I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
The Icelandic Met Office reports ongoing magma accumulation and land rise in Svartsengi, indicating a heightened risk for intensified volcanic activity or the formation of new fissures in the Reykjanes Peninsula.
A severe hailstorm struck Manipur, northeast India, on May 5, 2024, resulting in the death of one person and the destruction of over 15 000 homes and other structures. The storm, characterized by heavy rains, giant hail, and strong winds, wreaked havoc across several districts, leaving extensive structural and agricultural damage in its wake.
A very large tornado hit Barnsdall, Oklahoma, at 21:40 local time on May 6 (02:40 UTC on May 7), causing widespread damage. The event resulted in at least one fatality, multiple injuries, and extensive structural damage, including to a nursing home.
Two near-Earth asteroids, designated 2024 JR1 and 2024 JD, are set to make a close approach to Earth between May 7 and May 8, 2024. Both asteroids will come within less than the distance of the moon (1 LD), with 2024 JR1 approaching at about 0.72 LD (295 000 km / 183 700 miles) and 2024 JD at approximately 0.77 LD (275 800 km / 171 415 miles).
A significant severe weather outbreak is forecast to impact millions across the Central United States, starting on May 6, 2024. Meteorological conditions indicate potential for long-track tornadoes, large hail, and hurricane-force wind gusts, posing increased risk to regions still recovering from recent extreme weather events.
A powerful atmospheric river began affecting Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil on April 29, 2024, resulting in massive flooding across the region. By early May 6, 2024, the storm affected 334 of the state’s 496 cities, including the capital Porto Alegre, claimed at least 75 lives, left over 100 people missing, and impacted more than 1 million residents. This severe weather event is described as the most disastrous in the state since 1941, surpassing previous records in terms of both scope and damage.
A powerful, long-duration solar flare measuring X4.5 erupted from Active Region 3663 at 06:35 UTC on May 6, 2024. The event started at 05:38 and ended at 06:47 UTC.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.2 hit Seram, Indonesia at 18:33 UTC on May 5, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 12.1 km (7.5 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
On May 5, 2024, Indonesia’s volcanology agency, PVMGB, released aerial footage of the Ruang volcano following a series of powerful eruptions that have dramatically reshaped the landscape and forced nearly 10 000 people to evacuate permanently.
A major solar flare measuring X1.2 erupted from Active Region 3663 (beta-gamma-delta) at 11:54 UTC on May 5, 2024. The event started at 11:41 and ended at 12:16 UTC. This is the second X-class solar flare of the day and the third from Region 3663 since X1.6 on May 3.
