February 25, 2016 - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Sweltering day 21st consecutive day over 26C as Bureau of Meteorology predicts temperatures above 26C for the next week
Temperatures in parts of Sydney topped 40 degrees today, as the city sweated through a record streak of 21 days above 26C.
In Penrith, the temperature reached 41.7 by mid-afternoon and hovered just below into the evening.
Closer to the city it wasn't much cooler with 39.2C recorded at Sydney Olympic Park and 36.9 at the airport.
Blair Trewin of the Bureau of Meteorology told Guardian Australia the scorcher marked the 21st consecutive day of 26C or over in Sydney, a record stretch not matched at any time of year.
The next-longest streak was 19 days of temperatures above 26C in March 2014.
Trewin said the record hot spell was caused by a combination of
warmer than normal ocean breezes, few major southerly winds and a lack
of easterly troughs that tend to bring rain and cool temperatures. Since
the streak started there has been just 9.2mm of rain in Sydney.
Sydney may continue its hot streak, with the bureau predicting
temperatures above 26C for at least the next seven days. The coolest
days will be on the weekend, with maximums of 27C forecast for both
Saturday and Sunday.
Canberra is also feeling the heat with a maximum of 37C while Darwin and Brisbane are expecting maximums of 33C.
Trewin said: "It has been an unusually hot February in parts of the
northern tropics because it's been much drier than usual for this time
of year - it's normally the peak of the wet season."
The tropics were unlikely to set any records this month, though, as the
hottest time of the year is usually in November/December before the wet
season starts properly, he said. - The Guardian.
A south Sydney man's fly catcher from Bunnings almost filled up to the top in under a day.
February 6, 2016 - AUSTRALIA - A man has been left in awe after he purchased a fly catcher which filled up after just one day.
Myles Farrawell, from Sydney, posted the photo of his full contraption to Facebook which left social media users stunned.
'So I bought a fly trap from Bunnings yesterday and put it out yesterday
afternoon and just came home to find this wow !!!! Flys for dinner lol
[sic],' Mr Farrawell wrote. Flies are often a massive pest for
Australian's during the hot summer period, due to their attraction to
heat when mating.
Flies are commonly known to come out in massive numbers during the summer
Bryce Peters, General Manager for the Faculty of Science at University
of Technology Sydney, said the hot temperatures this summer could be a
direct link to the large amount of flies in Sydney's CBD. It could also
be the reason as to why this man caught so many flies in a day.
'When the weather gets warmer and more humid the flies are more active,'
Mr Peters said. Mr Peters, who is also from the Sutherland Shire, said
it is highly likely the flies are bush flies. 'Bush flies tend to breed
out in the west (Western Sydney) before being blown over to the city due
to the westerly winds'.
Australian Museum naturalist Martyn Robinson told the Daily Telegrapha combination of heavy rain and heat has caused a 'build up' of more flies over spring last year and summer this year. - Daily Mail.
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
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.
January 11, 2016 - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - This is the amazing moment a couple appear to kiss on a Sydney beach,
just moments before the entire beach is overwhelmed by a huge wave.
The rogue wave hit the beach at Sydney's Royal National Park, leaving some people with serious injuries.
As other beach-goers and swimmers are running away from the water and to
safety, the couple apparently pause to kiss before being pushed apart
by the crashing water.
The man filming the scenario can be heard screaming: "Get out!"
Another man is heard yelling "Oh f***, brace yourselves!"
WATCH: Rogue wave hits a Sydney beach.
Emergency services were called to the park's figure eight rock pools,
and two rescue helicopters were deployed to the scene, airlifting three
women to hospital.
A 22-year-old woman is reported to have suffered from severe head
injuries and a 53-year-old woman with a suspected broken ankle were
among the worst injuries.
A 20-year-old woman was also airlifted after being bowled over by the freak wall of water and hitting her head.
All three have now been discharged from hospital, according to the MailOnline.
National park rangers are now warning visitors to exercise care when walking along the rocky coast. - Daily Mirror.
A 1,000ft tornado which emerged above the ocean was seen swirling at incredible speeds and caused an
unsuspecting yacht to flee, in fear of being caught in the freak occurrence
January 9, 2016 - EARTH - Here are two of the latest reports of waterspouts, intense columnar non-supercell tornadoes (usually appearing as a funnel-shaped cloud) that occurs over a body of water.
Incredible photos show the terrifying moment a yacht is forced to flee for safety in Sydney, Australia after a giant 1,000ft waterspout rises up from the sea
A huge 1,000ft waterspout caused a storm on a popular beach after swirling around at incredibly high speeds - forcing a yacht to flee in a hurry.
