Earth ChangesS


Stormtrooper

The pollution that outlives war

Feliz Horne
Al Jazeera
Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00 UTC
Satellite view spill Iran's Kharg Island
© European Union/Copernicus Sentinel-2/Handout via ReutersA satellite image shows a likely oil spill covering dozens of square kilometres near Iran's Kharg Island, May 6, 2026
Long after fighting is over, the toxic leftovers of war continue to poison communities and the environment.

War is measured first in lives lost, families uprooted and neighborhoods reduced to rubble. But there are also deadly consequences that are often ignored. Pollution caused by war can settle over cities, contaminate water and soil, and shape public health long after the fighting is over. This is the case with the Iran war.

The six weeks of bombardment in Iran and the Gulf that saw attacks on energy infrastructure have already taken a toll. Burning fuel tanks send toxic particles into the air, while debris, run-off and oil residues threaten coastal waters and marine ecosystems across the Gulf, where pollution can spread far beyond the immediate strike zone.
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Snowflake Cold

Late May snowfall in the Carpathians, Ukraine as temperature drops to -1°C


Ukrinform.net
Sat, 30 May 2026 13:43 UTC
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In the Carpathian Mountains, air temperature has dropped to -1°C, and snowfall is currently observed.

According to Ukrinform, mountain rescuer of the State Emergency Service in Ivano-Frankivsk region Vasyl Fitsak reported this on Facebook and shared a video of snow-covered mountains.

"In Chornohora, everything is stable: light snow is falling, and the thermometer shows -1°C," the post said.

As Ukrinform reported, on Sunday, May 31, Ukraine is expected to see variable cloudiness with light rain. In the northeast, as well as in Zakarpattia and Prykarpattia, moderate short-term rain is forecast during the day, with thunderstorms in places in the east.

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Snowflake

Mammoth Mountain, California records 5 inches of new May snow


Powder.com
Thu, 28 May 2026 13:10 UTC
May 28, 2026. Mammoth Mountain
© Cody Mathison&solMay 28, 2026. Mammoth Mountain
A storm moving its way down the west coast of the US is keeping Mammoth Mountain in the running for the last ski area standing.

Forecasts earlier this week were calling for colder temperatures and significant precipitation as far north as central Oregon and into the Eastern Sierras.

It would appear that these forecasts have come to fruition at Mammoth Mountain, as the ski area picked up 3-5″ of new snow on May 28, 2026.

The ski area's mountain report is showing that Mammoth still has a base depth of 97 inches at the Summit, and the recent snow has brought their main lodge season total to 296″. Temperatures are hovering in the low to mid-30s today but are expected to warm up over the weekend. Forecasts earlier in the week were also showing that high elevations in the Sierras could see 6-9″ of snow by Thursday night, so this storm might not be quite done just yet.

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Tsunami

Turkey's Euphrates water releases after heavy rainfall trigger flooding and agricultural damage in Syria


syriacpress.com
Fri, 29 May 2026 16:15 UTC
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In Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, the crisis surrounding the Deklath (Tigris) and Froth (Euphrates) rivers has taken two devastating forms — drought and flooding. The causes may differ, but the outcome remains the same: suffering and death.

The crisis stems from Turkey's upstream control over the Deklath and Froth through its extensive dam network. When Turkey restricts water flow, Iraq suffers severe drought and water shortages. When it releases massive quantities of water at once, Syria bears the brunt of destructive floods that devastate civilians, infrastructure, and agricultural lands along the riverbanks.

After seven years dominated by the first scenario — suffocation through drought — Turkish authorities recently opened all the floodgates of the Atatürk Dam, the largest dam on the Euphrates River, following heavy rainfall and snowfall during the winter and spring seasons.

The release sent massive volumes of water surging toward the Syrian city of Jarablus. Observers noted that the decision was driven by fears over the dam's structural safety and the possibility of infrastructure failure due to rising water pressure, with clear disregard for the effect on Syrians and Iraqis.

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Cloud Precipitation

Powerful hailstorms wreak havoc in northern Italy

WHEN THE EARTH IS still ANGRY
YouTube
Sat, 30 May 2026 15:49 UTC
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Powerful thunderstorms with large hail and squalls hit northern Italy after abnormal heat waves reaching 34 to 35°C. The most severe impacts were recorded in the Lombardy and Veneto regions.

In Milan (Lombardy), heavy hail covered streets in ice, flooded roads, and caused the River Lambro to overflow its banks. The Seveso River remained at risk. The Barona and western districts of the city were particularly hard hit.

In the province of Cremona (Lombardy), a strong hailstorm hit Soresina and the surrounding area.

