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.

  • Saharan dust plume to reach Florida by weekend, Texas by next week

    A plume of Saharan dust stretching from the coast of Africa to the northwestern Caribbean and into the Gulf of Mexico is forecast to reach Florida by Saturday, May 31, 2025. Southern and central parts of the state are expected to experience hazy skies and reduced air quality over the weekend. A denser plume could arrive by mid-next week, with the dust reaching Texas by Tuesday, June 3.

  • Heat Advisory issued for Bay Area, California

    A Heat Advisory has been issued for multiple regions in California, including the North Bay, East Bay, South Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, and Central Coast, for Friday, May 30, 2025, due to forecast temperatures reaching up to 41 °C (105 °F). 

  • Manitoba declares State of Emergency as wildfires force over 17 000 to evacuate, Canada

    More than 17 000 people were evacuated across Manitoba, Canada, on May 28, 2025, after the provincial government declared a state of emergency due to 22 active wildfires, 11 of which remained out of control. The evacuation is considered the largest in recent memory for the province and is expected to require significant resources and coordination among all levels of government.

  • Blanco tornado gets EF-3 rating, Oklahoma

    The Blanco tornado that struck Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, on May 19, 2025, has been rated EF-3 by the National Weather Service (NWS). With a maximum width of 2.7 km (1.7 miles), it now ranks as the third-widest tornado recorded in Oklahoma since 1950.

  • Rare superbolt rattles homes in Tulsa, Oklahoma

    A rare and exceptionally powerful lightning strike, known as a superbolt, struck Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 25, 2025, causing structural damage and shaking nearby homes with an electrical discharge estimated between 228 000 and 280 000 amps.