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 confirmed tornado touched down in Jefferson County, Alabama, on February 26, 2026, damaging multiple homes in the Pinson area. Severe thunderstorms moved across parts of northern and central Alabama, bringing strong winds and large hail to Jefferson, St. Clair, Blount, and Calhoun counties, along with strong, damaging winds.
Another storm system is bringing heavy rainfall across Juiz de Fora in Minas Gerais, as the death toll from the previous storm climbed to 49 on February 26, 2026. The government has allocated nearly USD 10 million for relief efforts across Minas Gerais, of which more than 7 million is to be used just for Juiz de Fora. The heavy ongoing rainfall has also made it difficult to plant corn crops in the region as saturated soils have made it difficult to prepare and work in the fields.
A mud volcano erupted in San Juan de Urabá, Antioquia Department, Colombia, on February 25, 2026, damaging a municipal facility and nearby roads. The eruption killed several animals and scorched vegetation before authorities established a security perimeter around the site.
At least 22 people have died in the state of Minas Gerais in Southeastern Brazil, after a severe storm brought heavy rain, triggering floods and landslides between February 23 and 24, 2026. Rainfall totals reached up to 200 mm (8 inches) in 24 hours, triggering flooding and landslides across the city of Juiz de Fora.
Five people were killed in separate off-piste slab avalanches across Austria on February 20, 2026, including three in St. Anton am Arlberg, one in Nauders-Bergkastell, and one in Vorarlberg.
A late February Nor’easter set a new all-time single-storm snowfall record at Providence, Rhode Island’s airport, where 96.3 cm (37.9 inches) was measured at 01:31 EST on February 24, 2026. At least four fatalities were confirmed in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Snowfall totals exceeding 330 mm (13 inches) were recorded across New Jersey on February 23, 2026, as a powerful nor’easter brought blizzard conditions to the Northeast U.S. The event prompted a statewide State of Emergency and placed all counties under blizzard warnings for the first time in three decades.
A major blizzard struck New York on February 22, 2026, prompting a citywide travel ban and declaration of a State of Emergency. Snowfall totals reached 35.6 cm (14.0 inches) on Staten Island and 23.6 cm (9.3 inches) in Central Park. All schools have been closed on February 23, as Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared the first traditional snow day since 2019. No remote instruction will take place, and all after-school activities are cancelled.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 struck near Nikolski, Alaska, at 05:11 UTC on February 23, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 14 km (8.7 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.1 at a depth of 25 km (15 miles).
Blizzard Warnings were issued February 21, 2026, for parts of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and southern Connecticut, with heavy snow and wind gusts up to 90 km/h (55 mph) forecast from February 22 through 18:00 EST on February 23. Snow accumulations of 15–50 cm (6–20 inches) are expected, with visibility potentially dropping below 0.4 km (0.25 miles) in blowing snow, producing whiteout conditions and dangerous travel.
