Category Archives: Natural Disasters

Ventura County wildfire destroys more homes, reaches Pacific Ocean

VENTURA, Calif. — The fire that has ravaged Ventura County continued to burn out of control Wednesday, reaching the Pacific Ocean unchecked as officials warned many more homes have been lost. The fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire continued to rage through the city of Ventura on Tuesday evening, jumping Highway 33 and burning through oil fields before crossing the 101 Freeway into Solimar Beach, authorities said. Continue reading Ventura County wildfire destroys more homes, reaches Pacific Ocean

Fast-moving wildfire closes 405 Freeway, triggers evacuations in Bel-Air

LOS ANGELES — Firefighters early Wednesday were battling a 50-acre wildfire near the 405 Freeway in Bel-Air, prompting freeway closures and mandatory evacuations, authorities said. The Los Angeles Police Department has ordered the evacuation of homes along Casiano Road, Moraga Drive and Linda Flora Drive. Continue reading Fast-moving wildfire closes 405 Freeway, triggers evacuations in Bel-Air

Weather Geek Stuff for the weather enthusiast on your shopping list

Weather Geek Stuff is a great place to shop for gifts for weather enthusiasts, weather geeks and weather lovers.

Not everyone gets excited about blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes and other types of extreme weather but many folks out there are passionate about Mother Nature.  Weather Geek Stuff is an online shop just for those whose hearts race with the thrill of severe weather and they are offering special deals through the holiday season.

Weather Geek Stuff is an online store that provides a host of clothing items and novelties just for weather buffs.  From the store’s custom ‘Weather Geek’ and ‘Weather Diva’ logoed merchandise to items imprinted with amusing weather warnings signs as well as Skywarn storm spotter logos, there is something there sure to please any weather lover.

Weather Geek Stuff’s merchandise was shown on the Weather Channel as a recommended gift so you know the quality is good.  Stu Ostro, Weather Channel’s Senior Director of Weather Communications even sports a ‘Weather Geek’ t-shirt on his Twitter profile.

Kids and dogs aren’t left out of the weather fun either.  There is a wide variety of clothing items sized just right for the little ones from babies to bigger kids.  Canine companions as well can get shirts and bowls emblazoned with a weather-related logo.

The selection goes far beyond clothing too.  Water bottles, clocks, mugs, bags and other novelties are part of the store’s offerings.  For the tech types, cases for iPhones and iPads are available.  Recently added products include laptop skins, clipboards and throw blankets.

Be sure to head over to WeatherGeekStuff.com and get that holiday gift today for your favorite weather geek. 

Support ThorntonWeather .com

Weather Geek Stuff is owned and operated by the same folks that run ThorntonWeather.com.  We provide ThorntonWeather.com as a no-cost service to the community and use the minimal amount of money made from Weather Geek Stuff to support the costs of running this website and the associated equipment.  So remember, if you have a weather buff on your shopping list, by buying from Weather Geek Stuff you are supporting ThorntonWeather.com!  You can also donate directly to fund the site here.

Pacific Northwest May Be at Most Risk for the ‘Big One’

The next big earthquake is due in the Pacific Northwest—but now scientists have pinpointed where along the coast a large earthquake is most likely to happen, according to a study published Monday. “We observed very compact sediments offshore of Washington and northern Oregon that could support earthquake rupture over a long distance and close to the trench, which increases both earthquake and tsunami hazards,” lead author of the study Shuoshuo Han,… Continue reading Pacific Northwest May Be at Most Risk for the ‘Big One’

Quake leaves trail of death and destruction in Iraq

Nizar Abdullah spent the night sifting through the ruins of the two-storey house next door in the mountainous town of Darbandikhan in Iraqi Kurdistan after a killer quake hit the region. “There were eight people inside,” Abdullah, an Iraqi Kurd, told AFP on Monday, outside the pile of concrete debris where the house once stood. Continue reading Quake leaves trail of death and destruction in Iraq

Typhoon Damrey Kills At Least 49 People in Vietnam

A powerful typhoon that blasted Vietnam’s south-central coast has killed at least 49 people, left more than a dozen missing and caused extensive damage to the region. 19 people are still missing, including nine crew members of cargo ships that sank off the coast of Khanh Hoa province, the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority said in a statement Monday. Continue reading Typhoon Damrey Kills At Least 49 People in Vietnam

Congress approves $36.5 billion disaster aid for Puerto Rico, wildfires and hurricane relief

WASHINGTON — Congress gave final passage Tuesday to $36.5 billion in disaster aid for Puerto Rico and several states impacted by a particularly destructive hurricane season. The package includes $576.5 million to address the devastating wildfires in California and the West. Continue reading Congress approves $36.5 billion disaster aid for Puerto Rico, wildfires and hurricane relief

Dog Hailed as Hero After Refusing to Leave Goats Alone in Wildfires

As Robert Handel and his family drove away from their burning neighborhood, they were certain that their beloved dog Odin and their 8 goats would also fall prey to the wildfires. So imagine their surprise – and relief – when they returned the next day to find Odin and the goats were safe and sound. Continue reading Dog Hailed as Hero After Refusing to Leave Goats Alone in Wildfires