As a storm turned the sky grey this week, a wispy cloud emerged and began to swirl around and headed towards the water just off the coast of Bungan Beach, in the northern suburb of Sydney, Mona Vale.
The freak occurrence - known as an intense columnar vortex - was spotted by a photographer as she glanced out of her window.
Thick
grey clouds funneling towards the water emerged when a wispy cloud
began to break away from dark storm clouds above, this occurrence is
also referred to as a waterspout.
The scene lasted two minutes, in which photographer Pamela Pauline, 53, was able to capture the incredible incident.
Pictures
of the waterspout show a yacht, miniature in comparison, close to the
spout of the huge tornado and although Ms Pauline did not fear for her
life she said she had been ‘worried’ for the sailboat.
Commonly referred to as a waterspout the vortex started during a storm this week just off the coast of Bungan Beach, in the northern suburb of Sydney, Mona Vale
Pictures of the waterspout show a yacht, miniature in comparison, close to the spout of the huge tornado
Other boats in the area including what looks like a couple of speed boast also tried to make their escape from the looming spiral column
Other boats in the area including what looks like a couple of speed boast also tried to make their escape from the looming spiral column.
The sky above can be seen rotating and growing darker as the column intensifies, back-lit by rain clouds making their way over to Sydney.
Ms Pauline saw the incredible weather phenomenon when she glanced out of her window on Friday.
She said: ‘Apparently it is a tornado over the ocean with water called a waterspout.’
‘I live near the ocean and this is the first time I’ve seen something like this. This was the beginning of the storm, it then started raining and didn’t stop for four days in Sydney.
‘I felt in awe of nature while watching this happen,’ she added.
tarting very small the huge column crashed down into the ocean and receded again.
Waterspouts do not suck up water, they are small and weak rotating columns of air that hover over the water.
The intense funnels are formed when layers of cool air blowing over the water cause warm, moist air to sweep up from underneath, forming a column of condensation.
The tornadoes can pose a threat to boats, swimmers and aircraft in their path. - Daily Mail.
Residents across New South Wales have been
evacuated and rescued as heavy rain continues to batter the east coast.
Above is an emergency crew member wading out to a car caught in flood
waters in Newcastle
January 6, 2016 - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA - Newcastle has faced its wettest January day in more than 150 years after
torrential rain batters the east coast forcing residents to abandon
their homes, as flash flooding hits Sydney.
The Bureau of Meteorology said Newcastle, north of Sydney,
experienced the most rainfall on a January day since records started
back in 1862, also logging its wettest day since June 2007.
In the 24 hours leading up to 9am on Wednesday, Newcastle record more than 200mm of rain.
Major flood warnings have been issued across the state's east
after the town of Dungog, in NSW's Hunter region, was inundated with
water and locals were told to leave their homes, the ABC reported. An
evacuation order has been issued for 30 homes in nearby Raymond
Terrace, with SES volunteers doorknocking residents telling them to
leave.
Up to 130mm of rainfall was recorded in a 24-hour period at nearby
Bulga, resulting in major flood warnings for Wollombi Brook, with the
State Emergency Service (SES) responding to more than 1,400 calls since
Tuesday and carrying out 21 flood rescues since the deluge started.
NSW Ambulance paramedics have been called to almost 100 motor
vehicle-related incidents since Tuesday morning, with 14 of these
happening from midnight to 10am on Wednesday.
'With the heavy rains predicted to continue, paramedics are calling on
people to slow down and take extra care. Wet weather can result in
reduced visibility, slippery road surfaces and flooding, all of which
create hazardous driving conditions,' NSW Ambulance's Jamie Vernon said.
Williamtown, also in the Hunter region, recorded a 220mm rainfall in 24 hours.
Newcastle airport closed its runway for just over four hours after it was inundated with flood waters but it reopened at midday.
'Flights will recommence this afternoon. Please contact your airline re your flight status,' the airport's Twitter page said.
Further south, emergency crews are trying to reach a group of at least 21 campers who have become trapped by flood waters.
Bendethera Valley campground, west of Moruya, has been isolated by heavy
rains and flooding with at least 16 adults and five children trapped at
the site, an SES spokesman told AAP.
'There has been no direct contact since Sunday... they have been isolated since then,' he said.
The campsite is also without mobile phone reception, making it hard for
crews to understand the conditions in the site but it is likely they
will be running low on food.
Search crews could not reach the campground on Tuesday and difficult
weather was causing problems for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to land
in the area.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Peter Znijewski told Daily Mail Australia
the wild weather was expected to end later on Wednesday.'We're
expecting the low to move to the mid-north coast. We should be seeing
improvement in the weather this evening and overnight,' he said.
Blue skies have been predicted for this weekend.
