I think that the different parts of the world will have higher concentrations of the diverse predictions of matt 24, to the degree that there will still be some normal condtions when christ comes, thats what i get from such verses as this one matt 24:
37But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Full Version: Rain / Floods / Slides & Heat / Fire / Drought
QUOTE (gregg @ Jul 13 2008, 10:33 PM) 
I believe the areas where there is swarms of earthquakes is what is the significant thing. Now, you notice the fires in California, but you also notice day after day, there are multiple earthquakes; is there a connection? You also notice the earthquakes in Alaska, just like California; it's very cold up there and there is volcanos erupting. There's no volcanos erupting in California; or Oregon; or Canada. Why is that?
Oh, I forgot to mention the Puerto Rico region. There is volcanos there too.
And Chili.
Oh, I forgot to mention the Puerto Rico region. There is volcanos there too.
And Chili.
When the hinges Alaska and Chili heat up, the door (Golden Gate) will fall.
SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- Violent thunderstorms brought rain bursts that modestly helped firefighting efforts Sunday, but the downpours also triggered mudslides that complicated California's unfolding wildfire disaster.
Firefighter Steve Hansen rests atop a fire truck during a break from battling the Butte County fire on Saturday.
"If it isn't fire, it's flood. If it isn't fire or flood, it's the mud," said Christina Lilienthal, an interagency fire spokeswoman. A "horrendous" amount of precipitation in the Sequoia National Forest dampened the ground, but also caused a creek to flood, cutting off a firefighting crew's escape route when a road washed out, she said.
The firefighters didn't need the escape route, because fires burning nearby did not threaten them. They moved to higher ground as a precaution against the rising waters, Lilienthal said.
But the 59 firefighters could not reach their camp Saturday evening, stranding them in the field overnight, Lilienthal said. They reopened the road Sunday afternoon, amid new threats of erratic winds and falling trees weakened by the soft ground.
A huge mudslide in an area that was devastated by wildfires last year damaged about 50 homes and caused the temporary closure of a main road in the California town of Independence on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. Severe thunderstorms Saturday set off the mudslide, which was 300 yards wide and up to three feet deep, said Carma Roper, spokeswoman for the Inyo County Sheriff's Department. Video Watch how close the fire got to some homes »
The mud oozed across California Highway 395, prompting a detour, and some mud reached the Los Angeles Aqueduct.
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Residents of more than 50 homes were evacuated, she said. The rain did nothing to help fires, which were not burning in that easternmost corner of California.
And no rain fell on most of the other California fires. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said 288 blazes were still burning around the state, most in the mountains ringing the northern edge of the Central Valley.
There was no rain in Butte County, north of Sacramento, where thousands of homes were threatened as recently as Friday. But moist air and calmer winds Sunday morning helped firefighting efforts in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Thousands of people who were evacuated from their homes twice in the past month began returning to Paradise for the first time since Tuesday.
About 300 homes remained threatened in and around the town, down from 3,800 homes on Friday, and officials said the fire was 55 percent contained. Map »
An evacuation order remained in effect for the nearby town of Concow, one ridge away from Paradise and prone to strong winds, said Janet Upton, a CalFire spokeswoman.
Fifty homes were destroyed and one person was apparently killed in the area last week when wind-propelled flames jumped a containment line. The person's charred remains were found Friday in a burned-out home; the cause of death hadn't been determined.
The Butte County blazes were among hundreds of wildfires to blacken nearly 1,200 square miles and destroy about 100 homes across California since an enormous lightning storm ignited most of them three weeks ago.
Just to the south, a pair of blazes burning in the foothills west of Lake Tahoe were sending plumes of smoke toward the alpine resort area. The soot was sporadic, but air quality was so bad it prompted the cancellation of the annual Donner Lake Triathlon.
Residents in the tourist town of Big Sur, driven away by flames just days ago, were returning to their homes, said Paul Van Gerwen, a CalFire battalion chief stationed in the area.
"They're in a cleanup period," Van Gerwen said. "Many businesses and homeowners are getting the (fire-retardant) gels off their structures, cleaning up roadways, driveways, the debris that falls from trees. They're trying to get over the emotional state of the evacuation."
On Sunday morning, state authorities reopened the last piece of scenic Highway 1 near Big Sur that had been closed because of the fires, he said.
The fire was 61 percent contained after destroying 26 homes, and all evacuations near the town of Big Sur were lifted, he said.
Firefighters continued to make progress against a fire that has raged through the Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara County. As of Sunday morning, fire crews had contained 85 percent of the fire and expected to complete the containment lines on Wednesday, U.S. Forest Service spokesman David Daniels said. Fifty-five homes remained under evacuation warning.
In far Northern California, the Trinity County Sheriff's Department ordered evacuations in sparsely populated communities in the mountains west of Redding.
Isolated thunderstorms were expected across parts of Southern California and flash flood watches were in effect Sunday for the Antelope Valley and the mountains of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, said Steven Van Horn, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
The moisture from the south was starting to move up the state and isolated storms were expected over the mountains farther to the north.
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But Jason Kirchner, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service, said more than patchy rain was needed to douse California's unprecedented early fire season, especially in the north.
In Washington, 200 residents from Spokane Valley who were forced to evacuate Friday were allowed to return to their homes. Firefighters were mopping up the fire that burned 1.5 square miles and reported it 60 percent contained.
Firefighter Steve Hansen rests atop a fire truck during a break from battling the Butte County fire on Saturday.
"If it isn't fire, it's flood. If it isn't fire or flood, it's the mud," said Christina Lilienthal, an interagency fire spokeswoman. A "horrendous" amount of precipitation in the Sequoia National Forest dampened the ground, but also caused a creek to flood, cutting off a firefighting crew's escape route when a road washed out, she said.
The firefighters didn't need the escape route, because fires burning nearby did not threaten them. They moved to higher ground as a precaution against the rising waters, Lilienthal said.
But the 59 firefighters could not reach their camp Saturday evening, stranding them in the field overnight, Lilienthal said. They reopened the road Sunday afternoon, amid new threats of erratic winds and falling trees weakened by the soft ground.
A huge mudslide in an area that was devastated by wildfires last year damaged about 50 homes and caused the temporary closure of a main road in the California town of Independence on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. Severe thunderstorms Saturday set off the mudslide, which was 300 yards wide and up to three feet deep, said Carma Roper, spokeswoman for the Inyo County Sheriff's Department. Video Watch how close the fire got to some homes »
The mud oozed across California Highway 395, prompting a detour, and some mud reached the Los Angeles Aqueduct.
Don't Miss
* A battle far from Iraq, but just as hot
* Burnt body found in wildfire region, authorities say
* Wildfires send residents racing for shelter
* iReporters capture spectacular California wildfire photos
Residents of more than 50 homes were evacuated, she said. The rain did nothing to help fires, which were not burning in that easternmost corner of California.
And no rain fell on most of the other California fires. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said 288 blazes were still burning around the state, most in the mountains ringing the northern edge of the Central Valley.
There was no rain in Butte County, north of Sacramento, where thousands of homes were threatened as recently as Friday. But moist air and calmer winds Sunday morning helped firefighting efforts in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Thousands of people who were evacuated from their homes twice in the past month began returning to Paradise for the first time since Tuesday.
About 300 homes remained threatened in and around the town, down from 3,800 homes on Friday, and officials said the fire was 55 percent contained. Map »
An evacuation order remained in effect for the nearby town of Concow, one ridge away from Paradise and prone to strong winds, said Janet Upton, a CalFire spokeswoman.
Fifty homes were destroyed and one person was apparently killed in the area last week when wind-propelled flames jumped a containment line. The person's charred remains were found Friday in a burned-out home; the cause of death hadn't been determined.
The Butte County blazes were among hundreds of wildfires to blacken nearly 1,200 square miles and destroy about 100 homes across California since an enormous lightning storm ignited most of them three weeks ago.
Just to the south, a pair of blazes burning in the foothills west of Lake Tahoe were sending plumes of smoke toward the alpine resort area. The soot was sporadic, but air quality was so bad it prompted the cancellation of the annual Donner Lake Triathlon.
Residents in the tourist town of Big Sur, driven away by flames just days ago, were returning to their homes, said Paul Van Gerwen, a CalFire battalion chief stationed in the area.
"They're in a cleanup period," Van Gerwen said. "Many businesses and homeowners are getting the (fire-retardant) gels off their structures, cleaning up roadways, driveways, the debris that falls from trees. They're trying to get over the emotional state of the evacuation."
On Sunday morning, state authorities reopened the last piece of scenic Highway 1 near Big Sur that had been closed because of the fires, he said.
The fire was 61 percent contained after destroying 26 homes, and all evacuations near the town of Big Sur were lifted, he said.
Firefighters continued to make progress against a fire that has raged through the Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara County. As of Sunday morning, fire crews had contained 85 percent of the fire and expected to complete the containment lines on Wednesday, U.S. Forest Service spokesman David Daniels said. Fifty-five homes remained under evacuation warning.
In far Northern California, the Trinity County Sheriff's Department ordered evacuations in sparsely populated communities in the mountains west of Redding.
Isolated thunderstorms were expected across parts of Southern California and flash flood watches were in effect Sunday for the Antelope Valley and the mountains of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, said Steven Van Horn, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
The moisture from the south was starting to move up the state and isolated storms were expected over the mountains farther to the north.
advertisement
But Jason Kirchner, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service, said more than patchy rain was needed to douse California's unprecedented early fire season, especially in the north.
In Washington, 200 residents from Spokane Valley who were forced to evacuate Friday were allowed to return to their homes. Firefighters were mopping up the fire that burned 1.5 square miles and reported it 60 percent contained.
Thank you for posting this most important information...
Early fire season is an understatement. it doesn't usually
start in Northern California...and it is already burning now
in Southern California mountains. The heat is down, but
the humidity is up for a little water break. thunderstorms
in the making...
Someone called today with a wrong number. He asked
for Israel? I thought it was ironic. Spiritual turbulence.
signet
QUOTE
Someone called today with a wrong number. He asked
for Israel? I thought it was ironic. Spiritual turbulence.
for Israel? I thought it was ironic. Spiritual turbulence.
Wow that is something! Yes I feel the Spiritual turbulence to sweetie.....it is in the air!
Praying...
In Christ,
Valerie
Messiahiscoming
A huge mudslide has significantly damaged more than 50 homes and forced the evacuation of those living in them in the California town of Independence on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. Cal Fire spokeswoman Janet Upton says severe thunderstorms Saturday set off the mudslide 300 yards wide and up to three feet deep. The mud oozed across California Highway 395 and forced the road's closure for several hours. Authorities say they evacuated a few people who were trapped in their homes. Some of the mud entered the Los Angeles Aqueduct. Upton says there wasn't enough rain to help efforts to combat wildfires elsewhere in the state. )
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_______
Thunderstorms sent water and debris rushing down a canyon near Lake Isabella tonight, prompting flash floods and evacuations. The National Weather Service says 3.2 inches of rain fell on parts of the massive Piute Fire in two hours. Kern County Fire Inspector Tony Diffenbaugh says a helicopter had to rescue two families from homes in Erskine Creek Canyon. A major thoroughfare in the small town in the southern Sierra Nevada is under two feet of water and strewn with tree branches and rocks Sunday night.)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_______
After the forests burn, the rains come in and wash everything away.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_______
Thunderstorms sent water and debris rushing down a canyon near Lake Isabella tonight, prompting flash floods and evacuations. The National Weather Service says 3.2 inches of rain fell on parts of the massive Piute Fire in two hours. Kern County Fire Inspector Tony Diffenbaugh says a helicopter had to rescue two families from homes in Erskine Creek Canyon. A major thoroughfare in the small town in the southern Sierra Nevada is under two feet of water and strewn with tree branches and rocks Sunday night.)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_______
After the forests burn, the rains come in and wash everything away.
Feed your greed...
================
Largest quakes yesterday -
8/13/08 -
5.0 ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE
5.0 TIMOR REGION
6.4 TAIWAN REGION
VOLCANOES -
CHILE - Living in the shadow of Chile's sporadically erupting, snow-capped Llaima volcano, one of South America's most active, local residents are paying a heavy price. Evacuated from the ski station where they work after the government imposed a red alert when Llaima began spewing lava earlier this month, residents have lost their livelihoods and are having trouble feeding their families. This is the second ski season in a row interrupted by the volcano. Aside from hot rock and gas or lava flows that have emanated from the crater, another major worry is that snow on the volcano's sides could melt and that a nearby river could overflow and flood nearby communities. Experts say there is no knowing how the volcano, the second to erupt in Chile in as many months, will continue to behave. "The activity is going up and down very fast. It is oscillating, so it is very difficult to make a medium-term forecast. It will most likely continue to oscillate, until it stabilizes at some point." (photos & video)
TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm BERTHA was 73 nmi SSE of Hamilton, Bermuda.
Tropical storm ELIDA was 244 nmi SSW of Manzanillo, Mexico.
A low pressure system located in the Atlantic about 1400 miles east of the Lesser Antilles continues to increase in organization and appears likely to become a tropical depression sometime today.
NEW JERSEY - Storm-driven waves and currents appear to have claimed the lives of three swimmers at the Jersey shore. One swimmer drowned and another is missing following a Saturday evening swim off the Wild-wood beach, while a swimmer died after being rescued from waves in Atlantic City on Saturday afternoon. The tricky surf is because of Bertha, now a tropical storm, far out in the Atlantic Ocean and approaching Bermuda. Lifeguards farther north say they have made some rescues of swimmers caught in rip currents generated by waves that are higher than normal.
Bertha threatens Bermuda - Tropical Storm Bertha threatened to lash Bermuda with rain and high winds in the next 24 hours as it nears the British territory. The storm's centre is expected to pass to the east of Bermuda in the next 24 to 48 hours, generating large swells and high surf. Bertha's outer bands could dump 2-4 inches of rain. JetBlue cancelled flights from Bermuda to Boston and New York, while American Airlines passengers scheduled to travel to Miami and New York were flown out on Sunday. British Airways said it would decide today whether to cancel an evening flight to London.
HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / UNUSUAL & OUT-OF-SEASON WEATHER -
CALIFORNIA - The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for north-central San Bernardino County after heavy rains from a thunderstorm hit the area on Sunday. Doppler radar indicates heavy rain fell west of Highway 127 near the Fort Irwin Military Reservation. An estimated 2 inches fell in one hour. Forecasters say a strong monsoonal surge is bringing large amounts of moisture to the mountains and deserts of Southern California, where many wildfire-scarred areas are ripe for mudslides. More rain was expected through the night in parts of Southern California.
