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.

  • Four tornadoes confirmed in central Pennsylvania, including EF2 in Huntingdon County

    ByRishav Kothari

    Four tornadoes touched down across central Pennsylvania on July 18, 2026, as a line of severe thunderstorms crossed the region, according to National Weather Service damage surveys. The tornadoes included one EF2, two EF1s, and one EF0, producing damage in Huntingdon, Clearfield, Jefferson, and Clarion counties. Despite considerable damage to forests, farms and other structures, no injuries or fatalities were reported.

  • At least 5 killed as flash floods and landslides devastate Lai Châu and Lào Cai in northern Vietnam

    ByRishav Kothari

    At least five people have died after torrential monsoon rainfall triggered flash floods and landslides between July 15 and 18, 2026, affecting Lai Châu and Lào Cai provinces in northern Vietnam. The People’s Committee of Lai Chau Province declared a state of emergency as flooding destroyed homes, washed out sections of major highways, and caused significant agricultural losses. Heavy rainfall is forecast across northern mountainous and midland regions through July 19 as rescue and relief efforts continue.

  • 8 dead, 34 missing after landslide buries more than 10 buildings in Chongqing, China

    ByRishav Kothari

    At least eight people have been confirmed dead and 34 remain missing after a mountainside collapsed onto a residential area in southwestern China’s Chongqing Municipality on July 17, 2026, burying more than 10 buildings beneath thousands of cubic meters of rock and soil. Rescue operations continued into July 18 despite persistent rain, unstable terrain, and the risk of additional collapses.

  • Enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms issued for parts of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Lower Great Lakes on July 18

    ByRishav Kothari

    An enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms has been issued for portions of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Lower Great Lakes on Saturday, July 18, 2026, as an unusually strong upper-level storm system brings the threat of widespread damaging winds, large hail, and several tornadoes through the afternoon and evening.

  • Rare Atlantic Niña develops as strengthening El Niño points to quieter 2026 Atlantic hurricane season

    ByRishav Kothari

    A rare Atlantic Niña has developed across the equatorial Atlantic while El Niño continues strengthening in the tropical Pacific. Although Atlantic Niña events are relatively uncommon, forecasters say the developing pattern could reinforce atmospheric conditions that typically suppress tropical cyclone formation across the Atlantic basin.

  • Two killed and 230 rescued as catastrophic flash floods strike Texas

    ByRishav Kothari

    At least two people were killed and 230 rescued after repeated thunderstorms produced catastrophic flash flooding across the Texas Hill Country and south-central Texas on July 16, 2026. Up to 711 mm (28 inches) of rain fell in northern Uvalde County over three days, while the Guadalupe River at Comfort rose more than 9 m (30 feet) in under three hours and crested near 11.3 m (37 feet). Texas deployed more than 2 350 emergency responders and over 1 400 response assets as flood waves moved through several river basins.

  • Minnesota sets new air pollution record, Superior National Forest reports the worst wildfire conditions in 20 years

    ByRishav Kothari

    Record-breaking wildfire smoke has reduced air quality across much of Minnesota, with pollution levels becoming so high that they exceeded the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s routine quality-control limits. The smoke is being generated from wildfires burning across Minnesota and parts of southern Canada. The Superior National Forest is experiencing the worst wildfire conditions in 20 years. Officials warn that hazardous smoke, extreme fire behavior, and additional wildfire growth are expected to continue as crews respond to 15 active fires across the Forest.

  • Large Guadalupe River flood wave prompts Flash Flood Emergency after confirmed EF1 tornado in San Antonio, Texas

    ByRishav Kothari

    A large flood wave moved downstream along the Guadalupe River through the Texas Hill Country on July 16, 2026, prompting a Flash Flood Emergency from Center Point to Bergheim as emergency crews expanded rescues across south-central and western Texas. The event followed a preliminary EF1 tornado confirmed in northwest San Antonio on July 15, but the main active hazard had shifted to life-threatening flash flooding across the Guadalupe basin and Uvalde County.