Earth ChangesS


Boat

Best of the Web: California's 'ghost lake' reappears after sodden winter

Gabrielle Canon
Guardian
Fri, 12 May 2023 13:57 UTC
Nasa satellite images show the progression of flooding in the Tulare Lake basin.
© NasaNasa satellite images show the progression of flooding in the Tulare Lake basin.
New satellite images released from Nasa this week showcase the dramatic reappearance of California's Tulare Lake after water swallowed swaths of land across the state's agricultural center that had long been dry.

Taken between the start of February and the end of April and colored artificially to help distinguish the water from vegetation and bare ground, the images highlight the scale of the transformation across the region still grappling with the aftermath of this winter's heavy rains and snow.

This isn't the first time the "ghost lake" has caused widespread flooding, but the onslaught of weather whiplash wreaked havoc on residents, agricultural workers and farms - and it's far from finished.

Tucked against the Sierra Nevada's white-capped peaks, the region will have to reckon with surges of snowmelt filling its waterways as the weather warms. On Thursday, the snowpack in the southern Sierra was 436% of normal for this time of year, according to California's department of water resources (DWR).

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Snowflake

Half a meter of May snow falls in Hintertux, Austria

Ivan M
nevasport.com
Thu, 11 May 2023 13:42 UTC
mmmmmmmm
The unusual spring that is taking place in the Alps is leaving images that were hard to see in the middle of winter. We found one of them on the Hintertux glacier (Austria) where half a meter of snow has just fallen on them.

At the gates of meteorological summer and wanting to forget the fateful spring of last year, the Alps are receiving regular and unusually heavy snowfalls. In France, both Tignes and Les 2 Alpes received their ration on May 1, and then they have seen it reinforced with a few more flakes, and now it has been the turn of Austria, where the Hintertux Gletscher has just reported no less than half a meter of new snow.

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Fire

Popocatépetl volcano (Mexico): eruption showered summit with lava fragments


Volcano Discovery
Fri, 12 May 2023 13:34 UTC
Incandescent bombs, resulting from the eruption, spread over upper snow-covered flanks at Popocatépetl volcano
© CENAPREDIncandescent bombs, resulting from the eruption, spread over upper snow-covered flanks at Popocatépetl volcano
The eruptive activity at the volcano continues at moderately high levels.

The CENAPRED volcano observatory recorded five minor-to-moderate vulcanian-sized eruptions over the past 24 hours, of which one (05:26 local time yesterday) appeared to be powerful.

The explosion ejected hot, glowing lava bombs to approx. height of hundred meters above the summit crater following landing onto the upper snow-capped slopes. The eruption sent an ash column to 23,000 ft (7,000 m) height drifting SE.

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Snowflake

Thousands lost power after heavy, wet May snow in Teller County, Colorado

Ashley Portillo
koaa.com
Thu, 11 May 2023 12:08 UTC
mmmm
Thousands of people were without power on Thursday in Teller county after heavy and wet snow hit the area. Throughout the day, about four to six inches of wet, heavy snow fell across the county, making for a snowy and slushy commute for many.

At one point, more than 8,000 customers with Core Electric Cooperative were without power. Teller County offices also shut down because of the snow.


Comment: Elsewhere in the state:
Crews at Arapahoe Basin worked to clear inches of snow from the parking lot following an overnight storm.



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Snowflake

Cold snap brings snow to Bolivia

Dan Collyns
CGTN
Fri, 12 May 2023 11:29 UTC
Snow, rain, fog and low temperatures prevail in Cochabamba, Oruro, La Paz and Potosí
© Bolivian PoliceSnow, rain, fog and low temperatures prevail in Cochabamba, Oruro, La Paz and Potosí
Parts of Bolivia were covered in snow on Monday, May 8, after a fierce cold snap hit the political capital La Paz and its neighboring city El Alto.

Colder weather was expected, but few expected such a downpour of snow and hail. It created havoc on the streets of La Paz and El Alto.


Comment: At the same time in neighboring Peru: Hundreds of passengers stranded after heavy snowfall in Cusco

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Tornado1

Rare tornado-like clouds spotted above storm-hit UK

Sara Odeen-Isbister
Metro (UK)
Fri, 12 May 2023 10:32 UTC
The funnel cloud pictured above south Lincolnshire
© @loki_weatherThe funnel cloud pictured above south Lincolnshire
A rare weather phenomenon that looks like a tornado was spotted across the UK as storms battered the country.

The funnel clouds were seen above parts of northern England and the Midlands yesterday.

The Met Office describes them as 'extended, spinning fingers of cloud'.

Also known as 'tuba', they extend from the base of a cloud towards the ground but never reach the surface.

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Snowflake

Best of the Web: US winter of 2022-2023 'historic' as 'all western states see record snowfall'

Christian Freuer, EIKE, Translated, edited by P. Gosselin
Watts Up With That?
Tue, 09 May 2023 00:00 UTC
US has had an historic winter.
The western US has had an historic winter. From record-breaking cold spells to unprecedented amounts of snow, this has been a memorable cold season - and one that runs counter to the prophecies of the AGW party.

Starting with the cold - and according to data from the warmth-addicted NOAA - the US has set 7 all-time low temperature records so far this year (through April 24) compared to just one heat record, while 321 monthly lows have fallen in April alone (also through April 24) compared to 66 heat records.

Highest April 1st snow cover recorded this year

Regrading snow, in the official books going back to 2001, the largest area ever covered with snow/ice in the western US at the beginning of April so far was 2019's 1,030,820 sq km, but this year that figure was far exceeded, with satellite imagery showing that more than 1,149-960 sq km of the West was covered with snow and ice on 1 April.

By comparison, the average snowpack in the western US at the end of March is 242,000 square miles.
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Attention

Hundreds of muttonbirds fall from the sky in storm in New Zealand

John Lewis
Star News
Thu, 11 May 2023 13:43 UTC
mmmmmm
Freezing gale force winds are believed to be behind the downing of hundreds of tītī (muttonbirds) in Central Otago, northern Southland and the Lakes District last night.

It is believed the birds were migrating south to the Tītī/Muttonbird Islands for breeding season, but were blown off course and exhausted by the wintry blast.

Garston business owner Robert Durling said he was alerted to the plight of the birds when he heard a thump on his roof, about 9pm last night.

"We just thought it was a possum or a big clump of snow.

"Then we heard another one, so I went out to have a look, but I couldn't see anything.

"Then all of a sudden, I saw this odd-looking bird on the lawn, and then I saw two or three of them, and then another one crashed into the tree beside us, and they kept hitting the roof for ages."
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Snowflake

Winter arrives early in New Zealand with up to 20 inches of snowfall

Kiwi Brains
SnowBrains
Thu, 11 May 2023 12:44 UTC
QLDC Roundshot Webcam
QLDC Roundshot Webcam
Heavy snow falls reached the south island of New Zealand, with snow falling to around 400m (1312ft) on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. State Highway 94 was closed on Wednesday evening at Mount Hamilton, between The Key and Centre Hill, but reopened again at 10:15 p.m. It is still recommended to carry snow chains in the area.

Ski resorts near Queenstown received between 20-50cm (8-20 inches) of snow. New Zealand's south island is home to many spectacular ski resorts, such as The Remarkables, Coronet Peak and Cadrona

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Tornado1

Rare funnel cloud hovers over Montana mountains

Angeli Gabriel
Fox Weather
Wed, 10 May 2023 12:34 UTC
Funnel cloud in Montana.
© @isleyreustFunnel cloud in Montana.
Video captures views of a funnel cloud forming over Mission Valley in western Montana early Tuesday evening.

Recorded by Isley Reust, the footage shows a dark gray cloud hanging over the black, snow-laced mountains in the distance. From that cloud, a funnel extends below, appearing to kick up snow into the air.

Tornadoes rarely form over mountains, as conditions would not be optimal, according to the National Weather Service. They noted, however, that tornadoes have crossed the Appalachian Mountains and a 10,000-foot-tall mountain in Yellowstone National Park.

About 300 miles northwest of Yellowstone, the town of St. Ignatius was able to see such a unique sight forming over their own mountains.

"I'm happy I got to witness it," Reust said in a tweet.

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