But in the lead up to the sunny weather, some suburbs in Sydney
have been drenched in rainfall usually seen over a month in two days,The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Parramatta has received 135 mm since Monday with 86mm of rain falling in just the last 24 hours until 9am on Wednesday morning
SES volunteers are doorknocking residents telling
them to leave. Above are emergency crews use a blow-up boat to get
around on flood waters
SES captured shocking images of flood waters rising around Maitland, north west of Newcastle
Rolling green paddocks quickly morphed into large brown lakes as water pooled in lower ground
Ponies are being stranded amid the flash flooding
on Salt Ash in the Hunter Region of New South Wales as they wait
patiently to be rescued, with one resident claiming she has never seen
bad weather in 44 years
A park in Wallsend, near Newcastle, has been inundated with water as heavy rain continues
The new year has kicked off with some wild weather
after a water spout was spotted off the coast at Sydney's Northern
Beaches on Sunda
Over three days, the city's metropolitan areas have had up to 80mm of
rain, while Frenchs Forest, in Sydney's north, and the Hills District
have recorded rainfall of up to 150mm.
In the west, Richmond and Penrith have seen 120mm.
Meanwhile in Parramatta, the wharf was closed after 68mm of rain had
fallen by 9am on Wednesday, with 127mm drenching the suburb in three
days.
'For the wettest suburbs in Sydney, it's the heaviest rain they've had since April, and it's pretty unusual for January. This is more than the monthly average in less than 48 hours,' Weatherzone senior meteorologist Brett Dutschke told the Herald.
A resident in Hawkesbury, Penelope, told Daily Mail Australia the flood waters had risen quickly behind her property.
'Yesterday morning [we] saw paddock fully [when we] came home last night no paddock,' she said.
In photographs from Penelope's house, which she described to be up on a
hill just outside of Sydney, her paddocks look to be completely under
water.
She and her neighbour have spent Wednesday morning moving their livestock away from the water's edge, fearing more deluge.
In regional NSW, around Bulga, waters are expected to exceed the
major flood level of 4.6m by 9am and reach 5.1m by 3pm on Wednesday,
with further rises still possible.
In Dungog, the Williams River peaked at 8.05m in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
A total of 22 people were evacuated in Dungog - an area that has been
cleared for the second time in 10 months, according to 7News.
Rainfall has eased but BoM predicts the Mill Dam Falls will peak close
to major flood level (9.1m) by 9am, while the Paterson River near
Gostwyck is tipped to peak close to moderate flood level.
A severe weather warning remains in place for the mid-north coast and Hunter region following relentless rainfall on Tuesday.
'Most of the weather will affect the Hunter, particularly the lower
Hunter, before the low decides to move to the north-east probably later
in the day,' BoM forecaster Christopher Webb told the ABC.
'There may be some gale force winds associated as well.
'It's not over as yet. There's still the possibility of a burst of really very heavy rain.'
SES crews from Sydney have geared up to help out volunteers in the
region on Wednesday, but some are staying to deal with flash flooding in
Sydney.
North of Sydney, roads turned into rivers at Newcastle when
flash floods hit the area, sparking an alert to residents at Wallsend to
prepare for a potential evacuation.
SES deputy commissioner Greg Newton told ABC radio about 260 volunteers
were out in force across NSW helping people as winds pick up, with
forecasters predicting gales of up to 90km/h.
'That may cause further issues, particularly with trees that may have
been affected by the wet ground falling over through the course of the
day,' he said.
WATCH: Major flood warning issued for parts of the Hunter region in NSW.
'Our main message for people is if they see flood waters they should
never enter those regardless of the vehicles they are driving or what
they think might be going on.
'There's been 21 instances in the past two days where emergency services
crews have had to go rescue people who have become trapped in flood
water.'
Mr Newton said most of the people who were freed were driving cars and of those most of them were in four-wheel-drives.
NSW Police fined a man $425 at Murrah on the far south coast after he attempted to drive across a flooded bridge on Monday.
On the Central Coast, four tourists were rescued after their car became bogged on a bush track.
The men, believed to be from Germany, called triple-zero about 4.30pm on
Tuesday after they realised their four-wheel-drive got stuck in the mud
in the Olney State Forest, following heavy rain in the area.
Members of the Central Coast Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) began
searching for the men and about 11pm they found the group on a track
known as Lemon Tree Road.
BoM meteorologist Dmitriy Danchuk said there was more rain to come, with
the heaviest rainfall expected to affect the coast between Taree and
Newcastle.
Authorities have pleaded with the public to avoid driving across flooded
roads as the number of rescues climbed to at least 21 across NSW.
The men were taken to Wyong Police Station where police verified they were not injured and did not require medical attention.
A Westpac Life Saver Helicopter airlifted a heavily pregnant woman from
an isolated property on the far south coast and took her to Bega
Hospital.
