The Watchers - Editor's Picks

M6.9 solar flare produces Earth-directed CME, G2 geomagnetic storm watch issued for August 28

Teo Blašković — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:56:12 +0000

A strong M6.9 solar flare erupted from Active Region 4513 near the center of the visible solar disk at 10:02 UTC on August 25, 2026, causing an R2 – Moderate radio blackout. NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) said the associated CME and a second CME linked to a C4.7 flare and filament eruption later that day contained Earth-directed components, prompting a G2 – Moderate Geomagnetic Storm Watch for August 28. A G1 – Minor watch is in effect for August 27 due to an approaching coronal-hole high-speed stream.

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Asteroid 2026 PC6 passed Earth at 0.05 LD, marking closest flyby of 2026

Teo Blašković — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:42:17 +0000

Asteroid 2026 PC6 passed Earth at 0.053 lunar distances (0.00014 AU / about 20 400 km / 12 700 miles) from the center of our planet at 00:50 UTC on August 12, 2026, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (NASA/CNEOS). At the nominal distance, the object passed about 14 000 km (8 700 miles) above Earth’s surface, placing it inside the orbit of geostationary satellites and making it the closest asteroid flyby of the year.

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Watch live: Total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026

Reet Kaur — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:33:47 +0000

The August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse can be watched live online today through scheduled broadcasts from NASA, ESA, the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), the Exploratorium and Royal Observatory Greenwich. IAC starts at 17:00 UTC, Royal Observatory Greenwich at 17:10 UTC, NASA at 17:15 UTC, and ESA and the Exploratorium at 17:30 UTC, before totality reaches Iceland and Spain.

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Watch live: Perseid meteor shower peaks August 12–13 under moonless skies

Reet Kaur — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:16:18 +0000

The Perseid meteor shower will reach its 2026 maximum during the night of August 12--13, with the International Meteor Organization placing the nominal peak between 02:00 and 04:00 UTC on August 13. A New Moon on August 12 will eliminate lunar interference, providing excellent conditions for optical observations.

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Total solar eclipse to cross western Iceland before reaching Spain near sunset on August 12

Reet Kaur — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000

A total solar eclipse will sweep across the Arctic and into southern Europe on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, bringing up to 2 minutes 18 seconds of totality to parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain and a small area of northeastern Portugal. As the Moon's shadow races southeastward, Iceland will witness the event in the late afternoon before totality reaches northern Spain shortly before sunset. The event will be the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999 and the first visible from the Iberian Peninsula in more than a century.

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846 structures damaged or destroyed, suspect faces arson charges for Old Trails and 4 other fires, Washington

Rishav Kothari — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:59:23 +0000

Three Spokane-area fires have burned 4 223 ha (10 436 acres) as of August 6, 2026. The Old Trails, Autumn Lane, and Fairview fires have damaged or destroyed 846 structures. Both the Old Trails and Autumn Lane fires were 13% contained, while the Fairview fire stood at 5%. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect on August 7, while the man accused of starting the Old Trails Fire faces five first-degree arson charges.

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NWS confirms EF3 tornado in Wisconsin’s Fox Valley

Rishav Kothari — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:47:33 +0000

The tornado that struck Wisconsin's Fox Valley on Tuesday, July 27, 2026 has been officially rated EF3 by the National Weather Service (NWS), with preliminary surveys estimating peak winds of 225 km/h (140 mph). The tornado formed near Appleton before moving through Fox Crossing and Menasha, while the same outbreak produced widespread wind damage and giant hail across much of northern and eastern Wisconsin.

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Japan records unprecedented five-day streak of temperatures reaching 40°C (104°F), the longest on record

Reet Kaur — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 11:36:59 +0000

Japan recorded temperatures of 40°C (104°F) or higher for the fifth consecutive day on July 25, 2026, marking the country's longest such streak on record as an exceptionally persistent heatwave continued under a dominant Pacific high-pressure system. Heatstroke alerts remained in effect across much of the country, while additional climatological analysis suggests this summer is already approaching last year's record number of locations reaching the 40°C (104°F) threshold.

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Tokachidake volcano erupts for first time since 2004, Japan

Teo Blašković — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:01:50 +0000

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) confirmed a very small eruption at Tokachidake’s 62-2 crater at 11:07 LT (02:07 UTC) on July 22, 2026, the volcano’s first eruption since February 2004. A black plume rose approximately 200 m (656 feet) above the crater rim, while Volcanic Alert Level 2 remained in effect. Tokachidake is located in central Hokkaido, on Japan’s northernmost main island, approximately 900 km (560 miles) north-northeast of Tokyo.

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Dangerous heat expands across the Southern U.S. with major to locally extreme HeatRisk

Reet Kaur — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:54:55 +0000

Dangerous heat is forecast to persist across the southern United States for several days while expanding into the Central and Southern Plains. The National Weather Service is forecasting widespread Major to locally Extreme HeatRisk, daytime highs of 35--41°C (95--105°F), heat index values reaching 41--46°C (105--115°F), and record warm overnight lows of 24--27°C (75--80°F) through Sunday, July 26, 2026. The prolonged combination of hot afternoons and unusually warm nights is expected to produce cumulative heat stress, particularly for people without adequate cooling or hydration.

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