Silicon Investor - Severe Weather and the Economic Impact

[LoneClone] Getting away from personal attacks and returning to the subject of this board......

LoneClone — 3/19/2026 11:39:05 AM

Getting away from personal attacks and returning to the subject of this board...

We've got a little more than 24 hours to go with the latest atmospheric river, which is expected to deliver another 50-150mm of rain. (I won't show how to convert this to old fashioned measures so I don't offend Hostile John.)

There are different types of advisories covering most of the western half of BC, but so far only one actual evacuation.

And it's now official. Considering the forecast for the remaining few days of spring, Environment Canada has declared thus the first snow free winter in Vancouver since the early 1980s. Of course, considering the crazy weather extremes we get these days we still might get some spring snow.

LC

[LoneClone] OT: Condescending? Only if you have an inferiority complex. I have been a teache...

LoneClone — 3/19/2026 11:30:55 AM

OT: Condescending? Only if you have an inferiority complex. I have been a teacher all my life so if I can help people, I take the chance. LKabong also tired to help people who still have trouble with the metric system, so why didn't you go after him?

Get a grip on your compulsion to insult and attack please! Why can't you address others with respect? Why do you cruise multiple boards just itching for a chance to criticize me?

LC

[johnlw] What on earth is the reason for such a condescending post to people that haven't...

johnlw — 3/18/2026 9:22:56 PM

What on earth is the reason for such a condescending post to people that haven't been forced to adjust and live under the metric system?
You should remember you aren't in a classroom indoctrinating young people to your views, you are "moderating" a weather thread on an obscure website.
Geezus man.

The Rockies" eastern slopes have magnificent snow cover. Skied the Spray Valley, west of the Kananaskis Valley, this week and I've never seen snow depth along the access road like that in AB. Wonderful to see in mid-March. Wished we would have brought the bear spray as there were fresh(maybe day old) cougar tracks on the trails.
Mount Shark Trail Report - Kananaskis Country | Alberta Parks
Snow is life.

[LoneClone] I just heard a new type of forecast. Many places along the coast of BC are pred...

LoneClone — 3/17/2026 3:08:54 PM

I just heard a new type of forecast.

Many places along the coast of BC are predicted to rain for at 100 straight hours. Even for the BC coast more than 4 days of continuous is way out of the ordinary.

Many of these places are expected to get 200-250 mm over this period, and because the system is so warm, snow melt is expected to add another 100-150mm of water to the rivers.

200mm multiplied by 4 => 800 divided by 100 => 8 inches
250mm multiplied by 4 => 1000 divided by 100 => 10 inches.

I figure most people can do that in their head.

LC

[LoneClone] The mental conversions are easy. 25mm - 1 inch The simplest way to convert if ...

LoneClone — 3/16/2026 4:30:53 PM

The mental conversions are easy.

25mm - 1 inch

The simplest way to convert if to multiply mm by 4 and then divide by 100.

To convert km to mi, multiply by 5/8, or for an approximation multiply by 2/3.

Either multiply km by 5 and then divide by 8, or for an approximation double the km then divide by 3,

Well, they seem easy to me....

LC

[EL KABONG!!!] For those of us metrically challenged individuals, that's almost 6" of rain and ...

EL KABONG!!! — 3/16/2026 12:01:55 PM

For those of us metrically challenged individuals, that's almost 6" of rain and winds just over 60 mph...

EK!!!

[LoneClone] It's amazing that it held in so long. Meanwhile, we are battening the hatches u...

LoneClone — 3/16/2026 11:35:49 AM

It's amazing that it held in so long.

Meanwhile, we are battening the hatches up here.

We are currently experiencing the first of three atmospheric rivers expected to drop up to 150 mm of rain on Vancouver by Wednesday, double that on the mountains and coastal areas, plus winds up to 100 kph in exposed areas. These systems also come with warm temperatures, so they are expected to further decrease already low snow packs, raising fears for this summer's wildfire season. There is also an elevated risk of flooding.

