by wildcherry on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 | Travel, Weather | No Comments

The first tornado hit Saline County on Wednesday night at around 6:28pm local time and left 22 homes damaged in its wake.

Around 8:25pm local time, White County was the next area hit by a tornado, which is just north of Saline County and nine homes were reported to be damaged.

Cleburne County was the last one hit by a tornado at 9:05pm local time and one person died due to the force of the storm and two have been seriously injured. A number of homes have been destroyed and heavily damaged in this area.

The National Weather Service also reported that thunderstorms hit the rest of the state, along with hail the size of golf balls.

Tags: Arkansas, tornado, tornado Arkansas, tornado damage Arkansas

by wildcherry on Friday, February 26th, 2010 | Travel, Weather | No Comments

A new winter storm hits the Northeast on Friday, a day after heavy snow closed schools and roads and caused dangerous conditions.

The winter snow storm knocked out power to nearly 1 million homes and businesses in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, slowed traffic and could prompt authorities to cancel up to 1,000 flights at airports serving New York and New Jersey.

Early Friday, American Airlines had canceled 42 flights out of New York, a spokeswoman said. Delta Air Lines canceled 300 flights from airports in New York and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
U.S. Airways had canceled 80 flights from airports in and around New York, a spokesman said.

Steve Coleman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said authorities expect roughly 1,000 flights to be canceled from the three major airports serving New York and parts of New Jersey.

More cancellations were expected for other airlines Friday, according to airport officials.
The storm prompted the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights at New York-area airports Thursday, said Port Authority spokesman John Kelly.

Parts of New York had received from 22 to 30 inches of snow by Thursday evening, the weather service said. Massachusetts was averaging 22 inches across the state. Parts of Pennsylvania had as much as 12 inches. Areas in Vermont received as much as 38 inches of snow.

Take advantage of the winter weather travel waivers being offered by all airlines serving the region and re-schedule your flight. It’ll surely beat sitting in the airport for hours on end only to have your flight canceled. You can make your schedule changes yourself if you’re flying Delta by logging onto www.delta.com. Other airline websites can be accessed by clicking on their highlighted name as follows: United Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Midwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, US Airways.

For the latest FAA airport delay information, click here.

Tags: canceled flights, ewr flight cancelation, faa airport delay, faa flight cancelation, jfk flight cancelation, new york snow storm, new york weather, northeast storm, winter weather travel waivers

by wildcherry on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 | Travel, Weather | No Comments

At least 41 homes were seriously damaged and 500 more were ordered evacuated after heavy rains that pours over southern california overflowed debris basins, carried away cement barricades and swept cars into storm drains.

“We’ve got crews going door to door to tell residents to get out,” said Los Angeles County Fire Insp. Frederick Stowers. “Some of the roads up there are a complete mess.”

At least a foot of debris was reported in some houses. Family photographs, furniture and other personal items were spotted among the rocks and debris that flowed into yards and streets.

By midmorning, the rain had tapered off, but forecasters said another storm system was expected Saturday afternoon.

The evacuations were ordered in foothill areas of La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta and some parts of Acton.

An evacuation center was set up at La Canada Flintridge, and the Red Cross was working to establish other locations to shelter displaced residents.

Crews used bulldozers and other heavy equipment to clear masses of mud and rocks that blocked suburban streets and intersections.

No injuries were reported as a result of the mudslides.

A heavy downpour at sunrise followed a steady overnight rain of nearly 2 inches in a mountainous 250-square-mile scarred by wildfires last summer. The National Weather Service warned of floods likely in foothill areas of Santa Anita, Sierra Madre, Arcadia and Monrovia.

Widespread flooding and downed trees tied up traffic and caused accidents across Los Angeles County.

A section of the Long Beach Freeway was shut down early Saturday because of high water.

Water almost a foot deep flowed into businesses on Melrose Avenue. To the east, Topanga Canyon Boulevard was closed by a rock slide just north of Pacific Coast Highway, and scattered rocks and mud fell on roads in Malibu.