EXTREME HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
ANTARCTIC - Tens of thousands of newly-born penguins are freezing to death as Antarctica is lashed by FREAK rain storms. Scientists believe the numbers of Adeline penguins may have fallen by as much as 80 per cent – and, if the downpours continue, the species will be extinct within ten years. And the Emperor penguin is also under threat. Temperatures on the Antarctic peninsula have risen by 3C over the past 50 years to an average of -14.7C and rain is now far more common than snow. Adeline penguins are born with a thin covering of down and it takes 40 days for them to grow protective water-repellent feathers. With epic rains drenching their ancestral nesting grounds, their parents try to protect them. But when the adults leave to fish for food, or are killed by predators such as seals, the babies become soaked to the skin and die from hypothermia. 'Everyone talks about the melting of the glaciers but having day after day of rain in Antarctica is A TOTALLY NEW PHENOMENON. As a result, penguins are literally freezing to death...In the past five years, torrential rains have become increasingly common there. We saw Adelie penguin chicks shivering during nearly six days of continuous storms. If it had been snow, like in the old days, their down would be perfectly equipped to cope. But they can't take rain. It's like wearing a down jacket that gets soaking wet...It is all very well talking theoretically about how the ice cap could disappear – but watching penguins walking among the skeletons of their young is the most powerful evidence of climate change I have seen.' The warming climate is also threatening the Emperor penguin. In East Antarctica in December 2006 – less than two years after March Of The Penguins was shot – it would be unrecognisable to anyone who saw the film. 'I saw no Emperor penguin chicks, no sea-ice and fewer than a dozen small icebergs. I was just shocked. It was the first time our expedition leader had seen the area free of ice since he started going there in the Eighties. There was no way chicks could have survived. In late September, when they would have been little more than half grown, we were told a large storm had hit the area. Emperor chicks are similar to the Adeline – they are downy and not waterproof and could not survive in the cold sea for any period of time. ' 50 years ago two days of snow were recorded for every one day of rain at the region's Faraday meteorological station. 'Now, in the past few years, the trend is two days of rain to every one day of snow.'
The poor breeding of Scotland's seabirds is giving cause for "serious concern". Early reports from coastal reserves indicate continuing problems for the internationally important populations of guillemots, kittiwakes and others. Nests have been abandoned, with cliffs which "should be teeming" now empty. Colonies on the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland - together said to be Scotland's most important "seabird cities" - have been hit particularly hard. Many guillemots and razorbills appeared to have given up any attempt to breed at RSPB's Sumburgh Head reserve on Shetland, with eggs left abandoned on the cliffs as parent birds spent more time at sea in a search for food. "The declines are primarily being driven by changes in the availability of the fish that these birds depend on. Seabirds are indicators of the health of the marine environment and, like the canary in the coalmine, the decline in their fortunes should be a wake-up call to us all that we must pay attention to."
FOOD / WATER / SUPPLIES-
Forests to fall for food and fuel - Demand for land to grow food, fuel crops and wood is set to outstrip supply, leading to the probable destruction of forests, a report warns. The Rights and Resources Initiative says only half of the extra land needed by 2030 is available without eating into tropical forested areas. The dual crises of fuel and food are attracting significant land speculation. "Arguably, we are on the verge of a last great global land grab. It will mean more deforestation, more conflict, more carbon emissions, more climate change and less prosperity for everyone." RRI calculates that about two-thirds of the world's current violent conflicts are driven by land tenure issues.
================
Largest quakes yesterday -
8/13/08 -
5.0 ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE
5.0 TIMOR REGION
6.4 TAIWAN REGION
VOLCANOES -
CHILE - Living in the shadow of Chile's sporadically erupting, snow-capped Llaima volcano, one of South America's most active, local residents are paying a heavy price. Evacuated from the ski station where they work after the government imposed a red alert when Llaima began spewing lava earlier this month, residents have lost their livelihoods and are having trouble feeding their families. This is the second ski season in a row interrupted by the volcano. Aside from hot rock and gas or lava flows that have emanated from the crater, another major worry is that snow on the volcano's sides could melt and that a nearby river could overflow and flood nearby communities. Experts say there is no knowing how the volcano, the second to erupt in Chile in as many months, will continue to behave. "The activity is going up and down very fast. It is oscillating, so it is very difficult to make a medium-term forecast. It will most likely continue to oscillate, until it stabilizes at some point." (photos & video)
TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm BERTHA was 73 nmi SSE of Hamilton, Bermuda.
Tropical storm ELIDA was 244 nmi SSW of Manzanillo, Mexico.
A low pressure system located in the Atlantic about 1400 miles east of the Lesser Antilles continues to increase in organization and appears likely to become a tropical depression sometime today.
NEW JERSEY - Storm-driven waves and currents appear to have claimed the lives of three swimmers at the Jersey shore. One swimmer drowned and another is missing following a Saturday evening swim off the Wild-wood beach, while a swimmer died after being rescued from waves in Atlantic City on Saturday afternoon. The tricky surf is because of Bertha, now a tropical storm, far out in the Atlantic Ocean and approaching Bermuda. Lifeguards farther north say they have made some rescues of swimmers caught in rip currents generated by waves that are higher than normal.
Bertha threatens Bermuda - Tropical Storm Bertha threatened to lash Bermuda with rain and high winds in the next 24 hours as it nears the British territory. The storm's centre is expected to pass to the east of Bermuda in the next 24 to 48 hours, generating large swells and high surf. Bertha's outer bands could dump 2-4 inches of rain. JetBlue cancelled flights from Bermuda to Boston and New York, while American Airlines passengers scheduled to travel to Miami and New York were flown out on Sunday. British Airways said it would decide today whether to cancel an evening flight to London.
HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / UNUSUAL & OUT-OF-SEASON WEATHER -
CALIFORNIA - The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for north-central San Bernardino County after heavy rains from a thunderstorm hit the area on Sunday. Doppler radar indicates heavy rain fell west of Highway 127 near the Fort Irwin Military Reservation. An estimated 2 inches fell in one hour. Forecasters say a strong monsoonal surge is bringing large amounts of moisture to the mountains and deserts of Southern California, where many wildfire-scarred areas are ripe for mudslides. More rain was expected through the night in parts of Southern California.
EXTREME HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
ANTARCTIC - Tens of thousands of newly-born penguins are freezing to death as Antarctica is lashed by FREAK rain storms. Scientists believe the numbers of Adeline penguins may have fallen by as much as 80 per cent – and, if the downpours continue, the species will be extinct within ten years. And the Emperor penguin is also under threat. Temperatures on the Antarctic peninsula have risen by 3C over the past 50 years to an average of -14.7C and rain is now far more common than snow. Adeline penguins are born with a thin covering of down and it takes 40 days for them to grow protective water-repellent feathers. With epic rains drenching their ancestral nesting grounds, their parents try to protect them. But when the adults leave to fish for food, or are killed by predators such as seals, the babies become soaked to the skin and die from hypothermia. 'Everyone talks about the melting of the glaciers but having day after day of rain in Antarctica is A TOTALLY NEW PHENOMENON. As a result, penguins are literally freezing to death...In the past five years, torrential rains have become increasingly common there. We saw Adelie penguin chicks shivering during nearly six days of continuous storms. If it had been snow, like in the old days, their down would be perfectly equipped to cope. But they can't take rain. It's like wearing a down jacket that gets soaking wet...It is all very well talking theoretically about how the ice cap could disappear – but watching penguins walking among the skeletons of their young is the most powerful evidence of climate change I have seen.' The warming climate is also threatening the Emperor penguin. In East Antarctica in December 2006 – less than two years after March Of The Penguins was shot – it would be unrecognisable to anyone who saw the film. 'I saw no Emperor penguin chicks, no sea-ice and fewer than a dozen small icebergs. I was just shocked. It was the first time our expedition leader had seen the area free of ice since he started going there in the Eighties. There was no way chicks could have survived. In late September, when they would have been little more than half grown, we were told a large storm had hit the area. Emperor chicks are similar to the Adeline – they are downy and not waterproof and could not survive in the cold sea for any period of time. ' 50 years ago two days of snow were recorded for every one day of rain at the region's Faraday meteorological station. 'Now, in the past few years, the trend is two days of rain to every one day of snow.'
The poor breeding of Scotland's seabirds is giving cause for "serious concern". Early reports from coastal reserves indicate continuing problems for the internationally important populations of guillemots, kittiwakes and others. Nests have been abandoned, with cliffs which "should be teeming" now empty. Colonies on the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland - together said to be Scotland's most important "seabird cities" - have been hit particularly hard. Many guillemots and razorbills appeared to have given up any attempt to breed at RSPB's Sumburgh Head reserve on Shetland, with eggs left abandoned on the cliffs as parent birds spent more time at sea in a search for food. "The declines are primarily being driven by changes in the availability of the fish that these birds depend on. Seabirds are indicators of the health of the marine environment and, like the canary in the coalmine, the decline in their fortunes should be a wake-up call to us all that we must pay attention to."
FOOD / WATER / SUPPLIES-
Forests to fall for food and fuel - Demand for land to grow food, fuel crops and wood is set to outstrip supply, leading to the probable destruction of forests, a report warns. The Rights and Resources Initiative says only half of the extra land needed by 2030 is available without eating into tropical forested areas. The dual crises of fuel and food are attracting significant land speculation. "Arguably, we are on the verge of a last great global land grab. It will mean more deforestation, more conflict, more carbon emissions, more climate change and less prosperity for everyone." RRI calculates that about two-thirds of the world's current violent conflicts are driven by land tenure issues.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008 -
QUAKES -
This morning there has been a 6.4 quake in the DODECANESE ISLANDS, GREECE. It struck near the Greek island of Rhodes. The earthquake did not cause any major damage, but residents and tourists fled their homes and hotels in panic. One woman was killed when she slipped and fell as she tried to flee her home. There have been multiple small aftershocks - the largest was 3.4 magnitude. Two quakes of 4.1 and 3.9 occurred a few hours before the 6.4 one.
Largest quakes yesterday -
7/14/08 -
5.5 SIMEULUE, INDONESIA
TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / ABNORMAL TIDES / RISING SEA LEVELS -
AUSTRALIA - A tsunami 'strikes Western Australia every decade' - Scientists have found evidence that a tsunami — ocean surges triggered by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides or meteorite impacts — has hit the Australian coast almost every decade. Sites between Coral Bay and the Buccaneer Archipelago, north of Derby, have been previously hit with surging waves that threatened campers' lives and washed fish and coral 400m inland. Less than two years ago, a family had to run for their lives after a wall of water rushed over their camp site at Steep Point, near Shark Bay. An earthquake off Java had created a tsunami that pushed water 8m above sea level and 200m inland at the remote WA fishing spot, sweeping away a vehicle. Other reports of WA events describe waves pounding the coast at Cape Leveque, 220km north of Broome on the Dampier Peninsula, in 1977 and a 1994 tsunami that dragged fish and coral 400m inland at Cape Range peninsula. A devastating tsunami caused by an earthquake off the Indonesian island of Java would almost certainly strike North-West Western Australia.
TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical depression 08W [Helen] was 225 nmi ENE of Baguio City, Philippines.
Tropical storm BERTHA was 134 nmi N of Hamilton, Bermuda.
Hurricane ELIDA was 398 nmi SW of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Tropical Storm Bertha will continue to pummel the island nation of Bermuda through today, while another tropical wave is likely to develop over the next couple of days. The island will receive several inches of rain, while large swells and high surf batter the shores.
A tropical wave is located about 1,000 miles east of the southern Windward islands. Satellite imagery shows a counter-clockwise spin near the center of the area of low pressure. The low is likely to develop into a tropical depression in the next couple of days and there is a very good chance the low will eventually develop hurricane strength.
Tropical Storm Bertha swells risk of riptides along U.S. East Coast - Large swells from Tropical Storm Bertha have caused a risk of rip current that will last through Wednesday. Beach lifeguards rescued nearly 50 people from dangerous riptides during the weekend.
PHILIPPINES - Luzon, including Metro Manila, expects more rains today and the coming days as tropical depression "Helen" intensified into a tropical storm yesterday afternoon and strengthened the southwest monsoon or "hanging habagat", the prevailing weather system in the country this time of the year. As long as the tropical storm continues to move over to Batanes, the whole of Luzon will continue to have frequent rains, especially western Luzon. Health officials also cautioned against playing or being exposed to floodwaters as it is a source of infectious diseases. "Helen" is not expected to make landfall, but will cross Batanes. With its slow movement, "Helen" is likely to intensify. "Helen" is the eighth tropical cyclone in the country this year and second this month after "Gener."
Tropical depression 08W is forecast to strike China as a tropical storm at about 06:00 GMT on Friday, July 18. (map)
HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / UNUSUAL & OUT-OF-SEASON WEATHER -
ARIZONA - The Monsoons geared up to full strength this weekend causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to Ambos Nogales. One local storm watcher even captured a photograph of a funnel or tornado cloud from her Nogales, Arizona, home about one mile from the border. Officials in Nogales declared a state of emergency and have petitioned the state for relief. Near the close of business and in the wake of Saturday's rains, shopkeepers along the first two blocks of Morley Avenue were barraged by runoff. The water gushed from across the line through the pedestrian port of entry where border walls acted as a dam. The border walls held back storm runoff that burst through the concrete and asphalt ceiling of the wash tunnel on Calle Elias, just 60 feet south of the pedestrian port of entry. Up to five feet of water pooled on the Mexican side of the border where several vehicles that were parked in the area floated and converged at the base of a nearby hill. "It looked like a bomb fell." Officials believe the collapse of the wash ceiling was due to immense pressure after most of the wash tributaries flowed to capacity and into the waterway known as Arroyo Los Nogales which is the Mexican extension of the Nogales Wash. CPB officers rescued three individuals from the flood channel underneath the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry just west of Morley Avenue. A sinkhole developed just 30 feet away from the inspection station. "This kind of flooding had not occurred since 1924 when my grandfather first got here."
Surprise deluge flooded the Phoenix area - Power was being restored Monday to parts of the Phoenix area, which were hit by an unexpected downpour and high winds, causing flash flooding. The flooding was triggered by more than 2 inches of rain that fell in a short period Sunday. It is UNUSUAL to see such high winds combined with rain in July, such wet microbursts are more common to Arizona in August.
CALIFORNIA - firefighters gained the upper hand Monday on a rash of wildfires that have devastated the state for three weeks. But the problems continued as the violent thunderstorms that helped douse the flames also triggered mudslides. "If it isn't fire, it's flood. If it isn't fire or flood, it's the mud." A huge mudslide hit an area that suffered wildfires last year that damaged about 50 homes. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles county mountain areas. "Anywhere in the mountains that has experienced these burns in the past one to two years are most susceptible" to flooding with such rapid rainfall. Across the state, 288 blazes were still burning Monday. About 300 homes remained threatened in the Camp Fire. Some 1,780 massive fires have burnt more than 3,300 square kilometres since they were sparked by a barrage of freak lightning storms on June 20 and June 21. Traditionally the worst months for wildfires in California are in September and October when hot Santa Ana winds blow from the desert across southern California.
For a second consecutive day major flash floods roared through the Piute Fire burned area in Erskine Canyon Sunday. Some people trapped by the floodwaters scampered to rooftops to be rescued by helicopter. As many as 80 homes were evacuated in the Erskine Canyon area. The department is concerned about unknown road conditions and trees weakened by soil movement due to the flood, and potential thunderstorms and associated erratic winds. About 3 inches of rain fell across the Piute Fire area Sunday. As a result, fire activity has been minimal. Containment is estimated at 68 percent, with 37,026 acres burned.
SOUTH AFRICA - Winelands awash after 7-day deluge last week - As floods hit, families lose everything in mad scramble for higher ground. Seven days of heavy rains lashed the Western Cape, claiming the life of one man and leaving 38,000 people in desperate need of blankets, food and shelter. The cold, severe weather caused traffic chaos, blocked roads, flooded homes and cut-off towns and farms, where food and supplies could only be flown in by helicopter. Boats were used to rescue communities surrounded by lakes of water. The damage to roads, bridges and buildings is expected to run into millions of rands, the final tally still to be determined once the waters subside. (photos)
JAMAICA - A FREAK storm wreaked havoc in sections of Western Jamaica Sunday afternoon. The sudden lightening storm accompanied by heavy rains and fierce winds, tore down trees, ripped roofs off houses and left several residents in sections of St. James and Hanover in shock. The storm, which began around 3.30pm, destroyed at least one house and left at least one family homeless. Two other houses lost roofs and even more were flooded out. The high winds and rains uprooted banana trees and flattened crops.
QUAKES -
This morning there has been a 6.4 quake in the DODECANESE ISLANDS, GREECE. It struck near the Greek island of Rhodes. The earthquake did not cause any major damage, but residents and tourists fled their homes and hotels in panic. One woman was killed when she slipped and fell as she tried to flee her home. There have been multiple small aftershocks - the largest was 3.4 magnitude. Two quakes of 4.1 and 3.9 occurred a few hours before the 6.4 one.
Largest quakes yesterday -
7/14/08 -
5.5 SIMEULUE, INDONESIA
TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / ABNORMAL TIDES / RISING SEA LEVELS -
AUSTRALIA - A tsunami 'strikes Western Australia every decade' - Scientists have found evidence that a tsunami — ocean surges triggered by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides or meteorite impacts — has hit the Australian coast almost every decade. Sites between Coral Bay and the Buccaneer Archipelago, north of Derby, have been previously hit with surging waves that threatened campers' lives and washed fish and coral 400m inland. Less than two years ago, a family had to run for their lives after a wall of water rushed over their camp site at Steep Point, near Shark Bay. An earthquake off Java had created a tsunami that pushed water 8m above sea level and 200m inland at the remote WA fishing spot, sweeping away a vehicle. Other reports of WA events describe waves pounding the coast at Cape Leveque, 220km north of Broome on the Dampier Peninsula, in 1977 and a 1994 tsunami that dragged fish and coral 400m inland at Cape Range peninsula. A devastating tsunami caused by an earthquake off the Indonesian island of Java would almost certainly strike North-West Western Australia.
TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical depression 08W [Helen] was 225 nmi ENE of Baguio City, Philippines.
Tropical storm BERTHA was 134 nmi N of Hamilton, Bermuda.
Hurricane ELIDA was 398 nmi SW of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Tropical Storm Bertha will continue to pummel the island nation of Bermuda through today, while another tropical wave is likely to develop over the next couple of days. The island will receive several inches of rain, while large swells and high surf batter the shores.
A tropical wave is located about 1,000 miles east of the southern Windward islands. Satellite imagery shows a counter-clockwise spin near the center of the area of low pressure. The low is likely to develop into a tropical depression in the next couple of days and there is a very good chance the low will eventually develop hurricane strength.
Tropical Storm Bertha swells risk of riptides along U.S. East Coast - Large swells from Tropical Storm Bertha have caused a risk of rip current that will last through Wednesday. Beach lifeguards rescued nearly 50 people from dangerous riptides during the weekend.
PHILIPPINES - Luzon, including Metro Manila, expects more rains today and the coming days as tropical depression "Helen" intensified into a tropical storm yesterday afternoon and strengthened the southwest monsoon or "hanging habagat", the prevailing weather system in the country this time of the year. As long as the tropical storm continues to move over to Batanes, the whole of Luzon will continue to have frequent rains, especially western Luzon. Health officials also cautioned against playing or being exposed to floodwaters as it is a source of infectious diseases. "Helen" is not expected to make landfall, but will cross Batanes. With its slow movement, "Helen" is likely to intensify. "Helen" is the eighth tropical cyclone in the country this year and second this month after "Gener."
Tropical depression 08W is forecast to strike China as a tropical storm at about 06:00 GMT on Friday, July 18. (map)
HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / UNUSUAL & OUT-OF-SEASON WEATHER -
ARIZONA - The Monsoons geared up to full strength this weekend causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to Ambos Nogales. One local storm watcher even captured a photograph of a funnel or tornado cloud from her Nogales, Arizona, home about one mile from the border. Officials in Nogales declared a state of emergency and have petitioned the state for relief. Near the close of business and in the wake of Saturday's rains, shopkeepers along the first two blocks of Morley Avenue were barraged by runoff. The water gushed from across the line through the pedestrian port of entry where border walls acted as a dam. The border walls held back storm runoff that burst through the concrete and asphalt ceiling of the wash tunnel on Calle Elias, just 60 feet south of the pedestrian port of entry. Up to five feet of water pooled on the Mexican side of the border where several vehicles that were parked in the area floated and converged at the base of a nearby hill. "It looked like a bomb fell." Officials believe the collapse of the wash ceiling was due to immense pressure after most of the wash tributaries flowed to capacity and into the waterway known as Arroyo Los Nogales which is the Mexican extension of the Nogales Wash. CPB officers rescued three individuals from the flood channel underneath the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry just west of Morley Avenue. A sinkhole developed just 30 feet away from the inspection station. "This kind of flooding had not occurred since 1924 when my grandfather first got here."
Surprise deluge flooded the Phoenix area - Power was being restored Monday to parts of the Phoenix area, which were hit by an unexpected downpour and high winds, causing flash flooding. The flooding was triggered by more than 2 inches of rain that fell in a short period Sunday. It is UNUSUAL to see such high winds combined with rain in July, such wet microbursts are more common to Arizona in August.
CALIFORNIA - firefighters gained the upper hand Monday on a rash of wildfires that have devastated the state for three weeks. But the problems continued as the violent thunderstorms that helped douse the flames also triggered mudslides. "If it isn't fire, it's flood. If it isn't fire or flood, it's the mud." A huge mudslide hit an area that suffered wildfires last year that damaged about 50 homes. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles county mountain areas. "Anywhere in the mountains that has experienced these burns in the past one to two years are most susceptible" to flooding with such rapid rainfall. Across the state, 288 blazes were still burning Monday. About 300 homes remained threatened in the Camp Fire. Some 1,780 massive fires have burnt more than 3,300 square kilometres since they were sparked by a barrage of freak lightning storms on June 20 and June 21. Traditionally the worst months for wildfires in California are in September and October when hot Santa Ana winds blow from the desert across southern California.
For a second consecutive day major flash floods roared through the Piute Fire burned area in Erskine Canyon Sunday. Some people trapped by the floodwaters scampered to rooftops to be rescued by helicopter. As many as 80 homes were evacuated in the Erskine Canyon area. The department is concerned about unknown road conditions and trees weakened by soil movement due to the flood, and potential thunderstorms and associated erratic winds. About 3 inches of rain fell across the Piute Fire area Sunday. As a result, fire activity has been minimal. Containment is estimated at 68 percent, with 37,026 acres burned.
SOUTH AFRICA - Winelands awash after 7-day deluge last week - As floods hit, families lose everything in mad scramble for higher ground. Seven days of heavy rains lashed the Western Cape, claiming the life of one man and leaving 38,000 people in desperate need of blankets, food and shelter. The cold, severe weather caused traffic chaos, blocked roads, flooded homes and cut-off towns and farms, where food and supplies could only be flown in by helicopter. Boats were used to rescue communities surrounded by lakes of water. The damage to roads, bridges and buildings is expected to run into millions of rands, the final tally still to be determined once the waters subside. (photos)
JAMAICA - A FREAK storm wreaked havoc in sections of Western Jamaica Sunday afternoon. The sudden lightening storm accompanied by heavy rains and fierce winds, tore down trees, ripped roofs off houses and left several residents in sections of St. James and Hanover in shock. The storm, which began around 3.30pm, destroyed at least one house and left at least one family homeless. Two other houses lost roofs and even more were flooded out. The high winds and rains uprooted banana trees and flattened crops.
http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/kilaueastatus.php
Recent Kilauea Status Reports, Updates, and Information Releases
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Tuesday, July 15, 2008 08:38 HST (Tuesday, July 15, 2008 18:38 UTC)
Recent Kilauea Status Reports, Updates, and Information Releases
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Tuesday, July 15, 2008 08:38 HST (Tuesday, July 15, 2008 18:38 UTC)
Largest quakes yesterday -
7/15/08 -
5.2 EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA
5.0 EASTERN SICHUAN, CHINA
5.7 SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
6.4 DODECANESE ISLANDS, GREECE
VOLCANOES -
ALASKA - volcano spewed huge ash plume for 3rd day - The Okmok Caldera on Umnak Island about 60 miles west of the fishing port of Dutch Harbor erupted Saturday and was still in a near state of continuous eruption on Monday. It's ash plume reached more than 6 1/2 miles high and was moving southeastward over the North Pacific. When the volcano last erupted in 1997, it remained active for eight months, producing a significant amount of lava and ash. This time, the volcano's seismic activity peaked a few hours after the initial explosion Saturday and has been slowly declining since.
Okmok Volcano RAMPED UP FROM NOTHING TO AN EXPLOSIVE ERUPTION IN RECORD TIME and it is still pulsing with activity. The explosive eruption Saturday and subsequent shock wave jostled the surrounding cloud-cover. Thermal infrared tracking over the first two days showed the ash plume moving southeast. But a wind shift Tuesday pushed the plume northeast, prompting an ash fall advisory for Cold Bay, which ended early Tuesday. The Volcano Observatory suspects more than one vent in the caldera is active. "There appears to be two vents in the caldera, one of which is producing a more steam-rich cloud. The other is more ash-rich. That activity is sort of pulsing, we have tens of minutes where activity is occurring." A code red warning is still in effect for Okmok Volcano.
HAWAII - Lava destroyed an unoccupied house in a remnant portion of Royal Gardens subdivision before sundown Sunday. The house was the 41st destroyed in Royal Gardens, which has been overrun by lava numerous times since East Rift eruptions began in 1983. (video)
At the Puna coastline last week, at least 3 large benches of freshly hardened lava collapsed into the Pacific. The collapses occurred over four hours on Thursday night, while large volumes of magma flowed through underground lava tubes into the ocean. A photo captured the explosive results of one of these collapses. Massive volumes of hot magma met chilly ocean water, throwing rocks up to 60 feet away. Geologists at Kilauea volcano summit’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory report that ocean entry of lava through the tube systems was vigorous. The lava is from Kilauea’s long-erupting Pu‘u O‘o vent six miles upslope, which has been churning out more magma than usual in recent weeks. (photo)
Haleakala volcano - Although there has been no activity for centuries, scientists are constantly monitoring potential eruption activity at Haleakala on Maui. Several eruptions have taken place at Haleakala within the past 1,000 years, and it is still considered an active volcano. The relatively short span since the last eruption is a major reason why scientists classify Haleakala as an "active volcano," or one that could erupt again, and continue to measure its activity, as they did last week. In the Hawaiian Islands, scientists consider six volcanoes to be active, including Haleakala; the Big Island's Hualalai, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Kilauea; and the undersea volcano Loihi.
CHILE - Llaima volcano in southern Chile once again spewed ash and smoke in the early morning hours on Tuesday (July 15), causing ongoing concern among some local authorities. The spurt of lava, smoke and ash is the latest in renewed activity that Llaima renewed last week. "There is a glow. It can be seen from Melipeuco. Certainly, the people are worried. We are on a yellow alert and very attentive - that is, this could at any moment, in accordance with the evolution and the telemetric stations - this could increase."
TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm BERTHA was 321 nmi NNE of Hamilton, Bermuda.
Hurricane ELIDA was 537 nmi SW of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Tropical depression FAUSTO was 325 nmi SSW of Salina Cruz, Mexico.
Tropical storm KALMAEGI was 259 nmi SSE of Taipei, Taiwan.
Tropical Storm Bertha strengthened today, but has not regained hurricane status, as it moved eastward across the Atlantic, away from the British colony of Bermuda. Bertha made a loop in the central Atlantic Ocean after brushing Bermuda and is heading slowly east. The storm had sustained winds of 70 mph with gusts up to 85 mph. Forecasters altered an earlier report to say little change in strength was expected in the next couple of days. Tropical storm force winds extended 140 from the center of the storm. There were no reports of injuries or damage estimates from Bertha's eastern swipe at the island Monday, although power outages, some flooding and uprooted trees were reported Tuesday.
Bertha has become the LONGEST-LIVED JULY TROPICAL STORM IN HISTORY. The previous longest-lived storm, known as Storm No. 2, occurred in 1960 and lasted just over 12 days. Bertha is entering its 13th day.
Tropical depression may form in Atlantic - A low-pressure system about 225 miles (362 km) east of the Windward Islands became better organized overnight and may develop into a tropical depression today. Regardless of development, the NHC warned the system would bring gusty winds and locally heavy rains to the Windward Islands during the next day or so. The Windward Islands include Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Dominica. Most weather models forecast the system will cross the Windward Islands and reach the western Caribbean Sea south of Cuba and near the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico over the next five days or so. If the system manages to strengthen into a tropical storm, with winds of 39 to 73 mph, the NHC will name it Cristobal.
Tropical Storm Fausto has formed south of Acapulco, while Elida has strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane off Baja California's coast. Fausto was moving west away from land at 16 mph (26 kph). It was located about 385 miles (625 kilometers) south of Acapulco with winds reaching 40 mph (65 kph). Forecasters say Fausto will continue to strengthen over the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, Hurricane Elida's winds have reached 105 mph (168 kph) as it continues to move out to sea. The storm was forecast to hit cooler waters and weaken soon.
A sea warning was issued east of Taiwan for Tropical Storm Kalmaegi, which has formed over the Pacific Ocean in the past two days. Kalmaegi is the year's seventh typhoon in the West Pacific region. Kalmaegi was expected to arrive 170 km off of Taiwan's eastern coast of Hualien at around 5 p.m. today on its way to Okinawa and Japan. The forecasters expect the tropical storm's speed to increase and bring strong wind and heavy rain to east and southeast Taiwan today.
Kalmaegi could strengthen into a typhoon. The storm, presently with sustained winds of 65 kph (40 mph) and gusts of 90 kph, is expected to reach southeast China by the weekend. Typhoons regularly hit China, Taiwan, the Philippines and Japan from August until the end of the year, gathering strength from the warm waters of the Pacific or the South China Sea before weakening over land.
ODD-
Mysterious insect baffles experts - Experts have been baffled by the presence of an unidentified insect in parts of London. The tiny red and black bug first appeared in the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Garden in March 2007. Since then it has become the most common insect in the garden. The bug appears to be harmless, but there is potential for it to spread throughout the UK. The insect was spotted on the seeds of some of the plane trees that grow in the museum's grounds. Despite containing more than 28 million insect specimens, the museum failed to find an exact match for the new bug. Experts said it closely resembles the rare species Arocatus roeselii that is usually found in central Europe. But the roeselii bugs are brighter red than this new bug and they are usually associated with alder trees. The National Museum in Prague discovered an exact match to the mystery insect but experts there have also failed to determine exactly what it is. "It seems strange that so many of these bugs should suddenly appear."
7/15/08 -
5.2 EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA
5.0 EASTERN SICHUAN, CHINA
5.7 SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
6.4 DODECANESE ISLANDS, GREECE
VOLCANOES -
ALASKA - volcano spewed huge ash plume for 3rd day - The Okmok Caldera on Umnak Island about 60 miles west of the fishing port of Dutch Harbor erupted Saturday and was still in a near state of continuous eruption on Monday. It's ash plume reached more than 6 1/2 miles high and was moving southeastward over the North Pacific. When the volcano last erupted in 1997, it remained active for eight months, producing a significant amount of lava and ash. This time, the volcano's seismic activity peaked a few hours after the initial explosion Saturday and has been slowly declining since.
Okmok Volcano RAMPED UP FROM NOTHING TO AN EXPLOSIVE ERUPTION IN RECORD TIME and it is still pulsing with activity. The explosive eruption Saturday and subsequent shock wave jostled the surrounding cloud-cover. Thermal infrared tracking over the first two days showed the ash plume moving southeast. But a wind shift Tuesday pushed the plume northeast, prompting an ash fall advisory for Cold Bay, which ended early Tuesday. The Volcano Observatory suspects more than one vent in the caldera is active. "There appears to be two vents in the caldera, one of which is producing a more steam-rich cloud. The other is more ash-rich. That activity is sort of pulsing, we have tens of minutes where activity is occurring." A code red warning is still in effect for Okmok Volcano.
HAWAII - Lava destroyed an unoccupied house in a remnant portion of Royal Gardens subdivision before sundown Sunday. The house was the 41st destroyed in Royal Gardens, which has been overrun by lava numerous times since East Rift eruptions began in 1983. (video)
At the Puna coastline last week, at least 3 large benches of freshly hardened lava collapsed into the Pacific. The collapses occurred over four hours on Thursday night, while large volumes of magma flowed through underground lava tubes into the ocean. A photo captured the explosive results of one of these collapses. Massive volumes of hot magma met chilly ocean water, throwing rocks up to 60 feet away. Geologists at Kilauea volcano summit’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory report that ocean entry of lava through the tube systems was vigorous. The lava is from Kilauea’s long-erupting Pu‘u O‘o vent six miles upslope, which has been churning out more magma than usual in recent weeks. (photo)
Haleakala volcano - Although there has been no activity for centuries, scientists are constantly monitoring potential eruption activity at Haleakala on Maui. Several eruptions have taken place at Haleakala within the past 1,000 years, and it is still considered an active volcano. The relatively short span since the last eruption is a major reason why scientists classify Haleakala as an "active volcano," or one that could erupt again, and continue to measure its activity, as they did last week. In the Hawaiian Islands, scientists consider six volcanoes to be active, including Haleakala; the Big Island's Hualalai, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Kilauea; and the undersea volcano Loihi.
CHILE - Llaima volcano in southern Chile once again spewed ash and smoke in the early morning hours on Tuesday (July 15), causing ongoing concern among some local authorities. The spurt of lava, smoke and ash is the latest in renewed activity that Llaima renewed last week. "There is a glow. It can be seen from Melipeuco. Certainly, the people are worried. We are on a yellow alert and very attentive - that is, this could at any moment, in accordance with the evolution and the telemetric stations - this could increase."
TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm BERTHA was 321 nmi NNE of Hamilton, Bermuda.
Hurricane ELIDA was 537 nmi SW of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Tropical depression FAUSTO was 325 nmi SSW of Salina Cruz, Mexico.
Tropical storm KALMAEGI was 259 nmi SSE of Taipei, Taiwan.
Tropical Storm Bertha strengthened today, but has not regained hurricane status, as it moved eastward across the Atlantic, away from the British colony of Bermuda. Bertha made a loop in the central Atlantic Ocean after brushing Bermuda and is heading slowly east. The storm had sustained winds of 70 mph with gusts up to 85 mph. Forecasters altered an earlier report to say little change in strength was expected in the next couple of days. Tropical storm force winds extended 140 from the center of the storm. There were no reports of injuries or damage estimates from Bertha's eastern swipe at the island Monday, although power outages, some flooding and uprooted trees were reported Tuesday.
Bertha has become the LONGEST-LIVED JULY TROPICAL STORM IN HISTORY. The previous longest-lived storm, known as Storm No. 2, occurred in 1960 and lasted just over 12 days. Bertha is entering its 13th day.
Tropical depression may form in Atlantic - A low-pressure system about 225 miles (362 km) east of the Windward Islands became better organized overnight and may develop into a tropical depression today. Regardless of development, the NHC warned the system would bring gusty winds and locally heavy rains to the Windward Islands during the next day or so. The Windward Islands include Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Dominica. Most weather models forecast the system will cross the Windward Islands and reach the western Caribbean Sea south of Cuba and near the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico over the next five days or so. If the system manages to strengthen into a tropical storm, with winds of 39 to 73 mph, the NHC will name it Cristobal.
Tropical Storm Fausto has formed south of Acapulco, while Elida has strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane off Baja California's coast. Fausto was moving west away from land at 16 mph (26 kph). It was located about 385 miles (625 kilometers) south of Acapulco with winds reaching 40 mph (65 kph). Forecasters say Fausto will continue to strengthen over the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, Hurricane Elida's winds have reached 105 mph (168 kph) as it continues to move out to sea. The storm was forecast to hit cooler waters and weaken soon.
A sea warning was issued east of Taiwan for Tropical Storm Kalmaegi, which has formed over the Pacific Ocean in the past two days. Kalmaegi is the year's seventh typhoon in the West Pacific region. Kalmaegi was expected to arrive 170 km off of Taiwan's eastern coast of Hualien at around 5 p.m. today on its way to Okinawa and Japan. The forecasters expect the tropical storm's speed to increase and bring strong wind and heavy rain to east and southeast Taiwan today.
Kalmaegi could strengthen into a typhoon. The storm, presently with sustained winds of 65 kph (40 mph) and gusts of 90 kph, is expected to reach southeast China by the weekend. Typhoons regularly hit China, Taiwan, the Philippines and Japan from August until the end of the year, gathering strength from the warm waters of the Pacific or the South China Sea before weakening over land.
ODD-
Mysterious insect baffles experts - Experts have been baffled by the presence of an unidentified insect in parts of London. The tiny red and black bug first appeared in the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Garden in March 2007. Since then it has become the most common insect in the garden. The bug appears to be harmless, but there is potential for it to spread throughout the UK. The insect was spotted on the seeds of some of the plane trees that grow in the museum's grounds. Despite containing more than 28 million insect specimens, the museum failed to find an exact match for the new bug. Experts said it closely resembles the rare species Arocatus roeselii that is usually found in central Europe. But the roeselii bugs are brighter red than this new bug and they are usually associated with alder trees. The National Museum in Prague discovered an exact match to the mystery insect but experts there have also failed to determine exactly what it is. "It seems strange that so many of these bugs should suddenly appear."
Largest quakes yesterday -
7/16/08 -
5.2 SOUTHERN QINGHAI, CHINA
5.5 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.5 SAMOA ISLANDS REGION
VOLCANOES -
Sea die-out blamed on volcanoes - Undersea volcanic activity has been blamed for a mass extinction in the seas 93 million years ago. In the so-called "anoxic event" of the late Cretaceous Period, the ocean depths became starved of oxygen, wiping out swathes of marine organisms. At the time of the anoxic event, the average temperature was nearly twice that of today. Palm trees grew in what would later become Alaska and large reptiles roamed northern Canada. The Arctic Ocean was ice-free and scientists think it would have had a temperature we might describe today as lukewarm. After the extinction, levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere dropped and Earth lurched into a sudden, but short-lived, period of cooling. Geologists have pondered for years as to the cause of this extraordinary event. The answer to the cataclysm lies in volcanic eruptions which took place on the ocean floor. One possibility is that the volcanoes spewed out metal-rich fluids that seeded the upper level of the ocean with micronutrients. Tiny life forms on the sea surface, called phytoplankton, gorged on the food, and storing up carbon as they grew. They then sank to the sea floor and decayed, stripping the ocean of oxygen. The other possibility is that the volcanoes disgorged clouds of CO2 to the atmosphere, warming the climate to the extent that Earth's ocean circulation system ground to a near-halt. Beyond the surface layers, water was no longer turned over and anoxia (lack of oxygen) was the result.
HAWAII - The world's most active volcano, Mount Kilauea in Hawaii, has been pouring out lava in a flow so large the heat image has been picked up from space.
TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / ABNORMAL TIDES / RISING SEA LEVELS -
TURKEY - Tsunami warning - Rhodes, Greece was awakened by a 6.4 earthquake yesterday and although initially it was determined as not causing any loss of property, landslides did cause certain roads to be shut down. The earthquake was felt in many locations in Turkey and now specialists have issued a warning. "Due to the risk of a tsunami, stay away from the coast for a few days." "I have have warned of the possibility of a tsunami in Marmaris. Even if the odds are less that one percent, a significant earthquake is possible."
AUSTRALIA - In Fremantle, records from the last 100 years show sea levels along the WA’s coast have already risen about 20cm. Reports point towards an 88cm rise in sea levels by the end of the century, but recent data shows oceans are already warming 50 per cent faster and ice caps melting more quickly than worst case scenario predictions. This could see the South West on track to experience sea levels rising by more than a metre by the end of this century. Bunbury has already witnessed king tides this year, with several jetties on the Leschenault Inlet frequently under water. Yesterday, in response to storms, the plug at the mouth of the inlet was closed to prevent possible flooding in Bunbury. Rising sea levels will lead to one of the biggest threats of climate change - coastal erosion. Every centimetre of sea level rise has a pronounced affect on the coastline, particularly along sandy beaches such as those at Bunbury. “So if we end up with an 88cm sea level rise, that equates to 88m of foreshore gone. Ocean Drive would almost certainly be eroded into the ocean.” People living in coastal areas like Marlston Hill and along Ocean Drive would face being battered by frequent ferocious storms, with current research suggesting storms only experienced every 100 years could become as regular as every 20 years. This figure could increase to every five years if emissions aren’t curbed. And in flood prone areas like East Bunbury, increased storm surges from higher sea levels and fiercer storms could see flooding become more common. The local costs of climate change would include replacing lost infrastructure like roads, power lines and steps and construction of sea walls to reduce the impact on the city.
GREENLAND - A giant wave resulting from ice that melted and dropped from a glacier swept five Danish tourists into the icy Kangerluarsuk Fjord on Greenland's west coast Sunday, killing two. The tragedy occurred while the group of 15 tourists from a boat stood on a plateau at the glacier to take pictures. 'Witnesses said that there was suddenly a loud sound like a helicopter and a huge wave came pouring in on them.' (photo)
Experts expect more glacial waves - Increasing temperatures in the Arctic mean that glacial waves like the one that killed two Danish tourists in Uummannaq, Greenland, this weekend will become much more common, according to ice experts. The phenomenon, known as jokulhlaup, occurs when lakes formed by glacial melt water burst through the ice. A similar phenomenon took place in the Kangerlussuaq area last August. No one was killed, but the event resulted in a large lake being completely drained in 12 hours, spreading large chunks of ice on roads. Jokulhalup occur without warning and typically take place in parts of glaciers where melt water has gathered on top of glaciers, or where glacial lakes have formed. If the floods occur near populated areas, they can shatter bridges, roads and buildings. They can also have a dramatic effect on the terrain and wildlife in unpopulated areas. In a related story, the tourism industry says it will investigate reasons for Sunday's glacial wave in order to ensure that similar accidents do not occur in the future. The national tourism and business council hoped to determine whether this was an isolated incident. 'We need to know if we should warn people against coming too close to glaciers unless you are with an expert.'
ALASKA - Fifty years ago, on July 9, 1958, the largest wave in modern history occurred in Lituya Bay, on the northern Southeast Alaska coast about halfway between Cape Spencer and Yakutat. Initially, the wave - generated by a landslide that itself was generated by a massive 8.3 earthquake that shook the region for more than a thousand miles up and down the coast - reached a height of more than 1,700 feet. It was still nearly 100 feet high when it reached the mouth of the bay seven miles later. When the wave came, two boat crews would survive and one crew would not. Two groups of Canadian climbers narrowly missed being in the bay the night of July 9th. Had they been camped at tidewater as planned, the wave's death toll would have more than 20 rather than only two. Birds sensed the coming disaster in advance - "The high intensity alarm call of thousands of birds echoed through the still bay. They passed over the [boat] Badger and splattered the boat with droppings. Some crashed into the vessel's rigging and plummeted to the deck." Up and down the coast as far as Yakutat and Hoonah, observers would report similar odd behavior by shore birds and other animals. At Yakutat, 80 miles to the north of Lituya, three people out berry picking died instantly when a small island they were on immediately dropped more than two dozen feet under the water. Later measurements determined that a nearby mountain had risen more than 50 feet at the same time. Overall, the earth had moved some 21 feet horizontally and 3.5 feet vertically along most of the fault line. While most earthquakes last only a few seconds, the initial length of the quake was later estimated at more than two minutes. There is evidence of five "giant" waves in this area, created primarily by land or glacier slides, between 1853 and 1958. (photos)
TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm BERTHA was 292 nmi NE of Hamilton, Bermuda.
Hurricane ELIDA was 587 nmi SW of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Tropical storm FAUSTO was 320 nmi SSW of Acapulco, Mexico.
Typhoon KALMAEGI was 188 nmi SSE of Taipei, Taiwan.
National Hurricane Center monitoring four storm systems in the Atlantic - A disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico near Tampa Bay was forecast to move northeast and bring heavy rain to Central Florida. It was not expected to strengthen into a storm.
A strong tropical wave in the Atlantic near the Windward Islands might strengthen into a tropical depression as it moves toward the Caribbean.
Another wave in the Caribbean east of Nicaragua also might develop before hitting Central America; it threatens to bring heavy rain to that region.
And Tropical Storm Bertha, already the longest-surviving tropical system for July, having emerged two weeks ago, continues to move away from Bermuda in the Atlantic.
HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES -
IOWA - last month's record flooding damaged 125 miles of primary highways in Iowa. The numbers don't include damage to city and county streets and roads. Flooding forced the closure of 464 miles of Iowa's primary highway system and 303 bridges and culverts. A full estimate of the cost to repair the highways isn't expected until August. Partial estimates from railroads on flood damage totals nearly $68 million. The state's rail office has counted 17 railroad bridges and several hundred miles of track damaged or destroyed by the floodwaters.
The Gulf of Mexico's "dead zone" - a swath of algae-laden water with oxygen levels low enough to choke out marine life - WILL LIKELY REACH RECORD SIZE this year, and the main culprits are rising ethanol use and massive Midwest flooding. The dead zone, which recurs each year off the Texas and Louisiana coasts, could stretch to more than 8,800 square miles his year - about the size of New Jersey - compared with 6,662 square miles in 2006 and nearly double the annual average since 1990 of 4,800 square miles. "Excess nutrients from the Mississippi River watershed during the spring are the primary human-influenced factor behind the expansion of the dead zone." To reverse the pattern, U.S. farmers must plant more perennial crops that trap rainwater and keep it from running into the Gulf of Mexico. And eventually, scientists need to invent new breeds of perennial corn plants that can remain in the soil from one planting season to the next, avoiding the need to strip fields bare and leave them susceptible to flooding.
COLUMBIA - A bus was buried amid a landslide caused by rains, killing at least four people and injuring eight others in central Colombia.
CHINA - Continuous rainstorms triggered a landslide in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Tuesday morning, leaving one person missing and over 100 houses buried.
THAILAND - At least one person was killed and three others injured in landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Tripura Tuesday.
