Friday, December 31, 2010

Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

**Certain things catch your eye,
But pursue only those that capture your heart.**
old Indian saying


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
None 5.0 or higher.

Yesterday -
12/30/10 -
5.2 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.0 VANUATU
5.1 VANUATU REGION
5.2 SOUTHWEST OF GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
5.1 KURIL ISLANDS
5.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
5.7 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
5.0 ALASKA PENINSULA
5.4 RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
5.5 NEAR ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
5.3 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION

Indiana earthquake strikes in RARE location - Thursday's 3.8 earthquake was felt in four states beyond Indiana. At Indiana University's Seismic Station, the phones were ringing off the hook. It's an earthquake scientists describe as RARE, UNUSUAL and UNPRECEDENTED as far as its location in Indiana. Scientists say vibrations continued for 13 minutes. Although the quake was originally reported as 4.2 magnitude, the US Geological Survey downgraded it to a 3.8. Scientists say that's because more information came in from recording stations around the world. Indiana has had earthquakes in the past, the most recent in April 2008. But most of them over the years have been centered around the Wabash Valley fault in southwestern Indiana. This time the location is rare. It's only the third earthquake of note to hit north of Indianapolis in 175 years. Scientists scoured their maps for fault lines nearby and say it was likely triggered by the Sharpsville fault, a little-known fault Near Kokomo.
"We know so little about it simply because it's deep within the earth and we haven't experienced any seismic in this part of the state in our historic records. This earthquake was in an area with relatively low previous seismic activity. It's kind-of a reminder that earthquakes can happen almost anywhere in the midwest and every once in awhile they surprise us." Although there are no injuries reported and no significant damage, the Geological Survey has been in touch with the US Department of Transportation. They will likely want to check overpasses and bridges to make sure there is no danger there.
Indiana earthquake causes cornfield to crack - An earthquake below the ground left a couple with a cracked cornfield and rattled nerves. The couple live in a rural area 5 miles east of Greentown -- near the 3.8 magnitude quake's epicenter -- and were milling about in their 1920s farmhouse this morning. They heard what sounded like an explosion. "I thought the whole house was going to blow up. It shook. It just shook and shook, and it scared me. I thought the house was going to go in." Experts say the area that was hit was an unprecedented site for seismic activity. But he experienced a quake before in the same town when he was a teenager. He said there's a fault line that runs under the field. The couple's residence is north of U.S. 35 almost halfway between Kokomo and Gas City.

TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical cyclones.

Cyclone on the horizon - Floods devastating large areas of Australia's Queensland state will worsen in the coming days, with more damage expected across the continent due the rains from the cyclone. Heavy rains and flooding in central Queensland have cut coal production and exports from the region. The floods have forced many of the biggest miners including BHP Billiton Ltd., Rio Tinto Ltd. and Anglo American PLC to stop production and cancel deliveries. Oil and iron-ore facilities on the northwest coast scrambled to shut down ahead of the tropical cyclone due over the weekend.

SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -

AUSTRALIA - Dire flood crisis in Emerald with the army evacuating people and building makeshift emergency accommodation outside the town. The Nogoa River is at 16 metres and rising and more than 1200 residents have registered as evacuees, with more than 500 put up in evacuation centres.
More evacuations are expected. "Authorities think there will be a very large group of people who will be homeless in the next 24 hours."
The dirty tide has spared little, with Emerald now an island in an inland sea. Water is lapping at the windows of scores of homes and nearby cane and citrus farms are submerged. The Fairbairn Dam is holding back an immense body of water - it's now at 175% CAPACITY with 5.6 metres of water pouring over the spillway, well beyond the 4.4 metres recorded during the 2008 flood. Authorities were still trying to determine how many homes and businesses had been flooded. The flood should peak some time on Friday afternoon and efforts were underway to resupply the town and outlying communities. It will be some time before Queensland can enter full recovery mode after the state's WORST FLOODS IN RECORDED HISTORY.
Supermarkets in Rockhampton run out of food; more than 4000 Queenslanders evacuated as floodwaters rise. Authorities are racing to truck in food to the Queensland city of Rockhampton before roads are cut by floodwaters after local supermarkets ran out of food. Flood waters are expected to sever road and rail links to the central Queensland city as early as tomorrow, and the airport is also expected to be shut down this weekend. The Fitzroy River is expected to reach the 9m-mark by Sunday, a level that would see 200 homes inundated and 4000 parcels of land affected by flooding. It's tipped to rise to 9.4m, and possibly beyond, on Tuesday and essentials, including bread, milk and fresh meat, have already sold out in many stores in the town. There is a small window of opportunity to get new stock in before the roads closed.
Earlier today Black Hawk helicopters evacuated Condamine residents who had resisted attempts to leave the town. Many residents in the flood-stricken Queensland town of Condamine were refusing to leave their homes, although half of the town was expected to be underwater by midnight. A compulsory evacuation took place in the town yesterday, with all 100 residents expected to be flown out by early evening. However, only 25-30 residents had been flown to evacuation centres at the nearby town of Dalby by 8.30pm. Some residents had evacuated by boat but an unknown number of people were refusing to leave, but there was little choice. "The whole town was without power. Yes, we understand the emotions when you have to leave ..." Three Black Hawk helicopters were tasked with emptying the town yesterday after the Condamine River reached a RECORD PEAK of 14.25m in the afternoon. It was due to reach 14.5m by midnight, inundating half the town.
It was the second Queensland evacuation of a town in as many days after Theodore's 300 residents were evacuated – an event UNPRECEDENTED until this week. In all, there were 1206 emergency callouts across the state yesterday. The number of Queenslanders displaced by floods is nearing 4000. Severe water restrictions are now in place in the town of Chinchilla, after water lines broke. More military assistance was called in last night, amid estimates the damage bill for public infrastructure alone could top $2 billion. "As we look across Queensland and see the communities affected by the scale of the disaster, it's fair to say that Queensland is facing its toughest hour." In Emerald, authorities were preparing for the possibility that up to 13,000 people living in the town might have to be evacuated because emergency centres are filling up. Late last night, it appeared Emerald's Nagoa River would peak early at 16m, slightly less than initially expected, potentially saving the town from the worst-case scenario. But at 16m, the peak still BROKE ALL RECORDS and was 0.6m above the devastating 2008 flood level. About 2500 people were expected to leave Emerald today and yesterday three military Black Hawk helicopters aided evacuation efforts and food drops. Extra police were deployed to guard against looting.

HEAVY SNOW / EXTREME COLD -

The western United States is bearing the brunt of new winter storms, with heavy snow blanketing an area from New Mexico to Minnesota [Not exactly true in Minnesota - yet. We had a day of rain on Thursday - RARE in December. Snow later today.] Snow and ice have closed a number of major roads, with Arizona particularly badly hit. Forecasters have predicted as much as 18in (46cm) of snow in some parts. Ice and snow forced the temporary closure of Interstates 40 and 17 in northern Arizona, with a traffic hotline in the state taking more than a million calls on Thursday. Phoenix was braced for RARE freezing temperatures. Many drivers were stranded near the Grand Canyon as all the lanes of Interstate 17 were closed overnight. In Colorado, the Silverton Mountain resort reported huge snowfall and closures for avalanche control. Denver was expecting heavy falls - United Airlines cancelled 32 flights from the city on Thursday. Wyoming, Montana and Nevada suffered serious road closures, while a sudden blizzard combined with winds of up to 65mph (105km/h) caused havoc in southern New Mexico. A massive rockfall closed one key road into the Yosemite National Park in California. Blizzards in Fargo, North Dakota, led to a pile-up of 100 vehicles, with at least two people taken to hospital. "We're expecting almost a one-two punch across the middle part of the country over the next two days. Once the large-scale pattern sets up you can be very stormy and have one after another."
The eastern seaboard is just recovering from a winter storm that paralysed transport, bringing an apology from New York's mayor over clean-up efforts. Snow remains on New York's pavements and rubbish has yet to be cleared. Snow was not cleared from large parts of New York for days after the storm. New Yorkers appeared particularly outraged by stories of ambulances unable to come to the aid of sick residents, which led to the death of a newborn baby in one case. At one point, 600 city buses became stuck in the snow, blocking streets, but they had all been cleared by Thursday. New York's three airports were back to operating on regular schedules, but airlines warned that it would be some time before the backlog of stranded passengers has cleared.

Russian authorities on alert amidst chaos caused by extreme weather - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Wednesday banned government officials on all levels from leaving for the New Year vacations until his special notice, because of the heavy snowfalls and ice rains that have caused blackouts in Central Russia. Until Wednesday, thousands of desperate passengers were still stuck in two main airports in Moscow, while more residents of the Moscow region suffered blackout. The prime minister stressed that the weather conditions would remain severe in the following days and ordered the Emergency Ministry to monitor the situation closely not to let the country's households freeze. He reiterated the need to continue working to restore grid operation, asking officials to pay attention to populated areas and residential buildings, to put medical services on high alert, as well as to ensure the provision of food and drinks to needed people. Putin also pointed out the grave situation in many Russia's regions where many airports remained closed and highways clogged. He criticized the airports and the Russia's flagship airline Aeroflot management for not paying due attention to the needs of passengers who have been stranded in the terminals in the last few days. "How did you work with people? Not at all. Domodedovo airport was actually left without electricity, but people continued to come to the airport. Where was the alert? "
Some 20,000 passengers have been affected by the flight delay chaos caused by the freezing rain over the last weekend. The passengers' problems have been aggravated by the failure of the airport authorities to provide even basic assistance or information about flight delays. Extra police forces were deployed in the capital's airports Wednesday to prevent the bursts of violence against airlines employees after several Sheremetyevo airport workers were attacked by exasperated passengers on Tuesday. Railway tickets have been difficult to buy, too, because the organized touts have bought them in bulks for reselling in higher price. Some 7,500 electric power substations have been cut off the grid in the Moscow region, where over 160 towns with 44,000 people remain in blackout. In these towns the local authorities opened warming centers for the residents to spend the harsh nights.

EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -

AUSTRALIA - CATASTROPHIC bushfire conditions have been declared in six districts in South Australia tomorrow as high winds and temperatures in the low-to-mid 40s combine to see out 2010. A total fire ban has been declared in all but the Adelaide, North West Pastoral and North East Pastoral districts. A hot, dry and strong northwesterly wind will blast SA on New Year's Eve ahead of a moderate southwesterly change that will move across the state in the afternoon. Extreme bushfire conditions are forecast in the Flinders, mid North and Riverland districts, while the West Coast, Lower Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island regions are expecting severe conditions. People in areas with catastrophic conditions were warned to leave tonight or tomorrow morning.
Scorching temperatures have melted bitumen on roads and sparked grass fires, with fears New Year's Eve fireworks could be delayed by storms. Melbourne hit 40C at 3.30pm, with temperatures in the suburbs climbing to 39C in Scoresby, 41C in Geelong and 41C in Avalon. Across the state, Ouyen in the Mallee and Longerenong in the Wimmera both hit 42C (109F).

2010 WRAP-UPS -

MINNESOTA - Tornadoes, flooding, snow, no snow - 2010 is likely to stick in the minds of Minnesota climatologists for its extreme events. It's been a wild - and deadly - year for weather in Minnesota. 2010 likely will be remembered for records that stand for years.
THE TOP 6 -
Snowless March: Not a flake of snow fell at the airport in March, making it THE LEAST-SNOWIEST MARCH IN MODERN RECORDS.
June 17 tornadoes: Minnesota saw 48 twisters, a state RECORD FOR ONE DAY. Three were rated EF-4 - THE GREATEST SINGLE-DAY NUMBER OF TORNADOES RATED THAT STRONG SINCE APRIL 30, 1967. The outbreak "will remain for some time one of the region's most widespread, numerous and destructive outbreaks."
104 tornadoes for the year: The June 17 outbreak helped make 2010 a RECORD YEAR, exceeding the 74 tornadoes recorded in 2001. Minnesota is poised to have THE HIGHEST TORNADO COUNT IN THE COUNTRY FOR 2010.
Heavy rain and flooding Sept. 22-23 in southern Minnesota: The rain, which measured 10.68 inches at Amboy, fell on saturated soil. Homes and businesses flooded, and roads became impassible as many rivers and streams reached RECORD-HIGH LEVELS.
State RECORD FOR LOW PRESSURE Oct. 26 in Bigfork: Barometric pressure was recorded at 28.21 inches, something more likely over an ocean. The previous record was 28.43 inches Nov. 10, 1998, in Albert Lea. High winds accompanied the low pressure, with 65 mph gusts recorded.
The Dec. 10-11 snowstorm: The fifth-largest snowstorm on record for the Twin Cities dropped 17.1 inches at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, clogging roads, grounding planes and collapsing the Metrodome roof.
"We had the summertime big events, and we had the wintertime big events. It was a very active year all around, and that stands out." There isn't a single explanation for the year's extreme weather — it was just a number of different patterns that occurred over time. And while 2010 had more-active weather than the past few years, there's no telling what next year will bring. "I would hope we don't have quite as extreme weather in 2011. I wouldn't think we'd have as many big events happen in a year, but who knows?"

HEALTH THREATS -

HAITI's cholera death toll has soared in recent days with 3,333 people dead. The figures, released yesterday, included a ONE-DAY RECORD HIGH for the daily number of fatalities since the outbreak erupted in mid-October. The new data up to December 26 of 432 more recorded deaths marked a major jump in fatalities, although it was unclear exactly when they occurred. The number of confirmed cholera deaths on December 19 alone was just over 100, far higher than previous peaks around 80 in mid-November.
More recently, the death tolls have returned to previous averages of around 50 new reported deaths each day. The total number of infections soared towards 150,000 in Haiti and authorities in neighbouring Dominican Republic said yesterday there have been 139 cases there, none of them fatal.
Haiti's FIRST CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN MORE THAN A CENTURY has poured further misery on a poor and politically dysfunctional country trying to recover from a devastating January earthquake that killed some 250,000 people. The epidemic, which began in October, spawned deadly anti-UN riots last month as some turned their anger on peacekeepers from Nepal accused of bringing the disease into the country. Experts say the outbreak was likely sparked by a human source from outside the region and the United Nations has promised a thorough investigation into the origin of the epidemic. Angry mobs in the deeply superstitious nation have stoned or hacked to death at least 45 people - most of them voodoo priests - accusing them of spreading the water-borne bacterial infection. The Pan-American Health Organisation in early December estimated Haiti could see up to 400,000 cholera cases over the next 12 months, half of them within three months alone.

RECALLS & ALERTS:
-Tiny Greens of Urbana, Ill., is recalling all Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts from November 1st thru December 21st because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Product was distributed thru various distributors in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri and could have ended up in restaurants and supermarkets near those areas.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Australia is getting some of the worst of it - record heat, record rain and a cyclone.

**When all the trees have been cut down,
when all the animals have been hunted,
when all the waters are polluted,
when all the air is unsafe to breathe,
only then will you discover you cannot eat money.**
Cree Prophecy


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION

Yesterday -
12/29/10 -
5.2 SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS
5.1 WESTERN XIZANG
5.2 WESTERN XIZANG
5.2 VANUATU
5.3 VANUATU
5.0 VANUATU
5.2 VANUATU
5.5 VANUATU
6.6 VANUATU

MYSTERY BOOMS -
MONTANA - 12/25/10 - A rumbling sound followed by an earth-shattering boom and flash of light over Troy caused concerned locals to dial 911 at 8:07 on Christmas night. As of Monday, there had been no confirmed explanation for the phenomenon that shook houses in all ends of Troy proper and was heard three miles south of town.
“There have been a lot of different theories, but no one theory seems to fit the bill. Sounds like whatever it was was right over the top of Troy.” A meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Missoula said it is possible Troy witnessed its own personal Christmas meteor. “Meteors definitely generate a lot of light and heat. If they are low enough in the atmosphere you can definitely hear those bangs.”
Two people in a home witnessed the light that accompanied the blast. One person described seeing a flash through a curtained window as though from the lights of an emergency response vehicle outside the house. “The other person was looking out the big picture window when it happened. It looked like somebody set off a camera flash in the sky.”
Three people were outside their house about three miles south of town. They didn’t witness the light, but the noise was so startling that it caused their horses to take off. “They have guns and fireworks go off next to them and they don’t even snort, but this caused our horses to bolt through the electric fence.” Seconds before the blast, the three could hear a sizzling sound, and they had thought maybe a power box was going out. A police officer who was on duty at the time also heard something in the seconds leading up to the blast. “It sounded like something roaring through the valley, like a train approaching, but quicker and louder." One powerful blast echoed through the valley. From inside his home,a resident heard a rumbling boom like thunder. Others, including the Chief of Police, described the sound as three booms in rapid succession. “It sounded like someone took their fist and just went bang, bang, bang on the outside of my house." They immediately searched the area, looking for signs of a car accident, the remnants of a sparkler bomb or a blown-up electrical transformer. They found nothing. A jet flying overhead and breaking the sound barrier could explain the boom, but not the flash of light. It appeared too powerful to be a bomb or fireworks, officials agreed. “The more I think about it, it seemed like a lightning flash followed by a thunderclap. Of course, it was 25 degrees out and no clouds out that night that I saw.”

TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical cyclones.

AUSTRALIA - A tropical cyclone is expected to develop off Western Australia's northwest coast on New Year's Day. A tropical low over the Northern Territory was likely to move west then offshore and may develop into a cyclone tomorrow or New Year's Day off the Pilbara coast after moving quickly west southwest. Heavy rain could be expected in the north Kimberley over the next two days.
"We're not anticipating at this stage a severe tropical cyclone. But people need to be aware, particularly over the holiday time." Gales may develop along the Pilbara coast on Saturday as the system moves along the coast but it was unlikely to cause flooding in the Kimberley or Pilbara because of its steady movement.

SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -

AUSTRALIA - Consumers may face fruit and vegetable supply shortages due to the Queensland floods and heavy rain, but farmers say it's too early to predict how bad they will be. It's not necessarily "all doom and gloom", with supplies depending on "how the weather pans out". While floodwater may have destroyed some crops, others may just be affected by rain water and may recover after a few sunny days. But there will be transport problems, with a lot of roads cut off and other infrastructure issues affecting the supply of goods to retailers. "There are issues with dairy cattle being milked and trucks not being able to pick it up. The floods are still very much in action and the main thing now is to try and make sure people are safe." The fruit and vegetable crop situation will become clearer within the next week or so.
"There may not be the full range and supply (of products) which Australian customers are used to." Any price hikes would be in the hands of retailers, responding to supply and demand.
North-eastern Australia's WORST FLOODING IN DECADES is continuing to cause chaos across the region. About 1,000 people in Queensland have been evacuated, including the entire population of the town of Theodore. The floods have not yet peaked. The cost of the damage is expected to top AU$1bn (£650m), including massive losses of sunflower and cotton crops. Army Black Hawk helicopters evacuated the 300 residents of Theodore, where every building in the town apart from the police station has been flooded. "Certainly the water is still rising. The heights are at SUCH A NEW RECORD IT'S NOT KNOWN WHAT IT IS GOING TO DO." The town's river has risen more than 50cm (1.6ft) above its previous recorded high. Vast areas of farmland were under water.
In the city of Bundaberg, residents in some areas were being advised to leave their homes as the Burnett River rose to danger levels. The river was expected to reach 7.5m - about 0.3m more than the previous high water record of 1954. In the Central Highlands town of Emerald, flooding forced the closure of the main bridge, cutting the town off. Rockhampton more remote surrounding communities could be cut off by the weekend. The floods are also hitting businesses in Queensland, which is Australia's key coal-producing state. .”The floods would have a huge economic impact on agricultural areas. There will be many, many cattle drowned. It will be devastating, fences are down on properties as well as farming land. Cotton... and lots of other crops will be affected."
Inland towns such as Chinchilla and Dalby are all under water; the nearby town of Warra, and the towns of Alpha and Jericho, west of Emerald, have also been declared disaster zones, with hundreds of homes flooded or at risk. "Some communities are seeing floodwaters higher than they've seen in decades, and for some communities FLOODWATERS HAVE NEVER REACHED THESE LEVELS BEFORE [in] the time that we have been recording floods. For many communities we haven't even seen the peak of the floodwaters yet, that's a number of days away." The state capital, Brisbane, has recorded its WETTEST DECEMBER IN MORE THAN 150 YEARS. Cyclone Tasha, which hit Queensland on Saturday, also brought torrential rain to the state.
While the rain is now easing, water is continuing to flow from sodden land across central and southern Queensland into already swollen rivers. "Over the next 48 hours rain will be easing but the real impact in some communities won't be felt for a couple of days when floodwaters begin to recede. Once the rain finishes there will still be significant flooding impacts over the next few days." (map)
Entire town to be airlifted from floods - The entire Queensland town of Condamine is being evacuated by air amid the flood crisis. Helicopters have started moving all 100 residents to nearby Dalby after the Condamine River reached 14.25 metres. It's expected to peak at more than 15 metres. "What we flew over today is quite astounding - what's there and also what is coming."

