A swarm of small earthquakes has been shaking the desert northeast of Tonopah, Nevada, since late February 2026, with nearly a hundred shallow events recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey through 17:00 UTC on March 4.
An impulsive explosion from the Bocca Nuova crater at Mount Etna, Italy, generated a short-lived ash emission at 13:12 LT (12:12 UTC) on March 4, 2026. Surveillance cameras recorded the ash plume dispersing quickly toward the eastern side of the volcano. The eruption followed an earthquake swarm on Mount Etna’s southwestern flank earlier in the day, which included a notable ML4.5 earthquake.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued numerous flood warnings on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, following 50–100 mm (2–4 inches) of rainfall across Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. Several rivers, including the East Fork White River, White River, and Big Blue River, are above flood stage, with additional rainfall forecast through the end of the week.
The District Department of Health lifted a recreational advisory for the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on March 2, 2026, after three weeks of monitoring showed bacterial levels had returned to typical ranges following the January 19 collapse of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line. Repair operations advanced the following day as crews prepared the damaged pipe for structural reinforcement while environmental restoration continues in the affected section of the C&O Canal National Historical Park.
A multi-day storm event is forecast to unfold across the central and southern United States, with the Storm Prediction Center issuing a slight to enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms across the Southern and Central Plains from March 4 to 6, 2026.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported on March 3, 2026, that the recent weak La Niña is fading, with ENSO-neutral conditions expected to prevail until at least July 2026. Forecast models show about a 40% chance of El Niño emerging by mid-year, although confidence remains limited because of the boreal-spring predictability barrier.
Thick Saharan dust from North Africa covered parts of Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and neighboring countries on March 4, 2026, producing hazy skies, orange deposits, and moderate-to-poor air quality. Forecasts show the plume spreading toward central Europe before dispersing after March 6.
Subtropical Storm Caiobá formed off southern Brazil on March 2, 2026, after two subtropical depressions developed simultaneously in the South Atlantic. According to Metsul Meteorologia and available South Atlantic cyclone records, no previous instance of simultaneous subtropical depressions has been documented since formal monitoring and classification began. Caiobá moved away from the coast of Brazil without any major impacts.
Northern China experienced widespread snowfall on March 1, 2026, with snow cover exceeding 250 000 km² (96 525 mi²) and a maximum snow depth of 23 cm (9 inches). The event prompted emergency responses across several provinces, including Hebei, Shanxi, and Gansu, according to official reports.
A total of 49 volcanic earthquakes were recorded at Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon Province, Philippines, between 03:00 LT on February 26 and 11:00 LT on March 2, 2026, prompting authorities to issue an advisory on increased seismic activity. Sixteen of the events were classified as volcano-tectonic earthquakes occurring at depths of 3–6 km (1.9–3.7 miles) beneath the northern and southeastern flanks of the volcano. Alert Level 0 remains in effect, but officials warn of a possible sudden phreatic eruption.