HEAVY SNOW / EXTREME COLD -
GERMANY - Summer snowstorm kills 2 on Bavarian Mountaintop - A fast-moving snowstorm took hundreds of "extreme" runners by surprise during a race in the Bavarian Alps Sunday, killing two and sending six more people to the hospital with severe hypothermia. The deaths occurred during an "extreme run" up the slopes of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak. A 41-year-old man and a 45-year-old man died just 10 minutes from the finish line. "Both died from a combination of hypothermia and fatigue." The two men were running up the mountain along with more than 500 others when a sudden change in the weather brought temperatures below the freezing point. The snap storm also brought strong gusts of wind and even snow. The storm took the participants in the race – many of whom were clad in nothing more than shorts and T-shirts - by surprise. Runners had to press on through ten centimeters of snow in some places. The bad weather limited the ability of rescue helicopters to respond to the distress calls. The race's organizer had warned participants that the weather could get ugly - a forecast on its Web site predicted temperatures at the summit of between three and five degrees and winds up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour. Still, local officials criticized the decision to hold the race despite the bad conditions.
EXTREME HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
CALIFORNIA wildfires SET A RECORD - Three weeks after lightning storms ignited an early start to California’s wildfire season, a state official said history had been made this time around. “That has definitely surpassed any of our large fire events." As many as 1,781 fires were burning at one point earlier in the battle; nearly 300 of them remain unquenched. In all, 861,385 acres were scorched by them, mostly in the northern part of the state. Because this year’s fires were mainly in sparsely populated rural areas, the biggest fire season has by no means been the most destructive, at least so far. The wildfire season still has months left to run. “Historically, we see the most devastating fires in September and October."
FOOD / WATER / SUPPLIES-
ISRAEL - Drought creates tension along both banks of the Jordan - The situation has made it difficult for farms and towns on the Jordanian and Israeli sides of the river to continue farming. Last week the water crisis almost sparked a diplomatic incident between Israel and Jordan. The Jordanians said Israeli farmers dammed the river beside the Adam Bridge (also called the Damia Bridge) and stopped the flow of water southward so they could irrigate their crops. "Over a month ago the drought caused the Jordan River to recede to A LEVEL WE HAVE NEVER SEEN HERE BEFORE.
This caused boulders to appear which looked like a dam or blockage. The Jordanians, whose distress is understandable, thought this caused the shortage of water and that clearing the rocks would change this situation. Israel cleared away the rocks, but the water is not flowing." Israeli farmers are short of water, which is particularly necessary for irrigating their date plantations. "Now is a critical time for irrigation, and the farmers fear their crops will be damaged."
DROUGHT has spread across Iraq and Turkey, Syria, Cyprus, Iran and Afghanistan, where the wheat crop is in trouble and could cause shortages. Overall, Iraq's wheat and barley crop is expected to fall 51 per cent from last year. "Planting...is totally destroyed. Even the ground water in wells is lower than before."
AUSTRALIA - VEGETABLE prices are expected to soar later this winter following a glut caused by a warm spell in one of Australia's largest "food bowls". Farmers in Tasmania's north-west are being forced to leave brassicas such as cauliflowers and broccoli in the field because they're not worth harvesting. UNUSUALLY warm, dry weather has caused staggered crops to produce at the same time, leading to a glut in the market. In the area, which produces one-third of the nation's potatoes, crops intended for harvest over the next five weeks are maturing now all at once. The supply is too much for the market to handle. "It's putting huge pressure on harvesting and storage capacity and there's been plenty of wastage. And, if you've used up your next five weeks supply then in two or three weeks' time, prices will go through the roof because nothing is going to be there. These are highly perishable products that can't be stored for long." Last winter farmers sold cauliflowers for $3 each, but today they are getting $1.60. It roughly costs farmers $1 to grow, harvest and package each cauliflower. Shoppers are being urged to buy up vegetables before prices jump and freeze them whole or cooked with other foods.
AFRICA - A poor rainy season has damaged crops in large parts of Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.
TURMERIC - INDIA - Scanty rains to push turmeric prices up. Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the main turmeric producing states, received lower rainfall compared to long term average, between June 1 and July 9. Cultivation has been delayed due to the lower rainfall. Lower moisture may force farmers to opt for short duration crops like, cotton corn and soyabean, which require less water than turmeric. Unseasonal rains in March cut output in 2007-08.
7/16/08 -
5.2 SOUTHERN QINGHAI, CHINA
5.5 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.5 SAMOA ISLANDS REGION
VOLCANOES -
Sea die-out blamed on volcanoes - Undersea volcanic activity has been blamed for a mass extinction in the seas 93 million years ago. In the so-called "anoxic event" of the late Cretaceous Period, the ocean depths became starved of oxygen, wiping out swathes of marine organisms. At the time of the anoxic event, the average temperature was nearly twice that of today. Palm trees grew in what would later become Alaska and large reptiles roamed northern Canada. The Arctic Ocean was ice-free and scientists think it would have had a temperature we might describe today as lukewarm. After the extinction, levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere dropped and Earth lurched into a sudden, but short-lived, period of cooling. Geologists have pondered for years as to the cause of this extraordinary event. The answer to the cataclysm lies in volcanic eruptions which took place on the ocean floor. One possibility is that the volcanoes spewed out metal-rich fluids that seeded the upper level of the ocean with micronutrients. Tiny life forms on the sea surface, called phytoplankton, gorged on the food, and storing up carbon as they grew. They then sank to the sea floor and decayed, stripping the ocean of oxygen. The other possibility is that the volcanoes disgorged clouds of CO2 to the atmosphere, warming the climate to the extent that Earth's ocean circulation system ground to a near-halt. Beyond the surface layers, water was no longer turned over and anoxia (lack of oxygen) was the result.
HAWAII - The world's most active volcano, Mount Kilauea in Hawaii, has been pouring out lava in a flow so large the heat image has been picked up from space.
TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / ABNORMAL TIDES / RISING SEA LEVELS -
TURKEY - Tsunami warning - Rhodes, Greece was awakened by a 6.4 earthquake yesterday and although initially it was determined as not causing any loss of property, landslides did cause certain roads to be shut down. The earthquake was felt in many locations in Turkey and now specialists have issued a warning. "Due to the risk of a tsunami, stay away from the coast for a few days." "I have have warned of the possibility of a tsunami in Marmaris. Even if the odds are less that one percent, a significant earthquake is possible."
AUSTRALIA - In Fremantle, records from the last 100 years show sea levels along the WA’s coast have already risen about 20cm. Reports point towards an 88cm rise in sea levels by the end of the century, but recent data shows oceans are already warming 50 per cent faster and ice caps melting more quickly than worst case scenario predictions. This could see the South West on track to experience sea levels rising by more than a metre by the end of this century. Bunbury has already witnessed king tides this year, with several jetties on the Leschenault Inlet frequently under water. Yesterday, in response to storms, the plug at the mouth of the inlet was closed to prevent possible flooding in Bunbury. Rising sea levels will lead to one of the biggest threats of climate change - coastal erosion. Every centimetre of sea level rise has a pronounced affect on the coastline, particularly along sandy beaches such as those at Bunbury. “So if we end up with an 88cm sea level rise, that equates to 88m of foreshore gone. Ocean Drive would almost certainly be eroded into the ocean.” People living in coastal areas like Marlston Hill and along Ocean Drive would face being battered by frequent ferocious storms, with current research suggesting storms only experienced every 100 years could become as regular as every 20 years. This figure could increase to every five years if emissions aren’t curbed. And in flood prone areas like East Bunbury, increased storm surges from higher sea levels and fiercer storms could see flooding become more common. The local costs of climate change would include replacing lost infrastructure like roads, power lines and steps and construction of sea walls to reduce the impact on the city.
GREENLAND - A giant wave resulting from ice that melted and dropped from a glacier swept five Danish tourists into the icy Kangerluarsuk Fjord on Greenland's west coast Sunday, killing two. The tragedy occurred while the group of 15 tourists from a boat stood on a plateau at the glacier to take pictures. 'Witnesses said that there was suddenly a loud sound like a helicopter and a huge wave came pouring in on them.' (photo)
Experts expect more glacial waves - Increasing temperatures in the Arctic mean that glacial waves like the one that killed two Danish tourists in Uummannaq, Greenland, this weekend will become much more common, according to ice experts. The phenomenon, known as jokulhlaup, occurs when lakes formed by glacial melt water burst through the ice. A similar phenomenon took place in the Kangerlussuaq area last August. No one was killed, but the event resulted in a large lake being completely drained in 12 hours, spreading large chunks of ice on roads. Jokulhalup occur without warning and typically take place in parts of glaciers where melt water has gathered on top of glaciers, or where glacial lakes have formed. If the floods occur near populated areas, they can shatter bridges, roads and buildings. They can also have a dramatic effect on the terrain and wildlife in unpopulated areas. In a related story, the tourism industry says it will investigate reasons for Sunday's glacial wave in order to ensure that similar accidents do not occur in the future. The national tourism and business council hoped to determine whether this was an isolated incident. 'We need to know if we should warn people against coming too close to glaciers unless you are with an expert.'
ALASKA - Fifty years ago, on July 9, 1958, the largest wave in modern history occurred in Lituya Bay, on the northern Southeast Alaska coast about halfway between Cape Spencer and Yakutat. Initially, the wave - generated by a landslide that itself was generated by a massive 8.3 earthquake that shook the region for more than a thousand miles up and down the coast - reached a height of more than 1,700 feet. It was still nearly 100 feet high when it reached the mouth of the bay seven miles later. When the wave came, two boat crews would survive and one crew would not. Two groups of Canadian climbers narrowly missed being in the bay the night of July 9th. Had they been camped at tidewater as planned, the wave's death toll would have more than 20 rather than only two. Birds sensed the coming disaster in advance - "The high intensity alarm call of thousands of birds echoed through the still bay. They passed over the [boat] Badger and splattered the boat with droppings. Some crashed into the vessel's rigging and plummeted to the deck." Up and down the coast as far as Yakutat and Hoonah, observers would report similar odd behavior by shore birds and other animals. At Yakutat, 80 miles to the north of Lituya, three people out berry picking died instantly when a small island they were on immediately dropped more than two dozen feet under the water. Later measurements determined that a nearby mountain had risen more than 50 feet at the same time. Overall, the earth had moved some 21 feet horizontally and 3.5 feet vertically along most of the fault line. While most earthquakes last only a few seconds, the initial length of the quake was later estimated at more than two minutes. There is evidence of five "giant" waves in this area, created primarily by land or glacier slides, between 1853 and 1958. (photos)
TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm BERTHA was 292 nmi NE of Hamilton, Bermuda.
Hurricane ELIDA was 587 nmi SW of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Tropical storm FAUSTO was 320 nmi SSW of Acapulco, Mexico.
Typhoon KALMAEGI was 188 nmi SSE of Taipei, Taiwan.
National Hurricane Center monitoring four storm systems in the Atlantic - A disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico near Tampa Bay was forecast to move northeast and bring heavy rain to Central Florida. It was not expected to strengthen into a storm.
A strong tropical wave in the Atlantic near the Windward Islands might strengthen into a tropical depression as it moves toward the Caribbean.
Another wave in the Caribbean east of Nicaragua also might develop before hitting Central America; it threatens to bring heavy rain to that region.
And Tropical Storm Bertha, already the longest-surviving tropical system for July, having emerged two weeks ago, continues to move away from Bermuda in the Atlantic.
HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES -
IOWA - last month's record flooding damaged 125 miles of primary highways in Iowa. The numbers don't include damage to city and county streets and roads. Flooding forced the closure of 464 miles of Iowa's primary highway system and 303 bridges and culverts. A full estimate of the cost to repair the highways isn't expected until August. Partial estimates from railroads on flood damage totals nearly $68 million. The state's rail office has counted 17 railroad bridges and several hundred miles of track damaged or destroyed by the floodwaters.
The Gulf of Mexico's "dead zone" - a swath of algae-laden water with oxygen levels low enough to choke out marine life - WILL LIKELY REACH RECORD SIZE this year, and the main culprits are rising ethanol use and massive Midwest flooding. The dead zone, which recurs each year off the Texas and Louisiana coasts, could stretch to more than 8,800 square miles his year - about the size of New Jersey - compared with 6,662 square miles in 2006 and nearly double the annual average since 1990 of 4,800 square miles. "Excess nutrients from the Mississippi River watershed during the spring are the primary human-influenced factor behind the expansion of the dead zone." To reverse the pattern, U.S. farmers must plant more perennial crops that trap rainwater and keep it from running into the Gulf of Mexico. And eventually, scientists need to invent new breeds of perennial corn plants that can remain in the soil from one planting season to the next, avoiding the need to strip fields bare and leave them susceptible to flooding.
COLUMBIA - A bus was buried amid a landslide caused by rains, killing at least four people and injuring eight others in central Colombia.
CHINA - Continuous rainstorms triggered a landslide in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Tuesday morning, leaving one person missing and over 100 houses buried.
THAILAND - At least one person was killed and three others injured in landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Tripura Tuesday.
HEAVY SNOW / EXTREME COLD -
GERMANY - Summer snowstorm kills 2 on Bavarian Mountaintop - A fast-moving snowstorm took hundreds of "extreme" runners by surprise during a race in the Bavarian Alps Sunday, killing two and sending six more people to the hospital with severe hypothermia. The deaths occurred during an "extreme run" up the slopes of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak. A 41-year-old man and a 45-year-old man died just 10 minutes from the finish line. "Both died from a combination of hypothermia and fatigue." The two men were running up the mountain along with more than 500 others when a sudden change in the weather brought temperatures below the freezing point. The snap storm also brought strong gusts of wind and even snow. The storm took the participants in the race – many of whom were clad in nothing more than shorts and T-shirts - by surprise. Runners had to press on through ten centimeters of snow in some places. The bad weather limited the ability of rescue helicopters to respond to the distress calls. The race's organizer had warned participants that the weather could get ugly - a forecast on its Web site predicted temperatures at the summit of between three and five degrees and winds up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour. Still, local officials criticized the decision to hold the race despite the bad conditions.
EXTREME HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
CALIFORNIA wildfires SET A RECORD - Three weeks after lightning storms ignited an early start to California’s wildfire season, a state official said history had been made this time around. “That has definitely surpassed any of our large fire events." As many as 1,781 fires were burning at one point earlier in the battle; nearly 300 of them remain unquenched. In all, 861,385 acres were scorched by them, mostly in the northern part of the state. Because this year’s fires were mainly in sparsely populated rural areas, the biggest fire season has by no means been the most destructive, at least so far. The wildfire season still has months left to run. “Historically, we see the most devastating fires in September and October."
FOOD / WATER / SUPPLIES-
ISRAEL - Drought creates tension along both banks of the Jordan - The situation has made it difficult for farms and towns on the Jordanian and Israeli sides of the river to continue farming. Last week the water crisis almost sparked a diplomatic incident between Israel and Jordan. The Jordanians said Israeli farmers dammed the river beside the Adam Bridge (also called the Damia Bridge) and stopped the flow of water southward so they could irrigate their crops. "Over a month ago the drought caused the Jordan River to recede to A LEVEL WE HAVE NEVER SEEN HERE BEFORE.
