Impressive snowfall totals in California ahead of new winter storm
A powerful atmospheric river impacted the US West Coast from February 29 through March 3, 2024, dropping massive amounts of snow to the Sierra Nevada.
Large, unexplained earth cracks appear in Libya, prompting government investigation
Large earth cracks appeared in Al-Sbeaa, just south of Libya’s capital, Tripoli over the past couple of days. With no preceding earthquakes or known faults, the Libyan government has launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the fissures.
Magma volume rising, increased likelihood of eruption on Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland
Magma volume beneath Svartsengi, Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland continues to increase, which could result in a new dike propagation and/or volcanic eruption in the coming days, the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) reported at 14:00 UTC on March 5, 2024. Weather conditions over the next few days could affect IMO’s monitoring system.
Effusive eruption continues at Fernandina volcano, Galapagos
The effusive eruption that started two days ago at Fernandina volcano in Ecuador continues on March 5, 2024, with several lava flows on the SSE slope of the volcano.
Over 6 000 isolated as avalanche closes tunnel entrance in Aosta Valley, Italy
More than 6 000 people were isolated on March 3, 2024, following a large avalanche in the Aosta Valley, which struck a tunnel in the municipality of Gaby, province of Aosta, Italy.
Heavy rains and snow hit Pakistan, destroying homes and leaving dozens dead
Heavy rains and snow have wreaked havoc across Pakistan over the past 4 days, leaving at least 36 people dead and 50 others injured, according to authorities. The affected areas include the scenic Swat Valley, the Khyber district, and other parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. The heavy rainfall and snowfall have caused houses to collapse, triggered landslides, and blocked roads, particularly in the country’s northwest.
Large lava flows form in first eruption at Fernandina volcano since 2020 – Galapagos, Ecuador
A new eruption started at Ecuador’s Fernandina volcano in the Galapagos archipelago at 04:50 UTC on Sunday, March 3, 2024. IGEPN volcanologists said deformation data suggests this eruption will be larger than those observed in 2017, 2018 and 2020.
Strong and shallow M6.7 earthquake hits Macquarie Island region
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.7 hit the Macquarie Island region, about halfway between New Zealand and Australia, at 16:16 UTC on March 3, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
Iceland evacuates Blue Lagoon and Grindavík amid intense seismic swarm, fear of new eruption
Iceland evacuated its world-famous Blue Lagoon and the nearby town of Grindavík in Reykjanes Peninsula on Saturday, March 2, 2024, due to an intense seismic swarm indicating a new fissure eruption could start any moment.
Massive blizzard strikes California and Nevada with wind gusts up to 305 km/h (190 mph)
A significant winter storm continues to impact much of the West on Sunday, March 3, 2024, with heavy mountain snow and widespread damaging winds, including dangerous, blizzard conditions in the Sierra Nevada.
