On 6 April 2024, a wildfire broke out in a mountainous forest on the Greek island of Crete, leading authorities to order the evacuation of four villages affected by the fire. Though the blaze was fanned by strong winds, firefighters from Ierapetra and Agios Nikolaos were able to bring the fire under control with the help of water bomber...

In northern Canada, the Winter Road opens each year between late January and early April to serve as the main access route to diamond mines in the remote Arctic region. This year, the road opened with a two-week delay, disrupting the movement of goods along the 400-km artery built on ice. The delay was caused by relatively warm weather in the...

In southern Mexico, over 70 active wildfires are ablaze, while over 14,000 hectares of forest have already been burnt. This time of year is known as Mexico’s fire season, and is characterised by warm and dry conditions that can fuel wildfires. Areas with substantial forest cover are especially vulnerable to wildfires. Human activities, such as...

On the Reykjanes Peninsula in southern Iceland, a series of volcanic eruptions has been ongoing since December 2023. The eruption has affected the area near Grindavik, a small fishing town 30 miles southwest of Reykjavik. In addition to producing gas pollution, the volcanic activity has changed the landscape of the surrounding area. These...

On 18 March 2024, an enormous wildfire broke out in La Tigra National Park, near the capital of Honduras, Tegucigalpa. The fire prompted the Honduran Air Force (FAH) to respond with helicopters to extinguish the flames. The combined efforts of the Honduran Fire Department and FAH successfully controlled the blaze. While details are unknown, the...

A massive dust storm originating in the Saharan Desert moved into Europe last week. The storm has so far reached the Spanish Canary Islands and the Iberian Peninsula, bringing hazy, orange skies. In Portugal, the Directorate-General of Health issued an air quality warning and recommended limiting time outdoors. In some of the affected areas,...

The last eruption of Mount Vesuvius on 18 March 1944 resulted in widespread devastation in nearby villages and towns, including San Sebastiano al Vesuvio and Massa di Somma. Lava flow and ash clouds engulfed surrounding areas, causing extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure. Though the eruption forced thousands of residents to flee...

Unprecedented Sea Surface Temperatures are being recorded across the global ocean, with historical record temperatures being measured in vast areas of the tropical seas.   This data visualisation, based on the data of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, gives an overview of the evolution of daily Sea Surface Temperatures since 1979. It shows...

In Paraguay, more than 100 forest fires have broken out amid a heatwave. The fires have devastated large areas and caused significant environmental damage. Authorities are working to contain the fires and prevent further destruction, but the situation remains challenging due to extreme weather conditions. The fires have raised concerns about...

Tropical Cyclone Megan, a category three system, has made landfall on the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, prompting local authorities to order the evacuation of residents of Borroloola in Northern Australia.  The cyclone has brought heavy rain and winds of up to 200 kilometres per hour, but is expected to weaken rapidly after landfall....

The ski resorts of Sierra Nevada in Andalusia, Spain, have benefitted from record snowfall this season. Out of 112 km of ski trails, 97 km are currently open. This surpasses previous records and underscores the region's reputation as a prime destination for winter sports enthusiasts. The substantial snow accumulation has delighted skiers and...

Severe and unrelenting weather conditions caused by Storm Monica have affected the serene landscape of the Camargue region, unleashing torrents of heavy rainfall that have flooded rivers and inundated low-lying areas upstream. The storm had catastrophic consequences in upriver regions, with local residents reported missing and emergency...

The katabatic winds in Antarctica are among the most remarkable meteorological phenomena on our planet. These winds are a result of gravity pulling denser air downwards towards lower density air. Katabatic winds can reach astonishing speeds, sometimes blowing at the speed of a hurricane. These winds shape the landscape of some regions of...

At the end of last week, Portugal found itself in the grip of an intense storm that originated in the north Atlantic Ocean. As the area of low pressure moved from the Bay of Biscay southwards, it unleashed a score of extreme weather phenomena across Portugal, resulting in heavy rain, sporadic snow, and strong winds. Along Portugal's west coast,...

At the end of February, Texas was devastated by the worst wildfire in its recent history, which engulfed nearly 486,000 hectares of land in just a few days. The scale of destruction prompted the Governor to declare a state of disaster in 60 counties. The fire has caused at least two casualties and has displaced thousands of inhabitants. In this...

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) recently released its latest monthly Climate Bulletin, which highlights the fact that February 2024 was the warmest February on record globally. With an average surface air temperature of 13.54°C, the month surpassed the previous record set in 2016 by 0.12°C. This marks the ninth consecutive month of...

A new eruptive phase of the La Cumbre volcano on Fernandina Island in the Galapagos began on 3 March. Though the island lacks human inhabitants, it hosts diverse wildlife, including iguanas, penguins, and flightless cormorants. The eruption is still ongoing and could pose a threat for the local fauna and flora. One of the Copernicus Sentinel-2...

On 27 February 2024, a grassfire broke out northeast of North Platte, Nebraska, destroying one home and around five outbuildings, among other damage.  Fierce winds of almost 65 kilometres per hour, coupled with dry winter foliage and low humidity, caused the fire to quickly spread over 280 square kilometres, prompting  Nebraska’s governor to...

On 29 February, the Ebro River in Spain overflowed its banks and flooded several areas in the upper Aragon autonomous region, although no damage was observed or expected in urban areas. This flooding, which has already affected the provinces of Burgos, Álava, Navarra and La Rioja, appears to have become a frequent occurrence which repeats every...

The Ballarat region of western Victoria, in Australia, is battling an out-of-control bushfire that has prompted authorities to warn residents not to return home due to ongoing safety concerns. Despite efforts by firefighters to contain it, the fire remains active and has destroyed at least six houses and numerous sheds since it started. With a...