This caused boulders to appear which looked like a dam or blockage. The Jordanians, whose distress is understandable, thought this caused the shortage of water and that clearing the rocks would change this situation. Israel cleared away the rocks, but the water is not flowing." Israeli farmers are short of water, which is particularly necessary for irrigating their date plantations. "Now is a critical time for irrigation, and the farmers fear their crops will be damaged."
DROUGHT has spread across Iraq and Turkey, Syria, Cyprus, Iran and Afghanistan, where the wheat crop is in trouble and could cause shortages. Overall, Iraq's wheat and barley crop is expected to fall 51 per cent from last year. "Planting...is totally destroyed. Even the ground water in wells is lower than before."
AUSTRALIA - VEGETABLE prices are expected to soar later this winter following a glut caused by a warm spell in one of Australia's largest "food bowls". Farmers in Tasmania's north-west are being forced to leave brassicas such as cauliflowers and broccoli in the field because they're not worth harvesting. UNUSUALLY warm, dry weather has caused staggered crops to produce at the same time, leading to a glut in the market. In the area, which produces one-third of the nation's potatoes, crops intended for harvest over the next five weeks are maturing now all at once. The supply is too much for the market to handle. "It's putting huge pressure on harvesting and storage capacity and there's been plenty of wastage. And, if you've used up your next five weeks supply then in two or three weeks' time, prices will go through the roof because nothing is going to be there. These are highly perishable products that can't be stored for long." Last winter farmers sold cauliflowers for $3 each, but today they are getting $1.60. It roughly costs farmers $1 to grow, harvest and package each cauliflower. Shoppers are being urged to buy up vegetables before prices jump and freeze them whole or cooked with other foods.
AFRICA - A poor rainy season has damaged crops in large parts of Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.
TURMERIC - INDIA - Scanty rains to push turmeric prices up. Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the main turmeric producing states, received lower rainfall compared to long term average, between June 1 and July 9. Cultivation has been delayed due to the lower rainfall. Lower moisture may force farmers to opt for short duration crops like, cotton corn and soyabean, which require less water than turmeric. Unseasonal rains in March cut output in 2007-08.
A tropical low that has been churning over the warm waters off the Southeast coast developed into the third tropical depression in the Atlantic for 2008. It was named a tropical depression at 11 p.m EDT on Friday. Little wind shear overhead made the atmosphere more conducive for tropical development, allowing the tropical low to become more organized into a depression. Favorable conditions for more development are expected to continue.
By Saturday afternoon, the depression is projected to become Tropical Storm Cristobal.
Whether is develops further into a storm or not, it will continue to deliver drenching thunderstorms to the Southeast coast. It will also create rough surf and dangerous rip currents from the Georgia coast to the coastal Carolinas.
Story by AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Meghan Evans.
By Saturday afternoon, the depression is projected to become Tropical Storm Cristobal.
Whether is develops further into a storm or not, it will continue to deliver drenching thunderstorms to the Southeast coast. It will also create rough surf and dangerous rip currents from the Georgia coast to the coastal Carolinas.
Story by AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Meghan Evans.
Severe thunderstorms will hit portions of the Great Plains and Midwest Saturday and Saturday night. The storms will feed off hot and humid air from the south. Some residents within the storm area will be subjected to gusts to 65 mph and hail the size of golf balls. Keep in mind, however, that severe weather is very much hit or miss and often less than 5 percent of the total area experiences anything damaging. On the other hand, most of the people living in the outlined area can expect to see at least one thunderstorm Saturday or Saturday night.
Story By AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist John Kocet.
Story By AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist John Kocet.
MAP 5.3 2008/07/19 02:47:31 37.579 142.282 35.0 OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
MAP 7.0 2008/07/19 02:39:30 37.615 142.115 27.0 OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
MAP 5.6 2008/07/19 09:34:30 -11.031 164.493 32.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
MAP 6.7 2008/07/19 09:27:05 -11.041 164.490 38.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
MAP 7.0 2008/07/19 02:39:30 37.615 142.115 27.0 OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
MAP 5.6 2008/07/19 09:34:30 -11.031 164.493 32.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
MAP 6.7 2008/07/19 09:27:05 -11.041 164.490 38.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
MAP 5.3 2008/07/19 11:45:41 -10.989 164.667 10.0 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
MAP 5.2 2008/07/19 11:15:29 -11.020 164.487 43.2 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
MAP 6.3 2008/07/19 11:01:22 -11.078 164.456 43.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
MAP 5.6 2008/07/19 09:34:30 -11.031 164.493 32.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
MAP 6.7 2008/07/19 09:27:05 -11.041 164.490 38.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
MAP 5.2 2008/07/19 11:15:29 -11.020 164.487 43.2 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
MAP 6.3 2008/07/19 11:01:22 -11.078 164.456 43.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
MAP 5.6 2008/07/19 09:34:30 -11.031 164.493 32.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
MAP 6.7 2008/07/19 09:27:05 -11.041 164.490 38.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Winds in a tropical depression that formed late Friday near the Carolina coast were approaching tropical storm strength Saturday, the National Hurricane Center said.
Tropical Depression 3 is expected to bring large amounts of rain to coastal North and South Carolina.
Tropical storm watches and warnings were issued for coastal North and South Carolina as Tropical Depression 3 inched closer.
A tropical storm warning -- meaning that tropical storm conditions with maximum winds of 39 mph are expected within the next 24 hours -- was issued for an area from South Santee River, South Carolina, to the North Carolina-Virginia line.
A tropical storm watch previously in effect from north of Edisto Beach, South Carolina, to South Santee River was canceled as of 11 a.m. Saturday, forecasters said.
As of 11 a.m. Saturday, the center of TD 3 was about 90 miles east of Charleston, South Carolina, and about 250 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
It was moving northeast at about 7 mph, hurricane center forecasters said Saturday. "On this track, the center of the depression is expected to move along the coasts of South and North Carolina today and tomorrow."
The depression's winds had strengthened to near 35 mph with higher gusts. "The depression could become a tropical storm later today, with continued strengthening possible on Sunday," the NHC said.
If the storm reaches tropical storm status, it will be dubbed Cristobal.
The depression is expected to dump up to 5 inches of rain along the coastal Carolinas.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Bertha stubbornly refused to dissipate in the northern Atlantic. After its winds decreased to tropical storm strength, the storm became a hurricane once more.
As of early Saturday, the storm was about 450 miles southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland, the NHC said. Its maximum sustained winds were near 75 mph with higher gusts.
"Bertha should slowly weaken over the next couple of days and begin to lose tropical characteristics later today," the NHC said Saturday.
Bertha, the first hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic season, formed July 3 in the eastern Atlantic and dealt a glancing blow to Bermuda before heading north.
The storm has set several records, including becoming the longest-lived tropical cyclone on record during July, and the third-strongest July storm on record, behind Dennis and Emily in the 2005 hurricane season.
Tropical Depression 3 is expected to bring large amounts of rain to coastal North and South Carolina.
Tropical storm watches and warnings were issued for coastal North and South Carolina as Tropical Depression 3 inched closer.
A tropical storm warning -- meaning that tropical storm conditions with maximum winds of 39 mph are expected within the next 24 hours -- was issued for an area from South Santee River, South Carolina, to the North Carolina-Virginia line.
A tropical storm watch previously in effect from north of Edisto Beach, South Carolina, to South Santee River was canceled as of 11 a.m. Saturday, forecasters said.
As of 11 a.m. Saturday, the center of TD 3 was about 90 miles east of Charleston, South Carolina, and about 250 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
It was moving northeast at about 7 mph, hurricane center forecasters said Saturday. "On this track, the center of the depression is expected to move along the coasts of South and North Carolina today and tomorrow."
The depression's winds had strengthened to near 35 mph with higher gusts. "The depression could become a tropical storm later today, with continued strengthening possible on Sunday," the NHC said.
If the storm reaches tropical storm status, it will be dubbed Cristobal.
The depression is expected to dump up to 5 inches of rain along the coastal Carolinas.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Bertha stubbornly refused to dissipate in the northern Atlantic. After its winds decreased to tropical storm strength, the storm became a hurricane once more.
As of early Saturday, the storm was about 450 miles southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland, the NHC said. Its maximum sustained winds were near 75 mph with higher gusts.
"Bertha should slowly weaken over the next couple of days and begin to lose tropical characteristics later today," the NHC said Saturday.
Bertha, the first hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic season, formed July 3 in the eastern Atlantic and dealt a glancing blow to Bermuda before heading north.
The storm has set several records, including becoming the longest-lived tropical cyclone on record during July, and the third-strongest July storm on record, behind Dennis and Emily in the 2005 hurricane season.
THREE At Once
Bertha
Cristobal
Dolly
Bertha will churn into Russia
Cristobal goes north up the US East Coast
Dolly goes Texas/New Mexico
=============
The Birth of Dolly
Updated: Sunday, July 20, 2008 1:30 PM
A strong tropical wave intensified around midday Sunday into Tropical Storm Dolly, the fourth named storm in the Atlantic Basin. Dolly formed over the warm waters of the western Caribbean. Dolly will continue trekking northwestward towards the Yucatan Peninsula, making landfall Sunday night near Punta Allen around midnight EDT.
Dolly will weaken some over the Yucatan Peninsula, but will still inundate the region with heavy rain through Monday. The 4 to 6 inches of rain that Dolly will drop could result in widespread flash flooding and landslides. Gusty winds will also howl along Dolly's path.
Dolly will emerge into the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Monday. The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane the following day as it approaches the northeastern Mexico coast.
Story by AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Kristina Baker
Bertha
Cristobal
Dolly
Bertha will churn into Russia
Cristobal goes north up the US East Coast
Dolly goes Texas/New Mexico
=============
The Birth of Dolly
Updated: Sunday, July 20, 2008 1:30 PM
A strong tropical wave intensified around midday Sunday into Tropical Storm Dolly, the fourth named storm in the Atlantic Basin. Dolly formed over the warm waters of the western Caribbean. Dolly will continue trekking northwestward towards the Yucatan Peninsula, making landfall Sunday night near Punta Allen around midnight EDT.
Dolly will weaken some over the Yucatan Peninsula, but will still inundate the region with heavy rain through Monday. The 4 to 6 inches of rain that Dolly will drop could result in widespread flash flooding and landslides. Gusty winds will also howl along Dolly's path.
Dolly will emerge into the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Monday. The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane the following day as it approaches the northeastern Mexico coast.
Story by AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Kristina Baker
Largest quakes yesterday -
7/19/08 -
5.4 SOUTHWEST OF SUMATRA, INDONESIA
6.4 FIJI REGION
5.2 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
5.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
6.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
5.5 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
6.8 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
5.4 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
6.8 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
7/18/08 -
5.0 KURIL ISLANDS
5.0 SOUTHERN XINJIANG, CHINA
7/17/08 -
5.7 OFF COAST OF OREGON
5.5 OFF COAST OF OREGON
5.1 EASTERN SICHUAN, CHINA
JAPAN - A strong, magnitude 6.8 earthquake Saturday struck an offshore area of Japan about 190 miles northeast of Tokyo. The quake triggered a small tsunami - a 20-centimetre-high tsunami was observed in Miyagi and other coastal areas north of Tokyo. An aftershock measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale hit northern Japan shortly after the first jolt. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
CHINA - A 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China early Friday striking the area devastated by the massive May quake. More than two months after the devastation of the 8.0 magnitude Wenchuan earthquake, the psychological scars of the earthquake and its aftermath are only beginning to heal for those who were affected by the massive tremor. In addition to the millions of survivors in Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, the endangered giant panda are also recovering from the traumatic experience. China's largest giant panda breeding base at Wolong was only 30 kilometers from Wenchuan. Initially three young panda females were transported out of Wolong to another base in Ya'an, Sichuan. Due to continuous aftershocks and landslides, it was decided that the pandas would be moved to Kunming, where it is hoped they will recover over the next two years from what is essentially post-traumatic stress disorder. The Wenchuan quake was catastrophic for the Wolong reserve, where 150 pandas had been living. More than a dozen of the base's 32 pens were destroyed, five pandas went missing and one died. Recent thunder in Kunming has had a startling effect on the pandas, who are having the same reactions to thunder as they did to the aftershocks and landslides in Sichuan. (photos)
VOLCANOES -
ALASKA - Okmok Volcano in Alaska continues to produce explosions and ash plumes through a newly created vent and poses hazards to air travel in the area. The gas cloud from the eruption is now over Montana. Human visual observations are limited because airborne ash obscures a view of what is happening inside the volcano's 6-mile-diameter caldera and the area is too hazardous to enter. "We are dealing with a scientific challenge because the volcano went from very quiet to a large eruption, putting ash to high altitudes with almost no warning." The powerful eruption in the Eastern Aleutian Islands began unexpectedly on July 12, sending up a wet, ash and gas-rich plume that reached an altitude of 50,000 ft above sea level. Heavy ash fall occurred on eastern Umnak Island. A dusting of ash fell in the busy fishing community of Unalaska, 65 miles northeast of Okmok volcano. The ash plume soon spanned several hundred miles across the North Pacific, causing many trans-Pacific flights to be diverted and cancellation of flights to the Dutch Harbor airport. The eruption also destroyed or damaged seismic and deformation sensing equipment at two monitoring stations. A third station has lost its communication pathway due to destruction at the other two. Seven seismic stations are still operational and seismicity has gradually decreased in intensity since the initial eruption. At a minimum, activity at Okmok is likely to continue for days or weeks. Strong gas-driven explosions can produce rock ballistics or larger volcanic debris that can be hurled beyond the crater rim of the volcanic caldera, potentially landing in surrounding areas several miles away. Fast moving clouds of ash, larger debris, and hot gas can form and flow across the caldera floor, rise up over the caldera wall and continue to flow down Okmok's flanks. Rain mixed with ash could create mudflows and rapid flooding along island drainages. The Okmok caldera formed during catastrophic eruptions 12,000 and 2,000 years ago.
TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / ABNORMAL TIDES / RISING SEA LEVELS -
PHILIPPINES - Big waves destroy pumpboat; 5 fishermen rescued - The pumpboat was on its way to Lapu-Lapu City when it was battered by big waves as it passed the waters off Camotes Island past 12 a.m. Friday. The pumpboat was destroyed but the passengers managed to jump off the ship before it sank. The five survivors were fished out of the water by fishermen from the coastal village of Esperanza in the town of San Francisco after less than an hour of floating in the murky, dark water. The weather was fine when they sailed off but the waves suddenly got bigger as they were approaching Camotes Island. The survivors were shaky for a few hours as the recent tragedy involving the MV Princess of the Stars was still fresh in their minds.
LOUISIANA - Pounded by hurricanes, washed by waves, 2nd oldest US wildlife refuge in jeopardy - The Chandeleur and Breton islands, a chain of barrier islands southeast of New Orleans, have been battered by hurricanes in the past four years and they took a pounding from Hurricane Katrina, which reduced the islands by one-half of their pre-storm size. "Circumstances are now at a turning point. We can either let things continue to deteriorate or we can expand restoration efforts." What was once a continuous strip of land in 1915, where beaches were backed up by high dunes and shrubbery made up of black mangrove and groundsel bush, is now a patchwork of low-lying sand bars rising just above the sea. The islands are important nesting grounds for a variety of birds. But the fate of the islands may be beyond whatever humans can do.
TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm BERTHA was 774 nmi NW of Lajes, Azores.