CALIFORNIA - Experts say the ground is so saturated now that the danger of flooding and debris flow will remain heightened through the rest of the rainy season. The WETTEST DECEMBER SINCE 1889 has left hillside areas across Southern California dangerously saturated, bringing a heightened risk of landslides and further flooding in the next few months. More than 14 inches of rain has fallen in some hillside areas in just the last two weeks. The saturation levels could intensify in January and February, when Southern California typically gets most of its rain for the year. Engineers are using helicopters to fly over some hillside areas hit by recent fires, looking for signs of fissures or earth movement.
"It gets to the point where the water that's falling is no longer even going into the ground - it's just skipping off the ground. A lot of residents are under the false impression that once the sun comes out, everything is fine. That's not the case. The soil beneath the surface can take months to completely dry out."
So far this winter, sections of Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge and La Crescenta threatened by mud cascading off the burned slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains have seen no major flooding, in large part because officials have managed to keep debris basins in the hills clear. But the major danger through the rest of the winter will be the ground itself giving way amid more rain. "With every storm that comes in, it increases the risk of potential mudslides and debris flows. The risk is there now, and it is going to remain there throughout the winter season."
In areas burned by recent fires, as little as a quarter-inch of rain can begin to cause slopes to slide. In areas with more vegetation, debris can begin to flow after about 10 inches of rain.
Geologists were sent into the mountains this week to determine how much mountain roads have been compromised. Although these roads can withstand big accumulations of snow, last week's warm front instead brought large amounts of rain, which undermined the roads. "We've had some storm damage in the last several years, but that was nothing compared to the damage we have now." In the Angeles National Forest, the saturated ground has increased the likelihood of falling rocks and toppling trees, especially in combination with the high winds forecast for the region during the next two days.
The latest rainstorm moved through the region Wednesday, dumping more than 0.8 inches in downtown Los Angeles, where more than 10 inches of rain has fallen so far this month. The rain gave way to gusty winds and dropping slow levels, which could cause problems in the Grapevine and other key mountain passes. Another storm is expected to hit Saturday night. A climatologist for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory said there's ominous similarity between this early winter and that of 2004-05: Both brought eye-popping amounts of rain. In fact, December 2004 brought so much that it set a record for December rainfall for the 20th and 21st centuries - but this month's more than 10 inches of rain topped even that. During that memorable winter six years ago, the rains kept coming, fueled by an El Niño that pounded the region into the new year, provoking destructive debris flows, floods and landslides across the region. Downtown L.A. saw more than 37 inches of rain that year, well above its average of 15. But this year, the opposite of El Niño - a La Niña, or a cooling of waters in the central Pacific - could assert itself and bring drier conditions in January and February. "The bottom line is, something is imminent if the rains continue like this."

EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -

AUSTRALIA - Adelaide is set to have its HOTTEST NEW YEAR'S EVE IN MORE THAN A CENTURY amid potentially catastrophic fire danger. Revellers are likely to head for water with weather forecasters tipping a 43C (109.4F) scorcher - the warmest New Year's Eve since 1904's 44.2C.
Strong winds and sweltering temperatures in the 30s and 40s across the state could result in a catastrophic fire risk in some areas..Most people are likely to head for the coast. The emergency services warn that people should check their fire plans, remember that private use of fireworks is prohibited at all times and the reckless disposal of cigarettes could result in a fine of up to $5000.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Climate is warming despite recent weather - Snow storms in the northern hemisphere and torrential rainfall in parts of drought stricken Australia could have you wondering whether there's been a permanent shift in average temperatures. According to the CSIRO, the recent extreme weather in both northern and southern hemispheres reflect short-term variability's in climate. They say periodic short-term cooling in global temperatures should not be misinterpreted as signalling an end to global warming. "Despite 2010 being a very warm year globally, the severity of the 2009-2010 northern winter and a wetter and cooler Australia in 2010 relative to the past few years have been misinterpreted by some to imply that climate change is not occurring. Recent wet conditions in eastern Australia mainly reflect short-term climate variability and weather events, not longer-term climate change trends. Conclusions that climate is not changing are based on a misunderstanding of the roles of climatic change caused by increasing greenhouse gases and climatic variability due to natural processes in the climatic system." In addition to climate change being linked to human activity, natural variability produces periods where the global climate can be either cooler or warmer than usual.

**I do not think the measure of a civilization
is how tall its buildings of concrete are,
But rather how well its people have learned to relate
to their environment and fellow man.**
Sun Bear of the Chippewa Tribe


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
None 5.0 or higher.

Yesterday -
12/28/10 -
5.0 VANUATU
5.3 VANUATU
5.0 VANUATU
5.1 NORTHERN EAST PACIFIC RISE
5.3 TONGA
5.0 LOYALTY ISLANDS
6.3 SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION

NEW ZEALAND - Latest shaking worse than the big quake. As engineers continue to assess the damage caused by the latest swarm of aftershocks to hit Christchurch, it has been revealed that shaking in the central city caused by the biggest tremor in the swarm exceeded the devastating September 4 quake. The largest aftershock measuring magnitude 4.9 shook the city at 10.30am on Sunday, causing Boxing Day shoppers to flee as bricks and mortar crashed from buildings. Around two dozen aftershocks were felt within the space of 36 hours.
Strong motion sensors at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. showed that peak ground movements - from side to side or up and down - during Sunday's quake reached 48% of the acceleration of gravity. This compares with the shaking recorded during the magnitude 7.1 quake on September 4, where peak ground acceleration levels recorded in the cental city reached between 15% and 20%. The reason there had been more damage in the September 4 quake was because the shaking lasted longer.

Southern California quake swarm increasing - Earthquakes are increasing again near the Salton Sea. The area has had a lull in quakes for quite a while, however it is becoming active again. Two near magnitude four quake struck the area on Monday. These quakes were in a known seismic zone, near the San Andreas Fault. (map)

TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical cyclones.

SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -

AUSTRALIA - More Queenslanders are fleeing their homes as the state's flood crisis continues, with two new disaster areas declared today. Evacuations are underway in the inland town of Emerald, west of Rockhampton, and in the coastal city of Bundaberg. While the rain has eased, river levels continue to rise in many locations as the deluge that's hit southern and central Queensland makes its way towards the sea.
Downstream communities, particularly Bundaberg and Rockhampton, face days of uncertainty. Many residents have already left low lying areas as the city braces for the HIGHEST FLOOD PEAK IN 50 YEARS. The Burnett River is expected to reach 7.5 metres later today, well above the 1954 record of 7.2m.
Residents are also being evacuated from low lying parts of Emerald after the Department of Community Safety said flood levels would equal or exceed those seen in 2008. The January 2008 floods saw 2700 people evacuated and left a damage bill of more than $50 million. The Nogoa River, which flows through Emerald, is at major flood levels and is expected to peak on Friday about 0.3 metres higher than the 2008 flood, which reached 15.36 metres. Fairbairn Dam was expected to peak overnight tomorrow. "In 2008, the water was coming over the spillway at Fairbairn Dam at 4.4 metres. This time you're looking at five metres. But it can handle 10 to 12 metres. So there's no risk to the dam itself." The area around the town resembled a huge inland delta. "All the river systems are full, the farmland has all been washed away and the crops have all been destroyed...I've never seen water laying in that country like it is now - never. It's like a delta system draining, and you've got to see it to believe it."
Meanwhile, evacuations are continuing in the devastated town of Theodore, with authorities hopeful the town will be empty come nightfall. Theodore, which has been completely inundated, will be hit again when water at nearby Taroom flows downstream. The Dawson River had reached a record height of 10.28 metres at Taroom this morning - a metre higher than the 1956 record of 9.27m. "This is way out of the scheme of thing." The river at Taroom was still rising. To the south, the town of Dalby has just two days of drinking water left after its water treatment plant was damaged. The likely damage bill is in excess of $1 billion. "Rockhampton experiences the flooding from the weather events usually about a week after the rain stops falling in the catchment. Even just one of the tributaries of the Fitzroy system is 5000 square kilometres...A lot of that (crop damage) we won't know until the water has gone down and receded."

