Earth ChangesS


Snowflake

Winter in Switzerland makes March comeback

snow
It's a case of "now you see me, now you don't" as the Swiss spring takes a break in the north of the country.

After a snowy weekend in some places, much of Switzerland is set for a cold and grey start to this week with maximum temperatures in the north of the country only just above freezing.

While Geneva can expect to bask in a decidedly more spring-like maximum temperature of 8C on Monday, in Zurich, Bern and Basel the mercury is set to top out at 3C. Meanwhile, in St Gallen it will be a decidedly cold -1C.

There isn't much relief in sight either: weather in the north of Switzerland is expected to remain on the chilly side until the weekend. Night time temperatures will be between -3C and -6C up until Friday. On the plus side, skies should brighten from Tuesday onwards.

Snowflake

Idaho ski resorts receive late winter dollop of snow - up to 18 inches in 24 hours

Brundage has plenty of fresh powder after a winter storm dropped more than a foot of new snow on the mountain this weekend.
© Photo: Brundage MountainBrundage has plenty of fresh powder after a winter storm dropped more than a foot of new snow on the mountain this weekend.
The official start of spring is just a couple days away, but several Idaho ski resort are reporting prime winter skiing conditions after a storm dropped a big helping of fresh snow on the mountain this weekend.

Brundage Mountain received 18 inches of snow in just over 24 hours, the resort said in a news release on Sunday.

"This was a nice surprise and nicely timed," said resort spokesperson, April Whitney. "The forecast had us hoping for six inches and to get a foot and a half of light, January-style powder is always a pleasant surprise."

Brundage Mountain now has a snowbase ranging from 65 to 99 inches.


Question

Mysterious optical phenomenon sighted over Scotland

'STEVE' over Sctoland
© John Gray/Twitter @GM7PBB

Stargazers in Scotland have spotted a mysterious new celestial phenomenon -- which has been given the unlikely name 'Steve'.

Sightings of the glowing green and purple lights have been seen during displays of the Aurora Borealis overnight from the isles of Skye and Lewis.

There have also been reported sightings from near Oban in Argyll and Gairloch in Wester Ross.

Given its more accurate description of Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, the unusual lights have already sparked the interest of scientists, photographers and astronauts, with Nasa funding a citizen science project to learn more about the optical phenomenon.

It describes Steve as a thin purple ribbon of light, aligned east to west, which can extend for hundreds or thousands of miles.

Lasting for up to an hour, it is sometimes accompanied by "a rapidly evolving green picket fence-like" aurora.


Cloud Precipitation

At least 17 die and 15,000 affected as Tropical Storm Eliakim slams Madagascar (VIDEOS)

A section of the road washed away by floods in Maroanstetra District in north-eastern Madagascar following the landing of tropical storm Eliakim on the island nation on March 17, 2018.
© RIVONALA RAZAFISONA section of the road washed away by floods in Maroanstetra District in north-eastern Madagascar following the landing of tropical storm Eliakim on the island nation on March 17, 2018.
A powerful tropical storm which swept through Madagascar has left 17 people dead and affected thousands of others, according to an official toll published on Sunday.

Storm Eliakim packed winds of up to 105 kilometres (65 miles) an hour after hitting the northeast of the Indian Ocean island on Friday and barrelling down the east coast.

15,000 Affected

The death toll was announced by the country's disaster management office, which also said 15,000 people had been affected by the storm.

Madagascar, one of the poorest countries on the planet, has been hit by about 40 cyclones and tropical storms over the past 10 years.


Info

Is the world headed for a food crisis? (VIDEO)

Freeze damage on sizing blueberries
Freeze damage on sizing blueberries
What does a reduction in sunspots mean for crop yield?

15 Mar 2018 - "What you are about to witness is mind-blowing," says Diamond of the Oppenheimer Ranch Project. "Yesterday on AgDay two analysts discuss the coming Grand Solar Minimum and associated crop losses and global famine as if it were a passing fad."


