A Month of Global Turmoil—Major Quakes, Volcanoes, and Extreme Weather Events Ravage the Northern Hemisphere while we are blindsided by extremely unpredictable politicians and global leaders, wars and rumours of wars, and a myriad of other distractions

Europe on fire—By Stratos Thivaios - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

A Month of Global Turmoil—Major Quakes, Volcanoes, and Extreme Weather Events Ravage the Northern Hemisphere. 

While most of us have been blindsided by extremely unpredictable politicians and global leaders, wars and rumours of wars, and a myriad of other distractions, July 2025 has proven to be one of the most tumultuous months in recent memory for the northern hemisphere, with extreme weather disasters, powerful earthquakes, and erupting volcanoes sweeping across the globe. As climate and geological instability intensify, the signs of a planet under increasing stress are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

There are so many geopolitical head-turners happening at the moment that we tend to take our foot off the ball as to what is happening geographically, which, of course, is just as important, if not more important, to mankind's survival as we approach the end-times. Excuse my playful oxymoron, which only adds to the hilarity of the situation! 

Is summer something to look forward to anymore in Europe?

Europe in Crisis, Unlivable? (At least in parts)

Heatwaves, Floods, Fires, and Drought—Europe has been particularly hard-hit in July. Relentless heatwaves have scorched the Mediterranean region, with temperatures exceeding 45°C (113 F) in Spain, Italy, and Greece. 

Wildfires ripped through forests in southern France, Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Portugal, forcing thousands to evacuate. Meanwhile, parts of Germany, Austria, France the UK, Southern England and the Czech Republic have endured catastrophic flash floods following days of torrential rain, which also triggered deadly landslides in Alpine regions. 

Simultaneously, Eastern Europe faces an emerging water crisis. Romania, Hungary, and Ukraine are grappling with prolonged droughts, severely impacting agriculture and reducing river levels to historic lows. These simultaneous extremes underscore the growing imbalance in Earth's climate system. 

Northern Hemisphere on Fire: 

North America and Asia Reeling—In North America, parts of the western United States and Canada are once again ablaze. Major wildfires have destroyed homes in British Columbia and Northern California, (the usual suspects, if a little early) while smoke has triggered air quality alerts as far east as Chicago and Toronto. 

Asia hasn't been spared either. India Pakistan and China have faced deadly heatwaves, with temperatures surpassing 50°C in parts of Rajasthan and Xinjiang. 

In Japan, China, Vietnam and South Korea, lead the record-breaking rainfall deluge which has triggered floods that have killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands.

It’s Happening Globally:

Earlier this month, South Korea endured three days of torrential rain. Western and southern regions, including Gwangju, have seen over 400 mm (16 inches) in 24 hours, forcing evacuations and causing multiple deaths due to landslides and flash floods, according to Reuters. 

Uttarakhand, India is under orange alert starting  Sunday, July 20, with heavy to very heavy rainfall expected in mountainous zones. The region has already seen 438 mm this monsoon, about 11% above average, creating serious landslides and flash flood risks. The Times of India. 

Northern Kerala (India): A red alert is in effect in the Malabar districts of Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod. Over 200 mm (20 cm) of rain in a few days has damaged homes, uprooted trees, and forced school closures. The Times of India. 

Pakistan: Pre-monsoon and monsoon rains have caused catastrophic flooding across multiple provinces (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir) since June. At least 180 fatalities, hundreds injured, and massive displacement. Chakwal alone recorded over 423 mm, more than twice the monthly average. The Guardian. 

New York / New Jersey, USA: On July 14, New York City received 2 inches (≈ 50 mm) in one hour, its second-wettest hour ever; Newark and LaGuardia also set record precipitation. Newark and NJ issued states of emergency amid widespread flooding. The Guardian. 

Richmond, Virginia area (USA): The U.S. has seen a record-breaking number of flash flood warnings in 2025: 3,160 warnings issued through July 16, double the usual. Richmond alone had 68 alerts this year. 

Axios Texas and New Mexico (USA): Central Texas had devastating floods, including at least 129 fatalities in Kerr County. Just days later, another round dumped up to 12 inches (≈ 305 mm) in parts of Texas, surging rivers and prompting evacuations. Ruidoso, NM, saw 3–3.5 inches (≈ 75–90 mm) in 90 minutes, causing flash floods that killed three people. The Washington Post. 

Australia (New South Wales): In early July, a stationary low-pressure system flooded NSW's east coast, with 300 mm+ in three days in areas like Currarong (346 mm) and Jervis Bay (331 mm). Records were shattered, and wind gusts rivaled Cyclone Alfred. ABC. 

Nigeria (Mokwa, Niger State): End-May floods submerged the town of Mokwa. Due to heavy rainfall, dam collapse, and poor infrastructure, over 500 people died, 600+ went missing, and 4,000+ homes were destroyed. Wikipedia.

Russia's Siberian region, known for its vulnerability to both wildfires and permafrost thawing, has seen some of the worst fires in years, contributing vast amounts of CO2 and black carbon to the atmosphere. 

A Whole Lott'a' Shakin' goin' on: 

So far, July has recorded 16 major earthquakes (magnitude or higher), however, 12 of them have come in the last week, which is a lot and all 16 of them were recorded around the  Pacific Ring of Fire. Nine of these recent major quakes happened along the North American and Pacific Plate, see USGS map below.

A huge  M7.3 earthquake off the coast of the Alaska Peninsula on July 16 triggered tsunami warnings, which were later downgraded. (Above right) Another M6.2 struck the same region on July 21. Another massive  M7.4 rocked eastern Kamchatka, Russia, on July 20, again raising tsunami concerns across the Pacific. A M6.6 rocked the coast of Samoa on July 25. Fortunately, it was deep enough not to cause significant damage. These powerful seismic events, clustered within days of one another, highlight the continued instability beneath Earth’s surface.

Volcanoes Roar:

More Than 50 Eruptions in 2025 So Far—Volcanic activity has also surged. According to the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program, 56 confirmed eruptions have occurred in 2025 so far, with 44 volcanoes currently classified as in ongoing eruption status. 

Among the most notable ongoing eruptions: Kīlauea (Hawaii): Spectacular lava fountains reaching 1,000 feet have lit up the night sky. Mount Etna (Italy) and several volcanoes in Indonesia, Russia (Kamchatka along with the massive quake cluster), and Central America have also shown continuous or episodic activity. On any given day this year, around 20 volcanoes are actively erupting around the world, a stark reminder of Earth’s fiery underbelly. 

A Planet in Peril 

Whether from the ground shaking beneath our feet or the skies unleashing fire and flood, July 2025 has already shown us that Earth is groaning under the weight of systemic imbalance. The convergence of heatwaves, droughts, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and volcanic activity suggests we are living through a period of rapid planetary upheaval. As The Big Wobble has long warned, these aren’t isolated anomalies. They are harbingers of a larger pattern that demands global attention and spiritual reflection. The planet is speaking—are we listening? 

Stay safe, folks, thanks for reading! 

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