4,024,776,626,758,050

Total Atmospheric CO2e: 4,024.78 Gt

CO₂ at Mauna Loa (weekly average)

Week of May 22, 2011: 394.97 ppm

• Weekly value from 1 year ago:   393.06 ppm
• Weekly value from 10 years ago:   373.93 ppm

Based on the above data, total atmospheric CO2 TODAY:

3,081,994,507,051.11 Mt [3,082Gt]

Combined impact of Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Methane (CH4) and CFC 12 ( CCl2F2) calculated at their full global warming potential: 30.59% of the CO2 Impact, or the CO2 equivalent of

942,782,119,706.94 Mt CO2e [942 Gt CO2e]

Effective Total: 4,024.78 GtCO2e

[MT: Metric Tons;  Gt: Gigatons; CO2e: Carbon Dioxide Equivalent; ppm: parts per million by volume]

Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (ESRL)

The graph, updated weekly, shows as individual points daily mean CO₂ up to and including the week (Sunday through Saturday) previous to today. The daily means are based on hours during which CO₂ was likely representative of “background” conditions, defined as times when the measurement is representative of air at mid-altitudes over the Pacific Ocean. That air has had several days time or more to mix, smoothing out most of the CO₂ variability encountered elsewhere, making the measurements representative of CO₂ over hundreds of km or more. The selection process is designed to filter out any influence of nearby emissions, or removals, of CO₂ such as caused by the vegetation on the island of Hawaii, and likewise emissions from the volcanic crater of Mauna Loa. For details, see ”How we measure background CO2 levels at Mauna Loa”. The same measurement principles also apply elsewhere. The weekly mean (red bar) is simply the average of all days in the week for which a background value could be defined. The average standard deviation of day to day variability, calculated as the difference from the appropriate weekly mean, equals 0.38 ppm for the entire record. As a visual aid, the blue lines present monthly means of background data as they are presented under Recent Monthly CO₂ at Mauna Loa. These data are still preliminary, pending recalibrations of reference gases and other quality control checks. Image and Caption: ESRL.  Click images to enlarge.

This figure shows the atmospheric increase of CO₂ over 280 ppm in weekly averages of CO₂ observed at Mauna Loa. The value of 280 ppm is chosen as representative of pre-industrial air because it is close to the average of CO₂ measured and dated with high time resolution between the years 1000 and 1800 in an ice core from Law Dome, Antarctica. [Etheridge et al., 1996]. Although the time resolution of old air locked in ice cores is not enough to preserve seasonal cycles, there is no doubt that the seasonal cycle, which is mostly caused by photosynthesis and respiration of ecosystems on land, was similar to what we observe today. Therefore, for the comparison with pre-industrial times the Mauna Loa weekly data have been first deseasonalized by subtracting the observed average seasonal cycle, and then subtracting 280 ppm. The enhancement of the CO₂ mole fraction in the atmosphere over pre-industrial is expressed both as ppm and as a percentage change since the year 1800. Data are reported as a dry air mole fraction defined as the number of molecules of carbon dioxide divided by the number of all molecules in air, including CO₂ itself, after water vapor has been removed. The mole fraction is expressed as parts per million (ppm). Example: 0.000400 is expressed as 400 ppm.  Image and Caption: ESRL 

CO2 emissions reach a record high in 2010

Energy-related carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2010 broke all previous records, according to the latest estimates by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Recent Mauna Loa CO₂

The graph shows recent monthly mean carbon dioxide measured at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii.

The last four complete years of the Mauna Loa CO₂ record plus the current year are shown. Data are reported as a dry air mole fraction defined as the number of molecules of carbon dioxide divided by the number of all molecules in air, including CO₂ itself, after water vapor has been removed. The mole fraction is expressed as parts per million (ppm). Example: 0.000400 is expressed as 400 ppm.

In the above figure, the dashed red line with diamond symbols represents the monthly mean values, centered on the middle of each month. The black line with the square symbols represents the same, after correction for the average seasonal cycle. The latter is determined as a moving average of SEVEN adjacent seasonal cycles centered on the month to be corrected, except for the first and last THREE and one-half years of the record, where the seasonal cycle has been averaged over the first and last SEVEN years, respectively.

