Fire Earth

Earth is fighting to stay alive. Mass dieoffs, triggered by anthropogenic assault and fallout of planetary defense systems offsetting the impact, could begin anytime!

Archive for the ‘global Precipitation’ Category

How Homo Ignarus Killed Spring

Posted by feww on March 21, 2013

Waiting for the spring?

Temperatures are set to rise, before they get really hot!!

Spring is dead! The Homo Ignarus Vulgus Exitiabilis (HIVE) genus have killed the in-between seasons.

They are now left with two long-lasting seasons: Increasingly hotter summers and colder winters.

MaxT1_conus

And the drought is intensifying…

precipitation map

Related Links

FIRE-EARTH Drought Links 2013

Posted in Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2013, global Precipitation, Significant Event Imagery, significant events | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Drought Disaster Declared in 6 California Counties

Posted by feww on March 14, 2013

USDA designates 6 Calif counties disaster areas amid ongoing drought

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated six counties in California as agricultural disaster areas, both primary and contiguous, due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.

  • The designated counties are Kings, Fresno, Kern, Monterey,  San Luis Obispo and Tulare.

US monthly precipitation map mar-feb-2013U.S. Monthly Precipitation Map, February 12 – March 13, 2013 (Total Precipitation, Last 30 Days). Source: HPRCC

Related Links

Other Disasters, Significant Events

HIV Epidemic in South Africa

More than 28 percent of schoolgirls are HIV positive in South Africa, according to the latest official figures.

  • About 4 percent of schoolboys are also HIV positive.
  • “It is clear that it is not young boys who are sleeping with these girls. It is old men. We must take a stand against sugar daddies because they are destroying our children,” SA Health Minister told reporters.
  • More than 94,000 schoolgirls fell pregnant across the country in 2011.
  • “Some (pregnant pupils) are known to the department of education, but there is a number which the education department does not know about. (About) 77,000 girls had abortions at public facilities. We can no longer live like that. We want to put an end to it,” the minister said.
  • “There is also a high number of TB infections … there is a lot of death and a lot of illness here. It is for this reason that we chose the district to be one of the 11 in the country where the National Health Insurance program will be piloted.”

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DISASTER CALENDAR — March 14, 2013   SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,094 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

  • SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,094 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
  • The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

Posted in Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2013, global Precipitation, global precipitation patterns | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Major Winter Storm Hits U.S. Midwest, Targeting New England

Posted by feww on February 22, 2013

Weather Hazards forecast for Friday across the U.S.

‘Snow, heavy at times, will impact the Upper Great Lakes, Washington and Oregon Cascades, and northern Rockies on Friday. Meanwhile, significant ice accumulations are possible for the central Appalachians. Further south, severe thunderstorms may develop along the central Gulf Coast, with heavy rainfall capable of river and/or flash flooding from southern Mississippi to the eastern Carolinas.’ NOAA forecasters reported.

The storm brought snow, sleet and freezing rain to the U.S. Midwest on Thursday, forcing hundreds of flight cancellations.

  • The system is forecast to hit the East Coast, dumping heavy snow on parts of New England for a third consecutive weekend.
  • Earlier, NWS issued a Winter Storm Warning for all of Kansas, nearly all of Missouri, as well as most of Nebraska and Iowa. Advisories were also issued for parts of South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, northern Texas and Arkansas.
  • Kansas Governor  has already signed an emergency declaration for all 105 Kansans counties yesterday, shutting down all state offices in the Executive Branch.

US WHM 2-22-2013
US weather hazards Map, Feb 22, 2013 . Source: NWS

State of Emergency Declared in Missouri

A state of emergency has been declared in Missouri in response to the severe winter storm.

  • “A severe winter storm continues to bear down on communities across the state,” said Gov. Jay Nixon. “Missouri stands ready to help communities in need and to deploy the resources to keep folks safe. I urge all Missourians to keep a close eye on the weather and avoid unnecessary travel.”

Tornadoes Strike MS and LA

SPC received 18 storm reports including 3 tornadoes in Mississippi and Louisiana on Thursday.

  • Moderate to heavy damage reported in counties Jefferson Davis (MS), as well as Concordia and Vernon (LA).

spc storm reports-21feb2013
SPC filtered storm reports- 21 Feb 2013.

US Drought Monitor

As of February 19, 2013 more than two-thirds of Continental U.S. was experiencing drought or was abnormally dry. The U.S. Drought Monitor reported. The report was prepared before the current winter storm, which may have alleviated the drought conditions in parts of the High Plains.

us drought map 19feb2013
US Drought Map for February 19, 2013, Released by the U.S. Drought Monitor on February 21, 2013. The map was prepared before the current winter storm.

