Friday, February 10, 2012
Extreme weather may cause food price surge - The bitter winter cold sweeping across Asia and Europe is not just miserable for commuters. The inclement weather is causing widespread disruption to transport services, power supplies - and a surge in sales of winter jackets. Meteorologists warn that the subzero temperatures are expected to continue into next week. Analysts say, it could also be the winter of discontent for the global economy.
Experts say, the most direct impact from the severe cold is on global food prices. Only a year and half ago, global food prices were pushed up 60 to 80 percent by a drought caused by the extreme heat in Russia, which saw a reduction in wheat output by 30 percent. The consequences were devastating for some African countries that rely on imported food. Experts from the China Meteorology Administration say as the freezing weather sweeps across Chinese border, many areas will see a drop in vegetable supplies. "The recent warm winter has made many people become less alert about extreme weather conditions. It has brought ahead crops’ growth period as well. If the severe freezing weather lasts for a longer period, many areas could face a supply shortage in vegetable. "
Besides food, other industries from real estate to civil aviation will take a hit too. The heavy snowfall in the United States last year caused severe damage to new house constructions. Meanwhile, cancellation of over 6 thousand flights caused heavy losses not only to the travel industry, but impacted tourism and logistics industry too. But experts say the upside is this will push up demand for clothes and energy consumption. "This extreme weather is good news for some industries such as winter jacket manufacturers. We can expect sales will go up. There would be high demand for energy too, which could cause an energy shortage as electricity companies and gas companies may not have prepared for the freezing cold." Experts also warn a potential surge on global oil prices, and that investors in commodity futures should pay attention to the impact on agricultural commodity prices.
LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.8 NEAR N COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA
6.0 FIJI REGION
Yesterday -
2/9/12 -
5.2 SERAM, INDONESIA
5.1 SERAM, INDONESIA
5.1 MACQUARIE ISLAND REGION
5.1 UTTARANCHAL, INDIA
5.1 NORTHERN XINJIANG, CHINA
5.3 MACQUARIE ISLAND REGION
5.0 NINIGO ISLANDS REGION, P.N.G.
5.4 SOUTHWEST INDIAN RIDGE
5.8 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
5.4 SOLOMON ISLANDS
5.1 VANUATU
VOLCANOES -
Indonesia - Mount Lokon volcano on Indonesia's Sulawesi island erupted early today with a loud explosion and spewing ash two kilometres up in the sky. No casualties were reported. "Volcanic activity had been increasing since yesterday before it erupted this morning. The height of the ash-smoke plume is estimated to be about 2000 metres." Residents to the east of the crater within a 3.5km radius have been advised to vacate their homes. Of Indonesia's 500 volcanoes, 128 are active and 65 are listed as dangerous.
Mount Lokon erupted several times last year, most recently in December but there were no casualties.
TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / ABNORMAL TIDES -
Indonesian Tin Exports Drop 64% as Bad Weather Hurts Mining - “Extreme weather has really disrupted both offshore and on-land tin mining in Bangka. Waves could reach as high as 5 meters, making it impossible for dredgers to operate, and on land the pits were flooded due to heavy rain.” The weather conditions may persist until next month or April. The Bangka Belitung islands are Indonesia’s main producing regions.
TROPICAL STORMS -
In the Indian Ocean -
-Tropical cyclone 12s (Giovanna) was located approximately 610 nm northeast of La Reunion.
-Tropical cyclone 10p (Jasmine) was located approximately 330 nm east-southeast of Noumea, New Caledonia.
Tropical Storm 12S - a possible threat to Madagascar - The twelfth tropical depression formed in the Southern Indian Ocean today
and quickly became a tropical storm, dubbed Tropical Storm 12S (Giovanna).
Potential cyclone enters Philippine territory - A potential cyclone — a low-pressure area (LPA) — entered Philippine territory Thursday afternoon.
SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -
Australia - People trapped as flash floods hit Sydney. Up to 20 people have been rescued and many more fled their homes as a massive storm swept across western Sydney and the Illawarra, resulting in treacherous flash flooding. It has left another 3000 people now cut off by floodwaters across NSW, pushing the total over the past week towards 9000. "We've had an increase in the number of homes and farms that have been isolated." Rain hammered low-lying pockets of Sydney. About 150 racing greyhounds were rescued from a stud farm at Londonderry, near Penrith, along with some goats from another property.
Another 40 greyhounds may need rescuing from a semi-rural area of western Sydney today. Londonderry was hammered by 104mm of rain in a few hours last night. Eight homes have been inundated with floodwaters and 19 people needed rescuing. Another 38 self-evacuated. Volunteers spent the night sandbagging as well as responding to emergency calls reporting leaking roofs and fallen trees. "The water rose quite quickly." The rain also hit the Illawarra region, on the state's south coast, where there were about 20 rescues. The SES had been closely watching the south coast and southern highlands, although weather conditions appeared to have eased. "The worst is possibly over down there."
Meanwhile, there are now 8700 people isolated across NSW - the figure was 6000 yesterday. These include the northwest towns of Lightning Ridge and Goodooga as well as Mungindi, Collarenebri and Wee Waa. "It's been two weeks now that Wee Waa has been cut off." A severe weather warning is still in place for the metropolitan, south coast, Illawarra and Snowy Mountains. "Showers, rain and thunderstorms which may lead to flash flooding. A low pressure system is expected to develop near the south coast on Saturday."
HEAVY SNOW / EXTREME COLD -
BRITAIN - Ice to bring danger to roads in fresh wave of severe weather. Ice warnings have been issued for northern parts of Britain as forecasters warned of more extreme weather and urged motorists to take extra car on slippery roads. A potentially treacherous mixture of snow, sleet and rain was set to sweep across much of the north on Thursday night, causing fresh chaos for the country’s transport networks. Forecasters warned travelling conditions would remain "difficult" across much of Britain with ice potentially creating havoc for drivers as many parts still recover from last weekend's snowfalls. Northern areas particulary at risk included Cumbria, Northumberland, the Pennines and into Scotland. Further snow was expected on Thursday, with up to four inches falling across much of southern Britain. Forecasters warned temperatures in southern areas will struggle to remain above freezing throughout the week and into the weekend, with the mercury in some areas plunging overnight to as low as -13C. The north, meanwhile, will remain significantly warmer with temperatures as high as 8C.
Hungary Extreme Winter Claims Lives as Cold Weather Set to Stay - Extreme cold weather claimed more than five lives in Hungary over the weekend as some schools were closed and settlements temporarily sealed off. Southeastern regions of the country were blanketed with as much as 60 centimeters (24 inches) of snow.
EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -
Tasmanians are enduring a summer of extreme weather conditions, with the state experiencing RECORD-BREAKING HOT NIGHTS, chilly cold spells, thunderstorms and torrential rain last month. The temperature in Hobart exceeded 28C for eight days last month, which has only happened twice before: in January 1961 and February 1895. Of those eight days, the temperature exceeded 29C on seven which HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE in January. On 12 mornings the minimum temperature didn't fall below 15C, also setting a new January record for the city. January 3 was particularly hot, with Hobart Airport recording its warmest January night on record with 21.2C. The highest temperature that day was 37.2C at Scamander, more than 15C above its January average. Wynyard Airport recorded its warmest January night on record on the morning of the 30th with 19.9C, while Scamander, Geeveston and Tarraleah all enjoyed their highest January mean daily minimum temperature on record.
But Tasmania also experienced unseasonal cold spells, especially in the second week of January when temperatures were 2 to 9C below average and up to 12C below average in the west. On the 10th, Burnie (16.6C) and Launceston (18.4C) recorded their coldest January day in seven years. Hobart had its coldest January morning in eight years (6.3C) the following morning. Temperatures dropped again at the end of the month, with Hobart shivering through its coldest January day in seven years with 15.4C on the 31st. Most of the state was relatively dry for most of the month, until a low pressure system on January 30 delivered up to 60mm of rain to the west and south-east. Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse recorded 64.4mm of rain, its wettest January day on record.
