Earth Changes

A beluga whale in Puget Sound? Rare visitor from Arctic waters startles boaters in first sighting here since 1940

Lynda V. Mapes
The Seattle Times
Wed, 06 Oct 2021 11:45 UTC

In a flash of white out of the blue, a beluga whale has been seen at least six times around Puget Sound since Sunday, the first such sightings since 1940.

It began Oct. 3 with a report from the south end of Fox Island, then another from Point Defiance, and then in Commencement Bay. In the fourth sighting, the whale was reported at West Seattle and on the fifth it was aglow in the waters of the Bremerton Ship Yard, according to Michael Milstein, spokesman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration West Coast Region.

There is no way to know why the whale is far from its home and family in south central Alaska's Cook Inlet, or other populations in the arctic and subarctic waters of the U.S. and Canada.

But there are several possible explanations, said Paul Wade, a research fisheries biologist based at NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Sand Point. He leads research on the endangered population of belugas at Cook Inlet.

Shallow magnitude 5.9 earthquake hits southwestern Pakistan, kills at least 20

KYODO NEWS
Thu, 07 Oct 2021 10:45 UTC

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck southwestern Pakistan early Thursday, killing at least 20 people and leaving 300 others injured, according to local authorities.

The quake occurred 15 kilometers northeast of Harnai in Balochistan Province at 3:01 a.m. local time at a depth of 9 km, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was followed by a magnitude 4.6 quake in the same area two hours later.

The death toll is feared to rise as people are believed to have been buried under collapsed homes and other buildings. Rescue efforts are reportedly being hampered as roads have become impassable due to landslides.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority in Balochistan said at least 300 people were brought to hospitals after the quake, including those critically injured.

Early heavy snowfall in the Alps with up to a foot reported

Patrick Thorne
Inthesnow.com
Wed, 06 Oct 2021 19:18 UTC

Passo Stelvio

Ski resorts across the Alps have been reporting heavy snowfall. Glacier areas, including centres that are already open for there 21-22 ski season, have reported up to 30cm (a foot) of snowfall.

Italy's Passo Stelvio is pictured top, it reports 25cm (10″) of fresh snow and is one of eight glacier areas in Austria, Italy and Switzerland already open for the ski season, four more are due to open this coming weekend, along with the first two centres up in Finland, Levi and Ruka. The 21-22 ski season in France is due to start in Tignes the weekend after next.

Alberta has skipped autumn with snow falling in the province

Laine Mitchell
Daily Hive
Tue, 05 Oct 2021 18:26 UTC

Albertans know the weather can get dicey as we slide into October, and one part of the province has already skipped autumn with snow falling in the area.

The white stuff could be seen on the AMA Road Report camera of Highway 43 east of the Alberta/British Columbia border near the hamlet of Demmit in northern Alberta.

The snow should be no surprise for those living in the area, with the forecast for nearby Grande Prairie calling for periods of light rain today but the chance of periods of wet snow this evening near the B.C. border, with snowfall amounts near two centimetres accumulating in the area according to Environment Canada.

Floods and landslides leave 4 dead in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Wed, 06 Oct 2021 17:47 UTC

Floods in Paser Regency, Indonesia, October 20201.

Four people have lost their lives after landslides and floods struck in South Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. Meanwhile heavy rain has caused flooding and landslides across parts of Kalimantan, Borneo Island, forcing hundreds of people to flee their homes.

South Sulawesi Province

Heavy rains triggered the overflow of the Batusitanduk River, causing flash floods in Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi Province on 03 October 2021. The rain also caused several landslides in the area.

Affected areas include Walenrang, West Walenrang, North Walenrang, East Walenrang, Lemasi and East Lemasi. A total of 169 people were evacuated and over 3,000 affected. Flooding destroyed 5 homes and damaged 771 others. Two houses were severely damaged by landslides. Hundreds of families were isolated across several villages after landslides blocked roads access.

