Natural Disasters

Massive earthquake strikes Chile, hundreds dead; Tsunami warning for Hawaii

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Tsunami wave travel times as a result of the magnitude 8.8 earthquake near Chile. (NOAA)
Tsunami wave travel times as a result of the magnitude 8.8 earthquake near Chile. (NOAA)

One of the largest earthquakes since 1900 struck off the coast of Chile early Saturday morning prompting tsunami warnings, collapsing buildings and claiming an unknown number of lives. The magnitude 8.8 temblor struck at 3:34am local time (06:34 UTC) and has been followed by more than 50 significant aftershocks.

At the current time, many eyes are focused on Hawaii. A tsunami has been generated by the quake and is expected to arrive in Hawaii at 2:05 MST.

The Natural Disasters Examiner is providing complete coverage of this breaking news event. Please follow the links below or visit the Natural Disasters Examiner’s main page for the latest news as stories are added.

Natural Disasters Examiner

Hawaii’s tsunami history – A destructive and deadly past

Saturday, February 27th, 2010
With a massive 8.8 earthquake striking near Chile and sending a tsunami across the Pacific, Hawaii readies itself for what could be a devastating…
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Largest earthquake in history – Magnitude 9.5 near Chile, May 22, 1960

Saturday, February 27th, 2010
Today’s magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Chile serves as a reminder of the dangers quakes present across the Pacific Ring of Fire. The world’s…
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In pictures – First images from on the ground in Chile after massive earthquake

Saturday, February 27th, 2010
A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Chile early Saturday morning. The temblor has destroyed buildings and claimed the lives of…
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Tsunami warning issued for Hawaii and most of Pacific following Chile earthquake

Saturday, February 27th, 2010
Update, 11:50am MST – The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says the tsunami’s waves are expected to be at 8 feet when they arrive at the island of…
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Saturday, February 27th, 2010
Update, 12:12pm MST – Powerful aftershocks continue to rock Chile. According to the U.S. Geological survey, more than 50 aftershocks of magnitude 5.0…
Keep Reading »
National Weather

Northeastern United States gets slammed by another winter storm

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Satellite imagery of a major winter storm striking the northeastern United States, Friday, February 26, 2009. (NASA)
Satellite imagery of a major winter storm striking the northeastern United States, Friday, February 26, 2009. (NASA)

Yet another major winter storm smashed the northeastern United States on Friday snarling travel, closing schools and knocking out power to 1 million. The latest storm adds to the region’s astounding snow totals for the season and has already resulted in further breaking records.

With the latest storm, strong winds added another element to the heavy snowfall. From Pennsylvania through the nation’s capital to New York and New England, the havoc was widespread. All told, power companies across the region said more than 1 million residents and businesses were without power.

In New York, the city’s famed Central Park had received 16.9 inches of snow as of 7:00am today. That total gives the city 35.9 inches for the month sending February 2010 into the record books as New York City’s snowiest month on record.

Reflecting the extraordinary snow, New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg shuttered the nation’s largest public school district for the day. Three fatalities as a result of the storm have been reported, one of which was a man killed in Central Park when a snow-laden tree branch fell on him.

Other snow totals across the area were impressive. Greenwich, Connecticut reported 10.6 inches. Lodi, New Jersey led that state with 18.3 inches. In New York, Monroe reported 31.0 inches.

Rain was a problem on the northern parts of the storm system. Southern and coastal Maine is expected to receive up to 3 inches of rain prompting flood warnings in the state and in New Hampshire. Other portions of coastal New England were under similar advisories.

Travel was disrupted as well as more than 1,000 flights out of New York City’s three airports have been cancelled Friday. Philadelphia saw cancellations at its airport and ground travel was snarled.

Climate Change

U.N. announces independent review of climate agency

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File - Rajendra Pachauri,the head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Many climate ministers are growing increasingly concerned about the IPCC and Pachauri ability to lead the panel. (World Economic Forum, Flickr)
File - Rajendra Pachauri,the head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Many climate ministers are growing increasingly concerned about the IPCC and Pachauri's ability to lead the panel. (World Economic Forum, Flickr)

Faced with falling public confidence in climate science, the United Nations announced it would conduct a review of its climate arm, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The panel’s work has come under heavy fire in recent months and its leader, Rajendra Pachauri, now is lacking support from international climate ministers themselves.

