Earth ChangesS


Snowflake Cold

Historic crop loss expected as new frosts hit Brazilian corn areas

Eduardo Tinti
AgriCensus
Mon, 19 Jul 2021 06:13 UTC
Frost hits Brazil corn crops
The week has begun with the already-shattered corn market in Brazil enduring another blow as a new cold wave swept the centre-south of Brazil bringing frosts to corn-producing states and raising fresh concerns about export volumes and contract breaches.

On Monday, frosts hit parts of the states of Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul, with late planted corn areas likely affected.

The cold wave is expected to reach its peak on Tuesday, with forecasts showing potential fresh frosts in the states of Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo and Minas Gerais.

"It is going to be a historic crop loss," Daniele Siqueira from local consultancy Agrural told Agricensus.

The second Brazilian corn crop safrinha has been severely affected by dry and warm weather during key development stages, and crop conditions worsened further in some regions that were hit by frosts for three days in the end of June.

As a result, Agrural has lowered its estimates of Brazil's safrinha output to 59.1 million mt in early-July, 22 million mt below the initial crop potential and the new frosts could mean these estimates are dampened even further.

As the Brazilian crop outlook continues to deteriorate, analysts believe exports might take the bulk of the hit.

Comment: A good way to invest your money: Store large amounts of food, like now

Read More...
Seismograph

Shallow 6.9 magnitude earthquake hits offshore near Panama


Reuters
Wed, 21 Jul 2021 23:52 UTC
Panama earthquake
© EMSC
A strong earthquake struck off the southern coast of Panama on Wednesday near the border with Costa Rica, although there were no immediate reports of damage and authorities said a tsunami was not expected.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said the earthquake had a 6.9 magnitude and hit at a depth of 2 km (1.2 miles) about 321 km (200 miles) southeast of Costa Rica's capital, San Jose. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at a 6.8 magnitude.

Quakes of that magnitude can cause severe damage.

"Regarding the earthquake we felt in almost the entire country, we report that we have no damage to public infrastructure or personal injuries," said Alexander Solis, head of Costa Rica's National Emergency Commission.

A Reuters witness said the quake was felt in San Jose.
Read More...
Cloud Precipitation

Evacuations, 1 dead after heavy rain triggers flash floods in Romania

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Wed, 21 Jul 2021 19:30 UTC
Floods in Alba County, Romania, July 2021.
© IGSUFloods in Alba County, Romania, July 2021.
One person has died and dozens evacuated or rescued by emergency services after heavy rain and storms caused flooding and wind damage across parts of Romania over the last few days.

Romania's General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) reported that the body of a man was found in a riverbed in Hândrești, Iași County on 19 July 2021. IGSU said the man was probably taken by surprise by the increased flow of water while trying to cross the river.

Read More...
Cloud Precipitation

Over 20 fatalities after heavy rain and flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Wed, 21 Jul 2021 18:21 UTC
flood
Over 20 people have died in rain-related incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in northern Pakistan over the last 10 days.

Many of the victims died when heavy rain or floods caused roofs, walls or whole buildings to collapse. This is a regular occurrence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where fragile or poor housing leaves many communities exposed to severe weather conditions.

Heavy rain was reported in the province on 11 to 12 July 2021. Saidū Sharīf, capital of Swat District, recorded 110 mm of rain in 24 hours to 12 July and Kakul in Abbottabad district recorded 180 mm of rain during the same period according to figures provided by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

Read More...
Seismograph

Strong shallow mag. 6.1 earthquake in the Bismarck Sea


Volcano Discovery
Wed, 21 Jul 2021 18:15 UTC
quake
Local time at epicenter: 22 Jul 12:26 am (GMT +10)

Magnitude: 6.1

Depth: 10.0 km

Epicenter latitude / longitude: 3.39°S / 146.81°E (Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea)

Nearest volcano: Baluan (105 km / 65 mi)
Read More...
Boat

Best of the Web: At least 25 dead in Chinese province's heaviest rains in 1,000 years

Ryan Woo and Stella Qiu
Financial Post
Wed, 21 Jul 2021 11:13 UTC
A woman has been pulled out of floodwaters in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou, which has been battered by heavy rain and flooding.
A woman has been pulled out of floodwaters in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou, which has been battered by heavy rain and flooding.
At least 25 people have died in China's flood-stricken central province of Henan, a dozen of them in a subway line in its capital that was drenched by what weather officials called the heaviest rains for 1,000 years.

