Earth & Space Weather

Colby Fire Still Burning Near Los Angeles; 5 Homes Destroyed

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By: Raquel Maria Dillon, 01/17/2014

 

GLENDORA, Calif. -- The large Colby fire, burning in the foothill suburbs northeast of Los Angeles, was largely tamed by firefighters Friday morning, but it was a reminder of a major threat that remains across California – in a drought as severe as the current one, bone-dry land and heat will inevitably lead to more wildfires. By nightfall Thursday, the wildfire that swept through about 2 1/2 square miles of brush in the San Gabriel Mountains and destroyed five homes early in the day had its progress halted and was 30 percent contained.

 

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New Caledonia on alert for tropical cyclone

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By: ABC, 01/17/2014

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A tropical cyclone watch for Solomon Islands has been cancelled as the storm continues to track south towards New Caledonia, parts of which remain on orange alert. Cyclone June is expected to pass to the north of Grande-Terre early on Saturday with estimated wind gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour. Resort areas have been evacuated with territory's northern province expected to be worst hit as the winds strengthen, while heavy rain is expected to affect all parts of New Caledonia.

 

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com.au

Victoria's heatwave to come to a dramatic end

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Weatherzone, By: Ben McBurney, 01/17/2014

Victoria's unprecedented record-breaking heatwave is on its final stretch; however, large parts of the state are expected to see their fourth or fifth consecutive day in the 40s before a squally change arrives bringing a significant drop in the mercury. Today, Melbourne is likely to see its fourth consecutive day in the 40s, the first time this has occurred since 1908 when five consecutive days were observed. This comes the day after reaching 43.9 degrees, its hottest day since Black Saturday.

 

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com.au

Earthquake Report for 01/16/2014

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By: USGS

www.earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/

47 earthquakes

 

    4.5 59km NE of Yonakuni, Japan 2014-01-16 12:40:17 UTC-08:00 145.3 km

    5.2 233km E of Bouvet Island, Bouvet Island 2014-01-16 12:02:45 UTC-08:00 10.0 km

    4.8 44km ENE of Pubu, China 2014-01-16 09:47:34 UTC-08:00 46.5 km

    3.2 70km N of Hatillo, Puerto Rico 2014-01-16 09:19:11 UTC-08:00 21.0 km

    3.1 137km WNW of Barview, Oregon 2014-01-16 07:38:21 UTC-08:00 10.5 km

    3.0 113km S of King Salmon, Alaska 2014-01-16 04:55:15 UTC-08:00 34.5 km

    3.2 71km NNE of Hatillo, Puerto Rico 2014-01-16 02:27:47 UTC-08:00 42.0 km

    3.2 5km N of Fontana, California 2014-01-16 01:50:03 UTC-08:00 3.0 km

    2.7 69km N of Arecibo, Puerto Rico 2014-01-16 00:20:24 UTC-08:00 39.0 km

    3.3 109km NNW of Kodiak Station, Alaska 2014-01-15 23:50:09 UTC-08:00 66.1 km

    4.9 8km ENE of Amatignak Island, Alaska 2014-01-15 23:45:40 UTC-08:00 52.1 km

    3.6 11km E of Villa Park, California 2014-01-15 23:40:06 UTC-08:00 10.4 km

Alberta Clippers Bringing Cold Air, Snow, Wind to the Midwest and East

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By: Chris Dolce, 01/16/2014

Clipper 2 - Current Radar

Fast-moving Alberta clippers will continue to bring snow, gusty winds and cold air to parts of the Midwest, Great Lakes and the East into the weekend. On Tuesday, the first in this parade of clipper systems brought significant accumulating snow to parts of the Upper Midwest. We saw a few amounts in excess of 10 inches in central Wisconsin, with 11 inches reported at Oconto, Wis. Lighter amounts fell over parts of the Dakotas and Minnesota. Into this weekend, we are tracking a few more of these Alberta clippers, including one that is producing blizzard conditions.

 

For more on this story visit www.wunderground.com

Extreme Fire Danger, Record Highs in California as Drought Worsens

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By: Chris Dolce, 01/16/2014

The weather pattern along the West Coast this week is one that was all too common last year and led to a record dry 2013 in California. A dominant ridge, or dome of high pressure aloft, is acting as a block to any precipitation in the Golden State. Not only does this so-called ridge prevent Pacific weather systems from affecting California with rain and snow, it's also leading to offshore winds, record high temperatures and a high fire danger this week.

 

For more on this story visit www.wunderground.com

~Space Weather Update~CHANCE OF STORMS

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CHANCE OF STORMS: NOAA forecasters estimate a 35% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on Jan. 17th when a minor CME is expected to hit Earth. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras competing with bright moonlight. Aurora alerts: text, voice.

SMALLEST FULL MOON OF THE YEAR: Last night's full Moon was the smallest of the year, as much as 14% smaller and 30% dimmer than other full Moons of 2014. But could you tell the difference? When the Moon is high in the sky with no reference points nearby, a big Moon and a small Moon look much the same. To set the scale of the phenomenon, Karzaman Ahmad of the Langkawi National Observatory in Maylasia photographed last night's Moon and placed it alongside a photo of the largest Moon from 2013:

"It really was smaller!" he says.

~Space Weather Update~ SMALLEST FULL MOON OF THE YEAR

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COUNTDOWN TO PLUTO: NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is closing in on Pluto. Officials say the encounter begins less than a year from now. Although Pluto has been demoted from planethood by a small group of professional astronomers, it is still a sizable world, some 5000 miles around the equator with a system of moons and perhaps even rings. New Horizons is heading for one of the most exciting planetary flybys of the Space Age. Get the full story and a video from Science@NASA.

SMALLEST FULL MOON OF THE YEAR: Can you see the difference? Tonight's full Moon is the smallest full Moon of the year--an "apogee moon," as much as 14% smaller and 30% dimmer than other full Moons of 2014. Such a reduced full Moon still produces a lot of light, as shown in this photo taken on Apogee's Eve (Jan. 14) by Neil Winston of Lusby, Maryland:

"Fog rolled in as the temperature dropped after some rainfall," says Winston. "The bright moon cast distinct rays of light through gaps in the trees."

Adelaide sweats through 45.1C as south-east towns set local temperature records

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By: ABC, 01/14/2014

Adelaide has had its fourth hottest day on record, reaching 45.1 degrees Celsius, but it could get even hotter over the next couple of days with 46C forecast on Thursday. Premier Jay Weatherill is currently meeting with emergency service chiefs to get an update about the state's extreme weather, with a severe thunderstorm warning current for several districts. Adelaide's temperature today peaked just before 2:00pm, pipping the 45.0C recorded in January last year for fourth spot on the list. The south east has felt the full brunt of the current heatwave, with two towns setting record temperatures.

 

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com.au

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