PREVIOUS DISASTERS

Friday, June 30, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/29 -
5.2 SERAM, INDONESIA
5.0 SOUTHERN IRAN

VOLCANOES -
PHILIPPINES - New magma movement within Mt. Bulusan detected. The volcano has acted up anew as monitoring instruments around its slopes detected five volcanic tremors and small short duration harmonic tremor in the past 24-hour observation period Thursday, which scientists say are indicators of magma movement within the volcano. It was the first detected harmonic tremor in the past few days since Bulusan has shown decreased abnormal behavior. “These indicate magma movement which may lead to more explosions." The volume of emitted sulfur dioxide in the crater and western fissures again increased to 1,1444 tons per day from the 597 tons per day on June 28.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical depression 04W was 169 nmi S of Yap, Caroline Islands.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
EASTERN U.S. - The rainfall total for a five-day period is staggering. Storms dumped a foot of rain in four days. That's more than the rainfall total for the first five months of the year at National Airport. And it dwarfs precipitation from some recent hurricanes. Tropical Storm Isabel, which hit in September 2003, dumped two to four inches of rain across Maryland and Washington.

CHINA - Flooding in a mountainous area of southern China killed at least 30 people and destroyed more than 2,400 homes.

PAKISTAN - Early monsoon rains threaten quake reconstruction and relief efforts. Already, many of Pakistan's quake-affected areas have been hit by rains which signal the full force of the monsoon may only be days away. "The rains have come early in many areas. Smaller roads are blocked, and because the hillsides are already damaged by the earthquake, landslides will inevitably take place in larger numbers this year."

GERMANY - A FREAK storm that hit parts of south-western Germany, bringing with it hailstones almost as big as tennis balls, killed one farmer and injured more than 100 people, damaged cars and put holes in roofs. The farmer, trying to herd his cows into a shed, was swept away by a swollen stream on Wednesday evening after the thunderstorm caused a sudden rise in water levels. (photos)
Less than 24 hours later, a similar hailstorm, with somewhat smaller hailstones, hit the same area of the Black Forest, knocking a man off a roof as he was repairing damage from the Wednesday evening storm. He was in critical condition. The downpour again flooded building basements. The summer storms, attributed by meteorologists to sharp changes of temperature, caused millions of euros in damage. The extremes were marked by a temperature reading of minus one degree Celsius at dawn on Friday on Germany's North Sea coast and reports of 40 degrees in the shade, just 1,200km away in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Spots baked by the sun had reached temperatures of 60 degrees in Bosnia this week. The previous seven days had been THE HOTTEST FOR A CENTURY.

SNOW / COLD -
NEW ZEALAND - the low-pressure system on Monday June 12th was a major system, bringing severe wind, rain and snow. It was followed by a sustained blast of polar-chilled southwesterly winds that kept some snow on the ground for longer than a week. "Such sustained cold is EXTREMELY RARE". This is the first occasion we have seen it happen this decade, but there were two notable examples during the nineties."

HEAT -
CALIFORNIA - A heat wave sweeping through California is bringing 115 degree weather to many cities over the 4th of July weekend. The heat in the West this weekend is expected to get so bad that the Weather Service is advising people to stay indoors.

Thursday, June 29, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/28 -
5.7 SOUTHERN IRAN
5.1 FIJI ISLANDS REGION

VOLCANOES -
ECUADOR - Tungurahua volcano registered 50 explosions in 24 hours Tuesday. It is now experiencing "shivers": constant tremors inside the crater's bed. Volcanologists have observed constant emissions of gas, ash and water vapor that is forming a cloud around 1 km above the volcano's crater. Flocks of villagers living near the volcano, located 135 km from the capital Quito, have voluntarily left their homes, saying the loud explosions made it hard for them to sleep at night.

GUATEMALA - The Volcano of Fire's activity increased Wednesday. This increases the risk of disaster in Guatemala, already affected by intensive rains that provoked floods and collapses in several towns and the capital. The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction has already given first warnings for the possible evacuation of some 500 people from 4 towns. This is one of the country´s three volcanoes in constant activity, along with the Pacaya in south Guatemala, and Santiaguito, in the west.

MONTSERRAT - Scientists at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory have reported that there is an ongoing swarm of volcanic earthquakes at shallow depths, “the LIKES OF WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN AT THE MVO FOR YEARS.” On Monday, authorities increased the volcanic alert to level 4. "This comes in the wake of increased seismic activity this past weekend, which is still ongoing.”

TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical depression JELAWAT was 228 nmi WSW of Hong Kong.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
EASTERN U.S. - THE WORST FLOODING IN THE EASTERN U.S FOR DECADES, triggered by days of torrential downpours, has killed at least nine people and forced thousands to flee their homes. With roads washed out and waters rising, authorities declared emergencies across large swathes of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Travel along the heavily trafficked Eastern Seaboard from Virginia to New York was hard-hit. Up to 200,000 people in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and the surrounding area were ordered to evacuate their homes today as the Susquehanna River rose to dangerous levels. The river neared a 12.4m flood stage level that threatened to put UNPRECEDENTED strain on the area's flood control system. The Coast Guard used helicopters to rescue up to 70 people stranded on rooftops in the city, which had not seen a similar emergency since 1972 when a tropical storm swept through the area. New York's Governor said it was BY FAR THE WORST FLOODING HE HAD SEEN IN 12 YEARS as governor. "This is is a very low-lying area that has flooded in the past. The afternoon commute ... is already devastating. This is going to be the largest flood we've had maybe since 1955." Major rivers across the region were threatening to crest at dramatic levels.

FLORIDA - Several homes in Central Florida were damaged by fires caused by some of the 16,000 lightning strikes associated with Tuesday's passing storms.

MONTANA - A series of small landslides cut off visitor access to Yellowstone National Park from Gardiner for over three hours Tuesday.

MALAYSIA - An eight-year-old girl was killed when tonnes of soil slammed into a wooden house in a landslide on Monday night at Sepanggar. Eight families at Kampung Bundu in Karambunai, the site where the girl was killed , have been told to move out. Their homes are located just 50 metres below a stretch of road that collapsed after heavy rains triggered the landslide on Monday. The 16-hour downpour on Sunday evening caused massive floods in districts surrounding the city and at 41 villages in Beaufort.

WIND -
Sandstorms could be carrying close to 20 kinds of microbes that pose a health hazard, according to research released by the Environmental Protection Administration. Researchers found that when a sandstorm hit Taiwan earlier this year, the number of germs and funguses in the atmosphere rose by five to six times that of regular days. Some microbes, shrouded by sand grains from the ultraviolet solar rays that would otherwise kill them, could travel thousands of kilometers. Taiwan, Japan and Korea are on the pathway of sandstorms. The duration of such storms can last from merely a few hours to close to a week. The average size of the germs carried by the sandstorms ranges from 2.5 micrometers (one-millionth of a meter) to 10 micrometers, which are not easily filtered out by nose hairs.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/27 -
5.7 NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA, REG
5.1 NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA, REG
5.0 VANUATU ISLANDS
5.0 SOUTHERN PERU
5.0 NEAR COAST OF ECUADOR
5.5 NEAR COAST OF OAXACA, MEXICO
5.5 CHILE-BOLIVIA BORDER REGION
5.5 NORTHERN CHILE
5.7 WEST OF MACQUARIE ISLAND
5.6 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
5.4 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
6.0 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
6.0 RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.

VOLCANOES -
MONTSERRAT - Authorities increased the volcanic alert level on the island on Monday following increased seismic activity over the weekend. The Soufriere Hills Volcano roared to life in 1995 after years of being dormant. Last month, the lava dome of the volcano collapsed causing mud flows and surges along the north-east flank of the island. The increased seismic activity could lead to the possibility of serious eruptive activity that could affect some inhabited areas.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm JELAWAT was 246 nmi SW of Hong Kong.
CHINA - typhoon Jelawat will land on south China tonight or Thursday morning.
PHILIPPINES - Six young people drowned in stormy weather on a beach west of Manila on Monday, due to the tropical storm. The six youngsters were swimming on a beach in Morong town in Bataan province on Monday afternoon when the weather turned nasty, and they were overwhelmed by rough waves. Civil defense officials said they had unconfirmed reports that the bodies of two other people were recovered from the sea.

A potential tropical depression moved inland over the Carolinas coast Tuesday afternoon, bringing 35 to 40 mph winds to parts of the Outer Banks. The system's development into a tropical cyclone is less likely now that it has moved onshore but forecasters are still keeping an eye on the cluster of storms as it moves northeast. The system could cross North Carolina's barrier islands and emerge again over open water or the Chesapeake Bay and cause problems for parts of Virginia and Maryland, which have already been flooded over the past few days. Forecasters were already warning vacationers to beware of strong surf and deadly rip currents this week, particularly on east- and south-facing beaches. Rescuers pulled dozens of beachgoers out of the water over the weekend - including more than 40 people on Wrightsville Beach alone - and one woman died off Sullivans Island near Charleston. At least 45 people along the Carolinas coast have been caught and killed by rip currents since 2000. Eight people have died since the last July Fourth weekend.

With disturbances popping up most every day, it might appear this hurricane season already is boiling with tropical activity. The National Hurricane Center was monitoring two systems on Tuesday. But at this time of year, most disturbances fizzle, and so far conditions are relatively normal. "Every year, we start tracking these tropical waves in late May, coming off the coast of Africa. We pretty much have a typical start." On average, the first tropical storm forms on July 11 and the second on Aug. 8. So Tropical Storm Alberto, which hit the Big Bend area of Florida on June 13, did arrive earlier than normal.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
PENNSYLVANIA - The National Weather Service now expects much of eastern Pennsylvania to be hit with major flooding today from rivers, streams and creeks. The flooding has the potential to put the Schuylkill River at its HIGHEST LEVEL IN PHILADELPHIA IN 145 YEARS. In Philadelphia, the flood stage is 11 feet. It could rise to 15.5 feet by Wednesday afternoon into Thursday. Its highest recorded level is 17 feet. A crest at that predicted level would top levels seen by Hurricane Agnes and Floyd.

HAIL -
WISCONSIN - Severe storms that lumbered through Columbia County on Sunday afternoon flattened farm fields with an hour-and-a-half barrage of hail and dumped up to six inches of rain on parts of the county. Hail accumulated like winter precipitation in front of houses, reaching depths of a foot and a half. Hail was still piled in low-lying areas over 24 hours after the storm struck. "I've never seen anything like it. We were in the house and we had to scream in each other's ears to communicate." The county even had to dispatch its snow plows to clear the roads of accumulated hail, which reached six inches deep on some roads. The storms normally would not have inflicted as much damage as they did, but their snail's pace made them dangerous. In what would have been a brief hailstorm and downpour in a typical storm, a large amount of precipitation was concentrated over a small area for an hour and a half.

PHILIPPINES - The Baguio City Weather Bureau said that hail accompanying last Saturday’s downpour in Baguio and Benguet was NOT AN ORDINARY OCCURENCE, although it is likely to happen again due to the continuing warming of the environment.

HEAT / SMOG-
WASHINGTON - For the second consecutive day, Seattle saw RECORD HEAT, along with ONE OF THE EARLIEST SMOG ALERTS ON RECORD, too. It is RARE for a smog advisory this early in the summer; they typically appear in July and August.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006 -

QUAKES -
This morning - 6.0 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
6.0 RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS, ALASKA
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/26 -
5.0 VANUATU ISLANDS
5.5 CERAM SEA
5.4 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm 03W [Domeng] was 307 nmi S of Hong Kong.
Typhoon Domeng, the second typhoon this year, is gathering steam out over the East Sea moving towards Vietnam. Coastal areas from Ba Ria Vung Tau to Ca Mau will see high winds up to 39kmh and rough seas. (map)

SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT 7:30AM - SATELLITE AND RADAR INFORMATION INDICATE THAT A SMALL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM COULD BE FORMING ABOUT 140 MILES SOUTH OF CAPE FEAR NORTH CAROLINA. THIS SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DEVELOP INTO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION AT ANY TIME AS IT MOVES NORTH TO NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD AT 15 TO 20 MPH. RESIDENTS ALONG THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM TODAY AS TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS COULD BE REQUIRED WITH LITTLE NOTICE. EVEN IF THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT FORM INTO A TROPICAL CYCLONE... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACCOMPANIED BY LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL GRADUALLY SPREAD ONSHORE on THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST TODAY AND EARLY TONIGHT. [Site note - sorry about the caps, didn't want to retype the whole thing]

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
JAPAN - Heavy rain pounded Kyushu on Monday, causing mudslides, killing one person and injuring five others in Kumamoto Prefecture. The Meteorological Agency warned that the downpour, which has so far hit Kumamoto the hardest, would likely continue through this morning and the danger of landslides COULD RISE TO A LEVEL UNSEEN IN YEARS. Also in Yamato, a 74-year-old woman was trapped inside a house hit by a mudslide, but was rescued. Mudslides have reported in at least 85 locations in Kyushu between Thursday, when it started raining, through Monday evening.

INDONESIA - Floods triggered by heavy rain killed 22 people in central Indonesia, the second such disaster in the sprawling nation in less than a week.

WASHINGTON D.C. - Waves of heavy showers and thunderstorms drenched Washington and the surrounding mid-Atlantic on Sunday, triggering flash flooding that swelled streams over their banks and shut roads throughout the region. Washington up through Baltimore received between five and seven inches of rain ... and most of it was in about a six-hour period. The heavy rainfall in a such a short time-frame was UNUSUAL for Washington, DESTROYING A SINGLE-DAY RECORD for June 25 that goes back to 1870.
Another wave of tropical moisture is likely to move northward through the area today, potentially dropping 2-4" more rain, with locally higher amounts. Some areas may experience 5-day rainfall totals of over one foot. Flash flooding potential. NEW DAILY RAINFALL RECORD at Dulles Airport of 5.94 on Sunday.

MASSACHUSETTS - As of 8 p.m. Sunday, Boston had seen 22.26 inches of rainfall in May and June, the MOST IN A TWO-MONTH PERIOD SINCE RECORD KEEPING BEGAN in 1872. The previous record for any consecutive, two-month rainfall was set in 1955 , when Tropical Storm Dianne dumped nearly half of the 21.37 inches of rain that fell in July and August of that year. This month is the third wettest June on record so far, with 9.78 inches of rainfall as of Sunday night, while last month was the second wettest May on record, with 12.48 inches of precipitation. The poor weather was due to a system described as "a frontal boundary draped across Southern New England," which is hosting warm, moist air along with waves of energy. The weather pattern has stagnated, resulting in days of rain. In addition, the temperature in Boston Sunday afternoon was 66 degrees, 13 degrees cooler than normal, because the wind was coming from the ocean.

WIND -
NEW YORK - A tornado-like storm ripped through the Red Oaks Mill section of LaGrange Sunday night, felling heavy trees, ripping up fences and bringing down electrical wires in the span of a few minutes. When it was done, it left a path of destruction that destroyed several backyards, made roads impassable and required LaGrange firefighters to seek help from the Arlington and New Hackensack fire departments, as well as state police and the Sheriff's Office. Town and county highway departments were removing entire trees from the surrounding roads late Sunday night, and meteorologists were left scratching their heads over what happened. "It's BIZARRE because there's nothing on our radar to indicate any tornado rotation or anything like that...There's nothing in the county that even indicates that.'' "By indications of damage on the ground, some kind of high-velocity wind event caused significant damage here.''

INDIANA - A 'tornado' touched down in southwest Tippecanoe County Sunday afternoon. The storm "was something like a tornado, but not in the classic sense." "The National Weather Service said that the phenomenon was a category of tornado, but acted more like a water spout except that it did not contain water and it happened over dry land. It was VERY UNUSUAL. There were fast moving winds going up and coming down at the same time side-by-side." Land spouts form from different cloud types than normal tornadoes and are not as visible on radar. The first sign of a land spout is often the debris scattering on the ground, leading to the impression that it forms from the ground up, rather than from the cloud down. National Weather Service meteorologists said the tornado also was UNUSUAL because it was isolated and not part of a larger storm system.

Monday, June 26, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/25 -
5.0 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
5.1 SOUTH AFRICA
5.2 MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL
5.3 EASTERN NEW GUINEA

VOLCANOES -
NEW ZEALAND - Scientists in the central North Island are keeping a close eye on Mount Ngauruhoe after an increasing number of earthquakes. The volcano has been largely silent since it last blew in 1975. But for the past two weeks, Ngauruhoe has been showing signs of activity. "These are the initial signs that something is happening and it may just be that these earthquakes just die away and that'll be it. Or they may increase." Ngauruhoe's neighbour Mount Ruapehu is also being monitored. Scientists say a build-up of debris in its crater lake could cause a lahar (mud flow) as early as next summer. The last major lahar on record was that which caused the Tangiwai disaster in 1953.

PHILIPPINES - About 100 residents fled from a farming village after hearing boulders and rocks rumbling down restive Mount Bulusan amid heavy rains from a tropical storm on Saturday. Army and government trucks helped the residents flee from Cogon village below Bulusan. No one was injured and no houses were damaged by the mudflow and boulders - some as big as a car - that tumbled down the volcano.

TROPICAL STORMS -
PHILIPPINES - a tropical storm, locally named “Domeng”, was heading northwest towards Bicol at 19 kilometers per hour. The eye of the storm, packing maximum winds of 90 kilometers per hour, passed Biliran island and was expected to pass beside the Bicol region this morning. It was not expected to hit the region directly. It was initially expected to hit the Bicol region and Aurora and Quezon provinces but changed direction Saturday night and headed for Leyte, Marinduque, and Mindoro island. It has hit Leyte. "If the storm triggers the southwest monsoon, we will have a double headache - rains from the tropical depression and from the monsoon." Warnings against floods and landslides have been issued in Leyte because the land in the area is still "saturated" with rainfall due to typhoon Caloy. The weather bureau is studying the "VERY STRANGE" WEATHER, particularly the development of the southwest monsoon ("Habagat"). The southwest monsoon is "very erratic" because it is not yet developed in the Philippines. "In theory, it (monsoon) should be developed right now. The flooding in Indonesia last week was caused by the inter-tropical convergence zone but it should be in the Visayas now. But it is still in Indonesia. VERY STRANGE." India and China are experiencing floods and landslides because of the southwest monsoon, which they should be experiencing in July, not in May and June. "Right now it's VERY STRANGE. Our southwest monsoon right now should be well developed. Our thunderstorms right now should be caused by southwest monsoon. We expect it to be here June-July." Climatological projections are that the rainy season would be "relatively dry" because the southwest monsoon is not well developed.

A broad area of low pressure from Florida to Georgia is expected to become marginally favorable for further storm development over the next day or so. Even if a tropical system does not develop, it is expected to bring heavy showers and thunderstorms to the Florida peninsula and the coastal areas through North Carolina.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
INDIA - At least six houses and some livestock were swept away by the swollen waters of two irrigation canals after a cloudburst triggered flash floods in two villages of Chamba district on Sunday.

ALASKA - A new storm system heading for Alaska's Interior prompted the National Weather Service to issue flash flood watches Sunday for the Alaska and Richardson highways with the possibility that river levels could rise again later this week. "Just belt after belt after belt of showers coming through." The system has been sitting over the Gulf of Alaska for at least a week gathering moisture. A shift in upper level winds over the weekend began pushing the system north, over Prince William Sound and along the Canada-Alaska border. Delta Junction and the surrounding area had NEAR-RECORD RAINFALL that caused road damage. Similar scenarios will likely play out during the next few days, except the ground and rivers are already saturated from last weeks rain. The Interior usually begins seeing frequent rain showers in late June and early July. But the large amounts of rain are UNUSUAL. "This is not totally unexpected. But certainly the magnitude of the rain is a little more than we would expect this time of year."

MARYLAND - residents say the rain is THE WORST IN OVER 30 YEARS with water rising up several feet. "It was as bad as Hurricane Agnes in '72, only there it rained a couple days to get up that high." Thunderstorms were predicted to last into early this week.

Sunday, June 25, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/24 -
5.8 MINAHASSA PENINSULA, SULAWESI
5.1 SERAM, INDONESIA
5.3 EAST OF KURIL ISLANDS, RUSSIA
5.1 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
5.0 CARLSBERG RIDGE
5.1 ARABIAN SEA
5.0 MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL
6/23 -
5.2 SUNDA STRAIT, INDONESIA
5.4 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
5.3 NEAR COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
5.3 RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
5.0 SOUTHERN IRAN
5.0 SOUTHERN INDIA

OHIO - experts now say the small earthquake felt in northeast Ohio earlier this week was stronger than first thought. Preliminary data had put the magnitude of Monday's shaker at 3.4, but the Ohio Seismic Network now says it was a 3.8. That means the quake was ten times more powerful, given the way the seismic scale works. It was much larger than other similar quakes that have rumbled in the area in recent years. The quake was centered about three miles into Lake Erie near North Perry, about 40 miles east of Cleveland, and was felt along the lake shore.

VOLCANOES -
PHILIPPINES - Mount Canlaon in Negros Island in the central Philippines, some 500 km south of Manila, spewed ash on its upper slope on Saturday afternoon. The ash emission was the third within two days. Saturday's steam clouds rose higher to 1,500 meters. No volcanic earthquake or tremor was detected with the ash emissions.
Government scientists are again closely monitoring Mayon Volcano in Albay as its ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR such as crater glow and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission are increasing anew. Mayon’s crater glow was again visible to the naked eye at night and the released volume of SO2 was double the normal output. They recorded at least 1,037 sulfur emissions in the past 24 hours. The visible crater glow and the high volume of SO2 could mean that the magma in the volcano is gradually rising towards the surface. Phivolcs decided to lower Mayon’s alert level from 2 to 1 on April 18 due to the continued decline in SO2 emission and crater glow. "But apparently these parameters are again in an increasing trend, which means that Mayon is acting up again."
Meanwhile, the volcanologist monitoring the Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon, allayed the fears of residents over the SO2 emission of Bulusan which was recorded at 2,310 tons per day or four times higher than the previous volume of 469 tons per day on June 20. He said that the high SO2 emission is not very significant because it was not accompanied by other abnormal parameters such as low- and high-frequency quakes and harmonic tremors. When the SO2 emission is not accompanied by tremors, it could mean that it was just an ordinary release of gas, and not necessarily due to massive magma degassing that could lead to an eruption. He said that the very high volume of SO2 emission in the past 24-hour monitoring period could be due to the declogging of the crater when it spewed ash on June 20. He said, however, that Bulusan Volcano is one of the most unpredictable volcanoes in the country.

AZERBAIJAN - geologists have developed a new mud volcano search method. Buried mud volcanoes have been revealed in the southwest section of Absheron peninsula and at 110km of Baku-Salyan highway. Mud volcanoes have been studied for over 40 years. There are some uncertainties in this sphere of science, there is not a full understanding of the formation and mechanism of visible mud volcanoes. There is no sufficient information on buried volcanoes either. Last year buried volcanoes were revealed in the Azeri sector of the Caspian Sea during exploratory operations. Mud volcanoes are tightly linked to the oil-and-gas content of the area. Over 90% of revealed oil & gas deposits of Azerbaijan are linked to mud volcano structures.

ITALY - A submerged island discovered off the coast of Sicily forms part of a vast underwater volcano, according to new research unveiled by Italian volcanologists and due to be broadcast in the autumn. Tracing two 40-metre columns of bubbles in the sea off the southern Italian island, researchers discovered smoking openings. The smoke was coming from Fernandea, a submerged volcano which the researchers say may be as much as 30 kms long and 25 kms wide. It has not been seen since it erupted in the 19th century. But the discovery of the volcanic outlets is not a cause for concern.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
PHILIPPINES - another landslide may hit the area of Barangay Magsaysay, Kibawi town, Bukidnon. Inspection showed that there were big cracks found in Barangay Magsaysay as well as structures being destroyed due to UNUSUAL EARTH MOVEMENTS. There were six houses that were badly damaged by the ground collapse. Also damaged were facilities such as the barangay health center, newly improved barangay road, barangay hall, basketball court, solar dryer, and electric posts and a drainage system. Black and white photos showed a big crack at the barangay health center, the almost sinking Magsaysay Elementary School, destroyed houses, and traverse cracks affecting barangays roads. Several traverse cracks, with variable dimensions, were noted to have affected an area of about 5-6 hectares encompassing the entire poblacion of Barangay Magsaysay, Puroks 1-3, and part of Sitio Lumbayan, where about 97 households are residing. Meanwhile,officlals have already evacuated hundreds of affected families.

HUNGARY - Sudden storms flooded villages and disrupted rail traffic in N Hungary on Friday, damaging overhead power lines and creating up to two hours of delays in train schedules. One such storm was a sudden cloudburst that hit Nograd county, N Hungary, flooding streets in six villages with half-a-metre water and causing brooks and creeks to overflow, washing away local bridges.

Space Weather / Solar Storms / Meteors - updated Sundays.
ONE ITEM - POSTED HERE -
OHIO - Residents of the Tuscarawas Valley who heard a deafening boom about 12:40 a.m. Monday the 19th and stepped outside likely saw what one person described as “a marvelous fireball with red streaks in the sky.” It probably was a meteor falling through the atmosphere. Numerous callers reported a large red fireball. Several said their homes shook. New Philadelphia police said they received reports from several callers who witnessed the fireball or heard the boom. One woman described it as “a blue light that lit up the sky and went down.” Police in Dover said multiple callers reported they heard a loud bang and something rattled their windows. Air Traffic Command in Washington, D.C. confirmed that Cleveland’s control center was checking into a meteor shower that occurred within its air space.

Friday, June 23, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/22 -
5.3 SERAM, INDONESIA
5.3 SERAM, INDONESIA
6.1 KURIL ISLANDS, RUSSIA

CAPE VERDE - A helicopter and ship were made available by NATO's Response Force to support Cape Verdean authorities in transporting an evaluation team to the island of Brava to survey the damage caused by the tremors felt last weekend on Cape Verde's most isolated island. The visit is intended to survey the damage caused by the seismic activity that occurred on the island on June 17 and 18. The magnitude of the tremor that struck the island has not been determined, as the seismic equipment on the island is in need of repair. No one was reported injured.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
LIGHTNING - Next time you find yourself talking on your mobile phone in the middle of a thunderstorm you may want to cut the conversation short. UK doctors have warned of the danger of lightning strikes when using mobile phones outdoors during stormy weather. The metal in the phone directs the current into the body. There are, on average, about 1,800 thunderstorms in progress at any one time around the world with 100 lightning strikes every second. "If you're struck by lightning on its own it will flash over your body but if you're holding a phone it will internalise and cause much worse injuries. "

COLORADO - A motorcyclist was struck by lightning and killed Wednesday afternoon while traveling on U.S. 36 in Westminster (between Denver and Boulder). Witnesses said they saw a bright flash that sent the yellow sport-bike veering into a concrete median. The lightning left a crater in the asphalt about 12 inches by 8 inches wide and 6 inches deep and sent chunks of asphalt hurtling across the highway. It was the second fatal lightning strike this month in the north metro area. On June 11, a man was electrocuted by lightning as he walked through the parking lot. Lightning striking a moving vehicle is RARE but not unheard of, an expert said. There have been several cases in recent years of motorcyclists and motorists being struck. Colorado ranks third in the nation behind Texas and Florida for fatal lightning strikes. Between 1995 and 2004, there were 31 lightning-related deaths in Colorado.

FOG -
AUSTRALIA - Flights across Australia have been delayed for the second day as early morning fog in Sydney and Canberra exacerbated hold ups from yesterday's UNSEASONAL WEATHER PATTERNS. Flights out of Sydney were held back as Qantas worked to prevent a repeat of yesterday's chaos when planes, unable to land in the New South Wales capital, were stranded in other cities and regional airports. Passengers in Sydney meanwhile competed for limited seats on planes going out when the fog lifted. "Yesterday the weather was SO COMPLETELY OUT OF LEFT FIELD, the airport didn't open until 1pm."

UNUSUAL WEATHER SEASON -
NEPAL - "Nepalese village folks still repeat the saying that the appearance of a single star during monsoon months (due to dispersal of clouds) will cause loss of tens thousands of muris of food grains. It is already paddy plantation season now and we have not only starry nights but also full fledged sunny days. What is happening? Recent years are marked by puzzling weather phenomenon. Rains are falling in unexpected volume in unexpected time. And when they are badly needed, they are absent. Winter precipitation is vital in the Nepalese agriculture system, which lacks irrigation facilities. After the retreat of monsoon, we have witnessed no rains for several months. Farmers who grow winter crops, especially vegetables, were most affected. Rivers and streams dried to the unexpected levels and winter appeared to be warmer. Vegetable output went down. The rain-silence was broken around April but the spell came in such a fashion as if the monsoon had set in. In the past, late April-early June were known to be dry but recent years have proved otherwise. This year, they were rainy with the downpour catching people by surprise throughout. There were swollen rivulets, flooded streets and damaged crops. The spell continued not only for days but weeks and months...There are prolonged droughts that are usually broken by the spells of excessive rains. It seems that rains are getting more violent. They are also getting more irregular and isolated. Rains are accompanied by more occurrence of thunder and lightning with lightning deaths going up considerably higher in recent years. In sum, weather patterns are visibly changing and taking more catastrophic form. Landslides, flash floods, longer droughts and extreme form of rainfall have become the common type of disasters that cause loss of life and property every year. Unusual things are happening not only in Nepal but also globally....A relevant question is - What might be behind all these inhospitable and unexpected phenomenon that we have been witnessing of late? The happenings indicate that climate change is taking place. Global temperature is said to be hovering at the highest level in the history of human civilization.

