Category Archives: Earth Stuff

News of Earth Changes, climate shifts, weather anomalies, volcanoes, etc

Update on Irene

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urricane Irene Approaches the Bahamas
Posted by: JeffMasters, 7:42 AM GMT on August 24, 2011 +9
As of 2AM EDT, Hurricane Irene was located at 21.3N, 72.6W, 400 miles southeast of Nassau. It was moving west-northwest at 9 mph with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, making it a Category 2 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Irene has a minimum central pressure of 966 mb. Hurricane warnings have been issued for all of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Haiti from Le Mole St. Nicholas to the Dominican Republic border.

Satellite Views
Figure 1 shows that Irene has a large eye visible in infrared imagery, (26 miles across accoring to a report from the Hurricane Hunters at 130AM) with well-defined outflow cirrus bands. Tuesday evening, TRMM, NASA’s tropical research satellite, flew directly overhead Irene, getting a radar scan of the storm using it’s downward pointing radar, shown in Figure 2. It is immediately apparent that Irene has well-developed bands of rain showers, with strong storms present in the eyewall.


Figure 1 IR satellite view of Irene taken at 113AM EDT, August 23, 2011

First Hand Reports fr/People who Felt VA Quake

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Virginia earthquake “I Have Felt It” reports – currently 72 reports

Last update: August 23, 2011 at 10:16 pm by By Armand Vervaeck and James Daniell

MMI values (if indicated) after the text (III: Weak shaking, IV Light shaking, V Moderate shaking, VI Strong shaking, VII Very Strong shaking)


Gaithersburg, MD – MMI 4 checked – Sitting in basement. House starts shaking, stuff falling off shelves in the basement. Not windy outside.
Buffalo, NY – MMI 4 checked –
Williamsburg VA, USA – MMI 23 checked – At about 1:50 PM EDT felt slight shaking indoors as if a very heavy truck were driving nearby. Caused hanging chimes on grandfather’s clock to ring slightly. Very short duration – 15 to 30 seconds.
Lovettsville, VA, USA – MMI 2 3 Checked – started at 13:53 EST and lasted about 5 seconds

Southport, NC. – MMI 4 checked – Rocked open solid wood doors @ 3 – 6 inches.

Harrisburg, PA – MMI 4 checked – We evacuated our building after the building shook. We went back in when we realized it was almost the entire East Coast felt the shake.
Frederick, MD – MMI 5 checked – The Telephone lines outside were all swaying and inside the cubicles were shaking for probably 5 seconds.
Northern KY – MMI 4 checked – Working on 5th floor of concrete building in greater Cincinnati area. Felt shaking/swaying of building, something in my office made a noise. Scared me. Several people felt it, but some say they didn’t. Happened on 8/23 at about 1:52 pm.
Rockford, OHIO – MMI 23 Checked – At 1:57 p.m. August 23, 2011, my desk chair rocked back and forth for two minutes, while the windown shade tapped rapidly and lightly on the glass.
Clarksburg WV – MMI 4 checked – Vibrations felt, items slightly shaking.
Pointe Claire, QC – MMI Checked – I was sitting in a medical building (2nd floor) waiting for my appointment when the floor started to sway.  The doctor considered getting out through the window but they didn’t open.  We all sat them dumbstruck, not knowing what to do.  Luckily it didn’t last long…

to read more reports, go to:   http://earthquake-report.com/2011/08/23/virginia-earthquake-i-have-felt-it-reports/

More on Colorado/New Mexico Earthquake

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Unusually strong earthquake in Colorado / New Mexico, United States – Roads have been damaged

Last update: August 23, 2011 at 2:11 pm by By Armand Vervaeck and James Daniell

Earthquake overview : After having experienced a foreshock with a magnitude of 4.6 at 5:30 PM on August 22, a second strong mainshock measuring 5.3 magnitude (5.5 initially reported)  scared the Trinidad, Raton area.

