Chile: Large Earthquake May Be Imminent

Large Earthquake May Strike Offshore Chile: FIRE-EARTH

FEWW Moderators believe a large earthquake measuring about 8.2Mw could strike offshore Chile close to the location of the ongoing seismic activity. [Probability ≈ 0.6]

An intense wave of activity which struck offshore Bio-Bio region, Chile on February 12 has so far produced at least a half dozen significant shocks including the following two events which occurred today, according to USGS/EHP.

• Magnitude 6.0 on February 13 at 10:35:06 UTC
• Magnitude 5.8 on February 13 at 08:51:33 UTC

Related Links:

• Intense Wave of Seismicity Strikes Bio-Bio, Chile

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

BINGIZA Intensifies to a Cat 3A Storm

Cyclone BINGIZA Strengthens to a Cat 3A Storm with Sustained Winds of About 190km/hr

Cyclone BINGIZA – IR Satellite image (NHC Enhancement). Source: CIMSS.  Click image to enlarge.

At 09:00UTC Tropical Cyclone BINGIZA (TC13S) was located about 700km ENE of ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR. The cyclone is moving westward at an average speed of about 10km/hr.

BINGIZA Details

• Cyclone Position: ~ 16.0S 52.3E
• MAX Sustained Winds: ~ 190Km/hr
• Winds Gusts: 240km/hr
• Source: JTWC and others

Related Links:

• Cyclone BINGIZA
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Record Low Temps in Oklahoma, Texas

New Record Low for Oklahoma

Record Low Temperatures Over Oklahoma and Western North Texas

Nowata, Oklahoma records lowest ever temperature, an astounding -31 degrees

“Clear skies, light winds and several inches of snow cover allowed several areas across northern Oklahoma to set all-time record low temperatures. The mesonet site in Nowata, Oklahoma dropped to an amazing -31 degrees! This established a new all-time record for the state of Oklahoma. Other locations across central and southern Oklahoma, as well across western north Texas also set daily record low temperatures. Below is a list of low temperature records that occurred [Thursday morning.]” (source: NWS).

At least 8 locations recorded all-time temperature lows!

U-S Snow Depth

Graphical Temp Forecast:

Related Blog Pages

• Weather
• World Now
• Satellite Imagery

Snow Cover Animations:

• Snow Water Equivalent: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Snow Depth: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Average Snowpack Temp: Season — Two weeks — One Day
  
• SWE Change: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Snow Precipitation: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Snow Melt: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Blowing Snow Sublimation: Season — Two weeks — One Day
  
• Surface Sublimation: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Non-Snow Precipitation: Season — Two weeks — One Day

Click Below for 31 Day Animations

• Northern Hemisphere
• United States and Canada
• Alaska
• Europe/Asia

Related Links:

• MEGA DELUGE 2011?
• Feeling Cold?
• Latest US Snowstorm Exits, ‘Two More’ Arriving
• Recall Nature’s Extreme Dislikes?
• MEGA WHITEOUT COVERS THE U-S
• Mega Snowstorm Affects 1/3 of U-S Population

• Massive Midwest Blizzard Batters a 2,100-mile Stretch
• Another Nor’easter Dumps a Foot of Snow on the East Coast
• Arctic cold hits New England
• Latest of East Coast Snowstorms
• Nor’easter Pummels the U-S East Coast

• Western U-S Blasted by Fierce Storm, 2 ft of Snow
• Blizzard Dumps 2 Feet of Snow in NYC
• Winter Storms Hit the U-S
• U-S Snowstorm Headlines
• Deadly Snowstorms Hit North America

• Transitory Impact of AO is the ‘Good News’
• Global Climate Extremes INTENSIFYING

Cyclone BINGIZA

BINGIZA to Intensify to a Cat 1 Storm

TC BINGIZA – IR Satellite image. Source: CIMSS.  Click image to enlarge.