Dozens of errors have been discovered in the IPCC’s seminal AR4 report in recent weeks. Claims of disappearing Himalayan glaciers, threatened Amazonian rain forests and more have all been discredited. The report which was supposed to be a shining example of peer reviewed science cited dozens of questionable sources from climate advocacy groups.

At a meeting held by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in Bali, ministers recognized the many errors and are seeking to reassure the world their science is sound. Privately, ministers have expressed embarrassment at the errors and frustration at the handling of the issues by Pachauri.

Nick Nuttall, UNEP spokesman, told reporters that details of the review would be announced next week. The makeup of the group “will be senior scientific figures,” he said. “I can’t name who they are right now. It should do a review of the IPCC, produce a report by, say, August and there is a plenary of the IPCC in South Korea in October. The report will go there for adoption.”

In a private meeting with the governing council, Pachauri did little to reassure them of his ability to lead the panel going forward. He expressed ‘regret’ for the errors but did not apologize, adding to the frustration of the leaders. The IPCC’s leader further only admitted to the Himalayan glacier error calling the dozens of others ‘misunderstandings.’

There's more to this story on Examiner.com!There is much more to this story.  Privately, ministers are expressing doubt about Pachauri’s ability to lead.  Get the details from the Climate Change Examiner.

Thornton Weather

Rocky Mountain region seen covered in snow by NASA satellite

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NASAs Terra satellite captured amazing images of snow across the Rocky Mountain region. See below for a larger picture covering a much larger area. (NASA)
NASA's Terra satellite captured amazing images of snow across the Rocky Mountain region. See below for a larger picture covering a much larger area. (NASA)

Winter weather arrived over the Rocky Mountain region this past weekend covered the entire area in a blanket of white. NASA’s Terra satellite captured amazing images of the snow cover across parts of 10 states.

From Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming across to Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota, Salt Lake City to Denver and the Grand Canyon through New Mexico to Oklahoma the images are amazing. Few areas across the thousands of square miles are spared snow in the images.

NASA’s Terra satellite and its Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) routinely capture stunning images.

Earlier this month images showed the major winter snowstorms that had struck the Mid-Atlantic region and just last week images of dual erupting volcanoes in Russia were transmitted to earth.

Snow Blankets the Rocky Mountains
Snow Blankets the Rocky Mountains

Snow cover stretched from South Dakota’s Mt. Rushmore to Arizona’s Grand Canyon in late February 2010, after snowstorms blanketed the Rocky Mountains. Mostly cloud-free skies allowed the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite this largely unobstructed view of the western continental United States on February 23, 2010.

From northern New Mexico, the Rocky Mountains stretch northward through Colorado and Wyoming. Along the eastern face of this mountain range, rugged terrain gives way to prairie, including the flat topography of eastern Wyoming and Colorado. Mountains extend far westward, however, with snow cover accentuating mountain peaks all the way to Salt Lake City. The snow-free Grand Canyon snakes a serpentine path in the southwest, but the land surrounding that park is snow covered, as is much of northern Arizona and New Mexico.

NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center. Caption by Michon Scott.

Colorado Weather

Avalanche claims life of skier near Aspen

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An avalanche near Aspen claimed the life of a backcountry skier on Tuesday. (File - Wikimedia Commons)
An avalanche near Aspen claimed the life of a backcountry skier on Tuesday. (File Photo - Wikimedia Commons)

The avalanche danger has been high throughout much of Colorado this year and that was highlighted today as rescuers pulled the body of a skier from a slide near Aspen. The victim is the third fatality of the season in Colorado.

Pitkin County Sheriff’s Department officials said the avalanche was triggered at 4:00pm on Tuesday in he Lindley Hut area and 911 received a call at about 6:00pm. The skier was part of a group of eight that supposedly had backcountry experience. Rescuers were on site this morning and pulled the victim out at about 9:00am.

Overall, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) said the avalanche danger was ‘considerable’ across much of the state. The center said that the danger is decreasing but “human triggered avalanches remain probable on steep mid and high elevation slopes.”

