The Watchers - Featured stories

Giant hail up to 11.4 cm (4.5 inches) reported in Texas, destructive 10.2 cm (4 inches) hail swath impacts Missouri

Teo Blašković — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:53:56 +0000

Giant hail up to 11.4 cm (4.5 inches) was reported in Johnson County, Texas, late on April 28, 2026, while a separate corridor of 7.6–10.2 cm (3–4 inches) hail caused structural and vehicle damage across southwest Missouri earlier the same day. The storms were part of a multi-state severe weather outbreak stretching from Oklahoma and Arkansas into Mississippi, producing widespread reports of large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes. Confirmed impacts included broken windows, roof damage, and an animal fatality at a zoo in Springfield, Missouri.

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Severe storms leave over 260 000 without power, 1 dead across Midwest after tornado warnings in St. Louis and Illinois

Teo Blašković — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:39:39 +0000

Severe storms moved across the Midwest on Monday, April 27, 2026, producing tornado warnings in the St. Louis area and Illinois, while heavy rain caused flooding into early Tuesday. More than 250 000 customers lost power across Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and at least one fatality was reported in Michigan after a tree fell during the storms.

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Two dead after EF2 and EF1 tornadoes impact Wise and Parker counties, Texas

Rishav Kothari — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:57:53 +0000

At least two people died in North Texas after EF2 and EF1 tornadoes struck Wise and Parker counties on April 25, 2026.

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Possible tornado kills one in Runaway Bay, damages homes and sends at least six people to hospitals, Texas

Teo Blašković — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 06:18:06 +0000

A possible tornado damaged homes in Runaway Bay, Wise County, Texas, shortly after 21:00 CDT on April 25, 2026 (02:00 UTC on April 26), sending at least six people to hospitals and displacing about 20 families. Wise County Judge J.D. Clark said one person has died during the event. At least one home was destroyed, and multiple homes were heavily damaged near the Cumberland Trail and Overland Trail on the west side of the city.

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Violent EF4 tornado injures 10 in Enid, Oklahoma, emergency declared in Garfield and Kay counties

Teo Blašković — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 07:25:51 +0000

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.

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Major X2.4 solar flare erupts near Sun’s west limb

Teo Blašković — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:27:22 +0000

A major X2.4 solar flare erupted from Active Region 4419 at 01:07 UTC on April 24, 2026. The event started at 00:51 UTC and ended at 01:13 UTC. A large coronal mass ejection was produced, but it's not expected to be Earth-directed. This is the first X-class solar flare since X1.4 on March 30.

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Hundreds of wildfires scorch southern Georgia, 91 counties under State of Emergency

Rishav Kothari — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:38:10 +0000

Hundreds of wildfires continued burning across southern Georgia on April 22, 2026, prompting authorities to place 91 counties under a State of Emergency for at least 30 days. The fires have burned more than 14 160 ha (35 000 acres) this month, destroyed dozens of structures, and forced evacuations as drought conditions persist.

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Major M7.4 earthquake hits near east coast of Honshu, Japan, tsunami waves observed along Tohoku coast

Teo Blašković — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:48:45 +0000

A major earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.4 struck near the east coast of Honshu, Japan, at 07:53 UTC (16:53 local time) on April 20, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 35 km (21.7 miles). JMA and EMSC are reporting M7.4 at a depth of 10 km (6 miles). According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), hazardous tsunami waves are possible within 300 km (186 miles) of the epicenter.

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State of emergency declared as Red Heavy Rain Warnings take effect in Wellington and Wairarapa, New Zealand

Teo Blašković — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:52:18 +0000

Red Heavy Rain Warnings were issued for Wellington and Wairarapa on Monday, April 20, 2026, as flooding, swollen rivers, and landslides cut through infrastructure across the region, prompting the declaration of a state of emergency. Further heavy rain is forecast through Tuesday, April 21, with accumulations of up to 150 mm (5.9 inches) expected in the hardest-hit areas.

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Tornadoes damage homes and infrastructure across multiple Midwest states on April 17

Teo Blašković — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:11:34 +0000

A severe weather outbreak produced multiple tornadoes across the Midwestern United States on April 17, 2026, resulting in structural damage to residential buildings and infrastructure in several states. Preliminary National Weather Service data indicates more than 20 tornado reports, with impacts concentrated in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota and extending into Missouri, and at least one reported injury.

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