Spain: Severe Storm Hits Valencia, Causing Flooding

A storm hit Valencia on Wednesday, September 16, bringing severe weather and causing flooding across the city while disrupting traffic.

UK: Pokémon Fans Line Up for 30th Anniversary Collection

Pokémon fans across the UK queued for hours outside shops on Wednesday, September 16, for the franchise's 30th anniversary collection, with several items selling out within minutes.

Australia: Pokémon Fans Line Up for 30th Anniversary Collection

Pokémon fans across Australia lined up overnight for the franchise's 30th anniversary collection, with several items selling out within minutes.

France: Pokémon Fans Line Up for Hours Nationwide Over 30th Anniversary Box

Hundreds of fans lined up for hours across France on Wednesday, September 16, as the Pokémon 30th-anniversary Elite Trainer Box sets went on sale. Some campers arrived the night before to secure a box, with long lines forming outside stores nationwide.

Netherlands: Farmer Protesters Set Tires Ablaze Along A28 in Drenthe

Black smoke billowed from a roadside fire along the A28 highway near Beilen, in the Dutch province of Drenthe, on Tuesday, September 15, as farmer protesters set tires and oil drums ablaze during nationwide demonstrations tied to the government's Budget Day. The fires, part of a wave of highway blazes across the Netherlands linked to the Farmers Defence Force, forced authorities to close lanes and slow traffic in the area.

Singapore: Haze From Indonesian Wildfires Turns Air Quality Unhealthy 2

Air quality across all regions of Singapore entered the unhealthy range on Tuesday, September 15, marking the first time the PSI reached unhealthy levels islandwide since October 2023. The worsening haze was driven by smoke plumes drifting from forest fires burning in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra, Indonesia.

Singapore: Haze From Indonesian Wildfires Turns Air Quality Unhealthy

Air quality across all regions of Singapore entered the unhealthy range on Tuesday, September 15, marking the first time the PSI reached unhealthy levels islandwide since October 2023. The worsening haze was driven by smoke plumes drifting from forest fires burning in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra, Indonesia.

Indonesia: Thick Haze From Forest Fires Blankets Pontianak Streets

Thick haze from land and forest fires blanketed Jalan Ahmad Yani in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on Tuesday afternoon, reducing visibility for motorists as motorcycles and vehicles moved through the smoke-filled street. Pontianak recorded some of Indonesia's worst air quality that week, with the city's Air Quality Index reaching a hazardous 483 on September 13 amid thousands of hotspots detected across Kalimantan.

Vietnam: Flooded Streets Slow Traffic in Hai Phong Amid Heavy Rain

Motorcyclists and vehicles waded through flooded streets in Hai Phong, Vietnam, on Tuesday morning, September 15 as heavy rain swelled roadways and slowed traffic to a crawl. The flooding came amid a multi-day bout of heavy rain across northern Vietnam, with the Hai Phong City Meteorological and Hydrological Station warning of landslide risks in parts of the city.

China: Stray Cat Swims Across River to Reach Waiting Rescuer

On August 23, 2026, in Xiaogan, Hubei, a stray cat was seen swimming across a river to reach a resident waiting on the opposite bank. The resident, who had spotted the cat and wanted to take it home, later had it examined by a vet after its determined swim.

US: Storms Batter Iowa State University Campus Amid Tornado Threat

Heavy wind and rain lashed the Iowa State University campus in Ames on Monday night as severe thunderstorms moved across Iowa, prompting a tornado watch for the Des Moines metro area and western Iowa. The National Weather Service warned of possible tornadoes, damaging winds up to 80 mph and large hail as the storms swept through the region.

US: Vehicles Push Through Severe Flooding on Highway in Paramus, New Jersey

Heavy rain triggered flash flooding across the tristate area on Sunday, September 13, prompting road closures and water rescues. Vehicles were seen pushing through severe flooding on Route 17 in Paramus, New Jersey.

Brazil: Windstorm Snaps Trees and Poles Across Highway Near Francisco Beltrão

A severe windstorm swept through the Rio Tuna area near Francisco Beltrão, in Brazil's Paraná state, on Friday afternoon, September 11, snapping trees and utility poles that fell across the PR-180 highway and reducing visibility to near zero as heavy rain lashed the region.

Japan: Weather Front Brings Widespread Downpours, Prompting Rain Alerts

On Monday, September 14, heavy downpours fell across a wide swath of Japan from Tohoku to Kyushu, as weather fronts moved through the area, prompting Level 2 and 3 rain alerts in some areas. In Akita Prefecture, 69.0 millimeters of rain was recorded in an hour.

