Tropical Cyclone Chido made landfall over the island of Mayotte on Saturday, December 14, 2024, devastating the region as a category 4 equivalent cyclone. Reports suggest two fatalities linked to the storm with widespread damage being reported across the island.
Tropical Cyclone Chido rapidly intensified before making landfall over the Agalega on Thursday, December 12, 2024, as the strongest cyclone to hit the island since 1983. The cyclone is now heading toward Madagascar, Mayotte, and Mozambique.
The Franklin Fire has rapidly engulfed 1 233 ha (3 049 acres) in Malibu, California since its start late Monday night, December 9, 2024, prompting mandatory evacuations for thousands and leaving firefighters battling zero containment as of Tuesday morning, December 10, 2024. The blaze is currently threatening around 18 000 citizens along with over 8 000 structures. Authorities are urging the public to stay away from the Malibu area at all costs.
A strong atmospheric river (AR) is set to impact the Southeastern and Northeastern U.S. this week, bringing anomalously high moisture levels and the potential for heavy rainfall and rapid snowmelt. Forecasts indicate the system will strengthen between December 10 and 11, driven by a plume of tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and a cold front.
A very bright fireball was observed over central Indiana at around 09:05 UTC (04:05 local time) on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. The event lasted about 3 – 5 seconds and was accompanied by a sonic boom.
A rapidly spreading Franklin Fire broke out on Monday night (LT), December 9, 2024, near Malibu Canyon Road, California amid a Red Flag Warning and severe Santa Ana winds, placing nearby residents on urgent mandatory evacuation.
A powerful explosive eruption took place at Kanlaon volcano, Philippines at 15:03 LT (07:03 UTC) on December 9, 2024, producing a massive ash plume and pyroclastic flows. As a result, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the Alert Level to 3 and ordered urgent evacuation of 87 000 people living near the volcano.
An earthquake swarm has been occurring southwest of Adak Islands, Alaska, since December 8, 2024, beginning with M6.3 at a depth of 18 km (11 miles). The swarm includes multiple significant earthquakes, including two M6.3 events, an M6.1, and numerous aftershocks up to M5.8.
A major solar flare measuring X2.2 erupted from Active Region 3912 at 09:06 UTC on December 8, 2024. The event started at 08:50 and ended at 09:10 UTC.
Taiwan has recorded 42 earthquakes exceeding magnitude 5.5 on the Richter scale in 2024, marking the highest count since precision seismic monitoring began in 1991 with the implementation of the Taiwan Strong Motion Instrumentation Program. The surge in seismic activity has been largely attributed to the April 3 Hualien earthquake, a powerful magnitude 7.4 event that struck 15 km (9.3 miles) south of Hualien City, causing extensive damage, 18 fatalities, and over 1 100 injuries.