Thursday, June 22, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/21 -
5.0 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.8 NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA
5.0 NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
5.1 ECUADOR

CHINA - Three people were injured in a 5.0 earthquake in Gansu yesterday. Five houses were toppled in Linjiang and Liping townships, the two worst hit areas. Details of damage and direct economic losses were still being investigated.

CALIFORNIA - A section of the San Andreas fault near Los Angeles that hasn't moved in 250 years is in danger of causing a major earthquake, a new study concludes. Geologists are trying to determine how much longer the southern end of the fault can withstand the seismic pressure. It was a sudden 6.4-metre movement in the northern section of the fault that was responsible for the earthquake in 1906 that destroyed San Francisco. No one can predict when a Big One will strike, but it's reasonable to conclude the southern end of the fault is near the end of its dormancy period, or "interseismic phase." The 160-kilometre southern section of the fault cuts through San Bernardino, east of Los Angeles, to near the Mexican border.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
INDONESIA - Rescuers scoured mud-filled homes for bodies as the death toll from landslides and floods on eastern Sulawesi island in Indonesia rose to 188 people. Nearly 150 people are missing. A search-and-rescue operation has been underway in South Sulawesi province after two days of heavy rain at the beginning of the week. Sinjai regency was the worst-hit area after flooding early on Tuesday.

ROMANIA - Eight people were killed and several others declared missing after a river burst its banks overnight in northern Romania. The Tibes River in the county of Bistrita burst its banks sending torrents of water into a nearby village. The water also knocked out power and telephone lines and blocked roads in the area. Storms overnight in the county of Arad in western Romania also flooded several villages, leading to evacuations. Meteorologists warn that heavy rain and hail will follow the next couple of days and that flood risk levels will be exceeded in several areas.

WIND -
SCOTLAND - Gales with 90mph winds were set to batter the country and there were flooding fears as 4in of rain was forecast. "It is UNUSUAL weather for this time of year, especially the high winds... It is being caused by an area of low pressure that's making its way across the country. "

HEAT -
NEBRASKA - A RARE weather phenomenon that saw temperatures shoot up more than 20 degrees in less than a hour early Tuesday morning was recorded in south Central Nebraska. The conditions that set up a heat burst are dry air directly beneath a weakening elevated thunderstorm. (site requires registration)

Wednesday, June 21, 2006 -

QUAKES -
This morning there has been a 6.0 quake in the NICOBAR ISLANDS.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/20 -
5.0 TALAUD ISLANDS, INDONESIA
5.2 GANSU, CHINA
5.4 QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS
5.1 NEAR COAST OF CENTRAL CHILE

VOLCANOES -
PHILIPPINES - Local officials placed Irosin Town in Sorsogon Province, the central Philippines, under a state of calamity after a series of ash explosions from the active volcano Mount Bulusan. Everything in Irosin Town, a populated area near Mount Bulusan, is covered with a thick layer of ash spewed by the volcano. Residents living around the volcano have started building temporary shelters in anticipation of the major eruption, while trucks were ready for a massive evacuation. On Monday hundreds of residents living within Mount Bulusan's permanent danger zone were evacuated from their homes because of the ash explosion on Sunday afternoon. Mount Bulusan is expected to spew more volcanic ash in the coming days. The PHIVOLCS authority is also anticipating a major eruption because of the minor earthquakes coming from Mount Bulusan.

INDONESIA - Mount Merapi volcano spewed burning ash and gas clouds Tuesday as scientists expressed fears that rain could send deadly flows of volcanic debris to villages below. If forecasts of rain today and Thursday hold, millions of metric tons of built-up ash and rock fragments could be sent down Merapi's steep slopes in mudslides, a vulcanologist warned. Meanwhile, avalanches of new debris tumbled 2.2 miles down the flanks of the volatile mountain earlier Tuesday. (photo)
Mount Merapi sent avalanches of searing hot gas and debris roiling down its scorched slopes today, and a scientist warned that the peak's fragile lava dome still posed a threat to thousands of villagers. More than half a dozen avalanches carried gas and volcanic debris more than two miles down the peak's flanks. Magma has swelled into a volatile lava dome on the southern crater, he said, and there is a likelihood that it will collapse, causing an avalanche of the hot gas and volcanic debris trapped within it. (photo)

TROPICAL STORMS -
CENTRAL AMERICA - Massive waves caused by a storm more than 3,000 kilometres away have washed away homes, hotels and restaurants along the coastline of Central America. There have been no reports of death, but hundreds of people have fled from their homes and communities. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the waves are not caused by a tsunami from underwater earthquakes, but are from a large storm in the South Pacific. Large waves have been pounding the coastline from Ecuador's Galapagos Islands to the Mexican resort of Acapulco for several days. In Guatemala, waves along the western shore smashed a small hotel in Sipacate, a surfing hotspot about 100 kilometres from Guatemala City. Fifteen-foot high waves drove water about 90 metres inland in Nicaragua, washing away about 20 homes in Peurto Corinto. Dozens of people fled their homes in El Salvador, where witnesses reported high waves, while a number of coastal areas of Costa Rica reported flooding. Weather officials said the waves should subside today or Thursday.
Heavy surf is pounding the Pacific Coast from Chile to California - A FREAKISHLY POWERFUL storm far off in the South Pacific propelled huge swells to the Americas, causing a surge of waves that battered homes and beachfront businesses from Peru to Mexico. Several hundred people were evacuated in at least eight countries. The barrage began Sunday, and the waves were beginning to weaken Tuesday afternoon. The waves resulted from a particularly intense low pressure system several hundred miles off New Zealand that caused hurricane force winds and RARE snowfall at sea level. Masses of water were shoved eastward, creating UNUSUALLY big waves when the swells hit the Americas. "The storm system that generated these waves was FAIRLY EXTRAORDINARY. " Over the weekend, heavy surf wrecked 15 homes in a shantytown in Lima's port of Callao and damaged about 100 in the northern coast city of Trujillo. In Honduras, giant swells damaged at least 300 houses along the Gulf of Fonseca on Sunday.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
INDONESIA - Landslides and floods on Indonesia's eastern Sulawesi island have killed 100 people and the toll could rise. Many others are still missing, after two days of heavy rain caused major flooding in South Sulawesi province. Many people are feared buried under the mud, and a rescue operation is under way to try to find them. More heavy rains are expected in the next few days. Flash floods and landslides usually happen earlier in the year, at the height of the monsoon season. More than 120 people lost their lives in two separate landslides on Java in January.

PHILIPPINES - Three people died, five were injured and two remained missing after a hillside collapsed and buried six houses in Barangay Napnapan in Pantukan, Compostela. A heavy downpour overnight caused the soil collapse at 9:30 a.m.

INDIA - Occasional storms and intermittent drizzles may have delayed the actual monsoon by 20 days. These rains were mistaken as the pre-monsoon rains, but in fact, they were caused by cyclonic conditions created in the Indian ocean. These cyclonic rains often hamper the development of the monsoon in the desired areas. These rain storms followed by extremely humid conditions were not favourable either for the crops or for human health. Drought-like conditions will occur if the monsoon fails to proceed by the end of June 30 or first week of July.

WISCONSIN - The tornado that struck western Washington County Sunday afternoon, creating nearly $4 million in damage, was caused by an UNUSUAL, "PERPLEXING" set of weather conditions that gave residents little more than two minutes to seek shelter. "It wasn't a classic textbook event. This one is perplexing us." The storm was not part of a squall line or widespread severe weather outbreak. The weather service issued a tornado warning at 2:27 p.m. after radar indicated that a thunderstorm "capable of producing a tornado" was just west of Hartford. At 2:28 p.m., the city's tornado warning sirens were activated. At 2:29 p.m., a Hartford police officer saw a funnel cloud touch down. Little more than a minute later, 157 homes and businesses were damaged.

SNOW / COLD -
NEW ZEALAND - Civil defence authorities in New Zealand have warned snowbound South Island communities to prepare for another severe storm. About 800 homes in the Canterbury region are facing their 10th day without power as a result of the HEAVIEST SNOW DUMP IN 50 YEARS. Weather forecasters predict the worst-affected areas of the South Island might be in for another 15 to 20 centimetres of snow due to a cold front that is sweeping over the country.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/19 -
5.0 TALAUD ISLANDS, INDONESIA
5.3 SAMAR, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
5.1 MYANMAR
5.1 TONGA ISLANDS

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - Indonesia's Mount Merapi was still on high alert Monday as the volcano in densely populated Central Java continued to spew hot clouds of gas and debris down its slopes as far as three kilometres, mostly toward Gendol and Krasak rivers. On Friday the hot clouds of gas and volcanic materials from Merapi destroyed and covered the Kaliadem tourist resort area with up to three metres of debris, and burned hundreds of hectares of forest. Residents living in seven villages on Merapi's slopes are complaining of difficulties getting clean water, and cattle were also suffering due to water shortages. With the volcano showing no signs of cooling down, residents living on Mount Merapi's slopes have been unable to conduct their daily activities, forcing many to sell their livestock to raise money. Many residents who earn their living as traders in the Kaliadem tourist resort area were also facing economic losses after the area was buried by the eruption. Volcanologists have said a new lava dome reformed at the peak of Merapi soon after the volcano belched searing clouds of ash and steam last week on Wednesday night.

PHILIPPINES - Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon spewed a massive column of ash about two kilometers into the sky sending residents of surrounding areas fleeing for cover yesterday. A loud explosion had been heard from the crater and falling ash has turned vegetation, houses and even cattle around the volcano, white. The ash explosion was not preceded by volcanic quakes and may just be the result of hot rocks coming into contact with groundwater. The volcano has been periodically ejecting ash into the sky amid a greater frequency of volcanic quakes in recent days. In Negros Occidental, Kanlaon Volcano appeared to have calmed down during the weekend.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
SOUTH KOREA - The crew of an Asiana Airlines Airbus A321 managed to land safely after the aircraft was damaged flying through a hailstorm on June 9. Hailstones that the South Korean airline says “looked 5cm [2in] wide” ripped off the nose cone, caused a 20cm-wide hole in one of the engine cowlings and cracked the windshield. The crew were unable to execute an automatic landing, but brought the aircraft down manually after two attempts despite their restricted vision due to the windshield damage. (damage photo)

TEXAS, LOUISIANA - A deluge of more than 10 inches of rain Monday along parts of the Gulf Coast forced the evacuation of a Louisiana nursing home and stranded motorists on roads flooded up to waist-deep in southeast Texas, where National Guard troops were on standby for more storms. Rain from a second storm had begun to fall in Houston late Monday afternoon. In Sulphur, La., rain measured as much as 9 1/2 inches of rain.

NORTH CAROLINA - It's nearly a week since the remnants of tropical storm Alberto passed through North Carolina, but runoff is still pushing downstream rivers to flood levels. Alberto was downgraded to a tropical depression when it hit the state on Wednesday. Some areas reported nearly eight inches of rain. In the next few days, rivers began to rise downstream from the areas that took a direct hit from the storm.

ODD -
IDAHO - Known in the weather world as a circumhorizontal arc, a RARE RAINBOW was caught on film on June 3 as it hung over northern Idaho near the Washington State border . The arc isn't a rainbow in the traditional sense — it is caused by light passing through wispy, high-altitude cirrus clouds. The sight occurs only when the sun is very high in the sky (more than 58° above the horizon). What's more, the hexagonal ice crystals that make up cirrus clouds must be shaped like thick plates with their faces parallel to the ground. When light enters through a vertical side face of such an ice crystal and leaves from the bottom face, it refracts, or bends, in the same way that light passes through a prism. If a cirrus's crystals are aligned just right, the whole cloud lights up in a spectrum of colors. This particular arc spanned several hundred square miles of sky and lasted for about an hour. (photo)

Monday, June 19, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/18 -
5.0 NEAR N.CST OF IRIAN JAYA
5.0 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.3 NEAR NORTH COAST OF NEW GUINEA
5.2 SOUTH OF ALASKA
5.8 NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE

NEW MADRID FAULT - An earthquake expert with the U.S. Geological Survey says many residents and officials in northeast Arkansas are setting themselves and their neighbors up for a worse disaster by underestimating the results of a quake in the region. "This is a different kind of earthquake. This is not a California earthquake. There are some basic differences here that drive the hazard level up." Unlike faults in California, the New Madrid Seismic Zone contains three to five major fault segments lying over the top of each other in a relatively small area. The zone stretches from northeast Arkansas and northwest Tennessee up into southeast Missouri, far western Kentucky and southern Illinois. A 6.5-magnitude quake has the potential of doing an enormous amount of damage. "It won't take a catastrophic earthquake to do catastrophic damage." 11 million people live in the New Madrid Seismic Zone.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
CHINA - A landslide in a village in the south-western Chinese province of Sichuan has killed 11 people and injured six. The landslide happened overnight in a remote region near the Tibetan border. The village of Shiji was hit by almost 100 cubic metres of rocks which destroyed 12 houses and damaged 40 others, cutting off power, water and road links. In recent weeks southern China has been hit by heavy rain.

PAKISTAN - While seasonal landslides are a common threat in northern Pakistan, last October's earthquake has made the terrain more susceptible to rains and tremors. As a result, this year's landslides are more widespread and more frequent, making dangerous terrain - narrow roads with steep drops - even worse. Monsoon season is under way June to September. "There is no doubt the earthquake has destabilized many of these mountainous areas and thereby increased the frequency ... of these landslides." Rock falls and mounds of earth bigger than buses have been blocking roads and stalling recovery efforts. The migration of returnees from camps around the region has become a logistical nightmare. In many cases, reluctant returnees from Islamabad and Rawalpindi find themselves living in impromptu setups by the side of the road with no support, no transport home, no food or water and nowhere else to go. "Many express a fear of the mountains, lack of resources and infrastructure, a fear of shifting from the earthquake, a fear of another earthquake. Here in Mansehra, we still receive aftershocks and bolt out of the building. In the mountains they are much stronger and still quite frightening."

Sunday, June 18, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/17 -
5.0 RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN
5.0 BANDA SEA
5.3 TONGA ISLANDS
Three quakes in Ethiopia - 4.7, 4.6. 4.4
6/16 -
5.4 MINAHASSA PENINSULA, SULAWESI
5.6 MINAHASSA PENINSULA, SULAWESI
5.0 NEAR ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
5.8 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
5.5 SEA OF OKHOTSK
5.5 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.7 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 SOUTHEAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 NEAR E.CST EASTERN HONSHU
5.2 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS REGION


CALIFORNIA - The Bay Area's biggest earthquake in four years rolled by San Martin at 5:24 Thursday morning at magnitude 4.7. But the quake, which was felt as far away as Riverside, piqued the interest of experts because it occurred on an unnamed fault that HAS NEVER BEEN KNOWN TO POP OFF BEFORE. The fault is considered third-string, living in the shadows of Northern California's "Big Four" - the San Andreas, Hayward, Calaveras and Rodgers Creek faults. You can't even see a trace of it on the surface of the ground. Seismologists believe Thursday's quake was probably neither a harbinger of bigger quakes, nor a sign that sufficient stress has been released to reduce the risk of a "Big One." Although a number of aftershocks have been reported, if something larger was to strike the same fault in coming days, "most likely it would just be a 4.8."
Luke Holmquist forecasts earthquakes in Indonesia, Japan and California — by monitoring the behavior of animals. Northern California's dogs, cats, birds and the like were behaving odd enough on Wednesday for Holmquist to forecast a 47% risk of a light quake there on Thursday morning. The 4.7 earthquake struck the area of San Martin that morning. Holmquist for years researched unusual animal behavior associated with quakes. Animals can sense waves beneath the earth before a seismometer picks up its first signals. So he monitors Web sites like pet lost and founds, and forums where pet owners chat about their animals, to "see how much pressure is going on ... in the animal kingdom." Then, each night at 10:30, he updates his own site, www.quakeprediction.com. He receives e-mailed prediction requests and plans on adding Italy, India, China, Iran and Chile to his forecast chart in the coming weeks.

VOLCANOES -
PHILIPPINES - President Arroyo ordered the evacuation of at least 20,000 people after experts warned that a major eruption of restive Mt. Bulusan could threaten the coastal town of Bulusan. "The overall condition of Bulusan volcano is still ABNORMAL as it was in the past days." Magma is building up inside Bulusan and an eruption could be imminent if it continues. A "worst-case scenario" is where portions of the peak might collapse into Lake Bulusan at the eastern base of the mountain. If this happens, the water could flood the entire coastal town of Bulusan. Bulusan and five other towns — Barcelona, Casiguran, Gubat, Irosin and Juban — have had ash falls in the past days. They are already studying ways to deal with the threat of volcanic mudflows amid the onset of the rainy season. Typhoons often enter the country through the Bicol Region. Officials are sending a bulldozer next week to dredge the Cogon River so it can withstand a possible deluge of volcanic mud and rocks. "We are proposing to put up a levee to protect the populated areas along the Cogon river channel." Seismic sensors around the volcano have recorded seven high-frequency quakes. It may only be a coincidence that Bulusan, Mayon and Kanlaon volcanoes in Negros Oriental are showing increased activity in the past days. All three also acted up in 1976.

INDONESIA - Mount Merapi continued to spew hot clouds and glowing lava in the southerly direction toward Gendol River on Saturday. The Center's seismograph recorded 38 hot clouds, 176 multiphase tremors, 304 lava trails, two shallow volcanic quakes, and five tectonic quakes during that morning. The volcano also sent thick sulfurous gas 350 meters into the sky above the mountain's top with moderate pressure.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Even during last year’s record breaking tropical season, there was a two and a half week break between the time Arlene formed and the time that Tropical Storm Bret formed (June 28). Tropical cyclone formation simply isn’t the norm this time of year. Since Alberto this year, there have been several tropical waves that have found their way into the Caribbean and have looked impressive on satellite, in terms of convection and bright cloud tops, but they have been broad and disorganized. The anti-cyclonic flow in the region has kept these waves from organizing better and forming a possible tropical disturbance. The Saharan Dust Layer, which usually blows off the coast of Africa early in the year and can infiltrate and affect the development of a tropical cyclone, appears to be missing in action so far.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
MAINE - The RECORD AMOUNT OF RAIN that hit southern Maine this spring is credited with holding down the region's mosquito populations. While rain is generally good for mosquitoes, too much rain washes away their larvae. Scientists say that happened this spring in parts of southern Maine. Northern and central Maine are reporting a bumper crop of mosquitoes.

CLIMATE CHANGE -
will have a massive impact on business and the bottom line of insurers, according to a report from Lloyds of London. The report warns that the insurance industry has not taken the shifting weather patterns seriously enough and that it will need to start reacting quicker. The report warns the industry to expect more extreme storms over a broader area, rising seas and flooding in almost every coastal city in the world. Changing rain and snow patterns were also becoming less predictable and there was a risk of more landslides, the report said. Last year Switzerland, Austria and Germany experienced RECORD WATER LEVELS AND FLOODS, and insured losses ran to $US 1.7 billion. With the evidence suggesting that climate change is now taking place faster than first thought — the study warns that the industry can no longer base decisions on historical patterns. The report also warns that some areas, such as those deemed to be flood-prone, might be seen as uninsurable. It said that the trend of rising seas driven by shrinking glaciers was probably irreversible, unpredictable and "likely to result in sudden periods of catastrophic melting". "Even small rises in sea levels are likely to create severe economic and demographic problems, since large populations are concentrated near present sea level." The report warns that extreme windstorms will continue, and with higher temperatures creating the right conditions for strong formation, the industry would be "on risk" for longer each year. For example, cyclone Monica swept across the coast of northern Australia in April, when the season is usually all but over. The problem for insurers is that they are facing a future that is more unpredictable and difficult to model their assessments of risk. "Climate change is likely to bring us all an even more uncertain future. If we do not take action now to understand the risks and their impact, the changing climate could kill us."

AUSTRALIA - Parts of the coastal strip may be uninhabitable over the next century, with some councils already taking action to avoid the predicted impact of climate change. Experts say flooding of low-lying coastal areas, damage to seaside shacks and increased erosion are among the likely impacts of rising sea levels in South Australia in the next 100 years. In the worst case climate change predictions, parts of the state's coastal strip may even become uninhabitable. The damage is expected to occur when king tides coincide with major storms. Victor Harbor, Port Adelaide, Alexandrina and Port Augusta councils are most vulnerable, with rising sea levels forcing immediate preparation. Under generally accepted predictions, the world sea level will rise by an average 48cm between 1990 and 2100, two to three times the rate of rise in the 1900s. The impact is already being felt at Victor Harbor.

Strange days have reached Ny-Alesund, Europe's most northerly research station. Perched at the very edge of the continent, in Svalbard, Norway, a mere 1,000km from the North Pole, the center's international scientists have been experiencing weather that is becoming increasingly unpredictable. The archipelago was balmy and calm at the end of April, when it should should still have been gripped by ice and screaming winds. In May, waters in the Kongsfjorden - the long strip of water that pokes eastwards into mainland Svalbard at Ny-Alesund - were now 2 degrees C warmer than they used to be a few years ago. Two degrees may seem a modest rise, but the effects are profound - "Normally, the temperature in the fjord would be close to freezing. This winter the cooling of the water has probably never been close enough to produce an ice cover." All the other fjords on this normally ice-locked coastline have remained open, thanks to the startling warming of their waters. "Now the whole [food] chain is changing and we have no idea what the consequences will be." In the case of Greenland, previous estimates of the rate of melting of Greenland's glaciers have been too low and too optimistic in assuming it would take centuries to heat and melt its massive ice shield. The marches to the sea of these great glaciers are being accelerated, raising the amount of ice dumped in the Atlantic each year from 100km3 in 1996 to 220km3 last year. The Antarctic continent is now losing similar amounts of ice, about 150km3 a year. Places will become increasingly vulnerable to massive sea surges sweeping over their strained ocean defenses. Already the world's coral reefs and islands are suffering: swamped by rising waters, battered by storms and bleached by seas becoming increasingly acidic from the carbon dioxide they are absorbing. This is the danger Earth now faces: the overturning of our climate system, from its relatively stable, moderate status to one in which we have recreated the climate of the Cretaceous era, when there were crocodiles at the poles and the planet cooked.

Friday, June 16, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/15 -
5.0 MINDANAO, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
5.2 TONGA ISLANDS
5.7 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
5.2 MONGOLIA
5.7 MONGOLIA
5.5 NORTHERN MOLUCCA SEA
5.0 NORTHEAST OF TAIWAN

ALASKA - On June 14 a strong earthquake occurred in the Rat Islands region of the Aleutian Islands. The mainshock (M6.4) was situated 87 kilometers (54 miles) southeast of Buldir Island. This earthquake is the largest to occur in this region since the magnitude 6.8 event on June 14, 2005. Over a hundred aftershocks occurred within the first two days of the sequence. The largest aftershock of magnitude 5.9 occurred 30 minutes after the main shock. A ftershocks are still continuing. In the western Aleutians, the crust is partitioned into rotating blocks, such as Buldir Block to the east and Near block to the west of the June 14 event location. The crustal blocks move in a clockwise rotation.

GEYSERS -
WYOMING - A large geyser in Yellowstone National Park that hadn't erupted since 1998 roared to life over the weekend. The Ledge geyser erupted around 5 pm Saturday, and sounded like a jet plane. The geyser sent a plume of steam about 100 feet into the air. The eruption coincided with other UNUSUAL ACTIVITY at the Norris basin over the weekend, including the eruption of other sporadic geysers and changes in surface water. The basin appears to be undergoing a thermal disturbance. Such disturbances result from underground activity that brings water closer to the surface.

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - Two men trapped in a bunker by volcanic debris from Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano have been found dead. "The first person was in a singed condition because of hot steam." The second man's body was intact when found. They had been trapped under volcanic debris as hot as 300 degrees Celsius (572 degrees Fahrenheit). Mount Merapi has been spilling molten lava and spewing clouds of hot gas and ash sporadically for weeks, but had one of its heaviest discharges yet on Wednesday. The men were trapped when they sought shelter that day as searing clouds swept through villages about 7km from Merapi's top, leaving a trail of damaged buildings and neighbourhoods covered with grey ash. Rescuers made contact with one of the men late Wednesday, but their phones no longer worked, perhaps because the batteries had run out. Rescuers had been digging through the ash and debris trying to reach them. One of the dead was a rescue volunteer and the other a villager. The bunker was equipped with oxygen but electricity had been cut because of the searing heat clouds. Clouds yesterday covered houses in the villages to the south-east, which are closest to the peak, with about five mm of ash. On Thursday, rescuers were forced to stop work as the heat melted shovels and the tires of diggers trying to get through two metres of rubble. Merapi continued to spew out scorching gas clouds and rock fragments Thursday, with one black plume in the mid-afternoon covering a large swathe of the mountain. The resurgence in activity was likely caused by the collapse of a section of volcano's lava dome.

TROPICAL STORMS -
The hurricane center is tracking a bunch of tropical waves moving across the Atlantic although the center says it expects "no significant development." Most tropical waves turn out to be nothing, and June isn't the most conducive time for these to develop, but quite a few people are observing that the waves seem UNUSUALLY HEALTHY for this early in the season. "Forecasts over the past few days...are showing a weather pattern more typical of mid-July developing over the tropical Atlantic ... it would not surprise me to see two more named storms this June." For all of 2005's hoopla, one thing we didn't really see last year was the classic "Cape Verde" hurricane that spawns off of Africa and then gains strength all the way across the Atlantic before whacking us. Instead, we had a lot of systems spawn with little warning close to the U.S. coast.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
INDIA - More than 250,000 people have been displaced by floodwaters in India's north-east where at least 13 people have died since the monsoon hit a fortnight ago. Incessant rains caused fresh flooding in Assam state yesterday, forcing 92,000 people to flee their homes. "Breaches in embankments and rising levels of all major rivers have led to floodwaters inundating fresh areas."

JAPAN - Heavy seasonal rains triggered mudslides in southern Japan, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people Thursday. About 370 people were evacuated from three towns on Japan's southern island of Okinawa, about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) southwest of Tokyo, after nearby mudslides. In Naha, about 40 residents were evacuated Monday from their three-story hillside condominium that was on the verge of collapse after the heavy rain opened up a chasm in the ground nearby. In Kagoshima, a minor mudslide occurred after heavy rain washed off layers of ash from recent eruptions at the nearby Sakurajima volcano.
Officials say the rainfall to date is more than double the amount received in a normal year. Strong winds, heavy rains, lightning and thunder have been filling Okinawa’s reservoirs this rainy season, and spawned floods as well. More than 500 millimeters of rain has fallen on the capital city of Naha since the season began May 14th. A high pressure front across the northern part of Japan has collided with a strong front on the Pacific Ocean, trapping the stationary rain front over Okinawa the past week. The deep low pressure front created heavy rains that simply wouldn’t stop. Okinawa City and the Goya area report more than 515 millimeters (20¼ inches) over the past two weeks. The strong rains have made the ground very unstable in many areas, creating the potential for more rising water levels and flooding, soil erosion and mudslides.

ODD -
Arctic sea level has been falling by a little over 2mm a year - a movement that sets the region against the global trend of rising waters. It is well known that the world's oceans do not share a uniform height; but even so, the scientists are somewhat puzzled by their results. Global sea level is expected to keep on climbing as the Earth's climate warms. To find the Arctic out of step, even temporarily, emphasises the great need for more research in the region. The recent trend could be linked to changes in the temperature and salinity (saltiness) of Arctic waters. Russian tide gauges have also hinted at a sea-level fall during the 1990s. This seems to fit with the phases of the so-called Arctic Oscillation, a seesaw pattern of change in atmospheric pressure over the polar region and mid latitudes. Recent years have seen a dramatic pull-back in the extent of summer ice and the models do not fully account for the changes that are being observed.

Thursday, June 15, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/14 -
5.3 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.2 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.5 E. OF NORTH IS. NEW ZEALAND
5.1 CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO REGION
5.3 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
6.0 RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS
6.3 RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS

TSUNAMI -
OREGON - Planners counting on the availability of Oregon's coastal airports to stage rescues and bring supplies following a major earthquake and tsunami nearby in the Pacific Ocean may want to think twice about such plans. Many of Oregon's coastal airports would be out of commission because of earthquake damage, tsunami inundation and debris, or lack of instrumentation for approaches, according to a survey done by Oregon State University. Research suggests that there have been 23 large earthquakes off the Pacific Northwest coast during the past 10,000 years. At least 16, and possibly 17, of those events have been full ruptures of the fault zone, requiring an earthquake of magnitude 8.5 or better. Such an earthquake likely would uproot highways, destroy bridges and render much of Oregon's Highway 101 unusable for days, or even weeks at a time.

