A series of eruptions were registered at Anak Krakatau, a volcanic island located in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia, on January 22 and 23, 2023. The first took place at 17:41, and was followed by at least 8 eruptions by 02:38 UTC on January 23.
Heavy rains affecting the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil over the past few days caused floods and landslides in which at least 4 people were killed and one went missing. The state government said 26 municipalities have reported losses due to the storms of recent days and the cities of Rio Negrinho and Ascurra have declared a state of emergency.
Tropical Cyclone “Cheneso” formed around 12:00 UTC on January 18, 2023, as the fourth named storm of the 2022/23 South Indian Ocean cyclone season and made landfall around 07:45 UTC (10:45 LT) on January 19, north of the city of Antalaha in northern Madagascar with maximum sustained winds of 90 km/h (55 mph) and gusts up to 120 km/h (75 mph).
The extrusive eruption at Sheveluch volcano in Russia continues, with the growth of the lava dome and strong fumarole activity observed. Incandescence of the lava dome, explosions, and hot avalanches have also been reported in conjunction with this process.
The minimum temperature at Jingtao automated weather station in the town of Amur, Mohe City in Heilongjiang Province, China fell to -53.0°C (-63.4°F) on January 22, 2023, marking the lowest temperate in the province and the lowest ever observed by the Chinese meteorological system.
A rare snowfall blanketed the Taklimakan Desert of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on January 17, 2023, creating picturesque winter scenery and impressing local residents and visitors. The Taklimakan Desert is the largest desert in China and the second-largest shifting-sand desert in the world.
An avalanche hit southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region at 19:50 LT on January 17, 2023, burying multiple vehicles and killing at least 28 people as of January 20. The avalanche occurred on a section of road between Pai village in Mainling county and the Doxong La tunnel in Medog county, leaving people trapped in their vehicles as snow engulfed the exit of the tunnel.
Another slow-motion earthquake, or “slow slip event,” is now underway on the Hikurangi subduction plate boundary offshore the North Island’s east coast. The amount of slow slip movement during the last month has released energy equivalent to a magnitude 7 earthquake.
A stronger-than-usual eruption took place at Popocatepetl volcano, Mexico at around 13:38 UTC (07:38 LT) on January 21, 2023.
A very deep earthquake registered by the USGS and EMSC as M6.8 hit northern Argentina at 22:09 UTC on January 20, 2023. The depth of the earthquake was reported as 610.7 km (379 miles) by the USGS, and 586 km (364 miles) by the EMSC.