LC

[Ron] That frontal system is now headed for the Southeast US and forecasts here are pr...

Ron — 3/15/2026 10:10:16 AM

That frontal system is now headed for the Southeast US and forecasts here are predicting
strong storms and winds approaching 75 mph, with a chance for tornadoes tomorrow.

[LoneClone] I heard some more about those winds yesterday. Apparently it seems to have been ...

LoneClone — 3/13/2026 12:08:47 PM

I heard some more about those winds yesterday. Apparently it seems to have been some kind of a microburst generating winds of up to 139 kph in an area not usually subject to these kinds of winds, so the truckers, usually savvy about this kind of thing, were caught unawares. In the end a total of 8 semis were blown over, including once that was lifted over the central barrier and deposited on the other side of the road.

I wonder if Highway Thru Hell had any film crews deployed. If so, expect the event to show up in a future episode.

Meanwhile, the meteorologists say that Vancouver is a virtual lock to have registered its warmer winter ever.

LC

[LoneClone] Last night's storm in southern BC blew in harder than expected. As a result of w...

LoneClone — 3/12/2026 3:08:03 PM

Last night's storm in southern BC blew in harder than expected. As a result of winds that peaked at 139 kph, thousands are still without power across the region, and the Coquihalla Highway has been closed for more than 12 hours because a number of semis were blown over. The winds were also strong enough to make driving on a number of other highways dangerous, exacerbated by the heavy rain and/or snow that came along with the winds.

This was shaping up to be the first snow-free winter in Vancouver since the early '80s. I have yet to hear if enough snow stuck on the ground anywhere in the city yesterday to end that.

LC

[LoneClone] A major ice storm has begun in Ontario and Quebec. It is always difficult to pre...

LoneClone — 3/11/2026 2:13:28 PM

A major ice storm has begun in Ontario and Quebec. It is always difficult to predict ice storms because a small shift in temperatures can completely change the situation, but it looks like major disruptionsare on the way.

ctvnews.ca

There's a story in the news today that Paraolympians are complaining that their games always happening after the Olympics means they have to deal with terrible conditions in their events.

BTW, the IOC is already mulling moving the Olympics a month earlier due to the effects of climate change.

cbc.ca

LC

[LoneClone] OT: Because I am a softy, I will give you one more chance. Why do you constantl...

LoneClone — 3/9/2026 3:42:14 PM

OT: Because I am a softy, I will give you one more chance.

Why do you constantly spray insults and try to cause arguments? You're like a drunk blindfolded Viking swinging a broadaxe trying to cause damage in all directions.

The goal for this board is to create an environment where we can talk about severe weather while avoiding arguments. It usually works, e.g. John and I, who disagree about almost everything, generally manage to get along.

But all you seem to care about is causing trouble. The next time you are moved to post here, I recommend you set the words aside for a few hours before posting them, and before you do, consider what I have just reminded you of.

LC

[jazzlover2] Not to worry, the alarmists will summarize this event as "global warming has cau...

jazzlover2 — 3/7/2026 1:09:38 PM

Not to worry, the alarmists will summarize this event as "global warming has caused the early break up of ice on Long Island Sound, damaging maritime equipment and devastating oyster production."

Read between the lines it was not the ice itself that caused the damage, it was the melting, shifting and drifting of ice floes that was stated as the cause of damage to boxes and lines, therefore clear evidence of MMGW to the believers, although the article itself did not claim such.

I know how they think because I too was one of them, back in the day.

Just imho and not directed to yourself johnlw as I believe you're reasonable and consider all opinions :)

[johnlw] nytimes.com After a Brutal Winter, Worse News for Oyster Farmers

johnlw — 3/7/2026 12:26:08 PM

[LoneClone] We had some excitement around here last night. At 9:10 pm there was a loud bang ...

