Tornadoes Devastate 2 Small Towns, Kill 12 in 3 States

Harrisburg declared a disaster area

EF4 tornado blasts through HARRISBURG, Ill., killing at least 6 people, injuring more than a 100 others and flattening entire blocks of homes.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – March 1

[March 1, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,476 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

Storm updates (unfiltered). Source: SPC

• U.S. Midwest. Violent storms devastated communities in the Midwest and South, killing at least 12 people across three states, injuring hundreds and destroying or damaging up to a thousand homes.
• Illinois. Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois has declared Harrisburg a disaster area, after an EF4 tornado blasted through the town (pop: ~ 9,000), killing at least 6 people, injuring more than 100 others and flattening entire blocks of homes.
• Missouri. Governor Jay Nixon has declared Taney County a disaster area after an EF2 tornado with winds of about 130MPH touched down in Stone and Taney Counties in Missouri leaving a 22-mile path of destruction from the Kimberling City area to Branson.
  • The tornado impact injured 33 people and damaged/destroyed  more than 100 homes and businesses in Branson, reports said.
  • About 20 of the more than 200 hotels in Branson have been badly damaged including a large motel, officials said.
  • Branson, dubbed a ‘music Mecca,’ is a major tourist destination with about 8 million visitors arriving each year.

• The Next System. The storms are now heading for Mid-Atlantic states;  however, more destructive tornadoes may be spawned by the next system striking both the Midwest and South,  a meteorologist with the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., said.

The Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale – Quick Chart

EF0: 65 TO 85 MPH
EF1: 86 TO 110 MPH
EF2: 111 TO 135 MPH
EF3: 136 TO 165 MPH
EF4: 166 TO 200 MPH
EF5: Wind speeds greater than 200 MPH (>322 km/hr)

Other Global Disasters

• Australia.  About  three-quarters of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) as well as parts of the two neighboring states of Victoria and the Northern Territory in the SE of the continent are affected by floods, reports said.
  • Thousands of people have been evacuated from Cooma, near the NSW Snowy Mountains, and Goulburn, midway between Sydney and Canberra.
  • Parts of Central Australia have received more than 100mm of rain in the past two days, about a half of  their annual rainfall, leaving many roads impassable.
    
  • “In the [Australian Capital Territory,] a large dam near Canberra being built after a severe drought four years ago was expected to overflow last night. The old dam, built in 1912, is completely submerged for the first time in its history,” said a report

Weather systems to remember!

Source: ABOM

Related Links

• Tornado Alley Maps for June
• Nebraska Nuke Plant Remains Shut After Missouri River Flooding
• The worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• MEGA DELUGE 2011?
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

•  Tornado Dead to Haunt Missouri Officials
• The worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• MEGA DELUGE 2011?

• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

Tornadoes 2012

• Deadly Tornadoes Slam Midwest Posted on February 29, 2012
• U.S. Tornado Forecast 2012 Posted on February 25, 2012
• Deadly Tornado Hits Rome, Ga Posted  on February 24, 2012

• Tornado Attacks Leave 100 Dead or Injured in Indonesia Posted on January 29, 2012
• State of Emergency Declared in Alabama Posted on January 24, 2012
• Deadly Tornado Season 2012 Begins Posted on January 23, 2012

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

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

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

Australian Disasters

• New South Wales (NSW), Australia: Disaster Declaration Extended
• Australia: 5 disaster areas declared in NSW following severe flooding Posted  on January 30, 2012
• Flooded Australia: Thousands Evacuated in 3 States Posted  on January 25, 2012
• Wildfire Consumes 1 Million Acres in WA Posted on January 18, 2012
• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast

TC Errol

Tropical Cyclone Errol Inching Toward Western Australia

Storm Details on April 16, 2011 at 00:00UTC

• Position:  Near 11.6S 124.9E
• Movement past 6 hrs:  – 320 degrees at 06 KTS
• Accuracy: Position accurate to withing 60NM
• Max sustaned winds: 50KT
• Gusts: 65 KT
• Source: JTWC

Source: Image from Japan Meteorological Agency satellite MTSAT-1R via Bureau of Meteorology.

