Floods Follow Storm in NW

Hundreds of flights cancelled in New York

(NEWSER) - The storm that blanketed the Midwest in snow and ice is now battering the Northeast. Wind and ice have delayed hundreds of flights at New York City airports. The National Weather Service said a foot of snow was possible in the mountains of northern New England, with the potential for 20 inches in northern Maine. More»

(NEWSER) - Fans, ice cream, and AC were in short supply yesterday as Seattle recorded the hottest temperature in its history, a sizzling 103 degrees, and heat records melted across the region, reports the Seattle Times. Relief is still a sweaty few days away as a heat warning remains in effect for much of the state throughout the week. More»

(NEWSER) - Alaska and the US West Coast could be pounded by a tsunami far more powerful than researchers had previously thought, LiveScience reports. Analysis of soil samples shows evidence of two earthquakes in the past 2,000 years capable of producing waves that dwarf a 1964 tsunami one researcher calls “the most devastating seismic sea wave to impact the northwestern coast of the US in historical time.” More»

Local officials say double standard cheats taxpayers

(NEWSER) - City and state officials are mounting a rebellion against bond rating firms they say are siphoning off billions of taxpayer dollars by giving them unfairly low credit ratings, the New York Times reports. Even though municipal bonds are generally safer than those issued by corporations, municipalities get lower credit scores, which in turn means higher interest and insurance fees. More»

Flooding, high winds wreaking havoc, causing deaths

(NEWSER) - A state of emergency was declared yesterday for the western part of Washington, the area hardest hit by severe storms in the last few days. Massive flooding, heavy rains and high winds have killed at least two people, caused a three-day shutdown of an interstate and other major highways, and knocked out electricity to tens of thousands of residents. More»