• Typhoon Dujuan leaves 12 dead and 3 missing, record rain, floods and landslides hit Japan

    ByRishav Kothari

    Heavy rainfall from Typhoon Dujuan caused flooding and landslides across eastern Japan on September 21 and 22, 2026. Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA) reported 12 deaths and three people missing nationwide as of September 24. Seven deaths were recorded in Chiba, four in Kanagawa and one in Miyazaki, while searche and rescue operations continued in Chiba and Kanagawa.48-hour rainfall total reached 832 mm (32.76 inches) at Oshima, Tokyo setting an all time record for the station.

  • Hurricane Polo brings heavy rain to Mexico, NHC forecasts Baja California approach

    ByRishav Kothari

    Hurricane Polo’s outer rainbands brought heavy rain to southwestern Mexico on September 24, 2026, with a Tropical Storm Warning in effect from Tecpan de Galeana to Manzanillo. Mexico had extended the warning westward overnight as the Category 5 hurricane remained offshore, bringing a risk of flooding, mudslides and dangerous coastal conditions.Polo is forecast to approach the Baja California Peninsula as a hurricane early in the week beginning September 28.

  • El Niño heat could cause 451 000 additional deaths worldwide by February 2027 as Pacific temperatures reach record levels

    ByRishav Kothari

    A new Climate Impact Lab assessment estimates that heat associated with El Niño could contribute to 451 000 additional deaths worldwide from June 2026 through February 2027, including 239 000 ± 11 000 during September 2026–February 2027. The September 23 report comes as NOAA measurements show central Pacific sea-surface temperatures reaching levels last seen during the 2015–16 El Niño, while multiple media reports indicate a new daily temperature-anomaly record.

  • Death toll rises to 10 after deadly flash flood and landslides in Kerala, India

    ByRishav Kothari

    Search teams recovered the last reported missing victim of the Kottapuzha River flash flood in Malappuram, Kerala, India, on September 22, 2026, bringing the flood toll to six. Separate landslides in Kottayam and Idukki killed four others on September 20, the day of the flood, accounting for 10 reported deaths across the three districts.

  • Hurricane Polo intensifies to Category 5, heavy rainfall threatens southwestern Mexico

    ByRishav Kothari

    Hurricane Polo intensified to Category 5 south of southwestern Mexico on September 22, 2026, reaching maximum sustained winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) at 12:00 UTC before strengthening further to 270 km/h (165 mph) by 15:00 UTC, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for part of the southwestern Mexican coast, while heavy rainfall through September 24 threatened life-threatening flooding and mudslides in Guerrero and Michoacán.

  • Flood watches cover much of New Mexico as multi-day heavy rainfall event begins

    ByRishav Kothari

    Flood Watches cover much of New Mexico on September 22, 2026, as a multi-day surge of tropical and monsoon moisture is forecast to produce repeated rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms through at least September 24. The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) placed portions of southern New Mexico under a Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall, level 3 of 4, for the first 24-hour period, with the Moderate Risk shifting into parts of eastern New Mexico during the following period. Flash flooding, river flooding and debris flows near recent burn scars are possible.

  • California declares statewide emergency as very strong El Niño develops ahead of 2026-27 winter

    ByRishav Kothari

    California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a statewide emergency on September 21, 2026, to accelerate preparations for potential flooding, landslides, coastal hazards and other winter impacts as a strengthening El Niño develops in the tropical Pacific. NOAA said there is a greater than 90% chance the event will become very strong during Northern Hemisphere autumn and winter 2026–27.

  • Two killed in firefighting helicopter crash during Dome Fire response in California

    ByReet Kaur

    Two people were killed when a firefighting helicopter crashed during the Dome Fire response in Mariposa County, California, on September 20, 2026. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the Eurocopter AS332-series helicopter crashed at approximately 14:55 PDT (21:55 UTC) with two people aboard. FlyPrecision subsequently confirmed the deaths of two members of its team. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with the FAA participating.

  • Rapidly intensifying Tropical Storm Polo forecast to become major hurricane near southwestern Mexico

    ByTeo Blašković

    Tropical Storm Polo was rapidly intensifying off southwestern Mexico on September 21, 2026, with maximum sustained winds reaching 100 km/h (65 mph) at 09:00 CST (15:00 UTC), according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). NHC forecasts Polo to become a hurricane later Monday and a major hurricane on Tuesday while moving near the southwestern Mexican coast, where a Tropical Storm Watch is already in effect.

  • Typhoon Dujuan brings record rainfall to eastern Japan, JMA issues Level 5 landslide warning for Oshima

    ByRishav Kothari

    Rainfall on Oshima reached 600 mm (23.6 inches) in the 24 hours ending at 14:00 LT (05:00 UTC) on September 21, 2026, as Typhoon Dujuan passed the Izu Islands and approached eastern Japan. The record September rainfall prompted a Level 5 landslide special warning, while flooding, landslides and transport disruption affected parts of the Kanto region.