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!
Two individuals went missing on July 1, 2023, after a road in Rivière-Éternité, Quebec, Canada, gave way due to a landslide triggered by a river surge. The pair, along with a man now in critical condition, were clearing debris after a thunderstorm when the incident occurred.
Two people died and five others were injured when a landslide triggered by heavy rain buried houses in Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Dalat City, Vietnam on Thursday morning, June 29, 2023.
Extreme weather events, including significant floods and wildfires, have wreaked havoc on Chile’s bee colonies, essential pollinators for the country’s vital avocado and almond crops. The events, described as the worst in a decade, have critically endangered a key component of the South American nation’s multi-billion-dollar food industry.
Global marine heatwave (MHW) conditions continue to escalate, with around 40% of the ocean currently affected. Predictions for September 2023 estimate an increase to 50%, according to June 2023 forecast by NOAA’s Physical Sciences Laboratory.
Tropical Storm “Bret” decimated the majority of banana and plantain crops in Saint Lucia on June 22, leaving local farmers and the export industry in crisis.
After 89 days of Orange alert due to increased seismic activity, Colombia’s geological service lowered the Nevado del Ruiz volcano’s alert level to Yellow on June 27, 2023. The de-escalation follows a period of decreased instability, paving the way for the potential easing of preventative measures.
On June 28, 2023, an intense heatwave responsible for at least 13 deaths spread across the Southeast US, extending the reach of official warnings about hazardous temperatures. This comes as California anticipates its first significant heatwave of the year, and Texas faces record-high power demand due to the extreme conditions.
Europe has experienced significant smoke transport from the intense wildfires that have been raging in Canada since May. The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) has been closely monitoring the situation, tracking active fire locations, fire radiative power, emissions, and forecasting the impacts of the resulting smoke on the atmosphere.
Four people have died and three others are missing after landslides, triggered by flash floods, hit Wenchuan county in China’s southwestern Sichuan province on June 27, 2023. The landslides have led to the evacuation of more than 900 people.
A tornado and heavy downpours hit Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, on June 27, 2023, leading to one death and two injuries.
