Earth ChangesS


Seismograph

5.2 magnitude earthquake rattles San Diego area

san diego earthquake
© U.S. Geological SurveyA map shows the epicenter of a 5.2 magnitude earthquake that shook Southern California, Apr. 14, 2024 according to the U.S. Geological Survey
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook Southern California on Monday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake was centered in San Diego County but was felt as far north as Los Angeles.

No injuries or damage have been reported, according to Cal Fire San Diego.

It "felt like someone was shaking the ground from under me," said Laura Acevedo, a reporter at San Diego ABC affiliate KGTV, who was in the newsroom when the quake struck.

"Everything started shaking ... desks shaking, TV screens," she told ABC News.

Comment:






Snowflake

Michigan's northernmost peninsula doubles 2024 snowfall total in epic winter

The Keweenaw Peninsula recorded 306.5 inches of snow during winter 2024-25, doubling the total from 2023-24.
The Keweenaw Peninsula recorded 306.5 inches of snow during winter 2024-25, doubling the total from 2023-24.
With almost three feet of snow still on the ground, the Keweenaw Peninsula is calling it: "Spring has sprung."

What is believed to be the last snowfall of the season fell in a flurry on Wednesday, accumulating one-quarter of an inch, according to Keweenaw County data. That brought the 2024-25 snowfall total to 306.5 inches, doubling the 153.25 inches recorded in 2023-24.

"We're known for some of the most epic snow in the Midwest, and this year didn't disappoint," said Brad Barnett, executive director of Visit Keweenaw. "It's great to see how much people enjoy tracking the totals — and we're already looking forward to next winter."

The visitors' bureau hosts an annual snowfall total contest in which anyone can take their best guess for a chance to win free swag and bragging rights. About 700 guesses were submitted. Two winners guessed the exact total: David Myron and Randall Matson.

Tsunami

Rwanda: Two killed, dozens of houses damaged by floods, landslides

Vehicles and people wade through a flooded street during heavy rains on Kinamba-Gakiriro-Kagugu road in Gasabo District in Kigali (file photo).
Vehicles and people wade through a flooded street during heavy rains on Kinamba-Gakiriro-Kagugu road in Gasabo District in Kigali (file photo).
Flooding and a landslide killed two people and destroyed dozens of houses from April 10 to April 13 in Kigali, according to the Mayor of the City of Kigali, Samuel Dusengiyumva.

The disasters followed a weather warning issued by the national meteorological agency, which had predicted heavy rains over the weekend, with the City of Kigali, the Northern and Western Provinces, as well as parts of Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru districts.

The amount of rainfall was forecast to range between 25 and 60 millimitres per day. Floods, landslides, and thunderstorms had been forecast.

"Heavy rain caused flooding on several roads, disrupting traffic. We received reports that 27 houses were damaged," Dusengimana said in an interview with national broadcaster RBA.

"Eight houses were affected in Nyarugenge District, 12 in Kicukiro, and seven in Gasabo. Parts of these houses collapsed. Two people died, one due to flooding and the other was hit by a wall that collapsed," he said.


Fireball 2

Magnitude 6.5 earthquake strikes south of Fiji Islands

A map showing the location of the quake
A map showing the location of the quake
An earthquake of magnitude 6.5 struck south of the Fiji Islands on Monday, according to the US Geological Survey.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 174 kilometers (108 miles), USGS said.

The US Tsunami Warning System said a tsunami was not expected.

Snowflake

Heavy April snowfall restricts access to Troodos region in Cyprus

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Heavy snowfall in the Troodos mountains has led to restricted access on key roads in the region, with only four-wheel drive vehicles or those equipped with snow chains permitted to pass, the police said.

The affected routes include Karvounas - Troodos, Prodromos - Troodos, and Platres - Troodos roads.

Authorities urged drivers to exercise extreme caution, maintain low speeds, and keep safe distances from other vehicles. Travelers heading to mountainous or semi-mountainous areas are advised to check police updates on road conditions before starting their journeys to avoid delays or hazardous situations.


Snowflake

A foot of fresh April snow on Belleayre Mountain, New York

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"We made last call, and suddenly Old Man Winter decided to stop sipping pina coladas on the beach and get to the mountain!," read Saturday morning's giddy snow report from Belleayre Mountain at Ulster County's elevated northwest corner. "It wouldn't be a Belleayre Closing Weekend without some fresh snow, and a twelve-inch dumping of fresh 'Catskill Concrete' is already sitting at the top of the mountain with flakes still floating down.

It got packed down at various times through the night by our gang o' groomers on 27 trails, with two lifts getting prepared to get you on top of it!"

Season passes at the state-owned facility for the 2025-2026 ski season are now available. They increase in cost at the end of April.


