Extreme Weather Is Driving More Power Outages, Studies Show

For decades, residents of eastern Queens in New York City have complained that they’re more likely to lose power when extreme weather hits, even as lights in other parts of the city stay on. A new study that looks at power outages across New York state suggests they’re right. Its broader conclusion — that different areas, even within the same neighborhood, can be more vulnerable to power outages — aren’t just limited to New York.

“We’re focusing on New York state, but power outages are a growing problem nationally,” says Nina Flores, a doctoral student at Columbia University and lead author ...