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!
A powerful storm hit France's southwestern coast early Saturday, February 4, 2017, downing trees and power lines and leaving more than 250 000 homes without power. This is the second storm to hit France since Thursday. The third one, less intense, is expected on…
A massive landslide has closed a section of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Thursday, February 2, 2017, stranding some 2 000 vehicles for two days. The highway was partially opened today, allowing only stranded vehicles to pass….
According to Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), the radiation level in the containment vessel of reactor 2 at the damaged Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant nuclear complex has reached a maximum of 530 sieverts per hour which is the highest recorded level since…
The United Arab Emirates is currently under the influence of a deep low pressure associated with cold air mass which is causing unstable conditions throughout the country. Snow is falling in the country's north while the rest of the country is experiencing…
Kīlauea Volcano's episode 61g lava flow is still active and entering the ocean at Kamokuna on the volcano's south coast. Recent observations of the ocean entry indicate growing instability of the adjacent sea cliff. A potential collapse of the cliff poses…
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New activity/unrest was reported for 5 volcanoes between 25 and 31, 2017. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 15 volcanoes. New activity/unrest: Chirinkotan, Kuril Islands (Russia) | Erta Ale, Ethiopia | Etna, Sicily (Italy) | Takawangha,…
A raging blizzard affecting much of Iran over the past couple of days has claimed lives of at least 9 people by February 1. Fatal avalanches started on Sunday, January 26, 2017. According to Tehran Times, snowstorms are affecting 24 Iranian provinces since January…
According to Dr. Dave Petley, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation at the University of Sheffield, who has been collecting data on the human cost of landslides since 2002, the dataset for 2016 suggests that it was a bad year in terms of the number of…
A new study published recently in Earth and Planetary Science Letters suggests that much of our planet's water comes from within, rather than arriving from space through collisions with ice-rich comets. The study also suggests that chemical reactions responsible…
A recurrent, negative polarity coronal hole high-speed stream (CH HSS) is affecting our planet causing isolated periods of G1 Minor geomagnetic storming and vivid auroras. High-speed solar wind speed hit Earth late January 31, 2017. Geomagnetic K-index of 5 (G1 -…