HEAVY SNOW / EXTREME COLD -

RUSSIA - Thousands of passengers remain stranded at the Moscow major airports of Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo following an ice storm that hit the entire territory of Central Russia over the weekend. Hundreds of flights have been canceled and delayed as severe freezing rain caused serious power outages. Some 20,000 passengers have been affected by the weather. Lawyers of the stranded passengers are preparing a multimillion-ruble class action suit against the airports. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry has warned of possible emergency situations as another snow cyclone is approaching the country’s central and Volga regions. The cyclone that was due to come from the south on December 28 through 30 will bring heavy snows, sleet, rains and fog that might cause ground surface icing, ice crusting, and snowdrifts.

FLORIDA - RECORD-BREAKING LOW TEMPERATURES across central Florida are threatening crops in the region.

NEW YORK struggles to dig out; passengers still stranded - Hundreds of airline passengers were stranded for up to 10 hours on the tarmac at overworked Kennedy Airport. Ambulances struggled to get patients through unplowed streets.

IRELAND - This year was a RECORD-BREAKER FOR COLD. As 2010 draws to a close, figures show that Ireland experienced NEW LOWS of temperature over the past 12 months. But surprisingly it was also one of the DRIEST AND SUNNIEST YEARS IN MODERN TIMES. Although there are still a number of days left, this DECEMBER WILL GO DOWN AS THE COLDEST MONTH SINCE MODERN TEMPERATURE DATA WAS FIRST COLLECTED in Ireland 130 years ago. 2010 was the COLDEST YEAR ON RECORD in Dublin, Mullingar and Knock. And records were set elsewhere - in Co Mayo, a temperature of -17.2C was recorded on December 20, the coldest ever experienced in Ireland during the month of December. Even forecasters were surprised with the conditions. "I wouldn't have believed it unless I saw it. We've had almost 30 years of relatively mild runs up to Christmas. We saw this cold snap coming in the middle of the month but you can't tell people how cold it's going to be, they wouldn't believe you."
This year was also one of the driest ever, with new minimum rainfall values being recorded at weather stations in Cork and Knock airports. "A cold winter is a dry winter. Basically, you need heat to retain moisture as a rule of thumb, so a mild winter is a wet winter. We've had 90% of our rainfall totals for the year, it's also been a very sunny year." The reason for the UNPRECEDENTED weather has been a change in the behaviour of the jet stream. "The jet stream is the carrier of weather to much of Europe and across Ireland. Conventionally, it brings us mild and moist Atlantic weather - 2010 has been characterised by a jet stream which is much more loopy and wave-like and when that happens we tend to get a lot of anomalies so we've been having EXTREMELY STRANGE CONDITIONS. It really just depends on which side of the jet stream loop you're located at and we've been located unfortunately at a place which has enabled Arctic air to dominate this month."
Looking back at 2010, the year began with a big freeze similar to the one just ending now. The first 10 days of January were the COLDEST SPELL Ireland had experienced in almost 40 years and things scarcely improved the following month, with February also BREAKING RECORDS. Summer 2010 was actually better than average. June and July were both sunnier and warmer than normal but August was a disappointment as temperatures failed to rise above 20C at all in the west and southwest.

SPACE WEATHER -

GEOMAGNETIC STORM: High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras. During the early hours of Dec. 28th, the sun's magnetic field near Earth tipped south, opening a crack in Earth's magnetosphere. Solar wind poured and sparked a G1-class (Kp=5) geomagnetic storm. Observers are reporting ground currents and intensifying Northern Lights in Scandinavia.

GIANT STORM ON SATURN: A giant storm even brighter than Saturn's rings is raging through the planet's cloudtops. "I've never seen anything like this. It's possible that this is tTHE BIGGEST STORM ON SATURN IN MANY DECADES." Instruments on NASA's Cassini spacecraft are picking up strong bursts of radio static. Apparently, lightning is being generated in multiple cells across the storm front. (photo at above link)

HEALTH THREATS -

Pastries blamed for 100 staph cases in 2 states - An outbreak of about 100 illness cases in Illinois and Wisconsin has been attributed to pastries from an Illinois bakery that were tainted with Staphylococcus aureus. The outbreak prompted Rolf's Patisserie, a European-style bakery in Lincolnwood, Ill., to recall all desserts made after Nov 1. The illnesses stemmed from four events in November and December, including a company function, a catered party, restaurant dining, and a holiday party. Three events accounting for 30 cases were in Illinois and one event blamed for 70 cases was in Wisconsin. Rolf's Patisserie is recalling tiramisu, cakes, cobblers, decorated cookies, tarts, pastries, and pies. Because the business sells to retail and wholesale outlets, institutions, and online customers, the products may not carry a company label when they reach consumers. The outbreak also caused the national retail chain Whole Foods Market to recall gingerbread houses from Rolf's Patisserie. The houses were sold in 22 states.
Foods that are made by hand and require no cooking are at highest risk for S aureus contamination, according to the CDC. Examples of foods linked to S aureus cases include sliced meats, puddings, pastries, and sandwiches. Sick people are not contagious, as staphylococcal toxins don't spread from person to person. Although S aureus is not known primarily as a foodborne pathogen, food-related outbreaks are fairly common. 21 outbreaks of illness from foodborne staphylococcal toxins were reported in 2007, with 286 cases. The average annual number of such cases from 2002 through 2006 was 554.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The weather in 2010 was especially dramatic. In the U.S., the year started with widespread cold and ended with a massive Eastern blizzard, with ALL-TIME RECORD-BREAKING HEAT, devastating flooding and an active hurricane season in between. Here are the top 10 U.S. weather events of a very memorable weather year:
1)RECORD-BREAKING COLD in January - An outbreak of Arctic air brought intense and widespread cold from the Northern Plains to Florida during the first half of January. Hundreds of records were broken, and it was the coldest 12-day span in parts of Southern Florida in at least 60 years.
2)A RECORD-SMASHING SNOWFALL - occurred in the mid-Atlantic region during the winter. The snow in 2010 was highlighted by back-to-back monster snowstorms in February, on Feb. 5 and Feb. 9. These two storms were followed by a full-fledged blizzard for the Northeast on Feb. 25. Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington were among the cities that finished with their SNOWIEST WINTERS ON RECORD.
3)Major April Tornado Outbreak - nearly 600 reports of tornadoes, wind damage and large hail in the three days.
4)THOUSAND-YEAR FLOOD in Tennessee - Massive flooding that stretched from northern Arkansas to central Tennessee on May 1 and 2 has been rated a thousand-year flood (a flood given 0.1 percent chance of occurring) by the National Weather Service. In Nashville alone, which received roughly 40 percent of its average annual rainfall during the two-day span, damages are estimated to have approached $2 billion.
5)Deadly Arkansas Flooding - Flash flooding caused by rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches of rain per hour killed 20 campers at the Albert Pike Recreation Center in Arkansas during the early-morning hours of June 11.
6)HOTTEST SUMMER ON RECORD in South and East - A stubborn weather pattern resulted in intense and persistent heat in the South and East during the summer. Summer 2010 was the hottest on record for 11 states, from Mississippi to Rhode Island, including most of the major cities along the Eastern Seaboard.
7)Los Angeles All-Time RECORD HEAT - an intense early-fall heat wave baked Southern California in September. On the 27th, the temperature soared to 113 degrees in downtown Los Angeles, an all-time record. More than a dozen locations in the basin had a high temperature of at least 110 degrees that day.
8)Strongest U.S. Non-Tropical Storm - A powerhouse storm SET THE RECORD FOR THE LOWEST ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE (28.21 inches) FOR A NON-TROPICAL STORM in U.S. history, on Oct. 26.
9)One of the Most Active Hurricane Seasons on Record - The Atlantic hurricane season, with 19 named storms and 12 hurricanes, including five major hurricanes, was the third most active since records have been kept, but the season had little direct impact on the U.S.
10)Powerful California Storms/East Coast Blizzard - The last storm in a week-long December deluge inundated Central and Southern California, brought Christmas snow to the Deep South and produced the post-Christmas whiteout along the East Coast. Long Beach, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara were among the locations with a RECORD WET DECEMBER.

**Hold on to what is good,
Even if it's a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe,
Even if it's a tree that stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do,
Even if it's a long way from here.
Hold on to your life,
Even if it's easier to let go.
Hold on to my hand,
Even if someday I'll be gone away from you.**
A Pueblo Indian Prayer


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 SOUTH OF AFRICA
5.0 VANUATU

Yesterday -
12/27/10 -
5.6 VANUATU
5.2 VANUATU REGION
5.5 VANUATU
5.1 VANUATU REGION
5.1 VANUATU REGION
5.5 TONGA REGION
5.3 WESTERN INDIAN-ANTARCTIC RIDGE
5.0 WESTERN INDIAN-ANTARCTIC RIDGE
5.0 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
5.1 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
5.2 GULF OF PARIA, VENEZUELA

VOLCANOES -

RUSSIA - Karymsky volcano erupted on Sunday, spewing out hot ash clouds rising up to 4.3 kilometers (2.67 miles) high. Karymsky – which is located in the country’s Kamchatka Penninsula – is the most active volcano of the region’s eastern volcanic zone. Twenty-nine of the over 150 volcanoes in the region are active. In 1996, Karymsky’s activity drastically increased and continues with periodic eruptions until the present. Around 20 tremors in the vicinity of the volcano were felt in the past day. Despite the eruption, there is no immediate threat to local residents or air traffic.

Volcano after volcano erupted in 2010. Take a look back at some of the best photos.

TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / ABNORMAL TIDES -

Cook Islands - population 19,000, in the South Pacific, northeast of New Zealand are experiencing climate change. Waves from sea surges are now breaking in front of homes and on roadways; More frequent and more powerful typhoons have destroyed or damaged many island buildings and scoured away beaches; The 15-island nation's first-ever water rationing occurred last year; Soil erosion from unprecedented flooding has been harming fish populations; and Rising water temperatures are killing parts of the coral reef which provide fish with food and shelter. "In the islands, there is a lot of fear among the people.That these things are happening, and the frequency and consistency of them." Anxiety is shared throughout island nations and in low-lying countries like Bangladesh, as they begin to cope with the effects of 1.8 degree F rise in average global temperatures in the 20th century.
Cook Island leaders are working to adapt to changing weather and sea conditions. Still, after witnessing increasing number of devastating cyclones in recent years that destroyed and damaged many structures and beaches in the Cook Islands, it's not certain how easily the country can adapt. "If the current weather we're experiencing now is going to continue for the next 20 years, it doesn't look very bright for the small island nations."

TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical cyclones.

SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -

AUSTRALIA - The federal government has been asked to send in Black Hawk helicopters to help rescue people from the flooded inland town of Theodore. Authorities were struggling with the task of evacuating most of Theodore's 300-plus population after flood waters from the Dawson River covered most of the town. The town's airport was closed due to tarmac damage. The scale of Queensland's flood crisis was slowly revealing itself, with 1000 people across the state in need of emergency housing.
People in Brisbane are being urged to prepare for possible flooding as wild weather continues to plague the state. Brisbane City Council issued a warning to residents late on Monday, with more rain predicted for the coming days. Sandbags are being offered to those in low-lying areas and the council is also advising that possessions and equipment be moved off the ground. It also recommends downloading a flood map for their suburb from www.brisbane.qld.gov.au to see how individual properties may be affected. "More rain (is) expected overnight and tomorrow to already sodden catchments." Localised flooding has occurred over the past few days on a number of roads across Brisbane, many of which remain affected. At least three people were rescued from trapped vehicles across the state within a matter of hours on Monday night. There have also been instances of retaining and rock walls on private property failing because of the saturated ground. Flash-flooding is affecting a large swathe of central, southeast and southwest Queensland and a severe weather warning remains in place, with heavy falls expected to drench southern and inland areas over the next few days. The immediate concern is for Chinchilla in the state's southwest, Dalby, Warwick and further north at Theodore and Rockhampton in central Queensland. Residents in some of those rural areas are on evacuation alert and towns have been cut off by near record-breaking flood levels.
Floodwaters have inundated businesses in Chinchilla, with the Queensland town braced for what could be its WORST FLOOD IN MORE THAN A CENTURY.

HEAVY SNOW / EXTREME COLD -

Blizzard moves from US to Canada - The US northeast has begun to dig out from a powerful blizzard that has shut down New York airports and crippled ground transport relied on by millions of holidaymakers and commuters. The storm that started early on Sunday began to abate on Monday afternoon as blue skies finally reappeared, revealing a snow-and-ice encrusted region, deserted highways, stranded cars and still stuttering public transport. Although the National Weather Service lifted its blizzard warning for the US northeast, the storm funnelled into Canada, dealing the Atlantic coast a dose of the same snow and gale-force winds.
In the hard-hit New York metropolitan area, businesses, home-owners and municipal services slowly got back on track and after almost 24 hours of being shut down, the three big area airports were struggling to their feet.
Even after reopening, huge delays were expected as airlines worked their way through the aftershock of thousands of cancelled flights. The Amtrak rail network said it was resuming limited service between New York and Boston after blizzard conditions halted trains along the heavily used corridor for 13 hours. New York commuter routes and bus services were crippled, while roads made hazardous going for the few drivers who'd actually been able to escape their snow-clogged parking spaces. The commuter train line between the NEw York City and Long Island was paralysed, as were portions of the city bus and subway systems, with ice and snow blocking tracks, and sometimes even collecting inside underground stations.
In six states - Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Virginia - governors called up a total of 430 National Guard troops to help authorities get life back to normal. Officials in eastern Canada said the blizzard was already dumping heavy amounts of snow and forcing the cancellation of flights from Fredericton and Moncton. Some 40,000 homes lost electricity. The weather service said winds with gusts upwards of 90km/h would cause widespread blowing snow, reducing visibilities to near zero in these regions. Some areas risked seeing ferocious winds of up to 150km/h. Americans in the southern United States were meanwhile treated to a rare white Christmas, with light to moderate snow blanketing communities in Alabama, Mississippi and North Carolina. Atlanta, Georgia enjoyed its first white Christmas in 128 years.
NEW YORK - The total snowfall for Greenwich is 18 inches. Wilton also got 18 inches, followed by Stamford and Norwalk with 16 inches, Danbury with 14 inches and Bridgeport with 12 inches. As far as December storms go, "It's got to be top-10." The storm dumped an estimated 2 to 3 inches an hour from 4 to 11 p.m. on Sunday. Wind gusts measured up to 67 mph for coastal Fairfield County. "That's TROPICAL STORM FORCE. That's only 7 miles away from being hurricane force." A ridge of high pressure entering the area on the back side of the low pressure storm is the cause of the winds, which will be sustained around 20 to 35 mph today and under 20 mph on Wednesday. "We're barely a week into winter."

Britain and Europe have been hit hard for the THIRD STRAIGHT RECORD-BREAKING WINTER season. Labeled by experts as the COLDEST WINTER IN 100 YEARS and set to blow well into 2011. The UNUSUAL Arctic conditions are set to last through the New Year bank holidays and beyond and temperatures plummeted to -10c (14f), prompting the UK’s Met Office to state that this December 2010 was ‘almost certain’ to become the coldest since records began in 1910.

HEALTH THREATS -

Swine flu in Sri Lanka has killed 22 people and infected more than 300 during the past two months. Since October 25 , 342 cases were reported. "The strain of influenza affects peoples' lungs and triggers off a strain of viral pneumonia. The heavy rains and the cold weather helped spread the virus." The ministry urged people to avoid crowded places and ordered those managing public phone booths to disinfect them at least eight times daily. The World Health Organisation declared the swine flu pandemic over in August, more than a year after the new virus spread across the world, sparking panic and killing thousands before fizzling out.

Salmonella found in U.S., Canada prompts cilantro, parsley recall - The latest recall comes days after dozens of people fell sick after consuming bacteria-tainted alfalfa sprouts in an apparently unrelated situation. Health officials said those first cases became known November 1, with many getting ill after eating alfalfa sprouts in products from Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches outlets. Those vegetables came from Tiny Greens Organic Farm.
The "precautionary, voluntary recall" for cilantro and parsley from J&D Produce, Inc.was announced Monday. No one has reported getting sick from eating the vegetables. In addition to a variety of sprouts, the Urbana, Illinois, produce company distributes arugula, broccoli, fennel, cauliflower, onion, radish and other items. Jimmy John's pulled sprouts from all its Illinois establishments after store locations came up negative for the bacteria.
About 23% of those sickened in that outbreak were hospitalized. The sprouts were distributed in Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and possibly other Midwestern states, with roughly half the illnesses occurring in Illinois.
The separate J&D Produce recall, meanwhile, came after independent tests found salmonella on the company's parsley in Quebec and its cilantro in Detroit, Michigan, both of which came from the same processing line in Texas. The company's products are sold retail as well as to wholesalers, who may then distribute them to restaurants and other establishments. The recall for parsley went out to the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario and the U.S. states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. The recalled cases of cilantro were distributed in Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin as well as Quebec and Ontario
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that usually lasts four to seven days. About 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported each year in the United States. Those who get it typically develop fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea between 12 and 72 hours after becoming infected. Most people recover on their own, without needing significant treatment. But salmonella in very young and very old people, as well as those with weakened immune systems, can lead to severe illness and even death.

RECALLS & ALERTS:
-JFC International, Inc. of Los Angeles, CA is recalling all of its un-eviscerated Frozen Capelin because they have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.
-Whole Foods Market is recalling items (such as Ginger Bread Houses) sold in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin that came from its supplier Rolf's Patisserie of Lincolnwood, Illinois. The recalled items have been used as an ingredient in prepared food and bakery department products or repackaged and sold under the Whole Foods Market Label.

Sunday/Monday, December 26 & 27, 2010

Chupacabra? - Has a mythical creature made its way to Kentucky? Some people seem to think so, after a Nelson County man came across a creature with grayish, wrinkly skin and no fur. He shot and killed an animal on Dec. 18 because he said he feared what it was, since he did not recognize it. He said the animal walked from the woods onto his front yard around 3 p.m. "I was like: 'every animal has hair, especially this time of year!' What puzzled me is how something like that could survive through a winter with no hair. Everybody is getting very curious, you know. [The] phone is ringing off the hook. It's kind of a mystery right now." He described the creature as having large ears, whiskers, a long tail, and about the size of a house cat. He says many people have tried to guess what the animal may be. He said he's heard anything from raccoon to a dog to the legendary Chupacabra.
"Everybody is leaning kind of toward that - it's the Chupacabra! People have come up to me [saying] 'that's what the thing is 'cause I pulled it up on the Internet'." Legend has it the Chupacabra - also known as the "Goat Sucker" - kills goats and sucks their blood. The fabled creature has supposedly been spotted in South America, Mexico, Puerto Rico, as well as Texas and Oklahoma. "It's hard to judge what an animal is from just a photograph," said the Louisville Zoo. They would have to see the animal in person to study it and determine its species. At first glance, they believed the animal could be a raccoon or a dog, but not a mythical creature. "This is an animal that's native to our area, most likely that is suffering from some type disease." It isn't uncommon for an animal with a severe disease to lose fur and look unrecognizable.