At 09:00UTC on February 12, TROPICAL CYCLONE BINGIZA (TC 13S) was located approx 815km (Position near 15.7ºS 53.6ºE) ENE of Antananarivo, Madagascar moving slowly southward in a weak steering environment, JTWC said.

BINGIZA is forecast to strengthen to a category 1 storm with sustained winds of near 150km/hr before making landfall.

Intense Wave of Seismicity Strikes Bio-Bio, Chile

6.9Mw Shock Hits Offshore Bio-Bio, Chile

EQ Location Map. Source: USGS. Map enhanced by FIRE-EARTH

Earthquake Details

• Region: Near Coast of Central Chile
• Time: 2011-02-11 20:05:31.9 UTC
• Magnitude: 6.9
• Epicenter: 73.07°W 36.39°S
• Depth: 28 km
• Status: Revised by a seismologist
• Source: GFZ Potsdam – Earthquake Bulletin

• Other Shocks: 5 (with the two largest measuring Mag 5.9 and 6.1Mw)

Distances (USGS)

• 45 km (30 miles) N of Concepcion, Bio-Bio, Chile
• 80 km (50 miles) SW of Cauquenes, Maule, Chile
• 85 km (55 miles) WNW of Chillan, Bio-Bio, Chile
• 395 km (245 miles) SSW of SANTIAGO, Region Metropolitana, Chile

Tsunami Status

• NO Warning, Watch or Advisory issued by PTWC or WCATWC

Related Links

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Mt. Baekdu Could Erupt: Report

N.Korea ‘Preparing for Eruption of Mt. Baekdu’

Mt. Baekdu may erupt, according to North Korean authorities, Radio Free Asia reports.

Local geologists are again warning of a volcanic eruption at Mt. Baekdu, a volcano located on the border between North Korea and China.

Baitoushan Volcano, China and North Korea

Mt Baekdu Volcano, April 2003. Source: NASA/JSC

Original Caption:

One of the largest known eruptions of the modern geologic period (the Holocene) occurred at Baitoushan Volcano (also known as Changbaishan in China and P’aektu-san in Korea) about 1000 A.D., with erupted material deposited as far away as northern Japan—a distance of approximately 1,200 kilometers. The eruption also created the 4.5-kilometer-diameter, 850-meter-deep summit caldera of the volcano, which is now filled with the waters of Lake Tianchi (or Sky Lake). This oblique astronaut photograph was taken during the winter season, and snow highlights frozen Lake Tianchi and lava flow lobes along the southern face of the volcano.

Baitoushan last erupted in 1702, and geologists consider it to be dormant. Gas emissions were reported from the summit and nearby hot springs in 1994, but no evidence of renewed activity of the volcano was observed. The Chinese-Korean border runs directly through the center of the summit caldera, and the mountain is considered sacred by the predominantly Korean population living near the volcano. Lake Tianchi is a popular resort destination, both for its natural beauty and alleged sightings of unidentified creatures living in its depths (similar to the legendary Loch Ness Monster in Scotland).

Changbaishan,aka Baitoushan (Korean: Baegdu or P’aektu-san)

Country: China/Korea
Region: Eastern China
Last Known Eruption: 1903
Summit Elevation: 2,744m (9,003 feet)
Latitude: 41.98°N 41°59’0″N
Longitude: 128.08°E 128°5’0″E
Source: GVP

Mt. Baekdu Volcano eruption in 1903 (?) Source NEWSIS via Chosunilbo. Image may be to subject to copyright.

Lake Tianchi (or Sky Lake) at the summit caldera of Mt. Baekdu Volcano. Promotional photo published by N. Korean government.

“Quoting sources in Ryanggang Province, North Korea, the station said two geography professors of Kim Jung-suk University of Education involved in a Mt. Baekdu expedition team have recently been to Pyongyang to attend a seminar on Mt. Baekdu volcanic activity.” Chosunilbo reported.

Related Links:

• Messages From Earth’s Powerhouse
• A New Era of Intense Volcanic Unrest May Have Begun
• World’s Dormant Volcanoes Firing
• Kamchatka Volcanoes The Fat Lady?

