Earth ChangesS


Cloud Precipitation

Floods and heavy rain affect 5,000 in Guatemala

Richard Davies
FloodList
Mon, 21 May 2018 19:28 UTC
Floods in Guatemala, May 2018.
© Cruz Roja GuatemalaFloods in Guatemala, May 2018.
Civil protection in Guatemala (System of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction - CONRED) reported on 18 May that almost 6,000 people had been affected by heavy rain and flooding over the last 3 days.

The country's National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh) said that over 100 mm of rain fell in 24 hours in 6 different locations on 15 May and in 3 different locations the next day.

CONRED says that there have been 19 incidents of flooding and damaging rainfall, affecting 5,594 people. The worst affected departments are Chiquimula, El Progreso, Guatemala, Petén, Quetzaltenango, Sacatepéquez, Sololá, San Marcos and Suchitepéquez.
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Cloud Precipitation

Erratic seasons and extreme weather devastating crops around the world


Fresh Plaza
Mon, 21 May 2018 12:00 UTC
Blueberry blooms damaged by the April 6th freeze.
© Debbie RoosAn example of crop damage: Blueberry blooms damaged by frost in April 6th 2016.
China: Pineapple market may recover Although this is normally the peak season in Xuwen for pineapple supplies to the market, according to fruit farmers in Xuwen the retail of pineapples is in a "severe winter". Earlier this year a cold wave hit Xuwen, just as pineapples began to appear on the market. The product quality suffered, and the price dropped. In some places Xuwen pineapples even became unmarketable.
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Cloud Precipitation

Heavy rains, landslides kill 5 in Sri Lanka, while Cyclone Sagar kills 15 in Somaliland


Cyprus Mail
Mon, 21 May 2018 19:05 UTC
flood
Heavy monsoon rains in Sri Lanka have killed five people, prompting authorities to warn against landslides and floods in low-lying areas after spill gates had to be opened across the Indian Ocean island.

Lightning killed three people, a landslide a fourth, and the fifth death was the result of a fallen tree, said officials at the country's Disaster Management Centre.

The centre's spokesman, Pradeep Kodippili, said flooding has forced the evacuation of people in areas where several rivers are overflowing, while four districts are on "red alert" for possible landslides.

People in those four districts have been cautioned to be vigilant," Kodippili told Reuters.

The army has sent more than 100 soldiers with more than 25 boats to tackle the emergency, its spokesman, Sumith Atapattu, told Reuters.


Comment: Rare cyclone in Gulf of Aden brings flooding to Yemen, Somalia, Djibouti

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Fire

Kilauea volcano growing more hazardous - spewing lava causes first major injury


The Guardian
Sun, 20 May 2018 08:47 UTC
Kilauea volcano grows
A volcano on Hawaii's Big Island that is oozing and spewing lava and exploding with ash and gas has become more hazardous in recent days, with rivers of molten rock flowing into the ocean and flying lava causing the first major injury.

Kilauea began erupting more than two weeks ago. It has burned dozens of homes, forced people to flee and shot up plumes of steam from its summit that led officials to distribute face masks to protect against ash particles. Lava flows have grown more vigorous in past days, in one instance spattering molten rock that hit a man in the leg.

The man was outside his home on Saturday in the remote, rural region affected by the volcano when the lava "hit him on the shin, and shattered everything from there down on his leg" said Hawaii County mayor's spokeswoman Janet Snyder told Hawaii News Now TV.

Lava flying through the air from cracks in the earth can weigh as much as a refrigerator and even small pieces can be lethal, officials said.

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Attention

Dead humpback whale found at Ocean Shores, Washington


komonews
Mon, 21 May 2018 13:42 UTC
A dead humpback whale washed ashore at Ocean Shores, Wash., on Sunday, May 20, 2018.
© Cascadia ResearchA dead humpback whale washed ashore at Ocean Shores, Wash., on Sunday, May 20, 2018.
A dead humpback whale washed ashore Sunday morning at Ocean Shores.

John Calambokidis, senior research biologist with Cascadia Research Collective, said the whale, a young female, was entangled in crab gear, which may have caused its death.

The dead whale was seen floating off shore Friday and was reported to the Coast Guard. It was found washed ashore Sunday morning.

Calambokidis described the whale as 28 and a half feet long and estimated that it was 1 to 2 years old.