**May the stars carry your sadness away,
May the flowers fill your heart with beauty,
May hope forever wipe away your tears,
And, above all, may silence make you strong.**
Chief Dan George


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.1 VANUATU REGION
5.2 OFFSHORE SUCRE, VENEZUELA

Yesterday -
12/26/10 -
5.7 VANUATU
5.2 VANUATU
5.1 VANUATU
5.0 VANUATU
5.1 VANUATU
5.4 VANUATU
6.2 VANUATU
5.1 VANUATU
5.0 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
5.1 NEAR ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
5.0 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
5.5 LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION

12/25/10 -
5.2 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
5.4 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
5.3 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
5.1 VANUATU
5.2 VANUATU REGION
5.3 VANUATU
5.1 VANUATU REGION
5.2 VANUATU
5.1 VANUATU REGION
5.2 VANUATU
5.1 VANUATU REGION
5.1 VANUATU REGION
5.1 VANUATU REGION
5.0 VANUATU REGION
5.2 VANUATU
5.2 VANUATU
5.1 VANUATU REGION
5.7 VANUATU
5.4 VANUATU
7.5 VANUATU REGION
5.1 CARLSBERG RIDGE
5.0 OFF E. COAST OF N. ISLAND, N.Z.
5.3 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.3 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.3 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.2 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.4 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.2 RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN

12/24/10
5.0 PUERTO RICO
5.0 KURIL ISLANDS
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.5 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 NEAR COAST OF NICARAGUA
5.3 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
5.0 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
5.9 PACIFIC-ANTARCTIC RIDGE
5.2 NEAR ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
5.0 VANUATU

NEW ZEALAND - A series of strong aftershocks from a September earthquake has rattled Christchurch in New Zealand on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. The most powerful tremor was 4.9 magnitude and its impact was magnified by its proximity to the city centre. Buildings were damaged, power supplies temporarily cut and a large shopping centre was evacuated. The city of 370,000 people was hit by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake three months ago, causing widespread destruction. Two people were seriously injured in that quake, and older buildings including some landmarks were destroyed. Scientists say the tremors which continue to shake the area are related to the September quake and warn they could continue for some time. On Saturday, a 7.3 magnitude quake struck under the sea off Vanuatu, but there were no reports of damage or injuries.
Correspondents say it was a remarkable stroke of luck that no-one was hurt in Sunday's tremor. It struck at 1030 (2130 Saturday GMT) within 5km (three miles) of Christchurch at a depth of 12km. Shop fronts were shattered and in some places masonry could be seen littering the streets. Large parts of the central business district were cordoned off as police assessed damage to buildings. "To witness that first hand, it really scared the living daylights out of me. Buildings were exploding, and I thought it was glass but it was rock!"

ALASKA - A series of temblors has struck near an earthquake-prone region in the Aleutian Islands. The quakes all struck on Saturday and all were centered 30 to 50 miles off Adak Island, about 1,200 miles west of Anchorage. A 5.3-magnitude quake struck 11:45 a.m. That was followed by a 5.2-magnitude temblor at 12:20 p.m., and a 5.0 at 8:32 p.m. A smaller 3.3 quake also hit 60 miles south of Atka in the afternoon. The region is frequently hit by quakes, but monitoring agencies say they rarely receive reports of anyone feeling them.

TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical cyclones.

AUSTRALIA - A category one cyclone crossed the far north Queensland coast, bringing heavy rain and winds of up to 105 kilometres an hour. Rainfall of about 100 millimetres was been recorded in the space of an hour. Forecasters say the winds dropped in intensity as Cyclone Tasha crossed the coast, and heavy rain is now the main concern. Hundreds of emergency workers and volunteers in Queensland put their Christmas plans on hold to prepare for the cyclone. A severe weather warning was been issued for much of the state. Flooding is causing major problems in many parts of the state, cutting off some roads and rural communities.
More rain forecast for Qld's sodden tropical north - North Queensland will have a brief reprieve from torrential rain this evening as ex-tropical cyclone Tasha bears down on the south-east corner. Torrential rain lashed Queensland’s far north and central coast yesterday, even after tropical Cyclone Tasha ran out of puff between Cairns and Innisfail early in the morning. The category one cyclone was quickly downgraded to a low after it hit land just south of Cairns, but a low pressure system delivered a torrential downpour to areas from Cairns to Rockhampton, causing widespread flooding. About 7000 properties lost power, the roof was ripped off a house at Mission Beach, and the State Emergency Service responded to more than 150 calls for help, in addition to 417 calls throughout the state on Christmas Eve.
The heaviest falls were recorded near Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton yesterday. The Goldsborough Valley, south of Cairns, has received 279 millimetres of rain in the past 48 hours, while Corsis cattle station has received 277 millimetres and Topaz station has received 276 millimetres. Thunderstorms will continue to plague the state’s north during the holiday period. ‘‘Without the low pressure system at work conditions will revert back to seasonal thunderstorms and showers in the north." The rain will continue to cause minimal flooding in the already sodden region. Brisbane is expected to be hit with torrential rain overnight.
It is unlikely that a third monsoonal low brewing off the Queensland coast will develop into a tropical cyclone. The low pressure system will deliver more rain, but will not have time to intensify to form a cyclone. "It hasn’t quite formed in the Gulf of Carpentaria at the moment, but it will become more obvious on Tuesday. It doesn’t look like a major threat at the moment, unless something happens at the very end there." The chance of a second cyclone crossing the coast before the new year is less than five per cent. However the tropical low will continue to lash the state’s waterlogged north and central coast this week. The bureau has issued a severe weather warning for coastal areas between Mackay and the New South Wales border.

HEAVY SNOW / EXTREME COLD -

U.S. - THIRD WEEK IN A ROW that the Minnesota Vikings game has been moved due to extreme weather! A swathe of the US eastern seaboard is being engulfed in a winter storm that is dumping heavy snow as it sweeps north. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and severe weather warnings are in place from Georgia to Vermont as temperatures continue to plummet. Blizzards dropping up to 1ft (31cm) of snow are hitting New York and parts of New England. South Carolina had its FIRST CHRISTMAS SNOW SINCE RECORDS BEGAN in 1887. The football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings was postponed until Tuesday in Philadelphia because of the blizzard. (Two weeks ago the game was moved out of Minneapolis due to the Metrodome collapsing in heavy snow and last week the game was moved to the University of Minnesota outdoor stadium due to the collapsed dome.) Up to 20in of snow were expected in some areas, including Philadelphia.
Blizzard warnings were in effect for Rhode Island and most of eastern Massachusetts including Boston. Forecasters were predicting more than 1ft of snow from midday on Sunday until late afternoon. The MONSTER STORM was the result of a low pressure system off North Carolina's coast which was moving north-east and intensifying. Snow began falling around New York City late on Sunday morning and up to 18in was predicted to fall on the New Jersey coast, with wind gusts of more than 40mph (64km/h). Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina had declared states of emergency by early Sunday. As conditions worsened on Sunday, transport services were being cancelled.
A band of frigid weather was snaking up the East Coast on Sunday, promising blizzards and a foot of snow for New York City and New England. Travel misery began a day earlier in parts of the South, where a RARE Christmas came with reports of dozens of car crashes. The Northeast is expected to get the brunt of the storm. In London, Heathrow Airport was open Sunday, but warned on its website of flight cancellations and delays due to bad weather in the U.S. In Paris, five flights leaving for JFK from Charles de Gaulle airport were canceled Sunday.
The white Christmas in the South was one for the record books. Atlanta, Georgia had just over an inch of snow - THE FIRST MEASURABLE ACCUMULATION SINCE THE 1880s on Christmas Day. 8.5 inches of snow fell in Franklinton, North Carolina.

IRELAND - Northern Ireland’s councils are preparing emergency shelter for those severely affected by the extreme weather. The RECORD-BREAKING CONDITIONS have resulted in frozen and burst pipes and many people in the province have been left without heat, electricity or running water. Plans include opening council properties as emergency reception facilities for those in need. “Many people, including senior citizens and families with small children, are facing Christmas without any heat or running water. They can’t live in those circumstances for days while they wait on a thaw. I have therefore requested that councils be prepared to open humanitarian centres, if required, to cater for the needs of these people over the Christmas period and beyond."
There was also concern over very high levels of air pollution across Northern Ireland. The minister said that freezing weather been a factor in the rise in levels of air pollution. Emissions from vehicles and home heating systems had built up in the air during the calm, cold weather conditions across Northern Ireland. These conditions are forecast to continue until Boxing Day. Areas which are particularly bad are Londonderry, Cookstown and Armagh. High levels have also been recorded in Newry, Lisburn and Belfast. These areas are being monitored on a regular basis. Those with heart or lung diseases, including asthma, may be affected by the increased air pollution but healthy people are unlikely to experience any ill-effects.

RUSSIA - Freezing rain shuts Moscow's airport and cuts power. Freezing rain has badly disrupted air traffic at Moscow's airports and left more than 400,000 people in and around Russia's capital without electricity. Rain that immediately turned into ice on the ground caused power failures, shutting Domodedovo airport for hours and stranding thousands of people. The power was later restored. Dozens of flights to and from other Moscow airports were cancelled. Bad weather also turned many streets in the city into ice rinks. More than 60 flights were also cancelled at other Moscow airports because of bad weather. In the city itself, freezing rain damaged power supplies to trams and trolley buses and caused huge traffic jams. Health officials urged residents not to risk walking on the icy streets and stay indoors.
A strong cyclone was raging over the southern districts of Kamchatka on Saturday. Flights on the local airlines were suspended. The Kamchatka residents were recommended to be careful in the streets. The southern Ust-Bolsheretsk district was the hardest hit of the cyclone overnight to Saturday, when the hurricane winds reached 46 meters per second. The gusts of wind reached 32 meters per second in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. No snow blizzards were reported on the peninsula. The storm is raging in the Northwest Pacific off the Kamchatka coast with the waves six meters high. The Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky airport is open, but the air traffic situation is complicated by high winds. The gusts of wind reach 28 meters per second. A high avalanche hazard was announced in the territorial highlands.

