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Today seems to be a story of crazy weather everywhere - from extreme heat and floods in North America to drought leading to cancelling of the rice planting in Thailand
The
perfect storm: ‘Brown ocean effect’ threatens disaster for Texas
residents
RT,
16
June, 2015
Texas
is already soaked after an unprecedented amount of rainfall in May.
However, things could get even worse. Tropical Storm Bill made
landfall on Tuesday, but rather than weaken, it could actually gain
in power due to the ‘brown ocean effect.’
The
phenomenon known as the ‘brown ocean effect’ could muddy the
waters yet further for residents in the lone star state. A team of
scientists involved in a NASA-funded project has discovered that the
moisture from saturated soil can actually be absorbed by the storm,
allowing it to wreak even more havoc as it hits land.
There she goes.... Thanks#TropicalStormBill#portLavacaTx@karinarenee83pic.twitter.com/cBbvU7AMpx
— melissa crowley (@melissacrowley3) June 16, 2015
Storms
normally lose strength as they pass over land because water, their
primary energy source, is cut off. However, Marshall Shepard, a
climate expert told AP this might not happen when Tropical Storm Bill
reaches the shores of Texas.
"All
the things a hurricane likes over the ocean is what we have over land
right now," said
Shepherd, director of atmospheric sciences at the University of
Georgia, who was one of the project’s leading researchers.
Tropical Storm #Bill could dump up to 1 FOOT of rain in parts of TX & OK:http://t.co/y3EDQo8WV2 #TXwx #OKwx #floodpic.twitter.com/rjEd3OxvY4
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) June 16, 2015
Shepard
said it won’t be possible to tell if the brown ocean effect will
have an impact on Tropical Storm Bill. He mentioned the key will be
to see if the ‘eye’ is formed well inland. Research sponsored by
NASA concerning storms from 1979 to 2008 showed that of the 227
inland storms that were reviewed, 182 weakened and died out. However,
45 either kept their original strength or grew stronger.
Parts
of the Gulf Coast are already reeling from the month of the May, when
unprecedented amounts of rainfall affected Texas and Oklahoma, with
the resulting floods killed more than 30 people. At one point,
Houston received almost a foot of rain, as thousands of homes were
damaged and 2,500 vehicles had to be abandoned.
Tropical Storm #Bill capture by @StationCDRKelly aboard @Space_Station:http://t.co/hkWV6Zzh9P#YearInSpace#TSBillpic.twitter.com/ZbH8N6V4de
— NASA (@NASA)
June 16, 2015
Texas
governor Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster in 24 counties, due
to the deadly weather conditions which had been tormenting the state
since early May.
With
river levels still high and the soil still saturated, the added
precipitation could make for an ugly combination.
"If
we get that much rain in that time, there's probably going to be a
resurgence of flooding along these rivers," said
Kurt Van Speybroeck, meteorologist for the weather service in Fort
Worth, according to AP.
Todville Rd in Seabrook right along Galveston Bay#TropicalStormBill#TEXASpic.twitter.com/X6BJi43kZ6
— Richard Guerra (@richardassigns) June 16, 2015
Weather
experts say things could be just as bad with the advent of Tropical
Storm Bill, has already started to batter parts of the Texas
coastline, between Corpus Christi and Galveston.
Parts
of Texas have been preparing for the worst, with Houston activating
its Emergency Operation Center on Monday, while Dallas is expected to
take a similar course of action on Tuesday evening.
Live shot was sunny. Two minutes later, this. Not everything you see on TV is 24hr reality.#TropicalStormBill@krgvpic.twitter.com/x8rz33KqJf
— krgv_erica (@krgv_erica) June 16, 2015
The
National Weather Service says that parts of north Texas, Arkansas and
Oklahoma could receive up to nine inches of rain in the space of just
five days, with the onset of more bad weather.
"We have had time to recover but not a whole lot," said NWS hydrologist Tabitha Clarke in North Little Rock, Arkansas. "(The tropical system) is going over areas that are already sensitive. ... It's kind of a perfect storm. There are a lot of things lining up," AP reported.
