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!
Tropical Cyclone “Michaung” made landfall in Andhra Pradesh on December 5, 2023, leading to widespread crop damage across several districts and significant flooding.
A sudden and intense hailstorm struck Menorca, Spain, on Tuesday morning, December 5, 2023, particularly affecting Mahon. The storm, not forecasted by Aemet, delivered heavy rainfall, with Mahon receiving 24 mm (0.95 inches) in just 15 minutes.
A powerful atmospheric river has brought record-breaking rainfall to Washington and Oregon, causing widespread flooding and two fatalities as of December 5. The National Weather Service forecasts the storms to continue until December 7. Notable impacts include record river levels, such as the Stillaguamish River reaching a historic 6.50 m (21.34 feet), and extensive property damage across both states.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) reports a decreased likelihood of an eruption at Svartsengi following the cessation of magma inflow to the November 10 dike. While magma accumulation continues beneath Svartsengi, the immediate eruption risk along the dike has significantly reduced.
The Anak Krakatau volcano, located in Indonesia’s Sunda Strait, has resumed its explosive activity, exhibiting a series of short-lived lava-fountaining episodes known as paroxysms last night. The eruptions lasted up to 150 seconds while ash was reaching 2 100 m (7 000 feet) above sea level.
Tropical Cyclone “Michaung” has brought Chennai to a standstill, with continuous heavy rains since the early morning. The city has accumulated an alarming 460 mm (18.1 inches) of rainfall by 14:30 LT, surpassing its average December rainfall. Michaung is the 6th named storm of the 2023 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. It is forecasted to intensify and make landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam, near Bapatla, during the forenoon of December 5.
At least 47 people have been killed and 85 others injured in floods and landslides caused by heavy rainfall in northern Tanzania, local officials said Sunday, December 3, 2023. The death toll is expected to rise.
A team of Earth scientists, meteorologists, geologists, and volcanologists has formulated a new theory explaining the phenomenon of volcanic fountaining. This breakthrough is based on the analysis of the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption in Iceland, as reported in the journal Nature Communications.
The Pacific Northwest is bracing for a prolonged winter storm that is forecasted to last through the weekend, threatening the region with a mix of heavy rain in the coastal ranges and lower Cascades and significant snowfall in the mountain passes. This event corresponds with the CW3E’s forecast of several atmospheric rivers, set to affect the area from Saturday, December 2, through the following week.
Heavy rainfall continues affecting Kenya, causing widespread flooding. As of November 28, 2023, the floods have claimed at least 120 lives in 38 counties, with Tana River, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera Counties bearing the brunt of the disaster. The crisis has affected over 500 000 people and displaced almost 90 000 households (around 360 000 individuals). Key infrastructure, including parts of the Garissa-Nairobi Highway, is severely impacted, and authorities are monitoring the Tana River’s major dams. Forecasts predict continued heavy rainfall, exacerbating the already dire situation.