FEWW Volcanic Activity Forecast

• Sumatra’s Mt Kerinci Erupts
• Volcano Watch Weekly: 23 April 2009
• Weekly Volcano Watch: 16 April 2009
• Weekly Volcano Watch: 2 April 2009

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

• Earth’s Climate: A Solar Powered System

Other Related Links:

• U.S. Volcano Status Map
• Elevated Activity Page

How Much an Egyptian Life Worth?

Sent by a reader

Saudi Royal Family to Pay Egyptian Thugs US$1,000 for Every Man, Woman, or Child Murdered

Informed sources say influential members of Saudi Arabian royal family are inciting large scale violence in Egypt by promising to pay $1,000 for each demonstrator killed by the Egyptian security apparatus.

See also entry for Day 392 [January 27, 2011] in 2011 Disaster Calendar http://feww.wordpress.com/2011-disaster-calendar/

A War Criminal: King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

Related Links

• Arrest Abdullah, He Is a War Criminal!
• Exporting Democracy to the Middle East
• Image of the Day: The Flying Saudi Bunny Ranch
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• BAE Systems Al Yamamah Arms Bribery

MEGA DELUGE 2011?

Epic Flooding Could Inundate Large Parts of the U-S

1.5 trillion m³ of snow covers the United States – FIRE-EARTH Estimate

At an average temperature of 20ºF, the water equivalent of the US snow cover is about 100 billion m³ (26.4 trillion gallons).

[NOTE: Based on the average figure of 1.8in provided by NOHRSC, the total snow water equivalent is 2.76 times greater than the FIRE-EARTH estimate.]

National Snow Analysis

Snow Depth February 10, 2011

Source: NWS/NOHRSC. Click images to enlarge.

Snow Water Equivalent

February 10, 2011

Area Covered By Snow:	64.9%
Area Covered Last Month:	61.7%
Snow Depth
Average:	8.3 in
Minimum:	0.0 in
Maximum:	909.6 in
Std. Dev.:	13.3 in
Snow Water Equivalent
Average:	1.8 in
Minimum:	0.0 in
Maximum:	450.4 in
Std. Dev.:	3.7 in

U.S. and Northern Hemisphere Snow Cover

Northern Hemisphere

Continental U.S.

Snow and Ice Covered Southern U.S.

South central U.S. was hit by a second snowstorm in a week, which broke multiple local records for snowfall in a month. This photo-like image was captured by MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite at 01:25 CST on February 10, 2011. “Snowfall totals topped 20 inches (50 centimeters) in parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas … Tulsa, Oklahoma, received 5.5 inches (14 cm) of snow on February 9, bringing its total to 20.9 inches (53 cm) for the winter, the snowiest on record. In Oklahoma City, 6 inches (15 cm) fell as well, making February 2011 the second snowiest month (18 inches so far) in the state’s records, behind March 1911 (20.7 inches) …  80 storm-related injuries reported …  [up to] 17 inches of new snow fell in eastern and south central Kansas, [more snow so far] this February as it usually does for an entire winter.” Source: NASA-EO. Click image to enlarge.

Related Blog Pages

• Weather
• World Now
• Satellite Imagery

Snow Cover Animations:

• Snow Water Equivalent: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Snow Depth: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Average Snowpack Temp: Season — Two weeks — One Day
  
• SWE Change: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Snow Precipitation: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Snow Melt: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Blowing Snow Sublimation: Season — Two weeks — One Day
  
• Surface Sublimation: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Non-Snow Precipitation: Season — Two weeks — One Day

Click Below for 31 Day Animations

• Northern Hemisphere
• United States and Canada
• Alaska
• Europe/Asia

Related Links:

• Feeling Cold?
• Latest US Snowstorm Exits, ‘Two More’ Arriving
• Recall Nature’s Extreme Dislikes?
• MEGA WHITEOUT COVERS THE U-S
• Mega Snowstorm Affects 1/3 of U-S Population

