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 series of strong earthquakes were registered near the coast of Conception, Bio Bio, Chile on November 8, 2016. The strongest so far was M5.9 at 04:55 UTC. CSN Chile said the quake occurred at a depth of 65 km (40.4 miles). USGS is reporting M5.9 at a depth of 17.3…
A huge sinkhole opened up in downtown Fukuoka, disrupting traffic and power supply across the city. Authorities said the cave-in could cause buildings to collapse and evacuated nearby areas. The hole opened up at 05:15 JST on November 8 (20:15 UTC, November 7) at…
Thousands of large ice balls have appeared on a beach in Nyda, Russian Siberia in late October 2016 and remain to this day. Many US meteorologists believe this is a sign of extra snowy winter throughout the United States. This is the first time that this rare…
A heavy winter storm rolled through Norway on Sunday, November 6, 2016, bringing heavy snow and downing trees in Agder area, the country's southernmost region. The worst affected municipalities were Vegårshei, Kristiansand, Iveland, Birkirkara, Åmli,…
A shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M5.0 hit the city of Cushing, Oklahoma at 01:44 UTC on November 7, 2016. The agency is reporting a depth of 5 km (3.1 miles). Today's quake hit just two months after M5.8, the strongest earthquake in Oklahoma's…
A newly discovered asteroid 2016 VB1 will flyby Earth at 0.68 LD (261 120 km / 162 252 miles) from the surface on November 7, 2016. The closest approach is expected at 15:56 UTC. This is a rare, Atira class asteroid first observed by Mt. Lemmon Survey on November 5,…
A powerful storm accompanied by at least one very large tornado hit Italy on November 6, 2016, causing extensive damage. According to preliminary reports, at least two people have lost their lives. Several are seriously injured. A large tornado was first reported in…
A rare earthquake registered by the Geoscience Australia hit near Halls Creek, Western Australia at 09:54 UTC on November 6 ,2016. The agency is reporting a depth of 20 km (12.4 miles). USGS is reporting M4.8 at a depth of 10.6 km (6.6 miles). EMSC is reporting M4.8…
The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, New Mexico was evacuated on November 3 after a rockfall outside of the closed southern section. This is reportedly the fourth collapse this year and the first since early October. According to a press release from…
Following an official request by the Government of Nunavut, the Canadian Armed Forces conducted an aerial investigation into mysterious pinging sound, also described as a "hum" and "beep," coming from the seafloor in Fury and Hecla Strait, a…
