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.
A frontal system that affected central and southern Chile between August 1 and 2, 2026, left two people dead, 1 399 affected, 156 in shelters and 536 isolated as of August 3. Ten red alerts and 10 yellow alerts remained active because of rising rivers and overflow risks, while authorities reported 5 550 homes damaged or destroyed and 23 104 customers without electricity.
A Greek firefighting coordinator and a Danish pilot were killed when two firefighting helicopters collided near Psatha, west of Athens, on August 2, 2026. A British pilot and a second Greek coordinator aboard the other aircraft survived and were transported for hospital treatment. At least 38 agricultural and forest fires had been reported across Greece between August 1 and 2. Meanwhile, the Greek police have arrested and imposed fines on more than 10 arsonists in association with different fires across the country since July 31.
Three wildfires burning in the Spokane area of eastern Washington remained 0% contained on August 2,2026, after burning a combined 2 178 ha (5 381 acres). Around 5 000 homes had been evacuated, and approximately 600 homes, businesses, and other buildings had been destroyed.
Cook County issued a disaster proclamation after severe storms caused flash flooding, structural damage, transportation disruption and extensive utility outages
A dangerous heatwave is forecast to intensify across the southwestern United States on Friday, July 31, 2026, and then spread into the Intermountain West and northern High Plains during the weekend, according to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC).
The death toll from the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28 has risen to 34 as of July 30, 2026. At least 123 people have been injured, while more than 267 000 residents remain under evacuation orders as authorities continue emergency response operations across the affected region.
Three Greek firefighters were killed in separate wildfire suppression operations on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, as Greece continued to battle dozens of fires amid extreme fire weather. State of Emergency was declared for the Municipality of Agios Vasileios in Rethymno, while a Very High Fire Risk (Category 4) across large parts of Greece through Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31.
Strombolian activity at Mount Etna’s Voragine Crater increased rapidly during the early hours of July 30, 2026, following a sharp increase in volcanic tremor. The eruption generated an ash plume reaching 7 km (23 000 feet) above sea level, prompting Etna Observatory to raise the Aviation Color Code to Red.
The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has issued a Moderate Risk (Level 3 of 4) of excessive rainfall for portions of the northeastern United States on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Repeated rounds of heavy rainfall could produce significant and potentially life-threatening flooding across parts of eastern New York, western Massachusetts, southern Vermont, and adjacent areas of Connecticut.
Former hurricane Fausto weakened to a tropical depression as it tracked north of the Hawaiian Islands late Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Dangerous surf generated by it is building across exposed east-facing shores of the Hawaiian Islands and is expected to remain hazardous through Wednesday, July 29, as the weakening cyclone passes north of the state. Forecasts indicate the strongest winds and heaviest rainfall will stay north of the islands. There are no coastal watches or warnings currently in effect.
