Extreme weather
'Potentially devastating': Hurricane Lane bears down on Hawaii
One of the most powerful hurricanes recorded in the north Pacific is forecast to make a direct hit on the US island state of Hawaii, American weather services say.
- by Peter Hannam
Latest
Hawaii residents dig in as Hurricane Lane nears
Hawaii residents braced for Hurricane Lane, which was bearing down on the US island chain with high winds and lashing rains.
- by Jolyn Rosa
UK
Typhoon forces Britain and Japan to cancel historic beach landing drill
Typhoon Cimaron, which is heading north from the western Pacific, is expected to bring strong winds and rain to Japan over the next few days.
- by Tim Kelly
Exclusive
Weather
Record evaporation rates across eastern Australia exacerbate drought
Evaporation levels are running at record rates, particularly across eastern states, increasing the misery for farmers and raising the threat of bushfires.
- by Peter Hannam
Deaths reported after flash flood hits hikers in Calabria, Italy
Heavy rain flooded a gorge filled with hikers on Monday in the southern region of Calabria, killing at least eight, Italy's civil protection agency said.
Weather
'Fingers crossed': Best chance of decent rainfall in months may help fire regions
Farmers and firefighters may be in for some much-needed rain relief by the end of this week with the potential for some good falls in drought-hit parts of the state.
- by Peter Hannam
Extreme weather
Residents told to remain vigilant as bushfire burns out of control
More than 70 bushfires continue to burn across the state as firefighters prepare for more high winds.
- by Maani Truu
Weather
'Too late to leave': Emergency warning for bushfire
The fire at Ellangowan, south-west of Ballina, broke containment lines and jumped a creek about 4.30pm on Sunday, the Rural Fire Service said.
- by Ellie-Marie Watts & Justine Landis Hanley
Fire
'Mayday': watch the 'firenado' that swallowed Jeremy Stoke
California had never seen anything like it. Its plume stretched 12 kilometres high, it moved at 265kph. And it was headed right for firefighter Jeremy Stoke.
- by Meagan Flynn
Extreme weather
Kerala, India death toll passes 300 in worst flooding for a century
The Indian state of Kerala has been hit with its highest rainfall in a century leaving more than 300 dead.
- by Saptarshi Ray
Exclusive
Bushfire
Official start for fire season in Sydney, most of NSW, brought forward
Authorities will bring forward the official start to the bushfire danger period to almost the whole of NSW from the start of next month as risks of major blazes intensify.
- by Peter Hannam