The Watchers - Editor's Picks

Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak passes 10 000 confirmed cases in DRC

Rishav Kothari — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 18:15:54 +0000

The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reached 10 060 confirmed cases and 4 887 confirmed deaths as of October 25, 2026, according to the country’s public health institute. Its situation report, published on October 26, recorded cases across 66 health zones in eight provinces.

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Arctic stratospheric polar vortex forecast to weaken sharply in early November

Rishav Kothari — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 19:45:43 +0000

NASA Ozone Watch's current Arctic wind product forecasts the 60°N zonal-mean wind at 10 hPa falling from 22.12 m/s (49.5 mph) on October 25, 2026, to 4.15 m/s (9.3 mph) by November 3, compared with a climatological mean of 25.97 m/s (58.1 mph) for November 3. A few European forecast models go further and reverse the winds, but said that outcome remains unlikely and Canadian surface impacts are not established.

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Super Typhoon Champi becomes the strongest tropical cyclone of 2026, Signal No. 2 remains over Batanes, Philippines

Rishav Kothari — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:31:40 +0000

Super Typhoon Champi, locally named Rosal, became the strongest tropical cyclone of 2026 by maximum sustained wind speed when it reached 296 km/h (185 mph) on October 20, according to NASA’s MODIS program. The cyclone weakened on October 21 while moving toward waters east of the northern Philippines, where PAGASA maintained Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 over Batanes and warned of heavy rain and waves reaching 10 m (33 feet).

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Japan’s JMA apologizes after issuing false M9.9 earthquake warning across large parts of Japan

Teo Blašković — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 09:42:53 +0000

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued an erroneous M9.9 earthquake early warning across large parts of Japan on October 16, 2026, following an actual M6.9 earthquake near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. The warning was issued at 03:40 UTC, triggering the automatic suspension of Tokaido Shinkansen services before being withdrawn approximately eight minutes later. JMA apologized and began investigating the magnitude estimation error.

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Tropical Storm Rachel brings flash-flood threat to Southern California and U.S. Southwest

Rishav Kothari — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 10:24:07 +0000

Tropical Storm Rachel strengthened while accelerating northeast over the eastern Pacific at 06:00 UTC on October 10, 2026, and is forecast to approach northern Baja California or Southern California late October 10 or early October 11. Heavy rain, flash and urban flooding, strong winds, dangerous surf and coastal flooding are forecast across parts of the southwestern United States, where the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has issued Moderate Risk areas for excessive rainfall.

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Powerful tornado damages school and homes in Marsala, disrupts transport in Western Sicily, Italy

Rishav Kothari — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:31:28 +0000

A large tornado struck Marsala and nearby Petrosino in western Sicily at around 10:00 LT (08:00 UTC) on October 9, 2026, damaging homes, vehicles, utility infrastructure and the Alcide De Gasperi school complex in Contrada Terrenove. Hundreds of students were evacuated, while a later ASP Trapani update said nine people—four children and five adults—were treated at Paolo Borsellino Hospital for minor cuts and abrasions.

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G2 geomagnetic storm forecast for October 9 as CME approaches Earth

Teo Blašković — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 08:04:29 +0000

G1–G2 (Minor–Moderate) geomagnetic storms are likely on October 9, 2026, as a coronal mass ejection (CME) associated with an M1.4 flare on October 6, 2026 reaches Earth. The strongest activity is forecast during the 18:00–21:00 UTC period today, with G2 conditions also forecast for the following three-hour interval, ending at 00:00 UTC on October 10.

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NOAA gives El Niño an 83% chance of reaching historic strength in late 2026

Rishav Kothari — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 20:27:10 +0000

El Niño strengthened further across the equatorial Pacific in September 2026, and NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) said on October 8 that the October–December Relative Oceanic Niño Index (RONI) has an 83% chance of reaching at least +2.5°C (+4.5°F)—a level that would exceed previous El Niño events in its record dating to 1950. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) separately forecast a Niño-3.4 anomaly of approximately +3.7°C (+6.7°F) for the same period.

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Florida battles largest dengue outbreak in decades as locally acquired cases reach 252

Rishav Kothari — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:46:06 +0000

lorida reported 252 locally acquired dengue cases across seven counties in 2026 through September 26, including 223 in Hillsborough County, according to the state’s latest available weekly surveillance report. One death has been confirmed, and Tampa Bay counties declared local emergencies as Hillsborough expanded aerial mosquito-control operations.

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Asteroid 2026 SZ2 passed Earth at just 0.05 lunar distances

Teo Blašković — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:15:01 +0000

Asteroid 2026 SZ2 passed Earth at 0.055 lunar distances (about 0.000141 AU / 21 100 km / 13 100 miles) from the center of our planet at 21:19 UTC on September 20, 2026. Its closest point was approximately 14 800 km (9 200 miles) above Earth's surface, placing the asteroid well inside the orbit of geostationary satellites.

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