Asteroid 2024 EL3 flew past Earth at just 0.09 LD
A newly-discovered asteroid designated 2023 EL3 flew past Earth at a distance of just 0.09 LD / 0.00024 AU (36 040 km / 22 394 miles) from the center of our planet at 10:31 UTC on March 11, 2024.
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.
M6.0 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit New Britain, Papua New Guinea at 15:13 UTC on March 13, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 50 km (31 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.0 at a depth of 56 km (35 miles).
Tinakula volcano in Solomon Islands erupts, sending lava toward the ocean
Sentinel-2 satellite image acquired on March 11, 2024, shows Tinakula Volcano in the Solomon Islands undergoing a new effusive eruption, with lava flowing about 1 km down its western slope into the ocean. This eruption continues the activity that began in December 2018.
Severe Tropical Storm “Filipo” strikes Mozambique
Severe Tropical Storm “Filipo” made landfall on the northeastern coast of Inhambane Province, Mozambique, close to Inhassoro City around 03:00 UTC on March 12, 2024. The storm brought over 150 mm (5.9 inches) of rainfall in 12 – 18 hours, destroying homes, schools, and electrical infrastructure, and leaving many in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
Denver braces for major winter storm, heavy snow and strong winds, Colorado
Denver and surrounding areas are on high alert as a powerful Pacific storm system is expected to hit the central Rockies and Plains, including Colorado, with severe weather conditions starting late Wednesday, March 13, 2024. The storm is expected to bring heavy mountain snows, lower elevation rain, and strong winds through mid-week, intensifying as it moves across the central Plains.
Thousands of high temperature records broken across Africa
A wave of exceptionally hot weather has led to the shattering of thousands of temperature records across Africa. Nations from Cameroon to Mauritius have experienced unprecedented heat, marking historic highs for the month of March.
Storm Monica hits France with very heavy rains
Storm Monica swept across France on March 8 and 9, 2024, bringing very heavy rain to the country’s southeast where some areas recorded more than 300 mm (11.8 inches) of rain in 48 hours.
Tropical Storm “Filipo” heading toward Mozambique, landfall expected between Sofala and Inhambane
Tropical Storm “Filipo” formed on March 10, 2024, as the 7th named storm of the 2023/24 South West Indian Ocean cyclone season. Filipo is expected to continue intensifying and make landfall between the extreme south of Sofala Province and Inhambane Province, north of Vilanculos, early morning UTC on March 12 as a severe tropical storm.
Spanish police fire rubber bullets at farmers’ protests near Madrid
On Friday afternoon, March 8, 2024, Spanish police used rubber bullets and tear gas against farmers who protested in the province of Ávila, northeast of Madrid. This is just the latest in a series of violent clashes between farmers and police taking place across Europe over the past couple of months.
Strong M7.4 solar flare erupts from AR 3599, producing CME
A strong solar flare measuring M7.4 erupted from Active Region 3599 (beta-gamma-gamma) at 12:13 UTC on March 10, 2024. The event started at 12:00 UTC and ended at 12:20.
