Light snow began covering Saharan sand dunes in Aïn Séfra in Algeria on January 17, 2026, and continues to do so, forming a scenic contrast with the barren sands of the desert, which has been going viral on social media.
A major winter storm is forecast to sweep across much of the central and eastern United States between January 23 and 25, 2026, with a mix of snow, sleet, and ice likely from Texas and the Mid-South to the Northeast. Dangerous travel and freezing rain are expected in several regions as the system intensifies through the weekend.
A shallow M5.6 earthquake struck near Barishal, Gilgit-Baltistan, at 11:21 LT (06:21 UTC) on January 19, 2026, damaging multiple homes, killing one person, and injuring two. Multiple landslides were also reported, with debris blocking multiple routes across the region and surrounding areas.
Multiple injuries were reported after lake effect snow and whiteout conditions triggered a 100-vehicle pileup on the I-196 southeast of Grand Rapids on Monday, January 19, 2026. The crashes prompted the closure of all lanes of the highway throughout the day as crews cleared the road.
Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms swept across New South Wales and southeast Queensland between Saturday and Monday, January 17 and 19, 2026, forcing evacuations around Sydney’s Narrabeen Lagoon and causing one death at Macquarie Pass. The storm system brought flash flooding, landslides, and dozens of rescues as the NSW State Emergency Service continued operations across inundated coastal suburbs.
Heavy snow and strong winds continue across the Great Lakes and Northeast U.S. on January 19, 2026, with winter storm warnings and advisories in effect across the region. Snow accumulations are forecast to reach 15–-35 cm (6–14 inches) in Michigan and up to 120 cm (4 feet) in parts of northern New York.
An intense Arctic cold wave gripped Kyiv, Ukraine, in mid-January 2026, driving temperatures to -20°C (-4°F) amid an ongoing energy crisis. Large sections of the capital were left without heating or electricity after continued Russian strikes on the power grid, prompting some residents to temporarily leave unheated apartments and seek shelter in emergency warming centers. Schools across the country have been shut until February 1, due to the extreme conditions.
Elevated concentrations of iodine-129 were detected in seawater samples collected recently from the West Philippine Sea during a nationwide marine radioisotope survey conducted by the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute. The concentrations were higher than those measured in other Philippine marine areas, despite the Philippines having no active nuclear power plant or nuclear weapons program.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit southeast of Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia at 13:02 UTC on January 19, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
Rare snow fell across parts of Florida’s Panhandle early on January 18, 2026, marking the second consecutive winter with measurable snowfall in the state. 2.3 mm (0.09 inches) of snow was recorded at Pensacola International Airport on the morning of January 18.