The last year of data are still preliminary, pending recalibrations of reference gases and other quality control checks. The Mauna Loa data are being obtained at an altitude of 3400 m in the northern subtropics, and may not be the same as the globally averaged CO₂ concentration at the surface.   Image and Caption: ESRL

Full Mauna Loa CO₂ record

Monthly mean atmospheric carbon dioxide at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii – The carbon dioxide data (red curve), measured as the mole fraction in dry air, on Mauna Loa constitute the longest record of direct measurements of CO₂ in the atmosphere. They were started by C. David Keeling of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in March of 1958 at a facility of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [Keeling, 1976]. NOAA started its own CO₂ measurements in May of 1974, and they have run in parallel with those made by Scripps since then [Thoning, 1989]. The black curve represents the seasonally corrected data.

Data are reported as a dry mole fraction defined as the number of molecules of carbon dioxide divided by the number of molecules of dry air multiplied by one million (ppm).  Image and Caption: ESRL    -Data Set Available HERE

Related Links

• New York Cognitive Dissonance

Tornado Dead to Haunt Missouri Officials

Joplin Tornado: Deadliest in Recorded History

Number of the missing is changing faster than Missouri officials can count

29 Missing in Joplin: Missouri officials rapidly reduce number of people unaccounted for after the deadly tornado!  

Other Official Stats

• Sets of remains, including partial remains: 146 (Source: City Manager Mark Rohr quoting the Missouri Highway Patrol)
• Missing in Joplin: 29  (down from 43 only  8 hours earlier, and from 1,500 six days earlier.)
• No. of victims who have been positively identified: 101 (as of 3:00pm local time on Monday)
• No. of school children killed in the tornado: 7  (from Joplin School District)
• Number of teenage victims:  11 under the age of 18
• About 5,000 people have so far registered with the FEMA seeking housing.

City officials said about 8,000 houses and apartment buildings were destroyed by the EF-5 tornado that struck Joplin on May 22, 2010.

Rotation tracks over Joplin, Missouri

Source: NSSL

Related Links

• Joplin Tornado Death Toll Mounting
• Joplin Tornado – May 28 Update
• Severe Weather Update – May 27
• One Large Tornado Patch
• Major tornado outbreak forecast for southern Plains on Wednesday

• Tornado Death Toll in Joplin Reaches 116
• Tornado Death Toll Rises to 89 in Joplin, Missouri
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

2011 Disasters

• 2011 Much More Disastrous
• 2010 Disasters [Includes Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters: 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Flood News

Flooding News Headlines

More rain, snow, National Guard troops for Montana

The governor of flood-plagued Montana ordered more National Guard troops to join the anti-flood effort, while states downstream along the bloated Missouri River strengthened levees and laid sandbags ahead of the release of waters from dams and reservoirs. More …

Lake Champlain inching again toward destructive level

Lake Champlain, responding to the immense volume of rainfall that struck northern Vermont and the Adirondacks last Thursday, has risen to 102.75 feet above sea level as of 2 p.m. Sunday and will keep rising toward a potentially destructive level, the U.S. Geological Survey and National Weather Service reported. More …

Storms cause flooding in Chicago, suburbs

Severe storms with intense downpours caused flooding on roads and in basements throughout the city and suburbs Sunday. More …

Dakota Dunes braces for rising river; Sioux City put on alert

Rising waters all along the Missouri River mean flooding problems in Siouxland this spring. More…

Flash flooding hits Sydney – One Dead

Torrential rain caused chaos across Sydney on Monday, with city motorists rescued from flash floods and one man dead in a major freeway pile-up. More …

Floodwaters in Quebec’s Richelieu Valley expected to peak today

For the third time in 45 days, floodwater in the Richelieu Valley southeast of Montreal is expected to peak today. But, unlike other high water marks this spring, flood forecasters are finally promising better days ahead. More…

B.C., Alberta prepare for floods as Manitoba, Quebec prepare for cleanup

As the flood waters recede in Manitoba, parts of Alberta and British Columbia are being threatened by overflowing rivers and Quebec’s Richelieu River valley remains submerged. More …

