Powerful Quake Strikes E of Sulangan, Philippines

M7.9 Quake Strikes E Philippines, Tsunami Warning in Effect

Powerful earthquake struck Philippine Islands Region about 106 km (66 miles) ESE (102°) from Guiuan, Samar, Philippines, USGS/EHP reported.

TSUNAMI STATUS: WARNING, WATCH

Expanding Regional Warning

TSUNAMI WARNING:

Indonesia, Philippines, Belau, Yap, Taiwan, Japan, Guam, N. Marianas, Papua New Guinea A Tsunami Watch is in Effect For Chuuk, Marcus Is., Kosrae, Pohnpei, Marshall Is., Wake Is., Solomon Is., Russia, Nauru

• Expanding Regional Warning

BULLETIN
TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER 1 – NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI, 2:57AM HST FRI AUG 31, 2012
A TSUNAMI WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII EFFECTIVE AT 02:57AM HST.

EVALUATION: BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA A TSUNAMI MAY HAVE BEEN GENERATED BY THIS EARTHQUAKE THAT COULD BE DESTRUCTIVE ON COASTAL AREAS EVEN FAR FROM THE EPICENTER. AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAII.

IF TSUNAMI WAVES IMPACT HAWAII THE ESTIMATED EARLIEST ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST TSUNAMI WAVE IS 12:28PM HST FRI 31 AUG 2012

Earthquake Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP

EQ Details [USGS]

• Date-Time: Friday, August 31, 2012 at 12:47:34 UTC
• Location: 10.828°N, 126.677°E
• Depth:  34.9 km (21.7 miles)
• Region: Philippine Islands Region
• Distances:
  • 106 km (66 miles) ESE (102°) from Guiuan, Samar, Philippines
  • 175 km (109 miles) NE (48°) from Surigao, Mindanao, Philippines
  • 749 km (465 miles) SE (124°) from MANILA, Philippines

• Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 13.7 km (8.5 miles); depth +/- 5.8 km (3.6 miles)

EQ Details [GEOFON Program]

• Magnitude: 7.5 (Mw)
• Time: 2012-08-31 12:47:32.2 UTC
• Epicenter: 126.82°E 10.82°N
• Depth: 10 km
• Status: C – confirmed

Other Significant Quakes

• M6.8; 71.461°N, 10.919°W; 99km NW of Olonkinbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen [935km (581mi) NNE of Reykjavik, Iceland;]2012-08-30 at 13:43UTC, at a depth of 9.9km.

Related Links

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Arctic Sea Ice Extent Down to 3.87M km² and Melting

Northern Hemisphere Sea Ice Cover Continues Shrinking

Arctic sea ice extent shrank to about 3.87 million square kilometers (1.49 million square miles) on August 29, 2012 and continued melting, FIRE-EARTH estimates. The new record low was 100,000 km² below the September 18, 2007 daily extent of 4.17 million km².

FEWW model shows the Arctic sea ice extent could fall below 3.8 million km² during the 2012 melt season with a probability of 0.8 [P≥77%]

Arctic sea ice extent, August 29, 2012. FIRE-EARTH estimates the NH ice cover has fallen below 3.87 million km².  Image Source: NSIDC

Arctic sea ice extent as of August 29, 2012. The ice extents is now the lowest in the satellite record.  Image Source: NSIDC

Related Links

• Arctic Sea Ice Extent Breaks Record Low and Melting Posted August 28, 2012
• Arctic Sea Ice Extent Rapidly Decreasing Posted August 21, 2012

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Extreme Drought Creeping Up in Northern Plains

 U.S. Drought Map

The area impacted by Extreme drought increased marginally last week. As of August 28, Extreme and Exceptional drought levels covered 23.18 percent of the United States.

U.S. Drought Map – August 28, 2012. Source: US Drought Monitor.

Previous Drought Map

U.S. Drought Map – August 21, 2012. Source: US Drought Monitor.

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• Disaster Declared for 142 U.S. Counties Posted August 23, 2012

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Global Warning

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Disaster Calendar – 30 August 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,294 Days Left

[August 30, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,294 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011...

.