Campers have also been warned to stay in contact with the SES as a group remains stranded on the south coast.
They have enough food to last a few days, Westpac Life Saver CEO Stephen Leahy told AAP.
The new year has kicked off with some wild weather after a water
spout was spotted off the coast at Sydney's Northern Beaches on Sunday.
Pamela Pauline, from Pamela Pauline Photography, snapped a picture of the spout at Bungan Beach in the afternoon.
'I estimate the funnel would have been about 500m to 1 km out to the
ocean. There were several sailboats out and about,' she told Daily Mail Australia. - Daily Mail.
Huge hailstones fell from the sky during the storm.
December 18, 2015 - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Sydney was hit by a rare tornado on Wednesday.
Destructive winds above 200km an hour hit the area.
The Bureau of Meteorology issues a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for parts of New South Wales on Wednesday morning.
Huge cricket ball sized hailstones pummelled from the sky, terrifying locals.
WATCH: Hailstorm hits Sydney.
Huge storm in #Sydney #sydneystorm. Tornado winds 200km.Hailstones like
eggs, tennis balls. Don't mess with nature. pic.twitter.com/Go6lQZjBXK
— Il Mulinaccio (@VillaInChianti) December 16, 2015
@JChurchRadio @fadernauts #f2b #kgraHi guys. We just had hailstones in Sydney. pic.twitter.com/oECTG3CVxx
— Bloke from Oz (@MarkTorana) December 16, 2015
Many took to Twitter to document the freak weather.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued the rare tornado
warning around midday as the dangerous storm swept up the coast from
Sydney's south.
It forced some international and domestic flights to be diverted to other cities.
There were no reports of major damage and only a handful of people were
reported injured as the storm passed over Australia's largest city.
Sydney battered by freak thunderstorm bringing tornadoes, giant hail
stones and... https://t.co/7Bd6AcLvjc pic.twitter.com/dv6LuuPvzO
— pakstatus (@pakstatuscom) December 16, 2015
But social media was abuzz with terrifying snaps of the storm as it unfolded.
Many shared images of the huge hailstones that fell.
Whilst others captured the dark, stormy sky.
James Taylor, senior meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology
extreme weather desk, said on Wednesday: ""The tornado risk has now
subsided but there is a very good chance of more thunderstorm activity
for the rest of today." - Express.
December 16, 2015 - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - A destructive storm has hit Sydney, Australia, bringing tornadoes,
flooding, golf-sized hail stones, and up to 213 kilometer per hour
winds, which caused serious damage, triggered evacuations, and trapped
people indoors.
A Sydney suburb was labeled a disaster zone after a tornado ripped
through its southern beaches with golf-sized hail stones and rattling
winds that caused tremendous damage to the neighborhood.
The disaster toll already looks steep: over 10,000 homes and around
7,000 businesses have been left without electricity. State Emergency
Service (SES) has received at least 160 calls out.
Heavy winds have torn roofs from houses, triggering evacuations in Sydney.
One of the biggest evacuations took place at the desalination plant in
Kurnell. Staff was told to leave the Caltex refinery immediately, after
it suffered significant damage from the storm.
Part of the roof collapsed at the Shoppers at Westfield mall in Bondi
Junction, causing flooding and forcing quick evacuations. The major
shopping center remains closed.
"There is flooding and people are being moved out of the mall," Conor McGuinness told The Australian.
Flights are being delayed at Sydney's airport, according to an airport spokeswoman.
WATCH: Freak storm rips through Sydney.
In another shocking moment, a palm tree caught fire when it was struck by lightning in Sydney.
Some of the photos posted online show flipped and damaged cars, as well
as flooded streets with random objects blown by the winds.
Social media users had posted pictures of ominous-looking dark grey
clouds, resembling movie scenes from the end of the world, prior to the
storm lashing out.
The freakishly strong winds have now moved offshore from Bondi
Beach, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. However, a severe
thunderstorm warning is still in effect for parts of Sydney and New
South Wales.
More storm outbreaks are expected throughout the day. - RT.
The wreckage of a Jabiru light aircraft that
crashed in Nattai National Park. The two occupants survived the
accident. Picture: Channel 7
April 2, 2015 - AUSTRALIA - A quick-thinking pilot and his passenger were lucky to survive a plane
crash in dense bushland southwest of Sydney yesterday, as it emerged
their aircraft was a model notorious for suffering engine cutouts.
The two-seater Jabiru ultralight experienced engine failure at 3.15pm, shortly after taking off from Camden Airport. In an extraordinary coincidence, it was the second crash linked to the airport yesterday after a small plane overshot the runway in the morning.
