ANIMAL BEHAVIOR: Migratory Patterns And Disaster Precursors - Giant Sperm Whale Found Dead On East Bali Beach; Dolphins, Whales Found Dead On Queensland Beach; And More Than ONE MILLION Sea Slugs Wash Onto Thai Beach?! [PHOTOS + VIDEOS]

A sperm whale was found washed up in Klungkung, Bali on March 14, 2016.© Instagram @widia_pranata

March 14, 2016 - EARTH - The following constitutes the latest reports of unusual and symbolic animal behavior, mass die-offs, beaching and stranding of mammals, and the appearance of rare creatures.

Giant sperm whale found dead on East Bali beach

A beached whale, reportedly measuring 16.2 meters in length, was found in Klungkung, East Bali early on Monday morning.

Local fishermen Negah Sunarta, 37, and Nengah Darpa, 35, found the whale at Batu Tumpeng Beach, Gelgel Village when they were catching lobster.

"We usually look for lobsters on this beach. We were shocked with the whale. After we approached, it turned out to be dead," Sunarta said, as quoted in a report by Praise Sukiswanti, published by Sindo News.

The whale caused quite the commotion as hundreds of curious people apparently gathered around it to gawk and take pictures.

Unfortunately, as you can see from some of these photos posted to social media, the dead whale was not allowed to rest in peace right away as people saw a photo op and jumped right on.

Breaking News ! 16 M. Whale stranded on Pantai batu tumpeng klungkug / Bali this Monday morning 14/03/2016 at 4 AM pic.twitter.com/K02vvd7jXY

— bali-arrangements (@003468) March 14, 2016

Along with the many photos all over Bali social media, the presence of the poor washed up whale was confirmed by Klungkung Police Chief Arendra Wahyudi, who said on Monday afternoon that police were still coordinating with the Klungkung Department of Fisheries and Marine Affairs, the Natural Resource Conservation body (KSDA), and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPKB) to remove the whale from the beach.

A KSDA officer, Wayan Surata, told Tribun Bali that the whale was Physeter macrochepalus, or a sperm whale.

He added that he believes the whale was separated from its group and must have drifted off before it was stranded on the East Bali beach, that's part of the whale's migratory route. - Coconuts Bali.

Dolphins, whales found dead on Queensland beach

A female whale, her calf and a dolphin have been found dead on Sunshine Coast beaches in Queensland.

The pygmy sperm whale calf and dolphin became stranded at Peregian Beach, while the mother whale was found about 2km north near Noosa on Sunday, the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection says.

Samples have been taken from the animals and a local council is arranging for the carcasses to be removed.

Photos of the animals were posted to the Peregian Beach Village Facebook page on Sunday.

"Sadly 3 sea mammals have washed up dead on the early morning high tide," the post read.

"The Coolum Coast Care team are on the scene with Humpback Whale research scientist Dr. Michael Noad, who just happened to be coming down to check the surf."

The post said it wasn't known how the mammals died, but it appeared the whales had been bitten by sharks. - 9 News.

More than 1 million sea slugs wash onto Thai beach

Marine experts are attempting to understand why more than a million sea slugs washed up on a Phuket beach this morning.

The name 'sea slug' is a common name used specifically for gastropods that are not shell-bearing or appear not to be shell-bearing. Experts believe that the sea slugs found on Kamala Beach are, in fact, sea hares. However, they have yet to determine the exact species.

"Adult sea hares are mostly large, bulky creatures. Juveniles are usually not noticed along the shoreline," said Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong from the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC). "However, that doesn't appear to be the case here."


WATCH: Slimy balls infest Kamala Beach.

'Sea hare' is a direct translation from the Latin lepus marinus, which is derived from their rounded shape and from the two long rhinophores that project upwards from their heads, thought to look similar to the ears of a hare.

"A team was sent up there to collect samples of both the animals and the seawater to determine exactly what has caused this," said Charatsee Aungtonya, a marine expert from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Region 5.

Officials at the PMBC and the DMCR Region 5 were made aware of the situation after local social media networks became abuzz with pictures of the tiny marine creatures on the shore of Kamala. - Phuket Gazette.

GEOLOGICAL UPHEAVALS: Another Hole Forms At Inskip Point, Queensland, Australia - Months After A 330-EET WIDE FOOTBALL-FIELD-SIZED Sinkhole Devoured The Same Beach! [PHOTOS + VIDEOS]

Another major erosion event along Inskip Point beach, Queensland. Second one in six months.
Twitter: Josh Bavas

March 1, 2016 - QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - Another collapsing sandy hole has formed at Inskip Point at the northern end of rainbow beach.

According to Queensland Parks and Wildlife the activity started at the surface of the sand about 8am and ended at 10.15am.