Dozens of incidents have been reported this season; two prior to yesterday’s were fatal. On January 6th the season turned deadly near Battle Mountain outside the Vail Ski Area when an out-of-bounds snowboarder died in an avalanche. The second fatality of the season occurred on February 11th in the Ridgway area in southwestern Colorado.

Heavy snow, in particular in the southwestern part of the state, has made conditions ripe for avalanches. Officials urge backcountry users to ensure they have appropriate gear with them and know the dangers of the area they are venturing. At a minimum, experts recommend all members of parties carry an emergency beacon, shovel and probe pole.

Natural Disasters

National Weather Service modifies hurricane scale

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Hurricane Ike bears down onto the upper Texas coastline with category 2 wind speed of 110 mph, September, 2008. (NOAA)
Hurricane Ike bears down onto the upper Texas coastline with category 2 wind speed of 110 mph, September, 2008. (NOAA)

Beginning this hurricane season, NOAA’s National Weather Service will use a revamped hurricane rating system that does away with storm surge effects of each category. The new scale, called the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale will use wind as its only determining factor.

Herbert Saffir and Robert Simpson developed the original Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale as a way to communicate the threat of hurricanes based on their power and released it to the public in 1973. In addition to wind, the scale used storm surge as a factor when determining a storm’s category rating.

Since then, scientists have realized that the amount of storm surge generated by a hurricane can vary greatly, well outside the wind guidelines of the original scale. According to NOAA, the storm intensity, size, pressure and the underwater topography near where a hurricane is going to make landfall make a large difference.

In announcing the new scale, NOAA pointed two recent storms to convey the problem with the old scale. Hurricane Ike made landfall along the Texas coast in 2008. While only a Category 2 storm, it produced storm surge of 15 to 20 feet. By contrast, Hurricane Charley in 2004 was a Category 4 storm that struck Florida but only generated a 6 to 7 foot storm surge.

Storm surge is extremely dangerous and flooding resulting from it and the tremendous rains generated by hurricanes claim more lives than wind. As such, storm surge forecasts will continue however they will be independent of the hurricane ratings. Beginning this year, when discussing surge, it will be expressed in height above ground level to help residents understand the potential for flooding in their area.

The revamped scale also was accompanied by new descriptions of wind impact while retaining the same wind speeds that were previously used.

There's more to this story on Examiner.com!To view the new scale, a summary of what each of the categories means and examples of each, please visit the Natural Disasters Examiner.

Thornton Weather, Weather History

February 21 to February 27 – This week in Denver weather history

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February 21 to February 27 - This week in Denver weather history
February 21 to February 27 - This week in Denver weather history

Snow and wind dominate our look back at this week in Denver weather history.  Just last year, high winds on the Boulder Turnpike blew a trailer into oncoming traffic damaging two cars and injuring one driver.  40 years ago, a protracted cold spell resulted in seven consecutive days with low temperatures dropping to zero or below.  Those are just two of the many events – see more below.

19-21

In 1971…heavy snowfall totaled 9.0 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to only 16 mph.  Most of the snow occurred on the 19th and 20th. The 24 hour snowfall of 8.2 inches was the greatest in February since 1953.

20-21

In 1997…heavy snow fell in the foothills.  Snowfall totals included:  16 inches at Eldora Ski Area; 15 inches at South Turkey Creek; 14 inches at Conifer and Morrison; and 11 inches at Blackhawk…Evergreen…and Intercanyon.  Only 1.0 inch of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.  Northeast winds gusted to 32 mph at Denver International Airport on the 20th.

21

In 1901…northwest winds sustained to 43 mph with gusts to 46 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 55 degrees.
 
In 1935…strong west to northwest winds sustained to 30 mph with gusts to 34 mph produced considerable blowing dust. The Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 60 degrees.
 
In 1967…west winds gusting to 53 mph produced some blowing dust at Stapleton International Airport.  Winds were strong and gusty all day.
 
In 1988…high winds were reported along the foothills with 90 mph in east Boulder where the winds knocked out a few street and traffic lights.  The strong winds whipped a grass and timber fire in Boulder canyon.  The fire threatened some homes for a time…but was extinguished before causing any significant property damage.  West winds gusting to 35 mph at Stapleton International Airport warmed the temperature to a high of 63 degrees.

21-22

In 1909…a major storm dumped 12.9 inches of heavy snowfall over the city.  North winds were sustained to 37 mph on the 22nd.  Temperatures during the storm hovered in the 20’s.

