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!
Five people have been killed during a severe thunderstorm in Odisha, India, as the Basudevpur area of Bhadrak district experienced an unprecedented 5 000 lightning strikes within a 30-minute span.
At least 19 people have died, and hundreds have been displaced in Kenya and Ethiopia due to storms, heavy rain, and flooding affecting various parts of the region over the last week.
A new study in Nature Geoscience identified impact glass beads in lunar soils as a significant water reservoir. The researchers estimate that the total amount of water contained within impact glass beads found in lunar soils could be as much as 2.7 x 1014 kg — equivalent to 270 trillion kg.
A G4 – Severe geomagnetic storm on March 24, 2023, caused red auroras to appear over Florida and other low-latitude areas, marking the first such sighting over Florida in nearly 20 years. Numerous unusual phenomena were observed during this geomagnetic storm, including “aurora dunes” over Alberta, Canada.
At least 16 people were killed and 7 are missing after a landslide hit Ecuador’s mountain village of Alausi.
Relativity Space, an aerospace startup based in Long Beach, California, successfully launched the world’s first 3D-printed rocket, the Terran 1, on March 23, 2023, marking a significant milestone in rocket manufacturing and design.
Prayagraj District, the most populous district in the Uttar Pradesh state of India, has been hit by heavy unseasonal rain and hailstorm that devastated the farming community on March 19 and again on March 21, 2023. The natural calamity has caused extensive damage to crops of over 10 030 farmers in the region.
Southern California faces a barrage of extreme weather as record-breaking rainfall, powerful wind gusts, and widespread power outages impact the region. At least 5 people lost their lives. While the torrential downpour provides relief from the long-term drought, it brings additional challenges, including flooding, flight cancellations, and complications for communities in the mountains still recovering from recent snowstorms.
A vigorous eruption took place at Nevado del Ruiz volcano, Colombia at 14:02 UTC on March 20, 2023. The Alert Level remains at 3 (Yellow — the second lowest level on a four-color scale). The last major eruption of this volcano occurred in 1985 and resulted in the deaths of over 20 000 people due to lahars.
This winter season in California has been one for the books, with snowpack statewide doubling the normal levels and much above what’s typical by April 1st, historically the deepest snow depth of the season. Despite widespread flooding and mandatory evacuations around rivers and creeks, the southern Sierra region, particularly Soda Springs, has seen an impressive amount of snowfall, marking the second snowiest winter on record with over 17 m (56 feet) of snow. While still shy of the record set during the 1951-52 season, with more snow predicted, it’s expected to come close in the next couple of weeks.
