**If work were so pleasant, the rich would keep it for themselves.**
Mark Twain
LARGEST QUAKES so far today -
5.1 OFF EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA
5.1 POTOSI, BOLIVIA
Yesterday, 10/9/13 -
5.1 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
5.3 POTOSI, BOLIVIA
5.1 KURIL ISLANDS
TROPICAL STORMS -
Current tropical storms - maps and details.
* In the Indian Ocean -
- Tropical cyclone Phailin, in the Bay of Bengal, could hit India on Saturday evening.
* In the Western Pacific -
Tropical storm Nari is located approximately 430 nm east of Manila, Philippines. Expected to make landfall as a Category 1 typhoon on Luzon Island in the Philippines on October 11 and in Vietnam next week.
* In the Eastern Pacific -
Tropical depression Narda is located about 1270 mi (2045 km) WSW of the southern tip of Baja California.
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In the North Indian Ocean's Bay of Bengal, Tropical Storm Phailin has formed off the west coast of Thailand, and is moving west-northwest towards India at 8 mph. Satellite images show that Phailin is a medium-sized storm that is increasing in organization and intensity. Water temperatures are warm, 28 - 29°C, and the ocean heat content is very high - at a level often associated with rapid intensification.
With wind shear low, Phailin should be able to intensify into at least a Category 1 storm before landfall occurs near 12 UTC on Saturday, as predicted by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is predicting that Phailin may be able to intensify into a Category 3 storm before landfall on Saturday. The northeast coast of India where Phailin is expected to hit is vulnerable to high storm surges and is densely populated, so Phailin has the potential to be a very dangerous storm.
+ India - Odisha sounds CYCLONE ALERT, keeps choppers ready. With a depression in the Bay of Bengal intensifying Odisha government asked the Union Home Ministry to keep helicopters ready for rescue and relief operations. “Prediction as of now indicates that the system may make landfall on October 12. Depending on the situation, the state government may require the assistance of defence forces especially the Indian Air Force for rescue and relief operations by air."
"We have asked the collectors of 14 districts severely hit in the super cyclone in 1999 to remain alert. We should not take any chance.” The districts alerted were Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati. The districts have been advised to immediately convene a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority to review preparedness and take necessary measures. Fishermen have been warned of rough to very rough seas off the coast.
SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -
+ U.S. SEVERE STORMS caused destruction in the Northeast (video) - Strong winds destroyed cars and homes from the top to the bottom of the East Coast.
EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES -
Australia - Sydney on track for RECORD HEAT. Firefighters were standing ready throughout NSW as authorities warn of potential catastrophic fire conditions as temperatures soar.
The heat is expected to create extreme fire danger in large parts of NSW and total bans are in place for 15 regions, including Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast Hunter and Illawarra. Sydney faces what could be its hottest October day on record, with the temperature forecast to rise to 39C.
The NSW Rural Fire Service is warning of the potential for some locations to reach catastrophic danger warnings if the weather deteriorates beyond the forecast. The hot temperature was due to a hot air mass over northern and central parts of the country. "A low pressure trough is drawing the heat down into NSW and those strong north westerly winds drawing temperatures ... much hotter weather near the coast in NSW."
The hot temperatures and strong winds are driving the fire danger with winds of up to 60-70 km/h forecasted for southern parts of NSW. The Bureau of Meteorology also forecasts gusts of up to 100 km/h, while the southern ranges could see winds up to 120km/h. Sydney is tipped to reach 37-39C, while the far west could reach 42C.
Hundreds of firefighters were on standby across the state. "There are also 26 strike teams pre-deployed into strategic locations and also around other areas of extreme risk." Fires could start easily and spread very quickly under the forecast conditions. "They have the chance of affecting people in a matter of minutes."
All tracks and trails in Sydney's national parks have been closed as well as some vantage points for the departure of the tall ships.
