• State of Disaster declared for the first time since 2020 as bushfires destroy over 130 structures in Victoria, Australia

    ByRishav Kothari

    A fast-moving bushfire crisis has prompted the Victorian Government to declare a State of Disaster for the first time since 2020, on January 10, 2026, with over 300 000 ha (741 000 acres) being scorched across the state under extreme heat and high winds. At least 130 structures have been destroyed, and thousands remain under evacuation orders, with conditions forecast to remain dangerous in the coming days.

  • Tornadoes touch down in Mississippi as severe storms sweep across the state

    ByRishav Kothari

    Multiple tornadoes touched down in Mississippi on January 9, 2026, as a powerful storm system moved through the Deep South, producing damaging winds and heavy rainfall. The U.S. National Weather Service issued Tornado and Flash Flood Watches for large portions of the state, warning of further severe storms through January 10 as the system continues eastward.

  • Mount Etna’s Northeast Crater erupts for the first time in 28 years, Italy

    ByTeo Blašković

    Two paroxysmal eruptions occurred at Mount Etna’s Northeast Crater on December 27, 2025, marking the first major eruptive episode from this crater in almost 28 years. The events produced lava fountains up to 500 m (1 640 feet), eruptive columns rising over 10 km (6 miles) above sea level, and a short lava flow from the nearby Voragine Crater. Activity gradually declined by December 28, with continued strombolian explosions and weak effusion.

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

    ByRishav Kothari

    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.

  • Snow blankets Saudi Arabia’s deserts for first time in 30 years

    ByTeo Blašković

    A rare widespread snowfall event affected northern Saudi Arabia in December 2025, transforming desert landscapes and mountain ranges across Tabuk and Hail into snow-covered terrain. The snowfall occurred as a sharp cold air intrusion lowered temperatures below freezing at higher elevations, with snow settling near 2 600 m (8 530 feet) and surface temperatures reported near −4°C (25°F), according to regional media reports. Such widespread snowfall over desert areas is considered exceptionally uncommon for the region.

  • Weak La Niña to end as ocean warming signals new El Niño phase in 2026

    ByRishav Kothari

    Forecast models suggest that El Niño conditions are likely to develop during 2026, marking a shift from the ongoing weak La Niña. The transition is expected to influence jet stream patterns and temperature anomalies across the United States, Canada, and Europe, potentially reshaping rainfall distribution and winter storm activity in the Northern Hemisphere.

  • Earthquake swarm in San Ramon continues with multiple events on December 15, California

    ByTeo Blašković

    An earthquake swarm that began near downtown San Ramon, California, in October remained active on December 15, with three earthquakes recorded within a few hours by the U.S. Geological Survey. The swarm is occurring in a structurally complex fault zone near the Calaveras Fault, where stress is released through repeated small ruptures rather than a single larger earthquake.