The whale will eventually be buried.
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Cloud Precipitation

Flash flood strikes again in Ankara, Turkey - 2nd such event in 2 weeks


EuroNews
Mon, 21 May 2018 13:14 UTC
flood
A mass clean up operation is underway after heavy rainfall caused parts of Ankara to flood. Roads turned into rivers as rain came down on the Turkish capital city.

Dramatic footage showed people standing on top of their vehicles waiting for help. The flood waters damaged local shops causing severe damage.

Firefighters have been helping the operation to save people stuck in the floods and clean up the city.


Comment: Just 2 weeks ago: Unexpected flood hits Ankara, Turkey - vehicles float down streets

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Cloud Lightning

Lightning strikes have killed at least 50 people and 52 cattle across Cambodia so far in 2018

Mom Kunthear
Khmer Times
Mon, 21 May 2018 12:48 UTC
A dead cow after being hit by lightning.
© Swift NewsA dead cow after being hit by lightning.
Lightning strikes have killed at least 50 people thus far this year, a government official said on Friday.

Keo Vy, spokesman for the National Committee for Disaster Management, said in a statement that since January, 50 people have been killed and another 37 injured, while 52 cattle were killed and more than ten houses were damaged.

"Everyone must be careful during rainstorms and beware of lightning," he said. "Most will occur in April, May and June. It is a dangerous period for natural disasters."

Shortly after Mr Vy's statement was issued, two more people were killed as they slept after being struck with lightning at their home in Ratanakkiri province's Veun Sai district.
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Attention

3 monk seals found dead off Oahu, Hawaii

Dillon Ancheta
Hawaii News Now
Sat, 19 May 2018 12:30 UTC
Ua Malie previously seen resting with her pup on a beach.
© Nate Yuen/FacebookUa Malie previously seen resting with her pup on a beach.
NOAA officials are stressing the importance of reporting monk seal sightings following the discovery of three dead seals around Oahu this week.

The first dead monk seal was discovered Tuesday. NOAA officials say RK60 was found floating offshore in Kaneohe Bay.

The second discovery was made in Laie on Wednesday when a female pup was found dead. A day later, an adult female seal was found dead in Kahuku. That seal has been identified as Ua Malie, and is believed to be the dead pup's mother.

On all three seals, officials conducted examinations to determine the cause of death.
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Cloud Precipitation

Ice Age Farmer Report: Kilauea's explosive eruption, biblical hail kills people, crops


Ice Age Farmer
Fri, 18 May 2018 19:37 UTC
volcano
Explosive eruption at Kilauea this morning after increased seismic activity overnight. More massive hail storms around the world are damaging people, homes, animals, and crops alike, much as records from the previous Grand Solar Minima indicate happened in the past as well. Are you growing your own food yet?


Sources

Comment: See in addition for some more historical perspective: Baseball-sized hail: How severe hailstorms have caused devastation and killed people

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Black Cat

Mountain lion kills biker near North Bend, Washington


wpxi.com
Sun, 20 May 2018 13:58 UTC
A cougar
© DreamstimeA cougar
A mountain lion attacked two bikers, leaving one dead Saturday, according to King County Sheriff's officials.

See a photo of the mountain lion here (WARNING: Graphic).

Emergency crews responded to a report of a mountain lion attack in the foothills near North Bend around 11:20 a.m. Saturday, Eastside fire officials said.

Comment: Just to show the rarity of this kind of attack on people another report from The Seattle Times contains the following pertinent extract:
This was just the second fatal cougar attack in the state in the last 94 years, according to the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Interestingly, Wikipedia lists only 20 fatalities due to cougar attacks in North America between 1890 and 2011. Prior to 1990 most involved children while for the 3 most recent decades fatalities totaled 9 but with only one youngster killed

Are they becoming less wary and aggressive toward adults humans?.

See also these other reports from the last 5 years of non-fatal attacks on people: Jogger uses rock to battle cougar in attack on Vancouver Island, Canada

Cougar attacks pipeline worker near Grande Prairie, Canada

A third cougar attack within a month leaves six-year-old California boy injured

Teenager attacked by cougar in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta

Some wild animals are losing fear of humans: Biologist recovering after cougar assault in Grand Prairie, Alberta

Cougar attack in British Columbia leaves woman in critical condition

Man fights off cougar with skateboard; Parks Canada tracking animal

Hiker attack by mountain lion reported near Waynesboro, Virginia

Man sustains minor injuries after attack by mountain lion near Libby, Montana

Mountain lion sought after apparent attack on homeless man, Perris, California

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

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