Three wildfires burning in the Spokane area of eastern Washington remained 0% contained on August 2,2026, after burning a combined 2 178 ha (5 381 acres). Around 5 000 homes had been evacuated, and approximately 600 homes, businesses, and other buildings had been destroyed.
A dangerous heatwave is forecast to intensify across the southwestern United States on Friday, July 31, 2026, and then spread into the Intermountain West and northern High Plains during the weekend, according to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC).
The death toll from the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28 has risen to 34 as of July 30, 2026. At least 123 people have been injured, while more than 267 000 residents remain under evacuation orders as authorities continue emergency response operations across the affected region.
Strombolian activity at Mount Etna’s Voragine Crater increased rapidly during the early hours of July 30, 2026, following a sharp increase in volcanic tremor. The eruption generated an ash plume reaching 7 km (23 000 feet) above sea level, prompting Etna Observatory to raise the Aviation Color Code to Red.
A destructive tornado crossed Lake Winnebago before striking communities across Wisconsin’s Fox Valley on Monday, July 27, 2026, causing extensive damage in Menasha, Appleton, and Neenah. Menasha declared a local State of Disaster as emergency crews responded to heavily damaged neighborhoods, gas leaks, and widespread infrastructure damage following a broader outbreak of severe thunderstorms.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.8 struck Kyushu, Japan at 07:27 UTC (16:27 JST) on July 28, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.8 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), while the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported M7.1 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles) in the Kumamoto Region, Kumamoto Prefecture. According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), hazardous tsunami waves are possible within 300 km (186 miles) of the epicenter.
At least 10 people were killed and 23 others injured after rain-triggered flash floods swept through the Shuangshimen Scenic Area in Weiyuan County, Dingxi City, Gansu Province, northwest China, on Sunday, July 26, 2026. Sudden heavy rainfall in the area generated powerful mountain torrents through a narrow valley during the afternoon, prompting hundreds of rescues in the area.
Typhoon Noul made landfall in Huidong County, Huizhou City, China’s Guangdong Province, at 03:50 HKT (19:50 UTC on July 25) on July 26, 2026, as a severe typhoon with 10-minute maximum sustained winds of 149-165 km/h (93-103 mph). The storm prompted Chinese authorities to raise the national emergency response for major meteorological disasters to Level 2, while more than 700 000 people were relocated across Guangdong. Rail services were suspended, hundreds of flights were canceled, and the central government allocated CNY 100 million (USD 14.8 million) to support post-typhoon recovery and reconstruction.
Typhoon Noul is forecast to make landfall over eastern Guangdong by July 26, 2026, bringing a significant threat of flooding across southern China. More than 20 000 people have been evacuated Guangdon with rainfall totals of 500 to 600 mm (20 to 24 inches) forecast as the storm approaches. Authorities have raised Guangdong’s emergency response for flood and typhoon control to Level III on July 25 as Typhoon Noul approached the province, while activating a Level IV flood emergency response for Jiangxi and Hunan.
Two people have died after catastrophic flash flooding swept across north-central West Virginia authorities confirmed on July 24, 2026. The floods were triggered by torrential thunderstorms that dumped more than 102 mm (4 inches) of rain in under 40 minutes in parts of the state with totals reaching over 178 mm (7 inches) in some areas through July 21.