• 4-frame animation
  
• 4-frame animation IR

Forecast Track

Related Links

• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast

Western Australia Flooding – Satellite Images

Flooding in Western Australia

Click images to enlarge. Download larger image (11 MB, JPEG) – March 17, 2011

Download larger image (10 MB, JPEG) – March 3, 2011

Two false-color images of flooding in Western Australia acquired by MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite on March 17, 2011 (top), and March 3, 2011 (bottom) show the extent of flooding in the region. Floods caused by torrential rains damaged roads and bridges and forced evacuations. “The most significant change between March 3 and March 17 is the swollen Fitzroy River. Barely discernible (and partially obscured by clouds) in early March, the river apparently spans some 20 kilometers (10 miles) in places just two weeks later. The river forms an unmistakable blue swath from Fitzroy Crossing all the way to Derby, on the shore of King Sound.” Source: NASA-EO.

Australia Flood Map [March 22, 2010]

Map shows major flooding throughout Queensland, as well as in NW and SE  New South Wales, Australia. Source: BOMAust

Australia Rainfall Map [March 22, 2010]

Source: BOMAust

Three-monthly rainfall totals – Australia

Click image to enlarge. Source: BOMAust

Related Links

• Australian Disasters

Australia: Extreme Weather Events Continue

TIME TO MOVE ON!

More extreme rain events, flooding hit Australia

Nature seems to be revising her plans, and the energy dinosaurs are not invited.

Australian Region Infrared Satellite Image March 6, 2011 – 10:32UTC
Source: BOM. Click images to enlarge.

• Colour Infrared Loop Animation of the last 4 images

TRMM Satellite Hydro Model – Australia

• TEXT REPORT OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND area with estimates of severe flooding near weather station locations
• 7 Day MPG animation
• 7 Day QUICKTIME animation

Australasia Weekly Rain Accumulation (TRMM)

Global Rainfall Average – TRMM Satellite

Global Rainfall Anomalies – TRMM Satellite

Click images to enlarge.

Australia Rainfall Map – March 6, 2011

Australia Flood Map : March 6, 2011

Warnings current:

NSW/ACT | VIC | QLD | WA | SA | TAS | NT

Northern Territory

• Flood Threat Advice

Western Australia

• Coastal Wind Warning 1,
• Ocean Wind Warning 2,
• Western Australia Flood Summary,
• Flood Warning – Murchison River Catchment.

South Australia

• SA Flood Watch.

Queensland

• Ocean Wind Warning 1,
• Coastal Wind Warning 1,
• Severe Weather Warning 1,
• Severe Weather Warning 2,
• Ocean Wind Warning from Fiji,
• Flood Warning – Coastal rivers – Maryborough to Gold Coast,
• Flood Warning – Moonie River,
• Flood Warning – Diamantina River,
• Flood Warning – Georgina/Eyre Ck,
• Flood Warning – Western Queensland Rivers,
• Flood Warning – Gulf Rivers,
• Queensland flood warning summary.

NSW and ACT

• Flood Warning – Murray River,
• Flood Warning – Culgoa, Bokhara, Narran,
• Flood Warning – Barwon-Darling DS Bourke.

Victoria

• Coastal Waters Wind Warning for Victorian waters between Point Lonsdale and 60nm east of Gabo Island,
• Local Waters Wind Warning for Port Phillip,
• Victoria Flood Warning Summary,
• Flood Warning – Murray River.

Tasmania

• Coastal wind warning 1.

This information was last updated by BOM  on Sunday March 06 2011 at 11:13UTC

Related Links:

• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast

Nature to Aussies: “I know where you live!”

Plagued by Back-to-Back Disasters

Australia: More Cyclones, Extreme Rain, Gale Force Winds, Flooding …

Nature’s responses are becoming increasingly up close and personal.

Cyclone Carlos buffets Darwin, Top End

Darwin and the Tiwi Islands continue to be pummeled by strong winds and torrential rain, as Cyclone Carlos edges closer to the coast.

• Darwin received a record rainfall of 366mm in 24 hours.
• CARLOS has dumped more rain on Darwin than YASI  did on Innisfail, weather reports say.
• Record 435mm of rain fell in the Darwin suburb of Marrara in 24 hours.
• Dozens of houses have already been inundated.
• School has been canceled for the next two days.
• Scores of trees and powerlines are down.
• Darwin Airport has been closed indefinitely. 
• Winds gusts of about 100kmph are currently pummeling   the coastal area between Darwin and Point Stuart.
• Many roads in and around Darwin are currently flooded and impassible.

