Earth ChangesS


Snowflake Cold

Brutal arctic cold to blast Midwest and East U.S.

Alex Sosnowski
Accuweather
Sat, 03 Jan 2015 17:17 UTC
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In a pattern fitting for January, waves of cold air will flow into the Midwest and East with brutal blasts of arctic air poised to sweep southeastward next week.

Following a large storm that bring snow and ice to a large part of the Upper Midwest and interior Northeast this weekend, multiple blasts of cold air will follow.

The first blast will have many people shivering as they head back to work and school in the Midwest early next week.

Another batch of arctic air set to move during the middle to second half of next week is likely to bring the lowest temperatures of the season so far to parts of the Midwest and much of New England and the mid-Atlantic.

With the frigid air moving in, temperatures may hold in the single digits around Chicago and the teens around Chicago or lower on multiple days next week.
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It is possible temperatures fail to climb above zero F on one or more days in northern New England. Highs may be in the single digits across upstate New York and central New England with night time lows well below zero.

Highs will be in the 20s on multiple days from Boston to New York City and Philadelphia. Atlanta is likely to have highs in the 40s most days next week, despite sunshine.

Gusty winds accompanying the arctic outbreaks will produce much lower AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures. Because of this the air will be beyond painful, reaching dangerous and life-threatening levels in much of the Midwest and Northeast for those who spend a significant amount of time outdoors without proper protection.

Comment: See: Feeling chilly? It's good for you!

See also the thread on our forum on cold therapy.

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Attention

Elderly man killed by rhino in Nepal


arko.asia
Sun, 28 Dec 2014 22:45 UTC
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An elderly man attacked by rhino in Chitwan district has died on Saturday night.

According to the District Police Office, Chitwan, Sadabahar Community Forest member Chaudhari was attacked by a rhinoceros while inspecting the forest.

64 year old Nathuram from Megauli-5 died while receiving treatment.

He had suffered severe injuries on the leg, chest and head.
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Phoenix

South Australia faces worst wildfires since 1983


news.com.au
Sun, 04 Jan 2015 21:11 UTC
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© Dylan CokerAn aerial view of the out-of-control Sampson Flat wildfire near Kersbrook.
Strong winds are expected to fan South Australia's worst bushfire in 30 years with dozens of homes believed destroyed by the massive blaze.

The out-of-control Sampson Flat fire in the Mount Lofty Ranges is feared to have destroyed dozens of homes and burnt out more than 11,000 hectares of scrub and farmland since Friday afternoon and no relief is in sight for Sunday.

Although temperatures are forecast to be lower on Sunday, winds will keep fire crews and residents fighting desperately to save lives and property as South Australia faces the worst fire conditions since the 1983 Ash Wednesday disaster.

Comment: See also: Catastrophic wildfire conditions across South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria

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Binoculars

Rare northern hawk owl seen south of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Joe Knight
Leader Telegram
Sat, 03 Jan 2015 20:57 UTC
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© Anne GeraghtyA northern hawk owl like this one has been spotted south of Eau Claire
Since early December, a rare visitor - a northern hawk owl - has been hanging out just south of Eau Claire, to the delight of local bird-watchers.

"Usually, the crows will help you find it. There's four or five crows who like to harass it," said David Lund of rural Eleva, who has seen the bird several times in recent weeks.

The owl is only about 14 inches tall and is unusual among owls because it is just as happy hunting in the daytime as at night, which also has made the bird popular with local birders.
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Attention

Dead blue whale found dead on coast of India


The Hindu
Sat, 03 Jan 2015 20:34 UTC
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The whale that was found washed ashore at Valai island off Periapattinam.
A giant Blue Whale was found washed ashore on Valai island, one of the 21 islands in the Gulf of Mannar region.

Wildlife Warden, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Deepak Bilgi said the marine mammal was found dead near the shore of the island two days back and initial studies revealed that it had died long back.

As the whale was found away from the shore, post-mortem could not be conducted immediately, he said, adding the whale was expected to hit the shore on Friday. A veterinary surgeon would be taken to the island, situated six km off Devipattinam near here, for conducting the post-mortem, he said.
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Cloud Lightning

Lightning strike kills four on Brazilian beach


G1.com
Tue, 30 Dec 2014 16:37 UTC
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One of the dead or injured is removed from the beach in this image taken by a local resident.
Four people in Brazil have been killed by a lightning strike on a beach crowded with holidaymakers, according to media reports.

Four others were taken to hospital - two of them are said to be in a serious condition.
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Eagle

Symbolic? Rare golden eagle arrives in South Delta, Vancouver and dominates resident bald eagles

Larry Pynn
The Vancouver Sun
Thu, 01 Jan 2015 15:19 UTC
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© John GordonA juvenile golden eagle is making a rare appearance in the Boundary Bay area in South Delta.

A juvenile golden eagle is making a rare appearance in the Boundary Bay area in South Delta.

A golden eagle - a rare visitor to a region known for its bald eagles - had birders all aflutter on New Year's Day in south Delta.

"I have been here a couple of days for this guy," said Vancouver's Michelle Lamberson, taking her place in a line of photographers along 72nd Street near Boundary Bay. "I've got some decent shots."

The juvenile bird sat like an ornament atop a large poplar tree on the edge of a golf course about 75 metres from the roadside.

Lamberson, who is director of flexible learning special projects at the University of B.C. and a birder for eight years, added: "I've not seen one in the Lower Mainland before. Bald eagles don't like them."

Mark Wynja, a birder for more than 40 years who works in a bird-supply shop in Vancouver, said the golden eagle rules the roost along the Boundary Bay foreshore. He watched as the raptor flew into a stand of red alders and scattered four bald eagles from their perches, although they later returned.

"He tends to be the dominant bird," he said. "He's tougher than a bald eagle, which is a glorified scavenger."
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Binoculars

Rare goose from northern Asia turns up in Suffolk, UK


East Anglian Daily Times
Fri, 02 Jan 2015 14:47 UTC
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© Wikimedia Commons.Lesser white-fronted goose
An extremely rare bird is reported to have roosted in a Suffolk nature reserve.

The lesser white fronted goose was reported to have crossed the North Sea on Tuesday night and taken up residence at RSPB Minsmere on the county's coastline.

Publicity officer Ian Barthorpe said the bird was a rapidly declining species that usually winters in the Black Sea and is very rarely spotted in Britain. The goose is likely to be one of the most sought-after species for spotters taking part in tomorrow's winter wildlife walks at the reserve.

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Distribution map

Comment: Similar recent reports of birds completely losing their way across the Northern Hemisphere: Rare Eurasian kestrel appears in Nova Scotia, Canada

Another completely lost avian species: Couch's Kingbird flies from southern Texas to New York

Warbler that should be wintering in western Mexico turns up in Louisiana

Bean goose from Eurasia takes a wrong turn and winds up on the Oregon Coast

Four lost flamingos fly NORTH for the winter and turn up in Siberia

Wrong place, wrong time: European robin turns up thousands of miles away in China

Rare bird from Mongolia turns up in Wakefield, UK

Wrong time, wrong place: Rare bird found in Barrie, Canada

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Attention

Catastrophic wildfire conditions across South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria


news.com.au
Sat, 03 Jan 2015 23:21 UTC
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© Channel 7Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley: “The fire scenario is actually the most severe that we have had for this summer season, and it’s only the start.’’
An out-of-control fire has been raging in Victoria's west, threatening the lives of Moyston, Rocky Point and Willaura North residents, while emergency warnings have also been issued for fires in the Adelaide Hills and South East.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley confirmed one house had burnt down in Moyston.

While crews have contained the bushfire and downgraded an emergency fire warning to a watch and act message, Mr Lapsley said crews would be fighting the blaze throughout the night.

He said wind forecast overnight meant the fire could pose challenges for crews.

Elsewhere, an uncontrolled bushfire at Humbug Scrub in South Australia's Mount Lofty Ranges is threatening lives. The serious bushfire is burning in scrub, the Country Fire Service says.

Comment: As southern and western parts of Australia are currently facing raging wildfires, eastern parts of the country experienced the worst storm in decades nearly a month ago, which was followed by destructive multiple thunderstorms.

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Airplane

Plane blown off runway in Scotland

Steph Cockroft
Daily Mail, UK
Fri, 02 Jan 2015 23:11 UTC
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High winds caused a plane to veer off the runway as it attempted to take off at Stornoway Airport on the Isle of Lewis this morning
Four passengers were injured today after a plane was blown off the runway amid 80mph winds, as Britain braces itself for days of grey skies and heavy downpours.

The twin-propeller Saab 340 was attempting to take off from Stornoway Airport on the Isle of Lewis just before 8.30am when strong gusts caused it to veer off the tarmac and nose-dive into the grass, sparking a major investigation.

It came as a deep Atlantic depression whipped Machrihanish, Argyll, with 77mph winds, while gales of 71mph were detected in Edinburgh.
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