Freak wave hits South African beach, killing 3 people and injuring 17
An unusually large wave hit a popular beach in the city of Durban, South Africa at around 17:00 LT on December 17, 2022, killing three people and injuring 17 others.
New era of violent and unpredictable eruptions at Stromboli volcano, Italy
New research published in Nature Communications suggests the internal ‘plumbing’ system of the Stromboli volcano in Italy may have changed, allowing magma from deep beneath the surface to rise more easily, triggering violent and unpredictable blasts. The research follows a series of surprisingly strong eruptions and paroxysms in 2019.
Severe thunderstorms spawn destructive tornadoes in southern U.S.
Severe thunderstorms spawned destructive tornadoes in the southern United States on December 13, 2022, leaving at least one person dead and several people missing. Severe storms with all hazards, including intense tornadoes, and heavy to excessive rain that could cause flash flooding are forecast to continue across the Deep and Middle South on December 14.
Intense explosions, dense volcanic ash emissions at Fuego volcano, Guatemala
Activity at Guatemala’s Fuego volcano increased on December 11, 2022, producing intense explosions, heavy ash and notable lava flow in the Ceniza ravine.
Major storm system bringing heavy mountain snow and coastal rain to the West, U.S.
A powerful storm system with heavy mountain snow and heavy lower-elevation rain is affecting the U.S. West, potentially bringing as much as 150 cm (5 feet) of snow accumulation to California. Flooding and debris flows will be possible on burn scars in southern California.
Very large tornado hits Ras Laffan, Qatar
A very large tornado formed in Ras Laffan, around 80 km (50 miles) north of the capital Doha, Qatar on December 7, 2022. Another tornado was spotted on the same day in the abandoned town of Al Huwaylah.
About 20 m (65 feet) of foreshore disappears during a swarm of earthquakes at Taupo volcano, New Zealand
About 20 m (65.6 feet) of foreshore in Wharewaka, Lake Taupo, New Zealand disappeared after a strong and shallow M5.6 earthquake and numerous aftershocks at Taupō volcano at the end of November 2022.
Large pyroclastic flow at Stromboli volcano generates a local tsunami, Italy
Intense explosions and large pyroclastic flows took place at Stromboli volcano, Italy on December 4, 2022, generating a small local tsunami.
China hit by strongest cold wave since 1987
The weather in northern China changed dramatically at the end of last week, leaving at least 7 people dead and hundreds of thousands of livestock stranded after exceptionally cold temperatures hit the province of Xinjiang.
Asteroid 2022 WM7 flew past Earth at just 0.2 LD
A newly-discovered asteroid designated 2022 WM7 flew past Earth at a distance of just 0.2 LD / 0.00053 AU (78 549 km / 48 808 miles) at 02:24 UTC on November 28, 2022.
