Ecology

Data: Climate Central. Map: Alice Feng/Axios

CNN - A powerful storm dumped nearly 4 feet of snow in parts of Colorado on Thursday, prompting widespread disruptions and closures. Commuters in the state were unable to access over 50 miles of I-70 as over a half a foot of snow fell in Denver. The same system fired up severe thunderstorms from Oklahoma and Kansas to Illinois earlier this week. Meanwhile, tornadoes in Indiana and Ohio left at least two people dead on Thursday, officials said. The storms have destroyed parts of towns and knocked out power for thousands. The severe weather threat will shift to the US Southeast today, where more than 30 million people from Texas to South Carolina could see severe storms that include large hail, damaging wind gusts, heavy rainfall and tornadoes

Nice News - Giant sequoias, the largest species of redwood trees, are most associated with the Sierra Nevada in California — their native habitat. But while wildfires threaten the Golden State’s sequoia population, currently numbering around 80,000, the trees appear to be thriving in the United Kingdom. They were first brought across the pond in the 19th century to be planted at the estates of the wealthy. Today, there are about half a million giant sequoias in the U.K., and a recent study from researchers at University College London found they’re well-adapted to the climate. ... Per a press release from UCL, the British sequoias are growing at similar rates to their U.S. counterparts and capturing “large amounts” of carbon from the atmosphere. They’re still young compared to the California trees, which means they could become even more important tools as they grow. 

NPR - Baseball-sized hail in parts of Kansas and Missouri brought traffic to a standstill and prompted the National Weather Service in Kansas City to warn residents to "Get away from windows and shelter inside now!!!"