Louisiana and Mississippi. Torrential rain dumped by Hurricane ISAAC, now downgraded to a tropical depression, threatened to burst Lake Tangipahoa Dam in Mississippi, forcing evacuation of about 60,000 people in Louisiana and Mississippi, leaving large areas flooded and more than a million without power, reports said.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

ISAAC Landed in SE Louisiana, Heading Toward NO

Hurricane ISAAC landed in Louisiana with 80MPH winds

ISAAC has forced tens of thousands to evacuate, and is forecast to strike New Orleans. The storm triggered widespread  flooding and damage in the Caribbean, claiming at least 24 lives in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Hurricane ISAAC landing in SE Louisiana. Image source: UW-SSEC – Animate this image

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• California.  Yosemite National Park has warned about 2,000 visitors who stayed in its canvas and wood cabins in Curry Village this summer that they may have been exposed to the deadly hantavirus.
  • Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome has killed at least two campers who stayed at the park earlier this year.
  • Two other campers have acquired the infection.
  • Symptoms of hantavirus include aches, chills, dizziness and fever.
  • Hantavirus is carried in the feces, saliva and urine of infected deer mice, and has no specific treatment.
  • The virus has a 30% fatality rate.

• U.S. Corn and Soybean Crops. The U.S. corn and soybean conditions have both deteriorated by an additional one percent, according to the USDA’s latest Crop Progress for the week ending August 26, 2012.
  • The amount of corn crops considered to be in very poor or poor conditions increased to 52 percent, an increase of 1 percent from the previous week. It was 19 percent last year.
  • Soybean crops in very poor or poor conditions also increased by 1 percent to 38 percent since last week.   It was 15 percent last year.

Previous Corn Progress

• U.S. Corn Condition Continues Worsening Posted August 14, 2012
• More Corn Grilled on the Cob Posted on August 7, 2012
• Half U.S. Corn in Very Poor or Poor Condition Posted July 30, 2012
• Deadly Drought Worsens Corn, Soybean, Pasture and Range Conditions Posted July 24, 2012

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Arctic Sea Ice Extent Breaks Record Low and Melting

Northern Hemisphere Sea Ice Cover Falls to Record Low

Arctic sea ice extent shrank to 4.10 million square kilometers (1.58 million square miles) on August 26, 2012 and continued melting. The new record low was 70,000 km² below the September 18, 2007 daily extent of 4.17 million km², National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) reported.

FEWW model shows the Arctic sea ice extent could fall below 3.8 million km² during the 2012 melt season with a probability of 0.7 [P≥72%]

Arctic sea ice extent as of August 26, 2012, along with daily ice extent data for 2007, the previous record low year, and 1980, the record high year. The six lowest ice extents in the satellite record have occurred in the last six years (2007 to 2012). Source: NSIDC

Arctic sea ice extent for September 18, 2007, daily extent of 4.17 million km², and August 26, 2012 (right), 4.10 million km².  Source: NSIDC

[Note: NSIDC  has changed the date and extent of the 2007 minimum to September 18, 2007 and daily extent of 4.17 million km² from the previous figure of 4.28 million km²]

• See also: Arctic Sea Ice Extent Rapidly Decreasing Posted August 21, 2012

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

ISSAC: Four Gulf Coast States Declare Emergencies

Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama declare states of emergency, issue evacuation orders as TS ISSAC approaches

Four Gulf Coast states declared states of emergency as tropical storm ISSAC reached the mouth of GoM. Evacuation orders have been issued for the residents in the storm’s path.  The storm was expected to intensify to hurricane strength over the warmer waters.

Tropical Storm ISSAC. VIS/IR Sat Image. See inset for time. Source UW-CIMSS

ISSAC as of 03:00 UTC Sun Aug 26
Location: 24.2°N 82.9°W
Moving: WNW at 14 mph
Min pressure: 993 mb
Max sustained winds: 65 mph

 Tropical Storm Force Wind Probability

TS ISAAC. Tropical Storm Force Wind Probability Chart. Source: NHC/NWS

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• El Salvador.  Powerful Magnitude 7.3 quake struck offshore El Salvador about 133 km (82 miles) S of Santiago de Maria, at 04:37UTC on Monday, August 27, 2012, USGS/EHP reported.
  • The quake was epicentered 12.278°N, 88.528°W and struck at a depth 20.3 km (12.6 miles).
  • A tsunami warning was issued for Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama and Mexico, but no significant wave was reported, as of posting (~ 11:40UTC).

• Kuril Islands, Russia. The Ivan Grozny (“Ivan the Terrible”) volcano on Iturup Island (Kuril islands group) erupted again, early Monday.
  • The volcano first erupted Thursday morning spewing a column of ash onto the surrounding towns of Goryachiye Klyuchi (10 km) and Kurilsk (25 km).

Other Storms

• TEMBIN Could Hit Taiwan Multiple Times Posted August 24, 2012

Related Links

• Satellite imagery
• Hurricane Warning
• U.S. Tornado Potential

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Wildfires Raging in Southern Europe

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,298 Days Left

[August 26, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,298 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011...

–

Thousands evacuated as wildfires ravage drought-hit western Balkans

Lingering heatwave has pushed the temperatures above 40°C (104 degrees), triggering over a thousand wildfires in dr5ought-stricken Greece, Spain and western Balkans.

Serbia and neighboring Bosnia are said to be worst hit.  Serbia has evacuated thousands of villagers and mobilized its army to tackle the fires, while Bosnia has appealed for international help.

The situation in Serbia has been described as “extremely serious” by the head of the ministry’s Emergencies Department.

Map of total precipitation in Europe (mm) – week ending August 18

Computer generated map of total precipitation in Europe (mm) for the week ending August 18, 2012. An area of high pressure brought above-normal temperatures (up to 4°C above normal) to the western half of Europe triggering more than a thousand wildfires.  Image source: CPC/NOAA

• Kosovo. The emergency services have asked NATO’s Kosovo peace force for helicopter support.
  • “There’s a huge part we can’t reach because of the landmines from the last war and we can hear explosions time after time,” Kosovo’s Emergency Department told Reuters.

• Greece. In Athens, one of the latest wildfires raged in the capital’s suburbs, blanketing the city with choking smoke.
  
  • Major wildfires have ravaged thousands of hectares across Greece over the past two weeks.

• Spain.  Wildfires have consumed more than 150,000 hectares in Sapin, claiming  several lives, so far this summer.

• Italy. The Ministry of Health raised the extreme heat warning to the maximum level ‘red’  on August 21, after heatwave enveloped 8  cities including the capital Rome.
  • Wildfires were reported at multiple locations across southern Italy.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

U.S. Facing Worst Ever WNV Outbreak

West Nile Cases Surge in Louisiana

Louisiana’s Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH) have confirmed 53 new human cases of the West Nile infections, marking  145 reported cases and 9 deaths so far this year.

At least 31 of the new cases are neuroinvasive disease, which infects the spinal cord and brain and can lead to death, LDHH reported.

• United States is in the midst of “one of the largest West Nile outbreaks ever seen,” said Dr. Lyle Peterson, director of vector-borne infectious diseases section at CDC.
• About 1,331 reported cases of the disease have occurred in 38 states including about 640 Neuroinvasive disease cases, leading to at least 46 deaths so far this year.
• Nine other states have reported “some activity.”
• Texas, the worst-hit state, has reported 641 cases with 24 deaths so far this year.
• Since 1999, more than 30,000 people in the United States have been infected with West Nile virus. Occasionally, a person infected with the mosquito-borne disease may develop more severe symptoms including  “West Nile encephalitis,” “West Nile meningitis” or “West Nile meningoencephalitis.” CDC reported.
• The 1,331 cases thus far in 2012 is the highest number of West Nile virus disease cases reported to CDC through the third week in August since West Nile virus was first detected in the United States in 1999.
• About 75 percent of the cases have been reported from 5 states (Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Dakota, and Oklahoma) and almost half of all cases have been reported from Texas.
• About 13,000 of the individuals who have been reported as being infected West Nile virus since 1999 have been seriously ill, and more than 1,200 have died, CDC said.

 WNV Infection Causes Kidney Disease

WNV infection causes serious and lasting kidney damage, according to a new report by Baylor College of Medicine. Researchers found that 4 in 10 patients had varying stages of kidney disease caused by WNV infection.

About 45,000 people in Houston area have been infected with the virus, many of whom are unaware of it, the report said.

West Nile virus (WNV) activity reported to ArboNET, by state, United States, 2012 (as of August 21, 2012)

One thousand three hundred thirty-one (1,331) human West Nile virus infections have been reported to CDC ArboNET from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

• See also: State of Emergency Declared in Oregon Due to Wildfire Posted August 18, 2012

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• South Korea. Reactor No. 1 at the Ulchin nuclear power plant located in South Korea’s North Kyongsang province stopped operating on Thursday for “unknown reasons,” the Yonhap news agency reported.

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

TEMBIN Could Hit Taiwan Multiple Times

Typhoon TEMBIN moves into Taiwan Strait after making first landfall

TEMBIN made landfall in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan, early Friday, having dumped 500 mm of rain on parts of  southern and southeastern Taiwan over a 10-hour period, before moving out to sea shortly after.

TY TEMBIN – Vis/IR satellite image @ 03:32UTC – August 24, 2012. Source: UW/CIMSS

The storm could turn toward Taiwan again and dump more rain this weekend, according to the country’s Central Weather Bureau.

TEMBIN could interact with the approaching Typhoon BOLAVEN, by which time the latter, now a category 3 typhoon, could have intensified to a super storm.

Typhoon TEMBIN track and projected path. Source: UW/CIMSS

Typhoon BOLAVEN track and projected path. Source: UW/CIMSS

Related Links

• TYPHOONS Raging in NW Pacific

TYPHOONS Raging in NW Pacific

Two typhoons headed for Taiwan and China

TY TEMBIN (N22.7°, E122.5°), the 14th typhoon of the year, approaching SE Taiwan, with TY BOLAVEN (N20.2°, E134.1°) in hot pursuit (timed at 12:00UTC, August 23, 2012). Image:  Digital Typhoon 

Disaster Declared for 142 U.S. Counties

Drought disaster declared in 100 additional counties across 13 states

Fifteen counties in Nebraska have been declared agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought, excessive heat and high winds that began March 1, 2012, and continues, USDA reported.

• Those disaster areas are (primary disaster areas)  Gage, Johnson, Nuckolls, Richardson, Jefferson, Nemaha, Pawnee and Thayer counties;  (contiguous disaster areas) Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Lancaster, Otoe, Saline and Webster counties.

Nine counties in bordering states of Kansas and Missouri also designated as  natural disaster areas  because they are contiguous.

• Kansas: Brown, Doniphan, Jewell, Marshall, Nemaha, Republic and Washington counties.

• Missouri: Atchison and Holt counties.

Drought disaster areas have also been declared in California, Nevada and Utah.

U.S. Drought Disaster Map as of August 22, 2012.

• California.  USDA has also designated 6 counties in California and one in bordering Nevada as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. Those counties are Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mono and Tuolumne in California, and Douglas County in Nevada.

• Utah.  USDA has designated nine counties in Utah as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. Those counties are (primary disaster areas) Beaver, Iron and Piute counties;  (contiguous disaster areas) Garfield, Millard, Washington, Kane, Sevier and  Wayne counties.

• Idaho.  USDA has designated 17 counties in Idaho as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought, excessive heat and high winds that began Jan. 1, 2012, and continues.

The Idaho disaster designation also includes 9 counties in 4 bordering states.

• Montana: Beaverhead, Gallatin and Madison counties.
• Nevada: Elko County.
• Utah: Box Elder, Cache and Rich counties.
• Wyoming: Lincoln and Teton counties.

• Kansas.  USDA has designated 5 counties in Kansas as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought, excessive heat, high winds and wildfires that began Jan. 1, 2012, and continues. Those counties are (PDA) Marshall County; and (CDA) Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley and Washington counties.

• Indiana.  USDA has designated 5 counties in Indiana as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
• Ohio.  Darke County in Ohio also designated as natural disaster area because it is contiguous.

• Georgia. USDA has designated 12 counties in Georgia as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.

• Tennessee.  USDA has designated 13 counties in Tennessee as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• United States.  The number of reported West Nile cases nationwide has tripled, with at least 1,118 reported so far this year, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.
  •  Seventy-five percent of the cases have been reported in five states—Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma,  South Dakota and Texas—with more than a half in Texas.
  • “We are in the midst of one of the worst West Nile virus outbreaks ever seen in the U.S.,” Lyle R. Petersen, director of the Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases at CDC, told reporters.
  • West Nile virus have caused at least 41 fatalities, so far this year.
  • Texas has reported 640 West Nile infections and at least 22 deaths this year.
  • Dallas County, where the mayor declared a health emergency last week, accounts for 270 cases and at least 11 deaths.

• Ohio. The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Ohio in the area affected by severe storms and straight-line winds during the period of June 29 to July 2, 2012.
  • The worst affected areas are in the counties of Adams, Allen, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Champaign, Clark, Coshocton, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Meigs, Miami, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Putnam, Shelby, Van Wert, and Washington.

• Oklahoma. The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Oklahoma in the area affected by the Freedom Wildfire during the period of August 3-14, 2012.

• California. California Governor has declared a state of emergency in 3 Northern California counties—Plumas, Shasta and Tehama—due to raging wildfires.
  • Wildfires have destroyed dozens of homes and threaten hundreds more, forcing evacuations and road closures.
  • Ponderosa Fire, which had already consumed about 25,000 acres, destroying more than 85 homes and other structures, was threatening the small community of Mineral, south of Lassen National Volcanic Park.
  • The blaze has already forced about 3,500 people to flee their homes in Tehama and Shasta counties, north of Sacramento.
  • The fire is threatening more than 500 homes and businesses
  • Chips Fire in Plumas County has scorched about 100 square miles since late July and threatens more than 900 homes.

• Idaho.  USDA has designated 34 counties in Idaho as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the combined effects of hail, excessive rain, frost and freezes that occurred from Jan. 1 – July 25, 2012.

The Idaho disaster designation also includes 9 counties in 6 bordering states.

• Montana: Three counties.

• Nevada: One county.

• Oregon: Two counties.

• Utah: Two counties.

• Washington: Two counties.
  

• Wyoming: Two counties.
  

DROUGHT DISASTER

• United States.  Drought conditions continue worsening in key farm states, with 63.20 percent of Continental U.S. experiencing Moderate to Exception Drought condition (D1 to D4 on the U.S. Drought Monitor).

U.S. Drought Map – August 21, 2012. Source: US Drought Monitor.

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Heatwave Fuels Wildfires Ravaging Balkans

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,302 Days Left

[August 22, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,302 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011...

–

State of emergency declared as wildfires threaten Bosnia towns

Residents and tourists are being  evacuated from Bosnian towns, as raging wildfires fueled by the extreme heat and strong winds approach.

• Authorities declared a state of emergency in the town of Bratunac (eastern Bosnia) as wildfires approached from 4 directions.
• Residents and tourists are being evacuated from the town TouKonjic (southern Bosnia) as multiple wildfires engulf the surrounding areas.

Authorities both in Serbia and Croatia have issued extreme heat warnings, instructing people to stay indoors to avoid dehydration and heatstroke.

• Italy. The Ministry of Health raised the extreme heat warning to the maximum level ‘red’  after heatwave enveloped 8  cities including the capital Rome.
  • Wildfires were reported at multiple locations across southern Italy.

• France. Heatwave has also affected most parts of France since last week.
  • In southern France, temperatures exceeded 40ºC (104 degrees).

• Spain. A major wildfire fueled by the extreme heatwave has scorched more than 8,000 hectares in the central Spanish province of Leon, reports said.
  • Fires in Spain have consumed about 150,000 hectares of wild land killing several people this summer.

• Greece.  Hundreds of fires were ignited across the Greek Islands over the weekend, scorching thousands of  acres of forest.

• Belgium and Germany have also been affected by the heatwave since late last week.

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• Ecuador. Tungurahua volcano (summit elevation: 5,030 m) near Banos erupted again on Tuesday, August 20, 2012 spewing lava, ash and volcanic debris  into the air.  Authorities raised the alert level to ‘orange, and evacuated some of nearby residents, while advising others to leave the are voluntarily.
  • Tungurahua’s last major eruption occurred from 1916 to 1918, but the volcano became active again in October 1999.

Tungurahua volcano seen from Huambalo, Ecuador, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012. (Photo: Dolores Ochoa/AP). Image may be subject to copyright.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Arctic Sea Ice Extent Rapidly Decreasing

Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent drops below 4.5 million km²: FIRE-EARTH

FIRE-EARTH estimates the Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent dropped below 4.5 million km² on August 19, 2012.

A week earlier (August 13, 2012), the Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent was 5.09 million square kilometers (1.97 million square miles), which was 2.69 million km² below the 1979 to 2000 average extent for the date, and 483,000 km² below the previous record low set in 2007, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).

FEWW model shows the Arctic sea ice extent could fall below 3.8 million km² during the 2012 melt season with a probability of 0.7 [P≥65%]

Arctic ice cover shrank to a new record low of 4.28 km² in 2007, about 23 percent below the previous record set in 2005 and almost 40 percent lower than the 1979 – 2000 average.

Arctic Ice Cover Maps for August 13 and 19, 2012. Source: NSIDC

Arctic Sea Ice Extent: Area of ocean with at least 15% sea ice. Source: NSIDC

The graph above shows Arctic sea ice extent as of August 13, 2012, along with daily ice extent data for the previous five years. 2012 is shown in blue, 2011 in orange, 2010 in pink, 2009 in navy, 2008 in purple, and 2007 in green. The gray area around the average line shows the two standard deviation range of the data. Source: NSIDC

“The average pace of ice loss since late June has been rapid at just over 100,000 square kilometers (38,000 square miles) per day. However, this pace nearly doubled for a few days in early August during a major Arctic cyclonic storm,” said NSIDC.

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Disaster Calendar – 20 August 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,304 Days Left

[August 20, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,304 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011...

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Calif Fire Forces Mass Evacuations

Ponderosa fire forces mass evacuations as Shasta County declares state of emergency

Ponderosa fire, a 15,000-acre wildfire southeast of Redding, has destroyed a dozen buildings, threatening 3,600 homes and forcing more than 3,000 people to evacuate, as Shasta County officials declare a state of emergency.

The fire which began in Tehama County on Saturday quickly spread into Shasta County moving north toward the communities of Shingletown and Viola.

Chips Fire, a large wildfire that ignited in the Plumas National Forest on July 29, has grown  to about 70 square miles, threatening several communities, officials said.

• The Plumas County Sheriff said it will issue Mandatory Evacuation Orders for the communities of Canyon Dam and Big Meadows. “Additionally, the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office will escalate to a Voluntary Evacuation for the communities of Almanor and Pratville. West Almanor remains under Advisement,” InciWeb reported.

Rush Fire.  The massive blaze has now consumed about 400 square miles. “The fire is located on Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Northern California District (BLM-CA-NOD,) Eagle Lake Field Office, approximately 15 miles southeast of Ravendale, California. The fire is burning near a major natural gas line and transfer station, and power transmission lines that supply the Reno area and adjacent to Highway 395.”

Reading Fire.  The blaze in the Lassen Volcanic National Park, sparked by lightning on July 23, has grown to about 50 square miles, and is reportedly 50 percent contained.

• Lightning strikes have sparked at least a dozen fires across the state since Friday.

Ramsey Fire, a 1,200-acre blaze located 8 miles East of Dorrington (Hwy 4). Photo: InciWeb.

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Idaho, USA.  Authorities ordered the evacuation of Featherville, a small mountain resort in Idaho, as smoke from the Trinity Ridge Fire in the Boise National Forest blanketed the surrounding areas raising health concerns and reducing visibility.

• The blaze, which started on August 3, has consumed about 90,000 acres and was less than 5 percent contained, as of posting.

See also: U.S. Wildfires Burning 2M Acres Across 11 States Posted August 17, 2012

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Disaster Calendar – 19 August 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,305 Days Left

[August 19, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,305 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011...

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Typhoon KAI-TAK Leaves a Trail of Destruction in S China

KAI-TAK affects about 13 million people in south China

Typhoon KAI-TAK slammed coast of S China leaving behind a trail of destruction. The storm destroyed 4,200 houses and damaged another 17,300 in south China’s Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Chinese officials said.

• At least several people were killed or reported missing as a result of the typhoon and an unknown number of others were injured.
• The storm forced 530,000 people to relocated as of early Sunday.
• About quarter of a million hectares of farmland were inundated.
• Cost of damage estimated at about a quarter o a billion US dollars.

Vietnam. KAI-TAK, downgraded to a tropical storm, also claimed at least 10 lives in Vietnam, with many others reported as missing,  and dozens injured.

• More than 5,000 houses were damaged and about 1,500 hectares of crops were inundated, reports said.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Disaster Calendar – 18 August 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,306 Days Left

[August 18, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,306 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011...

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

State of Emergency Declared in Oregon Due to Wildfire

Oregon declares a statewide state of emergency due to ‘imminent threat of wildfire’ 

Oregon Gov Kitzhaber has  declared a statewide State of Emergency due to ‘the imminent threat of wildfire,’ after  extreme fire danger and red flag warnings were issued for much of the state.

• A wildfire has scorched about 85,000, threatening at least 200 structures and prompting evacuation orders for residents near Lakeview.
  • The Barry Point Fire, sparked by lightning on Monday August 6, is located about 22 miles southwest of Lakeview, OR on the Fremont-Winema National Forest and private lands.

• Another Wildfire, Ten Mile Complex Fire, consisting of the Ten Mile fire (10,000 acres), and the Banana Lake Fire(5,000 acres), also sparked by lightning, is reportedly 90 percent contained.

• The Holloway Fire, a Mega Wildfire, has  scorched 700 square miles along the Nevada-Oregon state line, more than half of it in Oregon.

• Other wildfires in the state include the Fort Complex fire, three blazes burning together from California into SW Oregon, the Waterfalls 2 fire near Warm Springs, and the Butte fire in Douglas County.

‘Thunderstorms this weekend in the Pacific Northwest, particularly western Washington through Oregon into northern California and Nevada, will be capable of abundant lightning with little or no rain. Given the very dry fuel conditions, lightning has the potential to start new wildfires across the region,’ NWS said.

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• Texas, USA.Dallas Mayor has declared a state of emergency and ordered aerial pesticide spraying in Dallas following a surge in the cases of the West Nile virus which have killed at least 26 people nationwide this summer.
  • Dallas County has reported more than 200 infections, which have resulted in at least ten deaths.
  • About 450 human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in 2 dozen Texas counties, with at least 16 fatalities attributed to the infections.
  • In Houston, 95% of mosquitoes tested carry the virus.
• See also: Forest Fires Force Thousands to Evacuate in Canary Islands

2012 West Nile virus update: as of August 14

At least 43 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 861 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including at least 26 deaths, have been reported to CDC. Of these, 59% were classified as neuroinvasive disease (such as meningitis or encephalitis) and 41% were classified as non-neuroinvasive disease.

More than 80 percent of the cases have been reported from six states (Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and California) and almost half of all cases have been reported from Texas, CDC reported.

West Nile virus (WNV) activity reported to ArboNET, by state, United States, 2012 (as of August 14, 2012)

Eight hundred sixty-one (861) human West Nile virus infections have been reported to CDC ArboNET from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.

Non-human WNV Cases

Non-human West Nile virus infections have been reported to CDC ArboNET from Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

• Louisiana, USA.   Gov Jindal has declared a state of emergency for Plaquemines Parish due to encroaching salt water, which is threatening drinking water in the New Orleans area.
  • “Due to the Mississippi River’s low water levels, salt water has been moving far upriver and was at the outskirts of New Orleans by Wednesday, nearly 90 miles north of the mouth of the Mississippi,” said a report.
  • High levels of sodium and chloride have been detected in Plaquemines Parish’s drinking water.

Links to Recent Wildfires

• U.S. Wildfires Burning 2M Acres Across 11 States Posted August 17, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Homes, Large Areas Across the West Posted August 14, 2012

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

U.S. Wildfires Burning 2M Acres Across 11 States

Disaster Calendar – 17 August 2012

SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,307 Days Left

[August 17, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,307 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

Symbolic countdown began to the ‘worst day’ in human history on May 15, 2011...

.

About 2 million acres on fire across Western U.S.

Dozens of wildfires are burning out of control across 11 drought-stricken western states, consuming scores of homes and threatening hundred of other structures, and forcing thousands to evacuate entire towns.

• Dozens of wildfires are currently raging across Western U.S. consuming about 2 million acres in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

• In Idaho, the massive Trinity Ridge Fire has consumed more than 100 square miles since early August, forcing thousands to evacuate the mountain resort towns of Pine and Featherville, about 100 miles NE of Boise.
  • About a dozen large wildfires are burning in Idaho.

• In Washington, at least 1,000 evacuation orders were issued in rural areas east of Cle Elum, about 75 miles east of Seattle, as hundreds of residents voluntarily fled their homes.
  • The fire, which started Monday, quickly spread, destroying about 400 homes, barns and other structures, and threatening many more building.

• “In California, a dozen major blazes up and down the state were keeping more than 9,000 firefighters busy, with the greatest immediate danger facing the rural community of Ranchita, about 50 miles northeast of San Diego,” said a report.
  • About 500 residents have been ordered to leave Ranchita and Santa Fe, authorities said.

• California. Rush Fire. The fire is located approximately 15 miles southeast of Ravendale, California. “The fire is burning near a major natural gas line and transfer station, and power transmission lines that supply the Reno area.”
  • The fire started Sunday August 12th, 2012, and has already consumed more than 160,000 acres, with growth potential reported to be ‘extreme.’
  • Voluntary evacuations in several areas are currently in effect.
• In northern California, a large blaze has consumed about 50,000  acres near the town of Belden in the Plumas National Forest, threatening about 1,000 homes, and prompting evacuations.

• Holloway Fire, a Mega Wildfire burning along the Nevada-Oregon state line, grew to about 700 square miles, forcing many evacuations. The fire was reportedly 86 percent contained, as of posting.

• As of August 16, about 43,000 wildfires had been reported in the U.S. this season, consuming a total of 6.4 million acres (~10,000 square miles). The 10-year average for the period is 52,005 fires, and 5 million acres, said the National Interagency Fire Center. [See previous blog comments about quality of the NIFC reporting.]

• See also Wildfires Destroy Homes, Large Areas Across the West Posted August 14, 2012

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Exceptional Drought Spreads Across Midwest

More than six percent of Continental U.S. experiencing exceptional drought

Drought covered about 62 percent of the contiguous 48 states as of August 14, 2012, with almost a quarter of the country experiencing extreme to exceptional drought levels (D3 – D4) on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

U.S. Drought Map – August 14, 2012. Source: US Drought Monitor.

U.S. Precipitation Map (Weekly)

U.S. Precipitation Map. 7-Day Total for Week Ending August 15, 2012. Source: HPRCC

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Drought, Heat Spell More Disaster

Hundreds more U.S. counties declared drought disaster areas

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated hundreds of additional counties across 22  states as agricultural disaster areas due to drought and heat. As of August 15, the agency has designated at least 1,792 counties as disaster areas—1,670 due to drought.

