PALM BEACH, Fla. — A recent spate of overly eager tropical cyclones may lead to an earlier start to hurricane season, pushing up the official first day to May 15 from the traditional kickoff of June 1 – a date that has been custom for more than five decades.

The jumpstart in dates will be discussed at a World Meteorological Organization ...Read more

The power supply shortages that slammed Texas last week drove spot electricity prices sky-high for some locally owned utilities, with one town on the hook for more than $200 million and other municipalities anxiously awaiting their bills.

Denton, northwest of Dallas, racked up at least $207 million in power purchases over the span of a few days...Read more

Vistra Corp., one of the largest power generators in Texas, said it warned state agencies days before cascading blackouts plunged millions into darkness that internal forecasts showed electricity demand was expected to exceed supply.

Despite the warning, “the coordination and planning by authorities across the broader energy sector were ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Texas Public Utility Commission is hitting pause on disconnecting customers for not paying their bills following the winter storm that left some with electricity bills in the thousands, Gov. Greg Abbott said Sunday.

"The Public Utilities Commission is issuing a moratorium on customer disconnections for non payment," ...Read more

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is lending her star power to the Lone Star State.

The lawmaker helped raise a whopping $4 million in donations to help Texas recover from the disastrous winter storm that slammed the state.

Ocasio-Cortez volunteered Saturday at a Houston food bank with Texas Reps. Sheila Jackson-Lee and Sylvia Garcia.

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AUSTIN, Texas — Cold but undaunted, Courtney Flores thought her family was doing moderately well after almost two days without power to their South Austin home. But then the water started pouring down from the attic.

It was Tuesday, about an hour before sunset, as they scrambled to limit the already extensive damage while packing up for an ...Read more

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Texas, which will expedite federal funding for a state wracked with widespread power outages following a rare arctic blast this week.

Separately, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved an emergency fuel waiver for the state to prevent gasoline shortages, ...Read more

Beyonce is lending a helping hand to her hometown.

The pop superstar’s Houston-based BeyGood nonprofit organization have joined forces with Adidas to give up to $1,000 to those suffering from the aftereffects of the devastating winter storm.

Funds are earmarked for those living in Texas or any state affected by the storms, which have left ...Read more

As thawing temperatures begin to release Texas from the record-breaking deep freeze that has gripped the state over the past week, the devastating financial toll from broken water pipes, downed trees, wrecked automobiles and related weather-induced destruction is becoming clear.

Insurance industry executives say they anticipate the price tag ...Read more

WASHINGTON — Winter storms have led to a nationwide backlog in the delivery of 6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, setting the time-sensitive vaccination effort back days in communities across the country, the White House said Friday.

“All 50 states have been impacted. The 6 million doses represent about three days of delayed shipping,” ...Read more

MIAMI — Years ago, TV commercials for a cream promised relief from sunburn pain.

"While it cools the burn, it brings soothing, cooling relief to sun-parched skin."

South Florida's version of winter is also today's version of that retro ad. First, the heat.

"It feels more like a June pattern more than February," said meteorologist Barry ...Read more

On Wednesday night, photos posted to Twitter appeared to show something borderline unthinkable: Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas boarding a flight to Cancun, Mexico. In the middle of a pandemic. And in the middle of a crisis that had left millions of his constituents without power or clean drinking water.

Surely it must be a mistake, people theorized. ...Read more

More than 90% of Austin Energy customers had power as of Thursday afternoon, a warming development in the city's continued fight against the winter storm – a fight that now shifts to getting water and food to people without access to necessities.

A total of 40,969 Austin Energy customers were still without power as of 2 p.m. Thursday, down ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — Oncor announced early Thursday it has stopped its rolling blackouts across the state, though some customers may continue to experience power outages due to damaged equipment.

As of 8:40 a.m., around 35,000 customers in Tarrant County and 23,000 in Dallas County were without power, according to Oncor's outage map. Oncor ...Read more

HOUSTON — After losing power and heat Monday, Jennifer Grigas and her husband had to decide whether to risk COVID-19 exposure by taking their sons, ages 8 months and 3 years, to stay with her nearby parents, who have a gas-powered generator.

"You're just so cold, that's kind of what's taking priority," said Grigas, 33, a stay-at-home mom ...Read more

HOUSTON — During the decade I’ve lived in Texas, I’ve become accustomed to extreme weather. I’ve covered hurricanes, floods, droughts, tornadoes and wildfires. I’ve worked through snow in Houston, hail even, filing stories from my car. I bought an all-wheel-drive SUV, stockpiled disaster supplies, created contingency plans in case we ...Read more

Hiccups in the U.S. fuel-supply system are driving up gasoline prices as refineries in the nation’s oil-processing hub attempt to climb out of a disastrous deep freeze.

Texas officials warned late Wednesday of shortages in the western part of the state along a 400-mile (645-kilometer) stretch of Interstate 10. Dozens of truck stops across ...Read more