I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

  • Winter storms set to disrupt Thanksgiving travel across the U.S.

    ByRishav Kothari

    A wave of powerful winter storms is forecast to impact the United States during 2024 Thanksgiving week (November 25 – December 1), with significant disruptions expected across multiple regions. Heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada, flash flooding in California, and hazardous driving conditions in the Rockies are just a few of the challenges holiday travelers may face. As the week progresses, the storm system will strengthen, bringing snow and rain to the Midwest and South, with the Northeast likely to experience a coastal storm by Friday, November 29, 2024.

  • Four dead across U.S. West Coast as atmospheric river brings record rains and 20 landslides in California

    ByRishav Kothari

    The strongest atmospheric river of the season, driven by a bomb cyclone with a central pressure of 945 hPa, ravaged the U.S. West Coast on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, bringing unprecedented rainfall, flooding, and wind damage. Northern California bore the brunt of the storm, with 543.4 mm (21.39 inches) of rain recorded in Sonoma County and widespread flooding that stranded hundreds. Meanwhile, fierce winds of up to 206 km/h (128 mph) toppled trees and left communities without power.

  • Two reported dead as Storm Bert hits UK

    ByRishav Kothari

    Storm Bert has wreaked havoc across the UK, leaving 60 000 homes in Northern Ireland without power on Saturday, November 23, 2024, disrupting flights, and causing severe flooding and snowstorms across multiple regions. Authorities have issued Amber and Yellow Warnings for snow, ice, and flooding across the UK as Bert continues to bring hazardous conditions, disrupting transport and threatening safety. Two people were reported dead, as of late Saturday afternoon (LT).

  • 5 000 vehicles stranded, 36 injured as Storm Caetano hits France

    ByRishav Kothari

    Storm Caetano swept through France on Thursday, November 21, 2024, bringing an unseasonal winter episode with powerful winds reaching 131 km/h (81 mph) and heavy snowfall of up to 16 cm (6.3 inches). The storm caused widespread disruptions, including power outages for over 250 000 homes, severe traffic halts with 5 000 vehicles stranded, and a major accident on Route A6B near Paris that injured 36 people.

  • Storm Bert to rapidly intensify, bringing severe winds and heavy rain to the UK and Ireland

    ByRishav Kothari

    Storm Bert — the second named storm of the 2024/25 European storm season will undergo explosive cyclogenesis on Saturday, November 23, 2024, becoming a “bomb cyclone” with a rapid pressure drop of over 24 hPa in 24 hours. The system is set to bring heavy rain, strong winds, and freezing temperatures across the United Kingdom and Ireland this weekend, with warnings for flooding, power disruptions, and snow in higher regions.