Thanksgiving Day Football: Teams in Eastern US to Tackle Cold, Snow

For football fans on Thanksgiving, a full helping of pigskin can serve as the perfect side dish to their turkey dinner, with a cornucopia of high school, college and professional football games to enjoy throughout the day.

While two of the three NFL games on Thanksgiving will be played in domed stadiums and sheltered from the elements, including Philadelphia at Dallas and Chicago at Detroit, there will be plenty of high school football games to be played, and many will do so in cold conditions.

"The coldest part of the U.S. will be the far northern Plains and Upper Midwest, where parts of the Dakotas to Minnesota and northern Wisconsin will have highs in single digits and teens," said AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Andy Mussoline. "Cold air will also be across the Great Lakes, but it will not be as harsh."

Parts of the Northeast and Great Lakes will receive snow according to Mussoline.

"A steady snow will taper off across far northern New England Thanksgiving morning," Mussoline said. "Snow showers will encompass much of the Great Lakes as lake-effect snow kicks in once again, but excessive snowfall in the region is not anticipated."

The only NFL game scheduled to be played in an open stadium will be in Santa Clara, California, as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks. For the 5:30 p.m. PDT kickoff, temperatures will be in the mid-50s with cloudy skies.

Link: http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/thanksgiving-day-football-cold/37820874

Top Five Thanksgiving Day Parades: Winds May Ground Massive Balloons in Northeast, Midwest

As the turkey is roasting and pies are baking, much of America turns to another popular Thanksgiving Day tradition to occupy the morning hours. Thanksgiving parades offer a joyous celebration of the annual holiday and are a mark of the dawn of the holiday season.

1. New York City- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The 88th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off at 9 a.m. EST on Nov. 27 and those crowded along streets hoping to glance at some of the year's unique floats will want to bundle up.

According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski, temperatures will hover in the middle 30s at the start of the parade.

Clouds and sun will mix overhead and blustery conditions could cause disruptions for the infamous giant balloons. There should be a lasting light breeze throughout much of the day with some strong gusts reaching near the 30-mph mark.

As the parade travels and Santa Claus makes his annual appearance, temperatures could rise closer to the daily high near the 40 F mark.

Whether rain or shine, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day will go on as planned, according to Orlando Veras, Macy's Parade spokesman.

"Macy's Parade officials have been monitoring the weather on a daily basis, but at this time, it is too early to make any determinations on the flight of our giant balloons on Thanksgiving Day," Veras said. "Based on city regulations, no giant character balloon will be operated when there are sustained wind conditions exceeding 23 mph and wind gusts exceeding 34 mph."

On Thanksgiving morning, Macy's and the New York Police Department will determine, with the help of an on-site meteorologist and data from other weather sources, whether the balloons will fly and at what heights, Veras added.

Link: http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/top-five-thanksgiving-day-parades-macys-nyc/37750824

New Study Finds That Lightning Will Increase With Warming

While severe weather like hurricanes and tornadoes typically only hit particular areas of the globe, lightning can strike anywhere. And it does, a lot. A bolt of lightning flashes through the sky and hits the ground somewhere around the world about 100 times every second. That’s 8 million lightning strikes in a single day — yes, you read that right: just one day.

Now, a new study finds that lightning strikes will become even more frequent as the planet warms, at least in the continental U.S.

For years scientists have been exploring how the steady warming of the planet might be impacting severe weather, though most of the attention has been placed on hazards like hurricanes and heavy downpours. And while those events are major killers, lightning is also a significant hazard. So far this year, 25 people have been killed by lightning strikes in the U.S., and lightning is the trigger for more than half of U.S. wildfires, putting pressure on human infrastructure as well as natural ecosystems.

But so far, relatively scant attention has been paid to how lightning might change as the planet’s temperature rises with the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. And the studies that have been done to date estimate the increase in lightning to be anywhere from 5 to 100 percent per degree Celsius rise — a strikingly wide range.

The new study, detailed in the Nov. 13 issue of the journal Science, has found a relatively simple way to use other atmospheric factors to predict changes in lightning rates. The findings suggest that lighting rates will increase 12 percent per every degree Celsius (about 2°F) rise in global temperatures. That comes to a 50 percent increase by the end of the century.

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Link: http://www.wunderground.com/news/lightning-will-increase-warming-20141113

Winter Storm Bozeman

Winter Storm Bozeman dove into the Pacific Northwest Thursday, making central Oregon its first mark on what's expected to be a multi-day snow event stretching from the West into parts of the Plains and Midwest.

