At least 30 people have died across Japan since January 20, 2026, due to record-breaking snow affecting much of the country, with Aomori seeing the heaviest accumulation in 40 years on February 1. The self-defense forces were deployed in Aomori City for the first time in 21 years due to the serious threat to life amid heavy snow.
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.
At least ten people were killed across Japan in late January 2026 as heavy snowfall and repeated cold waves affected wide areas of the country. Sapporo surpassed total accumulations of over 1 m (3.3 feet) for the first time since 2022 on Sunday, January 25, while accumulations at Hakkōda Mountains in Aomori reached around 4.5 m (14.8 feet) by Monday, January 26. More snow and strong winds are forecast along the Sea of Japan coast through this week as a cold air mass intensifies.
A major winter storm swept across the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. over the weekend, claiming at least 24 lives as of Monday, January 26, 2026. Over a million customers, roughly 2.5 million people, were left without power as snowstorms hit the northern and northeastern regions, while freezing rain and ice storms wreaked havoc in the south. States of emergency have been declared across multiple regions as the storm’s impacts linger.
A powerful, prolonged snowstorm that began on January 12, 2026, has paralyzed the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, with snow depths reportedly reaching up to 500 cm (16 feet) in some areas. A municipal-level State of Emergency was declared for Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky after two people were killed by snow sliding off rooftops on January 15.
More than 200 people have died in weeks of torrential rain and severe flooding across southern Africa, with Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe bearing the worst impacts. The prolonged La Niña pattern has intensified the region’s rainy season, leaving widespread damage to homes, roads, crops and public infrastructure.
A severe winter storm has killed at least six people and disrupted transport across Europe since Monday, January 5, 2026. Heavy snow, freezing rain, and temperatures below −10°C (14°F) caused deadly accidents in France, flight cancellations in Paris and Amsterdam, along with widespread power and travel disruptions.
Activity at the Piparo Mud Volcano in Trinidad and Tobago began increasing early on December 24, 2025, and continued through Christmas, ejecting mud up to 4.6 m (15 feet) into the air and damaging roads, homes, and nearby infrastructure. Officials confirmed visible cracks, ground uplift, and frequent eruptions occurring every 10–20 seconds as assessments and safety operations remained underway.
A major atmospheric river swept across Southern California from late December 24, 2025, into Christmas Day, December 25, triggering widespread flash floods, evacuations, debris flows, and power outages. Multiple counties including Los Angeles and Ventura were put under a State of Emergency. Rainfall totals reached 75–150 mm (3–6 inches) in coastal and valley areas, with up to 250 mm (10 inches) in higher terrain of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, prompting officials to urge residents to avoid travel.
Historic flooding in December 2025 placed Washington state in the middle of a statewide crisis, with impacts ongoing and damage assessments still underway as of December 17. Prolonged heavy rainfall has inundated communities, damaged levees and transportation infrastructure, and forced large-scale evacuations across multiple counties. At least one person died after driving into deep floodwaters.
