• Winter Storm Ezra – Multi-hazard winter storm forecast to bring blizzard conditions and significant icing to Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast

    Winter Storm Ezra is forecast to bring severe winter weather across large parts of the United States from Sunday through Tuesday, December 28–30, 2025, as it moves from the Great Lakes into southern Canada. Heavy snow, blizzard conditions, and hazardous icing are forecast across the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and interior Northeast. Snowfall totals of over 30 cm (1 foot) are expected in parts of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, while ice accumulations of up to 13 mm (0.5 inches) are forecast across interior New England through Tuesday.

  • Major gas line rupture in Castaic prompts shelter-in-place order and I-5 closure, California

    A high-pressure natural gas transmission pipeline ruptured near Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place in Castaic, Los Angeles County, at about 16:20 LT on December 27, 2025 (00:20 UTC on December 28), prompting a shelter-in-place advisory and a full closure of Interstate 5 until about 21:00 LT. SoCalGas confirmed its crews isolated the damaged section, stopped the leak, and reported no ignition or explosion.

  • Strong M6.6 earthquake hits near Yilan, Taiwan

    A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.6 hit near Yilan, Taiwan, at 15:05 UTC (23:05 local time) on December 27, 2025. The agency reported a depth of 67.5 km (42 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.6 at a depth of 68 km. No tsunami warning was issued.

  • Strong explosive activity at Etna opens new vent feeding lava flow toward Valle del Bove, Italy

    Etna’s eruptive activity intensified rapidly between December 24 and 27, 2025, culminating in short-lived lava fountains about 200 m (650 feet) high and a new lava flow from the upper Voragine crater toward the Valle del Bove. INGV Etna Observatory (OE) raised the Aviation Color Code to Red on December 27 as tremor and infrasound amplitudes reached very high levels.

  • Winter Storm Warnings in effect for New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, U.S.

    Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for large parts of the northeastern U.S., including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, from December 26 until midday December 27, 2025. Snow totals of 10–25 cm (4–10 inches) are forecast throughout warning areas, with the heaviest snowfall affecting the Friday evening commute as travel conditions deteriorate rapidly.

  • Eruption at Piparo Mud Volcano damages roads and homes, Trinidad and Tobago

    Activity at the Piparo Mud Volcano in Trinidad and Tobago began increasing early on December 24, 2025, and continued through Christmas, ejecting mud up to 4.6 m (15 feet) into the air and damaging roads, homes, and nearby infrastructure. Officials confirmed visible cracks, ground uplift, and frequent eruptions occurring every 10–20 seconds as assessments and safety operations remained underway.

  • Strong atmospheric river brings heavy rainfall and flooding across Southern California over Christmas

    A major atmospheric river swept across Southern California from late December 24, 2025, into Christmas Day, December 25, triggering widespread flash floods, evacuations, debris flows, and power outages. Multiple counties including Los Angeles and Ventura were put under a State of Emergency. Rainfall totals reached 75–150 mm (3–6 inches) in coastal and valley areas, with up to 250 mm (10 inches) in higher terrain of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, prompting officials to urge residents to avoid travel.