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!
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New activity/unrest was observed at 2 volcanoes between May 11 and 17, 2016. During the same period, ongoing activity was observed at 18 volcanoes. New activity/unrest: Awu, Sangihe Islands (Indonesia) | Ruapehu, North Island (New Zealand). Ongoing activity: Aira,…
The activity at Costa Rica's Turrialba volcano increased significantly on May 19, 2016, with three strong eruptions and constant ash emissions. Country's National Seismological Network (RSN) registered the first explosion at 21:46 UTC. The eruption lasted…
During the afternoon of May 18, 2016, the lava fountaining activity at Etna's Voragine crater passed into a modest Strombolian activity, which continued to feed the lava overflow toward west until the late evening, INGV Osservatorio Etneo reports today. A second…
According to Amin Baqeri, the governor of Rigan, Iran's southeastern province of Kerman, 16 villages in Rigan were buried in sand and became completely deserted amid consistent sandstorms. "Massive sand influx and consistent sandstorms have led to the…
Guatemala's Fuego volcano produced at least 9 explosions early May 18 that expelled volcanic ash to a height of 4 300 m (14 110 feet) and dispersed at a distance of 7 – 10 km (4.3 – 6.2 miles) to the south. Moderately large pyroclastic flows were observed later…
A very strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.8 hit Ecuador at 16:46 UTC on May 18, 2016. The agency is reporting a depth of 31 km (19.3 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.8 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). After M6.7 at 07:57 UTC, this is a second…
The deadly storm that formed late last week and dropped large amounts of rain on Sri Lanka and neighboring India has transitioned from the monsoonal type pattern to a more characteristic tropical structure on May 18, 2016. This storm is responsible for…
After a gradual resumption of activity observed at Italy's Etna volcano since early April 2016, the volcano is now exhibiting mild to strong strombolian activity accompanied by dense smoke. The Aviation Color Code is Orange. During the night of May 16, 2016,…
A very strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.7 hit Ecuador at 07:57 UTC on May 18, 2016. The agency is reporting a depth of 32.4 km (20.1 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.7 at a depth of 40 km (24.8 miles). According to the USGS, the epicenter was…
Massive sandstorms have hit Tumxuk City and Minfeng County in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region since Monday, May 16, 2016. With walls of packed sands falling over on people and buildings from as high as 100 meters (328 feet), visibility was…
