A U.S. study suggests the climate change effect of dry autumns and winters may lead to fewer tornadoes developing during the spring season. University of Georgia researchers say global warming will likely mean more unpredictable weather conditions. They said their study ... [full story]

World insurance premium volume fell for the first time since 1980 by 2 percent after years of expansion, according to a report released by Swiss Re. In its study, “World Insurance in 2008,” the Zurich, Switzerland-based carrier said non-life premiums shrank ... [full story]

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) The first phase of an $11.9 million experiment to study tornadoes ended with researchers only finding one twister during a 35-day period. The initial phase of the Verification of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment 2 " also called Vortex2 ... [full story]

Gary and Janice Gilbert were expecting bad news when insurer USAA told them the policy for their home just north of Wilmington would jump about 20 percent if the Gilberts wanted to renew it in July. The state insurance commissioner ... [full story]

Experts say 2009 already has been proved a dangerous year for lightning strikes in the United States and warn the worst may be yet to come. National Weather Service lightning expert John Jensenius said 11 people have been killed in the ... [full story]

Government supports for terrorism risk insurance are growing globally, although some countries provide no backing, according to a study by reinsurance brokerage Guy Carpenter Inc. The report examined the state of terrorism insurance in 34 countries and six continents. Summarizing the report, ... [full story]

Seismologists say a NASA plane equipped with sophisticated new radar will be a regular visitor to the skies over California's San Andreas Fault. The Uninhibited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar was recently installed on a Gulfstream jet that will ... [full story]

TALLAHASSEE — Both supporters and opponents of a bill that would partially deregulate Florida’s property insurance market are fiercely lobbying Gov. Charlie Crist as he nears a decision about whether to sign the bill or follow his apparent instinct to ... [full story]

A report detailing the impact of climate change on the United States calls for decreased rainfall in southwestern states, with more 100-degree Fahrenheit days. Evan Mills and Michael Wehner at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory ... [full story]

U.S. scientists say climate change in the form of regional drought, higher temperatures and heavy rainfall is now common in many parts of the nation. The scientists representing 13 U.S government agencies, universities and research institutes say the human-induced ... [full story]