Saturday evening the stage was set for severe weather across the nation’s heartland and Mother Nature came through in spades. More than a dozen tornadoes were reported as were scores of significant hail events.
Despite the number of events most resulted in little damage. However one tornado, by some accounts as big as three quarters of a mile wide, struck the town of Mapleton, Iowa. This massive wedge tornado struck at 7:21 CDT and caused significant damage in the town.
The video below was captured by storm chasers as they tracked the dangerous tornado.
Forecasters are warning of a very active hurricane season and an increased potential for landfall in the United States. (Natural Disasters Examiner)
Forecasters at Colorado State University released an updated 2011 Atlantic hurricane forecast that if it holds true, portends a very eventful season. The forecast warns of a 175 percent above normal level of activity and most troubling warns that the United States is overdue to get struck by a major hurricane.
CSU forecasters are calling for 16 named storms during the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. Of those they expect nine will become hurricanes and five of those will be major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher).
These estimates far exceed the historical 1950 to 2000 average. During that period the Atlantic averaged 9.6 named storms per year, 5.9 hurricanes and 2.3 major hurricanes.
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The team warned that whether a hurricane forecast calls for above or below normal activity, residents should always be equally prepared. Dr. Phil Klotzbach said, “It takes only one landfall event near you to make this an active season.”
Breaking down the team’s analysis further, they gave a 72 percent chance that at least one major hurricane will make landfall along the U.S. coastline. By comparison, the long-term average probability is 52 percent.
This recent 9 of 11-year period without any major landfall events should not be expected to continue.
~ Dr. William Gray
By region CSU forecasters put a 48% chance on the probability that a major hurricane will strike the East Coast. Nearly matching that they said there was a 47% probably a major hurricane would hit on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Dr. William Gray noted that overall the Atlantic Basin is primed for significant hurricane activity. He said that since 1999, only the 2004 and 2005 seasons saw a major hurricane make landfall in the U.S. and this scenario is not likely to continue. Gray warns, “This recent 9 of 11-year period without any major landfall events should not be expected to continue.”
More hurricane news from the Natural Disasters Examiner:
More than 500 earthquakes have been recorded in and near Japan in the past seven days. Click the image for a larger view. (Natural Disasters Examiner)
The situation brought on by last week’s earthquake and tsunami continues to worsen in Japan. Aftershocks continue at an astounding rate, the humanitarian disaster is growing and the threat of a nuclear disaster has prompted the United States to begin evacuations of military families.
As reported by the Natural Disasters Examiner, the Department of Defense announced this morning that the State Department was planning voluntary evacuations of military families and the families of government employees from Japan. The U.S. will also work to evacuate civilians that live within a 50 mile radius of the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
The power facility sustained significant damage in the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last Friday. Critical cooling systems at the plant continue to fail, and Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the plant, has struggled to regain control of the reactors.
Col. Otto Feather, 374th Airlift Wing commander at Yokota Air Base, told his command in a radio address, “I know there are a lot of people trying to figure out how to get out of here, and I’m not surprised that there are people that want to get on the road.”
The international community has joined with Japan’s own resources in aiding with the recovery. More than 100,000 Japanese Self-Defense Force personnel have been deployed, and tens of thousands of agencies from across the globe, including the United States military, are on scene or rushing to provide assistance. The U.S. Navy had aircrews contaminated with radiation and has since repositioned its ships in the area.
The disasters have led to an unfolding humanitarian crisis as more than one million are without power and supplies such as food and water are becoming scarce. The catastrophe the nation faces has been called the worst crisis for Japan since World War II.
The U.S. military has been deployed to aid Japan in recovering from the earthquake and tsunami. Click the image for a slideshow of the military's efforts in Japan. (Examiner.com)
On Friday, March 11th the earth let loose with what was the fourth largest earthquake to strike the globe since 1900. The massive 9.0 temblor shook the Japanese island of Honshu and triggered a tsunami 23 feet high that struck the coastline. The waves traveled across the Pacific causing damage as far away as California.
Since that time, earthquakes continue to roil under the ocean and on the Japanese mainland. The US Geological Survey (USGS) has recorded more than 500 earthquakes over magnitude 4.0 in the past seven days in the area. Several of these were substantial quakes of magnitude 6.0 or higher.
