Rare EF-2 tornado hits Grand Blanc, confirming unusual tornado pattern, Michigan

Rare EF-2 tornado hits Grand Blanc, confirming unusual tornado pattern, Michigan

A rare EF-2 tornado touched down in Grand Blanc, Michigan, just after midnight on February 28, 2024, confirmed by the National Weather Service (NWS) in Detroit. With estimated peak winds reaching 185 km/h (115 mph) and spanning a path of 9.1 km (5.7 miles), this event marks only the second February tornado in the region’s history, with the previous one occurring on February 28, 1974, in southwest Wayne County.

Series of devastating wildfires hit Texas Panhandle, causing evacuations, temporary closure of critical nuclear weapons facility, U.S.

Series of devastating wildfires hit Texas Panhandle, causing evacuations, temporary closure of critical nuclear weapons facility, U.S.

A series of out-of-control wildfires swept through the Texas Panhandle on February 27 and 28, 2024, prompting tens of thousands of residents to evacuate, causing widespread power outages, and forcing the temporary shutdown of the Pantex Plant, a critical nuclear weapons facility. The disaster, affecting numerous homes and prompting a disaster declaration in 60 counties, saw the Smokehouse Creek Fire rapidly grow to Texas’ 2nd largest wildfire in history.

Significant winter storm set to impact the West, bringing heavy snow, U.S.

Significant winter storm set to impact the West, bringing heavy snow, U.S.

An impending winter storm, driven by an upper-level trough and strong cold front from the northeastern Pacific and western Canada, is forecasted to deliver significant snowfall and strong gusty winds to much of the West in the coming days. Heavy snow is expected in the Central Rockies and Cascades through Monday, extending to the Sierra and the Northern Rockies/Great Basin by Tuesday, with over a foot of snow possible in many areas.

Major network outages in U.S. following two X-class solar flares

Major network outages in U.S. following two X-class solar flares

A widespread network outage was reported in the United States on Thursday morning, February 22, 2024, following two major eruptions on the Sun, an X1.8 flare at 23:07 UTC on February 21 and X1.7 at 06:32 UTC on February 22. Both erupted from Active Region 3590.

Xinjiang records lowest temperature in history at -52.3 °C (-62.1 °F), China

Xinjiang records lowest temperature in history at -52.3 °C (-62.1 °F), China

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has set a new record for low temperatures, reaching -52.3 °C (-62.14 °F) in Fuyun County, leading to the death of numerous birds and surpassing a cold record held since 1960. Amidst the Chinese Lunar New Year’s return, this severe cold has resulted in extensive traffic disruptions and emergency responses across the region.

Extreme cold event in BC causes near-total crop failure, Canada

Extreme cold event in BC causes near-total crop failure, Canada

The British Columbia wine industry is bracing for unprecedented crop losses due to an extreme cold event in January 2024, with preliminary estimates forecasting a production decrease of 97 – 99%, resulting in industry-wide revenue losses between $440 – 445 million.

Major X2.5 solar flare erupts from AR 3576, producing large CME

Major X2.5 solar flare erupts from AR 3576, producing large CME

An impulsive solar flare measuring X2.5 erupted from Active Region 3576 (beta-gamma) at 06:53 UTC on February 16, 2024. The event started at 06:42 and ended at 06:58 UTC. This is the fourth strongest solar flare of Solar Cycle 25 — after X5.0 on December 31, 2023, X3.3 on February 9, 2024, and X2.8 on December 14, 2023.