Communities in central Oregon, including Bend, were the hardest hit Thursday. At least one person died in a single-vehicle wreck in Crook County, Oregon, according to KTVZ.

Eventually, Bozeman will move out of Oregon and Washington and into states further east, with impacts expected in Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. Impacts from snow are already being reported in southwestern Idaho.

In Idaho, the slick roads kept police busy responding to crashes Thursday. The Idaho State Police reminded people via Twitter to slow down.

At least 125 employees with the Ada County Highway District are working alternating shifts throughout the duration of the storm, according to The Idaho Statesman. Crews will use both sand and salt to treat the roads.

No Picture Available

Link: http://www.wunderground.com/news/winter-storm-bozeman-impacts-20141113

Hawaii town safe from encroaching lava flow – for now

​Lava that has been creeping toward a small town on Hawaii’s ​Big Island has stalled just before reaching ​a main road​.

Some lava has been breaking out along the sides of the flow, but it i​s moving slowly, said Darryl Oliveira, director of Hawaii County civil defense. “At this point, there’s very little activity taking place that’s posing any increased threat to the residents or the community,” Oliveira said.

The flow has stalled about 480f​t from the main road in and out of Pahoa, a town of about 1,000 residents.

Lava has been streaming down the volcano’s flank toward the north-east since June. Last weekend, it crossed a country road. It then smothered part of a cemetery, toppled trees and burned a shed, tires and grass. Authorities have alerted about 50 households in Pahoa that they should be prepared to evacuate.

Small fires from the lava were generating smoke, which ​winds were ​blowing ​toward the south and south-west.

Link: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/02/hawaii-town-pahoa-safe-from-encroaching-lava-flow-for-now

Storm Stronger Than Sandy Hits Alaska, Will Chill Much of U.S.

The remnants of a Pacific typhoon were pounding parts of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands early Saturday, lashing the remote region with 96 mph winds and high waves. The system is expected to shove across two-thirds of the Lower 48 and drives temperatures to wintry levels next week.

The near-100 mph gusts were recorded in Shemya, an island on the far Western tip of the sparsely-populated Aleutians. Forecasters said waves could be as high as 50 feet, prompting ships and fishing vessels to get out of the storm's path or seek protected harbors.

“It’s early in the season, but we are poised for a pure Arctic outbreak,” said Tom Niziol, a winter weather specialist for The Weather Channel.

Forecasters said that the storm could be more intense than Superstorm Sandy when it swamped the Northeast two years ago. Weather watchers in Alaska — and Twitter — have labeled the storm the "Bering Bomb."

The Coast Guard and Alaska emergency management authorities were watching the storm. It was expected to mix with cold air and the jet stream, producing hurricane-force wind and extreme waves.

Then comes early winter for tens of millions of people in the rest of the country as the jet stream buckles far to the south. On Monday, the high temperature for Great Falls, Montana, is expected to be 25 degrees, or 20 degrees lower than normal for this time of year. The high on Tuesday in Bismarck, North Dakota, is only expected to be 25, or 16 below normal. And on Wednesday, the mercury will only push to 51 in Dallas and barely above freezing in Cleveland.

By late next week, temperatures will be well below average as far south as the Gulf Coast. The system is also expected to bring snow to parts of the Rockies and Plains next week.

Link: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/storm-stronger-sandy-hits-alaska-will-chill-much-u-s-n243391

What Is Bombogenesis?

Bombogenesis.

The word sounds ominous, but in reality, the process happens fairly frequently in the world of weather.

"'Bombogenesis' follows from "cyclogenesis," which refers to the development of a cyclone (which, in turn, is usually synonymous with a low pressure system, or low)," writes senior meteorologist Stu Ostro. "Bombs are so-named because of the rapidity with which they develop, which evokes explosiveness, and the power that they usually attain once they have gone through the intensification phase specified in the definition (a central pressure drop of at least 24 millibars in 24 hours)."

So what happens when a meteorological "bomb" strengthens?

Wind speeds increase and precipitation can become more intense, often creating heavy snowfall and potential blizzard conditions during winter storms. This happened in February 2014, when Winter Storm Quintus dropped 31 millibars within a span of 24 hours. Heavy snow rates can also occur during bombogenesis, which is sometimes accompanied by lightning.

Tropical cyclones can also undergo rapid intensification, which is a particularly unnerving development especially when it occurs near landfall. An example of a tropical cyclone undergoing bombogenesis is Hurricane Charley in 2004.