The Jabiru was only minutes into a planned flight to Melbourne when the engine cut out.
The plane crashed in the Nattai National Park.
The NSW Ambulance helicopter lands with the pilot and passenger on board. Picture: Channel 9
The pilot immediately issued a “mayday” call and emergency services were dispatched.
Police confirmed the plane crashed in rugged terrain near a river in the Nattai Conservation Park. The pilot was carrying a personal locator beacon, which helped authorities pinpoint the plane’s location.
Paramedics were winched down from rescue helicopters. Neither the pilot nor the passenger was seriously injured. Both were walking around unassisted after they were flown to Bankstown Airport without incident. Recreational Aviation Australia operates the aircraft and chief executive Michael Linke praised the efforts of the pilot in averting disaster.
The mangled wreck on the forest floor in Nattai National Park. Picture: Channel 7
One of the survivors is winched onto a rescue helicopter. Picture: Channel 7
“The really good thing about this is that the pilot was carrying a personal locator beacon ... which we would encourage all our pilots to carry,” Mr Linke said.
The Jabiru is a model notorious for engine failures.
Last year the Civil Aviation Safety Authority issued restrictions that included making “passengers and trainee pilots flying solo to sign a statement saying they are aware of and accept the risk of an engine failure”.
CASA said “more than 45 Jabiru engine failures or inflight engine incidents” were reported last year.
Jabiru pilot training includes gliding a powerless plane. - Daily Telegraph.
An out-of-control fire has been raging in Victoria's west, threatening the lives of Moyston, Rocky Point and Willaura North residents, while emergency warnings have also been issued for fires in the Adelaide Hills and South East.
January 3, 2014 - AUSTRALIA- Firefighters are battling out-of-control bushfires threatening homes in South Australia and Victoria.
Police have declared a major emergency and told residents that their lives are at risk.
South Australia's fire chief said the blazes in the Adelaide Hills, northeast of Adelaide city, were the worst since the Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983.
WATCH: One resident described the sound of the bushfires like the "roar of a jet engine"
Those fires left 75 people dead and caused devastation across parts of Victoria and South Australia.
"At the moment, we have a fire which is extremely dangerous and it is burning under extremely adverse conditions," South Australia fire chief Greg Nettleton was quoted as saying.
Temperatures soar in south-east Australia
"Right
at this moment, residents in the Adelaide Hills are being confronted by
a fire which hasn't been seen in the hills since the 1983 bushfires of
Ash Wednesday," Mr Nettleton said.
Crews have also been fighting
bushfires in Victoria but all warnings have now been downgraded as a
cold front moves into the area.
Temperatures soar in south-east Australia
"Hopefully tomorrow and the next
few days the fire danger will ease as this cold front passes through
Victoria," a spokesman from the area's fire authority told ABC news. 'Incredibly scary'
So far about five homes have been confirmed destroyed but authorities said that dozens more were feared lost.
South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill urged residents in the areas at risk to leave immediately or prepare to stay and defend their homes.
"If you have decided to stay the fire could become incredibly scary and it could make you change your mind and leave.
Dozens of dogs and cats were killed after fire destroyed a kennel and cattery in the Adelaide Hills
Residents of Moyston in Victoria's west were told earlier that it was
too late to leave as firefighters battled an out-of-control blaze
pushing towards their town, with nearby Maroona also threatened.
High temperatures and strong winds have hampered firefighters' attempts to battle the blazes
Residents were told to leave immediately
"It could be a catastrophic decision to leave late."
So far these are the biggest bushfires of the Australian summer, reports the BBC's Jon Donnison in Sydney.
Australia faces such fires every year but environmentalists say global warning is making their occurrence more frequent.
Police rescue personnel carry an injured woman from the Lindt cafe,
where hostages are being held, at Martin Place
in central Sydney
December 16, 2014. (Reuters/Jason Reed)
Witnesses have reported the
sound of automatic gunfire at the scene, with police deploying flash
bangs before storming the premises. Paramedics wearing bulletproof vests
were seen entering Lindt Cafe, where over 40 people were taken hostage
on Monday.
Police have now formed a line in front of media. #sydneysiege
Live shot from #sydneysiege now on @7NewsPerth some hostages injured, gunman is down, siege over
Police officers position themselves at a corner near Lindt cafe in
Martin Place, where hostages are being held,
in central Sydney December
15, 2014.(Reuters / Jason Reed)
#BREAKING: Man Monis has been named as the gunman behind the #SydneySiege. #9News
Public urged to go about its business as usual - Martin Place siege
Hostages held in Sydney cafe forced to hold an 'Arabic flag' at the window - http://huff.to/1AaSNOb #sydneysiege
"The exchange was started by three discrete bangs.
The first brought about five people from the building. A space followed
between the subsequent two and then a near-continuous volley rang out.
Dozens of shots," James Robertson, a reporter for the Sydney
Morning Herald, reported at the bottom of Martin Place; about 150 metres
from the scene.
One woman was seen being carried out with blood
running down her leg. Paramedics have been seen carrying at least 4
stretchers into the building. Unconfirmed reports say that eleven
additional hostages have been freed, with four people injured. One
police officer was reportedly injured in the operation.
The
dramatic scene follows a 16 hour standoff, after Iranian-born Sheik Man
Haron Monis, took over 40 people hostage. Monis, who refers to himself
as “the Brother”, is apparently a supporter of the radical militants
from the Islamic State, an Iraq and Syria-based terrorist organization
aiming to create a fundamentalist nation, or a caliphate in the region. -
RT.
December 6, 2014 - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA - The radar image says it all. A big blob of red, yellow and blue heading your way.
If you've been in Canberra, Sydney or Brisbane in recent days and weeks, you've seen storms just about every afternoon.
This weekend, more thunderstorms, hail and powerful winds are expected in New South Wales set to last until early next week. Saturday is likely to be the worst day with heavy rains across one third of the state.
It comes after three days of severe weather in New South Wales that saw
the State Emergency Service receive about 300 calls for help overnight
and has led to thousands of volunteers being put on standby.
Crews
will be stationed at flash-flood hotspots in Sydney, while the Belubula
River in the central west region will be on flood watch on Saturday.
"Definitely not a good afternoon for golf tomorrow," SES spokesman Phil Campbell said.
"While it's still sunny, clean your gutters and downpipes, secure loose
items in your yard or balcony like trampolines and also check your roof
is in good repair."
Meanwhile
large hailstones, heavy rain and damaging winds have been forecast for
Brisbane and parts of southeast Queensland, just a week after a
supercell smashed the city causing up to $1 billion worth of damage
according to Brisbanes's Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.
Queensland's Bureau of Meteorology says severe thunderstorms have hit
parts of Brisbane's outer northwest, including Mount Nebo, Highvale and
the D'Aguilar Ranges.
"These thunderstorms are moving towards
the northeast," it says. "Damaging winds, heavy rainfall that may lead
to flash flooding and large hailstones are likely."
But why is it so bad?
We put that question to Chris Webb, forecaster at the Bureau of
Meteorology in Sydney. He started spouting confusing weather jargon at
us like these people often do so we said, whoa, slow down and talk
English please.
This he eventually did and we now translate for your afternoon reading pleasure.
Basically,
the wind has been blowing from the north all week. That makes it hot.
That northerly wind has also been carrying a bunch of moisture and
humidity down from Queensland. That makes it sticky.
There has also been a trough in central New South Wales.
WATCH: Freak clouds turn Sydney sky dark, thunderstorm cuts power.
No,
not a big thing that cattle are all drinking from, but a part of the
atmosphere which has low air pressure, and which is therefore acting
like a giant basin where all the air converges.
All that air has to go somewhere. So what happens is, it goes up.
That
turns the moisture into liquid for a bunch of reasons which you
probably learned in school. And because it's all unstable, you get heaps
of thunder and lightning as part of the show. - News Australia.
November 2, 2014 - AUSTRALIA -
The fires coincide with storms that have rocked much of Sydney, the
Hunter and Illawarra regions, leaving more than 35,000 homes without
power.
A 14-year-old boy has died after being struck by lightning at One Mile Beach, north of Newcastle.
It is understood he was standing in shallow water when he was struck, suffering a cardiac arrest.
NSW Fire and Rescue's Tom Coopers said rescue crews received a call for
help from a house that was struck by lightning in Lansvale in Sydney's
west.
"The fire has severely damaged the roof but it's also gotten into the walls of the structure," Mr Coopers said.
"We understand that there's a woman there aged around her 40s, we
believe. She's been affected by the lightning strike in someway.
"She's felt tingling sensations in her body and so [the] NSW Ambulance service will take a look at her."
The heavy storm has caused many fallen trees and traffic lights to be blacked out across Sydney.
Dave Bushman from New South Wales SES said Western Sydney had been the worst hit by storm damage.
"Penrith would probably be the hardest hit at this point of time," Mr Bushman said.
"Since 2:00pm we've had 125 jobs come through for the Penrith area but
we've also seen some significant damage around the Sutherland and
southern parts of Sydney area as well - Liverpool, Bankstown,
Campbelltown areas.
November 2, 2014 - AUSTRALIA
- A firefighter has been killed and at least two homes have been
destroyed by Australian spring wildfires, officials said Saturday.
