There are no serious national events at this time.
The Iran-Israel conflict is actively escalating with confirmed Iranian leadership deaths and imminent retaliation threats against critical Gulf infrastructure, creating significant near-term risk to regional stability and global energy markets. Consequent fuel price spikes and market volatility are already measurable, while localized US weather and volcanic activity require community preparedness but remain contained.
LAST UPDATED 03-18-2026 @ 10:04PM (CDT)
World Clock
At time of update
Washington, D.C.
11:04PM
Los Angeles
08:04PM
London
03:04AM
Moscow
06:04AM
Beijing
11:04AM
Urgent
The most severe events and alerts
extr Volatility Index is up 12.159138%, currently at 25.09
Effective 8 min ago---
extr U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Rocky Mountain is up 11.632904%, currently at 3.637
Effective 50 min ago---
warn U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Gulf Coast is up 9.745899%, currently at 3.412
Effective 50 min ago---
warn Flood Warning
Effective 5 min agoNorth Bend, WA (King County) US
warn Flood Warning
Effective 11 min agoGranite Falls, WA (Snohomish County) US
warn Flood Warning
Effective 17 min agoNorth Bend, WA (King County) US
Alerts
The most recent alerts
warn Flood Warning
North Bend, WA
Effective 5 min agoExpires in 8 hr
advi Test Message
Gaithersburg, MD
Effective 7 min agoExpires in 3 min
advi Special Weather Statement
Antigo, WI
Effective 7 min agoExpires in 2 hr
advi Heat Advisory
San Diego Country Estates, CA
Effective 11 min agoExpires in 8 hr
advi Heat Advisory
Thermal, CA
Effective 11 min agoExpires in 8 hr
Events
The most recent events
watc M 5.1 - South Sandwich Islands region
South Sandwich Islands regionEffective 57 min ago
Financial
The latest global financial data
Cardano (ADA)
0.2722
-0.77%
Coinbase
Bitcoin (BTC)
71072.8
-0.24%
Coinbase
Dogecoin (DOGE)
0.09458
-0.71%
Coinbase
Ethereum (ETH)
2197.94
-0.25%
Coinbase
Solana (SOL)
89.98
-0.11%
Coinbase
DOW
46225.15
-1.63%
Yahoo Finance
FTSE 100
10305.29
-0.94%
Yahoo Finance
DAX
23502.25
-0.96%
Yahoo Finance
S&P 500
6624.7
-1.36%
Yahoo Finance
Nikkei
53875.94
-2.47%
Yahoo Finance
Volatility Index
25.09
12.16%
Yahoo Finance
Crude Oil
96.41
1.00%
Yahoo Finance
Gold
4861.1
-0.72%
Yahoo Finance
DOW Futures
46600
0.14%
Yahoo Finance
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - National
3.72
6.23%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - East Coast
3.577
6.36%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - New England
3.538
5.55%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Central Atlantic
3.612
5.64%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Lower Atlantic
3.566
7.09%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Midwest
3.393
3.57%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Gulf Coast
3.412
9.75%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Rocky Mountain
3.637
11.63%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - West Coast
4.987
6.33%
US EIA
Financial markets are experiencing elevated volatility with the Volatility Index (VIX) reaching extreme levels at 25.09, representing a 12.2% increase and signaling significant market stress and uncertainty. Major U.S. stock indices declined across the board, with the S&P 500 down 1.36%, the DOW down 1.63%, and the NASDAQ showing similar weakness, while the Nikkei in Japan bucked the trend with a gain of 2.87%. Cryptocurrency markets experienced broad-based declines, with Bitcoin down 3.60%, Ethereum down 4.92%, Solana down 4.91%, Cardano down 5.16%, and Dogecoin down 5.01%, indicating risk-off sentiment among speculative investors. Crude oil prices increased 2.52% to $97.87 per barrel, while U.S. gasoline prices surged significantly across all regions, with extreme concern in the Rocky Mountain region (up 11.6%) and the West Coast (up 6.3%), national regular gasoline averaging $3.72 and reaching $4.99 per gallon on the West Coast. Gold prices declined 1.19%, reflecting the broader market risk-off environment and potential deflation expectations.
Global space weather and geomagnetic conditions remain nominal with no active threats. The Geomagnetic Storm status is normal, Radio Blackout status is clear, and Solar Radiation levels are within safe parameters. Australia travel advisory remains at Level 1, indicating the need only to exercise normal precautions with no elevated regional security or health threats. All monitored space weather indices are in the standard operational range.
Active Iranian-Israeli military exchanges, nuclear facility strikes, and Strait of Hormuz closure are triggering global economic disruption and global recession risks.