From 2011 Disaster Calendar – May 30

Mass die-offs resulting from planetary response to the harm caused by humans could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,752 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• South Dakota, USA. Clay County Commission has issued a countywide State of Emergency “to prepare for significantly higher water levels as the Corps of Engineers increases releases from the dams,” a report said.
• Alberta, Canada. The Municipal District of Foothills in Alberta has declared a state of emergency because of widespread flooding.
• China.  At least one million people died of tobacco-related diseases (10 percent of them from secondhand smoke), accounting for 13 percent of China’s total of 9.43 million of deaths in 2010, a report said.
• “China has more than 300 million smokers, and those smokers are not only damaging their own health. Second-hand smoke attacks about 740 million people, including 180 million children and teenagers, according to the 2011 China Tobacco Control Report released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) Thursday in Beijing.”

2011 Disasters

• 2011 Much More Disastrous
• 2010 Disasters [Includes Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters: 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

China’s Drought Turning Critical

Drought: Turning up the heat in E China

No rain for East China anytime soon: Forecasters

Drought is wreaking havoc across Central, South and East China. Many of the vast regions lakes, stricken by the worst drought in living memory, have dried up affecting tens of millions of people and millions of their livestock. There’s no prospect for early rain, forecasters say.

The drought that has affected 35 million people across 5 provinces in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, according to the country’s Meteorological officials.

“Among them, about 4.23 million are experiencing difficulties in finding drinking water and 5.06 million are in need of assistance,” said a report.

China Drought Monitor – Worsening Drought Conditions (January 10, 2011)

Source: Division of Climate Impact Assessment/NCC/CMA

“Since early January, precipitation in Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei and Hunan provinces has been about 40 percent to 60 percent less than the same period last year, causing a 60-day drought, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.”

“China’s two largest fresh water lakes – Dongting Lake in Hunan and Poyang Lake in Jiangxi – are both drying up dramatically and, by Friday, 34.83 million people had been affected in the five provinces, the ministry said, citing reports from local civil affairs departments.” The report added.

The drought has affected about 4 million hectares (10 million acres) of crops, pushing up the vegetable prices by  “19 percent from May 23 to May 27,” according to the Baishazhou Market in Wuhan, capital of drought-hit Hubei in Central China.” The report added. 

Once A Lake!

Dried lake near Shijiao town of Qingyuan City, south China’s Guangdong Province.  (Xinhua/Li Zuomiao). Image may be subject to copyright.

The central government has ordered the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River to discharge more water to help irrigate some of the drought stricken croplands downstream; however, the  dam will run out of water if there is no rainfall before June 10, the Three Gorges Corporation has told China Daily.

Related News

• Provinces in southern China brace for drought
• No rain expected to ease China’s Yangtze drought  
• Drought hitting Chaohu Lake in E China
• China’s “land of fish and rice” parched by drought

E.coli infection kills a dozen Germans

Ongoing E.coli outbreak: One of the worst in history

The Ongoing E. coli outbreak in Germany (and other European countries) has claimed about a dozen lives and sickened 1,000 others, 300 of them with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)

The outbreak is “one of the largest [ascribed to] HUS worldwide and the largest ever reported in Germany,” the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said.

“While HUS cases are usually observed in children under five years of age, in this outbreak 87% are adults, with a clear predominance of women [two-thirds.]“

The outbreak is also said to be the largest of its kind worldwide. The source of infection is thought to be Spanish cucumbers.

Transmission electron micrograph of E. coli O157:H7 showing flagella. Pseudoreplica technique. Date: 1995. Photo Credit: Elizabeth H. White, M.S. / CDC

The virulent form of E.coli can cause blood poisoning temporary anemia, profuse bleeding and kidney failure and affect the central nervous system, medical experts said.

Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK have also reported cases of HUS.

“It is possible that there will be secondary infections during this outbreak as well. These secondary infections work from man to man and they can be avoided. That’s why we have to do everything possible for better personal hygiene.” A  Munster university epidemiologist said, warning that the  infection was spreading.

The University Hospital Luebeck  in northern Germany was quoted as saying that it was treating 70 patients and was expecting to receive 10 new cases a day.

