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.

  • Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms for parts of Missouri, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana on March 10

    ByRishav Kothari

    An Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms is in effect for parts of the Midwest on March 10, 2026, including northeast Missouri, southeast Iowa, northern and central Illinois, and northwest Indiana. The forecast environment supports the development of supercells and organized thunderstorm clusters capable of producing tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and large hail during the afternoon and evening hours.

  • Strong M6.0 earthquake hits Tonga

    ByRishav Kothari

    A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 struck near Hihifo, Tonga at 09:28 UTC on March 8, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 116.8 km (72.6 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.0 at a depth of 117 km (72.7 miles).

  • 8 dead in Michigan and Oklahoma as over 25 tornadoes hit central United States

    ByRishav Kothari

    At least eight fatalities have been confirmed in parts of Michigan and Oklahoma as a severe weather outbreak spawned dozens of tornadoes across five states between March 5 and 6, 2026. Four fatalities were reported in Michigan and four were reported in Oklahoma, while injuries and widespread destruction were reported across the affected regions.

  • Deadly Fairview tornado rated as EF-2, Oklahoma

    ByRishav Kothari

    The tornado that struck Fairview, Oklahoma on March 5, 2026, was rated as an EF-2 after damage surveys were conducted by National Weather Service (NWS) in Norman. At least one other EF-2 and two EF-1 tornadoes were also identified in the region.

  • M4.9 earthquake near Edgefield becomes strongest inland earthquake on record in Louisiana

    ByRishav Kothari

    An M4.9 earthquake struck near Edgefield in northwestern Louisiana, United States, at 11:30 UTC on March 5, 2026, becoming the strongest inland earthquake recorded in the state. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the event at a depth of 11.1 km (6.9 miles), while the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) estimated a depth of 10 km (6.1 miles). The quake was widely felt across northern Louisiana and parts of neighboring Texas.

  • Two dead after tornado strikes near Fairview, Oklahoma

    ByRishav Kothari

    A mother and daughter were killed near Fairview, Oklahoma, after a tornado struck their vehicle near state highways 60 and 243 late on March 5, 2026, according to the Major County Sheriff’s Office. The fatalities were confirmed on March 6.

  • Multiple tornadoes reported across Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas as severe storms impact southern Plains

    ByRishav Kothari

    Multiple tornadoes were reported across parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas on March 5, 2026, as severe thunderstorms moved across the southern Plains. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) received at least seven tornado reports during the event, with storms causing localized damage and leaving more than 11 000 customers without power as of March 6, according to PowerOutage.US.

  • Record rainfall hits Dallas–Fort Worth as storms flood highways across North Texas

    ByRishav Kothari

    Record rainfall struck Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas, on March 4, 2026, when Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport recorded 39.4 mm (1.55 inches) of rain, breaking the previous daily record of 32.3 mm (1.27 inches) set in 1937. The storms flooded highways across North Texas, caused the collapse of a commercial building roof on Kingsley Road, and triggered a lightning-caused house fire in Fort Worth.