About 100,000 people have been evacuated in Zhengzhou, the capital, where rail and road transport have been disrupted, while dams and reservoirs have swelled to warning levels while thousands of troops launched a rescue effort in the province.

City authorities said more than 500 people were pulled to safety from the flooded subway, as social media images showed train commuters immersed in chest-deep waters in the dark and one station reduced to a large brown pool.


Comment: See also: Chinese subway passengers trapped by rising floodwaters as torrential rain pounds Henan province - 8 inches of rainfall in an hour

Interested readers in these types of events might also like to see the increasing number of such reports globally in recent times at our dedicated floods section.

Read More...
Arrow Down

Mudslides after more torrential rain in Tajikistan leave at least 10 dead - 3rd such event this year for the region


Manila Bulletin
Wed, 21 Jul 2021 10:02 UTC
mudslide
Mudslides in Tajikistan have left ten people dead and two missing, officials said Tuesday, in the latest fatal mass flow of earth caused by downpours in the impoverished ex-Soviet region.

Fatal landsides affect mountainous Central Asia every year, mostly around springtime, blocking off roads in a region lacking transport infrastructure and forcing families to rebuild homes from scratch.

"There has been torrential rain in the north of Tajikistan and a fatal mudslide occurred," the emergencies committee said in a statement.

It said flows of earth on Monday swept through the northern Sogd region, trapping people tending to livestock.


Comment: 14 killed in flash floods and mudflows in Tajikistan and Afghanistan

Read More...
Doberman

Pit bull kills man who climbed through family home's window in New Orleans

EWAN PALMER
Newsweek
Wed, 21 Jul 2021 09:29 UTC
PIT BULL ATTACK
A 66-year-old man has died after being attacked by a dog when he climbed through the window of a home in Louisiana.

The New Orleans Police Department said the victim, who has not been identified, was found at the address in the 8700 block of S. Claiborne Avenue on Sunday, July 18 around 6:41 p.m., reported WVUE.

After climbing through the window of the house, police believe he was then attacked and killed by the family's pit bull.

Police said the man was a relative of the people who lived at the home and was authorized to be there.
Read More...
Fire

Canada's B.C. declares provincial state of emergency due to wildfires

Amy Judd & Richard Zussman
Global News
Tue, 20 Jul 2021 16:26 UTC
Smoke billows from a wildfire near Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada
© Twitter @DylanGaleas via ReutersSmoke billows from a wildfire near Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada July 19, 2021, in this picture obtained from social media
British Columbia is once again under a provincial state of emergency.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth declared a state of emergency on Tuesday afternoon in response to ongoing wildfires burning across the province.

It will take effect at midnight, Tuesday, July 20.

The forecast in parts of the province calls for shifts in winds and weather, raising concerns that property evacuations could rise to a level not yet seen this fire season, the government said.

The province previously declared states of emergencies linked to fires in 2003, 2017 and 2018.

On July 1, 2021, B.C. concluded a 16-month state of emergency, by far the longest in the province's history, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state of emergency is initially in effect for 14 days once issued and may be extended or rescinded as necessary.
Read More...
Umbrella

Perth in Western Australia smashes 20-year rain record for July

Eliza McPhee
Daily Mail Australia
Tue, 20 Jul 2021 10:04 UTC
Storm clouds off the Perth coast at the beginning of July
© Daniel PardiniStorm clouds off the Perth coast at the beginning of July.
Perth has smashed its 20-year rain record for July with more wet weather on the way while Australia's south-east shivers through even more hazardous wind conditions over the coming days.

The Western Australian capital city has copped 184.2mm of rain so far this month after 18 straight days of downpour - eclipsing the previous record of 182.6mm in 2001.

The city is expected to be drenched with up to 200mm this month in total, with more than a week still to go of July.

Meanwhile, a cold front is sweeping across the south-east with hazardous wind conditions to hit New South Wales on Wednesday while Victoria and Tasmania will see icy cold temperatures and even hail.
Read More...