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/ watchers.news.

  • Record-breaking rainfall in Guangdong, China leaves 4 dead, 10 missing

    ByTeo Blašković

    Record-breaking rainfall affecting China’s Guangdong Province since Friday, April 19, 2024, pushed water levels in the Bei River, a tributary of the Pearl River, to exceed 50-year highs, causing widespread floods in which at least 4 people died and 10 others went missing. The floods caused extensive damage, including the destruction of 36 houses and severe damage to 48 others, incurring direct economic losses of nearly 140.6 million yuan.

  • Shallow M6.1 and M6.0 earthquakes hit Taiwan within 6 minutes

    ByTeo Blašković

    Two strong earthquakes registered by the USGS as M6.1 and M6.0 hit Taiwan within 6 minutes on April 22, 2024 — at 18:26 UTC and 18:32 UTC, respectively. The agency is reporting a depth of 10.7 km (6.6 miles) for the M6.1 quake and 10 km (6.2 miles) for the second quake. Preliminary data shows epicenters at a distance of about 20 km (12.4 miles).

  • Shallow M5.8 earthquake hits Hualien, Taiwan

    ByTeo Blašković

    A shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M5.8 hit eastern Taiwan’s Hualien County at 14:11 UTC (22:11 LT) on April 22, 2024, at a depth of 11.8 km (7.3 miles). This is the second strongest aftershock of the April 2 M7.4 earthquake after M6.4 on April 3.

  • Softball-sized hail causes extensive damage in Rock Hill, South Carolina

    ByTeo Blašković

    A powerful storm rolled over South Carolina on April 20, 2024, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and golf to softball-sized hail. The storm system affected the larger areas of Lancaster and York counties but focused its most intense effects in northeast-central York County, causing significant structural damage and power outages.

  • Severe cold snap hits Europe after unseasonable warmth, high-risk for catastrophic morning frost

    ByTeo Blašković

    Central Europe is facing a high risk of catastrophic morning frost over the next few days, as cold air threatens extensive damage to agriculture across the region. Meteorologists from Severe Weather Europe have issued warnings about potentially severe impacts on blooming fruit trees, vineyards, and crops following a swift transition from unusually warm conditions.

  • ‘Devil Comet’ 12P/Pons-Brooks reaches closest point to the Sun on April 21

    ByTeo Blašković

    On April 21, 2024, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, commonly referred to as the ‘Devil Comet,’ will reach its perihelion, the closest point to the Sun, at a distance of 0.785 astronomical units (117 million km / 73 million miles). This celestial event will allow the comet to be visible just after sunset within the Taurus constellation, marking its peak visibility period.