Earth ChangesS


Snowflake Cold

Best of the Web: Temperature extremes: Heatwave to snowfall - Argentina's heat and cold records broken in 5 days

Argentina broke records for heat and cold within a short window of just five days this week, with temperatures plummeting a jaw-dropping 30 degrees Celsius as a heatwave gave way to historic snowfalls.
Argentina broke records for heat and cold within a short window of just five days this week, with temperatures plummeting a jaw-dropping 30 degrees Celsius as a heatwave gave way to historic snowfalls.
Argentina broke records for heat and cold within a short window of just five days this week, with temperatures plummeting a jaw-dropping 30 degrees Celsius as a heatwave gave way to historic snowfalls.

A cold front from Patagonia caused temperatures in Buenos Aires to drop from a high of 38.1 C (100.6 degrees Fahrenheit) last Sunday to only 7.9C (46.2F) on Thursday -- a record low for the month of February since 1951, the National Meteorological Service reported.

The lowest ever was 4.2C in 1910.

The South American country this week battled its eighth heat wave so far this summer with temperatures shooting up to nearly 40C (104F) in the center and north.

Attention

10th dead whale washes ashore in New York-New Jersey region

dead whale washed ashore in the area; This time at a Rockaway beach in Queens, New York.
Another dead whale has washed ashore in the area; this time on a Rockaway beach in Queens, New York.

The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society was notified at 9 a.m. Friday that a dead minke whale was on the shoreline, according to a post from the group.

The 25-foot long mammal had several wounds across its body that appeared to have happened before it died, but its cause of death was still pending the results of a necropsy examination.

However, there were was additional evidence of blunt force trauma indicating that whale may have died from a vessel strike, the society said in an updated post.

Additional testing was still needed to confirm that.

Comment: Dead whale washes onto Jersey shore — 9th one in New York-New Jersey area in 2 months


Snowflake

Iranian Kuhrang County buried in heavy snow 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) deep

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With the new wave of frosty weather sweeping across the country, snowfall has now blanketed Kuhrang County in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province.

The height of snow in Kuhrang has reached 2.5 meters.


Seismograph

6.1-magnitude quake hits 130 km SW of Tual, Indonesia -- USGS

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An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 jolted 130 km SW of Tual, Indonesia at 0937 GMT on Friday, the US Geological Survey said.

The epicenter, with a depth of 38.615 km, was initially determined to be at 6.5986 degrees south latitude and 132.0763 degrees east longitude.

Arrow Down

Avalanches caused by heavy snow kill at least 20 in Tajikistan

A view shows the area affected by an avalanche in Gorno-Badakhshan region, Tajikistan, February 15, 2023. Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense of Tajikistan
A view shows the area affected by an avalanche in Gorno-Badakhshan region, Tajikistan, February 15, 2023. Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense of Tajikistan
A series of avalanches has killed 10 more people in eastern Tajikistan, the Central Asian nation's government said on Thursday, bringing the death toll over the past two days to 20 and forcing hundreds of families from their homes.

Most of the avalanches hit the Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous region, which borders China and Afghanistan, and where more than 400 households have been relocated away from dangerous areas.

Avalanches have hit homes as well as roads, the government said, and all international traffic has been suspended.

The mayor of provincial capital Khorog, Rizo Nazarzoda, urged its 30,000 residents to stay at home as heavy snow and rain fell.

Videos from the area showed one-storey buildings covered up to their roofs with snow and ice blocks, with rescue teams digging through the snow in search of bodies.

Snowflake

37 inches of fresh snow in 48 hours dumped on Ski Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Ski Santa Fe received 37 inches of fresh snow from this past storm.

Officials said the conditions are outstanding with an 80-inch base.

"We've had one of the most incredible storm cycles I've seen in years," said Jack Dant, manager of Ski Santa Fe. "This is gonna help us get through the rest of the season without having to do any additional snow making."

Dant says they would've loved to see this much snow back in October, but is thrilled for a fresh dumping just before spring break. He expects a lot of locals will be hitting the mountain this weekend.


Attention

Pilot whales die after Far North stranding on Ninety Mile Beach, New Zealand

A crowd of Far North locals turned out to help save pilot whales on Ninety Mile Beach.
© Rachele MatthewsA crowd of Far North locals turned out to help save pilot whales on Ninety Mile Beach.
Three pilot whales stranded on Ninety Mile Beach were buried together in a Far North cemetery dedicated solely to sea life.

A massive rescue effort took place on Tuesday afternoon that lasted until sunset after five whales were discovered marooned on the shores of the west coast beach.

The Department of Conservation (DoC) on Wednesday confirmed there had been four pilot whales and a sperm whale.

Ahipara kaitiaki (guardian) and Ahipara Takiwa komiti member Patau Tepania said three pilot whales had been buried together after they became stranded again.

Cloud Precipitation

1 dead after landslides and floods in São Gonçalo, Brazil - 7.5 inches of rain in 24 hours

Landslide in São Gonçalo Brazil,
© City Hall São GonçaloLandslide in São Gonçalo Brazil, 14 February 2023.
Heavy rain caused flooding and landslides in the municipality of São Gonçalo in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 13 to 14 February 2023.

Municipal authorities declared a state of emergency after torrential. São Gonçalo City Hall reported 192.4 mm of rain fell in 24 hours in the Gradim neighbourhood of the city. Around 143 incidents of flooding and landslides were reported across the municipality. Almost 300 people have been displaced.


Seismograph

6.1 magnitude earthquake strikes central Philippines, no casualties reported

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A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Masbate region of the central Philippines on Thursday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). However, no tsunami warning has been issued and there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, news agency AFP reported.

The USGS said the epicentre was 11 kilometres (seven miles) from the nearest village of Miaga, in Uson municipality, on the province's main island of Masbate. The strong and shallow quake happened after 2:00 am local time, jolting people awake.

The Masbate education department reportedly suspended classes for Thursday due to "continuous aftershocks being felt" in the province, the report said.

"It was a bit strong," Masbate provincial police chief Rolly Albana told AFP. "I was sleeping when we were shaken and woken up," Rolly Albana added.

Albana said police had not reported any effects of the quake.

Uson police chief Captain Reden Tolledo told news agency AFP some residents fled their homes. "Even I went outside because of possible aftershocks," Tolledo said.

Snowflake

Major snowstorm dumps 40 cms (15.7 inches) of snow on Cape Breton, Canada

More than 40 centimetres fell on some parts of the island, making it the largest snowfall so far this winter.
© Kyle Moore/CTV AtlanticMore than 40 centimetres fell on some parts of the island, making it the largest snowfall so far this winter.
People in Cape Breton woke up to a lot of snow on Tuesday.

More than 40 centimetres fell on some parts of the island, making it the largest snowfall so far this winter.

"It's unbelievable. Welcome to winter. It finally came in February," said Don Vaters, who lives in Glace Bay, N.S.

Vaters was out shovelling in the early morning hours, daydreaming of a warmer climate.