Powerful winter storm floods Gaza, leaving 17 dead and destroying over 42 000 tents
A powerful winter storm swept across Gaza over the past seven days, leaving at least 17 people dead and over 42 000 tents destroyed by December 28, 2025.
Tornadoes rip through Tazewell, Christian, and Macon counties, leaving thousands without power, Illinois
Multiple tornadoes, including an EF-1 with peak winds of 158 km/h (98 mph), touched down in Illinois on Sunday, December 28, 2025, with significant damage and power outages being reported across Tazewell, Christian, and Macon counties.
Mount Etna’s Northeast Crater erupts for the first time in 28 years, Italy
Two paroxysmal eruptions occurred at Mount Etna’s Northeast Crater on December 27, 2025, marking the first major eruptive episode from this crater in almost 28 years. The events produced lava fountains up to 500 m (1 640 feet), eruptive columns rising over 10 km (6 miles) above sea level, and a short lava flow from the nearby Voragine Crater. Activity gradually declined by December 28, with continued strombolian explosions and weak effusion.
Over 30 weather-related crashes, one fatality reported as extreme cold and snow hit Iowa
The Iowa State Patrol responded to 31 crashes during extreme winter weather on December 28, 2025, as snow, high winds, and whiteout conditions spread across the state. One person was killed, and several others were injured while visibility dropped to near zero on major highways, including Interstate 35.
Three killed in Sweden as Storm Johannes sweeps across Nordic countries
A powerful winter storm named Johannes swept across the Nordic countries over the weekend, killing three people in Sweden and leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity across Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Sweden’s Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) issued widespread alerts for strong winds as the system moved north. The storm, known as Hannes in Finland, also caused major travel disruptions, grounding flights and halting rail and ferry traffic.
Rapidly intensifying winter storm to strike Ontario with snow, ice, and high winds
A powerful bomb cyclone is forecast to strike Ontario bringing heavy snow, freezing rain, and severe winds from Sunday through Tuesday, December 28 to 30, 2025, as the deepening low crosses the Great Lakes. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued Winter Storm and Freezing Rain Warnings, with snowfall totals of up to 50 cm (20 inches) and gusts exceeding 100 km/h (62 mph) expected in some areas.
Major winter storm prompts Blizzard Warnings across Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan, U.S.
Blizzard warnings have been issued across the Upper Midwest from Sunday into Monday, December 28–29, 2025, as a powerful winter storm moves toward the Great Lakes, bringing blizzard conditions to large parts of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Winter Storm Ezra – Multi-hazard winter storm forecast to bring blizzard conditions and significant icing to Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast
Winter Storm Ezra is forecast to bring severe winter weather across large parts of the United States from Sunday through Tuesday, December 28–30, 2025, as it moves from the Great Lakes into southern Canada. Heavy snow, blizzard conditions, and hazardous icing are forecast across the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and interior Northeast. Snowfall totals of over 30 cm (1 foot) are expected in parts of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, while ice accumulations of up to 13 mm (0.5 inches) are forecast across interior New England through Tuesday.
Major gas line rupture in Castaic prompts shelter-in-place order and I-5 closure, California
A high-pressure natural gas transmission pipeline ruptured near Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place in Castaic, Los Angeles County, at about 16:20 LT on December 27, 2025 (00:20 UTC on December 28), prompting a shelter-in-place advisory and a full closure of Interstate 5 until about 21:00 LT. SoCalGas confirmed its crews isolated the damaged section, stopped the leak, and reported no ignition or explosion.
Strong M6.2 earthquake hits near the coast of northern Peru
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.2 struck near the coast of northern Peru at 02:51 UTC on December 28, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 66.4 km (41.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.2 at a depth of 66 km (41 miles)