VOLCANOES -
PHILIPPINES - The local government of Sorsogon declared three towns under state of calamity following continued ashfall from Mount Bulusan on Wednesday. At least 30 minor quakes were recorded in Sorsogon after Bulusan's ash explosion Tuesday night. The quakes originated inside the volcano, indicating that a major eruption is likely. PHIVOLCS said if Bulusan explodes it would not be as catastrophic as Mount Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991. Bulusan last erupted in 1995.
Four volcanoes are currently on heightened alert — Mayon in Albay, Bulusan in Sorsogon, Kanlaon in Negros Oriental, and Taal in Batangas — but this is just coincidental. "Physically, each volcano has their own magma chamber. These (magma chambers) are not connected physically." "It just so happened that the (four) volcanoes are active all at the same time." Other active volcanoes in the country which are continuously being monitored include Hibok-Hibok in Camiguin and Pinatubo located on the boundaries of Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales.

INDONESIA - Searing hot gas and volcanic debris have forced thousands of villagers to flee the slopes of Mount Merapi. The eruption comes a day after government scientists lowered the alert level at the volcano. The volcano nearly enveloped Kaliadem village, the closest residential area to the peak, just six kilometers away, with a searing gas cloud during the eruption Wednesday, and forced thousands of residents to evacuate just a day after officials lowered the alert level and people returned home. "The situation is ... life-threatening." Five villagers were reported unaccounted for after the eruption. Media reports said that several apparently uninhabited buildings close to the peak had been incinerated. Ash covered one village seven kilometers (4.5 miles) west of the crater with a gray blanket two centimeters (an inch) thick, and a rain of soot continued to fall after dusk across many districts. "A heavy rain of ash and sand poured down on villagers."

TROPICAL STORMS -

Tropical depression ALBERTO was 96 nmi WNW of Wilmington, North Carolina.
If Alberto had struck as a hurricane, it would be have been an alarming start to the season. No hurricane has hit the United States this early in the hurricane season in 40 years.
Tropical Storm Alberto spawned several possible tornadoes, knocked down scores of trees and dumped RECORD AMOUNTS OF RAIN on South Carolina overnight.
The Hurricane Center is eyeing more disturbed weather - With what was once Tropical Storm Alberto fading, the National Hurricane Center in Miami is training its attention on three areas of disturbed weather that could develop further. The trio of weather systems are in the eastern Caribbean. Two of the areas of unsettled weather were "vigorous tropical waves" that came off Africa`s North Atlantic coast. Although tropical storm systems can develop this early in the Atlantic hurricane season, it is UNUSUAL to have this many potential storms coming alive in June.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
BANGLADESH - Heavy monsoon rains and flash floods have inundated homes and crops in northeastern Bangladesh, stranding more than 200,000 people. Many villagers, along with their cattle, were sheltering on higher ground or in concrete school buildings. Floodwaters also submerged roads, rail tracks and ferry terminals, disrupting transportation.

IDAHO - the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for many areas of the Treasure Valley on Tuesday. Some were given a flash-flood watch, while others still were under threat of tornados - events rarely seen in Idaho. "Here in Idaho we don't see this kind of weather pattern very often - FAIRLY RARE for Idaho." It took three events to create the storms - a strong jet stream, moist air mass and low pressure. The combination caused rapid storm development, which created rain and quarter-sized hail. It also set the stage for some RATHER UNUSUAL WEATHER for this part of the country. "Once they develop, we're seeing these storms last a long time. They start to rotate." An F2 tornado hit 10 days ago in the Northern Idaho town of Bear - winds reached between 113 and 157 miles per hour. It was the STRONGEST TWISTER TO HIT IDAHO IN 50 YEARS.

SNOW / COLD -
AUSTRALIA - Adelaide has shivered through its COLDEST NIGHT FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS with a temperature of 0.2 degrees this morning. That was the coldest overnight temperature since Adelaide recorded -0.4 degrees on June 8, 1982. Many outlying areas were even colder, with the temperature dropping to -1.9 degrees at Parafield Airport in the northern suburbs and the mercury dropping as low as -5 degrees in some towns.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006 -

QUAKES -
This morning -
A series of quakes in the RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA - the largest were 6.0 and 6.3.
Several quakes in NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA - 5.2 and 5.3.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/13 -
5.0 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN, REGION

INDONESIA - The earthquake that hit Indonesia at the end of May has caused more damage than the tsunami of 2004. The impact of the Java earthquake was much worse than first thought and could be considered as ONE OF THE WORST NATURAL DISASTERS OF THE PAST 10 YEARS. Damage estimates amount to 3.1 billion dollars, more than double initial assessments. The cost of damages from the tsunami was 2.2 billion dollars. Although the death toll (5,800) is lower than that of the 2004 tsunami or the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir, the cost of damaged housing is far greater. Estimates of damage done to buildings are rising: 157,000 homes have been flattened (30,000 more than those destroyed in the wake of the 2004 tsunami wave), 184,000 were severely damaged and 259,000 partially so. Around 420,000 people are homeless.

VOLCANOES -
PHILIPPINES - The aerial survey conducted over Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon province has confirmed coalesced craters, fissures and voluminous ashes along its slopes, which volcanologists said are new to the physical traits of the volcano. The team had also observed a very visible long fissure at the northern slope of the volcano where steam emission was noted. They cannot tell yet how much risk these recent changes in the surface of Bulusan volcano might pose to the residents down the slopes until a re-mapping is done.

INDONESIA - An Indonesian state agency monitoring Mount Merapi has lowered the volcano's alert status after emissions decreased in recent days. "Merapi's status was lowered from 'alert' to 'prepared'.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm ALBERTO was 54 nmi WNW of Savannah, Georgia.
The first tropical storm of the season raked northern Florida with rain and powerful wind gusts Tuesday but didn‘t blow up into a hurricane as forecasters had feared. The storm‘s top sustained winds were 50 mph, well below the 74 mph threshold for a hurricane. The minimum for a named storm is 39 mph. "The big concern now is going to be shifting to the rainfall and the tornado threat as it moves along the southeastern (U.S.) coast line."
Alberto - The fact that a hurricane could have been headed for Florida so early in the storm season is not all that unusual, the National Weather Service says. “There’s a peak in storm activity that usually falls around the 20th, so we might be a week early. It’s nothing all that unusual.” They acknowledged that the storm formed relatively close to shore, but again, they said, that’s no big surprise. “The area of circulation was pretty broad.”

Florida is too 'unpredictable' for some insurance companies - Many of the companies that continue to insure property now insist it be one, two, three or as many as 10 miles away from the ocean, and they must be homes that meet the Florida building code of 2001. If the companies write contracts at all, they are requiring a 300 - 400% increase in premium because of the cost of reinsurance. The total value of insured coastal exposure in Florida is $1,937.3 billion. People are not leaving the state, but instead the population is growing, with Florida having some of the fastest growing counties in the nation, adding to the density along the coastlines. The forecast for the 2006 hurricane season calls for a 195 percent increase in tropical cyclone activity. The Weather Channel has stated that conditions are ripe for a hurricane category 8. "That's a tornado the size of a hurricane. Evacuate early. Shutters don't matter. Get to middle America before you stop running. Go farther than where you evacuated before because a lot of Katrina folks are still there." If something like Katrina hits here, residents should evacuate to a location where they are likely to be for six months to a year. "Take all your tools, so you can make a living in your new location."

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
CHINA - More flash floods caused by heavy rains left at least 19 people dead and 31 others missing in southwest China. Sudden downpours hit the province yesterday and continued for four hours causing several flash floods in the mountainous region of Guizhou province. A number of houses were also reported to have been washed away. The deaths come after at least 93 people were reported to have died over the past two weeks in torrential rains that have battered southern China. Some 12 million people have been affected by rains, floods and landslides.

BRITAIN - Hailstones the size of golf balls rained down on Coventry as a FREAK STORM hit the city Monday afternoon. Weather experts said they had seen NOTHING LIKE IT IN 40 YEARS. One said the hailstones were the largest he had seen since he began recording the weather in 1967. "They were an inch across, which is getting on for golfball-sized. They are the biggest hailstones I have ever recorded by a long, long way. For this region they were phenomenal." The storm, just after 4pm, lasted about 15 minutes and the huge volume of rain which followed caused flash flooding in some parts of the city. (photo)

OREGON - homes, windows, trees, backyards, crops and dozens, if not hundreds, of vehicles were smashed, dented and damaged by a barrage of large golf ball-sized hailstones - some up to two inches in diameter - Monday afternoon. Long-time residents said they had never seen a storm like this one. At least two cell-phone companies had service interruptions for several hours after the event. Three boaters reported being stranded on Ochoco Reservoir due to high, 6- to 8-foot waves. Strong winds also downed trees. A spotter reported 1.5 inches of rain in 20 minutes as flooding damaged area fences and roads in the WORST STORM SEEN BY THE OBSERVER IN 20 YEARS.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/12 -
None 5.0 or over.

JAPAN - the strong 6.2 earthquake that struck south-western Japan on Sunday, shaking major cities including Hiroshima, injured at least five people. Its epicentre was in Oita prefecture, about 800km (500 miles) south-west of Tokyo. The quake halted local rail services. The tremor was nearly the same magnitude as last month's earthquake in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta, which had a magnitude of 6.3. But Japan has developed much of its infrastructure to withstand tremors. The Japan Meteorological Agency said it did not expect any major aftershocks.

VOLCANOES -
JAPAN - vulcanologists have warned of more eruptions at Sakurajima volcano on the southern island of Kyushu, as volcanic activity has been intensifying at one of its craters. The Meteorological Agency has issued a bulletin warning of a high possibility of eruptions at the Showa vent, one of the craters on Sakurajima, about 1,000 km (600 miles) southwest of Tokyo. The agency upgraded the volcano to level three, or "active", from two, or "relatively moderate", on its volcanic activity scale of six. The Showa crater had a minor eruption last Wednesday, spewing smoke hundreds of meters (yards) into the air. There was a separate eruption at the Minamidake peak on Sakurajima on Monday, spouting a column of smoke about 2,000 meters into the air. Minamidake has frequently erupted, showering nearby fields with ash.

PHILIPPINES - Residents living near Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon abandoned their homes Monday for fear of another volcanic eruption. At least five families packed their bags, belongings and appliances aboard tricycles in Barangay Cogon in Irosin town. The evacuation took place as residents said the air they were breathing contained traces of sulfur, a sign that the volcano could erupt anytime. Some residents became ill after a month-long exposure to air mixed with ash.
Evacuees said they saw a “crack” in the volcano fronting their houses through which lava could flow. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology discovered a fifth crater on the volcano during the aerial survey. Based on the aerial survey of the summit and areas around the volcano yesterday morning, a magmatic eruption is not imminent. Although steaming explosion pits were seen, there were no lava extrusions observed on the summit.
While the Bulusan volcano in Sorsogon remained quiet yesterday, Negros island’s Kanlaon volcano showed a period of unrest as another episode of steam and ash emissions occurred yesterday morning. The steam-ash emission, the third in Kanlaon for this month, indicated that the volcano is "undergoing hydrothermal activity at very shallow levels near the crater." Its current status is at zero or 'no-alert' level status. Aside from the Kanlaon and Bulusan volcanoes, other Philippine volcanoes on heightened alert status include Mayon in Albay province, which exhibited five low frequency volcanic earthquakes and two low frequency short duration harmonic tremors yesterday; and Taal Volcano, which registered two high frequency volcanic earthquakes yesterday. Both Mayon and Taal are on Alert Level 1 status.

PERU - Increased activity at Ubinas volcano prompted the evacuation of 408 villagers over the weekend. Another 150 families were evacuated yesterday. The villagers will be allowed to return to their homes if the threat decreases. Winds have carried smoke and volcanic ash into the neighboring highland region of Puno, where residents have complained of headaches and stomachaches. Seismic activity has been mounting since February at the volcano, about 470 miles southeast of the Peruvian capital of Lima. Ubinas erupted April 14, sending a column of ash some 2,600 feet into the air.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm ALBERTO was 82 nmi SSE of Apalachicola, Florida. Winds had been 70 mph, just 4 mph shy of hurricane strength, but with dry air overtaking the center of circulation, Alberto's chances of becoming a hurricane are evaporating. Alberto will circle over land for much of the next 36 hours. There is some possiblility of onshore winds of tropical storm force to the north along the Atlantic coast.
Tropical Storm Alberto was on the verge of becoming the first hurricane of 2006 on Monday as it spun over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and began to lash the northwest Florida shore. Anxious officials ordered 21 thousand residents to evacuate barrier islands, flood plains and trailer parks as the storm's maximum sustained winds accelerated to near 70 miles per hour (110 kph). Tropical storm-force wind stretched up to 230 miles from the center. The outer fringes of the storm gusted ashore with sheets of rain and forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said its core would move over northern Florida by daybreak. Storm surge flooding up to 10 feet above normal tide levels was expected across much of the Gulf coast.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
SOUTH AFRICA - After torrential overnight rain, more cold, wet and windy weather is expected in Cape Town over the next two days as a cut-off low pressure system makes its way across the city. Forecasters say this "RATHER UNUSUAL" low pressure system brings cold and cloudy weather with a possibility of thunderstorms on high ground.

SNOW / COLD -
NEW ZEALAND - Some parts of the region experienced their DEEPEST SNOWFALLS FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. The MetService is under fire after failing to warn Cantabrians of heavy snow to sea level – until there was already half a metre lying on the ground. The heavy snow in Canterbury and a landslip in the Buller Gorge had closed almost all South Island rail lines. Some highway traffic was at a standstill. In the North Island, too, the weather was wreaking havoc. A Chinese sailor was swept overboard south of the Wellington Harbour entrance as strong southerlies and big seas hit the capital. Flooding also caused problems in some parts of the city. Some roofs and verandahs in Timaru's central business district collapsed under the weight of the snow. Thousands of houses and rural properties went without power as the snow toppled trees, snapped branches and brought down power lines throughout the province. In the 30 hours to 3pm Monday, Greymouth was soaked in 186mm of rain, the most since 2000. Near gale-force winds sent rain flying horizontally off roofs, giving Greymouth THE WORST STORM IN AT LEAST 15 YEARS. Storm-driven waves threatened cars and waves also battered at the new sea wall protecting homes in Ruby Bay, Tasman.
There is a warning this winter could be a big one for avalanches in the wake of an avalanche alert for the Mount Cook region. Up to two metres of snow was dumped on the Main Divide over 36 hours, making conditions extremely dangerous. The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council is warning against all back country travel.

Monday, June 12, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/11 -
5.9 KYUSHU, JAPAN
5.2 FIJI ISLANDS REGION

TSUNAMI -
HAWAII - A national advocacy group and some of the scientists at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center are raising concerns over the facility's planned move to Pearl Harbor because it would be too close to sea level, putting it at greater risk of being hit by a powerful wave. "One does not have to be a geophysicist to question the wisdom of placing a key component of our tsunami warning system on a harbor island only a few feet above sea level. By putting the tsunami warning center on a harbor island, NOAA is tending its own bureaucratic turf at the expense of public safety." NOAA is expected to break ground in August on its $240 million regional campus on Ford Island, which will consolidate the agency's various offices across Oahu at one site by 2011. "Consolidating NOAA's operations in Hawaii "has a certain bureaucratic attractiveness, but from the point of view of readiness, it's asinine." Scientists at the tsunami center object to the move because of a host of operational and logistical problems and the possibly of nullifying much of the benefit from the $16.7 million currently being spent to upgrade its system.

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - A massive blast of searing gas has collapsed a portion of Mount Merapi's unstable lava dome, easing pressure that threatened a full-blown eruption - but the Indonesian volcano could still be deadly. A huge superheated cloud - the biggest of the year on Indonesia's most dangerous volcano - brought down a section of the dome Friday. The blast allowed red-hot lava and scorching gas to escape into a newly formed crater, relieving pressure and lowering the possibility of the dome's complete collapse, which many feared could trigger a major eruption. "Now that the magma can flow out into the new crater, the dome will become much more stable." Merapi is still at its highest alert as a crack at the bottom of the dome's southern foot has widened, threatening more powerful surges of superheated gas. Merapi shot out more than 80 bursts of red-hot lava Sunday, along with two deadly clouds of hot gas that churned down the mountain. On Saturday 43 searing gas clouds steamed down the mountain.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm ALBERTO was 260 nmi NNW of Cancun, Mexico and 303 nmi SSE of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Tropical storm Alberto has brought heavy rains to Cuba, dropping as much as 20 inches (50cm) on western areas of the country. State TV showed pictures of extensive flooding, with one resident of Juventud island saying he had not seen water levels so high in 30 years. Alberto is the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. It is expected to veer towards Florida in the next few days, but is considered unlikely to strengthen significantly. Florida expects rainfall of four to eight inches today.
What is UNUSUAL about the storm is not its strength, but its width. "The strongest winds in this tropical storm are well removed from the centre and extend mainly eastward up to 370km." Cuban Civil Defence officials evacuated 25,000 persons from low-lying areas in Pinar del Rio in western Cuba. The Isle of Youth south of Havana is cut off from air and sea transportation because of heavy rains. In the past two weeks, torrential rains killed seven people in Havana and two others in the eastern part of the country.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
UTAH - An UNUSUAL bout of June thunderstorms plagued much of northern Utah during the past three days - but dry, hot weather is on the return. Tree limbs were reported down, there was damage to outside patio furniture and flying trampolines were reported. At least six consecutive hours of continuous thunder and lightning were noted across Utah Valley on Friday evening. Strong wind gusts and large hail occurred in or near many towns on Friday.

NEW ZEALAND - Galeforce winds are battering the North Island and heavy snow has paralysed much of the South Island as wintry weather swept the country overnight. Powerlines were arcing in high wind. While gale conditions weren't particularly unusual for the Bay of Plenty, the weather situation for the country as a whole was OUT OF THE ORDINARY. "Nationwide it is an UNUSUAL SITUATION. It is not often we get storms that affect the whole country." Heavy rain is forecast for later today bringing flooding.

LANDSLIDE -
CALIFORNIA - A landslide blocking Highway 140 near El Portal and the Yosemite National Park's western entrance could take more than a year to clear, leading officials to consider building an alternate road or bridge. To complicate matters, the 600-foot wide slide is still moving. "Everyday, we've got rocks as big as Volkswagens coming down." The Ferguson Slide started with chunks of rock and dirt falling onto the freeway in April. By the third week of May, 2 million to 3 million cubic yards of the mountainside had slid over a 600-yard section of the highway. Rock and sediment is still slipping downhill and 300 million cubic yards of the material could still fall, blocking the Merced River and potentially cause flooding.

Sunday, June 11, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/10 -
5.2 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
5.6 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
6/9 -
5.7 PRINCE EDWARD IS. SOUTH AFRICA
5.4 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
5.0 SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS
6.1 FIJI ISLANDS REGION

VOLCANOES -
PHILIPPINES - A farmer died of an asthma attack from exposure to volcanic ash even as the government suspended classes in 23 elementary and high schools in Sorsogon following Bulusan’s series of explosions on Wednesday. The government also declared Casiguran town in a state of calamity as ashfalls continued to affect it and other towns including Escuala, Mabini, San Juan, Tigbao, San Francisco, Inlagadian and Kasay. Ash from Bulusan damaged a number of houses in villages surrounding the mountain, but residents were unharmed and staying put. Scientists recorded zero visibility in several places in Casiguran on Wednesday caused by thick volcanic ash from the series of explosions. Preparations were under way to evacuate about 8,000 residents from at least seven villages in case of a major eruption.

INDONESIA - More eruptions are being reported from Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano. It spewed out more lava and hot clouds of gas at least five times on Saturday. Scientists say they aren't sure if the activity means a major eruption is imminent.

WASHINGTON - A small earthquake, followed by a steam and ash plume, was reported at Mount St. Helens late Friday night. The quake, probably caused by a large rockfall in the southwest Washington volcano's crater, was recorded at 9:05 p.m. PDT. A plume of steam and ash rose to an altitude of about 15,000 feet. A similar event on May 29 melted some snow and ice in the crater and also sent up a plume to about the same altitude. Seismic activity at the mountain quickly returned to normal.

TROPICAL STORMS -

Tropical depression 01 was 138 nmi NNE of Cancun, Mexico and 209 nmi W of Havana, Cuba. Projected path.
Tropical Depression One formed 45 miles off the western coast of Cuba about 9 a.m. Saturday. The storm is forecast to make landfall in northern Florida sometime Monday, bringing four to eight inches of precipitation but isn't expected to become a hurricane. Historically, storms that form in June tend not to be severe. Wind speeds are expected to reach tropical storm level of 39 miles (63 kilometers) per hour by this morning. Once winds reach that speed, it will take the first name of the season, Alberto. There is less than a 25 percent chance the storm's winds will reach hurricane-level speeds of 75 miles an hour. Grand Cayman Island has reported 22.72 inches of rain in the past 24 hours, and Cuba is expected to get as much as 30 inches of rain, causing flooding and mudslides.
FLORIDA - A huge sandstorm that blew off the African west coast last week is approaching the area as well. This could create a deep red sun at sunset, but also brings iron particles that are believed to help trigger red tide blooms off the coast.

LOUISIANA - History shows that in more than 150 years, a hurricane has never approached New Orleans in June, and only four tropical storms have hit the area in early summer. Activity picks up in July but, traditionally, the worst storms to rake Louisiana occur from mid-August to late September.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
TAIWAN - Days of torrential rain have caused flooding and landslides across Taiwan that washed away homes, cut roads and yesterday derailed a train, stranding hundreds of people. Television footage showed collapsed houses in mountainous areas that had been partially washed away by mudslides. Mudslides blocked roads and left hundreds stranded in mountain areas.

CHINA - nine hours of torrential rain caused a series of landslides in Wuzhou, a city in the Guangxi region. Around 15,000 people had to leave the city as nearly 2,000 houses collapsed. More heavy rain has been predicted in southern China, and local governments are preparing for mudslides and landslides.
Heavy and persistent rain has once again lashed through Hong Kong, breaking up roads, disrupting school classes and adding to the workload of workers still trying to repair the damage caused by last week's heavy downpour. Exactly one week ago on Friday, torrential rain drew a red rainstorm warning. Friday's rain drew a black rainstorm warning in the morning. The Hong Kong Observatory said Friday thunderstorms and heavy rain were likely to continue for the next two days and it will not be until Tuesday that residents might get to see a clear sky. The areas that were worst affected last week were hit once again. The New Territories received the most rainfall, with more than 200 millimeters in Sai Kung and 180mm in Tuen Mun. The the rest of Hong Kong saw 100mm.

INDIA - Hundreds of people in the Bihar capital are struggling to cope with water logging caused by three days of continuous heavy rains. Patna recorded more than 22 centimetres of rainfall in past 36 hours alone - A NEW RECORD in the last 20 years. Meanwhile, an 11-year-old girl in Rajendra Nagar, another posh locality, reportedly drowned in the floodwater. Dead animals were also seen floating in the water. The monsoons arrived a week before they were expected.

WIND -
IDAHO - The tornado that knocked down 5,000 acres of forest land outside Council last Sunday may have been even more UNUSUAL than initially suspected. Weather experts believe the tornado may have had wind speeds between 112 and 157 mph, making it an F-2 tornado. The tornado hit the tiny community Bear on Sunday morning and spanned 12 miles in length and up to half a mile in width.

NEW MEXICO - Microbursts hit Gallup Tuesday afternoon, knocking out power to neighborhoods with wind speeds of 100 mph. They died down within two miles after lasting only a matter of minutes. After more than 30 years in the utility business, a superintendent said, "This is probably one of the worst incidents I've dealt with." The microbursts reportedly hit just around the close of regular business hours Tuesday, knocking down three power line poles on the west end of town. At approximately the same time, another microburst hit the east end of town, knocking down a couple of poles at first and eventually downing six, almost seven. The power line poles are 20 inches in diameter, and buried more than six-and-a-half feet deep. The bursts also destroyed one set of stalls and damaged the roof on another at Red Rock Park.

Friday, June 9, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/8 -
5.0 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.1 FRENCH GUIANA
5.1 FIJI ISLANDS REGION

VOLCANOES -
JAPAN - At Sakurajima volcano, more than 7,300 explosive eruptions have been recorded in the past 45 years, but Wednesday was the first time for six decades that it has erupted on its eastern flank. "We have not seen any change in seismic activity, and no sudden explosive eruptions are foreseeable at this moment, but we are nevertheless keeping a close eye." Japan's Miyakejima volcano in the Izu Islands (180 kilometres east of Tokyo) and Meakandake volcano in the northern region of Hokkaido have also begun stirring. The last major eruption at Miyakejima Island occurred in 2000, which forced all islanders to evacuate.

INDONESIA - A shower of hot gas and ash from Indonesia's Mount Merapi has sent more than 15,000 villagers scrambling for safety. The volcano has been venting steam and ash for weeks, but Thursday morning’s burst was the largest yet. A volcanologist said Merapi sent billowing, dark gray clouds avalanching more than three miles down its slopes. It was one of a series of powerful explosions, some spewing columns of ash 1 1/2 kilometres high.
Terrified villagers fled to safety. Some jumped into rivers to escape the searing heat, while others dashed down the volcano or clambered onto the backs of trucks. Farmers carrying heaps of grass on their head ran down the mountain beneath a rain of ash, as others zipped off on motorcycles. Women clutched children as they jumped into trucks and cars, wiping away tears when they reached emergency shelters. "I thought, this is it. We ran as fast as we could." A shallow 4.2-magnitude aftershock Thursday, 27 kilometres south of the peak, may have speeded things along.

PHILIPPINES - The Philippines raised the alert level on one of its most active volcanoes and warned residents on Thursday to stay away from the mountain after its crater belched ash clouds. Bulusan volcano in central Philippines spewed ash nearly 2 km (1 mile) high, prompting authorities to raise the alert level to 2 from 1, ordered in March when ash first began flowing from its crater. "We are seeing an increasing frequency of ash explosions." In nearby Casiguran town, thousands of face masks were distributed to residents after volcanic ash fell on homes in the coastal community's 25 villages. Schools were closed and the Office of Civil Defence urged residents not to drink ground water because of possible contamination. At level 3 an explosion is considered possible, at level 4 it is seen as likely and at level 5, the highest alert, an eruption has occurred with lava flows or ash columns reaching 6 km. Officials said as many as 50,000 people would be evacuated in case of a major volcanic eruption. Bulusan has had five ash eruptions since March.

WANT TO KNOW where a rumbling volcano is likely to split at the seams? Look for the tallest and greenest plants. Vigorous plant growth on the flanks of a volcano like that at Rabaul in Papua New Guinea, Mount Etna in Sicily and Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, can indicate where magma is most likely to spurt out. Satellite images reveal that shrubs and trees grow taller and greener along stripes where the volcano eventually ruptures. These changes were visible up to two years before the eruptions. Theories for why this pattern of growth occurs include better water supply in the cracks where the plants grow, and more carbon dioxide seeping out of the ground.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Possible tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico this weekend? "A broad area of low pressure that we have been watching and speculating on since Monday is showing some signs of organization. ... Computer models are showing various ideas on this and just about every model now shows some kind of low pressure area near the Yucatan by the end of this weekend. Our current feeling is that if the shear can drop off enough we could have a developing tropical system by the end of the weekend." Tropical Storm Arlene, which rang in the memorable 2005 season at this time last year, started in much the same area that everyone's watching.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
CHINA - The bank of a rain-swollen river collapsed early Thursday in southern China, flooding 11 villages filled with sleeping people, causing an unknown number of deaths and injuries. Some 3,500 families lived in the villages, parts of which were covered in as much as two metres of water. The river bank collapse in Fujian province comes amid what the government says is the WORST SUMMER FLOODING IN PARTS OF CHINA IN THREEE DECADES. At least 55 people have been killed and 12 are missing in Fujian and two other provinces since late May from heavy rains that have caused floods and landslides and washed away part of a rail-link between Beijing and Hong Kong. Across southern China, at least 378,000 people have already been evacuated from the provinces of Fujian, Guangdong and Guizhou due to floods prompted by an UNUSUALLY HEAVY seasonal monsoon. China suffers hundreds of deaths every year in floods set off during the June-to-August rainy season, although the season's first storm arrived UNUSUALLY EARLY this year.

