2021 •
Major October rain is in the forecast for the first time in five years. As they say in sports, sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
A Guide to Bay Area Cloud Watching
October 13, 2021 •
What do you see there in the sky?
When It’s Too Hot for Food to Grow
June 17, 2021 •
Central Valley temperatures are expected to stick near 110 for the next three days, making life difficult for important crops.
Atmospheric Rivers Like This One are Vital to Understanding California
January 28, 2021 •
Ten days ago the state set new heat records and brush fires broke out. Burn areas in the Santa Cruz Mountains rekindled. Then, over the last three days, a 2,000-mile-long filament of water in the sky burst over the areas that last week sat brown and smoking.