Weather & Earth Science News

Weather records smashed as Perth continues to suffer in the heat while up in the Northern Territories, flooding drama hits cyclone Yasi victims In San Francisco, Bay area in clear after snow dusts hills With the official toll now at 148 but around 50 still missing, New Zealand buries earthquake victims Canada's role grows amid looming water shortages in some places, more flooding in others Drier conditions projected to accelerate dust storms in the Southwest USA And finally, I decided to engage Piers Corbyn in a discussion - the results of which can be seen here . I don't think I need say more!

Snow falls on San Francisco after a 35 year wait . Just. In parts of Michigan, February is the second snowiest recorded - in parts of Britain, it's the least snowiest recorded! Christchurch earthquake: Mayor Parker praises rescurers but there seems little hope of finding any more survivors. A curious incident as large crack opens in the earth in southern Peru - unfortunately not enough detail to determine a probable cause. Indonesian mud volcano flow 'to last 26 years' Brazil judge blocks Amazon Belo Monte dam over environmental concerns. But I daresay it's only a temporary reprieve. 4 Amish children killed when buggy flips over in flooded Kentucky creek Thousands left homeless as rains cause floods in Bolivia Meteosat £2.9bn weather satellite approved More information about the PETM comes to light as scientists study Arctic environment during an ancient bout of natural global warming . Real Climate faces libel suite - but I can't see Gavin shaking in his boo...

Christchurch earthquake death toll rises to 113 with hundreds still missing with no survivors as New Zealand quake search goes on . In California, there's speculation Friday storm could bring snow to the sand, but most likely just to the mountains . Meanwhile, snow, cold temperatures plague Northwest and heavy storms pummel trees, block roads in South; snow beats down on Midwest . And another spring of major flooding in North Central United States, NOAA predicts While NASA investigate the mysterious rumble of thundersnow Perth swelters in the summer heat and may record it's hottest ever summer. Meanwhile, Sydney records driest summer in 8 years but torrential rain drenches cyclone-damaged far north and it's been the wettest Brisbane summer in 37 years . Ancient catastrophic drought leads to question: how severe can climate change become? NOAA scientists are cleared of misuse of data - yet another result which certain people will refuse to accept. Get ready for cla...

The latest from Christchurch: Although the official death toll stands at 75, it's feared that more than 100 may have perished in CTV - the Canterbury TV building being described as 'unsurvivable'. British firefighters fly out to help Rescuing quake survivors better than winning lotto Tough building codes couldn't save Christchurch New Zealand earthquake damage illustrates risks posed by shallow crustal faults In Australia, WA warned worst of cyclone to come 'Climategate' undermined belief in global warming among many TV meteorologists - in the USA. But not in Britain. May have something to do with the former being, by and large, weather presenters, not qualified meteorologists at all. Satellite to examine how sun's brightness affects climate change whilst when it comes to climate and aerosols: NASA's Glory satellite promises new view of perplexing particles . Do cold winters mean more pollution? Researchers map out ice sheets shrinking during Ice ...

Our thoughts are with our friends in NZ on this dark day :( New Zealand earthquake: 65 dead in Christchurch Workers trapped in crushed buildings Britons speak of devastation Quake shakes 30m tonnes off glacier Deadly quake could be sign of more to come Sadly, it looks very likely the number of casualities will rise. Fears toll will rise sharply as night falls Darkness, rain falls with many still trapped Other news: Solar storm 'could cause more damage than Hurricane Katrina' In Australia, Karratha residents sit out cyclone while for Perth it's been the hottest February in 15 years (although here in Britain there's still a week to go before the end of the month - Aussies must use a different calendar! LOL) Ice eases grip on Antarctic base Scott's Antarctic samples give climate clues Plane stupid demo at Manchester airport increased emissions, court hears . Plane stupid by name, plain stupid by nature.

New assessment of black carbon and tropospheric ozone's role in climate change - and more importantly how we can readily and quickly curb their effects. Significantly: Full implementation of these measures would reduce future global warming by 0.5 degrees C (within a likely range of 0.2-0.7 degrees C). If the measures are implemented by 2030, this could halve the potential increase in global temperature which is projected for 2050. The rate of regional temperature increase would also be reduced. Which might give us time to implement longer term, more costly, CO2 emission reductions. Severe storms sweep southern Queensland while in WA, mini tornado hits as Cyclone Carlos looms . Tibetans assured of ample supplies after snowstorm The Scottish 'gold rush' for hydro power - well it's better than windfarms! US scientists predict prolonged drought as Indian Ocean warms up The moment Britain became an island And finally, as far as plan to bring UK clocks forward goes, thi...

