Earth ChangesS


Binoculars

Birdwatchers thrilled as a record 80 rare hoopoes seen in Ireland

Eithne Dodd
RTE
Fri, 04 Apr 2025 20:10 UTC
Vinny Hyland spotted an African Hoopoe in Kerry last week
© Vinny HylandVinny Hyland spotted an African Hoopoe in Kerry last week
Birdwatchers have been treated to multiple sightings of African Hoopoes as around 80 of the colourful, migratory birds have arrived in Ireland in the past two weeks.

African Hoopoes do not usually migrate as far north as Ireland, but it is believed that a weather phenomenon, known as Sahara Dust, has carried them here.

The previous record for sightings of the bird in Ireland in 1965, when 65 were recorded here.

Field ornithologist Ed Carty said the warm wind current would have carried the birds to Cork and Kerry, well past their usual summer spots of Portugal, France and Spain.

"There have been two influxes of the African Hoopoes to Irish shores in recent weeks," Mr Carty said.

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Snowflake

PHOTOS: April snow blankets parts of New Mexico - 11 inches of snowfall in 24 hours at Sandia Peak

Scott Brown
krqe.com
Sat, 05 Apr 2025 18:52 UTC
Snowfall in Tijeras
© Gilbert GutierrezSnowfall in Tijeras
A strong cold front made its way through New Mexico overnight.

Many across the state woke up to a springtime winter wonderland.


Here's a little of what News 13 viewers sent in.

Comment: 11 inches of April snow during a 24-hour time span was recorded at Sandia Peak Ski Area.



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Snowflake

April snowfall in Kosovo


Kosovapress.com
Sun, 06 Apr 2025 12:55 UTC
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It is currently snowing in the capital of Kosovo, Pristina.

The Kosovo Hydrometeorological Institute has announced that a rapid change is expected in the lower and middle layers of the atmosphere (troposphere) on Sunday, which will bring a significant decrease in temperatures, both in minimum and maximum values.

The Kosovo Hydrometeorological Institute has announced that a rapid change is expected in the lower and middle layers of the atmosphere (troposphere) on Sunday, which will bring a significant decrease in temperatures, both in minimum and maximum values.

According to the institute, initially there will be rain, while later the precipitation is expected to turn into snow, including many parts of low-lying areas, it reports.

"Although these precipitations will be temporary. In the highlands, only snowfalls are expected. This meteorological situation will create conditions for the appearance of frosts at the beginning of next week, which may have a negative impact on early agricultural crops, especially fruit trees. Farmers and ranchers are advised to take preventive measures to protect production and sensitive crops from the impact of these adverse weather conditions," the announcement states.

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Snowflake

Late winter storm brings April snow, icy roads to Texas South Plains, Panhandle

Adam D. Young
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Sat, 05 Apr 2025 11:50 UTC
I40 W backed up, April 5, 2025 snow storm causing crashes, PCSO and TxDOT advise against travel
© KVIII40 W backed up, April 5, 2025 snow storm causing crashes, PCSO and TxDOT advise against travel
A rare April winter storm in West Texas was bringing widespread snowfall Saturday and the threat of slick, icy roads across the Panhandle-South Plains region going into early Sunday.

As snow continued to fall in blowing winds, thousands of power outages were being reported around the region, including more than 3,000 customer outages around Lubbock and smaller, scattered outages around West Texas and Eastern New Mexico.

By Saturday afternoon, the heaviest snowfall was occurring in the northern South Plains and southern Panhandle, said Jordan Salem, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lubbock.

"We're seeing kind of a bullseye in an area between Hale Center and Vigo Park (in Swisher County) where we're projecting at least 4.7 inches of accumulation," Salem said.

By shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday, snow was beginning to accumulate across the Lubbock metro area, with upwards of 3 inches expected in northern parts of the city and 1 to 1.5 inches expected to the south through the end of the day, Salem said.

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Snowflake Cold

Blizzards blanket Moscow in April snow after unusually mild winter


Yahoo! News
Sun, 06 Apr 2025 11:34 UTC
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Blizzards blanketed Moscow in snow on Sunday, covering Red Square in up to 10 cm (4 inches) of snow after an unusually mild winter in the Russian capital.

Weather forecasters said the entire month's average snowfall was expected over Sunday and Monday as snow buried spring flowers. Temperatures plummeted to below zero from as high as 16 degrees Celsius (60.8 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday.

Transport authorities in the wider Moscow area, which is home to more than 22 million people, warned drivers who had already replaced their winter tyres not to venture out onto the roads. In Russia, special snow tyres are obligatory in winter.

Reuters

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Snowflake

Severe weather hits Poland with April snow and strong winds - up to 8 inches of snowfall reported


evrimagaci.org
Sun, 06 Apr 2025 11:13 UTC
In Zakopane and the surrounding area, 20 cm of snow has fallen and it is still falling.
© Marcin SzkodzinskiIn Zakopane and the surrounding area, 20 cm of snow has fallen and it is still falling.
On April 5, 2025, Poland faced a severe weather breakdown that brought a mix of snow, strong winds, and dangerous conditions across the country. The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) issued alerts for almost all of Poland, warning citizens of the impending chaos brought on by a cold front moving from the north. This sudden shift in weather caught many residents off guard, leading to significant disruptions and emergencies.

