Heavy Snow and Arctic Gales to Hit UK Thursday

Massive snow and violent gales could hit much of the UK through Friday

The UK  Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for violent gales across much of the country on Thursday as well as a snow warning for Scotland through Friday.

With dangerous windchill, overnight temperatures are forecast to plunge to -11ºC in much of the North through weekend and to -5C in the South, including the capital London.

Orange [“Amber”] Warning of Wind

“Westerly gales are expected to spread southwards across northern and central areas of the UK on Thursday, with widespread gusts of 60 to 70 mph. However within the area of the amber warning gusts are expected to reach 80 mph in places and perhaps as high as 90 mph in exposed parts of the north and west of Scotland,” warned the UK Met Office.

Warning also includes  potential for significant coastal flooding along the East Coast of England, parts of southeast Scotland, north Wales and northwest England…  causing significant disruption along coastal routes.

Related Links

• Britain Set for “Worst Winter in History” December 2, 2013
• ‘Catastrophic Losses’ of Animals Feared due to UK Spring Snow Posted on March 26, 2013
• How Homo Ignarus Killed Spring Posted on March 21, 2013
• Intensifying Winter Drought in England Worst Since 1888 Posted on March 12, 2012
• British Govt Makes Another Straw Man March 17, 2010
• Climate change could directly affect about half the population in the UK  in the next 3 to 5 years November 20, 2009

Never Mind the Frigging Environment, Fracking Must GO ON!

Don’t “short-circuit America’s absolute explosion in energy opportunity” —USCC President Donohue

An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study on fracking, due to be released in 2014, could be used to justify clamping down on the environmentally disastrous technique, which has caused a surge in U.S. oil and natural gas production, said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC) President Thomas Donohue.

“This could short-circuit America’s absolute explosion in energy opportunity that is creating millions of jobs,” he told business leaders, warning the rules were hurting the economy and “undermining freedom.”

The counter argument offered by critics of fracking, including numerous environmentalists, is that a major shift to alternative energy sources would create at least twice as many permanent jobs as the fickle fracking industry could ever offer.

Water Contamination from Shale Gas Drilling. Source. Image may be subject to copyright. “The major concern with shale gas drilling is the chemicals used in the process. Because the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 exempted hydraulic fracturing from regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act, shale gas drillers don’t have to disclose what chemicals they use.”  Gas drilling companies maintain that the gas drilling technique they use, called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” is safe. However, based on observation of the drinking water in numerous drilling areas, and the fate of many people who live near the drilling rigs, who are afflicted with serious health conditions, we know that fracking contaminates groundwater with dangerous chemicals.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a messy technique that involves forcing large volumes of pressurized chemical fluids and sand deep underground to crack rocks and free trapped oil and natural gas.

“Many believe it will be the rationalization of new federal fracking regulations before the end of this administration,” said Donohue, reported Reuters.

Thomas J. Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, talks to [retired] Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the kickoff of the Military Spouse Employment Partnership at the chamber in Washington, D.C., June 29, 2011. Public Domain Photo.

The United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC) is the largest business lobbying group in the U.S., and a major force in the national politics.

Related Links

• Texas is Fracked! August 19, 2013
• Two More Quakes Strike North Texas Posted on November 29, 2013
• Significant Radioactivity, Salts, Metals Detected at Pennsylvania Fracking Site Posted on October 3, 2013
• Fracking Fluid Likely Killed Threatened Kentucky Fish: USGS Posted on August 30, 2013
• Fracking Pollutes Drinking Water Posted on May 10, 2011
• Ozone Hole, Fracking and Other Issues Posted on April 22, 2011
• Philadelphia: Public Health Prevails Over Private Wealth Posted on March 26, 2010
• Big Oil Hires Top Environmental Assassins March 26, 2010

[Search blog contents, where it hasn’t been fracked (hacked), for other links on fracking.]

Haiku for the New Year

Sent anonymously…

Dolphins, Whales, Broken Scales

One for the Dolphins:
Sounded blue, majestic whales;
Healing, broken scales.

