The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report: February 15 – 21, 2023
New activity/unrest was reported for 5 volcanoes from February 15 to 21, 2023. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 17 volcanoes.
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.
Tropical Cyclone “Freddy” makes landfall over Madagascar, heading toward Mozambique
Tropical Cyclone “Freddy” made landfall over the northern Vatovavy-Fitovinany Region in central-eastern Madagascar on February 21, 2023, with maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h (102 mph).
Tropical Cyclone “Freddy” about to make landfall over Madagascar
Tropical Cyclone “Freddy” is expected to make landfall between 15:00 and 18:00 UTC on February 21, 2023, over the north of the province of Vatovavy-Fitovinany, Madagascar. After moving over Madagascar, bringing strong winds and heavy rains, the system will exit into the Mozambique Channel, re-intensify and then make landfall over Mozambique.
Major winter storm to bring heavy snow across the United States
A major winter storm is set to bring heavy snowfall from the West Coast to the Northeast over the next few days. The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center has warned of multiple hazards across the country, including widespread heavy snow, blizzard conditions, a zone of sleet and freezing rain, high winds, severe thunderstorms and record low and high temperatures.
Solar storm briefing and highly informative Q&A by Dr. Tamitha Skov
This highly informative solar storm briefing and Q&A session was made by Dr. Tamitha Skov also known as Space Weather Woman. One of the most interesting parts of the video is when she discusses red aurora, Earth’s weakening magnetic field, the South Atlantic Anomaly, and the upcoming Earth’s magnetic pole flip.
From heatwave to frost in less than a week: Historic cold engulfs parts of South America
A sudden and unexpected surge of cold Arctic air has engulfed several regions of South America, shattering numerous cold records in its wake. Although it is currently summer in the southern hemisphere, including parts of South America such as Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and parts of Brazil, some areas have experienced a drastic and rapid shift in weather, going from a heat wave to frost in less than a week.
M6.3 aftershock hits Turkey-Syria border region, leaving 6 people dead and nearly 800 injured
A very strong earthquake registered by the USGS and EMSC as M6.4 hit the Turkey-Syria border region at 17:04 UTC on February 20, 2023, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). This is an aftershock of the devastating M7.8 earthquake on February 6 in which more than 47 000 people lost their lives and more than 120 000 were injured.
Massive winter storm to affect much of the U.S. this week, extremely disruptive impact on travel and livestock
A massive winter storm is expected to impact much of the U.S. this week with a variety of hazards. The storm will spread a large swath of heavy snow from the West Coast to the Northeast from Monday, February 20 to Thursday, February 23, 2023.
Intense Tropical Cyclone “Freddy” heading toward Madagascar and Mozambique
Tropical Cyclone “Freddy” is forecast to make landfall over the east-central coast of Madagascar on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, as an intense and very dangerous tropical system. The cyclone will then move over the island nation, exit into the Mozambique Channel on Wednesday and then re-intensify before making landfall over Mozambique.
Long-duration X2.2 solar flare erupts from Region 3229, full halo CME produced
A long-duration solar flare measuring X2.2 at its peak erupted from AR 3229 (beta) at 20:16 UTC on February 17, 2023. The event started at 19:38 and ended at 20:50 UTC. A full halo Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) was produced and it appears there is an Earth-directed component. The estimated time of arrival is February 20.