“E. coli O157:H7 is a bacterial pathogen that has a reservoir in cattle and other similar animals.  Human illness typically follows consumption of food or water that has been contaminated with microscopic amounts of cow feces.  The illness it causes is often a severe and bloody diarrhea and painful abdominal cramps, without much fever.   In 3% to 5% of cases, a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) can occur several weeks after the initial symptoms.  This severe complication includes temporary anemia, profuse bleeding, and kidney failure.” CDC said.

An image of E.coli bacteria provided by the USDA. The bacteria can cause diarrhea, dehydration, kidney failure and death. Image Number K11077-1 Low-temperature electron micrograph of a cluster of E. colibacteria. Each individual bacterium is oblong shaped. Photo by Eric Erbe, digital colorization by Christopher Pooley. Click image to enlarge.

Clinical Features

“Most people infected with E. coli O157:H7 develop diarrhea (often bloody) and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (average of 3-4 days) after swallowing the organism, but some illnesses last longer and are more severe. Infection is usually diagnosed by culture of a stool sample. Most people recover within a week, but some develop a severe infection. A type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) can begin as the diarrhea is improving; this can occur in people of any age but is most common in children under 5 years old and the elderly.” CDC said on its website.

A colorized version of PHIL 7137 depicting a highly magnified scanning electron micrographic (SEM) view of a dividing Escherichia coli bacteria, clearly displaying the point at which the bacteria’s cell wall was dividing; Magnification 21674x.

Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative bacterium that normally colonizes the digestive tract of most warm-blooded animals, including human beings. E. coli are facultative in nature, which means that they can adapt to their environments, switching between aerobic, and anaerobic metabolic growth depending environmental stresses. One strain of E. coli, O157:H7, causes an estimated 73,000 cases of infection, and 61 deaths in the United States each year. Infection often leads to bloody diarrhea, and occasionally to kidney failure. Most illness has been associated with eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef. Person-to-person contact in families and child care centers is also an important mode of transmission. Infection can also occur after drinking raw milk and after swimming in or drinking sewage-contaminated water. Content Providers: CDC/ Evangeline Sowers, Janice Haney Carr. Photo Date: 2005. Photo Credit: Janice Haney Carr

Related Links

• Imported Food Alert 22 Oct 2008
• E. coli in Beef May Have Killed Two

Joplin Tornado Death Toll Mounting

State Authorities Have Trouble Counting?

Missouri state officials said they had positively identified 142 sets of human remains Saturday.

But that was early Saturday. Just a few hours later they changed their minds and revised the figure down to 139,  a report said.

A week has now passed since the deadly EF-5 tornado struck Joplin, Missouri, destroying much of the city.

Other Details

• The youngest victim:  aged 1
• The eldest victim:  92
• Total of 73 deceased persons from the Joplin tornado have been identified and their next-of-kin notified
• Still missing: 100 (down from 1,500), 9 victims confirmed deceased as reported by family.
• Names of deceased persons are listed HERE
• Will Norton: Sadly confirmed dead.
• Joplin Tornado is probably the deadliest single tornado in the US history.

The 25 Deadliest U.S. Tornadoes

Data Source: Storm Prediction Center. Tabulation: FIRE-EARTH. *Joplin tornado death toll is preliminary, many are still missing.
NOTES:
1. “Having happened before the era of comprehensive damage surveys, some of these events may have been composed of multiple tornadoes along a damage path. Death counts for events in the 1800s and early 1900s should be treated as estimates since recordkeeping of tornado deaths was erratic back then.” SPC said on its website.
2. Modern recordkeeping did NOT began until 1950.

Deadliest Tornado Years in US History
(Official NOAA-NWS Record: 1950 – present; Research by Grazulis: 1875-1949)
Year     Fatalities
1925     794
1936     552
1917     551
1927     540
1896     537
2011   519  (139  in Joplin, as of Saturday May 28, 2011)
1953     519
1920     499
1908     477
1909     404
1932     394
1942     384
1924     376
1974     366
1933     362
*Joplin information is preliminary.

Other Tornado Stats [Missourificated?]

