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August 2020
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Deadly wildfire complex in Washington breaks State’s record
The so-called Okanogan Complex wildfires have burned nearly 260,000 acres (105,000 hectares) breaking a state record set last year by Carlton Complex fire.
About 100 active fires are currently burning more than 2 million acres (81,000 km²) across 15 U.S. States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Year-to-date statistics [Source: NIFC]
2015 (1/1/15 – 8/24/15) Fires: 42,519 – Acres: 7,487,737 [Caution: The stats provided by NIFC have previously proved to be incomplete, erroneous and unreliable. See related blog entries since 2007.]
The Federal government has proclaimed an additional Fire Management Assistance Declaration as follows:
Washington Renner Fire (FM-5108)
Incident period: August 21, 2015
Fire Management Assistance Declaration declared on August 21, 2015
Weather Forecast by National Weather Service (NWS)
High Fire Danger Continues in the West
Hot, dry and breezy conditions will continue early this week across much of the Northwest U.S. and northern Rockies. Numerous wildfires are burning in this region, and dense smoke is causing air quality issues in several states of the Northwest. Red Flag Warnings and Air Quality Alerts are in effect.
The blaze near Yosemite National Park had grown to about 100 square miles Thursday and was only 1 percent contained. The fire has so far destroyed at least two homes and seven outbuildings and threatens several thousand homes, hotels and camp buildings.
Gov. Brown Declares a State of emergency in Tuolumne County due to Rim Fire
California Gov. Brown has declared a state of emergency in Tuolumne County due to Rim Fire, one of 5 dozen major fires burning across the western U.S., including about 20 in California.
The emergency proclamation for Tuolumne County states that the massive fire has “damaged homes, and is threatening 2,500 other residences, necessitating the evacuation of residents, and the opening of emergency shelters.”
The fire has also forced thousands of tourists to leave the area during peak season.
Evacuations
The Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office has issued an evacuation order for residents north of Ferretti Road to Elderberry Road. An Evacuation Order is issued when there is an immediate threat to life and/or property. Inciweb reported.
The fire started on Saturday August 17th, 2013, in Groveland Range District, Stanislaus National Forest, west of Yosemite. Some 1,849 personnel have been assigned to the blaze.
At least five other wildfires in Yellowstone National Park have consumed about 18 square miles.
“U.S. wildfire managers facing increasingly strained resources have opened talks with Pentagon commanders and Canadian officials about possible reinforcements of personnel and aircraft to battle dozens of blazes raging across the drought-parched American West,” said a report.
Wesern U-S: Red Flag Warnings as dangerous fires burn more homes, force more evacuations
Fire crews are tackling several large wildfires in the West as weather conditions continue to remain dangerous through the week, reported NWS. “Strong thunderstorms in this region will create gusty winds that could spread fires, and lightning from these storms could start new fires. The greatest fire danger exists from northern California across the Great Basin to the Northern Rockies.”
Red Flag Warnings in the West, other Warnings, Watches and Advisories for August 21, 2013. Source: NWS. Map enhanced by FIRE-EARTH.
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California Fire forces evacuation of campgrounds, threatens 2,500 homes
Hundreds of people at three Sierra camp–Camp Towanga, Spinning Wheel and Sawmill campgrounds–along Highway 120 were evacuated Tuesday as a fast-moving wildfire raged out of control west of Yosemite National Park, said a report.
The 10,170-acre Rim Fire, which began Saturday August 17, is burning in the Stanislaus National Forest east of Groveland, Tuolumne County. The blaze has destroyed at least two homes and threatens another 2,500, said the USFS.
The communities along Ferretti Road are being evacuated. The Ferretti Road is also closed at Highway 120. Evacuation centers have been opened at Sonora Fairgrounds and Greely Hill Community Center. The evacuation center at Tiago High School has been closed. [Inciweb]
Rim Fire is one of at least 20 major fires burning in California, as of posting. Fire officials say this year’s wildfire season is particularly dangerous due to the lack of snow, dry weather and drought.
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Beaver Creek Fire: About 1,200 people still evacuated
The 106,323-acre Beaver Creek Fire is now 30 percent contained and is burning near Hailey and Ketchum. At least 1,750 personnel are trying to bring the flames under control.
About 1,200 people are currently evacuated due to the Beaver Creek Fire, said Blaine County officials. Most of the evacuation orders remain in effect.
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Leavenworth fire grows to 500 acres; dozens of homes evacuated
An uncontained wildfire burning near Leavenworth in Chelan County, WA, grew to 500 acres late Tuesday, prompting authorities order 27 homes evacuated, with another 40 put under evacuation notice, said a report.
“Another fire burning outside The Dalles, Ore., in the Columbia River Gorge is believed to have burned a third home there (five other structures have also burned), but fire crews also reported progress Tuesday in fighting the blaze that threatens several dozen other homes, a spokesman said.”