22

In 1893…northwest winds were sustained to 36 mph with gusts to 50 mph.
 
In 1900…northwest winds sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 45 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 61 degrees.
 
In 1910…a cold front caused a remarkably sharp drop in temperature from 43 degrees at 3:00 am to only 3 degrees at 8:30 am.  These were the high and low temperatures for the day.  Early west winds switched to northeast behind the front.
 
In 1927…west winds were sustained to 42 mph with a measured maximum velocity to 60 mph.
 
In 1954…strong and gusty west winds persisted throughout the day.  The highest wind gust recorded at Stapleton Airport was 58 mph.
 
In 1960…snowfall totaled 5.9 inches…producing near-blizzard conditions in snow and blowing snow at Stapleton Airport where northeast wind gusts to 40 mph reduced visibility to 1/2 mile.
 
In 1986…high winds occurred in the foothills.  Wind gusts of 65 to 70 mph were reported at Golden Gate Canyon…and a peak gust of 83 mph was recorded at Echo Lake.  Northwest winds gusted to only 29 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1988…a wind gust to 83 mph was recorded in Boulder with 80 mph clocked at Rollinsville.  Northwest winds gusted to 45 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1996…wind gusts to 63 mph were reported in western Elbert County.  Southwest winds gusted to 45 mph at Denver International Airport.
 
In 1999…strong post-frontal…Bora winds developed over the foothills and spread over the northeast plains.  Peak wind gusts included:  87 mph at Golden Gate Canyon; 84 mph at Wondervu; 80 mph at the National Center for Atmospheric Research mesa lab; 75 mph at the Rocky Flats Environmental Test Facility; 74 mph at Jefferson County Airport near Broomfield; 72 mph at the Gamow Tower on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder; and 60 mph at Bennett.  West to northwest winds gusted to 44 mph at Denver International Airport.
 
In 2000…thunder was heard across much of metro Denver. Thunderstorms over southwest metro Denver produced 1/4 to 1/2 inch diameter hail at Pinehurst Country Club.  A thunderstorm at Denver International Airport produced wind gusts to 34 mph.  This was only the 6th time since 1891 that thunder had been reported in February.

Continue reading February 21 to February 27 – This week in Denver weather history →

Climate Change

Weather Channel founder continues assault on manmade climate change theory

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Global Warming: Meltdown is the latest television special from Weather Channel founder John Coleman that discusses the problems with the manmade climate change theory. (KUSI)
"Global Warming: Meltdown" is the latest television special from Weather Channel founder John Coleman that discusses the problems with the manmade climate change theory. (KUSI)

There is little doubt that John Coleman, founder of the Weather Channel, has strong feelings about manmade climate change. He has long railed against the theory calling it “the greatest scam in history.” Now a meteorologist for KUSI in San Diego, Coleman has continued his assault with a series of television specials, the latest of which aired last night.

The latest hour long special titled “Global Warming: Meltdown” walks through the arguments on both sides of the issue. From recent revelations of errors within the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) reports to discussions of faulty climate computer models, Coleman lays out the doubts about man’s influence on the climate reassuring viewers that, “Mankind is not destroying our planet.”

A brief recap of his previous special that aired last month, “Global Warming: The Other Side” kicks off the show and jumps into the IPCC errors. Al Gore, a favorite target for climate change skeptics, receives a jab or two and Coleman refers to the former vice president as “the pied piper of global warming.”

The seriousness of the debate however is clearly seen in the video as are some of the many questions that make the foundation of the manmade climate change theory. From climate computer models that have failed to account for recent cooling to extensive problems with surface temperature monitoring stations Coleman covers it all.

I guess you could have it both ways if you don’t have a very well defined theory.
~ John Christy on the claim that recent snow storms support the global warming theory

In an interview with John Christy, director of the Earth System Science Center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Christy addresses satellite data that does not support warming. He further discusses the recent severe weather that has seen snow records across the eastern United States. In response to some who have said those events actually support global warming, Christy said, “I guess you could have it both ways if you don’t have a very well defined theory.”

Anthony Watts, owner of the climate blog Watt’s Up With That, appears on the program to discuss the problems with surface monitoring stations. Watts and a team of volunteers discovered that the vast majority of these stations in the United States fail to meet the minimum requirements for the site on which they reside. Similar problems have been discovered in other countries as well.