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Link: http://www.wunderground.com/news/what-bombogenesis-weather-bomb-20140321

Arctic Outbreak to Bring Coldest Air of the Season Next Week

The calendar may only say November, but a mid-winter preview is looming next week. An Arctic outbreak will bring the coldest air of the season, beginning Monday in the northern Rockies and northern Plains. 

The cold this time will last longer and will be more widespread than other cold surges we have seen so far this season. By the end of the week more than two-thirds of the U.S. will see below-average temperatures.

The cold front begins its plunge in Montana and the Dakotas late Sunday, then into the Plains Monday, bringing much colder temperatures. Rapid City will go from a high near 60 degrees on Sunday to a high in the 20s on Monday.

Highs 10-35 degrees below average will plunge into Plains, western Great Lakes, Upper and mid-Mississippi Valleys on Monday and Tuesday. Minneapolis and Chicago may see their first sub-freezing high temperature of the season next week. In fact, highs may struggle to top the freezing mark in the Twin Cities for more than a week. The last time Chicago had a daytime high that didn't rise above freezing was March 25.

It will be breezy as well, which will make it feel even colder. Wind chills will range from the single digits below zero to the teens for much of the northern Plains and Midwest, especially midweek.

A few record cool high temperatures are possible as well, including Indianapolis on Wednesday (current record is 33 set in 1996) and Chicago next Saturday (current record is 32 set in 1969).

The coldest temperatures and the heart of the cold air will be anchored in the northern Plains and Midwest, but will stretch across much of the central and eastern U.S. High temperatures will only be in the 20s for much of the northern Plains and parts of the Midwest with lows dropping down into the teens. Several locations will even see single-digit lows beginning Tuesday morning, and parts of the northern High Plains and northern Rockies may see subzero lows.

The cold front is expected to reach the Northeast by Thursday, with the brunt of the cold first being felt by Friday. High temperatures won't likely top 50 degrees Thursday in Washington, D.C. The last time that happened was on March 26. New York City may see its first freeze sometime late next week and Boston may also drop to 32 degrees, which last occurred on April 18.

The cold will plunge into parts of the South. Nashville will see highs only in the 40s starting Wednesday, and daytime highs in Atlanta may struggle to reach 50 degrees for several days starting late in the week. Dallas will see high temperatures only in the 40s for several days next week. The last time Dallas did not reach 50 degrees was back on March 3.

Temperatures will remain below average for the central and eastern U.S. at least through the end of next week.

Some snow is also possible from the northern Rockies to the Upper Midwest and perhaps into the Northeast as the cold blasts into the U.S. Snow showers are in the forecast for Denver and Rapid City in the Sunday night into Monday night time frame. Accumulating snow is also likely in Minneapolis on Monday.

Some lake-effect snow is also expected to develop by midweek as the cold air locks in across the Great Lakes.

No picture available.

Link: http://www.wunderground.com/news/arctic-outbreak-coldest-season-20141105

Tropical Storm Ana Picks Up Strength

       At 11 am on Thursday, tropical storm Ana was reported to have maximum sustained winds of about 50 mph. Ana continues to get stronger as it is moving away from the most populated areas of the Hawaiian islands. Tropical storm Ana is triggered a tropical storm warning for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from French Frigate Shoals to Lisianski, northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands. It's expected that the area will experience strong winds and very heavy rainfalls throughout Thursday morning.
       On Sunday, Ana slowed in its path and moved west, due to a ridge of high pressure in the north. Now, Ana is moving northwest. Ana will continue to move in this direction for the next day until it curves northeast later on in the week due to a trough. The effects of Ana have been minimal thus far. Over 10 inches of rain were reported in some areas of the islands. Experts believe Ana will continue to strengthen as vertical wind shear weakens, bringing Ana over warm waters. Ana will then move over cooler water temperatures and will weaken later in the week. It's possible that Ana will merge with a non-tropical low over the Pacific Ocean and bring heavier rainfall to the Pacific Northwest. 

For convenient purposes, experts have provided a recap of Tropical Storm Ana:

"Ana formed October 13 as a tropical storm about 955 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. Ana became a hurricane on October 17 when it moved into an area of favorable conditions (very warm water and a decrease in wind shear) in the central Pacific Ocean.

Ana made its closest approach to the Big Island of Hawaii when it was 155 miles southwest of Kailua-Kona at 5 a.m. EDT on October 18. On October 19, Ana passed within 90 miles of the south coast of Kauai.