China: Elephant Covers Its Head With Grass Like Green Hat

On April 30, 2026, at Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou, Guangdong, an Asian elephant named Maria used her trunk to pick up grass and toss it onto her own head. She repeated the motion until the grass spread across her head like a green hat, appearing to fashion her own sunshade.

US: Flash Flooding Turns Driveway Into Raging River Amid Arizona Storms

On Saturday, September 12, floodwater turned into a fast-moving muddy torrent across a rural property in Marana, Arizona, submerging a driveway, fence line and yard as desert brush and a nearby home stood partly surrounded by the rising water. The footage came as thunderstorms triggered flash flood warnings across Pima County that afternoon.

Germany: Nationwide Emergency Warning Test Sounds Sirens Across Country

Germany held its annual nationwide "Warntag" (Warning Day) on September 10, testing emergency alert systems to simulate responses to major disasters or the consequences of war. At 11 a.m., the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (BBK) triggered sirens nationwide, with warnings also distributed via the Nina and Katwarn apps, radio, television, cell broadcast, and other channels. Sirens sounded twice during the test.

Spain: Cold Front Moves Into Murcia, Bringing Intense Downpour and Flooding

A cold front swept into Spain's Murcia region on Wednesday, September 9, triggering an intense downpour that dumped up to 44mm/h of rain on the El Reguerón-El Palmar area. The storm flooded streets and stranded vehicles across the city, prompting AEMET to issue orange warnings for heavy rain and thunderstorms in several areas.

China: Excited Dog Drags Heavy Cage Across Yard in Zhejiang

On May 21, 2026, surveillance video shows a dog in Yiwu, Zhejiang, dragging its heavy cage across a yard after growing excited at the sight of a man believed to be its owner returning home on a scooter.

Japanese ocean adventurer Kenichi Horie

NISHINOMIYA, Japan, Sept. 9 Kyodo - Japanese ocean adventurer Kenichi Horie smiles as he meets the press in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Sept. 8, 2026. Horie, 88, said he plans to sail solo and nonstop across the Pacific Ocean on a yacht next spring, in an attempt to break the world record he set four years earlier for the oldest person to accomplish the feat. (Kyodo)

US: Hurricane Lowell Leaves Damage in Kauai 2

Hurricane Lowell battered Kauai unleashing 92mph winds that downed power lines and uprooted trees across the island, while surging surf flooded oceanfront homes and hotels along the south shore.

Japan: Traffic Cone Drifts Upright Down Flooded Nagoya Street

On the afternoon of Tuesday, September 8, torrential rain flooded roads across Nagoya, and footage captured a traffic cone gracefully drifting upright along a flooded street.

US: Hurricane Lowell Approaches Hawaii, Bringing Strong Winds and High Surf 4

Hurricane Lowell approached Kauai as a Category 2 storm on Monday, September 7, prompting Hawaii to declare a state of emergency and activate the National Guard. Kauai and Niihau were under a hurricane warning, while Oahu was under a tropical storm warning and a high surf warning, as strong winds and dangerous surf spread across the islands.

Japan: Tokai Region Battered by Torrential Rain, Nagoya Sees Record Hourly Rainfall 9

Torrential rain pounded Japan's Tokai region, including Aichi and Gifu prefectures, on Tuesday afternoon, September 8, flooding roads across the area. Nagoya recorded 104.5 millimeters of rainfall in one hour, the highest ever recorded in the city, and the downpour forced widespread train suspensions that stranded commuters, including a temporary halt to Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train services.

UK: NATS Flight Data Processing System Fault Disrupts Flights at Major Airports 5

A technical fault in NATS's flight data processing system caused widespread delays and cancellations at major UK airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, on Tuesday, September 8, with some connecting flights across Europe also affected.

UK: NATS Flight Data Processing System Fault Disrupts Flights at Major Airports 4

A technical fault in NATS's flight data processing system caused widespread delays and cancellations at major UK airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, on Tuesday, September 8, with some connecting flights across Europe also affected.

RECAP: Record Rain Swamps Nagoya, Central Japan

Torrential rain pounded Japan's Tokai region, including Nagoya, on Tuesday afternoon, September 8, flooding roads across the city. The capital of Aichi Prefecture recorded 104.5 millimeters of rainfall in one hour, the highest ever recorded in the city, and the downpour forced widespread train suspensions that stranded commuters. An underpass at Nagoya Dome-mae Yada subway station was completely flooded, with floodwater cascading down a staircase, and columns of water were seen shooting several stories into the air after floodwater pressure forced open manhole covers.