While not appearing directly on the show, although they were offered the opportunity, the other side makes appearances through interviews from other sources.

Dr. Richard Somerville from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography outlines the basics of the foundation of the anthropogenic global warming theory saying, “once again this is solid, settled science. No reputable scientist, no expert in this field would dispute anything I’ve just said.”

Tom Peterson with the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, North Carolina admits the problems with surface stations records. He however contents that corrections have been made in the data to compensate.

Be sure to visit the Climate Change Examiner for all the latest climate change news!

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Climate Change

Got snow? Northern Hemisphere snow extent at second highest level in 44 years

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Winter snow extent for the Northern Hemisphere has been steadily increasing for the past 10 years. (Steven Goddard / Watt’s Up With That)
Winter snow extent for the Northern Hemisphere has been steadily increasing for the past 10 years. (Steven Goddard / Watt’s Up With That)

This winter has seen record-setting snow across parts of North America as well as Europe and Asia. Climate scientists have been quick to remind the public that the storms were short term events and not indicative of a lack of global warming. However, they have neglected to point out that winter snow extent in the Northern Hemisphere has been steadily increasing for more than 10 years.

Rutgers University’s Global Snow Lab is the definitive source for information on snow coverage of the globe. According to the unit’s latest statistics, 20,141,729 square miles (52,166,840 km2) of the Northern Hemisphere is covered in snow.

That puts the week as having the second highest snow extent in the 44 years that Rutgers has been gathering data. The only week out of the last 2,277 in the record with more occurred in 1978 during the second week of February.

Across the hemisphere, cold and snow has seemingly been appearing with greater ferocity and frequency this winter. The Mid-Atlantic states have seen record-setting amounts of snow while places in Texas and Florida that rarely see snow have had it more frequently this year. In Europe and Asia, snow as well has made numerous appearances above and beyond normal.

In the wake of the recent blizzards that struck the East Coast, many climate scientists took to television and print media repeating the mantra that ‘weather is not climate.’ They point out that short-term weather phenomena do not disprove manmade climate change and global warming. Many even said in recent weeks that the extreme cold actually supports the global warming theory.

There's more to this story on Examiner.com!Is that true?  How can global warming account for more snow AND less snow?  Find out more in the complete story from the Climate Change Examiner.

Thornton Weather

A cold and snowy weekend ahead for Thornton

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Your local Thornton forecast.After receiving a shot of snow last night, Thornton can expect continued chances of snow throughout the weekend.  Temperatures will continue to be well below seasonal normals throughout.

Most areas of Denver received a couple inches of snow last night blanketing the Mile High City in white.  Here in Thornton, as we forecast yesterday, we received 2.2 inches.  With this latest round, it is likely that Denver will exceed the average amount of snow we receive in February – 6.3 inches.  We will know for sure when the National Weather Service releases their official measurement from DIA later this morning.

For Friday, overcast and cold will be the keywords.  High temperatures today will only reach 34 degrees and there is a slight chance of an isolated snow flurry here and there.  No daytime accumulation of snow is expected.  Overnight tonight after 11:00pm look for the chance of snow to increase with a half inch or so being possible. 

Saturday the cold continues and the snow chances increase.  Temperatures will be right around the freezing mark ensuring that if you venture outside, you will be bundled up.  There may be a morning snow flurry or two with the chances increasing after 11:00am or so at which point we could see a couple inches between then and the evening. 

A chance for snow continues throughout Saturday night and early Sunday morning.  Total accumulations will be much like what we received last night.  Look for between 2 and 4 inches in the metro area.  The mountains and foothills will receive between 5 and 10 inches and areas closer to the Wyoming border between 3 and 6 inches. 

Sunday brings even colder temperatures with forecast highs for Thornton only around 29 degrees.  Snow will slowly be coming to an end with a lingering flurry or two possible throughout the day. 

The weather forecast for Monday going forward is still a bit muddled.  A slight chance of snow continues on Monday before things should warm up and clear out on Tuesday.  Wednesday and Thursday however the chance for snow returns. 

As always, stay tuned to ThorntonWeather.com for truly local weather for Thornton. 

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