Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.**
Mark Twain
LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
None 5.0 or higher.
Yesterday -
7/16/11 -
5.8 KEPULAUAN BARAT DAYA, INDONESIA
5.0 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
6.2 ALASKA PENINSULA
5.4 LAKE BAYKAL REGION, RUSSIA
5.6 VANUATU
5.1 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
5.7 TONGA REGION
6.0 OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
7/15/11 -
5.2 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.4 EASTERN HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.0 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.2 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.3 VANUATU
5.2 ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE
6.0 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
5.5 SOUTH OF TONGA
CALIFORNIA - Earthquakes are a common occurrence in California but the past few days have seen a notable rise in the number of tremors recorded in the US State. More than 70 earthquakes have shaken the Pacific coastal State since late Thursday, up to Saturday morning. Over 48 hours earth tremors have been felt throughout the state, including the Greater Los Angeles area, San Diego and the San Francisco Bay area. The majority of the earthquakes ranged between 2-4 magnitude. More than fifty earthquakes shook California in a 13-hour period up to 1:00 pm GMT (5:00 am PDT) Friday. (map)
TROPICAL STORMS -
TYPHOON 08W (MA-ON) was LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 765 NM SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF TOKYO, JAPAN.
Storm 'Hanna' exits Philippines - Tropical depression "Hanna" moved outside Philippine territory and began to merge Saturday with approaching typhoon Ma-on east of extreme Northern Luzon. As of 11 a.m. Saturday, "Hanna" was located 1,265 kilometers east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes with maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour (kph) near the center and moving 24 kph northeast. "Hanna" was expected to merge with typhoon "Ma-on" Saturday which was 1,500 km east of Northern Luzon. The typhoon is expected to enter Philippine territory this morning but will only stay for at least 12 hours before moving towards Okinawa, Japan. The typhoon will be locally named “Ineng.”
Powerful Typhoon Ma-on Takes Aim At Japanese Mainland - The eighth tropical storm of the Pacific storm season rapidly intensified Friday and was officially declared Typhoon Ma-on. Bands of the typhoon sent soaking rain across Guam, the Mariana Islands, and other tropical Pacific locations. The storm appears to be headed toward Okinawa and then the disaster-ravaged Japanese mainland.
Forecasters from the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center indicated a landfall in Japan was possible on July 19 or 20, based on current estimates of conditions. JTWC cautioned that the storm is not likely to weaken until it makes landfall or moves into higher latitudes. On July 15, the typhoon was centred approximately 270 nautical miles (500 kilometres) south-southeast of Iwo To, Japan, and moving west at 12.6 miles per hour (20 kilometres per hour, 11 knots). The typhoon packed sustained winds of 132 miles per hour (213 kilometres per hour, or 115 knots), with gusts to 161 miles per hour (259 kilometres per hour, or 140 knots). (satellite photo)
SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -
NORTH KOREA - Floods triggered by torrential rain that hit North Korea last week washed away homes, roads and farmland and caused unspecified casualties. Heavy rain from July 12 to 15 left more than 20,000 hectares of farmland destroyed or submerged across the country. The western and northeastern regions of Hwanghae and South Hamgyong were hit hard, with more than 250 millimetres of rain recorded in some areas. The downpour left several dykes, public buildings as well as roads destroyed, and the eastern city of Hamhung saw casualties. Reconstruction efforts were under way in affected areas. After decades of deforestation, the impoverished North is particularly vulnerable to flooding. In 2007 it reported at least 600 dead or missing from devastating floods.
State media said last week a tropical storm that hit the country in June had caused unspecified casualties and left more than 160 homes and 20,000 hectares of farmland destroyed or submerged. The tropical storm, which hit the Korean peninsula late last month, washed away factories, production plants, public buildings, roads and riverbanks. Heavy rain and strong winds brought by Tropical Storm Meari hit the North from June 25-27. Meari left nine dead in South Korea.
EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -
U.S.Heatwave Could Last Into Next Week - Much of the central US was warned to expect a severe heatwave and other extreme weather starting Friday and, in some areas, extending to Tuesday [Wednesday in Minnesota]. The National Weather Service has warned about excessive heat – up to 110 degrees – in states such as Nebraska, South Dakota, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. “The risk of heat-related illnesses continue and may increase with each hot day and warm night, especially for those without air conditioning." In addition to the heat and humidity, severe thunderstorms are likely coming for the northern plains, and flash flood warnings have been issued for sections of Tennessee and North Dakota.
The warnings are the latest development in what has been a wild-weather summer for much of the country. Extreme drought conditions have hit more than a dozen states. Extended drought conditions can adversely affect the agricultural industry and increase chances of wildfires. The National Weather Service and other public agencies are also reiterating warnings about the dangers of heatstroke. Those younger than 65 are advised to check on their elderly friends and family, as heatwaves can be especially threatening to the elderly. A 2006 study found that such warnings often go unheeded by seniors because they don’t regard themselves as elderly.
Sizzling heat baked much of the Midwest Saturday, with temperatures at triple-digit levels in some states, and heat advisories commonplace across a wide swath of the country. Temperatures ranged to 15 degrees above normal highs in many states as a high pressure system settled in. Forecasters say the very hot weather would continue throughout the weekend, and some of it is likely to be felt in the mid-Atlantic and eastern seaboard states by early next week. Not even the Northeast was spared the stifling heat. Between 20 and 30 spectators at an air show in upstate New York were treated for heat-related emergencies, and some were hospitalized for further treatment.
U.S. RECORD DROUGHT - While some parts of the country suffer from flooding, Texas and Oklahoma face the opposite extreme weather — drought. The south-central part of the United States has experienced dry conditions before, but the current drought has lasted for nine months and is expected to continue into early next year, according to the National Weather Service. How bad is it? Experts say it is THE WORST ON RECORD. Speakers referred to it as "stunning" at a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration workshop in Austin last week. Farmers and ranchers are struggling. The impact on the cattle industry is severe, with little grazing land available. Growing rice, cotton and wheat under such conditions is tough, too.
Texas and parts of Oklahoma are not expected to see much rain until next year, while New Mexico and Louisiana may see a break in the weather before then. It would take major tropical storms to make up for the region's lack of rainfall. October through June has proved the driest time on record in Texas. Since many beef producers have had to cull their herds, a shortage of beef is predicted in the near future. Once rainfall returns, pasture land will take months to recover in the affected areas. Flooding and drought — opposite extremes of the weather spectrum — have made it hard on agriculture in several parts of the country this year.
HEALTH THREATS -
A massive measles outbreak has been reported in Kenya and Ethiopia - This latest report adds to the growing list of measles cases the world has seen this year.
