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PESCARA DEL TRONTO, Italy — Strong aftershocks shook earthquake-ravaged villages in the mountains of central Italy on Thursday, with rescue teams dodging falling debris and bleary-eyed survivors still holding out hope that loved ones might be found beneath the rubble. The provisional death toll seesawed overnight, first reported to be nearing 250, then revised downward to… Continue reading Aftershocks shake central Italy after earthquake that killed 241 |
Category Archives: Natural Disasters
At least 37 dead after devastating quake hits central Italy
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AMATRICE, Italy — A devastating earthquake rocked central Italy early Wednesday, collapsing homes on top of residents as they slept. At least 37 people were killed in hard-hit towns where rescue crews raced to dig survivors out of the rubble, but the toll was likely to rise as crews reached homes in more remote hamlets. “The… Continue reading At least 37 dead after devastating quake hits central Italy |
NASA satellite imagery shows California’s monstrous Blue Cut Fire
The Blue Cut Fire, just outside of Los Angeles, is a quickly growing fire that is currently an imminent threat to public safety, rail traffic and structures in the Cajon Pass, Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Oak Hills, and surrounding areas. An estimated 34,500 homes and 82,640 people are being affected by the evacuation warnings that have been issued. This wildfire started on August 16, 2016 and the cause is unknown. In the last two days the fire has grown to 31,689 acres with 1584 personnel on scene. 178 engines, 26 crews, 10 air tankers, 2 Very Large Air Tankers (VLATS), and 17 Helicopters, including night flying helicopters. Additional firefighters and equipment have been ordered and will be responding directly to the fire. An unknown number of structures are damaged and destroyed. A smoke advisory has been issued for portions of San Bernardino Country.
Unfortunately extreme weather is continuing in the area with hot, dry and breezy (20 mph with gusts to 30 mph) conditions. Very poor relative humidity will continue. All of these will hinder fire fighting efforts and may increase fire spread.
NASA’s Suomi NPP satellite collected this natural-color image using the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) instrument on August 17, 2016. Actively burning areas, detected by thermal bands, are outlined in red. NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz LANCE/EOSDIS MODIS Rapid Response Team, GSFC. Caption by Lynn Jenner with information from Inciweb.
Suomi NPP is managed by NASA, NOAA and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Last Updated: Aug. 18, 2016
Editor: Lynn Jenner
Adoring press detail Obama’s golf, vacation while Louisiana is underwater
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Three days of heavy downpours have brought historic flooding to Louisiana, where 30 parishes have declared to be a disaster, and the death toll has climbed to 13. The U.S. Coast Guard and other first responders rescued more than 20,000 people over the weekend, as the massive flooding inundated areas in and around Baton Rouge. More… Continue reading Adoring press detail Obama’s golf, vacation while Louisiana is underwater |
Homes burn, thousands flee as fire chars 30,000 acres in Southern California’s Cajon Pass
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LYTLE CREEK, Calif. — An explosive brush fire that has ripped through more than 30,000 acres of hills, canyons and flatlands in Southern California’s Cajon Pass has bewildered veteran firefighters who fear the flames will only worsen. “It hit hard, it hit fast — it hit with an intensity that we haven’t seen before,” San Bernardino… Continue reading Homes burn, thousands flee as fire chars 30,000 acres in Southern California’s Cajon Pass |
Firenado captured on video at Beaver Creek Fire
Thus far, Colorado has been fortunate with relatively few large wildfires. The one notable exception is the Beaver Creek Fire where a firefighter recently captured video of a ‘firenado.’
Also called a fire whirl, a firenado occurs when the rising heat from the blaze meets whirling winds. The effect and appearance is much like a tornado – but made of fire and ash instead of dust and debris. Check out the amazing video below.
As of today, the Beaver Creek Fire has scorched over 36,000 acres since it started on June 19th. Burning northwest of Walden near the Colorado / Wyoming border, the blaze is only 44 percent contained and full containment isn’t expected until cooler temperatures arrive late next month into October.
Click here for the latest details on the blaze from Inciweb.
Satellite imagery shows devastating Canadian wildfire
A fast-moving wildfire burning near Fort McMurray, Alberta has prompted the evacuation of all 88,000 residents of the city. Since the fire started Sunday, at least 1,600 structures have been destroyed.
NASA’s Earth Observatory trained one of its satellites on the area – see below. Read more about the blaze here.
Wildfire Spreads in Fort McMurray
On May 4, 2016, the the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) on the Landsat 7 satellite acquired this false-color image of the wildfire that burned through Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada. The image combines shortwave infrared, near infrared, and green light (bands 5-4-2). Near- and short-wave infrared help penetrate clouds and smoke to reveal the hot spots associated with active fires, which appear red. Smoke appears white and burned areas appear brown.
CSU forecasters predict near-normal 2016 hurricane season
The Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University has released its initial forecast for the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters are expecting a relatively typical season in terms of the number of storms and their relative strengths.
Headed by Dr. Phil Klotzbach, the team predicts a total of 13 named storms. Of those, six are expected to become hurricanes and 2 of those major hurricanes of Category 3 or greater.
On average, the Atlantic receives 12 named storms, five of which would be hurricanes and two of those major storms.
Of the storms expected to develop in 2016, the forecasters give a 50% chance that at some point the U.S. coastline will be struck by a major hurricane. Average for the past century was 52%.
The numbers released include Hurricane Alex, a short-lived storm in January that reached Category 1.
Uncertainties for the seasonal forecast center around a weakening El Niño and possible development of La Niña conditions.
The report says, “The big question marks with this season’s predictions are how quickly the El Niño weakens, as well as what the configuration of SSTs [Sea Surface Temperatures] will look like in the tropical and far North Atlantic Ocean during the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season.”
La Niña typically brings less wind shear to the Atlantic allowing storms to form more easily.
Several dead as US south and east lashed by storms and tornadoes
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The US southeast and mid-Atlantic region have been lashed by violent thunderstorms and tornadoes that killed several people. The states of Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia were among the worst hit. In Convent, Louisiana, a tornado ravaged a caravan park, killing two people and injuring about 30 others. The town of Waverley… Continue reading Several dead as US south and east lashed by storms and tornadoes |
Magnitude-6.4 Earthquake Rattles China
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A magnitude-6.4 earthquake rattled a remote region in northwestern China early Thursday, the Associated Press (AP) reported. The quake damaged a few dozen homes but no casualties were reported. China’s official Xinhua News Agency said that the epicenter of the quake was in an unpopulated area, about 20 miles from Menyuan county in Qinghai province. The… Continue reading Magnitude-6.4 Earthquake Rattles China |