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.

  • Potential Tropical Cyclone One-C moving toward Hawaii, heavy rain, strong winds and dangerous surf forecast

    ByRishav Kothari

    Potential Tropical Cyclone One-C was moving toward the Hawaiian Islands on August 13, 2026 with 1-minute sustained winds of 65 km/h (40 mph). The system is forecast to continue strengthening during its approach. Heavy rainfall, strong winds and dangerous surf were forecast for parts of Hawaii starting late August 14. Meanwhile Tropical Storm Hernan that formed far west of Baja California, was forecast to weaken

  • State of Emergency declared in Perry and Muskingum counties after flooding leaves one dead, Ohio

    ByRishav Kothari

    Ohio Governor Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency in Perry and Muskingum counties on August 11, 2026, after severe flooding left one person dead and affected communities including Roseville, Crooksville and New Lexington. Radar and rain gauges indicated 127–203 mm (5–8 inches) of rain in parts of southeastern Ohio, where numerous structures, vehicles, and roads were flooded. Forty Ohio Army National Guard members were deployed to assist local responders.

  • At least six tornadoes confirmed after derecho sweeps through Iowa, Illinois and Indiana

    ByRishav Kothari

    At least six tornadoes were confirmed after a preliminary derecho swept from eastern Iowa through northern Illinois and into northern Indiana on August 11, 2026. Three EF1 tornadoes were confirmed in Delaware County, Iowa, while three additional tornadoes produced preliminary EF1-level damage in the Chicago area, with two continuing into Lake County, Indiana. The derecho produced a maximum measured gust of 160 km/h (99 mph) at Gary, Indiana.

  • Severe storms leave at least two dead, spawn at least six tornadoes, and cause flooding across the Midwest and Ohio Valley

    ByRishav Kothari

    At least two people died and more than 800 000 utility customers across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky were without power at 00:00 EDT on August 12 (04:00 UTC on August 12) after severe storms swept the Midwest and Ohio Valley on August 11, 2026. Sixteen incarcerated people were transported to hospitals for treatment after a reported lightning strike at an Ohio correctional facility. At least six tornadoes were confirmed in association with a system that the Storm Prediction Center preliminarily classified as a derecho, while additional rounds of storms brought destructive winds and flooding to Ohio.

  • Multiple water rescues conducted as severe storms bring 115 km/h (70 mph) wind threat to flood-hit Perry County, Ohio

    ByRishav Kothari

    Severe thunderstorms with radar-indicated wind gusts of up to 115 km/h (70 mph) crossed Perry County, Ohio, late in the morning of August 11, 2026, after parts of Perry and Morgan counties received 127–178 mm (5–7 inches) of rain overnight. Multiple water rescues were conducted while Flash Flood Warnings remained in effect following an overnight Flash Flood Emergency.

  • Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms from northern Illinois into the Ohio Valley

    ByRishav Kothari

    The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued an Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms from northern Illinois into the Ohio Valley for August 11, 2026, with damaging winds the primary threat. A potentially organized mesoscale convective system moving southeast from Iowa could produce a swath of damaging gusts, including some above 120 km/h (75 mph), if it remains well organized.

  • Five stations break daily rainfall records following Typhoon Dolphin’s double landfall, China

    ByRishav Kothari

    Five stations break station-history daily rainfall records in in Zhejiang and Shanghai, following Typhoon Dolphin’s double landfall on August 9, 2026. Localized rainfall totals in parts of Taizhou exceeded 700 mm (28 inches) between August 8 and early August 10.Meanwhile, The Ministry of Emergency Management activated a Level IV national emergency response for geological disasters in Hebei, Henan and Hubei on August 10.

  • B.C. declares provincial emergency as out-of-control Bald Range wildfire grows to over 10 000 ha (25 000 acres)

    ByRishav Kothari

    British Columbia declared a State of Provincial Emergency on August 8, 2026, after the rapidly expanding Bald Range wildfire pushed into the Summerland area and forced large-scale evacuations across the South Okanagan. By August 9, BC Wildfire Service classified the 10 341 ha (25 552 acres) fire as a Wildfire of Note and Out of Control, with five Evacuation Orders and four Evacuation Alerts associated with the incident. By 21:30 PDT on August 8 (04:30 UTC on August 9), all 5 688 properties in the District of Summerland were under Evacuation Order, while the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen reported another 416 properties under order and 1 100 under alert.

  • Typhoon Dolphin approaches landfall south of Taizhou, Zhejiang and Fujian raise emergency responses, China

    ByRishav Kothari

    Typhoon Dolphin is forecast to make landfall south of Taizhou along the southeastern Chinese coast on August 9, 2026. Zhejiang was put under a Level 1 typhoon emergency response, Fujian had raised its response to Level 2, and China’s National Meteorological Center maintained a red typhoon warning as the cyclone approached the coast. Fujian also reported 98 900 people relocated from risk areas, while ferry, rail and aviation restrictions are in effect in affected areas.