Hurricane Ana was downgraded to a tropical storm on October 20 as it passed southwest of Hawaii, sideswiping the island chain with heavy rain and high surf.

Since 1950, only four hurricanes have tracked within 150 nautical miles of Honolulu. Hurricane Iniki (1992) and Hurricane Dot (1959) both made landfall on Kauai. Dot's center passed about 80 miles west-southwest of Honolulu as a Category 3 hurricane on August 6, 1959."

No Photo Available.

Link: http://www.wunderground.com/news/hurricane-ana-hawaii-pacific-20141017

Nor'easter Leaves Thousands in New York, Massachusetts, and Maine Without Power

On Thursday morning, a powerful Nor'easter made its way to New England and resulted in the flooding of their coastline, heavy rains, and strong winds. Thousands of residents were left powerless as many trees tumbled over cars, roads, and streets. Wind gusts reached as high as 60 mph. In addtion to this, it was reported that around 10,000 people in Massachusetts were left powerless due to the storm. This was the highest amount of people that the state has experienced without power. It was also reported that New York's Long Island was left without power for more than 10,000 on Wednesday night. Experts believe that the nor'easter will remain off the coast of New England, bringing heavy rain to the northeast side instead. The coasts of Maine, New Hampshire and northeastern Massachusetts could also see some flooding and possibly beach erosion. About 4,000 of Maine's resident shave also been left without power. Schools in Massachusetts have already closed due to the weather which is probably the safest thing to do since water rescue missions were necessary in the Boston area on Wednesday night because drivers could not handle the flooded roadways. On the bright side, no injuries have been reported and we can only hope that it remains this while until the storm passes.

No Photo Available.

Link: http://www.wunderground.com/news/noreaster-new-england-mid-atlantic-20141023

Study: Earth Undergoing Unprecedented Sea Level Rise in the Last Century

For the past 6,000 years, Earth experienced a gradual sea level rise. However, within the past century, Earth has experienced sea level rises not seen since 4,000 B.C. A new study examined 35,000 years of sea level fluctuations by examining about 1,000 sediment samples from the coast of Australia and Asia. Experts found that sea levels rose nearly 8 inches within the past century, which is about the same amount of sea level rise that occurred during the course of 5,900 previous years. Scientists from the Australian National University studied sea level fluctuations from 35,000 years ago because the time period falls with the interglacial period where a lot of glacial ice melted. Ice from the last ice age started melting about 16,000 years ago and caused the sea levels to rise rapidly over the next 10,000 years but the process eventually slowed down. That is, until now. Scientists theorize that the increase in temperature has much to do with this fast sea level fluctuation. Kurt Lambeck, the leader of the study stated:

"the rise in surface temperatures is amplifying both a phenomenon known as thermal expansion -- warming ocean water, which in turn causes that water to expand -- and glacial ice melt, both of which are accelerating the pace of sea level rise".

He also stated that even with conservation efforts, this pattern is most likely not going to stop.

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Link: http://www.wunderground.com/news/study-unprecedented-sea-level-rise-20141016

News on Upcoming Winter Season 2014-2015

The weather channel has predicted the outcomes for this upcoming winter season. Last winter was one of the coldest recent winters the upper midwest has experienced. However, it looks like this winter may concentrate its icy chills on the people living on the east coast and gulf coast. This is mostly because weather experts are predicting a weak to moderate el nino to appear over the long winter months and possibly into some of the spring season. Experts also predict that the jet stream will be erratic this winter because of an early buildup of snow that has occurred across Eurasia already. This early buildup of snow may cause a tighter temperature gradient over Asia and ultimately end up strengthening the jet stream. Eventually it may reach the stratosphere and knock weather patterns off balance around the Northern hemisphere a few months from now. For now, forecasters have predicted the following for the next upcoming months:

November: Slightly cooler than average from New Mexico to Michigan to Georgia and points in between. Warmer than average elsewhere, but especially for the West Coast states plus Nevada, Idaho, and Montana.

December: Slightly cooler than average for Colorado, New Mexico, the Plains states from Nebraska to Texas, and the lower Mississippi River Valley. Warmer than average elsewhere, but especially in California and southern Nevada as well as the East Coast states from North Carolina to New England.

January: Cooler than average from Texas to Wisconsin and points eastward, but particularly cool from the southeast half of Texas east to the Florida Panhandle and inland as far north as the southern tip of Illinois. Warmer than average elsewhere, but especially over the Northwest, northern Rockies, and northern parts of California, Nevada, and Utah.

