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.

  • New Mexico seeks federal emergency after record San Juan River flooding, United States

    ByRishav Kothari

    New Mexico requested a federal emergency declaration on October 24, 2026, after record San Juan River flooding prompted hundreds of water rescues and affected communities around Farmington and Bloomfield. The request covered four counties and five Tribal nations, seeking assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures. The San Juan River at Farmington reached 4.3 m (14.1 feet) on October 23, breaking its previous record of 3.75 m (12.3 feet) set in September 1909. The gauge subsequently stopped operating, leaving the final crest unconfirmed. Hundreds of water rescues were reported between Farmington and Bloomfield as flooding affected nearby communities.

  • High tides bring coastal flood alerts to California

    ByRishav Kothari

    A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect for the San Diego and Orange County coasts through October 29, 2026, as high tides and elevated water levels threaten roads and low-lying property. The National Weather Service (NWS) also has Coastal Flood Advisories for other shoreline areas, including Los Angeles-area beaches, San Francisco Bay, Monterey Bay and Humboldt Bay.

  • Flash floods sweep away vehicles and prompt rescues in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico

    ByRishav Kothari

    Severe thunderstorms caused flash flooding in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, on October 23 and 24, 2026, sweeping away vehicles, flooding homes and prompting rescues in western neighborhoods. Municipal Civil Protection director Sergio Rodríguez said no deaths or injuries had been reported from Saturday’s flooding by late that evening.

  • Typhoon Champi leaves one dead and hundreds injured as recovery continues in Taiwan

    ByRishav Kothari

    Recovery operations continued in Taiwan on October 25, 2026, after Typhoon Champi brought strong winds, heavy rain, and high waves from October 22 to 24. The Central Emergency Operations Center’s final October 24 briefing reported one death and 634 injuries, while agricultural losses rose to NT$193.32 million by the following afternoon.

  • British woman swept away while trying to rescue sons off the coast of Bimini, Bahamas

    ByRishav Kothari

    A 36-year-old British woman died after she was swept away while trying to rescue her two sons during a family snorkeling trip off Bimini, Bahamas, on October 20, 2026, according to preliminary information from the Royal Bahamas Police Force. The boys were later rescued, while police said an autopsy would determine the woman’s exact cause of death.

  • Strong earthquake sequence strikes off northern Vanuatu after initial M6.9 event

    ByRishav Kothari

    An M6.9 earthquake struck off northern Vanuatu at 13:31 LT (02:31 UTC) on October 24, 2026, followed four minutes and 29 seconds later by an M6.3 event and at least eight additional M5+ earthquakes in the USGS catalog through 05:23 UTC.The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the tsunami threat had passed at 03:28 UTC. No immediate damage or casualties were reported.

  • Hurricane Vance continues strengthening south of Mexico, forecast to reach Category 3

    ByRishav Kothari

    Hurricane Vance continued strengthening far south of Mexico on October 23, 2026, with maximum sustained winds reaching 150 km/h (90 mph) at 09:00 LT (15:00 UTC). The National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast Vance to briefly reach Category 3 intensity Saturday morning but said the intensity forecast had low confidence because cooler water and increasing wind shear could limit further strengthening.

  • M7.0 earthquake kills at least 16, injures 76 in Xizang, China

    ByRishav Kothari

    An M7.0 earthquake struck Baqen County in China’s Xizang Autonomous Region at 22:33 LT (14:33 UTC) on October 22, 2026, killing at least 16 people and injuring 76, according to the latest Nagqu municipal assessment. Authorities said homes belonging to 339 households had collapsed or been damaged, while 12 489 residents had been relocated by 10:00 LT on October 23.

  • Eastern Pacific reaches 21 named storms for the first time since 2018 as Tropical Storm Vance strengthens

    ByRishav Kothari

    Tropical Storm Vance strengthened over the eastern Pacific on October 22, becoming the 21st named storm of the 2026 season and making 2026 the first eastern Pacific season since 2018 to reach that total. At 15:00 UTC, maximum sustained winds had increased to 95 km/h (60 mph), and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast Vance to become a hurricane during the night of October 22 and possibly a major hurricane by the weekend.