Landscape near Trinidad, Colorado – Panoramio image courtesy Slakingfool – http://www.panoramio.com/photo/31935674

UPDATE : A few homes have been damaged during this earthquake. No collapsed homes, but cracks in walls, broken windows, collapsed chimneys, etc.  Earthquake-Report.com labels this as ‘minor damage’

UPDATE : Report from a girl on facebook : My father lives West of Trinidad (epicenter area ER) (Valdez-Segundo area) His chimney collapsed, walls were cracked, dishes broken. Some objects fell off the wall, but luckily everybody is safe.

UPDATE : Colorado State Patrol is reporting there is damage to I25 near mile markers 5 and 8. That is south of Trinidad, near the New Mexico border. Las Animas County reports damage to highway 12.  They also say there is structural damage to some buildings in the area.

to read more, go to:    http://earthquake-report.com/2011/08/23/unusually-strong-earthquake-in-colorado-new-mexico-united-states/

Colorado/New Mexico Shaken by 5.3 Earthquake

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Largest Colorado quake since 1973 shakes homes

By STEVEN K. PAULSON, Associated Press – 14 hours ago

DENVER (AP) — The largest earthquake to strike Colorado in almost 40 years shook hundreds of people in the southern part of the state and in northern New Mexico, causing minor damage to a few homes.

The magnitude 5.3 temblor was recorded at about 11:46 p.m. MDT Monday about nine miles southwest of Trinidad, Colo., according to the National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colo. That area is near the New Mexico border is and about halfway between Denver and Albuquerque, N.M. The quake followed three smaller ones that hit the area earlier in the day.

U.S. Geological Service geophysicist Shengzao Chen said the information center had received calls from more than 70 people in Trinidad and several dozen people in New Mexico who felt the shaking. More than 30 people in Colorado Springs, Colo., about 130 miles north of Trinidad, also reported feeling the quake, he said.

USGS geophysicist Jessica Sigala said Tuesday that Monday’s earthquake damaged chimneys, cracked walls and knocked items off shelves, but there were no injuries.

A few homes were damaged and there were rockslides on Colorado Highway 12 and Interstate 25, but both highways remained open, a Las Animas County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher said Tuesday.

to read more, go to:    http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5heS7XOwREfIGoPBf5T1o6y0JSjWg?docId=5dd8b5649b844f178a0ba72e2ab2fbf5

Tuesday Could Bring Severe Weather

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Tuesday could be BIG for Severe Weather

Posted: August 21, 2011 by Storm Central in Uncategorized

 

Tuesday could lead to interesting day for Severe Weather. With a un seasonal dip in the Jet over the Midwest, we could see a nice severe weather day for portions of the Midwest. As of now, tornadoes don’t look like a huge threat but the chance is a bit higher from previous summer outlooks. States included would be: IL, WIS, Iowa, MN, MO and this outlook below will likely expand. Graphical Updates tomorrow on this situation.
The area below will likely go to a 30% chance by tonight by the SPC.

 

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Tornado Devastates Goderich, Ontario

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Powerful tornado kills man in Goderich, Ontario

Dozens injured in southwestern Ontario community

The Canadian Press

Posted: Aug 21, 2011 5:01 PM ET

Last Updated: Aug 22, 2011 1:35 AM ET

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A police officer surveys tornado damage in Goderich, Ont., on Sunday. One man died, dozens were hurt and the community's downtown was devastated.A police officer surveys tornado damage in Goderich, Ont., on Sunday. One man died, dozens were hurt and the community’s downtown was devastated. (Geoff Robins/Canadian Press)

The most powerful tornado to hit the province in years swept through the southwestern Ontario town of Goderich Sunday afternoon, killing one person and devastating the picturesque community on the shores of Lake Huron.

Downtown businesses, century-old buildings and several churches lost their roofs and upper floors as the twister ripped through the town.

