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.

  • Deadly storms prompt national disaster declaration in South Africa

    ByTeo Blašković

    Severe storms affecting South Africa from May 4 to 11, 2026, have caused at least 4 deaths, displaced more than 2 000 people, and disrupted infrastructure and essential services across multiple provinces, prompting authorities to declare a national disaster. The declaration covers the Western Cape, North West, Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and Mpumalanga provinces. This is the fifth national disaster declaration since November 2025 and the fourth so far this year.

  • Dukono climbing access permanently closed after 3 climbers found dead, Indonesia

    ByTeo Blašković

    Indonesia’s North Halmahera government permanently closed climbing access to Mount Dukono after 3 climbers were found dead following the May 8, 2026, eruption on Halmahera Island, North Maluku. BNPB said the area had already been under a total climbing closure since April 17, before the closure was reinforced through a May 8 Regent decision barring operators, managers, and climbing-service providers from issuing permits.

  • Severe storms continue from the Adriatic into the Balkans, Level 2 risk shifts toward Bulgaria, Romania and NW Turkey

    ByTeo Blašković

    Severe thunderstorms continued across parts of northern Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and the western Balkans on Monday, May 11, 2026. ESTOFEX forecasters warn the severe weather corridor is expected to shift east on Tuesday, with Level 2 risk areas extending from southeastern Romania through Bulgaria into northeastern Greece and northwestern Turkey. Large hail, localized heavy rainfall, and severe wind gusts remain the primary hazards.

  • Biggest solar storms can occur years after solar maximum

    ByTeo Blašković

    Solar Cycle 25 remains in an active phase after reaching its peak sunspot number in late 2024, but major solar storms remain possible as the cycle declines, NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) research scientist Mark Miesch said in a video update posted on May 1, 2026. Solar activity is forecast to gradually decrease in the coming years, but the declining phase can still produce strong flares, CMEs, and geomagnetic storms.

  • SPC warns of Critical fire weather conditions across eastern Montana and west-central North Dakota

    ByTeo Blašković

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a Critical fire weather forecast for parts of eastern Montana into west-central North Dakota valid from 12:00 UTC on May 11 through 12:00 UTC on May 12, 2026, as multiple National Weather Service offices warned that strong winds, low humidity, dry fuels, and frontal wind shifts would support rapid wildfire spread across parts of the northern and central Plains.

  • Asteroid 2026 JO flew past Earth at 0.3 lunar distances

    ByTeo Blašković

    Asteroid 2026 JO flew past Earth at a distance of 0.347 LD (0.00089 AU / 133 560 km / 83 000 miles), from the center of our planet at 05:04 UTC on May 9, 2026. At its closest, the object was about 126 970 km (78 900 miles) above Earth’s surface.

  • Increased seismicity and gas emissions at Kupreanof volcano, Alaska

    ByTeo Blašković

    Seismic activity and sulfur dioxide emissions have increased at Kupreanof volcano in Alaska over recent months, likely due to magmatic intrusion beneath the volcano. Kupreanof is a heavily glaciated stratovolcano on the Alaska Peninsula with no known historical eruptions. Current data do not indicate an eruption is imminent.

  • Tropical Storm Hagupit moves through Yap State, expected to enter PAR as Caloy

    ByTeo Blašković

    Tropical Storm Hagupit was moving west through Yap State at 22:00 ChST (12:00 UTC) on May 8, 2026, with maximum sustained winds of 70 km/h (45 mph). Tropical Storm Warnings remained in effect for Ulithi, Ngulu, Fais, Yap Proper, and adjacent coastal waters. PAGASA expects the system to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on May 9 and be named Caloy.