The storm in Olsztyn, which lasted approximately 20 minutes, featured intense snowfall accompanied by thunder and powerful winds. Residents took to social media to document the unusual sight, sharing videos that showcased the extreme conditions. The storm stretched from Klewki, on the route to Szczytno, through Olsztyn, and reached as far as Rapaty, on the route to Gietrzwałd. Fortunately, as of that day, firefighters reported no significant damage related to the weather, and road services confirmed that all routes remained passable.


Comment: The 20 cms (almost 8 inches) of snowfall was reported here:
In southern Małopolska, the landscape changed from spring to full winter on the night from Saturday to Sunday. In Zakopane and nearby towns, 20 cm of snow fell, similarly in Krynica-Zdrój and Muszyna. Nature waking up to life disappeared under a white blanket. Forecasters predict that this is not the end of the snowfall.

Winter has returned to Zakopane and the surrounding towns. In just one night, 20 cm of snow fell, and the amount of white fluff is still growing. It is white not only on lawns and roofs, but also on roads and sidewalks. Plows and sand spreaders are in use, but the snowfall is so intense that road services cannot keep up with clearing the roads of snow.
(Translated by Google)

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Attention

Dead beavers found along Salish Sea shores in Washington


FOX 13 Seattle
Fri, 04 Apr 2025 19:22 UTC
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Marine researchers are puzzled by the discovery of dead beavers along the Salish Sea in San Juan County.

Fox 13's Franque Thompson reports on the efforts of experts from The Whale Museum to uncover the cause, urging the public to report sightings to aid in solving this environmental mystery.

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Tsunami

Best of the Web: Catastrophic rainfall triggers Flash Flood Emergencies as severe weather outbreak drags into 4th day in US - 3 inches of rain in just 30 minutes

Scott Sistek
FOX Weather
Sat, 05 Apr 2025 12:33 UTC
Flooding in West Plains, MO
© Missouri Division of Fire SafetyFlooding in West Plains, MO
Life-threatening flooding and dangerous severe weather pummeled large swaths of the nation's heartland again Friday night for the third night in a row, and Saturday is shaping up to be just as bad, if not worse, for some areas with worries of heavy rainfall not seen in generations.

In a sign of what could be yet to come for many this weekend, torrential rains stalled over southeastern Missouri and the Texarkana region of northeastern Texas and southwestern Arkansas on Friday night, triggering multiple Flash Flood Emergency warnings - the National Weather Service's most dire flooding alert.

In Missouri, tens of thousands in Cape Girardeau and Van Buren were under flooding emergency Friday night. Cape Girardeau reported over 3 inches of rain in just over 90 minutes late Friday evening in one burst, with emergency managers reporting at least 10 roads covered in water and ongoing water rescues.

Farther south, forecasters issued similar dire warnings for Texarkana, where 2-4 inches of rain fell, and water rescues were ongoing.


Comment: Related: Damage reports flood in as tornadoes rampage through the Mid-South, Midwest US

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Tsunami

Best of the Web: Bigger than Texas: the true size of Australia's devastating floods

Joe Hinchliffe and Ben Smee
The Guardian
Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:08 UTC
If the flooding in outback Australia were a country, it would be the world’s 31st largest.
© Anthony Calvert/Bureau of MeteorologyIf the flooding in outback Australia were a country, it would be the world’s 31st largest.
The extent of flood waters that have engulfed Queensland over the past fortnight is so widespread it has covered an area more than four times the size of the United Kingdom. The inundation is larger than France and Germany combined - and is even bigger than Texas.

The seemingly endless plains of outback Queensland are so vast and remote as to boggle any attempts to visualise the scale of what is being described as one of the most devastating floods in living memory.

The Bureau of Meteorology said on Friday that the flooding had "severely impacted" more catchments spanning about 1m sq km since prolonged downpours began drenching south-west and central Queensland on 23 March.

To put that in perspective, Tasmania is 15 times smaller (64,519 sq km or 24,911 sq miles); the land area of the United Kingdom is 241,930 sq km, and Texas is 695,662 sq km.

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Black Cat

Terrifying panther attack leaves lorry driver badly mauled in Malaysia

Shahril Bahrom
therakyatpost.com
Fri, 04 Apr 2025 11:46 UTC
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Sometimes, it's easy to forget that we live in a biodiverse environment. We feel safe because there are buildings, roads, and fences.

But there are moments when nature reminds us that we are actually sharing this land with other living things, and sometimes these other living things may think we are encroaching on their side of the fence.

Dashcam captures footage of black panther attack

A dashcam recording that went viral on social media on Thursday (3 April) shows a black panther charging across a road near Bukit Tangga, Negeri Sembilan, and mauling a lorry driver who was stopped by the side of the road.

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