May has arrived in full force, and with it comes the peak of tornado season, the promise of a potentially significant El Niño, and a week’s worth of science that ranges from the edge of our solar system to the streets of Paris. This week’s links touch on the future of weather forecasting, what a Texas Republican and a roomful of Democrats agree on about NOAA, and why a frozen world smaller than most U.S. states just turned everything we thought we knew about atmospheres on its head. There’s a lot here. Pour yourself something warm, find a quiet corner, and dig in. And before you do, if you haven’t checked your tornado preparedness lately, this weekend is exactly the right moment. The atmosphere has a way of reminding us it’s in charge.
- Astronomers just discovered something at the edge of the solar system that left one scientist with four words: ‘We don’t understand why.’
- Baby birds fell from their nests. Billions of mussels cooked on the rocks. Trees turned orange overnight. Scientists just finished tallying what one heat wave actually costs an ecosystem.
- To uncover secrets about Earth’s ancient climate, scientists are starting to look at some truly bizarre biological clues that go way beyond the usual tree rings and ice cores.
- New research just ran the numbers on how many people will face heat extremes unlike anything in recorded history. The difference between the best and worst case scenario is 3 billion people.
- Paris just ran a simulation of what happens when the temperature hits 122F (50C) degrees. What they discovered had nothing to do with infrastructure…and everything to do with the people living there.
- A Republican congressman from Texas just broke with the administration over proposed cuts to NOAA, and his reason has nothing to do with climate change.
- AI weather forecasting is faster and often more accurate…right up until the moment it matters most. A new study just found out where it breaks down.
- El Niño affects your hurricane season, your winter rainfall, your grocery prices, and your wildfire risk. A NOAA scientist just laid out what this year’s version could mean for all of them.
- NOAA will release their 2026 hurricane outlook on May 21, 2026. Stay tuned here for more details!
- Ever checked your weather app, stepped outside, and found a completely different reality? There’s a reason for that…and scientists are working to fix it.
SEVERE WEATHER AND TORNADO SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS
NOAA WEATHER RADIO
Here’s your weekly reminder to check your NOAA weather radio’s batteries, programming, settings, and reception. NOAA has a comprehensive page on NOAA weather radio…a feature of the National weather Service in the USA that has saved countless lives.
US DROUGHT MONITOR
Texas and the Deep South finally got some much-needed soaking rains to help with the drought, even if spots like Georgia and Florida are still dry, while the Midwest enjoyed the dry spell for farming and the Northeast saw some relief. Looking ahead, expect more heavy rain and storm risks in the Southeast over the next week, followed by warmer temps and better rain chances for the southern states later on, leaving the West to keep dealing with heat and shrinking snow pack.
- NOAA’s US Drought Monitor website has the full regional details.
- The latest daily fire weather outlooks can be found at the Storm Prediction Center’s website.
CITIZEN SCIENCE
Citizen science lets everyday people actively shape real research by sharing observations and data. Join now to make a tangible impact, discover new insights, and become part of a global community driving scientific breakthroughs!
- The CoCoRaHS project invites weather enthusiasts to become citizen scientists by submitting daily precipitation reports that support forecasting and climate research even on dry days.
- Another path into becoming a citizen scientist is using the free mPING app! Your weather reports go directly to the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma!
That’s a wrap for this week! Thanks for stopping by! See you next Saturday!
™ Tornado Quest © 1998‑2026 Tornado Quest, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
TORNADO QUEST 
You must be logged in to post a comment.