Earth ChangesS


Fire

Western wildfires triple in size; evacuations ordered in at least three states

Ada Carr
The Weather Channel
Sat, 18 Jun 2016 17:09 UTC
wildfire chilili
© Roberto E. Rosales/The Albuquerque Journal via APResidents of the town of Chilili along state road 337 begin to evacuate due to the Dog Head wildfire near the Manzano mountains, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Chilili, N.M.
Major wildfires burning across the West have consumed tens of thousands of acres and forced evacuations in at least three states. In New Mexico, one particular wildfire exploded in size on Thursday.

Dry conditions are hampering firefighting efforts in a region that's expected to see dangerous and potentially deadly heat over the weekend and into early next week.

"Humidity values less than 15 percent and dew points as low as the single digits will be present and persistent across a large portion of the Southwest through at least Sunday," said weather.com meteorologist Jonathan Belles.
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Cloud Precipitation

'Hailstorm from hell': Baseball-size hail slams Middleburg, Virginia

Angela Fritz and Jeff Halverson
Washington Post
Fri, 17 Jun 2016 15:20 UTC
Damage to a friends car caught in the hail near Middleburg
© Randy BennDamage to a car caught in the hail near Middleburg
Baseball-size hail, damaging winds and at least one possible tornado raked through Virginia, Maryland and the District on Thursday in the region's most intense severe thunderstorm day so far this year.

Five tornado warnings were issued in the D.C. region Thursday afternoon and night, beginning with storms west of Interstate 81 in Morgan and Berkeley counties in West Virginia. As the storms tracked southwest, tornado warnings were issued for parts of Clarke, Loudoun and Fauquier counties. The National Weather Service said it will be inspecting damage in Morgan County and that it is considering surveying reports of possible tornado damage in Berkeley and Clarke counties.

As of 11 a.m., none of the possible tornadoes had been confirmed. Photos taken during the storms do not actually indicate that any of the funnels were on the ground.

Baseball-size hail in Middleburg, Va.
© Teresa Dubovsky Baseball-size hail in Middleburg, Va.
Hailstones the size of baseballs fell in Middleburg, Va., on the border of Loudoun and Fauquier counties. Numerous cars were damaged, their windshields blown out and bodies dented.


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Cloud Precipitation

State of emergency declared for 9 Oklahoma counties following floods and storms

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Thu, 16 Jun 2016 13:51 UTC
Floods in Gavin County, Oklahoma, June 2016.
© Gavin County Sheriff’s OfficeFloods in Gavin County, Oklahoma, June 2016.
A state of emergency for nine counties in Oklahoma was declared on 14 June 2016 after severe floods and storms in the state that began Saturday 11 June, 2016.

The counties covered in the declaration are: Caddo, Carter, Comanche, Cotton, Garvin, Grady, McClain, Murray and Stephens, although further counties may be added in the future.

In the declaration, Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb said:
"Since Saturday, these Oklahoma counties have experienced flooding, severe storms, tornadoes and straight-line winds. Initial reports show damage in numerous communities including Apache, Cyril, Lawton, Maysville and Walters. Further damage assessments are ongoing."
The executive order allows state agencies to make emergency purchases related to disaster relief and preparedness. It is also the first step toward seeking federal aid should it be necessary.

The National Weather Service said that as much as 9 inches (228 mm) of rain fell in the morning of 12 June in Maysville, Garvin County.



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Black Cat

Mother pulls mountain lion off her 5-year-old son near Aspen, Colorado

Darren Whitehead
9news.com
Sat, 18 Jun 2016 11:53 UTC
Mountain lion
Mountain lion
A five-year-old boy was attacked by a mountain lion at around 8 p.m. Friday.

The attack happened in the family's yard at their home near Lower River Rd. about 10 miles northwest of Aspen.

The boy suffered injuries to his head, neck, and face, according to the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office.

A news release said the boy and his older brother were outside their home playing in the yard. The boys' mother was inside the home and heard her son start screaming.

The mother ran outside and saw the mountain lion on top of her child. She then fought off the lion and pulled her son out of its grip.

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Arrow Down

Two giant sinkholes at risk of colliding in Texas claim researchers

Leeanna McLean
The Weather Network
Fri, 17 Jun 2016 14:22 UTC
sinkholes in Wink, Texas
© Google Maps The Wink sinkholes are about one mile apart.
Just days after a massive sinkhole opened up in the Ottawa downtown core, scientists are now warning that two giant and rapidly expanding sinkholes in Texas are at risk of collapsing into each other.

They are about 2 km apart and sit between the cities of Wink and Kermit in the West Texas oil patch. A population of nearly 7,000 people live in the area.

Satellite radar imagery shows the sinkholes are growing and new ones are forming at an "alarming rate" as nearby subsidence occurs, according to a study recently published in the scientific journal Remote Sensing.

Geophysicists at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas say the area surrounding the two massive sinkholes is unstable, which could lead to the development of one giant sinkhole.

