Severe thunderstorm with wind gusts up to 150 km/h (92 mph) struck the coastal city of Bahia Blanca in Argentina on December 16, 2023, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 people. The city, located near the southern tip of Buenos Aires province, is one of Argentina’s prime grain-producing regions.
China is experiencing a severe cold wave, with heavy snowfall and plummeting temperatures affecting transport and daily life across northern regions, including Beijing. President Xi Jinping has called for comprehensive emergency responses as temperatures drop significantly below freezing.
A powerful solar flare measuring X2.8 erupted from Active Region 3514 at 17:02 UTC on December 14, 2023. The event started at 16:47 and ended at 17:12 UTC. This is the strongest solar flare of the current Solar Cycle.
Meteor watchers are gearing up for the birth of a new meteor shower, the λ-Sculptorids, on December 12, 2023, with prime viewing from Eastern Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia.
A very strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.1 hit Vanuatu at 12:56 UTC on December 7, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 48.4 km (30 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.9 at a depth of 32 km (20 miles).
At least 47 people have been killed and 85 others injured in floods and landslides caused by heavy rainfall in northern Tanzania, local officials said Sunday, December 3, 2023. The death toll is expected to rise.
A deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm and was named Michaung at 03:00 UTC on December 3, 2023. This is the 6th named storm of the 2023 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. An Orange cyclone alert is in effect for Andhra Pradesh and adjoining North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts. Landfall is expected to take place on December 5.
Multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) produced on November 27 and 28, 2023, impacted Earth on December 1, sparking G3 – Strong geomagnetic storm. Similarly to the last G3 storm, on November 5, spectacular aurora sightings were reported from both hemispheres.
Strombolian activity continues at Etna’s Southeast Crater on November 30, 2023. Additionally, an M2.5 earthquake was recorded at 06:52 UTC today close to Piano Pernicana, ENE of the crater.
On November 1, 2023, a new island was born approximately 1 km (0.62 miles) off the southern coast of Iwoto Island, Japan, following intense volcanic activity. This latest addition to the Ogasawara island chain, now nearly merging with Iwoto, was first identified by military personnel stationed there.