Tropical Cyclone Carlos Radar Image

TC Carlos — 128 km Darwin (Berrimah) Radar (BOM Australia)

• National Radar Image
• Animation

Latest Australia Satellite Image

• Color Infrared Loop
• Last 24 hrs with map overlay
• Infrared Loop

Source:  Australia BOM

Tropical Cyclone CARLOS Projected Path

Issued by BOM Darwin at 7:44 pm CST Wednesday 16 February 2011. Click images to enlarge.

Details for: TC CARLOS

• Forecast Track Map (NT)
• Tropical Cyclone Advice
• Severe Weather Warning
• Coastal Waters Warning issued by Darwin
• High Seas Warning
• Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin

Tropical Cyclone DIANNE Projected Path

Details for: TC DIANNE

• Forecast Track Map (WA)
• Tropical Cyclone Advice
• Coastal Waters Warning issued by Perth
• High Seas Warning
• Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin

Australia 24-hr Rainfall Map

Australia Flood Map

Source BOM Australia. Click images to enlarge.

Australia: Wild Weather WARNINGS

• WARNINGS CURRENT:
• TROPICAL CYCLONE | NSW/ACT | VIC | QLD | WA | SA | NT

Related Links

• Australia: Cyclone Warning for Darwin
• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast

Australia: Cyclone Warning for Darwin

Cyclone warning for Darwin and the Top End, BOM Australia says

Up to 24cm of rain fell at Dum-in-Mirrie, near Darwin, in the 24 hours to 9:00am local time Tuesday, while 17cm  fell in the Darwin suburb of Marrara as the tropical low moved over the Top End.

Source: AUST BOM. Click image to enlarge.

• Color Infrared Loop
• Last 24 hrs with map overlay
• Infrared Loop

A tropical low located about 85km SW of Darwin at 5:00pm (ACDT) could develop into a tropical cyclone by Wednesday, and is forecast to move into the Beagle Gulf, BOM said.

“Gales with gusts to 110 kilometres per hour are expected to develop between Daly River Mouth and Point Stuart, including Darwin and the Tiwi Islands, during Wednesday.”

“Destructive winds with gusts to 130 kilometres per hour may develop over the Tiwi Islands late Thursday if the cyclone continues to intensify.

“Heavy rain may cause widespread flooding in the northern Darwin-Daly District.” BOM said.

NO Visitors!

Just when you thought it was safe to go to the Northern Territory Wildlife Park and the Darwin Botanic Gardens, the two venues have been declared unsafe due to the wild weather and are closed to visitors.

Details for: Tropical Low 1

• Forecast Track Map (WA)
• Tropical Cyclone Advice
• High Seas Warning
• Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin

Details for: Tropical Low 2

• Forecast Track Map (NT)
• Tropical Cyclone Advice
• Severe Weather Warning
• Coastal Waters Warning issued by Darwin
• High Seas Warning
• Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin

Australia: Wild Weather WARNINGS

• WARNINGS CURRENT:
• TROPICAL CYCLONE | NSW/ACT | VIC | QLD | WA | SA | NT

Australia 24-hr Rainfall Map

Australia Flood Map

Source: BOM Australia

Related Links

• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast

Perth Palatial Homes Consumed by Fire

TWIN BUSHFIRES HIT W. AUSTRALIA

Raging Blaze Destroys Scores of Palatial Homes in Upmarket Suburbs of Perth

UPDATE: ‘Sixty-four homes have now been razed in the bush-fringed Perth suburbs of Kelmscott and Roleystone, while 32 others have been damaged.’

At least 59 homes have been destroyed and scores more are damaged as massive wildfires leave trails of destruction in the SE and NE Perth suburbs of Roleystone and Red Hill.

West Australian Premier has declared the fire-ravaged areas of  Roleystone, Kelmscott and Red Hill as “natural disaster areas.”

“Residents have been forced to flee with just the clothes on their backs as a flaming “war zone” descended on their homes,” a report said.

The fire has already consumed about eight thousand hectares including an area of a national park, and several farms.

The blaze was started by lightning, according to reports, and has been fanned by 70kmph easterlies.

“Gusty winds were today still causing authorities headaches across the entire southwest of the state, with fire fighters in Bunbury, Albany and various regional areas both north and south of Perth battling complex and complicated fire fronts.” Source

Image of the Day:

The raging blaze has destroyed dozens of palatial houses. Photo: Channel Ten via SMH

Meanwhile in Queensland…

About 75 percent of the state of Queensland has been declared a disaster area “after Cyclone Yasi compounded the damage left by recent widespread flooding,” a report said.