HEALTH THREATS -

Swine flu sweeps through the United Kingdom, sparks fear of epidemic - The flu season has kicked off and it is the swine flu strain of the disease that is leading the way as the flu continues to sweep through the UK. The UK is under a great deal of fear heading into the new year as there have been dozens upon dozens of deaths as a result of the flu since the end of October. There have been reported cases all over the UK for the past few months, sparking fear that an epidemic will be looming. The UK is not alone, as all members of the European Union are seeing a steep rise in flu cases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that flu activity is on the rise, but in the U.S. the belief is that the risk is still fairly low. That has not stopped the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control to send out a warning for the rest of Europe - It is more important than ever to take precautions and get vaccinated, and to be on notice for symptoms related to the flu.
Northern hemisphere countries are being told by health experts to brace themselves for flu outbreaks. There has been a surge of cases in the UK during December with swine flu appearing to be the dominant of the three strains circulating. But the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warned much of the rest of Europe was also beginning to see increases too.
Many of those being infected are younger age groups. This is because elderly people have some immunity to swine flu, most probably because of exposure to a similar strain many years ago. In the UK, the number of people who have died with all types of flu this winter hit 27 this week after another 10 deaths. The volume of patients going to their doctor with flu-like illnesses also rose, more than doubling to 87.1 per 100,000 in the past week. Cases have been highest in children aged between five and 14, followed by children under four and then those aged between 15 and 44. But the UK's Health Protection Agency said a very large outbreak was "not likely". "Recent research conducted by the HPA has suggested that a very substantial wave of activity associated with the pandemic strain is not likely." Health experts said most people with flu would be able to "self-care" by taking plenty of rest, drinking fluids and taking pain relief. The numbers getting immunised are still too low, doctors have said. The rates being seen elsewhere in Europe are not as high as in the UK, but the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said there was evidence that the winter flu epidemics were "starting". Russia and the Ukraine are thought to be the worst hit outside the UK.

RECALLS & ALERTS:

- A Salmonella Montevideo outbreak caused by contaminated pepper used in salami lasted more than 9 months and involved 272 cases in 44 states. The outbreak lasted from July 2009 until mid April 2010. The outbreak was linked to sausages made by Daniele Inc., a Rhode Island company. The contaminated pepper was applied after the salami had undergone microbe-killing processing. "Companies are not required to treat spices, and manufacturers are not required to use treated spices in their products. However, the Food and Drug Administration is working with spice trade groups and with other agencies to develop recommendations on spice safety standards. Store membership and shopper cards proved useful in tracking down the food source of the outbreak.

- Sprouts suspected in multistate Salmonella outbreak.


Saturday, December 25, 2010

A very large amount of quakes today, plus the 'usual' big one for the holiday.

A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the western Pacific nation of Vanuatu on Sunday, triggering a small tsunami exactly six years after giant waves killed 220,000 people around the Indian Ocean. The shallow quake generated a tsunami, but it cancelled a regional warning after the wave measured only 15 centimetres (six inches) higher than normal in Vanuatu. The quake struck at 12:16 am on Sunday (1316 GMT Saturday), and the initial tsunami warning covered Vanuatu, Fiji and the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia. There were no reports of damage or casualties. At least a dozen aftershocks of magnitude 5.0 or greater hit the area in the hours after the main tremor.
Vanuatu, which lies between Fiji and Australia and north of New Zealand, is part of the "Pacific Ring of Fire" - an ocean-wide area alive with seismic and volcanic activity caused by the grinding of enormous tectonic lates. Sunday's quake came on the sixth anniversary of one of the worst natural disasters of modern times, when a huge tsunami triggered by an undersea quake off Indonesia killed more than 220,000 people around the Indian Ocean. In August, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake off Vanuatu generated a small tsunami and sent thousands of frightened people running for the hills. In September last year, Samoa in the Pacific suffered its worst natural disaster when three rapid-fire quakes of up to 8.1 magnitude unleashed waves as high as 15 metres (50 feet) that flattened villages and tourist resorts. The seismic catastrophe claimed 143 lives in Samoa, 34 in the US-administered territory of American Samoa and another nine in Tonga. Vanuatu lies between Australia and Fiji and has a population of 220,000 scattered across several islands.

LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.2 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
5.4 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
5.3 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
5.1 VANUATU REGION
5.2 VANUATU
5.1 VANUATU REGION
5.1 VANUATU REGION
5.1 VANUATU REGION
5.0 VANUATU REGION
5.2 VANUATU
5.2 VANUATU
5.1 VANUATU REGION
5.7 VANUATU
5.4 VANUATU
7.5 VANUATU REGION
5.1 CARLSBERG RIDGE
5.0 OFF E. COAST OF N. ISLAND, N.Z.
5.3 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.3 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.2 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.4 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.2 RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN

Yesterday -
12/24/10
5.0 PUERTO RICO
5.0 KURIL ISLANDS
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.5 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 NEAR COAST OF NICARAGUA
5.3 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
5.0 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
5.9 PACIFIC-ANTARCTIC RIDGE
5.2 NEAR ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
5.0 VANUATU

Friday, December 24, 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!


China increases weather manipulation spending by 19 percent - According to various international and local news reports, the Chinese government has increased spending on weather manipulation research and studies. It’s part of a directive to combat extreme weather events. Last week, Agence-France Presse reported that China increased spending by 19 percent, or $114 million, this year on a special weather manipulation programme budget that has caused controversy and created debated among both the political and scientific international community. Citing extreme conditions, including numerous water shortages throughout the country, the programme will study and research airborne water resources and improve the ecological environment. “By the mid 21st century, China will be a country short of water, with a per capita water source of 1,700 cubic meters. Thus we need to control the weather." The weather modification initiative will also assist in “pushing forward” China’s agriculture and rural development." This is not the first time that China has used this technology, though. In order to ensure the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony would go ahead as planned, China modified the weather by shooting dry ice, salt and silver iodides into clouds.

**Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.**
Native American saying


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.9 PACIFIC-ANTARCTIC RIDGE
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.2 NEAR ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
5.0 VANUATU


Yesterday -
12/23/10 -
5.4 NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
5.5 FLORES REGION, INDONESIA
5.4 MAUG ISLANDS REG, N. MARIANA IS
5.6 VANUATU
5.3 VANUATU
6.4 NEAR ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
5.1 TONGA
5.2 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.2 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION

Icy rain and German earthquake add to Christmas transport misery. A slight let-up in Europe's bitter cold triggered fresh pre-Christmas transport chaos Thursday, with icy roads quickly glazing over in many parts of Germany as rain fell on frozen ground. Adding to the sense of disaster was a minor earthquake in the region just west of Frankfurt. High buildings swayed in two big jolts under the city of Mainz, but nobody was injured. The bigger quake, at 3 am (0200 GMT), measured 3.4 on the Richter scale.
In the far north of Germany, heavy new falls of snow hampered road travel. Elsewhere, the new precipitation came down in the form of rain, causing even worse dangers. The rain froze into a slippery sheet on already-frozen roadways. Parts of the main highways from Berlin to Hamburg and to Germany's industrial heartland in the west were closed when trucks jack-knifed on the ice. Authorities appealed to motorists to only use their cars in dire necessity. Travellers complained of huge overcrowding on German trains. Many were running late because of snow on tracks.

TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical cyclones.

AUSTRALIA - Soggy state on cyclone watch. The weather bureau has warned a second monsoonal low brewing off the Queensland coast may develop into a low grade cyclone in the next three days. A Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster said Cyclone Tasha, if formed, would wreak more havoc in the state’s far north following torrential rain predicted for Christmas morning. ‘‘It could develop into a cyclone in the next three days and cross the coast the day after Boxing Day. Anywhere from Mackay to Cooktown we could expect to see exceptionally high rainfall events ... [with] 300 and millimetres falling in a very short period of time. ‘In a worst case scenario we could see major flooding events in more than one centre with a large population.’’
The state’s tropical cyclone warning centre had been activated, with extra police and emergency services workers and four police aircraft on standby ready to be deployed. "‘There is a possibility that by this evening [the low pressure system] will be a low-grade tropical cyclone and on the coast some time overnight.’’ Should a tropical cyclone develop it would ‘‘enhance’’ the rainfall across northern Queensland and generate winds of speeds between 80 to 100km/h. Forecasters were not yet sure whether the second low would develop as a separate system or join the current tropical low tracking towards the state’s north. ‘‘It’s possible that the monsoon low crossing the coast tonight might end up in central Queensland and another system develop in the Gulf of Carpentaria." The very active monsoon trough could linger over Queensland well into the first week of January.
‘‘Over the next seven to 10 days - a time when many people will not be at home, when many people will be travelling, when many of the government agencies would normally be shut down with people on leave, we will expect to see resources called upon. ‘Going further into the week, particularly around the New Year’s weekend, we expect to see some of that high rainfall making its way into southeast Queensland.’’ Motorists were advised to take food, water and essential medications with them on their travels in case they were unexpectedly stranded by floodwaters.
The State Emergency Service hotline received 417 calls for help with localised flooding since 5am yesterday with the majority of these recorded for the Townsville (50), Mackay (35), Brisbane (25) and Bundaberg (22) areas.
Authorities have encouraged residents to prepare emergency flood kits ahead of the downpour. Emergency kits should contain emergency phone numbers, a portable radio, torch, spare batteries, a first aid kit, several sets of clothing and strong plastic bags to store them as well as medication and valuables.

SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -

Rushing waters wash away homes in Arizona - Extreme weather is causing a flood of troubles out west. In California, the rain has flooded streets and caused minor mudslides. The threat of larger mudslides could last for weeks in the suburban Los Angeles canyon hillsides charred by wildfires. Heavy rain is also falling in Utah, Nevada and Arizona. A state of emergency was ordered after rain-swollen creeks closed some roads in the Las Vegas area. Most of the Las Vegas area is under a flash flood warning.

