Weather

National

Storm Effects Cripple Houston's Power, Drinking Water Systems

7:14am February 18, 2021

by Laura Isensee

Houston, the fourth largest city in the U.S., is straining under massive power outages. Now the water supply is affected. Some people have no service or limited pressure.

Queue Listen Now

How Much Is The Weather In Texas Due To Climate Change?

7:14am February 18, 2021

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to James Marshall Shepherd, director of the atmospheric sciences program at the University of Georgia, about if climate change is responsible for the nation's violent storms.

Queue Listen Now

World News

Millions In Northern Mexico Also Stuck With Cold-Related Power Outages

7:10am February 18, 2021

by Carrie Kahn

Extreme weather sparked power outages in northern Mexico, leaving millions of people without electricity as they tried to weather a bitter cold snap.

Queue Listen Now

National

What Really Caused The Texas Power Shortage?

6:25am February 18, 2021

by Camila Domonoske

Why has Texas had such devastating power shortages during the current winter storm? Some people, including prominent Republicans, are blaming wind power — but every power source has struggled to cope.

Queue Listen Now

News Brief: Texas Storm, Facebook Restricts Australians, Mars Landing

5:10am February 18, 2021

Many Texans are waking up to another day without power. Australians are missing news from their Facebook feeds. Plus, NASA readies its six-wheeled rover Perseverance to land on Mars Thursday.

Queue Listen Now

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality reported on Wednesday that 332 local water systems across the state, 276 issued boil-water notices to make tap water safe to drink.

National

Millions In Texas Under Boil-Water Notices Because Of Winter Storm

10:50pm February 17, 2021

by Vanessa Romo

About 7 million people in Texas, including residents of Houston, Arlington, Fort Worth, Tyler and San Antonio need to boil their water to ensure it's safe for cooking and drinking.

National

As Oklahoma Endures Winter Storm, Cherokee Nation Scrambles To Help Elders

9:29pm February 17, 2021

by Vanessa Romo

"Some of our population lives marginally so many or our people cannot ride out a storm like this," Chief Chuck Hoskin says. "We're looking ... to pull space heaters to get them out to elders."

National

Life In Texas Is Perilous After Arctic Weather Slams The Region

7:30am February 17, 2021

by Joey Palacios

Millions of people in Texas don't have electricity or water and it's very cold. The state's power grid failed. Officials are being criticized for not being out in front of the storm.

Queue Listen Now

National

What Went Wrong With The Electric Grid In Texas?

7:30am February 17, 2021

The power outages in Texas are raising new questions about the safety of the U.S. power grid. NPR's Noel King speaks to professor Emily Grubert, who studies energy infrastructure at Georgia Tech.

Queue Listen Now

National

Extreme Winter Weather Creates Additional Headaches For Farmers

6:20am February 17, 2021

by Seth Bodine

The deep freeze gripping much of the South is creating all sorts of problems from power outages to icy roads. Farmers are struggling too — trying to keep livestock alive in the frigid temperatures.

Queue Listen Now