• On May 24, 2011, deadly tornadoes claimed 18 lives in Oklahoma (10), Kansas (2), and Arkansas (6).
• On May 26, 2011, deadly storms/tornadoes killed 3 people in Atlanta, Georgia.
• The Marion County long-track EF5 of 27 April 2011 killed 78 people.
• So far an estimated 323 tornadoes have occurred during May 2011 (3-year average: 322; decadal average: 298).
• YTD total: 1,364 tornadoes (full year decadal average: 1,274).
• April 2011 set a new record for the month with 875 tornadoes.
• NWS records indicate 361 people were killed in April 2011, including 321 during the April 25-28 tornado outbreak, NOAA said.

Related Links

• Joplin Tornado – May 28 Update
• Severe Weather Update – May 27
• One Large Tornado Patch
• Major tornado outbreak forecast for southern Plains on Wednesday

• Tornado Death Toll in Joplin Reaches 116
• Tornado Death Toll Rises to 89 in Joplin, Missouri
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

2011 Disasters

• 2011 Much More Disastrous
• 2010 Disasters [Includes Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters: 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

SONGDA Sweeps Along Japan’s Southern Coast

Tropical Storm SONGDA carries strong winds and massive precipitation to Japan’s southern coast

The storm has dumped heavy rain on western, southern and central Japan. Heavy rain is also expected in the ‘Tohoku Triple Disaster Area.’

Weather authorities have issued multiple warnings for strong winds, heavy precipitation,  flooding, landslides and high waves.

TS SONGDA IR Satellite Image (NHC enhancement) with projected path overlay. See inset for date/time/details. Source: CIMSS. Click images to enlarge.

TS SONGDA Analysis [Issued by JMA at 05:40 UTC, 29 May 2011]

Position:  32.6°N, 133.9°E
Direction and forward speed: NE 65km/h(35kt)
Central pressure: 980hPa
Maximum wind speed: 102km/hr (55kt)
Maximum wind gust: 148km/hr (80kt)
Average rainfall along storm track: 25mm/hr [FIRE-EARTH estimate based on JAM data]

TS SONGDA Projected Path. Source and copyright: JMA

TS SONGDA satellite image overlay at 05:00UTC on May 29, 2011. Source: Digital Typhoon.

Related Links

• Typhoon SONGDA Targets Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa
• Super Typhoon SONGDA Saunters NW
• Super Typhoon SONGDA
• Satellite Imagery
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Loops/Animations (MTSAT/NOAA/SSD)

• Northwest Pacific – Water Vapor
• Northwest Pacific – Visible
• Northwest Pacific – Visible (Colorized)
• Northwest Pacific – Infrared
• Northwest Pacific IR (Aviation Color Enhancement)

Digital Typhoon Animations

• Last 24 Hours : MPEG / WMV
• Last 120 Hours : MPEG / WMV
• Last 240 Hours : MPEG / WMV

Typhoon SONGDA Targets Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa

SONGDA Downgraded to Cat 3B on FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Typhoon SONGDA could make a direct hit on the tiny volcanic island [and popular holiday resort] of Miyakojima (Pop: 56,000; area: ~ 160 km²; position: 24°46′N 125°19′E.)

Current Details

• Date and Time   May 28, 2011 at 05:50UTC
• Position:  Near 24.1N 124.4E
• Location: About 530 km SW of Kadena, Okinawa
• Movement over the past 6 hours:  NNE
• Forward Speed: 28km/hr (15 KTS)

Current Wind Distribution:

• Max sustained winds: ~ 193 km/hr (104 KTS) – [Cat 3B storm on FEWW New Hurricane Scale]
• Max wind gusts: 235 km/hr (127 KT)
• Max significant wave height: 11.3m (37feet)
• Source: FIRE-EARTH estimates based on data provided by JTWC and others.

Typhoon SONGDA – VIS/IR satellite image – 4km res. Source: CIMSS. [NOTE: locations show on the map are approximate, and used for reference only.]

Typhoon SONGDA – IR satellite image  (BD  Enhancement) – 2km res. Source: CIMSS. Click images to enlarge.

Map of Miyakojima Island with the position of Typhoon SONGDA shown at 04:00UTC on May 28, 2011. Source: Digital Typhoon. Map enhanced by FIRE-EARTH.

