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.

  • Exceptional drought returns to Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma for first time since July 2023

    ByRishav Kothari

    Exceptional drought (D4) has returned to parts of the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma for the first time since July 2023, according to the National Weather Service Arkansas-Red Basin River Forecast Center (ABRFC). Drought conditions continue worsening across large parts of the Southern Plains following one of the driest and warmest starts to spring on record. Extreme Drought (D3) conditions are already affecting 36% of the Arkansas-Red Basin, while forecasters warned that very dry conditions are expected to persist across western portions of the region.

  • Strong M6.2 earthquake hits Banda Sea, Indonesia

    ByRishav Kothari

    A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.2 struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia, at 17:53 UTC on May 14, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 146 km (91 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.2 at a depth of 146 km (91 miles) while BMKG reports M6.7 at a depth of 163 km (102 miles).

  • Severe thunderstorms leave over 100 dead across Uttar Pradesh, India

    ByRishav Kothari

    Severe thunderstorms swept across Uttar Pradesh, India, on the night of May 13, 2026, claiming at least 104 lives and leaving over 59 people injured across the state. Prayagraj was the worst hit, with preliminary reports indicating between 20 and 30 fatalities. Widespread destruction was reported in multiple districts, with more than 80 homes being damaged along with other structures.

  • Long dormant Methana volcano was accumulating magma for over 100 000 years

    ByRishav Kothari

    A recent study found that the Methana volcano in Greece remained inactive for over 100 000 years while magma continued accumulating beneath the surface, a process the authors describe as “silent” magma reservoir growth. This challenges the traditional idea of volcanic dormancy, in which volcanoes that haven’t erupted in the last 10 000 years are classified as dormant.