As of 06 October, disaster authorities reported 4 people, all from the same family, had died. A further 20 people were hospitalised.

Apocalyptic weather in Catania, Sicily, Italy

World Is Dangerous
YouTube
Tue, 05 Oct 2021 11:37 UTC

Weather catastrophe in Catania, Sicily, Italy on october 5, 2021.

In the afternoon of October, 5, a strong tornado followed by rain and hail struck the historic center of Catania, causing serious damage to homes and businesses.

Siberia set for extreme winter deep freeze, Russian experts predict, as Europe faces energy shortages with cooler weather on way

RT
Mon, 04 Oct 2021 06:47 UTC

© REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin
A truck drives along the M54 'Yenisei' highway during a snowfall in the Western Sayan mountains in Southern Siberia near an administrative border with Tuva region, Russia, October 6, 2015.

One of Russia's top forecasters has warned that extreme weather is predicted to hit the Northern Hemisphere later this year, sparking concerns that it could worsen a deepening energy crisis setting in across parts of Europe.

Harsh conditions are predicted to hit Russia in early January, with snow in Siberia estimated to reach levels twice as severe as the average. On Monday, the meteorological center Phobos also reported that "snowdrifts almost a quarter larger than the norm" could sweep across Moscow.

In recent weeks, much of Western Europe has seen a rapidly growing energy crisis, with some parts of the continent experiencing a 250% increase in the price of gas for the heating and fuelling industry. Petrol stations in the UK running dry faster than they can secure new deliveries have caused severe delays and fights breaking out at refill forecourts.

Comment: See also:

Flash floods hit London Tube services and roads

BBC News
Tue, 05 Oct 2021 17:12 UTC

Flooding hit parts of London after heavy rain overnight, causing disruption on the roads and railways.

Shops and offices in Knightsbridge were hit by a deluge, leaving some unable to get to work as motorists tried to navigate waterlogged roads. Torrential downpours caused by a cold front sweeping eastwards have affected other parts of the UK, with part of the M23 in Sussex closed.

Tube lines and the London Overground have reopened after earlier closures.

Krísuvík volcano (Iceland): intense seismic activity, more than 1000 quakes

Volcano Discovery
Tue, 05 Oct 2021 17:51 UTC

4.2 quake detected at 0.8 km SW of Keilir

More than 1000 quakes have been detected near Keilir mountain over the past 24 hours of which one have been located with a maximum magnitude of 4.2 on 2 October.

4 quakes during the past 24 hours were recorded with magnitudes of 3 or more located about 1.3 km SW of Keilir.

Earthquakes have been occurring on the Reykjanes peninsula and in the southwest corner.

Source: RUV volcano activity update 5 October 2021

Black sea coastal city Batumi in Georgia flooded again as a result of heavy rain

Agenda.ge
Mon, 04 Oct 2021 11:23 UTC

The streets of the Georgian seaside town of Batumi have flooded again due to heavy rainfall.

Footage from Adjara TV station shows traffic has been seriously affected due to torrential downpour, which has flooded the first floors of houses in Batumi damaging furniture and other household items.

Landslides have intensified in the Adjarian village of Tsablana in Khulo municipality where seven families have been evacuated temporarily.

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Earth Changes

A beluga whale in Puget Sound? Rare visitor from Arctic waters startles boaters in first sighting here since 1940

Shallow magnitude 5.9 earthquake hits southwestern Pakistan, kills at least 20

Early heavy snowfall in the Alps with up to a foot reported

Alberta has skipped autumn with snow falling in the province

Floods and landslides leave 4 dead in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Apocalyptic weather in Catania, Sicily, Italy

Siberia set for extreme winter deep freeze, Russian experts predict, as Europe faces energy shortages with cooler weather on way

Flash floods hit London Tube services and roads

Krísuvík volcano (Iceland): intense seismic activity, more than 1000 quakes

Black sea coastal city Batumi in Georgia flooded again as a result of heavy rain

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