Snowflake

'Cherry blossoms and snow at the same time': Seoul in South Korea sees first mid-April snow since 1907

People walk along the cherry blossom road in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on April 13.
People walk along the cherry blossom road in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on April 13.
Spring took a strange turn in Seoul on Saturday when the first mid-April snow since 1907 fell on the city, turning a day of cherry blossoms into one of icy roads.

The weather turned sharply, as daytime temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) turned to cold, strong winds, hail and icy roads within hours starting Saturday night.

Songwol-dong of Jongno District, central Seoul, saw accumulated snow of up to 0.6 centimeters (0.24 inches) between Saturday night and Sunday morning, marking the second-largest snowfall recorded in April after the 2.3 centimeters logged on April 6, 1931.

Suwon, Gyeonggi, also saw its first mid-April snow on Saturday since the city's weather observations began there in 1964.

Sunday's lowest temperatures ranged from 0.1 to 6.7 degrees Celsius nationwide in stark contrast to the 14.3 to 24.7 degrees Celsius logged the day before.


Tsunami

State of Emergency declared in Lanzarote, Spain due to widespread flooding

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The Government of the Canary Islands has declared a state of emergency in Lanzarote following intense and locally severe rainfall that caused significant flooding across the island on Saturday.

This marks the first activation of the island-wide emergency under the Special Civil Protection and Emergency Response Plan for Flood Risk (PEINCA) in Lanzarote.

The worst affected areas include the municipalities of Arrecife, Teguise, and San Bartolomé. Between 2:00pm and 4:00pm alone, the 112 emergency services recorded around 150 weather-related incidents. Most were linked to flooding in homes and garages, along with road disruptions caused by water accumulation.

In response, emergency resources from both municipal and island levels were mobilised and coordinated through CECOES 112, the Canary Islands Emergency and Security Coordination Centre. The General Directorate of Emergencies has issued a public reminder advising against parking or driving in ravines, as sudden water flow poses a serious risk of flash flooding.


Attention

25-foot dead whale washes up at Huntington Beach, California

A deceased 25-foot grey whale washed ashore near the Huntington Beach Pier on Friday.
A deceased 25-foot grey whale washed ashore near the Huntington Beach Pier on Friday.
A 25-foot grey whale was found dead near Huntington Beach Pier, prompting an investigation. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center is conducting a necropsy to determine the cause of death. The adult female whale, weighing 60,000 pounds, has been cordoned off.

A 25-foot grey whale was found dead on the sand near Tower 7 at Huntington City Beach on Friday, drawing the attention of beachgoers and prompting an investigation into its cause of death. Grey whales are known for their extensive migrations along the Pacific Coast.

The adult female whale, weighing approximately 60,000 pounds, which is typical for the species, has been cordoned off by Huntington Beach Marine Safety while officials decide on the next steps. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) from Laguna Beach responded on Saturday morning and initiated a necropsy to determine the cause of death, according to PMMC CEO Glenn Gray.

The Huntington Beach Fire Department remained on-site Saturday, while city spokesperson Jennifer Carey confirmed that the whale would be buried on Sunday after receiving approval from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and PMMC.


Sheeple

Lightning strike kills 100 livestock in Himachal Pradesh, India - another bolt kills 11 buffaloes in Madhya Pradesh

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Heavy rain, hailstorm and snowfall wreaked havoc in the high-altitude areas of the Dhauladhar hills on Friday evening. Reports confirmed that lightning struck a shepherds' camp near Manai, 20 km north of Baijnath, resulting in the death of around 100 sheep and goats. Fortunately, no human casualties have been reported. Four shepherds, who had taken shelter under a tree, narrowly escaped by jumping down the hillside.

Trilok Kapoor, former Chairman of the State Wool Federation and a leader of the Gaddi community, informed the media that the shepherds had sought cover in the dense forest due to the intense weather. The sudden lightning strike caused heavy loss of livestock, dealing a major blow to the Gaddi community.

In response to the tragedy, the Kangra administration dispatched a rescue team to the site. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed deep sorrow over the incident. He directed Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hem Raj Bairwa to oversee rescue operations and ensure immediate relief to the affected shepherds.

The Chief Minister also instructed the Animal Husbandry Department to assess the livestock loss. Compensation will be provided according to the Himachal Pradesh Natural Calamities Relief Manual once the damage report is received.


Comment: The Free Press Journal reports:
As many as 11 buffaloes reportedly died after being struck by lightning in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district in the wee hours of Sunday.

According to information, the incident occurred in Dhekua village of Shivpuri around 2 am, when the 11 buffaloes of a farmer were in the cowshed.

The lightning struck during heavy rain and storm in several parts of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. Due to heavy rain and storm in the district, a tree also fell on a mud house of Captain Singh Yadav in Manjari village of Badarwas tehsil.