Driving at Maximum Speed and Without Brakes
As the impact of human activity on the planet worsens exponentially, the unbridled use of dirty energy, pillage of resources, over-consumption, colossal pollution and unstoppable mobility approach the top notch, the energy dinosaurs’ madness precipitates in global climate and weather chaos.
In Winter Officially Starts Today! the Moderators described the snow chaos as a ‘dry run for the climate chaos heading our way.’ Today, we echo the call and forecast, ‘you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!’
Human activity is affecting all of the planetary systems driving Earth toward total chaos at top speeds, and there’s no braking!
The choice seems to be between one of ripping off the engine and ejecting it out of the car, hoping the vehicle would eventually stop before running out of road, or that of crashing into the ‘extinction valley’ down below, at top speeds.
It’ll be a Wild Ride!
Selected Global Weather in Alphabetical Order:
Australian Weather:
Severe thunderstorms have hit Melbourne submerging parts of the city in waste-high water, turning roads into rivers, sweeping cars, as Victoria state is lashed by strong winds and hail stones the size of golf balls (AFP report described them as the size of tennis balls), causing damage throughout the territory.
The weather system was described as a mini-cyclone, which struck Australia’s second biggest city with 100-km/hr (62 mph) winds. An Australia Bureau of Meteorology forecaster said the event had likely not been seen for up to a century.
“The weather system that brought the damage to Melbourne is known in meteorological terms as a supercell thunderstorm, an organised beast of a storm that once it gets going tends to last more than your average thunderstorm,” he said, AFP reported.
Storm system lingering on over southern Australia (Melbourne and nearby areas). Color-Enhanced Infrared Satellite Image of Australian Region. Image may be subject to copyright.
Melbourne floods after severe storm (ABC-online User submitted: Henry Hunt).
China Weather:
Rain and snow are expected throughout most of China in the next few days, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) forecast.
Large weather system is seen over most of China and Japan. (Still image used for reference).
Click images to enlarge (and update bottom image). Source: Digital Typhoon.
“A new cold front is expected to sweep northern China over the next two days, bringing strong winds and a drop in temperatures, while cooler weather will persist in the southern part of the country,” the CMA said, China Daily reported.
China Daily complained that even though spring had already arrived, the snow keeps falling. Perhaps the authorities have over-seeded the skies.
“Heavy snow started on March 4 in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, causing 40 to 50 vehicles and nearly 100 people to be trapped on roads to the city’s Binxian county …”
Various regions in Shanxi, Shaanxi and Hebei provinces, as well as the Inner Mongolia autonomous region are forecast to receive heavy snow Sunday throughTuesday, CMA forecast said.
Below freezing temperatures in many areas are likely to drop by a further 10 to 12 degrees Celsius, with rain and snow expected to fall “south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River,” the CMA said.
The temperature in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, fell by a massive 20 degrees, from 30ºC to 10ºC on Sunday, the report said.
Bottom Line for Farmers:
“After experts warned the cold weather and persistent damp might cause damage to winter wheat crops, farmers were urged to take protective measures.” China D. reported.
Though it did not specify what sort of protective measures they could take against extreme conditions.
US Weather:
Extreme rain events in Arizona and New Mexico, snow on high ground, with winter weather advisories for the Southwest forecasting more snow. More areas of rain and snow in the Upper Midwest. Meanwhile, NWS issued an above-normal risk of flooding for the Quad Cities due to snow melt spring thawing conditions.
Predominant Weather Map of the U.S. Click images to enlarge and update.
Weather Forecast Map for the U.S. (see inset for date/time)
Weather Forecast Map for the U.S. For latest forecast click image.
[NOTE: Don’t be fooled by any potential loll in the storm.]
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