Up to 20 waterspouts formed off the coast of Salerno in Italy’s Campania Region on November 21, 2023, with at least three making a spectacular landfall. There were no reports of significant damage or casualties from this event.
At approximately 21:00 local time on Monday, November 20, 2023, a destructive landslide, produced by intense rainfall, occurred roughly 18 km (11 miles) outside Wrangell, Alaska, on the Zimovia Highway. This event resulted in the deaths of at least three individuals, including a child, with three more reported missing. Active rescue efforts continue in the face of the landslide, which extended over approximately 152 meters (500 feet), destroying three homes and prompting urgent evacuations in the area.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.7 hit Vanuatu at 04:47 UTC (15:47 LT) on November 22, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 22.5 km (14 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.7 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles); BMKG M7.0 at a depth of 12 km (7.5 miles).
A strong earthquake registered by the BMKG as M6.6 hit Halmahera, Indonesia at 02:48 UTC (09:48 LT) on November 22, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 109 km (67.7 miles). USGS and EMSC are reporting M6.0 at a depth of 119 km (73.9 miles).
On November 21, 2023, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) reported a decrease in seismic activity in the Reykjanes Peninsula, with 165 earthquakes, all below magnitude 2, detected since midnight. This decline contrasts with the previous days’ average of 1 500 to 1 800 earthquakes per 24-hour period.
On Monday, November 20, 2023, at approximately 15:30 local time (06:30 UTC), Papua New Guinea’s Ulawun volcano erupted violently, sending volcanic ash as high as 15 km (50 000 feet) above sea level. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Red and the Alert Level to 4 (highest). Despite widespread rumors, no tsunami warnings have been issued for the surrounding regions, including Japan and Australia.
The Guaíba River in Porto Alegre, Brazil, reached a historic water level of 3.01 meters on the morning of November 20, 2023. This marked the third-highest flood level since 1941, following heavy rainfall across its contributing basins. The rising waters led to the river overflowing its banks at the Central Wharf, a rare occurrence in the city’s recent history.
The Dominican Republic has been severely impacted by a tropical disturbance that brought record-breaking rainfall and catastrophic flooding across various regions.
In the wake of destructive storms that hit northwestern Turkey on November 19, 2023, search efforts are underway for 11 missing crew members of the Kafkametler, a cargo ship that sunk off the Black Sea coast. The Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, confirmed the recovery of one body from the ship, which was among several maritime and land emergencies caused by the severe weather. These incidents have led to at least nine fatalities, including deaths from flooding and structural damage in various parts of the country.
A vigorous cold front is currently sweeping across the western United States, bringing a mix of high-elevation snow, coastal and valley rains, and strong winds, as reported by the National Weather Service. This weather pattern is expected to rapidly progress eastward, potentially impacting Thanksgiving travel with a series of severe thunderstorms, heavy rains, and snowfall anticipated to hit the central and eastern regions of the country early next week.