An animation, seen below, show the tremendous level of activity has been released and is absolutely astounding to watch. Two foreshocks are seen before the massive quake on Friday and then the swarm of aftershocks begins with startling frequency and intensity.
Recovery efforts begin amongst the devastation from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Click the image to view a slideshow of images on Examiner.com.
The massive magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Friday has brought incredible devastation to the nation. The death toll continues to climb and there are reports of thousands of people missing even as a nuclear power plant threatens to release dangerous radiation.
The death toll has now climbed over 600 people with at least 1,000 missing. The Kyodo News Service is reporting that according to city officials, 9,500 people in the town of Minamisanriku in Miyagi Prefecture are missing. The town normally has a population of 17,000.
An explosion at a damaged nuclear power facility increased concerns that a deadly radiation leak may be imminent. The blast at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant sent smoke billowing into the air and is reported to have injured four workers.
Government officials insist no dangerous levels of radiation have been released. Nevertheless, they have increased the evacuation radius around the damaged plant from 6 miles (10 km) to 12 miles (20km). A 6 mile (10 km) evacuation zone around the Fukushima No. 2 plant to the south remains in place. As many as 300,000 will be evacuated due to the danger.
With the concern of a nuclear disaster possibly being in the offing, rescuers continued to comb through the rubble in search of possible survivors. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said more than 3,000 people had been rescued but an untold number likely remain buried.
International aid began streaming into the nation including search and rescue teams and supplies from dozens of nations.
The U.S. military in Japan leapt into action and immediately began delivering relief supplies to stricken areas. The Marine Corps and the Navy will have extensive resources in the area, particularly once the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and its strike group arrives tomorrow.
According to the National Weather Service the tornado initially touched down at about 9:00am local time yesterday as an EF1. As it tracked to the northeast the tornado increased to EF2 strength packing winds up to 120mph. At its maximum size it was 150 yards across.
Four people suffered injuries from the tornado and 25 residential and commercial structures were damages. Cars in a strip mall were tossed about like toys and a gas station awning collapsed.
Alexander Hardware and Small Engine was in the path of the tornado when it was at its strongest after it passed over Theodore Dawes Road. The store sustained a near direct strike from the twister.
Video captured by Alexander’s surveillance cameras provide video proof of the power and fury of the twister. In one video, employees are seen tentatively looking out the front door before running for cover as the tornado struck. The second video provides an overall view of the store interior as the tornado hits sending shelves and merchandise flying.
A building's facade lies in the street after the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. Click the image to view a slideshow. (TwitPic / bebe33)
Christchurch, New Zealand was struck by a powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake on Tuesday that wreaked havoc across the nation’s second largest city. Buildings were reduced to rubble and people buried alive in what is being called the ‘darkest day’ in the New Zealand history.
In September the area was struck by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake and recovery efforts from that quake were still underway when the new quake struck. Buildings that were already weakened by last year’s quake, then the initial quake today struggled to hold up with the ongoing aftershocks.
Prime Minister John Key said, “It is just a scene of utter devastation. We may well be witnessing New Zealand’s darkest day.”
Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Yasi moves inland over flood ravaged Queensland, Australia. Click the image to view more satellite photos on Examiner.com (CIMSS)
Devastating flooding over the past month and a half inundated hundreds of thousands of square miles in the Australian state of Queensland. The last thing the weary residents needed was more stormy weather but that is what came in the form of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi.
Just a few days ago Tropical Cyclone Anthony made landfall on Australia’s northeast coast. Mercifully it was a relatively small storm. The same cannot be said of Yasi.
Yasi landed at midnight local time on Thursday as a powerful Category 5 storm packing wind gusts to 186 mph. Tens of thousands of residents fled the storm as it approached and reports of down trees, roofs ripped off homes and widespread power outages are being seen.
“This is a cyclone of savagery and intensity,” warned Prime Minister Julia Gillard. “People are facing some really dreadful hours in front of them.”
Accompanying the damaging wind was destructive storm surge more than six feet high that will likely submerge low lying coastal areas. Rains from the storm are sure to drench ground already saturated from the massive flooding Queensland has seen in recent weeks and new flooding is likely.
