• Japan braces for another heavy snow event following early-January traffic paralysis

    ByTeo Blašković

    Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) forecasts heavy snowfall around January 11–12, 2026, as a strong cold surge moves over Honshu, with warning-level accumulations expected along the Sea of Japan side including Hokuriku and Tohoku. Regional observatories report the potential for five-day snowfall totals exceeding 160 percent of seasonal averages, a rare magnitude for this time of year. This follows the early-January snowstorm that immobilized about 3 000 vehicles over a 23 km (14 miles) stretch of the Sanyō Expressway in western Japan.

  • Severe multi-state heatwave drives extreme bushfire risk across southern Australia

    ByTeo Blašković

    Australia is enduring one of its most intense heatwaves since the 2019–20 Black Summer, with extreme temperatures, strong winds and dry lightning fuelling catastrophic fire danger across multiple states. Emergency-level bushfires have been reported in South Australia and Victoria, while BOM forecasts indicate the threat will intensify through Friday, before cooler air reaches southern regions at the weekend.

  • Strong and shallow M6.4 earthquake hits Mindanao, Philippines

    ByRishav Kothari

    A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.4 struck near Baculin, Davao, Mindanao, Philippines, at 03:02 UTC (11:02 LT) on January 7, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 35 km (21.7 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. There is no tsunami threat from this event.

  • Winter Storm Warnings in effect for Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana through Thursday

    ByRishav Kothari

    A major winter storm is affecting the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies, with winter storm warnings in effect through 16:00 PST on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Heavy snow is forecast to continue across the Cascades of Washington and Oregon, extending into Idaho and western Montana. Snow accumulations are forecast to reach between 30 cm and 120 cm (1 to 4 feet), with gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph) causing whiteout conditions and difficult travel across mountain passes.

  • Two winter storms forecast to bring heavy mountain snow and rain to the Pacific Northwest

    ByRishav Kothari

    Two frontal systems are forecast to bring widespread precipitation and heavy mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest between Tuesday and Thursday, January 6 and 8, 2026. The first, associated with a weakening atmospheric river, will bring rainfall to the region on Tuesday, followed by a second, stronger system on Wednesday and Thursday, January 7–8. Snowfall totals of 30–120 cm (12–48 inches) are expected across the Cascades and Olympic Mountains, with locally higher amounts above 1 500 m (5 000 feet).

  • Strong and shallow M6.2 earthquake, multiple strong aftershocks hit Shimane Prefecture, Japan

    ByRishav Kothari

    A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as M6.2 struck eastern Shimane Prefecture, Japan at 01:18 UTC (10:18 JST) on Tuesday, January 6, 2025, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), and was followed by multiple strong aftershocks. Roof damage, collapsed walls, and toppled gravestones are being reported in parts of the region. There is no tsunami threat from the quake.

  • Storm Francis triggers severe floods across Málaga Province, Spain

    ByRishav Kothari

    Severe flooding struck Málaga Province, southern Spain, through Sunday and Monday, January 4 and 5, 2026, as Storm Francis brought torrential rainfall, dropping totals of up to 200 mm (8 inches) in parts of the Guadalhorce Valley and Costa del Sol. A Red Alert was issued for parts of the region as rivers overflowed, prompting evacuations and emergency rescues across Cártama, Alhaurín de la Torre, and Málaga city.