• Massive Midwest Blizzard Batters a 2,100-mile Stretch
• Another Nor’easter Dumps a Foot of Snow on the East Coast
• Arctic cold hits New England
• Latest of East Coast Snowstorms
• Nor’easter Pummels the U-S East Coast

• Western U-S Blasted by Fierce Storm, 2 ft of Snow
• Blizzard Dumps 2 Feet of Snow in NYC
• Winter Storms Hit the U-S
• U-S Snowstorm Headlines
• Deadly Snowstorms Hit North America

• Transitory Impact of AO is the ‘Good News’
• Global Climate Extremes INTENSIFYING

VolcanoWatch Weekly [10 Feb 2011]

Summary of Weekly Volcanic Activity Report – 2 February to 8 February 2011

[Source: SI/USGS]

Recent Activity at Kizimen Volcano

Kizimen Volcano blows out a plume of ash, smoke and steam over the  Gulf of Kamchatka on February 1, 2011.  Kizimen recent eruptions are said to be both explosive and effusive. This natural-color image was taken by the MODIS aboard the Aqua satellite. Source: NASA-EO. Click image to enlarge.

Kizimen Volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula (elev. 2,376m, or 7,795 ft),  ejected a plume of ash, steam and volcanic gasses on January 6, 2011, when ALI on NASA’s EO-1 satellite captured this natural-color image.  Kizimen had released continuous ash emissions since December 31, 2010, KVERT reported. Kizimen erupted explosively 83 years ago. Source: NASA-EO. Click image to enlarge.

Eruption of Kizimen volcano on January 26, 2011. Photo by P. Shpilenok. http://shpilenok.livejournal.com/44922.html (Image may be subject to copyright.)

New Activity/Unrest:

• Fuego, Guatemala [Group F]
• Galeras, Colombia [Group E]
• Kirishima, Kyushu (Japan)  [Group J]
• Nyiragongo, DRC [Group C]

Map of Volcanoes

Map of Volcanoes. Background Map: University of Michigan. Designed and enhanced by Fire Earth Blog. Click image to enlarge.

Ongoing Activity:

• Bezymianny, Central Kamchatka (Russia)
• Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)
• Kilauea, Hawaii (USA)
• Kizimen, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)
• Popocatépetl, México
• Sakura-jima, Kyushu
• Santa María, Guatemala
• Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia)
• Suwanose-jima, Ryukyu Islands (Japan)
• Tengger Caldera, Eastern Java (Indonesia)
• Villarrica, Central Chile

For additional information, see source.

Related Links:

• Messages From Earth’s Powerhouse
• A New Era of Intense Volcanic Unrest May Have Begun
• World’s Dormant Volcanoes Firing
• Kamchatka Volcanoes The Fat Lady?

FEWW Volcanic Activity Forecast

• Sumatra’s Mt Kerinci Erupts
• Volcano Watch Weekly: 23 April 2009
• Weekly Volcano Watch: 16 April 2009
• Weekly Volcano Watch: 2 April 2009

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

• Earth’s Climate: A Solar Powered System

Other Related Links:

• U.S. Volcano Status Map
• Elevated Activity Page

China Drought: Mega Disaster Unfolding

Lifestyle Wars: People Losing to Planet

Human-induced Extreme Weather Causing Food Scarcity, Sending Prices Rocketing

A dying cornfield in Jinan, capital of east China’s Shandong Province, Jan. 18, 2011. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng). Image may be subject to copyright.

Severe drought threatens wheat crop in China, world’s largest wheat producer: FAO

“Minimal rainfall or snow this winter has crippled China’s major agricultural regions, leaving many of them parched. Crop production has fallen sharply, as the worst drought in six decades, shows no sign of letting up.” Source.

A severe drought has persisted in China’s northern territories for several months. In Hebei province, the farmers haven’t seen any rain for 5 months.

In Henan province the drought control authorities have warned of  prolonged drought.

“East China’s Shandong Province, one of the country’s major grain producers, is bracing for its worst drought in 200 years.” Source.

