The Watchers News Brief: September 19, 2018
Medicane formation expected in Tyrrhenian Sea
Models are now in good agreement on the development a potentially dangerous weather situation across parts of the Tyrrhenian sea and the island of Sardinia, Severe Weather Europe warns.
Latest model guidance suggests the today’s convective activity, associated with a weak upper low across the region, will result in rapid cyclogenesis and the formation of a medicane over the Tyrrhenian tonight (September 19 into 20), within weak wind shear environment and over a very warm Mediterranean sea.
#MedistormBrian continues to develop in the Tyrrenian Sea. 62km/h sustained winds and 1015mb #MediStorm #TropicalStorm #SubtropicalStorm pic.twitter.com/dunTAc0ubV
— EMWMC (@WMedicaneCenter) September 19, 2018
Extremely rare tornado sighting in British Columbia, Canada
According to reports and footage sent to Environment Canada, there is a possibility that an extremely rare tornado formed near Hayward Lake in Lower Mainland, B.C. on September 16. If confirmed, this will be the 5th tornado in British Columbia over the past 15 years.
After further investigation, there was evidence of rotation on Doppler radar suggesting a F0 tornado, however, the status will remain "possible," the agency said September 18.
The last reported tornadoes in the Lower Mainland occurred near Coquitlam on May 1, 1988, and another near Pitt Meadows on March 10, 1991, both F0.
We received reports & footage of a possible tornado near Hayward Lake (NW of Mission, BC) on the afternoon of Sept 16, 2018. After further investigation, there was evidence of rotation on Doppler radar suggesting a F0 tornado, however the status will remain "POSSIBLE". #BCstorm pic.twitter.com/McFz3rkdM9
— ECCC Weather British Columbia (@ECCCWeatherBC) September 18, 2018
Two dead, 6 missing in Mae Hong Son Province landslides, Thailand
Heavy rains falling over northern Thailand from September 16 caused flash floods and landslides in parts of Sop Moei district of Mae Hong Son Province.
At least 2 people were found dead and 6 remain missing as of September 19. At least 11 people have been injured and more than 10 houses destroyed.
A body of missing person in Mae Hong Son’s mudslide was found in the Moei River but has not yet been identified. Six persons remain missing as the search continues along the rivers until Friday. @TNAMCOT pic.twitter.com/67J9bUBc4B
— TNAMCOT English (@TNAMCOTEnglish) September 19, 2018
Semisopochnoi volcano: Seismicity remains elevated, intermittent tremor, Alaska
Elevated seismicity that started at Semisopochnoi volcano on September 16, prompting AVO to raise the Aviation Color Code to Yellow and the Volcano Alert Level to Advisory, has intensified on September 17.
A strong tremor signal at 20:49 UTC (12:49 AKDT, September 17) suggested that ash emissions may be occurring or are imminent at Semisopochnoi, forcing AVO to raise the Aviation Color Code to ORANGE and the Volcano Alert Level to WATCH.
Unrest continued at Semisopochnoi volcano on August 18 with nearly constant tremor being recorded by local sensors.
Seismicity on September 19 remained elevated and has changed from constant tremor to intermittent, discrete tremor bursts over the past 7 hours, AVO reported 21:02 UTC. No volcanic activity was observed in cloudy satellite data over the past day, and no activity has been detected in regional infrasound data.
Intense flash flooding hits Constantine, Algeria
A severe storm caused intense flash flooding in the city of Constantine, northeastern Algeria on September 19.
Mayotte earthquake swarm: Archipelago hit by M4.7, the strongest quake since July 5
Mayotte was hit by M4.7 earthquake at 23:37 UTC on September 18 (02:37 local time, September 19), the strongest quake to hit the nation since July 5. The quake is a part of the earthquake swarm that began on May 10.
The strongest quake in the sequence so far is M5.8 on May 15. This is also the largest earthquake ever recorded in the archipelago.
This swarm is just one of many significant events media is paying no attention to. Read more about it here.
Spectacular waterspouts off Cap Esterel, France
The twisters were captured off Cap Esterel, Cote d'Azure in southern France on September 17.
Barley cost in UK up 40% after long dry spell, beer prices expected to skyrocket
According to reports, the average price of a pint in the UK could go up by more than 50p. A rise in production costs of about 16% is also expected to hit major brewers such as Heineken and Carlsberg.
