• 846 structures damaged or destroyed, suspect faces arson charges for Old Trails and 4 other fires, Washington

    ByRishav Kothari

    Three Spokane-area fires have burned 4 223 ha (10 436 acres) as of August 6, 2026. The Old Trails, Autumn Lane, and Fairview fires have damaged or destroyed 846 structures. Both the Old Trails and Autumn Lane fires were 13% contained, while the Fairview fire stood at 5%. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect on August 7, while the man accused of starting the Old Trails Fire faces five first-degree arson charges.

  • Typhoon Dolphin strengthens near Okinawa, 5 injured as China braces for landfall

    ByRishav Kothari

    Typhoon Dolphin re-intensified while passing close to northwestern Okinawa on August 7, 2026, leaving at least five people injured, five homes partially damaged and 16 920 households without power. China’s National Meteorological Center (NMC) said the typhoon could strengthen further before making landfall between Zhejiang and northern Fujian from the afternoon of August 9 to the morning of August 10, with eastern Zhejiang potentially receiving more than 600 mm (23.6 inches) of rain through August 10.

  • Etna opens new vent in Valle del Bove after intense lava fountaining, ash disrupts Catania airport, Italy

    ByTeo Blašković

    Strong Strombolian activity continued at Etna’s Voragine crater at 10:38 LT (08:38 UTC) on August 7, 2026, after an overnight lava-fountain phase progressively weakened. The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported ashfall at Ragalna and Adrano, lava flows in Valle del Leone and a new eruptive vent in Valle del Bove, while incoming flights at Catania Airport were temporarily suspended.

  • Record-breaking heat impacts South Korea, suspected heat death toll rises to 21

    ByRishav Kothari

    Life-threatening heat remained forecast across the capital region, inland Gangwon Province and parts of Jeolla on August 6 as South Korea’s reported heat-related illness total reached 2 441. Health authorities listed 21 suspected deaths, including 13 among people aged 80 and older, in provisional figures covering May 15 through August 4.

  • Dust-storm warnings cover sections of I-10 and state routes in southern Arizona

    ByReet Kaur

    Two walls of dust crossed southern Arizona late on August 5 and early on August 6, 2026, reducing visibility to approximately 400 m (0.25 miles) across parts of Pima and Pinal counties. Winds above 97 km/h (60 mph) accompanied the stronger wall in central Pima County, creating dangerous travel conditions along several state highways and sections of Interstate 10.

  • Out-of-control Bradley Creek wildfire burns 2 852 ha and destroys more than 200 structures in British Columbia, Canada

    ByRishav Kothari

    The Bradley Creek wildfire remained Out of Control at an estimated 2 852 ha (7 047 acres) west of Vernon, British Columbia, on August 5, 2026. The blaze  destroyed more than 200 structures, prompting evacuation orders and a Do Not Consume Water Advisory across affected areas. Meanwhile, firefighters extinguished hotspots and BC Hydro cleared downed lines and impacted infrastructure.

  • M6.3 earthquake hits south of the Kermadec Islands

    ByRishav Kothari

    A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.3 struck south of the Kermadec Islands at 07:43 UTC on August 5, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 226.1 km (140.5 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.3 at a depth of 226 km (140.4 miles). The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses.

  • NOAA confirms strengthening El Niño, with 81% chance of very strong conditions in October–December 2026

    ByRishav Kothari

    El Niño is present and strengthening across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed on August 3, 2027.Meanwhile its July strength outlook gives an 81% chance of very strong conditions during October–December 2026. WMO’s August–October 2026 outlook also shows associated shifts in seasonal temperature and rainfall probabilities across multiple regions.NOAA maintains an El Niño Advisory.