Related Links

• Super Typhoon SONGDA Saunters NW
• Super Typhoon SONGDA
• Satellite Imagery
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Loops/Animations (MTSAT/NOAA/SSD)

• Northwest Pacific – Water Vapor
• Northwest Pacific – Visible
• Northwest Pacific – Visible (Colorized)
• Northwest Pacific – Infrared
• Northwest Pacific IR (Aviation Color Enhancement)

Digital Typhoon Animations

• Last 24 Hours : MPEG / WMV
• Last 120 Hours : MPEG / WMV
• Last 240 Hours : MPEG / WMV

Joplin Tornado – May 28 Update

Joplin tornado death toll climbs to 132

Death toll from the devastating EF-5 tornado that struck Joplin on May 22 has risen to 132, after the remains of 6 more victims were identified, according to Joplin City Manager.

The twister, the deadliest single tornado to strike in the United States in 64 years, has also injured about 1,000 people.

Meanwhile, the officials said the number of people uncounted for had dropped to 156 [the number of missing was previously stated at about 1,500.]

Official  also said the remains of only 19 of the victims had so far been identified and released to families, a report said.

“Many of the bodies are in such poor condition that officials said they are using fingerprints, medical records, distinctive tattoos, DNA and other methods to identify them.”

Joplin Tornado Radar Animation

A supercell thunderstorm tracked from extreme southeast Kansas into far southwest Missouri (NWS Springfield, County Warning Area) late Sunday afternoon and evening (May 22nd).  This storm produced an EF-5 tornado over Joplin, Missouri resulting in devastating damage. This storm generated other tornadoes and wind damage along its path as it moved southeast across far southwest Missouri.  Spotty wind damage also occurred across the remainder of far southern Missouri as the storms moved east.  Additionally, these storms produced flash flooding across far southwest Missouri.  Image and caption: National Weather Service (NWS)

Frame by Frame Radar Sequence 

Selected frame shown at 22:39UTC on May 22, 2011. (L ) Radar Reflectivity  (R) Storm Relative Velocity. Source: NWS. Click image to enlarge.

Joplin tornado store receipt flew 525 miles to Indiana

Meanwhile a Purdue University storm researcher reported that “a receipt from a tire store in Joplin, Mo., turned up 525 miles away on a front porch in north-central Indiana, a record distance for apparent tornado debris to travel,” according to a report.

“This paper traveled more than twice as far as the longest distance recorded for debris from a storm,” according to a professor of earth and atmospheric sciences and tornado expert. “The previous record was a canceled check that traveled 210 miles after the 1915 tornado in Great Bend, Kan.” Said the report.

Joplin Tornado Satellite Images

Joplin, Missouri satellite image shows a small section of the city after it was devastated by a tornado on May 22, 2011. Source: NOAA. Cropped by FIRE-EARTH.

Joplin, Missouri satellite image after the city was devastated by a tornado on May 22, 2011. Source: NOAA. For high resolution image click HERE.

Tornado Fatalities in Georgia

At least three people were killed when a tornado with winds of up to 140 kilometers per hour touched down in Atlanta, Georgia, reports said.

 

Latest Weather Hazard Reports

• Red Flag Warning
• Severe Thunderstorm Warning
• River flooding returns to central Plains; expands on northern Missouri River
• Memorial Day holiday weekend forecasts for central United States

Related Links

• Severe Weather Update – May 27
• One Large Tornado Patch
• Major tornado outbreak forecast for southern Plains on Wednesday

• Tornado Death Toll in Joplin Reaches 116
• Tornado Death Toll Rises to 89 in Joplin, Missouri
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

2011 Disasters

• 2011 Much More Disastrous
• 2010 Disasters [Includes Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters: 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Other Tornado News

• NWS Confirms Tornado In Greensburg
• Tornado near Cressona is 2nd in Schuylkill County in 3 days  
• Possible tornado activity reported in Huntingdon County
• Wolf Creek nuke plant faulted for tornado preparedness  
• Tornado Confirmed In Franklin County

Super Typhoon SONGDA Saunters NW

Whipped cream SONGDA sundae satellite images

Super Typhoon SONGDA  Satellite Image – 1km resolution. Source CIMSS. Click images to enlarge.

MTSAT Imagery – JSL enhancement – 8km res. Source: NOAA/SDD

TRMM Satellite image.

