The philosopher's predictions have a knack for coming true.

There aren't many names more famous than Nostradamus when it comes to grand predictions that echo down the centuries.

The 16th-century French philosopher became well-known for his grand predictions about world events, many of which have been somewhat vaguely worded, making them seem pretty accurate at times.

Each year loads of people look back to Nostradamus' writings to see what he indicated would happen in this time window (his predictions weren't always tied to specific years, but rather periods or sequences of time).

That's no different for 2024, and it's been claimed that this year one of his predictions has already been proved right - and in fact came true on New Year's Day itself, as early as it possibly could.

The prediction apparently read: "The dry Earth will become more parched and there will be great floods."

In a time of climate crisis and extreme weather that already sounds like a pretty spot-on prophecy, but it looks particularly accurate when you remember that Japan suffered a major earthquake on January 1 this year, registering a 7.6 magnitude on the Richter scale.

What has been debated slightly, though, is which bit of Nostradamus' prediction is right - since it went on to say there would also be a "very great famine through pestiferous wave".

Some have interpreted the "wave" in question to be the earthquake, since it's technically a wave in the surface of the Earth.

However, others have pointed out that "pestiferous" means disease-carrying, which you can't really say an earthquake matches.

Instead, the "parched" ground that is mentioned seems like it could be the more pointed part, and the earthquake did indeed cause flooding in coastal areas, where sea defenses were breached.

Worryingly, then, we could still theoretically be due for famine and disease this year.

If you're wondering what else Nostradamus had down for 2024, we've got you covered. He apparently wrote that a "red adversary will become pale with fear, putting the great Ocean in dread".

This has widely been interpreted to mean there could be a confrontation of some sort between China and another powerful nation, likely of a naval nature, with the sea around Taiwan standing out as an option that fits.

Another prediction talks about a "king of the isles" being "driven out by force" and replaced by "one who will have no mark of a king" - which could apply to any country with a monarchy in place.

Finally, the philosopher pinned this year for the arrival of a new Pope: "Through the death of a very old Pontiff, A Roman of good age will be elected, Of him it will be said that he weakens his see, But long will he sit and in biting activity."

That's a bit depressing for the current Pope, of course, but we'll have to see if it comes true - after all, these are just predictions made way back in the 16th-century.