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.
Tropical Storm Melissa, the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, formed on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Haiti, and a Severe Weather Alert remains active for Jamaica as the system brings the risk of heavy rainfall, flash floods, and landslides across both countries.
Forecast data indicate an early weakening and displacement of the stratospheric polar vortex over the Arctic in October 2025, as a developing high-pressure anomaly over Greenland interacts with the circulation earlier than usual, increasing the chances of colder air movement toward the mid-latitudes of North America and Europe.
A low-pressure area in the Caribbean Sea, designated AL98, is forecast to develop into the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, “Melissa,” later on October 21, 2025, with a 100% probability of cyclonic development within the next 48 hours.
The Pacific Northwest will see back-to-back atmospheric rivers (ARs) beginning late Thursday, October 23, 2025, bringing significant precipitation and unsettled weather conditions through the end of October.The Weather Prediction Center has issued a Marginal Risk of excessive rainfall for coastal areas of Washington, Oregon, and northern California as the AR approaches.
Tropical Storm Fengshen (locally named Ramil in the Philippines) crossed Luzon on October 18 and 19, 2025, producing torrential rain, flooding, and landslides. At least five people were killed in Quezon Province, while two others remain missing in Bukidnon after a landslide.
A powerful atmospheric river is forecast to impact the western United States between October 25 and 31, 2025, bringing heavy rainfall, mountain snow, and high winds from Northern California to Washington.
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) will make its closest approach to Earth at a distance of 0.596 AU (about 89 million km / 55 million miles) on October 21, 2025, before reaching perihelion on November 8 at 0.529 AU (79 million km) from the Sun.
Torrential rainfall on October 12, 2025, caused severe flooding and a collapse at the Cuatro Esquinas de Caratal gold-mining site in El Callao municipality, Bolívar State, eastern Venezuela. At least 14 miners died after water inundated three vertical shafts, while two others escaped unharmed. Recovery operations were coordinated by the Operational Zones for Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (ZOEDAN) in Bolívar State.
A tornado-like storm struck Kuala Langat District, Selangor, Malaysia, at around 16:15 local time on October 15, 2025, injuring at least 13 people and damaging dozens of buildings. Eleven schoolchildren and two adults sustained injuries as strong winds tore roofs from houses and schools before authorities declared a Level 1 disaster and opened a temporary evacuation center.
Multiple spin-outs were reported along the I-80 near Truckee through the night of October 16, 2025, as a Pacific storm dropped the first heavy snow of the season over the Sierra Nevada. Chain control has been implemented at the Donner Summit, along the I-80, and US 50.