Related Links

• Super Typhoon SONGDA
• Satellite Imagery
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Loops/Animations (MTSAT/NOAA/SSD)

• Storm-Centered – Water Vapor
• Storm-Centered – Visible
• Storm-Centered – Visible (Colorized)
• Storm-Centered – Infrared
• Storm-Centered – IR (Aviation Color Enhancement)

• West Pacific – Infrared
• West Pacific – IR (Aviation Color Enhancement)
• West Pacific – Water Vapor
• West Pacific – Visible
• West Pacific – Visible (Colorized)
• West Pacific/South China Sea – Infrared
• West Pacific/South China Sea – Enhanced IR
• West Pacific/South China Sea – Water Vapor
• Tropical West Pacific – Infrared
• Tropical West Pacific – Enhanced IR
• Tropical West Pacific – Water Vapor
• Tropical West Pacific – Visible

• West Central Pacific – Water Vapor
• West Central Pacific – Visible
• West Central Pacific – Visible (Colorized)
• West Central Pacific – Infrared
• West Central Pacific IR (Aviation Color Enhancement)

• Northwest Pacific – Water Vapor
• Northwest Pacific – Visible
• Northwest Pacific – Visible (Colorized)
• Northwest Pacific – Infrared
• Northwest Pacific IR (Aviation Color Enhancement)

Severe Weather Update – May 27

Friday: Severe thunderstorms forecast across most of the country

Severe Weather Threat Moving to New England, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast: NWS

GOES Eastern US SECTOR Infrared Image. Click to enlarge.

US Weather Hazards Map

Click Map to enlarge. Click HERE to enter NWS portal.

Weather Forecast Map

Wednesday storms spawned softball-sized hail in Georgia and damaging winds  in upstate York, but no fatalities were reported, as of posting.

SPC received a total of 1,017 severe weather reports across 14 states  on Wednesday (preliminary data) including 96 tornado reports.  On Thursday there were 414 reports, including 5 tornadoes.

Severe weather reports for May 25 received at SPC, update May 27.

May 26 reports. Click image to enlarge.

Joplin Tornado

Death toll from Joplin Tornado stands at 125, with about 1,000 injured. The number of missing since the tornado struck 5 days ago is shrouded in secrecy. The figure previously released by the authorities, and subsequently retracted, was 1,500. The actual figure for those unaccounted for may be closer to 1,000.

UPDATE posted at 06:00UTC May 27, 2011
Death toll from Joplin tornado has risen to 126, as another body was found in the debris, and the number of missing was put at 232, officials said.  ”We will keep a relentless focus on the search, rescue and identification of those 232 people, and we will not rest until everyone has been accounted for, and that number is zero,” Governor Jay Nixon said.

Tornado Attacks on Tuesday

Death toll from tornadoes swept the Midwest on Tuesday night, has climbed to at least 16 people: 10 fatalities in Oklahoma, 4 in Arkansas and 2 in Kansas.

UPDATE posted at 06:00UTC May 27, 2011
Death toll has risen to 17, reports said.

Flood Update

Major flooding is underway along Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, as well as in North Dakota. Flood warnings, advisories and watched have been issued for at least 25 states.

Significant River Flood Outlook

Click Map to enlarge. Click HERE to enter HPC portal.

Storm Related Fatalities

• 2011 toll: > 510 deaths [expected to rise]
  
• Annual 10-year average: 22 deaths

Thunderstorms disrupt Flights in Europe 

Meanwhile in England, strong winds and thunderstorms forced the cancellation of dozen of flights in and out of London’s Heathrow Airport, a report said.

Related Links

• One Large Tornado Patch
• Major tornado outbreak forecast for southern Plains on Wednesday

• Tornado Death Toll in Joplin Reaches 116
• Tornado Death Toll Rises to 89 in Joplin, Missouri
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

2011 Disasters

• 2011 Much More Disastrous
• 2010 Disasters [Includes Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters: 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Super Typhoon SONGDA

SONGDA: MEGA RAINMAKER

Western Pacific Typhoon Season Starts with a Big Bang

SUPER TYPHOON SONGDA - Vis/IR Image at 12:32UTC May 26, 2011.  Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

Super Typhoon SONGDA - MTSAT IR Image at 12:32UTC May 26, 2011. Click Image to enlarge.

