Eric Holthaus
@ericholthaus.com
Meteorologist & climate journalist. Dad. Birder. Minnesotan. Optimistic to a fault.
Science news with attitude for The Guardian. Author of The Future Earth.
Contact me securely on Signal: 3162958947
Science news with attitude for The Guardian. Author of The Future Earth.
Contact me securely on Signal: 3162958947
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
December 2025 will end up the warmest in the modern record in much of the West. It's not particularly close in many places.
Salt Lake City is running +13F above normal, smashing December 2014 by more than 5 degrees, the previous record. These temps are typical of early November, not late December.
Salt Lake City is running +13F above normal, smashing December 2014 by more than 5 degrees, the previous record. These temps are typical of early November, not late December.
December 29, 2025 at 6:27 PM
December 2025 will end up the warmest in the modern record in much of the West. It's not particularly close in many places.
Salt Lake City is running +13F above normal, smashing December 2014 by more than 5 degrees, the previous record. These temps are typical of early November, not late December.
Salt Lake City is running +13F above normal, smashing December 2014 by more than 5 degrees, the previous record. These temps are typical of early November, not late December.
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
I'm a firm believer that this liminal period between the holidays and New Year's is how we're supposed to live. It's peak existence.
May the word "efficiency" die in 2026 and all its horrible relatives "innovating" to solve the perceived problems of rest, joy, creativity, and humanity.
May the word "efficiency" die in 2026 and all its horrible relatives "innovating" to solve the perceived problems of rest, joy, creativity, and humanity.
December 29, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I'm a firm believer that this liminal period between the holidays and New Year's is how we're supposed to live. It's peak existence.
May the word "efficiency" die in 2026 and all its horrible relatives "innovating" to solve the perceived problems of rest, joy, creativity, and humanity.
May the word "efficiency" die in 2026 and all its horrible relatives "innovating" to solve the perceived problems of rest, joy, creativity, and humanity.
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
A look at global temperatures so far this year (January to November) compared to each other period since 1850... 2025 is the 2nd highest on record!
Data from www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan...
Data from www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan...
December 29, 2025 at 1:36 PM
A look at global temperatures so far this year (January to November) compared to each other period since 1850... 2025 is the 2nd highest on record!
Data from www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan...
Data from www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan...
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
There's an interesting special section in the NYT today on the future of NYC, including the climate risks.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Notable is this graph of local changes in extreme rainfall:
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Notable is this graph of local changes in extreme rainfall:
December 28, 2025 at 7:22 PM
There's an interesting special section in the NYT today on the future of NYC, including the climate risks.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Notable is this graph of local changes in extreme rainfall:
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Notable is this graph of local changes in extreme rainfall:
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
whatever 2026 holds i don't think anything next year will be funnier than Chicago Pope. 2025 was overall a huge stinker but Chicago Pope was an all time great B-plot
December 28, 2025 at 3:11 PM
whatever 2026 holds i don't think anything next year will be funnier than Chicago Pope. 2025 was overall a huge stinker but Chicago Pope was an all time great B-plot
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
I drew this when I was practicing with colour pencils a while ago!
Hopefully I'll have more time for colour pencil art next year!
🐡
Hopefully I'll have more time for colour pencil art next year!
🐡
December 28, 2025 at 12:47 PM
I drew this when I was practicing with colour pencils a while ago!
Hopefully I'll have more time for colour pencil art next year!
🐡
Hopefully I'll have more time for colour pencil art next year!
🐡
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
This is such a damn good thread and the only thing I think I can add is that it is really whiplash-inducing to see how many formerly centre-left climate-aligned folks have in the past few months leapt to centre-right tech-aligned. Not sure if it's despair, stewing in Musk's X-swamp, or just honesty
One thing 2025 made clear: Durable progress on climate in the US will require structural reform to our corrupted political systems. Otherwise, steps forward will always be vulnerable to the bloody clawbacks we saw this year. A political strategy that doesn't center system reform is not "pragmatic."