Shandong has received only 12mm of rain since September 2010.

Water Shortages

A villager said, “The water is no longer suitable for drinking. We wash clothes with it. “

Locals have to fetch water ten kilometers away.

It’s far from enough. Source

How Bad?

Up to 13 million acres of China’s 35 million acres of wheat fields have been affected by the drought. Some 2.6 million people and 2.8 million head of livestock face severe shortages of drinking water, FAO reported.

Rocketing Food Prices

In January, wholesale food prices climbed to their highest monthly figure on record, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said.

Why are food prices rocketing?

Droughts and Deluge

• Canada’s planting season was disrupted by floods.
• Australia’s wheat and sugar cane crops were destroyed by mega flooding.
• Russia imposed a ban on exports of wheat after severe drought and wildfires destroyed harvests.

China’s Big Appetite

“China’s grain situation is critical to the rest of the world — if they are forced to go out on the market to procure adequate supplies for their population, it could send huge shock waves through the world’s grain markets,” said Robert S. Zeigler, the director general of the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños, in the Philippines.

Wheat Futures US cents/bushel

1 month

12 months

Corn Futures US cents/bushel

1 month

12 months

Source: Digital look via BBC. Images may be subject to copyright. Click images to enlarge.

Snow, Ice, Flood and Fire

Snow and Ice in the U-S, Floods and Fire in Australia – Satellite images

Storm Headline News:

• Yet another snowstorm is moving across the central plains affecting   Oklahoma and North Texas.  Denver, Colorado Springs, Santa Fe, Wichita, Amarillo, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Little Rock should expect sizable snowfall from this latest storm system.

• The snowstorm is expected  to shift eastward into the lower-Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys by late Wednesday, according to data from NWS.

• Up to 11 inches of snow expected in parts of central Kansas, district schools call off classes.
• Snow packed roads across Kansas prompts DOT to issue a winter travel advisory.
• The entire state of Arkansas is to receive snow on Tuesday night and Wednesday, with at least 6 inches expected in western and central Arkansas.
• Oklahoma City and Tulsa could get more than a foot of snow by Wednesday night.

Dallas Whiteout

An image of snow-covered Dallas and surrounding region captured by MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite on February 6, 2010. “On February 4, a winter storm settled four to six inches (10–15 centimeters) of snow over northern Texas, including Dallas. The city gets 2.6 inches (6.6 cm) of snow per year on average, according to the National Weather Service.” The latest snowstorm is forecast to drop 8 to 13cm (3-5 inches) of snow on northern Texas by Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Source: NASA-EO. Click images to enlarge.

Flooding in Southeastern Australia

Above images use a mix of infrared and visible light to increase the contrast between land and water. MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite took the these images on February 8, 2011 (top), and January 29, 2010 (bottom). The bottom image shows drier conditions across the region. “Water ranges in color from light blue to navy. Clouds range in color from pale blue-green to off-white. Vegetation is green. Bare ground is pink-beige.” Source: NASA-EO. Click images to enlarge.

Fire in the Outskirts of Perth, Australia

Wildfires in the suburbs of Perth consumed about 2,000 hectares of land, destroyed more than 70 buildings and damaged at least 32 others. This image was captured by MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite at 2:20 p.m. local time. The image shows three fires, one each in Roleystone and Red Hill (Gidgegannup),  and a third fire closer to the city.  Source: NASA-EO. Click images to enlarge.

Related Links:

• AO Blowing Arctic Ice at YOU

• Latest US Snowstorm Exits, ‘Two More’ Arriving
• Recall Nature’s Extreme Dislikes?
• MEGA WHITEOUT COVERS THE U-S

• Mega Snowstorm Affects 1/3 of U-S Population
• Massive Midwest Blizzard Batters a 2,100-mile Stretch

• Another Nor’easter Dumps a Foot of Snow on the East Coast
• Arctic cold hits New England
• Latest of East Coast Snowstorms
• Nor’easter Pummels the U-S East Coast

• Western U-S Blasted by Fierce Storm, 2 ft of Snow
• Blizzard Dumps 2 Feet of Snow in NYC
• Winter Storms Hit the U-S
• U-S Snowstorm Headlines
• Deadly Snowstorms Hit North America
• Transitory Impact of AO is the ‘Good News’
• Arctic Blast Hits Britain Again
• Europe Freezes Over 3 Weeks Early
• Global Snow and Ice – NH

• Global Climate Extremes INTENSIFYING

Feeling Cold?