"We have had time to recover but not a whole lot," said NWS hydrologist Tabitha Clarke in North Little Rock, Arkansas. "(The tropical system) is going over areas that are already sensitive. ... It's kind of a perfect storm. There are a lot of things lining up," AP reported.
Texas at grave risk of even more flooding due to rare 'brown ocean' effect
A
low pressure area is spinning its way northwestward over the warm
waters of the Gulf of Mexico. On its eastern flank, massive
thunderstorms tower to heights of 40,000 feet or more, dumping
rainfall at rates of greater than two inches per hour.
This
storm may soon become tropical storm Bill, but even if it does not
develop fully, it is making a beeline for the Texas coast, between
Houston and Corpus Christi.
This
couldn't come at a worse time, considering that Texas just had its
wettest month of any month on record during May, as did Oklahoma,
which will also be affected by this storm. Flooding in these states,
and others, killed more than three dozen people in May. Any new heavy
rainfall is likely to result in flooding.
The heavy rains that caused major flooding along several Texas rivers over the past several weeks are fueling the creation of a new "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico and soon could lead to significant problems for marine life and commercial fishing, a Texas A&M University oceanographer said Thursday.
"Dead zones" are formed when freshwater empties into the salty waters of the Gulf, causing oxygen levels to drop and depriving marine life of oxygen.
"When this happens, the coastal waters become stratified, meaning that the lighter freshwater will stay at the surface and cap the saltier, and heavier, ocean water beneath," Steve DiMarco, a Texas A&M scientist who's researched the phenomenon for more than a decade, said.
"That is exactly what is going on right now and in the weeks to come, and when this happens, it almost always means many marine organisms, particularly those that live near and at the ocean bottom, can't get enough oxygen and they can get sick and die."
El
Niño or Not, Floods Are Coming to California
With
El Niño conditions strengthening over the Pacific Ocean,
Californians are crossing their fingers for “drought-busting”
rainstorms this winter. The San Jose Mercury News reports:
The
probability of an El Niño—defined as warmer water at the equator
and shifting winds that can bring major weather changes—being
present through the end of 2015 is now 85 percent, up from 80 percent
last month, and 50 percent three months ago, according to the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Though
those are powerful calculations, it’s still too early too tell
whether the infamous climate cycle will in fact produce significant
rainfall, or even flooding, over thirsty California. Even if it does,
it’ll take more than one major event to “bust” the state’s
historic drought.
Today’s
high temperature in Washington, D.C. (as observed at Reagan National
Airport) was 96 degrees at 3:01 p.m. That’s the hottest reading of
the year so far, but 3 degrees shy of the record for the date.
The
sun is blazing and temperatures have shot up in Washington, reaching
95 degrees at noon. That’s the hottest it’s been this year in
Washington and as hot as anywhere east of the Rockies (on
weather.com’s map) today. As of noon, the only place as hot as D.C.
east of Phoenix was Charleston, S.C
The
heat is on! Excessive temps are expected to continue through the rest
of the week.
Severe
weather may not be too far off, either. Gov. Doug Ducey declared June
14-19 "Monsoon Awareness Week" since it is the official
start of the season.
"Right
now we're going to be dealing with the deadliest weather we have
every single year, which is extreme heat," National Weather
Service Meteorologist Paul Iniguez said. "Temperatures 110 to
115 degrees, yes, they typically happen this time of year, but that
doesn't make it any less dangerous."
Extreme
triple digits may be the first sign monsoon is here.
Flash flooding hits Colorado Springs
Colorado - Flooding along South Platte River
First significant heat wave expected to hit Southwest; 120-Degree plus heat in Death Valley
The first significant heat wave of the year sweeps into the Desert Southwest this week, possibly pushing temps above the 120 degree mark. High and low temperatures will be up to 15 degrees above average for much of the region. Desert areas can expect a period of temperatures well above 100 degrees, along with dry conditions. Desert locations below 3,500 feet will see temperatures rise well into the 100s, while the Colorado River Valley will be even hotter with highs in the 110s likely. The hot spot as usual will be Death Valley which may see temperatures over 120 degrees. An excessive heat watch has been issued for Thursday through next Monday for the Death Valley and Las Vegas area.
