Typhoon MA-ON: Japan’s Shikoku Island in Crosshairs

MA-ON Headed Toward Shikoku Island, Japan

The typhoon could make landfall on Shikoku Island at about 12:00UTC on July 19, according to Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

Typhoon MA-ON – VIS/IR satellite image [4-km res.] Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

MA-ON is currently a Category 2A storm with sustained winds of about 160km/hr, according to SATCON. However the estimate by JMA (see below) makes the typhoon a Category 1 storm with sustained winds of about 140km/hr.

Current Status

TYPHOON MA-ON – Issued at 12:50 UTC, 18 July 2011 by JMA

Intensity: Strong
Center position of probability circle: 33.3°N, E133.8°E
Direction and speed:  NNE 15km/h (9kt)
Central pressure: 955hPa
Maximum wind speed: 40m/s (75kt)
Maximum wind gusts:  55m/s (105kt)
Radius of probability circle: 160km (85NM)
Storm warning area E370km (200NM), W300km (160NM)

MA-ON Projected Path (24-hr Probability Map)

Click image to enlarge.

MA-ON Projected Path (72-hr Probability Map)

Click image to enlarge.

MA-ON Animation

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

Related Links:

• Typhoon MA-ON Races Toward Japan
• Typhoon MA-ON Making Her MI-ND Up
• MA-ON Stregthens to Cat 4A Typhoon
• MA-ON Racing to Super Typhoon Status Posted on July 14, 2011
• Satellite Imagery
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Sick of Oil Spills

BP Alaskan pipeline at Lisburne field ruptures spilling methanol and oil onto the tundra

Up to 4,200 gallons of a mixture of “methanol and oily water” was spilled after a rupture which occurred on Saturday, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation said.

Lisburne comes under the management of the Greater Prudhoe Bay Unit and was reportedly undergoing maintenance work.

Prudhoe Bay oil field (PBOF), located on Alaska’s North Slope, is the largest oil field in North America. It’s operated by BP and its partners ExxonMobiland ConocoPhillips Alaska.

Covering an area of about 86,000 ha,  PBOF was initially estimated as containing about 25 billion barrels of crude. The field is located about 640 km north of Fairbanks (1,050 km north of Anchorage), some 400 km north of the Arctic Circle (1,900 km from the North Pole).

Related Links

• FIRE halts BP oil production at Valhall platform, North Sea
• Disasters Caused by Oil and Gas Drilling, Oil Spills, Leaks, Polluting Land, Water and Air

Mt Lokon Erupts Again

Mt Lokon erupts, ejecting thick gray plumes 600 meters into the air

The latest eruption occurred at 1.24 pm local time [UTC + 8 hrs] sending the volcanic cloud to the northwest, Indonesia’s head of the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG) said.

An estimated 30,000 villagers live within a 3.5-km evacuation zone which was established on Sulawesi Island a week ago.

A Map of Listed Volcanoes of Indonesia.

Related Links

• Mount Lokon Eruption Forces 6,000 to Evacuate
• VolcanoWatch Weekly [28 Oct 2009]
• VolcanoWatch Weekly [26 Oct 2009]

• Messages From Earth’s Powerhouse
• Weekly Volcano Watch: 19 March 2009
• A New Era of Intense Volcanic Unrest May Have Begun

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

 

Killer Heatwave Returns

Deadly Weather Set to Return This Week

A strong upper level ridge of high pressure shown below (500mb heights) will remain entrenched across central US, strengthening during the early part of the week, and moving into the Ohio Valley later in the week, NWS said

The  system will cause potentially deadly weather with heat and humidity prevailing.

Maximum Heat Index (ºF) – July 20, 2011 forecast by NWS.

Chance of Mean Heat Index > 100ºF. Click images to enlarge.

Chance of Mean Heat Index > 105ºF. Click images to enlarge.

 

• Text of MEAN Heat Index Probability Forecasts for Eastern US
• Text of MEAN Heat Index Probability Forecasts for Western US

Hazard Assessment Map: EXCESSIVE HEAT

Oppressive Heat and Humidity Set to Return

Excessive Heat Warnings, Watches and Advisories Issued for 3 Dozen States

The high pressure ridge will cause high temperatures and high heat indices forecast at higher than 100ºF plus for Mon/Tues, and 105ºF plus for Wed/Thurs/Fri, NWS said.

Selected Weather Stories

Synopsis: After a stretch of warm summer like temperatures, the longest stretch of oppressive heat and humidty of the season is upon us.  Temperatures will continue to climb through the 90s by the end of the weekend with dew points remaining elevated.  By the new work week, temperatures are expected to build towards or even past the 100 degree mark in portions of Missouri and are expected to surpass 100 degrees over much of Kansas.  However, humidity values will be lower.  Unfortunately, heat index readings will climb between 105 and 115 each day through next Friday.  Little in the way of nighttime relief is expected due to light winds and temperatures remaining near 80 degrees.

An excessive heat warning is in effect for much of Kansas and Missouri through 7pm Friday.  This is a dangerous situation!  Please check on relatives, neighbors, and friends who may not have resources to stay cool in these conditions.  Drink plenty of fluids and refrain from long periods of outdoor exposure; heat related illnesses can occur in minutes. (Source: NWS)

Sunny, hot and humid conditions with highs up to 105 through at least mid-week. Elevated humidity levels will help create high heat index values, resulting in an Excessive Heat Warning to be in effect across the region into mid-week. NWS

Related Links

• Deadly Heat Grips Central United States
• US Weather: SW, SE Continue to Boil
• Entering 2nd Stage of New Climatic Extremes
• Dangerous heat spreads to Mid-Atlantic
• Dangerous heat, exceptional drought, severe storms, major flooding
• Mega Heatwaves Could Kill Thousands in the U.S.
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Brace for the Worst Ever
• WARNING: Global Disasters to Intensify
• Global Climate Extremes INTENSIFYING

Climate-Related Links

• U.S. Climate June: Extremes of Temp and Precipitation
• Epic flood threats through summer as more rain predicted
• Major Dust Storm Moves Across Arizona
• NO CHANCE: Malnourished kids fleeing Somalia’s drought

External Links

• Heat Safety Information
• Weekend high/low temperature forecasts for central United States