Japan: Heavy Rain Triggers Riverbank Slope Collapse in Nagoya

Torrential rain pounded Japan's Tokai region, including Aichi and Gifu prefectures, on Tuesday afternoon, September 8, flooding roads and damaging homes and businesses across the area. A slope collapse was also reported along the Ueda River in Nagoya.

US: Hurricane Lowell Leaves Damage in Kauai

Hurricane Lowell battered Kauai on Monday night, September 7, unleashing 90 mph winds that downed power lines and uprooted trees across the island, while surging surf flooded oceanfront homes and hotels along the south shore. The Category 2 storm knocked out power across the island, and crews began clearing debris from damaged roads on Tuesday.

UK: NATS Flight Data Processing System Fault Disrupts Flights at Major Airports 3

A technical fault in NATS's flight data processing system caused widespread delays and cancellations at major UK airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, on Tuesday, September 8, with some connecting flights across Europe also affected.

UK: NATS Flight Data System Fault Disrupts Flights at Major Airports

A technical fault in NATS's flight data processing system caused widespread delays and cancellations at major UK airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, on Tuesday, September 8, with some connecting flights across Europe also affected. This video shows long queues at London Stansted Airport.

US: Hurricane Lowell Approaches Hawaii, Bringing Strong Winds and High Surf 3

Hurricane Lowell approached Kauai as a Category 2 storm on Monday, September 7, prompting Hawaii to declare a state of emergency and activate the National Guard. Kauai and Niihau were under a hurricane warning, while Oahu was under a tropical storm warning and a high surf warning, as strong winds and dangerous surf spread across the islands.

Japanese ocean adventurer Kenichi Horie

Japanese ocean adventurer Kenichi Horie

Japanese ocean adventurer Kenichi Horie smiles as he meets the press in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Sept. 8, 2026. Horie, 88, said he plans to sail solo and nonstop across the Pacific Ocean on a yacht next spring, in an attempt to break the world record he set four years earlier for the oldest person to accomplish the feat.

Japanese ocean adventurer Kenichi Horie

Japanese ocean adventurer Kenichi Horie

Japanese ocean adventurer Kenichi Horie speaks during a press conference in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Sept. 8, 2026. Horie, 88, plans to sail solo and nonstop across the Pacific Ocean on a yacht next spring, in an attempt to break the world record he set four years earlier for the oldest person to accomplish the feat.

Japanese ocean adventurer Kenichi Horie

Japanese ocean adventurer Kenichi Horie

Japanese ocean adventurer Kenichi Horie speaks during a press conference in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Sept. 8, 2026. Horie, 88, plans to sail solo and nonstop across the Pacific Ocean on a yacht next spring, in an attempt to break the world record he set four years earlier for the oldest person to accomplish the feat.

Japan: Heavy Rain Water Pours Through Ceiling at Nagoya Subway Station

Torrential rain pounded Japan's Tokai region, including Aichi and Gifu prefectures, on Tuesday afternoon, September 8, flooding roads across the area. Nagoya recorded 101.5 millimeters of rainfall in one hour, the highest ever recorded in the city, and the downpour forced widespread train suspensions that stranded commuters, including a temporary halt to Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train services. This video shows a large amount of rainwater pouring down from the ceiling at Metro Heian-dori Station in Nagoya.

US: Hurricane Lowell Approaches Hawaii, Bringing Strong Winds and High Surf 2

Hurricane Lowell approached Kauai as a Category 2 storm on Monday, September 7, prompting Hawaii to declare a state of emergency and activate the National Guard. Kauai and Niihau were under a hurricane warning, while Oahu was under a tropical storm warning and a high surf warning, as strong winds and dangerous surf spread across the islands.

Japan: Tokai Region Battered by Torrential Rain, Nagoya Sees Record Hourly Rainfall 3

Torrential rain pounded Japan's Tokai region, including Aichi and Gifu prefectures, on Tuesday afternoon, September 8, flooding roads across the area. Nagoya recorded 101.5 millimeters of rainfall in one hour, the highest ever recorded in the city, and the downpour forced widespread train suspensions that stranded commuters, including a temporary halt to Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train services.

