Two Minor Tornadoes Touch Down in Carson and Compton, Causing Damage to Buildings and Vehicles

Two EF0 Tornadoes Hit Carson and Compton Causing Minor Damage

 Two minor tornadoes touched down in Carson and Compton, California, causing damage to buildings, vehicles, and trees on Thursday morning. The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that the first tornado, rated as a relatively weak EF0, hit the area near Avalon Boulevard and E. Walnut Street at around 8:45 a.m. with swirling winds up to 75 mph. The tornado caused minor damage to a couple of buildings, vehicle damage from debris, and tree damage along a short path.

Around 10 minutes later, the NWS reported that another EF0 tornado hit nearby in Compton near Greenleaf Boulevard and S. Santa Fe Avenue. The second tornado had estimated winds of up to 65 mph and lasted about four minutes, causing a very narrow path of minor damage, including a downed power line, tarps torn from a nursery, minor roof damage to a home, downed small tree limbs, and siding damage to a couple of homes.

The NWS initially identified only a single tornado in the morning but later issued an update indicating two separate events. Tornado strength is measured by an enhanced F-scale rating from EF0 to EF5, which considers 28 different types of damage to structures and trees. An EF2 or higher is considered a significant tornado.

Fortunately, there were no reported injuries as a result of the tornadoes. The incident serves as a reminder that tornadoes can occur even in areas not typically associated with such weather phenomena, and residents should remain vigilant and follow any warnings or alerts issued by local authorities.

In summary, the Carson and Compton areas experienced two minor tornadoes that caused damage to buildings, vehicles, and trees. The NWS rated both tornadoes as EF0, the weakest on the enhanced F-scale. The incident highlights the importance of staying informed and prepared for unexpected weather events.

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Tornado Hits Great Neck Area of Virginia Beach, Causes Widespread Damage

Virginia Beach Hit by Destructive Tornado; 100 Homes Damaged

Tags: Virginia Beach, Tornado, Natural Disaster, Emergency, Damage

A state of emergency was declared in Virginia Beach on Sunday evening after a tornado touched down in the Great Neck area, causing widespread damage. The National Weather Service rated the tornado an EF3, with winds up to 45 mph. City officials initially reported that 50 to 100 homes were damaged, but that number was later updated to more than 100.

Residents of the affected area described the tornado as a sudden and terrifying event. Lori Camper, a resident of the area, said the whole thing lasted only 10 seconds. Her family hunkered down in a stairwell inside her home, but the windows in the kitchen blew out, and a tree fell through the roof. "Now one side of the house is leaning," she said.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer acknowledged that the city was fortunate given the magnitude of the storm. "It could have been worse," he told the Virginia Pilot.

Images from the area showed roofs ripped off large brick homes and dozens of trees toppled, some of them onto cars. Virginia Beach firefighters said they were responding to "major storm damage" and "multiple homes with gas leaks." Phillip McGowan, a local resident, compared the scene to something out of a disaster movie. "Seeing trees down wasn't too rare, but when you start seeing cars flipped over and the roofs of houses completely flipped off, that's something else," he said.

This is the second tornado to cause damage in the United States over the weekend. On Saturday, a tornado in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, flipped vehicles and caused damage to homes. As climate change continues to create more extreme weather events, it is crucial that we take steps to prepare for and mitigate the impact of natural disasters. In the meantime, our thoughts are with those affected by this devastating tornado in Virginia Beach.

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Devastating Tornado Causes Chaos and Destruction in South Florida

 

Over the weekend, South Florida was hit by a devastating tornado, causing significant damage and disruption to the affected areas. The tornado was captured on video as it ripped through a busy roadway, uprooting trees and flipping cars. One car in particular was caught in the tornado's path, being tossed into the air and spun twice before being thrown back onto the pavement. The violent winds continued to an apartment complex in Palm Beach Gardens, causing a massive pile-up of vehicles and destruction to the buildings.

The National Weather Service had issued warnings of severe weather, including tornadoes, across the region prior to the tornado's touchdown. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center had even issued a Level 2 risk for around 12 million people in Florida and southern Georgia, urging them to prepare for damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall. The severe weather was the result of thunderstorms moving across the Gulf of Mexico from Texas, which had experienced hail and powerful winds only a few days prior.

Despite the warnings, many residents were caught off guard by the intensity of the tornado. Andrew Laybourne, an apartment resident, described his experience huddling in his bathroom as the building shook and the tornado passed overhead. The National Weather Service has confirmed the tornado's touchdown and is currently surveying damage along its path to rank its strength in the coming days.

The tornado's impact on the area was significant, causing power outages for at least 4,000 customers during the storm. While most had their power restored by Friday evening, officials have warned residents to remain vigilant as another line of strong to severe thunderstorms is forecast to develop and move across the area through Sunday afternoon.

The severity of the tornado serves as a reminder of the power of nature and the importance of preparedness in the face of such events. While meteorologists can issue warnings and residents can prepare as best they can, the unpredictability of nature means that it is always important to stay aware and ready for the worst. In the aftermath of the storm, residents are working to recover and rebuild, with the hope that the worst of the severe weather has passed.

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California Salmon Populations in Crisis: The Impact of Climate Change and Human Behavior

 

Salmon are an iconic species in California, representing a vital link between the ocean and the land. Their migration patterns have shaped ecosystems along the West Coast for thousands of years, and they have been a crucial food source for Native American communities for just as long. But in recent decades, salmon populations have plummeted due to a combination of factors, including the construction of dams, water diversion for agriculture, and climate change.

The California salmon crisis reached a new low in 2023, when the Pacific Fishery Management Council decided to cancel the fishing season due to the low numbers of fish in the rivers. This decision was a last resort for fishery managers who have been struggling to balance the needs of fishermen with the need to protect the fragile salmon populations. It is a stark reminder of the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action.

One of the biggest threats to salmon populations in California is the construction of dams. Dams are built to provide hydroelectric power and to control water flow for agriculture, but they have a devastating impact on salmon populations. Dams block salmon from reaching their traditional spawning grounds, and they also trap sediment, which can smother salmon eggs and prevent them from hatching.

Water diversion for agriculture is another major threat to salmon populations. California is one of the largest agricultural producers in the world, and water is diverted from rivers to irrigate crops in the Central Valley. This reduces the amount of water available for salmon, and it also increases the temperature of the water, which can be lethal to young salmon.

Climate change is exacerbating these challenges by making everything hotter, including the rivers that salmon depend on for survival. Warmer water temperatures can disrupt the timing of salmon migrations, which are closely linked to the seasonal cycles of the rivers. Warmer water can also increase the prevalence of disease and parasites, which can be deadly for salmon.

Salmon advocates argue that canceling the fishing season won’t fix the underlying problems that have led to the decline of salmon populations in California. They argue that state water management policies have favored agriculture over fish habitats, and that more needs to be done to restore river ecosystems and protect salmon habitats. They also argue that we need to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the pace of climate change.

In conclusion, the decline of salmon populations in California is a complex and multifaceted problem that requires urgent action. We need to address the underlying problems of dams and water diversion for agriculture, and we need to take action to slow the pace of climate change. We also need to engage in a dialogue with all stakeholders to find solutions that balance the needs of fishermen with the need to protect salmon populations. It is only through collective action and a shared commitment to protect this iconic species that we can hope to reverse the decline of California’s salmon populations.

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Waterspout off the Coast of Florida: Mild Weather and Scattered Showers Forecasted for the Weekend

 

A waterspout formed off the coast of Broward County on Friday afternoon as a storm cell moved through the region. The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for parts of Broward County at 12:45 p.m., which expired just five minutes later. Chopper 4 captured the waterspout as it moved from the ocean before it dissipated near Dania Beach. Despite the dissipation of the waterspout, the threat of showers remained in the forecast for the rest of the day.

Temperatures on Friday were mild, ranging from the low to mid-70s, with a few isolated showers. Although the rain chance was low, a few scattered showers were possible throughout the day. Highs reached the low to mid-80s under mostly sunny skies. With an onshore flow in place, there was a high risk of rip currents at the beach, making swimming in the ocean not recommended. There were no advisories, however, for boaters.

On Saturday, the rain chance increased due to an approaching frontal boundary and more moisture. The day started mainly dry, but scattered storms developed in the afternoon into the evening. Highs reached the upper 80s, making it warmer than the previous day. On Sunday, the rain chance decreased slightly, but spotty showers were still possible. The warm weather with passing showers continued through early next week.

Overall, Broward County experienced mild weather with a chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms. Despite the low chance of rain, residents and visitors should remain cautious when visiting the beach due to the high risk of rip currents. It's always best to stay informed about the weather conditions and any advisories issued by the National Weather Service.

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Fort Lauderdale and South Florida Hit by Once-in-a-Half-Century Flash Flood Emergency

 

The residents of Fort Lauderdale and parts of South Florida are experiencing an unprecedented event as they face heavy rainfall that has led to severe flooding in the area. This once-in-a-half-century rainfall event has caused a flash flood emergency in Broward County, and many are calling it the most severe flooding they have ever seen. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Miami has issued the highest level of flood warning, a flash flood emergency, for portions of South Florida, including Fort Lauderdale, urging people to move to higher ground immediately.

According to reports, the area has received around 10 to 14 inches of rain so far, and an additional two to four inches are possible as heavy thunderstorms continue to move slowly across the region. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue has advised people to stay off the roads as vehicles may become stuck or submerged. Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy has said that city crews are doing everything they can to deploy pumps wherever possible and keep drains clear. However, many roadways are impassable, and lots of vehicles have been left abandoned in the middle of the roads.

The Fort Lauderdale officials have activated their emergency operations center, and they will be issuing a proclamation of a local state of emergency. They have secured airboats and high-clearance buggies from the county sheriff's office and the Florida Wildlife Commission to help people in need. Staff is assessing park facilities to convert them to staging/reunification centers for individuals impacted by the flash floods. They expect to open these as soon as possible. However, the city has reported that there is no power at City Hall, and water has flooded the first floor of the Transportation and Mobility (TAM) building.

The city's system is designed to take on at least 3 inches of rain in a 24-hour period, but they have had neighborhoods receive more than 12 inches of rain. Service crews will be out to respond to flooding reports and concerns. Four tornado warnings were reported in the area on Wednesday, adding to the challenges faced by the residents of South Florida.

The NWS has warned that this is a particularly dangerous situation, and people should not attempt to travel unless they are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order. The heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding have disrupted the lives of many people in the affected areas, and the situation remains precarious. City and county officials are working around the clock to respond to the crisis and help people in need.

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Simulated Volcanic Eruptions May be Harming Near-Term Climate Predictions: Study

 

Simulated volcanic eruptions may be hindering our ability to predict near-term climate, according to a new study published in Science Advances. The research, led by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), finds that the way volcanic eruptions are represented in climate models may be masking the models' ability to accurately predict variations in sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific that unfold over multiple years to a decade.

Decadal variations in sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific are linked to climate impacts across the globe, including variations in precipitation and severe weather. Accurate predictions, therefore, could provide community leaders, farmers, water managers, and others with critical climate information that allows them to plan years in advance.

"Near-term climate prediction on annual to decadal timescales is a rapidly growing and important field in the climate community because it bridges the gap between existing seasonal forecasts and centennial climate projections," said Xian Wu, who led the study as a postdoctoral researcher at NCAR. "When we rely on models to make these predictions, it's important to carefully consider the model's fidelity. In this case, we found that model errors in simulating the response to volcanic eruptions degraded our prediction skill."

The study relied on two parallel collections of climate simulations from the Decadal Prediction Large Ensemble, a dataset produced using the NCAR-based Community Earth System Model. These simulations were run as hindcasts and cover the years from 1954–2015, allowing scientists to compare the simulations with what really occurred and evaluate their skill at predicting the future.

One collection of simulations included the three major volcanic eruptions that occurred during the study period: Agung (1963), El Chichón (1982), and Pinatubo (1991). The other collection did not.

Because it is well established that large volcanic eruptions can have significant, long-term cooling effects on the climate, Wu and her colleagues expected that the collection of simulations that included the volcanic eruptions would produce more accurate multiyear and decadal climate predictions. Instead, they found that the inclusion of the eruptions degraded the model's predictive capabilities, at least in the tropical Pacific, an area that is especially important because of the connections between sea surface temperatures and near-term climate events.

For example, the simulations that included the volcanoes predicted a subsequent cooling of the sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific after the eruptions. In reality, that region of the ocean warmed, a change that was well predicted by the simulations that did not include the volcanic eruptions.

These findings highlight the difficulty of accurately representing the complex climate impacts that follow a volcanic eruption in a model, a task made more challenging because researchers only have a few real-life examples in the observational record. Scientists know that volcanoes can loft sulfur gases high into the stratosphere where they can transform into sunlight-reflecting aerosols. But how the resulting cooling ultimately affects the entire Earth system, including sea surface temperatures, is not well understood.

"We just don't have enough observations," Wu said. "And our methods to observe what is happening in the stratosphere have only been available since the satellite era, which means we only have Chichón and Pinatubo."

Still, Wu is hopeful that representations of volcanic eruptions and their impacts in models can be improved over time and that, ultimately, this work will improve our ability to forecast important climate events years in advance.

"Decadal variability in the tropical Pacific is an important source of predictability worldwide," Wu said. "It affects climate over the surrounding continents, as well as marine ecosystems. Better predictions will provide important information for stakeholders."

Volcanic eruptions have played a significant role in shaping the Earth's climate over millions of years. 

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Ilsa, the Monster Cyclone: Category 4 Hurricane Strength Storm Headed for Western Australia

 

A powerful storm named Ilsa is rapidly intensifying in the southeast Indian Ocean and heading towards western Australia, with a potential landfall on Thursday. The storm could make landfall with at least a Category 4 hurricane's strength, packing winds exceeding 140 mph and a storm surge of at least 10 feet. This storm is rare for this time of year, as cyclone season in Australia generally begins around late October or November and lasts until May in the Southern Hemisphere.

Ilsa is the seventh named storm to form this season in Australia, and it is showing signs of rapid development, as per the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. The bureau is warning of "destructive winds" within a "very destructive core" that is expected to move ashore between Bidyadanga and De Grey, two rural communities in northern western Australia.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center has reported that Ilsa is quickly organizing as its central dense overcast region, or core, expands, which is a signal of an intensifying storm. Infrared satellite imagery has also confirmed the storm's intensification, as it shows the temperature and height of cloud tops that match the center's observations.

Ilsa is expected to ramp up to high-end Category 4 strength, with sustained winds near 140 mph. This is due to the very warm sea surface temperatures and weak winds in the upper atmosphere. Weather models are waffling on where the storm will make landfall, with a roughly 100-mile spread in their simulated solutions.

The storm's path will make all the difference in conditions in either community, as Ilsa will have a tightly wound core containing the worst of its extreme winds. People near Beagle Bay to Whim Creek need to prepare for cyclonic weather and organize an emergency kit, including a first aid kit, torch, portable radio, spare batteries, food, and water, as advised by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

The storm surge of several meters is possible on the east side of the storm's center near the eye, which could inundate stretches of the coastline, but fortunately, the area is very rural. Weather models indicate that up to 10 inches of rain could fall.

Western Australia sees Category 4 storms once every five years or so on average, with most passing over sparsely populated areas. However, Cyclone Tracy, the world's most compact tropical cyclone, rammed Darwin, Australia, with major hurricane winds in 1974, causing 71 deaths.

If Ilsa strikes western Australia at Category 4 strength, it would be the strongest to hit the area since Cyclone Laurence in 2009.

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Snow brings relief to parched Colorado River, but long-term water crisis persists amid drought.

 

The Colorado River, which supplies water to over 40 million people and irrigates millions of acres of farmland, has been experiencing a water crisis for years. The river has been suffering from a chronic water deficit for the past 23 years due to drought and climate change. The situation had become so dire that federal projections earlier this year showed the risks of reservoirs dropping to dangerously low levels.

However, the situation has improved significantly in recent months, thanks to the largest snowpack in the watershed since 1997. The heavy snowfall in the Rocky Mountains is expected to increase the level of the depleted reservoirs substantially. Water managers representing seven states and the federal government have been negotiating for ways to cut water usage and address the long-term water deficit.

Bill Hasencamp, the manager of Colorado River resources for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, said that the heavy snowfall gives them some breathing room and a little bit of space to negotiate. The plentiful snow could alleviate the pressure for making large cuts right away as the Biden administration considers alternatives for managing reservoir levels over the next three years. This means that they don't need nearly the level of cuts as they thought they might have just four months ago.

The runoff from the snowpack in the Upper Colorado River Basin is expected to raise the level of Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona border, and the water will make its way to Lake Mead, which stores supplies for Southern California, Arizona, southern Nevada, and northern Mexico. Hasencamp said the runoff should eventually raise Lake Mead's level by 20 to 30 feet, which might return it toward an "equilibrium level." However, both major reservoirs are still expected to remain well below half-full.

The historic snow and rain in California this winter has also allowed the district to "back off on the Colorado River supplies," which will in turn help boost water levels at Lake Mead. Hasencamp said that various existing plans to voluntarily reduce the use of Colorado River water should be sufficient for the time being, but it's crucial to develop plans for adapting as climate change continues to shrink the river's average flow.

"The current use of Colorado River water is not sustainable," Hasencamp said. "We have to come to grips with the fact that we have to permanently reduce our use by about 25% or more of Colorado River water. So we're going to need more innovative ways to stretch our water supply."

Federal officials have been urging representatives of the seven states to agree on plans for major water cutbacks since June. The federal Interior Department and Bureau of Reclamation have been studying options for preventing reservoirs from reaching critically low levels and soon plan to release a preliminary draft review of alternatives.

In conclusion, while the heavy snowfall has brought some relief to the drought-ravaged Colorado River, the long-term water crisis remains. The situation highlights the urgent need for sustainable water management practices and innovative solutions to adapt to the effects of climate change.

 

Water officials from California recently toured the Colorado River to assess the impact of the ongoing drought and to explore potential solutions. The Colorado River provides vital water supplies to Southern California, including cities from Palm Springs to San Diego, as well as farmlands in the Imperial and Coachella valleys.

During the tour, officials visited Lake Mead, where the water courses through Hoover Dam's intakes and continues downriver to Lake Mohave. At Lake Havasu, on the California-Arizona border, the Metropolitan Water District operates the W.P. Whitsett Pumping Plant, which since 1941 has been taking in water and pumping it uphill to start its journey across the desert in the 242-mile Colorado River Aqueduct.

The tour also included a visit to Imperial Dam, where federal officials announced $585 million for repairing and improving water systems across the West, as part of $8.3 billion for water infrastructure projects included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Beaudreau said the infrastructure money, along with $4.6 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act that will be used to address drought, "represent some of the largest investments in drought resilience in America's history."

The tour emphasized the need for all stakeholders to work together to develop a sustainable approach to managing the Colorado River, including conservation measures and policies for dealing with shortages. The largest share of the river's water is used for agriculture, so a portion of the federal money is expected to go toward paying growers who temporarily forgo some of their water and leave fields dry.

Native leaders, including representatives of the Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, have been calling for greater inclusion in talks on river management, and are optimistic about finding solutions. Tribal leaders stressed that the river is central to their way of life, and that finding a solution will require everyone to work together.

As the tour concluded, officials emphasized the need for a consensus-based approach, acknowledging that it will require hard work and compromise. But they expressed optimism that by working together, a sustainable solution to managing the Colorado River can be found. The next three years will be crucial, as water officials negotiate new rules for dealing with shortages after 2026, when the current rules expire.

 

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Kamchatka volcano eruption endangers aviation, says response team

On April 11, 2023, the Shiveluch volcano in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula erupted, sending a massive ash plume up to 10 kilometers high. The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) issued a code red Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation, warning of a "large ash cloud" drifting west of the volcano that could affect air traffic. The ongoing activity could potentially produce ash explosions up to 15 kilometers high, posing a serious risk to international and low-flying aircraft.

Local authorities responded quickly, closing schools and ordering residents in nearby villages to stay indoors to avoid the ash cloud, which was spreading tens of kilometers around the volcano. Oleg Bondarenko, head of the Ust-Kamchatsky municipal region, warned residents in Klyuchi and Mayskoye, located more than 70 kilometers apart, to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.

Shiveluch is one of Kamchatka's largest and most active volcanoes, with an estimated 60 significant eruptions in the past 10,000 years, the last major one occurring in 2007. The volcano has two main parts, the smaller of which, Young Shiveluch, has been extremely active in recent months, with a peak of 2,800 meters protruding out of the 3,283 meter-high Old Shiveluch.

The eruption of Shiveluch is a reminder of the ongoing volcanic activity that poses a threat to the region. While scientists and authorities work to monitor and mitigate the risks, it's essential for residents and visitors to stay informed and heed warnings to stay safe. 

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Antarctic meltwater may disrupt ocean currents, warns study.

 

 Antarctica Is Melting

 

New research published in the journal Nature warns that as Antarctica warms, melt water from its glaciers could cause a significant slowdown in the massive ocean currents that regulate global climate. The research suggests that by 2050, these ocean currents could slow by up to 40%, altering the Earth's climate in ways that are not yet fully understood, but could include rising sea levels, droughts, and floods. The study finds that a slowdown in ocean currents could also affect weather patterns, generate a cascade of impacts, and cause possible starvation for marine life deprived of vital nutrients.

The research was conducted by the Climate Change Research Center at the University of New South Wales, and was coordinated by Professor Matt England. The lead author of the study, Dr. Qian Li, formerly of the University of New South Wales and now at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, warned that the slowdown in the deep ocean current could "profoundly alter the ocean overturning of heat, fresh water, oxygen, carbon and nutrients, with impacts felt throughout the global ocean for centuries to come.”

The research highlights the urgent need for action to address the melting of Antarctica's glaciers, which are contributing to rising sea levels and changing ocean currents. The authors of the study warn that the current trajectory of the deep ocean current is heading for collapse, which could have catastrophic consequences for the Earth's climate. The melting of Antarctica's glaciers is a pressing global issue, and requires immediate attention and action to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

 

This animation shows the path of the global conveyor belt. The blue arrows indicate the path of deep, cold, dense water currents. The red arrows indicate the path of warmer, less dense surface waters. It is estimated that it can take 1,000 years for a “parcel” of water to complete the journey along the global conveyor belt. Credit: NOAA

Knock-On Effects

 

New research published in the journal Nature warns that as Antarctica warms, melt water from its glaciers could slow down massive ocean currents by up to 40% as soon as 2050. This could cause significant changes in the Earth’s climate, including droughts, flooding, and rising sea levels. The slowdown in ocean currents could alter the world’s climate for centuries, leading to faster sea level rise, alterations in weather patterns, and possible starvation for marine life. The research suggests that such a slowdown in the deep ocean current could also have a radical shift in rainfall, affecting the production of phytoplankton over centuries. This could ultimately affect the marine food chain. The researchers say that the whole deep ocean current is heading for collapse, and the slowdown in the deep ocean current would “profoundly alter the ocean overturning of heat, fresh water, oxygen, carbon and nutrients, with impacts felt throughout the global ocean for centuries to come.”

 

The Takeaway

The Earth is facing two major problems: slowing ocean currents and rising global temperatures. Both can have disastrous consequences for humans, but solutions are slow to come because of pushback from fossil fuel vendors and consumers. If we were serious about making consumers pay for the damage done by burning fossil fuels, electricity and gas prices would skyrocket. Unfortunately, there is little political will to reduce carbon and methane emissions. The slowdown in ocean currents could also affect the amount of carbon dioxide the deep oceans can store. Overall, the future looks uncertain, and we may be leaving our grandchildren with the fallout from our inaction.

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