Click below for more photos:

• ABC News Photos
  
• Perth Now
• SMH Gallery

Related News Links:

• Residents flee Western Australia bushfire
• How it unfolded: Twin bushfires in Perth
• Raging Perth bushfire claims more homes

Related Links:

• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast

Extreme Weather Warnings for Australia

New Battles Waged Across All Fronts

Australian Region Infrared Satellite Image Doesn’t Look Good!

Major flooding could occur in northern, eastern and southern Australia in the next two weeks: Fire-Earth

Source: BOM Australia.

• Colour Infrared Loop Animation of the last 4 images

Global Rainfall Anomalies – TRMM – Partial Map

Global Rainfall Average – TRMM – Partial Map

TRMM Hydro Model – 6 Feb 2011 at 6:00UTC

Source: NASA/GSFC

• TEXT REPORT OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND area with estimates of severe flooding near weather station locations
• 7 Day MPG animation
• 7 Day QUICKTIME animation

Three-monthly rainfall totals for Australia

Rainfall Map (3 months compared with LT average)

This map compares the rainfall received in the past 3 months with the long-term average for that period. Source of images: BOM Australia. Click images to enlarge.

Australia rainfall Map (Weekly Total)

Rainfall Totals Queensland – TRMM Satellite

Strong Winds Fuel Perth Fire

A blaze at Red Hill, a north-eastern suburb of Perth, Australia, has burnt through 750 hectares, a report said.

Other News

• Perth. Wildfires have destroyed at least a dozen homes near Perth in western Australia, report say.
• Queensland. Up to 10,000 people remain in evacuation centers in the state of Queensland, while thousands of others who have returned to their battered homes are without power or water supplies, reports say.
• Melbourne. In the Melbourne suburb of Elwood in Victoria floodwaters have inundated many houses and washed cars off roads, AP reported. Melbourne received more than 50 percent of its average annual rainfall in less than 24 hours.
• Sydney. Australia’s largest city has experienced its longest spell of 30-degree days on record, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Urgent Warnings

• Severe Thunderstorm Warning – SA
• Severe Weather Warning 1 -NT

Australia Current Warnings

• WARNINGS CURRENT:

Warnings by State

• New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory,
• Victoria,
• Queensland,
• Western Australia,
• South Australia,
• Tasmania,
• Northern Territory.

• Warnings Summary

Related Links:

• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast

Australia: Another Storm May Be Brewing

Another Storm May Be in the Making, Headed for Queensland

Image of the Day:

Where they make the Queensland storms?

Related Links:

• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast

YASI a Mega Cyclone

YASI REVVING UP TO MAX POWER

YASI Now an Extremely Destructive Cat 5 Cyclone, as Forecast by FIRE-EARTH

BE WARNED! YASI looks set to dump the maximum possible precipitation available in the SW Pacific atmosphere, and some, over the state of Queensland.

THE FIRST PHASE OF COLLAPSE IS WELL AND TRULY UNDERWAY! IF YOU’RE PLANNING TO MOVE TO AUSTRALIA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PLUNDER … THERE’S A LOT MORE WHERE THIS ONE CAME FROM.

MEGA CYCLONE YASI – Visible IR Satellite Image 2-km Res. Source: CIMSS.  See inset for time/date. Click image to enlarge.

Super Cyclone YASI – IR Satellite Image (NHC Enhancement). Source: CIMSS.  See inset for time/date. Click image to enlarge.

Cyclone YASI (Tropical Cyclone 11P). IR Satellite Image 2-km Res. Source: CIMSS.  See inset for time/date. Click image to enlarge.

MAX POWER – MAX PRECIPITATION

YASI looks set to dump the maximum possible precipitation available in the SW Pacific atmosphere, and some, over the state of Queensland, FIR-EARTH forecasts.

Cyclone YASI (Tropical Cyclone 11P). Water Vapor Satellite Image 8-km Res. Source: CIMSS.  See inset for time/date. Click image to enlarge.

NEW ERA for MEGA CYCLONES HAS STARTED?

‘SEVERE TC YASI IS A LARGE AND VERY POWERFUL TROPICAL CYCLONE AND POSES AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY WITHIN THE WARNING AREA, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN CAIRNS AND TOWNSVILLE.’ ~ Australia BOM

“THIS IMPACT IS LIKELY TO BE MORE LIFE THREATENING THAN ANY EXPERIENCED DURING RECENT GENERATIONS.”

“TC Yasi, CATEGORY 5, will continue to move in a west-southwesterly direction during the day. The cyclone is expected to cross the coast in the Innisfail area at about midnight.” BOM said.

