Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department has raised the Volcanic Alert Level for Ambrym volcano to Level 3, the department reported December 15, 2018. The eruption is taking place in the caldera area and the Danger Zone for life safety is limited at the…
A newly discovered asteroid designated 2018 XA4 flew past Earth at a distance of 0.97 LD / 0.00248 AU (371 002 km / 230 530 miles) on December 11, 2018. This is 73rd known asteroid to flyby Earth within 1 lunar distance since the start of the year. This object…
Severe Tropical Cyclone "Owen" is currently a Category 3 strength system in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia. Owen is forecast to continue on a generally easterly track for the remainder of today, intensifying to Category 4 strength before making…
The moisture from Tropical Cyclone "Owen" is feeding the low-pressure system over Victoria this week, bringing record-breaking rains and floods to the region. The worst affected were northeast and northwest regions of Victoria, around Birchip, and east of…
Italy's Mount Etna continues creating amazing scenery with effusive/explosive activity and two lava flows. Etna's current activity is very different from what we have seen over the past 8 years, but not atypical. The activity is taking place at the eastern…
New activity/unrest was reported for 2 volcanoes between December 5 and 11, 2018. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 14 volcanoes. New activity/unrest: Manam, Papua New Guinea | Mayon, Luzon (Philippines). Ongoing activity: Aira, Kyushu…
Severe flooding caused by extreme northeast monsoon hit Central Vietnam, including the city of Da Nang, regional commercial and educational center over the past couple of days, leaving tens of thousands of homes flooded, at least 14 people dead and one missing….
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.3 hit Pacific-Antarctic ridge at 13:13 UTC on December 12, 2018. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. According to the USGS, the epicenter…
A new tropical system (Phethai) is forecast to develop in the Bay of Bengal on December 12 or 13, 2018, and strengthen on its way toward southeastern India and Sri Lanka into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm. Powerful winds and heavy rain are expected along the coast of…
A bright fireball was seen and recorded streaking through the night sky over southern Texas around 19:59 CST on December 10, 2018 (01:59 UTC, December 11). The event lasted 7 seconds before the object disappeared in a bright flash. The American Meteor Society…
