Massive dust storm hits Rajasthan, causing major crop losses, India

Asteroid 2019 GP21 flew past Earth at 0.93 LD

A newly discovered asteroid designated 2019 GP21 flew past Earth at a distance of 0.93 LD / 0.00188 AU (281 243 km / 174 756 miles) on March 31, 2019. It was the second asteroid to flyby Earth that day. The object was first observed at Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala on...

The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report: April 17 - 23, 2019

New activity/unrest was reported for 3 volcanoes from April 17 to 23, 2019. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 13 volcanoes. New activity/unrest: Asosan, Kyushu (Japan) | Klyuchevskoy, Central Kamchatka (Russia) | Tengger Caldera, Eastern Java...

Massive crop loss as heavy unseasonable rain and hailstorms hits Telangana, India

According to preliminary reports, more than 22 000 hectares (55 000 acres) of crops across Telangana have been damaged after recent heavy unseasonable rain and hailstorms hit the state. The worst affected are paddy and mango crop, government officials said April 22,...

Heavy rain, flash flooding hits Dallas, parts of North Texas

Severe thunderstorms hit North Texas on April 23 and 24, 2019, flooding roadways and causing power outages across the region. Dallas Love Field received 83.8 mm (3.3 inches) of rain overnight, flooding the lower levels of the airport's garages and reaching...

18 killed and over 100 injured as severe hailstorm hits Uganda

At least 18 people have been killed and over 100 injured as severe hailstorm hit Uganda's Buyende and Kamuli districts late April 22, 2019. The storm hit several villages, including Nakabembe, Kabugidho, Nfumagani, Kidera and Itamya, destroying homes and crops....

Vietnam breaks its all-time record high temperature

With 43.4 °C (110 °F) registered on April 20, 2019, Vietnam broke its all-time record high national temperature. The temperature was registered in the community of Huong Khe in Ha Tinh Province on Vietnam's north-central coastal region. Unusually hot...

1 000 homes damaged as strong storm sweeps through Chiang Mai, Thailand

Up to 1 000 homes have been damaged as severe storm accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds hit Thailands' Chiang Mai Province over the Easter weekend. Thai PBS said 10 districts were blacked out for several hours when the freak summer storm hit the region on...

Snow and hail damage crops, block multiple roads across Lebanon

Snow and hail hit parts of Lebanon on April 21, 2019, blocking multiple roads and damaging crops across the country. Cedars recorded 40 cm (15.7 inches), leaving farmers worried that fruit-bearing trees will be damaged if temperatures drop further, The Daily Star...

Thousands of homes flooded and isolated as Canada's spring thaw worsens

Severe spring flooding is affecting parts of Canada and the damage is getting bigger with each passing day. Warm temperatures are expected to continue over the next couple of days with a strong possibility of rain. As of late April 23, 3 100 homes are flooded in...

Tropical Storm "Kenneth" intensifying on its way toward Mozambique

Tropical Storm "Kenneth" formed April 23, 2019 north of Madagascar as the 14th tropical storm of record high 2018/19 Southwest Indian Ocean cyclone season. The cyclone continues strengthening and its current forecast track takes it right toward Mozambique....

Strong and shallow M5.9 earthquake hits Arunachal Pradesh, India

A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M5.9 (downgraded from M6.1) hit Arunachal Pradesh, India at 20:15 UTC on April 23, 2019. The agency is reporting a depth of 14 km (8.7 miles). EMSC is reporting M5.9 at a depth of 12 km (7.4 miles). This...

Dozens killed after severe floods and landslides hit KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

At least 51 people have been killed after floods and mudslides hit the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, especially its port city of Durban, on April 21 and 22, 2019. Search and rescue operations are in progress and the death toll is expected to rise. Heavy...

Extremely heavy rainfall hits Spain, Costa Blanca hit by heaviest April rain since 1946

A severe storm affecting parts of Spain from April 18 to 22, 2019 dropped extremely heavy rain, produced strong winds and waves up to 3 m (9.8 feet). The worst affected was Costa Blanca, over 200 km (124 miles) of Mediterranean coastline in the province of Alicante...

Severe dust storm hits Saudi Arabia and Iran

Large dust storm originating in parts of northern Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq is affecting the region and southwest Iran's Khuzestan, still recovering from massive floods. Authorities warn residents that dust particles have significantly increased air...

Over 4 000 domestic animals killed and 100 homes destroyed in large wildfires, Siberia, Russia

Large wildfires in Russia's Trans-Baikal Region, Siberia destroyed at least 109 buildings and facilities and killed over 4 000 domestic animals on April 19 and 20, 2019. Fueled by strong winds, the fires raged toward populated areas forcing authorities to issue...

Almost 2 million previously unidentified earthquakes in Southern California

Caltech seismologists have identified nearly two million previously unidentified tiny earthquakes that occurred between 2008 and 2017 in Southern California, expanding the region's earthquake catalog by a factor of 10. Their efforts, published online by the...

Sangrur farmers claim 80 percent crop loss, accuse authorities of improper reports

Farmers in the town of Sangrur, state of Punjab, India said massive hailstorm hit the region on April 17, 2019, destroying 80% of their crops. Farmers accused authorities of improper reports, saying revenue department officers visited villages not their farms....