Cloud Precipitation

Floods kill 15 people in Kenya, scores of families displaced (VIDEOS)

A passenger is rescued from a submerging Matatu along Grogon area Near Kirinyaga road following heavy down pour witnessed in Nairobi and its Outskirts on March 15,2018.
© ENOS TECHEA passenger is rescued from a submerging Matatu along Grogon area Near Kirinyaga road following heavy down pour witnessed in Nairobi and its Outskirts on March 15,2018.
Kenyan officials said Friday that at least 15 people have drowned and scores of families have been displaced across the East African nation during two days of heavy rainfall that caused flooding in urban and rural areas.

The deaths happened as flood and river waters swept through Kenyan towns that had experienced drought months earlier, officials said. Kenya declared the drought a national disaster that put thousands of people at risk of starvation last year.

Four of those killed were in a truck carrying charcoal in Kitui County that was swept away by the flooded River Enziu. Mwingi East Police Chief Paul Munene said four of the truck's eight occupants were rescued before the truck was engulfed with water.


Comment: Nairobi was also hit by extreme flooding at the start of March, see: Heavy rainfall pounds, floods parts of Nairobi, Kenya (VIDEOS, PHOTOS)


Info

Adapt 2030 Ice Age Report: Cosmic rays, atmospheric floods and record snows - are they connected? (VIDEO)

Flash flood
Torrential rain causes flash floods in Belo Horizonte in Brazil
Cosmic rays are intensifying, there are now so many sources saying so. Now add into this the weakening magnetosphere, wandering jet streams and out of season extreme weather, then you see that the 400 year cycle in our Sun termed a Grand Solar Minimum, is here. Atmospheric compression event in Brazil, records snows on tap for Europe and Japan, but still the media won't connect the cosmic ray dots.


Comment: See also:


Cloud Lightning

Lightning bolt kills two schoolboys in Bangladesh

lightning
Two schoolboys were killed and a house wife was injured in separate incidents of lightning strike in Matiranga, Guimara and Mahalchhari upazilas of the district on Saturday.

The deceased were identified as Sadhan Tripura, 15, a class five student of Matiranga Model School in Matiranga and Mikita Tripura, 10, a student of Shwashanpara Primary School of Guimara.

In Mahalchhari, Shefalika Chakma, 25, a house wife survived with critical burn injury during lightning around 4:30pm and was taken to a local healthcare centre.

Comment: Elsewhere recently lightning killed an individual in Kenya.


Sun

Hottest autumn day in 78 years hits Sydney, Australia

Record high temps in Australia
© WeatherzoneThis map shows the extraordinary temperatures forecast for NSW on Sunday
Sydney has sweltered through its hottest autumn day in 78 years, with temperatures soaring past 40C on Sunday.

The mercury hit 40.5C at Sydney Airport in the city's inner-south, a staggering 16C higher than the average March temperature of 24C.

Even the eastern beaches saw temperatures as high as 39C as north-westerly winds counteracted any sea breeze.

Weatherzone meteorologist Graeme Brittain told Daily Mail Australia the scorching temperatures were 'highly unusual'.

Mr Brittain said wind gusts in excess of 90km tore through the New South Wales coastline, but brought little reprieve from the heat.

He warned temperatures would likely remain high overnight.

Sunbathers flocked to Sydney's beaches on Sunday amid the sweltering autumn heatwave.

Bondi beach was packed with revellers in search of some relief from the scorching hot temperatures.

Comment: Meanwhile around 31 grassfires have swept across Victoria, Australia.


Cloud Precipitation

Flash floods leave one dead, several others swept away in Uganda

Flooding water at Rwizi Arch Hotel in Kamukuzi Division, Mbarara District after heavy downpour on Wednesday.
© FELIX AINEBYOONAFlooding water at Rwizi Arch Hotel in Kamukuzi Division, Mbarara District after heavy downpour on Wednesday.
Police in Mbarara District have confirmed one person dead and several others displaced by floods following a heavy downpour on Wednesday.

A building under construction at Rwizi Arch Hotel in Kamukuzi Division collapsed also due to heavy rain.

Running water around the same area swept unspecified number of people who were traveling on Boda bodas.

The Rwizi region police spokesperson, Mr Samson Kasasira said police are doing all they can to rescue people.