Extreme Weather in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, 14 April, 2012 at 04:20 (04:20 AM) UTC.
A heavy sandstorm suddenly hit the Saudi capital yesterday afternoon, turning day into night with almost zero visibility, and forcing motorists to take precautionary measures by flashing hazard lights while negotiating the slow-moving traffic. “The skies had been cloudy almost the whole day until it suddenly became dark in the afternoon due to the sandstorm. Motorists had to flash hazard lights to alert drivers as traffic slowed down,” said Eric P. Asi , an electrical engineer at a local firm. He said that darkness enveloped the main arteries of the capital city such as Qassim, King Fahd, Khurais and Makkah roads because of the sandstorm that started at about 5 p.m. “With the sandstorm came a heavy downpour. Also strong winds buffeted the city and raked up the sand to add to our woes,” added Cenon “Nonie” C. Sagadal, a marketing representative of a local bank, adding that the rains left some areas in the city flooded. Earlier, the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) had issued a warning on the possibility of inclement weather in most parts of the Kingdom, prompting the Civil Defense Department to be cautious about flash floods caused by rains. PME's spokesman Hussein Al-Qahtani said the unstable weather condition would continue for some time. The Civil Defense urged the public to keep away from pathways of flood.
Sandstorm also hit the Eastern Province although not as strong as in the Saudi capital. “Sandstorm occurred at 4:30 p.m. but it stopped when it rained. The heavy rains, accompanied by thunder and lightning, stopped at 7 p.m. and resumed at 7:45 with lightning,” said Edward Rodriguez, a manager at a local firm in Alkhobar.In Qassim, sandstorm whipped the place but it dissipated by nightfall. “The sandstorm, which was accompanied by strong winds, was not as strong as the sandstorm last Tuesday,” said Dionisio B. Tabuco, Jr., a mechanical engineer at a local pharmaceutical company. In Jazan, there was zero visibility not because of sandstorm but due to fog. Marcelino Valerio, a heavy equipment operator drove from Jazan proper to El-Darb some 200 km away. “There was a sandstorm from Jazan proper to El-Darb but visibility was all right. However, there was zero visibility from El- Darb to Abha not because of sandstorm but due to fog ,” he said. In Asir, there was hail torm instead of sandstorm. “Frozen rain drops as hard as balls of ice dropped in this area,” said Andy Relox, statistician at King Khaled University Hospital. He added that it had been raining in Asir for the last three days accompanied by occasional hail.
Extreme Weather in India on Saturday, 14 April, 2012 at 04:07 (04:07 AM) UTC.
Eight persons, including three children, were killed after being struck by lightning in different parts of Sunderbans on Friday morning. Most of the victims were out in the paddy field or on their way to work when the lightning struck. Torrential rains, between 7am and 8am, accompanied by strong winds and thunder hence caught the villagers unawares. The bodies have been sent for autopsy. Seven-year-old Mousumi Pal was sipping tea in the verandah of their house a little after 7am when she was struck by lightning. Shankar Bera, 27, a neighbour who was working in a nearby field, came to take shelter at Mousumi's verandah. He too was killed by lightning. Mousumi's mother Basumati was seriously injured while her mother had a narrow escape. Basumati has been admitted to hospital. The Pals hail from Heramborpur in Pathar Pratima. The lighting claimed three more lives in the same island. Police said that all the bodies have been sent for autopsy. With the current spell of nor'westers set to continue, more thundershowers are in store for south Bengal including Kolkata, says the Met office. A cyclonic circulation over Bihar and the adjoining West Bengal region accompanied by a trough of low pressure will continue to trigger thundershowers in the next two days at least. "There is a trough of low pressure over this region for the past few days. Along with this there is also a cyclonic circulation over Bihar and adjoining Bengal. The combined impact will be more thundershowers in both south and north Bengal," said GC Debnath, director, Regional Meteorological Centre, Kolkata. The regular nor'westers, however, have kept a check on the mercury level. Over the past few days, both the day and night temperatures have remained below the normal mark. On Friday, the maximum temperature at 35.2° C was one degree below the normal mark while the minimum temperature at 22.1° C was three degrees below the normal mark. "Despite it being mid-April, one can sleep without putting the air-conditioner on. It's quite unimaginable. The temperature so far is quite comfortable. Thanks to the regular showers," said Anjan Roy of Salt Lake.
Tornado in USA on Saturday, 14 April, 2012 at 04:03 (04:03 AM) UTC.
A tornado that cut through the heart of Norman on Friday could be the first taste of a major outbreak expected Saturday in Oklahoma. The Friday tornado cut a roughly eight-mile path, dropping down about 4 p.m. near southwest Norman at Interstate 35 and W Lindsey Street. It hop-scotched through the center of town, tossing telephone poles, shredding trees, ripping the roofs off buildings and raking a park near the city's municipal complex before fading out in the northeast side of the city. At least 10 people were taken to Norman Regional Hospital with minor injuries like scrapes and bruises, said Kelly Wells, hospital spokeswoman. Deputy Fire Chief Jim Bailey said three individuals were taken to the hospital via ambulance, including two who were in a vehicle when the tornado hit and another person hit by debris. “It is surprising you don't have more injured with the time of day, about 4:02,” Bailey said. “Norman is a busy town. There were a lot of people out driving around, and we had very little notification.”
Atmospheric conditions Saturday will be ripe for tornadoes and other severe weather, according to the National Weather Service. “The bottom line is, be ready for it. It may happen in one place, or it may happen across a huge part of the state, but it only takes one tornado and one storm,” said Rick Smith, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Severe thunderstorms are possible throughout the state Saturday, but the Oklahoma City area and most of the middle third of the state are in an area deemed at the highest risk. Storms are expected to form in the late afternoon or early evening and track across the state, forecasters said. Tornadoes, damaging straight-line winds, lightning, hail and flooding rain are possible. “If everything comes together like it could, it could be a serious situation for parts of Oklahoma,” Smith said. In Norman on Friday, the University of Oklahoma had no reports of damage, a spokeswoman said, but other areas weren't so lucky. Smith said the most significant structural damage was found near the health system at N Porter Avenue and E Robinson Street. Bailey said the tornado ripped the trees out at Andrews Park near the municipal complex. Philip DeFatta, owner of Leon Pierce Body Shop, 521 N Porter, said he took cover inside his shop. While he did not hear the tornado, he heard the medical records building next door explode.
Volcano Activity in Costa Rica on Friday, 13 April, 2012 at 16:12 (04:12 PM) UTC.
Thursday morning the Turrialbla volcano unleashed a new series of eruptions, with experts converging on the colossus to take a close look at the smoke emanations coming from its centre. According to the Red Sismológica Nacional (RSN) and the Observatorio Vulcanologio y Sismologico de Costa Rica (OVISCORI) the activity does not present any danger, but will continue to monitor the volcano much closer. The alert followed reports by area residents of hearing a large rumble and then the sighting of dark coloured smoke, produced by gas fumes from the volcano. Last January the volcano became a concern for residents and experts following the emanation of white gas fumes. Several RSN experts are on their way to the top of the volcano and the OVISCORI is keeping the national park closed and under a green alert.
- RSOE Edis
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