Tropical
Storm "BILL" hitting Texas -- Midwest flooding to come soon
The
nine cities with the worst drought conditions in the country are all
located in California, which is now entering its fourth consecutive
year of drought as demand for water is at an all-time high. The
long-term drought has already had dire consequences for the state’s
agriculture sector, municipal water systems, the environment, and all
other water consumer.
Heavy
rain across Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in South China since
Thursday has left eight people dead and three missing, local
authorities said Tuesday.Some 788,900 people in the region have been
affected, with 11,200 evacuated. Of the deceased, two were struck by
lightning, five drowned, and another died when a building collapsed,
the local civil affairs department said.
Some
49,000 hectares of crops have been damaged and 1,415 houses
collapsed. The weather has caused estimated direct economic losses of
420 million yuan ($67.66 million).
Access
to 16 major roads in the region had been cut off, traffic on seven of
the main arteries had resumed as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Economic
losses due to the damage to the roads was estimated at 16.25 million
yuan, local transport authorities said.
The
National Meteorological Center issued a storm alert for southern
China on Sunday, forecasting heavy rain across parts of Hunan,
Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Hubei and Anhui provinces as well as Guangxi.
Rice
growers who have not started their main crop are being instructed to
delay planting until next month, or see their crops shrivel in the
fields as they fight over the increasingly scarce water supply.
Deputy
government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Monday that farmers
should postpone planting crops that require excessive amounts of
water.
Farmers
who did not follow the instruction would see their crops wither as
the water supply dried up.
6 February, 2015
As
dry season begins drought expected in at least 30 provinces with
water stored in reservoirs at lowest in 15 years. Affected farmers
hired to work on state projects
Severe
water shortages are expected in at least 30 provinces this year as
the dry season digs in, with parts of eight provinces already
declared drought disaster areas, but household water supply should be
safe.
The dangerous silence on climate change and extreme weather
We
know that CO2 emissions are bad for climate and subsequently the
weather.
We
know that we have to do something about it, because if not things
will turn really ugly with large scale carbon releases (i.e.
permafrost melt). However, the current projected changes are bad for
many, and because of irreversible changes.
So
why then is it that the media is still ignoring the science when it
comes to extreme weather?
Alaska wildfires destroy dozens of homes, menace highway
Two
fast-spreading Alaska wildfires have forced a series of evacuations,
destroyed up to 45 homes and forced authorities to restrict traffic
on a major highway connecting two of the state’s largest cities,
state officials said on Monday.
As
many as 200 firefighters have been battling a 6,500-acre fire about
40 miles (64 km) north of Anchorage since Sunday afternoon.
About
137 miles (220km) south of Anchorage, crews are fighting a much
smaller, but equally dangerous blaze that threatens nearly 200 homes.
Additional
specially trained firefighting teams from the lower 48 states and
Canada were scheduled to arrive on Monday night and begin assisting
on Tuesday, Alaska Forestry Division spokesman Sam Harrel said.
Crews
have been battling the fires on the ground and from the air, with
help from the three Alaska National Guard Blackhawk helicopters,
according to state reports.
A
new study shows that water temperatures off the northeast coast of
the US have been trending upward, with unprecedented warming
occurring over the last 13 years. The study also suggests a
connection between sea level anomalies and water temperature along
the continental self.
Gov.
Bobby Jindal has signed legislation aimed at killing a lawsuit filed
by a New Orleans area regional levee board against 97 oil and gas
companies, despite concerns that the new law could negatively affect
state and government claims against BP over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico
oil spill.
"This
bill will help stop frivolous lawsuits and create a more fair and
predictable legal environment, and I am proud to sign it into law,"
Jindal said in a written statement Friday (June 6).
The
oil and gas industry, which lobbied heavily in favor of the bill,
cheered Jindal's decision to sign it. But Louisiana's Attorney
General and local officials in parishes that have sued BP expressed
renewed concerns. Environmentalists decried Jindal's action, saying
it could have long-lasting negative consequences for the state.