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February 22, 2013 – DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,114 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

  • SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,114 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
  • The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

Posted in global delta flooding, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2013, global drought, global Precipitation, global precipitation patterns | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Statewide Catastrophe Declared in Queensland, Australia

Posted by feww on January 27, 2013

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,140 Days Left 

[January 27, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

  • SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,140 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

Australian Army Called to Help as QLD Flood Disaster Intensifies

Flood and storm damage across the Australian state of Queensland has prompted a statewide catastrophe declaration from the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), said a report.

  • ‘‘Insurers are greatly concerned about extreme weather expected over the next few days in Queensland, with severe inundation already having been experienced in several towns and cities, and major flood warnings now in place for every river from Cairns to the border,’’ said ICA chief executive.
  • ‘‘Unfortunately, this catastrophe declaration is the result of the first cyclone to come close to the coast this season, and the weather bureau has warned it’s highly possible we will see more before the end of summer.’’

Meantime, the Queensland Government has asked the Australian Army to help amid extreme rain events, worsening flood disaster  and tornado outbreaks.

Local rainfall daily records in central and southeast Queensland are tumbling after falls of 461mm at Boolaroo Tops, 454mm in Walla and 272mm in Gayndah since yesterday morning.”

  • A giant storm cell is slowly moving southeast toward the population centers, dumping at least 200mm of rain, and destructive winds and tornadoes are expected along the Sunshine Coast and Bribie Island, reports said
  • A 5-meter wall of  water is pouring over the spillway of the Awoonga Dam into the Boyne, south of Gladstone.

awoonga dam spillway
Awoonga Dam on January 26. Source: Reece Ireland, Gladstone/ via The Australian

  • A saddle dam off the Awoonga Dam is close to overflowing, which would put 500 homes in peril, the authorities said.
  • “Water continues to spill from Wivenhoe dam in preemptive releases.”
  • Forecasters have warned more than 300mm of rain could fall in Wivenhoe Dam catchment, upstream of Brisbane, in the next few days, with coastal areas receiving about 500mm, isolating additional communities.
  • Authorities have issued an evacuation order for north Bundaberg after the Burnett River broke its banks.
    • The Burnett River is now forecast to peak at 9 meters—well above the levels recorded during the 2010/11 floods, reports said.
  • Residents in the Gympie area, north of Brisbane, are being rescued from rooftop, as Mary River continues to rise to a forecast peak of  peak at 17m.

United States

The deep freeze persists throughout much of the Northeast as forecasters warn of looming ice storms. Severe ice storm are expected to hit Northern Illinois, southern Michigan, NE Missouri, large swathes  of the Midwest as well as mid-Atlantic, and Ontario.

US weather HAZMAP- NWS
U.S. Weather Hazards Map. Source: NWS

  • Tennessee has declared state of emergency as the eastern portion of the state continues to see significant icing, reports said.
  • Michigan governor has declared state of emergency to boost propane deliveries.

GLOBAL WARNINGS

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/weather/brisbane-expected-to-flood-20130127-2deip.html

Posted in global deluge, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2013, global Precipitation, global precipitation patterns | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

State of Emergency Declared in DavNor, Philippines

Posted by feww on January 21, 2013

Flood emergency as 40,000 people evacuated in Davao del Norte province, Philippines

A State of Emergency has been declared in the province Davao del Norte following an extreme rain event that has triggered severe flooding throughout the region since last week. 

  • “The province is practically under the water for four days now so I have declared a state of emergency,” said the provincial  governor.”
  • The worst-hit areas are the municipalities of Kapalong , Carmen and Asuncion, said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center (PDRRMC).
  • More than 1,100 people have also been evacuated from New Corella, said the report.
  • “A total blackout has been reported in Kapalong for two days now and in Asuncion, while partial blackout was reported in Mankilam, Tagum City.”

Flooding in Jakarta, Indonesia displaces 100,000

Severe flooding in Jakarta has now claimed dozens of lives, affecting about 250,000 people and forcing more than 100,000 out of their homes.

  • At its peak, flooding inundated about a third of the Indonesian capital with up to 2 meters of water.

Related Links

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U.S. Drought: Little Change!

Posted by feww on October 4, 2012

U.S. drought areas change less than 1 percent since a week ago

As of October 2, 2012, Abnormally Dry to Exceptional Drought levels (drought conditions D0 – D4 on the US Drought Monitor chart) covered 75.90% of Contiguous U.S. compared with 76.59% a week ago, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.


U.S. Drought Map, October 2, 2012. 

Previous Drought Maps

Drought – Recent Links

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

GLOBAL WARNING

Posted in Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2012, global drought, global ghg emissions, global heating, global Precipitation, global Temperature Anomalies | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Super Typhoon Headed Towards Taiwan, Okinawa

Posted by feww on September 25, 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,268 Days Left

[September 25, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. 

  • SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,268 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events

JELAWAT Intensifies to a Super Typhoon with 265kph Winds

Super Typhoon JELAWAT, described as “violent,” is currently packing maximum sustained winds of about 265 kilometer  per hour (kph), with wind gusts exceeding 325 kph, moving NNW in the Philippines Sea at forward speeds of about 12kph.

