Earth ChangesS


Snowflake Cold

Heavy snow covers many Sea of Japan coastal regions - 14.5 inches of snowfall in 6 hours


NHK
Sun, 25 Jan 2026 14:40 UTC
The city of Toyama on Sunday. Regions facing the Sea of Japan coast have continued to see heavy snowfall since Tuesday.
© Maya WatanabeThe city of Toyama on Sunday. Regions facing the Sea of Japan coast have continued to see heavy snowfall since Tuesday.
Heavy snowfall from Japan's Hokuriku to Sanin regions is passing its peak. But the Meteorological Agency is warning of possible traffic disruptions as intermittent snowfall is expected in northern Japan, Niigata Prefecture, and elsewhere.

The agency says a strong winter pressure pattern brought snow, mainly to areas along the Sea of Japan coast from Hokkaido to the Chugoku region, from Saturday night to early Sunday.

It issued a heavy snow alert for Ishikawa and Tottori prefectures, warning of rapid accumulation of snow in parts of the regions.

From midnight to 6 a.m. on Sunday, the city of Kanazawa in Ishikawa got 37 centimeters of snow. That is the highest amount since statistics began.

As of 11 a.m., accumulated snow in Kanazawa reached 64 centimeters, more than nine times the amount of an average year.

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Snowflake Cold

Millions brace for winter storm in the US: incoming heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain


KOMO News
Sun, 25 Jan 2026 14:25 UTC
Heavy snow and ice to impact millions as winter storm sweeps across US
Heavy snow and ice to impact millions as winter storm sweeps across US
A "high-impact and far-reaching" winter storm is underway in parts of the U.S., with "significant" weather forecasted throughout most of the nation.

NWS said conditions "rapidly deteriorated" across Texas overnight, but the most widespread round of wintry weather is set to occur from Saturday evening into Sunday morning.

"Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills are spreading into the area and will remain in place into Monday," NWS in Fort Worth said on X. "Low temperatures will be mostly in the single digits for the next few nights, with wind chills as low as minus 12 degrees Fahrenheit."

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Attention

Third shark attack in two days in Sydney, Australia - one victim subsequently dies (UPDATE)

Yashee Sharma
9news.com.au
Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:04 UTC
Shark attacks
A surfer is in a critical condition and 20 beaches have been closed after a third shark attack at a Sydney beach in just over 24 hours.

A man believed to be in his 20s was bitten on his leg at North Steyne Beach in Manly about 6.20pm today. 

A group pulled the man from the water and onto the sand and began first aid as they waited for emergency services to arrive.

Multiple emergency services, including paramedics, the intensive care ambulance, a helicopter and police, responded to the incident.

The man was treated for serious leg injuries and taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition.
All 20 beaches on the Northern Beaches have been closed until further notice.

This will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. 

It came hours after a suspected bull shark bit an 11-year-old boy's surfboard also on Sydney's Northern Beaches this morning, and another a 12-year-old boy was mauled at a beach in the city's east yesterday.


Comment: Update January 24

9news.com.au reports:
Shark attack victim Nico Antic has died in a Sydney hospital.

The 12-year-old was attacked by a suspected bull shark as he was jumping off a rock face at Neilson Park, near Shark Beach in Vaucluse, on Sunday.

The boy's friends jumped into the water to pull him to safety, but Nico suffered serious leg wounds and was taken to hospital in a critical condition.


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Arrow Down

Best of the Web: Up to 9 people dead in landslides, floods after heavy rainfall in New Zealand (UPDATE)


ITV
Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:53 UTC
Rescue work will continue through the night, officials say
Rescue work will continue through the night, officials say
At least two people have died and several are reported to be missing, including a young child, after landslides in New Zealand, officials said on Thursday.

It comes after high winds and heavy rainfall over the past few days on the North Island, leading to multiple power outages and widespread flooding, local media reported.

The first landslide hit a house in the community of Welcome Bay on New Zealand's North Island at 4.50am, police said.

Two people escaped the house, and the bodies of two who were trapped inside were recovered hours later, Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell said.

Later the same morning, emergency services were called to a second slide at the base of nearby Mount Maunganui.

The rubble hit Beachside Holiday Park, where a number of people in the "single figures" are missing.


Comment: Update January 23

The World Socialist Web Site reports:
Six people are unaccounted for and three others are confirmed dead after severe storms caused flooding and landslides across northern parts of New Zealand this week.

States of emergency remain in place for Whangārei, Thames-Coromandel and Hauraki districts and for Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti-Gisborne regions due to severe rainfall, which was most intense on Wednesday and Thursday.


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Tsunami

Jakarta, Indonesia flooded for third time this year after heavy rain submerges roads


The Financial Express
Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:28 UTC
mmmmm
Heavy rain lashed Indonesia's capital Jakarta on Thursday, triggering widespread flooding that inundated dozens of neighbourhoods and major roads, forcing vehicles to crawl through deep water as residents waded through flooded streets.

The Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency said at least 15 neighbourhoods and 20 roads were affected, with water levels ranging from 10 to 90 centimetres, marking the third flooding incident in the city since the start of 2026.

Officials cited intense rainfall and chronic drainage problems as contributing factors, as residents reported repeated disruptions and slow relief as waters receded.

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Tsunami

Quimperlé in northwest France faces severe flooding, evacuations underway


Euronews
Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:44 UTC
mmmm
Flooding in Quimperlé, Brittany, has forced evacuations and trapped residents after heavy rain. Water levels surpassed 4.4 metres, and more rain is expected.

Water levels along the Laïta rose to more than 4.4 metres in the town centre on January 21, overtopping flood barriers and forcing the first evacuations with help from firefighters.

Several residents were trapped in upper floors as streets became impassable and parked cars stood partly submerged.

Local authorities warned that water levels would remain high through the day, with no rapid improvement expected.

Emergency crews were mobilised in Finistère, Morbihan and Ille-et-Vilaine after the departments were placed on orange flood alert. Rain and high tides forecast for January 22 and 23 could slow the decline in water levels.

Located at the confluence of the Isole and Ellé rivers, Quimperlé has long been vulnerable to flooding. In the winter of 2013 - 2014, 20-year floods caused around €2 million in damage, hitting quays Surcouf and Brizeux hardest.

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Orange

Flooding in South Africa affects large citrus and avocado production areas


agroberichtenbuitenland.nl
Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:26 UTC
Flood damage in Ohrigstad, Mpumalanga, following days of heavy rainfall that caused widespread flooding across the province.
Flood damage in Ohrigstad, Mpumalanga, following days of heavy rainfall that caused widespread flooding across the province.
Last week, torrential flooding hit in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of north-east South Africa. The country declared a national disaster after 37 people died and an estimated ZAR 4 billion (EUR 200 million) of infrastructure damage occurred. The world-famous Kruger National Park was also largely affected by these floods and closed their gates to the public for four days due to safety concerns.

Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces are major citrus and avocado production areas, along with other sub-tropical fruits such as mangoes, papayas, lychees and even macadamia nuts. According to several local news agencies, agriculture has been largely affected by these floods in the region. As citrus approaches the harvest season, flooding of orchards could potentially delay this.

Rainfall exceeded the 100-year flood level in many places and some areas such, as Tzaneen, received almost 400mm of rain in one week. Tzaneen is home to one of the largest tomato farmers in the southern hemisphere, ZZ2, who is also a major producer of avocadoes.
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Windsock

Heavy dust storm hits Libya, forces flight suspensions


NTD.com
Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:39 UTC
Heavy dust storm swept across Libya
Heavy dust storm swept across Libya
A heavy dust storm swept across Libya on Jan. 20, reducing visibility and forcing the suspension of flights at two international airports.

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Tsunami

Floodwaters after 30 minute downpour sweep away vehicles in the streets of Kuşadası, Türkiye


en.Haberler.com
Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:27 UTC
mmmmm
Due to heavy rainfall lasting about 30 minutes in Kuşadası, streams overflowed, and streets in the neighborhoods of Davutlar and Güzelçamlı were submerged. While there were no casualties, some vehicles were swept away by the flood, the Söke - Kuşadası ring road was closed to traffic, and teams are continuing their work in the area.

The heavy rainfall in Aydın's Kuşadası district quickly turned into a flood. Due to the intense rain that lasted approximately 30 minutes, streams overflowed, streets and avenues were submerged, and some vehicles were swept away by the floodwaters.

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Tornado1

Violent tornado causes destruction in Central Java, Indonesia


cronica.com.ar
Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:10 UTC
mmmmm
Social media was flooded with images showing the devastation wrought by a sudden tornado that swept through several areas of Central Java, destroying everything in its path.

One video that went viral shows gusts of wind tearing through a local market as residents scrambled for shelter.


(Translated by Google)
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