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Link: http://www.wunderground.com/news/winter-forecast-outlook-theweatherchannel-20141015

Microburst Leaves Damage in Easthampton, Massachusetts

Easthampton, Massachusetts experienced damaging winds that knocked down trees and power lines due to a microburst. The microburst occurred on Wednesday at 4:53 am eastern time, producing straight line winds that reached up to 100 mph. The microburst started out on the west side of Mount Tom and moved from southwest to northwest of it. Chrissy Warrilow defines a microburst as:

"an intense downburst -- or downward-moving column of air produced by a thunderstorm -- that produces straight-line winds that affect an area less than 2.5 miles wide. They contain peak winds that last less than 5 minutes but can cause immense property damage"

Consequently, the high winds of the microburst caused lots of trees to tumble over, scattering along Route 141 and trapping several vehicles along the road. The damage caused by the microburst spanned about a mile long and a quarter-mile wide. Many homes lost power and were experienced some damage. It was reported that some residents were slightly injured as well but did not require them to be taken to a hospital.

No photo available.

Link: http://www.wunderground.com/news/easthampton-massachusetts-microburst-severe-weather-20141008

Odisha and Andhra Pradesh Prepare for Cyclone Hudhud

India's eastern coast states, Odisha and Andrha Pradesh are embracing themselves for the arrival of Cyclone Hudhud. Almost a year ago, Cyclone Phailin took the lives of 44 people and caused some major damage to the Odisha state area. The people of Odisha do not want another repeat of this disaster. Accoding to weather.com meteorologists, tropical Cyclone HudHud has picked up strength after crossing the Andaman and Nicobar islands on Wednesday. The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a cyclone alert for the states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts that Cyclone Hudhud will be as strong as a Category 3 hurricane by the time it reaches Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. The government of India is striving for zero casualties while making an effort to keep the people safe. District officials are already planning to evacuate the people of their districts, especially those who are at most risk for disaster, as Cyclone Hudhud gets closer to the area. They are also constantly updating their evacuation plans and monitoring dam and irrigation water levels. In addition, they are preparing for search and rescue operations as well as preparing safety boats in the event that there is a disastrous flooding and heavy damage. Hopefully, all these measures to keep the people of Odisha and Andrha Pradesha safe are effective and will result in zero casualties once Hudhud arrives.

No photo available.

Link: http://www.wunderground.com/news/odisha-andhra-india-cyclone-hudhud-20141009

35,000 Walrus Come Ashore in Alaska As Sea Ice Retreats

Global warming continues to have a major effect on our planet and the various species that exist within it. About 35,000 Pacific walruses were seen gathered on the shores of Alaska on September 23rd. Recently, experts have stated that the direct cause of this event was triggered by the loss of sea ice in the Arctic. When walruses hunt and cannot find food, they rely on sea ice to rest. However, the retreatment of sea ice posed a threat to their survival so the walruses were forced to find shelter on the shores of Alaska. Lou Lenard, vice president for climate change at the World Wildlife Fund states "We are witnessing a slow-motion catastrophe in the Arctic. As this ice dwindles, the Arctic will experience some of the most dramatic changes our generation has ever witnessed. This loss will impact the annual migration of wildlife through the region, threaten the long-term health of walrus and polar bear populations, and change the lives of those who rely on the Arctic ecosystem for their way of life." It is reported that the Arctic ice coverage reached its lowest point on September 17th, the sixth lowest record since the beginning of Arctic ice coverage records in 1979. Some scientists are skeptical about the direct cause of this phenomena, stating that this is not the first time we have seen walruses gathered in such mass numbers. Scientists will continue to investigate this incident, since it proves to be a major concern among the scientific community.



Link: http://www.wunderground.com/news/alaska-walrus-photos-20141002?

Strong Storms and High Winds Causes Power Outage In Texas

At least 120,000 people living in the northern Texas area are experiencing a power outage due to a series of severe thunderstorms moving along the northern Texas area and into Oklahoma. The storms were able to produce hail the size of baseballs with winds reaching up to 70 miles per hour. The storms are said to be moving in the direction of the Dallas/Fort Worth metro areas. There has already been evidence of some major damage as a result of these storms. The storms had a major effect on the Fort Worth Stockyards, a popular tourist area attraction in Texas. A wall was said to be destroyed while its piles of bricks crushed several vehicles. The University of North Texas Health Science Center lost its revolving door due to the high winds that they were experiencing. In the Arlington area, trees were blown down and a high school had even lost its roof. There is a growing concern over the safety of the people, police are now clearing crowds at the State Fair of Texas because the storms are moving in on them.



