A small asteroid designated 2026 JN4 entered Earth’s atmosphere between Australia and Papua New Guinea at 13:44 UTC on May 15, 2026, after ESA’s Meerkat and JPL’s Scout systems identified a high Earth-impact probability from a short observation arc. This is now the 12th predicted Earth impactor and the first since December 3, 2024. Meter-scale asteroids of this size and velocity usually disintegrate high in the atmosphere.
A preliminary EF4 tornado injured 10 people in Enid, Oklahoma, on April 23, 2026, according to NWS Norman. The tornado reached estimated peak winds of 274 km/h (170 mph), tracked 15.3 km (9.5 miles), and damaged parts of Vance Air Force Base and the Gray Ridge neighborhood. This was the first EF4 tornado to impact Garfield County since April 1991.
Severe flooding and landslides struck Wellington, New Zealand, between April 20 and 21, 2026, after 77 mm (3 inches) of rain fell in less than 1 hour, prompting evacuations across multiple suburbs and leaving one person missing. A state of emergency remains in place as saturated ground and additional rainfall maintain the risk of further flooding and landslides.
One of the strongest wind episodes on record in Zagreb, and the most intense in the modern Zagreb-Maksimir measurement record, struck the Croatian capital on March 27, 2026, with gusts exceeding 120 km/h (75 mph), causing widespread damage, major transport disruption, and multiple injuries, including two serious cases reported by authorities.
A rapidly intensifying Nor’easter brought record-breaking snowfall, hurricane-force winds, and major disruptions across the northeastern United States on February 23, 2026. Providence, Rhode Island, recorded 96.3 cm (37.9 inches) of snow, the highest single-storm total on record, while power outages peaked above 650 000 customers and more than 11 000 flights were canceled nationwide. Officials confirmed at least four storm-related fatalities in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
A powerful and deep earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.1 struck off the coast of Kota Belud, Malaysia, at 16:57 UTC on February 22, 2026. The agency reported a depth of 620 km (385 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. Due to the great depth, no tsunami was generated, and damage is unlikely. This is the largest earthquake recorded near Malaysia since the M6.6 quake in Lahad Datu in 1923.
France’s national flood monitoring service reports that soil moisture in the country has reached its highest level since records began in 1959. The prolonged rainfall of the past two months, intensified by Storm Nils, left soils fully saturated and reduced infiltration capacity, sustaining elevated flood risk nationwide. Evacuations, infrastructure closures, and power outages were reported in several regions.
Tropical Cyclone Gezani has killed at least 31 people since it made landfall near Toamasina, on the eastern coast of Madagascar, on February 10, 2026, damaging and destroying around 80% of the city. Around three dozen were injured, with multiple still missing as recovery operations continue across the island.
Cuba saw historic low temperatures on February 3, 2026, with a weather station in the province of Matanzas recording a temperature of 0°C (32°F) for the first time on record.
A major X8.1 solar flare erupted from Active Region 4366 at 23:57 UTC on February 1, 2026, following rapid magnetic expansion and intense flaring throughout the day. The region also produced an X1.0 flare at 12:33 UTC on February 1 and an X2.8 event at 00:36 UTC and an X1.6 at 08:14 UTC on February 2, accompanied by more than 20 M-class flares since 02:00 UTC on February 1.
