I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.
Florida has entered its worst drought in 25 years, with 100.00% of the state classified in drought categories D0–D4, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Severe to extreme drought now covers 85.46% of the state, marking the most extensive spatial coverage since the 2000–2001 drought event.
At least one person was reported dead as Storm Nils brought damaging winds to France late on February 11, 2026, with gusts exceeding 180 km/h (112 mph) recorded in parts of the country. More than 900 000 customers were left without power as authorities issued red and orange alerts across multiple departments, while Savoie was placed under a rare red avalanche alert on February 12 after multiple avalanches were reported.
Snow avalanches struck northern Italy and south-eastern France between February 7–8, 2026, killing at least 11 people across multiple Alpine locations. Italian authorities reported several fatalities in Trentino–Alto Adige and Lombardy, while French media confirmed deaths in the Hautes-Alpes. The incidents occurred during a period of elevated avalanche danger following recent snowfall and wind loading.
A bright fireball was observed over the Indiana–Ohio border region at 04:31 UTC on February 11, 2026 (23:32 local time on February 10), generating more than 120 eyewitness reports across five U.S. states. The meteor was first detected at an altitude of 76 km (47 miles) near Trinity, Indiana, and disintegrated at 43 km (27 miles) above Laura, Ohio. The object traveled approximately 77 km (48 miles) through the atmosphere at a speed of 13 km/s (29 000 mph).
Tropical Depression Penha crossed southern-central Philippines from February 5–7, 2026, leaving at least eight people dead and 645 612 affected across six regions, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as of February 10. More than 86 000 people were displaced, including nearly 60 000 staying in 438 evacuation centres, while enhanced rainfall from a shear line continues to affect central and southern parts of the country.
Severe flooding triggered by persistent heavy rainfall since January 26, 2026, has left 44 people dead across 16 departments in Colombia as of February 11. Authorities report 12 000 homes damaged, 4 000 destroyed, and approximately 72 000 families affected in 104 municipalities. Additional rainfall is forecast over the next 48 hours.
Flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall between February 7–9, 2026 killed at least three people and inundated 21 displacement sites across Idlib and northern Latakia, northwest Syria. The flooding directly affected about 5 300 internally displaced persons, damaged or destroyed 1 999 tents, submerged homes, and forced evacuations of civilians and medical facilities, according to United Nations and local authorities.
A slow-moving landslide has damaged hundreds of homes in Padasari village, Tegal, Central Java, Indonesia, forcing large-scale evacuations since early February 2026. Local reporting indicates that ground deformation remains active, preventing residents from returning to affected areas.
A series of collapse-fed pyroclastic density currents descended the Mi-isi Gully at Mayon volcano, Philippines, on February 9, 2026, with the farthest runout reaching 4 km (2.5 miles) from the summit crater. The activity peaked between 10:35–11:37 local time (LT), culminating in a seven-minute event at 10:59 LT that generated ash clouds exceeding 2 km (about 6 560 feet) in height and causing ashfall across parts of Camalig and Guinobatan, Albay, during rainy conditions.
Researchers at the University of Kansas report that the National Severe Storms Laboratory’s Warn-on-Forecast System can extend tornado warning lead times beyond the current average of about 15 minutes, according to a study published in Weather and Forecasting.
