Category Archives: World Weather

At Least 7 Perish As Typhoon Goni Slams Philippines

At least seven people were killed and two missing Saturday after typhoon Goni battered the northern Philippines with strong rain and winds that triggered landslides and flooding, authorities reportedly said. The typhoon, which has slightly weakened, is expected to move away from the country without making a landfall. Among the deceased were two brothers who reportedly… Continue reading At Least 7 Perish As Typhoon Goni Slams Philippines

Update: Typhoon Soudelor continues to intensify

The typhoon with international name “Soudelor” (International Name) continues to gain strength and expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsbility (PAR) by Wednesday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its weather bulletin issued at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. PAGASA said that as of 10 a.m. The Typhoon “Soudelor” was… Continue reading Update: Typhoon Soudelor continues to intensify

Video: Toddlers debate sprinkles versus rain

Sprinkles vs rain: Toddlers debate the weighty issue. (YouTube / Tara Willmott)
Sprinkles vs rain: Toddlers debate the weighty issue. (YouTube / Tara Willmott)

Certainly politics, religion and even climate change are hotly debated topics but as a video shows, toddlers can get pretty fired up about whether it is sprinkling or raining.

Posted to YouTube yesterday, the video portrays how quickly a discussion about the weather can get heated.

A young boy insists it is just sprinkling – because his mom told him it was – while two twin girls demand it is raining.

Strong words are exchanged and soon some poking ensues.  The boy learns a harsh lesson about disagreeing with girls as one ‘pokes his heart’ and brings him to tears.

Like many debates likely conducted by these toddlers’ parents, in the end everyone insists they are right and no minds seem to be changed.  😉

Video: Russian driver pulls out of garage to find self in midst of F3 tornado

Screen capture of video showing the aftermath of a tornado in Russia. (LiveLeak)
Screen capture of video showing the aftermath of a tornado in Russia. (LiveLeak)

An amazing tornado video captured by a dash mounted camera was released on YouTube recently.  Apparently taken in Russia on August 29, a surprised driver pulls out of his garage to discover a tornado ripping through the area.

The video begins with the driver backing out of the driveway in heavy rain.  As the vehicle turns to face down the road, trees are being pummeled by strong winds and debris from other houses and nearby buildings flies through the air.

After sitting for a scant few seconds – likely struggling to comprehend Mother Nature’s fury that is erupting around him – the driver tries to go back to his garage.  As he turns back, the garage collapses before his eyes.

Video added at the end shows extensive damage to cars and homes in the area.

It is believed the video is of an EF-3 rated twister that tore a 28 mile path through Kariyevo.

NASA satellite captures image of Australian wildfires

Satellite imagery of wildfires is something we are certainly used to seeing here in Colorado, particularly the last couple of years.  Summertime in Australia brings wildfire danger as well and a NASA satellite captured smoke billowing from a blaze down under.

Much of Australia has been gripped by record-setting heat in recent weeks thus leading to the increased fire danger.  The image from NASA’s Aqua satellite shows one of the blazes burning.

From NASA:

“In January 2014, an intense heat wave and strong winds fueled an outbreak of hundreds of bushfires in South Australia. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this image of grass and shrub fires raging in Yumbarra Conservation Park on January 16, 2014. Red outlines indicate hot spots where MODIS detected unusually warm surface temperatures associated with fire. Northerly winds blew large plumes of smoke out over the Great Australian Bight. Members of the aboriginal community of Koonibba were preparing to evacuate as a large fire headed in the direction of the town, according to the Australian Broadcasting Company.”

NASA satellite image of wildfires and their smoke in Australia. (NASA)
NASA satellite image of wildfires and their smoke in Australia. (NASA)

Cairo receives first snow in over 100 years, Jerusalem receives most in 50 years

An Ultra Orthodox Jewish man walks in the snow a head of Shabat (Saturday), At the Mea Shearim Ultra orthodox jewish neighborhood on December 13, 2013 in Jerusalem, Israel.
An Ultra Orthodox Jewish man walks in the snow in Jerusalem, Israel. Click to view a slideshow of the event. (Getty Images)

A powerful winter storm system struck parts of the Middle East on Friday to the delight of some residents but causing havoc in other locations where snow is a rarity.

In Cairo, Egypt snow fell, reportedly for the first time in 112 years, covering parts of the city in a light blanket of white.

Parts of Israel saw heavy snow totaling up to three feet. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat told The Times of Israel, “We’re facing a rare storm the likes of which we’ve never seen.”

The local meteorological agency said it was the worst snowstorm seen since at least 1953.

Read the rest of this story with video and photos on Examiner.com

Nature: Don’t be so quick to blame extreme weather events on climate change

Providing a voice of reason to the sometimes hysterical ravings of climate change alarmists, the scientific journal Nature cautions today that connecting global warming to disasters is not so easy.  The jury is in fact still out on whether extreme weather events can be attributed to anthropogenic global warming, despite what some may say. As Nature points out, there is no empirical evidence that stands up to scrutiny and claims to the contrary only look foolish.  Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com.  

Launch of European satellite to further enhance weather and climate forecasting

The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) launched its latest polar orbiting satellite yesterday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Metop-B spacecraft carries with it a host of instruments that will help feed models that forecast the weather and climate.  Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com and find out what it means for you.

MetOp-B launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Credit: YouTube / ESA
MetOp-B launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. (YouTube / ESA) Click the image to watch video of the launch.

Australian Outback bushfire spawns amazing fire tornado

While North America has dealt with a deadly and devastating wildfire season, Australia as well has seen many bushfires rage across its wild lands. One fire in recent days burning near Alice Springs spawned a rare fire tornado that whirled through the Outback for 40 minutes.  Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com and check out the amazing video.

A rare fire tornado was captured on film in Australia's Outback near Alice Springs. (YouTube / stilltalkincrazy)
A rare fire tornado was captured on film in Australia's Outback near Alice Springs. (YouTube / stilltalkincrazy) Click the image to watch the video.