LoneClone — 3/4/2026 3:45:44 PM

We had some excitement around here last night. At 9:10 pm there was a loud bang and a flash. Needless to say, for some this was taken to mean to be the start of the American invasion, but it quickly became clear that it was almost certainly a bolide exploding after entering the atmosphere, though this is yet to be fully confirmed. It was seen and heard across northern Washington, southern Vancouver Island, and the entire Lower Mainland from Vancouver to Hope.

And today there has been a 6.1 earthquake in the Aleutians, fortunately without generating a tsunami of any size.

UPDATE: I just heard that the experts are estimating the bolide's size as about 10 cm. No traces of it have been found on the ground, but BC is a large very mountainous province where the odds of finding anything like this are extremely low.

LC

[LoneClone] What a terrible, uninformed post full of lies. And clearly you know nothing abou...

LoneClone — 2/27/2026 9:15:26 PM

What a terrible, uninformed post full of lies. And clearly you know nothing about this issue.

You start off with a lie. There is NOTHING about global warming in the article you posted. Are you another Donald Trump, who can't seem to open his mouth without lying?

The issue of what to clear next after you open the main arteries and transit routes is an issue that is difficult to deal with, and different Canadian cities have developed their own protocols, which they continue to modify as the climate changes.

Your next lie is about cyclists wanting a brutal winter. As you and I and everyone else knows, as climate change proceeds and affects the complex sets of equilibria that control our weather, we will get more and more outlying events in all directions, generating extremes in all forms of weather,

Your attitude is so strange. Do you expect cyclists not to advocate for safe trips?

I repeat, THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING ACTIVISTS IN THE LINK YOU POSTED!

Don't you know that deliberate lying undercuts your credibility? Based on this post, why would anyone believe anything you say?

If you continue with this kind of bullshit you will be banned.

LC

[johnlw] You make a good point. Wheelchairs and walkers are useless in the snow and ice. ...

johnlw — 2/27/2026 9:12:40 AM

You make a good point. Wheelchairs and walkers are useless in the snow and ice. No one really cares until they are part of one's life.

[jazzlover2] Global warming alarmists complain when bike lanes full of snow, not safe to trav...

jazzlover2 — 2/27/2026 12:27:23 AM

Global warming alarmists complain when bike lanes full of snow, not safe to travel.

cp24.com

One would think they would be happy with our brutal winter. But no such luck, they whine and complain when they get the very thing they've been fighting for.

The disabled and elderly can't use the sidewalks but no one speaks for them. The climate crusaders have the loudest voice, they are the favoured fair haired children.

[LoneClone] I just heard two wildly contrasting stories on the radio. Here in Vancouver, wh...

LoneClone — 2/26/2026 6:04:22 PM

I just heard two wildly contrasting stories on the radio.

Here in Vancouver, where so far the winter has averaged 1.5c above normal, there is concern because plants are putting out leaves and blossoms well ahead of normal, leaving them vulnerable to a late season freeze. One of the experts reassured us that most plants, especially trees, will do fine, putting out another set if these blossoms are killed.

Then I heard an interview with a guy who runs a snow removal company in Newfoundland, where over the last two weeks a series of storms has dumped almost two metres of snow. He is getting very worn out from working 18 hour days. And just for fun, they were supposed to get another 10 cm of snow today.

LC

[LoneClone] Yesterday I heard a radio feature about what is happening with grass roots winte...

LoneClone — 2/24/2026 4:01:42 PM

Yesterday I heard a radio feature about what is happening with grass roots winter sports and ice fishing events across BC, The news is not good, with event after event having to be cancelled or modified, a trend that has been accelerating for years now.

And recently I heard an analysis of the Winter Olympics. Looking at long term trends, not many of the past sites are likely to be usable in the future, including the venues used in the North Shore mountains that were used when Vancouver and Whistler hosted them.

BTW, I have always had many friends outside academia. But since learning and teaching are my favourrite things, I do miss the years I spent there, especially the interaction with all those eager young minds.

