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NOAA Home > NOAAWatch Home > NOAAWatch Headlines
 Seasonal drought outlookThu, 06 Mar 2008 11:10:35 ESTThe Southeastern drought region should continue to see improvement, with the best odds for relief extending across the northern part of the drought area as well as along the coast. More limited improvement is expected over the longer run in the southern parts of the drought region due to seasonal forecasts of drier weather by April. Farther west, drought is forecast to persist over central Texas and in the western Oklahoma Panhandle region, with the odds still favoring expansion into west Texas and eastern New Mexico. Forecasts for drier weather have led to the Outlook showing persisting drought over southern California and southern Nevada, although deep mountain snow pack will boost water supplies this spring. Details... Archived Drought Headlines...
 Latest Earthquake Information from U.S. Geological SurveyM 2.6, Hawaii region, HawaiiThu, 24 Jul 2008 09:52:04 GMTJuly 24, 2008 09:52:04 GMT Details... Subscribe to Earthquake RSS feeds from U.S. Geological Survey
Latest information on worldwide earthquakes, magnitude M4.0 and greaterMon, 19 May 2008 11:19:01 EDTThe U.S. Geological Survey and contributing agencies world-wide share information about earthquakes. Earthquake location, magnitude, and earthquake maps are available for the past 7 days from the U.S. Geological Survey. Details... Archived NOAAWatch Earthquake Headlines...
 2008 Satellites and Education ConferenceThu, 22 May 2008 12:15:58 EDTThe Satellite Educators Association, in partnership with NOAA, is conducting the 2008 Satellite and Education Conference Aug 7-9, at California State University, Los Angeles. The conference offers educators, from pre-kindergarten to post-graduate, the opportunity learn about real-world applications using NOAA satellite data for the classroom. Learn more from the Satellite Educators Association web site at www.sated.org Details... Archived Education/Outreach Headlines...
Nina What is El Nino and La NinaWed, 02 Jul 2008 09:32:37 EDTLa Niña is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, compared to El Niño, which is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. Details... Archived El Niño/La Niña Headlines...
 Excessive Heat Watches and Warnings are in effect for parts of the WestThu, 10 Jul 2008 05:37:19 EDTA strong area of high pressure in the upper atmosphere has built off the central California Coast, leading to another round of record breaking heat for parts of the Southwest U.S. The heat is expected to last through much of this week. While the hot and dry conditions were contributing to the wildfire threat, the trough will add lightning to the mix to possibly exacerbate the situation. Details... Archived Excessive Heat Headlines...
 California WildfiresWed, 23 Jul 2008 08:21:06 EDTCool, moist weather and steady attacks by firefighters have brought the number of wildfires still burning in Northern California dramatically down. Thirty-three fires were still burning, down from more than 2,000. Most of California's remaining blazes are on remote federal forest lands and pose little threat to homes. No critical areas for wildfires are forecast today. Details... Archived Wildfire/Fire Weather Headlines...
 Scattered Flooding Across the Nation23 Jul 2008 11:59:59 GMTLocalized flooding of small streams, low areas and urban areas occurred in the Southwest, as well as in parts of the Plains, the Midwest, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Monsoonal flow caused considerable flooding in New Mexico. Flood Watches are in effect for parts of southern Texas as a result of rain from Dolly. Flood Watches are also in effect from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Delaware, northward into New York and parts of New England. Details...
 Web Site Tracks Predicted New England Red Tide OutbreakMon, 19 May 2008 12:45:47 EDTOn April 24, 2008 scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and North Carolina State University (NCSU) forecasted the potential for a larger-than-normal Alexandrium bloom in the Gulf of Maine. Depending on weather and ocean conditions, this year’s bloom could be comparable to the historic bloom of 2005 that resulted in an estimated direct impact of $18 million to the commercial shellfishing industry in Massachusetts. Red tides, also known as harmful algal blooms or HABs, can produce potent neurotoxins that accumulate in filter-feeding shellfish and other parts of the marine food web. Shellfish contaminated with the toxin from Alexandrium, if eaten in large enough quantity, can cause illness or death from paralytic shellfish poisoning or PSP. States have well-established, rigorous shellfish monitoring programs to protect human health, so consumers are assured that commercially available shellfish are safe for consumption. Details... Archived Harmful Algal Blooms Headlines...
 September is National Preparedness MonthFri, 21 Sep 2007 08:01:20 EDTNational Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort held in September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. National Preparedness Month 2007 is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Details... Archived Homeland Security Program Headlines...
NOAA Predicts Near Normal or Above Normal Atlantic Hurricane SeasonThu, 22 May 2008 12:00:14 EDTNOAA’s Climate Prediction Center today announced that projected climate conditions point to a near normal or above normal hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin this year. Hurricane season officially begins in the Atlantic on June 1. Details... Archived Hurricanes/Tropical Weather Headlines... Additional Tropical Weather RSS Feeds Atlantic/Eastern Pacific Central Pacific feeds
Media Advisory -- Census Bureau Says 1.5 Million Texans In Tropical Storm DollyTue, 22 Jul 2008 14:50:48 -0500Details...
 Oil Spill in New Orleans, LouisianaWed, 23 Jul 2008 21:29:37 EDTOver 400,000 gallons of oil were spilled into the Mississippi River on July 23, 2008, when a chemical tank ship and a barge collided near downtown New Orleans at approximately 1:30 AM (CDT). The barge was ripped in half, discharging its entire contents of #6 fuel oil, and resulting in the closure of several miles of the Lower Mississippi River to all vessel traffic. U.S. Coast Guard, Louisiana State, and NOAA responders are on scene. Details... Archived Oil and Chemical Spill Headlines...
