extr Afghanistan: Level 4: Do Not Travel
Effective 5 years ago ---
There are no serious national events at this time.
A significant earthquake swarm in Mexico and severe weather across the United States are occurring simultaneously, along with active US-Iran military confrontation and heightened nuclear deterrence concerns globally. Financial market volatility has increased, though major cascading impacts remain localized to affected regions.
LAST UPDATED 07-18-2026 @ 12:34midnight (CDT)World Clock
At time of updateWashington, D.C.
01:34AMLos Angeles
10:34PMLondon
06:34AMMoscow
08:34AMBeijing
01:34PMUrgent
The most severe events and alertsextr Volatility Index is up 12.19367%, currently at 18.77
Effective 22 min ago ---
Alerts
The most recent alertsadvi Special Weather Statement
Tainter Lake, WI
Effective 7 min ago Expires in 40 min
advi Test Message
Gaithersburg, MD
Effective 9 min ago Expires in 35 s
warn Special Marine Warning
Lower Grand Lagoon, FL
Effective 15 min ago Expires in 2 hr
advi Special Weather Statement
Blountville, TN
Effective 17 min ago Expires in 40 min
advi Test Message
Gaithersburg, MD
Effective 19 min ago Expires in 9 min
Events
The most recent eventsok M 2.6 - 110 km ESE of Chiniak, Alaska
Kodiak, AK Effective 33 min ago
watc M 3.5 - 192 km SE of Chignik, Alaska
192 km SE of Chignik, Alaska Effective 36 min ago
ok Green earthquake (Magnitude 4.9M, Depth:35km) in Mexico 18/07/2026 04:28 UTC, 860 thousand in 100km.
Puerto Madero, Chiapas Effective 50 min ago
watc M 4.3 - 78 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico
Puerto Madero, Chiapas Effective 54 min ago
Financial
The latest global financial dataCardano (ADA)
0.1663
-0.54%
Coinbase
Bitcoin (BTC)
63889.06
-0.01%
Coinbase
Dogecoin (DOGE)
0.07237
-0.21%
Coinbase
Ethereum (ETH)
1842.23
0.07%
Coinbase
Solana (SOL)
74.94
-0.05%
Coinbase
DOW
52146.42
-0.77%
Yahoo Finance
FTSE 100
10600.37
0.27%
Yahoo Finance
DAX
24830.98
-0.34%
Yahoo Finance
S&P 500
7457.69
-1.01%
Yahoo Finance
Nikkei
64141.12
-4.03%
Yahoo Finance
Volatility Index
18.77
12.19%
Yahoo Finance
Crude Oil
81.78
4.47%
Yahoo Finance
Gold
4018.8
0.67%
Yahoo Finance
DOW Futures
52375
-0.78%
Yahoo Finance
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - National
3.855
2.07%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - East Coast
3.765
1.76%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - New England
3.851
1.18%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Central Atlantic
3.925
1.32%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Lower Atlantic
3.642
2.25%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Midwest
3.662
3.71%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Gulf Coast
3.423
2.39%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Rocky Mountain
3.823
4.43%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - West Coast
4.832
0.02%
US EIA
Financial markets are experiencing notable instability with the Volatility Index rising 12.19 percent to 18.77, reflecting elevated market stress. Major equities are declining with the Japanese Nikkei down 4.03 percent, the S&P 500 down 1.01 percent, and the DOW down 0.77 percent, indicating broad weakness across global markets. Energy commodities are rising sharply with crude oil up 4.46 percent, driving gasoline price increases across all U.S. regions ranging from 0.02 percent on the West Coast to 4.43 percent in the Rocky Mountain region. Cryptocurrency markets show modest resilience with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana each posting small gains, though broader market uncertainty persists.
