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.

  • Europe hit by abrupt weather shift as heat dome collapses, bringing early snowfall, torrential rainfall and cold blast

    ByRishav Kothari

    Europe is experiencing a sharp weather shift following the collapse of a persistent heat dome that had brought record-breaking temperatures across the continent in early September 2024. As the heatwave subsided, parts of central Europe transitioned abruptly from extreme summer heat to unusually cold and wet conditions. Austria, for example, saw early snowfall shortly after temperatures had soared above seasonal norms. This sudden weather shift, caused by a breakdown of the high-pressure system, is now leading to prolonged rains and cold blasts in central Europe.

  • Tropical Storm “Bebinca” heading toward Shanghai, China

    ByRishav Kothari

    Tropical Storm “Bebinca” — the 13th named storm of the 2024 Pacific typhoon season, formed on September 13, 2024, as it passed near Guam. The system is forecast to continue moving toward Japan, cross the Ryukyu Islands today, and make landfall in the coastal area around Shanghai, China on Monday morning (LT), September 16.

  • Tropical Storm “Ileana” brings heavy rains and floods to Jalisco, Mexico

    ByRishav Kothari

    Tropical Storm “Ileana” dropped heavy rain over municipalities in Jalisco, Mexico on September 12, 2024. Floodwaters from swollen rivers swept away cars and motorcycles and entered several homes. On the forecast track, Ileana is expected to move across the southern portion of the Baja California peninsula today, September 13, and over the southern and central Gulf of California this weekend.

  • Line Fire scorches over 14 000 ha (34 000 acres), thousands evacuated in San Bernardino County, California, U.S.

    ByRishav Kothari

    The Line Fire in California has burned more than 14 000 ha (34 000 acres) of land in San Bernardino County since it began on September 5, 2024, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate and threatening over 65 000 structures. With containment at just 14%, erratic winds and dry conditions continue to hinder firefighting efforts.

  • Weather models predict massive rainfall event over central Europe

    ByRishav Kothari

    A massive rainfall event is expected to unfold over central Europe in the next few days, caused by a slow-moving upper-low fueled by the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Weather models predict parts of the region may see extreme rainfall and potentially catastrophic flooding in the days ahead.