Japan: Tokai Region Battered by Torrential Rain, Nagoya Sees Record Hourly Rainfall 4

Torrential rain pounded Japan's Tokai region, including Aichi and Gifu prefectures, on Tuesday afternoon, September 8, flooding roads across the area. Nagoya recorded 101.5 millimeters of rainfall in one hour, the highest ever recorded in the city, and the downpour forced widespread train suspensions that stranded commuters, including a temporary halt to Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train services.

Japan: Tokai Region Battered by Torrential Rain, Nagoya Sees Record Hourly Rainfall 5

Torrential rain pounded Japan's Tokai region, including Aichi and Gifu prefectures, on Tuesday afternoon, September 8, flooding roads across the area. Nagoya recorded 101.5 millimeters of rainfall in one hour, the highest ever recorded in the city, and the downpour forced widespread train suspensions that stranded commuters, including a temporary halt to Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train services.

Japan: Tokai Region Battered by Torrential Rain, Nagoya Sees Record Hourly Rainfall 7

Torrential rain pounded Japan's Tokai region, including Aichi and Gifu prefectures, on Tuesday afternoon, September 8, flooding roads across the area. Nagoya recorded 101.5 millimeters of rainfall in one hour, the highest ever recorded in the city, and the downpour forced widespread train suspensions that stranded commuters, including a temporary halt to Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train services.

Japan: Tokai Region Battered by Torrential Rain, Nagoya Sees Record Hourly Rainfall 6

Torrential rain pounded Japan's Tokai region, including Aichi and Gifu prefectures, on Tuesday afternoon, September 8, flooding roads across the area. Nagoya recorded 101.5 millimeters of rainfall in one hour, the highest ever recorded in the city, and the downpour forced widespread train suspensions that stranded commuters, including a temporary halt to Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train services.

Japan: Water Gushes From Manholes Amid Record Rainfall in Nagoya

Torrential rain pounded Japan's Tokai region, including Aichi and Gifu prefectures, on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 8, flooding roads across the area. Footage from Nagoya, which recorded 101.5 millimeters of rainfall in one hour, the highest ever recorded in the city, showed water gushing forcefully out of manholes.

Japan: Water Gushes From Manholes Amid Record Rainfall in Nagoya 2

Torrential rain pounded Japan's Tokai region, including Aichi and Gifu prefectures, on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 8, flooding roads across the area. Footage from Nagoya, which recorded 101.5 millimeters of rainfall in one hour, the highest ever recorded in the city, showed water gushing forcefully out of manholes.

Japan: Tokai Region Battered by Torrential Rain, Nagoya Sees Record Hourly Rainfall 2

Torrential rain pounded Japan's Tokai region, including Aichi and Gifu prefectures, on Tuesday afternoon, September 8, flooding roads across the area. Nagoya recorded 101.5 millimeters of rainfall in one hour, the highest ever recorded in the city, and the downpour forced widespread train suspensions that stranded commuters, including a temporary halt to Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train services.

Japan: Tokai Region Battered by Torrential Rain, Nagoya Sees Record Hourly Rainfall

Torrential rain pounded Japan's Tokai region, including Aichi and Gifu prefectures, on Tuesday afternoon, September 8, flooding roads across the area. Nagoya recorded 101.5 millimeters of rainfall in one hour, the highest ever recorded in the city, and the downpour forced widespread train suspensions that stranded commuters, including a temporary halt to Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train services.

China: Towering Dust Devil Sweeps Through Qinghai Desert Scenic Area 2

A towering dust devil swept across sand dunes at Heidushan Scenic Area in Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, on September 1, 2026, drawing large amounts of sand and dust high into the air as it moved across the desert landscape.

US: Hurricane Lowell Approaches Hawaii, Bringing Strong Winds and High Surf

Hurricane Lowell approached Kauai as a Category 2 storm on Monday, September 7, prompting Hawaii to declare a state of emergency and activate the National Guard. Kauai and Niihau were under a hurricane warning, while Oahu was under a tropical storm warning and a high surf warning, as strong winds and dangerous surf spread across the islands.

China: Towering Dust Devil Sweeps Through Qinghai Desert Scenic Area

A towering dust devil swept across sand dunes at Heidushan Scenic Area in Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, on September 1, 2026, drawing large amounts of sand and dust high into the air as it moved across the desert landscape.

US: Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Issued as Storms Hit Central Alabama

Severe storms brought torrential rain, damaging winds, and hail to central and east-central Alabama on Monday, September 7. The National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm warnings as the storms downed trees across the area.