LC

[johnlw] I had a brother who went to university for 10-12 years. Hence my question about ...

johnlw — 2/23/2026 5:29:48 PM

I had a brother who went to university for 10-12 years. Hence my question about student loans. Seeing that unfold I chose a different path, got my hands dirty.

We had a 3 week chinook prior to the latest blast of snow and cold-most people enjoyed it not the xc-skiing community.
Another month of winter then we can think about spring realistically. April comes and then another soul crushing snow storm-lol.
The grass fire hazard has been reduced significantly I believe.

The real weather story this winter has been out east. I miss the commentary the thread used to get from out there.

[LoneClone] I never took out a single loan because I hate being in debt. This was probably a...

LoneClone — 2/23/2026 2:03:30 PM

I never took out a single loan because I hate being in debt. This was probably a mistake in retrospect, because I would have completed the Ph.D. in time not to be frozen out of academia by the hiring freezes due to funding cuts.

Quite the weather you've been having on that side of the Rockies of late. We are getting more and more springlike out here, so maybe a chinook or two will make it past the mountains.

LC

[johnlw] Wow Must have been quite the student loan when all that was said and done. Cold...

johnlw — 2/21/2026 2:30:16 PM

Wow
Must have been quite the student loan when all that was said and done.

Cold snap broke here- back to a more manageable -20*C.

[LoneClone] OT: I wasn't going in that direction, but since you asked, I have a Bachelor's d...

LoneClone — 2/19/2026 12:39:04 PM

OT: I wasn't going in that direction, but since you asked, I have a Bachelor's degree in Math and Sociology and a Masters in Sociology. I did not complete the doctorate in Communications Studies as circumstances intervened. That was unfortunate, as one of my specialties was interpersonal communications metworks, which took off just after I left academia due to the arrival of social media.

If I chose to, with maybe three years of hard work I could complete the doctorate as well as a BFA in History in Art and an Honours B.Sc. in Physics and Chemistry. I was never any good at specializing.

I do not plan to put in those years. Too old for that, even if I decided to start drinking coffee...

LC

[johnlw] I'll bite What did you get your doctorate in?

johnlw — 2/19/2026 11:54:11 AM

[LoneClone] I am glad that in spit of all those years of grad school, I never pick up a caff...

LoneClone — 2/19/2026 11:06:04 AM

I am glad that in spit of all those years of grad school, I never pick up a caffiene habit. It appears coffee prices will be going nowhere but up.

go.climatecentral.org

dailycoffeenews.com

ici.radio-canada.ca

LC

[johnlw] Iciest Baltic in 15 Years Threatens to Cut Russian Exports | Financial Post

johnlw — 2/17/2026 3:59:55 PM

[LoneClone] This is not the forum on which to debate global warming and its causes. Such dis...

LoneClone — 2/9/2026 3:49:44 PM

This is not the forum on which to debate global warming and its causes. Such discussions have destroyed this board several times in the past.

Please stick to discussing what is going on in the climate and the weather.

LC

[jazzlover2] ctvnews.ca Brutal Ontario winter, the disabled not able to get out for the basi...

jazzlover2 — 2/8/2026 12:30:00 AM

ctvnews.ca

Brutal Ontario winter, the disabled not able to get out for the basics.

Lucky southern Ontario disabled people, a minor inconvenience for them, those in the north haven't seen bare pavement since early November and are shut in but no one cares, no media will report on that. Locked in their homes relying on volunteers for help, which I am one.

Look the other way Global Warming zealots, you want us all to pay more billions to the government to fight warming but complain when it's cold and snowy. Maybe donate your oil and gas and mining company dividends and capital gains to those people locked in their homes needing help, you bloody hypocrites.

Ha not likely, you people want it both ways.

[LoneClone] Today will be the last day of a series of high pressure ridges that have resulte...

LoneClone — 2/6/2026 11:42:01 AM

Today will be the last day of a series of high pressure ridges that have resulted in the breaking of more than a hundred high temperature records across BC, some for a particular day, some for the entire month. As a result, the snow pack has dropped to about 2/3 of normal.

