Earth ChangesS


Tsunami

3 dead, 3 missing after heavy rainfall hits northern China - record rain of 8.4 inches in just 12 hours - 2nd flash flooding incident for district in 2 days

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At least three people were killed and three others went missing after heavy rains hit northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, state-run media reported Tuesday.

Torrential rains starting from Monday pounded several banners and districts in Ordos, according to Xinhua News Agency.

A banner is a traditional administrative division similar to a county.


Lightning

Lightning kills more than 200 sheep in Vielha, Spain

Dead animals in the area where the lightning struck.
© Aran Regional CouncilDead animals in the area where the lightning struck.
More than 200 sheep were killed by lightning while grazing near the southern entrance of the Vielha tunnel, near the Port de Vielha road in the Aran Valley, during the intense thunderstorm that struck this Monday.

This is a very popular stretch of trail for hikers at this time of year , which increased the alarm among residents and visitors when they discovered dead animals on the trail.

Professionals from the Conselh Generau d'Aran and the ranchers themselves have worked to remove the carcasses from the road, although some areas remain affected by the accumulation of animals.

The incident has forced a temporary change in the route layout , with an alternative route being marked to avoid passing through the most affected areas .

For its part, the Aran Government has expressed its support for the affected livestock farmers , recognizing the magnitude of the tragedy and the economic loss it represents for livestock professionals in the area.

This event underscores the danger of thunderstorms in mountainous areas and the need to exercise extreme caution during these adverse weather conditions.

(Translated by Google)

Comment: Also in this area of northern Spain on the same day: Severe summer hailstorm hits La Seu d'Urgell, Spain


Cloud Precipitation

Hurricane Erin forces evacuations in North Carolina's Outer Banks

hurricane erin north carolina outer banks flooding
© USGS, NOAAHurricane Erin's sweep past North Carolina's Outer Banks coastal region is expected to produce major flooding August 19-21, 2025
Erin has reintensified to a Category 4 storm

Hurricane Erin forced tourists to cut their vacations short on North Carolina's Outer Banks even though the monster storm is expected to stay offshore after lashing part of the Caribbean with rain and wind on Monday.

Evacuations were ordered on some barrier islands along the Carolina coast as authorities warned the storm could churn up dangerous rip currents and swamp roads with waves of 15 feet (4.6 meters). Tropical storm and surge watches were issued Monday for much of the Outer Banks.

Officials at the Wrightsville Beach, near Wilmington, North Carolina, reported to the National Weather Service rescuing at least 60 swimmers from rip currents on Monday.

Comment: Satellite view of Erin gathering strength.


Lighting flashed in the eye wall of Hurricane Erin as it intensified on Saturday (Aug. 15).

(Image credit: Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (CSU/CIRA & NOAA))




Cloud Precipitation

Severe summer hailstorm hits La Seu d'Urgell, Spain

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Heavy rains accompanied by a hailstorm caused flooding in La Seu d'Urgell, Catalonia, Spain (18.08.2025)


Tsunami

Mumbai in India faces Red Alert as heavy rains continue to flood city - up to 7 inches of rain in 6 hours

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Mumbai reels under heavy rains for consecutive days as severe waterlogging disrupts daily life.

Subways and local trains are flooded, schools shut, and residents are urged to stay indoors.

Authorities warn that heavy rainfall will continue, with red alerts in Mumbai and neighboring districts.

Rescue operations continue as the city grapples with flood-like conditions.


Comment: Business Today reports:
[...]

Over 100 mm of rainfall was recorded in parts of Mumbai and surrounding regions in just 12 hours on Monday, with Vikhroli logging a staggering 139.5 mm. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the city was hit with 177 mm in just six to eight hours.

[...]
Report from 3 days prior: Heavy rains lash Mumbai, India - 3 dead - 8 inches of rainfall overnight


Tsunami

Flood: Farmlands, homes, markets submerged as families count losses in Sokoto, Nigeria

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Two loal government areas in Sokoto State have again been ravaged by flood, which destroyed homes, and submerged farmlands and a major local market in communities in Bodinga and Shagari LGAs.

This came as no fewer than 25 people have been rescued and another 25 remain missing after a boat carrying traders and residents capsized on Sunday at Kojiyo village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The flood which struck on August 14, 2025, left hundreds of households in despair as Badau village in Darhela Ward and Butuku in Toma Ward of Bodinga LGA, as well as Dandin-Mahe in Shagari LGA, suffered massive destruction.

In Badau alone, over 3,000 farmlands were reportedly destroyed, while Butuku recorded the loss of about 75 farmlands. The Dandin-Mahe Market and surrounding houses were also washed away, leaving residents with nothing but grief and uncertainty.


Doberman

Dog attack kills 4-year-old girl in Cave Junction, Oregon

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A 4-year-old girl was killed Saturday after being attacked by a dog at a home in Cave Junction, according to the Josephine County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities said the attack was reported at 1:31 p.m. from a residence on the 1800 block of Laurel Road. The caller told dispatchers that a dog had attacked the child. Deputies were immediately sent to the scene along with medical crews from American Medical Response and the Illinois Valley Fire Department.

Despite attempts at lifesaving measures by first responders, the girl was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said her name will not be released.

Sheriff's deputies, assisted by the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office, began a death investigation following the incident. The dog involved, described as a Cane Corso, Rottweiler and Pit Bull mix, was secured by Josephine County Animal Control personnel. The Sheriff's Office said the case remains under investigation and no further details are currently available.

Volcano

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano erupts in Indonesia - sending ash up to four miles high

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Residents watched as the Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano erupted in Indonesia this afternoon - sending ash up to four miles high.

The crater in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, began shaking before spewing the cloud on Monday afternoon, August 18.

Head of the Lewotobi Laki-laki Volcano Observation Post, Herman Yosef Mboro, recorded the eruption at 5:12 PM local time. Seismograph data show the eruption lasted four minutes and five seconds with a maximum amplitude of 47.3 mm.

The ash cloud reached 6km (3.7 miles) above the summit. Residents were ordered to evacuate and stay away from the danger zone around the base of the volcano, which has shown renewed activity since early July.


Tsunami

Best of the Web: Death toll from rains, flash floods in Pakistan rises to 351

Local residents look at flash flooding due to heavy rains in a neighborhood of Mingora, the main town of Swat Valley, northwestern Pakistan.
Local residents look at flash flooding due to heavy rains in a neighborhood of Mingora, the main town of Swat Valley, northwestern Pakistan.
The death toll in Pakistan from flash floods and landslides caused by heavy rains has risen to 351, Geo News reported Sunday, citing authorities.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, 328 people lost their lives and many others were injured, while the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan reported 12 deaths and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, also known as Pakistan-administered Kashmir, saw 11 fatalities.

Authorities are worried that the death toll could increase as rescue efforts continue in the hardest-hit regions, where intense floods and landslides have ravaged homes, businesses and infrastructure.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government declared an emergency in all flood-affected areas as the death toll climbed and a search and rescue operation for the missing continues.


Snowflake

Best of the Web: It's been snowing in really weird places this year

The Atacama Desert, Chile, is considered the driest place on earth. Much of the desert receives less than half an inch of rainfall per year, and some areas none at all for hundreds of years.
© John MooreThe Atacama Desert, Chile, is considered the driest place on earth. Much of the desert receives less than half an inch of rainfall per year, and some areas none at all for hundreds of years.
Mother Nature is unpredictable, and sometimes it can snow in places where most people think it could never happen. Even some of the hottest places on Earth have recorded snow, like the Sahara Desert. This past January, parts of the Gulf Coast were hit by a snowstorm that brought snow to Florida, Alabama, Texas, and Louisiana.

Snow is usually found in cold climates, but the right mix of temperature, elevation, and moisture can bring snowfall to even the most unexpected places. However, this year, a very rare and disruptive snowstorm swept across the Southeast, including areas that don't traditionally see snow. The historic snowstorm brought snow to the northern Gulf Coast on January 21, 2025. This snowstorm shattered longstanding snowfall records across the region, which were set during the February snowstorm of 1895. It's a harsh reminder that if the perfect conditions come together, even snow can fall in places where it usually does not.