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National

Encore: How climate change is impacting New England's snowplow drivers

4:43pm January 23, 2023

by Mara Hoplamazian

New England winters are warmer and bring more rain than snow due to climate change. That means local snowplow drivers have limited work and must find alternatives to a once reliable livelihood.

Skiers cruise down the slopes at Snowmass ski area in Colorado. This winter has already delivered snow totals above 130% of average, but climate scientists say it will take more than one wet winter to pull the arid West out of a 23-year drought.

Why heavy winter rain and snow won't be enough to pull the West out of a megadrought

12:04pm January 22, 2023

by Alex Hager

This winter could provide some relief for parched reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin, but climate scientists warn that the severe drought won't end with one wet season.

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Harold Davis, who's 29 years old, bought this truck and snowplow in the fall. Opportunities to use his new plow have been few and far between.

This snowplow driver just started his own service. But warmer winters threaten it

8:23pm January 20, 2023

by Mara Hoplamazian

Winter is the fastest warming season across the U.S. and New England's winters are no exception. A snowplow driver in New Hampshire reflects on what climate change means.

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National

FEMA head talks about storm recovery efforts

6:07pm January 20, 2023

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell about federal storm recovery efforts.

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Biden tours California storm damage

5:52pm January 19, 2023

by Rachael Myrow

President Biden is touring a battered California. The state has endured a series of powerful storms in recent weeks. Damage estimates are topping $1 billion with 40 of the state's 58 counties hit.

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National

Residents of the Santa Cruz Mountains start the long process of recovery after storms

5:42pm January 19, 2023

by Jerimiah Oetting

Now that the long parade of storms in California has passed, residents are assessing the damage to their homes. Many have a long road to recovery. Some are still without power.

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Recent heavy snow is crucial to the Colorado River but it's not a drought ender

5:10am January 19, 2023

by Alex Hager

Rain in California and deep snow in the Rocky Mountains have brought temporary relief to drought-stricken states in the West. But water managers say the long-term water supply picture remains bleak.

Rainstorms helped California's drought conditions, but there's further to go

4:39pm January 16, 2023

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University on what California needs to end their drought.

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A home is submerged in floodwater, after the Salinas River overflowed its banks on Friday.

National

For California, weeks of deadly storms are finally set to wane after Monday

4:35pm January 16, 2023

by Becky Sullivan

Since late December, a series of storms had dropped a year's worth of rain in just a few weeks, causing widespread floods and power outages. At least 19 people have died as a result of the storms.

More rain is forecasted for California

5:10am January 16, 2023

by Nathan Rott

California continues to get hit with a barrage of damaging winter storms. But the precipitation is helping with the state's longstanding drought.