AO Blowing Arctic Ice at YOU

Arctic Sea:  Lowest extent ever recorded for January

Arctic oscillation persisted in a strong negative phase for most of January, keeping the Arctic ice extent low, NSIDC said.

Arctic sea ice keeps the polar regions cool and moderates global climate by reflecting sunlight back into space. “Arctic sea ice has declined dramatically over at least the past thirty years, with the most extreme decline occurring  in the summer melt season.”

Sea Ice Extent for January 2011 declined to 13.55 million square kilometers (5.23 million square miles). The magenta line shows the 1979 to 2000 median extent for the month. The black cross marks the geographic North Pole.

Highlight of NSIDC Report

• January air temperatures over Arctic rose by 2 to 6 degrees Celsius (4 to 11 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal.
• Over the eastern Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Baffin Bay/Davis Strait and Labrador Sea, temperatures rose by at least 6 degrees Celsius (11 degrees Fahrenheit) above average.
  
• “As in December 2010, the warm temperatures in January came from two sources: unfrozen areas of the ocean continued to release heat to the atmosphere, and the wind patterns accompanying the negative phase of the Arctic oscillation brought warm air into the Arctic.
• “Near the end of January the negative Arctic oscillation pattern broke down and turned positive, which usually favors ice growth. It is unclear how long it will remain in a positive mode.”

• January 2011 saw the lowest ice extent for the month since satellite records began 31 years ago. The linear rate of decline for the month is –3.3% per decade.

• Arctic ice extent increased at an average of 42,800 square kilometers (16,500 square miles) per day in January, which is about average.

Source: The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). Click images to enlarge.

• Click here for the daily update.

Orange line in the top image and gray line in time series (above) indicate 1979 to 2000 average ice extent for the day shown.
Credit: NSIDC. Click image to enlarge.

Monthly January ice extent for 1979 to 2011 indicated a decline of 3.3% per decade. Source: NSIDC. Click image to enlarge.

Negative AO in December 2010 and January 2011,Keeping NH Ice Cold

The average Arctic sea ice concentration for January 2011, processed by AMSR-E aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite. The red line shows the average sea ice extent recorded for the month of January from 1979 to 2000. Source: NASA-EO

Overview of conditions

Arctic sea ice extent averaged over January 2011 was 13.55 million square kilometers (5.23 million square miles). This was the lowest January ice extent recorded since satellite records began in 1979. It was 50,000 square kilometers (19,300 square miles) below the record low of 13.60 million square kilometers (5.25 million square miles), set in 2006, and 1.27 million square kilometers (490,000 square miles) below the 1979 to 2000 average.

Ice extent in January 2011 remained unusually low in Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait (between southern Baffin Island and Labrador), and Davis Strait (between Baffin Island and Greenland). Normally, these areas freeze over by late November, but this year Hudson Bay did not completely freeze over until mid-January. The Labrador Sea remains largely ice-free. Source (NSIDC)

Any links with mid-latitude weather?