Twitter: Josh Bavas

A picture from the Seven News chopper of the sinkhole that has formed at Inskip Point© Seven News

The service is describing it as an erosion event better termed as a "near-shore landslide" than a sinkhole.

The erosion has not affected any campsites nor access to the barge to Fraser Island.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has erected traffic barriers and warning signs around the sites.


WATCH: Earth moves again at campsite.

A statement on the parks and wildlife website said it was likely to be "another occurrence of the natural phenomenon which occurred in September 2015 at Inskip".

In that incident 300 people had to be evacuated after campsites came under threat, and some cars that were swallowed up by sinking sand are still underwater.


WATCH: The first incident at Inskip in 2015.

"It is caused by the undermining of part of the shoreline by tidal flow, waves and currents," the statement said.

"When this occurs below the waterline, the shoreline loses support and a section slides seaward leaving a hole, the edges of which retrogress back towards the shore."

Members of the public were urged to observe the warnings in place around the area.

Rangers were monitoring the hole that has formed. - Brisbane Times.

GEOLOGICAL UPHEAVAL: "Coming To the Surface Along A Fault Line" - Condamine River's Mysterious Bubbling Methane "INTENSIFYING" In Queensland, Australia?! [VIDEO]

Scientists are trying to identify the cause of methane gas bubbling in the Condamine River. © ABC News: Scott Kyle

February 16, 2016 - AUSTRALIA - Landholders in Queensland are calling on the State Government to find the cause of methane gas bubbling in a major river, which they say has intensified in recent months.

The so-called methane seeps in the Condamine River near Chinchilla were reported in 2012, triggering a series of investigations.

But the Government has told the ABC that it does not have sufficient information to identify the cause of the seeps.

Professor Damian Barrett, the CSIRO's lead researcher into unconventional gas, has been monitoring the Condamine gas seeps.

He confirmed to the ABC that the bubbling had intensified. "There have been changes in the flux of methane through the river over the past 12 months," he said.


WATCH: Scientists unsure cause of methane bubble.

ABC visited the most prominent methane seep in the river about six kilometres west of the Chinchilla weir, observing large, concentrated bubbles rising to the water's surface.

"From what I've visually seen since the first videos back when they were originally found, they were just minor bubbles in particular locations," Helen Bender, whose family owns two properties near the Condamine, said.

"In terms of the number of bubbles along the river, both upstream and downstream, [it] is increasing."

A 2013 report by scientific analysis firm Norwest Corporation outlined several "scenarios" which could be contributing to the bubbling in the river.

These included natural events such as drought and the recharging of aquifers after floods.

Human activity such as coal seam gas (CSG) operations and water bore drilling were other possible contributing factors.

"We know that methane is coming to the surface along a fault line, a very small fault line that occurs and intersects with the river," said Professor Barrett, who is also the director of the Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance, a partnership between the CSIRO and the CSG industry.

"We know that the methane that is bubbling in that river is varying in time and the reason for that — while it is unknown — could be perfectly natural."

Origin Energy, which operates CSG wells in the district, is monitoring the bubbling in the Condamine.

"I have to question if Origin is doing the ongoing monitoring, why isn't more of an independent person doing the ongoing monitoring so that there's some real transparency with what's actually happening?" Ms Bender said.

Western Darling Downs landholder and anti-coal seam gas activist John Jenkyn said the bubbling had worsened since the arrival of the CSG industry.

"I think [it's] the de-watering. As [the CSG companies] take all the water out of the wells I presume the gas has found the easiest route out of the ground, which happens to be in the river. So up she comes," he said.

A Queensland Government report released in December 2012 found that the cause of the bubbles was "unlikely to be determined in the short-term, and that a long-term approach to find more science-based answers to the phenomenon was needed".

"I think there's a lot missing in those [methane seep] reports which we need to know the answers to now, because the bubbles are getting worse as the CSG activities continue," Ms Bender said.

A spokesman for Queensland's Department of Natural Resources and Mines confirmed that there was "currently insufficient information to identify the cause of the gas seeps" and that further investigation was warranted.

"Geological complexity and the requirement to gather and analyse surface and subsurface data make this a long-term investigation," the spokesman said. - ABC Australia.

FIRE IN THE SKY: "It Was Huge,... Heard A Loud Bang,... Was Rumbling For A Good Five Minutes,..." - Strange Light, Loud Boom In Queensland Could Have Been Meteorite?!

Was it a meteor that lit up Queensland?© News Mail

February 13, 2016 - QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - People from across Queensland have taken to social media to describe what they say was a bright light accompanied by a boom sound. "Was rumbling for a good five minutes before I went outside," said Bundaberg's Jamie-lee Doorey.

"Was walking back from shed, heard something from the sky as I looked up something seemed to have exploded, sparks went in three different directions. "I've seen plenty shooting stars, this was not one, or it was huge. The rumbling continued for a couple of minutes, nothing since."