Record-setting, life-threatening heatwave to impact Southwest, parts of U.S. midsection
Excessive Heat Warning: Prolonged period of intense heat targeting the West!
Massive area of high pressure causing dangerously hot temperatures are forecast across Arizona, Nevada and southeast California Friday through Monday: NWS
U.S. Weather Hazards Map – June 28, 2013. Source: NWS. Record-setting and life-threatening heatwave are forecast across much of the region resulting from a strong area of high pressure across the western United States Friday through Monday.
Excessive Heat Warnings
Excessive Heat Warnings, Excessive Heat Watches, Heat Advisories, Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches and heat-related Special Weather Statements are currently in effect, or should be expected, across at least 15 states in western, southern and midsection United States this weekend and into next week. —FIRE-EARTH
Potentially deadly heat wave forecast for SE California, S Nevada and Most of Arizona
An extended period of Excessive Heat is forecast for Friday through Monday as a significant heat wave develops across much of the Southwest U.S. with record-setting and life-threatening heat forecast into next week, NWS reported.
An Excessive Heat Warning remains in effect from 11 am PDT (11 am MST) Friday to 8 pm PDT (8pm MST) Monday for portions of southern Nevada, southeast California and northwest Arizona for elevations below 6000 feet, said NWS.
Excessive Heat Warnings are also in effect in eastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas.
Excessive Heat Watches and Heat Advisories have been issued for other areas. See below.
U.S. Weather Hazards Map – June 27, 2013. Dangerously Hot Temperatures are expected across much of the region resulting from a strong area of high pressure across the western United States Friday through Monday. Source: NWS
Expected High Temperatures
Las Vegas (Mccarran International Airport): 114 to 117 degrees
Mesquite And The Colorado River Valley: 118 to 125 degrees
Pahrump: 111 to 114
Barstow: 114 to 118
Morongo Basin: 110 to 115
Kingman: 108 to 112
Bishop: 106 to 108
Caliente: 105 to 108
Death Valley: 126 to 129 (52.2ºC to 53.9ºC)
Excessive Heat Warnings
Excessive Heat Warnings have been issued for the following areas:
Northwest Plateau-Lake Havasu And Fort Mohave-Northwest Deserts- Lake Mead National Recreation Area-Eastern Sierra Slopes- Owens Valley-White Mountains Of Inyo County- Death Valley National Park-Western Mojave Desert- Eastern Mojave Desert-Morongo Basin-Cadiz Basin- San Bernardino County-Upper Colorado River Valley- Esmeralda And Central Nye County-Lincoln County-Northeast Clark County-Western Clark And Southern Nye County- Sheep Range-Spring Mountains-Red Rock Canyon-Las Vegas Valley- Southern Clark County- Including Colorado City, Pipe Spring National Monument, Tuweep, Mt Trumbull, Lake Havasu, Desert Hills, Topock, Kingman, Golden Valley, Dolan Springs, Valentine, Wikieup, Yucca, Bullhead City, Mohave Valley, Aspendell, Whitney Portal, Bishop, Independence, Lone Pine, Olancha, Furnace Creek, Shoshone, Barstow, Daggett, Fort Irwin, Baker, Mountain Pass, Mitchell Caverns, Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley, Twentynine Palms, Vidal Junction, Needles, Beatty, Goldfield, Silver Peak, Dyer, Caliente, Pioche, Panaca, Hiko, Alamo, Rachel, Mesquite, Overton, Moapa, Pahrump, Indian Springs, Desert Rock, Amargosa Valley, The Town Of Mt Charleston, Red Rock, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City, Summerlin, Nellis, Mountains Edge, Seven Hills, Blue Diamond, Hoover Dam, Laughlin, Primm, Searchlight, and Cal-Nev-Ari.
Wildfires in Arizona, Alaska, California and Colorado Prompt Evacuations
An Arizona wildfire, dubbed Doce Fire, has burned at least 7,000 acres of chaparral and pine forest in just over 24 hours, prompting mandatory evacuation of more than 200 homes in five areas near the Granite Mountain Wilderness area, about 100 miles north of Phoenix.
Colorado
Lime Gulch Fire: A new wildfire in Jefferson County, southwest of Denver, has forced the emergency evacuation of about 100 homes on Wednesday.
Sparked by lightning, the Lime Gulch Fire has been burning fiercely since Tuesday. The blaze is fueled by gusty winds of up to 40 mph and humidity levels as low as 5 percent.
Most of Colorado will be under Red Flag Warnings Wednesday and Thursday due to ongoing drought, hot and windy conditions, forecasters said.
Black Forest Fire: The fire, listed as the most destructive in Colorado’s history, which started on Tuesday, June 11, was about 85 percent contained on June 19, 2013 (1:00 p.m. DST).
According to El Paso Sheriff’s website, the property loss caused by the deadly fire are currently as follows:
Carstens Fire: The 1,600-acre wildfire, which has been burning since Sunday near a highway in N California, is currently 40 percent contained.
