Background Articles

More than 120 responders are cleaning up oil and gas spills and restoring western Alaska communities after former Typhoon Halong’s storm-surge flooding. The U.S. Coast Guard and partners are recovering fuels and staging safe storage sites as winter conditions and limited daylight complicate work.

Communities such as Tuntutuliak and Napakiak are working to get homes and infrastructure ready for winter after the destruction caused by ex-Typhoon Halong.

As the remnants of Typhoon Halong drove flooding and 69 mph winds across Norton Sound, Unalakleet sheltered 88 evacuees from nearby Shaktoolik and moved elders to higher ground. Minor structural damage was reported in Shaktoolik, and flights began returning residents after the storm passed.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy declared a disaster for western Alaska after an Oct. 8 storm brought flooding and storm surge that damaged homes and infrastructure, prompting a temporary evacuation in Kotzebue. Officials warn another, potentially stronger storm tied to the remnants of Typhoon Halong could bring 70–80 mph winds and further coastal impacts.

A powerful coastal storm brought flooding and damaging winds to western Alaska on Oct. 8, with severe flooding and evacuations in Kotzebue and high water reported across the Bering Strait/Norton Sound region. Communities are now preparing for a larger storm expected over the weekend, with state emergency operations activated.

Extreme weather 'Amy' brought destructive winds and flooding across Norway, damaging buildings and vehicles, causing landslides, and knocking out power to tens of thousands. Insurance firms received thousands of damage reports as cleanup began across multiple regions.

Tverrelvdalen School in Alta, Finnmark, closed on Thursday due to concerns about underlying quick clay. The municipality notified students and parents about the precautionary closure.

Authorities are still taking stock of Mendenhall River flooding, but new temporary riverfront barriers appear to have staved off the kind of severe damage seen in 2024.

Photos show flooding and structural damage in Severo-Kurilsk and Kamchatka after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake and tsunami struck Russia’s Far East on July 30, 2025.

A severe hailstorm in Calgary on July 13, 2025, caused $92 million in insured damage, highlighting the increasing frequency and severity of such events in Alberta's "Hail Belt" and underscoring the need for improved risk management and climate resilience strategies.