In the province of Brescia (Lombardy), hail and wind affected areas of Lake Garda and the Brescian Plain, affecting Bagnolo Mella, Lonato del Garda, Montichiari, and Ghedi. In Montirone, winds tore off part of a hangar roof and threw it onto a sports field.

Roofs of buildings were also damaged, and trees were downed. In the province of Verona (Veneto), a supercell thunderstorm with hail measuring 3-5 cm in diameter struck the Valpolicella and Valpantena regions. The towns of San Pietro in Cariano, Negrar, Pescantina, Villafranca di Verona, and San Giovanni Lupatoto were also affected. Cars and farmland were damaged, and serious traffic jams occurred on the A4 and A22 motorways.

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Volcano

Mount Marapi eruption ejects column of ash 2,000 meters high in West Sumatra, Indonesia


voi.id/en
Sat, 30 May 2026 15:42 UTC
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Indonesia's Mount Marapi spews ash column 2 kilometers into sky
The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) reported that Mount Marapi in West Sumatra Province had erupted by launching a volcanic ash column of approximately 2,000 meters above the peak.

The Acting Head of the Geological Agency, Lana Saria, in his statement in Jakarta, Saturday, said that the volcanic activity of the volcano with a height of around 4,891 meters above sea level was recorded at 08.42 WIB this morning.

"The observed ash column is gray with a thick intensity leaning towards the northeast. This eruption was recorded on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 30 mm and a temporary duration of one minute 25 seconds," he said.

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Tsunami

Severe flooding hits central China, leaving at least 9 dead and 11 missing on May 25

Brian Mikael Cheng
South China Morning Post
Sat, 30 May 2026 14:46 UTC
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A bridge has been washed away by floods in the central Chinese province of Hubei as several other provinces in the country continue to be lashed by heavy rains.

State media reported that nine people died and an estimated 11 were missing in Chongqing municipality.

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Volcano

New geyser is disrupting life in a small community in Michoacán, Mexico


Mexican News Daily
Wed, 27 May 2026 14:08 UTC
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Water burst forth some 15 meters from this backyard of a Michoacán farmer's house before subsiding, as geysers tend to do temporarily. Whether the phenomenon was a true geyser will be determined by scientific observation.
A suspected geyser that burst from the pig pens and backyard of a small Mexican farm this week has prompted evacuations, a school closure and a multi-agency scientific response, according to state and federal officials.

The hydrothermal eruption began overnight Monday in the rural community of El Salitre, about 135 kilometers west of Morelia, the capital of the west-central state of Michoacán.

Water, mud and gases began spewing from "the middle of pig pens on a small family farm," according to authorities.

As of late Wednesday morning, the geyser-like phenomenon was still active, though in a reduced, bubbling-mud state with constant gas emissions rather than a jet, according to Mi Morelia.

Earlier, authorities had reported an initial spout of about 15 meters, which subsided to eight meters.

An unknown number of pigs "died as the result of the eruption," according to N+, the news division of TelevisaUnivision.

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Lightning

Three killed by lightning strike in western Cambodia - another bolt kills 19 cattle


Khmer Times
Sat, 30 May 2026 14:02 UTC
Lightning strikes happen often during the rainy season from May to October in Cambodia. Xinhua
© XinhuaLightning strikes happen often during the rainy season from May to October in Cambodia.
A single lightning strike killed three rice farmers during a thunderstorm in western Cambodia's Pursat province, according to a local police report yesterday.

The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon, May 28, in Bakan district's Meteuk commune during a heavy thunderstorm while the three individuals were sowing rice seeds, the commune police report said.

Also on Thursday afternoon, another lightning bolt struck and killed 19 head of cattle during a thunderstorm in northeast Ratanakiri province's Lumphat district, according to a Chey Udom commune police report.

Lightning strikes happen frequently during the rainy season, which runs from May to October in Cambodia.

According to the National Committee for Disaster Management, lightning strikes killed 45 people and 71 head of cattle in the Southeast Asian country in 2025.

Xinhua
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Attention

Man dies in buffalo attack in Johor, Malaysia

May Vin Ang
Says.com
Fri, 29 May 2026 14:28 UTC
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A man died after being attacked by a buffalo while preparing the animal for Hari Raya Haji sacrificial rites in Johor on Wednesday, 27 May

According to Bernama, Seri Alam district police chief ACP Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said the incident occurred at about 10am in Kampung Tenang, Ulu Tiram.

The victim, identified as Ahmad Shah Meerasa, 45, suffered severe injuries and was rushed to Sultanah Aminah Hospital for treatment.

"However, he was confirmed dead at about 11pm on the same day," Mohd Sohaimi said in a statement on Thursday, 28 May.

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