Margie Ryan, also from Bundaberg, said she was left puzzled by the sighting. "Was inside. Saw bright flash outside. About one minute later, heard a loud bang like a clap of thunder which shook the house a bit," she said.

"Checked the BoM, no storm, clear sky, so posted on Facebook." Gladstone's Rory Henricks said he thought he saw a plane in the sky "shooting fireworks out of its rear". He said at 9.20pm on Tuesday, he was riding from town to Calliope and about halfway saw the object for a second. "Nothing, then several circular firework explosions in a line behind it, then nothing again," he said. "I flipped my visor up to have a look around, I saw some pilot lights but lost track of it. Was moving really fast and appeared to have jet engines under each wing. "I'm pretty cynical but if it wasn't a UFO it seems like someone was trying to appear like one."

Charlene Kelly Maree said she heard people had seen the object in Gladstone, while Carissa Less Hansen said she witnessed it. "Saw it in Maryborough, Queensland, but didn't hear the noise," she said. Dell Holdings said she saw a flash but thought it was lightening. "It woke me from my sleep, no noise," she said.

Alyssa Gilbert said she saw a massive flash that was as quick as a flash on a camera. "I jumped up and ran to the window thinking someone was in my yard," she said. However, Peter Hurn believed it probably wasn't anything from another world.

"From what it sounds like it might have been a jet using flares," he said.

Kylie Campbell disagreed. "There's no way it was a jet unless it exploded, it was a crazy site to see!" she said. "I was actually out at Bucca, sitting on a rock in front of my car and my initial thought was someone had stolen my car; the light from it was blinding it was like someone turned my car lights on! Lit up everything!

"It was huge, it was breaking off into pieces as it was flying, you could see smaller debris light up behind it. "Never seen anything like it before!" Chanelle Bamblett said she thought it looked like a flare.

Jason Mccallum said he saw strange things in the sky last week."I didn't see last night's but on Wednesday I seen a bright white light go upwards in the sky and seconds later a green light going across the sky with what looked to be sparks coming off it and was much larger than the white light," he said.

Rachel Linda Beris Petersen took to Bundaberg Forum to ask if anyone heard loud bangs around West Bundaberg about 2am Wednesday. "(They) sounded like gunshot noises," she said. Tracy Simpson said she heard similar bangs early in the morning at Kepnock the night before - though it's not sure if these sounds were related to the boom.

Update:
Bundaberg Astronomy Society member Mark Sugars said he didn't see the light but from what had been described it sounded like it could have been a meteorite. "It would be a rational answer to say it was a meteorite," he said.

He confirmed it was possible for people to have seen it from a wide area following reports of sightings from Rockhampton down to Gympie. "They can travel that distance in a second so it is definitely possible," Mr Sugars said.

He said meteorites can be seen differently depending on the location of the viewer. "Meteorites can present differently - as they burn up they produce different colours," he said.

"It could have been coming in at a side view for someone viewing it from Gympie and a different colour for someone at Rockhampton." - News Mail.

DELUGE: More Flooding Hits Queensland, Australia - One Person Killed; 162mm Of Rainfall In Just 24 Hours In Urandangi; Mass Evacuations!

Flooding in Dajarra, Queensland.
© Queensland Police

February 4, 2016 - QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - More flooding hit Queensland earlier today, 03 February, this time in the the state's remote north west. Last week, one man died and several were rescued after floods in the Bundaberg area on 31 January.

More heavy rain this week affected communities in the Mount Isa area.

On February 3, Urandangi recorded 162mm of rain in 24 hours, with most of it falling in around 3 hours. This is just short of its highest ever of 164mm, recorded in December 1984. Surrounding areas also received large amounts of rain.

Local police reported that flooding in the township of Dajarra has led to several people being evacuated from homes this morning.

Police also reported that a number of vehicles in the area have been impacted by flood waters.

At least person had to be rescued after he was stranded in his car by floodwater. Several roads across the region were closed.

Search for 8 Missing

Eight people who were feared missing in floodwaters have been found safe and well.

The group were traveling between Urandangi and Mount Isa and were thought to have been caught up in the flooding affecting the area.

Poor weather conditions prevented police from carrying our an aerial search.

However, late on 03 February, Mount Isa police reported they had located one of the vehicles and that, following investigations and enquiries with the occupants of that vehicle and other Mount Isa residents, police are satisfied that both vehicles and all occupants have arrived safely in Mount Isa. - Floodlist.

MONUMENTAL EARTH CHANGES: Extreme Weather Hits Western And Eastern Australia - RED ALERT, The Highest Level, Issued As Cyclone Stan Hits Pilbara; And "VERY DANGEROUS" Storm Cell Lashes Sydney! [VIDEOS]

Cyclone Stan. NOAA

January 30, 2016 - AUSTRALIA - Tropical cyclone Stan has made landfall in the Pilbara where residents in its immediate path are taking shelter following the declaration of the highest level red alert warning.

Stan crossed the coast just east of Pardoo as a category two system early on Sunday after failing to meet some expectations it might strengthen to category three.

Cyclone forecasters say it will move inland during Sunday morning and gradually weaken.

They have warned of potentially 'destructive winds' with gusts to 150km/h near the cyclone centre as it moves southeast into the Pilbara.

The red alert declared by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) is for communities between Port Hedland and Wallal extending inland to Marble Bar, including Pardoo, Wallal, Eighty Mile and Marble Bar but not including Port Hedland or South Hedland.

'There is a threat to lives and homes. You are in danger and need to act immediately,' the DFES warning says.

It advises affected residents to get ready to shelter in the strongest, safest part of their homes, have their emergency kits with them and to stay indoors until authorities give the all clear.

A lower level yellow alert is in place for the coastal and inland communities of Wallal to Bidyadanga, not including Bidyadanga, and between Marble Bar and Jigalong including Nullagine, Roy Hill and Telfer, but not including Jigalong.


WATCH: Cyclone Stan - Highest red alert issued for Western Australia.

A lesser blue alert is in place for the area bounded by Munjina to Newman, including Munjina, Jigalong and Cotton Creek, but not including Newman.

An all clear advice was issued early on Sunday for people in or near the coastal communities between Broome and Bidyadanga, including Bidyadanga, and from Whim Creek to Port Hedland, including Whim Creek, Port Hedland and South Hedland.

At 3.05am (WST) on Sunday the Bureau of Meteorology advised that Stan was about 35km east northeast of Pardoo, moving south southeast at 20km/h.

The bureau says gales with gusts to 100km/h are likely to extend to the inland east Pilbara and adjacent interior districts during Sunday as Stan continues to move towards the southeast and increase in speed.

Residents between Pardoo and Bidyadanga have been warned of a possible very dangerous storm tide bringing high waves and flooding as Stan's centre crosses the coast during Sunday morning.

Stan is the first cyclone of the Australian season, which begins officially on November 1 each year. - SKY News.

Sydney, Australia lashed by 'very dangerous' storm cell

A BoM image showing storm cells over parts of Australia on 29 January.
© Bureau of Meteorology

Thousands of Sydneysiders are without power after a fierce thunderstorm lashed the city, complete with torrential downpours and dangerous wind gusts of more than 100km/h.

It's the second day of wild weather for Sydney, with a dangerous storm cell battering much of NSW this afternoon. Sydney's west copped it first, complete with damaging winds, heavy rain and even hail.

The Bureau of Meteorology, which labelled the storm cell "very dangerous" said Toongabbie recorded 30mm of rain in just 10 minutes about 4.50pm. Strathfield was also drenched, with about 36mm of rain in 15 minutes, as wild winds battered the west.

Wind gusts of up to 98km/h were recorded at Badgerys Creek, before the wild weather shifted toward the inner city.

Sydney Airport recorded winds of up to 107km/h this evening as winds and rain lashed the CBD, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Airport Sydney Olympic Park and Ryde.


WATCH: Lightning strikes the Sydney Tower.

The eastern suburbs and inner west were also lashed by the heavy rains, with the BoM warning of possible flash flooding. The dangerous storm cell downed trees and powerlines across Sydney's west, plunging about 50,000 homes into darkness.

The State Emergency Services has been called to more than 100 jobs across the west, including calls for felled trees and dangerous powerlines. There were also reports of flood rescue call out at Arncliffe, Marrickville, Revesby and Greenacre.

Some traffic signals remain blacked out or flashing yellow in Miranda, Wahroonga, Baulkham Hills, Minto, Liverpool, St Clair and Rouse Hill.

Some train, bus and ferry services are also running late due to the wild weather. Commuters are urged to leave additional time.

It was the second day of wild weather for Sydney. Friday's storms triggered more than 350 calls for help and cut power to more than 40,000 homes.

Endeavour Energy said 16,000 homes experienced power outages across Sydney's west yesterday, while a further 20,000 Ausgrid customers were without power.

Flooding sparked at least three rescue calls, with State Emergency Service crews swooping on a Sydney family of four whose car was overcome yesterday afternoon.

Queensland was also battered with a deadly thunderstorm last night.

Police say a 68-year-old Narangba man was struck by the branch at a caravan park on Charlton Esplanade in Scarness in the Hervey Bay area at around 7.30pm yesterday.

He was taken to Hervey Bay Hospital but died on arrival. - 9 News.