"This area is heavily populated with oil and gas production equipment and installations, hazardous liquid pipelines, as well as two communities. The intrusion of freshwater to underground can dissolve the interbedded salt layers and accelerate the sinkhole collapse," said Jim-Woo Kim, who leads the SMU geophysical team reporting the findings. "A collapse could be catastrophic. Following our study, we are collecting more high-resolution satellite data over the sinkholes and neighboring regions to monitor further development and collapse."
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Fire

'Firenado' spotted inside California's Sherpa wildfire which has tripled in size

Doyle Rice
USA TODAY
Fri, 17 Jun 2016 16:48 UTC
Firenado in Sherpa wildfire, California
© YouTube/Focus Tv (screen capture)
A wildfire in Southern California spawned a fire whirl, also known as a firenado or fire tornado.

A fire whirl is a "spinning vortex column of ascending hot air and gases rising from a fire and carrying aloft smoke, debris and flame," according to the Bureau of Land Management's Glossary of Wildland Fire Terminology.

Fire whirls range in size from less than 1 foot to more than 500 feet in diameter," the glossary said. "Large fire whirls have the intensity of a small tornado."

These fire whirls can form in any size fire, but they are most destructive in large ones. Created by cool air rushing to take the place of hot air, the whirl's spinning can hurl embers and sparks great distances. Whirls usually intensify a wildfire.

Fire whirls are more likely to occur where winds are forced to change directions, such as near a grove of trees.

Thursday's firenado occurred during the Sherpa Fire, which has burned about 1,400 acres west of Santa Barbara, Calif. Authorities evacuated 400 homes and businesses, Reuters reported.


Comment: The Sherpa fire has grown to nearly 6,000 acres after it tripled in size yesterday. Officials described the blaze as 20% contained as a hot, windy weekend looms. See also:

Could 2016 be California's worst wildfire season?

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Wolf

Woman found dead following attack by dog pack in Manor, Texas


kvue.com
Fri, 17 Jun 2016 20:38 UTC
Caged dog
© City of austin
The Travis County Sheriff's department is investigating an incident in Northeast Travis County after deputies discovered the body of a woman attacked by several dogs.

Deputies said they were dispatched to the 12300 block of Fay Street near east Parmer Lane in Manor Wednesday night.

Erin McCleskey, 36, was visiting the residence to handle a business-related matter when she entered the front gate of the property and was attacked by dogs, according to a press release from the Travis County Sheriff's Office.

Her family told KVUE that she worked as a licensed contracted process server for her stepdad's company, EZ Messenger. The company handles civil paperwork like child support, divorce papers and lawsuits.

Animal Protection officers impounded six dogs from the properties. They also found 14 young puppies that were also living on the property.

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Cloud Precipitation

Floods destroy roads and force evacuations in British Columbia, Canada

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Fri, 17 Jun 2016 15:10 UTC
Floods have caused major damage to transport in Peace River Regional District in northeastern British Columbia, Canada.
© BC Ministry of TransportationFloods have caused major damage to transport in Peace River Regional District in northeastern British Columbia, Canada.
High levels of rain since 14 June 2016 have caused major flooding in the Peace River Regional District in northeastern British Columbia, Canada.

Dawson Creek and Chetwynd, around 100km west, are two of the worst hit areas. Evacuations have been carried out and flooding has caused severe damage to roads and infrastructure. However, no injuries or fatalities have occurred.

On 15 June, the Mayor of the District of Chetwynd declared a state of local emergency within District of Chetwynd boundaries as a result of the floods. According to Environment Canada, 79 mm of rain had fell in Chetwynd by noon on June 15, 2016.

"We all need to take measures to ensure our families, structures and livestock are safe at this time," stated Mayor Merlin Nichols.

In Dawson Creek, 60 residences were evacuated due to flooding from the creek that cuts through the centre of the city, said Mayor Dale Bumstead.

Dawson Creek floods, British Columbia, Canada, June 2016.
© City of Dawson CreekDawson Creek floods, British Columbia, Canada, June 2016.

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Cloud Lightning

Lightning bolt kills 2 children in Bangladesh


The Daily Star (Bangladesh)
Fri, 17 Jun 2016 09:20 UTC
lightning
Two minor boys were killed in a lightning strike at Sardarpara village in Melandah upazila of the district yesterday.

The deceased is Abdul Alim, 10, son of Ramjan Ali, and Raihan, 6, son of Fulu Mia, of the village.

Locals and victims' family members said a streak of thunderbolts struck the two boys while they were playing in a field during rain around 3:00pm, leaving them seriously injured.

Villagers took them to Melandah Upazila Health Complex where the doctors declared them dead, Kishmat Pasha, chairman of Nangla union parishad said.
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Cloud Lightning

Tree bursts into flames from inside following huge lightning strike in Springdale, Arkansas


Daily Mirror
Thu, 16 Jun 2016 08:52 UTC
A huge crack can clearly be seen in the tree trunk
© ViralHogA huge crack can clearly be seen in the tree trunk
This is the dramatic moment a tree bursts into flames after it is hit by a bolt of lightning .

The foliage set on fire after a particularly vicious lightning strike in Springdale, Arkansas in the US on June 12.

In the clip, the tree appears to be on fire from the inside out, with a huge crack running down the entire length of the trunk.

Incidents like these occur when 'cloud-to-ground' lightning bolts strike tall objects, like trees or buildings.

According to the National Weather Service : "Most lightning flashes consist of one or more leaders/return strokes.

"Some flashes contain a continuous flow of electricity, called continuing current. Rather than the charge flowing intermittently in one or more quick surges (return strokes), in continuing current, the charge flows continuously over a longer period of time.

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