Link: http://www.wunderground.com/news/texas-oklahoma-arkansas-severe-weather-20141002?

California Wildfire Update: Heavy Rains Pose Mudslide Concerns

     The King wildfire in California has been experiencing some containment due to the heavy rains that have been occurring recently. Meteorologist Nick Wiltgen is concerned about the effects that this rain could have on the area. He states, "the King Fire isn't even 50% contained and already we have a plume of persistent rain drenching the area. We're seeing reports of half an inch of rain in 2 hours -- not nearly as heavy as some of the flood events elsewhere in the country this year, but when that happens on a rugged area that just lost all of its vegetation to a massive wildfire, it's enough to bring a threat of flooding and mudslides."
     The damages that this wildfire has been causing are slowly starting to pile up. About 2,800 people have been forced to leave their homes, heavy smoke has filled the air in nearby towns, more than 8,000 firefighters have been working to prevent this wildfire from getting any bigger, 12 homes have been destroyed and 12,000 more homes are under threat, and all of this has been costing California 50 million dollars. A man by the name of Wayne Allen Huntsman, 37, has been charged for starting the fire. He remains in prison on a 10 million dollar bail. Roughly 5,000 wildfires have occurred in California so far this year, but this particular wildfire has been the second priciest.

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Link: http://www.wunderground.com/news/california-king-fire-update-20140925

Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano Lava Flow Update

Hawaii News Now reports that the Big Island has been experiencing lava flow coming from its only active volcano, Kilauea. The lava has recently widened about 100 yards this week. The Puna district community that lives near this volcano might be under a serious threat if the lava continues to widen and flow. In the few coming weeks, Hawaii officials are concerned that the lava might cover Highway 130 and cut the Puna district community from the rest of the island. However, no evacuations have been ordered just yet. The U.S. army corps of engineers are discussing with current Hawaii officials what the necessary safety precautions to make should be. Since 1983, the Kilauea volcano has been continuously erupting but with no major threats to the residents of the island. It is just recently that a flow has emerged from this volcano due to a vent in one of the craters of the volcano. The lava has sparked a few brush fires in the thick forest area of the volcano, but no major damage has occurred.

No picture available.

Link: http://www.wunderground.com/news/hawaii-lava-flow-update-20140925?

Alaska Earthquake Strikes Anchorage Area with 6.2 Magnitude

Alaska's largest city, Anchorage, experienced an alarming earthquake on Thursday morning at 9:51 am. The length of time that the earthquake took place in was not reported. However, no severe damage occurred. The citizens of Anchorage were alarmed for quite a bit but no one was severely hurt. The earthquake was strong enough to rattle the walls of buildings and homes, causing various objects to fall from their place. The Alaska Earthquake Information Center has estimated that the earthquake's magnitude was about 6.24 and that an after shock followed at around 10:36 am. People as far as 300 miles away from Anchorage reported feeling the earthquake. The earthquake's depth was estimated to be about 60 miles, making it an intermediate-depth earthquake. In 1964, Alaska experienced an earthquake of 9.2 magnitude that triggered a frightening tsunami. The tsunami reached over 220 feet along the Alaskan coast. Thankfully, the earthquake that Anchorage just recently experienced did not trigger any tsunamis.

No picture available.

Link: http://www.wunderground.com/news/alaska-earthquake-anchorage-no-tsunami-20140925?

California Wildfire Update

About 90,000 acres of the central Sierra region has caught fire in east Sacramento, California due to the King wildfire. However, because the region experienced a cool, moist weekend, the fire was able to be contained by 35%. So far about 2,800 people have been evacuated from their homes, but that number is expected to increase if the wildfire continues to get worse. This particular wildfire has been confirmed as the second largest wildfire of the season and even has a chance of making it to the top 20 worst wildfires in California history. Hopefully, the expected chances of rainfall following the end of the week will pose a break for some of the firefighters that have been attempting to contain this disaster. Despite all this, California has only been experiencing slightly above average acreage damage due to wildfires. Even so, this month has experienced some pretty horrible wildfires in California. Now that we are nearing the end of the dry season, hopefully we will be able to see that some of these wildfires cease.




Picture above was taken on September 14th along the shores of the Bass Lake in the central Sierra Mountain region.

Link: http://www.wunderground.com/blog/weatherhistorian/comment.html?entrynum=306