Super Typhoon SONGDA - MTSAT enhanced IR Image at 13:32UTC May 26, 2011. Click Image to enlarge.

SONGDA Projected Track. Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

WARNING POSITION:

• Date and Time   May 26, 2011 at 14:00UTC
• Position:  Near 16.3N 125.1E
• Movement over the past 6 hours:  315 degrees
• Forward Speed: 15km/hr (8 KTS)

Current Wind Distribution:

• Max sustained winds: ~ 270 km/hr (145 KTS) – [Cat 5 storm on FEWW New Hurricane Scale]
• Max wind gusts: 325 km/hr (175 KT)
• Source: FIRE-EARTH estimates based on data provided by JTWC and others.

Related Links

• Satellite Imagery
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

updated on  May 26, 2011 at 14:00UTC

Joplin Tornado – Update May 26

Death Toll from Mega Tornado that Devastated Joplin climbs to 125, with 1,000  Injured

Death toll from the EF5 tornado that leveled large sections of Joplin, Missouri has climbed to at least 125, with up to 1,000 others injured.

The authorities say the earlier number of the missing said to be 1,500 was inaccurate; however, they refuse to reveal the actual figure.

Four of a total 81 tornado reports received on Wednesday came from California.

Tornado Attacks on Tuesday

More tornadoes swept the Midwest on Tuesday night, killing at least 15 people: 9 in Oklahoma, 4 in Arkansas and 2 in Kansas.

Seven tornadoes struck Oklahoma overnight, the National Weather Service reported. “The deadliest of those, which killed seven persons, left a 75-mile path of destruction and lasted two hours.” Said a report.

Photo courtesy of Trenton Workman via redding dot com. A tornado touches down in Butte County Wednesday afternoon. 

2011 Severe Weather Stats – Jan 01,2011 to May 25, 2011

• Tornado reports:  1,228
• Hail reports:  4,215
• Wind reports: 5,898
• TOTAL: 11,350
• Source: SPC

Storm Related Fatalities

• 2011 toll: > 510 deaths [expected to rise]
  
• Annual 10-year average: 22 deaths

Tornado Reports (Since May 21)

May 21 Severe Weather Reports. Click images to enlarge.

May 22

May 23

May 24

One Large Tornado Patch

US Midwest, South and Northeast Targeted by 2011 Tornado Outbreaks

US Tornado Patch 2011

2011 Severe Weather Stats – Jan 01,2011 to May 25, 2011

• Tornado reports:  1,228
• Hail reports:  4,215
• Wind reports: 5,898
• TOTAL: 11,350
• Source: SPC

Storm Related Fatalities

• 2011 toll: > 500 deaths [expected to rise]
  
• Annual 10-year Average: 22 deaths

Now the weather outlook…

• Severe weather threat shifts slightly to east

Click image to enter NWS portal.

Weather Forecast Map 

Click to enlarge.

Significant River Flood Outlook

Click Map to enlarge. Click here to enter HPC portal.

•  River Flood Outlook for Alaska

Grímsvötn Eruption – May 25

The worst is yet to come!

FIRE-EARTH Forecasts More Volcanic Activity in Iceland

Probability of volcanic eruptions in Iceland in the next 18 months [Calculated by FIRE-EARTH]

• A major volcanic eruption: 86%
• Grímsvötn [volcanic system] erupting: 79%
• Two volcanoes erupting: 76%
• Three separate volcanic activities: 65%
  
• Four volcanic eruptions: 47%

Grímsvötn volcano status

• IMO Status Report: 16:00 GMT, 24 May 2011
• Ash measurements

Grímsvötn Volcano Eruption

Grímsvötn volcano satellite images show volcanic ash plume partially obscured by cloud cover: Top image taken by MODIS on Terra satellite at 11:10 UTC on May 24, 2011. Bottom image was acquired at 13:05 UTC, by the MODIS instrument on Aqua satellite.  Source: NASA-EO

Related Links

• Grímsvötn Eruption – Recent Images
• Large Magma Lake Lurking Beneath Iceland
• Iceland’s Grímsvötn volcano erupts
• List of blog entries and external links to Eyjafjöll Eruption
• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt