A powerful Pacific storm will pound California and Nevada with heavy rain and high elevation snow. Winter storm warnings are in effect for the Sierra Nevadas of California with up to 2 feet of new snow possible above 7,000 feet. Some lower elevations in California could experience more than an inch of rain, prompting flooding concerns.
High wind warnings are in effect for almost all of California and Nevada as southerly winds will gust up to 75 mph in the lower elevations and up to 100 mph along the ridges of the Sierra Nevadas. The intensity of the wind may potentially knock out power to some populated areas.
Meanwhile, another storm will move into the upper Midwest, spreading rain. The rain will make its way into the Mississippi Valley watershed, adding to an already potentially record-breaking flood season. Flood watches and warnings are already in effect for the Mississippi River.
Temperatures in the Northeast will rise into the 30s and 40s, while the Southeast will see readings in the 70s and 80s. The Southern plains will see temperatures in the 80s and some 90s, while the Northwest will see 40s and 50s. Higher elevations will only rise into the 20s and 30s in the West. Temperatures in the lower 48 states on Saturday have ranged from a morning low of 6 degrees at Crane Lake, Minn., to a high of 89 degrees at Augusta Bush, Ga.
Earth Changes
© Press-Register/Harlan Kirgan
9 dead dolphins have been found in Alabama and Mississippi since Saturday. Scientists with the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies perform a necropsy on a dead dolphin earlier this year.
9 dead dolphins have been found in Alabama and Mississippi since Saturday. Scientists with the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies perform a necropsy on a dead dolphin earlier this year.
Despite what she called an "unusual mortality event" killing dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico, the top federal scientist investigating the deaths, revealed Wednesday that the government has yet to send any tissue samples for laboratory testing to determine a cause. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Blair Mase blamed the delay on complications related to oil spill litigation.
A letter sent by NOAA to groups authorized to collect tissue samples from dead dolphins described the work as "a criminal investigation," according to Mase.
Nine more dolphin carcasses were recovered in Alabama and Mississippi between Saturday and Wednesday, bringing the total for the two states to 62 since Jan. 1, according to a list compiled Wednesday by the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies.
The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating reports of a "sheen" in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana.
The Coast Guard on Sunday were trying to determine whether the sheen or gleaming at the top of the water, was the result of oil or an algae growth, said Lieutenant Ryan Baxter, command duty officer in New Orleans.
"We have an unknown substance in the water," he said. "We're trying to confirm what it is."
The Coast Guard on Sunday were trying to determine whether the sheen or gleaming at the top of the water, was the result of oil or an algae growth, said Lieutenant Ryan Baxter, command duty officer in New Orleans.
"We have an unknown substance in the water," he said. "We're trying to confirm what it is."
© John MacDougall, AFP/Getty Images
Now reports say the attention-loving polar bear was found dead in a pool in his cage at the Zoologischer Garten Berlin Saturday, with no immediate cause of death announced.
This is awful," said Berlin's mayor Klaus Wowereit said, according to the Sydney (Australia) Herald. "We had all taken him to our hearts. He was the star of the Berlin Zoo."
Most reports say Knut was alone when he died, as visitors watched him suddenly fall into the water. The celebrity news site TMZ.com carried news of his death and says People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' German branch had previously complained that his mother and other bears were tormenting Knut. And a PETA rep told TMZ that polar bears don't belong in captivity.
Manado, Indonesia - Residents in central Indonesia have been evacuated from the slopes of a volcano that has been spewing hot lava and clouds of searing gas high into the air for days.
State volcanologist Surono says Mount Karangetang has been spilling lava and shooting clouds of gas and debris up to 1,900 feet (600 meters) in the air as ash poured down its slopes.
He said Saturday that some 582 people living along its slopes have been evacuated away from the mountain on Siau, part of the Sulawesi island chain. There were no reports of injuries, but several houses and a church were damaged.
State volcanologist Surono says Mount Karangetang has been spilling lava and shooting clouds of gas and debris up to 1,900 feet (600 meters) in the air as ash poured down its slopes.
He said Saturday that some 582 people living along its slopes have been evacuated away from the mountain on Siau, part of the Sulawesi island chain. There were no reports of injuries, but several houses and a church were damaged.
Sugar-cane harvesting in the main growing region in Brazil, the world's biggest sugar producer, may be delayed after above-average rainfall in the first weeks of March, according to ICAP Brasil.
