Freeze Warning in Effect for NE Minnesota, Douglas County Wisconsin

Temperatures forecast to drop to as low as 20s (F)

These conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation, according to the NWS Forecast.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
The areas covered by the Freeze Warning includes the cities of International Falls, Ely, Basswood Lake, Bbutterfly Lake, Eagle Mountain, Forest Center, Isabella, Murphy City, Sawbill, Landing, Bigfork, Hhibbing, Virginia, Chisholm, Two Harbors, Silver Bay, Ggrand Marais, Walker, Cass Lake, Remer, Backus, Hackensack, Grand Rapids, Cohasset, East Gull Lake, Lake Shore, Pine River, Pillager, Brainerd, Baxter, Hill City, Aitkin, Duluth, Pine City, Sandstone, Hinckley, Rock Creek, Lake Nebagamon, Solon Springs, Poplar, Superior and Oliver, said NWS in Duluth.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
Freeze Warning areas includes the cities of Roseau, Warroad, Greenbush, Baudette, Newfolden, Middle River, Grygla, Red Lake, Redby, Ponemah, Thief River Falls, Red Lake Falls, Fosston, Fertile, Mcintosh, Erskine, Bagley, Clearbrook, Bemidji, Mahnomen, Naytahwaush, Waubun, Alida, Ebro, Lake Itasca, Long Lost Lake, Lower Rice Lake, Roy Lake, Upper Rice Lake, Park Rapids, Wolf Lake, Wadena and Menahga.

Frost Advisory is in effect for a wide band of areas encircling the locations under Freeze Warning in the two states as well as eastern North Dakota.

45 Million Birds Affected by Avian Flu in U.S.

Bird Flu Continues to Devastate US Poultry Industry

Infected Commercial Flocks. Commercial flocks have been infected in at least 15 States: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Indiana (May 10, 2015), Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska (May 11, 2015), North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and  Wisconsin.

Update on Avian Influenza Findings – Poultry Findings Confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories

• Detections Reported: 207
  
• Birds Affected: 45,027,793
• First Detection Reported: December 19, 2014
• Last Detection Reported: June 2, 2015
• No of Flocks pending tests: 14

Worst Affected Areas

• Iowa: 29,261,400 Birds Affected
• Minnesota: 8,394,450
• Nebraska: 3,794,100
• Wisconsin: 1,950,733
• South Dakota: 1,168,200

States of Emergency

Iowa’s Gov. Branstad has extended a State of Disaster Emergency Proclamation until July 1 as more farms continue to report new cases of the deadly avian flu virus in their poultry flocks.

Nebraska Gov. Ricketts proclaimed a state of emergency in May following the discovery of avian influenza in the state’s poultry sector, according to a statement posted on his website.

Background and Additional Links

• ‘Unprecedented’ Flu Outbreak Baffles Scientists April 22, 2015
• State of Emergency Declared in Dallas County due to Bird Flu May 9, 2015
• State of Emergency Declared in Nebraska in Bird Flu Epidemic May 15, 2015
• State of Disaster Emergency Extended in Iowa amid Rising Bird Flu Cases June 1, 2015

State of Disaster Emergency Extended in Iowa amid Rising Bird Flu Cases

44.6 Million Birds Affected by Deadly Avian Flu Viruses in U.S.

Iowa’s Gov. Branstad has extended a State of Disaster Emergency Proclamation until July 1 as more farms continue to report new cases of the deadly avian flu virus in their poultry flocks. The Proclmation was due to expire on May 31, 2015.

Update on Avian Influenza Findings – Poultry Findings Confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories

• Birds Affected: 44,612,573 [up from 33,521,073; additional cases pending]
• Detections Reported: 197 [previously 162]
• First Detection Reported: December 19, 2014
• Last Detection Reported: May 28, 2015 [previously reported on May 13, 2015]

Infected Commercial Flocks

Commercial flocks have been infected in at least 15 States: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Indiana (May 10, 2015), Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska (May 11, 2015), North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and  Wisconsin.

The majority of the infections have been reported in the state of Iowa, with 29,095,500 birds  affected [up from 24,815,500 on May 13,] across 18 counties, and at least 6 additional flocks being tested for the deadly virus(es).

• Minnesota has the second highest number of infections, with 8,220,760 birds affected.
• Nebraska has 3,794,100 affected birds.

• Wisconsin reported 1,950,733 birds.

• South Dakota has 1,116,200 affected birds.
  

Wild Flocks with Infection Found in at least 5 States: Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Wild Bird HPAI Cases in the United States
A list prepared by National Flyway Council reports HPAI cases in wild bird flocks across the following states:

• CA, ID, KS, KY, MN, MO, NM, NV, OR, WA, WI and WY.

Key Points: HPAI H5  [CDC Influenza Division]

• Increased outreach, reporting and surveillance activities in the United States followed the detection of HPAI H5N2 among commercial poultry flocks in Canada in early December 2014.

• USDA has reported
  • HPAI H5N8 virus in California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Nevada.
  • HPAI H5N2 virus in Nebraska, Indiana, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kentucky.
  • HPAI H5N1 virus in Washington.
  • H5 virus in a wild bird in New Mexico, but diagnostic test did not determine the neuraminidase (NA).

• HPAI H5N8, HPAI H5N2 and HPAI H5N1 viruses with this combination of genes had not been detected previously in the United States.

A strain of avian flu, EA-H5N8, which had previously been found only in the Western U.S., was detected in a backyard mixed poultry flock in Whitley County, Indiana on May 11, APHIS reported.

WILD BIRD HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA  [Last updated by APHIS on May 14, 2013]

• WILD BIRD HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA CASES IN THE UNITED STATES

Background and Additional Links

• ‘Unprecedented’ Flu Outbreak Baffles Scientists April 22, 2015
• State of Emergency Declared in Dallas County due to Bird Flu May 9, 2015
• State of Emergency Declared in Nebraska in Bird Flu Epidemic May 15, 2015

‘Unprecedented’ Flu Outbreak Baffles Scientists

Millions of birds killed as AI spreads across 15 states

This is so unusual that we can’t help but think something different must be going on —avian medicine expert

A lethal strain of avian influenza (AI) has been detected at an egg-laying facility in NW Iowa, the top U.S. egg-producing state, forcing the health authorities to destroy millions of laying hens, according to USDA.

Iowa has a $2 billion egg-laying industry with about 50 million hens that supply 1 in every 5 eggs consumed across the U.S.

The latest outbreak has occurred at an egg production facility with at least 3.8 million laying hens in Osceola County, which has been placed under quarantine. The quarantine covers an area of about 10km (6 miles)  around the farm, a division of Sonstegard Foods Co., based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The outbreak has also prompted Wisconsin to declare a state of emergency after three poultry flocks became infected in the past week.

There are now 15 states with infected birds: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

As of Monday, at least 2.6 million birds had been killed.

The strain has also led to the deaths of at least 2.4 million turkeys nationwide (birds either killed by the disease or by authorities working to prevent the spread of virus).

“Authorities have confirmed N5N2 outbreaks at more than 30 commercial poultry farms in the Midwest, including 22 in Minnesota. All were turkey operations except for one chicken farm in Wisconsin,” said a report.

“Minnesota, the nation’s largest turkey producer, is the epicenter of the highly pathogenic H5N2 bird flu. The state annually produces about 46 million turkeys, meaning 4 to 5 percent of Minnesota’s annual production has now been affected by the flu,” said a report.

The virus can kill an entire flock within 48 hours, experts say.

AI spread from Asia to the Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain into the North American poultry farms.

Rapid spread of the virus has alarmed scientists who have so far been unable to unravel the mystery of how the deadly virus have infected so many turkey farms in such a short period of time, said a report.

“It’s been really troubling to understand how in the world this can possibly be happening,” said Carol Cardona, a professor of avian medicine at the University of Minnesota.

“This is so unusual that we can’t help but think something different must be going on,” she said.

“Since December 2014, the United States Department of Agriculture has confirmed several cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 in the Pacific, Central, and Mississippi flyways (or migratory bird paths). The disease has been found in wild birds, as well as in a few backyard and commercial poultry flocks,” said USDA

“The H5N8 virus originated in Asia and spread rapidly along wild bird migratory pathways during 2014, including the Pacific flyway.  In the Pacific flyway, the H5N8 virus has mixed with North American avian influenza viruses, creating new mixed-origin viruses.  This is not unexpected.  These mixed-origin viruses contain the Asian-origin H5 part of the virus, which is highly pathogenic to poultry.  The N parts of these viruses came from North American low pathogenic avian influenza viruses.”

Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in 10 States

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC HAZARDS
CROP DISASTERS
DROUGHT
FROST, FREEZE
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS
HAIL, FLASH FLOODING, FLOODING, STANDING WATER
LIGHTNING
TORNADOES, HIGH WINDS
MAIN SCENARIOS 900, 888, 800, 797, 311, 555, 444, 187, 178, 177, 157, 111, 097, 088, 066, 064, 027, 023, 03, 02
.

Extreme Weather and Climate Disasters Destroy Crops in 147 Counties across 10  States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared multiple crop disasters for an additional  147 counties in 10 states due to the losses and damage caused by extreme weather and climatic events that have occurred during the 2014 crop year, so far.

Losses caused by freeze that occurred from Feb. 1, 2014, through April 30, 2014

• New York. Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware and Tioga counties.
• Pennsylvania. Susquehanna and Wayne counties.

Damages and losses caused by excessive rain, flash flooding, flooding, high winds and hail that occurred from April 1, 2014, through July 8, 2014

• New York. Albany, Allegany, Bronx, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Nassau, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Steuben, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Wayne, Westchester, Wyoming and Yates counties.

• Connecticut. Fairfield and Litchfield counties.
• Massachusetts. Berkshire County.
• New Jersey. Bergen County.
• Pennsylvania. Bradford, Potter and Tioga counties.

Damages and losses caused by the combined effects of frost and drought that occurred from Jan. 1, 2014, through Aug. 12, 2014

• Tennessee. Blount, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox and Sevier counties.

Damages and losses caused by flooding and excessive rain that occurred from June 29, 2014, through July 9, 2014

• Tennessee. Chester, Fayette, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Madison, McNairy,  Shelby and Tipton counties.
• Mississippi. Alcorn, Benton, Marshall and Tippah counties.
  

Damages and losses caused by tornadoes, high winds, hail and lightning that occurred from July 27, 2014, through July 28, 2014

• Tennessee. Carter, Greene, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties.
• Virginia. Bristol, Scott and Washington counties.

Losses due to the combined effects of heavy rainfall, flooding, ground saturation, standing water and colder than normal temperatures that occurred from May 1, 2014, through July 1, 2014

• Minnesota. Aitkin, Anoka, Beltrami, Benton, Blue Earth, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chisago, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Grant, Hennepin, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Marshall, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Nicollet, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Rice, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Stevens, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Wilkin and Wright counties.
• Wisconsin. Burnett, Douglas and Polk counties.

Crop Disasters 2014

Beginning January 10, 2014 USDA has declared at least 2,532 separate crop disasters across 38 states. Most of those designations are due to the drought.

• Those states are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. [FIRE-EARTH has documented all of the above listings. See blog content.]

Notes:
i. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.

ii. The counties designated as agricultural disaster areas, as listed above, include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

iii. Counties may have been designated crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

iv. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.

v. The disaster designations posted above were approved by USDA on September 24, 2014.

Crop Disaster Links

• Drought Crop Disasters Declared in U.S. West  September 18, 2014
• FREEZE Destroys Crops in Ohio, Pennsylvania  September 18, 2014
• Crop Disasters Declared in Five States September 12, 2014
• Crop Disasters Declared in Six States Posted on September 5, 2014
• Crop Disasters Declared in Three States August 15, 2014
• Crop Disasters Declared in 7 States August 7, 2014
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

 

Federal Disaster Declared in Minnesota

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
MAJOR DISASTERS
FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARED
SCENARIOS 444, 111, 088, 066, 023
.

Minnesota Declared Major Disaster Area (DR-4182)

Federal disaster has been declared for the state of Minnesota in 8 counties worst affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides during the prolonged period of June 11 to July 11, 2014.

Worst of the disaster stricken areas are Chippewa, Freeborn, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Renville, and Rock counties.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said Fema in a statement released by White House.

NOTE: Links to Federal Disaster Declarations continue to be blocked by WordPress/ Google.

Federal Disaster entries are marked with “post ids” by WordPress, enabling  Google to block them.

Latest Examples:

<p id=”post-45520″><a href=”https://feww.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/federal-disaster-declared-for-new-york/&#8221; rel=”bookmark”>Federal Disaster Declared for New York</a>

<p  id=”post-45563″><a href=”https://feww.wordpress.com/2014/07/16/federal-disaster-declared-for-iowa/&#8221; rel=”bookmark”>Federal Disaster Declared for Iowa</a>

<p id=”post-45131″><a href=”https://feww.wordpress.com/2014/06/12/federal-disaster-declared-in-vermont/&#8221; rel=”bookmark”>Federal Disaster Declared in Vermont</a>

<p  id=”post-45225″><a href=”https://feww.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/federal-disaster-declared-for-nebraska/&#8221; rel=”bookmark”>Federal Disaster Declared for Nebraska</a>

Latest Federal Disaster Declarations

• Federal Disaster Declared for Iowa Posted on July 16, 2014
• Federal Disaster Declared for New York July 11, 2014
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

 

 

State of Emergency Declared in Minn. amid Severe Flooding

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
SEVERE FLOODING
CROP DISASTER
STATE OF EMERGENCY
DISASTER DECLARATION
SCENARIOS 444, 111, 023
.

MN Gov. Declares a State of Emergency as Torrential Rains Flood Crops, Raise River Levels

Minnesota Governor Dayton has declared a State of Emergency after record rainfall inundated dozens of counties, damaging crops, and raising river levels.

“Governor Dayton is also directing the Minnesota National Guard to send 100 soldiers to Koochiching County, where Rainy Lake’s high waters have destroyed hundreds of public and private docks, and flooded many homes and cabins, said a report.

More rain has fallen on the International Falls area this month than in any other comparable period since record keeping began more than 100 years ago.

The 35 counties covered by the initial disaster declaration are Beltrami, Blue Earth, Brown, Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hubbard, Jackson, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lyon, Koochiching, McLeod, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pipestone, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, St. Louis, Scott, Sibley, Steele, Todd and Waseca.

Up to 10 inches (25cm) of rain has fallen on parts of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota in the past week—the equivalent of about two months’ rainfall.

“The water level on Lake Minnetonka, recorded since 1906, reached an all-time high Thursday of 930.77 feet above sea level, breaking the record set only 16 days earlier. Minnehaha Creek also set a record, rising quickly in south Minneapolis and overflowing its banks in many spots along Minnehaha Parkway, much of which was closed Thursday,” said a report.

Deadly Blizzard Prompts State of Emergency in Minnesota

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENT
STATE OF EMERGENCY
DEADLY BLIZZARD
.

Minnesota paralyzed by deadly snowstorm

Gov.  Dayton declared a State of emergency after a deadly blizzard dumped more than 18 inches of snow on some parts of Minnesota, leaving most roads iced over or impassable.

The order mobilized National Guard to help with recovery and sheltering of stranded motorists throughout the state.

More than 400 crashes and 1,300 spinouts or vehicles skidding off the road were reported between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, according to a State Patrol spokesperson.

A deadly collision in Wabasha County claimed at least one life.

The  conditions were the worst in living memory, according to the state’s veteran troopers.

Authorities closed schools in Minnesota’s three largest districts—Anoka-Hennepin, Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Tornadoes reported across six states

Meanwhile, the fierce storm system spawned two dozen tornadoes across six states—Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, Georgia, Maryland and  North Carolina—Thursday through Friday.

States of Emergency Declared in Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi …

A NOTE to our readers, if any, in the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin as well as everyone else who knows someone in those states:

Send a copy of this post to your state governor and ask them whether they were/are allowed to receive FIRE-EARTH forecasts…

.

EXTREME CLIMATIC & WEATHER EVENTS
STATES OF EMERGENCY
ENERGY EMERGENCY
.

UNPRECEDENTED Winter Storm in Deep South Spawned by Massive Arctic Front

Massive air mass from North Pole continues to create life-threatening wind chills levels as high winds push the brutal cold across the U.S. upper Midwest, forcing officials in numerous states to close schools, offices, road and river traffic.

About 4,000 flights have been canceled and thousands more delayed within, into, or out of the United States Sunday through Tuesday according to flightaware.com

STATES of EMERGENCY

The governors in the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota and  Mississippi  have declared states of emergency due to the threats posed by unprecedented winter storm and or propane and other heating fuel shortage. Other states  could also declare states of emergency as the life-threatening conditions continue.

Louisiana: Gov. Jindal declared a state of emergency Monday, his third proclamation in two weeks, ordering the closure of state agencies in 45 parishes.

He urged Louisianians to stay off the roads over the next few days ahead of a bitter winter storm expected to bring snow, sleet and icy conditions to the state.

“The most dangerous things, the things that worry the weather experts the most, are the accumulations of ice,” said Jindal.

Alabama: Gov. Bentley declared a state of emergency in Alabama on Monday ahead of winter storm expected to batter the state with snow and ice Tuesday and Wednesday.

“This is not a normal event,” said Bentley, having earlier disclosed that “polar vortex has increased the number of deaths throughout the nation.”

Minnesota: Gov. Dayton declared a state of emergency for Minnesota in response to a critical shortage of propane and other home heating fuel supplies statewide.

“We’ve had some trucks here from Minnesota going all the way to Texas to get propane,” said Roger Leider, executive director of the Minnesota Propane Association (!)

The entire Midwest is experiencing a propane shortage

The supply shortage in the upper Midwest has caused delivery delays and reduced delivery amounts for propane customers in at least 33 states, including ALL Midwestern states, and  D.C., as of posting .

• Propane shortage
• DOT – Current Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions & Permits

Mississippi: Gov. Bryant has declared a State of Emergency for 36 southern counties in Mississippi ahead of the unprecedented winter storm.

The counties covered by the emergency proclamations are: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Clarke, Copiah, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, George. Greene, Hancock. Harrison, Hinds, Jackson. Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jasper, Jones, Lamar. Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Newton, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Stone, Walthall, Warren, Wayne, and Wilkinson.

On January 7, 2014 FIRE-EARTH said [but was censored by Google, WordPress and others]:

FIRE-EARTH Models show more Extreme Weather Events could wreak havoc across North America in the coming days and weeks.

• More Extreme Weather Events to Hit North America

Satellite Animation

• Real-Time U.S. Composite Satellite Animation – 7 day movie

U.S. Weather Hazards Map for January 28, 2014 @ 02:27UTC. Source: NWS. Click to Update…

NWS Forecast: Arctic Blast Drops Temperatures Across the North and Northeast; Will Bring Winter Storm to the Deep South Tuesday and Wednesday

Rare winter storm expected to impact the Deep South and Southeast. Temperatures will continue dropping behind an arctic boundary heading towards the southern U.S. Windy conditions will make temperatures across the northern Plains and Northeast feel as cold as -30F in some locations. On Tuesday, accumulating snow, sleet and ice will make for hazardous travel conditions from South Texas to the Carolinas.

Alaska

Avalanches blocked the road to the coastal town of Valdez leaving about 4,000 residents  cut off to road traffic from the rest of the state, officials said on Monday, reported Reuters.

Related Links

• Arctic Front Spawns Major Winter Storms in Deep South  January 28, 2014
• Life Threatening Wind Chills Sweep U.S. Midwest January 27, 2014
• Arctic Air Surging through Central U.S. January 27, 2014
• Polar Déjà vu January 22, 2014
• More Extreme Weather Events to Hit North America January 7, 2014

Energy Emergency

• Wisconsin Declares State of Emergency over Extreme Cold, Fuel Shortage January 26, 2014
• Louisiana Declares 2nd State of Emergency due to Dangerous Cold January 25, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared for Louisiana January 24, 2014

• Energy Emergency Declared for Alabama January 24, 2014
• Tennessee Declares Statewide Energy Emergency January 22, 2014
• Ohio Declares Statewide Energy Emergency January 20, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in Oklahoma due to Propane Shortage January 8, 2014

Arctic Front Spawns Major Winter Storms in Deep South

A NOTE to our readers, if any, in the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin as well as everyone else who knows someone in those states:

Send a copy of this post to your state governor and ask them whether they were/are allowed to receive FIRE-EARTH forecasts…

.

EXTREME CLIMATIC & WEATHER EVENTS
STATES OF EMERGENCY
ENERGY EMERGENCY
.

States of Emergency Declared in Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi …

Louisiana: Gov. Jindal declared a state of emergency Monday, his third proclamation in two weeks, ordering the closure of state agencies in 45 parishes.

He urged Louisianians to stay off the roads over the next few days ahead of a bitter winter storm expected to bring snow, sleet and icy conditions to the state.

“The most dangerous things, the things that worry the weather experts the most, are the accumulations of ice,” said Jindal.

Alabama: Gov. Bentley declared a state of emergency in Alabama on Monday ahead of winter storm expected to batter the state with snow and ice Tuesday and Wednesday.

“This is not a normal event,” said Bentley, having earlier disclosed that “polar vortex has increased the number of deaths throughout the nation.”

Minnesota: Gov. Dayton declared a state of emergency for Minnesota in response to a critical shortage of propane and other home heating fuel supplies statewide.

A “sun dog” atmospheric phenomenon appears over a farm in southern Minnesota, January 27, 2014. Credit: REUTERS/Eric Miller  [A sun dog, aka, parhelion, is an atmospheric phenomenon that creates bright patches of light in the sky, usually on a halo around the sun. EDITOR]

Mississippi: Gov. Bryant has declared a State of Emergency for 36 southern counties in Mississippi ahead of the unprecedented winter storm.

The counties covered by the emergency proclamations are: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Clarke, Copiah, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, George. Greene, Hancock. Harrison, Hinds, Jackson. Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jasper, Jones, Lamar. Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Newton, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Stone, Walthall, Warren, Wayne, and Wilkinson.

On January 7, 2014 FIRE-EARTH said [but was censored by Google, WordPress and others]:

FIRE-EARTH Models show more Extreme Weather Events could wreak havoc across North America in the coming days and weeks.

• More Extreme Weather Events to Hit North America

U.S. Weather Hazards Map for January 28, 2014 @ 02:27UTC. Source: NWS. Click to Update…

NWS Forecast: Arctic Blast Drops Temperatures Across the North and Northeast; Will Bring Winter Storm to the Deep South Tuesday and Wednesday

Rare winter storm expected to impact the Deep South and Southeast. Temperatures will continue dropping behind an arctic boundary heading towards the southern U.S. Windy conditions will make temperatures across the northern Plains and Northeast feel as cold as -30F in some locations. On Tuesday, accumulating snow, sleet and ice will make for hazardous travel conditions from South Texas to the Carolinas.

Alaska

Avalanches blocked the road to the coastal town of Valdez leaving about 4,000 residents  cut off to road traffic from the rest of the state, officials said on Monday, reported Reuters.

Related Links

• Propane shortage
• DOT – Current Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions & Permits

• Life Threatening Wind Chills Sweep U.S. Midwest January 27, 2014
• Arctic Air Surging through Central U.S. January 27, 2014
• Polar Déjà vu January 22, 2014
• More Extreme Weather Events to Hit North America January 7, 2014

Energy Emergency Related Links

• Wisconsin Declares State of Emergency over Extreme Cold, Fuel Shortage January 26, 2014
• Louisiana Declares 2nd State of Emergency due to Dangerous Cold January 25, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared for Louisiana January 24, 2014

• Energy Emergency Declared for Alabama January 24, 2014
• Tennessee Declares Statewide Energy Emergency January 22, 2014
• Ohio Declares Statewide Energy Emergency January 20, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in Oklahoma due to Propane Shortage January 8, 2014

Crop Disasters Declared in 6 States

46 Counties across six states designated as crop disaster areas by USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 46 counties in six states—Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia—as crop disaster areas in two separate declarations.

Drought conditions and lack of moisture

USDA has declared the following counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin as crop disaster areas due to losses caused by drought conditions and lack of moisture that occurred September 1 – November 15, 2013.

• Minnesota:  Kanabec, Morrison, Pine, Aitkin, Carlton, Chisago, Isanti, Benton, Cass, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Stearns and Todd counties.

• Wisconsin: Douglas and  Burnett counties.

Excessive rain and flooding

USDA has also designated the following counties in The Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia  as crop disaster areas due to excessive rain and flooding that began January 1, 2013, and continues.

• North Carolina: Alleghany,  Granville, Polk, Ashe, Harnett, Wilkes, Alexander, Franklin, Moore, Vance, Caldwell, Henderson, Person, Wake, Chatham, Iredell, Rutherford, Watauga, Cumberland, Johnston, Sampson, Yadkin, Durham, Lee and Surry counties.
• South Carolina:  Greenville and Spartanburg

• Tennessee: Johnson County.

• Virginia:  Grayson, Halifax and Mecklenburg counties.

Crop Disasters 2013

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared 4,447 county-level agricultural disaster areas across 46 states in 2013.

State and County level records of calendar year 2013 disaster designations made by the USDA include losses and damages caused by one or more of the following

• DROUGHT
• FLOOD
• Flash flooding
• Excessive rain, moisture, humidity
• Severe Storms, thunderstorms
• Ground Saturation
• Standing Water
• Hail
• Wind, High Winds
• Fire, Wildfire
• Heat, Excessive heat
• High Temp. (incl. low humidity)
• Winter Storms, Ice Storms, Snow, Blizzard
• Frost, FREEZE
• Hurricanes, Typhoons, Tropical Storms
• Tornadoes
• Volcano
• Mudslides, Debris Flows, Landslides
• Heavy Surf
• Ice Jams
• Insects
• Tidal Surges
• Cold, wet weather
• Cool/Cold, Below-normal Temperatures
• Lightning
• Disease

Notes:
1. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.

2. The total number of counties designated as agricultural disaster areas includes both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

3. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.

4. A number of counties have been designated crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

5. The disaster designations were approved by USDA between January 9 and December 18, 2013.

Recent Federal and Agriculture Disaster Declarations

• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared for 4 States December 20, 2013
• Crop Disaster Declared for 387 Counties in 16 States December 13, 2013
• Drought 2013
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Crop Disasters Declared for 28 Counties across 4 States

Severe storms, excessive wind, rain and hail cause crop disaster in four states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 28 counties across four states as agricultural disaster areas in three separate disaster declarations.

Disaster Declaration No. 1

Montana: Glacier County, which includes the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, together with the counties of Flathead, Pondera, and  Toole have been declared crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by several severe storms and hail that occurred June 18 – September 30, 2013.

Disaster Declaration No. 2

USDA has designated a total of 17 counties in three states–Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin– as crop disaster disaster areas due to losses caused by excessive rainfall that occurred April 1 – August 5, 2013.

Those counties are

• Iowa: Allamakee, Cerro Gordo,  Floyd, Bremer, Clayton, Hancock, Winnebago, Butler, Fayette, Howard, Winneshiek, Chickasaw, Franklin and Mitchell counties.
• Minnesota: Houston County.
• Wisconsin: Crawford and Vernon counties.

Disaster Declaration No. 3

USDA has also designated seven counties in Oregon as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive wind, rain, and hail that occurred August 25, 2013.

Those counties are: Jefferson, Crook, Linn, Wasco, Deschutes, Marion and Wheeler counties.

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas Nov. 27, 2013.

“Secretary Vilsack also reminds producers that Congress has not funded the five disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill.These are SURE; the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP); the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP); the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP); and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Production losses due to disasters occurring after Sept. 30, 2011, are not eligible for disaster program coverage,” said USDA.

Crop Disaster 2013

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared 3,954 county-level agricultural disaster areas across 44 states, so far this year.

The crop disasters for year 2013 include losses and damages caused by

• DROUGHT
• FLOOD
• Flash flooding
• Excessive rain, moisture, humidity
• Severe Storms, thunderstorms
• Ground Saturation
• Standing Water
• Hail
• Wind, High Winds
• Fire, Wildfire
• Heat, Excessive heat
• High Temp. (incl. low humidity)
• Winter Storms, Ice Storms, Snow, Blizzard
• Frost, FREEZE
• Hurricanes, Typhoons, Tropical Storms
• Tornadoes
• Volcano
• Mudslides, Debris Flows, Landslides
• Heavy Surf
• Ice Jams
• Insects
• Tidal Surges
• Cold, wet weather
• Cool/Cold, Below-normal Temperatures
• Lightning
• Disease

Notes:
1. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.

2. The total number of counties designated as agricultural disaster areas includes both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

3. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.

4. A number of counties have been designated crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

5. The disaster designations were approved by USDA between January 9 and November 20, 2013.

Recent Federal and Agriculture Disaster Declarations

• Illinois Declared Federal Disaster Area November 27, 2013
• Nebraska Declared Federal Disaster Area November 27, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared for South Dakota November 9, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared in North Dakota November 1, 2013

• North Carolina Declared Federal Disaster Area October 31, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared in New Mexico October 30, 2013
• Kansas Declared Federal Disaster Area October 30, 2013
• Blizzard Kills 80,000 Cattle in S. Dakota October 14, 2013
• New Mexico Declared Federal Disaster Area October 2, 2013

• Agricultural Disaster Declared for 194 Counties in 13 States September 20, 2013
• N. Colorado Declared as Federal Disaster Area September 14, 2013
• Agricultural Disaster Declared for 138 counties in 14 States
• Drought 2013
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – 29 April 2013

Devastating Floods in Kentucky Wash Out Bridges, Destroy Infrastructure

Two weeks of severe flooding in eastern and southeastern Kentucky have devastated the region. Many bridges are washed out and dozens of roads and culverts in the region are severely damaged prompting Gov. Beshear to declare a state of emergency for 12 counties on Friday.

• The 12 counties covered by the declaration are Bell, Clay, Crittenden, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Owsley, Rockcastle and Whitley, said a report.

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North Dakota and Minnesota

Flood Threat increases for Red and Souris Rivers in North Dakota and Minnesota: River levels on the Souris and Red Rivers in North Dakota are rising as warmer temperatures allow the snowpack to begin a more aggressive thaw. Stream and river rises will continue, along with an increased risk of overland flooding. Flood Watches and Flood Warnings are now in effect in northern North Dakota and Minnesota. —NWS

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Flash floods injure 10, force about 1,000 to flee their homes in North Sumatra, Indonesia

The Aek Mata and Aek Ranto rivers in North Sumatra, Indonesia overflowed on Sunday following an extreme rain event, injuring at least 10 people, 6 of them severely, and forcing about 1,000 people to flee their homes.

• Scores of houses were swept away by the floods, according to a report.
  

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Bangladesh: Death toll from Dhaka building collapse nears 400

At least 385 people are now confirmed dead following Rana Plaza building collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Reuters reported.

• Hundreds of other mostly female garment workers remain unaccounted for.
• The Bangladeshi garment industry employs up to 4 million people, most of them female, some of whom earn just over $1 a day.
  
• About 60 percent of Bangladesh’s low-cost garment exports go to Europe,  23 percent to the U.S., and 5 percent to Canada.

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Famine in Somalia killed 260,000 people in 2011

The 2011 famine in Somalia killed an estimated 260,000 people, half of them aged 5 and under, according to a new report, which is being made public on Thursday by FEWSNET, a Western official briefed on the report told AP.

• The report more than doubles previous death toll estimates by the U.K. government which said between 50,000 and 100,000 people had died in the famine.

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DISASTER CALENDAR – April 29, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,048 Days Left 

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

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,048 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
• The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

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

Powerful Storms Destroy 445 Houses, Sink 85 Fishing Boats in Thailand

Disaster declared in central Thailand province

The provincial governor of Prachuap Khiri Khan has declared disaster in the area, after eight districts were buffeted by powerful storms.

• Prachuap Khiri Khan is a central province of Thailand located in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, about 240 km (150 miles) south of the capital Bangkok.

• “The storms hit the province at 3am on Saturday followed by heavy rains and high waves up to four metres in the Gulf of Thailand,” said a report.

Latest States of Emergency Declared in the U.S. and Canada

Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada: Massive power outage as ice storm hits region

Three Ontario townships — Wellesley, Woolwich and North Perth — have declared states of emergency after ice storm hit Waterloo Region, said a report.

Minnesota: Gov. Dayton has declared a state of emergency in SW Minnesota, after activating the National Guard.

“Six to 8 inches of wet snow fell early Thursday on top of the thick layer of ice that accumulated Tuesday night in Nobles and Jackson counties,” said a report.

Missouri: Gov. Nixon has declared a state of emergency in Missouri after severe storms, strong thunderstorms, straight line winds and tornadoes caused damage in the St. Louis region and and power outages across southern Missouri, according to the governor’s office.

Tennessee: Officials have declared a state of emergency after reports of a possible tornado and damage in Monroe County, Tennessee, said a report.

Mississippi. Gov. Bryant has declared a State of Emergency for Kemper and Noxubee counties due to the damage caused by severe storms and tornadoes, according to the governor’s office.

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DISASTER CALENDAR – April 15, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,062 Days Left 

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

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,062 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
• The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

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

Imminent Flood Threat in the U.S. Midwest

LATEST FLOOD WARNING – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

South and East Also at Risk: NOAA

At least a third of the contiguous United States has an above average flood risk in 2010

The highest flood threats are in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa, including along the Red River Valley where crests could approach the record levels set in 2009.

Major flooding has begun and is forecast to continue through spring in parts of the Midwest according to NOAA’s National Weather Service. The South and East are also more susceptible to flooding as an El Niño influenced winter left the area soggier than usual.

US Flood Risk Map. Areas left blank on the map are at “average risk.” Sourec NOAA. Click image to enlarge.

The forecast of imminent Midwest flooding is  supported by a snowpack more extensive than in 2009, which contains more than 10 inches (25cm) of liquid water in some locations. Until early March, consistently cold temperatures limited snow melt and runoff. These conditions exist on top of: above normal streamflows; December precipitation that was up to four times above average; and the ground which is frozen to a depth as much as three feet below the surface, NOAA said. More …

Related Links:

• US Weather

Current NWS Weather Hazard Warnings (U.S.)

• Tornado
• Hurricane
• Severe Thunderstorm
• Flash Flood
• Flood
• Winter Storm
• Special Marine
• Non Precipitation
• Tsunami
• Space Weather
• All Warnings

Listeria Suspected, Cheese Recalled

The Wisconsin Cheeseman® Recalls Cheese Logs/Cheese Balls

FDA News Release Update:   01/21/2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Sun Prairie, WI. The Wisconsin Cheeseman® announced today that it is recalling cheese log/cheese ball products in conjunction with the voluntary recall initiated by Parkers Farm, Inc. on January 15, 2010. Parkers Farm, Inc., located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, believes some of its food items have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The recall was a result of a sampling done by the state of Wisconsin and the state of Minnesota.

Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Source: koolielu.edu.ee

Nine of the recalled products are cheese logs/cheese balls purchased from Parkers Farm, Inc. and then distributed by The Wisconsin Cheeseman®. These products bear the Parkers Farm logo. None of the other recalled products at Parkers Farm, Inc. was purchased or distributed by The Wisconsin Cheeseman®.

The Wisconsin Cheeseman® Food Gifts Impacted by Recall:
Sausage ‘N Cheese Logs – Gift #11
Cheese Logs & Cutting Board – Gift #87
Smorgasbord – Gift #325
Cheese Log Trio – Gift #365
Cheese Logs – Gift #411
Cheese Ball Trio – Gift #441
Cheese Logs – Gift #509
Snacker Pack – Gift #751
Cheese Balls & Sausages – Gift #876

Consumers who have these products in their possession should not consume them. Product should be returned to The Wisconsin Cheeseman® for a refund or replacement. Consumers who believe they may have become ill after consuming these products should contact their health care provider. The Wisconsin Cheeseman® has not received any complaints or reports of illness associated with these products.

Listeria monocytogenes bacteria is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria often experience fever, severe headaches, stiffness, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can result in miscarriage or stillbirth among pregnant women.

Source: Bacterial Meningitis. Image may be subject to copyright.

Group B Streptococcus, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes comprise the most common causes of meningitis in neonatals. About 17,500 cases of bacterial meningitis are reported in the U-S annually. (Source)

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Company Contact:
Lindsey Decker
608-837-5166, ext.364
Customer Service Contact:
800.698.1751

Photos: Product Labels

Related Links:

• Premature births caused by Virgin Blue airline food
• Imported Food Alert 22 Oct 2008

• How old is your ecoli-burger?
• Beef Recall in Six States
• E. coli in Beef May Have Killed Two
• Beef recall, E.coli O157:H7 suspected
• Imported Food Alert 22 Oct 2008
• Naples Garbage: First Commercial Dividends

• USDA
• CDC Press Release: E. coli Outbreak Investigations
• Questions & Answers: E. coli
• Sudden worldwide increase in antibiotic-resistant bacterium

US Tornado Brief

A Shrinking World Series

Updates:

• First lock on Mississippi River closes amid flood June 12, 2008

• Tornado kills four and injures up to 40 at Iowa boy scout camp June 12, 2008
• Midwest hit with floods June 11, 2008
• Midwest floods drowning crops; corn prices soar 11 Jun 2008
• Tornado kills four at Iowa boy scout camp 11 Jun 2008
• Midwest battles flood waters 11 Jun 2008
• Flooded Midwest braces for more rain 10 Jun 2008

• Video: Severe weather pounds U.S.
• Video:Holding a river at bay

What Tornado Headlines Say:

Copyright Editors or the News Agencies [Some editing by FEWW]

Deadly storms flood Midwest

At least five people were reported killed as heavy rains continued to pound the American Midwest on Sunday, flooding towns from Iowa to Michigan and threatening levees as lakes and rivers swelled.

Early Death Toll:

• Two delivery workers for The Grand Rapids Press in Michigan were killed Sunday when their car fell into a deep ravine created when a rain-swollen creek washed out a road.

• A woman died in Lansing Michigan, when a small trailer blew over on top of her.

• At least one person died as the result of rising waters, police spokesman in Columbus, Indiana said.

Meanwhile, storms in Nebraska spun out an early-morning Omaha tornado about a quarter-mile wide that moved northeast. As much as 11 inches of rain flooded central Indiana over the weekend.

Most towns south of Indianapolis and further west in Terre Haute received 6-10 inches of rainfall, said a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. He said some affected areas hadn’t seen a such flooding for 100 years.

Flood waters continued to rise throughout Iowa on Sunday, with the northern part of the state receiving up to 5 inches of rain from a single afternoon storm.

Two delivery workers in Michigan were killed when their car fell into a ravine. (Photo: AP/ The Grand Rapids Press) Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

Tornadoes maul homes, flip vehicles

A series of tornadoes destroyed homes, toppled power lines and flipped vehicles Saturday as a small but powerful storm system moved through the region, cutting just south of Chicago before weakening and moving over Lake Michigan.

Some of the damage in Monee. (Photo: Scott Stewart/Sun-Times) Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

“It was kind of like a train coming through the living room,” An eye witness said. “The building was shaking. There was a lot of commotion.” He said his neighborhood looked like a war zone, with siding, branches and debris strewn everywhere.

Lightning strikes pavilion as storms blow through Connecticut state park; 1 killed, 4 hurt

Lightning struck a pavilion at a Connecticut state park killing one person and injuring four others. Strong thunderstorms moved through the state Sunday leaving thousands of homes without power.

Powerful storms swamp U.S. Midwest, spawn tornadoes

Heavy rains caused flooding that forced hundreds of evacuations in Indiana, and a tornado raked Chicago’s suburbs on Saturday as violent thunderstorms pummeled the already soggy U.S. heartland, authorities said.

The U.S. Coast Guard was called out to help rescue stranded homeowners and motorists, and near-record flooding was forecast for rivers and creeks in western and central Indiana where Gov. Mitch Daniels declared an emergency in 10 more counties, added to the 41 counties declared earlier. At least one person was injured and some 29,000 households were without power.

“We’ve had some reports of houses destroyed,” said Andrew Krein of the National Weather Service.

Tornadoes also struck in Iowa and Wisconsin, capping a season that has seen a parade of storms spawning tornadoes, hail and destructive winds. According to the weather service, 112 people have died in tornadoes since the beginning of the year, the most in the United States in a decade.

Weather service warns of ‘violent’ tornadoes in Plains

Large hail, strong winds and heavy rain are reported in northwest Kansas in a powerful storm system that could produce large tornadoes in the state before nightfall.

In a strongly-worded statement Thursday, the National Weather Service warned that parts of Kansas could see hail bigger than baseballs, 80-mph-plus winds and “a few strong to violent long-lived tornadoes.”

Forecasters say severe thunderstorms will form by late afternoon in central and south-central Kansas and move toward eastern Kansas, Nebraska, northwestern Missouri and Iowa.

68 Tornadoes Have Hit Mississippi In 2008

The Storm Prediction Center – the National Weather Service office responsible for severe weather forecasts and tallies – says that 1,330 tornadoes have been reported this year. Not all of those tornadoes have been confirmed yet, but even still the numbers of confirmed tornadoes are already nearly three times that of the most active periods of previous years.

The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Jackson says 68 tornadoes have been confirmed to have touched down in Mississippi so far this year. In 2007, a total of 33 tornadoes touched down. In less than half the time the number of tornadoes has more than doubled.

Tornadoes and heavy rain struck Northern Minnesota

At least two tornadoes broke loose Friday morning in the far northeastern corner of Minnesota, where heavy overnight rains led to flash flooding throughout Cook County and the city of Grand Marais. About 5 inches of rain fell at Grand Marais.

Water coming down the hill next to Highway 61, west of Grand Marais. (Photo: Stephan Hoglund/ Star Tribune). Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

Related Links:

• Deadly Storms Hit US Midsection
• Will 2008 be year of the tornadoes, too?
• 2008: Year of the Fire

Deadly Storms Hit US Midsection

A Shrinking World Series

Powerful storms kill 8 in Iowa and Minnesota

Tornadoes Wreak Havoc in Oklahoma

Severe thunderstorms accompanied by large hail and tornadoes struck the US midsection Sunday, killing eight people and destroying tens of homes, authorities said.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver issued a disaster proclamation for Black Hawk, Buchanan and Butler counties, hundreds of homes were evacuated. At least 20 people were unaccounted for in Minnesota.

The latest toll bring the total number of dead to about 113 in U.S. tornadoes so far this year. Tornado season intensifies in the spring and early summer, and again in the late fall. (Source)

Dennis Schipper looks over his flattened home after a powerful storm ripped through the town of Parkersburg, Iowa, Sunday, May 25, 2008. (AP Photo/The Waterloo Courier, Matthew Putney). Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

Debris covers the site of several homes after a powerful storm swept through Hugo, Minn. on Sunday, May 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Jim Mone). Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

A tornado touches down. Supercell storms plowed across northern Oklahoma state Saturday spawning several tornadoes that crushed structures and sent debris flying miles away, US media reported. (AFP/NOAA/File)

People evacuate their homes after a severe storm hit the town of Parkersburg, Iowa on Sunday, May 25, 2008. (AP Photo/The Waterloo Courier, Matthew Putney) Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

Lightning strikes during a storm that produced multiple tornadoes east of Marshall, Okla., Saturday, May 24, 2008. Several tornadoes touched down Saturday in northwestern Oklahoma. A twister destroyed three barns at a hog farm near Lacey in Kingfisher County, about 75 miles northwest of Oklahoma City, said Michelann Ooten, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Emergency Management Department. (AP Photo/The Oklahoman, Matt Strasen). Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

Related Links:

• Powerful storms kill 8 in Iowa and Minnesota
• Will 2008 be year of the tornadoes, too?
• 2008: Year of the Fire

• Midwest tornadoes (video)

Slideshow: Storms hit Iowa, Minn.

EPA Sued Over GHG Pollution

The states of Massachusetts, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday for failing to limit greenhouse gas emissions from new cars and trucks. The lawsuit came one year after the Supreme Court ruled that the agency had the power to do so.

Main Entry: 18 States Sue EPA Over GHG Pollution
Original Report: 18 states sue EPA over greenhouse gas pollution