Tropical storm CRISTOBAL was 35 nmi SE of Wilmington, North Carolina.
Tropical storm DOLLY just formed south of Cuba.
Tropical depression ELIDA was 1328 nmi W of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Hurricane FAUSTO was 414 nmi S of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
TAIWAN - Thousands of search and rescue workers are in full swing after Tropical Storm Kalmaegi wreaked havoc across Taiwan, killing 15 people, injuring 8 and leaving 10 missing. Those killed were either drowned by rising floods or buried alive by mud- and rock-slides, in casualties surprising the government as the typhoon was considered a relatively small one. The typhoon has also created 310 million Taiwan dollars (10.2 million US dollars) in agricultural damage. At least five low-lying areas in central and southern Taiwan were still inundated by floods brought by torrential rains brought by the typhoon. Kalmaegi began to approach south-east Taiwan Wednesday and moved up north along the east coast, dumping some 900 millimetres of rain on southern and central Taiwan. The downpour, said to be THE WORST IN A DECADE, caused landslides and flooding in mountainous regions in central and south Taiwan and left some city streets flooded knee-deep. The eye of the storm crossed the northern tip of Taiwan Friday morning, and moved to southern China, moving along the Chinese coast.
NORTH CAROLINA - Tropical Storm Cristobal, the first tropical storm to menace the Southeast seaboard this hurricane season, sent outer bands of intermittent rain lashing the eastern Carolinas late Saturday as forecasters predicted it could dump several inches in some areas of drought-stricken North Carolina. Cristobal's winds were not expected to be a problem. "Basically the track is running parallel to the coast. Slow strengthening is forecast for the next day or two."
BERMUDA - Forecasters say that it is EXTREMELY RARE for Bermuda to be in the path of a named storm this early in the season. Bermudians are accustomed to heavy storms in September and October, but few can remember stocking up for a possible hurricane as early as July. Although Bertha only clipped the island - and had lost much of its power before it did so - the storm is still alive over the Atlantic. "Bertha is setting records. In the past five or six years, we have seen storms set record after record, and there is no reason to believe that will not keep happening. In terms of Bertha, it is very, very rare for a hurricane to form that far east this early in the hurricane season." As global warming increases the temperature of the oceans, one result will be more "freak" storms - hurricanes that form in unusual places or are of unprecedented strength or longevity. "We can't necessarily say there will be more hurricanes, but what people are beginning to realize is that there will be more freak weather patterns, which is what we have with Bertha."
JAMAICA - A Flash Flood Watch has been extended to include low-lying and flood-prone areas of all parishes, until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow, as rainfall spreads across the island. A very active tropical wave currently in the vicinity of Jamaica will continue to influence weather conditions as it begins to drift westward, away from the island, tonight. Meanwhile, the instability produced by the system will persist across sections of the country and its territorial waters through tonight and into tomorrow afternoon.
BELIZE - A tropical wave crossed the country Friday. The Weather Bureau estimated it would dump 2 to 4 inches of rain on Belize. But right behind that tropical wave, there is another one which shows sign of development.
COLD -
NEW JERSEY - The ocean water has been UNUSUALLY cold for bathers in recent weeks. “On the incoming tide, temperatures have been as low as 56 degrees. It’s VERY UNUSUAL for this time of year."
EXTREME HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
RUSSIA - A difficult fire situation has emerged in Yakutia. The smoke from forest fires reached Yakutsk where more than 15,000 hectares of forests are ablaze. As compared with same period last year, the number fires in the republic has increased about fivefold. As many as 198 forest fires broke out since the beginning of the fire-prone season. ABNORMAL heat is deteriorating the situation. Even in Verkhoyansk, in the Polar region, the air temperature skyrocketed to 33.3 degrees above zero. This heat spell was reported for the FIRST TIME EVER IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF WEATHER OBSERVATION.
CALIFORNA - Lightning strikes: get used to catastrophic wildfires and worse - In California there were 8,000 lightning strikes in one event, and that was months before fire season. There is more of that in store across the West. In late June, an ahead-of-schedule dry lightning event sparked more than 8,000 strikes across California, setting off over 800 fires, 38 of which are still burning. According to a study published in Science last year, the Southwest region of the United States will enter permanent drought by 2050, and that's being optimistic. The seven states dependent upon the Colorado River Basin - Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and California - will most likely war over what remains of its diminishing water resources. The region's thirsty population will also be beset by rampant firestorms, as portions of the snowpack that remains bypass the liquid stage and evaporate into thin, dry air. Dry lightning strikes in June might be "climatologically rare" now, but thanks to global warming, they will soon be utterly logical. "In the Rocky Mountains, fire season has grown by almost two months over the past decade as a result of climbing temperatures."
Winemakers in Napa and Sonoma Counties are among those concerned the smoke from northern California wildfires may hurt this year's grape crop.
HAWAII - Record-tying and RECORD-BREAKING temperatures continued to be set in Hawaii.
AUSTRALIA - Drought threatens drinking water for a million Australians - the situation is critical in the Murray-Darling system, which provides water to Australia's "food bowl", a vast expanse of land almost twice as big as France that runs down the continent's east coast. "We are in real trouble in the Murray-Darling basin. We've had very low inflows, we've had a very dry June and the focus absolutely has to be critical human needs, that is the needs of the million-plus people who rely on the basin for drinking water. It just reminds us, yet again, the way in which this country, Australia, is particularly vulnerable to climate change." Australia is in the grip of THE WORST DROUGHT IN A CENTURY, which has stretched for more than seven years in some areas and has forced restrictions on water usage in the country's major cities. The Murray-Darling system, accounting for more than 40 percent of the gross value of Australia's agricultural production, should provide enough drinking water for 2008-09. But federal and state government officials warned there could be problems supplying drinking water after that if rains did not come. Australia is in for a tenfold increase in heat waves as climate change pushes temperatures up. Exceptionally hot years, which used to occur once every 22 years, will occur every one or two years, virtually making drought a permanent part of the Australian landscape.
7/19/08 -
5.4 SOUTHWEST OF SUMATRA, INDONESIA
6.4 FIJI REGION
5.2 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
5.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
6.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
5.5 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
6.8 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
5.4 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
6.8 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
7/18/08 -
5.0 KURIL ISLANDS
5.0 SOUTHERN XINJIANG, CHINA
7/17/08 -
5.7 OFF COAST OF OREGON
5.5 OFF COAST OF OREGON
5.1 EASTERN SICHUAN, CHINA
JAPAN - A strong, magnitude 6.8 earthquake Saturday struck an offshore area of Japan about 190 miles northeast of Tokyo. The quake triggered a small tsunami - a 20-centimetre-high tsunami was observed in Miyagi and other coastal areas north of Tokyo. An aftershock measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale hit northern Japan shortly after the first jolt. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
CHINA - A 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China early Friday striking the area devastated by the massive May quake. More than two months after the devastation of the 8.0 magnitude Wenchuan earthquake, the psychological scars of the earthquake and its aftermath are only beginning to heal for those who were affected by the massive tremor. In addition to the millions of survivors in Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, the endangered giant panda are also recovering from the traumatic experience. China's largest giant panda breeding base at Wolong was only 30 kilometers from Wenchuan. Initially three young panda females were transported out of Wolong to another base in Ya'an, Sichuan. Due to continuous aftershocks and landslides, it was decided that the pandas would be moved to Kunming, where it is hoped they will recover over the next two years from what is essentially post-traumatic stress disorder. The Wenchuan quake was catastrophic for the Wolong reserve, where 150 pandas had been living. More than a dozen of the base's 32 pens were destroyed, five pandas went missing and one died. Recent thunder in Kunming has had a startling effect on the pandas, who are having the same reactions to thunder as they did to the aftershocks and landslides in Sichuan. (photos)
VOLCANOES -
ALASKA - Okmok Volcano in Alaska continues to produce explosions and ash plumes through a newly created vent and poses hazards to air travel in the area. The gas cloud from the eruption is now over Montana. Human visual observations are limited because airborne ash obscures a view of what is happening inside the volcano's 6-mile-diameter caldera and the area is too hazardous to enter. "We are dealing with a scientific challenge because the volcano went from very quiet to a large eruption, putting ash to high altitudes with almost no warning." The powerful eruption in the Eastern Aleutian Islands began unexpectedly on July 12, sending up a wet, ash and gas-rich plume that reached an altitude of 50,000 ft above sea level. Heavy ash fall occurred on eastern Umnak Island. A dusting of ash fell in the busy fishing community of Unalaska, 65 miles northeast of Okmok volcano. The ash plume soon spanned several hundred miles across the North Pacific, causing many trans-Pacific flights to be diverted and cancellation of flights to the Dutch Harbor airport. The eruption also destroyed or damaged seismic and deformation sensing equipment at two monitoring stations. A third station has lost its communication pathway due to destruction at the other two. Seven seismic stations are still operational and seismicity has gradually decreased in intensity since the initial eruption. At a minimum, activity at Okmok is likely to continue for days or weeks. Strong gas-driven explosions can produce rock ballistics or larger volcanic debris that can be hurled beyond the crater rim of the volcanic caldera, potentially landing in surrounding areas several miles away. Fast moving clouds of ash, larger debris, and hot gas can form and flow across the caldera floor, rise up over the caldera wall and continue to flow down Okmok's flanks. Rain mixed with ash could create mudflows and rapid flooding along island drainages. The Okmok caldera formed during catastrophic eruptions 12,000 and 2,000 years ago.
TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / ABNORMAL TIDES / RISING SEA LEVELS -
PHILIPPINES - Big waves destroy pumpboat; 5 fishermen rescued - The pumpboat was on its way to Lapu-Lapu City when it was battered by big waves as it passed the waters off Camotes Island past 12 a.m. Friday. The pumpboat was destroyed but the passengers managed to jump off the ship before it sank. The five survivors were fished out of the water by fishermen from the coastal village of Esperanza in the town of San Francisco after less than an hour of floating in the murky, dark water. The weather was fine when they sailed off but the waves suddenly got bigger as they were approaching Camotes Island. The survivors were shaky for a few hours as the recent tragedy involving the MV Princess of the Stars was still fresh in their minds.
LOUISIANA - Pounded by hurricanes, washed by waves, 2nd oldest US wildlife refuge in jeopardy - The Chandeleur and Breton islands, a chain of barrier islands southeast of New Orleans, have been battered by hurricanes in the past four years and they took a pounding from Hurricane Katrina, which reduced the islands by one-half of their pre-storm size. "Circumstances are now at a turning point. We can either let things continue to deteriorate or we can expand restoration efforts." What was once a continuous strip of land in 1915, where beaches were backed up by high dunes and shrubbery made up of black mangrove and groundsel bush, is now a patchwork of low-lying sand bars rising just above the sea. The islands are important nesting grounds for a variety of birds. But the fate of the islands may be beyond whatever humans can do.
TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm BERTHA was 774 nmi NW of Lajes, Azores.
Tropical storm CRISTOBAL was 35 nmi SE of Wilmington, North Carolina.
Tropical storm DOLLY just formed south of Cuba.
Tropical depression ELIDA was 1328 nmi W of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Hurricane FAUSTO was 414 nmi S of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
TAIWAN - Thousands of search and rescue workers are in full swing after Tropical Storm Kalmaegi wreaked havoc across Taiwan, killing 15 people, injuring 8 and leaving 10 missing. Those killed were either drowned by rising floods or buried alive by mud- and rock-slides, in casualties surprising the government as the typhoon was considered a relatively small one. The typhoon has also created 310 million Taiwan dollars (10.2 million US dollars) in agricultural damage. At least five low-lying areas in central and southern Taiwan were still inundated by floods brought by torrential rains brought by the typhoon. Kalmaegi began to approach south-east Taiwan Wednesday and moved up north along the east coast, dumping some 900 millimetres of rain on southern and central Taiwan. The downpour, said to be THE WORST IN A DECADE, caused landslides and flooding in mountainous regions in central and south Taiwan and left some city streets flooded knee-deep. The eye of the storm crossed the northern tip of Taiwan Friday morning, and moved to southern China, moving along the Chinese coast.
NORTH CAROLINA - Tropical Storm Cristobal, the first tropical storm to menace the Southeast seaboard this hurricane season, sent outer bands of intermittent rain lashing the eastern Carolinas late Saturday as forecasters predicted it could dump several inches in some areas of drought-stricken North Carolina. Cristobal's winds were not expected to be a problem. "Basically the track is running parallel to the coast. Slow strengthening is forecast for the next day or two."
BERMUDA - Forecasters say that it is EXTREMELY RARE for Bermuda to be in the path of a named storm this early in the season. Bermudians are accustomed to heavy storms in September and October, but few can remember stocking up for a possible hurricane as early as July. Although Bertha only clipped the island - and had lost much of its power before it did so - the storm is still alive over the Atlantic. "Bertha is setting records. In the past five or six years, we have seen storms set record after record, and there is no reason to believe that will not keep happening. In terms of Bertha, it is very, very rare for a hurricane to form that far east this early in the hurricane season." As global warming increases the temperature of the oceans, one result will be more "freak" storms - hurricanes that form in unusual places or are of unprecedented strength or longevity. "We can't necessarily say there will be more hurricanes, but what people are beginning to realize is that there will be more freak weather patterns, which is what we have with Bertha."
JAMAICA - A Flash Flood Watch has been extended to include low-lying and flood-prone areas of all parishes, until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow, as rainfall spreads across the island. A very active tropical wave currently in the vicinity of Jamaica will continue to influence weather conditions as it begins to drift westward, away from the island, tonight. Meanwhile, the instability produced by the system will persist across sections of the country and its territorial waters through tonight and into tomorrow afternoon.
BELIZE - A tropical wave crossed the country Friday. The Weather Bureau estimated it would dump 2 to 4 inches of rain on Belize. But right behind that tropical wave, there is another one which shows sign of development.
COLD -
NEW JERSEY - The ocean water has been UNUSUALLY cold for bathers in recent weeks. “On the incoming tide, temperatures have been as low as 56 degrees. It’s VERY UNUSUAL for this time of year."
EXTREME HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
RUSSIA - A difficult fire situation has emerged in Yakutia. The smoke from forest fires reached Yakutsk where more than 15,000 hectares of forests are ablaze. As compared with same period last year, the number fires in the republic has increased about fivefold. As many as 198 forest fires broke out since the beginning of the fire-prone season. ABNORMAL heat is deteriorating the situation. Even in Verkhoyansk, in the Polar region, the air temperature skyrocketed to 33.3 degrees above zero. This heat spell was reported for the FIRST TIME EVER IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF WEATHER OBSERVATION.
CALIFORNA - Lightning strikes: get used to catastrophic wildfires and worse - In California there were 8,000 lightning strikes in one event, and that was months before fire season. There is more of that in store across the West. In late June, an ahead-of-schedule dry lightning event sparked more than 8,000 strikes across California, setting off over 800 fires, 38 of which are still burning. According to a study published in Science last year, the Southwest region of the United States will enter permanent drought by 2050, and that's being optimistic. The seven states dependent upon the Colorado River Basin - Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and California - will most likely war over what remains of its diminishing water resources. The region's thirsty population will also be beset by rampant firestorms, as portions of the snowpack that remains bypass the liquid stage and evaporate into thin, dry air. Dry lightning strikes in June might be "climatologically rare" now, but thanks to global warming, they will soon be utterly logical. "In the Rocky Mountains, fire season has grown by almost two months over the past decade as a result of climbing temperatures."
