Severe thunderstorms are not as common as they might be in other parts of the country, but they do still happen locally in the spring and summer months.

Nearly two-thirds of surveyed weather stations are reporting less snow than they did decades ago

Decreasing cold spells can lead to a variety of impacts on recreation, production and health

The 12 months ending in October were the hottest ever recorded on Earth and likely the planet’s hottest 12-month period ever recorded, according to a report from the nonprofit science research group Climate Central.

Here are the July stats for temperatures in the Roanoke area, according to data from the National Weather Service.

A new quick study finds that human-caused global warming made July hotter for four out of five people on Earth.

Roanoke and Lynchburg's summers could feel more like it does in Arkansas and Texas now

The report says 20-30% of people who live through a hurricane develop depression and/or PTSD

Climate Central says we're getting 5-10 more unstable days than in 1979

The organization released new climate "normal" numbers for our region and the rest of the country Tuesday

It may be chilly today, but the overall warming trend is a concern for those with allergies

We're more mindful of the environment and climate now, but temperatures are still warming.

ROANOKE, Va. New research from NOAA and NASA Monday confirms that the first half of 2020 has been close to the hottest on record across the globe. The average global temperature between January and June was 1.93F above the 20th-century average and just 0.09F from the record set in 2016. This also states that Junes temperatures were tied as the third-hottest on record, marking the 426th consecutive month of warmer-than-average global temperatures. Roanoke is currently in the middle of one of its longest 90 streaks on record. We'll likely extend our 90 streak in the Roanoke Valley today.

Last week, Your Local Weather Authority meteorologist Chris Michaels wore a unique tie to work. It depicted global warming stripes (the average annual global temperature) from 1850 to 2019. Chris wasnt alone in showing his stripes. Many meteorologists around the country came together to spread awareness of our warming climate, including Paul Gross of our sister station (WDIV) in Detroit. (Paul Gross (WDIV))The warming stripes idea was conceived by English climatologist Ed Hawkins. Heres the warming stripes for Virginia.

7 to 23 inches -- The projected amount sea levels were expected to rise by the end of the century in 2007. Entire coastal cities could be wiped out if there aren't enough sea defenses in place. China's low-lying big cities are particularly vulnerable, according to a Climate Central press release -- think Shanghai, Tianjin, and Hong Kong. Previous reports had predicted that sea levels could rise by three feet (0.9 meters) -- which Climate Central researchers now say was too conservative an estimate. Rising sea levels contribute to warmer global temperatures, changing what kinds of crops farmers can grow -- meaning millions of people could face food and drinking water scarcity, health crises, and a disrupted global economy.

The National Weather Service's heat index measures how hot it feels when you factor in relative humidity with the actual air temperature. The South and Southwest see these high heat index days throughout the summer. Miami had 160.6 days extreme heat days on average over the last five years, for example. A "danger" day is when the combined heat and humidity makes it feel like it's 105 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter. For both conditions, "danger" days and "heat index" days, it can be dangerous to exercise outside and can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.