Needless to say, the skiers and snowboarders are not happy and there are growing fears for the upcoming fire season. The happiest are probably those who use the Grouse Grind, a famous (and very steep) hike up to one of the ski hills on the mountains that form the northern boundary of Vancouver. It usually opens in late April or May, but it was opened for the public the other day, by far the earliest ever.

LC

[johnlw] Why Toronto seniors struggle with loneliness in severe cold Toronto is certainl...

johnlw — 1/31/2026 9:57:58 AM

Why Toronto seniors struggle with loneliness in severe cold

Toronto is certainly getting a taste of it.

[LoneClone] I can't really see much of that article because it is blocked, but from what I c...

LoneClone — 1/20/2026 6:42:25 PM

I can't really see much of that article because it is blocked, but from what I can see, as usual Mass is using statistics which have already been debunked.

Like any ideologue, her ignores anything which doesn't support his fixed idea. So biased!

LC

[johnlw] cliffmass.blogspot.com

johnlw — 1/20/2026 9:40:36 AM

[LoneClone] The latest atmospheric river has hung in longer than expected and in the process...

LoneClone — 1/12/2026 11:41:04 AM

The latest atmospheric river has hung in longer than expected and in the process has slid south, so the southern part of the coast is going to get anywhere from 100mm of rain (Vancouver) to 250mm (west coast of Vancouver Island). over 18-24 hours Needless to say, flood warnings are everywhere on the coast with snow and avalanche warnings inland.

They went through a crazy swing in NE BC. The temperatures rose from -25c to +5C in Ft. St. John the other day in the space of 12 hours. The area has been in a terrible long term drought, so the temperature continuing to stay above freezing for the foreseeable future is very bad news, melting what snow has been deposited over the winter. The shred of good news concerns Dawson Creek, which has declared an emergency because the low water levels in the river meant their water supply was in danger of freezing up altogether, but even this is a case of short term gain for long term pain.

LC

[LoneClone] Alas, those inaccuracies make me doubt the findings of the research, or at least...

LoneClone — 1/8/2026 4:20:12 PM

Alas, those inaccuracies make me doubt the findings of the research, or at least how they were presented. Have they been published in scientific journals? That is my minimum standard for veracity.

Meanwhile, the winter of atmospheric rivers continues in BC. The latest -- I have lost count of whether it is the 6th or 7th of the season -- will blast the northern half of the BC coast starting tonight, in 36 hours delivering up to 100mm of rain to the coastal areas and up to a metre of snow inland, as well as winds of up to 120 kph.

It seems hard to believe that it was less than five years ago we first heard the term atmospheric river.

LC

[Alastair McIntosh] There could well be some inaccuracies. The data for the first 10 months are from...

Alastair McIntosh — 1/7/2026 4:15:34 PM

There could well be some inaccuracies. The data for the first 10 months are from the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) at the Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium (via Our World in Data).

Even thought the estimate for the last two months is undoubtedly low, it appears that 2025 had one of the lowest annual death rates from extreme weather in history.

Neither Pielke nor I are climate change deniers.

EDIT: It seems Pielke used this: ( perhaps 1,600 people tragically lost their lives ) which refers to this:

unocha.org

The 1600 estimate was only for the 17 November to 3 December. Careless but not malicious

[johnlw] The Alberta Wildfire gang is back at it. A couple of fires less than at the end ...

johnlw — 1/7/2026 3:50:11 PM

The Alberta Wildfire gang is back at it. A couple of fires less than at the end of the new year, however one new "wildfire" already in 2026.
0.02 ha in size, or 0.05 acres in size, or 2150 sq ft.
I burnt bigger brushing piles back in the day. Wildfire??

