NWS confirms 2 weekend tornadoes in Alabama

DOTHAN, Ala. (AP) — The National Weather Service says it has confirmed that two tornadoes touched down in Alabama last weekend.
The emergency management director for Dothan and Houston County, Chris Judah, says a weak twister hit Dothan early Sunday.

Judah tells the Dothan Eagle the tornado was either an EF-0 or EF-1. The storm splintered trees and caused damage to several homes.

Elsewhere in the area, storms twisted awnings at Wicksburg High School and caused minor damage at Houston County High School.

https://whnt.com/2018/12/04/nws-confirms-2-weekend-tornadoes-in-alabama/

Rare December tornado outbreak injures dozens in Illinois

A late-season tornado outbreak hit Illinois Saturday, dropping at least 26 confirmed tornadoes and injuring more than two dozen people in the Prairie State.

The surprise swarm of twisters marked the most to hit Illinois during a single December calendar day on record. The Storm Prediction Center had issued a “slight” risk of severe weather that morning, warning that “the development of afternoon thunderstorms in this region seems likely, with [wind] shear… favoring discrete supercell storm structures.” Supercell thunderstorms are the most dangerous form, with rotating updrafts that are the precursor to tornadoes.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2018/12/03/rare-december-tornado-outbreak-injures-dozens-illinois/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.47e433705a05

Alaska quake causes 'severe damage', triggers tsunami warning

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck near Anchorage caused ‘severe damage’ to the city. It was followed by aftershocks that triggered a tsunami alert in the Cook Inlet area, Alaska authorities said.

The tremor that struck on Friday morning was centered about 7 miles (12 kilometers) north of Anchorage, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). There are reports that several office buildings were evacuated, while other residents sheltered in place.

Alaska residents are posting photos on social media showing the quake damage at their homes and workplaces. Many are still stuck on roads, after multiple bridges collapsed and power went out.

https://www.rt.com/usa/445277-tsunami-warning-anchorage-alaska/

More Than 500 Aftershocks Rattle Residents After Major Earthquake Strikes Anchorage, Alaska

The U.S. Geological Survey said the 7 magnitude tremor struck about 10 miles north of Anchorage at 8:29 a.m. local time (12:29 p.m. EST) Friday morning. A 5.8 magnitude aftershock struck minutes later.

"It was anarchy," Brandon Slaton, who just moved to Kenai from Arizona, told the Associated Press. "There's no pictures left on the walls, there's no power, there's no fish tank left. Everything that's not tied down is broke."

Geophysicist Paul Caruso told the Associated Press 11 aftershocks have had magnitudes of 4.5 or greater, including a 5.7 magnitude aftershock. 

State seismologist Mike West said the quake was the “most significant” to strike Anchorage since the 1964 Good Friday tremblor, the Anchorage Daily News reported. 

https://weather.com/news/news/2018-11-30-anchorage-alaska-earthquake-impacts

El Nino triggers landslides in Peru, tornado in Argentina

A landslide has hit Peru, burying some 80 houses.

The avalanche of rocks and mud fell on a town in the Huanuco province, about 350km northeast of Lima, according to Peru's civil defence agency INDECI.

Emergency shelters have been set up for the affected families and troops sent to secure the area.

Fortunately, no death was reported in the landslide, but the rains are expected to continue and there is a risk of more landslides in the coming weeks.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/el-nino-triggers-landslides-peru-tornado-argentina-181115092736681.html

Rain, thunderstorms to heighten flooding risk for Buenos Aires, Montevideo through Tuesday

Heavy rain and thunderstorms slammed parts of Argentina over the weekend, and more is on the way through Tuesday.

Buenos Aires and surrounding areas were hit by the stormy weather from Friday night into Saturday, resulting in flooding.

Parts of the national capital were inundated by more than 125 mm (5 inches) of rainfall in less than 24 hours.

The normal November monthly rainfall in Buenos Aires is around 84 mm (3.30 inches).

The heaviest rainfall shifted into areas around Santa Fe and Parana on Sunday and Sunday night.

