Galactic Free Press

Weatherzone, By: Olivia Garnett, 05/10/2013

WA's main grain handler, the CBH Group, is optimistic of achieving crop levels of between 10 and 15 million tonnes for the 2013-14 harvest.

General Manager Operations for the CBH Group, Colin Tutt, says that recent rain has made for the best start across the state for several years. "We do recognise that some areas are still a little bit dry and the rain has been a little bit patchy, but overall we're very, very pleased."

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com

Weatherzone, By: Ben McBurney, 05/10/2013

The unseasonable May heat is set to finally end in South Australia, with cooler temperatures and rain over the weekend. Temperatures have been sizzling across the state throughout May, with another warm day today.

On Wednesday, Adelaide had its second hottest May day on record reaching 31.1 degrees. Thursday was also a sizzler with a top of 29.8 degrees and the maximum has hit 29 degrees today. This makes it the warmest three day period in May since 1921.

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com

Weatherzone, By: Stephanie Watson, 05/10/2013

Farmers in south-east NSW say they could have some of the best grass in the state at the moment. But the absence of a solid autumn break still has them worried.

Neil Waterson, a beef farmer in the Bega Valley, says all of the markets are flat because of an oversupply of cattle across the country.

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com

Weatherzone, By: ABC, 05/10/2013

The president of the National Farmers Federation says it's time to release the details of new drought support measures. Around 17 per cent of New South Wales is in drought and 65 per cent is experiencing very dry conditions. Parts of Western Australia and Queensland are also in drought and Victoria is waiting for rain.

NFF President Duncan Fraser says the states signed off on the federal drought policy last week, but it lacks detail and governments need to be specific about the help on offer soon.

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com

Weatherzone, By: Olivia Garnett, 05/09/2013

Farmers in one of the driest parts of the wheatbelt are very disappointed in the rain associated with this week's cold front.

Romolo Patroni is the Shire President of Yilgarn, he also farms at Marvel Loch in the eastern wheatbelt. "Very disappointing with the way the cold front came through." "The predictions that were being made as far as rainfall was concerned we expected to get at least somewhere between 10 and 20 millimetres but I think generally the area only received between four and six millimetres."

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com

Earthsky.com - 5/10/13, Bruce McClure

The three brightest heavenly bodies of nighttime – the moon, Venus and Jupiter, respectively – can be found in the western sky after sunset now. Jupiter is easy to see because this king of planets stays out until about an hour after dark, but the moon and Venus are harder to catch because they follow the sun below the horizon before it gets truly dark outside. But – on May 10, 2013 – you’ll have a chance to catch the moon and Venus near each other, low in the western twilight sky. Whether you see them will depend on the clarity of your sky – and the lack of trees or tall buildings in the way!

Link: EarthSky.org

Nationalgeographic, By: Andrew Fazekas, 05/09/2013

A "ring of fire" solar eclipse will darken skies on Thursday as the black silhouette of the moon will appear to glide across the face of the sun until only a bit of sunlight is visible. Though the celestial phenomenon will be visible mostly in remote areas in the Pacific, armchair astronomers can watch a live feed of the eclipse, thanks to SLOOH.

The Internet-based space-tracking service is broadcasting the annular eclipse via a telescope from Australia starting on May 9 at 5:30 p.m. ET (21:30 UT).

For more on this story visit www.nationalgeographic.com

Weatherzone, By: ABC, Thursday, 05/09/2013

Western Power says more than 5,000 customers are still without power this morning after last night's storms in Perth and the south-west. A total of 1,700 customers are without power in the Manjimup and Pemberton areas, while 3,000 homes and businesses in Stoneville, Parkerville, Gidgegannup and Midland are also affected.

The State Emergency Service (SES) has received about 130 calls for assistance in Perth, the Goldfields and the south-west.

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com

Weatherzone, By: Rob Sharpe, 05/09/2013

Innisfail and South Johnstone gained over 250mm in a two day deluge, nearing May rain records. Rain has been dumping along the Queensland North Tropical Coast for the past two days. Innisfail gained 116mm to 9am yesterday, its heaviest May rain in 17 years. This morning it surpassed that total with a whopping 152mm to 9am, providing the wettest recorded pair of May days since 1912.

Nearby, South Johnstone has endured wet season style rainfall with 256mm in the past two days, its wettest two-day total in 26 years. Cairns has been picking up some much needed rainfall with its heaviest rain since January, gaining 72mm during the past two days. This month is the first since July to see above average rainfall, including a well below average wet season.

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com

Weatherzone, By: Gail Liston, 05/09/2013

The Northern Territory town of Tennant Creek is in the grip of eclipse fever, with astronomers from across the globe arriving to watch a rare annular eclipse. Tomorrow, the moon will move across the sun and, for a few minutes after 8:00am Central Standard Time, an aptly named "ring of fire" will be visible.

Astronomer Melissa Hulbert says only people in and around Tennant Creek, about 1,000 kilometres south of Darwin, will see the full spectacle.

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com

Weatherzone, By: ABC, 05/09/2013

Western Australia's State Emergency Service has received about 110 calls for help from Perth residents, as thunderstorms and strong winds move across the state's south-west.

The Weather Bureau has issued a severe weather warning for a deep low that is expected to affect the region over the next 24 hours.

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com

Earthsky.org - 5/9/13, Deborah Byrd

We had many reports of a large greenish fireball – a bright meteor – seen over England and Wales on the evening of May 8, 2013. The video below shows it.

Link: Earthsky.org

Wunderground.com, 5/9/13- Dr. Jeff Masters

With just three tornadoes during the period May 1 - 7, 2013 has had the third-fewest U.S. tornadoes during the first week of May since record keeping began in 1950. The only year with fewer tornadoes during the first week of May were 1970 (zero) and 1952 (two.) During the ten year period 2003 - 2012, the U.S. averaged 73 tornadoes during the first week of May, with a high of 239 during May 1 - 7, 2003. The three May 2013 tornadoes have all been week EF-0 twisters, and none have hit the Midwest's tornado alley:

May 2: An EF-0 tornado with 70-mph winds hit Boca Raton, Florida, tossing lawn furniture around, downing a few trees and fences, and breaking one window. The tornado stayed on the ground for just four tenths of a mile and was only 50 yards wide; nobody was hurt.

May 4: An EF-0 tornado damaged barns and outbuildings near Elkton, Florida.

May 6: An EF-0 tornado with 50 mph winds passed through Bakersfield, California. The 25-yard wide tornado lasted two minutes and stayed on the ground for 1/4 mile. This tornado was not related to a supercell thunderstorm like most tornadoes are, but instead was a "landspout" tornado, caused by the interaction of the inflow into a thunderstorm with a ground-based swirling area of winds.

The Extinction Protocol, 5/9/13

Weatherzone, By: ABC, 05/08/2013

The weather bureau says strong winds and heavy rainfall are set to continue in Perth and the South West until Friday. The warning comes as a wind gust of more than 100 kilometres per hour was recorded at Rottnest Island.

Heavy swells of up to seven metres and wind gusts exceeding 100 kilometres per hour will affect areas south of Bunbury tomorrow. Perth can also expect long periods of rainfall with strong winds strengthening late tonight into tomorrow.

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com