winds news stories on Newser

Rain, Wind Wallop Snow-Weary Mid-Atlantic

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:59:00 CDT

Last month, the Northeast was smothered by blizzards. Now, it's waterlogged by torrential rains. The region mopped up today following a weekend storm complete with high wind and heavy rains that uprooted trees, downed power lines, and flooded some creeks and rivers. Five people died in storm-related accidents, and hundreds...

Raging Wildfires Force Greeks to Flee

Wesley Oliver — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:34:00 CDT

Dozens of wildfires are raging across Greece today, forcing villagers to flee and threatening to scorch ancient landmarks, the BBC reports. Fanned by gale-force winds, the flames are also creeping up on the nation's capital, where one suburb has already received evacuation orders, the AP reports. "The coming night will...

5 Killed as High Winds Sweep East, Midwest

Peter Fearon — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:57:52 CST

Five people were killed as winds of up to 65 mph swept across a large area of the nation yesterday from the Great Lakes to the eastern seaboard, AP reports. The winds cut a swath of destruction, delayed travel, and downed trees and power lines. A half million people were...

Winds Kill 13 in Spain, France

Harry Kimball — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:31:09 CST

High winds in Spain and southern France today killed 13 people, crippled transportation networks, and cut power to more than 1.7 million, Reuters reports. The deaths were caused by flying debris, collapsed walls, and trees pushed over by the wind, which topped 100 mph in some areas. In Barcelona,...

Light Winds Aid LA Firefighters

Nick McMaster — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:18:11 CDT

Firefighters made progress early today in containing two Los Angeles-area fires, as calm winds prevented the flames from blazing a path to the Pacific Ocean, the Los Angeles Times reports. The older of the two fires, the Marek blaze, was 80% contained, and firefighters have begun to cut containment lines...

Gustav Roars to Landfall as Cat. 2

Wesley Oliver — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:55:11 CDT

Hurricane Gustav was downgraded to Category 2 as it churned toward landfall this morning, causing 9-foot storm surges and widespread power outages to the southeast of New Orleans, CNN reports. A FEMA official told the AP this morning that the eye of the storm is expected to pass west of...

US Seeks to Weaken Hurricanes

Matt Cantor — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:42:01 CDT

The Department of Homeland Security is hoping that weather-altering techniques can lessen the devastation caused by hurricanes, the Daily Telegraph reports. A hurricane reduction program likely to begin in October will devote $64 million to efforts such as spreading tiny salt particles in the storms to drain them of much...

Dolly Makes Texas Landfall

Nick McMaster — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:06:32 CDT

Hurricane Dolly has come ashore near South Padre Island, Texas, the AP reports, forcing thousands on both sides of the US-Mexico border to forsake their homes for shelters. Heavy winds and rains have already destroyed a building’s roof and cut power for thousands; authorities say levees along the Rio Grande...

Wildfires Tamed in Calif., Rage in NM

Harry Kimball — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:35:10 CDT

Firefighters almost completely contained a Northern California blaze today as fires in New Mexico threatened to spread, buoyed by lightning and high winds, the AP reports. The California fire, in Santa Cruz County, has leveled up to 15 homes and led to the continued evacuation of 2,000 people. Officials...