grants the possibility that the other may be right,
though neither believes it.**
Don Fraser
LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.7 HALMAHERA, INDONESIA
5.1 NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
6.1 SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, ARGENTINA
5.2 HARYANA-UTTAR PRADESH REG, INDIA
5.2 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.2 SOUTHEAST OF LOYALTY ISLANDS
Yesterday -
3/4/12 -
5.5 SOUTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
5.2 ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE
5.1 TONGA REGION
5.6 SOUTHEAST OF LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.5 OFF COAST OF CENTRAL AMERICA
5.2 AEGEAN SEA
5.4 FIJI REGION
3/3/12 -
5.3 WEST OF BONIN ISLANDS
5.2 SOUTHEAST OF LOYALTY ISLANDS
6.6 SOUTHEAST OF LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.5 COQUIMBO, CHILE
3/2/12 -
5.1 HALMAHERA, INDONESIA
5.2 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.2 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
5.1 SOUTHERN XINJIANG, CHINA
5.0 OFF EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA
5.4 EASTERN NEW GUINEA REG., P.N.G.
India - A strong earthquake rattled buildings in New Delhi today. The 5.2-magnitude quake struck an area 30 miles (48km) west-northwest of the city and shook buildings in the Indian capital and caused people to flee in panic. The earthquake was recorded at 1.11pm local time at a depth of 11.9 miles (19.1km). Tremors lasted for up to five seconds, but there were no initial reports of damage.
TROPICAL STORMS -
In the Indian Ocean -
Tropical cyclone 14s (Irina) was located approximately 230 nm south-southeast of Maputo, Mozambique.
Tropical Storm Irina won't be extreme - Tropical cyclone Irina, which was expected to hit the northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal this weekend, will not be as extreme as initially predicted, the SA Weather Service said on Saturday night.
Australia - Cyclone possible for southeast Queensland. A cyclone could develop off the southeast Queensland coast, as authorities search for a second person reportedly swept away in floodwaters.
SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -
U.S. - Clear-up after tornadoes wreak havoc across US Midwest. US authorities in several Midwestern states are searching for survivors and clearing damage after a string of powerful storms and tornadoes left at least 37 people dead. The states of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Georgia and Alabama were all hit by the intense winds which flattened homes, lifted rooftops and downed powerlines. An unknown number of people are missing after communication lines were damaged. A total of 90 tornadoes and 700 severe weather events were reported on Friday. Correspondents say it will be impossible to make an immediate assessment of the full extent of the damage. Tornadoes occur all year round in the US, although the strength of this week's storms was UNUSUAL for the time of year - the peak period is March to May in the southern US and later further north.
At least 18 people died in Kentuck and another 14 in neighbouring Indiana. The small town of Marysville, Indiana, was almost completely destroyed, with the town's water tower one of the few buildings to remain undamaged. Nearby Henryville also suffered extreme damage. Each is home to about 2000 people. Residents had been warned of oncoming storms but, "this was the worst-case scenario. There's no way you can prepare for something like this." In the town of Henryville, a roof was ripped from a school and school bus thrown against a restaurant. No-one was seriously injured in either incident. Three people were reported dead in Ohio while in northern Alabama, one person died. At least 40 homes were destroyed and 150 damaged in the state while the roof of a prison in the path of the storm was damaged, forcing 300 inmates to be moved to another part of the facility.
Earlier this week, 13 people died after twisters swept through Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Tennessee. The US National Weather Service had described the situation as particularly dangerous - the mild winter has created conditions where cold fronts collide with warmer air causing the tornados to form. Last year they killed more than 500 people making it the third deadliest year on record.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma said the massive band of storms was putting 10 million people at high risk of severe weather.
Australia - Thousands flee New South Wales' WORST FLOODING IN DECADES. Nine more local government areas have been declared disaster zones and more than 5000 residents have been ordered to evacuate flood-stricken areas across NSW. "We are also expecting to declare more local government areas by the end of the day."
"This year alone the government has declared more than 35 local government areas as natural disasters as heavy rainfall continues." The latest downpour started about a week ago with the State Emergency Service performing 105 flood rescues and receiving 3000 calls for assistance. Across NSW, people were ordered to evacuate more than 2000 properties, affecting nearly 5000 residents. Another 2000 mostly rural properties remain isolated. The Murrumbidgee River, in the Riverina, has reached major flood levels slightly less than the floods of 1974. Major flooding struck Wagga Wagga. More than 1000 residents have been evacuated, mostly from Wagga Wagga's north and east, neighbouring Gumly Gumly and rural properties surrounding the city.
Flooding has also forced major road closures at five locations.
The weather that has hammered the region eased on Monday with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting mostly sunny conditions for Tuesday and Wednesday, and isolated showers for the afternoon and evening on Thursday. But clear conditions won't stop floodwaters from moving downstream and submerging other areas.
"At the moment, it's what we refer to as a sunny-day flood." Evacuations at Forbes, in the central west, are expected to continue into Thursday with moderate to major flooding on the Lachlan River. About 630 people in Forbes were asked to evacuate today. Major roads have been closed in eight places because of flooding.
SPACE WEATHER -
Australia, Tasmania - 3/4/12 - Mystery fireball lights up sky in Victoria and Tasmania. The object, described as a glowing red fireball moving horizontally across the sky about 10.45pm (AEDT) on Sunday, was an UNUSUAL sight for this time of year. Observers say the meteor was visible for about 20 seconds. Astronomers are at a loss to explain the timing and exact nature of the meteor. It may have been a slow-moving piece of rock that ignited or a piece of space junk. "It's UNPRECEDENTED, we don't seem to be in a meteor shower period at the moment. (Fireballs) tend to be very slow moving and they travel more horizontally than vertically... if you ever see one, they stick in your mind for the rest of your life."
The phenomenon comes after a fireball was reported in skies over the United Kingdom on Saturday, with police inundated with calls from concerned residents. It is impossible to be sure if the sighted meteors in the UK and Australia are the same.
