Earth Changes

Louisiana capsizing: 12 lost at sea after 'microburst' storm hits coast

Gino Spocchia
The Independent
Thu, 15 Apr 2021 07:08 UTC

A photo from the US Coast Guard showing a capsized vessel off Louisiana

Twelve people are reportedly lost at sea following the capsizing of a vessel in so-called "microburst" winds off the coast of Louisiana.

Officials from the US Coast Guard were assisting in the search for survivors on Tuesday afternoon, with reports of "multiple people in the water" from at least one vessel, Fox 8 reported. Others are also assisting in the search.

Six individuals were rescued from the water, with as many as 18 thought to be on board the vessel that capsized in storm winds, south of Grand Isle, Louisiana, in the Gulf of Mexico.

The vessel, according to the Coast Guard, is a 129-foot lift boat, the Seacor Power. Similar boats are used in the operation of offshore drilling sites.

It was thought to be caught in 75mph winds before capsizing. A weather warning was issued by the US National Weather Service for "very strong winds" earlier on Tuesday.

Spring storm drops up a foot of snow in Wyoming

Greg Hirst
Oil City News
Fri, 16 Apr 2021 19:57 UTC

4.5 inches of snowfall fell in Casper between Wednesday night and 7:00 am Friday, according to preliminary snowfall reports by the National Weather Service (NWS) in Riverton.

NWS said the slow-moving spring storm from the south brought "bands of snow" to southern and central Wyoming beginning Wednesday morning.

Fremont County saw the heaviest snowfall accumulations, with 12 inches in Lander and 12.1 inches in Riverton.

Thermopolis in Hot Springs County got 8.5 inches, and parts of Lincoln County got 10.

Another winter storm system is expected to move into Wyoming starting Sunday night, bringing near record lows on Monday.

April snow hits the island of Mallorca, Spain

James Jaume
Majorca Daily Bulletin
Sat, 17 Apr 2021 19:50 UTC

Emergency services warned this morning to stay clear of mountain areas as a result of freezing weather. Anyone planning to go hiking this weekend should make alternative plans, according to emergency services.

The Guardia Civil traffic department also urged people not to head to the mountains to see the snow because of the traffic problems which this causes.

The unsettled weather is expected to continue throughout the weekend.

Surigae is now the strongest typhoon on record for April as it approaches the Philippines - sustained winds of 180mph

Taylor Ward
CNN
Sat, 17 Apr 2021 19:19 UTC

The first super typhoon of the season in the West Pacific is closely approaching the Central Philippines this weekend.

On Saturday afternoon local time, the typhoon strengthened into a super typhoon with sustained winds of 150 mph (240 kph). By Saturday night the super typhoon had intensified even further to 180 mph (287 kph), which is equivalent to a strong category 5 Atlantic hurricane.

Surigae is now the strongest typhoon on record for the month of April, surpassing Typhoon Thelma in 1956 which had maximum sustained winds of 278 kph (173 mph), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration historical hurricane database.

New England residents wake up to April snow on the ground

Today
YouTube
Sat, 17 Apr 2021 19:00 UTC

Storm dumps springtime snow across much of New England

Residents in New England are waking up to snow on the ground after a spring storm dumped a few inches in part of Connecticut and Massachusetts. Meteorologist Somara Theodore is tracking the forecast on Weekend TODAY.

Russian capital breaks 140-year-old record during surge of summerlike warmth

Adam Douty
Yahoo News
Thu, 15 Apr 2021 10:57 UTC

A girl runs through a watering fountain cooling herself during a warm day near the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, Russia

© AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko
A girl runs through a watering fountain cooling herself during a warm day near the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Warm weather led to a temperature record in the Russian capital.

Temperatures in Moscow on Tuesday surged to levels not seen on that day for at least 140 years. The record warmth sent people flocking outdoors to enjoy the unusually warm conditions amid several days of summerlike temperatures.

On Tuesday, the high temperature in Moscow, Russia's capital and largest city, surged to 22.6 C (73 F), making it the highest temperature on April 13 in at least 140 years of observations, Reuters reported.

On Wednesday, another record was set as the temperature rose to 22 C (72 F). This broke the previous record of 20.8 (69.4 F) last reached in 1962, according to Russia's Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring.

High temperatures in Moscow in the lower 20s C (lower 70s F) typically occur during the beginning of June.

The records were broken amid a stretch of warmth that took hold of a large portion of western Russia.

"Temperatures across a large portion of western and central Russia have been running above normal since about April 11," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Richards.

The warmth on the region peaked from April 12 to April 14, with high temperatures 6-13 degrees C (10-20 degrees F) above normal.

Comment: Last month northern European Russia experienced record cold.

Meanwhile earlier this month a record low temperature of -20°C was reported in Slovenia - just 6 days after record heat!

'Ridiculously Heavy': Spring snow breaks branches, causes power outages in Denver, Colorado

Denver.cbslocal.com
Fri, 16 Apr 2021 19:02 UTC

As the snow tapers off around Colorado Friday morning, it leaves behind some roads that are proving treacherous or difficult for drivers.

The heavy spring snow broke branches and downed power lines, leaving thousands without power Friday morning.

At 6 a.m., Xcel Energy reported about 6,400 customers without power across Colorado.

About 3,400 of those are in the Denver metro area.

Lightning strikes kill 4 in 24 hours across Nepal

Khabarhub.com
Fri, 16 Apr 2021 18:33 UTC

Four people have succumbed to death while four others got injured in the lightning and thunder that started Thursday evening.

According to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) sources, the lightning killed four people one each in Bhojpur, Tehrathum, Syangja and Baglung districts in past 24 hours.

The NDRRMA informed that Man Maya Rai, 60, of Shadananda-8, Nigure, Bhojpur, Rohita Magar, 9, of Chhathar-6, Asine, Tehrathum, Ishwari Lamichhane of Fedikhola Municipality, Syangja, and Khim Lal Kandel, 45, of Tarakhola-2, Selekhola, Baglung.

According to the Authority, two girls aged 16 and 13 were injured in Tehrathum, a 50-year-old woman in Taplejung and a 45-year-old woman in Baglung.

The injured are undergoing treatment at the local hospitals, the Authority informed.

Thousands hit by flash floods in Bolivar, Colombia

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Thu, 15 Apr 2021 18:20 UTC

Flash floods have caused severe damage in the municipality of El Carmen de Bolivar in the department of Bolivar in northern Colombia. Local authorities have declared a state of disaster.

Flooding struck on 12 April after hours of heavy rain. Local media said the downpour caused the overflow of the Alférez stream which runs through the municipality. As many as 30 neighbourhoods were affected. Estimates suggest around 70% of the municipality was under water.

Colombia Civil Defence reports that around 900 homes were damaged, affecting 3,274 people, with damage assessments ongoing. Local media reported the numbers affected as much higher, with as many as 4,000 families thought to have been severely affected.

Brrrrr! - Storks in Europe nesting in the snow

Ice Age Now
Thu, 15 Apr 2021 13:30 UTC

After their long journey from tropical Africa, these poor fellows arrived at the wrong time.

The stork is a symbol of Central Europe. Their population numbers several thousand individuals. Each spring, these majestic large birds make a long journey from tropical Africa. But sometimes they arrive at the wrong time ...

During these April days, Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland were covered with snow. The height of freshly fallen snow reaches 10-15 cm (4 to 6 inches).