The hybrid variational mode decomposition–recurrent neural network (VMD-RNN) model provides a reliable one-step-ahead prediction, with better performance in predicting high and low values than the pure long short-term memory (LSTM) model. The universal multifractal technique is also introduced to evaluate prediction performance, thus validating the usefulness and applicability of the hybrid model.

Wind energy exhibits extreme variability in space and time. However, it also shows scaling properties (properties that remain similar across different times and spaces of measurement). This can be quantified using appropriate statistical tools. In this way, the scaling properties of power from a wind farm are analysed here. Since every turbine is manufactured by design for a rated power, this acts as an upper limit on the data. This bias is identified here using data and numerical simulations.

To understand the influence of rainfall on wind power production, turbine power and rainfall were measured simultaneously on an operational wind farm and analysed. The correlation between wind, wind power, air density, and other fields was obtained on various temporal scales under rainy and dry conditions. An increase in the correlation was observed with an increase in the rain; rain also influenced the correspondence between actual and expected values of power at various velocities.

Employing event synchronization and complex networks analysis, we reveal a cascade of heavy rainfall events, related to intense atmospheric rivers (ARs): heavy precipitation events (HPEs) in western North America (NA) that occur in the aftermath of land-falling ARs are synchronized with HPEs in central and eastern Canada with a delay of up to 12 d. Understanding the effects of ARs in the rainfall over NA will lead to better anticipating the evolution of the climate dynamics in the region.

Despite being among the most severe climate extremes, it is still challenging to assess droughts’ features for specific regions. In this paper we study meteorological droughts in Europe using concepts derived from climate network theory. By exploring the synchronization in droughts occurrences across the continent we unveil regional clusters which are individually examined to identify droughts’ geographical propagation and source–sink systems, which could potentially support droughts’ forecast.