The storm has moved inland and is near the town of Georgetown. It still is packing powerful punch as a Category 3 cyclone with gusts in excess of 127 mph (205 kph).
Volcanic lightning is seen above the erupting Mount Shimnoe in Japan. Watch video of the eruption below. (Takaharu Town Office)
This week a significant eruption of Mount Shimnoe on the island of Kyushu in Japan sent ash billowing 15,000 feet into the atmosphere. The mountain, part of a complex of 20 volcanoes, will be familiar to fans of James Bond movies.
Shimnoe-dake (Shimnoe Peak) began to erupt on Wednesday prompting some flight cancelations from area airports and covering nearby cities in a coating of ash. The Japanese government raised the alert level for the volcano and banned entry to an area in a one mile radius around the peak.
According to the Global Volcanism Program, Shinmoe is part of a group of 20 volcanoes north of Kagoshima Bay called Kirishima. Eruptions in the area have occurred four times in the past 40 years however this recent is the largest in more than 50 years. The most recent significant even occurred on February 13, 1959 with others since 1900 occurring in 1946, 1923, 1913 and 1903.
James Bond fans may recall the volcano from “You Only Live Twice.” In the 1967 movie the villain, Ernst Blofeld, maintains a secret lair underneath the mountain.
Among the most impressive images are ones that have captured volcanic lightning, a phenomena which is not entirely understood. You can learn more about it in this story on the Natural Disasters Examiner.
The video below captures the eruption – be sure to take note of the impressive flashes of pyroclastic lightning.
Recent flooding in Brazil has submerged entire towns in water and mud. Image courtesy Blamed (Arquivo pessoal) via Wikimedia Commons
Australia and Brazil have both been besieged by heavy rains and flooding in recent weeks. While Australia’s damage was more widespread, the death toll in Brazil has been far more severe.
At latest count at least 809 people have been killed in the flooding in areas just north of Rio de Janeiro. 389 are reported dead from the floods and mudslides in Nova Friburgo and 324 in Teresolis. With at least 200 people missing the toll may eventually exceed 1,000.
More than 20,000 people have been forced out of their homes as flash floods and mud rushed through the Serrana region and the Brazilian government is being heavily criticized for its lax oversight of construction standards. The lack of a proper weather warning system and civil defense plan have also been highlighted by the calamity.
Many within the country and in the international community are questioning the ability of Brazil to play host to the World Cup and the Olympics later this decade. Brazilian daily newspaper Estado de S. Paulo wrote, “A look at public policy … or the lack thereof … reveals a long chain of unpreparedness, administrative incompetence, technical incapacity, and political irresponsibility.”
The recent deaths far surpass Brazil’s previous worst natural disaster. That event, a flood in the state of Sao Paulo in 1967, claimed 436 lives.
January 15, 2010 - Damaged buildings in Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince after a massive earthquake on January 12, 2010. The devastation from the quake was massive and rebuilding has been impossibly slow. View more images in the slideshow below. (IFRC/Eric Quintero)
Early on the morning of January 12, 2010 a massive 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti leaving death and destruction. Despite an immediate outpouring, rebuilding of the Northern Hemisphere’s poorest nation has been slow, hampered by corruption and bureaucracy.
The quake, Centered 10 miles from Port-Au-Prince, buildings were reduced to rubble within minutes burying thousands of people alive. Aftershocks rocked the nation for weeks collapsing structures that had withstood the initial shaking.
As many as 230,000 people were killed in the earthquake. An estimated 300,000 were injured and 250,000 homes and 30,000 businesses were destroyed.
Billions of dollars in aid pledged
Individual countries, charitable organizations and the United Nations rushed aid to the impoverished country. By March, 2010 more than $12 billion in aid had been pledged but it has been slow to arrive and its disbursement toward relief efforts even slower.
According to the United Nations, funding from all types of organizations was to total $2 billion in 2010 alone. A failure to follow through by all groups has resulted in only $1.3 billion being received.
Squalid living conditions bring disease
The earthquake left as many as 1.5 million residents without homes. Tent cities erected by humanitarian groups are now home to 1.2 million people, 375,000 of whom are children.
The conditions are deplorable and concerns of disease outbreaks came to fruition last year. An outbreak of cholera afflicted 155,000 people and has killed nearly 4,000.