  • The Super Storm could top maximum sustained winds of 280kph in the next 12 hours, according to models.


SUPER TYPHOON JELAWAT  – Vis/IR Sat Image.  Source: CIMSS

Other Disasters, Significant Events

  • California, USA. A wildfire 50 miles east of San Diego has destroyed at least 3 dozen buildings including 20 houses, threatening more homes and forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate.
    • At least a dozen other homes have reportedly been damaged by the fire.
    • The 3,000-acre blaze may have started in Mexico, officials said.
  • Philippines Sea. Typhoon EWINIAR (TY 19W), currently positioned NNW of Mariana Islands, is heading north towards Tokyo, Japan with sustained winds of about 75kph.

Global

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

GLOBAL WARNING

Posted in Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2012, global Precipitation, Global SST anomalies | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Cloudbursts Kill Dozens in India

Posted by feww on September 17, 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,276 Days Left

[September 17, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. 

  • SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,276 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Dozens are killed or missing following cloudbursts in Uttarakhand state, northern India

  • India. At least 80 people have been killed or were reported missing after a series of cloudbursts triggered flash flooding, causing landslides in northern India’s state of Uttarakhand.
    • Cloudbursts cause rainfall at a rate equal to or greater than 100 mm (3.94 inches) per hour.
  • Northern Hemisphere Ice Cover. Arctic Sea Ice Extent shrank to 3,398,785.21 km² on September 16, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).

Related Links

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

GLOBAL WARNING

Posted in global deluge, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2012, global Precipitation, global precipitation patterns | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

U.S. Climate: Warmest YTD on Record

Posted by feww on September 11, 2012

Drought-related stress affecting 80% of U.S. corn and soybeans, causing crops failure

The January-August 2012 was the warmest first 8 months of any year on record for the contiguous United States. The national temperature of 58.7°F (14.3°C) was 4.0°F above the 20th century average, and 1.0°F above the previous record warm in 2006, NOAA said.

  • Summer 2012 was the 3rd hottest summer on record for the contiguous United States since recordkeeping began 117 years ago. [ 2011 and 1936 had higher summer temperatures for the Lower 48.]

Temperature Anomalies, June – August  2012


Reds show June-August temperatures up to 8° F warmer than average. Blues show temperatures up to 2° F cooler than average—the darker the color, the larger the difference. Source: NOAA climate.gov

  • During the period, 33 states had record warm and an additional 12 states experienced top ten warm.
  • The average temperature for the Lower 48 between June and August was higher than 74°F (24.3°C), which is more than 2° F above the 20th century average.
  • “The average global temperature across land and oceans during July 2012 was 0.62°C (1.12°F) above the 20th century average of 15.8°C (60.4°F) and ranked as the fourth warmest July since records began in 1880. The previous three months—April, May, and June—also ranked among the top five warmest for their respective months. July 2012 marks the 36th consecutive July and 329th consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20th century average.” NOAA reported.

GLOBAL WARNING

Posted in Anthropogenic Global Warming, global climate, global climate change, Global Climate Extremes, global deluge, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2012, global drought, global heating, global Precipitation, global precipitation patterns, Global SST anomalies, Global Temperature, global Temperature Anomalies, global temperatures | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Flooding in Pakistan Destroys Villages, Kills Dozens

Posted by feww on September 3, 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,290 Days Left

[September 3, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,290 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

  • Pakistan. Torrential rains and floods destroy communities in parts of northern, northwestern and eastern Pakistan, leaving dozens of people dead.
  • Mindanao, Philippines.  A shallow 5.9Me quake struck Moro Gulf, Philippines, shaking at least half dozen cities in southern Philippines.
  • China.   Death toll from Wednesday’s  coalmine explosion in Panzhihua City (Sichuan Province) has climbed to at least 45, with one person reportedly missing, authorities said.

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

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

GLOBAL WARNING

Posted in China coalmine, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2012, global earthquakes, global heating, global Precipitation | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

TEMBIN Could Hit Taiwan Multiple Times

Posted by feww on August 24, 2012

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

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TYPHOONS Raging in NW Pacific

Posted by feww on August 23, 2012

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 

Posted in global deluge, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2012, global Precipitation, global precipitation patterns | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

State of Emergency Declared in Oregon Due to Wildfire

Posted by feww on August 18, 2012

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

Related Links

Drought – Recent Links

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

Posted in Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2012, global drought, global heating, global Precipitation, global Temperature Anomalies | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Exceptional Drought Spreads Across Midwest

Posted by feww on August 16, 2012

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

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

Posted in Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2012, global drought, global Precipitation, global Temperature Anomalies | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Drought, Heat Spell More Disaster

Posted by feww on August 16, 2012

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

Corn Progress

Drought – Recent Links

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

Posted in Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2012, global drought, Global Food Crisis, global health catastrophe, global Precipitation, global Temperature Anomalies | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

July 2012: Hottest Month on Record for Continental U.S.