More than 500 homes remain under evacuation orders.
Carstens Fire in Mariposa County, Calif., Day 2 – June 17, 2013
Alaska
Red Flag Warnings remain in effect across Alaska amid baking temperatures, which top 90 degrees (32ºC ), low humidity and strong to gusty winds.
Alaska wildfires have consumed more than 172,158 acres (269 sq miles) of land, according to Alaska Interagency Coordination Center Situation Report dated Wednesday June, 19, 2013.
73 killed, tens of thousands stranded in north India extreme monsoon
Death toll from flooding and landslides triggered by extreme monsoon rains in north India climbed to at least 73 on Tuesday, said a report.
Meantime, about 73,000 pilgrims bound for the Himalayan shrines weer reportedly stranded in monsoon-ravaged Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
Severe flooding and landslips have also destroyed hundreds of homes and dozens of hotels and other commercial buildings, as well as roads and other infrastructure.
The authorities have evacuated thousands of people living in low-lying areas along the River Yamuna, as the water level rose above the “danger mark,” said the report.
Road collapses, as flooded river rages in Uttarakhand. Photo credit: AFP. Image may be subject to copyright.
“We are on a war footing, we are working day and night,” said an official in Uttarkashi, where two national highways were blocked by landslides.
Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watch for eight states
U.S. Weather Hazards Map. June 18, 2013. Source: NWS
Severe Weather Possible for Parts of northern Rockies, High Plains, Ohio Valley, and Carolinas: NWS
The NWS Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a risk of severe thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon and evening for four distinct areas across the U.S.: from central Idaho into northwestern Montana; from northwest Texas to extreme southeastern Montana; across central Illinois, southern Indiana and into northern Kentucky; and across the central and eastern Carolinas.
High and Low Temperature for the Contiguous U.S.
High Temperature for Monday, June 17, 2013 (as received by 8 am EDT June 18)
115 degrees (46.1ºC) recorded at Ocotillo Wells, CA
Low Temperature for Teusday, June 18, 2013 (as received by 8 am EDT June 18)
29 degrees (-1.7ºC) recorded at Kenton, MI
29 degrees (-1.7ºC) recorded at Doe Lake, MI
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Popocatépetl Volcano Erupts [again]
Popocatépetl volcano erupted on Monday, sending a column of ash and volcanic gases and into the air and prompting the authorities to raise the volcano alert level to Yellow (Phase 2.) Access to a 12-km zone around the volcano is restricted.
Black Forest Fire consumes 18,000 acres destroys at least 360 homes, kills 2
The most destructive fire in Colorado’s history continued spreading Thursday, forcing the authorities to issue mandatory evacuations for 38,000 people living in 13,000 homes across 70 square miles.
The blaze had burned at least 18,000 acres in heavily wooded hills, devouring more than 360 homes NE of Colorado Springs, as of Thursday afternoon.
Colorado Springs, state’s second-largest city, has also put more than 2,000 people on evacuation notices.
The vast destruction wreaked by the Black Forest Fire already surpasses last year’s Waldo Canyon fire, which destroyed 347 homes and killed two people.
And the worst may yet to come, as this fire seems capable of destroying at least 1,000 homes.
Black Forest Strikes Back: “Load your family, and pets and GO NOW”
An aerial view of a destroyed house and vehicles in the aftermath of the Black Forest Fire in Black Forest, Colorado June 13, 2013. Credit: Reuters/Rick Wilking
“All we can do is fight,” said Gov. Hickenlooper after visiting residents who had been rehoused in a high school.
“We’re not confident that if the winds changed and pushed the fire to any one of our boundaries that it could be held,” said El Paso County Sheriff Maketa. “Load your family, and pets and GO NOW.”
Meantime, six Colorado counties were declared drought disaster areas by the USDA on Wednesday.
Red Flag Warnings
Red Flag Warning are currently in effect for portions of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, California and Hawaii.
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Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events
West Virginia Gov. Tomblin has declared a state of emergency in Roane County following the damage caused by severe thunderstorms and flash flooding in the area.
Tens of thousands evacuated across Saxony-Anhalt region amid devastating floods
Up to 40,000 people have been evacuated across Saxony-Anhalt region in eastern Germany after a dam at the confluence of the Rivers Elbe and Saale south of the state capital Magdeburg burst.
The latest episode in Europe’s most devastating flood saw the water levels in the Elbe River rising to a record 7.48 meters, some 0.76m above the 2002 levels and more than 5 meters above normal, affecting towns and villages near the cities of Magdeburg, Aken and Berlin.
The cost of damage so far is estimated at $8billion dollars, the Cologne Institute for Economic Research has reported.
Meantime, the Interior Minister for Saxony-Anhalt was quoted as saying that air and land surveillance would be stepped up across the state in response to a threat from a group calling itself the Germanophobic Flood Brigade to attack the dikes.
“Downstream along the Elbe, the town of Lauenburg and the village of Hitzacker in Lower Saxony were bracing for flood waters in the coming days. More rain heavy rain is expected Monday in the states of Thuringia, Saxony and Bavaria,” said a report.
Meantime, people in Budapest are bracing as the surging Danube approaches.
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Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events
Worldwide carbon emissions hit record high in 2012
Global CO2 emissions in 2012 rose by 1.4 percent to 31.6 billion tons, IEA has estimated.
The biggest emitter in 2012 was China, which spewed an additional 300 million tons.
Additional use of gas to generate power helped reduce the CO2 emissions in the U.S.
Japan’s CO2 emissions rose by 70 million tons because the country’s inadequate energy efficiency measure couldn’t offset increasing use of fossil fuels after the Fukushima disaster, said a report.
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Tornadic waterspout filmed in Côte d’Azur, France
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Shallow Earthquake Rattles Northern Territory, Australia
An earthquake measuring 5.8Mw struck the Australian state of Northern Territory on Sunday.
EQ Details:
Magnitude: 5.8Mw
Event Time: 2013-06-09 14:22:12 UTC
Location: 25.966°S 131.976°E
Depth: 1.1km (0.7mi)
Nearby Cities: 316km (196mi) SW of Alice Springs
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Another Day of Wild Weather across the U.S.
Monday: Severe weather moves East; heavy rain to pummel the Northeast, as record-setting temperatures in the West prompt Red Flag Warnings across multiple states.
US Map of Weather Hazards for June 10, 2013. Source: NWS
The NWS Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a risk of severe thunderstorms Monday afternoon & evening across parts of the Mid-Atlantic, from Maryland across central Virginia and North Carolina and into South Carolina. Damaging winds will be the primary threat though the development of a few tornadoes is possible. There is also a risk of severe thunderstorms across parts of the Tennessee Valley.
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Accelerating Rises in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
Recent Monthly Average Mauna Loa CO2
May 2013: 399.77 ppm
May 2012: 396.78 ppm
Up-to-date weekly average CO2 at Mauna Loa
Week beginning on June 2, 2013: 399.20 ppm
Weekly value from 1 year ago: 395.59 ppm
Weekly value from 10 years ago: 378.50 ppm
Fire Disaster Recipe: Strong Winds and Low Humidity
RED FLAG WARNINGS are in effect in parts of Texas New Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah and Oklahoma as both strong wind and low Humidity worsen across the region, NWS said.
“A low pressure system over the Great Basin will dig slowly southeastward toward New Mexico, today. Strong winds aloft will initially push over western New Mexico, gradually spreading to most areas. These strong winds aloft will combine with a deepening area of low pressure at the surface, leading to very windy conditions. In addition, dry conditions will precede the storm system with relative humidities ranging from the upper single digits to mid teens across much of the area.”
Critical Fire Weather conditions are expected from late Monday morning into Monday evening, across the region.
Wind: Southwesterly sustained winds of 25 to 40 mph; with gusts up to 60 mph
Relative Humidity: 10 to 15 percent
Impacts: Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly
U.S. Weather Hazards Map – April 8, 2013. Source: NWS/CRH/NOAA
Guatemala’s Fuego volcano eruption forces tens of thousands of people to evacuate
Fuego’s powerful explosions ejected smoke and ash about 4km into the air, spewing two lava stream down the volcano flanks, accompanied by thousands of tons of volcanic ash and tephra.
About 35,000 people from two dozen villages nearest to the volcano have been evacuated, awaiting evacuation, or are on notice to abandon their homes depending on the wind direction, authorities said.
The 3,763 m volcano, dubbed the ‘Volcano of Fire,’ sits about 10km SW of the colonial city of Antigua (Pop: ~ 50,000) , Guatemala’s former capital, and is one of Central America’s most active volcanoes.
Wildfire threatens about 500 residences near towns of North Fork and Gibbonsville, ID
The Mustang Complex resulted from five fires—the Mustang, Broomtail, Roan, Cayuse and East Butte fires—ignited by thunderstorms and lightning over the weekend of July 28-29.
As of September 9th (20:00MDT), the Mustang Complex had grown to 261,010 acres, Inciweb reported.
The massive blaze currently threatens homes, businesses, and natural resources.
The blaze is currently 16 percent contained.
Several destructive fires are burning mostly unchecked across the U.S. West.
The 2012 fire season has already seen record-breaking fires in Colorado, New Mexico and Oregon.
Mustang Complex Notification and Evacuation Plan. Inciweb.
Red Flag Warnings are currently in effect in parts of at least 13 states.
U.S. Weather Hazards Map.Source: NWS
Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events
British Columbia, Canada. BC authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders for more than 2,000 people in and around the Okanagan community of Peachland, after an intense wildfire consumed more than 100 hectares nearby, reports said.
Nicaragua: 3,000 people are being evacuated as San Cristóbal volcano explodes
San Cristobal, Nicaragua’s highest volcano, exploded at least 3 times, expelling volcanic gases, ash and tephra about 1,500 meters into the air and forcing evacuations of thousands of people in the rural northwestern department of Chinandega.
Authorities say up to 20,000 people may have to be evacuated.
The 1,745-m volcano sits 140km northwest of the capital, Managua.
United States. Red Flag Warnings/Extreme Fire Danger. Critical Fire Weather Conditions are expected across parts of the Great Basin, Northern Rockies and Great Plains on Sunday, NWS said. Red Flag Warnings are in effect for parts of at least 12 states.
“Thunderstorms with little or no rain coupled with abundant lightning will offer a threat for critical fire weather conditions across portions of the northern Rockies on Sunday. Meanwhile, strong winds and low relative humidity will also create locally dangerous fire weather conditions across the northern and central Great Basin as well as the northern and central Great Plains.” NWS forecasters said.
Major wildfires raging in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska and Wyoming
Active wildfires are consuming more than a million acres across the West and Midwest, forcing thousands to evacuate.
Red Flag Warnings are in effect in parts of the Dakotas, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, and Wyoming.
Oregon. USDA has designated seven counties in Oregon as primary and contiguous disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by wildfires that began July 8 and continue. The disaster declaration extends to counties in the adjacent states:
Idaho. Four counties.
Nevada. Two counties.
U.S. Weather Outlook
‘High temperatures in the upper 90s to around 100 degrees with heat index values approaching 110 degrees are expected from the Plains of southeast Kansas and eastern Oklahoma into the Lower Mississippi River Valley on Monday afternoon.’ NWS forecast.
‘Tropical moisture associated with the remnants of Isaac interacting with a frontal system will bring a flash flooding threat to the East Coast on Tuesday. Showers and thunderstorms will be capable of producing heavy rainfall that could lead to incidents of flash flooding.’
Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events
United States. Hurricane ISAAC caused “enormous devastation” to the Gulf Coast, especially the state of Louisiana, officials said.
The storm killed at least seven people—5 in New Orleans and 2 in Mississippi.
Thousands of evacuees are still in shelters, or with friends and relatives.
ISAAC knocked out power to about a million people in 5 states—Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
Korean Peninsula. Death toll from Typhoon BOLAVEN has climbed to about 100 across the Korean Peninsula, with many more injured. Dozens of others are reported as missing.
The storm destroyed or damaged thousands of homes, and more than 50,000 hectares of farmland, leaving at least 20,000 people homeless, reports said.
India. Rainfall from the annual monsoon season is down an average of 12 percent across India, as the country enters its fourth drought in just over a decade.
Some villages in the worst hit drought areas are reportedly on the brink of disaster, reports said.
DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN:1,291 Days Left
[September 2, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,291 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…
Global
Royal Dutch Shell to drill in the Arctic: The US government has granted permission to Royal Dutch Shell to begin tentative drilling in the Chukchi Sea off the Alaskan coast.
Nigeria
Oil spill stretches for miles by Exxon Nigeria field: ‘An oil spill near an ExxonMobil oilfield off the southeast coast of Nigeria has spread along the shore for about 15 miles, and locals said it was killing fish they depend on to live.’
United States
Red Flag Warnings: Strong winds and low humidity creating critical fire weather conditions across the northern Rockies as well as the northern and central Great Plains, said NOAA.
The 18,002,000 jobless total was the highest since records began in 1995.
Highest increases occurred in Greece (16.8% to 23.1%), Spain (21.7% to 25.1%) and Cyprus (7.7% to 10.9%).
The eurozone countries are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.
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.
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.
Red Flag Warnings, Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories are in effect from Kansas and Nebraska to Indiana
Another round of triple digit temperatures affect the central Plains, as National Weather Service warns about the extreme conditions.
Temperatures are forecast to be 10-15 degrees above average in the central Plains and the Mid-Atlantic, as three wildfires consume at least 120,000 acres in Nebraska, destroying a dozen homes.
U.S. Daily Highest Max Temperature Records set on July 24, 2012
Source: National Climatic Data Center
Excess Heat Warnings are in effect for all or parts of 7 states Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.
Heat Advisories are in effect for 14 states: South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Red Flag Warnings are in effect for parts of Montana, Nebraska and Kansas.
At least 24 high temperature records were broken and 34 tied in a dozen states Monday: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin, NCDC reported.
“The highest temperature readings of the day were reported at 109 degrees in Minneapolis, Kan., and Hebronville, Texas, tying previous records set in 2001 and 2009, respectively,” said NWS.
Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events
Greenland. Greenland’s massive ice sheet has thawed over an unusually large area, NASA has said.
The thawed area jumped from 40% of the ice sheet to 97% between July 8 -11.
NASA scientists say they are ‘surprised‘ by the speed and scale of this month’s thaw, describing the phenomenon as ‘extraordinary.’
Missouri. Gov. Nixon has declared a state of emergency due to the impact of continued severe heat and drought on agriculture and public health.
“Our farmers are suffering tremendous losses in crops and livestock, and we’re seeing more heat-related deaths and emergency room visits, particularly among seniors.” Nixon said. “In addition, we continue to see a high risk of fire from tinderbox conditions, and we are monitoring how the drought is affecting public water supplies and distribution.”
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has reported 25 heat-related deaths between May 1 and July 22, with about 830 heat-related emergency visits to hospitals, reports said.
Assam, India. “The death toll from ethnic violence in northeast India rose to 38 Wednesday after four days of clashes. At least 170,000 villagers have fled from their homes in the remote state of Assam,” said a report.
China. “Tens of thousands of people have been summoned to stand guard protecting dikes in Jingzhou city (Pop: ~ 6.45 million), which lies downstream of the Three Gorges Dam in Hubei province. Authorities declared more than 620 kms of river banks as risky along the Yangtze and its tributaries in the city.” Said a report.
Original Caption: Armed police patrol at the Three Gorges Dam, a gigantic hydropower project on the Yangtze River, in Yichang City, central China’s Hubei Province, July 24, 2012. Due to the downpours in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, China’s longest, the Three Gorges Dam experienced its largest flood peak this year on Tuesday, with a peak flow of 70,000 cubic meters of water per second. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Tens of thousands evacuated amid raging blazes, as wildfires, flooding, TS DEBBY and extreme weather events affect 2 dozen states
As Tropical Storm DEBBY continued to inch closer to the Gulf Coast, Louisiana Governor issued an executive proclamation declaring a state of emergency for the state.
Tropical Storm DEBBY. IR Satellite Image (NHC Enhancement). Source: CIMSS
Tropical Storm Debby is moving very slowly northeast, and is expected to become nearly stationary overnight. The NOAA/NWS Hurricane Prediction center has cancelled the Tropical Storm Warning for Louisiana and Mississippi. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from the Mississippi-Alabama border eastward to the Suwannee River in Florida. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect south of the Suwannee River to Englewood, Florida. There is high uncertainty with the movement of this storm. [NWS]
TS DEBBY has spawned at least 4 tornadoes in Collier County Florida, killing 1 person, injuring two, and destroying or damaging a dozen homes, as of posting.
Hazardous Weather Warnings. Hazardous Weather Warnings have been issued for all 50 States.
Red Flag Warnings. Red Flag Warnings are currently operating across at least 11 lower states and Hawaii.
Fire Warning. “A FIRE IS BURNING RAPIDLY ALONG THE BOSQUE NEAR RIO VISTA RUN AND HIGHWAY 76 BETWEEN ESPANOLA AND CHIMAYO BY LA PUEBLA. RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO EVACUATE AWAY FROM THE FIRE.” NWS reported.
Wildfires
Colorado. The Waldo Canyon Fire which ignited in Pike National Forest, El Paso County, on June 23 has exploded to about 3,000 acres, forcing nearly 12,000 people to evacuate.
The fire is expected to remain very active today as day heats up and winds develop, forest authorities said.
Mandatory evacuation orders are in place at
– Cedar Heights Subdivision and Mountain Shadows south of Chuck Wagon. Boundaries are Rampart Range Road to the west and everything west of 30thand Centennial from Gateway Road north to Chuck Wagon. This is the only mandatory or voluntary evacuation in effect at this time in Colorado Springs City limits. – Manitou Springs has also placed Mandatory Evacuation Orders within its City limits. – CORRECTION to reported voluntary evacuations for Mountain Shadows. There are no Mandatory Evacuation – – Orders in place at this time for Mountain Shadows other than those south of Chuck Wagon Road. – Garden of the Gods Park and Garden of the Gods Visitor Center are closed. – Green Mountain Falls, Chipita Park, and Cascade (on both sides of Hwy 24) – Farish and Corrol Lake off Rampart Range Road – Red Rock Canyon Open Space, Garden of the Gods Park, Palmer Park and Pikes Peak Highway are CLOSED. – To have your phone on the “reverse 911” for evacuation notices, go to elpasoteller911.org
– Pre Evacuation Notices (These are precautionary notices only – not Mandatory Evacuation, but be prepared to evacuate on short notice if official notification for Evacuation occurs)
– In Teller County: East of Safeway, north of Safeway to Rampart Range Road, south to Edlow Road [Inciweb]
The High Park Fire.Colorado’s second-largest recorded fire and its most destructive has grown to about 83,000 acres and at least 248 homes (the figure includes additional homes which were lost late last week in the Glacier View and Hewlett subdivisions), USFS reported.
The deadly fire continues to spread west into inaccessible areas, and is said to have an EXTREME growth potential.
Evacuation Orders remain in place for thousands of residents. See previous posts for lists.
Utah. The Wood Hollow fire, a new, fast-moving blaze, about 100 miles south of Salt Lake City, has exploded to more than 8,000 acres, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes in 2 rural communities of Fountain Green and Indianola, reports said.
Oklahoma. Record heat likely today in Tulsa and neighboring areas, with afternoon heat index climbing to 111ºF, NWS forecast.
Heat wave is forecast to continues with 100+ heat to persists through the week.
Extreme fire growth potential created by a combination of warm temperatures, low relative humidity and strong winds have created critical fire weather conditions prompting NWS to issue Red Flag Warnings in 9 states.
U.S. Hazards Map. Source: NWS. Map enhanced by FIRE-EARTH.
Disaster Calendar 2012 – March 31
Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,446 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History
Devastating Wildfire in Holly Shelter Game Land, NC, Grows to about 19,000
Pender Fire was started by lightning on Sunday afternoon and has since consumed about 19,000 acres with unknown containment.
The fast-moving wildfire is burning Holly Shelter Game Land has killed many types of animals, according to reports.
Also known as the Juniper Road Fire, the blaze is reportedly moving toward NC 53 and NC 50 in the Maple Hill area. The raging blaze continues to threaten about 2,000 homes in Pender and Onslow counties.
Pender Fire is one of three major wildfires currently burning in North Carolina.
Fire Summary
Cause: Lightning
Date of Origin Sunday June 19th, 2011 approx. 03:33 PM
Location: Holly Shelter Game Land, Juniper Road and County Line Road, 8 miles North of Topsail
Total Personnel: 101
Size: ~ 19,000 acres (Local reports)
Fire Behavior: Sustained burning along uncontained fireline, short range spotting, torching along the flanks and intense smoldering of organic soils within the fire interior.
Growth Potential: High
Terrain Difficulty: High
Smoke Announcement:NO SUPER-FOG IS EXPECTED BUT VERY DENSE SMOKE CAN BE EXPECTED BY THE PENDER COUNTY FIRE (JUNIPER ROAD) AND ON ROANOKE ISLAND AND OUTER BANKS AS THE SMOKES FROM THE FIRES CONVERGE.
“There’s no doubt the wildfire is sending out massive amounts of smoke and that’s impacting a lot of areas near and far from the fire location.” Said a report.
“It’s a real thick smoke. You can see the fire from everywhere. It’s through North Carolina, so a lot of the tourists have been complaining,” said a Surf City resident.
Analyzed Fires and Smoke from Satellite on NESDIS ArcIMS server. Map enhanced by FIRE-EARTH. Click images to enlarge.
An image from Pains Bay Fire, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and the Dare County Range(Dept. of Defense, ASAF) in Dare County, NC.
The Pains Bay Fire was reported on the afternoon of Thursday, May 5, 2011 and was caused by lightning. It is burning on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and the Dare County Range (Dept. of Defense, ASAF) in Dare County, NC. Fuels are chaparral pocosin growing on organic peat soil up to 8 feet deep. Early, fast spread of the fire was caused by low relative humidity and high winds. For several days, the perimeter of the fire has been stationary. Ground fire burning in deep peat continues to hamper containment efforts. Source: Inciweb. Click image to enlarge.
A possible threat still exists to the Stumpy Point community. Conditions are being monitored and the need for evacuation is being assessed on a continuous basis. US 264, between Stumpy Point and Engelhard, has been closed intermittently since the fire began due to smoke and firefighter activity. Heavy smoke from smoldering peat continues to effect surrounding communities and areas as far as Raleigh, NC and Norfolk, VA.
Acres currently burning in active fires: ~1,500,000
Largest fire burning in the country: Wallow Fire (Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Arizona); 529,825 acres burned [official stats] at 61 percent contained.
Total acres burned: 8+ million acres [FIRE-EARTH estimate]
Worst hit State: Texas with 10,825 fires burning 3,189,457 acres [TFS stats,] and about 1,800 building destroyed [FIRE-EARTH estimate]
Red Flag Warnings
Red Flag Warnings are currently issued in parts of six states: Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. (Click map below to enter NWS interactive portal for details of Red Flag Warnings.)
U.S. Hazards Map. Click map to enter NWS interactive portal.
According to the Drought Monitor report 70 percent of Texas experienced “exceptional drought,” the worst level of drought, over the last week.
Also 91 percent of the sate is stricken by either exceptional or “extreme” drought, the second-worst category.
Arizona is experiencing exceptional or extreme drought in 70 percent of its land up by 3 percent from the previous period.
Louisiana saw exceptional drought rising to 65 percent of the state, a near three-fold increase, and Oklahoma 35 percent, up from about 8 percent previously.
Red Flag, Severe Weather, Tornado and Flood Warnings, Hazardous Weather Outlook Throughout the U.S.
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 show:
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
Wildfires
Loss of “Seasons”
Earthquakes*
Tsunamis*
Volcanic activity*
Poisoned and Polluted Environment
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.
Click image to enter NWS interactive portal.
Weather Forecast Map 18-19 June
Click image to enlarge.
GOES Western US SECTOR Infrared Image
GOES Eastern US SECTOR Infrared Image Click images to enlarge.
*[NOTE: Earth’s geophysical activity help the planet to stay alive and healthy. Earthquakes and volcanic activity are among natural phenomena that comprise our planet’s defense mechanisms. If you have difficulty understanding the concept of planetary self defense, consider the protective role of Earth’s magnetic field against solar winds. Whereas CMEs, solar winds and geomagnetic storms are classified as external threats, the impact of harmful human activity on the planet can be regarded as internal threats.]
Artist’s impression of Earth’s magnetosphere. Source: NASA.
Simulation of Earth’s magnetic field in interaction with (solar) interplanetar magnetic field (IMF): The animation illustrates the dynamical changes of the global magnetic field in the course of a disturbance: a temporary compression of the magnetosphere by enhanced flow of the solar wind is followed by a tailward stretching of the field lines. Eventually, the increase of the tail magnetic field results in a sudden collapse of the nightside field (a substorm) and a gradual recovery of the magnetosphere to its pre-storm configuration. Source: NASA.
A Message to the Discovery Channel Science Team [and others]
Unless otherwise stated, ideas, concepts and information posted on this blog are the intellectual properties of the blog authors. Plagiarizing these ideas are unethical and run against the spirit of science.
Numerous rivers, streams running near or above record levels
Numerous locations on the Missouri River and its northern tributaries have exceeded record levels set in 1952 and 1993 and major flooding is expected to continue for weeks into months, NOAA said.
Major to record flooding conditions stretch from Missouri River headwaters in Montana across parts of North Dakota and South Dakota. Floodwaters continue to work their way south to Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri: NWS
Click image to enter NWS portal.
Severe weather is expected from the north-central Plains to the Tennessee Valley; rain and thunderstorms for the northern Plains, eastern Washington and Oregon to southeastern Minnesota and western Kentucky and flash flooding in southern Iowa and northern Missouri, NWS said.
Major Flooding was observed on the Missouri River and tributaries this morning (June 13) at the following locations:
Montana
Jefferson River near Three Forks
Musselshell River near Roundup
Milk River near Tampico
North Dakota
Missouri River near Williston (crest expected Tuesday at record 30 feet)
Souris River near Westhope
Souris River near Bantry (at 14.5’ expected crest June 15 at record 14.8’
Souris River near Towner
Souris River near Foxholm (record 17.33 feet set June 11, old record was 17.2’)
South Dakota
James River near Stratford
James River near Ashton
Missouri River near Greenwood (set record at 37.98’ June 8, old crest 31.89’ in 1997
Outlooks from NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center indicate much of the Missouri River from South Dakota to northern Missouri could be impacted by heavy rain from severe weather today. There is a Slight Risk of severe weather development today from eastern Wyoming across parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi. See http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html.
River levels continue to rise on the Missouri River and some tributaries. As of this morning, automated data feeds showed 145 locations across the country at some level of flooding. Thirteen sites were at Major Flood, 35 at Moderate Flood and 97 at Minor Flood. Another 106 gauge sites were at Near Flood. See graphics at http://water.weather.gov/ahps/index.php?stage=7.
Missouri River waters are still on the rise in areas from Nebraska to Missouri. Local reports on Missouri River flooding may be found on the following web pages:
Tennessee, USA. The White House has declared Shelby and 14 other Tennessee counties disaster areas following the damage caused by rising Mississippi River and extreme weather events that have buffeted the region since mid April, reports say.
Minnesota , USA. The White House has declared 20 counties in both the Red River Valley and southern Minnesota federal disaster areas because of widespread flooding and severe storms in March that wreaked havoc in the state, a report said.
Missouri, USA. The White House has declared five Missouri counties major disaster areas, following devastation from tornadoes, storms and flooding. “Property owners who’ve gone into the Mississippi River Floodway say the situation is bad.” Said a report.
Two firefighters have lost their lives, including one near Lubbock who was killed yesterday.
Two sightseers were killed as their plane circled over fires Tuesday.
Cattle and Horses
NO official figures have been released so far. However, FIRE-EARTH estimates that up to 50,000 heads of cattle and horses may have been killed or seriously injured as a result of the deadly fires since beginning of the year.
“Between 400,000 and 500,000 cattle have been injured by the fire but survived,” a report said.
Dry Conditions Decimating Texas Crops
Texas farmers produce about 100 million bushels of wheat on average each year, but they would be lucky to produce a third of that amount this year, says Texas AgriLife Extension Service .
“This year’s crop condition ratings show about 40 percent of the Texas crop in very poor condition, which compares with 65 percent very poor in March of 2006 and 53 percent very poor in May of 2009,” said Dr. Mark Welch, AgriLife Extension economist specializing in grain marketing and policy.