People
“should not be forced to live on property with brown lawns, golf on
brown courses or apologize for wanting their gardens to be
beautiful,” Yuhas fumed recently on social media. “We pay
significant property taxes based on where we live,” he added in an
interview. “And, no, we’re not all equal when it comes to water.”
A
tornado caused the Eastern Star cruise ship to capsize on the Yangtze
River in China earlier this week, the China Meteorological
Administration said Wednesday. The report emerged as Chinese
authorities escalated efforts to recover more than 400 people
believed to be trapped inside the overturned boat, deploying scores
of additional divers Wednesday.
According
to the state health officials, up till now seven people have become
infected and two have lost their lives due to the attack of deadly
bacteria that dwells in the warm seawater. This deadly bacteria is
found in the warm marine water of Florida beaches. Florida health
department has revealed that by far in 2015, almost seven had become
severely infected due to the bacteria and two people have lost their
lives. “People can get infected with Vibrio vulnificus when they
eat raw shellfish,” revealed Florida Health Department spokesperson
Mara Burger. “Since it is naturally found in warm marine waters,
people with open wounds can be exposed to Vibrio vulnificus through
direct contact with seawater.”
Fuel spill in Vancouver's False Creek triggers cleanup
Up to 5,000 litres of fuel spilled into Vancouver's False Creek
Coast guard officials now say as much as 5,000 litres of diesel fuel may have spilled into Vancouver's False Creek near Fisherman's Wharf on Sunday night.
A small fishing vessel has been identified as the source of the spill, says coast guard spokesperson Jeff Brady.
A pipeline explosion sparked a huge fire near Cuero in Texas, on Sunday evening, prompting evacuations of nearby residents.
A huge column of fire was visible for over 20 miles after the pipeline caught fire.
The blaze from a ruptured gas pipeline is being allowed to slowly burn out.
Records
from the U.S. Geological Survey show the first of 14 earthquakes
occurred on Nov. 20, when a magnitude 3.8 earthquake was recorded
about 10 miles northwest of the community of Eutaw. The second
occurred in mid-December, followed by another in January and three
within a few hours of each other on Feb. 19. The tremors have
continued ever since, with the most recent occurring June 6, when a
magnitude 3.0 quake rattled the area. All the tremors have been
weaker than the initial jolt in November, and Ebersole said some have
been too slight for residents to detect.
A
volcano in western Indonesia unleashed a new powerful burst high into
the sky on Saturday, sending hot ash far down the mountain’s
slopes, an official said. Authorities have been closely monitoring
2,460-metre-high Mount Sinabung on Sumatra, one of Indonesia’s main
islands, since June 2, when its status was raised to the highest
alert level due to the growing size of its lava dome. Hot ash tumbled
down the slopes of the mountain as far as three kilometers
southeastward on Saturday, said Wendy Cahya, an official at the
mountain’s monitoring post. No injuries were reported from the
latest eruption, he said. Cahya said that as of Saturday evening, 11
avalanches of hot ash had been recorded, with volcanic ash released
as high as two kilometers into the air.
Volcanologists
have warned that smoldering rocks mixed with hot gases may tumble
down from the mountain at any time. More than 2,700 people from
villages within the danger zone of seven kilometers from the crater
have been evacuated to temporary shelters. No casualties have been
reported from this month’s eruptions. Mount Sinabung is among about
130 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval
due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes
and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. The volcano has
sporadically erupted since 2010, after being dormant for 400 years.
An eruption last year killed at least 17 people.
And the MERS epidemic looks as if it might be spreading
German MERS patient dies from ‘subsequent’ lung disease - after previously recovering
The third person to have suffered from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in Germany has died. However, the local Health Ministry said it was not MERS that killed him.
The
65-year-old man, who contracted MERS during a trip to the Arabian
peninsula in February, died of "another, subsequent lung
disease," a statement by the Lower Saxony Health Ministry says.
According
to local media, the man had undergone successful treatment for MERS
and almost recovered. In mid-May he was transferred from an infection
ward of the Osnabruck clinic to a hospital in Ostercappeln.
There
are no indications so far that the man infected others. Some 200
people he had contact with were tested for MERS, and all the tests
were negative, according to Die Welt newspaper.
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