Posted by feww on August 9, 2012

Disaster Calendar – 9 August 2012

SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,315 Days Left

[August 9, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,315 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

Hi temps and low precipitation intensified drought 2012, covering  about 2/3 of the U.S., as deadly wildfires burned millions of acres

July average temperature for contiguous U.S. climbed to 77.6°F, 3.3°F above the 20th century average, making it the hottest July and the hottest month on record for the country, reported NOAA. “The warm July temperatures contributed to a record-warm first seven months of the year and the warmest 12-month period the nation has experienced since recordkeeping began in 1895.”

“The August 2011-July 2012 period was the warmest 12-month period of any 12-months on record for the contiguous U.S., narrowly surpassing the record broken last month for the July 2011-June 2012 period by 0.07°F. The nationally averaged temperature of 56.1°F was 3.3°F above the long term average. Except Washington, which was near average, every state across the contiguous U.S. had warmer than average temperatures for the period.”

  • The previous warmest July was Dust Bowl summer of 1936 when the average U.S. temperature was 77.4°F.
  • Precipitation in continental U.S. averaged 2.57, 0.19 inches below average.
  • Virginia experienced its warmest July, with a statewide temperature 4.0°F above average.
  • Record heat also contributed to the warmest ever January-to-July period.
  • U.S. temperatures have now broken the hottest-12-months record 4 times in as many months (see chart below).
  • The U.S. Climate Extremes Index (USCEI) soared to a record-large 46 percent (more than twice the average value) during the January-July period, beating the previous record large CEI of 42 percent which occurred in 1934.


Year-to-date temperature Chart, by month, for 2012 (red), compared to the other 117 years on record for the contiguous U.S., with the five ultimately warmest years (orange) and five ultimately coolest years (blue) noted. Source: NCDC


The ten warmest 12-month periods recorded in the U.S. Temperatures have now broken the hottest-12-months record 4 times in as many months.  Source: NCDC

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

U.S. Drought Disaster 2012

About a quarter (24.14%) of the Continental U.S. is now in ‘Extreme’ or ‘Exceptional’ drought (D3 – D4), a rise of about 2 percent since July 31, and nearly a half (46.01%) of the country is experiencing ‘Severe’ to ‘Exceptional’ drought levels (D2 – D4), according to data released by the US Drought Monitor.


U.S. Drought Map. Comparison maps for July 31 and August 7, 2012. Source: US Drought Monitor

  • New Mexico. USDA has designated eight counties in New Mexico as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought.
  • Nebraska. USDA has designated 38 counties in Nebraska as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
    • Iowa: 3 counties
    • Kansas: 2 counties
    • South Dakota: 3 counties
  • Mississippi. USDA has designated 6 counties in Mississippi as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
    • Arkansas: 2 counties
  • Oklahoma. USDA has designated 20 counties in Oklahoma as  agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
    • Kansas:  Cherokee County.
    • Missouri: 2 counties.

Oklahoma Drought Map


Oklahoma Drought Maps for July 31 and August 7, 2012.
Source: US Drought Monitor.

  • South Dakota. USDA has designated 6 counties in South Dakota as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
    • Iowa: Lyon County.
    • Minnesota: 2 counties.
  • Ohio. USDA has designated 4 counties in Ohio as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
    • Michigan: Hillsdale County.
    • Indiana: 2 counties.
  •  Arkansas. USDA has designated 6 counties in Arkansas as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought.
  • Illinois. USDA has designated six  counties in Illinois as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
    • Wisconsin: 2 counties.
  • Iowa. USDA has designated ten counties in Iowa as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
    • Minnesota: 2 counties.
    • Nebraska: 2 counties.
    • S. Dakota: 3 counties.


Iowa Drought Maps for July 31 and August 7, 2012. Source: US Drought Monitor. The areas covered by extreme or exceptional drought levels in Iowa have more than doubled from 30.74 percent last week to 69.14 percent on August 7.  Iowa is the country’s top corn and soybean producer.

  • Minnesota. USDA has designated 4 counties in Minnesota as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
    • Iowa: Lyon County
    • South Dakota: Two counties
  • Kentucky. USDA has designated 9 counties in Kentucky as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
    • Indiana: Perry County.
  • Kansas. USDA has designated 21 counties in Kansas, a key farm state,  as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
    • Missouri: 2 counties.
    • Nebraska: 5  counties.
    • Oklahoma: 2 counties.

Kansas Drought Map

Kansas Drought Maps for July 31 and August 7, 2012. Source: US Drought Monitor.

U.S. Corn Condition

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

Europe. Watch this space!

