The Watchers team and our contributors bring the latest on extreme weather, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, space weather, and all things science. We're all about making sense of the natural world and keeping you informed on what’s happening. Got a tip or a question? Hit us up using the form at newstips!

  • Military deployed, hundreds of thousands stranded in Thailand

    Hundreds of thousands of people have been stranded in major flooding in Thailand's south since January 1, 2017. Authorities reported Sunday, January 8, that at least 19 people have died and that military forces have been deployed to cope with massive flooding….

  • Auring makes landfall over Siargao Island, Philippines

    Tropical Depression 01W (One), the first tropical depression of 2017 NW Pacific typhoon season, has formed just east of the Philippines on January 7, 2017. TD 01W, locally known as Auring, has already made landfall. Due to heavy rain associated with the system,…

  • Strong M6.1 earthquake hits Papua New Guinea

    A strong earthquake registered by the Geoscience Australia as M6.1 hit Papua New Guinea at 08:52 UTC on January 8, 2017. The agency is reporting a depth of 80 km. USGS is reporting M5.9 at a depth of 67 km (41.6 miles). EMSC is reporting M5.9 at a depth of 80 km…

  • Four dead after shallow M5.3 earthquake hits southern Iran

    Four people have been killed and another 4 injured after a shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M5.3 hit southern Iran at 02:33 UTC (06:03 local time) on January 6, 2017. The quake hit at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M5.2 at the same…

  • Wildfires in Argentina consume over 1 million hectares

    Massive wildfires in the Pampas region of Argentina which started mid-December 2016 have burned over 1 million hectares (2.47 million acres) of country's famous pampas by January 5, 2017. Severe drought during the winter and spring of 2016 in northeastern…

  • Major flooding hits southern Thailand, at least 12 dead

    Thailand is experiencing deadly flooding for the second time within a month after heavy monsoon rains flooded its southern provinces. At least 19 people have died and more than 750 000 people have been affected by January 8, 2017. More heavy rain and flooding is…

  • Model calls for excessive snowfall in south-central Italy and Sicily

    Latest update from the Wrfitalia Meteo model for the ongoing Adriatic/Tyrrhenian sea-effect-snowfall over south-central Italy and Sicily calls for excessive snowfall over the coming days. Meanwhile, cold arctic airmass is spreading further south across central…

  • Powerful storm aims California and Pacific Northwest

    A very strong Pacific frontal system is expected to rapidly spread moisture back into the West Coast by late Friday night, January 6 and into Saturday morning, January 7. The storm could bring 36 straight hours of heavy rain from Mammoth Mountain to Susanville,…

  • 3D animated visualization of meteoroid streams

    The International Meteor Organization (IMO) has just added a new feature to their online meteor shower calendar – a 3D animated view of the meteoroid streams the Earth will encounter all along its journey around the Sun. The model was created by Ian Webster, and…