Scattered power outages affected more than 10,000 customers in the Los Angeles area.

Tags: california, California Mudslides, California Rain, Extreme Weather, la canada evacuation, la canada flintridge mud slide, la canada mud slide, Mudslides

by wildcherry on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 | Travel, Weather | No Comments

Record snow totals due to a bizzard-producing Noreaster caused a State of Emergency in Pennsylvania and Delaware today. The bad weather conditions from a major winter storm that came into the Mid-Atlantic region and hit Pennsylvania caused thousands to lose electricity.

A disaster emergency was declared at 6:30 am, as 60,000 people in Allegheny County are without power, and fallen trees and downed electric lines have make road travel unsafe, and in some cases impossible.
In addition to Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, and Delaware are under a disaster emergency watch.

“An epic snowstorm has the mid-Atlantic region in its crosshairs. At this time, personal safety must be first and foremost,” said a statement from Jane Lubchenco, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

State police said they were “working numerous traffic crashes and responding to multiple disabled vehicles as the winter storm makes its way across the commonwealth.”

In Maryland, a van carrying a man and three children ran into the back of a private truck hired to help clear roads, according to Gov. Martin O’Malley, who called it a serious accident. The conditions of the victims were unknown.

Traffic piled up in many cities as motorists tried to get home before the worst of the weather hit. Residents hurried to buy shovels, flashlights and other emergency items.

Check on traffic and road conditions

Winter storm warnings were in effect from southern Indiana eastward to New York and south to North Carolina, with blizzard warnings for Washington, Delaware and the New Jersey coast.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell declared a state of emergency Friday night and ordered all vehicles off the roads by 10 p.m.

By Friday afternoon, forecasters were predicting that the mountains of West Virginia and Maryland, west of the nation’s capital, would receive the most snow, possibly 3 feet.

“Tomorrow will be a day when everybody’s digging out,” O’Malley said. “And Sunday, for that matter, too.”

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by wildcherry on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 | Travel, Weather | No Comments

WASHINGTON — Life in the nation’s capital ground to a halt Friday as steady snow fell, the beginning of a storm that forecasters said could be the biggest for the city in modern history.

A record 2 1/2 feet or more was predicted for Washington. More than 8 inches had already fallen in some D.C. areas by midnight and 10 inches was reported in Pittsburgh as the blizzard blew into the Mid-Atlantic region, reducing visibility. Big amounts of snow were expected throughout the region.

Authorities blamed the storm for hundreds of accidents and the deaths of father-son Samaritans in Virginia.

Several thousand people in West Virginia and Pennsylvania had lost electricity and more outages were expected. A hospital fire in D.C. sent about three dozen patients scurrying from their rooms to safety in a basement. The blaze started when a snow plow truck caught fire near the building, but no injuries were reported.

The region’s second snowstorm in less than two months could be “extremely dangerous,” the National Weather Service said. Meteorologist Kevin Whitt in Sterling, Va., said 4 inches had fallen in the Baltimore area and forecasters expect snowfall rates to increase overnight, up to 2 inches per hours, until daybreak.

Current snowfall totals have been estimated over 2 or 3 feet in some areas of Virginia and Washington, DC. The snow has created states of emergency in other states including New Jersey as well as Ohio, and yesterday saw numerous businesses and schools closed due to the inclement weather.

It all depends on the area of the country you are in right now.  If you’re adverse to bringing a yardstick outside right now to measure your snowfall amount, you can check out a site by the National Environmental Satellite, Date and Information Service, aka the “NESDIS”.  Their site will give you the latest snowfall totals nationally or by state.  Additionally, the site provides a look at the snowfall depths for the areas.  From this site you can get a decent indication of your current snowfall totals, but you may be seeing more as the weekend continues.

The NESDIS website with snowfall map is located here, with dropdown boxes to choose days/snow depth and your state.

Read More: Huffington Post

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by wildcherry on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 | Travel, Weather | No Comments

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for parts of Monterey, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties on Wednesday.

