Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.2 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
6.1 earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.
5.3 earthquake hits central Turkey.
5.1 earthquake hits northwest of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 14s (Enala), located approximately 728 nm southeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking south-southwestward at 07 knots.
Newsbytes:
USA – Emergency crews carried out multiple high water rescues, including some by helicopter, after a winter storm dumped heavy rain in parts of Southern California. Storm winds also caused damage, downing trees and power lines. At one point 30,000 customers in the city of Los Angeles were without power. Heavy snow fell in higher elevations, where several roads were closed. Severe flooding was reported on several roads, including parts of Interstate 5 near Sun Valley in Los Angeles.
Wildfires
Towering Wildfire Clouds Impact the Stratosphere
Vast clouds of wildfire smoke towering into the sky have become all too familiar from recent active fire years across the western United States and Australia. Now, a team of atmospheric scientists led by NOAA has demonstrated these big vertical plumes of wildfire smoke have a major long term impact on the stratosphere – and climate.
Fire-triggered thunderstorms, called pyrocumulonimbus or pyroCbs, are generated when the intense heat of a wildfire triggers a huge thunderstorm that carries smoke into the stratosphere, five to seven miles above the surface. Measurements show that pyroCb events dominate contributions of black carbon and organic carbon to the lower stratosphere, the net effect of which cools the planet. Scientists believe the impact of pyroCb events, which are becoming more frequent, is significant.
Disease
Dengue Fever – Bolivia
Bolivian health officials reported 642 additional dengue fever cases Friday, bringing the country’s outbreak total to 10,255. La Paz has issued a red alert for dengue.