[johnlw] I KNEW you were going to get in trouble. lol Your comment about folks having tro...

johnlw — 1/7/2026 3:45:23 PM

I KNEW you were going to get in trouble.
lol
Your comment about folks having trouble getting around in heavy snow is true. My girl uses a cane at minimum and often a walker. It can be pretty challenging taking her out in the cold and snow. Easier to go solo usually but that's not good either.

[LoneClone] Globally, 2025 had one of the lowest annual death rates from extreme weather in...

LoneClone — 1/7/2026 2:16:30 PM

Globally, 2025 had one of the lowest annual death rates from extreme weather in history

It turns out this post is wildly inaccurate, verging on propaganda.

A comment from a friend:

" Deaths from Senyar, Ditwah and Melissa alone totalled 2300
If you added floods, heat and wildfire deaths, the number would be considerably higher."

I probably shouldn't, but I continue to be amazed at how willing climate change deniers are willing ignore the facts. Believing an ideology makes people do despicable things.

LC

[LoneClone] Please stop with the nonsense and cheap shots You know the difference between c...

LoneClone — 1/7/2026 2:09:55 PM

Please stop with the nonsense and cheap shots

You know the difference between climate and weather. You also know that climate change will create weather extremes of all types.

You are better then this type of garbage.

LC

[jazzlover2] All sarcasm of course

jazzlover2 — 1/7/2026 10:57:25 AM

[jazzlover2] ;) thx

jazzlover2 — 1/7/2026 8:55:13 AM

[johnlw] That's a ton of snow. Congratulations. Hopefully all this snow cover across the ...

johnlw — 1/7/2026 8:44:51 AM

That's a ton of snow. Congratulations.
Hopefully all this snow cover across the country gets the forest fire scene back to something more manageable in 2026.
Sounds like you are getting a little stir crazy.

[jazzlover2] 148.5 cm snow in Lake Superior Algoma region last month near a record, 50 cm mor...

jazzlover2 — 1/7/2026 12:51:14 AM

148.5 cm snow in Lake Superior Algoma region last month near a record, 50 cm more so far in Jan guess we paid enough carbon taxes, so proud to say we sure spanked global warming in the a**, can't believe it actually worked we stopped GW cold !!!

I was once a denier but no more. Direct evidence we pay more to our government and the weather will be gooder. Seniors can't leave their homes, excellent good news finally a turn around from GW past years when they could get out and clog up the streets anytime they liked with their walkers and wheel chairs so disgusting.

Snow continues to fall pretty much every day, can't see oncoming cars pulling out of driveways snow banks are so high it's greeeaaaat. We beat global warming !!! yayyy my shovel is sooooo happy finally it will kill me !!! Thx so much for the radical bunch who forced me to pay more thx I love yu freaks so much finally came to my senses you were right all along.

[johnlw] Above snowfall east of The Rockies-very welcome. Southern AB dry as usual but th...

johnlw — 1/6/2026 1:36:42 PM

Above snowfall east of The Rockies-very welcome. Southern AB dry as usual but the rivers/resevoirs will benefit from the mtn snowpack.

The good news is, it's almost snowver : My Grande Prairie Now
'Unprecedented snow' has mayor musing about rethinking winter plowing | Edmonton Journal

Parts of Alberta just saw some of the most snow they've ever seen in the month of December - Yahoo News Canada
Sunshine Village snow/water graph plot_SWE.php (700×500)

Lake Louise snow/water graph plot_SWE.php (700×500)

I guess the folks who monitor "wildfires" take the December off as there has been no change in the number of fires in AB lately. Odd when much of the province north of Edmo has at least a half a metre of snow on the ground.

[LoneClone] Thanks for the interesting article. But I did pause when I came to the final par...

LoneClone — 1/6/2026 12:17:55 PM

Thanks for the interesting article. But I did pause when I came to the final paragraph.

But make no mistake, 2025 is not unique, but part of a much longer-term trend of reduced vulnerability and improved preparation for extreme events. Underlying this trend lies the successful application of science, technology, and policy in a world that has grown much wealthier and thus far better equipped to protect people when, inevitably, extreme events do occur.

That was true until last year, but now the Trump administration is doing everything it can to undermine atmospheric science for ideological reasons, so if they are successful the death rates will increase again. (Keep in mind that not just Americans rely on American research and prediction.)

LC

[Alastair McIntosh] Congratulations World! (slightly off-topic ) Globally, 2025 had one of the lowes...

Alastair McIntosh — 1/6/2026 11:30:43 AM

Congratulations World! (slightly off-topic )
Globally, 2025 had one of the lowest annual death rates from extreme weather in history

Here at THB we are ending 2025 with some incredibly good news that you might not hear about anywhere else — Globally, 2025 has had one of the lowest annual death rates from disasters associated with extreme weather events in recorded history. 1

According to data from the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) at the Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium (via Our World in Data), through October 2025, the world saw about 4,500 deaths related to extreme weather events. 2 Tragically, the final two months of 2025 saw large loss of life related to flooding in South and Southeast Asia, associated with Cyclones Senyar and Ditwah.

While the final death tolls are not yet available, reports suggest perhaps 1,600 people tragically lost their lives in these and several other events in the final two months of the year.

If those estimates prove accurate, that would make 2025 among the lowest in total deaths from extreme weather events. Ever! I am cautious here because the recent decade or so has seen many years with similarly low totals — notably 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021.

What we can say with some greater confidence is that the death rate from extreme weather events is the lowest ever at less than 0.8 deaths per 1,000,000 people (with population data from the United Nations). Only 2018 and 2015 are close.

To put the death rate into perspective, consider that:

in 1960 it was >320 per 1,000,000;
in 1970, >80;
in 1980, ~3;
in 1990, ~1.3;

Since 2000, six years have occurred with <1.0 deaths per 1,000,000 people, all since 2014. From 1970 to 2025 the death rate dropped by two orders of magnitude. This is an incredible story of human ingenuity and progress.

To be sure, there is some luck involved as large losses of life are still possible — For instance, 2008 saw almost 150,000 deaths and a death rate of ~21 per 1,000,000. Large casualty events remain a risk that requires our constant attention and preparation.

But make no mistake, 2025 is not unique, but part of a much longer-term trend of reduced vulnerability and improved preparation for extreme events. Underlying this trend lies the successful application of science, technology, and policy in a world that has grown much wealthier and thus far better equipped to protect people when, inevitably, extreme events do occur.

rogerpielkejr.substack.com

[LoneClone] There's a rather amusing unexpected outcome of Environment Canada's new system o...

LoneClone — 1/6/2026 11:21:17 AM

There's a rather amusing unexpected outcome of Environment Canada's new system of red and yellow weather warnings.

Several times now I have heard on the radio people mentioning 'yellow snow warnings', which carries an entirely different connotation from 'yellow warnings about snow'.

We do currently have yellow snow warnings in the area, so the local ski hills are excited, and I am happy that the snow is supposed to stay several hundred metres from me in a vertical direction, thanks to the moderating effects of the nearby ocean keeping the freezing level from reaching down to surface.

LC

[LoneClone] The latest atmospheric river to hit BC stayed north and delivered up to 200MM of...

LoneClone — 12/31/2025 12:46:48 PM

The latest atmospheric river to hit BC stayed north and delivered up to 200MM of rain in a day. Even for areas accustomed to lots of rain, this was too much. The only highway out to Prince Rupert on the coast was shut for over a day, and is still vulnerable to further damage. And on the offshore islands of Haida Gwaii, the only road connecting the northern and southern communities have been washed out, with no available detour or news on when it might reopen.

cbc.ca

LC

[LoneClone] It's tough to get anywhere, but great to be somewhere warm and cozy when you've ...

LoneClone — 12/24/2025 12:36:37 PM

It's tough to get anywhere, but great to be somewhere warm and cozy when you've arrived.

Season's Greeting to you, John.

LC