At 2:02pm PST the National Weather Service picked up a severe thunderstorm that could be capable of producing a tornado moving northeast at 35 mph. However, it appears that the tornado warning has ended without incident, and it was just that, a warning only.

There are currently high winds in some areas, and this area has experienced some severe weather in the past few days, such as extensive flooding in Long Beach, and more rain and wind is expected. For now though, no tornado.

Weather officials said a thunderstorm formed that was capable of producing a tornado. The storm was also capable of producing quarter-size hail, NWS officials said.

There were warnings issued that if there was a tornado, residents should always seek shelter in an interior hallway or room, such as a closet, in a basement or the lowest level of a building and stay clear away from windows.
There was also high wind warnings in San Joaquin County.

Tags: national weather service, tornado warning, tornado warning bay area, tornado warning morgan hill, tornado warning san jose, tornado warning san jose ca, tornado warning santa clara, tornado warning santa clara county

by wildcherry on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 | Travel, Weather | No Comments

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for the South Los Angeles, Long Beach and Whittier areas as a powerful new storm moves ashore.

The warning is expected to be in place for at least 45 minutes.

Radar shows heavy rain falling in Long Beach, with the storm moving in at 35 mph to the northeast. There were also reports of thunder and lightning across the region.

Forecasters said the storm was capable of producing a tornado, but there was no evidence at this time that any tornadoes have developed on land.

[Updated at 1:03 p.m.: The tornado warning was extended to Orange County. In Seal Beach, officials were urging people to get off the beach. In San Pedro, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported major street flooding in area near the harbor and ocean.

Source:La Times

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by nate on Monday, December 21st, 2009 | Tips, Travel, Weather | No Comments

Winterize Your Car

Inspect and clean wipers.
Make sure you have enough washer fluid.
Make sure you have a brush/ ice scraper
Take your car for a winter inspection; this should include checking to make sure your car is functioning properly.

If anything needs to be fixed, take care of it now.
Have tire pressure checked.
Make sure defroster/heating system is functioning properly.
Inspect all belts and hoses.
Make sure battery is charged.
Have oil changed and make sure brakes are functioning properly.
Keep a full tank of gas, this will keep the fuel line from freezing and ensures you will have enough gas in case you are stuck in traffic.

Basic items that you will need in case you are in an emergency situation are:
Cellular phone, and road side assistance/emergency phone numbers.
Emergency flares, flashlight and batteries, blankets, small shovel, drinking water, snacks.

Driving Safety

If you do not have to drive in a snowstorm, then don’t. Stay home or take public transportation. Winter driving conditions can be very dangerous and unpredictable. Listen to radio stations and weather reports in order to be kept informed of current driving conditions. If you have to drive in a snowstorm, the best tip is to be careful!

Drive Slowly

It is very important to take your time when driving in a snowstorm and wear your seat belt, as the roads will be slippery and it may be difficult to see. When coming to a stop or turning a corner, gently brake before stopping or turning and give yourself plenty of time. Be aware of your surroundings as you never know when someone else may be in trouble. If you find yourself skidding or sliding, turn your wheels into the skid.

Keep Your Distance

It is very important to keep your distance from other cars, if you are too close and they get into trouble you will not have enough time to react and avoid a collision.

Black Ice

Be careful of invisible ice on the road, many drivers can have accidents due to not seeing the ice on the road until it is too late.

Tags: driving knowledge, driving under snow storm, Preparing your car for winter season, safe driving tips, safe tips during winter time, snow storm tips, tips, winter, winter drive

by nate on Monday, December 14th, 2009 | Health, News, Weather, World | No Comments

COPENHAGEN — On the 30th of November, 2009 the governments of the world attended to Copenhagen for the fifteenth UN Climate Conference (COP-15). This will be the biggest summit on climate change ever to have taken place.

A large numbers of protesters took to the streets of Copenhagen on Saturday to demand a strong global-climate pact, even as world leaders reiterated that the coming week’s talks will not lead to a binding legal agreement.

Among the balloons and climate-themed sails waved during the massive demonstration flew the flags of left-of-centre European political parties, as well as signs reading “there is no planet B.”

While most of the march was peaceful, riot police detained between 600 and 800 people around the Danish capital after some black-clad demonstrators threw bottles and smashed windows.

“And the number is growing,” police spokesman Flemming Steen Munch said.

The marchers spread out across six kilometres as they walked toward Copenhagen’s Bella Centre, the high-security site of the international talks.

Estimates ranged from 30,000 upwards to 100,000 protesters, all of whom flocked to the Danish capital from across Europe and the world.

read more

Tags: climate change, climate change's summit, climate conference, copenhagen, global warming, mass protest, protests, save the planet

by nate on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 | Attraction, Entertainment, News, Weather, Weird, World | No Comments

Go outside, it would begin around 1 am (prime time). The brightest object in that direction is the planet Venus. It looks like a star going supernova. Above Venus lies Saturn, and below, near the horizon, is Jupiter. Every 10 minutes or so you’ll see a meteor streak among these planets. The meteors are pieces of Halley’s Comet.

What are meteor showers?

An increase in the number of meteors at a particular time of year is called a meteor shower.

Comets shed the debris that becomes most meteor showers. As comets orbit the Sun, they shed an icy, dusty debris stream along the comet’s orbit. If Earth travels through this stream, we will see a meteor shower. Depending on where Earth and the stream meet, meteors appear to fall from a particular place in the sky, maybe within the neighborhood of a constellation.

Meteor showers are named by the constellation from which meteors appear to fall, a spot in the sky astronomers call the radiant. For instance, the radiant for the Leonid meteor shower is located in the constellation Leo. The Perseid meteor shower is so named because meteors appear to fall from a point in the constellation Perseus.

What are shooting stars?

“Shooting stars” and “falling stars” are both names that people have used for many hundreds of years to describe meteors — intense streaks of light across the night sky caused by small bits of interplanetary rock and debris called meteoroids crashing and burning high in Earth’s upper atmosphere. Traveling at thousands of miles an hour, meteoroids quickly ignite in searing friction of the atmosphere, 30 to 80 miles above the ground. Almost all are destroyed in this process; the rare few that survive and hit the ground are known as meteorites.

When a meteor appears, it seems to “shoot” quickly across the sky, and its small size and intense brightness might make you think it is a star. If you’re lucky enough to spot a meteorite (a meteor that makes it all the way to the ground), and see where it hits, it’s easy to think you just saw a star “fall.”

How can I best view a meteor shower?

If you live near a brightly lit city, drive away from the glow of city lights and toward the constellation from which the meteors will appear to radiate.

For example, drive north to view the Leonids. Driving south may lead you to darker skies, but the glow will dominate the northern horizon, where Leo rises. Perseid meteors will appear to “rain” into the atmosphere from the constellation Perseus, which rises in the northeast around 11 p.m. in mid-August.

After you’ve escaped the city glow, find a dark, secluded spot where oncoming car headlights will not periodically ruin your sensitive night vision. Look for state or city parks or other safe, dark sites.

Once you have settled at your observing spot, lay back or position yourself so the horizon appears at the edge of your peripheral vision, with the stars and sky filling your field of view. Meteors will instantly grab your attention as they streak by.

How do I know the sky is dark enough to see meteors?

If you can see each star of the Little Dipper, your eyes have “dark adapted,” and your chosen site is probably dark enough. Under these conditions, you will see plenty of meteors.

What should I pack for meteor watching?

Treat meteor watching like you would the 4th of July fireworks. Pack comfortable chairs, bug spray, food and drinks, blankets, plus a red-filtered flashlight for reading maps and charts without ruining your night vision. Binoculars are not necessary. Your eyes will do just fine.

Tags: halley s comet, meteor shower, meteor shower october 2009, meteor shower tips, Orionid, Orionid Meteor Shower, orionid meteor shower 2009