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!

  • Increase in activity at Guatemala’s Pacaya volcano

    A new lava flow has become active at Guatemala's Pacaya volcano over the past couple of days. This new cycle of lava flow activity is expected to continue in the coming days. The lava flow began to erupt from a fissure inside the large breach on the NE flank of…

  • Tropical Cyclone “Dineo” about to hit Mozambique

    Tropical Cyclone "Dineo" is still intensifying and is forecast to make landfall over the coast of southern Mozambique just after UTC midnight on February 16, 2017. Dineo is the fifth tropical cyclone of the 2016/17 Southern hemisphere tropical cyclone…

  • Oroville Lake levels dropping, repairs continue before the next storm

    Intense work to reinforce the emergency spillway of damaged Oroville Dam in California continues and the level of the reservoir continues to decrease. At current rates, it is projected to possess the capacity to absorb anticipated inflows due to forecasted inclement…

  • Wildfires threaten New Zealand’s Christchurch

    A state of emergency has been declared in New Zealand's Christchurch as wildfires threatened its suburbs on February 15, 2017, forcing up to 1 000 people to evacuate. As of early UTC morning, at least one person has been killed and 5 homes destroyed….

  • Severe thunderstorms hit Texas, moving toward Florida

    A line of severe storms moved east through southeastern Texas early Tuesday morning (local time), February 14, 2017, destroying several homes and injuring at least two people. Tornadoes touched down in several locations across southeast Texas today with…

  • Bright light over California identified as Navy missile

    A bright light was seen across the sky over California early Tuesday morning, February 14, 2017, and later identified as a Navy missile test. The object appeared in the sky for at least 45 seconds. Many said it changed trajectories. The event was described as a…

  • Landslides, flooding affect more than 45 000 people, Indonesia

    Heavy rainfall across various parts of Indonesia triggered severe floods and deadly landslides over the past couple of days, affecting more than 45 000 people and killing at least 12. Heavy rain in Bangli District of Bali Province started on February 8 with 145 mm…

  • Creating artificial clouds to study aurora

    NASA will launch an interesting sounding rocket from the Poker Flat Research Range, Alaska, between February 13 and March 3, 2017, and will form white artificial clouds during its brief, 10-minute flight, to study auroras. The rocket is one of five being launched…

  • Tropical Cyclone “Dineo” forms in Mozambique Channel

    Tropical Cyclone "Dineo" formed near Bassas da India atol in the Mozambique Channel, Southern Indian Ocean on February 13, 2017. This the fifth tropical cyclone of the 2016/17 Southern hemisphere cyclone season. Dineo is expected to rapidly intensify over…

  • Huge reservoir of melting carbon discovered under Western US

    Scientists using the world's largest array of seismic sensors found a huge area of melting carbon covering 1.8 million km2 (684 000 mi2), 350 km (217.5 miles) beneath the Western US. The discovery challenges accepted the understanding of how much carbon the…