Images show downed power lines, trees and debris strewn across streets, while witnesses described cars being picked up and thrown like toys.

for the rest of the story, go to:    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/08/21/ontario-weather-watch.html

Irene Set to Ascend the Coast

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Long range tracking of Irene has the Carolinas as a landfall point, then New York

Published on August 22, 2011 6:10 am PT
– By Jim Duran – Writer
– Article Editor and Approved – Warren Miller


Click for 8/20/11 Update map

(TheWeatherSpace.com) — Confidence is growing stronger on a landfall point with Hurricane Irene as it leaves Puerto Rico.

It was around this time where TheWeatherSpace.com Senior Meteorologist Kevin Martin went for where Hurricane Earl would be, closer to the North Carolina coast than models had shown.

Now, Martin has released his long range track given where Irene is now and says this is going to be a Major Hurricane.

“The storm will be deadly, likely hitting between Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Wilmington, North Carolina before heading inland across North Carolina and then hitting Long Island, New York down the line,” said Martin. “The storm is finding a weakness in the ridge with the trough in the area and this is why I am giving it such a sharp northward turn.”

If Martin’s track is correct, Hurricane Irene will be similar to Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

Everyone in the Bahamas needs to prepare now for Hurricane conditions as well as up the Southeastern U.S. coast.

The system will affect more than the coast, it should have Hurricane force winds inland as well when it hits land. Martin’s path brings this to New York as a dying, but still strong storm system.

fr/http://www.theweatherspace.com/news/TWS-08_22_2011_longrangeirene.html

Turrialba Volcano, Costa Rica

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Volcanic activity on the rise at Costa Rica’s Turrialba Volcano

Published on August 20, 2011 10:05 am PT
– By Dave Tole – Writer
– Article Editor and Approved – Warren Miller


No larger map

(TheWeatherSpace.com) — Experts are tracking a 100 year dormant volcano in Costa Rica and are investigating new happenings.

The Turrialba Volcano has been dormant for over 100 years but temperatures are rising and plumes of gas are now visible at the top.

The volcano records an average of 100 microquakes a day. The gas is affecting nearby crops and farms.

Experts continue to monitor the volcano,

fr/http://www.theweatherspace.com/news/TWS-08_20_2011_turriablavolcano.html

Northeast Tornado Threat 8/21

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Tornadic setup from Jersey through New York City on Sunday is possible

Published on August 20, 2011 6:05 pm PT
– By Berry Johnson – Writer
– Article Editor and Approved – Warren Miller


No larger map

(TheWeatherSpace.com) — TheWeatherSpace.com Senior Meteorologist Kevin Martin is monitoring areas surrounding New York City on Sunday for severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes.

“Latest guidance is showing a healthy upper level jet in the area on top of an even better backing southeast flow at the surface where 30kts exists at 2,000 feet,” said Martin. “This just might be enough shear with the shown instability to bring a tornado threat into the picture from the Northeast through Maryland, New Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylvania.”

The areas of the Mid-Atlantic through some of the lower Northeast may require a TWS Tornado Watch product if Martin maintains his wording on Sunday morning.

to read more, go to:    http://www.theweatherspace.com/news/TWS-08_20_2011_njnytorn.html

Well, Hello, Irene

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Future track of Irene consistent into Florida for several days, video included

Published on August 20, 2011 1:25 pm PT
– By Kevin Martin – Senior Meteorologist
– Article Editor and Approved – Warren Miller


Click for 8/20/11 Update map

(TheWeatherSpace.com) — A system with a very wide counter-clockwise rotation is continuing to intensify as it moves toward the Caribbean.

This system; Invest 97, will likely be named Irene and cause problems in the medium term forecast. The system will move south of Puerto Rico and head close to the Dominican Republic and Haiti zones.

Because my tracking has been consistent for three days for a pincenter like left-hand hook into Southwestern Florida have decided to make a forecast video here at TWS and you can view it below this article. 

to read more and check out the video, go to:    http://www.theweatherspace.com/news/TWS-08_20_2011_futureirenevideo.html