"Rains in the first half of March were almost double the average of the last 10 years," Marcos Mine, head of the sugar and ethanol desk at ICAP Brasil, said by phone from Sao Paulo today. "This has already delayed the start in some mills."
The bulk of Brazil's cane crop is usually harvested between March and December in Center South, which accounts for about 90 percent of the country's output. Rainfall may also hamper sugar production at the beginning of the harvest, leading processors to make ethanol instead, according to Mine.
"Rains in the first half of March were almost double the average of the last 10 years," Marcos Mine, head of the sugar and ethanol desk at ICAP Brasil, said by phone from Sao Paulo today. "This has already delayed the start in some mills."
The bulk of Brazil's cane crop is usually harvested between March and December in Center South, which accounts for about 90 percent of the country's output. Rainfall may also hamper sugar production at the beginning of the harvest, leading processors to make ethanol instead, according to Mine.
Heavy rains lashed Kashmir and the authorities issued an warning that avalanche might strike many areas of the Vallery close to the mountain ranges.
"Medium danger avalanche alert has been sounded for higher reaches of Gurez, Baruab, Chakwali, Kanzalwan, Niru, Razdan Pass, Gugladara, Keran, Machil, Chowkibal, Tangdar and higher reaches of Gulmarg and Khilanmarg following the rainfall," Aamir Ali, Coordinator of the Disaster Management Cell, said.
He said low danger avalance warning exists for peaks of Drass and Kargil areas in Ladakh region.
"People living in the higher reaches of these areas have been advised to curtail their outdoor movement and not to venture into avalanche prone areas," Ali added.
Pahalgam in south Kashmir Anantnag district received the highest rainfall at 27.6 mm till 5.30 pm, an official of the MET department said.
"Medium danger avalanche alert has been sounded for higher reaches of Gurez, Baruab, Chakwali, Kanzalwan, Niru, Razdan Pass, Gugladara, Keran, Machil, Chowkibal, Tangdar and higher reaches of Gulmarg and Khilanmarg following the rainfall," Aamir Ali, Coordinator of the Disaster Management Cell, said.
He said low danger avalance warning exists for peaks of Drass and Kargil areas in Ladakh region.
"People living in the higher reaches of these areas have been advised to curtail their outdoor movement and not to venture into avalanche prone areas," Ali added.
Pahalgam in south Kashmir Anantnag district received the highest rainfall at 27.6 mm till 5.30 pm, an official of the MET department said.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which is the only surface link between Kashmir and rest of the country, was closed for vehicular traffic today due to a landslide triggered by heavy rains in Ramban district of Jammu & Kashmir today.
The 300-km-long highway was closed after landslides were triggered by heavy rains at Panthal in Ramban district this afternoon, senior superintendent of police, National Highway, Kifayat Haider said.
As a result of the landslides, about 100-150 vehicles are stranded on different stretches of the highway, he said.
Men and machines of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are working to clear the landslide, he said.
The 300-km-long highway was closed after landslides were triggered by heavy rains at Panthal in Ramban district this afternoon, senior superintendent of police, National Highway, Kifayat Haider said.
As a result of the landslides, about 100-150 vehicles are stranded on different stretches of the highway, he said.
Men and machines of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are working to clear the landslide, he said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) asked residents in one region and four provinces to brace for continuous heavy rains, which may trigger flash floods and landslides in these areas.
According to PAGASA, the wind convergence will continue to affect Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao today, bringing cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.
It said rains will become widespread over Bicol Region, and the provinces of Dinagat Island, Samar, Leyte, and Surigao, which may cause flash floods and landslides.
According to PAGASA, the wind convergence will continue to affect Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao today, bringing cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.
It said rains will become widespread over Bicol Region, and the provinces of Dinagat Island, Samar, Leyte, and Surigao, which may cause flash floods and landslides.
© Jerry Moran / Stuart Smith oilspillaction.com
Photo of Macondo Well area March 19, 2011
Photo of Macondo Well area March 19, 2011
According to the Times Picayune, the Coast Guard has confirmed they are investigating a potentially large 100 mile slick about 30 miles offshore. They are going to a site near the Matterhorn well site about 20 miles north of the BP Deepwater Horizon site, according to the paper. The Matterhorn field includes includes a deepwater drilling platform owned by W&T Technology. It was acquired last year from TotalFinaElf E&P.
Independent pilots are attempting to reach the slick today. Bonnie Schumaker with Wings of Care reported she saw a slick two days ago and is attempting to reach the site.