High and low atmospheric pressure patterns for January 2011 (left) and the January 1968-1996 average (right). Yellows and reds show higher pressures; blues and purples indicate lower pressures, as indicated by the height of the 850 millibar pressure level above the surface, called the pressure surface. Normally, the pressure surface is nearer to the surface around the pole, winds follow the pressure contours around the pole (the polar vortex), and cold air is trapped in the Arctic. This year, the pressure surface is allowing cold air to spill out of the Arctic into the mid-latitudes. Source: NSIDC courtesy NOAA/ESRL PSD

AO in Strong Negative Phase

Warm conditions in the Arctic and cold conditions in northern Europe and the U.S. are linked to the strong negative mode of the Arctic oscillation. Cold air is denser than warmer air, so it sits closer to the surface. Around the North Pole, this dense cold air causes a circular wind pattern called the polar vortex , which helps keep cold air trapped near the poles. When sea ice has not formed during autumn and winter, heat from the ocean escapes and warms the atmosphere. This may weaken the polar vortex and allow air to spill out of the Arctic and into mid-latitude regions in some years, bringing potentially cold winter weather to lower latitudes. Source (NSIDC)

Related Links:

• Latest US Snowstorm Exits, ‘Two More’ Arriving
• Recall Nature’s Extreme Dislikes?
• MEGA WHITEOUT COVERS THE U-S

• Mega Snowstorm Affects 1/3 of U-S Population
• Massive Midwest Blizzard Batters a 2,100-mile Stretch

• Another Nor’easter Dumps a Foot of Snow on the East Coast
• Arctic cold hits New England
• Latest of East Coast Snowstorms
• Nor’easter Pummels the U-S East Coast

• Western U-S Blasted by Fierce Storm, 2 ft of Snow
• Blizzard Dumps 2 Feet of Snow in NYC
• Winter Storms Hit the U-S
• U-S Snowstorm Headlines
• Deadly Snowstorms Hit North America
• Transitory Impact of AO is the ‘Good News’
• Arctic Blast Hits Britain Again
• Europe Freezes Over 3 Weeks Early

• Global Climate Extremes INTENSIFYING

Perth Palatial Homes Consumed by Fire

TWIN BUSHFIRES HIT W. AUSTRALIA

Raging Blaze Destroys Scores of Palatial Homes in Upmarket Suburbs of Perth

UPDATE: ‘Sixty-four homes have now been razed in the bush-fringed Perth suburbs of Kelmscott and Roleystone, while 32 others have been damaged.’

At least 59 homes have been destroyed and scores more are damaged as massive wildfires leave trails of destruction in the SE and NE Perth suburbs of Roleystone and Red Hill.

West Australian Premier has declared the fire-ravaged areas of  Roleystone, Kelmscott and Red Hill as “natural disaster areas.”

“Residents have been forced to flee with just the clothes on their backs as a flaming “war zone” descended on their homes,” a report said.

The fire has already consumed about eight thousand hectares including an area of a national park, and several farms.

The blaze was started by lightning, according to reports, and has been fanned by 70kmph easterlies.

“Gusty winds were today still causing authorities headaches across the entire southwest of the state, with fire fighters in Bunbury, Albany and various regional areas both north and south of Perth battling complex and complicated fire fronts.” Source

Image of the Day:

The raging blaze has destroyed dozens of palatial houses. Photo: Channel Ten via SMH

Meanwhile in Queensland…

About 75 percent of the state of Queensland has been declared a disaster area “after Cyclone Yasi compounded the damage left by recent widespread flooding,” a report said.

Click below for more photos:

• ABC News Photos
  
• Perth Now
• SMH Gallery

Related News Links:

• Residents flee Western Australia bushfire
• How it unfolded: Twin bushfires in Perth
• Raging Perth bushfire claims more homes

Related Links:

• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast

Latest US Snowstorm Exits, ‘Two More’ Arriving

The Latest US Snowstorm Left the East Coast, Making Room for Two More

The latest storm left East Coast on Sunday, after dumping another 3 inches of snow over Chicago.

A new front is departing from the Midwest and is forecast “to bring snow from the Ohio Valley throughout the Northeast starting Sunday night,” a forecaster said.

“Schools in Seabrook, New Hampshire, have been closed since Wednesday of last week and those in Methuen, Massachusetts, schools are expected to remain shut through at least Wednesday of this week to remove rooftop snow,” a report said.

