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 strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.3 hit Andreanof Islands, Alaska at 19:57 UTC on December 8, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 18 km (11 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
A very strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.0 hit near the coast of Northern California at 18:44 UTC (10:44 LT) on December 5, 2024. The agency is reporting a shallow depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). A Tsunami Warning was issued for parts of California and Oregon along the U.S. West Coast.
A winter storm gripping the northeastern United States and Midwest caused chaos along the I-90 corridor in Pennsylvania, where lake-effect snow led to a multi-vehicle crash involving several semi-trucks on December 3, 2024. Conditions along the I-90 will be nearly impossible to travel today and meteorologists are urging to limit or cancel travel as blowing snow in Western Pennsylvania could reduce visibility to zero.
A daylight fireball was observed over Kansas and Oklahoma at around 13:15 CST (19:15 UTC) on December 2, 2024. The meteor fragmented into multiple pieces, with hues of orange, green, and blue reported. Witnesses noted its vivid visibility despite the broad daylight.
A powerful Arctic cold front is set to bring hazardous travel conditions across the Great Lakes and northeastern United States, with heavy snow squalls, strong winds, and whiteout conditions expected from Wednesday through Thursday, December 4 through 5, 2024.
Two fireballs were observed streaking across the sky over Fairbanks, Alaska, in the early hours of December 1, 2024, accompanied by a green aurora. The two fireball events occurred just two hours apart, creating a rare spectacle for early-morning skywatchers.
Increased seismic activity has been recorded at Kilauea volcano over the past week, with an increase from 10 located events per day to 20 per day.
An atmospheric river is forecast to bring significant precipitation to Washington and Oregon between Friday and Saturday, December 6 and 7, 2024, with the Olympic Peninsula and North Cascades expecting up to 127 mm (5 inches) of rainfall and AR2 conditions likely in southern Washington and northern Oregon. While confidence is high regarding the occurrence of the event, uncertainties remain in its duration, intensity, and precise timing due to variability among GEFS ensemble model predictions.
State-mandated tests at the Albany Bulb, a popular recreational area in the Bay Area, have uncovered elevated levels of gamma radiation, raising concerns about potential health risks from buried radioactive waste.