YASI knocked out the Willis Island Radar as it passed overhead, JTWC said.

MEGA CYCLONE YASI: Forecast Track Map (BOM)

Map legend. Source: BOM

Frightening and Catastrophic

QUEENSLAND Premier Anna Bligh has finally described Mega Cyclone YASI as a “frightening and catastrophic” cyclone telling a quarter of a million residents in the projected path of the storm they only have three hours left to run for their lives.

“Do not bother to pack bags, just grab each other and get to an area of safety.” Ms. Bligh has said.

Details for Mega Cyclone YASI (BOM)

• Forecast Track Map (QLD)
• Tropical Cyclone Advice
• East Coastal Waters issued by Brisbane
• High Seas Warning
• Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin

Australian Region Infrared Satellite Image

• Colour Australian Region Infrared Animation
• Australian Region Infrared Animation

Will you now end the energy plunder?
We doubt it!

AUSTRALIA WEATHER WARNINGS

• CURRENT WARNINGS | TROPICAL CYCLONE | NSW/ACT | VIC | QLD | WA | SA | TAS | NT

Warnings for Queensland

• High Seas Warning for Severe TC Yasi,
• East Coastal Waters issued by Brisbane for Severe TC Yasi,
• Severe Weather Warning 1,
• Flood Warning – Coastal rivers – Cooktown to Townsville,
• Flood Warning – Coastal rivers – Townsville to Mackay,
• Flood Warning – Fitzroy River,
• Flood Warning – Condamine-Balonne Rivers,
• Queensland flood warning summary,
• Forecast Track Map (QLD) for Severe TC Yasi,
• Tropical Cyclone Advice for Severe TC Yasi.

• Tropical Cyclone Warnings and Information

Related News

• Aust PM Gillard: Our worst cyclone ever

Related Links:

• YASI Could Become Super Cyclone
• YASI: If the ‘Devil’ Were a Cyclone
• TC ANTHONY Prepares for Queenslanding, Followed by YASI
• More Australian Coal, Anyone?

• In Nature They Don’t Trust
• Vicious Storms Attacking Queensland
• Cyclone WILMA Powers Up to Cat 4 Strength
• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia

YASI Could Become Super Cyclone

TC YASI Could Power Up to a Super Cyclone Force

Cyclone YASI Could Strengthen to a Super Cyclone with Winds of 300+ km/hr Before Queenslanding

FIRE-EARTH Moderators forecast YASI strengthening to a monster super cyclone with sustained winds of up to 260km/hr and wind gusts of 300+ km/hr before making landfall [probability of 55%]

FIRE-EARTH also forecasts storm surges of up to 20m in some coastal areas of Queensland.

Edging Ever Closer!

Cyclone YASI (Tropical Cyclone 11P). Visible IR Satellite Image 2-km Res. Source: CIMSS.  Note the well-defined eye. See inset for time/date. Click image to enlarge.

Cyclone YASI (Tropical Cyclone 11P). Visible IR Satellite Image 4km Res. Source: CIMSS.  See inset for time/date. Click image to enlarge.

Cyclone YASI (Tropical Cyclone 11P). IR Satellite Image 8-km Res. Source: CIMSS.  See inset for time/date. Click image to enlarge.

Cyclone YASI (Tropical Cyclone 11P). Shortwave IR Satellite Image 4km Res. Source: CIMSS.  See inset for time/date. Click image to enlarge.

Tropical Cyclone YASI – IR Satellite image. Note the perfect symmetry as YASI strengthens to a probable Super Cyclone. Source: MTSAT-2 via Digital Typhoon. Remnants of ex-cyclone Anthony are still visible. Click images to enlarge.

Australian authorities have  evacuated thousands of people from the northeast as the monster cyclone YASI continues to strengthen.

Local forecaster confirm that destructive winds from the cyclone could strike Queensland coast by Wednesday morning.

“This is not a system that’s going to cross the coast and rapidly weaken out,” Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Gordon Banks told Reuters, warning the storm’s destructive winds could reach as far as Mt Isa, 900 km inland.

“We could see this system pushing well in across northern Queensland as a significant tropical cyclone with damaging winds and very heavy rainfall,” Banks said.

Australian Region Infrared Satellite Image

Severe Tropical Cyclone YASI: Forecast Track Map

Remarks

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE BRISBANE

Issued at 4:59 pm EST Tuesday 1 February 2011. Refer to Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 7.