MASSACHUSETTS - the storm that formed Tuesday off the coast of North Carolina followed a track similar to many WINTER storms. A spring nor'easter delivered a potent one-two punch to SouthCoast, dumping more than 5 inches of rain, flooding streets and soaking basements. "It has been brutal." Coupled with the torrential rains were sustained winds of 24 mph out of the northeast. At one point, rain fell at the rate of a half-inch to three-quarters of an inch per hour. "It's a classic WINTER storm system. If this was January or February, we would be talking about a heck of a lot of snow." "This is not like a summer storm." The rains added to the already heavy rainfall totals that have fallen on SouthCoast recently. In New Bedford, for example, the total rainfall for May was 7.49 inches, almost 4 inches above the norm. It was the second-wettest May since record-keeping began. As of Wednesday, the total rainfall to date in New Bedford for June was nearly 7 inches, 6 inches above the norm. It is already the seventh wettest June on record. And more rain appears to be in the forecast for the next few days. "It's not doing what it's supposed to be doing. The summer weather pattern hasn't locked in yet." Some see it as "precursor of things to come. "It should be a warning to people along the Northeast coast", as hurricane season started June 1. "Our time has come. We just have a bad pattern here that I don't like. This is a tropical storm wannabe. It did everything it could to be a hurricane — the moisture, the weather pattern, the jet stream."

Thursday, June 8, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/7 -
5.5 SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS
5.0 SE.OF LOYALTY ISLANDS

AFTERSHOCKS from earthquakes may strike much farther than previously thought. A new analysis of earthquake data indicates that aftershocks are triggered by the shaking associated with the mainshock, rather than by the added stress on nearby faults resulting from rearrangement of the Earth's crust. The triggering of aftershocks by shaking may seem obvious, but is in fact a surprising result. "The problem is that it's not clear how shaking can trigger an aftershock that doesn't happen right away, but happens a day or two after the earthquake. That's why most seismologists have thought that aftershocks are triggered by static stress resulting from the movement of the crust." Analysis of Californian aftershocks showed that their seismic signature took an unexpectedly long time to fade, a telltale "decay" that is the hallmark of a shake rather than a push. This dynamic stress can radiate for long distances. An aftershock can on occasions be larger than the main one. Homes that are located far beyond an immediate earthquake zone may still be vulnerable to a long-range aftershock.

VOLCANOES -
JAPAN - Mount Sakurajima volcano erupted in southern Japan Wednesday, spewing a plume of smoke about 1,000 meters into the air. There were no reports of damage or injuries. The eruption registered as moderate for both the sound and the strength of the tremors it caused. The eruption followed several smaller ones in recent days, but there was no other significant change in volcanic activity. "We do not believe that a large-scale eruption is imminent."

NEW ZEALAND - Scientists are monitoring Mount Ngauruhoe, one of New Zealand's most active volcanoes, after seismographs showed a significant rise in the frequency and magnitude of earthquakes in the area. On Wednesday, the volcano's alert level was raised from zero to one, and hikers were warned to stay away from the crater. Ngauruhoe periodically emits steam and gas but has not erupted since February 1975. There was no sign of an imminent eruption. Mount Ruapehu, 16 kilometres from Ngauruhoe, last erupted in 1995, and has been on alert level one since October 1997.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
ARIZONA - is experiencing an UNUSUAL dust and thunderstorm pattern. The National Weather Service predicts on-and-off cloudy, humid weather to continue through Friday. That pattern will give way to more traditional dry weather by the weekend. "To be seeing this type of weather in June is HIGHLY UNUSUAL. This hasn’t been seen in a number of years.” Traditionally, the Arizona monsoon of regular thunder and dust storms begins in early-to-mid July.

WIND -
HAWAII - the tradewinds have temporarily stopped altogether. They had been sputtering lately. They normally act like a natural air conditioner for Hawaii and with summer almost here, the return of the tradewinds would be a welcome relief. "Usually in the summertime, the tradewinds are usually at its steadiest. The fact that the winds are light and we lost the tradewinds altogether is PRETTY UNUSUAL." The light tradewinds are predicted to fade even more in the next few days, but are expected to pick up by Saturday. From the heavy rains that pounded the isles earlier this year to the UNUSUALLY LIGHT tradewinds now, "it's been a year of extremes." In March, we had persistent low pressure and it just stayed there on the west of the isles that brought a lot of rain. What we're seeing now is a weakening of the trades and the ridge of high pressure that is UNUSUALLY CLOSE to us for this time of year." This type of weather is normally seen during the winter season. "The lows in the front are further south than they normally are for this time of year. The ridge that produces the tradewinds are also further to the south." At some point, normal tradewinds should return. "The weather has been very extreme. Either it is too wet or too dry." "Sometimes, we're watering twice a day, which is UNUSUAL for this time of year."

Wednesday, June 7, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/6 -
5.0 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.0 IRAN-IRAQ BORDER REGION
5.0 MEXICO-GUATEMALA BORDER REGION
5.0 FIJI ISLANDS REGION

PHILIPPINES - An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter Scale is overdue and could hit the country soon and affect at least 38 percent of all residential buildings in Metro Manila, the government said yesterday. “The last strong quake to hit us was in 1994. With time, the possibility of being hit by a strong earthquake is increasing.” 90 strong quakes had been recorded here over the last 400 years, or a statistical average of one major quake every four to five years. But no strong quake has been recorded for a decade after the 1994 quake in Mindoro that killed at least 78 people. Scientists say that an earthquake similar to the one that struck Indonesia last month and killed 3,000 people could also strike here.

VOLCANOES -
PHILIPPINES - Legazpi City officials and their disaster management offices are updating contingency plans for the impending major eruption of Mount Bulusan. Mount Bulusan is under alert level 1 and the four-kilometer permanent danger warning is in effect. An eruption would affect about 45,000 residents.
Mt. Kanlaon - Mountain climbers and other trekkers have been advised to defer any planned climbs at the Mt. Kanlaon park area until further notice after Mt. Kanlaon emitted smoke over the weekend. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, in an advisory released Monday, also reminded people that the four-kilometer permanent danger zone of Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island remained off limits to the public, particularly at this time when sudden ash and steam explosions might occur anytime. Kanlaon Volcano briefly emitted steam and ash Saturday afternoon but the Phivolcs has not raised any alert level yet. Ash deposits were confined to the upper northwest slope of the volcano.

INDONESIA has evacuated about 2,000 people from areas at risk from the volcano spewing hot gas and lava, and expects to move thousands more amid signs of increased activity from Mount Merapi. "The lava has spread out in various directions. The lava domes are weakening. Since Monday we have evacuated ... more or less 2000 people. The people that we need to evacuate are around 11,000." The volcano threatens some of the same areas near the ancient royal capital of Yogyakarta that were hit by the May 27 earthquake which killed 5782 people. Today a cloud of gas from Mount Merapi stretched for four km and lava flows had spread up to seven kilometres from the crater.

WIND -
SLOVAKIA - Forest managers were assessing the damage Tuesday caused by a windstorm that flattened at least 7,000 trees in Slovakia's High Tatras National Park. Rugged terrain and bad weather in the area affected by last Friday's storm, around the Strbske Pleso resort, was hindering efforts to obtain a complete damage report. The toll from wind gusts was the highest since a freak windstorm in November 2004 toppled 120 square kilometres of conifer trees in the region. The catastrophic storm two years ago devastated the park in northern Slovakia, which includes a small but dramatic range of Alps-like mountains, and was partly blamed on the area's monoculture of spruce trees.

SNOW / COLD -
ALASKA - A rare June frost damaged vegetables planted by commercial growers in Fairbanks. The temperature at Fairbanks International Airport dropped to 29 degrees early Sunday morning, BREAKING THE OLD RECORD of 33 degrees in 1982. Several areas around Fairbanks reported below-freezing temperatures Monday. "I haven't ever seen temperatures this cold at this time of year. Usually if you get down to 26 or 27 degrees, it will be fine, but 18 degrees for six hours, that's major."

Tuesday, June 6, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/5 -
5.2 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.4 NORTHERN MOLUCCA SEA
5.6 CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
6.0 CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
5.0 TAIWAN REGION

INDONESIA - says there are still problems reaching earthquake victims with many roads into the worst-hit areas gridlocked with convoys of trucks carrying volunteer relief workers and supplies. The United Nations has warned that tens of thousands of Indonesian quake survivors are still desperately in need of shelter, and that building materials are urgently needed.

TSUNAMI -
U.S. - A report Monday said state and federal governments need to bolster their planning for the possibility that a tsunami could strike the United States. The Government Accountability Office concluded that while modern technology is able to detect the formation of a tsunami fairly quickly, the United States lacks both a robust warning system and detailed knowledge on the impact a tidal wave could have on coastal areas. The United States has had 16 tsunami warnings since 1982. No waves were produced in those instances.

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - Indonesian authorities have evacuated over 600 people living near Mount Merapi in central Java. Activity increased at the volcano for a ninth straight day. Heat clouds are taking place every hour, pushing toxic gases, ash and lava four kilometres down the southern slope. That is more than double the distance seen before the earthquake on May the 27th. The vulcanology office in Yogyakarta says all settlements within a seven-kilometre radius of the top of the mountain should be abandoned.

PERU - Authorities in southern Peru said Monday they are evacuating about 480 families due to an increase in seismic activity at the Ubinas volcano. Volcano experts put the Ubinas area on orange alert (medium intensity level of seismic activity) on Saturday, after registering several explosions since May 31, including one that spewed glowing hot lava 200 meters (656 feet) into the air. In April, the last time the Ubinas volcano registered an alarming increase in seismic activity, its crater doubled in size to 80 meters (262 feet) in less than a week and more than 200 people fled from their homes by their own means. Toxic emissions from the volcano on that occasion caused the death of about 50 llamas and alpacas.

JAPAN - Sakurajima, one of Japan's most active volcanoes, has erupted near the southern Japanese city of Kagoshima. Smoke and ash rose high above the island's northern peak. Over 600,000 people live in the shadow of the volcano which is only a few kilometres off the port serving Kagoshima city. Thousands of small explosions occur each year on Sakurajima, throwing ash thousands of kilometres into the sky. The last major eruption occurred in 1914, though most of the residents fled before the volcano engulfed several islands nearby and swallowed part of the bay of Kagoshima.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
AUSTRALIA - More rain fell in Sydney in the first six days of June than for the entire autumn period as the city received a wet introduction to winter.The rainfall was especially strong in the 24 hours to 9am today, with nearly 50mm falling across the metropolitan area. However, while the city and its surrounds have been buffeted by strong winds and rain, the state's dams and catchment areas failed to receive much-needed rainfall. Yesterday's maximum temperature of 12.2C marked Sydney's coldest day since August 2004.

CANADA - Southern New Brunswick is mopping up after a soggy weekend that saw RECORD RAINFALL amounts and flooding throughout the region. They have already exceeded the normal rainfall amount for the entire month of June. The rain is still falling in most parts of the province. Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton all set TWO-DAY RAINFALL RECORDS on the weekend.

HUNGARY - All rivers and streams in north Hungary continued to rise on Monday following heavy rainfall in the Carpathian Basin over the past few days. Flood control workers were alerted on a total length of 1,992 kilometres of dikes along the country's major rivers. A third-degree (highest non-emergency) flood alert is in effect along the Hernad, Sajo and Takta rivers in northeast Hungary. The Hernad rose to an ALL-TIME HIGH of 415 centimetres at Hidasnemeti on the Slovak border and was expected to crest at 430 centimetres Monday.

Monday, June 5, 2006 -

Not much news today.

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/4 -
5.1 IRIAN JAYA, INDONESIA
5.1 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION

TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical depression 02E was 60 nmi ESE of Acapulco, Mexico, but is dissipating.

FLOODING -
ITALY - The waters are rising around Venice. Each year the floods worsen and last longer. Carpets of slime coat St Mark's Square. Statues and church walls are coated with filth. The city is drowning. Venice has been sinking by about 10cm a century for the past few hundred years. But in the 20th century it sank 20cm because water was pumped from natural underground reservoirs, causing the subsoil to compact. In addition, the water level in the Venice lagoon has risen by about 5cm. In 1900, St Mark's Square flooded 10 times a year; now the figure is around 60. 'I love Venice and certainly do not want to see it lost. However, if we do not curb the rise in carbon dioxide emissions then there is no point in trying to save Venice. We should be worrying if we can save London or Paris.' The Italian government recently backed a £3bn plan that would involve building barriers between the lagoon around Venice and the sea. The barriers would be raised when abnormally high tides were due. But this plan is based on predictions that there will be a sea rise of 15-26cm this century. And that poses serious worries for climate experts. Most sea-level forecasts now envisage rises that will reach up to a metre by 2100. If such rises occur, Venice will receive precious little protection from the proposed barriers, thus wasting £3bn.

Sunday, June 4, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/3 -
5.0 VANUATU ISLANDS
5.3 TONGA ISLANDS
5.0 TONGA ISLANDS
5.4 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
5.4 SOUTHERN IRAN
6/2 -
5.9 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
5.0 TONGA ISLANDS
5.0 TONGA ISLANDS
5.2 TONGA ISLANDS
5.3 TONGA ISLANDS

IRAN - A strong 5.2 earthquake jolted southern Iran on Saturday, killing a young girl and injuring two others.

Allstate Insurance Co. says it is dropping earthquake insurance to most of its 407,000 quake customers nationwide in the U.S. as a part of a larger move to reduce exposure to catastrophic losses. The states dropped are Kentucky, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Florida. The company will continue to renew earthquake coverage in New Hampshire, New York and Pennsylvania. California coverage is not affected by the Allstate decision. It is covered by the California Earthquake Authority. The company has also declined storm renewals in some parts of Florida and New York and has taken a hard look at coastal coverage from Texas to Florida.

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - Mount Merapi increased its activity and repeatedly spewed red-hot lava, hot gases and ash scores of times on Saturday. The mountain's lava dome has grown by 56 feet in the past week to reach 330 feet. Bird flu could threaten survivors of Indonesia's earthquake, an aid agency warned, after finding people whose homes were destroyed in the quake were staying in chicken coops. Most of the 647,000 people left homeless are living in makeshift shelters, often just plastic tarps to ward off tropical downpours and the hot sun. More than a thousand aftershocks have hit the region since the 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck before dawn a week ago, killing at least 6,234 people and injuring 30,000 more.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical depression 02E was 119 nmi W of Acapulco, Mexico. This system is virtually stationary at the moment. Regardless of whether it becomes a tropical storm or not, the primary threat from this system remains the heavy rainfall ( 10 - 15 inches) that is likely to trigger life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. A slow and erratic eastward motion toward the SW coast of Mexico is expected over the nest 24 hours.

VIETNAM has called off search operations for fishermen missing since Typhoon Chanchu struck the South China Sea in mid-May and placed the death toll at 276. Only 20 bodies have been found.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
INDIA - The death toll from lightning strikes and powerful storms rose to 105 today as annual summer monsoon rains tore through India earlier than usual. Twenty-two people have died in the past two days in western Maharashtra state, in addition to the 19 killed since the beginning of this week. India's far-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh has sounded a flood alert after 478 millimetres of rain fell in two districts.

Friday, June 2, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
6/1 -
5.0 HALMAHERA, INDONESIA
5.3 TONGA ISLANDS
5.3 MACQUARIE ISLAND
5.2 NEW BRITAIN
5/31 -
None 5.0 or over.

CANADA - Residents of western New Brunswick woke up to the ground shaking Thursday morning as the region was hit by a "moderate" 3.6 earthquake. It originated 25 kilometres southeast of the village of Perth-Andover, near the Maine border. There were no immediate reports of damage. "We heard a rumbling from a distance, almost as though a train or a jet was low. And then, maybe a second or two, there was a rattling underneath our feet and the house shook and the dishes shook, and the windowpanes shook." Thursday's event was the largest earthquake to hit the area in three years.

INDONESIA - Rescue workers are still finding bodies in the wreckage of villages in Indonesia's earthquake disaster zone. The quake killed at least 6,234 people, according to government figures, which also estimate that 130,000 homes had been destroyed or damaged.

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - Wednesday there was increased volcanic activity at Mount Merapi, which belched heat clouds and sent trails of lava running down its slopes, heightening fears of an eruption. Plumes of smoke rose some 900 metres into the air, nearly double the height of the previous day, and the area remained on high alert. Scientists have warned that although the magma flow which forms a dome at the peak appeared to be weakening, the structure may collapse and spew out millions of cubic metres of rock and lava.
On Thursday, Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano spilled lava and heat clouds for a sixth consecutive day, sending trails of molten rock down its western slope for the first time. In the first six hours of Thursday, Merapi sent 80 lava trails spilling down its slopes, some reaching down two kilometres. The volcano also released heat clouds.

INDONESIA - Just three days after the earthquake struck Java, on May 27, the island’s Semeru Volcano showed signs of heightened activity. Semeru ranks among Indonesia’s most active volcanoes. It is Java’s highest volcano and ike its neighbor Merapi Volcano, it has claimed human lives in historical eruptions.

TROPICAL STORMS -
The National Hurricane Center in Miami has announced the names of hurricanes to be used during the 2006 hurricane season, which began June 1 and ends Nov. 30. Named hurricanes will be: Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Nay Deen, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Ra Fa El, Gordon, Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sandy, Tony, Valerie and William.

LOUISIANA - The delta city of New Orleans is sinking into the Mississippi ooze much faster than was previously thought, averaging about six millimetres per year, researchers now say. The scientists make the claim after analyzing radar images of structures on the ground three years before Katrina flooded the city in 2005. The findings raise concerns about plans to rebuild levees. "My concern is the very low-lying areas. I think those areas are death traps. I don't think those areas should be rebuilt." The worst shrinking of the ground occurred in sections of the Mississippi flood plain where levees were breached by hurricane Katrina's surging water. The study's authors were divided on the cause of the subsidence.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
MALAYSIA - a landslide occurring near the capital of Kuala Lumpur has claimed at least two lives and left more than 160 people homeless. In the incident which took place in Hulu Klang of Selangor state, a retaining wall built on a hill slope collapsed suddenly Wednesday afternoon after rain, bringing down tons of mud on three longhouses. Rescuers did not rule out the possibility that more people could be trapped beneath the debris. More than 160 people in 43 homes living in the three longhouses have been left homeless by the landslide. The landslide also sparked a short-circuit that set off a fire in the longhouses. This is the third time in 13 years that a landslide has claimed lives in Hulu Klang.

FIJI - RECORD LEVELS OF RAIN fell in Nadi, causing flash flooding. The downpour on the 1st alone was measured at 96 millimetres, which is more than the average rainfall for a month in the Nadi area.

CANADA - Police are investigating the death of a man in Quebec's Mauricie Region, where initial reports suggested the man was hit by lightning. About 100 millimetres of rain pounded the La Tuque area in a few hours on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Several roads serving the city of about 11,000 were washed out, including part of the main route along the St-Maurice River. Some residents were evacuated by helicopter after flooding cut off access to their homes.

INDIA - Flooding caused by monsoon rains has killed at least 16 people in the past three days in western India. Early monsoon rains across the state of Maharashtra have caused houses to collapse, blocked roads and forced people into relief camps.
Mumbai was on alert for very heavy rains on Thursday, almost a year after a sharp cloudburst crippled the metropolis for days and killed hundreds of people in the city. Weather officials have warned of heavy showers in the next 30 hours, saying the monsoon rains, vital for the economy, have reached Mumbai 10 days ahead of schedule. A brief spell of rains on Wednesday brought parts of the city to a halt. Some roads were submerged and trains were delayed. "The first rains and already our infrastructure cannot cope. What will happen in the next two months?"

HEAT / WILDFIRES -
INDIA - abnormally hot and humid weather conditions, which HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE IN MAY, have made life hell for city folks in Lucknow. The situation was worse in other parts of the state with Jhansi recording maximum temperature of 45.4 degrees celsius, Allahabad 44.5 degrees celsius and Varanasi 43.8 degrees celsius. Similar reports were received from all over the state. Mercury and humidity levels were high all over, making climate hot as well as sultry. If maximum temperatures hovered between 38-45 degrees, minimum humidity levels were between 35-40 per cent. Maximum humidity levels were also high — between 80-85 per cent. This made people perspire heavily even during the night. Humidity levels are high because of cyclonic circulations hovering over the state. Moisture has also been added into the state atmosphere by winds preceding monsoon. When asked about the UNUSUAL summer this year, the state met director said that he has never seen such a long humid spell in May. Barring a few days in April, summer has been humid this year. There will be no change in the weather conditions in coming days. There is no possibility of revival of hot westerly winds, one of the basic characteristics of the summer season.

ARIZONA - over the past seven-plus years, about three-fourths of normal rainfall has been recorded at Tucson International Airport. In the last nine months, precipitation has seemingly been limited to a RARE sinister dust/moisture concoction that benefits only car washes.

ODD -
AUSTRALIA - A massive ocean vortex discovered off the West Australian coast is acting as a "death trap" by sucking in huge amounts of fish larvae and could affect the surrounding climate. The vortex – 200km in diameter and 1000m deep – is spinning at speeds up to 5kph just off the Rottnest Canyon. The vortex, shaped like a giant child's spinning top, was created by current movement down the coast and is one of the largest ever found off of WA. Visible from space, the vortex is acting as a "death trap" by sucking in fish larvae from closer to the shore. "It's actually acting as a predator, it's actually taking the fish larvae which need to stick around their natural habitat on the coast, and dragging them off to sea." The climate above the vortex was noticeably different. "It feels like you're in the tropics. It's warm, soft, moist air, with flying fish, it's a very different environment." It could also potentially affect climate further afield. "The vortex is moving a large volume of a very warm current out back into cooler waters, so essentially it's taking that heat and moving it away from the coast. So essentially that really changes the heat budget of our regional ocean and it's the ocean that determines climate." The vortex was unlikely to pose a danger to people sailing or diving in the area but the change was definitely noticeable. "We were in a 70-metre boat and you could immediately feel the shift in the ship's tract, so you can certainly tell that there's something UNUSUAL going on out there."

Wednesday, May 31, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/30 -
5.0 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.2 SOUTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.9 IRIAN JAYA, INDONESIA
5.4 SOUTHERN PERU
5.6 OFF COAST OF SOUTHERN CHILE
5.1 TONGA ISLANDS
5.0 TONGA ISLANDS

INDONESIA - Survivors of the devastating quake on Java say rumours of an incoming tsunami touched off panic in cities and villages that left many injured, and it also hindered rescue efforts. Reports filtered in of victims trapped for hours in collapsed houses as residents fled to higher ground and didn't feel secure enough to return home until hours later. In Bantul, the hardest hit region where most homes were flattened, the roads leading to elevated areas like Gadunonlateu and Slarong were filled with refugees after the earthquake. The Yogyakarta area lies on broad flat coastal plain more than 16 kilometres from the ocean. Indonesian authorities and scientists have dismissed the possibility that a tsunami could sweep so far inland. Yet the message has not been broadly accepted by the public. "If only people did not run away because of tsunami rumours, people hit by the ruins of their homes could have been saved." "People reported that there would be a tsunami and radio stations repeated this without checking the truth."

VOLCANOES -
GRANDE COMORO - the largest of the three islands in Indian Ocean archipelago, Mount Karthala is colouring the sky red as volcanic activity continues. Initial fears of a full-blown eruption and lava flow have calmed, but authorities remain on the alert. "It is a boiling pot up there - a lava lake is forming but it is confined within the crater." They are suggesting two possible scenarios for further volcanic activity: the fountain of lava could run until it was exhausted and cool down inside the crater, or the lava lake might drain from the crater, possibly coming into contact with ground water and causing an explosion that would spew ash and volcanic debris. "Authorities have activated the national emergency response preparedness plan" and set up an emergency task force.

INDONESIA - Mount Merapi spewed clouds of hot ash and gas as well as lava at least 10 times on Tuesday. In the early hours of Tuesday, lava could be seen cascading down the side of the mountain. By daylight, hot clouds of gas were also spewing out of the volcano. The quake has increased fear that the volcano could explode and people living near the mountain say they are remaining vigilant.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical depression ALETTA was 161 nmi S of Manzanillo, Mexico. Regeneration to cyclone status is unlikely.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006 -

QUAKES -

INDONESIA - the latest in a series of strong temblors to jolt Indonesia in the past four days occurred this morning. A 6.0-magnitude earthquake rocked the easternmost Indonesian province of Papua, but there were no reports of injuries or damage. The earthquake's epicentre was on land about 147-kilometres southwest of Papua's capital of Jayapura, and took place at about 33 kilometres under the earth. The quake triggered panic among residents in Wamena and Jayapura.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/29 -
5.0 UGANDA
5.6 SOUTHEAST INDIAN RIDGE
5.4 SOLOMON ISLANDS REGION
5.3 TONGA ISLANDS
5.2 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
5.5 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
5.2 SOUTH OF KERMADEC ISLANDS

PAKISTAN - Seven months after the October 8 quake which killed at least 80,000, the stench of death has finally wafted away from Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. However, something almost as bad has come in its place. The city of 700,000 people has been turned into a massive rubbish dump. An estimated 25 million cu metres of rubble lies scattered across it, and just over 2 million cu metres has been removed so far. Atop the debris, deposits of filth lie dumped – and in the scorching heat of May, with temperatures climbing above 30 degrees Celsius – it creates a terrible odour that never quite seems to leave some parts of the city. Some residents still live in canvas tents, which provide almost no protection from the intensity of the sun. Rain, forecast by the end of June, can only add to the squalor. "Look at how we live. Like animals, among this rubbish. And now we are being told it contains poison that could kill our children." Local health officials and environmentalists fear that the mountain of waste and rubble contains dangerous heavy metals, including lead. People are continuing to live in tents mainly because their "lands have been washed away or the area where they live faces a risk of further earthquakes." According to estimates, at least 100,000 people will have to continue to live in tents until next winter.

Some researchers believe that radio crackling, surges in heat and other phenomena may be signs of a coming earthquake, and monitoring these planetary stress symptoms could someday help people prepare. One area of research that appears promising comes in examining the behavior of rocks immediately before a quake. When subject to pressure, normally inert rocks produce positive charges. The positive charges, which increase as pressure does, in turn generate an electric field, which generates a magnetic field. "A rock, when you squeeze it, becomes a battery." The positive charges emitted by the pressured rock could also explain other so-called earthquake precursors. When the earth becomes positively charged, the positively charged particles of the ionosphere, a layer of the atmosphere that sits about 90 kilometers (56 miles) above the earth's surface, will get pushed away and get replaced by negatively charged particles. The sudden rush of negatively charged electrons in that portion of the ionosphere in turn should interfere with radio waves and reception. Rock stress may additionally explain surges of infrared energy, which manifests itself as luminescence, observed before some quakes. There is a current generated when you start to crack a rock before it crumbles and there is infrared energy that comes out of the rock when the charged particles drop their energy. Strange animal behavior, conceivably, might be the reactions to these environmental changes.

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - activity at the Merapi volcano has already tripled since the earthquake struck. Hot clouds are spewing from its mouth at a rate of 150 a day, compared with 50 a day previously. Merapi lies just 18 miles from the epicentre of Saturday's quake. A professor believes an upswelling of magma from beneath the earth's surface may have triggered the earthquake and simultaneously seeped into the base of the volcano, causing the lava dome that caps it to swell. Officials have already ordered the evacuation of people from a danger zone around the top of the volcano but the professor says pyroclastic flows of hot gas and ash could destroy nearby towns and villages. " You can get an increase in activity and evacuate people and all of a sudden the volcano goes dead. But historically, there's a strong trend that whenever you get an earthquake close to a volcano, you get an eruption soon afterwards."
New craters keep on developing on the northern part of Merapi`s top.

VANUATU - Volcanologists were wondering why a lake atop the rumbling Mount Manaro volcano on the South Pacific island of Ambae has changed colour from blue to a spectacular bright red. The change of colour may come from new activity in the ground or just chemical change in the lake. Mount Manaro, one of four volcanos currently active in the island nation of Vanuatu, has been showing signs of erupting for only the second time in 122 years. Vanuatu, formerly called the New Hebrides Islands, is a chain of 13 main islands 2,300 km east of north-east Australia. Three other volcanos in Vanuatu - Lopevi, Yasur and a two-crater volcano on Ambryn Island called Marum and Benbow - have spewed rocks, ash, smoke and steam over the South Pacific island nation in recent weeks. However, activity has slowed in recent days.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical depression ALETTA was 145 nmi WSW of Acapulco, Mexico.
MEXICO - Weather forecasters lifted coastal warnings for Aletta, the first tropical storm of the eastern Pacific season, after the storm moved farther out to sea. Forecasters had issued a tropical storm warning from Punta Maldonado northwest to Zihuatanejo, warning that Aletta could bring heavy rainfall, flash floods and mudslides to the mountainous coast. The storm could strengthen again during the next two days.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
BELIZE - this year the rainy season started one week early and its first downpours have been daily deluges of water. Localized flooding has SET UNPRECEDENTED RECORDS throughout the country, especially in the southern districts. For the past week, most of the country has been underwater, following a daily dose of several inches of rain. It is expected to be ONE OF THE WETTEST RAINY SEASONS IN RECENT MEMORY. The rains are apparently the result of a late cold front and an early tropical wave in the Caribbean. Both systems merged and created heavy rains and thunderstorms. Over the past four to five days, Belize City received about 8 inches of rainfall. The Philip Goldson International Airport had a total of 7.7 inches of rainfall. At the Melinda forecaster station, a total of 15.6 inches of rainfall was recorded and the Pomona Valley received the highest amount of rain, 18.6 inches. Normally, the country would receive between 2-3 inches of rainfall at the start of the rainy season.