  • Manila, Philippines.  Authorities in the Philippines have appealed for “more medicines, blankets, mats and, more importantly, dry clothes” to help more than two million people displaced or severely affected by floods in and around Manila, as the death toll mounted.
    • many evacuation centers are  unable to provide warm meals for the growing numbers displaced, AFP reported Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman as saying. “Most local government units do a community kitchen, but the volume of evacuees is so big they have been overwhelmed,” she said.

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More Corn Grilled on the Cob

Posted by feww on August 7, 2012

Popcorn Progress – August 6, 2012

The amount of U.S. corn considered to be in very poor and poor conditions increased to 50 percent in the week ending August 5, 2012, a rise of two percent since previous week.

Corn Condition

The amount of corn considered to be in very poor to poor condition increased to 50 percent, a rise of 2 percent since last week, while the crop rated as as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ fell to 23 percent, due to ongoing drought and lingering heat, according to the USDA Crop Progress released August 6, 2012.

  • The amount of corn regarded as being in good or excellent condition fell to 23 percent for the week ending August 5, 2012, a further decline of 1 percent since previous week.  It was 60 percent last year.
  • The USDA statistics are based on 18 States which planted 92% of the 2011 corn acreage:  Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.


Map of US Counties with Drought Level D0 and Above as of July 26, 2012. USDA

Soybean Condition

The amount of soybeans considered to be in very poor to poor condition was 39 percent, an increase of 2 percent since last week.

  • The amount of soybean regarded as being in good or excellent condition remained at 29 percent. It was 61 percent this time last year.
  • The statistics are based on 18 States that planted 95% of the 2011 soybean acreage: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina,
    North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Pasture and Range Condition

Pasture and Range Condition for the lower 48 States which are weighted based on pasture acreage and/or livestock inventories, further deteriorated by 2 percent.

  • Very poor to poor pasture and range areas rose to 59 percent, from 57 percent last week. It was 38 percent this time last year.
  • Total acreage in ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ condition fell to 16 percent.  It was 39 percent last year.

[Source: Crop Progress, USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Report released August 6, 2012.]

If I had a rain prayer or a rain dance I could do, I would do it.” Tom Vilsack


U.S. Drought Map – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, shows a map of the drought.  Copyright The Iowa Soybean Association.

“I get on my knees everyday and I’m saying an extra prayer right now,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters after briefing with the Disaster President  Obama. “If I had a rain prayer or a rain dance I could do, I would do it.”

Previous reports

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U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens

Posted by feww on August 1, 2012

Disasters plague 1,584 counties across 32 states

USDA has designated an additional 218 counties across 12 states as primary natural disaster areas due to the deadly drought.

During the 2012 crop year, USDA has designated 1,584 unduplicated counties across 32 states as disaster areas—1,452 due to drought. Scores of additional bordering counties have also been designated as disaster areas because they are contiguous.

List of the states with the number of additional counties designated as primary disaster areas

  • Arkansas (2 counties)
  • Georgia  (6)
  • Illinois  (66 counties; 98 of the state’s 102 counties have now been declared  disaster areas)
  • Indiana  (2)
  • Iowa  (42 counties; Iowa and Illinois produce about a third of all U.S. corn and soybean crops).
  • Kansas (4)
  • Mississippi  (1)
  • Nebraska  (47 counties)
  • Oklahoma (12)
  • South Dakota (25)
  • Tennessee  (3)
  • Wyoming  (8)

‘Farming in Hell’


U.S. Max Temp Map.  for August 1, 2012. Source: NWS

U.S. Precipitation Map  (Weekly)


U.S. Precipitation Map for July 22 – 28, 2012. Source: USDA

Related Posts – Latest

Drought Disaster – Recent

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Half U.S. Corn in Very Poor or Poor Condition

Posted by feww on July 30, 2012

Corn rated as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ falls to 24 percent

The amount of corn considered to be in very poor to poor condition increased to 48 percent, a rise of 3 percent since last week, while the crop rated as as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ fell to 24 percent, due to ongoing drought and lingering heat wave, according to the USDA Crop Progress.

  • The amount of corn regarded as being in good or excellent condition fell to 24 percent for the week ending July 29, a further drop of 2 percent since previous week. It was 62 percent last year.
  • The USDA statistics are based on 18 States which planted 92% of the 2011 corn acreage: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

Soybean Condition

The amount of soybeans considered to be in very poor to poor condition was 37 percent, an increase of 2 percent since last week.

  • The amount of soybean regarded as being in good or excellent condition fell to 29 percent, a drop of 2 percent since last week. It was 60 percent this time last year.
  • The statistics are based on 18 States that planted 95% of the 2011 soybean acreage: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina,
    North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Pasture and Range Condition

Pasture and Range Condition for the lower 48 States which are weighted based on pasture acreage and/or livestock inventories, further deteriorated by 2 percent.

  • Very poor to poor pasture and range areas rose to 57 percent, from 55 percent last week. It was 36 percent this time last year.
  • Total acreage in ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ condition fell to 17 percent.  It was 41 percent last year.

[Source: Crop Progress (July 2012) USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Report released July 30, 2012.]

Percentage of Corn Located in Drought

About 89 percent of the U.S. corn crops were located in drought areas as of July 24, 2012, USDA reported.


Approximate percentage of corn located in drought areas. USDA

The U.S. Cattle Map

About 73% of the U.S. domestic cattle inventory is within drought stricken areas, as of July 24, 2012, USDA reported.


This graphic depicts the U.S. cattle areas experiencing drought from data accrued through the U. S. Drought Monitor on July 24, 2012. Approximately 73% of the domestic cattle inventory is within a drought stricken area, based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) 2007 Census of Agriculture data. Source: USDA

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Disaster Calendar – 26 July 2012

Posted by feww on July 26, 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,329 Days Left

[July 26, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,329 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

FIRE-EARTH Climate Models show climate change forcings and feedbacks switching global weather patterns onto “primordial tracks.”

The extreme weather events triggered by anthropogenic climate change have a four-prong impact on humans over the next 50 months. FIRE-EARTH models forecast:

1. Food production:

  • Average decline of 22% in the global agricultural output
  • Loss of topsoil and worsening of soil quality
  • Rapid Climate Change & Extreme Weather Events
    • Drought and Deluge
    • Extremes of Temperature
    • Heatwaves and Late Frosts
    • Desertification and Dust Storms
  • Crop Pests
  • Increases in the size and occurrence of dead zones
  • Large decline in marine food sources

2. Spread of Disease

  • Substantial increases in the spread of diseases
    • Vector borne
    • Air borne
    • Water borne
    • Food borne
  • Superbugs:  Emergence of resistant bacteria, especially MDR bacteria
  • Resurgence of killer infectious diseases
  • Increases in the spread of human immunodeficiency viruses
  • Significant decline in air quality (and corresponding increase in chronic respiratory diseases)
  • Other viral diseases
  • Massive rises in mental illnesses

3. Physical Safety

Major increases in the number of deaths and injuries, as well as large scale displacements due to the loss of shelter and livelihood caused by extreme weather and geophysical events including:

  • Tornadoes
  • Hurricanes
  • Storms and Extreme Weather
  • Climate Change
  • Extreme Rain Events
  • Flash Flooding
  • Drought and Deluge
  • Landslides
  • Extremes of Temperature
  • Deforestation
  • Wildfires
  • Loss of “Seasons”
  • Earthquakes*
  • Tsunamis*
  • Volcanic activity*
  • Nuclear Incidents
  • Oil Spills
  • Chemical and Biological Threats
  • Poisoned and Polluted Environment (Air, Water and Soil pollution)
  • Ozone Depletion  (Ozone Holes)

4. The Combined Effect

Social upheavals, regional conflicts and wars caused by mass migrations and scarcity of basic resources resulting from the combined effects of the above, as well as other mechanisms.

 

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

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

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USDA Disaster List Grows to 1,369 Counties Across 31 States

Posted by feww on July 26, 2012

Two-thirds of the United States is now experiencing moderate to extreme drought

USDA has designated 76 additional counties [2012 total of 1,369 counties] in six states [total of 31 states] as primary natural disaster areas due to damage and losses caused by drought and excessive heat.

During the 2012 crop year, USDA has designated 1,369 counties across 31 states as disaster areas—1,234 due to drought. The drought disaster declaration list also includes numerous other counties designated as contiguous disaster areas.

Most of the drought-stricken areas from Kansas to Ohio need in excess of 10 inches of rain to break the drought, said a National Weather Service meteorologist, however,  little precipitation is on the horizon.

“Monday’s crop ratings showed losses on par with the damage seen during the 1988 drought if these conditions persist,” said Bryce Knorr, senior editor for Farm Futures Magazine. “Weather so far has taken almost 4 billion bushels off the corn crop, so a lot of demand must still be rationed.”

List of the most recent counties declared as drought disaster areas by USDA on July 25:

  • Kansas. USDA has declared 47 counties  in Kansas as agricultural disaster areas due to damage and losses caused by the ongoing drought.
    • List of the 25 primary disaster areas: Chase, Franklin, Lincoln, Osage, Dickinson, Geary, Marion, Osborne, Douglas, Jefferson, Miami, Ottawa, Ellis, Johnson, Mitchell, Rush, Ellsworth, Leavenworth, Morris, Russell, Saline, Shawnee, Smith, Wabaunsee and Wyandotte counties.
    • List of the 22 contiguous disaster areas: Anderson, Cloud, Jewell, Ness, Atchison, Coffey, Linn, Pawnee, Barton, Greenwood, Lyon, Phillips, Butler, Harvey, McPherson, Pottawatomie, Clay, Jackson, Rice, Riley, Rooks and Trego counties.
    • Missouri. The above Disaster declaration covers 5 counties in Missouri because they are contiguous: Bates, Cass, Clay, Jackson and Platte counties.
    • Nebraska.  Franklin and Webster counties.
  • Michigan.   Drought disaster declared in 10 Michigan counties:
    • Primary DAs: Branch, Cass, Hillsdale and  St. Joseph counties.
    • Contiguous DAs: Berrien, Calhoun, Jackson, Kalamazoo Lenawee, and Van Buren counties.
  • Indiana. Contiguous DAs: Elkhart, Lagrange, St. Joseph and Steuben counties.
  • Ohio. Fulton and Williams counties.
  • Nebraska.  USDA has declared 22 Nebraska counties as agricultural disaster areas due to damage and losses caused by the ongoing  drought.
  • Indiana. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 38 counties in Indiana as agricultural disaster areas due to damage and losses caused by the ongoing drought.
    • Illinois. The above declaration also extends to three counties in Illinois: Clark, Edgar and Vermilion counties.
  • Illinois. USDA has designated twelve counties in Illinois as agricultural  disaster areas due to damage and losses caused by the ongoing  drought.
    • PDAs: Crawford and Pike counties.
    • CDAs: Adams,  Calhoun,  Greene,  Lawrence, Richland,
      Brown, Clark, Jasper, Morgan and Scott counties.
  • Wisconsin. USDA has designated 31 counties in Wisconsin as agricultural  disaster areas due to damage and losses caused by the ongoing drought.
    • Illinois. The above declaration extends to 6 contiguous areas in Illinois: Boone, Lake, Stephenson, Jo Daviess, McHenry and Winnebago counties.
    • Iowa. The above declaration also extends to 3 contiguous areas in Iowa: Allamakee, Clayton and Dubuque counties.


Weekly U.S. Precipitation Map for the Week Ending July 24, 2012. Source: HPRCC


Corn in Drought Map. Latest available map of drought superimposed on the corn production areas. This map depicts drought-affected areas of the U.S. corn producing farmland as of July 17, 2012. Approximately 88% of the corn grown in the U.S. is within an area-experiencing drought, based on historical U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) crop production data.

Other USDA Disaster Declarations

  • Colorado. USDA has designated 8 counties in Colorado as agricultural disaster areas due to damage and losses caused by freezing temperatures that occurred April 7-8, 2012.
    • Utah. The above declaration also extends to two counties in  Utah: Grand and San Juan counties.
  • Wisconsin.  USDA has designated 34 counties in Wisconsin as agricultural disaster areas due to losses to maple syrup production caused by an unseasonably early thaw, unseasonably warm nights and excessive heat that occurred Jan. 23 – March 31, 2012.
    • Michigan. The above declaration extends to 4 counties in the state of Michigan.
    • Minnesota. The above declaration also extends to 4 counties in the state of Minnesota.

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Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast

Posted by feww on July 20, 2012

Drought 2012 could linger for months

Corn and soybean prices break all-time records. Corn prices have climbed 53 percent in one month, as worst drought and poorest crop conditions in decades decimate yields in the Corn Belt region and beyond.


U.S. Drought Map for July 17, 2012, released July 19.

List of Disaster Areas Continues Growing

On Wednesday, USDA designated an additional 39 counties in 8 states as Primary Natural Disaster areas due to worsening drought, making up a disaster total of 1,297 counties in 29 states.  Additionally,  several hundred other counties have been declared as contiguous disaster areas.

One Way Drought

Drought is intensifying in the Corn Belt region and creeping to the areas beyond including Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and eastern Nebraska, eastern Kansas, southern Minnesota and parts of Missouri, Kentucky and the Dakotas.

Drought and Deluge Double Whammy

The historic drought could finally end in an epic deluge, in which case what is already extreme stress on the topsoil would be incalculable.


NASS Crop Production Data. Map of drought superimposed on the corn production areas, July 10, 2012.

Drought Stats

  • Nearly two-thirds of Continental U.S. is currently in drought condition
  • More than 42 percent of the lower 48 states were in SEVERE, EXTREME or EXCEPTIONAL Drought Conditions (D2-D4) as of July 17, 2012, a rise of over 5 percent since last week.
  • As of July 17, 2012,  the entire Continental U.S. with the exception of Maine was experiencing Abnormally Dry or Drought Conditions (D0 -D4)  in full or in parts of the states, a situation which has since worsened due to scant precipitation and a persistent heat wave in the past few days.
  • More than 81 percent of the Contiguous United States was Abnormally Dry or in Drought  Conditions (D0 – D4).
  • Drought 2012 is considered as the worst drought since 1956 and worst agricultural drought since 1988.
  • About 40% of the U.S. corn crop is in poor-very poor condition.
  • Good-excellent soybean crop dropped to 34% – down from 56% at start of season.
  • Some 1,297 counties in 29 states have been declared as primary natural disaster areas, with several hundred other counties designated as contiguous disaster areas.
  • Less than 10 percent topsoil moisture is left in South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.
  • Topsoil moisture in the entire Central Region is below 50 percent of normal.
    • Drought is expected to persist or intensify across Central Region.
    • About 98 percent of corn is grown within Central Region.
  • About 80 percent of corn grown in the U.S. is experiencing drought.

Deadly Heat Persists

Meantime, preliminary records from NCDC showed 145 high temperature records broken Wednesday and 67 records tied in 23 states: Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia.


High temperatures in the triple digits will be the norm for the next several days for parts of the central U.S., with heat indices reaching into the 110 degree range. Some NWS Forecast Offices have already extended their heat advisories to last through the middle of next week. Source: NWS


Daily Max Heat Index Forecast

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Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

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U.S. Drought Continues to Spread, Intensify

Posted by feww on July 19, 2012

Drought 2012: Update July 19

Nearly two-thirds of Continental U.S. in drought condition

More than 42 percent of the lower 48 states were in SEVERE, EXTREME or EXCEPTIONAL Drought Conditions (D2-D4) as of July 17, 2012, a rise of over 5 percent since last week.

  • As of July 17, 2012,  all of the Continental U.S. with the exception of Maine is experiencing Abnormally Dry or Drought Conditions (D0 -D4)  in full or in parts of the states, a situation which has since worsened due to lack of precipitation and a heat wave in the past two days.
  • More than 81 percent of the Contiguous United States was Abnormally Dry or in Drought  Conditions (D0 – D4).


U.S. Drought Map for July 17, 2012, released July 19.


Comparison Maps for July 10 and July 17, 2012.


U.S. Drought Comparison Maps for July 3 and July 10, 2012.


U.S. Drought Comparison Maps for June 26 and July 3, 2012


Dryness and drought, exacerbated by above-normal temperatures, have been increasing both in extent and intensity across much of the central and northern U.S.  Source: NOAA/ NWS/ NCEP/ Climate Prediction Center

U.S. Weekly Precipitation Map

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Disaster Declared in More Counties Across 11 States

Posted by feww on July 13, 2012

Severe frost and freeze in April, ongoing drought prompt agricultural disaster declarations across 11 states

Losses and damage caused to crops due to severe frost and freeze in April, as well as the ongoing drought across  most of the U.S. have prompted USDA to declare agricultural disaster areas in dozens of U.S. counties across 11 states.

  • Damage and losses caused by drought that began in April 2012 and continues prompted USDA to issue disaster declaration in
    • Arkansas:  30 counties
    • Missouri: 6 counties
  • Georgia. USDA has designated a total of 30 counties in Georgia as both primary and contiguous natural disaster areas in two separate declaration due to frost, freeze, hail and high winds that occurred in April and May 2012.
    • Six counties in North Carolina (4), South Carolina (1) and Tennessee (1), are also designated as disaster areas because they are contiguous.
  • Iowa. USDA has designated 43 counties in Iowa as both primary and contiguous natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by severe frosts and freezes that occurred April 6-30, 2012.
    • Nine counties in Illinois (4), Missouri (1), Nebraska (2) and Wisconsin (2) are also designated as disaster areas because they are contiguous.


Map of U.S. Hazards Outlook for July 20 – 26, 2012, showing persistent severe drought.

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

  • Japan: Extreme Rain Events.  Dozens are dead or missing on Kyushu island in western Japan, after extreme rain events, which began late Wednesday, spawned severe flooding and multiple landslides.
    •  A record 500 mm of rain fell over a 24-hour period on Aso, Kumamoto prefecture, while scores of homes in neighboring Minami-Aso were destroyed and many more damaged by landslides.
    • In Kyushu’s Kumamoto and neighboring Oita prefectures, hourly rainfalls of 106mm were recorded, Japan’s meteorological agency said, while warning of additional rainfall.
    • Up to 150,000 people in about 35,000 households were under mandatory evacuation orders.
  • Moscow, Russia. Freak storm pounded Moscow, flooding the the historic center of the Russian capital on Friday, said a report.
    • At least two people were killed after lightning struck them.
    • Further storms could strike throughout the weekend, meteorologist warned.


Black clouds spawned deadly lightning and massive rainstorm over Moscow.  Image by twitter user @OksanaGon4arov, via RT.

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Disaster Calendar – 1 July 2012

Posted by feww on July 1, 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,354 Days Left

[July 1, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,354 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

Kansai Electric Power Co restarted the 1,180-megawatt No. 3 unit at its Ohi nuclear plant on Sunday.

The No.4 reactor unit will resume operations in two weeks time, reports said.

Several thousand protesters  marched through Tokyo streets calling for an end to the use of nuclear power, NHK reported. [Japan has a population of about 128 million.]

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

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