Earth ChangesS


Snowflake Cold

Best of the Web: Rare 5 cm snowfall and almost all-day frost in Tiksi, Siberia in the middle of the season of sunlight

mmmmmm
In a remarkable reversal of seasonal expectations, the remote Arctic settlement of Tiksi, located on the northern Siberian coast, experienced rare mid-summer snowfall and frost, with up to 5 centimeters of snow accumulating — an extremely unusual event for late June, with cooldown into -1.8°C on June 26th 2025, only 2.2°C from all-time July record. Maximum temperature reached only +0.5°C on June 27th 2025 and minimum temperature -1.4°C on June 28th 2025.

Snow in the Season of Sunlight

Situated above the Arctic Circle, Tiksi is no stranger to extreme weather. But snowfall during the period of the Midnight Sun, when the sun barely sets, is highly anomalous. This week, residents woke up to frozen white landscapes, a stark contrast to the region's brief but intense summer.

Cloud Precipitation

Powerful hailstorms hit Tyrol, Austria, causing extensive damage

MMMMMM
On Thursday afternoon, the Tyrolean town of Fügen was hit by a severe hailstorm, causing significant material damage.

Austrian authorities reported large hail in several areas, including Teichalm, where hailstones were up to five centimeters in size.

In images shared on social media, cracked car windows and emergency services are seen coping with flooding on the streets.

Streets turned into streams, while many cellars in Fügen and even the church altar were partially flooded.


Lightning

Lightning strike injures 20 at popular South Carolina vacation getaway

Twenty people were injured during a lightning strike at Lake Murray in South Carolina.
© GETTYTwenty people were injured during a lightning strike at Lake Murray in South Carolina.
Twenty people were injured on Tuesday afternoon when lightning struck a popular summertime lake destination in Lexington County, South Carolina.

According to county officials, eight adults and 12 children were electrocuted when lightning struck Lake Murray at Dominion Beach Park. Twelve of the victims were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Lexington County Sheriff's Department, along with the county's fire service and EMS, quickly responded to the scene.

"Strong relationships with other local agencies played a critical role in ensuring a quick, coordinated response, allowing first responders to assess patients efficiently and provide the best possible care," the county said.

Dominion Beach Park is expected to reopen Wednesday after a safety inspection by local authorities.

Tsunami

Flash floods hit Chiang Rai, Thailand as heavy overnight rain triggers mass evacuations and severe crop damage

Chiang Rai hit by flash floods and runoff after overnight rain.
Chiang Rai hit by flash floods and runoff after overnight rain.
Chiang Rai province is grappling with severe flooding following continuous heavy rainfall overnight on Thursday, extending into the morning of Friday. The torrential downpours caused flash floods and mountain runoff across several districts, with Phaya Mengrai and Wiang Chai being the hardest hit.

Large volumes of rainwater flowed rapidly from surrounding mountains into low-lying areas, causing sudden surges in water levels and widespread inundation. Residents were forced to urgently evacuate and move belongings to higher ground. In many areas, floodwaters reached waist height, with powerful currents damaging property and sweeping away possessions.

Agricultural land — including orchards and farmland that provide livelihoods for local communities — has been severely affected, with vast areas submerged under water.


Cloud Precipitation

Venezuela declares emergency due to heavy rains in the west of the country

mmmmm
Venezuelan authorities declared a state of emergency on Tuesday due to the intense rainfall that has fallen in recent hours in various states of the country, associated with the impact of tropical wave number nine, which is interacting with the Intertropical Convergence Zone .

The governor of Trujillo state, Gerardo Márquez , said that the most affected territories are the municipalities of Boconó and Campo Elías , and he remains in constant communication with the National Executive to coordinate the necessary assistance.

"We have deployed the Andes 2025 task force with the support of the National Government, the Regional Government, and the Bolivarian Mayor's Office of Boconó. We have fully controlled all emergency situations ," Gerardo Márquez stated.


Arrow Down

Boulders narrowly miss swimmers at popular Utah waterfall

Large rocks falling near two visitors swimming near Lower Calf Creek Falls, Utah.
© Bureau of Land ManagementLarge rocks falling near two visitors swimming near Lower Calf Creek Falls, Utah.
Dramatic video captured a terrifyingly close call in Utah when several boulders came crashing down just feet away from two swimmers cooling off at Lower Calf Creek Falls.

The popular waterfall in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has rocks that hang over the pool of water below. When rocks come loose, they can fall far away from the cliff wall directly in the water.

"Outdoor recreation can be inherently unpredictable. This is not a backyard swimming pool, but rather a remote and natural place. Lower Calf Creek Falls is a world-famous destination, and we want to make sure everyone understands the risks when they visit," National Monument Manager Ade Nelson said.

Fortunately, the two escaped uninjured.


Cloud Precipitation

Hailstorm devastates crops and infrastructure in southwestern Bulgaria

mmmmm
A severe hailstorm struck Garmen Municipality in Southwestern Bulgaria on the evening of June 27, leaving behind widespread destruction across several villages. Hailstones the size of walnuts, combined with torrential rains, caused extensive damage to agricultural land, public infrastructure, and private property.

The villages of Debren, Ribnovo, Dabnitsa, and parts of Khvostene were among the worst affected. Tobacco fields, a key source of livelihood in the region, were ravaged. "The storm hit around 4:30 p.m. It went completely dark. It lasted about 25 minutes and when we went to check the field, the tobacco was flat to the ground," said local farmer Ferad Abdikov. "Everything is gone. I invested everything in it. How are we supposed to survive now?"


Seismograph

Shallow 6.6 earthquake in the South Atlantic Ocean

MMMMMMM
A very strong magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred in the South Atlantic Ocean 298 km (185 mi) from Antarctica on Sat, Jun 28, 2025 at 08:32 GMT.

The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow.

The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so).

Earthquake details

Date & time Jun 28, 2025 08:32:21 UTC
Local time at epicenter Saturday, Jun 28, 2025, at 08:32 am (Universal Time GMT +0)
Status confirmed (manually revised)
Magnitude 6.6
Depth 10 km
Primary data source USGS (United States Geological Survey)

Seismograph

6.1-magnitude quake hits off southern Philippines

MMMM
A magnitude-6.1 earthquake struck deep off the coast of the southern Philippines on Saturday, the United States Geological Survey said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the quake, which the USGS reported occurred at a depth of 101 kilometers (63 miles) about 70 kilometers from the nearest areas of Davao Occidental province.

"The shake was not that strong, but the tables and computers here at the office shook for (about five seconds)," Marlawin Fuentes, a provincial rescuer from the tiny island of Sarangani, told AFP.

No tsunami alert was triggered.

Quakes are a near-daily occurrence in the Philippines, which is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

Most are too weak to be felt by humans, but strong and destructive ones come at random with no technology available to predict when and where they might strike.

AFP

Snowflake Cold

Best of the Web: Cold front sweeps across southern Africa: Bitterly cold temperatures, disruptive snow and widespread frost in multiple countries

mmmmm
Source: https://x.com/A_T_C_A/status/1932129864871788874/photo/3
Southern Africa is experiencing one of the most significant cold air incursions in recent memory, as a strong polar cold front has pushed unusually far north, covering large areas of Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa with bitterly cold temperatures, widespread frost, and disruptive snow in some regions.

Satellite Images Reveal Unprecedented Reach

At 12:30 UTC on Thursday, June 26th, satellite imagery confirmed the cold front's deep penetration well into central and southern Namibia, southwestern Botswana, and most parts of South Africaa phenomenon rarely seen in recent years. This broad coverage of cold air is causing temperatures to plunge and weather conditions to deteriorate across a vast region.