YASI IS A LARGE AND POWERFUL TROPICAL CYCLONE AND POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO NORTH QUEENSLAND COMMUNITIES

The Cyclone is expected to slowly intensify overnight and continue moving in a west-southwesterly direction.

DAMAGING winds with gusts to 90 km/hr are expected to develop on the islands during Wednesday morning, then extend onto the coast during the day, and further inland across the northern tropical interior overnight.

Between Cooktown and Townsville these winds will become DESTRUCTIVE with gusts in excess of 125km/hr late Wednesday afternoon and VERY DESTRUCTIVE with gusts above 170 km/hr between Port Douglas and Cardwell during the evening as the cyclone approaches.

As the centre approaches the coast sea levels between Cairns and Townsville will rise significantly above the normal tide with damaging waves, strong currents and flooding of low lying areas near the shoreline.

Flooding rains will develop from Cooktown to Sarina during Wednesday afternoon and then extend inland overnight.

People between Cooktown and Sarina and extending inland to areas from Georgetown to west of Charters Towers should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property [using available daylight hours/before nightfall].
– For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland’s Disaster Management Services website (www.disaster.qld.gov.au)
– For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).

People between Lockhart River and Cooktown and remaining tropical interior should consider what action they will need to take if the cyclone threat increases.
– Information is available from your local government
– For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland’s Disaster Management Services website (www.disaster.qld.gov.au)
– For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).

Australia Warnings

• WARNINGS CURRENT:

• TROPICAL CYCLONE
• NSW/ACT
• VIC
• QLD
• WA
• SA
• TAS
• NT

Related Links:

• YASI: If the ‘Devil’ Were a Cyclone
• TC ANTHONY Prepares for Queenslanding, Followed by YASI

• In Nature They Don’t Trust
• Vicious Storms Attacking Queensland
• Cyclone WILMA Powers Up to Cat 4 Strength
• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia

Victoria Flood Update: 46 Towns Affected

The town of Horsham and township of Rupanyup threatened by raging floodwaters

The town of Echuca remains submerged after the Campaspe River peaked overnight at 95.75 meters AHD just after 9pm Sunday. The river has since marginally receded to 95.6m.

[Moderator’s Note: AHD is acronym for the Australian Height Datum, the mean sea level for 1966-1968, which was assigned the value of zero. ]

State Emergency Services has received about 6,000 calls for help, as 46 Victorian towns are affected by flooding, reports say.

In Horsham, western Victoria, SES is expecting the worst floods in more than 100 years.

“The Avoca River is also threatening towns including Quambatook, Culgoa, Boort and Donald, while Kerang is expected to be cut off in the coming days,” according to a report.

Status of Other Victorian Rivers:

• “At the Rochester Syphon the Campaspe River peaked at a record flood level of 9.17 metres (Major Flood Level 9.1 metres) during Saturday evening. This is higher than the 1983 flood peak of 9.15 metres. The current level is 9.02 metres and gradually falling (Moderate Flood Level 8.8 metres). It is expected that the river will remain above the moderate flood level until Tuesday
  afternoon/evening.”

• “In the township of Rochester the river level peaked above the highest gauge level (114.8 metres) well above the Major Flood Level (114.5 metres). The river is now falling, but is expected to remain above the Moderate Flood Level (114 metres) until Tuesday afternoon/evening.” BOM said.

• “The Murray River at the Echuca Wharf gauge is currently at 92.51 metres and rising slowly.”

Latest Significant River Heights:

• Campaspe R. D/S L. Eppalock 158.03m steady 10:45 AM MON 17/01/11
• Campaspe R. D/S L. Eppalock 158.03m steady 10:45 AM MON 17/01/11
• Campaspe R. at Rochester Syp. 9.02m steady 10:45 AM MON 17/01/11
• Campaspe R. at Echuca 95.6m AHD 08:30 AM MON 17/01/11
• Murray R. at Echuca Wharf 92.51m rising 10:45 AM MON 17/01/11 (SOURCE: BOM)

• Wimmera R. at Walmer 3.92m rising 03:44 PM MON 17/01/11
• Wimmera R. at Quontong Br. 6.97m rising 03:45 PM MON 17/01/11
• Wimmera R. U/S Dimboola 5.11m steady 03:39 PM MON 17/01/11