Winemakers in Napa and Sonoma Counties are among those concerned the smoke from northern California wildfires may hurt this year's grape crop.
HAWAII - Record-tying and RECORD-BREAKING temperatures continued to be set in Hawaii.
AUSTRALIA - Drought threatens drinking water for a million Australians - the situation is critical in the Murray-Darling system, which provides water to Australia's "food bowl", a vast expanse of land almost twice as big as France that runs down the continent's east coast. "We are in real trouble in the Murray-Darling basin. We've had very low inflows, we've had a very dry June and the focus absolutely has to be critical human needs, that is the needs of the million-plus people who rely on the basin for drinking water. It just reminds us, yet again, the way in which this country, Australia, is particularly vulnerable to climate change." Australia is in the grip of THE WORST DROUGHT IN A CENTURY, which has stretched for more than seven years in some areas and has forced restrictions on water usage in the country's major cities. The Murray-Darling system, accounting for more than 40 percent of the gross value of Australia's agricultural production, should provide enough drinking water for 2008-09. But federal and state government officials warned there could be problems supplying drinking water after that if rains did not come. Australia is in for a tenfold increase in heat waves as climate change pushes temperatures up. Exceptionally hot years, which used to occur once every 22 years, will occur every one or two years, virtually making drought a permanent part of the Australian landscape.
Warning: DestructiveHurricane -Tornedo(Justice)
QUOTE (Justice @ Jul 21 2008, 05:34 AM)
My friend, it is only dark when I open my eyes, but when I close them, the light is overwhelming.
But what use is it to live in a world that is totally covered in darkness?
But what use is it to live in a world that is totally covered in darkness?
Justice:
You need to turn to the Lord! You need Jesus! Prayers!
You are also hurting and hurting others -bigtime! there are pms. Stop-it!
JUstice:
QUOTE
IrishRose
No offense, Justice, but really, think of what you are doing here, you are nitpicking on everything everyone is saying and you are being kind of mean about the way you are saying it. If you don't like something someone says, PM them... this is not acceptable, and take this from a friend, okay? I know you're going through a lot, but you don't ask someone if they are on drugs.. we are CHRISTIANS here. Please think before you say things that could hurt someone, okay? I care.
No offense, Justice, but really, think of what you are doing here, you are nitpicking on everything everyone is saying and you are being kind of mean about the way you are saying it. If you don't like something someone says, PM them... this is not acceptable, and take this from a friend, okay? I know you're going through a lot, but you don't ask someone if they are on drugs.. we are CHRISTIANS here. Please think before you say things that could hurt someone, okay? I care.
QUOTE
One of HIs handmaidens
..............................unkind words.........and uncalled for........name calling is unbecoming and unloving.
..............................unkind words.........and uncalled for........name calling is unbecoming and unloving.
This was a pm to me about Justice:
QUOTE
If my venturing out to share on the board is wrong, then I will stop. If asking for prayer is wrong, I will go. I won't even think twice, and leave...I have enough condemnation in my life already, I don't need anymore.
I NEVER have been popular - I don't seek it - in fact, I have tended to be a loner...I have always been considered "odd", different... That is why posting as I have in the past couple months has been SO different for me. It was nice to think I could actually share things I have been learning.
Well, so much for that I guess.
I need a LOT of prayerful insight right now, and anything you might be able to help me with I would appreciate... You see, the PM to me by Justice could not have come at a worse time...
I NEVER have been popular - I don't seek it - in fact, I have tended to be a loner...I have always been considered "odd", different... That is why posting as I have in the past couple months has been SO different for me. It was nice to think I could actually share things I have been learning.
Well, so much for that I guess.
I need a LOT of prayerful insight right now, and anything you might be able to help me with I would appreciate... You see, the PM to me by Justice could not have come at a worse time...
Largest quakes yesterday -
7/21/08 -
5.9 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.2 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
VOLCANOES -
Much of Earth's oil reserves can be traced to a single volcanic eruption, scientists say. A new study suggests that a massive undersea volcano eruption 93 million years ago was the source of much of the world’s oil. According to the study, lava fountains from the ancient eruption changed oceanic chemistry, triggering widespread extinction of marine life. This happened in a two-step process: First, as the volcano erupted, nutrients were released into the ocean, encouraging the growth of vegetation and the feeding and reproduction of marine organisms. As this overgrowth of new plant and animal populations died off, the decomposing organic matter released clouds of carbon dioxide into the ocean and atmosphere, leading to an anoxic, or oxygen-depleted, environment. Normally, decaying materials are completely broken down in the ocean, but due to the lack of oxygen, the prehistoric organic matter settled at the bottom of the sea bed and became trapped there, forming the petroleum-rich shale deposits which are important sources of oil today.
TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm CRISTOBAL was 253 nmi E of Ocean City, Maryland.
Tropical storm DOLLY was 232 nmi NNW of Campeche, Mexico.
Tropical storm FAUSTO was 459 nmi WSW of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Tropical storm GENEVIEVE was 215 nmi SSW of Acapulco, Mexico.
Gulf of Mexico on hurricane alert - South Texas and the Mexican coast are bracing for a potential hurricane as tropical storm Dolly bears down on the gulf. Dolly drenched popular tourist resorts on Mexico's Caribbean coast overnight Sunday but caused no damage. A storm warning issued for Cancun over the weekend was lifted and all ports and airports were operating normally.
Heavy rain is in the forecast for much of Atlantic Canada today and Wednesday as tropical storm Cristobal moves further off the coast.
The tropical storm season this month could match the record-setting number of storms from July 2005, though it may not pack the same punch. Six storms formed in July 2005, with Hurricane Dennis making landfall in Florida. The National Hurricane Center has alerted weather watchers for a developing wave currently inland above the coast of western Africa. “The good news is something forming this far east would have very little chance of making it across the Atlantic.” It’s UNUSUAL for the National Hurricane Center to call attention to a storm so far east. “The center usually waits until the systems reach water before they talk about them. I guess this goes to further prove what an interesting July this is becoming.”
Normally, the Atlantic wouldn’t see this flurry of activity until mid August. Yet here it is, only the third week of July. What this signals is that the tropics are boiling about a month ahead of schedule, with all the ingredients in place to manufacture powerful storms. If the new wave develops, it is so far away – about 4,000 miles – that it likely would be another week before we even know if it's a potential threat. In that time, it might die or it might turn north out to sea, as Hurricane Bertha did.
HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / UNUSUAL & OUT-OF-SEASON WEATHER -
GUATEMALA - Twenty-one people were confirmed killed Sunday in landslides triggered by heavy rains in a rural community in eastern Guatemala. One landslide that destroyed a home killed a family of 12 inside.
RUSSIA - FREAK weather - Torrential rains, heavy winds and lightning wreaked havoc throughout Moscow and the region over the weekend, knocking down trees, interrupting travel plans and even destroying a monument to Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin.
UNUSUAL weather behavior over India - Rainfall over western India has been ABNORMALLY spotty with low intensity over western India for much of this month thus far. While let-ups in the rain-giving SW Monsoon (these have been called "break monsoon" by authorities on the subject) are not unusual, when the breaks become long-lasting, then rainfall suffers, foremost in the west of India. The lack of rainfall along the Western Ghats and an UNUSUAL outburst of rain over the southern Deccan are linked. Recent rainfall at Tiruchchirappalli, Tamil Nadu was 16.7 cms. This amount was four-fold the normal July rainfall. What is more, it was on par with monthly rainfall of October, when the transition from SW to NE Monsoon begins in earnest over the south. Bangalore, another site that tends to be wettest after the height of the SW Monsoon, has also had unusually high July rainfall. There has been a lack of well-marked Monsoon lows spinning up south of Bangladesh and whirling westward over middle India, this ties in directly to the afore-mentioned weakness in the low-level westerlies. There is a lack of well-marked low pressure over the northern Bay of Bengal.
CALIFORNIA - Storms caused flash floods Sunday in the Palm Springs area that injured at least one person, damaged a mobile home park and businesses, caused power outages and left four-foot rocks on some Coachella Valley roads. The debris came down mountains on the west side of the valley starting about 8 a.m. in the La Quinta area. In Cathedral City, a storm on foothills above the city caused tons of dirt from a construction site to slide into south portions of the community. Debris and water injured one person, flooded a trailer park, knocked down power poles and inundated an auto dealership along with 15 to 20 other businesses. Mud more than three feet deep left nearby roads impassable.
A low-pressure system off the Northern California coast brought in clouds and kept temperatures mild on Sunday and Monday in Sacremento. High temperatures in Sacramento were forecast at 81 degrees Monday. The cool conditions contrast with average temperatures for this time of year - highs of about 94 degrees. Seeing a low pressure system such as the one coming in off the coast is UNUSUAL for July, but not unheard of. "This (weather) pattern is something more typically seen in the springtime, but that's not to say it can't happen during the summer."
EXTREME HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
INDIA - Drought situation grave, not even 10% sowing completed in Pawar. This is the first time in over 40 years that the situation has arisen in the state. The major problem is of drinking water. “If the situation continues to persist for the next week, then we would have to bring in drinking water from distances ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 miles."
HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS:
Grande Produce Recalls Jalapeno Peppers, Serrano Peppers, and Avocados Because of Possible Health Risk. The produce was distributed to the following states: TX, DE, NC, GA, OK, IA, MN, IL, FL, IN, MD, NY, MS, AR, KS, and KY. The recall is due to the current Salmonella outbreak which has caused over 1200 to fall ill.
7/21/08 -
5.9 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.2 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
VOLCANOES -
Much of Earth's oil reserves can be traced to a single volcanic eruption, scientists say. A new study suggests that a massive undersea volcano eruption 93 million years ago was the source of much of the world’s oil. According to the study, lava fountains from the ancient eruption changed oceanic chemistry, triggering widespread extinction of marine life. This happened in a two-step process: First, as the volcano erupted, nutrients were released into the ocean, encouraging the growth of vegetation and the feeding and reproduction of marine organisms. As this overgrowth of new plant and animal populations died off, the decomposing organic matter released clouds of carbon dioxide into the ocean and atmosphere, leading to an anoxic, or oxygen-depleted, environment. Normally, decaying materials are completely broken down in the ocean, but due to the lack of oxygen, the prehistoric organic matter settled at the bottom of the sea bed and became trapped there, forming the petroleum-rich shale deposits which are important sources of oil today.
TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm CRISTOBAL was 253 nmi E of Ocean City, Maryland.
Tropical storm DOLLY was 232 nmi NNW of Campeche, Mexico.
Tropical storm FAUSTO was 459 nmi WSW of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Tropical storm GENEVIEVE was 215 nmi SSW of Acapulco, Mexico.
Gulf of Mexico on hurricane alert - South Texas and the Mexican coast are bracing for a potential hurricane as tropical storm Dolly bears down on the gulf. Dolly drenched popular tourist resorts on Mexico's Caribbean coast overnight Sunday but caused no damage. A storm warning issued for Cancun over the weekend was lifted and all ports and airports were operating normally.
Heavy rain is in the forecast for much of Atlantic Canada today and Wednesday as tropical storm Cristobal moves further off the coast.
The tropical storm season this month could match the record-setting number of storms from July 2005, though it may not pack the same punch. Six storms formed in July 2005, with Hurricane Dennis making landfall in Florida. The National Hurricane Center has alerted weather watchers for a developing wave currently inland above the coast of western Africa. “The good news is something forming this far east would have very little chance of making it across the Atlantic.” It’s UNUSUAL for the National Hurricane Center to call attention to a storm so far east. “The center usually waits until the systems reach water before they talk about them. I guess this goes to further prove what an interesting July this is becoming.”
Normally, the Atlantic wouldn’t see this flurry of activity until mid August. Yet here it is, only the third week of July. What this signals is that the tropics are boiling about a month ahead of schedule, with all the ingredients in place to manufacture powerful storms. If the new wave develops, it is so far away – about 4,000 miles – that it likely would be another week before we even know if it's a potential threat. In that time, it might die or it might turn north out to sea, as Hurricane Bertha did.
HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / UNUSUAL & OUT-OF-SEASON WEATHER -
GUATEMALA - Twenty-one people were confirmed killed Sunday in landslides triggered by heavy rains in a rural community in eastern Guatemala. One landslide that destroyed a home killed a family of 12 inside.
RUSSIA - FREAK weather - Torrential rains, heavy winds and lightning wreaked havoc throughout Moscow and the region over the weekend, knocking down trees, interrupting travel plans and even destroying a monument to Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin.
UNUSUAL weather behavior over India - Rainfall over western India has been ABNORMALLY spotty with low intensity over western India for much of this month thus far. While let-ups in the rain-giving SW Monsoon (these have been called "break monsoon" by authorities on the subject) are not unusual, when the breaks become long-lasting, then rainfall suffers, foremost in the west of India. The lack of rainfall along the Western Ghats and an UNUSUAL outburst of rain over the southern Deccan are linked. Recent rainfall at Tiruchchirappalli, Tamil Nadu was 16.7 cms. This amount was four-fold the normal July rainfall. What is more, it was on par with monthly rainfall of October, when the transition from SW to NE Monsoon begins in earnest over the south. Bangalore, another site that tends to be wettest after the height of the SW Monsoon, has also had unusually high July rainfall. There has been a lack of well-marked Monsoon lows spinning up south of Bangladesh and whirling westward over middle India, this ties in directly to the afore-mentioned weakness in the low-level westerlies. There is a lack of well-marked low pressure over the northern Bay of Bengal.
CALIFORNIA - Storms caused flash floods Sunday in the Palm Springs area that injured at least one person, damaged a mobile home park and businesses, caused power outages and left four-foot rocks on some Coachella Valley roads. The debris came down mountains on the west side of the valley starting about 8 a.m. in the La Quinta area. In Cathedral City, a storm on foothills above the city caused tons of dirt from a construction site to slide into south portions of the community. Debris and water injured one person, flooded a trailer park, knocked down power poles and inundated an auto dealership along with 15 to 20 other businesses. Mud more than three feet deep left nearby roads impassable.
A low-pressure system off the Northern California coast brought in clouds and kept temperatures mild on Sunday and Monday in Sacremento. High temperatures in Sacramento were forecast at 81 degrees Monday. The cool conditions contrast with average temperatures for this time of year - highs of about 94 degrees. Seeing a low pressure system such as the one coming in off the coast is UNUSUAL for July, but not unheard of. "This (weather) pattern is something more typically seen in the springtime, but that's not to say it can't happen during the summer."
EXTREME HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
INDIA - Drought situation grave, not even 10% sowing completed in Pawar. This is the first time in over 40 years that the situation has arisen in the state. The major problem is of drinking water. “If the situation continues to persist for the next week, then we would have to bring in drinking water from distances ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 miles."
HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS:
Grande Produce Recalls Jalapeno Peppers, Serrano Peppers, and Avocados Because of Possible Health Risk. The produce was distributed to the following states: TX, DE, NC, GA, OK, IA, MN, IL, FL, IN, MD, NY, MS, AR, KS, and KY. The recall is due to the current Salmonella outbreak which has caused over 1200 to fall ill.
MAP 6.8 2008/07/23 15:26:20 39.795 141.427 111.7 EASTERN HONSHU, JAPAN
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