Weather & Earth Science News

Last update for a couple of days as I'm off to MBA meeting sin Glasgow tomorrow. Freak tornado smashes steel mill in Italian town of Taranto Moscow hit by biggest snowfall in 50 years (for November, that is) (oh, and by the way, there are signs that Britain could have the coldest December for 2 years - you have been warned!) Victorian record falls in heatwave   but in Western Australia, deadly storm: man dies after tree crushes  caravan As flood defences hold and levels start to fall, rescue boat take villagers to buy supplies in Somerset Rock fall closes Jigger's Bank in Shropshire Man in car rescued from floodwater in Shropshire - I hope he's charged with the full costs.    There are too many very stupid motorists out there who seem incapable of understanding that cars are not boats. Small earthquake felt in Cumbria And finally, giant black hole in tiny galaxy confounds astronomers - although maybe they answer the question when t...

Hundreds still homeless as they await return to flood-hit homes Sadly in Wales, rescuers find woman dead at St Asaph and there's anger as Ruthin's Glasdir estate hit by floods East coast rail services hit by landslide near Darlington River levels across North Yorkshire reach their peak Floods and phlegmatism: tales from Tewkesbury - where folk expect floods And from Cambridgeshire, warnings that stranded drivers face prosecution if they'd ignored warning signs   Wild storm hits Western Australia whilst in Victoria, hot air and winds could drive mercury to record levels this week After a snowstorm in Japan, 41,000 Hokkaido homes lose power The latest is the ever-changing sea level saga is that sea levels to rise by more than 1m by 2100 Thawing of permafrost expected to caue significant additional global warming, not yet accounted for in climate predictions Some good news as Amazon deforestaion 'at record low' And ...

The worse hit area today is North Wales where 500 told to leave homes in St Asaph   as across the country, flooding continues to threaten hundreds of homes .   Levels in Evesham have fallen further and looks like we're now out of the 'danger zone', though folk downstream at Tewkesbury continue to worry as the Severn rises and Gloucestershire flooding residents make rescue decision Elsewhere in Wales, roads closed and trains cancelled Trail of destruction as floods spead north Travel disrupted by heavy rain in northern England and Wales Flood warning after South Yorkshire boat rescue drama and pumped-up firefighters save Beverley homes .   In Essex, men in car flood rescued by boat The good news is that today should see the last of the rain for at least a few days with colder, frosty, weather on the way.   Though sadly this only leads to the Daily Express reguritating the same old rubbish, scaring the public by falsely claimi...

Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny in Evesham, giving me a chance to get out and take a few photos.  The river level continued to rise through the day peaking at just below 4m - still a meter and a half below the 2007 levels and as a consequence, although disruptive, there doesn't appear at present to have been too much serious damage to property in the town . Today local schools are closed . Across the country, more than 800 homes flooded as storm hit with  almost 300 flood warnings issued as Britain faces further deluges   Lots of pictures from around the country in the Daily Mail Over the weekend: A55 at Bangor closed as 70mph wind batter Wales Homes evacuated after landslide near Bristol Malmesbury flooding: four people rescued from homes Woman in tent killed in Exeter tree fall as floods hit county Man dies as car goes into river in Cambridgeshire And near Alcester in Friday, three swept away in car escape injury

Excellent night in Wolverhampton last night watching Runrig in one of their best shows ever.   Thanks guys!  Whilst I was out, another 14.5mm of rain fell, though surprisingly this doesn't seem to have raised the river level any higher - to the relief of many.   But another inch is forecast for Saturday night ..... Already Evesham has been in the news as the BBC report on how floating caravans on the Avon protected - these caravans were submerged to their roofs in 2007.   Meanwhile the local paper reports in flooding chaos in the Vale . But we're not the only ones, problems have been widespread across the country Birmingham mosque and house roofs blown off in strong winds Driver dies after his car is swept around by rising water leaving him trapped inside North Wales hit by flooding and travel nightmare after rain batters region Residents evacuated after Exeter wall collapse And in the US: Fog suspected in 100-vehicle Texas...

After 24.9mm of rain yesterday, river levels in Evesham are the highest we've had for some time, with more rain to come later today and through the weekend.   So a few worried folk about as heavy rain due to cause more flooding in Midlands and South West .   Just so long as I get to Wolverhampton and back tonight for the Runrig gig! 'Turn off Christmas lights and buy sandbags': warning to families as torrential rain causes flooding and fierce winds delay ferries In Galloway today Lochans and Leswalt power cut after lightning strikes as heavy rain and strong winds sweep across Scotland Meanwhile, further afield a huge Martian dust storm picks up steam but more intriguing news as Curiosity team set to announce 'major discovery on surface of Red planet' - is there life in Mars?

It's a wet day in England - over half an inch of rain here already this morning.  More wet and windy weather over the next couple of days as well.  But looks like turning more settled and a good deal colder next week.  The start of winter?  Maybe .... In Wales, weather warning issued as downpours trigger problems for drivers whilst heavy rain causes flooding in the West And never one to let the chance of a misleading sensational weather related headline get away, the Express today have decided that Britain to face floods for 100 years .   Well here's news: we've been facing floods for millions of years and will do so for every year for at least the next few million.   Don't forget that Nathan Rao has also assured us that this'll be the coldest winter for 100 years ...... New Zealand's Mount Tongaririo erupts Universities to study far north peat bog restoration - though of course, we shouldn't forget that it was, at least in part, ...