• Glenelg R. at Sandford 5.2m steady 01:00 PM SUN 16/01/11
• Ovens R. at Wangaratta 11.71m steady 08:30 AM MON 17/01/11
• Broken R. at Broken Weir 177.11m steady 05:07 AM SUN 16/01/11
• Seven Cks. at Kialla West 4.15m falling 09:36 AM MON 17/01/11
• Goulburn R. at Goulburn Weir DS 119.96m steady 02:58 PM MON 17/01/11
• Castle Ck. at Arcadia 1.14m steady 03:21 PM MON 17/01/11
• Goulburn R. at Arcadia Downs 9.71m rising 03:40 PM MON 17/01/11
• Seven Cks. at Kialla West 4.02m steady 03:06 PM MON 17/01/11
• Broken R. at Orrvale 5.88m steady 03:27 PM MON 17/01/11
• Goulburn R. at Shepparton 9.42m rising 03:31 PM MON 17/01/11
• Goulburn R. at McCoys Bridge 5.96m rising 02:30 PM MON 17/01/11
• Loddon R. at Kerang 77.13m steady 02:45 PM MON 17/01/11
• Avoca R. at Charlton D/S 7.10m falling 05:30 PM MON 17/01/11

Victorian Warnings Summary

• Coastal Waters Wind Warning for Victorian waters between Cape Otway and 60nm east of Gabo Island,
• Victoria Flood Warning Summary,
• Flood Warnings:Current
• Ocean Wind Warning 2 – South Eastern area.

Flood Threat Advice

IDD20510- Australian Government Bureau of MeteorologyNorthern Territory
Darwin Regional Forecasting Centre

FLOOD THREAT ADVICE
Issued by the BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY, DARWIN at 1100 CST Monday 17 JANUARY 2011

AREA INVOLVED: Darwin-Daly District.

RAINFALL SUMMARY
In the 24 hours to 9 am today there were scattered falls 10-20 mm over the Darwin-Daly District with very isolated falls 30-60 mm.

WEATHER SUMMARY
The monsoon trough lies to the south of the Top End and is expected to slip south a little before moving back north mid week. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms with overnight rain periods will continue over the Darwin-Daly District.

FORECAST
for the rest of today and Tuesday Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms with overnight rain periods will result in scattered falls of 20-40mm over the Darwin-Daly District. Isolated heavy falls 50-80 mm possible. These totals may cause significant stream rises and localised flooding.

OUTLOOK for Wednesday and Thursday Scattered showers and isolated storms with scattered falls of 20-40 mm over the Darwin-Daly District, with isolated heavy falls 50-80 mm possible in the west. These totals may cause significant stream rises and localised flooding.

NEXT ADVICE
Around 11 am Tuesday.

DARWIN Regional Forecasting Centre.

Australia: WARNINGS CURRENT

TROPICAL CYCLONE | NSW/ACT | VIC | QLD | WA | TAS | NT

QLD Flood Update:

Queensland Premier has announced a commission of inquiry into the state’s devastating floods, as she confirmed the death toll in the disaster has climbed to 20 [total of 30 since December,] a report said.

At least 16 other people are still unaccounted for.

Related Links:

• Australia: Back-to-Back Disasters Hit Vic
• Flood crisis spreads to 5 Australian states
• Global Floods Update – Australia
• Back-to-Back Australian Disasters[Links page]

• Earth’s Human Induced Antiphase Nears Completion
• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs

Flood crisis spreads to 5 Australian states

Flood emergencies erupt in NSW, South Australia and Victoria

Flood emergencies flare up in NSW, South Australia and Victoria forcing at least  2,000 people out of their homes after heavy rain hit the region.

At least 12 towns in the northern and and northwestern parts of the state of Victoria have been evacuated this week and a dozen more are likely to be affected, State Emergency Services said.

“Floodwaters are expected to hit the Riverina town of Echuca early on Sunday after record summer rainfalls continued to cause widespread damage to homes, businesses and critical infrastructure,” a report said.

Residents in the towns of Boort and Donald, while several communities in central Victoria remain without electricity and water, the report added.

Source: Image from Japan Meteorological Agency satellite MTSAT-1R via Bureau of Meteorology.  Click image to enlarge.

• Latest Satellite Image.
• IR Color Animation

“Authorities in Victoria yesterday called on all 1000 residents of Carisbrook to evacuate to nearby Maryborough as the waters threatened homes,” a report said.

Australia Flood Map. Source: BOM

Meanwhile, hundreds of homes in Beaufort, Charlton, northwest of Bendigo, have either been inundated or “were under grave threat,” according to the Victoria State Emergency Service.

“The SES in South Australia last night warned residents of Naracoorte, 336km southeast of Adelaide, to prepare for potential flooding.” The report added.

“And in NSW, about 70 homes in the border township of Boggabilla, in the state’s north, were surrounded by water last night, and water was flowing through the nearby Aboriginal settlement of Toomelah.”

BOM News Release:

Further heavy rain has occurred over Tasmania during the last 24 hours, focused in the northwest and, during Thursday, over the northeast. More heavy falls are expected in the next few hours before conditions ease with the passage across the state of a trough during today. Continued flooding of northern rivers is expected, and further localised flash flooding is likely until this afternoon, particularly in northwestern Tasmania.

Strong and gusty northeasterly winds will tend northwesterly during the day and may cause localised damage in exposed areas throughout the state.

January rainfall records in N Tasmania broken

Yolla had its highest 24-hour January rainfall on record, registering 131 mm in the 24 hours to 9 am this morning. The record had been set just yesterday, when it received 100 mm in 24 hours, eclipsing its previous record of 70 mm in a January day in 1946. Together these have given Yolla its wettest January on record, and its second-wettest 2-day period. Rain has been measured at Yolla, inland from Burnie, since late 1905.

Yesterday’s very heavy rain on the northern East Coast also set records. Falmouth registered 282 mm in the 24 hours to 9 am yesterday, giving it the wettest January day ever recorded at an official rain gauge in Tasmania. Scamander, with 278 mm, also broke the old state record. Rain continued to fall during yesterday in the area, giving some spots at least 50 mm more. There have been unofficial (but credible) observations of nearly 400 mm in the area in the last two days.

Meanwhile, NASA Earth Observatory released the following images:

Rainfall in the Australian Interior

Download large image (5 MB, JPEG) – Image acquired January 14, 2011

Download large image (5 MB, JPEG) – Image acquired December 29, 2010

False-color images of Australian interior captured by MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite on January 14, 2011 (top), and December 29, 2010 (bottom). “Both images use a combination of infrared and visible light to increase the contrast between water and land. Water ranges in color from electric blue to navy. Clouds appear bright blue-green. Vegetation is bright green. Bare ground appears in shades of beige and tan.” Source: NASA-EO. Click images to enlarge.

Flooding in Brisbane Suburbs

“Homes and businesses were inundated in more than 30 suburbs as [Brisbane River,] swollen by water being discharged from the overloaded Wivenhoe Dam, reached 4.2 metres,” a report said. A detailed astronaut photograph illustrates flooding in suburbs of the Brisbane, Australia metropolitan region acquired on January 13, 2011, and provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations experiment and Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, JSC. Image Source NASA-EO. Click image to enlarge. Download larger image (3 MB, JPEG)

Zelia’s rainfall Captured by TRMM Satellite

Tropical Storm Zelia’s rainfall was captured by NASA’s TRMM satellite on Jan. 14 at 04:17 UTC. “The heaviest rainfall (falling at about 2 inches per hour) appears to be on the northwestern and southwestern sides of the storm and appear in red. The yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour.” Source: NASA

Tropical Storm Vince

Visible image of Tropical Storm Vince captured on Jan. 14 at 06:20UTC (1:20 a.m. EST/2:20 p.m. Australia/Perth) by MODIS on NASA’s aqua satellite. The bulk of the thunderstorms are seen southwest of Vince’s center due to wind shear. Source: NASA

Heavy Rainfall in TS Vania Captured by TRMM

“TRMM satellite captured this image of Tropical Storm Vania’s rainfall on Jan. 14 at 04:22 UTC. The heaviest rainfall (falling at about 2 inches/50 mm per hour) in the storm was occurring in the western and southern quadrants of the storm and over southeastern New Caledonia (in red). The yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour.” Source NASA

CURRENT WARNINGS :

TROPICAL CYCLONE (There are 3 active systems) | NSW/ACT | VIC | QLD | WA | SA | TAS

Details for: Ex-TC Vince

• Forecast Track Map (WA)
• Tropical Cyclone Information Bulletin
• High Seas Warning
• Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin

Details for: TC Zelia

• Forecast Track Map (QLD)
• Tropical Cyclone Information Bulletin
• High Seas Warning
• Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin

Details for: TC Vania

• Norfolk Island Tropical Cyclone Advice

Related Links

• Global Floods Update – Australia
• Back-to-Back Australian Disasters[Links page]

• Earth’s Human Induced Antiphase Nears Completion
• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs