Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.2 earthquake hits the Carlsberg ridge.
5.1 earthquake hits the Carlsberg ridge.
5.0 earthquake hits the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Northwest Pacific Ocean: Super Typhoon 12w (Hinnamnor), located approximately 92 nm southeast of Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan, is tracking west-southwestward at 13 knots.
Tropical Depression 13w (Thirteen), located approximately 408 nm east of Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan, 420 nm southeast of Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan, is tracking northward at 05 knots.
Newsbytes:
West and Central Africa – Over 125,000 people have been displaced by recent flooding across 17 countries in West and Central Africa with more rain expected in the region until October, the UN said. The African Centre of Meteorological Application for Development (ACMAD) reported above average rainfall over West Africa during June 2022 and across western central Africa during July 2022, influenced by la Niña conditions. The seasonal rains and floods are severely impacting countries in West and Central Africa including the Republic of Congo, Chad, Liberia, Nigeria, Niger, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Mauritania, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso.
Deforestation Is Causing More Storms in West Africa
Deforestation is causing more storms in West Africa according to Christopher Taylor, Meteorologist, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and Douglas Parker, Professor of Meteorology, University of Leeds. We know that forests are crucial to fighting global climate change, but another important and perhaps less appreciated aspect is the way they affect the climate on a much more local scale. The research shows that deforestation in west Africa has made storms more frequent and thus increased the risk of disastrous flash flooding in the region’s coastal cities.
Much of west Africa was deforested throughout the 20th century, a process driven by agriculture, international trade in goods like cocoa, and the displacement of people by conflict. The rapid growth of cities, particularly along the coast, is also leading to deforestation in the surrounding regions.
Why would deforestation affect rainfall? In short, deforested areas get hotter than the remaining forest during the daytime. This warming triggers local breezes, and these atmospheric circulations can kick off storms.
Wildfires
Wildfires – Oregon, Northern California, USA (update)
The Rum Creek Fire – Size: 11,696 acres (Containment: 1%)
Six Rivers Lightning Complex – Size: 32,600 acres (Containment: 54%)
McKinney Fire – Size: 60,138 acres (Containment: 99%)
Disease
Measles – DR Congo
Health authorities in the Kasaï-Oriental province said this week the number of measles cases has increased significantly in the province to more than 6,000 cases with fifty deaths even in health zones where vaccination days were organized in April and May.
Earthquakes
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.9 earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.
5.5 earthquake hits the Pacific-Antarctic ridge.
5.3 earthquake hits Guam.
5.2 earthquake hits Greece.
5.2 earthquake hits the Pacific-Antarctic ridge.
5.2 earthquake hits the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
5.1 earthquake hits the Carlsberg ridge.
5.0 earthquake hits the Russia-Mongolia border.
5.0 earthquake hits the Carlsberg ridge.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Northwest Pacific Ocean: Typhoon 12w (Hinnamnor), located approximately 408 nm east of Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan, is tracking westward at 18 knots.
Wildfires
Wildfires – Russia
Wildfires have brought clouds of smoke to Moscow in recent days, covering famous landmarks and sparking health concerns. The fires affecting Moscow are concentrated in the Ryazan region, some 250 kilometers to the south of the capital, where forests and dried-out peat bogs have been burning for weeks.
Disease
Covid-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Monkeypox – Nigeria
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported an additional 48 confirmed monkeypox cases the week ending August 13. This brings the total confirmed cases in Nigeria this year to 220.
Polio – Pakistan
A 17-month boy in North Waziristan has been paralyzed by wild polio in the 14th case from the district this year, the 15th case in the country.
Earthquakes
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.3 earthquake hits Kepulauan Batu, Indonesia.
5.8 earthquake hits Kepulauan Batu, Indonesia.
5.6 earthquake hits Fiji.
5.3 earthquake hits the Carlsberg ridge.
5.1 earthquake hits Fiji.
5.1 earthquake hits eastern New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
5.0 earthquake hits the Bougainville region, Papua New Guinea.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Northwest Pacific Ocean: Typhoon 12w (Hinnamnor), located approximately 825 nm east of Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan, is tracking westward at 19 knots.
Newsbytes:
Sierra Leone – At least 6 people have lost their lives after torrential rains caused floods and landslides across parts of Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone. The fatalities occurred when a mudslide destroyed two adjacent homes in an informal settlement in Looking Town, situated on a steep slope in the hills above the neighbourhood of Kissy. The heavy rain also impacted other areas of the city, including Kaningo and Tengbeh Town.
Wildfires
Wildfires – Mongolia
A total of 97 forest and steppe fires have been recorded across Mongolia since the beginning of this year, destroying 1,051,907 hectares of forest and grassland, the country’s National Emergency Management Agency said Sunday. The number of registered wildfires is up around 73 percent compared with the same period last year.
Wildfires – Idaho, USA
The Four Corners Fire 24 air miles south of McCall, Idaho grew by about 1,000 acres to more than 10 000 acres Saturday as winds gusting up to 33 mph from a cold front caused more intense burning. The blaze is near the southeast side of Lake Cascade.
Wildfires – Oregon, USA
Rum Creek Fire in remote southwest Oregon continued its rapid spread through a rural area and destroyed several structures, after forcing evacuations and prompting the state to take command of efforts to contain the blaze. The fire has burned almost 15 square miles which is more than double the 7 square miles reported Saturday. A house and two mining structures were destroyed.
Disease
Cholera – Iraq
In a follow-up on the cholera outbreak in Iraq, the Ministry of Health has reported 1,008 total cholera cases across the country, including five deaths.
Dengue Fever – Brazil
The city of Palmas in the Brazilian state of Tocantins is reporting 10,082 confirmed cases of dengue since the beginning of the year, according to a recent epidemiological bulletin. This compares to 1033 confirmed cases during the same period in 2021.
Earthquakes
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 earthquake hits Luzon in the Philippines.
5.2 earthquake hits the Izu Islands off Japan.
5.1 earthquake hits Atacama, Chile.
5.1 earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits Male, Chile.
Two 5.0 earthquakes hit Mindanao in the Philippines.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Northwest Pacific Ocean: Tropical storm 12w (Hinnamnor), located approximately 273 nm west-northwest of Minami Tori Shima, Japan, is tracking northwestward at 12 knots.
Newsbytes:
Pakistan – The catastrophic flooding continues to cause widespread destruction in Pakistan, where 33 million people have now been affected, according to the government. The situation is likely to worsen over the coming days. and warnings have been issued for rising levels of the Indus and Kabul rivers. The number of people who have died as a result of monsoon rain and flooding in Pakistan since mid-June now stands at 982, including 316 children. The figure represents an increase of almost 300 deaths in the last week.
Wildfires
Wildfires – Oregon, USA
A wildfire burning in rural Josephine County triggered evacuation alerts early Saturday morning. The Rum Creek Fire grew from about 1,200 acres Friday night to over 4,700 acres in a matter of hours. It’s burning near the unincorporated communities of Galice and Rand, about 20 miles northwest of Grants Pass. The fire was started by lightning on Aug. 17 and killed Logan Taylor, a 25-year-old firefighter, after he was struck by a tree the next day.
Wildfires – Nevada, USA
A fast-moving wildfire erupted in Humboldt County, Nevada on Friday afternoon, north of Black Rock Desert. The Cherry Gulch Fire started on Alta Peak late Friday and quickly exploded across the bone-dry landscape. The fire has burned 10,000 acres as of Saturday morning.