Cyclone Carlos to reform over flooded WA February continues to head towards being the warmest in my records, although there has been snow for the first time this month in some parts of England: mainly the eastern half of the Pennines. In Washington they've had record breaking weather, whether in coolness or warmth and many other places in N America have been setting date records for high temperatures this week. Although in Finland, now new low inches down to -41.3c Incidently, I note that Finnish Railway ..... have warned travellers to wrap up warm in case of delays and breakdowns . But I thought that only happened in Britain?! Mudslide warning issued for volcano in Japan More than 60 small to moderate earthquakes strike Arkansas and are widely felt Space weather disrupts communications, threatens other technologies Catching space weather in the act Frequent, severe fires turn Alaskan forests into a carbon production line - and they also mean more soot settling in Arctic re...

More wet weather as Victoria's summer obliterates rainfall record and in the Northern Territories, tropical cyclone eases, residents assess damage . But some good news in WA as, although there's been widespread evacuations as cyclone, floods ravish state's north , Dianne is now moving away and cyclone warning cancelled in WA northwest . Weather experts predict major flooding in Midwest this spring Are greenhouse gases upping the risks of flooding too? That seems to be the conclusion of a study into the 2000 floods in England - whilst the weather is the same, the amount of precipitable moisture increases. However, it's also worth taking Roger Pielke Sr's comments on the paper into consideration. Could other human factors have also contributed? Whilst 2011 is now setting records for the lack of snowfall in much of England, I hadn't realised that Europe had also been suffering an unusual lack of snow. But finally snow falls in the Alps . The sun wakes u...

Australia gets hit again as cyclone Carlos batters Darwin and Top End - with record rainfalls in some places. Six hurt as record snow buries South Korean market In Finland, this winter's lowest temperature record broken - again . And in Lapland, they've now had 100 days of sub-zero temperatures . Some way to go to beat the all time lowest temp of -51.5c though. In Britain, signs of spring delayed by freeze - though ironically it's been a mild February so far and may end one of the warmest on record, at least for some parts of the country. First daffodils close to coming into bloom in my garden - though I can't say how much earlier than usual this is as they're ones I only planted last autumn. I did say we'd have an early spring and, notwithstanding the delay in growth caused by December's cold weather, it looks like I'm likely to be right. Round these parts, anyway. And also looks very likely now we'll go from 22nd December to the end of Fe...

South Korea chaos after 'heaviest' snowfall since records began in 1911. January was also the coldest on record. More snow is expected today. Devastated Victorians beg for rain to stop and for elsewhere there's more rain to come, but la Nina to loosen its grip - predictions are that it has now peaked and we should see a shift to more neutral conditions through the next few months. But in contrast, for China, first snowfall brings hope of rain . Cyclone set to hit Madagascar - Bingiza will be the first to make landfall there this season. And computer models predict that another cyclone threatens NZ Airborne sensor to study 'river in the sky' After studying seismic data, scientist discover that deep interior of moon resembles Earth's core - so it's not hollow after all .... And OMG! NASA killed a sundog! But the SDO sundog mystery resulted in the discovery of a new type of ice halo.

Whilst there's still no sign of any particularly cold, let alone snowy (at lower levels) weather this year for Britain - we could in fact go right through January and February with most of England not seeing any snow settle at all, which would be quite remarkable even compared to recent winter - it remains decidedly wintry in the US where as another winter storm sweeps across South there's been record low temperatures in Oklahoma - down to -38f. Colder than the South Pole. But according to forecasts, there could be a 100 degree temperature rise in one week in Oklahoma (being America, that's obviously degrees fahrenheit) . Cork plane crash: 'Worst fog' onlookers could ever remember at airport looks to have been a major contributory cause of the tragic accident which claimed 6 lives on Thursday. In Australia, Victoria cops another drenching Snowfall brings small respite to drought stricken parts of China Weather extremes are growing trend in Northern Australia...

China suffers worst drought in 60 years - so much for cloud seeding then! And UN Food agency issues warning on China drought with a big wheat sortage expected. In Australia, the Blue mountains swelter in record heatwave At a conference in NZ, extreme weather experts discuss recent events that have afflicted Australia. Or rather they won't since according to the news report: "The extreme weather experts will not be discussing the latest weather events at the conference but will look at patterns from a few years ago to help determine what will happen in the future ." Warm February may be sign of hot year ahead for India Apparently polar bears having fewer cubs due to global warming - though yet again no explanation as to how the bears survived the warmer mid Holocene. Meanwhile, record low Arctic ice reported in January. Not surprising with a negative AO. You can see the full NSIDC Report here . The NOAA report for January shows that it was the coldest in the US...

Today's the 2nd anniversary of one of the darkest days in Australian history as solemn services mark Black Saturday anniversary . Sadly, as seen on the TV coverage of the final ODI, fresh bushfires rage out of control near Perth , though thankfully as yet no deaths reported. This weekend saw " the day Sydney melted " as mercury hits near record 42c but finally, some relief after hottest night in history . Meanwhile And temperatures soar in Timaru on one of the hottest days ever recorded in NZ. And in California, warm weather temps 'shatter, obliterate' records across Bay area . Although dry in Evesham (only 0.5mm of rain so far this month) it was very breezy, with some of the strongest winds this morning. Much wetter - and windier - elsewhere as flooding and high winds cause weather chaos on Merseyside while in Yorkshire, crews rescue motorists following rain and gales and floods claim victim as driver is swept away in Wales. In Ireland, two killed on ...

A cold snap chills northern Mexico with some places experiencing their lowest temperatures for 50 years. While snow and ice paralyse Texas from Rio Grande to Oklahoma border . And a Wisconsin man survives hours buried in snow . 6000 homes in Western isles without electricity after this week's gales, whilst on the mainland, flooding call-outs after storms hit parts of Scotland . Meanwhile, 60mph winds continue to batter Wales , and how could I resist a headline UK hit by hell gales ? In Queensland 'help is coming' as residents return to ruin and missing Townsville teen found safe after cyclone Yasi . But thousands call for help as storms lash Victoria and flash floods mean Monash and Princes at a standstill . Meanwhile, Sydney heatwave breaks 150 year record . There's still hope for Arctic sea ice but midwinter ice storms deadly for Alaska's animal herds - the problem being that 'milder' weather means more ice and they're better adapted for ...

Rather breezy here overnight, with gales forecast to be stronger down here tonight, but winds easing a tad in Scotland where yesterday a 131mph gust was recorded up on Aonach Mor ( according to Peter Gibbs ) and 106.9mph near sea level on Scalpay in the Outer Hebrides as Hurricane force winds of up to 130mph batter northern Britain . In Australia, Tully Heads residents return home after cyclone Yasi wreaked havoc and Queensland rescuers fight through cyclone Yasi debris . Sadly one man dies trying to restore power after cyclone Yasi, as towns face weeks without electricity . And the latest news is that a couple are missing after their yacht, in which rather bizarrely they were sitting out the storm, sank in Port Hinchinbrook harbour. And NZ stormchaser looks into cyclone's heart . Meanwhile, flood warnings issued as cyclones Yasi and Anthony cause heavy rain over Victoria and western Sydney endures hottest February night. US and Canada dig out from deadly snow storm while ...

So far, the news from Australia is relatively good after Cyclone Yasi crosses coast in North's darkest hour . There are fears for Caldwell residents after destruction wrought by Cyclone Yasi but 1 of 2 missing men has been found alive and well. Hundreds of miles inland, Yasi runs out of steam but Isa braced - Mt Isa was home to my brother and his family for many years, they're probably glad they're now in Brisbane! And out towards the coast, Queensland starts cyclone clean-up . And in the other big story this week, storm blankets half of US in snow as bitter cold, power outages follow in wake of massive storm but in Canada, much of massive storm misses southern Ontaria . And here in Britain there's a warning over winds of 90mph for parts of Scotland with gales affecting many other parts, together with heavy rain and, in the Highlands, snow - a pretty unsettled few days coming up.

The weather news this week is going to be dominated by 2 big storms on opposite sides of the planet:- In Australia, Queenslanders braced for 'catastrophic' cyclone as Yasi already causing damage in Innisfail - landfall is expected later today. Monster cyclone Yasi eyes Australia in NASA image . And in America, as US prepares for growing winter storm , in Chicago a blizzard traps drivers and Lake Shore Drive rescue drama continues in early am with 'dangerous' winter storm hittin Ont. , Canada as well. NASA satellites capture data on monster winter storm affecting 30 states . And we're not entirley missing out on things here in Britain either as the first Atlantic storm of the years means winds of up to 90mph to hit Scotland . In the Malaysian floods, another body found, death toll at 5 30 cars crash as rain turns to ice in North Lincs With Malaysia destroying its forests three times faster than all Asia combined , Can palm oil plantations be good news? Only...