Earth ChangesS


Windsock

SOTT Focus: Storms Batter The Netherlands: All Five Dutch Storm Gates Closed For The First Time In History

storm nederland
© Tineke DijkstraStrong storm on the Dutch coast. The storm led to high water levels near the shore.
When storm Eleanor was sweeping through Europe in early January, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) issued a code orange weather warning for northwestern provinces due to powerful wind gusts. The storm caused widespread damage and chaos in the Netherlands: Trees crashed down blocking the roads, flights were canceled, and several buildings were damaged.

It also led to high water levels, which moved the Dutch infrastructure agency, Rijkswaterstaat, to simultaneously close all five flood barriers for the first time in history. These storm surge barriers are:
  • The Maeslantkering, a flood barrier on the Nieuwe Waterweg, which closes if the city of Rotterdam is threatened by floods.
  • The Hartelkering, another barrier which lies in the city of Spijkenisse. The last time this gate was closed, was in November 8th, 2007, after a storm hit the Dutch coast.
  • The five-mile-long Oosterscheldekering in the province Zeeland, south-west of the country.
  • The Hollandsche IJsselkering in the province Zuid-Holland, near the city of Rotterdam.
  • The Balgstuw Ramspol, an inflatable rubber dam, which lies between the lakes Ketelmeer and the Zwarte Meer, in the province of Flevoland.

Attention

Mass of dead and dying seabirds on Bay of Plenty shores in New Zealand

A blue penguin washed up on Mount main beach on Wednesday.
© George NovakA blue penguin washed up on Mount main beach on Wednesday.
The Western Bay and ARRC Wildlife Trusts are urging the public to be aware of seabirds washing up on Bay of Plenty shores.

Julia Graham, Western Bay Wildlife Trust chairperson, said there was a mass seabird mortality with many dead or dying birds being washed up on the beach.

"Many of these are juveniles that cannot survive in this rough weather and episodes of mass die-off are a natural course of events," she said.

Seismograph

Shallow 5.8 magnitude off Raoul Island, New Zealand

Seismogram as recorded in the scientific station at Raoul Island
Seismogram as recorded in the scientific station at Raoul Island
Most important Earthquake Data:

Magnitude : 5.8

Local Time (conversion only below land) : Unknown

GMT/UTC Time : 2018-01-17 22:56:58

Depth (Hypocenter) : 30.82 km

Snowflake Cold

Winter Storm Inga: Travel chaos, power outages and at least 10 killed in southern US

Winter storm warnings US South
© The Weather ChannelWinter storm warnings have been issued for parts of Texas
Winter Storm Inga unloaded snow and ice on much of the South Tuesday and Wednesday, and with frigid temperatures moving in behind the snowstorm, travel in the region has been all but shut down and at least 100,000 homes and businesses were in the dark.

At least seven deaths have been blamed on the winter storm. Authorities in Bibb County, Georgia, confirmed a fatal crash caused by wintry conditions killed two people Wednesday morning along Interstate 75, and the roadway was shut down the road for an extended period of time. On Tuesday afternoon, a woman died in a crash on Interstate 64 in Cabell County, West Virginia, according to the Charleston Gazette-Mail.

In Metairie, Louisiana, a baby died after a vehicle crashed into a canal, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. The mother remains in critical condition following the crash that was likely caused by icy roads, the report added. The governor's office announced three more deaths caused by the storm.

Three other deaths were blamed on the brutally cold weather that rushed in behind the storm. Officials in Houston reported two deaths from cold-weather exposure and Memphis authorities said there was one confirmed fatality.

Hundreds of flights were canceled across the South again on Wednesday, including in Atlanta and Charlotte, where the former was in a ground stop in the morning hours and the latter was facing multi-hour delays.

Residents were urged to stay home and off the roads as several Southern cities attempted to avoid a repeat of recent "Snowpocalypse" events, when hundreds of thousands of motorists were stranded on icy roadways for several hours. Nevertheless, officials reported hundreds of accidents on slick roads in the metro Atlanta area on Wednesday


Comment: How treacherous did some of the roads get? Check out this tweet of the ice skating police officer:

Winter Storm Inga is the second major storm to hit the US in two weeks following Storm Grayson. A new storm system is forecast for the US West, Plains and Midwest into next week.


Snow Globe

Lost in time: Abandoned home in Russia encased in glistening sheets of ice and snow (VIDEO)

Housed encased in snow
© Ruptly
Winter's frosty embrace has transformed an abandoned Russian residence into an incredible icy palace, where frozen stalagmites hang like chandeliers.

The home in Ekaterinburg, where temperatures can easily reach minus 17 degrees celsius in January, appears locked in time thanks to a burst water mains that has almost entirely coated the interior rooms in ice.

Comment: See also: Oymyakon, Siberia: Thermometer breaks in world's coldest village as temperatures plunge to -62C


Play

Strange sounds heard in the skies of England

Strange sounds in England
© YouTube/Rickrocklane
Strange sounds coming from the sky in England. Any ideas?


Music

Trumpeting noises heard in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Trumpet sounds in Regina, SK
© YouTube/Riddler00010
Birds hit the back of the house and heard STRANGE sounds in the sky. Who else heard it??? EEEE LOLJK


Comment: Please excuse the foul language.



Question

Strange trumpet sounds heard in Garland, Texas

Strange sounds in Garland, TX
© YouTube/jajajaja beans
Strange Trumpet Sounds from Sky in Texas:


Rainbow

Rare iridescent rainbow cloud spotted above Darwin, Australia

A spectacular cloud formation caught the attention of Darwin residents during Sunday's storms
A spectacular cloud formation caught the attention of Darwin residents during Sunday's storms
We've heard of clouds having silver linings, but Northern Territory locals have been treated to the sight of clouds with a stunning rainbow lining.

On Sunday, just before a storm hit Darwin, several clouds began to shimmer with a multicoloured glow.

Those who saw it took to social media to try and describe the phenomenon. One called it an "ice prism," another a "cloud bow" due to its resemblance to a rainbow.

"It's incredible," said an Instagram user. "I'm totally not doing this justice".

Seismograph

Buildings shake as 5.7 magnitude earthquake rocks Taiwan

earthquake taipei 2018
© Central Weather Bureau
A 5.7 magnitude earthquake has rocked Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan, according to the Central Meteorological Bureau. Local witnesses reported a slight rocking of buildings in the city.

The quake's epicenter was nearly 12km north of Taipei City Hall, at a depth of 140km.