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.
Around 71 percent of wells in Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady Delta exceed World Health Organization (WHO) safe drinking water limits, placing up to 12 million people at risk of long-term arsenic exposure, a new study led by the University of Portsmouth finds. Travelers and residents relying on untreated well water may be exposed if they consume or use it for cooking.
Contrary to recent media coverage suggesting Mount Rainier had entered an unprecedented tremor phase, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that no volcanic tremor is occurring at the volcano. The abnormal seismic signal detected over several days in mid-November 2025 originated from ice buildup and communication interference at the STAR station on Rainier’s west flank. Monitoring data from the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) show no signs of volcanic unrest, and the Alert Level remains at Normal.
Indonesia’s Geological Agency raised the alert level for Semeru volcano to the highest (Level IV) following a major eruption on November 19, 2025, that produced an ash column up to 17.9 km (59 000 feet) above sea level. Authorities ordered evacuations of at least 300 residents from nearby villages and expanded exclusion zones up to 8 km (5 miles) from the crater and along the Besuk Kobokan valley. No casualties have been reported so far.
The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has issued a Moderate Risk of Excessive Rainfall for south-central Texas through Thursday, November 20, 2025, with 75–125 mm (3–5 inches) of rain possible and locally higher totals. The same frontal system is forecast to advance eastward into eastern Oklahoma and the Ozarks by Thursday night, bringing a Slight Risk of excessive rainfall to those regions.
A major eruption took place at Semeru volcano, Indonesia, on November 19, 2025, producing large pyroclastic flow and ash column up to 16.5 km (54,000 feet) above sea level. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Red while authorities issued exclusion zones along Besuk Kobokan.
Ground-based observations on November 16 and 17, 2025 captured multiple jets on the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, including sunward jets and an extended anti-tail. The images were obtained from telescopes in New Mexico, USA and France. A public online observation by the Virtual Telescope Project is scheduled at 04:15 UTC on November 19, 2025.
A bright fireball was observed over New Zealand’s North Island at 09:31 UTC (22:31 NZDT) on November 17, 2025, captured by multiple Fireballs Aotearoa cameras, including the color camera at Tauranga Astronomical Society in Matua and station NZ0033 in Katikati.
A Blizzard Warning is in effect for the Kuskokwim Delta coast and Nunivak Island, Alaska, until 05:00 AKST Monday, November 17, 2025, with visibility down to 400 m (1/4 mile), additional snow of 5–10 cm (2–4 inches), and wind gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph) expected.
Multiple explosive eruptions at Sakurajima’s Minamidake crater in Kagoshima, Japan, on November 16, 2025, sent ash to about 4 400 m (14 400 feet) above sea level, prompting ashfall forecasts and flight cancellations at Kagoshima Airport.
Heavy snow and gusts to about 65 km/h (40 mph) are forecast for the West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada and Western Plumas County/Lassen Park in California on Monday, November 17, 2025, with a Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 16:00 PST. A brief break is forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by increased chances for rain and snow showers on Thursday, November 20.