FIRE IN THE SKY: The Latest Fireball Sightings - Mysterious Fireball Seen In North Georgia Sky; Weather Webcam Captures Meteor Passing Over Queensland, Australia; Meteor-Fireball Filmed Over Hungary! [VIDEOS]

People all across the metro Atlanta area reported seeing a large fireball streak through the sky Monday afternoon over Snellville and Winder.© Dale Hulsey/ Facebook

January 16, 2016 - SPACE - The following constitutes several of the latest reports of fireballs, seen in the skies, across the globe.

Mysterious fireball seen in north Georgia sky

People all across the metro Atlanta area reported seeing a large fireball streak through the sky Monday afternoon over Snellville and Winder.

Several WSB-TV viewers submitted images and video to Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Glenn Burns of the object, which was spotted around 3:45 p.m.

Okay...so we have a mystery on our hands. I know some people who know some people...we will find out something soon.

...Posted by Glenn Burns on Monday, January 11, 2016

Glenn spoke to officials at the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, who say they believe the mysterious fireball is space debris, but so far, no one has officially determined what it was.

Here is the video of this object seen over Snellville at 3:45 this afternoon.  No sound was observed.  This was submitted by one of our FB friends.
Posted by Glenn Burns on Monday, January 11, 2016

After doing some research today, folks at Tellus believe it might have been space debris. Others say moving too slowly.

...Posted by Glenn Burns on Tuesday, January 12, 2016
- WSBTV.

Weather webcam captures meteor passing over Queensland, Australia

A Brisbane webcam set up to monitor the weather has snapped the moment a meteor blazed over the city.

The Australian Weathercam Network's (AWN) camera at New Farm, which takes a photo every 20 seconds at night, captured the shooting star over a green-lit Story Bridge at exactly 7:50:40pm on Monday.

It was also sighted by dozens of people who took to social media to share their excitement.

Dr Stephen Hughes from Queensland University of Technology's Science and Engineering Faculty said the meteor had to be burning bright for it to be photographed so clearly over a brightly-lit Brisbane CBD.

"If it was in the sky for several seconds, that's in a fireball category, like something the size of an orange coming through the atmosphere," he said.

Dr Hughes said spotting a meteor was common, adding that a stargazer could see one as frequently as every half hour.

"If you see a meteor flash really quick it's probably the size of a grain of sand. If it's like this it could be bigger because it's burning for longer," he said.

Dozens of people took to social media on Monday night after spotting a meteor over the skies of south east Queensland© Australian Weathercam Network

A Kallangur webcam at managed to capture the tail end of the Monday night meteor© Australian Weathercam Network

"The fact it's got that light competition and it can still be seen ... I would veer towards something a bit bigger coming in." On the Sunshine Coast, Wappa Falls Astronomical Observatory astronomer Owen Bennedick said his investigations confirmed it was a meteorite.

"It was going far too fast to be a satellite," he said.

"Satellites only travel at between five and seven kilometres a second, that sounds fast to most people, but that's quite slow astronomically speaking.

"Even the slowest of the meteorites travel at 11 kilometres a second and the average one that most people would see at night time would be travelling between 40 and 70 kilometres a second."

The tail end of the meteor was captured by another AWN webcam at Kallangur, north of Brisbane. - ABC Online.

Meteor-fireball filmed over Hungary

A meteor-fireball was seen over Hungary on January 15, 2016.

WATCH: Meteor over Hungary.

GEOLOGICAL UPHEAVALS: Massive Sinkhole Opens Up On Beach In Queensland, Australia - Measures 16 Feet By 22 Feet!

A large sinkhole has opened up at the northern end of The Spit.

December 14, 2015 - QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - A large sinkhole has opened up at the northern end of The Spit about 5.30pm this afternoon.

The hole, about 5m by 7m in size, is surrounded by orange cones to warn beachgoers of a possible danger.

No one has been injured.

It is possible to get close to it but caution is advised. - Gold Coast Bulletin.

MASS BIRD DIE-OFFS: Plagues & Pestilences - 80 Birds Die At Hasties Swamp, Australia?!

Magpie geese

December 5, 2015 - AUSTRALIA - Authorities are investigating after about 80 birds were found dead at Hasties Swamp near Atherton.

Tully man David Clarke was showing friends around the Tablelands on Wednesday when they came across the gruesome scene.

"We could see a big flock of birds on the edge of the lagoon," he said.

"When we were driving out, we discovered a sick bird on the road.

"There was no injury to it, so we released it back into the water.

"Then we saw the dead bodies of dozens of birds and ­others in a dying state, that's when we realised something drastic was going on.

"It was distressing to see birds flapping around dying."

Mr Clarke reported the deaths and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, and Biosecurity Queensland are now investigating.

A QPWS spokeswoman said rangers found about 80 dead birds, mainly magpie geese, which may have been killed by avian botulism.

The paralytic disease is caused by ingestion of a toxin produced by the bacteria, Clostridium botulinum.

It can be present in the birds' food sources such as insect larvae.

"Bird deaths from botulism are annual events in Northern Australia at this time of year," she said.

"Samples are being taken at Hasties Swamp on Friday to determine if botulism or some other cause is responsible.

"Results should be known in about a week.

"QPWS has erected signage at the park to warn visitors." - The Cairns Post.

 

EXTREME WEATHER: Severe Earth Changes In Australia - Major Thunderstorms Warnings For Southeast Queensland Again - As Terrifying Green Storm Clouds Engulf Brisbane In Apocalyptical Scenery; Over 100,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded; Thousands Without Power! [PHOTOS + VIDEO]

Matthew Drinkall

December 1, 2015 - AUSTRALIA - Severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for parts of southeast Queensland this afternoon, as the region continues to clean up following yesterday's wild weather.

The Bureau of Meteorology says severe thunderstorms have been detected on radar between Cooyar and Crows Nest, with damaging winds and large hailstones likely. Read the full warning here.

Residents in the path of the storm are advised to secure loose outdoor items, move their car under cover or away from trees, and seek shelter.

During yesterday's storms fallen trees blocked roads and caused damage, with one collapsing onto a home in Collingwood Park, about 30km from the Brisbane CBD, almost splitting it in two. The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service said it received around 200 calls for help yesterday, with more than 100 of those in and around Ipswich alone.

Murray Fox Photography

A tree fell onto a house in Collingwood Park.  © Penny Dahl, @pennycopter

The storms are developing north-west of Brisbane.  © BOM.gov.au

Hail in Oxley, in south-west Brisbane.  © Narimani Afsaneh

Lightning strike caught on camera from Grange. © Supplied, Dean Hanson

Lightning strike viewed from Ipswich.  © Supplied, name withheld

Lightning strikes viewed from The Gap.  © Supplied, Coskun Gencerler

Murray Fox Photography

Murray Fox Photography

Murray Fox Photography

Bobby Skidmore

Bobby Skidmore

Kali Lock via Higgins Storm Chasing

Chris Gilchrist via Higgins Storm Chaser

Scott Drain via Higgins Storm Chasing

Adam Shuffla Fousketakis via ‎Higgins Storm Chasing

A 25-year-old man was struck by lightning in Ipswich, and suffered minor injuries. A 24-year-old man was taken to hospital in a stable condition after touch fallen power lines.

Energy provider Energex recorded 100,000 lightning strikes and around 20,000 homes lost power.

Ipswich woman Bec Daly recorded an incredible lightning strike near a bus stop.

Captioned "nothing like a little heart attack to end the day", the video uploaded by Ms Daly to Facebook showed two powerful orange bolts striking across the road as locals scrambled for safety.

November 30, 2015: A woman has recorded the moment lightning struck twice at a bus stop in Ipswich, in Queensland's southeast.


WATCH: Timelapse - Brisbane Lightning Storm.

The SES said most requests were for smashed windows, fallen trees and powerlines and leaking roofs.

Golf ball-sized hail fell at Tara, inland from Toowoomba, and 50mm of rain fell within half an hour at Campbells, north of Warwick. Around 70mm of rain fell in Harrisville, in the Scenic Rim region, in around 30 minutes.

The Darling Downs was also hit by large hail, with roads flooded within minutes.

Storms are expected to persist in the area for much of the week.

- 9 News | Strange Sounds.

 

GEOLOGICAL UPHEAVALS: Sinkholes Keep Popping Up Across The United States - Giant Sinkhole Causes Detour In Wyoming, Michigan!

Kenowa Avenue sinkhole. © Phil Dawson

November 27, 2015 - MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES - Some shoppers in Grandville and Wyoming are dealing with an unexpected detour near Rivertown Crossings Mall.

A large section of Kenowa Avenue between Jacobs and 56th Streets collapsed Thursday afternoon, creating a huge sinkhole. And just a few seconds earlier, people in the neighborhood say a vehilce drove over the exact spot.

"Some guy said he was driving over and he heard it and he looked back and the road was just gone," say members of the Lyons family, visiting the area for Thanksgiving. "He said there was a crack in the middle of the road and as he was going over it he heard it start to crumble so he quickly got over it."

© Screenshot via WZZM

"I'm surprised there wasn't a car at the bottom of it," added rich TenBarge, also visiting for Thanksgiving dinner. "It's big enough and deep enough to hold a vehicle."

At first glance the Public Works crew at the site suspects a broken water main caused the cave in, but that isnt certain yet. Its also not known how long that section of Kenowa Avenue will be closed for repairs. - WZZM13.

 

EXTREME WEATHER: Scary Moment - Lightning Strikes Meters From Plane In Australia, Filmed By Passenger! [VIDEO]

© liveleak.com

November 27, 2015 - AUSTRALIA - A passenger traveling on a plane to Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, filmed the astounding moment when a lightning bolt struck just next to the aircraft’s wing.

"Holy sh!tballs. Remind me never again to fly into Brisbane in November late at night," wrote Lee Carseldine, who uploaded the short video clip on Twitter.

The impression is even more alarming as bolts of lightning are seen reflected in the plane's wing.

Lightning bolts over Brisbane during Monday’s storm.  © Mark Calleja.

South-east Queensland has endured heavy storms in recent days, according to ABC.

Although the bolt may look scary it actually posed no threat.

All aircraft are equipped with lightning protection.

 

#bnestorm #bneweather #misseditbythatmuch pic.twitter.com/QdNp6bpkA4

— Lee Carseldine (@leeca_77) November 23, 2015

As a rule passengers don’t even feel or notice it.

The electric current runs across metal parts of the fuselage until it finds a way out, for instance through the tail. - RT.

 

MONUMENTAL GEOLOGICAL UPHEAVALS: Major Planetary Transformations - FOOTBALL-FIELD-SIZED Sinkhole Devours Australian Beach, Nearly 330 FEET WIDE; Montrosity May Grow Even BIGGER! [PHOTOS]

© lifesavingqld / Instagram

November 26, 2015 - AUSTRALIA - A gigantic sinkhole has carved out an impressive chunk out of an island in southeast Queensland, Australia.

The monstrosity that swallowed part of the beach is the size of a football field. Life-savers have warned people to stay away.

A spokeswoman for Surf Life Saving Queensland told AP the gaping hole on North Stradbroke Island is 100 meters wide (328.084 feet) and opened up at some point on Wednesday. It’s a long way from any areas patrolled by life guards.

“There are really strong currents in the water and the sand is quite unstable,” the spokeswoman said.

Senior lifeguard Michael Bates told ABC the hole is “a little bit smaller than a football field,” but experts think it may grow even further.

A ledge could be seen at Jumpinpin bar a month ago, before the hole opened up. © Brooke Byrne

The spot at Jumpinpin bar, on the north of the island, is popular with fishermen and four-wheel-drive enthusiasts, but no one was there on Wednesday.

"It is almost like a swirling effect in the water that is created by the change of tides and there is unstable sand in the area," Bates continued.

North Straddie now believed to be affected by significant coastal erosion from strong tidal changes, after consultation with land managers.

— Surf Life Saving QLD (@lifesavingqld) November 26, 2015

Reported Sinkhole at North Straddie is now being described as an 'underwater Avalanche' by experts @9NewsBrisbane pic.twitter.com/Y9ir6CFXKg

— Jess Millward (@JessMillward9) November 26, 2015

"It is not a safe area for swimming at all, due to it being so unstable, unpredictable and varying depth and the strong water movement.

It is going to make it a very massive hazard."Despite the scare, researcher Konrad Beinssen of the University of Queensland says sinkholes are actually quite common at Jumpinpin.

 WATCH: North Stradbroke Island sinkhole.

Beinssen, who wrote a research paper on another sinkhole in September, says the conditions are just right here.

The sinkholes “occur when an underwater sand cliff retrogresses backwards and sometimes it reaches the shore and collapses the beach,” he said. - RT.

MASS FISH DIE-OFFS: Disaster Precursors - Thousands Of Dying Starfish Mysteriously Wash Up On Moreton Island, Australia?!

A rare mass stranding of starfish on Moreton Island which left a tour guide and his group stunned

November 26, 2015 - AUSTRALIA - Thousands of dying starfish have mysteriously washed up on an island in what has been deemed a rare natural phenomenon.

Tour guide Rhett Ericsen-Miller stumbled upon the stranded sealife with a tour group near Tangalooma Wrecks, a fleet of shipwrecks, in southeast Queensland's Moreton Island.

The video he uploaded on Facebook has amassed nearly 20 thousand views, while scientists are unsure of exactly what caused the mass stranding.

The vision shows a long stretch of the island's shore lined with the fish, making it impossible to throw them all back into the water.

A Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service spokeswoman told Brisbane Times it could have been caused by strong winds or a dramatic change in water temperatures.

'As far as we are aware it's a natural phenomenon, and at this stage we have no information to indicate otherwise,' she said.


WATCH: Dead starfish found washed up on the beaches of Moreton Island.

University of Queensland marine biologist Kathy Townsend, whose research centre is on the island, also believed humans were not behind the phenomenon.

'It could have been a case that they were all together, that they were spawning and then conditions changed and they all got washed up on shore.'

However staff from Maritime Safety Queensland were forced to remove parts of the nearby Tangalooma Wrecks earlier this month following concerns it may have been riddled with asbestos. - Daily Mail.

 

EXTREME WEATHER: Climate Chaos - Severe Thunderstorms, Lightning And Hail Pound Australia!

Hail at Stanthorpe

November 23, 2015 - AUSTRALIA - Severe thunderstorms are no longer affecting the Southeast Queensland area (east of Dalby from Rainbow Beach to Stanthorpe).

The immediate threat of severe thunderstorms has passed, but the situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings will be issued if necessary, the Bureau of Meteorology advised at 8.15pm.

Earlier, BOM reports a dangerous thunderstorm had developed and was headed for suburbs north of Brisbane.

Queensland's storms started to develop about 2pm, affecting first the Granite Belt and Darling Downs

There was golf-ball and even tennis-ball-sized hail smashing Stanthorpe about 4.30pm.

The ferocity of the downpour of hail surprised many weatherwatchers. The storms continued to hit Ipswich and then Brisbane, with spectacular displays of lightning.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned that, at 7:50 pm, severe thunderstorms were detected on weather radar near southern Lake Wivenhoe and the D'Aguilar Ranges.

These thunderstorms are moving towards the east.

They are forecast to affect Strathpine, Lake Samsonvale, Kallangur, Narangba, Dayboro and Burpengary by 8:20 pm. - The Chronicle.

 Hail the size of golf and cricket balls has hit Coraki...twice. © Russell O'keefe

Hail the size of golf balls has fallen in areas such as Rappville, Yamba and now Lismore as the storm hits the Northern Rivers.

Hail approximately 4cm and above has been reported.

In Coraki 55mm of rain fell from two separate storm cells which hit here within 20 mins of each other.

Hail got up to cricket ball size from the first cell, according to resident Russell O'keefe.

"It hailed for around 20 minutes," he said.

"The second cell only had hail the size of 20 cent pieces but there was much more hail for about 15 minutes." - The Northern Star.

 

DELUGE: Heavy Rainfall Brings Death Toll To 6 Along Australia's East Coast!

May 4, 2015 - AUSTRALIA - The death toll from heavy rains that inundated Australia's east coast has climbed to six, as flood warnings continued following a severe deluge that cut power to thousands of homes and isolated numerous communities.

The eastern states of Queensland and New South Wales faced a huge clean-up task ahead, but were forecast to experience easing conditions following two days of wild weather.

"Never before have we seen such a huge volume of rain drop in such a short period of time," Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told broadcaster Channel Seven.

A six-year-old boy became the sixth storm victim when he was swept away by rough seas at a northern NSW beach.

The boy was walking along South Ballina beach with his father and older brother when he was pulled into the ocean by stormy waters, surf lifesavers said. Police said he was rescued by fishermen and flown to a nearby hospital, where he died.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Saturday the federal government would assist Queensland following the deadly storms. - The Standard.

INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSE: Plane Crash Near Gympie, Queensland, Australia - Pilot's Body Found!

Wreckage of Mr Pavan's Jabiru in bushy terrain on a property north-west of Woolooga. (ABC News)

May 1, 2015 - QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - Police have found the body of a pilot of a plane that crashed north-west of Gympie in south-east Queensland.

Wreckage of the light plane belonging to missing Queensland pilot Rob Pavan was found yesterday near the town of Woolooga, about 39 kilometres north-west of Gympie.

Authorities had been searching around the area for several days.

The body of 60-year-old Rob Pavan was found this afternoon, but authorities were yet to recover it.

Police Inspector Jon Lewis said the recovery operation might continue for a few days while officers tried to access parts of the wreckage.

"Things could change quite quickly if we do find an access point in those areas," he said.

"We may find that we can locate the majority of the wreckage and as I said, our priority being locating the pilot so we can get him back to his family."

Inspector Lewis said officers have had trouble reaching the crash site.

"The terrain is extremely difficult," he said.

Pilot Rob Pavan beside a Jabiru plane at Monto in central Queensland. (ABC News)

"They're on a mountain ridge, it's very thickly timbered as well as thickly covered with lantana.

"A lot of the wreckage that can be seen is in a ravine on the other side of the ridge which is very steep."

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Recreational Aviation Australia is investigating the cause of the crash.

AMSA said yesterday a farmer had found Mr Pavan's crashed Jabiru plane.

When a rescue chopper had trouble accessing the mountainous crash site, the farmer drove to the scene with police in four-wheel drives.

Authorities eventually confirmed the wreckage, strewn across the mountain over several hundred metres, was that of Mr Pavan's plane.

Mr. Pavan's plane crashed in this rugged and mountainous terrain, north-west of Gympie. (Supplied: RACQ Careflight)

It is not yet known what caused the crash but there had been reports of bad weather in the area.

The solo pilot, an experienced aviator, had just completed a trip around Australia.

He took off from Gympie on Saturday morning en route to a small airstrip about 90 kilometres west of Gladstone, in central Queensland.

AMSA was alerted when Mr Pavan failed to arrive and a search began about 4:15pm on Saturday.

- ABC News Australia.