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.
At least 5 people have been reported dead after the heaviest rain in over 70 years struck parts of Tunisia, dropping over 200 mm (8 inches) of rainfall since Monday, January 19, 2026. A Red Alert (the highest warning level) was issued for the Grand Tunis area as well as the Nabeul and Monastir provinces as rainfall and floods continued through Tuesday into Wednesday, January 20-21.
A large and prolonged outbreak of Arctic air is spreading across the United States, prompting extreme cold watches across much of the northern and central United States from Thursday, January 22, 2026, through Friday, January 24. This Arctic outbreak will bring one of the most dangerous cold spells in recent years, with the greatest threat lasting from Thursday night through early Saturday morning.
Winter storm watches are in effect from New Mexico and Texas to Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky, from Friday morning through late Saturday night, January 23–24, 2026, with some extending into Sunday afternoon, January 25. Heavy snow, sleet, and ice accumulations are forecast, along with dangerously cold temperatures that will persist into Monday morning, January 26.
A major winter storm will bring widespread snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the Southern Plains to the Mid-Atlantic between Friday, January 23, and Sunday, January 25, 2026.
Light snow began covering Saharan sand dunes in Aïn Séfra in Algeria on January 17, 2026, and continues to do so, forming a scenic contrast with the barren sands of the desert, which has been going viral on social media.
A major winter storm is forecast to sweep across much of the central and eastern United States between January 23 and 25, 2026, with a mix of snow, sleet, and ice likely from Texas and the Mid-South to the Northeast. Dangerous travel and freezing rain are expected in several regions as the system intensifies through the weekend.
A shallow M5.6 earthquake struck near Barishal, Gilgit-Baltistan, at 11:21 LT (06:21 UTC) on January 19, 2026, damaging multiple homes, killing one person, and injuring two. Multiple landslides were also reported, with debris blocking multiple routes across the region and surrounding areas.
Multiple injuries were reported after lake effect snow and whiteout conditions triggered a 100-vehicle pileup on the I-196 southeast of Grand Rapids on Monday, January 19, 2026. The crashes prompted the closure of all lanes of the highway throughout the day as crews cleared the road.
Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms swept across New South Wales and southeast Queensland between Saturday and Monday, January 17 and 19, 2026, forcing evacuations around Sydney’s Narrabeen Lagoon and causing one death at Macquarie Pass. The storm system brought flash flooding, landslides, and dozens of rescues as the NSW State Emergency Service continued operations across inundated coastal suburbs.
Heavy snow and strong winds continue across the Great Lakes and Northeast U.S. on January 19, 2026, with winter storm warnings and advisories in effect across the region. Snow accumulations are forecast to reach 15–-35 cm (6–14 inches) in Michigan and up to 120 cm (4 feet) in parts of northern New York.