Massive Winter Storm Engulfs Much of Western, Central and Northern U.S.

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

POWERFUL WINTER STORM battering much of Western, Central & Northern U.S. with high winds and heavy Snow

High winds and heavy snow forcing temperatures to plunge as much as 35 degrees below normal across much of the Western and North Central U.S., causing  dangerous wind chills.

Multiple Hazardous Weather Warnings, as well as Watches and Advisories, are in effect across the country. The warnings include Winter Storm Warnings, High Wind Warnings, Flood Warnings, Gale Warnings, Wind Chill Warnings, Hard Freeze Warnings and Freeze Warnings.

• Hard Freeze Warnings are in effect for California, said the National Weather Service (NWS).

• Heavy snow is forecast across the Wasatch, Colorado Rockies, and San Juans through Thursday morning.

• Significant snow accumulations are expected over the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes region.

Storm Total Snowfall 5:00am MST Sat Nov30 through 1:00pm MST Tue Dec 03

Idaho-Gibbonsville: 30.0 in (76.2cm)
Michigan- Mancelona: 3.5
Minnesota- Two Harbors: 22.0
Montana- Evaro: 20.0
North Dakota- Buffalo: 8.0
Nevada- Sparks: 8.5
Oregon- Flora: 9.5
South Dakota- Red Owl: 10.8
Washington- Wenatchee: 7.0
Wisconsin- Superior: 8.0
Wyoming- Bondurant: 25.0

Selected Peak Wind Gusts (MPH) Earlier In The Event
California- Independence: 59 MPH
Colorado- Pikes Peak: 81 MPH (130km/h)
Idaho- Roberts: 59
Nebraska- Kimball: 50
Wyoming- Arlington : 66

Selected Storm Total Rainfall (inches) Where The Event Has Ended

Idaho- Moose Creek Raws: 3.14 (in)
Oregon- Blazed Alder Snotel: 9.30
Washington- June Lake Snotel: 5.90

NWS Forecast

As Arctic air continues to push southward over the next couple days, the low pressure center in southern Iowa is forecast to intensify on Wednesday and then quickly move into the upper Midwest by Wednesday night. This storm will continue bringing heavy snow, gusty winds, and dangerous wind chills to the Northern Plains and upper Midwest on Wednesday. Additional snow accumulations are expected to range from 6 to 12 inches with up to 15 more inches possible in the upper Great Lakes. As the Arctic front pushes further southward into the central Rockies, additional snowfall totals will range from 4 to 10 inches with upwards of 12 to 18 inches for the highest elevations. Freezing rain accumulations up to a quarter of an inch are possible across portions of the upper Midwest and upper Great Lakes tonight and into tomorrow. In addition, this same system could produce a quarter to more than half an inch of ice across portions of Southern Plains into the lower Ohio Valley later this week.

Related Links

• Massive Storm System Impacting Western and Central U.S. December 3, 2013

Recent Extreme Weather Events

• Nor’easter Spawned by Deadly Thanksgiving Storm November 27, 2013
• Deadly Thanksgiving Storm Moves East November 26, 2013

Mass Evacuations in Malaysia amid Extreme Rain Event

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

Rising floodwaters in Malaysia force thousands to evacuate

At least 20,000 people have been displaced after severe flooding triggered by extreme rain events inundated multiple regions across Malaysia.

Extreme Rain Events dumped more than 640mm (two feet) of rain in less than 36 hours unleashing massive flooding across  eastern, northeastern and southern Malaysia .

In the eastern state of Pahang about 10,000  people fled their homes after floodwaters submerged vast areas across 4 districts.

Extreme rain and the rising tide caused the water level to rise 3.3 meters (11 feet) in Pahang early Tuesday, according to a senior police official.

In the southern state of Johor, about 10,000 residents were evacuated from six flooded towns and dozens of villages.

At least 1,000 others were forced to abandon their homes in the north-eastern state of Terengganu, according to local reports.

More rain is forecast across the affected areas, said the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

Related Links

• Rainstorms Battering Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Southern Italy  December 3, 2013