No tropical cyclones as of Fri, 17 Jul 2026 18:24:10 GMT

Source: There are no tropical cyclones at this time.

Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 rocket successfully launched into low Earth orbit on Saturday. This historic mission placed six payloads into their targeted orbit successfully. India now becomes the third nation with private orbital launch capability. The Hyderabad-based startup achieved this significant milestone on its first attempt. This launch signifies a new era for private Indian space industry operations.

Source: Skyroot puts first private rocket in orbit & India in elite club

Two parliamentary committees have postponed approving their reports on significant legislation. This development occurs as the government seeks opposition support for other political proposals. The anti-graft bill and higher education regulator bills face widespread protest. Both bills may not be presented during the current parliamentary session. Congress criticizes the government's handling of these controversial legislative matters.

Source: Another House panel defers education reforms report adoption

Medical colleges now decide faculty appointments and promotions independently. The National Medical Commission has ended routine eligibility clearances for these positions. This change aims to improve institutional accountability and reduce unnecessary referrals. Applicants dissatisfied with decisions can seek a review within thirty days. The regulator will now focus on exceptional cases involving regulatory ambiguity.

Source: Medical colleges to decide own faculty appointments, promotions: National Medical Commission

But Rubio downplays radical islamist extremism

Source: India flags cross-border terror threat at US meet

Source: CBSE 2nd Board results: 3 lakh students improve scores

Kashmir school holidays have been extended by three days due to adverse weather. The Amarnath yatra is temporarily suspended from both routes as a precautionary measure. An adverse weather spell is expected from July 20 to July 23 across the region. This system may cause landslides and flash floods in vulnerable areas. Surface transport disruptions are also anticipated on major roads.

Source: School holiday extended in Kashmir, Amarnath yatra suspended as Met forecasts downpour

A 30-year-old man died after being shot by police near Bhaderwah town. Shops and businesses remained closed in Doda and Kishtwar districts on Saturday. The man allegedly tried to snatch a service rifle from a police personnel. This incident led to injuries for three special operations group personnel as well. Mobile internet services were suspended for a second consecutive day as a precaution.

Source: Partial shutdown in Doda, Kishtwar over man’s death in run-in with cops

Source: Army opens fire after observing suspicious movement along LoC In J-K’s Rajouri

Narcotics Control Bureau seized five kilograms of high-grade heroin in Poonch district. An alleged smuggler was arrested during a raid in Kosalyain village on Saturday. This seizure is considered one of the largest drug hauls in the border district. Investigators are working to identify the intended recipients and handlers. This incident highlights ongoing cross-border narcotics smuggling attempts.

Source: NCB seizes 5kg heroin smuggled from Pakistan in Poonch, 1 held

Source: Mehbooba rejects Farooq’s invite to join Jantar Mantar protest

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will award twenty-nine million dollars for third place. The fourth-place team will receive twenty-seven million dollars after the playoff. This prize money is separate from preparation payments given to nations. The champions will earn fifty million dollars and runners-up thirty-three million dollars. FIFA confirmed prize money distribution for all tournament stages.

Source: How much prize money does the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place winner get? Full payout explained

India has launched a secure, indigenous time signal network for critical infrastructure. This initiative reduces reliance on foreign timing sources for essential services. The system uses White Rabbit technology for highly accurate time synchronization. It aims to enhance reliability in banking, telecom, and power grid operations. This development supports India's technological self-reliance and digital economy.

Source: India rolls out 'White Rabbit' tech to secure Indian time network: What it means

Volkswagen is using one hundred sheep to maintain its large solar farm in Poland. This initiative combines solar energy generation with active agriculture on the same land. The sheep grazing project demonstrates industry working in harmony with nature. Researchers are studying the impacts of solar infrastructure on animals and the land. This advanced agrivoltaics project integrates academic science with industrial operations.

Source: As Volkswagen puts 100 sheep to work, director says: Sheep project shows modern industry can...

SPC MD 1649
MD 1649 CONCERNING SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH LIKELY FOR ORTIONS OF SOUTHERN VIRGINIA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...FAR NORTHEAST TENNESSEE...SOUTHEASTERN WEST VIRGINIA

Mesoscale Discussion 1649
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1256 PM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

Areas affected...ortions of southern Virginia...western North
Carolina...far northeast Tennessee...southeastern West Virginia

Concerning...Severe potential...Watch likely 

Valid 181756Z - 181900Z

Probability of Watch Issuance...80 percent

SUMMARY...Scattered to numerous thunderstorms will continue to
increase in intensity this afternoon with a risk for damaging wind
gusts.  Trends are being monitored and a Severe Thunderstorm Watch
is likely.

