Ground fissures in Utah have opened across rural areas in recent years, creating deep cracks in the earth that can extend for miles. The Utah Geological Survey attributes them largely to groundwater depletion. When aquifers are drained faster than they can recharge, the soil loses structural support and collapses. In some cases, the ground settles unevenly over buried bedrock ridges, causing the surface to tear open from below. Unlike earthquakes, these fissures form silently, sometimes overnight.
Most of the cracks have appeared in agricultural areas such as Cedar Valley and Enoch, where they damage irrigation systems and pose hazards to farm equipment and livestock. Because they occur mainly on private rural land, they have received limited public attention. Experts note that similar fissures near populated areas would likely be treated as emergencies. The phenomenon is not unique to Utah. Sinkholes and ground collapses have occurred in Guatemala City, Florida, and parts of China under comparable conditions of water extraction and soil instability.
Once the ground compacts and collapses, it cannot be restored by pumping water back into the aquifer. The damage is permanent, and the cracks tend to spread over time, potentially threatening infrastructure such as roads, pipelines, and utility lines. Scientists regard the fissures as a visible consequence of long-term groundwater use rather than an isolated event.
Tornado patterns in the United States are also shifting. Historically, tornadoes were most common in Texas and Oklahoma, a region known as Tornado Alley. Over the past decade, tornado activity has moved eastward, with increased frequency in eastern Missouri, Arkansas, western Tennessee, Kentucky, northern Mississippi, and Alabama. The shift is linked to changes in atmospheric conditions, including warmer, moister air from the Gulf of Mexico and a shifting dry line. Supercell thunderstorms, which produce tornadoes, have become more common in late winter and early spring.
Data from the National Weather Service, which began keeping tornado records in 1950, shows that the number of tornado days per year has declined, but the number of tornadoes on active days has increased. The southeastern United States faces added risks because the region has more residents, more mobile homes, and less established tornado shelter infrastructure. Tornadoes in this region also occur more frequently at night, when they are harder to see.
Meteorologists recommend basic safety measures during a tornado warning: move to an interior room on the lowest floor, stay away from windows, and use available materials such as pillows or blankets for protection. If outdoors, seek shelter in a building or lie flat in a low area such as a ditch. Do not attempt to outrun a tornado in a vehicle. Remain sheltered until officials confirm the threat has passed.
Thundersnow is another rare weather event that occurs when lightning and thunder accompany heavy snowfall. It forms under conditions similar to summer thunderstorms, but with less atmospheric energy. It is most common near the Great Lakes, where cold air mixes with warmer lake water. Snow absorbs sound, so thunder from thundersnow is often a low rumble rather than a sharp crack. The main hazard is the heavy snowfall that accompanies it, which can disrupt travel and power supply.
Other unusual weather phenomena include snow rollers, which form when wind and temperature conditions cause snow to roll into cylindrical shapes; dust devils, which are small whirlwinds that form on hot days; and fog bows, which appear when sunlight refracts through fog droplets. Sprite lightning is a type of electrical discharge that occurs high above thunderstorms, while fall streak holes are gaps that form in clouds when aircraft introduce ice crystals that freeze surrounding droplets.
Hypercanes are a hypothetical class of extreme tropical cyclones that could form if ocean temperatures reached about 122 degrees Fahrenheit. They would be capable of reaching the upper stratosphere and producing winds up to 600 miles per hour. No hypercane has ever been observed. Scientists have proposed that such a storm could only form after a major event such as a large asteroid impact or supervolcano eruption.
Large solar flares also pose a theoretical risk to modern infrastructure. A powerful flare could disrupt electrical grids, communication systems, and water supply networks. The most documented event of this kind occurred in 1859, when a solar storm caused auroras visible in tropical regions and disrupted telegraph systems. Because modern society depends more heavily on electronics, the consequences of a similar event would be substantially greater.
Gamma-ray bursts, which occur when massive stars collapse or neutron stars collide, could damage the ozone layer if they occurred close to Earth. A supervolcano eruption, such as a potential event at Yellowstone, would release large amounts of ash and sulfur into the atmosphere, potentially lowering global temperatures for years. Researchers monitor these risks but note that there is currently no evidence that Yellowstone is preparing to erupt.
Volcanic islands can also collapse into the ocean, generating large tsunamis. The island of Fogo in the Cape Verde archipelago is one example of a volcano that has experienced major flank collapses in the past. Scientists study ground movement, magma pressure, and geological foundations to assess collapse risk. Smaller volcanic islands, such as Santa Maria in the Azores, can also be unstable due to weak marine sediment foundations.
The 2018 eruption of Anak Krakatau in Indonesia caused a partial collapse that generated a tsunami. These events are rare, but researchers consider them a legitimate hazard in volcanic regions. In 1958, a landslide in Lituya Bay, Alaska, triggered a wave over 1,700 feet tall, the largest recorded tsunami wave. Only five people died in that event, though it destroyed large areas of forest.
Tsunami risk in Europe is concentrated in the Mediterranean and northeast Atlantic. Since 1600 BCE, at least 290 tsunamis have been recorded in the Mediterranean. A major earthquake in 1755 destroyed much of Lisbon, Portugal, and generated a tsunami that flooded the city’s harbor. UNESCO has established tsunami warning centers across Europe and a readiness program to train coastal communities. In the Mediterranean, tsunami waves are typically modest in height, but even waves of a few feet can be dangerous to swimmers and damaging to harbors.
Meteotsunamis, which are triggered by weather systems rather than earthquakes, have also caused damage in the region. A meteotsunami struck the port of Ciutadella on the Spanish island of Menorca in 2006, damaging yachts and infrastructure.
Ball lightning remains a poorly understood phenomenon. It appears as a glowing sphere during thunderstorms and has been reported for centuries. A 2012 recording in China captured an instance that contained silicon, iron, and calcium, suggesting it formed from vaporized soil. Scientists have proposed several theories, including microwave radiation creating plasma bubbles, but no single explanation has been confirmed.
Weather-related phenomena also include cold air pools, which occur when cold air settles in valleys and can cause temperatures to drop sharply. In Peter Sinks, Utah, temperatures have fallen as low as minus 69 degrees Fahrenheit under such conditions. Strudels are drainage currents that form when spring meltwater flows over sea ice and spins through cracks, creating spiral patterns in the ice.
Lightning can also occur far from its parent storm. Bolts from the blue are rare strikes that originate from the top of a thunderstorm and travel sideways before striking the ground, sometimes more than 25 miles away. Meteorologists recommend the 30-30 rule: if thunder follows lightning within 30 seconds, seek shelter, and wait 30 minutes after the last rumble before leaving cover.
Dry microbursts are another underrecognized hazard. They occur when rain evaporates before reaching the ground, cooling the surrounding air and causing it to descend rapidly. These bursts can produce winds over 100 miles per hour and are especially dangerous to aircraft during takeoff and landing. Doppler radar and wind shear alerts have improved detection since the 1980s.
Weather events can also ground aircraft. A British Midland Airways flight from Cyprus to Manchester was damaged by severe hail in 2003, which struck the aircraft’s nose and windshield. A similar incident occurred in 2022 when a Latam Airlines flight encountered hail en route from Santiago to Asunción. Hail can damage a plane’s exterior and reduce lift, requiring pilots to fly faster than normal. Volcanic ash is also hazardous to aviation. In 1982, a British Airways flight entered an ash cloud from Mount Galunggung, and all four engines failed before the crew managed to restart them after leaving the cloud.
Snowstorms can delay flights by making runways slippery and causing ice to accumulate on aircraft surfaces. Planes are de-iced with specialized fluids before takeoff, and fuel can freeze at very low temperatures if not properly managed. Lightning strikes on aircraft are rare and generally not dangerous, but researchers have developed experimental laser-based lightning rods that could protect larger areas than traditional metal rods.
Lasers have also been tested for other practical applications. Scientists have used laser beams to melt simulated lunar soil into solid surfaces, potentially allowing future moon missions to build roads and landing pads. The technique works by concentrating heat to create a glassy material from moon dust, which is otherwise fine, abrasive, and damaging to equipment.
Lidar, a laser-based scanning technology, has been used by archaeologists to map dense jungle terrain. In 2023, researchers used lidar to identify a large Maya city called Ocomtún in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. The technology can detect structures hidden beneath forest canopy, and researchers confirmed the discovery by reaching the site on foot through difficult terrain. Lidar is also used in autonomous vehicles, planetary rovers, and mapping for solar panel placement.
In rare cases, unusual weather reports have involved animals. A tornado in Southern California in 1877 reportedly dropped small alligators, and fish have fallen from the sky in several locations. These events are typically caused by waterspouts that lift small aquatic animals from the water and deposit them elsewhere. No evidence supports the possibility of a tornado carrying large sharks, as depicted in popular fiction.
Cloud formations also include a variety of rare types. Morning glory clouds are long roll clouds that appear regularly near the Gulf of Carpentaria in Australia. Pyrocumulus clouds form above wildfires or volcanic activity. Lenticular clouds are lens-shaped formations that occur when moist air flows over mountains. Nacreous clouds, also called mother-of-pearl clouds, form in polar regions at high altitudes and can contribute to ozone depletion. Rainbow scarf clouds are accessory clouds that appear briefly above larger cloud systems.
Roy Sullivan, a park ranger, was struck by lightning seven times between 1942 and 1977. The strikes caused burns, singed hair, and hearing loss in one ear. During one incident, his wife was also struck while hanging laundry and was not seriously injured. Sullivan died in 1983; the cause of death was not related to lightning. He remains the only person known to have survived seven lightning strikes.
Climate patterns known as El Niño and La Niña continue to influence global weather. La Niña brings cooler Pacific waters and can increase Atlantic hurricane activity, while El Niño tends to reduce it. A strong El Niño in 2015 was linked to record heat, drought in Ethiopia, and heavy rainfall in parts of South America. Scientists are monitoring conditions in the Pacific for a possible transition from a weak La Niña to El Niño in 2026. They note that warmer baseline ocean temperatures make El Niño signals harder to detect using traditional measurement methods.
One couple, Erica and Stefan from Sweden, experienced multiple natural disasters during a four-month honeymoon. They were delayed by a thunderstorm in Munich, encountered high winds in Bali, evacuated due to wildfires in Australia, sheltered during a cyclone, and experienced earthquakes in Japan and Indonesia. Their young daughter accompanied them throughout the trip. The couple said the experience strengthened their marriage.
Dana Wyland of California has also survived multiple disasters, including Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Hurricane Rita in Texas, a severe winter storm known as Snowmageddon, and wildfires near her home in Lake Arrowhead. She has described these experiences as difficult but has maintained a resilient outlook.
Zahul Fuadi survived tsunami events in Indonesia and Japan. After the second earthquake-triggered tsunami, he moved back to Indonesia. He has said that while disasters can happen to anyone, he prefers to focus on the positive aspects of life.
Rainfall records include a period of 881 consecutive days of measurable rain in Hānūmaʻulu, Hawaii, from 1913 to 1916. The Carneian Pluvial Event, once described as two million years of continuous rain, is now understood by researchers to have been a period of increased rainfall rather than uninterrupted rain.
Columnar jointing is a geological formation that occurs when lava cools and contracts, creating vertical columns. The Giant’s Causeway in Ireland and Devils Postpile in California are well-known examples. Underwater crop circles off the coast of Japan are created by male pufferfish, which build circular nests in the sand to attract mates.
Brinnacles are underwater icicles that form when cold saltwater freezes under specific conditions. Frost flowers are thin ice formations that grow from the stems of plants during cold weather. Sinkholes can form when acidic water dissolves underground rock, and they are a recurring problem in Florida and New York City.
Bioluminescent plankton can cause ocean water to glow blue when disturbed by waves. Foxfire is a faint glow produced by bioluminescent fungi growing on decaying wood. Fire rainbows, known scientifically as circumhorizontal arcs, appear when sunlight passes through ice crystals in high-altitude clouds, and they are visible only when the sun is high in the sky.
The Catatumbo lightning storm over Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela produces thunderstorm activity on 140 to 160 nights per year, with lightning flashing as often as 40 times per minute. It is the most persistent lightning storm in the world.
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, triggered by an earthquake off Sumatra, killed over 200,000 people. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan killed more than 16,000 people and caused a major nuclear accident. Tsunami warning systems rely on rapid seismic analysis and ocean monitoring. Coastal communities in Europe and elsewhere have adopted evacuation routes and readiness programs under UNESCO guidance.