December 28, 2025 at 2:25 PM
This is such a damn good thread and the only thing I think I can add is that it is really whiplash-inducing to see how many formerly centre-left climate-aligned folks have in the past few months leapt to centre-right tech-aligned. Not sure if it's despair, stewing in Musk's X-swamp, or just honesty
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
The thickness of #Arctic sea ice dropped to a new all-time record low this year around the North Pole (data from PIOMAS). More in my latest 'climate viz of the month' blog: zacklabe.com/climate-viz-... #OpenScience #SciComm #DataViz #OpenData
Climate Viz of the Month
November 2025 Hi! I am happy to share the first of (hopefully) some new graphics in this ‘climate viz of the month’ blog. For quite a few years now, I’ve been procrastinating on figuring out an eff…
zacklabe.com
December 27, 2025 at 7:40 PM
The thickness of #Arctic sea ice dropped to a new all-time record low this year around the North Pole (data from PIOMAS). More in my latest 'climate viz of the month' blog: zacklabe.com/climate-viz-... #OpenScience #SciComm #DataViz #OpenData
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
Not to be controversial but I think we should use tools and resources to make people's lives less miserable instead of more
December 27, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Not to be controversial but I think we should use tools and resources to make people's lives less miserable instead of more
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
"Sodium is nearly 50 times cheaper than lithium and can even be harvested from seawater, making it a much more sustainable option for large-scale energy storage”
Previously, I posted that Na-ion batteries were likely to reach Li-ion battery energy density faster due to the prior advances and experience from Lithium work. Well, that’s appears to be the case. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 www.uh.edu/news-events/...
Breakthrough New Material Brings Affordable, Sustainable Future Within Grasp
Researchers have developed a new material for sodium-ion batteries, sodium vanadium phosphate, that delivers higher voltage and greater energy capacity than previous sodium-based materials. This break...
www.uh.edu
December 26, 2025 at 6:02 PM
"Sodium is nearly 50 times cheaper than lithium and can even be harvested from seawater, making it a much more sustainable option for large-scale energy storage”
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
Why I am so hopeful, in a sentence. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/o...
December 26, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Why I am so hopeful, in a sentence. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/o...
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
🚨🔥 Warmest Christmas on record for the Contiguous U.S.! The average high of 57.9F and the average low of 36.6F each broke the Christmas record by a full 3F. 🔥🚨
December 26, 2025 at 3:39 PM
🚨🔥 Warmest Christmas on record for the Contiguous U.S.! The average high of 57.9F and the average low of 36.6F each broke the Christmas record by a full 3F. 🔥🚨
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
some good climate/energy news:
* 96% of new US power capacity was carbon-free in 2024 (56 gigawatts!)
* 2025 included the first month ever when 51% of power on the U.S. grid was carbon-free
* The golbal trend is overwhelming: The world is now investing more $ in clean energy than fossil fuels
* 96% of new US power capacity was carbon-free in 2024 (56 gigawatts!)
* 2025 included the first month ever when 51% of power on the U.S. grid was carbon-free
* The golbal trend is overwhelming: The world is now investing more $ in clean energy than fossil fuels
Clean energy is going to win. It's just a question of when.
Clean energy is still winning. These 10 charts prove it.
Solar and wind are beating new power demand, steelmaking is slowly getting off coal, and more clean energy victories are clear in these charts.
www.canarymedia.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM
some good climate/energy news:
* 96% of new US power capacity was carbon-free in 2024 (56 gigawatts!)
* 2025 included the first month ever when 51% of power on the U.S. grid was carbon-free
* The golbal trend is overwhelming: The world is now investing more $ in clean energy than fossil fuels
* 96% of new US power capacity was carbon-free in 2024 (56 gigawatts!)
* 2025 included the first month ever when 51% of power on the U.S. grid was carbon-free
* The golbal trend is overwhelming: The world is now investing more $ in clean energy than fossil fuels
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
I began this story focused on the weird lies about Hurricane Helene but became very disturbed at how prevalent this pseudo-environmentalism is. The movement blocks real policy to curb climate catastrophes.
For @rollingstone.com I wrote about the mass national movement to ban chemtrails...which don't exist. The movement is one of the ways in which MAHA is taking over the country.
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Chemtrails Aren't Real. So Why Are Politicians Passing Laws About Them?
The history and politics of so-called weather weapons.
www.rollingstone.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I began this story focused on the weird lies about Hurricane Helene but became very disturbed at how prevalent this pseudo-environmentalism is. The movement blocks real policy to curb climate catastrophes.
It's official: Today was the warmest Christmas in US history. It was raining and nearly 40°F here in Minneapolis.
Astonishing feat!
US will break its record for the warmest Christmas by ~5°F! That’s remarkable.
Anomalies are up to +40°F in the nation’s middle and as you can see the US has the warmest air - relative to average - in the World!
