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.

  • El Niño prompts drought alerts in El Salvador and Honduras, Panama declares national emergency

    ByRishav Kothari

    El Salvador declared a nationwide Red Alert for meteorological and agricultural drought on August 25, while Honduras expanded its drought Red Alert from 75 to 103 municipalities on August 26. Panama also declared a national state of emergency under Resolution No. 102-26 in response to El Niño-related risks, including drought, flooding and landslides. The measures come amid rainfall deficits, prolonged dry periods and increasing water stress as El Niño continues to strengthen.

  • More than 60 airlifted, 15 missing after Grand Canyon flash flood, Arizona

    ByRishav Kothari

    More than 60 people were airlifted and approximately 15 remained missing or unaccounted for after flash flooding struck Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, on August 29, 2026. The body of a 46-year-old man was recovered near Crystal Rapids on August 30, but authorities had not confirmed whether his death was connected to the flooding.

  • Old Farmer’s Almanac forecasts snowier winter for parts of Northeast, Appalachians, western U.S. and Alaska

    ByRishav Kothari

    The Old Farmer’s Almanac expects winter 2026–2027 to be warmer than normal across large parts of the United States while forecasting regional pockets of colder, wetter and snowier conditions. Its August 27 forecast places the main cold corridor from central New England through the Appalachians and Ohio Valley and calls for above-normal snowfall in several eastern and western regions and Alaska.

  • Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak becomes largest on record with 5 794 cases and 2 786 deaths, DRC

    ByRishav Kothari

    The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the country, with 5 794 confirmed cases and 2 786 deaths reported as of August 26, 2026. Cases have reached 60 health zones across six provinces as sustained transmission continues, according to the World Health Organization.

  • 1 killed, another injured after house under construction collapses in Austin due to strong winds, Texas

    ByRishav Kothari

    A two-story house under construction collapsed at 12002 Salvador Street in south Austin at about 16:20 CDT (21:20 UTC) on August 27, 2026, during strong thunderstorm winds, killing one construction worker and trapping another. Four workers were at the site; two escaped, while rescuers extracted the surviving trapped worker at approximately 17:15 CDT (22:15 UTC). The initial emergency call preceded a National Weather Service (NWS) severe thunderstorm warning for central Travis County by about 35 minutes.

  • Tropical Storm Karina forecast to reach major hurricane strength, bringing hazardous swells to Mexico as Lowell strengthens

    ByRishav Kothari

    The National Hurricane Center (NHC) named Tropical Storms Karina and Lowell at 21:00 UTC on August 27, 2026, as two separate systems developed over the eastern Pacific, with Karina well offshore southwestern Mexico and Lowell farther west. By 15:00 UTC on August 28, Karina had maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h (50 mph) and was forecast to reach 205 km/h (125 mph) on August 31. Swells generated by Karina were expected to produce life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along portions of southwestern Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula during the weekend of August 29–30. Lowell had maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h (45 mph) and was forecast to become a hurricane by August 31.

  • Wildfires kill 12 and leave 54 injured in Jijel, Béjaïa and Tizi Ouzou, Algeria

    ByRishav Kothari

    Wildfires across northern Algeria killed 12 people and left 54 with burn injuries, including six in critical condition, on August 26, 2026. Algeria’s General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC) reported 67 vegetation and agricultural fires still being fought across 16 wilayas at 20:00 LT (19:00 UTC) on August 27, while the Interior Ministry said later that night that ground and aerial firefighting operations were continuing.

  • 11 people rescued after flash flooding at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

    ByRishav Kothari

    Thunderstorms producing up to an estimated 51 mm (2 inches) of rain triggered flash flooding at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah on August 24, 2026, prompting four rescue operations involving 11 hikers. Two people were taken to a hospital with signs of hypothermia, State Route 12 was temporarily closed, and a downstream USGS gauge on the Paria River rose from near-zero flow to 79 m3/s (2 780 feet3/s) in about 20 minutes.

  • Bhote Koshi flash flood death toll rises to 489 in Nepal as upstream barrier lake overflows

    ByRishav Kothari

    The death toll from the August 26, 2026, Bhote Koshi–Trishuli flash flood in Nepal has risen to 489 as of August 28, while Nepal Police reported 2 381 people as unaccounted for in a provisional count that has not yet been reconciled with earlier government figures. Rescue operations were temporarily suspended after a newly formed barrier lake upstream near the Nepal-Tibet border began overflowing, prompting renewed flood warnings along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors.