M7.3 Quake Strikes Off the East Coast of Honshu, Japan

Powerful quake prompts tsunami warning along Miyagi Pref coast, Japan

Magnitude: 7.3Mw
Depth: 10 km
Date and Time:  07 December 2012 @ 17:18 JST
Location: 37.8Nº, 144.2Eº
Region:  Sanriku Oki
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)

Earthquake Location Map. Source: JMA

Tsunami Warnings and Advisories

JMA has posted the following Tsunami Warning and Advisories on its website:

• Tsunami Warnings  have been issued for the following coastal regions of Japan:  MIYAGI PREF.
• Evacuate immediately to safe place away from the shore in the above coastal regions.
• Tsunami advisories are currently in effect in other coastal regions of Japan:
  • PACIFIC COAST OF AOMORI PREF.
    IWATE PREF.
    FUKUSHIMA PREF.
    IBARAKI PREF.

Japan Tsunami Warning Map. Source: JMA

Japan Tsunami Warning Map Update. Source: JMA

Aftershocks

Related Links

• Japan Quakes
• Japan 7.2 Quake Strikes Off the Coast of Honshu Posted March 9, 2011

Drought Continues to Expand through Central U.S.

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,191 Days Left 

[December 7, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,191 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events

‘Abnormally Dry’ to ‘Exceptional Drought’ conditions plague more than ¾ of Contiguous United States

More than 76 percent of Contiguous United States was covered by Abnormally Dry to Exceptional Drought conditions, as of December 4, 2012, U.S. Drought Monitor said.

• The ongoing drought is seriously impacting winter wheat crop and restricting the movement of essential commodities along receding waterways.
  • Drought conditions in the South have expanded by 5 percent, covering additional parts of Texas, Oklahoma,  Missouri, Louisiana and Kansas.
  • The winter wheat conditions are worse than any November on record, USDA reported.
  • More than 65 percent of the new winter wheat crop is in drought areas.
  • Many producers may be forced to abandon the crop due to its extremely poor condition, USDA said.

• Record high temperatures kept 2012 on track for the warmest year on record, NOAA said.
  • The year-to-date has been the warmest first 11 months of any year on record for the contiguous United States.

• Nebraska remained the worst hit state with 100% of the area plagued by Severe to Exception Drought conditions (D2 – D4 on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale).

Drought Links

• US: Dozens of Additional Counties Designated Disaster Areas December 4, 2012
• U.S. Drought: 54 Additional Counties Declared Drought Disaster Areas Posted  November 2, 2012
• U.S. Counties Declared Disaster Areas October 25, 2012
• U.S. drought retreats fractionally, expected to persist through winter October 19, 2012
• U.S. Crop Disaster Losses Spreads to 2,673 Counties October 18, 2012
  
• Drought Disaster Spreads to 2,423 U.S. Counties October 12, 2012
• U.S. Drought: Little Change! October 4, 2012