The Guardian - More of England expected to enter drought status after hottest June on record
This article from The Guardian outlines how England is facing escalating water shortages following its hottest June on record since 1884. With three heatwaves and a prolonged lack of rainfall, several regions are now at risk of entering drought status— prompting the expansion of hosepipe bans and water use restrictions across the country.
The Guardian - Iranians asked to limit water use as temperatures hit 50C and reservoirs are depleted
This recent article from The Guardian highlights how extreme heat and prolonged drought are straining water systems across Iran, with temperatures soaring above 50°C in several regions. In Tehran, the government has declared a public holiday to reduce strain on infrastructure and conserve water and electricity, while water supply restrictions have been reported in parts of the city.
CNN - For the first time in modern history a capital city is on the verge of running dry
A recent article from CNN highlights a growing water crisis in Kabul, Afghanistan, where population growth, climate pressures, and over-extraction are pushing the city toward an unprecedented scenario: becoming the first modern capital to run dry. For residents, daily life revolves around securing enough water to meet basic needs — often at great financial and physical cost.
CBC News - Is Canada prepared for floods like the one that happened in Texas?
A recent CBC News article raises important questions about Canada’s readiness for increasingly intense flood events, especially as climate change amplifies the frequency of extreme rainfall across the country. Experts emphasize that while Canada has made significant progress in identifying strategies to reduce flood risk, implementation gaps remain — particularly when it comes to updating flood-risk maps and deploying coordinated early warning systems.
The Narwhal - Water determines the Great Lakes Region’s economic future
This recent article from The Canadian Press offers a look at how prolonged drought is taking a severe toll on farmers across southwest Saskatchewan and other parts of the Canadian Prairies. Quinton Jacksteit, a farmer and reeve near Golden Prairie, says 2024 marks the ninth consecutive year his land has suffered from drought. With crops too short to yield a harvest, many like him are salvaging what they can as animal feed, while some multi-generational farms may not survive another season.
CBC News - 'As a farmer, it's depressing': Southwest Sask. sees less than 25% of normal rainfall in June
As southwestern Saskatchewan enters its ninth consecutive year of drought, this recent article from CBC News highlights how farmers across southwest Saskatchewan are facing another devastating season, with some areas receiving less than 25% of normal rainfall in June. For Quinton Jacksteit, a longtime grain farmer and reeve near Golden Prairie, this marks the ninth consecutive year of drought on his land. With little moisture and scorching heat, many farmers are preparing for heavy losses— some not even expecting to bring out their combines this year.
The Canadian Press – 'Everything is dying': Prairie farmers, crops struggling with yearly droughts
This recent article from The Canadian Press offers a look at how prolonged drought is taking a severe toll on farmers across southwest Saskatchewan and other parts of the Canadian Prairies. Quinton Jacksteit, a farmer and reeve near Golden Prairie, says 2024 marks the ninth consecutive year his land has suffered from drought. With crops too short to yield a harvest, many like him are salvaging what they can as animal feed, while some multi-generational farms may not survive another season.
The Guardian - Colorado River basin has lost nearly the equivalent of an underground Lake Mead
This recent article from The Guardian reveals alarming findings from a new study showing that the Colorado River basin has lost nearly 27.8 million acre-feet of groundwater in the past two decades—roughly equivalent to the full volume of Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. Drawing on NASA satellite data, researchers found that groundwater is being depleted 2.4 times faster than surface water, underscoring a deepening water crisis in the American Southwest.
CBC News – Water levels below average in all Great Lakes, except Erie, says Environment Canada
This recent article from CBC News highlights newly released data from Environment and Climate Change Canada showing that all of the Great Lakes— except Lake Erie— are currently experiencing below-average water levels for this time of year. A relatively dry fall has been identified as a key contributor to the drop, with Lakes Superior and Ontario now at their lowest levels since 2013, and Lakes Michigan and Huron at their lowest since 2014.
The Toronto Star – From deluges to drought: Climate change speeds up water cycle, triggers more extreme weather
This recent article from The Toronto Star highlights how climate change is accelerating the global water cycle, leading to more frequent and extreme weather events— including prolonged droughts and catastrophic floods. As global temperatures rise, driven largely by the continued burning of fossil fuels, the atmosphere is able to hold more moisture. This intensifies both dry and wet conditions, with serious consequences for ecosystems, infrastructure, and human safety.
CBC News – Kashechewan First Nation declares state of emergency, begins annual precautionary evacuation
This new article published in CBC News covers how Kashechewan First Nation has once again declared a state of emergency as the risk of spring flooding looms large along Ontario’s James Bay Coast. The community, which faces annual flood threats due to ice breakup on the Albany River, began precautionary evacuations on Monday— starting with children, elders, and other vulnerable residents.
The Canadian Press – Signs of drought in B.C.'s latest snow, water supply bulletin
This new article published in The Canadian Press covers British Columbia’s most recent snow survey and water supply bulletin, which painted a concerning picture: despite a slight improvement in snowpack levels in March, the province remains at heightened risk of drought heading into spring and summer 2025. As of early April, the average snowpack is just 79% of normal— up from 63% on April 1, 2024, but still well below historical averages.
CityNews – Flooding reported in Toronto and parts of GTA following messy wintry storm
This new article published in CityNews Toronto covers the powerful wintry storm that swept through much of Ontario the week of April 3, bringing a chaotic mix of snow, ice pellets, freezing rain, and heavy rainfall— leading to localized flooding in Toronto and parts of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). While freezing rain and rainfall warnings have now been lifted, the storm’s effects are still being felt across the region.
The Conversation - Wildfire season is changing in Canada — posing even greater risks to the nation’s communities and ecosystems
This recent article from The Conversation highlights how Canada’s wildfire season is becoming more unpredictable and dangerous, posing increasing risks to communities and ecosystems. Once confined to late spring and summer, wildfires are now burning year-round. In 2024, Alberta’s fire season began in February, while Québec saw its fourth earliest wildfire since 1973 in mid-March. British Columbia also reported early-season fires soon after, underscoring the shifting nature of these extreme events.
The Guardian - California faces worsening drought despite recent heavy rainstorms
This recent article from The Guardian highlights how climate change is intensifying drought conditions across the southwestern U.S., despite recent heavy rainstorms. Earlier this month, California’s mountains saw over 6 inches of rain in just a day— yet the deluge wasn’t enough to counteract long-term drying trends. Communities like Malibu and Sierra Madre, already recovering from devastating wildfires, are now facing destructive mudslides, illustrating the region’s increasing vulnerability to extreme weather swings.