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!
Japanese researchers have identified five total solar eclipses that occurred in the Eastern Mediterranean between 346 and 693 CE. The new data, derived from Byzantine records, shed light on Earth’s historical rotation variability.
A series of atmospheric rivers are slated to affect the Pacific Northwest, starting today and lasting until Monday. The most intense activity is forecasted for Sunday, October 15, 2023, with the potential for strong atmospheric conditions in coastal Oregon.
On October 12, 2023, two long-track tornadoes swept through parts of Tampa Bay, Florida, U.S., significantly affecting Citrus, Pinellas, and Pasco counties. The early morning twisters caused extensive damage, leading to road closures and class cancellations in Citrus County.
14 000 people living in Myanmar’s Bago city were forced to evacuate their homes over the weekend after record-breaking rains hit the region, causing severe flooding.
Tropical Storm “Max” formed at 03:00 UTC on October 9, 2023, and made landfall 15 hours later just west of Puerto Vicente Guerrero, Mexico, with winds of 105 km/h (65 mph). Originating south of Central America, the storm intensified rapidly, bringing with it a threat of heavy rainfall and potential mudslides. Max is closely followed by Lidia, currently an intensifying tropical storm, which is expected to make landfall over west-central Mexico as a hurricane.
On September 16, 2023, a significantly large ozone hole stretched over Antarctica, covering an area of 26 million km3 (10.04 million mi3), prompting a deeper look into the possible causes. The fluctuating size of the ozone hole is a yearly phenomenon, with a notable increase from August to October, and a decrease as temperatures in the southern hemisphere’s stratosphere rise towards the year’s end.
A tornado struck Kashiani upazila of Gopalganj, Bihar, India around 15:30 local time on October 5, 2023, damaging approximately 25 business establishments, temples, trees, and electric poles. There were no reported casualties.
Areas of severe rainfall deficiency are expanding in Australia, following the country’s driest September on record, affecting the nation’s farm production and contributing to a 41% predicted fall in average farm incomes in the 2023–24 financial year.
A severe marine heat wave was recorded off Canada’s East Coast this summer, according to data compiled by Fisheries and Oceans climate scientist Peter Galbraith. The event, lasting from the last three weeks of July to the first week of August, saw a weeklong temperature spike off Newfoundland averaging 6.7 °C (12.1 °F) above normal.
Major flooding was expected in the Victorian city of Sale this morning, October 6, 2023 (LT), as the Thomson River approached the severe flood level. Residents were advised not to return home for 12 to 24 hours and to seek higher ground immediately.