[Note: Additionally, about 280 other counties throughout the country have been designated as contiguous disaster areas due to drought and heat.]

U.S. Drought Disaster Map, August 13, 2012 (released August 15, 2012).

Drought Disaster Spreads

Hundreds of additional counties in the following states have been designated as drought disaster areas:

• Alabama (6 counties)
• Arkansas (9 counties)
• Colorado (7 counties)
• Illinois (31 counties)
• Indiana (42 counties)
• Iowa (67 counties)
• Kansas (5 counties)
• Kentucky (90 counties)
• Louisiana (11 counties)
• Michigan (2 counties)
• Minnesota (5 counties)
• Mississippi (14 counties)
• Missouri (3 counties)
• Montana (5 counties)
• Nebraska (23 counties)
• Ohio (20 counties)
• Oklahoma (10 counties)
• South Dakota (3 counties)
• Tennessee (6 counties)
• Virginia (3 counties)
• West Virginia (2 counties)
• Wyoming (22 counties)

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Corn Progress

• More Corn Grilled on the Cob Posted on August 7, 2012
• Half U.S. Corn in Very Poor or Poor Condition Posted July 30, 2012
• Deadly Drought Worsens Corn, Soybean, Pasture and Range Conditions Posted July 24, 2012

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

N.D. Declares Drought Emergency

87 percent of ND experiencing drought conditions

Gov. Dalrymple’s drought emergency declaration includes 49 of the state’s 52 counties and the five Indian reservations.

“We are seeing significant crop losses, both in yield and quality,” said Dalrymple. “Drought conditions also have reduced hay and other livestock feed sources and will contribute to water supply shortages.”

Map of the Agricultural Weather Assessments for U.S. Corn Conditions for the week ending August 4, 2012. Source: USDA

• As of August 7, 2012 portions of 20 ND counties were experiencing severe drought condition.
• According to USDA Crop Progress, as of August 12  30 percent of the pasture and range in the state was in poor condition and a further 13 percent listed as being in very poor condition.
• “Durum wheat development was listed at 28 percent across the state, significantly lower than the last four-year average of 56 percent,” said a report.

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Corn Progress

• More Corn Grilled on the Cob Posted on August 7, 2012
• Half U.S. Corn in Very Poor or Poor Condition Posted July 30, 2012
• Deadly Drought Worsens Corn, Soybean, Pasture and Range Conditions Posted July 24, 2012

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Wildfires Destroy Homes, Large Areas Across the West

Disaster Calendar – 14 August 2012

SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,310 Days Left

[August 14, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,310 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

Symbolic countdown began to the ‘worst day’ in human history on May 15, 2011...

.

UPDATE: Gov. Gregoire has declared a state of emergency for Kittitas and Yakima counties in response to Taylor Bridge Fire burning near Cle Elum, about 75 miles east of Seattle.

Wildfires burn scores of homes, hundreds of sq miles across Washington, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon …

A fast-moving wildfire  has consumed up to 100 homes and left about 50 square miles of  land charred in central Washington.

Taylor Bridge Fire has forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes and is currently threatening 300 additional homes. The blaze is one of many major fires raging across the West.

• Holloway Fire, a Mega Wildfire burning along the Nevada-Oregon state line, has grown to about 700 square miles, forcing many evacuations.

• In Idaho, where a fire crew was killed by a falling tree, at least a dozen blazes are raging.

• In Utah, a lightning-sparked fire has charred about 40 square miles.

• In California, at least a dozen blazes have been sparked by lightnings.
  • Lake County fire has grown to 10 square miles, destroyed several homes, forcing authorities to issue evacuation orders for the residents of about 500 homes.
  • A wildfire in Plumas National Forest has consumed about 60 square miles, threatening at least 600 homes, and prompting evacuation orders.
  • Major wildfires are also raging in Lassen Volcanic National Park and Joshua Tree National Park.
  • Smaller fires have been reported across New Mexico and Wyoming.

Heat and Drought Increasing Wildfire Activity in the West: NWS

“The Heat Wave and drought in the West have dried vegetation to the point where fires can rapidly spread out of control. A number of wildfires have been started this week in several states from the Desert Southwest to the Pacific Northwest. The main culprit is lightning strikes associated with thunderstorms that produce little rainfall.”

Red Flag Warnings

NWS has issued Red Flag Warnings for parts of about a dozen states in the West, Midwest, South and Southwest.

Excessive Heat Warnings

Excessive Heat Warnings have been issued for south-central Arizona, southwest Arizona  and southeast California, where afternoon temperatures are forecast to reach 110 – 116 degrees, NWS said.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar