Federal Disaster Declared for Virginia

Severe winter storm and snowstorm: Major Disaster Declaration proclaimed for the Commonwealth of Virginia

Virginia Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (DR-4262)

• Incident period: January 22, 2016 to January 23, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration declared on March 07, 2016

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the areas affected by a severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of January 22-23, 2016.

Severe winter storm and snowstorm caused substantial damage across the commonwealth, especially in the counties of Albemarle, Arlington, Caroline, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Highland, King George, Loudoun, Louisa, Madison, Page, Patrick, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Warren counties, and the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Winchester.

Federal funding is available to the commonwealth, tribal, and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for snow assistance for a continuous 48 hour period during or proximate to the incident period in Albemarle, Arlington, Caroline, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Highland, King George, Loudoun, Louisa, Madison, Page, Patrick, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Warren counties, and the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Winchester.

Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the Commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Federal Disaster Declarations (2015)

The federal government proclaimed 43 Major Disaster Declaration [DR 4205-4247] for a U.S. state/tribal area/territory in 2015, two Emergency Declarations, EM-3372 and EM-3373 and 34 Fire Management Assistance Declarations [FM-5084 to FM-5117.]

Major Disaster Declarations (2016)

• Major Disaster Declarations for DC and Maryland March 5, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Georgia February 27, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Oregon February 19, 2016

• Major Disaster Declared for Alaska February 18, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Oklahoma February 12, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Texas February 10, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Arkansas [DR-4254] February 6, 2016
• Federal Emergency Declared for Louisiana (EM-3376) February 6, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Washington [DR-4253] February 3, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Idaho [DR-4252] February 2, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Alabama [DR-4251] January 23, 2016
• Oklahoma Oak Grove Fire (FM-5118)
• Major Disaster Declared for Missouri [DR-4250] January 22, 2016
• Federal Emergency Declared in Michigan [EM-3375] January 17, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration for Washington [DR-4249] January 16, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Mississippi [DR-4248] January 5, 2016
• Federal Emergency Declared for Missouri [EM-3374] January 3, 2016
• Federal Disaster Declarations
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Crop Disasters Declared in the U.S. States of North Carolina and Virginia

USDA Designates Multiple Counties in Two States as Crop Disaster Areas

Crop Disaster Designation #1

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated eight counties in North Carolina as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and flooding that occurred from Sept. 24, 2015, and continues.

Those counties are Granville, Halifax, Franklin, Johnston, Nash, Vance, Wake and Warren.

Crop Disaster Designation #2

In a second designation, USDA has declared the following counties as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain that occurred from Sept. 7, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2015.

• Virginia. Brunswick, Chesapeake, Dinwiddie, Emporia, Greensville, Hampton, Isle of Wight, Sussex, Newport News, Portsmouth and Southampton counties, as well as the City of Suffolk

• North Carolina. Camden, Gates and Northampton counties.

All counties and city listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Feb. 10, 2016, USDA reported.

Related Links

• Crop Disasters Declared in Two U.S. States February 5, 2016
• Extreme Weather Events Destroy Crops in Georgia & the Carolinas January 24, 2016
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Three U.S. States January 9, 2016
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Three U.S. States

UPDATED

Extreme Weather Events Destroy Crops in 36 Counties across Three States

Flooding, Late Frost and Freeze have destroyed or damaged crops in at least 36 counties across three states: Wisconsin, Virginia and North Carolina.

Disaster Designation # 1

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 14 counties in Wisconsin as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a late frost and freeze that occurred from May 17, 2015, through June 6, 2015. Those counties are:

Clark, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Portage, Price, Shawano, Taylor, Waupaca and Wood counties.

Disaster Designation # 2

USDA has designated a total of 22 counties in Virginia and North Carolina as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by flooding that occurred from Sept. 24, 2015, through Oct. 6, 2015. Those counties are:

Virginia. Carroll, Charles City, Floyd, Franklin, Franklin City, George, Greensville, Henry, Isle of Wight, James City, Newport News, Patrick, Prince, Southampton, Suffolk, Surry and Sussex counties.

North Carolina. Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Stokes and Surry counties.

All counties were designated natural disaster areas on Jan. 06, 2016.

Crop Disasters 2015

USDA declared crop disasters in at least 4,017 counties and county equivalents across 46 States [as well as Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands] in 2015. Those states are Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

• About 99 percent of the 2015 crop disaster designations were due to drought last year.

Crop Disasters 2014

In 2014, USDA declared crop disasters in at least 2,904 counties across 44 states. Most of the designations were due to drought.

Those states were:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan. Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, 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. Some counties may have been designated as crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

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

Related Links

• Crop Disasters Declared in Five U.S. States December 24, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in North Carolina, Virginia December 19, 2015

• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Montana December 19, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia December 10, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in the Carolinas December 3, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Kansas December 3, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Michigan and Ohio November 26, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Six U.S. States November 22, 2015
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Crop Disasters Declared in Three U.S. States

Extreme Weather Events Destroy Crops in 36 Counties across Three States

Extreme Weather Events have destroyed or damaged crops in at least 36 counties across three states: Wisconsin, Virginia and North Carolina.

Disaster Designation # 1

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 14 counties in Wisconsin as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a late frost and freeze that occurred from May 17, 2015, through June 6, 2015.

Disaster Designation # 2

USDA has designated a total of 22 counties in Virginia and North Carolina as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by flooding that occurred from Sept. 24, 2015, through Oct. 6, 2015.

All counties were designated natural disaster areas on Jan. 06, 2016.

Crop Disasters 2015

USDA declared crop disasters in at least 4,017 counties and county equivalents across 46 States [as well as Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands] in 2015. Those states are Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

• About 99 percent of the 2015 crop disaster designations were due to drought last year.

Crop Disasters 2014

In 2014, USDA declared crop disasters in at least 2,904 counties across 44 states. Most of the designations were due to drought.

Those states were:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan. Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, 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. Some counties may have been designated as crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

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

Related Links

• Crop Disasters Declared in Five U.S. States December 24, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in North Carolina, Virginia December 19, 2015

• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Montana December 19, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia December 10, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in the Carolinas December 3, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Kansas December 3, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Michigan and Ohio November 26, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Six U.S. States November 22, 2015
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Crop Disasters Declared in North Carolina, Virginia

Excessive rain, flooding destroy crops in North Carolina, Virginia

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 27 counties in two states—North Carolina and Virginia—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and flooding that occurred from Oct. 27, 2015, and continues. Those counties are:

• N. Carolina. Anson, Chatham, Cumberland, Davidson, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Greene, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Lenoir, Montgomery, Moore, Person, Pitt, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Scotland, Stanly, Vance, Wake, Wayne, and Wilson

• Virginia. Halifax and Mecklenburg

All counties listed above were designated crop disaster areas on Dec. 17, 2015.

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 3,964 counties and county equivalents across 46 States [as well as Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands]: Those states are Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

• About 99 percent of the 2015 crop disaster designations have been due to drought so far this year.

Crop Disasters 2014

In 2014, USDA declared crop disasters in at least 2,904 counties across 44 states. Most of the designations were due to drought.

Those states were:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan. Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, 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. Some counties may have been designated as crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

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

Related Links

• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Montana December 19, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia December 10, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in the Carolinas December 3, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Kansas December 3, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Michigan and Ohio November 26, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Six U.S. States November 22, 2015
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

 

States of Emergency Declared for Alabama, Georgia

State of Emergency proclaimed for Alabama as exceptionally severe weather approaches

Gov Bentley has declared a State of Emergency for all Alabama counties ahead of severe winter weather that is forecast to move through Alabama.

The potential exists for loss of life, injuries and property damage as severe winter weather moves through the state of Alabama bringing ice, snow, sleet, freezing rain as well as subfreezing temperatures beginning February 25, 2015, said the governor in his State of Emergency Proclamation.

The State of Emergency will become effective at 6:00 a.m. Wednesday.

Bentley, has also mobilized 250 National Guards to respond to emergencies, and  authorized local authorities to shut schools and offices, if necessary.

On Tuesday, snow and ice forced school closures across the south, bringing the traffic on roads and highways into a standstill, and creating havoc for commuters, with record numbers of crashes reported.

Deal declares state of emergency effective 2 p.m. Wednesday

Georgia Gov. Deal has declared a state of emergency for 50 counties effective 2 p.m. Wednesday (February 25, 2015).

“With forecasts showing we could see accumulation by 4 p.m., I want to make sure we get as many commuters home before then as possible,” Deal said. “While current models show that temperatures will remain above freezing, we don’t want to run the risk of having normal rush hour traffic volume if there’s snow or ice on the highways.”

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a winter storm warning for metro Atlanta and north Georgia, with potential for up to 4 inches of snowfall in the Atlanta area, effective 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Winter Storm Warnings

Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for parts of at least 20 states in the South, southeast, Midwest, central and NE US, as of posting.

Record Low Temp Set in N. Virginia

Meantime, at Dulles International Airport, N. Virginia, a new low temperature of -20ºC (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit) was recorded,  shattering the previous record of -10ºC (14 degrees F)  set in 1967, said NWS.

Lowest Minimum Temp (Daily Records)

Between 1 and 24 February, at least 1,883 new record low temperatures have been set across the United States, said National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).

States of Emergency Declared in Tennessee, Virginia, Australia

Freezing weather causes a major disaster in Tennessee

The impact of freezing  weather has caused a major disaster in Tennessee, according to a Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).

Gov. Haslam has therefore elevated the Tennessee State of Emergency into a Level II,  recognizing a major disaster in The Volunteer State.

The Level II – State of Emergency activation is effective as of 3 p.m., CST, on 2/21/15, after being at a Level III – State of Emergency since 9 p.m., CST, on Feb. 16, 2015.

Definition of Level II – State of Emergency
A major disaster as defined by TCA 58-2-101 as an event that will likely exceed local capabilities and require a broad range of state and federal assistance. The TEMP and the SEOC are activated in accordance with TCA 58-2-107(b)(2), and a decision by the Governor or his representative (Director of TEMA) declares a state of emergency. The full staff or most of the staff of the SEOC is activated, typically in a 24-hour continuous operation. This disaster may meet eligibility requirements for a federal disaster declaration under the provisions of the Stafford Act.

Tennessee has 21 confirmed weather-related fatalities since Feb. 16, 2015, said TEMA.

Virgina

• Wise County, Virginia declares local state of emergency due to weather

Wintery weather from Rockies to Northeast this weekend: NWS

Meantime, the National weather Service (NWS) posted the following forecast on its website, as another arctic boundary slid south from northern Canada reinforcing the frigid temperatures for the north central U.S. through at least Tuesday.

A winter storm will continue to bring snow, sleet, rain and freezing rain to parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast through early Sunday morning. Meanwhile, another winter storm will bring heavy snow to the Rockies and Plains through Sunday.
reinforce the frigid temperatures for the n[Valid 12:00UTC Sun Feb 22 2015 – 12:00UTC Tue Feb 24 2015 ]

• Active weather pattern across the southern U.S.
• Cold front brings more frigid temperatures to northern U.S.
• Significant snow expected for the Rocky Mountains

Tropical Cyclone LAM

The Northern Territory government has declared a state of emergency for parts of the region hardest hit by Tropical Cyclone LAM.

Areas under the declaration include Millingimbi, Ramingining, Galiwinku (Elcho Island), Gapuwiyak (Arnhem Land) and Mapuru Outstation.

More than 5,000 residents in the remote region bore the brunt of the category four cyclone as it tore through the Top End on Thursday night and early Friday morning, with winds gusting to 240 km/h and heavy rainfall.

Tropical Cyclone MARCIA

At least 1,500 homes were damaged and most homes and businesses in the northern Queensland towns of Rockhampton and Yeppoon were left without electricity, after Cyclone MARCIA, a maximum category five storm, raked the area, said reports.

Drought Destroys or Damages Crops in Virginias

Drought disaster declared for five counties in the Virginias

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated five counties in the two Virginias  as crop disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by drought that occurred from June 1, 2014 through Oct. 31, 2014.

Drought disaster designations

• Virginia: Highland, Augusta and Bath counties.
• West Virginia: Pendleton and Pocahontas counties.

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 736 countiesⁱⁱⁱ across 14 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

All of the 2015 disaster designations so far are due to drought.

Crop Disasters 2014

In 2014, USDA declared crop disasters in at least 2,904 counties across 44 states. Most of the designations were due to drought.

Those states were:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan. Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, 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. Some counties may have been designated as 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 February 11, 2015.

Related Links

• Drought Disaster Declared in 12 States February 6, 2015
• Drought Disaster Declared for VA, WV Counties January 30, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared for 220 Counties in 3 States January 8, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in 3 States December 25, 2014
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Drought Disaster Declared for VA, WV Counties

RAPID CLIMATE CHANGE
EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC DISASTERS
DROUGHT
CROP DISASTERS
SCENARIOS  900, [500,] 444, 117, 111, 100, 067, 03, 02
.

Drought destroys or damages crops in 7 counties across 2 states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of seven counties in two states—Virginia and West Virginia—as crop disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by drought that occurred from Aug. 22, 2014 through Oct. 15, 2014.

Those counties are :

• Virginia: Alleghany, Bath, Augusta, Highland and Rockbridge counties.
• West Virginia: Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties.

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 227 counties across five states. All of the disaster designations so far are due to drought.

Crop Disasters 2014

In 2014, USDA declared crop disasters in at least 2,904 counties across 44 states. Most of the designations were due to drought.

Those states were

• Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan. Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, 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. Some 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 January 7, 2015.

Related Links

• Crop Disasters Declared for 220 Counties in Three States January 8, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in 3 States December 25, 2014
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

M3.2 EQ Strikes Virginia

SEISMIC HAZARD
HEIGHTENED GLOBAL SEISMICITY
SCENARIO 08
.

Shallow quake occurs W of Richmond, Virginia

Centered at 37.462°N, 78.040°W the quake struck at a depth of 1.1km (0.7mi), according to USGS/EHP.

EQ Details

Magnitude: 3.2
Event Time: 2014-05-22 at 01:47:14 UTC
Location: 37.462°N 78.040°W depth=1.1km (0.7mi)
Nearby Cities

• 13km (8mi) SW of Powhatan, Virginia
• 34km (21mi) W of Brandermill, Virginia
• 43km (27mi) WSW of Short Pump, Virginia
• 43km (27mi) W of Bon Air, Virginia
• 52km (32mi) W of Richmond, Virginia

EQ Location Map

Source: USGS/EHP

 

States of Emergency Declared in Virginia, Arkansas

EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATIC EVENTS
DEADLY SNOW AND ICE STORMS
STATES OF EMERGENCY
.

Deadly winter storm prompts State of Emergency declarations in Virgina, Arkansas…

The states of Emergency declarations followed similar proclamations by governors in the states of Delaware, New Jersey, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Virginia

Gov. McAulliffe declared a state of emergency as yet another deadly winter storm bore down on Virginia, forcing school closings and flight cancellations.

The National Weather Service (NWS) had forecast up to 10 inches of snow accumulations in northern Virginia.

Arkansas

Gov. Beebe declared a state of emergency for Arkansas after ice and snow blanketed much of the state on Monday.

Beebe said the severe storm had “caused great damage to private property and public facilities in various jurisdictions in Arkansas.”

Flight Cancellation and Delays
About 5,500 flight cancellations have been reported within, into, or out of the United States between Saturday and Monday (so far), in addition to more than 17,000 delays due to the massive storm system.

Hundreds more cancellations were reported for Tuesday, as of posting.

Deadly Storm
Road crashes due to icy conditions have left a number of people dead including a 13-year-old girl in southwest Missouri on Sunday, and a 32-year-old woman in Colorado, who was killed in a 120-vehicle pileup near Denver on Saturday, while scores of others were reportedly injured.

Other road deaths were reported in  Oklahoma Texas, Tennessee and Virginia on Monday.

Record or Near Record Cold

Freezing weather from the Canadian border into Texas Monday plunged the mercury to record or near record lows in several places.

Daily Weather Records
Daily Weather Records previously provided by NOAA at National Climatic data Center website are NO longer available.

National Low and High Temperature
(for the contiguous United States)
Issued by NWS Weather Prediction Center at 7 pm EST Monday, March 3, 2014

• Low:   -40ºC (-40 degrees) at Embarrass, MN
• High: 29.4ºC (85 degrees) at Vero Beach, FL

Temperature spread 69.4ºC (125 degrees).

Compare:

National Low and High Temperature – Issued 7 pm EST Tuesday, January 21, 2014

• Low: -38ºC (-37 degrees) at Embarrass, MN
• High: 29ºC  (84 degrees) at Camarillo, CA

Temperature spread for Jan. 21 was 67ºC (121 degrees).

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

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

Related Links

• Polar Déjà vu   January 22, 2014
• States of Emergency Declared in Multiple States March 3, 2014

State of Emergency Declared in Tennessee

EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATIC EVENTS
STATES OF EMERGENCY
DEADLY ICE & SNOWSTORM
.

State of emergency declared in TN as ice and snow pound state’s south

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) declared a state of emergency in the state on Wednesday due to extreme weather.

“The cold air and precipitation is expected to build northward in the state throughout Wednesday and is likely to produce ice and snow-covered roads into Thursday morning,” said TEMA in a statement. “Localized power outages are possible due to downed trees and power lines.”

TEMA also activated its emergency operations center after forecasters predicted that storm system could dump up to 12 inches of snow on parts of the state.

120 Million of People Affected

The massive storm system is affecting an estimated 120 millions people in 22 states from Texas to Maine, leaving more than a dozen people dead and many injured, as of posting.

Winter Storm Warnings, Watches and Advisories were in effect from Georgia to Maine. Forecasters have warned the powerful system could dump up to 18 inches (46 cm) of snow over the Atlantic Coast through Saturday.

Real-Time U.S. Composite Satellite Image. (Source: SSEC/Wisc-Uni)

• 7-day Storm Animation [valid February 7-13, 2014 ]

Latest Weather Forecast by NWS

Winter Storm Brings Heavy Snow and Ice from the Southeast to New England on Thursday

A strengthening area of low pressure will move up the East Coast on Thursday bringing with it significant winter weather from the Southeast to New England. Ice Storm Warnings and/or Winter Storm Warnings are currently in effect for several states. In these areas, road conditions will be dangerous.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said parts of upper east Tennessee could see more than 11 inches of snow.

Temperatures are forecast to plunge by as much as 20 degrees below average over the Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic.

U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap)  for Thursday, February 13, 2014. Issued at 2:56UTC. Source: NWS. UPDATE

States of Emergency Declared for 9 Additional States

Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey have already declared States of Emergency due to the severe ice storm. More states are expected to follow suit.

Thousands of schools and government offices were ordered closed along the storm path from Texas to North Carolina.

“This is not the storm we had two weeks ago, where we were playing in the snow and building snowmen. This is an ice storm,” said Gov Haley, as she declared a State of Emergency for South Carolina.

Flight Cancellations and Delays

More than 10,000 flights into, within, or from the United States have been canceled and thousands more delayed since Tuesday. The trend is expected to continue through weekend.

Federal Emergency Disaster Declared for the State of Georgia

The White House has declared a federal emergency in the State of Georgia resulting from a severe winter storm beginning on February 10, 2014, and continuing.

The emergency disaster declaration will provide federal disaster relief to “lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe” in the counties of Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Elbert, Fannin, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Hart, Jackson, Lincoln, Lumpkin, Madison, Murray, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, Walker, Walton, White, Whitfield, and Wilkes.

White House Issues Federal Emergency Disaster Declaration for South Carolina

The White House has declared a  Federal Emergency Disaster in the State of South Carolina resulting from a severe ice and snowstorm beginning on February 10, 2014, and continuing.

Energy Emergency

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended on Wednesday the regional States of Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions & Permits for transporting propane throughout the United States.

A total of at least 36 states and District of Columbia are currently impacted by shortages of propane and other heating fuels.

States covered by the emergency declarations include:

• Western Service Center: North Dakota and South Dakota
• Southern Service Center: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee
• Eastern Service Center: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia
• Midwestern Service Center: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin

Colorado Gov Issued Emergency Declaration to Authorize Temporary Exception to Hours of Service Regulations for CMVs Used for Propane Transport on February 7, 2014.

Texas Gov Renews Proclamation Declaring Liquefied Petroleum Gas Emergency [Feb. 4, 2014.]

Connecticut Provides Emergency Exemption from Hours of Service of Drivers [Feb. 11, 2014.]

S. Carolina Gov Issues Emergency Declaration for Severe Winter Weather Impact [Feb. 11, 2014.]

S. Carolina Gov Issues Executive Order to Waive Truck Restrictions  [Feb. 11, 2014.]

N.  Carolina Governor Temporarily Suspends Motor Vehicle Regulations … [Feb. 11, 2014.]

Related Links

• NJ Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Deadly Snowstorm February 13, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in Maryland February 12, 2014
• Virginia Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Deadly Storm February 12, 2014
• Deadly Ice and Snow Blanket U.S. South February 12, 2014
• States of Emergency Declared in 4 States February 11, 2014
• States of Emergency Declared in New York, Pennsylvania February 6, 2014
• Disaster Emergency Declared in Multiple States February 5, 2014
• State of Disaster Emergency Declared in Kansas February 5, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in New Jersey  February 4, 2014

Energy Emergency Links

• Never Mind the Salt, Propane Shortage Biting Hard February 6, 2014
• Deadly Winter Storm Prompts States of Emergency in Georgia, Carolinas  January 29, 2014
• States of Emergency Declared in Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi …  January 28, 2014

• 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

NJ Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Deadly Snowstorm

EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATIC EVENTS
STATES OF EMERGENCY
DEADLY ICE & SNOWSTORM
.

Tomorrow does not look like a good day in New Jersey —Gov Christie

Gov. Christie has declared a state of emergency and closed state offices in New Jersey as a deadly snowstorm moves up U.S. East Coast

“This winter storm is expected to arrive tonight and last through early Friday morning, and the heavy snow will create hazardous travel conditions across the state,” said Christie. “I encourage all New Jerseyans to drive carefully and remain off the roads if possible …”

Forecasters said the storm could dump more than a foot of snow on some parts of the state.

“Tomorrow does not look like a good day in New Jersey,” said Christie.

The latest declaration is Christie’s fourth state of emergency proclamation due to snow so far this year.

Latest Weather Forecast by NWS

Winter Storm Brings Heavy Snow and Ice from the Southeast to New England on Thursday

A strengthening area of low pressure will move up the East Coast on Thursday bringing with it significant winter weather from the Southeast to New England. Ice Storm Warnings and/or Winter Storm Warnings are currently in effect for several states. In these areas, road conditions will be dangerous.

Temperatures are forecast to plunge by as much as 20 degrees below average over the Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic.

U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap)  for Thursday, February 13, 2014. Issued at 2:56UTC. Source: NWS. UPDATE

States of Emergency Declared for 8 Additional States

Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland have already declared States of Emergency due to the severe ice storm. More states are expected to follow suit.

Thousands of schools and government offices were ordered closed along the storm path from Texas to North Carolina.

“This is not the storm we had two weeks ago, where we were playing in the snow and building snowmen. This is an ice storm,” said Gov Haley, as she declared a State of Emergency for South Carolina.

Flight Cancellations and Delays

Thousands of flight have been canceled or delayed since  Tuesday and the trend is expected to continue through weekend.

Federal Emergency Disaster Declared for the State of Georgia

The White House has declared a federal emergency in the State of Georgia resulting from a severe winter storm beginning on February 10, 2014, and continuing.

The emergency disaster declaration will provide federal disaster relief to “lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe” in the counties of Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Elbert, Fannin, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Hart, Jackson, Lincoln, Lumpkin, Madison, Murray, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, Walker, Walton, White, Whitfield, and Wilkes.

Energy Emergency

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended on Wednesday the regional States of Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions & Permits for transporting propane throughout the United States.

A total of at least 38 states and District of Columbia are currently impacted by shortages of propane and other heating fuels.

States covered by the emergency declarations include:

• Western Service Center: North Dakota and South Dakota
• Southern Service Center: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee
• Eastern Service Center: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia
• Midwestern Service Center: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin

Colorado Governor Issued Emergency Declaration to Authorize Temporary Exception to Hours of Service Regulations for CMVs Used for Propane Transport on February 7, 2014.

Texas Governor Renews Proclamation Declaring Liquefied Petroleum Gas Emergency [Feb. 4, 2014.]

Connecticut Provides Emergency Exemption from Hours of Service of Drivers [Feb. 11, 2014.]

Related Links

• Virginia Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Deadly Storm February 12, 2014
• Deadly Ice and Snow Blanket U.S. South February 12, 2014
• States of Emergency Declared in 4 States February 11, 2014
• States of Emergency Declared in New York, Pennsylvania February 6, 2014
• Disaster Emergency Declared in Multiple States February 5, 2014
• State of Disaster Emergency Declared in Kansas February 5, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in New Jersey  February 4, 2014

Energy Emergency Links

• Never Mind the Salt, Propane Shortage Biting Hard February 6, 2014
• Deadly Winter Storm Prompts States of Emergency in Georgia, Carolinas  January 29, 2014
• States of Emergency Declared in Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi …  January 28, 2014

• 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

Virginia Declared Major Disaster Area

Severe storms and straight-line winds caused extensive damage across Virginia

The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Virginia following losses and damage caused by severe storms and straight-line winds during the period of June 29 to July 1, 2012.

The worst affected areas are the counties of Albemarle, Alleghany, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Buckingham, Campbell, Carroll, Charlotte, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Frederick, Giles, Greene, Halifax, Highland, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Nelson, New Kent, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Tazewell, and Warren and the independent cities of Bedford, Charlottesville, Covington, Danville, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas Park, Martinsville, Radford, Roanoke, Salem, Staunton, and Winchester.

West Virginia Disaster Declaration

On July 23, the Disaster President declared a major disaster exists in the State of West Virginia in the area affected by severe storms and straight-line winds during the period of June 29 to July 1, 2012.

• The areas worst affected by severe storms and straight-line winds are the counties of Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood, and Wyoming.

SPC Storm Reports for the Disaster Period.

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

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

Approximate percentage of corn located in drought areas. USDA

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

The U.S. Cattle Map

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

• USA.  Millions of fish are dead or dying in lakes and river across the country due to the extreme conditions caused by drought and soaring heat.
• Kansas. “Governor Sam Brownback objected to federal officials releasing water from three Kansas reservoirs to keep the Missouri River navigable and protect endangered birds. A spokesperson said Brownback preferred to keep the reservoirs as high as possible to conserve water for farmers and communities drawing from them.” Reuters reported.

Related Links

• Deadly storms pummel mid-Atlantic, knock out power to 3 million customers  Posted June 30, 2012
• States of Emergency Declared in 4 States and DC as Storm Death Toll Rises Posted July 1, 2012

• Deadly Heat Wave Affects Third of U.S. Population
• The record-setting heat wave continues to expand

Record Heatwave Kills Dozens in U.S.

Deadly heat persists in eastern U.S.

At least 46 people have died amid extreme heat that has paralyzed more than two dozen states from the Midwest to the East Coast.

Heat-related fatalities occurred in Virgina (at least 12 deaths reported), Maryland (11), Chicago (10), Wisconsin (4), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (3) Tennessee (2), and Indiana (1), where an infant died after being left in a vehicle in triple-digit temperatures outside her home in Greenfield, about 25 miles east of Indianapolis.

Hundreds of thousands of people in West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, Maryland and Indiana are still without power 9 days after deadly storms swept through the region causing widespread destruction and ‘catastrophic damage’ to power grids.

Map of Temperature Departure from Normal

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• Krasnodar Region, Russia. The worst flooding in living memory in southern Russia’s Krasnodar Region, near the Black Sea, has left at least 153 people dead and and more than 5,000 homes destroyed or damaged, reports said.
  • “The flash flood inundated the cities of Gelendzhik, Krymsk and Novorossiysk as well as the four villages of Divnomorskoe, Nizhnebakanskaya, Neberdzhaevskaya and Kabardinka.”
  • “The streets of Krymsk are now mostly deserted. The town looks like the set of a post-apocalyptic movie,” RT reported .
  • About 3,000 people have been evacuated from flood-hit areas in Krasnoda, as of posting,  while 30,000 people are without power in the region, and more than 80 percent of the population of Krymsk have lost their gas supply cut off.

Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

Up-to-date weekly average CO₂ at Mauna Loa

• Week of June 24, 2012:     395.33 ppm
• Weekly value from 1 year ago:     393.50 ppm
• Weekly value from 10 years ago:     375.08 ppm

Recent Mauna Loa CO₂

• June 2012:     395.77 ppm
• June 2011:     393.68 ppm

Recent Global CO₂

• May 2012:     393.77 ppm
• May 2011:     391.90 ppm

Links to Recent Related Entries

• Drought Disaster Declared in Montana Posted on July 5, 2012
• Colorado Declared Agri Disaster Area Posted on July 4, 2012
• Disaster Declared in 94 Counties across 4 States Posted on July 3, 2012
• Deadly Heat Blankets Eastern U.S. Posted on July 2, 2012
• States of Emergency Declared in 4 States and DC as Storm Death Toll Rises Posted  on July 1, 2012
• Deadly Heat Wave Affects Third of U.S. Population Posted on June 30, 2012
• The record-setting heat wave continues to expand Posted on June 30, 2012
• Explosive Wildfires Continue Erupting Across the U.S. Posted on June 29, 2012
• Destructive Wildfire Activity Intensifies in Colorado Posted on June 28, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012

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

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

Humongous Snowstorm Paralyzes Eastern U.S.

Snow Forecast: Record 76 cm (30 in)

Snowfall totals of up to 76 cm are forecast from Virginia to southern New Jersey

Virginia, Maryland and Delaware  declare states of emergency amid “snowpocalypse,” and put the National Guard on alert

Real-Time U.S. Composite Satellite Image. Click Image to enlarge (24-Hr FE ED). Source: UW-SSEC

• Click HERE to Animate Image

A ferocious blizzard caused by at least 12 inches of snow, as of posting (and mounting),  and 64 km/h  (40 mph)  winds in what is dubbed as “snowmageddon” is pummeling the US mid-Atlantic.

The authorities canceled all flights at Washington’s Reagan National airport, allowing only a few international flights to operate at Dulles International, news reports said.

The blizzard forced the U.S. govt offices in the Washington area to close after lunch yesterday.

Virginia Department of Transportation, VDOT said it had less than 6% of the state’s snow removal budget left, with the lion’s share already spent during the earlier blizzard in December.

About 20,000 homes have lost power in the Washington area as power lines and tree branches snapped under heavy snow.

The blizzard is the second to strike the area since December, when another storm dumped about 41 cm (16in) of snow in the Washington area.

Forecasters have predicted more than 76 cm (30 inches) of snow, for the area, some 5 cm (2 in) more than the all time record of 28 inches set in 1922.

GOES East – Eastern U.S. Imagery

An aviation color enhancement of a satellite image. GEOS Eastern U.S. Imagery, NOAA SSD.

Weather Map – Click Image to Enlarge –

• Forecast map loop

• Loop of sea-level pressures and fronts through day 7
• Short range forecasts in jpeg format
• Short range HPC 500-mb Pattern Graphics

The National Weather Service Snow Stats:

More than 30.5cm (12in, 1ft) of snowfall:  13 times since records began in 1870

Heaviest snowfall on record:  71cm (28in) in January 1922

Worst snowfall ever: about 91.5cm (3ft)  hit the area  in 1772 (100 years before records began)

National Snow Analysis:

February 5, 2010 (Metric Units)

Area Covered By Snow:	62.3%
Area Covered Last Month:	59.0%
Snow Depth
Average:	17.0 cm
Minimum:	0.0 cm
Maximum:	2340.7 cm
Std. Dev.:	27.6 cm
Snow Water Equivalent
Average:	3.7 cm
Minimum:	0.0 cm
Maximum:	1158.5 cm
Std. Dev.:	7.1 cm

February 5, 2010 (English Units)

Area Covered By Snow:	62.3%
Area Covered Last Month:	59.0%
Snow Depth
Average:	6.7 in
Minimum:	0.0 in
Maximum:	921.5 in
Std. Dev.:	10.9 in
Snow Water Equivalent
Average:	1.5 in
Minimum:	0.0 in
Maximum:	456.1 in
Std. Dev.:	2.8 in

Other NOHRSC Links:

• Station Snowfall Reports
• Station Snow Water Equivalent Reports
• Station Snowdepth Reports

Snow Cover Animations:

• Snow Water Equivalent: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Snow Depth: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Average Snowpack Temp: Season — Two weeks — One Day
  
• SWE Change: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Snow Precipitation: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Snow Melt: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Blowing Snow Sublimation: Season — Two weeks — One Day
  
• Surface Sublimation: Season — Two weeks — One Day
• Non-Snow Precipitation: Season — Two weeks — One Day

Snow Reports

Top Ten:

Metric Units…

Station ID Name Elev (feet) Snow (in) Duration (hours) Time(UTC) 35.1322_082.9342 LAKE TOXAWAY (278LAK) 3061 5.000 6 2010-02-05 04 0724H_MADIS CLOUDCROFT 0.4 ESE, NM 8940 12.000 24 2010-02-04 14 0730H_MADIS CLOUDCROFT 2.3 S, NM 8684 12.000 24 2010-02-04 14 35.1906_083.3639 EAST FRANKLIN (840685EA) 2087 3.000 6 2010-02-05 03 35.3186_082.4611 HENDERSONVILLE (932HEND) 2188 3.000 6 2010-02-05 05 2199C_MADIS TIJERAS 5.0 E, NM 7113 11.200 24 2010-02-04 14 0722H_MADIS CLOUDCROFT 4.9 NE, NM 8294 10.700 24 2010-02-04 14 MTRN5 MOUNTAINAIR 8NW 6634 10.500 24 2010-02-04 14 2395C_MADIS CLOUDCROFT 16 ESE, NM 6621 10.000 24 2010-02-04 14 3705S_MADIS NORTH LOGAN 0.8 ESE, UT 4757 10.000 24 2010-02-04 15

NWS Radar Mosaic. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Hazards. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Snow Accumulation.   Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Weather Forecast.  Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Predominant Weather. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

IR Satellite Image. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Water Vapor Satellite Image. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Max Temps. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Min Temps. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Temp – Real Time Mesoscale Analysis. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

6-Hr Precipitation amount.  (24-Hr FE ED). Click Image to enlarge and update.

12-Hr Probability Precipitation (%).   Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Wind Speed.  Click Image to enlarge and update. (24hr- FE ED).

Wind Gusts.  Click Image to enlarge and update. (24hr- FE ED)

Sky Cover. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24hr- FE ED)

River and Lake Levels. Click Image to Enter Portal.

US Seasonal Drought Outlook. Click Image to enlarge.

Surface Weather Charts. Click image to enter portal.

Fire-Earth Related Links:

• Snow covers 70 pct of the U.S.

• Phil says ’six more weeks of winter’
• 6 feet of snow blankets the Alps
• 2010 Disaster Calender – January
• The Storms Attack on California
• California: Powerful new storm sails ashore

• Transitory Impact of AO is the ‘Good News’
• December Snowstorm Only a Cat 3 on NESIS Scale
• United Kingdom of Ice
• State of Emergency in Oklahoma, S. Dakota, Texas
• ‘Humongous’ storm spreads across the US

• You Don’t Bring A Gun To A Snowball Fight!
• Winter Officially Starts Today!
• Deadly Winter Storm Paralyzes United States
• FEWW FORECAST: 2009 Likely Wettest Year on Record

Amazing Images of the Day: Mountain Top Removal

Coal is good for you! Don’t let a mountain or two stand in your way!

Mountaintop removal near Hazard (Perry County, KY). Image may be subject to copyright.

In West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee and eastern Kentucky, coal companies blast as much as 600 feet off the top of the mountains, then dump the rock and debris into mountain streams.

Over 300,000 acres of the most beautiful and productive hardwood forests in America have already been turned into barren grasslands. Mountaintop removal mining increases flooding, contaminates drinking water supplies, cracks foundations of nearby homes, and showers towns with dust and noise from blasting. (Photo and Caption:The Mountaintop Removal Road Show).

Related Links (Must Watch Videos)

• Mountaintop Removal Section of “The Appalachians” Part 2
  
• “The Appalachians” Mountaintop Removal Sequence
  

• Toxic West Virginia: Mountaintop Removal- Episode 1
• Toxic West Virginia – Part 2
• Toxic West Virginia – Part 3
• Toxic West Virginia – Part 4
• Toxic West Virginia – Part 5

Other links:

• For more information about mountaintop removal, go to: Links
  

Tropical Storm Cristobal Treks Northeast

Cristobal, the first of the season’s tropical storms to menace the southeastern U.S.

Cristobal – GOES – Water Vapor Image – July 20, 08:45 UTC

TROPICAL STORM CRISTOBAL INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 4A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL032008
800 PM EDT SAT JUL 19 2008

…CRISTOBAL MOVING SLOWLY NORTHEASTWARD…

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SOUTH SANTEE RIVER
SOUTH CAROLINA TO THE NORTH CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER…INCLUDING
PAMLICO SOUND.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA…INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS…PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 800 PM EDT…0000Z…THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM CRISTOBAL WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 33.2 NORTH…LONGITUDE 77.8 WEST OR ABOUT 130
MILES…210 KM…EAST OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA AND ABOUT 185
MILES…300 KM…SOUTHWEST OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA.

CRISTOBAL IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 6 MPH…10 KM/HR. A
CONTINUED NORTHEASTWARD MOTION WITH SOME INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED
IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THIS TRACK…THE
CENTER OF THE TROPICAL STORM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE PARALLEL AND VERY
CLOSE TO THE COASTS OF SOUTH AND NORTH CAROLINA FOR THE NEXT DAY OR
SO.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MPH…75 KM/HR…WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. SLOW STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 85 MILES…140 KM
MAINLY TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1005 MB…29.68 INCHES.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE NORTH
CAROLINA COAST…WITH ISOLATED HEAVIER AMOUNTS.

REPEATING THE 800 PM EDT POSITION…33.2 N…77.8 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD…NORTHEAST NEAR 6 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…45 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1005 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL
HURRICANE CENTER AT 1100 PM EDT.

$$
FORECASTER FRANKLIN

Related Links:

• National Weather Warnings

More images are available at Oceanview and Weather.

.

Wal-Mart, the Panther Chameleon and Josef Fritzl

Could Wal-Mart Ever Be Called “Green?”

What are the necessary conditions for pigs to fly?

One headline read: Green tech innovations save cash and planet. The text followed: “Businesses from Wal-Mart Stores Inc to Nike Inc are finding that green investments in their operations are more than just Earth-friendly – they’re boosting the bottom line, an environmental group said on Tuesday.

“The new wave of environmental investments goes beyond energy-saving lighting, buying recycled office supplies and double-side printing, the group, Environmental Defense Fund, said in a new report.” Wow!

Could Wal-Mart Ever Be Called “Green?”

Despite the obvious fallacies and the glaring oxymoron, FEWW moderators decided to put this to the test. The first reactions from an informal sounding were all too similar. The responses varied citing anything from “deception” by one kind of animal, to “rape” by another kind. Two examples follow:

Deception

• Well, it all depends on your notion of “green,” “blue” [the new advertising gimmick meaning “deep green,”] or khaki camouflage. What color is a Chamaeleo pardalis?

Panther Chameleon. Coloration varies with location, [and business objectives] the different color patterns of Panther Chameleons are commonly referred to as ‘locales’, which are named after the geographical location in which they are found. (Photo Credit: David Parks, via howstuffworks.)

And …

Rape

• If you can call Josef Fritzl a “caring” father, then you could probably call Wal-Mart “green,” or “blue” [meaning “deep green,”] because W-M’s passion for the environment is similar to Fritzl’s love for his daughter. They both got raped for quarter of a century!

An Austrian police handout picture released April 28, 2008 shows Josef Fritzl.

[Note: A “caring” father, Josef F. locked up his daughter in a windowless cell for 25 years for “her own protection” preventing her from “breaking all the rules” that might have harmed her. He repeatedly raped her to presumably express his “fatherly love,” and even kept three of the seven children which he fathered (grand-fathered?) with her, locked up in the basement to keep the “family unit” intact.]

Contorted logic?

A Wal-Mart Supercenter in Miles City, Montana. Note the obscene size of the parking lot! This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. (Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dave_mcmt/282000649/)

The 7 Rs for Wal-Mart

FEWW team had designed a survey covering a number of “serious” issues and at the last moment they decided to also include the question of Wal-Mart “color” on a poll of the members, colleagues, associates and supporters. The question concerning the mega corporation asked:

What are the circumstances, ever so remotely, under which Wal-Mart could conceivably claim to be “green,” or “blue,” [meaning “deep green?”]

Mushrooming in the Heart of Nature: A Wal-Mart Supercenter in Madison Heights, Virginia.
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 License. (Photo: Ben Schumin, via Wikimedia Commons.)

The replies, with all the “polite profanities” and snide remarks removed, were formulated as follows:

To be called “green” without a guffaw [not even a snicker] Wal-Mart should:

1. Renounce profit-making as a business model.
2. Re-establish as a customer co-operative.
3. Re-house all of their employees within a 0.6-mile (1km) radius of the stores.
4. Refuse to serve customers who
(i) Live farther than 5 miles (8km) from their stores, or
(ii) Drive to the stores.

5. Return the parking lots to nature.

6. Refrain from selling merchandise that are NOT locally produced, i.e., stop importing from China.

Or

7. Rot in the Ruins!

Related Links:

• Green tech innovations save cash and planet
• Criticism of Wal-Mart

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