DISCUSSION...Thunderstorms continue to develop across the higher
terrain of WV, NC and VA at 1755z, and also along a confluence zone
extending from northern VA into western NC. Despite weak mid-level
lapse rates, diurnal heating of a moist boundary layer has
contributed to MLCAPE of 2000 to 3000 J/kg and low-level lapse rates
of 8.5 to 9 deg/C. In the presence of minimal CINH, storms should
continue to increase in coverage through the afternoon and move
generally east. Shear in the cloud-bearing layer will average 20-25
kts across northern portions of the discussion area and 15-20 kts
farther south, sufficient for updraft organization and a risk for
damaging wind gusts. 

Trends are being monitored and a Severe Thunderstorm Watch will be
needed shortly.

..Bunting/Thompson.. 07/18/2026

...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product...

ATTN...WFO...AKQ...MHX...LWX...RAH...RNK...RLX...GSP...MRX...

LAT...LON   36938187 37458132 37957998 38207909 38197842 37907734
            37557681 36927645 36077666 35487802 35237929 35118087
            35298160 35678207 36228209 36938187 

MOST PROBABLE PEAK WIND GUST...55-70 MPH
MOST PROBABLE PEAK HAIL SIZE...UP TO 1.25 IN

Read more
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md1649.html

SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 494 Status Reports
WW 0494 Status Updates

STATUS REPORT ON WW 494

THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES ACROSS THE ENTIRE WATCH AREA.

..WENDT..07/18/26

ATTN...WFO...BUF...BGM...


STATUS REPORT FOR WS 494 

SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS 

NYC003-007-009-011-013-015-017-023-025-029-037-051-053-055-063-
065-067-069-073-075-077-097-099-101-105-107-109-117-121-123-
181940-

NY 
.    NEW YORK COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ALLEGANY             BROOME              CATTARAUGUS         
CAYUGA               CHAUTAUQUA          CHEMUNG             
CHENANGO             CORTLAND            DELAWARE            
ERIE                 GENESEE             LIVINGSTON          
MADISON              MONROE              NIAGARA             
ONEIDA               ONONDAGA            ONTARIO             
ORLEANS              OSWEGO              OTSEGO              
SCHUYLER             SENECA              STEUBEN             
SULLIVAN             TIOGA               TOMPKINS            
WAYNE                WYOMING             YATES               


PAC015-069-079-103-115-127-131-181940-

PA 
.    PENNSYLVANIA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

BRADFORD             LACKAWANNA          LUZERNE             
PIKE                 SUSQUEHANNA         WAYNE               

Read more
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ws0494.html

SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 494
WW 494 SEVERE TSTM NY PA LE LO 181735Z - 190100Z

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 494
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
135 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of 
  Western and central New York
  Far northeast Pennsylvania
  Lake Erie
  Lake Ontario

* Effective this Saturday afternoon and evening from 135 PM until
  900 PM EDT.

* Primary threats include...
  Widespread damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
  Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible
  A tornado or two possible

SUMMARY...Clusters of storms and line segments are expected to
spread east-southeastward across western and central New York
through this evening.  Damaging gusts of 60-70 mph will be the
primary severe threat, though embedded circulations could produce an
isolated tornado or two.  Isolated large hail of 1.1.5 inches in
diameter may also occur with the strongest storms.

The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 60
statute miles north and south of a line from 30 miles south
southeast of Utica NY to 50 miles northwest of Jamestown NY. For a
complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU4).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
tornadoes.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 492...WW 493...

AVIATION...A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
30035.

...Thompson

Read more
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0494.html

SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 493 Status Reports
WW 0493 Status Updates

STATUS REPORT ON WW 493

THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES ACROSS THE ENTIRE WATCH AREA.

..WENDT..07/18/26

ATTN...WFO...LOT...IWX...GRR...DTX...


STATUS REPORT FOR WS 493 

SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS 

ILC053-075-091-197-181940-

IL 
.    ILLINOIS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

FORD                 IROQUOIS            KANKAKEE            
WILL                 


INC001-003-007-009-017-033-039-049-053-069-073-075-085-087-089-
091-099-103-111-113-127-131-141-149-151-169-179-181-183-
181940-

IN 
.    INDIANA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ADAMS                ALLEN               BENTON              
BLACKFORD            CASS                DE KALB             
ELKHART              FULTON              GRANT               
HUNTINGTON           JASPER              JAY                 
KOSCIUSKO            LAGRANGE            LAKE                
LA PORTE             MARSHALL            MIAMI               
NEWTON               NOBLE               PORTER              
PULASKI              ST. JOSEPH          STARKE              
STEUBEN              WABASH              WELLS               
WHITE                WHITLEY             

Read more
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ws0493.html

SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 493
WW 493 SEVERE TSTM IL IN MI OH LE LH 181720Z - 190000Z

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 493
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
120 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of 
  Extreme northeast Illinois
  Northern Indiana
  Southeast Lower Michigan
  Northwest Ohio
  Lake Erie
  Lake Huron

* Effective this Saturday afternoon and evening from 120 PM until
  800 PM EDT.