Click Images to enlarge. (24-Hr FE ED). Click HERE to Animate Image. (Source: SSEC/Wisc-Uni)

US Weather Forecast – NOAA

US Snow Cover: February 6, 2011

Area Covered By Snow:	48.3%
Area Covered Last Month:	44.9%
Snow Depth
Average:	7.3 in
Minimum:	0.0 in
Maximum:	909.9 in
Std. Dev.:	12.8 in
Snow Water Equivalent
Average:	1.6 in
Minimum:	0.0 in
Maximum:	448.9 in
Std. Dev.:	3.6 in

Related Blog Pages

• Weather
• World Now
• Satellite Imagery

Snow Cover Animations:

• Snow Water Equivalent: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Snow Depth: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Average Snowpack Temp: Season — Two weeks — One Day
  
• SWE Change: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Snow Precipitation: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Snow Melt: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Blowing Snow Sublimation: Season — Two weeks — One Day
  
• Surface Sublimation: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Non-Snow Precipitation: Season — Two weeks — One Day

Click Below for 31 Day Animations

• Northern Hemisphere
• United States and Canada
• Alaska
• Europe/Asia

Related Links:

• Recall Nature’s Extreme Dislikes?
• MEGA WHITEOUT COVERS THE U-S

• Mega Snowstorm Affects 1/3 of U-S Population
• Massive Midwest Blizzard Batters a 2,100-mile Stretch

• Another Nor’easter Dumps a Foot of Snow on the East Coast
• Arctic cold hits New England
• Latest of East Coast Snowstorms
• Nor’easter Pummels the U-S East Coast

• Western U-S Blasted by Fierce Storm, 2 ft of Snow
• Blizzard Dumps 2 Feet of Snow in NYC
• Winter Storms Hit the U-S
• U-S Snowstorm Headlines
• Deadly Snowstorms Hit North America
• Transitory Impact of AO is the ‘Good News’

• Global Climate Extremes INTENSIFYING

Extreme Weather Warnings for Australia

New Battles Waged Across All Fronts

Australian Region Infrared Satellite Image Doesn’t Look Good!

Major flooding could occur in northern, eastern and southern Australia in the next two weeks: Fire-Earth

Source: BOM Australia.

• Colour Infrared Loop Animation of the last 4 images

Global Rainfall Anomalies – TRMM – Partial Map

Global Rainfall Average – TRMM – Partial Map

TRMM Hydro Model – 6 Feb 2011 at 6:00UTC

Source: NASA/GSFC

• TEXT REPORT OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND area with estimates of severe flooding near weather station locations
• 7 Day MPG animation
• 7 Day QUICKTIME animation

Three-monthly rainfall totals for Australia

Rainfall Map (3 months compared with LT average)

This map compares the rainfall received in the past 3 months with the long-term average for that period. Source of images: BOM Australia. Click images to enlarge.

Australia rainfall Map (Weekly Total)

Rainfall Totals Queensland – TRMM Satellite

Strong Winds Fuel Perth Fire

A blaze at Red Hill, a north-eastern suburb of Perth, Australia, has burnt through 750 hectares, a report said.

Other News

• Perth. Wildfires have destroyed at least a dozen homes near Perth in western Australia, report say.
• Queensland. Up to 10,000 people remain in evacuation centers in the state of Queensland, while thousands of others who have returned to their battered homes are without power or water supplies, reports say.
• Melbourne. In the Melbourne suburb of Elwood in Victoria floodwaters have inundated many houses and washed cars off roads, AP reported. Melbourne received more than 50 percent of its average annual rainfall in less than 24 hours.
• Sydney. Australia’s largest city has experienced its longest spell of 30-degree days on record, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Urgent Warnings

• Severe Thunderstorm Warning – SA
• Severe Weather Warning 1 -NT

Australia Current Warnings

• WARNINGS CURRENT:

Warnings by State

• New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory,
• Victoria,
• Queensland,
• Western Australia,
• South Australia,
• Tasmania,
• Northern Territory.

• Warnings Summary

Related Links:

• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast