International Weather Headlines Today

By pure happenstance, I ran across all the following headlines today, not searching for them, on websites home news pages today.

Unusually heavy late monsoon season flooding kills scores

California city hit by series of weird weather events

Record September snowstorm drops 4 feet of snow on Montana

NASA finds Typhoon Mitag’s eye east of Taiwan

And finally, this.

Hurricane Lorenzo sinks Tugboat carrying 14 crew members; at least 1 found dead at sea, 3 rescued

All today. All in one day. And again, I wasn't searching for them. They weren't all together. They were just randomly out there.

Common thread there?

Maybe what scientists predicted with warmer global temperatures and oceans?

Maybe?

Links:

Global warming can make extreme weather worse

Extreme weather gets a boost from climate change

How the Weather Gets Weaponized in Climate Change

What's It Going to Take to Get Us to Recognize Manmade Climate Change?

I wonder if very many of us in the nation and world are paying attention to all the weather-related events, disasters and catastrophes included, that have been taking place this year. Herewith are just a few of the latest.

This took place the week before the Memorial Day weekend.

Multiple highways across Missouri shut down due to flooding

Check out how many roads were closed across the entire state of Missouri.

This was just last weekend:

Memorial Day weather: Heat wave scorches southern US

Then this happened.

Vehicles stuck in foot-deep hail in Omaha, Council Bluffs area

This one was four days ago.

Snowplows push piles of hail out of southwest Omaha

Then we all know this took place this last week locally.

Large and Dangerous Tornado Touches Down in Kansas City Outskirts

This is going on now, to the South of us, of course, and is still going on.

Record flooding causes levee breach in western Arkansas

These next two are current also.

Rising Missouri River closes I-680, causes renewed problems with water in Council Bluffs basements

Only Four of 10 Missouri River Crossings Remain Open

This is the past month.

Floods, tornadoes, snow in May: Extreme weather driven by climate change across US

This is just how large an issue this is.

The U.S. Has Had 500 Tornadoes in 30 Days

This Is Not “Normal”: There Have Been More Than 500 Tornadoes In The U.S. During The Last 30 Days

You can go here and see just some of the damage.

Tornado Damage: 13 Days of Devastation in Photos

As if all that isn't enough, this story broke two days ago.

Record-Breaking Heat in Alaska Wreaks Havoc on Communities and Ecosystem

"Abnormally high temperatures have led to unsafe travel conditions, uncertain ecological futures and even multiple deaths"

So how long, America? How long until we first accept global warming is happening and it's taking place because we humans are pumping so much CO2, carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere? And then, second, how long until we do something about it?

How Much Do We Have to Lose Across the Planet Until We Accept Climate Change?

Did you see this?

Did you see how many head of cattle, alone, were lost recently in Australia, with their flooding?

Queensland floods: 500,000 Cattle Survived Years-Long Drought Only to Die in the Rain

500,000 head of cattle--or more, if you read the article--died last week in the flooding in Australia.

And this doesn't include all the other animal life that died in their scorching heat waves in the last month. I posted on this earlier.

Australia's Heat Wave Has Been Devastating For Animals

Australia's Heat Wave Is Taking A Toll On People, Animals

'Boiled' Bats Fall from Sky in Australian Heat Wave

Stifling Heat Wave Descends on Australia, Killing Dozens of Horses

And that's just Australia, of late. Check out what it's done in California last year.

California: Wildfires losses at $3.3 billion

Then there is around the world.

2018 Global Disasters Cost $160 Billion

At what point do the climate change deniers actually look, recognize the losses and damage and agree with us we need to do things to change?

What more does it have to take?

Floods, Fires and Scorching Heat the World Over Presently

• Record Heat in Southern California, and an Ominous Start to Wildfire Season

• More temperature records set 

• as heat wave grips Southern California




• Southern California sets all-time 

• heat records amid broiling conditions




• Homes destroyed by fires and temperature 

• records shattered as heat wave slams Southern California




• Western wildfires: 1 dead in blaze 

• near California-Oregon border

Wildfires roar across parched, hot West

Wildfires 2018 Map: More Than 60 Fires, 

Including the Spring Creek 

Torrential rains kill at least 81 

in western Japan

Heatwave warning extended up to two 

weeks in Ireland as water shortage critical

Donald Trump Is Going to Puerto Rico This Week?

This week, in the last few days, our illustrious President Donald J. "You're Kidding Me Here" Trump took it upon himself to insult the Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico. In Tweets, of course.

Trump attacks San Juan mayor 

over hurricane response

Not done there, that, alone, wasn't bad enough, he went on to INSULT THE ENTIRE CITIZENRY of that nation.

Trump attacks hurricane-ravaged Puerto Ricans as lazy

So, now, given all this, what could he possibly, possibly think he can do to help these people, given that he has, again, insulted each and every one of them, already?

What good could he possibly do now?

How are they to receive him?

Response Number Two to Trump's Attack On the People of Puerto Rico Today

This second one is from political commentator, professor, and author, Robert Reich. He served in the administrations of Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter and was Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton.

The disaster in Puerto Rico continues unabated, and the response from the Trump administration is woefully inadequate. So what does Trump do? He spends another weekend at his golf resort in New Jersey, and blames the messengers.

Trump’s first target this morning was Yulín Cruz, the mayor of San Juan Puerto Rico: "The Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump," he tweeted just after 7 a.m. Trump then turned to the news media: "Fake News CNN and NBC are going out of their way to disparage our great First Responders as a way to 'get Trump.' Not fair to FR or effort!," He followed that tweet up with: "The Fake News Networks are working overtime in Puerto Rico doing their best to take the spirit away from our soldiers and first R's. Shame!" Trump did all of that before 8 a.m. on the East Coast.

Our morally disabled president is incapable of hearing criticism, even when human lives are at stake.

Links:

Robert Reich

Robert Reich - Wikipedia

Trump attacks hurricane-ravaged Puerto Ricans as lazy

On Twitter, Trump attacks mayor of San Juan for 

'poor leadership'

The Weather Events Our Media Don't Seem to be Reporting

Sure, we're getting coverage, some, anyway, of first Hurricane Harvey that hit Southeast Texas and Western Louisiana. And then we got coverage of Hurricane Irma that hit Florida---and, far more devastatingly, the Caribbean but hey, let's focus just on our 50 states, right?

We and our media have already seemed to have moved on from the Houston area.

Unless you've actively sought out information on that area and storm, Texas and Louisiana and Harvey, it doesn't seem like we're seeing or reading or hearing much about their plight now. We have, again, moved on, as a country, as a people. We're no longer paying them any "never mind."

Meanwhile, as a matter of fact, yet another hurricane is out there and building strength and heading for the same areas. It is Hurricane Marie, thank you very much. And tropical storm Lee is right behind.

So yeah, we're moving on. We're too busy to keep up with all that rebuilding down there in the ravaged South.

And speaking of moving on, how about the areas of the world that have also, in even recent weeks, let alone the last month or so, been ravaged by weather events? Do you have any idea what's been happening lately, around the world?

The Climate Catastrophe We're All Ignoring

Flooding in Bangladesh has submerged a third of the country. (Photo: British Red Cross)

"...multiply the damage from Harvey and Irma a hundredfold and you’ll get a feeling for the climate-related suffering taking place right now in the rest of the world. In India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, an estimated 40 million people have been affected by massive flooding, with over 1,200 deaths. More than one third of Bangladesh’s land mass has been submerged. As if that’s not enough, Africa has been suffering its own under-reported climate disasters, with hundreds of thousands affected by flooding in Nigeria, Niger, Congo, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.

So yeah, maybe we need to know and recognize what, exactly, is already taking place in the world so we can put things, everything, in perspective. The climate scientists have said our planet is warming. They said devastating climate events would increase, from droughts to floods, at least.

Maybe we need to pay attention?

Listen?

Act?

What the Last Week Wrought on the World

Naimey, by the way, is in Niger.

And this doesn't include Nepal or Sierra Leone or Bangladesh or California's blistering heat wave and the wildfires there and across the Western US.

Do You Really Know All the Weather Events Taking Place This Week Across the Planet?

Let's evaluate what has happened and what''s going on of late, shall we?

The United States' fourth largest city and a good section of Southeast Texas is under water and will be for some time.

Flooding stretches for miles in east Texas 

- Videos - CBS News

There have been and are floods and flooding over a large swath of Bangladesh and Sierra Leone.  More than 1000 were killed in those mudslides in Sierra Leone, according to Al Jazeera, while at least 1200 have been killed in the Bangladeshi floods.

Floods in India, Bangladesh and Nepal kill 1,200 and leave millions homeless

At least 41 million people affected in floods in India, Bangladesh and Nepal, UN says

Back in another part of the US, a blistering heat wave gripped California this week with firefighters, statewide, tackling massive wildfires that forced thousands of people to flee their homes.

LADWP sees highest demand ever as Angelenos roast in record-breaking heat wave

And people want to ignore or deny what the scientists have said, are saying about man made climate change and how much carbon dioxide we're pumping into the atmosphere, warming the planet?

Really?

Links:

How Climate Change Likely Heightened 

Hurricane Harvey's Fury

Global Warming May Play Role in Hurricane Intensity

Warmer oceans could produce more powerful superstorms

Abnormal Weather

87 degrees yesterday.

In Missouri.

Northwest Missouri.

Mid-March.

Summertime temperatures.

Air conditioning. Again, in March.

Broke the day's record high.

And the last official day of Winter, to boot.

Additionally, Peru just got 10 times more rain than normal, creating horrific floods and flooding.

Abnormal El Nino in Peru unleashes 

deadly downpours;

Apocalyptic scenes as scores die 

in Peru floods

Apocalyptic scenes Peru flooding

There's also this.

February 2017: Earth's 2nd Warmest 

February and 4th Warmest Month

But always remember, kids...

At What Point Do We Agree On Man-Made Global Warming and Climate Change?

With all that's going on this year meteorologically, at what point do people give in and admit that there is global warming, first and that, second, it is, in fact at least heavily human-influenced if not out-and-out humankind created and that we have to do things about it? And soon as possible.

There have been many, many weather events this year, certainly, like all the hundreds of fires across Canada, Alaska, Washington state, Oregon, Idaho and California, at minimum.

Jul 27, 2015 Scorched earth: U.S. wildfires 

near record level 

What Washington state's wildfires tell us about climate change

Wildfires have now burned a massive 

8 million acres

Then, more recently, like yesterday, there was the unprecedented, unseasonable and deadly sandstorm in the Middle East.

Huge dust storm roars through 

Middle East

For the second week in a row, an expansive dust storm slashed visibility and put hundreds in the hospital with respiratory ailments across the Middle East. The countries most affected include Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan.

This storm comes soon after another dust storm, which was shaped like a pinwheeling cyclone that absorbed light, drastically lowered visibility across Iraq on Sept. 1.

'Unprecedented' sandstorm blasts across 

Middle East

'Unprecedented' sandstorm envelops Lebanon and Syria

Massive sandstorm blankets Middle East for a second day

Not only was there this 2 day sandstorm across several nations in the Middle East but there have actually been many duststorms, internationally, across the globe of late:

Mystery of the dust storms 

sweeping the world

Today we get word of another unprecedented rain and flooding in Japan and not just heavy but, again, unprecedented.

Terrified residents wait for evacuation by helicopter as the overflowing Kinugawa River rages through Joso, Ibaraki prefecture; 90,000 people were forced to flee their homes

Japan floods: City of Joso hit by 

'unprecedented' rain

Record rainfall in Japan has burst riverbanks, ripped houses from their foundations and forced over 100,000 people to flee their homes. The aftermath of Typhoon Etau has also washed tons of radioactive water from the ruined Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific.

In dramatic scenes reminiscent of the tsunami disaster that struck the country’s coast in 2011, residents of Joso City, 34 miles north-east of Tokyo, were rescued from rooftops by Self-Defence Force helicopters. Houses were swamped by a muddy deluge from the Kinugawa River as people were winched to safety, some clutching family pets.

Check out this facts of this rain and flood (emphasis added here):

Weeks of near-daily rain had already left much of Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures, north/north-east of Tokyo, deluged before the typhoon struck, dumping over 500mm (about 20 inches) of precipitation in just 24 hours in some places – twice the average for the entire month of September.  At one point early today over 900,000 people were advised to evacuate. So far, more than 90,000 had been forced to flee the “wall of water”.

It seems the recurring adjective in all this is that each of these events, vastly different as they are and from far flung corners of the planet, is "unprecedented." It's either unprecedented or historic or record-breaking, all true and applicable here.

Other "unprecedented" factors this year? Here's one:

2015 May Just Be Hottest Year on Record

Here's another:

World's Glaciers Melting Faster Than 

Ever Before Recorded

And this last one:

Sea level rise accelerating faster 

than thought

Mind you, these aren't projections, either. This isn't warnings now of what could or might happen in the future. These things are already occurring and they are occurring now, not 20 or 50 or 100 years in the future. And all these events are killing thousands upon thousands of people and displacing and making homeless millions.

Put those few things together---warmer temperatures, more glacier and ice cap melt and rising oceans and to what simple but obvious conclusion do you surely have to come?

Republican Hypocrites of the Week

Let's put a few very recent weather events in perspective

Naturally, we are all likely extremely aware of what has been reported to be the largest typhoon ever, hitting the Philippines so recently:

Philippines Disaster Leaves Millions Without Homes

And the estimates of those killed in this historic weather disaster are still being tallied, it's so bad.

And we're certainly aware of this weekend's tornados all over the Eastern one-third of the country, sure.  But did you know this?

Not to be done there, are you aware of this natural disaster, just now unfolding?

Deadly 'apocalyptic' storm floods Sardinia

So there you are.  Three really large weather events--catastrophes, really--all within what? 2 weeks?

At what point do we start doing something about all this?

At what point do we all accept that the way we all live, collectively, isn't sustainable?

And that it's likely killing fairly large numbers of us?



 

Notes on a hurricane

--How ironic--and horrible for the people effected by it--that hurricane Sandy should hit the most dense part of the nation, hardest of all;

--How, again, ironic and awful that the same storm should also hit on the very day of the full moon, increasing high tides that much more;

--How unfortunate that these three storm fronts should collide in this one area and create everything from downpours of rain and so, flooding, as well as heavy snow, this early in the season;

--It has always seemed unnecessary to me that the Weather Channel should and would have their reporters outside, in the midst of the storms, period, but especially the hurricanes, to report to us. We know it's raining/snowing/storming (whatever). They shouldn't need to stand out there in the rain/wind/snow or whatever, do you think?

--It nearly makes me feel guilty for the perfectly calm, mild, even beautiful and comfortable weather we're experiencing here, in the middle of the nation, while so many hundreds of thousands are in the midst of a huge, even dangerous weather event, just to our East.

Worldwide ironies and tragedies

While most of America--and plenty of the rest of the world, too--bakes in record dry weather, comes this breaking news today:

Heavy monsoon rains trigger flooding in northern Pakistan; 26 people die

Would that we could take some of their burden, with their monsoon rains, eh?

To make things worse, from the article:

"Pakistan suffered the worst flooding in its 65-year history in 2010. Floodwaters inundated one-fifth of the country, an area larger than England, and killed over 1,700 people. Over 20 million people were affected."

Wouldn't it be great if the world made sense?

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/heavy-monsoon-rains-trigger-flooding-in-northern-pakistan-22-people-die/2012/08/23/e6dd45aa-ecee-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html

Wonder where our rains are?

Look no farther than Arizona, apparently. This is from 2 weeks ago:



And then this is from only yesterday:



What they don't have, want or need, we'd gladly--very gladly--take, right?

If you watch that 2nd video, at the end of it they also say that more rain is expected for them, too, later this week, the poor things.

The "glimmer of hope" for us is that, as of last evening, we have a 60% chance of some of that rain hitting our area.

Maybe they're pushing it this way for us. Here's hoping.

Links: http://www.woi-tv.com/story/19167979/heavy-flooding-forces-road-closure-in-arizona

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7416734n&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CBSNewsTravelGuru+(Travel+Guru%3A+CBSNews.com)

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7416734n&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CBSNewsTravelGuru+(Travel+Guru%3A+CBSNews.com)

Yet another well done and important story from Frontline on PBS

Last evening, PBS ran another "Frontline" story, this one on Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant disaster after the tsunami they experienced last March 11. Besides telling an important story and getting the details of what happened to all these people, it also struck me how their Prime Minister Naoto Kan seemed to take charge of the situation, along with taking responsibility. I also respected and appreciated the honor he seemed to take in what became his job. I would love to see that from our elected officials, of course, at all times, but especially in times of these national emergencies and catastrophies. It would have been really nice to have seen when Hurrican Katrina hit the Gulf states here. What strikes me now, however, is that I'd like to hear the truth about what radioactive fallout hit the US and in what amounts, from the West Coast to East. Anyone? News media? Link: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/japans-nuclear-meltdown/

Missouri in NY Times

We hit the Times yesterday: In Missouri, as Levee Is Rebuilt, Signs of Rebirth Begin to Sprout

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/12/us/along-mississippi-river-rebuilding-levee-after-springs-flood.html?ref=us

Lake of the Ozarks mess in NY Times today

Sure enough: Mo. Residents Upset by Order to Move Lake Homes The Star is quoted as a source in the article. If they can down there at the Star, meaning, if they have enough reporters, they'd better stay on this one. Well, after they cover everything they need to on city hall and around this area. As ever, here's hoping. Link: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/11/06/us/AP-US-Lake-Removing-Homes.html?ref=us

I-29 in Iowa

I have a brother and sister-in-law who live North of here, in Tarkio, Missouri. The above picture was just sent to them from a friend in Council Bluffs. As labeled above, it's of I-29 in Iowa where some of the water has receded. From what he's been told the Iowa Department of Transportation is thinking they will have to build a road to re-build the road. WPA (Works Progress Administration) for jobs and infrastructure, anyone?