• Severe storms leave at least two dead, spawn at least six tornadoes, and cause flooding across the Midwest and Ohio Valley

    ByRishav Kothari

    At least two people died and more than 800 000 utility customers across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky were without power at 00:00 EDT on August 12 (04:00 UTC on August 12) after severe storms swept the Midwest and Ohio Valley on August 11, 2026. Sixteen incarcerated people were transported to hospitals for treatment after a reported lightning strike at an Ohio correctional facility. At least six tornadoes were confirmed in association with a system that the Storm Prediction Center preliminarily classified as a derecho, while additional rounds of storms brought destructive winds and flooding to Ohio.

  • Major M7.4 earthquake hits Chocó, Colombia, leaving 329 dead and 234 missing

    ByTeo Blašković

    A major earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.4 hit Chocó, Colombia at 12:34 UTC on August 10, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 107 km (66 miles). EMSC is reporting M7.2 at a depth of 95 km (59 miles). According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), there is no tsunami threat because the earthquake occurred too deep inside the Earth.

  • Typhoon Dolphin approaches landfall south of Taizhou, Zhejiang and Fujian raise emergency responses, China

    ByRishav Kothari

    Typhoon Dolphin is forecast to make landfall south of Taizhou along the southeastern Chinese coast on August 9, 2026. Zhejiang was put under a Level 1 typhoon emergency response, Fujian had raised its response to Level 2, and China’s National Meteorological Center maintained a red typhoon warning as the cyclone approached the coast. Fujian also reported 98 900 people relocated from risk areas, while ferry, rail and aviation restrictions are in effect in affected areas.

  • Record-breaking heatwave forecast to peak through August 8-9, Extreme Heat Warnings issued across western United States

    ByRishav Kothari

    A dangerous heat wave is peaking across the Western U.S. this weekend, with Extreme Heat Warnings covering parts of Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah. Mojave Desert temperatures are forecast to reach 43.3–48.9°C (110–120°F), while Reno and Salt Lake City have already set daily high-temperature records on August 7.

  • Typhoon Dolphin strengthens near Okinawa, 5 injured as China braces for landfall

    ByRishav Kothari

    Typhoon Dolphin re-intensified while passing close to northwestern Okinawa on August 7, 2026, leaving at least five people injured, five homes partially damaged and 16 920 households without power. China’s National Meteorological Center (NMC) said the typhoon could strengthen further before making landfall between Zhejiang and northern Fujian from the afternoon of August 9 to the morning of August 10, with eastern Zhejiang potentially receiving more than 600 mm (23.6 inches) of rain through August 10.

  • Etna opens new vent in Valle del Bove after intense lava fountaining, ash disrupts Catania airport, Italy

    ByTeo Blašković

    Strong Strombolian activity continued at Etna’s Voragine crater at 10:38 LT (08:38 UTC) on August 7, 2026, after an overnight lava-fountain phase progressively weakened. The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported ashfall at Ragalna and Adrano, lava flows in Valle del Leone and a new eruptive vent in Valle del Bove, while incoming flights at Catania Airport were temporarily suspended.

  • NOAA confirms strengthening El Niño, with 81% chance of very strong conditions in October–December 2026

    ByRishav Kothari

    El Niño is present and strengthening across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed on August 3, 2027.Meanwhile its July strength outlook gives an 81% chance of very strong conditions during October–December 2026. WMO’s August–October 2026 outlook also shows associated shifts in seasonal temperature and rainfall probabilities across multiple regions.NOAA maintains an El Niño Advisory.

  • Strong eruption at Fuego volcano produces pyroclastic flows up to 7 km, prompting evacuations, Guatemala

    ByTeo Blašković

    Activity at Guatemala’s Volcán de Fuego intensified on August 3, 2026, producing pyroclastic density currents that traveled 5 to 7 km (3 to 4 miles) through the Seca ravine. The eruption entered a paroxysmal phase late that evening, with lava fountains reaching 200 to 300 m (650 to 1 000 feet) above the crater, before currents expanded into five ravines early on August 4. SE-CONRED declared an Institutional Orange Alert, and authorities ordered preventive evacuations in El Porvenir, Las Lajitas and nearby communities.

  • Flash flooding prompts rescues and state of emergency in Georgia, emergency issued in North Carolina

    ByReet Kaur

    Flash flooding struck McCaysville, Georgia, and northeastern Surry County, North Carolina, from late August 1 into August 2, 2026, prompting water rescues and emergency declarations in both states. The NWS issued a Flash Flood Emergency for the Mount Airy area, while flooding in McCaysville impaired the municipal drinking-water system and inundated homes, businesses and public buildings.