Earth ChangesS

Binoculars

Kelp gull first sighting in UK is 'extraordinary' - usual range is the southern hemisphere

The kelp gull was spotted at Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire by a local birdwatcher
© MIKE CARRThe kelp gull was spotted at Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire by a local birdwatcher
Birdwatchers at a reservoir have said it was "extraordinary" to see a rare gull in Britain for the first time.

The kelp gull was identified at Grafham Water near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on Sunday.

The seabird is usually found throughout the southern hemisphere, but not this far into the northern hemisphere.

Gary Allport from Birdlife International said it was "amazing" to see the gull, which is normally a "coastal species".

"You do get them inland in certain places but usually only when they're breeding," he said.

"It's extraordinary really.


Cloud Precipitation

Landslides sweep away cars as flash floods hit Sicily and Reggio Calabria, Italy on August 12 - second serious flooding event in 4 days

flood
Flash flooding hit Reggio Calabria and the island of Sicily, Italy on August 12th 2022.

A strong storm in the Strait of Messina caused waves to wash onshore, destroying beaches.

Heavy rain caused floods as drainage systems overflowed.

Rain washed down hillsides, turning roads into waterfalls.


Comment: Just 4 days ago: Torrential rain causes flash floods in Sicily, Italy


Cloud Precipitation

Las Vegas is flooded again! The second heavy rainstorm in two weeks!

Las Vegas hit with fresh flash floods
Las Vegas hit with fresh flash floods

Las Vegas suffered overnight floods, with rainwater pouring through the ceilings of the casinos. This flood occurred for the second time in two weeks. In Las Vegas, Nevada, floodwaters have overtaken the whole Strip and countless casinos. On Thursday night, the Las Vegas Strip, which is home to some of the most well-known casinos and hotels in the world, was absolutely crowded. Rainwater has soaked the casino ceilings again!


Comment: Details of the earlier event: Las Vegas flooding: Multiple casinos, entire Strip, airport under water


Boat

Flooding in northern China sweeps away cars

FLOOD
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing for several missing people as China's Shanxi province was hit by record rainfall, according to Chinese state media CCTV.


Snowflake

Alaska receives first snow of season at Brooks Range and Denali National Park

snow
© FAA
After receiving the first winter storm warning out of anywhere in the U.S. this season, fresh snow has dumped on Alaska in its Brooks Range. It's the first snowfall of the season for a U.S. region and, even though it's in the far north of Alaska, new snow is new snow.

The last winter storm warning for the US was issued on June 15 in northern Montana. Although it's extremely unlikely that any part of the continental U.S. will get snow this month, August marks the last month of meteorological summer, meaning that meteorological autumn will kick off on Thursday, September 1. Not long after that, it'll be winter, and you know what that means.


Cow Skull

Over 100 French towns without drinking water amid 'historic drought'

france
© AP Photo/Francois Mori/ FileThe fountains of Concorde plaza are empty in Paris, France, as Europe is under an extreme heat wave, Aug. 3, 2022.
More than 100 towns in France have no more drinking water and must receive deliveries by truck, France's ecological transition minister said while visiting the country's southeastern region.

"There are already more than a hundred municipalities in France that today have no more drinking water, and for which supplies are being transported by truck to these municipalities because there is nothing left in the pipes," said Christophe Bรฉchu, while visiting the town of Roumoules.

Multiple European countries are experiencing historic drought conditions amid low precipitation and high temperatures made more likely due to climate change.

Arrow Down

Woman saved as her vehicle submerges into sinkhole in Central El Paso, Texas

Watch dramatic rescue as car gets sucked into sinkhole
Dramatic rescue as car gets sucked into sinkhole
A sinkhole was reported on Gateway South and Yandell resulting in one injury Tuesday night.

The report came out at 6:42 p.m. Images show large amounts of water on the streets spewing from the sinkhole.

Traffic is being redirected at Boone.

According to police, one person was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Three firefighters have been checked for minor injuries.


Fire

France battles 'monster' wildfire as heatwaves scorch Europe

A firefighting truck works to contain a fire in Saint-Magne, as wildfires continue to spread in the Gironde region of southwestern France, August 11, 2022.
© REUTERS/Stephane MaheA firefighting truck works to contain a fire in Saint-Magne, as wildfires continue to spread in the Gironde region of southwestern France, August 11, 2022.
A "monster" wildfire raged for a third day in southwestern France on Thursday, ravaging forests and forcing 10,000 people to evacuate their homes.

With no let-up in scorching temperatures likely before the weekend, firefighters backed by water-bombing aircraft battled on many fronts, saying the massive fire could change direction at any moment.

"It's an ogre, it's a monster," Gregory Allione from the French firefighters body FNSPF told RTL radio.

Wildfires have broken out across Europe this summer as successive heatwaves bake the continent and renew focus on climate change risks to industry and livelihoods.

Valentine Dupy took photos of her house with her phone before being evacuated from Belin-Beliet, at the heart of the Gironde region "just in case something happens".


Doberman

Man mauled to death by dog in Hampshire, UK

dog attack
A man has died after he was mauled to death by a dog.

The 34-year-old was attacked in broad daylight in a park area in Fareham, Hampshire.

A 20-year-old man from the town has been arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, police have said.

The breed of the animal is currently unknown.

Cloud Precipitation

Floods and heavy rain leave 25 dead, 5,800 homes destroyed in Sudan

Flood damage in Sennar, Sudan, August 2022
© Sudan Red CrescentFlood damage in Sennar, Sudan, August 2022.
The rainy season continues to its toll on communities in Sudan, where over 80,000 people have now been affected and 25 have lost their lives.

According to data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), flooding or damage from heavy rainfall has occurred in around 38 localities across the states of Central Darfur, East Darfur, Kassala, North Darfur, North Kordofan, River Nile, Sennar, South Darfur, South Kordofan, West Darfur, West Kordofan and White Nile.