Typhoon SOULIK Covers 1 Million Sq Km

Rain Monster SOULIK continues to grow

Dangerous Typhoon SOULIK has grown to about 1 million km² covering an area 27 times the size of  Taiwan.

Typhoon Stats as of 00:32UTC on July 12, 2013

• Approximate position: 22.8ºN, 125.7ºE
• Movement: 280 degrees @ 12 NMPH  (~22 km/h)
• Max. Sustained Winds: 100  NMPH (185 km/h)
• Max. Wind Gusts: 125 NMPH (232 km/h)

As of 02:30UTC Friday, SOULIK was 420 km east of Yilan county on the NE coast of Taiwan.

The typhoon could make landfall in Yilan or Hualien counties on the country’s NE coast about 20:00UTC Friday, according to several models.

Typhoon  SOULIK.  MTSAT – Floater SW/IR Sat Image – NOAA/SSD – FIRE-EARTH Enhancement – Jul 12, 2013 @ 01:32UTC

Typhoon SOULIK projected path superimposed on a sea surface temperature map. Image credit: CIMSS

High Probability of Landslides

Taiwan authorities have warned about potential disaster in the areas most prone to landslides.

“The central region of Taiwan has experienced two earthquakes with magnitude six or above on 27 March and 2 June, loose soil after seismic activities are potential disaster areas under heavy rainfall,” they warned in a statement.

Related Links

• SOULIK Continues to Gain Mass July 11, 2013
• Typhoon SOULIK Targets Taipei, Taiwan July 10, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Disaster Declared for 61 Counties in 5 States

Drought and winterkill spell disaster for 61 counties across the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 61 counties in five states as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the worsening drought, and winterkill.

Drought Disaster

USDA has designated a total of 5 counties in Idaho as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the worsening drought.

The latest disaster designations, issued on July 10 include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

Winterkill: Disasters  Caused by Extreme Weather Events

USDA has further designated as disaster areas a total of 56 counties  in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and South Dakota due to damages and losses caused by the combined effects of heavy rainfall followed by freezing temperatures and multiple periods of thawing and refreezing, resulting in winterkill that occurred between January 1 and May 15, 2013 in 56 counties.

Related Links

• Disaster Declared for 140 Counties in 10 States July 4, 2013
• U.S. Drought Expands for 4th Week July 11, 2013
• US: Drought Disaster 2013 [Index Page]