The highest points of Madeira were once again covered in snow and hail this morning.
According to the meteorological station of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere, Pico do Areeiro recorded a temperature of -2 degrees at 6:50 am. At Chão do Areeiro, at 6:20 am, the thermometers also pointed to -0.3 degrees.
As the images show, on the morning of this regional holiday, many people decided to head to the mountains in the hope of enjoying the snow and white landscapes. However, the experience did not go as expected for most visitors, who found roads and trails closed.
Tourists and residents have been evacuated as a volcano erupted in south-west Iceland, threatening a town and popular attraction.
The volcano has been spewing lava in a fiery display of orange and red since the eruption began in the morning, creating a huge crack in the ground which has grown to 1.2km (0.75 miles) long.
Multiple earthquakes have occurred in the volcanic area throughout the day.
The volcano is close to the fishing town of Grindavik and the famous Blue Lagoon spa. A small number of people refused to evacuate the town, local media reported.
Grindavik resident Asrun Kristinsdottir told the BBC she fled after hearing emergency sirens early in the morning.
Living near the volcano for most of her life meant she always had bags packed and ready to go. But she said this time was different because of "constant" quakes as she was preparing to leave.
A teenage girl was swimming in waters off Long Beach on Sunday afternoon when she was attacked by a sea lion, officials said.
The incident occurred around noon as the girl, a junior lifeguard candidate, was out swimming during tryouts for a junior lifeguard cadet program's 15-to-17-year-old age group, said Long Beach Fire Department Capt. Jack Crabtree.
There were about 12 candidates swimming approximately 25 yards from the shore at the time of the attack, which occurred near the Marine Safety Division's lifeguard headquarters at Ocean Boulevard and Cherry Avenue, Crabtree said.
Lifeguards observed a sea lion emerge from the water, attacking the girl on her arm, according to the fire captain. The lifeguards assisted her back to shore, and a lifeguard boat that was patrolling the water brought all other swimmers back to shore.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake has struck the South Pacific Ocean, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). No tsunami warnings were issued.
The earthquake occurred at 12:29 a.m. UTC on Wednesday, with an epicenter located in the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge, according to USGS data. It struck at a preliminary depth of 6.2 miles (10 kilometers).
The location of the earthquake was far from any populated areas, with Waitangi in New Zealand's Chatham Islands being the closest settlement—more than 1,700 miles (2,760 kilometers) away. According to the USGS, no population was expected to have felt the tremor.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) did not issue a tsunami warning, likely because the earthquake did not have the necessary characteristics, including strength, to warrant an alert or advisory.
Heavy rains lead to train disruptions and house collapses in affected areas
On the afternoon of March 31, 2025, Greater São Paulo was struck by a powerful rainstorm, causing significant disruptions and damage, particularly in the Southeast region and the ABC Paulista area. The deluge led to severe flooding, with images circulating on social media showcasing hailstorms and the Celso Daniel train station in Santo André submerged under water.
The train station, part of the CPTM's Linha 10 (Turquesa), experienced operational challenges due to flooding on the tracks, which resulted in a suspension of train services between the Prefeito Celso Daniel-Santo André and Mauá stations. Reports indicated that the rain was so intense that it caused a house to collapse in Jardim Zaíra, Mauá, although fortunately, there were no injuries.
By 14:47, the Civil Defense of São Paulo had issued a "severe alert" for residents in the affected areas, warning of high risks for flooding and landslides. The alert urged residents to stay in safe locations as the storm intensified. In Santo André, Avenida dos Estados was rendered nearly impassable due to the overflow from the Tamanduateí River, while flooding was also reported in the Guarara stream and the Corumbé River.
A powerful wave of severe weather has swept across Greece, bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms, and hailstorms that have wreaked havoc in several regions, particularly the Cyclades, Peloponnese, and Central Greece.
Heavy rain in Paros turned roads into swift moving rivers, while the island of Syros was struck by a hailstorm.
Heavy rainfall hit several of Greece's islands on Monday afternoon, turning roads in Paros' capital city of Naousa into fast moving torrents that swept away cars. The severe storm triggered a warning message from Greece's civil protection authority for islanders to restrict all movements on roads.
A backyard attack by a cassowary has led to concerns some of the large flightless birds in Far North Queensland are growing aggressively accustomed to people feeding them.
A man in his 70s was left bleeding by an adult cassowary at Cardwell, 150km south of Cairns, on Friday, Queensland's Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) said.
A Queensland Ambulance Service crew took the man to Tully Hospital for treatment to a wound several centimetres long on the back of a thigh.
Cairns Hospital and Hinterland Health Service say the man was discharged that evening.
Matúš Beňo Editorial Spectator.sme.sk Mon, 31 Mar 2025 11:41 UTC
On late Sunday evening, a man with devastating injuries was found dead in a forest near the town of Detva, central Slovakia. According to the State Nature Protection (ŠOP), preliminary findings indicate that he succumbed to an attack by a brown bear.
This is the fourth death resulting from such incidents in Slovakia's modern history, with the first one in 2021 and two last year.
The attack took place about a kilometre from an urban area. Monitoring devices as well as warnings have been deployed. Preservationists urge people going on hikes to be careful as the warmer weather now increases the chance of meeting the animal.
Pascal Schürmann yacht.de Tue, 01 Apr 2025 11:25 UTC
Not far from Cape Arkona, a sailing boat sank this morning due to massive water ingress. The crew had to climb into the life raft, from which they were rescued a short time later by a fishing boat. The accident was preceded by an attack by killer whales.
According to the crew, the animals were after the yacht's rudder. This had caused a large leak in the area of the rudder suspension. The bilge pump was unable to cope with the rapidly penetrating water. Their ship sank within a very short time.
It is the first documented incident of this kind in the Baltic Sea. Previously, such attacks were only known from the Iberian Atlantic coast and the Strait of Gibraltar. However, reports and images of orca sightings off the coast of Prerow appeared on social networks. However, scientists had categorised them as "implausible".
More than 390K still without power in Ontario after weekend ice storm
More than 370,000 homes and businesses lost power amid widespread, persistent freezing rain
A high-impact ice storm will continue into Sunday after hours of ice accretion knocked out power to more than 370,000 customers across Ontario as of early Sunday afternoon.
Expect widespread power outages to persist through the remainder of the weekend, along with treacherous driving conditions across communities experiencing freezing rain and heavy snowfall.
Stay home if possible during periods of freezing rain. Be sure to check highway conditions and local weather alerts before heading out if necessary.
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
~ from 'The Second Coming', 1919
- William Butler Yeats
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✨️Starview The development out of creation or in creation is another balance continued both horizontally and vertically simultaneously. Amen
Comment: Details of another recent attack in the area on March 21: Surfer attacked by 'demonic' sea lion amid toxic algal bloom in California