The 38-year-old volunteer firefighter was severely burned Friday while
battling a blaze on a farm near the town of Nantawarra in South
Australia state, state Country Fire Service chief officer Greg Nettleton
said. The fire was later contained.
At least two homes were
razed by wildfires Saturday on the outskirts of the town of Katoomba in
the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, in New South Wales state, state Rural
Fire Service Inspector Ben Shepherd said.
The service's deputy
commissioner, Bob Rogers, said firefighters had battled to protect
homes in Katoomba from flames fanned by winds of 80 kilometers (50
miles) per hour.
"There'll be a lot of work to clean up this fire in days to come," Rogers told Nine Network television news.
By late Saturday, the winds had dropped off and the danger posed by the
fire had decreased, although the blaze remained out of control,
Shepherd said, adding that the damage was being assessed.
WATCH: Australia wildfires.
Around 70 wildfires were blazing across New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, on Saturday, Shepherd said.
Destructive wildfires are common in much of Australia during the spring and summer months.
More than 200 homes were destroyed by wildfires in the Blue Mountains
last spring during a particularly devastating start to the wildfire
season. - AP.
May 16, 2014 - EARTH - The following stories constitutes some of the latest incidents of Earth changes across the globe.
Entire Family Struck By Lightning
A nine-year-old boy was taken to hospital in a serious condition on Wednesday after he was struck by lightning along with four other members of his family. The family were gathering their garden furniture and toys in during a storm at their home near Chemnitz, Saxony, when they were struck at around 5pm. The boy's grandmother, her daughter, her daughter-in-law and two grandsons, aged six and nine, were all hit and taken to hospital The daughter-in-law told Bild newspaper that she was hit by a tingle "from head to toe". All suffered minor injuries apart from the nine-year-old boy who had to be resuscitated in the garden. - The Local.
Video Shows That Extreme Weather Events Increasing Across The Planet
The uptick in earthquake activity continues all along the Ring of Fire. At the center of these changes, the United States dealt with "historic flooding" which was labelled a "one-in-500-year event"!So much more has taken place over the last month or so than this video shows. Deluges continue to hit heavily populated areas. Be prepared for large-scale disasters in your area. It has and it will continue to worsen, whether we like or not.
WATCH: Signs of change in April and early May 2014.
Disturbing Amounts Of Plastic Found In Mediterranean Seabirds
Cory's shearwater was the species with the highest level of ingested plastic
A new study has discovered that 94 per cent of Cory's shearwaters on the Catalan coast have ingested plastic. In the case of Yelkouan and Balearic shearwaters, the conclusion is that 70 per cent of studied birds were similarly affected. Jacob González SolÃs from the Department of Animal Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) of the University of Barcelona (UB), headed a research group that carried out the study, published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin. Plastic pollution is known to be a threat for marine ecosystems around the world, but it has not yet been extensively studied. SolÃs explained that, "this is the first assessment of plastic ingestion in Mediterranean seabirds. The Mediterranean Sea has been recognised as a singularly sensitive ecosystem because its coast is very industrialised, shipping activity is intense and it contains high density floating plastic areas." Floating plastic debris can cause entanglement, ulcers, infections and death in marine animals. They can ingest them by mistake, because plastic fragments resemble their natural food items such as jelly fish, or take them in by eating prey which has in turn consumed plastic. Ingested fragments found were filaments, plastic spheres, laminar plastic and industrial pellets.
The study was based on the analysis of 171 birds accidentally caught by longliners on the Catalan coast from 2003 to 2010. The UB research group studied plastic ingestion in nine particularly endangered seabird species: Cory's shearwater, Yelkouan shearwater, Balearic shearwater, gannet; Audouin's gull, Mediterranean gull, yellow-legged gull, black-legged kittiwake and great skua. Results showed that 66 per cent of the seabirds had at least one piece of plastic in their stomachs. "Results are alarming," said SolÃs. "All three of the worst affected birds are of conservation concern, particularly the Balearic shearwater, which is listed as critically endangered. There are only around 3,000 breeding pairs in the world." Seabird chicks are the most vulnerable to plastic ingestion as they cannot regurgitate as adults do. The lower occurrence of plastics in gulls probably results from their greater ability to regurgitate any hard remains. The study proves that plastic trash - most of it from recreational activities - is a global problem as it enters the oceans' food chain and becomes a threat for seabirds and marine ecosystems. "Plastic floats and is difficult to degrade," said SolÃs. "Eventually, all pollutants which are not destroyed on land arrive in the sea. But the sea is not a rubbish bin. The control over plastic production and transportation at industrial level has probably improved, but there is an urgent need to develop stricter controls on waste dumping and to prohibit ships from discharging into the sea." . - Wildlife Extra.
Seismologists Say Fracking-Linked Earthquakes Likely To Worsen
David McNew/Getty Images/AFP
Ongoing hydraulic fracking operations will only exacerbate seismic activity, leading to heightened earthquakes in areas where wastewater is injected deep underground, according to new research. To unleash natural gas, hydraulic fracturing - or fracking - requires large volumes of water, sand, and chemicals to be pumped underground. Scientists attending the Seismological Society of America (SSA) annual meeting said Thursday that this storage of wastewater in wells deep below the earth's surface, in addition to fracking's other processes, is changing the stress on existing faults, which could mean more frequent and larger quakes in the future. Researchers previously believed quakes that resulted from fracking could not exceed a magnitude of 5.0, though stronger seismic events were recorded in 2011 around two heavily drilled areas in Colorado and Oklahoma. "This demonstrates there is a significant hazard," said Justin Rubinstein, a research geophysicist at the US Geological Survey (USGS), according to TIME magazine. "We need to address ongoing seismicity." Not all of the more than 30,000 fracking disposal wells are linked to quakes, but an accumulatingbody of evidenceassociates an uptick in seismic activity to fracking developments amid the current domestic energy boom. The amount of toxic wastewater injected into the ground seems to provide some clarity as to what causes the earthquakes. A single fracking operation uses two to five million gallons of water, according to reports, but much more wastewater ends up in a disposal well. "There are so many injection operations throughout much of the US now that even though a small fraction might induce quakes, those quakes have contributed dramatically to the seismic hazard, especially east of the Rockies," said Arthur McGarr, a USGS scientist. The USGS researchers spoke with reporters via conference call on Thursday.
Scientists believe the cumulative effect of these operations could result in larger quakes becoming more common over time. "I think ultimately, as fluids propagate and cover a larger space, the likelihood that it could find a larger fault and generate larger seismic events goes up," Gail Atkinson, professor of earth sciences at Western University in Ontario, Canada, said at the SSA meeting. Seismologists say that widespread oil and gas development in one area could create hazardous quakes in nearby areas not equipped to handle activity above a low-level quake. "With these huge wells, the pressure they create can travel tens of kilometers," said Katie Keranen, assistant professor of geophysics at Cornell University. As fracking spreads to new areas like Ohio that haven't traditionally experienced many earthquakes, the scientists said more research is needed to understand the risks involved, for policymakers and the public. "There's a very large gap on policy here," said Atkinson. "We need extensive databases on the wells that induce seismicity and the ones that don't." The scientists said energy industry players must offer more information on their fracking operations, and data on these actions must be made publicly available more often. "There are minimums in terms of what needs to be recorded - injection pressure and volume - but these are only made available to the public once a year," Rubenstein said. "We need more information reported more frequently to do the science correctly." Last month, state geologists in Ohio said the link between fracking and five minor quakes in the state was "probable." Outside of increased seismic activity, fracking has been linked to groundwater contamination, exacerbation of drought conditions, and a laundrylist of health concerns for humans and the local environment. - RT.
Emergency Services Pull Fire Truck From Sydney Sinkhole
ABC News
Emergency services have freed a fire truck that was caught in a hole for 10 hours and teetering on the edge of a cliff in Bilgola on Sydney's northern beaches. The fire crew was responding to reports of flooding due to a burst water main about 4:00am when the vehicle hit what they thought was a pothole on The Serpentine Road. After first using a crane to lift the 14-tonne truck out of the hole, winches and airbags - normally used to lift train carriages - were brought in to help move the truck out of what police called a sink hole. Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Kel McNamara said when the truck became stuck, the crew immediately ensured people in the area were safe. The fire crew was responding to reports of flooding due to a burst water main about 4:00am when the vehicle hit what they thought was a pothole on The Serpentine Road.
After first using a crane to lift the 14-tonne truck out of the hole, winches and airbags - normally used to lift train carriages - were brought in to help move the truck out of what police called a sink hole. Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Kel McNamara said when the truck became stuck, the crew immediately ensured people in the area were safe. Earlier, Supt McNamara had said the truck was stuck in a three-metre deep sink hole, tethered to a tow truck at a 45-degree angle on the cliff. Police had feared the hole could open up further, dislodging the truck and causing it to roll onto houses further down the embankment. At the bottom of the cliff the burst water main caused huge amounts of damage to at least five homes. Backyards have been covered in mud, retaining walls have been destroyed and houses have filled with mud and silt. State Emergency Services (SES) workers and engineers were called in to assess if there would be any further landslips. A police spokesman said there had been similar incidents on The Serpentine Road and residents were aware of the issue. "The people who have been evacuated self-evacuated, so they're looking after themselves," he said."There's one couple we are providing some assistance with, using the SES."Sydney Water did not know what caused the burst main and shut off the water. - ABC Australia.