The region endured widespread flooding after more than 250 mm (10 inches) of rain fell in a 24-hour period.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/rain-thunderstorms-to-heighten-flooding-risk-for-buenos-aires-montevideo-through-tuesday/70006611

Climate change increases India’s vulnerability to extreme weather events: Report

In just four years, over 5,800 people and thousands of animals in India have lost their lives to “extremes of temperature, rainfall and tropical cyclones.” Increase in frequency and intensity of such disasters related to climate change impacts on the weather systems is a serious concern, notes the draft of India’s report to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

A final version of the report, ‘Second biennial update report (BUR) to the UNFCCC’, which is to be submitted during the ongoing 24th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP-24) to the UNFCCC at Katowice, Poland. The meeting from December 2-14 is significant as it is expected to finalise the guidelines for implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement. At Paris Agreement in 2015, the world agreed to aim to limit the rise in global average temperature to well below two degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

https://india.mongabay.com/2018/12/04/climate-change-increases-indias-vulnerability-to-extreme-weather-events-report/

Vietnam faces new threat from Usagi after landslides kill at least 14

As cleanup and recovery efforts continue, residents are facing a new tropical threat.

After unloading heavy rain on the Philippines earlier this week, Tropical Storm Usagi is expected to slam into southern Vietnam this weekend.

The warm waters of the South China Sea will allow Usagi to strengthen further before reaching Vietnam; however, the tropical cyclone is not expected to reach typhoon strength.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/vietnam-faces-new-tropical-storm-threat-after-landslides-kill-at-least-13/70006661

Major storm bringing severe weather to South, whiteout conditions to Northern Plains

A major storm developing in the central U.S. is bringing ongoing severe weather across the south, a flash flood threat to parts of the Gulf Coast and a major winter storm in the Northern Plains and upper Midwest.
There was one reported tornado in eastern Oklahoma overnight as several tornado warnings were issued in the eastern parts of the state. Additionally, there were nearly 60 reports of strong winds from northern Texas to southern Missouri. Numerous tornado warnings were issued during the overnight hours in southern Missouri, where winds reached 83 mph.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/major-storm-bringing-severe-weather-south-whiteout-conditions/story?id=59540477

Photos: Severe weather generates record-setting December tornado outbreak for Illinois

A series of tornadoes stirred up damage from the Plains to southeast Georgia over the weekend.

A swarm of tornadoes rocked central Illinois on Saturday, making it one of the most violent December days in the state’s history.

There were 26 confirmed tornadoes in the state, according to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, Illinois. This breaks the previous December tornado record in Illinois of 21, which occurred on Dec. 18-19, 1957. 

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/photos-severe-storms-generate-tornadoes-from-illinois-to-florida-this-weekend/70006778

California fearing potential mudslides from West Coast storm

A strong, slow-moving storm system is beginning to affect California, with rain up and down the coast and snow in the mountains.
The core of the system is trailing a heavy band of rain expected to arrive later this morning or afternoon.
The system will continue moving south on Wednesday morning, delivering rain to most of California and more snow in the higher elevations.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/california-fearing-potential-mudslides-west-coast-storm/story?id=59593238

Weird weather is turning the Arctic brown

Wednesday, November 28, 2018, 2:29 PM - Over the last few years Arctic scientists have reported a surprising finding: large areas of the Arctic are turning brown. This is in part due to extreme events linked to winter weather, such as sudden, short-lived periods of extreme warmth. These events are occurring as the climate warms, which is happening twice as fast in the Arctic compared with the rest of the planet. Extreme events are therefore happening more and more often, with increasingly severe effects – including widespread damage and death in Arctic plants.


https://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/the-arctic-is-turning-brown-because-of-weird-weather-and-it-could-accelerate-climate-change-the-conversation/117763

Rare QUADRUPLE cyclone phenomenon on THAILAND beach resort leaves tourists BAFFLED

The footage shows the moment a rare, quadruple waterspout stunned locals and tourists on the remote island Koh Lipe, in the south of Thailand. One tourist can be heard asking: “Oh my God, what is it?”  Another replied: “That's a cyclone, its sucking up the water.”

The video was captured by a worker on the island, Kim Puya.

When asked about the phenomenon she said: “I’ve never seen anything like this before. I’ve not even seen one waterspout, so it was amazing to see four of them together.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1050914/Thailand-rare-waterspout-weird-weather-video-weird-news-cyclone-tornado-Koh-Lipe

Lightning Strike Sets Yacht Ablaze in Thailand; Nine British Tourists Rescued

Nine British tourists were rescued from a burning yacht after lightning struck the ship during a storm off Phuket, Thailand.

The 50-foot yacht named Emmjay burst into flame Saturday afternoon after being hit by the lightning bolt, the Mirror reported.

https://weather.com/news/news/2018-11-04-nine-british-tourists-yacht-lightning

*Great video attached

Japan weather bureau says El Nino appears to have formed

Japan's weather bureau said on Friday the El Niño weather pattern appears to have formed and that there was a 70 percent chance it would continue into the Northern Hemisphere spring.

A US government weather forecaster on Thursday projected an 80 percent chance of the El Niño weather pattern forming and continuing through the Northern Hemisphere in winter 2018/19.

The last El Niño, a warming of ocean surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific that typically occurs every few years, occurred around 2015/2016 and caused weather-related crop damage, fires and flash floods.  

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/world/2018-11-09-japan-weather-bureau-says-el-nino-appears-to-have-formed/

At Least One Dead as Heavy Snow, Freezing Rain Batters Russia

At least one person was killed in Moscow, Russia, after freezing rain and heavy snow downed thousands of trees over the weekend.  

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed the death occurred Saturday when falling trees took down power lines. He added five others were injured in the heavy snow. 

https://weather.com/news/news/2018-02-04-russia-moscow-heavy-snow-freezing-rain-deadly

*Picture wouldn't attach, but it's a good one in the link

Woman survives 3 days stuck in blizzard on Iowa dirt road

FAIRFIELD — Seventy-two-year-old Terry June Harnish took a wrong turn while traveling to a friend’s house on Thanksgiving.

It was a seemingly innocent mistake. Who hasn’t done that before? But on this day, the wrong turn was just the beginning of her woes. While trying to turn around on a dirt road, her car got stuck. She tried to walk to a nearby farmhouse but collapsed when her shoes filled with mud. She returned to her car, where she remained for three days until a couple of young men discovered her during Sunday night’s blizzard.

Fortunately, Harnish is now safe and sound, but the memory of her ordeal will stay with her for years to come.

https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/public-safety/woman-survives-3-days-stuck-in-blizzard-on-iowa-dirt-road-20181130

CHERRY BLOSSOMS BLOOM SIX MONTHS EARLY IN JAPAN THANKS TO TYPHOON HAVOC

The extreme weather that has hit Japan in recent months has delivered an unexpected side effect: making the country’s famous cherry blossom trees bloom early.

Normally a feature of the Japanese spring, when people celebrate the pink petals of the sakura, a series of typhoons seems to have made the blossoms come six months early.

There have been more than 350 reports of premature blossoms, from the island of Kyushu to as far north as Hokkaido, the Weathernews website reported, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.

Tree surgeon Hiroyuki Wada told NHK that the reason for the phenomenon was likely the storms stripping trees of their leaves, which are crucial for the release of hormones that stop premature flowering.


https://www.newsweek.com/typhoons-and-warm-weather-make-japans-cherry-blossom-trees-bloom-too-soon-1176231

Big lessons hit home as Typhoon Trami rages

The thoughts which emerge while hiding in the bathroom from a typhoon, as I did recently, are mostly ridiculous. "Batteries are so useful!" you say to yourself at the beginning of the storm, confidently loading an arsenal of AAs into a torch. Hey, maybe Elon Musk is onto something with this battery caper after all!

By day two, and with the winds still howling outside, everything is less of a fun adventure – especially once the electricity goes out. You're eating nothing but handfuls of fruit-and-nut mix, the little bits of chocolate picked over in a simpler, more innocent age. It's time to start imagining what the first post-storm meal might be. A Big Mac, perhaps? A bowl of ramen? The important thing is that it must be hot. After eating almonds for 48 hours straight, you've earned yourself something satisfyingly greasy.


https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/big-lessons-hit-home-as-typhoon-trami-rages-20181016-p50a15.html

Extreme weather could trigger a global beer shortage that causes prices to skyrocket worldwide

Rising global temperatures affect not only our safety but what we eat and drink as well.

In recent years, scientists have uncovered a link between climate change and our consumption of popular items like wine and coffee. Now, a coming study from the University of East Anglia has found a link between extreme weather and how much beer we drink.

Instead of attempting to predict future events, the researchers asked themselves a question: What would happen to the beer industry tomorrow if it experienced the most severe form of drought or heat anticipated by scientists in the coming years?

According to the researchers, whose findings will appear in Nature Plants, these extreme weather conditions could spur a 16% decline in global beer consumption. That's equivalent to 29 billion liters, or the amount of beer consumed annually in the US.

https://www.businessinsider.com/extreme-weather-climate-change-global-beer-shortage-2018-10