HEAVY SNOW / EXTREME COLD -

EUROPE - Most of Denmark was affected by falls of up to 15cm (6 inches) of snow. In southern areas, the army sent out armoured personnel carriers to help the emergency services and police advised drivers to delay their journeys if at all possible.
People on the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea were urged to stay indoors and reports described roads as impassable. There were concerns for motorists who had become stranded as the emergency services had no means of helping them. In northern France, the authorities placed a number of areas on the second-highest state of alert. Heavy snow fell around the city of Amiens and flights at the two main Paris airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, were cancelled. Heavy snow near Amiens in northern France left vehicles stranded.
Police in areas of Lower Saxony in the north said there had been an "endless" string of accidents, with roads described as similar to glass because of the fall of freezing rain on icy surfaces. In Germany, the motorway between Berlin and Hamburg was said to be at a standstill and heavy overnight snow in the Magdeburg area left a number of motorists stranded. Driving conditions in parts of Britain were said to be "treacherous". Delays and cancellations affected rail services in parts of Scotland, England and Wales.


Thursday, December 23, 2010

Why did the Met Office forecast a "mild winter" for Britain? Do you remember? They said it would be mild and damp, and between one degree and one and a half degrees warmer than average. "Well, this winter is a corker. Never mind the record low attained in Northern Ireland this weekend. I can't remember a time when so much snow has lain so thickly on the ground, and we haven't even reached Christmas. And this is the third tough winter in a row. Is it really true that no one saw this coming?"
Actually, they did. Piers Corbyn not only predicted the current weather, but he believes things are going to get much worse. Armed only with a laptop, huge quantities of publicly available data and a first-class degree in astrophysics, he gets it right again and again. Back in November, when the Met Office was still doing its "mild winter" schtick, Corbyn said it would be the coldest for 100 years. Indeed, it was back in May that he first predicted a snowy December. He said that the Met Office would be wrong about last year's mythical "barbecue summer", and he was vindicated. He was closer to the truth about last winter, too. He seems to get it right about 85 per cent of the time and serious business people - notably in farming - are starting to invest in his forecasts.
How on earth does he do it? He studies the Sun. He looks at the flow of particles from the Sun, and how they interact with the upper atmosphere, especially air currents such as the jet stream, and he looks at how the Moon and other factors influence those streaming particles. He takes a snapshot of what the Sun is doing at any given moment, and then he looks back at the record to see when it last did something similar. Then he checks what the weather was like on Earth at the time - and he makes a prophecy.
He believes that the last three winters could be the HARBINGER OF A MINI ICE AGE that could be upon us by 2035, and that it could start to be COLDER THAN AT ANY TIME IN THE LAST 200 YEARS. He goes on to speculate that a genuine ice age might then settle in, since an ice age is now cyclically overdue.
Of course he may be just a fluke-artist. It may be just luck that he has apparently predicted recent weather patterns more accurately than government-sponsored scientists. Is it possible that everything we do is dwarfed by the moods of the star that gives life to the world?

**When you are in doubt, be still, and wait;
when doubt no longer exists for you,
then go forward with courage.
So long as mists envelop you, be still;
be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists
-- as it surely will. Then act with courage.**
Ponca Chief White Eagle


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.5 NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
5.3 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.2 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION

Yesterday -
12/22/10 -
5.0 NEW GUINEA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
5.1 SOUTHWEST INDIAN RIDGE
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
6.5 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.4 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.2 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.3 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.2 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.4 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.6 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.3 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION

WAVES -

CANADA - Environment Canada issued warnings Tuesday that fierce winds and pounding waves will strike numerous communities in Newfoundland. The warnings cover the island's south coast, most of its west coast and the Burin, Avalon and Bonavista peninsulas, and compound travel problems that have already cancelled Marine Atlantic's ferry crossings to Nova Scotia. Winds will gust up to 120 km/h in parts of the Avalon and Burin peninsulas. Water levels will be particularly high on the east side of the Burin Peninsula, and in other areas as well. In the notoriously windy Wreckhouse area in southwestern Newfoundland, winds are expected to top 100 km/h. Topography makes it possible for high winds to blow trains off their tracks or, more recently, transport trucks off the Trans-Canada Highway. Marine Atlantic is keeping its ferries in port until Thursday, threatening the Christmas travel plans of hundreds of passengers. Canada Post has said it will not be able to deliver the contents of five large Newfoundland-bound trucks now docked in North Sydney. Hiigh winds may not die down on the Cabot Strait until Saturday.

TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical cyclones.

SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -

CALIFORNIA - Southern California Communities Surrounded By Mud, Rain Subsides and Heads East, Clean Up Begins for Areas Hit the Hardest Wednesday. Southern California residents will get a break today from the wet weather that inundated the region with A YEAR'S WORTH OF RAIN IN JUST ONE WEEK. The series of storms that has pounded the area since last week has triggered mudslides, flooding, swift water rescues and prompted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency for six counties.
In Laguna Beach, a wall of water four feet high poured through downtown, bringing with it a tide of mud. The heavy water has made driving nearly impossible near the Pacific coast, with puddles the size of lakes forcing road closures. On Wednesday morning, a mudslide devastated the town of Highland, near the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. Most of the residents' cars are now buried in mud, and more than 20 homes were destroyed in just an instant. In the mountain town of Green Valley Lake, rock slides and flooding and closed off access in and out of the town. (video)

HEAVY SNOW / EXTREME COLD -

KOREA - From this afternoon, they're expecting another round of cold snap due to the cold front moving in from the northwest this is going to bring RECORD-BREAKING COLD temperatures once again accomapanied by wind chills and that will at least last into the weekend. Today, Seoul will drop to 2 degrees. Mt. Geumgang will plunge into minus 3 degrees, once again.

There's a major area of low pressure moving away from JAPAN but it's still producing some snowfall across the northern parts of Japan, near Sapporo. The same cold continental high pressure that's affecting Korea is in the northeastern parts of CHINA, so freezing temperatures are there and further south it's going to be fine and dry for the most part. RUSSIA - For Moscow, they're warming up a little just by a few degrees, but it's still minus 8 degrees there. GERMANY & FRANCE - Berlin and Paris still dealing with snow, and Rome, ITALY with heavy rainfall.

UNITED KINGDOM - Freezing Teesside shivered in temperatures as low as -15C Tuesday, as the Met office made cautious predictions for record-breaking lows this winter. Commuters from Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough reported “the LOWEST TEMPERATURES THEY HAD EVER KNOWN” at -14C in Ingleby Barwick, -13C in Acklam and Stokesley and -13.5C in Crathorne, as an arctic feel swept right across Teesside and East Cleveland. Temperatures of between -10C and -15C were “fairly typical” across Middlesbrough and East Cleveland. “It is still way below freezing and this is likely to continue from now through Christmas Day and Boxing Day. If the cold temperatures continue in the same vein we are looking, if not at the coldest December, the second coldest December country-wide since records began in 1911. We really are into a RECORD-BREAKING START to winter. Thursday will see a return of North-easterly winds and snow showers will come into the region, especially along the coastal strip.”

NORTH DAKOTA - Fargo set a daily snowfall RECORD Monday with 5.5 inches at Hector International Airport. The old record was 5.4 inches set on Dec. 20, 1967. Snowfall totals from around the region included 6.4 inches in Moorhead and 8.2 inches in Devils Lake. The snowfall brought Fargo-Moorhead’s total for December to 12.8 inches through Monday, or 8.3 inches above normal, and raised the total for the season to 31.4 inches, or 18.7 inches above normal. Fargo-Moorhead’s record snowfall for December came in 2008, when the metro was socked with 33.5 inches – the snowiest month on record in Fargo-Moorhead. This year’s snowfall is also short of the cumulative mark two years ago. In 2008, 36 inches fell in Fargo through December 31, setting up the region for the epic 2009 spring flood. Grand Forks also BROKE A RECORD Monday for precipitation with 0.41 inches at the airport. The old record was 0.36 inches set on Dec. 20, 1967.

BERMUDA - RECORD-BREAKING COLD temperatures continued Tuesday, with the recorded low of 48F/9C the coldest temperature of the year, and also the record low for the whole month of December. “As far as the record low, we actually set two...48F/9C is the record low for the 21st of December, the previous low for this day was 54F/12C set in 1955. We also broke the record low for the whole month of December. The previous low ever reached in December was 50F/10C which we reached twice in 1955 and in 1962." The Bermuda Weather Service climate records date back to 1949.

EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -

TEXAS - Tuesday was the first day of winter, but you wouldn’t know it to look at the thermometer. For the second day in a row, HIGH TEMPERATURES BROKE RECORDS, the third day of RECORD-BREAKING HEAT within a week. “The record high is 83." That record was set in 1981, and Tuesday’s high was forecast at 86 degrees. Tuesday’s temperature reached 84 degrees around 2 p.m. This marks the fourth day of 80-degree days. “Normally it’s one or two days” for 80-degree highs in December.
Tuesday marked a hat trick of December record-breaking weather. Monday, temperatures reached 85 degrees. The previous record occurred in 1921 at 80 degrees. On Dec. 15, a 102-year-old record high of 82 degrees was broken, when temperatures reached 85 degrees. “It’s an ABNORMALLY warm spell." Temperatures should drop steadily for the rest of the week. La Niña, a seasonal product of temperatures lowering in the Pacific Ocean, may be causing the dryness and heat. The phenomena is the opposite of El Niño, which occurs when waters in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America are unusually warm.

HEALTH THREATS -

RECALLS & ALERTS:
-Bright Water Seafood, Tucker, GA is recalling its 7 ounce packages of Buffalo Krab Dip and 7 ounce packages of Southwest Krab Dip because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
-Whole Foods Market announced that it is recalling cheese sold in California, Nevada, Washington State and Washington, D.C. that came from its supplier Sally Jackson Cheese of Oroville, Washington.