I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchersnews.bigscoots-staging.com.
An earthquake swarm consisting of 64 recorded events has been occurring in the Death Valley region of California since October 24, 2024, with magnitudes ranging from 0.5 to 4.7 and focal depths reaching a maximum of 15.9 km (9.9 miles). The seismic activity is characterized by shallow to mid-crustal depths, typical of intraplate swarms in tectonically active regions.
A solar radiation storm reached S2 – Moderate levels on October 27, 2024, following a powerful X1.8 flare on October 26. Elevated levels of high-energy protons are expected to persist, potentially impacting high-altitude flights, satellite operations, and polar radio communications.
A major, long-duration solar flare measuring X1.8 erupted from Active Region 3872 at 07:19 UTC on October 26, 2024. The event started at 05:57 and ended at 07:56 UTC. A large coronal mass ejection (CME) was produced during the event.
Popocatépetl volcano in Mexico has shown increased activity over the past few days, with significant ash and SO2 emissions recorded since October 24. On October 26, volcanic ash cloud was estimated at approximately 9.1 km (30 000 feet) above sea level, extending about 833 km (517 miles) northeast of the summit into the Gulf of Mexico.
Kristy rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale and peaked at 21:00 UTC on Thursday, October 24, 2024, about 1 565 km (970 miles) SW of the southern tip of Baja California.
New activity/unrest was reported for 6 volcanoes from October 16 – 22, 2024. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 27 volcanoes.
Severe Cyclonic Storm “Dana” has intensified and is expected to make landfall over the north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island, close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara, between 18:00 UTC on October 24 and 00:00 UTC on October 25, 2024, with a wind speed of 100 – 110 km/h (62 – 68 mph), gusting to 120 km/h (74.6 mph).
A major, long-duration solar flare measuring X3.3 erupted from the Sun’s southeast limb at 03:57 UTC on October 24, 2024. The event started at 03:30 and ended at 04:28 UTC. The source is returning Region 3842.
Severe floods hit Eastern Cape, South Africa over the past couple of days, leaving at least 10 people dead and displacing more than 3 000, as of October 23, 2024.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.2 hit Kuril Islands, Russia at 14:38 UTC on October 23, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 48.6 km (30.2 miles). EMCS is reporting M6.2 at a depth of 40 km (24.8 miles).
