• M4.4 earthquake beneath Lake Taupo, more than 20 aftershocks, New Zealand

    ByTW

    An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.4 struck beneath Lake Taupō, New Zealand on March 5, 2023, followed by more than 20 aftershocks. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1, which denotes minor volcanic unrest, and the Aviation Color Code is Green. Although there is no immediate risk, the potential for eruption hazards cannot be entirely ruled out, and it is essential that visitors and residents follow the recommended safety guidelines.

  • Strong and shallow M6.0 earthquake hits Mindanao, Philippines

    ByTeo Blašković

    A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit Mindanao, Philippines at 06:02 UTC (14:02 LT) on March 7, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 38.6 km (24 miles). PHIVOLCS is reporting M5.9 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles); EMSC M6.0 at 10 km (6.2 miles).

  • Powerful winter storm hits U.S., leaving at least 13 people dead and over 3 million without power, U.S.

    ByTeo Blašković

    A powerful winter storm swept across the U.S. over the past couple of days, causing death and destruction in multiple states. At least 13 people lost their lives as severe weather, high winds, and flooding hit the South and Midwest. At the same time, winter-weary Northeast and Midwest residents were digging out from heavy snowfall. Thousands of businesses closed, flights were canceled, and more than 1.2 million customers — or approximately 3 million people, were left without power.

  • When summer turned extreme: A statistical analysis of New Zealand’s remarkable summer of 2022/23

    ByTW

    February 2023 was a month of extremes for New Zealand’s weather and climate. While some parts of the North Island received at least 400% of their normal February rainfall and experienced the 2nd wettest summer on record, the South Island faced below-normal rainfall and the 5th driest summer on record. Cyclone Gabrielle brought destructive winds and historic extreme rainfall, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life. The nationwide average temperature was 1.1 °C (2 °F) above the February average, making it the 3rd warmest summer on record. Despite the heavy rainfall, some locations experienced high sunshine hours.

  • Tornadoes and high winds cause damage and widespread power outages across Texas and Louisiana

    ByTW

    Tornadoes and high winds caused damage and widespread power outages Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Texas and Louisiana, including Dallas-Fort Worth and Shreveport. At the height of the storm, there were more than 350 000 customers without power in Texas, with more than half of them in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where winds up to 130 km/h (80 mph) were recorded.