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.
Solar activity reached moderate levels on August 20, 2026, after Region 4513 produced an M8.1 flare at 11:42 UTC, the strongest of three M-class flares reported during the preceding 24-hour period. The flare was accompanied by Type II radio sweeps with an estimated velocity of 1 201 km/s
At least six people have died after severe storms and flooding spread across Indiana beginning August 11, 2026, while major White River flooding forced evacuations and rescues across several counties. The National Weather Service said widespread flooding was affecting the White River late August 15, with major flooding at Noblesville and Nora and extensive flooding around Ravenswood near and north of Indianapolis. NWS described the flooding in parts of central Indiana as catastrophic.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 hit Vanuatu at 03:20 UTC (14:20 LT) on August 16, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 188.1 km (116.9 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.9 hit North Sumatra, Indonesia, at 10:54 UTC (17:54 LT) on August 15, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 172.5 km (107.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.9 at a depth of 180 km (111.8 miles).
New activity/unrest was reported for 6 volcanoes from August 6-12, 2026. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 20 volcanoes.
A major earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.7 hit 68 km (42 miles) NNW of Ende, Indonesia at 21:58 UTC on August 14, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M7.7 at a depth of 35 km (21.7 miles). BMKG reported M7.7 and a tsunami potential following the earthquake.
Asteroid 2026 PC6 passed Earth at 0.053 lunar distances (0.00014 AU / about 20 400 km / 12 700 miles) from the center of our planet at 00:50 UTC on August 12, 2026, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (NASA/CNEOS). At the nominal distance, the object passed about 14 000 km (8 700 miles) above Earth’s surface, placing it inside the orbit of geostationary satellites and making it the closest asteroid flyby of the year.
A large wildfire reported near Lokva Rogoznica at 20:15 LT (18:15 UTC) on August 13, 2026, spread toward Omiš overnight, reaching residential areas and burning about 900 ha (2 200 acres) by 12:00 LT on August 14, according to the Croatian Firefighting Association (HVZ). At least 1 200 people were evacuated, 40 were treated in hospitals, of which seven with life-threatening injuries. Local media are describing it as one of the worst wildfires in Croatia’s history.
Tropical Storm Cristobal formed WSW of the Azores on August 12, becoming the third named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. At 15:00 UTC on August 12, 2026, the National Hurricane Center reported maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h (45 mph), with no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit the South Sandwich Islands region at 11:47 UTC on August 12, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
