The uploader told Storyful that "Nobody remembers in Zacatecas in the past something like that." Credit: Nicola Rustichelli
Earth Changes
The uploader told Storyful that "Nobody remembers in Zacatecas in the past something like that." Credit: Nicola Rustichelli
Hurricane Joaquin as a category 4 storm in October 2015
"I can confirm that as of October 24, 2016, it will be a complete 11 years since a major hurricane has struck the United States, as defined by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale of being a Category 3 or higher," meteorologist Dennis Feltgen, spokesman for NOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC), told CNSNews.com.
"The current streak of no major hurricane landfalls onto the U.S. mainland remains intact. The last one to do so was Hurricane Wilma on October 24, 2005," Feltgen said.
Category 3 and higher hurricanes are characterized by sustained wind speeds of 111 mph or more and strong storm surges that are capable of causing "devastating" or "catastrophic" damage.
© Kemble Cowan
The seal in the ocean at Manly beach.
The seal in the ocean at Manly beach.
Nathan Shepherd was attacked by the Australian fur seal off Shelly Beach on Sunday afternoon. The creature also went after three surfers, knocking one into the ocean and grabbing hold of their boards with its teeth.
The dad-of-two was due to have an operation tonight to stitch the puncture wound on his arm.
The Manly lawyer said at first he was amazed the creature was swimming so close on Sunday afternoon - until it turned aggressive.
Mr Shepherd, 45, said: "It was swimming next to me for a few seconds. I didn't think anything of it.
"I thought it was amazing to be out with a seal. It was swimming closer to me. It swam quite fast - it jumped out of the water and bit me on the upper arm.
© Troy Snook
Northern Beaches man Nathan Shepherd said at first he was amazed the creature was swimming so close on Sunday afternoon – until it turned aggressive.
Northern Beaches man Nathan Shepherd said at first he was amazed the creature was swimming so close on Sunday afternoon – until it turned aggressive.
© NOAA
Dead dwarf sperm whale
Dead dwarf sperm whale
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says a witness saw two small whales stranded in Makena on Maui's west shore around 7:30 in the morning.
When crews arrived, they discovered a dead 7-foot whale on shore.
NOAA, with help from Maui County and the Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources, have removed the dead whale and transported it to Oahu where a necropsy has been conducted.
Teams from the University of Hawaii and Hawaii Pacific University are taking part in the investigation.
The earthquake occurred at 20:25 GMT on Sunday at a depth of 29,7 kilometers (about 18 miles) with the epicenter located in 117 kilometers to the east of the Shikotan island.
There appeared to be no tsunami threat following the earthquake and there were no immediate reports of any damages or casualties. The Geological Survey appointed the green level of the earthquake consequences, indicating low probability of casualties and economic damage.
The so-called Kuril-Kamchatka Arc, which extends some 2,100 km from Hokkaido, Japan along the Kuril Islands and the Pacific coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, is one of the most seismically active regions in the world.
The attacked occurred at Byron Bay, 22 miles north of Ballina, where a 25-year-old man sustained minor leg injuries while surfing with friends on October 12.
Beaches in the area, around 500 miles north of Sydney, were closed for at least 24 hours after the early morning encounter, with the victim taken to hospital by a friend.
"It is believed that the shark emerged from under the man while he was waiting for a wave," Surf Life Saving New South Wales said.
Comment: This attack now brings the tally for a relatively small coastal area to 7 in 21 months, see also: Shark attack on surfer off Ballina, Australia; 6th attack for the area in 21 months
Black bear
The man, who was scouting for a hunting trip, was walking at about 5 p.m. near a stream when he encountered a bear. The bear attacked and knocked him to the ground. The man fought off the attack and the bear ran away, CPW said.
The victim sustained minor injuries to his hands, legs and abdomen. Paramedics treated him, but he was not hospitalized. Wildlife officers interviewed the man and collected samples of his clothing for DNA.
"Thankfully, the injuries were not severe," said Northeast Regional Manager Mark Leslie. "This looks like a chance encounter where the bear was likely startled."
Deputies were called to the address Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. and rendered first aid to the four-and-a-half year old child, but were unable to save her, according a news release by the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department.
The mother, who was injured in her efforts to protect the girl, was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Deputies were assisted by Tri-Township Fire, Life Care , Victim Services, and St. Joseph County Animal Control.
Authorities have not released additional information about the incident, which is still under investigation.
© Ski.com.au
Snow falls at Mt Buller this morning as the freezing conditions continue well into spring.
Snow falls at Mt Buller this morning as the freezing conditions continue well into spring.
© Denver Zoo
The baggy-skinned frogs absorb oxygen, and environmental contaminants through their skin.
The baggy-skinned frogs absorb oxygen, and environmental contaminants through their skin.
More than 10,000 endangered frogs and other water-dwelling animals living near a lake in South America were found mysteriously dead this month, according to reports from Peru's wildlife and forestry service Serfor, leaving many people to wonder what could have caused this bizarre die-off.
The Titicaca water frog (Telmatobius culeus), also known as the "scrotum frog" for its loose skin, is one of the most critically endangered frogs in the world. The large, entirely aquatic frog adapted to the high altitudes of Lake Titicaca, which flows along the border between Bolivia and Peru, by taking in oxygen through its skin folds. This evolutionary adaptation also makes the frog highly sensitive to changes in its habitat, such as environmental contamination, according to Tom Weaver, curator of reptiles and fish at the Denver Zoo.
Researchers are currently investigating the latest massive die-off, which they think may have been caused by some sort of contamination. In 2014, an algae bloom that removed oxygen from the water, killed a number of frogs and fish, Weaver said.
Comment: According to local newspaper Excelsior, "In 15 minutes, Zacatecas was blanketed by heavy hailstorm Sunday night, a hailstorm caused the ice reached nearly 50 centimeters" (translated by google).
Other severe hailstorms from around the world this month include:
- Freak hailstorm rips through town in New South Wales, Australia
- Freak hailstorm hits drought stricken Bloemfontein, South Africa
- Mounds of hail pile up after storm pounds Safford, Arizona
It is likely that atmospheric dust loading from increased comet and volcanic activity is contributing to these 'unusual' or 'freak' hailstorms, the cooling effect of which causes ice crystals to form.