Sydney records highest six‑year rainfall total since 1858
Sydney has recorded more than 9 300 mm (366 inches) of rain since January 2020, marking the highest six‑year total since systematic measurements began in 1858.
Record-breaking rainfall leaves six dead or missing in Ordos, Inner Mongolia
Three people were confirmed dead and three more are missing after record-breaking rainfall triggered severe flooding in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, on August 19, 2025.
Extreme rainfall paralyzes Mumbai, leaving three dead and two missing
Extremely heavy rainfall between August 16–19, 2025, caused severe flooding in Mumbai, India, leaving at least three people dead and two missing. The event prompted mass evacuations, transport collapse, and the extraction of over 16 451 million liters (4.35 billion gallons) of floodwater from the city’s pumping network.
Dangerous rip currents expected along U.S. East Coast as Hurricane Erin grows in size
Tropical Storm Erin is forecast to grow substantially over the western Atlantic this week, producing dangerous surf, rip currents, and a possible storm surge of 0.6 to 1.2 m (2–4 feet) from Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina, as it approaches the U.S. East Coast, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Atlantic Canada.
Flooding triggered by intense rainfall leaves one dead in Caracas, Venezuela
Heavy rainfall on the night of August 17–18, 2025, caused flash flooding in Caracas, Venezuela, leaving one person dead on the old road to El Junquito.
Odds increase for tropical development behind Hurricane Erin in the Atlantic
A disturbance in the Atlantic Ocean’s Main Development Region has a medium chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within the next seven days. If the system develops into a tropical storm, it will be named Fernand, the next designation on the 2025 Atlantic hurricane list.
Category 4 Hurricane Erin located just east of southeast Bahamas, life-threatening surf expected along U.S. East Coast
Category 4 Hurricane Erin was located 220 km (140 miles) north-northeast of Grand Turk Islands at 18:00 UTC (14:00 EDT) on August 18, 2025, with maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph), maintaining Category 4 strength while moving northwest at 20 km/h (13 mph).
Shallow M5.8 earthquake in Central Sulawesi kills one, injures 41; church collapse and minor tsunami reported
A shallow M5.8 earthquake struck near Poso in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia at 22:38 UTC on August 16, 2025. The tremor caused one fatality and injured 41 people, triggered the partial collapse of a church during worship, damaged dozens of buildings across the region, and produced a small tsunami.
Lewotobi volcano eruption sends ash cloud to 9.8 km (32 000 feet), Indonesia
Lewotobi volcano in Indonesia erupted on August 17, 2025, emitting volcanic ash up to 9 800 m (32 000 feet) above sea level, according to the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC).
M5.6 earthquake, largest onshore in Queensland in 50 years, strikes near Kilkivan, Australia
A strong earthquake registered by Geoscience Australia as M5.6 hit near Kilkivan, Queensland at 23:49 UTC on August 15 (09:49 local time) on August 16, 2025, at a depth of 10 km (6 miles). The quake caused temporary power outages and minor structural damage, and marked the state’s largest on-shore earthquake in 50 years.