H/T to @BenNollWeather
US will break its record for the warmest Christmas by ~5°F! That’s remarkable.
Anomalies are up to +40°F in the nation’s middle and as you can see the US has the warmest air - relative to average - in the World!
H/T to @BenNollWeather
December 26, 2025 at 2:55 AM
It's official: Today was the warmest Christmas in US history. It was raining and nearly 40°F here in Minneapolis.
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
🎶 Then one foggy Christmas Day, ... 🎶
December 25, 2025 at 3:28 PM
🎶 Then one foggy Christmas Day, ... 🎶
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
Continuing coverage of the Christmas storm affecting nearly every corner of California. Another round of enhanced thunderstorms was forecast to sweep through the Bay Area on Thursday afternoon, with a second "surge" of atmospheric river activity posing a "dangerous" flood risk to SoCal. #CAwx
California storm: Flooding in the Bay Area, flight delays, 124,000 PG&E power outages
Another massive storm swept across California. The flash flood warning for San Francisco expired, however the Bay Area is expected to wake up to widespread flooding.
www.sfchronicle.com
December 25, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Continuing coverage of the Christmas storm affecting nearly every corner of California. Another round of enhanced thunderstorms was forecast to sweep through the Bay Area on Thursday afternoon, with a second "surge" of atmospheric river activity posing a "dangerous" flood risk to SoCal. #CAwx
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
Flash Flood Warnings now in effect for most of SoCal Transverse Ranges as powerful storm slowly into the region. Rainfall has been torrential already in Santa Barbara/Ventura counties, but mostly light in LA. That will change soon, and flood risk will sharply rise. #CAwx
December 24, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Flash Flood Warnings now in effect for most of SoCal Transverse Ranges as powerful storm slowly into the region. Rainfall has been torrential already in Santa Barbara/Ventura counties, but mostly light in LA. That will change soon, and flood risk will sharply rise. #CAwx
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
Rainfall rates up to 1.5 inches per hour forecast in Southern California on Wednesday. Rainfall of that intensity has a nearly 100% chance of triggering a debris flow within and downstream of the Eaton and Palisades burn areas.
www.sfchronicle.com/weather/arti...
www.sfchronicle.com/weather/arti...
Storm expected to bring ‘life-threatening’ impacts to Southern California. Here’s what to know
Heavy rainfall is expected to bring widespread impacts to Southern California starting Tuesday night, with the potential for dangerous flash flooding and mudslides.
www.sfchronicle.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Rainfall rates up to 1.5 inches per hour forecast in Southern California on Wednesday. Rainfall of that intensity has a nearly 100% chance of triggering a debris flow within and downstream of the Eaton and Palisades burn areas.
www.sfchronicle.com/weather/arti...
www.sfchronicle.com/weather/arti...
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
In 2026: Take care of each other. Stand up for each other.
December 23, 2025 at 5:06 AM
In 2026: Take care of each other. Stand up for each other.
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
70 environmental defenders & conservationists who died in 2025
Environmental progress often depends on endurance, sustained over years, by people whose work mattered long before their names did.
news.mongabay.com/2025/12/envi...
Environmental progress often depends on endurance, sustained over years, by people whose work mattered long before their names did.
news.mongabay.com/2025/12/envi...
December 23, 2025 at 4:04 AM
70 environmental defenders & conservationists who died in 2025
Environmental progress often depends on endurance, sustained over years, by people whose work mattered long before their names did.
news.mongabay.com/2025/12/envi...
Environmental progress often depends on endurance, sustained over years, by people whose work mattered long before their names did.
news.mongabay.com/2025/12/envi...
Reposted by Eric Holthaus
When I teaching the Holocaust I note the Holocaust museum’s definition of a concentration camp is a prison whose inmates are denied due process. These are by definition concentration camps.
These are concentration camps. No other way to describe them. Truly horrific, and none of it surprising in the least.
30 minutes. Some deportees described sexual assault. Detainee describes the guard sexually assaulting most detainees. Lights left on all day. Prisoners not given clean water.
Now the DHS tour. Nobody spoke to the detainees. Noem's video was in a different area of the prison.
Now the DHS tour. Nobody spoke to the detainees. Noem's video was in a different area of the prison.
December 23, 2025 at 12:39 AM
When I teaching the Holocaust I note the Holocaust museum’s definition of a concentration camp is a prison whose inmates are denied due process. These are by definition concentration camps.