* Primary threats include...
  Scattered damaging wind gusts to 65 mph possible
  Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

SUMMARY...Bands of thunderstorms are forming along and immediately
ahead of a cold front, and storm coverage is expected to increase
through the afternoon.  The more intense storms will be capable of
producing damaging winds up to 65 mph and isolated large hail of
1-1.5 inches in diameter.

The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 55
statute miles north and south of a line from 20 miles south
southeast of Mount Clemens MI to 45 miles north of Danville IL. For
a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU3).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
tornadoes.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 492...

AVIATION...A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 55 knots. A
few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 550. Mean storm motion vector
31025.

...Thompson

Read more
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0493.html

SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 492 Status Reports
WW 0492 Status Updates

STATUS REPORT ON WW 492

THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES ACROSS THE ENTIRE WATCH AREA.

..WENDT..07/18/26

ATTN...WFO...CLE...PBZ...CTP...


STATUS REPORT FOR WS 492 

SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS 

OHC005-007-013-019-029-031-033-035-043-055-059-063-067-075-077-
081-083-085-093-095-099-101-103-111-117-119-121-123-133-139-143-
147-151-153-155-157-169-173-175-181940-

OH 
.    OHIO COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ASHLAND              ASHTABULA           BELMONT             
CARROLL              COLUMBIANA          COSHOCTON           
CRAWFORD             CUYAHOGA            ERIE                
GEAUGA               GUERNSEY            HANCOCK             
HARRISON             HOLMES              HURON               
JEFFERSON            KNOX                LAKE                
LORAIN               LUCAS               MAHONING            
MARION               MEDINA              MONROE              
MORROW               MUSKINGUM           NOBLE               
OTTAWA               PORTAGE             RICHLAND            
SANDUSKY             SENECA              STARK               
SUMMIT               TRUMBULL            TUSCARAWAS          
WAYNE                WOOD                WYANDOT             


PAC001-003-005-007-009-013-019-021-023-027-031-033-035-037-039-
041-043-047-049-051-053-055-057-059-061-063-065-067-071-073-075-
081-083-085-087-093-097-099-105-107-109-111-113-117-119-121-123-
125-129-133-181940-

Read more
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ws0492.html

SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 492
WW 492 SEVERE TSTM OH PA WV LE 181700Z - 190100Z

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 492
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
100 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of 
  Northern and eastern Ohio
  Western and central Pennsylvania
  Far northern West Virginia
  Lake Erie

* Effective this Saturday afternoon and evening from 100 PM until
  900 PM EDT.

* Primary threats include...
  Widespread damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
  Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible
  A tornado or two possible

SUMMARY...Thunderstorms will increase in coverage and intensity
through late afternoon/evening in multiple corridors/bands along and
well ahead of a cold front.  The storm environment will favor a mix
of multicell clusters, line segments and supercells with a primary
threat of wind damage.  Supercells close to the warm front could
pose the threat for a tornado or two in central Pennsylvania.

The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 70
statute miles north and south of a line from 45 miles southeast of
Williamsport PA to 50 miles west southwest of Akron OH. For a
complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
tornadoes.

&&

AVIATION...A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 550. Mean storm motion vector
29030.

...Thompson

Read more
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0492.html

Two US service members died and one is missing after an Iranian attack in Jordan. US and partner forces defended the base against Iranian missile and drone assaults. Iran warned the United States of "unforgettable lessons" if operations continued. US Central Command conducted strikes targeting Iranian surveillance and infrastructure sites. The conflict has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Source: 2 US service members killed, 1 missing after Iranian attack on Jordan base

SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 496 Status Reports
WW 0496 Status Updates

STATUS FOR WATCH 0496 HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED YET

Read more
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ws0496.html

SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 496
WW 496 SEVERE TSTM DC MD NC VA WV CW 181815Z - 190100Z

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 496
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
215 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of 
  District Of Columbia
  Much of Maryland
  North central and northeats North Carolina
  Central and eastern Virginia
  The eastern West Virginia Panhandle
  Coastal Waters

* Effective this Saturday afternoon and evening from 215 PM until
  900 PM EDT.

* Primary threats include...
  Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
  Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

SUMMARY...Scattered thunderstorms have formed along and immediately
east of the higher terrain.  These storms will spread eastward
through late evening with the potential to produce wind damage and
isolated large hail.

The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 80
statute miles east and west of a line from 30 miles northeast of
Hagerstown MD to 20 miles southwest of Raleigh NC. For a complete
depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
tornadoes.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 492...WW 493...WW
494...WW 495...

AVIATION...A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 550. Mean storm motion vector
27020.

...Thompson

Read more
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0496.html

SPC Tornado Watch 495 Status Reports
WW 0495 Status Updates

STATUS FOR WATCH 0495 HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED YET

Read more
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ws0495.html