COLUMBIA - For the past few weeks, heavy rains have battered many parts of Colombia. Country-wide, people have had to leave their homes as rivers overflow and landslides sweep away everything in their path. The most vulnerable are people living in the poorest areas, in makeshift houses often built on unsafe land – areas where many displaced families are forced to live.

NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS -
A Nasa satellite mission will be launched this year to study the highest and most mysterious clouds on Earth. Noctilucent, or "night-shining", clouds appear as thin bands in twilight skies, some 80km (50miles) above the surface. Recent records suggest they have become brighter, more frequent and are being seen at lower latitudes than usual. The changes in frequency and brightness have been observed over the past 20 years. Normally confined closer to the poles, they have been seen as low as 50 degree North. Scientists cannot say for sure but they suspect human activity may be altering the conditions in the mesosphere that drive the clouds' formation. Although the extra carbon dioxide (CO2) put into the atmosphere by human activities has warmed the air near the Earth's surface, it is thought to have had the opposite effect in the middle and upper atmosphere by radiating heat more efficiently into space.

Monday, May 29, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/28 -
5.2 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN
5.1 NORWEGIAN SEA
5.5 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
5.0 NORTHERN MOLUCCA SEA
5.9 TONGA ISLANDS
6.4 NEW BRITAIN

INDONESIA - The number of the people killed in Saturday's powerful earthquake that hit Indonesia's island of Java jumped to nearly 5,000 as rescuers continue to dig for survivors. About 450 aftershocks have shaken the region as of midday on Sunday, with the strongest measuring magnitude 5.2. There were "literally" fault lines in the roads caused by the earthquake. However, while many buildings were destroyed, or partially destroyed, some were still standing. "It really was a whim of the earthquake."
Heavy rain late on Sunday made conditions worse for the 200,000 people left homeless by the quake.

Two powerful earthquakes struck near the South Pacific island nations of Papua New Guinea and Tonga on Sunday. No casualties have been reported. A magnitude 6.2 quake struck near Papua New Guinea's New Britain region. Some 20 minutes later, a 5.9 magnitude quake struck near the island of Tonga. The quakes follow Saturday's 6.3 magnitude tremor in central Indonesia, but experts say they are probably not related. All three occurred along the seismically-active Asia-Pacific rim, where movement by the massive Pacific tectonic plate creates regular earthquakes and volcanic activity.

VOLCANOES -
GRANDE COMORE - Lava spewed from Mount Karthala volcano on the Indian Ocean island of Grande Comore on Sunday, lighting up the sky and sending scores of frightened residents onto the streets. Residents of Moroni, the capital of the Comoros islands, said they could see lava at the top. Karthala last erupted in April 2005. Sunday's activity also amounted to an eruption but it was too soon to tell how dangerous this one would be. "Effectively there is an eruption but we don't know yet if there will be any gas." "There is a risk of a lava flow but we don't know yet which direction."

PHILIPPINES - Bulusan volcano in the province of Sorsogon exhibited an episode of ash explosion which occurred around 9:17 p.m on Saturday. "We already advised the Sorsogon provincial disaster coordinating council to distribute masks to residents and evacuate the sick people." Areas affected by light ashfalls, approximately ranged from traces to 2.0mm thickness, were the barangays of Bacolod, Sankayon, Puting Sapa, Rangas, Mapili, Calagdao, Buraburan in Juhan and Holos in Irosin, Sorsogon local at the west and southwest sector of the volcano. The ash explosion is still part of the present unrest being exhibited by Bulusan volcano. "We reiterated therefore, that alert level 1 is being observed." Meanwhile, Mayon volcano in the province of Albay is also under alert level 1.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm ALETTA was 72 nmi WSW of Acapulco, Mexico.

Sunday, May 28, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/27 -
5.1 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
5.1 TONGA ISLANDS
5.3 TONGA ISLANDS
5.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS REGION
5.0 BANDA SEA
5.0 NEW BRITAIN
5/26 -
6.4 JAWA, INDONESIA
5.1 MINAHASSA PENINSULA, SULAWESI
5.0 SOUTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.4 TONGA ISLANDS
5.2 SOUTH INDIAN OCEAN
5.2 SOUTH INDIAN OCEAN
5.0 SOUTH OF PANAMA
5.0 SOUTHEAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 KASHMIR-INDIA BORDER REGION

INDONESIA - A dawn 6.2 earthquake killed more than 3,000 people around the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta Friday, burying many under the rubble of their homes in a scene survivors said was like the end of the world. "Buildings shook like pendulums, I thought it was Armageddon." The wards and corridors of Sarjito hospital in Yogyakarta city were crammed with injured survivors. It was the third major tremor to hit Indonesia in 18 months, the worst being the quake on Dec. 26, 2004 and its resulting tsunami. As the scale of the devastation became clear, focus turned to the effect the violent tremors may have had on Mount Merapi, the volcano 24km from Yogyakarta that is on high alert for a major eruption. Vulcanologists monitoring the situation noticed an immediate increase in activity in the aftermath of the earthquake. Hot, dense gas clouds were reported stretching 4km down Merapi's mountainside, just short of their length before the volcano's last major eruption.

VOLCANOES -
VANUATU - Three volcanoes in Vanuatu's volatile "ring of fire" were Saturday under close watch after spitting rocks, ash and steam over the South Pacific island in recent days. A fourth volcano was causing concern after signs it could be building toward a fresh eruption. "There seems to be an upsurge in activity around the ring of fire that runs through the archipelago." YASUR Volcano on Tanna Island in the south was causing the most concern after it was classified as Level 2 - likely to erupt - and it is firing out explosive rocks. The volcano on uninhabited LOPEVI Island has spurted sulfurous ash into the sky, causing havoc on 10 surrounding islands including Paama whose inhabitants fled earlier due to the debris. Lopevi had stopped spitting ash and smoke, though scientists were closely watching its ash spumes. Villagers in Paama have appealed to the Vanuatu government for help securing new sources of drinking water after existing ones were contaminated by ash and debris. Vital crops have also been destroyed. Observation teams had gone to the sites of the two other suddenly active volcanoes - MARUM and BENBOW on the island of Ambryn - but had yet to report back on their findings. Lake Vui on top of Mount MANARO in the center of Ambae Island has turned to gray in recent days. The change indicates that it is likely to erupt. It last erupted late November 2005, forcing the evacuation of half the island's 10,000 inhabitants to safe areas at either end of the island. It was its first eruption in 121 years.

INDIA - authorities have ordered an investigation by scientists into the mysterious explosion of rocks and spewing of debris from the cliffs of Kondaiketti hill on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala Border in Kanyakumari district at midnight on May 25. According to residents of Amburi, Thekkuparai, Shenbagaparai, Mayam, Kootappu, Arugani Hill, the cliff started exploding like a volcano and spewed debris all over. Officials said similar explosion/eruption took place in November 2000 also leading to landslips in Amburi where 38 people were buried alive.



TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical Storm ALETTA was 106 nmi SW of Acapulco, Mexico.
Aletta became the first tropical storm of the season in the eastern Pacific on Saturday when it formed about 100 miles (170 kilometers) south of the Mexican coastal resort of Acapulco. Forecasters predicted it would head toward land but later change direction, skirt the coast and head out to sea.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
RUSSIA - A landslide has occurred in the village of Tilichki in the Koryak autonomous district of Kamchatka. A number of auxiliary buildings were damaged, but no one was hurt. Three houses are located at the foothills of a mount, from where the landslide came down. The landslide stopped a few meters away from the houses. More landslides are possible because of rain and cracks in the soil, which were caused by the April 21 earthquake. Reconstructions go on in the disaster zone, but minor tremors have not ceased. Experts said the tremors may continue for about one year. Over 80 tremors occurred in the Olyutor district over the past month. Ice drift in local rivers is another problem, as it may cause ice jams and floods. The water level in the Pakhacha River had risen 70 centimeters higher than the critical mark, and the river burst the banks and endangered the Sredniye Pakhachi village.

AUSTRALIA - Reconstruction of the cyclone ravaged far north Queensland town of Innisfail has been held up for weeks because of wet weather. It's been so slow that even after nine weeks teams of workers are still cleaning up, rather than rebuilding. Saturday was the first time the sun has been shining on consecutive days since Larry crashed into the coast nine weeks ago. They have had 55 days of straight rain, tropical rain, heavy drenching rain, that has prevented repair work from happening. The stunted growth of the sugar cane is incredible. Sugar cane needs lots of sunshine, and it doesn't need rain at this time of the year. So that product is going to be stunted when it's harvested later in the year, in about June or July. Banana trees were flattened. The bananas will come on season in October, November. People in Melbourne will be paying as much as $10 a kilo for their bananas.

UNUSUALLY EARLY WEATHER -
INDIA - The SouthWest Monsoon has set in over Kerala bringing in heavy rains in many parts of the state. The monsoon has arrived days ahead of schedule, and is now advancing to Karnataka and parts of Tamil Nadu. It is expected to move to the Bay of Bengal and the North East. Monsoon showers are likely in Mumbai by June 3 and will reach Rajasthan by July 15

Friday, May 26, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/25 -
5.0 ANDAMAN ISLANDS,INDIA
5.2 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
5.2 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
5.4 NEAR COAST OF PERU
5.3 EASTERN SIBERIA, RUSSIA
5.1 VANUATU ISLANDS
5.3 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS

SWEDEN - A small 2.0 earthquake caused panic in Stockholm on Wednesday night when inhabitants mistook a loud bang for an explosion. Hundreds of Stockholm residents alerted police and abandoned their homes when they heard the noise, fearing a bomb had gone off. For three hours, police cars and helicopters trawled the Swedish capital in vain in search of the explosion until they were informed by seismologists that there was an earthquake.

INDONESIA - A tectonic earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale jolted Indonesia's Papua provincial capital of Jayapura and Sarmi Wednesday evening, causing one man to die of a heart attack and hundreds of people to flee to upland areas in fear of a tsunami.

VOLCANOES -
ALASKA - Cleveland volcano in the Aleutian Islands sent up an ash cloud Tuesday. An astronaut on-board the International Space Station spotted the plume moving west at 3 p.m. Two hours later, satellite data indicated the plume had detached and was 82 miles southwest of the volcano, indicating the eruption was a short-lived event, as is typical for the Cleveland Volcano. The volcano also erupted in February.

CANARY ISLANDS - sitting on a volcanic site, the Canary Islands could be traveling soon — posing a significant tsunami risk. A mountain near the Montana-Wyoming border once moved 62 miles in a half-hour in a catastrophic scenario that could be repeated in the Canary Islands, scientists say. Rock at the summit of Heart Mountain is 250 million years older than at its base. That suggests the top and the bottom have not always been together. The presumed migration to its present home has puzzled scientists for years. A new explanation comes from deep underground, where lava bubbled up to the surface and sent the mountain on its way in surprisingly quick fashion.

UNUSUAL WEATHER SEASON -
INDIA - Due to unseasonal rains during the last five days, water has logged in several low-lying slum areas in Bhopal. The thatched roofs of many slums have been hit by gales and they have become roofless. The household items of a number of slum dwellers have been damaged as water entered their shanties. The residents of these slum areas are also feeling hardships in moving about due to the water and mud. Though the rainy season is yet to begin, monsoon-like showers in the state capital rendered ineffective the 'Nautapa' - a period of extreme summer heat. Bhopal recorded a high of 34.9 deg C, four notches below normal. Day temperature ranged between 32-38 C in other stations while the 'Nautapa' days usually witness the mercury shooting past 43 C. The town Jabalpur was the coolest at 32 C, ten marks below normal. This has been termed by weather experts and astrologers as a clear sign of a weak monsoon this year. According to them, extreme heat during 'Nau Tapa' is the harbinger of a good monsoon and when 'Nau Tapa' is disturbed or rains are witnessed during this period, the chances of normal monsoon thin out that year.

Thursday, May 25, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/24 -
5.8 NEAR N.CST OF IRIAN JAYA
5.2 EASTERN SIBERIA, RUSSIA
5.2 EASTERN SIBERIA, RUSSIA
5.0 KAMCHATKA PENINSULA, RUSSIA
5.1 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
5.0 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
5.1 LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.1 LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.1 VANUATU ISLANDS
5.0 KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND
5.2 CALIFORNIA-BAJA CALIFORNIA BORDER
5.2 EASTER ISLAND REGION

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - Mount Merapi on Wednesday morning spewed out 11 clouds of hot ash until 06.00 a.m. local time, a significant increase compared to the same period on Tuesday when the volcano belched out 5 clouds of hot ash. The volcano triggered 76 tremors and 22 multiphase quakes during the same period on Wednesday morning. On Tuesday, Mount Merapi expelled massive clouds of hot ash for 46 times, compared to 25 times on Monday. Also on Tuesday they recorded a total of 86 multiphase tremors, and 316 fallen quakes.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
IRELAND - The West of Ireland experienced some of its WORST SUMMER WEATHER IN LIVING MEMORY last week as incessant rain poured down on the region. The dip in temperatures, which accompanied the rain, also prompted homeowners to stock up on winter fuels. Some of the rainfall statistics are truly astounding. The usual monthly averages have simply gone out the window with records set to be broken long before the month of May has even come to an end. One of the worst-hit areas is the South Mayo town of Claremorris where an incredible 31 milimetres of rainfall fell on Sunday alone, which is almost half the normal average for the entire month. Meanwhile, at Ireland-West Airport, a total of 23.8 milimetres of rainfall was recorded in a six-hour period on Thursday night, May 18. The high rainfall was almost replicated again on Sunday when 21.5 milimetres of rain fell throughout the day. It is going to be downcast, cold and wet for the foreseeable future.

SOUTH AFRICA - Heavy downpours caused widespread devastation in Nelson Mandela Bay yesterday, leaving many homeless and causing major damage. A number of townships and informal settlements had to be evacuated, with rain at one stage falling at about 30mm an hour. Several roads had to be closed off to traffic due to flooding. The rains also caused multiple power failures across the city.

THAILAND - The devastating floods in the North wreaked havoc over a wider area yesterday, cracking a reservoir in the northern province of Phrae and destroying an earth dam in the northwestern province of Tak, while the death toll climbed to 51. Villagers from more than 900 households in tambon Pong Daeng in Tak's Muang district had to be evacuated when about one million cubic metres of water rushed out of the earthen dam to inundate thousands of rai of rice paddies. Many cattle were lost in the deluge. Many people are still missing or stranded. The Laplae and Tha Pla districts of Uttaradit province have suffered extensive damage caused by mudslides. Villagers were still in panic. ''No one expected such rapid and harsh floods. We were unprepared and could only try to save our own lives.'' Floodwaters in some areas reached three metres, with strong currents. As much as 330mm of rain had fallen in a day, the LARGEST AMOUNT IN 38 YEARS.

SNOW / COLD -
AUSTRALIA - RECORD COLD TEMPERATURES FOR MAY of up to 10C below average have hit parts of Queensland on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. An extremely dry air mass across Queensland was causing the cold snap. " Humidity is sitting in the single figures so when night-time comes there is no moisture for the air to hold. This results in reasonably warm days with a sharp drop in temperatures at night."

Wednesday, May 24, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/23 -
5.1 MARIANA ISLANDS REGION
5.0 SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE

RUSSIA - a powerful 7.0 earthquake shook a remote province in Russia’s Far East on Tuesday, disrupting water and electricity supplies. No one was injured. The quake hit the village of Tilichki in the Koryak region some 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles) east of Moscow, forcing dozens of residents to be evacuated from their homes. In late April, the village suffered a series of strong quakes that led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents and disrupted utilities in the district. Seismologists are saying the region could be hit by more earthquakes in the near future, but they are expected to be less powerful.
The return of 1200 residents evacuated from Koryak settlements after the powerful 7.9 earthquake April 21st was suspended on Tuesday because of the series of new major tremors that rocked the same area of Kamchatka overnight. The decision was made to suspend the return for at least a week. The return had begun on Monday, however five earthquakes of force 5.1 to 7 hit the area overnight.

TROPICAL STORMS -
With hurricane season about to begin in the U.S., experts have said that the coming month would see two-thirds of the activity seen last year, but warned that concentration might move up to the eastern seaboard from the Gulf coast. "We think that the mid to latter part of the season, the heart of the hurricane season, is going to be an especially busy one along eastern seaboard." The North Carolina coast, southern New England, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware are projected hot zones of hurricane for this coming season. "It could bring a large storm surge, massive damage to New England even if it's category 3." Scientists are pondering whether there should be a category six for hurricane as evidence mounts that hurricanes around the world have sharply worsened over the past 30 years. Currently, there is no category six for hurricane. According to scientists, there have already been hurricanes strong enough to qualify as Category 6's.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
THAILAND - At least 27 people were killed and 61 others missing as floods swept through northern Thailand. "We are worried that 100 people may have died." Flash floods and mudslides triggered by torrential rains have hit five mountainous northern Thai provinces – Uttaradit, Nan, Phrae, Lampang and Sukhothai – since early yesterday. About 1200 people had been evacuated so far, while more than 75,000 had suffered damage either to their homes or their farms. In Uttaradit province, waters rose as high as 4m in what the government has said was the WORST FLOODING IN OVER 20 YEARS.

SOUTH AFRICA - Several hundred people have been evacuated from flooded homes in Port Elizabeth and accommodated in community halls and police stations. On Tuesday morning heavy rain flooded shops and houses and turned roads into streams. Shortly after noon, 120mm had fallen since the skies opened around 3am. However the downpour has brought hope to the drought-stricken city where severe water rationing has been in place.

UNITED KINGDOM - there's no end in sight for the rain that just keeps falling. There will be some longer spells of rain and it will be quite windy at times. They won't be seeing any sunny weather in the foreseeable future. "It's the kind of weather you'd expect in autumn, so it's UNUSUAL but not unheard of. It's not record-breaking in terms of rainfall, but it's not normally weather we'd see at this time of year." Experts say that it is also UNUSUAL for Yorkshire weather to be so varied during May, with highs of a sunny 21C dropping to around 14C over the past 10 days.
People living along a number of rivers in northern England are bracing themselves for flooding, despite ongoing concerns about drought in the South East. The River Ouse in central York has already burst its banks, and riverside pathways have flooded.

FOG -
CHINA - Sea traffic was halted and nearly 1,000 vessels were forced to return to port and dock yesterday as dense fog rolled over the city's port areas, dangerously lowering visibility. The Shanghai Meteorological Bureau issued a yellow fog alert at 5:20am, citing visibility under 500 meters. Actual visibility in the Yangshan Deep-Water Port, Nanhui and Fengxian districts fell below 50 meters. The fog was caused by high humidity after the rain on Monday. Fog also shrouded downtown Xujiahui area, with visibility of only 700 meters.
Heavy fog abruptly blanketing the area caused pileups of 27 motor vehicles on an expressway linking Beijing with Shenyang, killing eight people and injuring nine others on Tuesday morning. The fog hit around 6 a.m. with a visibility of only 20 meters.

WIND -
Worldwide, an estimated $48 billion in losses is attributed to sandstorms every year, with $6.5 billion of this occurring in China. This year’s sandstorms in China are considered more severe than in previous years. Not only are they increasing in frequency and having more serious impacts on air quality, but they are also occurring earlier in the season and affecting a wider area. The timing of the first sandstorm moved up by a week in 2006, and the sandstorm-affected area has extended beyond 3 million square kilometers. Due to its lack of rainfall and overall surface dryness in the spring, Beijing experiences sandstorms every March and April. For about 40 days every year, the pollutants cannot be diffused, as the city’s location makes it a natural receptacle for accumulating sand and dust. As of late April, northern China had encountered eight severe sandstorms this year alone.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/22 -
5.0 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.6 BANDA SEA
5.0 KYUSHU, JAPAN
6.1 KAMCHATKA PENINSULA, RUSSIA
5.4 EASTERN SIBERIA, RUSSIA
5.1 EASTERN SIBERIA, RUSSIA
5.1 EASTERN SIBERIA, RUSSIA
6.7 EASTERN SIBERIA, RUSSIA

ARKANSAS - Federal and state emergency officials are encouraging Arkansas residents to prepare now for a possible earthquake. The United States Geological Survey considers Arkansas among the states with a "high earthquake risk" because of activity in the New Madrid fault zone. "It could be tomorrow. It could be 60 years. We don't know." The fault runs from Marked Tree to near Cairo, Illinois.

TSUNAMI -
MOROCCO - The National Meteorology Authority ruled out the idea that a Tsunami could hit the Atlantic ocean after the fall of fragments of a comet that will pass close to earth on May 25. This denial comes after the Ufological Research Center warned on its website of a Tsunami danger that would affect several countries, including Morocco. The comet will pass far away from planet earth at about 10 million kilometres, hence excluding any risk of a Tsunami in the Atlantic ocean.

MONTSERRAT - “Following a collapse of the dome at the Soufriére Hills Volcano in Montserrat in the early hours of Saturday, May 20, it has been reported that a tsunami has affected some coastal areas of Guadeloupe. There are unconfirmed reports that English Harbour and Jolly Harbour in Antigua have been affected.” Antigua, St. Kitts, and Nevis were advised to closely monitor the activities taking place in Montserrat. Guadeloupe reportedly had a tsunami 3 feet high and an unconfirmed report states that Antigua also experienced a possible tsunami ranging between 8 to 12 inches. The threat of tsunamis existed from the continuing pyroclastic flows of this eruptive event entering the sea. Now a memory, the volcano's dome has completely disintegrated and left a jagged scar where it once stood tall.

TROPICAL STORMS -
This year's north Atlantic hurricane season will be "very active," spawning eight to 10 hurricanes, the U.S.-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
NETHERLANDS - The roof of a business premises was destroyed and a goods lorry was overturned when a whirlwind hit Delflaan in the town of Noordwijkerhout on the Sunday night. Several cars and homes were also damaged. There were no injuries during the FREAK weather.

NEW ZEALAND - There have been landslips and surface flooding in the Whangarei District and further north, following two days of heavy rain. Up to 120 milimetres of rain has come down in east coast areas, including Whangarei, in the last 36 hours and some rivers are running high. The rain has now eased to showers, but more heavy rain is forecast for Friday.

CANADA - More rain is adding to flood fears in southeastern British Columbia. Hundreds of homes in southeastern British Columbia remain on evacuation alert as officials warned that local water supplies could be contaminated.

CALIFORNIA - SAN DIEGO – Commuters awoke Monday morning to something they seldom see this time of year: RECORD-SETTING RAINFALL and strong winds. As of 10 a.m., Lindbergh Field had recorded nearly an inch of rain – .77 of an inch, more than doubling the record for the date. The previous high rainfall total for May 22, set in 1921, was .36 of an inch. Winds were expected to reach up to 25 mph. “It's not unusual for us to get rain in May. It is UNUSUAL for us to get it this late, and this much.” Heavy rain was to blame for a roof partially collapsing at an apartment building. San Diego's weather should return to its usual May pattern today, patchy morning clouds and fog, followed by sunny skies and temperatures in the mid- to high 70s

ARIZONA - A cold front moved from the Pacific Ocean into the Valley and out again on Monday, kicking up high winds and enough dust to set off pollution alarms. It also concerned wildland firefighters, as two of three fires around the state grew larger because of the wind. "It could stay under 100 on Tuesday, but on Wednesday it will heat back up with temperatures in the 103-106 range." The cold front was "dramatic," weather like Monday's is UNUSUAL. "In recent years, the trend has been that once hot weather gets here, it stays here. We normally don't get weather patterns through here in May. Usually, this time of year is the setup for the monsoon," when increasingly hot temperatures trigger the state's summer rainy season.

NEW HAMPSHIRE - A fast-moving storm that eyewitnesses said "twisted down from the sky" in Hampton Falls crossed over Interstate 95, flipping over a pickup truck and tossing its cap 150 feet into nearby woods. As the storm arrived, observers a few miles north saw a strange, wedge-shaped cloud. It was not a classic "twister," but a conical, black mass pointing forward and down from the lead edge of the main storm. A few minutes later, those observers saw two waterspouts moving over the ocean. Tornadoes here are few and far between. "Having a similar event, a 'downburst' or 'microburst' as we call them, a couple times a summer is not unusual. The only thing that is UNUSUAL about this is that the weather has been so cool. A tornado is most likely to happen when it's hot. If it were a tornado, it certainly would be UNUSUAL."
Officials estimate more than five-thousand homes in New Hampshire have been damaged by last week's flooding.

ODD -
UNITED KINGDOM - This may be the summer of drought - but instead of rain over the next few months people in Yarmouth have been told to brace themselves for a downpour of frogs. That is the unusual conclusion of a senior weather forecaster who has labelled the resort as the most likely spot for a downpour of BFOs - bizarre falling objects. The town was showered in two-inch sprats in August 2000, while other BFO outbreaks recorded around the country in previous centuries include larger fish, tomatoes and even coal. Recent changeable weather conditions such as storms, droughts and sudden downpours have vastly increased the chances of objects falling from the sky, according to British Weather Services, who says they can be caused by heat and air pressure coupled with atmospheric instability. “People may be surprised to hear this happens but while it might be UNUSUAL it really does...You need converging air, warm land mass, instances of lightning and thunderstorms and chances of tornadoes - and Yarmouth has that all more than anywhere else in Europe. With this week being as UNUSUAL as it's going to be all summer in terms of changing weather patterns, it's a great recipe for things being sucked up and then deposited.”

Monday, May 22, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/21 -
5.2 NEAR COAST OF CENTRAL CHILE
5.3 OFF COAST OF ECUADOR
5/20 -
5.0 MID-INDIAN RIDGE
5.1 TONGA ISLANDS
5/19 -
5.0 SOUTH OF JAWA, INDONESIA
6.0 MINAHASSA PENINSULA, SULAWESI

VOLCANOES -
MONTSERRAT - the volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat erupted Saturday, sending burning gas, volcanic rock and ashes careening down the mountain slopes and into the sea. The eruption had been expected for months, and the local population had taken precautions. The dome collapsed sending clouds of ash more than 16 kilometres into the sky. The spewing ash caused lightning and thunder above the collapsed dome. A rainstorm during the collapse sent torrents of mud and rocks down the slopes. Sunday the activity returned to 'normal'. (photo)

INDONESIA - Fresh hot clouds were reported to be streaming 3.5 km down the slopes of Mt Merapi at about 4:25 pm local time today from the crater of volcano. On Sunday the hot clouds rolled down from its crater 12 times, while molten lava fallouts were recorded to have happened 22 times.

ECUADOR - Ecuadorean peasants evacuated the area around the Tungurahua volcano as it spewed smoke and ashes high into the sky Thursday. Scientists said that in the past week, the central Ecuador volcano has increased its activity, with repeated explosions of volcanic gas and ashes. "(We've had) Various explosions that are accompanied with very important emissions of great altitude, up to 4km high, with an important load of ashes."

VANUATU - The National Disaster Management Office says the volcano eruption on Lopevi remains graded as level 2 volcanic activity. Meanwhile, reports have indicated that the heavy ashfall that the nearby islands of Paama and Amrbym were experiencing has eased. "They still have food. But the problem is the water..." Meanwhile a small volcanic eruption has happened on Tanna.

TROPICAL STORMS -
VIETNAM - A Chinese ship has saved 97 Vietnamese fishermen whose boats were caught in the wake of Typhoon Chanchu but they also found 18 bodies. The Fisheries Ministry said more than 400 fishermen were missing from Danang city and the nearby provinces of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai. May is very early in the typhoon season and an official with the Hong Kong Observatory said Chanchu was the "most intense" typhoon on record to strike in the South China Sea at this time of year.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
CANADA - After 9 straight days of rain, there is flooding near Cowansville, 80 kilometres southeast of Montreal. The high water has forced the evacuation of at least 100 people. This is QUITE UNUSUAL WEATHER for that part of the Quebec. The southeastern region of the province has received more than 140 millimetres of rain so far in May.

UNITED KINGDOM - Gale force winds at speeds of more than 50mph hammered the South Wales coastline Friday. And forecasters say even more rain and gusts of wind are on the way. The unseasonal weather is here to stay - and it could even last all the way to Monday, May 29. 'It's very unsettled at the moment. The reason it's so wet and windy is that we've got low pressure over Scotland - much lower than we'd expect for this time of year. Parts of Wales have been struck by strong winds, up to gale force, with gusts in places.'

Friday, May 19, 2006 -

Taking a mini-vacation, there will be no update this Sunday.

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/18 -
5.1 OFF W. CST OF NORTHERN SUMATERA
5.7 OFF E. CST KAMCHATKA PEN.
5.1 EASTERN SIBERIA, RUSSIA
5.1 NEW BRITAIN

TROPICAL STORMS -
TYPHOON CHANCHU - At least 99 Vietnamese fishermen are missing and feared dead after being trapped at sea during Typhoon Chanchu, authorities said Thursday.

VIETNAM - Floods triggered by prolonged drought and Typhoon Chanchu have washed away shrimps and salinated irrigation sources in Vietnam’s central Quang Nam province, causing losses up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. 50 percent of shrimps from 100 ha of ponds was carried away to the sea. Sea levels have elevated 1.5 meters, causing waters to encroach on the Thu Bon River, a major source for irrigating paddy fields in the province’s coastal areas. Hence, over 1,000ha can not be sown for now due to the salty irrigation water.

TAIWAN - The distant typhoon packs a punch for local commuters - Torrential rain brought by the system containing Typhoon Chanchu brought havoc to parts of the nation yesterday, damaging roads and causing several traffic accidents.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
COLUMBIA - A landslide triggered by heavy rains damaged a gas pipeline and cut off gas supplies to more than 756,000 families in Colombia's capital city, a gas company spokesman said on Wednesday. The landslip destroyed around 140 meters of the pipeline in Cundinamarca.
After four months of heavy rain, Colombia is fighting widespread flooding.

TURKEY - A landslide triggered by heavy rains buried eight hillside homes in eastern Turkey Wednesday, officials said. Four people were reported missing. The landslide hit the village of Yukari Karaguney in Kars province.

NORWAY - Norway can look forward to over a week of unstable weather, with an unpredictable mix of sunshine, clouds and rain. The temperature is likely to be just as variable across the country, and a return of the period of high summer seen last week is not in sight, according to the Meteorological Institute. "Low pressure along the coast of northern Norway and over southern Norway will lead to a quite unstable situation in the first part of this period (the coming week)." Rain is predicted to be an intermittent but constant factor over the next few days.

SNOW / COLD -
SOUTH AFRICA - Cold snap looms - Tshwane residents can expect to start feeling the effects of the front tonight with cloudy and windy conditions, and even some rain. Rain is UNUSUAL for this time of year. The wind and rain could start letting up as early as Sunday, but low temperatures are expected to continue until the middle of next week. Many of Tshwane's homeless are in dire straits as the country enters winter. Homeless shelters are already pushed to their limits, and have to turn away scores of people every day. In Johannesburg, temperatures are forecast to plummet to as low as 1°C on Tuesday, with maximums as low as 13°C over the weekend. Maximum temperatures were about five or six degrees higher at the same time last year. "For Johannesburg, a maximum of 11, 12 or even 13°C is ALMOST EXCEPTIONAL. There are only a few days in winter in any particular year where it will get that cold...At this juncture, all indications point to a very cold winter."

ISRAEL - An unseasonably cool night and a pleasant day are expected throughout Israel today, but raindrops may fall along with the thermometer on Saturday, particularly in the north and possibly in the eastern regions. Temperatures will rise on Sunday but scattered precipitation may fall again in the middle of the week. The UNUSUAL weather has allowed the Kinneret to hold its own level, without evaporation and depletion for farm irrigation. Temperatures usually soar into the upper 30s Celsius (upper 90s Fahrenheit) for several days at a time from mid-April.

Thursday, May 18, 2006 -

Taking a mini-vacation; no update this Sunday.
QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/17 -
5.0 IRIAN JAYA, INDONESIA
5.0 SOUTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.2 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.0 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
5.8 TONGA ISLANDS
6.0 TONGA ISLANDS

INDONESIA - The strong 6.4 earthquake that shook Indonesia's island of Nias in the late hours of Tuesday caused visible cracks in the land. The epicentre of the quake was in the Indian Ocean. No one was hurt during the jolts. Despite the cracked land, there are no reports of damaged buildings.

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - Mount Merapi shot out a large cloud of searing hot ash and gas on Wednesday, ending two days of relative calm and underscoring the dangers still facing thousands of people living on its slopes. Witnesses said the eruption appeared to be smaller than the Indonesian mountain’s most violent jolts on Monday, when ash and gas clouds surged around four kilometres from the peak and triggered panic. Vulcanologists keeping the mountain on 24-hour watch were not immediately available for comment on the eruption, which sent volcanic material plunging down its western flanks, but appeared to fall short of populated areas.

ECUADOR - Tungurahua volcano increased its activity on Wednesday, spewing large clouds of hot gas and prompting the government to renew a limited state of emergency in nearby towns. Authorities said there are currently no plans to evacuate area residents. But flocks of villagers living near the volcano decided to voluntarily leave their homes at night, saying the loud explosions deprive them of sleep. "This is like a horror movie, with loud sounds that bounce off the walls ... like the explosion of dynamite sticks."

TAIWAN - a geothermal system under the northern Datun Mountains - where the popular Yangmingshan National Park is located - is still active, suggesting that a volcanic eruption is a remote possibility in Taipei. The "signs" prior to a volcanic eruption include drastic changes in the frequency of small quakes on the mountain, the concentration of gases emitted from vents, and the natural environment around the volcano such as plants and animals dying from a sudden rise in acidity of the water. In the event of an eruption, the lava flow down the flanks of the mountain would not reach beyond the realms of Yangmingshan National Park, and nearby heavily populated areas such as Taipei's Beitou and Tienmu would not be affected. Two scholars say the mountain range has been experiencing constant swarms of slight quakes since they began monitoring the area in 2003. The seismic waves of these quakes were similar to those of an active volcano. Also, the gases emitted from fumaroles - volcanic hollows - in the Datun Mountains contained helium, which was proof that the mountain range is on top of a magma chamber. Additionally, the underground heat at Tayukeng was higher by 10 to 20 degrees Celsius, which makes the temperature approximately 120 degrees Celsius. The Datun Mountains had been thought to be a chain of dormant volcanoes.

TROPICAL STORMS -

CHINA - At least eight people have died after powerful typhoon Chanchu swept into southern China, knocking out power and flooding roads and homes. Typhoon Chanchu pounded the coast after making landfall between Guangdong and Fujian provinces. More than 900,000 people have been moved out of the path of the storm. At least 27 Vietnamese fisherman are reported missing in Chinese waters. They were on board three boats that sank after being caught up in the storm. Chanchu has been downgraded to a tropical storm, and was moving north-east along the Chinese coast at about 35km/h (22mph) and is expected to enter the East China Sea later today. Heavy rainfall brought by the storm has been reported in Shanghai, and it is forecast to continue through Friday. China's Meteorological Administration has also warned of severe weather in Zhejiang province just south of the city.
CHINA - Typhoon Chanchu, packing 98 mph winds, veered to the east Wednesday and spared Hong Kong before roaring toward mainland China's southern coast, where local media reported more than 180,000 people were evacuated. Chanchu's eye was picking up speed and was expected to hit Guangdong province, one of China's biggest manufacturing centers, early today. As the storm churned through the South China Sea, it caused an oil tanker to run aground near Taiwan's southern port of Kaohsiung. Chanchu was heading toward Hong Kong earlier this week, but it changed course overnight, swirling about 140 miles east of the city Wednesday. The storm kicked up high waves and spawned squalls but caused no major damage. After slamming into Guangdong, Chanchu was expected to churn up the coast to Fujian province, just across from Taiwan. Taiwan's weather bureau forecast flooding Wednesday and Thursday on the outlying islands of Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu.

JAPAN - High waves swept three students from near a beach in southern Japan on Wednesday afternoon as Typhoon Chanchu raged through East Asia, leaving one dead and another missing. The three 17-year-olds, all male, were in the water off Hateruma island in the southern island chain of Okinawa when high waves swept them out to sea. There were waves about 3-4 meters (10-13 feet) high in the area due to the typhoon, though the weather was sunny.

PHILIPPINES - Nineteen electric posts of the Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative, stretching along both sides of the massive Hector Mendoza bridge were knocked down and twisted at the height of typhoon Caloy (Chanchu) Monday afternoon. Far stronger than the wooden posts that were used by electric companies before, the three-year old electric posts gave way under strong winds at 2 pm just when 'Caloy' was leaving the Philippines. A resident witness said the wind grew stronger, followed by torrential rains at about that time. Within five minutes, the electric posts began bending, almost falling to the ground.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
IRELAND - Buncrana, Co Donegal, was hit Tuesday by a mini tornado which lifted wooden hoardings more than 50ft in the air. Two cars and two vans were damaged by flying debris. Slates were torn off roofs and wooden facings torn from buildings when the tornado struck at 7:10pm. Trees at Ardravan Square were totally flattened as the high-speed winds swirled around the shopping area. The wind appeared during a heavy downpour. Residents and shoppers alike were terrified as flying timber embedded itself in the rear of a car. One observer commented they never saw anything like it in their life. The tornado only lasted seconds, but left a trail of debris in its wake. (audio / video link)

U.S. - Driving rains that caused the worst flooding in New England since the 1930s finally eased up Tuesday, but washed-out roads and the danger of dam breaks prevented many people from returning home. More than a foot of rain fell across New Hampshire, Massachusetts and southern Maine between Friday and Tuesday, with up to 17 inches in some places. Police reported one death, a 59-year-old man whose body was found in a submerged car north of Boston. Dams kept a tenuous hold against cresting rivers, and evacuees left behind water-filled basements. Some were stranded on rooftops. The damage will reach tens of millions of dollars in Massachusetts alone. And scattered showers are forecast for the weekend. Major rivers remained above flood stage. The month is only half over, but it already ranks as THE WETTEST MAY ON RECORD in Concord, N.H., and Portland, Maine.

WIND -
CHINA - Beijing residents woke up Wednesday morning to yet another sandstorm coating the city in a film of dust - and a warning that more could come. Influenced by strong cyclones, sandstorms swept over central and southern Mongolia, and central Inner Mongolia on Tuesday afternoon, with a northwest current bringing the dust to Beijing. The 14th sandstorm to hit Beijing this year caused the air quality index to reach hazardous level five - the worst rating - between midday Tuesday and midday Wednesday. The current sandstorm was also the second in Beijing this month, following the first on May 1. Beijing experienced 2.4 sandstorms on average in May over the last five years. As of Tuesday, Beijing had recorded just 72 blue sky days this year, 13 less than the corresponding period last year.

ARIZONA - Weather that resembled July or August rolled into the Valley late Tuesday afternoon, with wind, dust and even some thunder, lightning and rain. And this is May, not a month associated with the summer monsoon. "This is VERY UNUSUAL." The heavy winds caused a sheet-metal roof to blow off a structure and hit an electrical line, cutting power to thousands of homes and starting a small brush fire.

CANADA - In Ontario last Thursday a FREAK three-hour dust storm hit. Some wondered if The Wizard of Oz was being re-made and instead of Kansas, Bradford was picked to shoot the opening scene. The storm tore newly planted seeds from some fields, parts of roofs blew off barns and traffic along Hwy. 400 slowed to a crawl as nervous motorists drove through the black dust clouds. During the storm's peak, visibility was nil. "Bradford was completely obscured. This is a phenomenon that happens every few years."

SPACE -
A comet that has broken up catastrophically will swing past Earth today. It will be the NEAREST APPROACH BY ANY COMET IN THE PAST TWO DECADES. Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 - also known as Comet 73P - will pass within a mere 10 million kilometres of Earth in a string of at least 67 pieces. Observers should be able to see two of the brighest chunks using a small telescope or even binoculars if they look near the constellation of Cygnus. Sky & Telecoscope (skyandtelescope.com) has predicted a meteor shower for May 22 or May 23, as Earth travels through the dusty debris trailed by the disintegrating comet.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/16 -
5.6 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.3 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
6.9 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.5 NORTHERN MOLUCCA SEA
7.5 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.7 TONGA ISLANDS
5.2 TONGA ISLANDS

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - Lava flows and clouds of hot gas spouting from Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano dwindled on Wednesday, enabling evacuees to return to their farms and businesses and children to go back to their schools. Many planned to return to shelters in the evening, however, and vulcanologists continued to warn people to stay away from danger zones on the slopes of Merapi. The number and frequency of tremors, lava flows and hot clouds, known locally as "shaggy goats," belching out of the crater of the mountain in central Java had decreased considerably. The center had recorded 34 tremors so far on Wednesday, compared with 126 the previous day, while lava had flowed out of the mountain 54 times, down from 257 times a day before. Vulcanologists have been warning the possible collapse of a swelling lava dome could trigger more massive and dangerous clouds and sprays of lava.
Merapi's ceremonial guardian says that he has not yet seen any sign that the mountain is about to unleash its fury. He is even following his regular routine of hiking toward the smouldering mountain's peak. "This volcano is not like the tsunami. It sends signals before erupting and for us, that means ample time to flee or seek protection. We mountain people know the mountain well. We have our own tricks when the mountain gets angry." These include hiding under tables or beds inside brick houses when the clouds descend. "Those who die are usually those on the run."

TROPICAL STORMS -
Typhoon CHANCHU was 145 nmi SSE of Hong Kong.
CHINA - The killer typhoon picked up speed Tuesday as it spun closer to South China, forcing cities such as Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou to warn small ships and fishing boats on the open seas to seek shelter from the storm - the STRONGEST ON RECORD TO ENTER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA IN MAY. More than 180,000 people have been evacuated from coastal areas to safe places . Typhoon Chanchu's eye is expected to pass just east of Hong Kong today before slamming into Guangdong Province. The typhoon may land in the coastal areas between Huidong and Raoping Counties between noon and night today or it may move toward the Taiwan Strait, passing the eastern coast of Guangdong.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
- ALL OF THESE ARE CONNECTED TO THE SAME SYSTEM MOVING EAST -
U.S. - Record rainfall — THREE MONTHS' WORTH OF DOWNPOUR IN LESS THAN A WEEK — has brought to parts of New England the worst levels of flooding in 70 years. Rain fell yesterday for the fifth consecutive day. The Spicket River in Methuen, Mass., overflowed its banks, and fears that the Spicket River Dam would give way forced evacuations for miles. In Merrimack, N.H., more than 60 homes were almost completely underwater. In some cases, rescuers could see only parts of rooftops. In nearby New Market, N.H., overturned cars sat in intersections and firefighters worked feverishly to sandbag a crack in that town's dam. "It's unbelievable. It's unbelievable. We've never had water this high here." In Haverhill, Mass., the main sewage line broke, sending more than 150 million gallons of sewage into the river. The sewage poses the most serious risk. "It's a nightmare." Meteorologists blamed the storm on a powerful high pressure system to the north in Canada that was keeping it from moving east. "It didn't move anywhere. It stayed there for three to four days." The storm is now finally moving out, but not before reminding people of the biblical tale of a torrential rain that fell for 40 days and 40 nights.
Experts blamed a convergence of UNUSUAL weather patterns Monday for the concentration of heavy rainfall in southern Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. A high-pressure system over Canada's Maritime Provinces stalled and effectively blocked a weaker low-pressure system over the Ohio River Valley area that was trying to move into Maine. Normally, high- and low-pressure systems gradually move west to east, but in this case, the systems came to a standstill. Air around the high-pressure system was flowing in a clockwise direction, while air around the low-pressure system was flowing counterclockwise. "It is not unprecedented for this to happen, but it is UNUSUAL." "The moisture came from far out on the Atlantic Ocean. " "Stuck weather systems caused the rain to focus in on one spot. It is definitely a RARE event." Weather patterns like this one will become more common with global warming.

FLORIDA - Spring storms pounded South Florida for a second day Tuesday with high gusting winds, rain and golf ball-size hail, flooded streets and power outages. The National Weather Service in Miami said the region should brace for more severe weather, including isolated tornadoes, brought on by a cold front that moved into the area on Monday.

BAHAMAS - Residents of Williams Town and Russell Town were left in shock yesterday evening after several of them reported seeing a FREAK wind storm believed to be a tornado in the area. The storm touched down shortly after 4:00 p.m. leaving extensive roof damage to at least one home in its wake. The activity experienced in Grand Bahama was the result of severe thunder storms in South Florida. Thunder storms were expected to continue to develop across the area through Tuesday as a cold front approached the area.

UNITED KINGDOM - the weather is going to turn "very unsettled", with 60mph winds and more than 1.2in (30mm) of rain a possibility in some areas as two Atlantic depressions track across the country over the next three days. Western and southern areas are likely to experience the worst of the weather, with the strongest winds and most persistent heavy rain spreading in through Thursday and Friday, which could cause travel disruption. Consumers were being urged to save water amid fears of the worst water crisis in a century, despite weather forecasters predicting heavy rain for the rest of the week. Extended dry periods like this are QUITE RARE. "The reality is that we have had 19 consecutive months of below-average rainfall."

SNOW / COLD -
COLORADO - Avalanche monitors issued an UNUSUAL spring avalanche watch for Colorado on Monday amid fast-rising spring temperatures. "With this rapid warmup we have maybe a greater potential for wet-slab avalanches than we typically do this time of year." The avalanche watch applies to the mountains statewide above 11,000 feet through Thursday morning. A watch means weather conditions could produce avalanches. Wet-slab avalanches occur when weak layers of snow become damp as temperatures rise. The avalanche center reported more than 24 avalanches last week, including one Saturday afternoon that swept a climber 1,000 feet down Torreys Peak in Clear Creek County. He was treated for minor injuries.

HEAT / WILDFIRES -
WASHINGTON - Eastern Washington is in the grip of an UNUSUAL heat wave that has temperatures in some places nearly 30 degrees above normal. Temperatures in the 90s also raised fears that rapidly melting snow in the mountains will cause flooding. Flood warnings have been issued for the Naches River near Yakima. Spokane is forecast to reach a record 93 degrees today, while the average high for this time of year is the mid-60s. "It's QUITE UNUSUAL." This heat is UNUSUALLY EARLY. Temperatures of 90 degrees or more before May 17 have only been recorded seven times in Spokane history, the last in 1993. A strong high pressure ridge is bringing the record or near-record highs to much of Eastern Washington and northern Idaho, and is expected to last until Thursday. The hot weather is part of the same pattern that is bringing cool, wet weather to the East Coast. [SITE NOTE - This is one big system that stretches across the entire country.]

Tuesday, May 16, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/15 -
5.1 TONGA ISLANDS
5.0 SOUTHEAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.2 MOZAMBIQUE
5.0 TONGA ISLANDS

VOLCANOES -
VANUATU - Monday a volcanic eruption on Lopevi in Malampa province has caused heavy ash fall on nearby islands. They have yet to grade the magnitude of the eruption because scientists have not yet arrived at the site of the volcano. The nearby islands of Ambrym and Paama have been feeling the effects of the eruption. There was a volcano eruption in December last year on the remote Ambae Island of Vanuatu. Villagers around have been evacuated for about one month from the path of a possible lahar, or mud flow. The South Pacific Vanuatu group is a string of more than 80 islands, most of the islands being inhabited.

ECUADOR - Tungurahua volcano is maintaining a "high level" of seismic activity, with repeated explosions. The blasts can be heard within a radius of 20 kilometers (some 12 miles) of the volcano. The volcano was emitting plumes loaded mostly with water vapor, volcanic gases and low concentrations of ash. A "moderate to large" explosion occurred early Monday and was heard by residents of several nearby communities. Scientists estimate that an eruption could last months or even years. Ecuadorian officials issued an alert for the area around the volcano as a precaution. If volcanic activity increases markedly, the alert would be raised to an emergency level and evacuations would begin. (photo)

INDONESIA - Activity on the Indonesian volcano Mount Merapi appears has calmed down but scientists are warning it still poses a threat. Lava is continuing to flow down the sides of the mountain although the clouds of hot gas, ash and rock fragments appear much smaller. No ash falls have been reported, unlike on Monday when fields and houses around the mountain were coated in grey ash.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm MAKANI was 562 nmi ESE of Honolulu, Hawaii.

Typhoon CHANCHU was 289 nmi S of Hong Kong.
CHINA - Typhoon Chanchu is gathering strength over the South China Sea. Meteorologists in Hong Kong were bracing for the massive storm to hit the southern Chinese territory, predicting heavy rains over the next few days.

U.S. EAST COAST - Does the record-breaking rain fortell a dangerous hurricane season ahead? Maybe - the flooding going on in parts of Massachusetts harkens back to a weather pattern Boston saw in 1954. That's when Boston got 13 inches of rain in May, followed by hits from hurricanes Carol and Edna.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
NEW ENGLAND - Deluged by the WORST FLOODING IN 70 YEARS - Across northeastern Massachusetts, thousands of people fled submerged neighborhoods during the region's worst flooding in nearly seven decades. More than a foot of rain fell during the weekend in some areas. Although more rain was expected today, the worst of the flooding was thought to be over. But predicted thunderstorms could bring flash floods and high winds that could cause power disruptions. In New Hampshire, more than 600 roads were damaged, destroyed or under water. In Maine, flooding washed out dozens of roads and bridges, and threatened a pair of dams.
The most surprising thing about the current storm is not its power and duration, but its cause – what might be called the lack of usual suspects. “Historically, our major floods in New Hampshire have been either from hurricanes, or nor’easters, or from winter storms. I just don’t think there’s any precedence for this one in the last 50, 75, 100 years.” The current storm was caused by high pressure to the east and low pressure to the west, which happens often and usually isn’t a problem. “The fact that everything kind of stalled for almost 72 hours, that doesn’t happen very often. The resulting precipitation was channeled into a very specific area. VERY UNUSUAL.” So unusual, in fact, that on Monday afternoon it appeared that Nashua and several other communities in New Hampshire could break all-time records for most rain in a month – records that were only set last October. “To set an all-time monthly record twice in a single year, that would be very interesting.”
The deluge that's washing out roads and flooding homes is a historic event. The intense storm has BROKEN ALL KINDS OF 48- and 72-HOUR RAINFALL RECORDS. An unusual weather pattern is to blame for as much as a foot of rain falling in places. A high pressure system parked in northeastern Canada blocked a low pressure system to New Hampshire's west, creating a funnel that drew tropical moisture into the region. The storm pattern is ESPECIALLY UNUSUAL in May. Normally major rain storms hit in October, as one did last year. "This is comparable to the great New England historical weather events, the 1938 hurricane and the 1936 winter floods." The weather pattern usually only lasts a few hours, not days. The low pressure system is slowing moving east, pushing out the heavier rain but bringing with it showers over the next few days.

Monday, May 15, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/14 -
5.3 HALMAHERA, INDONESIA
5.2 CHILE-BOLIVIA BORDER REGION
5.2 EASTERN NEW GUINEA
5.0 CENTRAL EAST PACIFIC RISE
5.2 NEAR COAST OF CHIAPAS, MEXICO

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - Activity on Mount Merapi has intensified, with continuous clouds of ash, gas and rock fragments spewing from its crater. One of the emissions sent a pile of debris 4km (2.5 miles) down one side of the mountain. So far there have been no confirmed reports of fresh lava flows from Mount Merapi on Monday, but the volcano is becoming more active by the day. At least one village about 3 km ( 2 miles) from the crater has already been covered in a thin coat of volcanic ash. By Sunday more than 4,500 people living in the villages closest to the crater, or next to rivers that could provide channels for hot lava, had been moved to emergency shelters. Many more are still lining up by the side of the road, waiting for trucks to take them to safety.
There were more than 100 volcanic tremors Sunday. More than 90 tremors usually indicates an imminent eruption. Several streams of orange and black lava could be seen rolling down the slopes of Mount Merapi throughout the day on Sunday, merging with two mountain rivers nearly two kilometers, or more than a mile, from the crater. The closest villages are only three kilometers from Merapi's peak.

TROPICAL STORMS -

Typhoon CHANCHU was 292 nmi W of Subic Bay, Philippines.
PHILIPPINES - began cleaning up Sunday after tropical storm Chanchu claimed 32 lives, left large parts of the country underwater and forced thousands to flee their homes. Strong winds and rain triggered floods, landslides and toppled trees, destroying 600 houses and damaging 3,500 others. By midday Chanchu was 430 kilometres out in the South China Sea, charting a west-southwesterly course and packing winds of up to 140 kilometres per hour, according to the weather bureau. Rain and strong winds continued to lash parts of southern Luzon and the central Visayas, which bore the brunt of the storm.

CHINA - Typhoon Chanchu gained strength Sunday and is forecast to head for Hong Kong after pounding the Philippines. Chanchu, the first tropical storm of the year that intensified into a typhoon and roared over the South China Sea Saturday, will bring high winds and heavy rain to many parts of south China from today through Wednesday.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
NEW HAMPSHIRE - torrential rainfall for a second day throughout most of New Hampshire prompted evacuations and washed out roads. Flood warnings have been posted. Authorities are evacuating areas along the Maine-New Hampshire border downstream from the Milton Pond Dam. The earthen portions of the dam on either side of its main concrete structure were eroding and could fail, unleashing a ten-foot wall of water. Eight shelters have been opened across the state for evacuees. Forecasters were predicting 12 to 15 inches of rain by the end of the storm in parts of southern New Hampshire. "It continues to change and the situation continues to worsen." "It's very powerful. It's definitely a deluge of water we have not seen in recent years." Many roads have been closed in the capital, and a sink hole opened up. In Hooksett a dam was reportedly cracking.
MASSACHUSETTS - Heavy rain forced evacuations in several communities in northeastern Massachusetts where swollen rivers spilled onto city streets, basements flooded and residents endured a dreary and soggy Mother's Day. The torrential rain hasn't let up since Friday. Forecasters predicted the rain to continue through Tuesday and dump at least 5 more inches across eastern Massachusetts. "This is the tip of the iceberg. It's going to get worse." By Sunday evening, Andover, Georgetown and Peabody had picked up 10 inches of rain over a period of a day-and-a-half.
Maine was also seeing torrential rain.
CONNECTICUTT - More rain in the next two days could cause flooding along the Yantic River. More than 3 inches of rain fell in the area Thursday and Friday, and the river temporarily rose to a flood level of 9.7 feet Saturday morning.

SOUTH CAROLINA - The strong jet stream moving through the region created strong thunderstorms with large hail and damaging wind gusts. Up to 2.75-inch hail was reported in Marion County, that's about the size of a baseball. In Quinby (Florence County) and Northeast Richland County, golfball-sized hail has been reported, as well as downed trees. A tornado or funnel cloud was spotted in Berkeley and Charleston counties. There were more reports of possible tornadoes on Sunday, although none of those has been confirmed.

TEXAS - A strong line of storms moved through portions of Texas Sunday, causing flash flooding and at least one tornado. Hail the size of ping-pong balls smashed windows in Kerrville. To the east, Austin and San Antonio escaped the worst of the storms. Storms also pounded Houston, dropping as much as one inch in 15 minutes.

Sunday, May 14, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/13 -
5.8 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.2 TANIMBAR IS.INDONESIA REG
5.6 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
5.1 NEW BRITAIN
5.3 VANUATU ISLANDS
5.2 TONGA ISLANDS
5/12 -
5.1 TALAUD ISLANDS, INDONESIA
5.6 SUNDA STRAIT, INDONESIA
5.0 SOUTH OF BALI, INDONESIA
5.0 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
5.1 SOLOMON ISLANDS REGION

CALIFORNIA - A magnitude 4.4 quake rumbled through an area around in the Geysers in Sonoma County early Friday and was followed by more than 20 aftershocks ranging from 2.3 to 1.4 in size. There were no reports of damage or injury.

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - Officials monitoring Mount Merapi volcano raised the threat status to a red alert, the highest level. They recorded 27 tremors from the volcano on Saturday. Many residents say they are waiting for specific signs - such as clouds in the shape of a sheep's fleece - to show them an eruption is imminent. But scientists are convinced of the danger, although they still cannot say when the volcano will erupt nor how powerful any explosion might be. Mount Merapi's pyrotechnic displays continue unabated with mini explosions sending clouds of burning ash, small rocks and spurts of lava high into the sky. Merapi is now in a state of "constant lava flow".
There were three reasons why the status of the volcano had been raised from "alert" to "caution" level. Firstly, the volcano`s lava dome has now turned red with increased pressure that could cause the lava to slide. Small hot clouds had also grown in number, while the smell of sulphur was also increasing. "We cannot be sure when the caution status will end. What is clear is that the process of hot cloud formation has begun and we are just waiting for big clouds to come."
30 blazing lava flows have been streaming towards rivers 1.5 kilometres from the volcano's peak along the south-western slopes of the mountain. A lava dome atop Mount Merapi has grown 75 metres in the past two weeks. Scientists say its collapse will release lava as well as deadly nuees ardentes, a geological term for clouds of volcanic gases, ash, and dust reaching temperatures up to 500 degrees Celsius.

ECUADOR - Tungurahua volcano is emitting its loudest and most frequent explosions since it rumbled back to life nearly seven years ago after eight decades of inactivity, scientists said. The volcano registered 133 explosions of vapor and gas between Wednesday and Friday. But the increased activity was not necessarily a sign of an imminent eruption.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Typhoon CHANCHU was 520 nautical miles south-southeast of Hong Hong -
Projected path heads right for Hong Kong.

PHILIPPINES - Tropical storm Chanchu continued to lash the Philippines on Saturday, leaving at least 21 people dead as heavy rains triggered landslides and left parts of the country under water. Floodwaters submerged two provinces in the central Visayas region, and several villages in Leyte's Sogod town were cut off after landslides and floods damaged a bridge and vital highway. In the worst accident during the storm, a motorboat capsized just off the central city of Masbate Friday. "There were 21 dead bodies recovered and 18 survivors." A second ferry, which was docked at a port in Albay province, sank but there were no reports of casualties. Over 23,000 people in the eastern and central regions have been evacuated, while nearly 8,000 people were stranded in major ports after the coast guard suspended sea travel. Chanchu was tracking west-northwest towards the South China Sea and was expected have moved on by this morning. "It is heading towards the South China Sea and by theory the weather should be better once that happens. But we are monitoring this because once it exits to the South China Sea it would intensify and there is danger it could make a U-turn back to the Philippines."

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
INDIA - Heavy rains that lashed the city of Bangalore during the past three days have left two persons dead and ten injured. Hundreds of trees have reportedly been uprooted. About 50 electric poles have reportedly fallen flat, resulting in power shutdown in several areas. Rainfall on Friday is said to be the HIGHEST FOR A DAY IN MAY IN 20 YEARS. The record of a day in May 20 years ago was 50 mm. On Friday, May 12, the rainfall was 85 mm. On Friday afternoon, the sun was very bright and harsh. But by 4 pm there was a sudden cloudburst and it rained nonstop for three hours.

U.S.- a sprawling area of low pressure is spinning rain or clouds over more than half of the country - A stationary low settled over the Midwest and has created an UNUSUAL weather pattern that looks more like a hurricane than Midwest storms. Typical weather for this area moves in a straight line from the southwest to the northeast, but this low has created clockwise rotating storms. "That upper low-pressure system over the Great Lakes is going to sit and spin until next week." Caught in the spin are those who look at the calendar, see that it's May and assume it's spring, then go outside and discover the weather is doing a convincing imitation of a raw autumn. There's enough rain ahead to lead the weather service to issue flood advisories for the next five days. On Friday, Indianapolis, Indiana set an UNUSUAL WEATHER RECORD - for the lowest maximum temperature. The old record was 52 degrees in 1952, but Friday saw a new record of 48. The normal high temperature for this time of year is 73 degrees.
WISCONSIN - rain and high speed winds whipped through the area Thursday. "This was an UNUSUAL storm for this time of the year. We typically see these types of systems in the fall rather than in the spring. It was a strong low pressure system that gained strength as it moved into southern lower Michigan and into Wisconsin with a lot of clouds and precipitation." Snowflakes were seen in abundance in northern Wisconsin.
MICHIGAN - There were reports of wires and trees down all across West Michigan on Thursday.
MAINE - Three days of rain have fallen on southern Maine this week and rain should continue for several more days. The forecast from the National Weather Service calls for rain through Tuesday. Already this month, more than 5 inches of rain have fallen in Portland, or about four times the average for early May. The rain has been accompanied by cool temperatures that aren't expected to subside until the skies clear. Just three weeks ago, the ground in southern Maine was so dry that fires were a major concern. But under Friday's driving rain, April seemed like a distant memory.

WIND -
BRITAIN - A FREAK wind has destroyed Britain's oldest sycamore tree, which stood in the grounds of a Lothians college for nearly 450 years. A sudden swirling wind swept on to the estate from the south during otherwise hot and calm weather early on Thursday evening and sent the 95-foot sycamore crashing to the ground. Nobody was hurt by the tree, which was known to be rotting inside.

UPCOMING WEATHER SEASON -
CHINA - Meteorologists in China warn that the country faces extreme weather this summer, potentially adding misery to the lives of millions of people who are already coping with either droughts or floods. State media have been told that China could be hit by nine typhoons, and generally the weather will be hotter and stormier than usual. The Beijing area is currently suffering its seventh successive year of drought, and experts say the outlook for substantial rain is gloomy. Less than half an inch of rain has fallen on the Chinese capital in the past four months. That's down 63 per cent from the same period last year and reservoirs in the city are drying up. Meanwhile, drought in the north, northeast and southwest of the country is affecting more than 16 million hectares of farmland and threatening water supplies to more than 14 million people. Since mid-April, 10 people have been killed and around 4.5 million people have been affected by floods in central, eastern and southern China.

Space Weather / Solar Storms / Meteors - updated Sundays. ONE ITEM - POSTED HERE -
The Sun's Great Conveyor Belt has slowed to a RECORD-LOW crawl, according to research by NASA solar physicists. "We've NEVER SEEN SPEEDS SO LOW." "It's off the bottom of the charts. This has important repercussions for future solar activity." Solar Cycle 25 peaking around 2022 could be one of the weakest in centuries. The Great Conveyor Belt is a massive circulating current of fire (hot plasma) within the Sun. It has two branches, north and south, each taking about 40 years to perform one complete circuit. Researchers believe the turning of the belt controls the sunspot cycle, and that's why the slowdown is important. Solar explosions, which produce their own deadly radiation, sweep away the even deadlier cosmic rays from space. As flares subside, cosmic rays intensify. Cosmic rays are high-energy particles from deep space; they penetrate metal, plastic, flesh and bone. The coming cycle, Cycle 24, will be unusually strong. The following cycle, Cycle 25, will be unusually weak.

Friday, May 12, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/11 -
5.0 SOUTH OF SUMBAWA, INDONESIA
5.0 SOUTH OF BALI, INDONESIA
5.4 MYANMAR-INDIA BORDER REGION
5.1 MYANMAR
5.4 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN, REGION
5.0 NEAR COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE

BULGARIA was shaken by a new earthquake late on Wednesday, the sixth in twenty-four hours. The epicentre of the 3.0 quake, registered at 11 pm, was 230 kilometers east of Sofia. The first two earthquakes hit western regions Wednesday morning, and the three rattles that followed were felt in the eastern parts of the country. Around 10 a.m., the most powerful tremor (4.3 on the Richter scale) shook Gotse Delchev, but the epicenter was outside Bulgaria. Within half an hour another quake hit the area of the Kalotina border checkpoint, 55 kilometers west of Sofia. Its magnitude was 3.7. Eastern Kermen felt three earthquakes in the afternoon - a 3.3-magnitude shortly after noontime, and two lighter tremors (2.7 and 3 on the Richter scale) in 2:26 and 2:27 p.m..

VOLCANOES -
WASHINGTON - More than 200 feet of a fin-shaped slab that arose in the crater of Mount St. Helens has crumbled. The U.S. Geological Survey says it probably collapsed Sunday night when instruments detected an avalanche. (photos)

INDONESIA - Mount Merapi in Indonesia's densely populated central Java is spewing molten lava as far as 1,500 metres from its crater, prompting the country's vice president Thursday to urge an immediate evacuation of people living on the slopes. After a helicopter inspection of the active volcano, Vice President Jusuf Kalla called central Java's government authorities to evacuate 15,000 residents living in danger zones to makeshift shelters. "We shouldn't wait until the alert status is raised into the highest level, because volcanologists say (Merapi) may erupt any day." While volcanologists said the red-hot lava sliding down Merapi's west side towards Krasak river is a new development, they added that the 1,500-metre long flow is still far away from any inhabited areas. Molten lava was also flowing 200m down the south side of Merapi.

TROPICAL STORMS -

Typhoon CHANCHU was 150 nmi N of Cebu City, Philippines.
PHILIPPINES - Official warnings of landslides and flash floods have been issued in the Philippines as Typhoon Chanchu moves closer. The storm, with winds up to 100 kilometres an hour, is expected to be within 70 kilometres of the southern tip of Samar island early today. Chanchu is expected to swing past the north coast of Mindoro island near the capital, Manila, on Sunday. [very slowly moving] Storm alerts have been issued for the central islands of Samar, Masbate, Leyte, and Biliran as well as parts of the southern island of Mindanao. The typhoon is likely to also hit Taiwan on Sunday if it stays on its current course. The typhoon is expected to strengthen once it passes through the Philippines.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
PHILIPPINES - A FREAK tornado hit a farming area north of the Philippine capital Manila, killing a 50 year-old woman and leaving about 400 people homeless on Wednesday. The tornado struck two farming villages in the area when residents were preparing to sleep. "The people there were caught by complete surprise. The whirlwind stayed for almost half an hour, leaving a swathe of destruction, toppling power lines and posts and nearly flattening residential areas." Around 70 homes were destroyed and power was cut for three hours. Philippine meteorologists said the freak tornado was caused by severe thunderstorms due to abrupt temperature changes at the onset of the rainy season. A mild 4.2 earthquake also rattled the central Philippines on Wednesday, interrupting power supplies on some islands. Separately, the weather bureau has raised typhoon warnings on the country's eastern flank.

GEORGIA - Nearly 80% of vineyards in the Gurjaani and Sagarajo districts in eastern Georgia were destroyed by hail on Wednesday night. The hail also damaged homesteads. The Lagodekhi and Akhmeti districts suffered large damages on Tuesday. Locals said they HAD NOT SEEN SUCH HAIL FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS in eastern Georgia.

UNUSUAL WEATHER SEASON -
INDIANA - Within the Paducah National Weather Service coverage area, there have been 402 severe weather events so far this year. This is nearly the total number of storm reports in all of 2003, a year which had seen the most severe weather in the last ten years. The clash of cold air from the north with warm, moist and unstable air from the south is a typical severe weather set-up. Add a strong jet stream wind above the surface and the recipe for storms is nearly complete. One of the reasons this year has been so active is that the jet stream has taken several dips over the eastern half of the country, leading to the development of strong low pressure systems. While this is not unusual during spring, this pattern has been with us on and off for months.

Thursday, May 11, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/10 -
5.1 SUMBA, INDONESIA, REGION
5.0 SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS
5.0 EASTERN SEA OF JAPAN
5.0 NEW BRITAIN
5.2 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS.
6.4 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS.
5.3 TONGA ISLANDS

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - Residents evacuated from the slopes of Indonesia's Mount Merapi are returning to their homes despite increasing signs of an imminent eruption. The volcano in Central Java has been on "standby" alert status for more than three weeks. One step higher requires the mandatory evacuation of all residents. In recent weeks, thousands of people voluntarily left their homes for shelters in safer areas as the volcano began oozing lava and spewing smoke. Officials say that about 1,000 evacuees have now returned home. Geologists say Merapi is continuing to show increasing activity, as a new lava dome at its peak continues to grow.

TROPICAL STORMS -
CHANCHU is now a TYPHOON and was 183 nmi ENE of Cebu City, Philippines.
Tropical storm Chanchu, which is expected to strengthen into a typhoon, was located 1,900 kilometers southeast of Taiwan, moving west toward the northern Philippines at a speed of 13 kilometers per hour as of 9:00 a.m. Wednesday. It is still too early to tell whether Chanchu will sweep directly toward Taiwan, although the storm's outer rim is expected to affect Taiwan from Sunday, bringing sporadic downpours to northern and northeastern parts of the island.
The tropical storm is heading directly for Hong Kong. A tropical depression, which was expected to skirt the Philippines to the north, now has tropical storm status and has changed path towards Hong Kong. As it will pass over the China Sea, whose waters are much hotter, the probability of it becoming a typhoon are now very high. Present winds in the system are a sustained 55 knots, with gusts of 70 knots. The first typhoons are, normally, not due until the end of June and are most frequent in September, when the waters of the China Sea reach extreme temperatures.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
TEXAS - Three people were killed and at least ten injured when tornadoes moved through north Texas yesterday. At least one tornado touched down near the town of Anna, north of Dallas. Severe weather was also reported in nearby Westminster.

RUSSIA - A cyclone will bring squall and heavy precipitation to Kamchatka from Sakhalin. A storm warning is announced for all operational services in the region and vessels sailing off the coast of the peninsula. The impact of the cyclone will be felt on the south-western and south-eastern coasts of Kamchatka this afternoon. The wind velocity will reach 15-20 meters. The impact of the cyclone will be strong on the peninsula till May 13, specialists believe.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006 -

QUAKES -
This morning there has been a 6 .3 quake in the Fox Islands, Alaska, followed by a series of aftershocks, 16 so far.

PHILIPPINES - A relatively mild 3.7 earthquake toppled a transmission tower and left several million people in the central Philippines without electricity today. Three power plants on the island of Leyte were shut down as a protective measure. The outage blacked out Leyte and also affected large areas of Cebu island including Cebu city, the country's number-two metropolis, as well as the island of Panay. Residents of the island of Negros said the area was also without power. The four islands have a total population of 8.3 million. It was caused by a movement of a geological abnormality called the Philippine fault that is straddled by the island. The same fault was blamed for the huge landslide on February 17 that buried the Leyte village of Guinsaugon, killing about a thousand people.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/9 -
5.2 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.0 SOUTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.7 EASTERN SIBERIA, RUSSIA
5.0 TONGA ISLANDS
5.5 BANDA SEA
5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS REGION

ITALY - There has been yet another tremor from an earthquake in the Aeolian Islands, this time near Filicudi. It is the fourth earthquake in 4 days in the archipelago, where two tremors were felt in Stromboli and one in the channel between Salina and Lipari. The latter was the strongest and, as a consequence, the precautionary measure was taken to close the three churches which were slightly damaged.

CHINA - Shenzhen Wildlife Park has recently joined efforts with the municipal seismic bureau to establish five seismological observation stations in the park. Every day the park's staff and animal keepers observe and record unusual actions of animals and report to the seismic bureau for analysis. Meanwhile, the seismic bureau occasionally sends experts to the park to train and teach the animal keepers how to observe and record the behaviour of tigers, lions, wolves, snakes, crocodiles, swans, cranes, turkeys, fishes and zebras in the park. Animals are said to behave irregularly before seismic activities take place, and some believe observing the creatures can help predict earthquakes.

A team of U.S. and Indian scientists says it has found a link between concentrations of chlorophyll in coastal waters and the occurrence of earthquakes. The increases in chlorophyll are the result of blooms of plankton, which use chlorophyll to convert solar energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis. The scientists analyzed satellite data from coastal areas near the epicenters of four recent earthquakes and determined chlorophyll blooms might provide early warning concerning an impending earthquake. The researchers theorize the movement of plate tectonics creates conditions in which plankton thrive in proximity to an impending earthquake.

VOLCANOES -
RUSSIA - Eruption of the volcano Bezymyanny, located in the central area of the Kamchatka Peninsula began Tuesday. The Bezymyanny is belching out ash to the altitude of 13 kilometers to 15 kilometers above sea level and the trail of smoke and ash is spreading northwards and northeastwards. Researchers are closely watching the natural phenomenon but they say it does not pose any threat to population centers.

INDONESIA - A new dome at the peak of Indonesia's simmering Mount Merapi is growing rapidly but has ample space to develop before it turns unstable, a geologist said Tuesday. "Because of its position smack in the middle (of the peak), this means that it has the opportunity to expand."

TROPICAL STORMS -
TROPICAL STORM CHANCHU was 339 nmi E of Cebu City, Philippines.
Tropical storm Chanchu is forecast to strike the Philippines as a typhoon at about 16:00 GMT on May 11 at category 1. (map of projected path)
This map projects Hong Kong to be in the potential path.

WIND -
NORTH DAKOTA - Swirling wind swept a trampoline into the air and over a fence as a 4-year-old girl was jumping on it, knocking her unconscious and breaking her arm and pelvis. Witnesses reported the trampoline was lifted as high as 25 feet. "One man saw the whirlwind, then he saw the trampoline fly up into his view. He said it was as high as the trees." The trampoline landed partly on a highway with the girl pinned underneath. The swirling wind might have been a "dust devil," a localized, spinning pocket of air. Such meteorological oddities can occur when air heated by the ground rises rapidly through the cool air above it. Dust devils as large as 10 feet wide and 13 miles tall have been documented.

UNUSUAL WEATHER SEASON -
INDIA - Few people realise that unless there are miraculous heavy unseasonal rains in the next few weeks north India is going to face a summer of acute discontent. The water situation is reportedly bad even in north Pakistan and is likely to worsen during the next few months till the monsoons break in late June. With water scarcity, power generation, too, will be badly affected. This gloomy situation may continue even longer because the meteorological department has just declared that the 2006 monsoons are likely to be deficient as well. The level of water in the Ganges at Garhmukteshwar was the LOWEST SEEN DURING THE PAST 20 YEARS. With the virtual failure of winter rains, the situation in other northern rivers like the Yamuna and Sutlej is likely to be just as bad. If this is the situation in mid-April, the next three months till the monsoons set in are likely to become even more critical. Sea level temperatures have increased by 3.7 degrees Celsius during the past 20 years - this rate of change is equivalent to half an ice age in less than a 100 years.

Tuesday, May 9, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/8 -
5.8 SOUTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.2 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.4 NEW GUINEA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
5.1 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION

TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm 02W was 296 nmi WSW of Yap, Caroline Is. and 572 nmi ESE of Cebu City, Philippines. [Currently aiming straight for Manila]

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
SURINAME - Hundreds of people in Suriname's remote central lowlands have fled their homes for higher ground after heavy rains hammered their thatched-hut villages. Some villages were beneath two metres (6.5 feet) of muddy water. It was not known if anyone was killed in the flooding, but rivers were rising and displaced villagers needed to be evacuated. "It is the first time this has happened to us and we need help quickly." May is the beginning of the rainy season in Suriname, a former Dutch colony of about 440,000 people on the northeastern shoulder of South America.

AFRICA - Drought has put more than 11 million people across east Africa at risk of starvation, 3.5 million of them in Kenya, where recent heavy rains have exacerbated already dire conditions. The long awaited rain in April, instead of helping, has caused flooding that swept away homesteads and livestock. The situation remains difficult in Ethiopia because it is not simply a problem of too little or too much rain but the main problem is the weather patterns have become increasingly extreme and erratic. “Pastoralists work in seasons. Their life is organized around seasonality. This extreme weather has destabilized their whole system. If a lot of water comes in a very short time, they have no system to store it. They haven’t the resources, money or time to adapt to this UNPRECEDENTED level of unpredictability.”

TEXAS - on the 4th, Texas was hit by baseball sized hail, torrential rains, flooding, 60 mile-an-hour winds, and eleven counties under severe thunderstorm warnings. “On the surface, what we saw on May 4th is not unusual. This is the time of year when we can expect severe weather. Usually, these M.C.S. (Mesoscale Convective System) storms will develop over west and north Texas then move east or southeast. But a COUPLE OF UNUSUAL THINGS HAPPENED on May 4th. A storm from the north took an unusually southern route, and then collided with a storm from the southwest. The southwestern line basically fueled the explosion of the northern line as it entered Bexar County.” What many people may not realize is that this storm was 60,000 feet tall. Typically, an airplane would travel at an altitude of about 30,000 feet. The storm that hit Bexar County was twice that high. “That’s SIMPLY REMARKABLE and so much taller than typical storms we see in south Texas.”

BANGLADESH - Sixteen people were killed and over 200 others injured as a tropical storm swept through parts of northern and western Bangladesh, including the capital Dhaka on Sunday evening. Most of the people died in lightning, tree falls and wall collapses. The wind speed of the hour-long storm was around 76 km per hour, which damaged hundreds of houses and badly damaged paddy crops, which were almost ready for harvesting. Tthe storm uprooted trees and flattened many electric poles, resulting in blackout in some parts of the district.

ODD -
UFO sightings are caused by freak weather, says a British report. A secret government study into sightings of alien spacecraft has concluded that they are not extra-terrestrial visitors. The four-year Ministry of Defence study found that UFO sightings are the result of rare atmospheric conditions. It blames the most vexing sightings on airborne "plasmas" which form during "more than one set of weather and electrically charged conditions", or during meteor showers.

Monday, May 8, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/7 -
5.4 MID-INDIAN RIDGE
5.7 MID-INDIAN RIDGE
5.4 TONGA ISLANDS
5.3 TONGA ISLANDS
5.2 TONGA ISLANDS
5.1 TONGA ISLANDS
5.4 TONGA ISLANDS
5.0 RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN
5.4 TAIWAN

IRAN - At least 80 people were hurt and many homes damaged Sunday when a strong earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale jolted the town of Zarand in southern Iran's Kerman province. The province has a number of copper, iron and coal mines and there were fears than miners in the area could be trapped underground. "The walls of many houses have been seriously damaged and it is anticipated that more than 60 per cent of Zarand homes will no longer be inhabitable." In late March, a powerful earthquake hit western Iran, killing at least 70 people and leaving thousands homeless.

TROPICAL STORMS -
The hurricane season starts June 1. With forecasters predicting another active season and a greater than normal likelihood of a major hurricane along the East Coast, many coastal communities are approaching this summer with a mixture of denial and dread and a heightened sense of urgency: In New Orleans, residents are wondering whether the city can take another blow, even from a tropical storm or small hurricane. In Mississippi, officials worry that displaced residents will try to take their FEMA trailers with them when they’re ordered to evacuate. A trailer jackknifed on Interstate 10 or U.S. 49 could stall emergency evacuations. In New York City and on Long Island, officials are trying to convince coastal residents that a powerful storm could wash away their homes. Florida, which has felt the effects of 13 storms over the last two years, is “sick and tired of the storms. Everybody is pretty nervous down here.” In southeast Texas, the region has learned to rely on itself as much as possible after getting raked by Rita. “You’re going to see people get really nervous when that first storm gets in the Gulf. They’re going to watch those storms like they never have before.” And in Charleston, South Carolina, where the memory of Hurricane Hugo’s devastation in 1989 remains vivid, some are already anxious. "You have a knot in your stomach permanently from July through the end of October.” The hurricane center will not issue its official forecast for the hurricane season until May 22, but weather experts feel certain “it’s just a matter of time” before another storm slams into coastal areas stretching more than 2,500 miles from Brownsville, Texas to Eastport, Maine.

WEATHER MODIFICATION -
KANSAS - For more than 30 years, a single-minded and dedicated group of individuals has concentrated their efforts from April through September on controlling the weather in western Kansas. A new study indicates that work, done under the auspices of the Western Kansas Weather Modification Program, has made inroads in suppressing hailstorms, an ever-present threat for farmers and their crops. The study by the Kansas Water Office, which partially funds the weather modification program, shows a decline in crop hail insurance claims in western Kansas counties that participate in the cloud-seeding program. The program determines if pilots seed for rain enhancement or hail suppression. More seeding agent, silver iodide, is dispersed at a faster rate for hail suppression. Though weather modification has coaxed only minimal increased rainfall, hail suppression efforts were more successful. "You don't necessarily get fewer hailstorms. You get smaller hail, generally coming down as tiny hail. If you have smaller hail, there is less damage." Taxpayers in participating counties foot the bill for weather modification activities. Though some rain has fallen this year, the weather pattern already is unfavorable for weather modification, officials say. The last seven years have been so dry that it's difficult to determine if weather modification actually works. "If there are no clouds, it's bad. They still need to have clouds, and we aren't getting many of them anymore."

ODD -
CHINA - Thousands of tourists and local residents witnessed a mirage of high clarity lasting for four hours off the shore of Penglai City in east China's Shandong Province on Sunday, May 7th. Mists rising on the shore created an image of a city, with modern high-rise buildings, broad city streets and bustling cars as well as crowds of people all clearly visible. The city of Penglai had been soaked by two days of rain before the rare weather phenomenon occurred. Experts said that many mirages have been recorded in Penglai, on the tip of Shandong Peninsula, throughout history, which made it known as a dwelling place of the gods. They explained that a mirage is formed when moisture in the air becomes warmer than the temperature of sea water, which refracts rays of sunlight to create reflections of the landscape in the sky. (photos! note that the year is mistakenly listed as 2005)

Sunday, May 7, 2006 -

QUAKES -
This morning a number of moderate quakes were shaking northern and central Iran.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/6 -
5.4 MID-INDIAN RIDGE
5.2 TONGA ISLANDS
5.6 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
5.4 SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS
5/5 -
5.4 TONGA ISLANDS
5.1 TONGA ISLANDS
5.9 TONGA ISLANDS
5.6 TONGA ISLANDS
5.0 TONGA ISLANDS
5.8 TONGA ISLANDS
5.1 TONGA ISLANDS

TONGA - Following the STRONGEST QUAKE EVER RECORDED IN TONGA, and the STRONGEST QUAKE IN THE WORLD IN MORE THAN A YEARr, major structural damage to the Queen Salote Wharf no. 2 and 3, in Nuku'alofa, and to the Niu'ui Hospital and other structures in Ha'apai is being assessed by Tonga's Ministry of Lands. In the Ha'apai group, which was close to the epicentre of the violent earthquakes on May 4, many buildings were cracked and long running cracks have appeared in the roads and concrete paving. (photos)
Strong aftershocks rattled Tonga on Friday, the day after the massive earthquake damaged buildings and triggered tsunami warnings from Hawaii to New Zealand. No damage or injuries were reported from the latest quakes - with magnitudes of 6.0, 5.7 and 5.4 - to hit the South Pacific nation and no tsunami warning was issued. But they came as authorities from outlying islands began reporting damage from the 7.8 magnitude tremor that struck in the early hours of Thursday. Thursday's major quake prompted a regional warning center in Hawaii to issue a tsunami alert, but Tonga was inadvertently left off the list - along with three other Pacific nations - of countries to warn about the possibility of a killer wave bearing down on them. A second bulletin, issued 49 minutes after the first alert, correctly included Tonga, Niue, American Samoa, Samoa, and Wallis-Futuna as countries also under the tsunami warning. By then, it would have been too late if a destructive tsunami materialized - it would have already hit Tonga, Niue and American Samoa.

TSUNAMI -
TRINIDAD - The Seismic Research Unit of the University of the West Indies says there are no signs of an impending eruption of the underwater volcano in Grenada. The unit said it had been receiving "several inquiries regarding a supposedly impending earthquake and subsequent tsunami to affect Trinidad" and that there were "additional concerns as to the current status of the Kick 'em Jenny submarine volcano in Grenada". The unit said that "the potential for tsunamis from the volcano has also been raised". It said that its records "do not indicate any elevated activity of the Kick 'em Jenny volcano situated nine kilometres, north of Grenada."

VOLCANOES -
WASHINGTON - Something amazing is happening on Mount St. Helens. As the winter clouds that hide the volcano from view for much of the year clear away, scientists have caught their first glimpse of a huge new mountain growing 5 feet higher per day inside the crater. Scientists call it the "fin," because the 300-foot tall slab of magma and rock stands straight up, and looks remarkably like a fin from one angle. Right now it's about the size of a football field standing on end. It started growing in November and is steadily moving west, pushing rock and other debris out of its way as it goes. The fin is just the latest in a series of at least seven distinct structures that have grown, then disintegrated inside the crater over the last year and a half. There is some concern that while the fin is growing straight up fueled by rocky magma from within the mountain, more energy is also pushing outward. The crater's dome is pushing outward at a rate of about one meter a day. A quarter century ago it was just such an outward bulge that eventually blew — not up, but outward, killing 57 people. At least for now the mountain erupts in a relatively slow, steady pattern. (photo)

INDONESIA - Mount Merapi volcano billowed ominous clouds of ash Saturday as a giant lava dome bulged off of its southern slope. Ash blasted more than 650 yards into the air and deep, sluggish lava oozed out of the mountain's cauldron. The lava dome has grown tenfold in less than a week, forming a 90-yard wide glowing bubble.

HAWAII - The East Lae'apuki lava bench on the ever-changing coastline at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park has grown to 44 acres, creating ONE OF THE LARGEST DELTAS IN THE 23-YEAR HISTORY of the Kilauea eruption. The bench, fed by underground lava tubes, is larger than the 34 acres of newly formed land that collapsed into the sea without warning on Nov. 28, 2005. The new bench is about 1,110 yards long and 347 yards wide, or roughly the size of 40 football fields. It is expanding out over a steep underwater slope, on top of the rubble from the previous collapse and other volcanic debris. The new bench is extremely unstable and prone to submarine landslides. Observatory scientists who recently flew over the lava bench in a helicopter reported large cracks running parallel to the coastline. They were surprised to see water in most of the cracks. Officials said that despite warnings, a small number of people continue to enter the closed area at night, sometimes venturing out onto the bench. Steam explosions from bench collapses can send lava spatter and large rocks into the air. Collapses also create waves of scalding water that can wash onshore, burning onlookers. There have been four deaths in recent years associated with active lava benches. (photos)

RUSSIA - Weeks of mild ash eruptions have stained the snow around the Karymsky volcano of far eastern Russia. Karymsky is the most active volcano in the chain of volcanoes that line the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Its current activity began on November 15, 2001.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
TEXAS - Hail already has pelted the San Antonio area three times this week, and there's the possibility of more to come. The threat of storms will hang over the city through the weekend and into next week. "This is the hardest rain I've seen in years, and I was involved in the '98 flood," said the Assistant Fire Chief, of Friday's storms. (photos)

CHINA - Chinese weather specialists used chemicals to engineer Beijing’s heaviest rainfall of the year, helping to relieve drought and rinse dust from China’s capital. Technicians with the Beijing Weather Modification Office fired seven rocket shells containing 163 cigarette-size sticks of silver iodide over the city’s skies Thursday. The reaction that occurred brought as much as 11.2 millimetres of rain, the heaviest rainfall this year, helping to “alleviate drought, add soil moisture and remove dust from the air for better air quality.” Though unusual in many parts of the world, China has been tinkering with artificial rainmaking for decades, using it frequently in the drought-plagued north. Last month, another artificial rainfall was generated to clear Beijing after the city suffered some of the fiercest dust storms this decade.

SCOTLAND - Five footballers were struck by lightning as Scotland was battered by a massive thunderstorm on Thursday. One player was still in hospital after being left shaking in agony. "It seemed like hundreds of bolts of lightning struck the pitch. Everyone fell, there was a big white flash and you could feel the electricity around you." A bolt also struck a car by the pitch. The driver was inside but was unhurt. Flash flooding led to the closure of several roads. Weather forecasters said the conditions had been caused by a "Spanish plume", which carried warm air north.

NORWAY - The sun finally came out over southern Norway this week, with a vengeance. Heavy snowfall from the winter is melting quickly, and raising fears of flooding. Spring runoff is filling mountain reservoirs and rivers so quickly that officials are worried. It has been an unusually long and snow-filled winter in Norway.

HEAT / WILDFIRES -
INDIA - At least 27 people have died of sunstroke in India's eastern Orissa state, taking the heat-related death toll in India to 33 as temperatures soared Saturday. The actual death toll could be as high as 38 since the onset of the hot weather mid-April, with daytime temperatures in the state hovering at 42 degrees Celsius. Sunstroke killed five people overnight in northern Uttar Pradesh state, where the temperature in the crowded city of Jhansi hit 46 degrees Celsius. Temperatures hovered above normal in states such as Bihar, Haryana and Punjab, the weather office reported, warning the sweltering conditions could continue until the onset of the annual monsoon rains due at the end of June. Scores of cities and towns are also facing water shortages and prolonged power cuts, triggering a spate of attacks on those running the overwhelmed state-run utilities. For the last couple of weeks some of the areas in Delhi have had to go without power for as much as five to six hours at a stretch.

ENGLAND - Swindon enjoyed an UNUSUALLY hot day for this time of year. Although it is still only early May, the temperature touched 26 degrees in the town on the 4th. "Twenty six degrees is way above normal. Normal would be about 16 so it's 10 above what you would expect." But in spite of the unusual hot weather Swindon did not quite make it into the record books. The record for May comes from 1944 and is 33 degrees.

WALES - May's average temperature for Wales usually hovers at about 15 to 16C (59 to 61F). But the 4th had a mini-heatwave as temperatures peaked at 25C (77F).

UNUSUAL WEATHER SEASON -
NEPAL - Already experiencing melting glaciers and a receding snowline, the Everest region of Nepal has seen some UNUSUAL weather patterns these past few months. A snow-free winter, followed by unexpected snow storms in the second week of March - when spring had already begun - has left Sherpas baffled. Another unexpected storm in April, which lasted three days, surprised the locals further still. The following morning, on 21 April, debris from a major ice collapse killed three Sherpa climbers and injured more than a dozen others in the Khumbu Ice Fall area. "We don't remember getting such snowfall during spring in the past." "Last winter was not at all like winter, and now the same is the case with spring. This is something we've never seen before. We think this is quite ominous."

Space Weather / Solar Storms / Meteors - ONE ITEM - POSTED HERE -
TEXAS - Astronomers said a large meteor shower crossed straight over El Paso just before 9:45 p.m. Thursday the 4th of May. One meteor was so large that it cast an orange glow against the mountain. "The animals were going wild, the horses were bucking and dogs were barking and howling and then, all of a sudden right above my house, there was a big bright light and then just 'Bang!' And it lit up the five acres that are around us, and then I covered my eyes like this because it was bright and when it got past I saw there was a tail and it just went 'Shhhh' toward the Hueco Mountains."

Friday, May 5, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/4 -
5.2 TONGA ISLANDS
5.1 TONGA ISLANDS
5.1 TONGA ISLANDS
5.0 TONGA ISLANDS
5.4 TONGA ISLANDS
5.0 TONGA ISLANDS
5.3 TONGA ISLANDS
5.3 TONGA ISLANDS
5.8 TONGA ISLANDS
5.0 TONGA ISLANDS
5.2 TONGA ISLANDS
5.5 TONGA ISLANDS
5.2 TONGA ISLANDS
5.3 TONGA ISLANDS
5.0 NEW BRITAIN
5.5 MACQUARIE ISLAND REG
5.2 FIJI ISLANDS REGION

Pacific quake rippled a Virginia well - A hungry mouse sent state workers to repair a groundwater well in Christiansburg in time to watch it slosh in response to the earthquake in the South Pacific. The 7.9-magnitude quake struck near Tonga, 34 miles below the Earth's surface at 11:26 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, sending out seismic waves traveling about 7,400 mph. In less than an hour, they clocked in 7,200 miles away at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality monitoring well. Geologists say that seismic waves compress and expand fractures in the 450-foot-deep well, drawing water in and expelling it. Wednesday's oscillations of not quite 6 inches began shortly after 12:20 p.m. and lasted for about an hour. Quakes around the world of at least magnitude 6 seem to set off the well, which appears to ignore weaker quakes closer to home. Wednesday's readings weren't as dramatic as those after the Sumatran quake in 2004. That temblor sent the water level in Christiansburg rising to within 4 inches below ground level, plummeting 3 feet, and then oscillating for approximately five hours before returning to normal.

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - Lava started pouring down the slopes of Mount Merapi early yesterday, but stopped a few miles from inhabited areas. Indonesian authorities are preparing to evacuate thousands of people. Scientists have yet to raise the threat level to the highest alert, which would require the immediate evacuation of villages on Merapi's fertile slopes and foothills. But the lava flows and burning around the crater suggest that pressure within the volcano is reaching a critical point.
"The new crater holds between 80,000 and 100,000 cubic meters of magma." If the pressures continue to increase it would create either of two things, namely the magma would slide down to the south east side (if the crater is not strong to contain the magma), or the crater (if it was strong enough), would widen to the left side and would hold some four million cubic meters of magma which in turn could create new craters in the west side. On Thursday morning, Merapi spewed molten lava, with a flowing distance of around 200 meters from its peak at around 02.00 a.m. At least 25 multiphase tremors and seven lava fallouts were recorded. Earlier, on Wednesday (May 3), some 197 multiphase tremors, two tectonic earthquakes, a shallow volcanic earthquake and 29 fallouts were recorded. More magma is expected to escape from beneath the volcano.

PERU - After 40 years of dormancy, the Ubinas volcano in southern Peru has been spewing out toxic smoke and ash over the last few weeks. Most activity stopped by April 16, but most experts believe the reprieve is only temporary. A dome of molten lava is visibly building up inside the volcano, signaling that a high risk of explosive force may soon follow. So what has made the Ubinas volcano awaken after four decades of sleep? A clue may be that at the same time Ubinas has become active again, other volcanoes in Galeras, Columbia, and Lascar, Chile, among others in the region, have also flared up in recent weeks. Those recently active South American volcanoes are affected by the shifting of certain plates. ( article has lots of links to understanding basic vulcanology)

TROPICAL STORMS -
MANMAR - Eighteen people were drowned and 14 others are missing in a flash flood in southern Ayeyawaddy division triggered by the recent cyclone called Mala which occurred in the middle east of the Bay of Bengal and swept through the western Rakhine coast. The sudden flow of water brought about the disaster in Kyangin, Hindthada township of the division last weekend. Some parts of three divisions and states of Ayayawaddy, Rakhineand Yangon in Myanmar were hit by strong wind alongside heavy rainfall last weekend, destroying a total of about 1,100 houses.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
TAJIKISTAN - Mudslides have left 30,000 people without water and killed at least one person. The biggest mudslide, which followed heavy rain, took place about 100 kilometres (62 miles) east of the capital Dushanbe, damaging water pipes relied on by tens of thousands of people.

OKLAHOMA - Strong storms with heavy rains flooded areas around Tulsa and left thousands without power Thursday morning. Street flooding is reported in Broken Arrow and Jenks as up to five inches of rain fell during just a few hours and some people had to be rescued from their cars. About 65-hundred homes were also without power. Up to nine-thousand lost electricity at one point during the storms. More rain was expected in the area.

MISSOURI - One man died Wednesday when a van in which he and seven other people were riding was swept off a low-water bridge as heavy rains caused flash flooding.

WEATHER WEIRDNESS -
U.S. Atlantic Coast - A large and nearly stationary high-pressure system centered to the north over eastern Canada provided very clear, sunny and dry weather during the last days of April. At the same time a large low pressure or storm system near Bermuda began RETROGRADING to the west and northwest and its associated rain area backed westward and northwest toward New England. Local coastal areas from Cape Cod to Maine were getting over one inch of very welcome rainfall from this rather UNUSUAL weather pattern of a rain area backing toward them from the east and southeast. Normally their weather comes from the west but in this case it was coming from the east. The rain that began late on May 1 brought over an inch of precipitation in about 12 hours. In many places this was the greatest one-day rainfall for one day or within a 24-hour period since January. The long dry spell, which began in February and continued through most of April has sent the year’s rainfall deficit down to more than six inches below normal.

For centuries, New Zealand's Maoris have used intimate observation of nature to harvest eels and predict the weather. That legacy is endangered by the changing climate. According to traditional Maori beliefs, the environment is rife with clues that hint at larger phenomena. Everything is interconnected in the Maori view of the world, from the cries of birds to the shapes and colors of clouds. But today, New Zealand is no longer the same land. National icons like the kiwi bird have declined in population, pollution levels have increased and residents report subtler changes: Wind blows much more strongly from the southwest than it used to, some plants bloom at earlier times of the year and the weather is increasingly unpredictable. Some of the trees are not as bright and covered in flowers as they would normally be. The native brown parrots are rarely seen in the North Island's forests anymore. Eels begin their migration cycles at increasingly idiosyncratic times, making it difficult for locals to catch them. An iwi on New Zealand's eastern coast is known for its crab-catching abilities, but the main harbor where they fish has become choked with the sudden spread of mangroves, possibly because of warmer temperatures. And in some areas the cabbage tree, which Maori tribes sometimes use to forecast a dry summer, is flowering much later in the season than normal. The rainfall has gotten heavier and more localized. The food now ripens at different times, the water is warmer, and the seasons seem to blur. In parts of New Zealand, people joke about living in a climate that can produce all four seasons in a day. "These days you don't know when a drought is going to come and when a heavy cold, whether it's going to be a cold winter or a warmer winter."

Climate scientists have documented a pronounced slowdown in the Pacific Ocean atmospheric system that drives the trade winds, a prediction of global warming theory that appears to be coming true. A study suggests that the movement of moisture and heat across the tropical Pacific has tapered off by 3.5 percent since the mid-1800s, when such records begin, and appears likely to ease by another 10 percent this century. That could have wide repercussions for weather and sea life throughout the Pacific region, although it's hard for anyone to be certain at this early stage what effect the slowing of the winds would have. Possibilities include more El Niño-like conditions, stronger hurricanes and less upwelling of nutrient-rich cold water from the deep Pacific. Weather generally may become more variable - and harder to predict. The Walker circulation works like a seesaw in which warm, moist air rises in the western Pacific, becomes drier at high elevation and displaces eastward, where heavy air sinks and returns westward. The phenomenon thus generates west-to-east air currents high up, and east-to-west trade winds near the ocean surface - a great climatic wheel centered on the equator. As for the impacts on land, it's anybody's guess. One possibility may be generally wilder weather -- bigger storms, drier droughts and stronger hurricanes feeding off the warmer, wetter tropical Pacific. Any change in the Pacific's air-flow pattern may be compensated by a change in some other part of the system yet to be pinpointed. "The Earth seems to have a way of balancing things."

Planet Jupiter is experiencing its own climate change and global warming. The global change cycle began in 1939 when the last of three white oval-shaped storms formed south of the 300 year-old Great Red Spot. As the storms started to merge between 1998 and 2000, the mixing of heat began to slow down at that latitude and has continued slowing ever since. The movement of heat from the equator to Jupiter's south pole is expected to stop at 34 degrees southern latitude, where Red Spot Jr. is forming. This will create a big wall and stop the mixing of heat and airflow, the thinking goes. As a result, areas around the equator become warmer, while the poles can start to cool down. Little is known about how storms form on the giant planet. They are often described as behaving similar to hurricanes on Earth.

OZONE HOLE - Chinese scientists have warned a 2.5-million-square-kilometre ozone hole may be forming over the Tibetan plateau. While it does not yet qualify as a regular ozone hole, like the ones over the two poles, the area has seen a dramatic drop in ozone density in recent years. The decrease in ozone over the plateau was caused by atmospheric air movements rather than the global greenhouse effect. "When low-ozone air currents in the lower layer enter the upper air layer, the overall ozone density is reduced." Without the ozone layer, plant and human DNA can be damaged, causing destruction of crops and initiating skin cancer. Recent assessments that had suggested that ozone erosion had now permanently stabilised, failed to take into account the potential for volcanic eruptions, solar storms and other natural phenomena to distort the picture.

Thursday, May 4, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/3 -
5.6 VANUATU ISLANDS
5.5 TONGA ISLANDS
5.3 TONGA ISLANDS
5.2 TONGA ISLANDS
5.6 TONGA ISLANDS
5.8 TONGA ISLANDS
5.5 TONGA ISLANDS
5.8 TONGA ISLANDS
8.1 TONGA ISLANDS
5.3 VANUATU ISLANDS
5.1 EASTERN NEW GUINEA
5.1 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN, REGION

TONGA - the powerful 8.1 earthquake which struck the South Pacific islands of Tonga early yesterday, generated a tsunami, but there were no reports of damage. "Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated. It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicentre," said the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre. Tongan officials said they were checking outer islands in the group, particularly the low-lying Hapai Islands, which were near the epicentre. The Tonga islands are an archipelago east of Australia, southeast of Fiji and northeast of New Zealand. The earthquake temporarily cut power in Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa and tipped objects from shelves but caused no major damage or injuries. It was the LARGEST TREMOR THERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS. A resident in Tonga said he felt tremors lasting more than 30 seconds.
TONGANS were shaken awake early in the morning as a Magnitude 8.1 earthquake, possibly Tonga's largest on record, shook the capital, where one terrified hotel guest was hospitalised after jumping off his second floor hotel balcony during the quake. The magnitude 8.1 event lasted for 5 seconds and was immediately followed by a 7.9 magnitude event, which shook buildings for over a minute, causing stock to fall from supermarket shelves, glass to break and bookshelves to tumble. Electrical flashes from power poles were seen before the electrical power grid shut down in the middle of the quake leaving frightened residents in the dark. There was another Magnitude 5.4 aftershock at 6:56 am, and another of Magnitude 5.1 at 8:28 am. (photos)

TSUNAMI -
TONGA - Following the 8.1 quake, chances of a tsunami remain relatively high after such a tremor and so they’ll be monitoring the situation closely. "There is an almost 50 percent chance that could be another earthquake that could trigger a tsunami. We are watching the situation for the next 24 hours and if there's any after-shock warning, then we'll reinforce the warning."

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - Residents of Sengi hamlet on the slope of Mt Merapi on Wednesday asked to be evacuated as they had heard rumbling sounds coming from the volcano`s top. "They have been hearing the rumbling sounds since yesterday (Tuesday), an indication that Mount Merapi is to erupt." "The thunder-like sounds come at unpredictable moments, sometimes at noon, other times in the evening or at night." Mount Merapi has been placed under an alert status since April 12 and was expected to erupt within seven to 10 days. Former President Soekarnoputri has said Mt Merapi might erupt before May 6. "This is not a prediction, but a possibility. After studying the activities of the volcano, it appears that by May 6 an eruption may take place." However, volcanologists would not predict when Mount Merapi would erupt.

TROPICAL STORMS -
AUSTRALIA - flooding continues to cause major disruptions on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland. The extensive floods and continuing rainfall have left many on the Cape isolated, with roads washed out. "We went into Lockhart River the day after cyclone Monica... They've actually not had access into Locakhart River since January 5 this year. They've been isolated for (four months) ... and their road is completely inaccessible and there is widespread damage to that road as well...and it's quite scary the amount of damage that's been done." "We're going to have to fly fuel into the power station, I understand they have enough fuel for power for the next week or so." People living outside of the Peninsula region do not truly understand the extent of the problems people in the area are facing. "This thing hasn't gone away, that's it's actually got worse in the last week or so with the continuing rain... there's probably a lot of people in authority in Brisbane who are not aware that this thing is ongoing, that - you know - the blow went through, there was some damage to houses in Lockhart River, but essentially people are alright compared to what happened in (cyclone) Larry, but it's just continued to rain and that's brought on a whole heap of other problems."

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
ITALY - There are at least fifty people who can't yet go back to their homes in Ischia after the landslide on Sunday which cost the lives of 4 members of the Buono family. There will be at least twenty people who have to give up their homes, since they are located in places at too high of a risk.

SPAIN - An overnight cloudburst which fell in the area of Antequera, Málaga province, has been calculated to have caused 1.5 million € worth of damage. Roads were flooded and there were mudslides in some areas. The village most affected was Cuevas Bajas where 40 litres per square metre fell at 2am causing a local river to burst its banks. Crops and greenhouses were affected in the area.

WIND -
OREGON - An UNUSUAL weather pattern halted the Yaquina Bay regatta. On Saturday, a bizarre squall arrived, drastically changing weather conditions from sunny, blue skies at 1:50 p.m. - when average wind speeds were clocked at 7 miles per hour - to cold, grey conditions at 2 p.m., when sheets of rain and mist were driven by winds averaging 22 mph - bringing an abrupt wind speed increase of at least 15 mph within a span of only 10 minutes. The uncharacteristic storm blew in from the north rather than the south, where central coast residents usually look for systems of cold, wet weather; and was accompanied by a slight increase in barometric pressure, divergent from the usual barometric drop that often portends an incoming storm. Between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on that strange afternoon, Yaquina Bay Yacht Club members and visiting regatta participants found themselves executing rescue maneuvers in the bay as six of the eight 15-foot Coronado boats entered in the race were blasted by the sudden winds and capsized in the bay, while other sailboats not participating in the day's races were blown off course on the west side of the Yaquina Bay Bridge east of the bar. Because they're designed to roll over and then right themselves, on Saturday several of the Coronado boats capsized and righted themselves, only to roll over again and again in the unexpected storm.

Wednesday, May 3, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/2 -
5.0 TALAUD ISLANDS, INDONESIA
5.0 KAMCHATKA PENINSULA, RUSSIA
5.5 SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS
5.0 PANAMA-COSTA RICA BORDER REGION

VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - Mount Merapi has grown 10 metres in height in three days with pools of lava forming at its smoking summit. Volcano watchers said a new dome of lava had formed in recent days and was getting bigger all the time, while yellow clouds of sulphur continued to spew out. "The dome has appeared on the southern part of the peak, while tremors are fluctuating in high numbers." Lava domes mean the cone-shaped volcano could erupt any day and its top has grown as trapped magma from a reservoir 1.5km below the summit began welling up on Sunday. "We no longer need to do measurements. Magma is already at the surface." Authorities have yet to order villagers living on the mountain to evacuate.

WASHINGTON - Mount St. Helen's volcano rumbled back to life in September 2004. Small eruptions continue each day. The new lava dome is growing at the rate of six feet per day and is now larger than the dome formed between 1980 and 1986.

TROPICAL STORMS -
AUSTRALIA - Hundreds of residents have gone hungry for up to six days in the wake of Cyclone Monica. Emergency Services responded to calls for help from flooded-out residents in the Marrakai rural area yesterday. Emergency Services said that no emergency food drops had been arranged because no one had told the authorities there wasn't any food.

SNOW / COLD -
SCOTLAND - FREAK weather sent Scots to the ski slopes on May Day for the first time this century in the wake of weekend snow showers. And while skiers relished some May Day fun for the FIRST TIME IN A DECADE, others were admiring their tans from Saturday's sunshine in more southern parts. Parts of the country basked in temperatures topping 15C as snow fell elsewhere. Experts blame the conditions on a combination of cold air and easterly winds. This year has been ONE OF THE SHORTEST SKIING SEASONS ON RECORD with no snow over Christmas, New Year and February half-term.

UNUSUAL WEATHER SEASON -
CALIFORNIA - Unusual weather patterns around the globe spawned the wet weather in Redding last month. The Shasta dam collected 15.48 inches during the first two weeks last month. That's the WETTEST APRIL TOTAL SINCE STATE WATER OFFICIALS BEGAN KEEPING RAINFALL RECORDS at the dam in 1948. Explosive thunderstorms over Indonesia and northern Australia energized the jet stream across the Pacific. This jet carved a deep low pressure area off the West Coast during the first two weeks of April, feeding one storm after another into Northern California. A mammoth high pressure dome over the Aleutian Islands and another over the eastern seaboard locked the low in place over the West Coast, for reasons that aren't entirely clear. But the mid-Atlantic states enjoyed one of its driest, mildest Aprils in recent memory while blizzards buried the Northern California mountains and fattened foothills' creeks. This stormy pattern abruptly shifted after midmonth, perhaps in response to a migration of tropical convection back toward the Indian Ocean. The Aleutian high shrank and wandered east toward Asia while the eastern seaboard high expanded all the way to the West Coast. The jet stream, which had roared through Northern California, jumped into Canada after April 17.

Tuesday, May 2, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
5/1 -
5.0 ASCENSION ISLAND REGION
5.1 MARIANA ISLANDS REGION
5.2 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.2 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.0 WEST OF GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
5.1 WEST OF GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
5.0 EASTERN NEW GUINEA
5.2 PANAMA-COSTA RICA BORDER REGION
5.8 PANAMA-COSTA RICA BORDER REGION
5.1 NEAR COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
5.3 NEAR COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
5.0 EASTERN SIBERIA, RUSSIA

RUSSIA - The next session of the Russian government is expected to consider measures to "liquidate the aftermath of the major quake in Russia’s Koryak Autonomous Area on the Kamchatka peninsula." "Residents of the settlements hit by the devastating quake have received pecuniary aid, while people whose houses were destroyed will shortly get certificates for new apartments.” Four of five schools in the zone of destructions are beyond repair. All kindergartens were also destroyed and are beyond repair. Out-patient clinics and hospitals, as well as energy supply facilities were also seriously damaged. Water supply has been restored to all houses. Repair work is underway to restore in full electricity and heat supply. Specialists from different ministries and agencies are checking the condition of all buildings. Nevertheless, “the situation remains very difficult.” “Earth tremors persist, people have no confidence in tomorrow and their mood is grave.”

TROPICAL STORMS -
MYANMAR - Four people were killed and 31 injured as Cyclone Mala battered Myanmar's Ayeyarwaddy delta, its west coast and the outskirts of the capital.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
KASHMIR - Authorities in Pakistan-administered Kashmir say they are evacuating people from 17 villages in the quake-hit area before the start of the rainy season which begins in July. An estimated 2,000 families will be relocated from 15 villages in the Jhelum valley and two in the Neelum valley. The October earthquake has loosened the ground and rain might cause landslides. There are plans to relocate another 7,000 to 8,000 quake-affected families still living in tents.

NEW ZEALAND - Communities throughout the country need to brace themselves for the consequences of a volatile climate, with smaller floods expected more often. Recent flooding is the impact of a volatile climate and there has been a significant change in flooding in New Zealand. "What used to happen was a small number of very large floods like the Manawatu floods which was $120 million in terms of insurance losses. What we are getting now is an increased frequency of small quite serious and localised flooding events.' Floods are more frequent and in UNUSUAL places. "The assumption that it would never flood here, is gone now." Infrastructure is starting to break down because the soil is very wet and never really gets the time to dry out - so water and sewerage are cracking to a greater extent.
A new severe weather warning has been issued for the Coromandel Peninsula as the region cleans up after three days of torrential rain and flooding. There was potential for localised flash flooding and surface flooding. Rain which began in the region on Thursday didn't stop until Saturday night and left an estimated $1 million worth of damage to roads. The coastal settlement of Hahei at one stage got 170mm of rain in four hours. Slips near some holiday homes were being investigated to check whether or not they had made surrounding land unstable for the homes.

ROMANIA is struggling to prevent a humanitarian disaster after floods around the Danube river this month left at least 4,000 homeless. Large swathes of land and hundreds of houses along the river, Europe’s second-longest, remain under water after weeks of flooding and 14,000 Romanians are still displaced, living in improvised shelters, military tents or with relatives. About 30% won’t have a place to return to after waters recede. Many waterlogged dykes could still give way because of the prolonged water pressure.

SNOW / COLD -
JAPAN - Three people were killed in an avalanche in central Japan while climbing a mountain on Monday. A group of five were climbing Mt. Harinokidake in Omachi, Nagano prefecture when an avalanche occurred at around 11:30 a.m. The other two climbers were safe, with one slightly injured. The avalanche, at 2,000 meters above sea level, was about 40 meters wide and 300 meters long. An overnight shower and a higher-than-usual temperature might be the cause of the snowslide.

IDAHO - A skier from Spokane, Washington, died in an avalanche near Stevens Peak. Deputies say he apparently died from being hit by trees or rocks in the avalanche.

Monday, May 1, 2006 -

QUAKES -
Largest quakes yesterday -
4/30 -
5.0 NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
5.0 EASTERN SIBERIA, RUSSIA
5.4 NEAR COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
5.2 NEAR COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
5.5 NEAR COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
5.9 NEAR COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
5.5 NEAR COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
5.4 OFF COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
5.0 NORTHERN CHILE
5.5 NEAR COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
5.3 NEAR COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
5.2 NEAR COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
6.1 NEAR COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
5.1 OFF COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
5.0 NEAR COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
5.7 TONGA ISLANDS
5.4 TONGA ISLANDS
5.2 FIJI ISLANDS REGION
5.8 VANUATU ISLANDS
5.3 MACQUARIE ISLAND REG
5.6 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
5.7 MONGOLIA

RUSSIA - Sunday morning's earthquake damaged diesel power stations as well as concrete buildings in the towns of Korf and Tilichiki in Koryakia, the Russian Far East. The cracks caused by the first earthquake on April 21 intensified in concrete buildings. "Wooden houses remained undamaged, no local resident died." Another powerful earthquake was registered at 8:58 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday on Olyutor Bay, off the coast of Kamchatka. Its epicenter was at a depth of 40 kilometers, and its magnitude reached 7 points on the Richter scale.



TROPICAL STORMS -
U.S. ATLANTIC COAST - New computer simulations by government scientists show that hurricane storm surges in the Chesapeake Bay could get dramatically worse than the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Isabel in 2003. Under some conditions, the researchers found, a Category 4 hurricane landing in the Carolinas could produce storm surges as high as 18 or 20 feet in Baltimore at high tide. That's at least 10 feet above Isabel's high-water mark. The precise combinations of tide, storm strength, track, size and forward seed needed to generate an 18-foot storm surge on the bay are rare but "within the realm of possibility." New maps will show how much farther inland flooding could stretch under the proper conditions.

THUNDERSTORMS / HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING -
CHINA - Hail and rainstorms have killed 12 people and caused huge economic losses in east China's Shandong Province since last week. The natural disasters hit the province's five cities of Heze, Linyi, Zaozhuang, Jining and Liaocheng from Wednesday to Friday.
2.18 million people have been affected by the disasters, 12 of whom died and 58 others were seriously injured. The hail and rainstorms destroyed 3,243 houses and brought harm to 155,000 hectares of farmland, resulting in a direct economic loss of 271 million U.S. dollars.

ITALY - Four people died in a landslide on the island of Ischia off Naples. A hill collapsed in five places, but only one house was caught up in the landslide in the area, which is thinly populated. Heavy rains fell all over the region Saturday. Ischia experienced violent thunderstorms, which flooded businesses and restaurants, and bad weather continued Sunday morning, hampering the work of rescuers and raising fears of new landslides.

LOUISIANA - Tornadoes and waterspouts were reported as part of a line of big storms that dumped up to 2 inches of rain late Saturday and early Sunday in southeast Louisiana, but overall damage was spotty. Street flooding was widespread Sunday night in East Baton Rouge Rouge Parish and wakes from large vehicles pushed water into some houses. Three to six inches of water were reported in some homes in one subdivision. Power lines were damaged in both the New Orleans and Baton Rouge metro areas.