Massive sandstorm engulfs parts of Qinghai, plunging towns into darkness, China
A massive sandstorm engulfed parts of northwest China’s Qinghai Province on July 20, 2022, disrupting traffic and plugging towns into darkness.

A massive sandstorm engulfed parts of northwest China’s Qinghai Province on July 20, 2022, disrupting traffic and plugging towns into darkness.

At least 20 people have been killed and 3 others remain missing after heavy rainfall hit parts of southern Iran on July 22, 2022.

A severe weather outbreak hit China’s Jiangsu Province on July 20, 2022, producing at least 5 tornadoes and leaving significant damage. The number of confirmed tornadoes is expected to rise as more information comes in.

More than 480 000 people living in southwestern Japan have been told to evacuate on July 19, 2022, as record-breaking rains continue falling over the region. Heavy rains are expected to continue through July 20. Residents in the affected region are urged to be on their guard against landslides, floods in low-lying areas, and river flooding.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) has detected increased seismic activity beneath Kamaʻehuakanaloa (formerly known as Lōʻihi) seamount, south of the Island of Hawaiʻi over the past few days. The activity is likely the result of magma movement beneath Kamaʻehuakanaloa seamount and currently shows no sign of leading to an eruption. The last eruption at this volcano took place in 1996 (VEI 0).

For the first time ever, temperatures of 40 °C (104 °F) have been forecast in the United Kingdom for Monday and Tuesday, July 18 and 19, 2022. As a result, the UK Met Office has issued the first ever Red warning for exceptional heat. The current record high temperature in the UK is 38.7 °C (101.6 °F), set in Cambridge in 2019.

Severe storms hit parts of Virginia on July 12, 2022, causing major flooding in Buchanan County where more than 100 homes were damaged and 44 people were unaccounted for, as of July 14.

Record-breaking temperatures have engulfed parts of Europe for the second time since mid-June. Before the end of the week, temperatures are expected to reach the high 40s (°C). As a result, France, Britain, Portugal and Spain are on high alert over wildfires and public health.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) raised the alert level for Tsurumidake and Garandake, Kyushu, Japan on July 8, 2022, from 1 to 2 (restriction on proximity to the crater). The last eruption at this volcano took place in the year 867 (VEI 3).

Some 15 000 people have been airlifted to safety after severe flash floods swept through makeshift camps during an annual Hindu pilgrimage to an icy Himalayan cave in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The cave is located at an altitude of 4.1 km (2.5 miles) and is covered with snow most of the year except for the short summer period when it is open to pilgrims.