climate change

Federal forecasters say there is above-average potential for significant wildfires all the way through the end of September across a vast swath of the Western U.S.

A new analysis shows more than two-thirds of data centers built – or in development – since 2022 are in drought-prone areas, including parts of the Mountain West. Experts warn this could strain water supplies for cities and farmers.

In recent years, there have been a number of fast-moving, destructive wildfires in which residents had little or no warning to evacuate. Federal officials have new recommendations for how communities should prepare for such disasters.

Homeowners insurance is getting more expensive and harder to keep. Lawmakers in our region introduced more than a dozen policy proposals in response this year.

Researchers found Wyomingites are split on why the climate is changing, but most want to see action to prepare for changes. This comes at a time when some state politicians have denied climate science.

Wyoming's governor spoke at a regional convention geared toward energy and mineral policy. He didn't mince words, calling some of the state Freedom Caucus’s efforts around the industry "dumb.”

A new study from Climate Central shows that Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah have had more than 20 extra high heat-risk days on average, and pregnant mothers without access to cooling could be more at risk.

Most of the states in our region have at least one county that violates the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Ambient Air Quality Standard, with the most problematic issues involving particulates in the air and heat.

Drought this spring has increased significantly across our region, with some states already hitting the highest levels.

For example, Utah’s Zion National Park has four days annually on average above 92.4 degrees – its 99th percentile temperature. That could jump to 21 days, or even higher.