Data
The latest global dataTogo
Level 2
Singapore
Level 1
Eswatini
Level 2
Afghanistan
Level 4
The Kyrgyz Republic
Level 1
Bhutan
Level 1
Spain
Level 2
Cuba
Level 2
Australia
Level 1
Georgia
Level 1
Cameroon
Level 2
Nicaragua
Level 3
Moldova
Level 2
Latvia
Level 1
Paraguay
Level 1
Geomagnetic Storm
none
Radio Blackout
none
Solar Radiation
none
Current DEFCON Level
DEFCON 5 - GREEN
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Level 4
Argentina
Level 1
Saint Lucia
Level 2
Eswatini
Level 2
Haiti
Level 4
Malta
Level 1
Niger
Level 4
French Guiana
Level 1
Malaysia
Level 1
Federated States of Micronesia
Level 1
Federated States of Micronesia
Level 1
Montserrat
Level 1
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Level 1
Thailand
Level 1
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Level 1
Samoa
Level 1
Ghana
Level 2
Indonesia
Level 2
Turks and Caicos Islands
Level 2
Gabon
Level 1
Norway
Level 1
Pakistan
Level 1
Malawi
Level 1
Burkina Faso
Level 1
Kuwait
Level 3
Oman
Level 3
Venezuela
Level 3
Russia
Level 1
El Salvador
Level 1
El Salvador
Level 1
Vietnam
Level 1
Vietnam
Level 1
Jamaica
Level 2
Jamaica
Level 2
Slovakia
Level 1
Chad
Level 1
Two nations maintain extreme travel restrictions at Level 4 Do Not Travel status: Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nicaragua is positioned at Level 3 Reconsider Travel, reflecting significant security concerns in Central America. Six additional countries including Spain, Cuba, Cameroon, Moldova, Togo, and Eswatini are at Level 2 Exercise Increased Caution. The United States maintains DEFCON 5 (Green/Peacetime), and no space weather hazards from geomagnetic storms, radio blackouts, or solar radiation events are currently active, indicating stable conditions in those threat categories.
Headlines
The latest headlines of interest!!! US and Iran attack infrastructure, raising fears of escalation
South China Morning Post ---
!!! US launches seventh straight night of strikes on Iran
Al Jazeera ---
!!! Iranian official says the policy of negotiating during war is over
Al Jazeera ---
!!! Over 200 Ukrainian drones launched toward Moscow – mayor
Russia Today ---
!!! Russia strikes Ukrainian drone industry and Black Sea ports – MOD
Russia Today ---
!!! Magnitude 7.3 quake hits Mexican coast near Guatemala, tsunami alert lifted
France24 ---
!!! Israeli army destroys three schools in southern Lebanon, minister says
Al Jazeera ---
US and Iran attack infrastructure, raising fears of escalation
South China Morning Post ---
Strong quake off Mexican coast rattles Guatemala and El Salvador
South China Morning Post ---
Russian activist arrested a day after predicting Putin will end up in handcuffs
South China Morning Post ---
Chemical tanker seized off Yemen coast in suspected Somali pirate hijack
South China Morning Post ---
US confronts floods, heatwaves, smoky skies all at once amid Trump aid cuts
South China Morning Post ---
UN launches new refugee hub in Ethiopia offering legal aid and protection
France24 ---
Thousands protest in Kyiv for second day over ouster of popular defence minister Fedorov
France24 ---
Magnitude 7.3 quake hits Mexican coast near Guatemala, tsunami alert lifted
France24 ---
Paris region's record June heatwave more than doubled normal mortality rate to reach 3,000
France24 ---
Germany to join French nuclear exercise in bid to boost defence cooperation
France24 ---
Family of detained US scientist breaks silence after quiet diplomacy stalls
France24 ---
Russia strikes Ukrainian drone industry and Black Sea ports – MOD
Russia Today ---
New Delhi asks ship owners not to send Indian sailors to Hormuz
Russia Today ---
Over 200 Ukrainian drones launched toward Moscow – mayor
Russia Today ---
Iranian official says the policy of negotiating during war is over
Al Jazeera ---
Israeli army destroys three schools in southern Lebanon, minister says
Al Jazeera ---
Targets of latest US strikes on Iran signal strategic shift
Al Jazeera ---
Landslide in southwest China kills eight and leaves 34 missing
Al Jazeera ---
EU urges Israel to halt settlement expansion as settlers attack children
Al Jazeera ---
Iraq signs deals with Western oil firms, including to revive Syria pipeline
Al Jazeera ---
US launches seventh straight night of strikes on Iran
Al Jazeera ---
US CENTCOM confirms surveillance tower at Iran's Chabahar Port destroyed
WION News ---
FACT FOCUS: A look at US and Iranian claims of control over the Strait of Hormuz
Associated Press ---
A 7.3 earthquake hits Mexico-Guatemala border with no immediate damage reported
Associated Press ---
Pakistani troops kill 24 militants in raids as violence escalates in region near Afghanistan
Associated Press ---
The US and Iran are locked in escalating military exchanges while Ukraine conflict intensifies, compounded by major natural disasters affecting multiple regions.