"The price of grain has shot up dramatically over the summer because the heatwave has hit crops all over the world," Jonathan Arnold, of grain traders Robin Appel, said.
At the same time, world barley stocks are at their lowest levels since 1984, according to the report by investment bank Berenberg.
Government orders study on drying up of rivers, wells in post-flood Kerala
With rising temperatures and abnormal drying up of rivers and wells reported in flood-hit Kerala, the state government has decided to conduct scientific studies on the post-flood phenomenon in the state.
A series of issues including soaring mercury level, unprecedented dip in water level of rivers, sudden drying-up of wells, depletion of groundwater reserves and mass perishing of earthworms have caused widespread concern in various parts of Kerala after the devastating deluge last month.
Many rivers including Periyar, Bharathapuzha, Pampa and Kabani, which were in a spate during the days of flood, are now getting dried up and their water level has decreased abnormally. Besides the drying up of wells, their caving in was also reported in many districts.
While it seems the phenomenon is new, this has been happening since at least May 2018. Way before recent massive flooding.
Fire, snow and 100 km/h (62 mph) winds hit New South Wales, Australia
Fires, snow, 100 km/h (62 mph) winds and temperatures 10 °C (18 °F) above average have hit New South Wales in the space of a single weekend.
Snowy Mountains highway was closed at one end due to bushfire and nearly shut down at the other following snow, The Guardian reports.
Malaria spreading through Lombok (Bali) after major earthquakes strike the region, Indonesia
Bali is suffering a vicious Malaria outbreak, prompting authorities to declare a health emergency.
According to aid workers and official government tests, a total of 128 people have now been confirmed infected with the disease, spread by mosquitos.
Officials fear efforts to rein in the disease will be complicated by the arrival of the rainy season next month.
Cholera outbreak spreads in Zimbabwe, at least 30 people dead
An outbreak of cholera declared on September 6 has killed at least 30 people and infected at least 5 460.
The most severely affected areas are the two epicenters of the outbreaks in the suburbs of Glenview and Budiriro in western Harare.
The outbreak has spread from Harare to Chitungwiza, and west to Gokwe and Bulawayo and is reportedly spreading to different areas of the country.
Intense flash flooding hits Albacete, Spain
September 18…
Cold outbreak is becoming increasingly likely in Europe after September 20
Global models are in fairy good agreement of a sharp change in the weather as soon as at least one (possibly two) cold outbreaks are seen on the maps, Severe Weather Europe meteorologists report.
While GFS model is more aggressive with first cold wave arrival into central Europe already this weekend, followed by a secondary, more intense cold outbreak a few days later.
On the other side, ECMWF model is having only one strong cold front early next week. Both agree in MUCH colder airmass to spread far south across central Europe, Balkan peninsula and Mediterranean sea.
Hailstorm damages nearly 45% of fruits and paddy crops in parts of northern Kashmir
Nearly 45% of fruits and paddy crops have suffered damage due to the recent hailstorm that hit areas of Sopore and Handwara in north Kashmir, the RisingKashmir reports.
The Apple rich town Sopore has suffered around 35% damage to fruit and paddy crops due to the hailstorm, according to officials. Some 7 to 9% of fruit crop and 15 to 25% of paddy crop has been damaged in Handwara in Kupwara district.
Storm Ali hits Ireland and United Kingdom, killing at least 2 people
Storm Ali swept across Ireland and UK on September 19, bringing wind speeds of more than 160 km/h (100 mph) and wreaking havoc on power supplies and roads. At least two people have been killed and several seriously injured.
A woman died after her caravan was blown off a cliff at Claddaghduff in Ireland's Galway County. Another person died after being hit by a falling tree in Armagh County.
Two people have been left dead by a massive storm in the UK. Among them, a woman who died after a caravan was blown off a cliff. @laurelirving7 #StormAli #7News pic.twitter.com/qGFfb10C27
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) September 19, 2018
Featured image credit: Meteo Algerie, TW
I have been watching these weather events unfold all year, and have been warning…Crops have been destroyed all over the Earth this year…Grocery prices are going to absolutely SKYROCKET this fall and through the sporing 2019…People are blind to what is coming…and every warning I have been trying to share is getting mocked and totally ignored because it is not being covered on main stream LIAR-vision…Thank you so very much for putting this AWESOME collaboration of information together for all of us…GOD BLESS & Much Love…!!!