 Rip Current Awareness Week - June 1 - 7Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:32:57 EDTRip currents are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore. They typically extend from the shoreline, through the surf zone, and past the line of breaking waves. Rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes. NOAA's National Weather Service and National Sea Grant Program, in partnership with the United States Lifesaving Association, are working together to raise awareness about the dangers of rip currents. Research is also being conducted in order to develop and improve the ability to predict the occurrence and strength of rip currents. Details... Archived Rip Current Headlines...
 Tuesday Severe Weather Reports and Today's OutlookWed, 23 Jul 2008 08:20:10 EDTAlmost 400 reports of severe weather were scattered across the United States with the majority of the reports across the eastern third of the country. One injury was reported in Putnam County, Tennessee, when a tree fell on a car. Three tornadoes were reported. No injuries were reported, but a barn roof was blown off in eastern North Carolina. Severe thunderstorms are possible today across south Texas and the northern Plains. Severe weather is also possible from the Southeast through the Mid-Atlantic northward to New England. Details... Archived Severe Weather Headlines... Additional Severe Weather RSS feeds
 Space Weather UpdateMon, 29 Oct 2007 08:29:07 EDTCategory G1 (minor) and G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storms were observed on 25 October due to high speed winds associated with a coronal hole on the Sun. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, which monitors and forecasts Earth's space environment provides accurate, reliable, and useful solar-terrestrial information. Details... Archived Space Weather Headlines...
 U.S. Tsunami Buoy Network CompletedMon, 10 Mar 2008 14:39:21 EDTNOAA has deployed the final tsunami detection buoys in the South Pacific, completing the buoy network and bolstering the U.S. tsunami warning system. This network of 39 stations provides real-time data to the Tsunami Warning System providing coastal communities with faster and more accurate tsunami warnings. Details... Archived Tsunami Headlines... Additional Tsunami RSS feeds U.S. West Coast, British Columbia, and Alaska, Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Is., Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean, Hawai`i, Indian Ocean
 NOAAWatch Volcano/Volcanic
Ash HeadlineAlaska Okmok VolcanoWed, 23 Jul 2008 05:37:50 EDTThe eruption of Okmok Volcano continues. Currently, seismicity consists of episodic pulses occasionally grading into continuous volcanic tremor. Recent satellite data show plumes of steam and/or ash drifting E/SE within 50 km of Okmok at between 20,000 and 30,000 feet above sea level. Stronger explosive activity could resume at any time with little or no warning. Details... Archived NOAAWatch Volcano Headlines... Latest Volcano Information from U.S. Geological SurveyCleveland Status Report issued Jul 23, 2008 11:28 ADT Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE Thick clouds have obscured satellite views of Cleveland for the last 10 hours. No plumes have been visible in satellite data since 16:00 AKDT yesterday (midnight UTC). Satellite data from early yesterday evening continue to show strong thermal anomalies near Cleveland's summit. These data strongly suggest the presence of lava at Cleveland. Details... Okmok Status Report issued Jul 23, 2008 11:28 ADT Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE The eruption of Okmok Volcano continues. The character of seismicity has changed in the last 12 hours from episodic, high-amplitude pulses to nearly continuous, mid-level volcanic tremor. Recent satellite data continue to show older plumes drifting away from Okmok toward the E/SE. Weather clouds have prevented unobscured views of the volcano over the last 10 hours. Stronger explosive activity could resume at any time with little or no warning. Details... HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE issued Jul 23, 2008 08:19 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and webcam images (available using the menu bar above), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park status can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Hawai`i County Viewing Area status can be found at http://www.lavainfo.us or 961-8093. Activity Summary for last 24 hours: Kilauea summit continued to contract. Small amounts of ash and elevated amounts of sulfur dioxide gas continued to issue from the Halema`uma`u vent. At the east rift eruption site, Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly contracting and incandescence bursts were observed from vents on the crater floor; lava flows from the TEB vent through tubes to the ocean at Waikupanaha. Last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: For most of the night, views of incandescence were blocked by fog and rain. Blowing and rock clatter sounds were heard at the vent this morning. An explosion-like seismic signal was recorded at 06:41 H.s.t. A white plume rising from the Halema`uma`u vent is totally hidden from view by fog this morning. The SO2 emission rate remained high and variable; the most recent average measurement was 1,300 tonnes/day on July 21 compared to an average of 500 tonnes/day on July 18 and a pre-2008 background rate between 150-200 tonnes/day. A small amount of ash is still carried by the plume. The current strong winds are contaminating the samples with windblown debris but plume-derived material is still evident. The summit tiltmeter network recorded rainfall-induced signal starting around 1 pm masking any earth tilting signals. GPS receivers on opposite sides of the summit caldera continued to record contraction centered in the southeastern caldera. Seismic tremor levels were at elevated values and continued to increase slowly. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes beneath Halema`uma`u Crater remain at background values of about 20-40/d. Two earthquakes were located on south flank faults. Last 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas through Pu`u `O`o Crater resulting in an unusually high emission of 7,100 tonnes/day of sulfur dioxide on July 18, up from 6,300 tonnes/day on July 17 and background values of about 2,000 tonnes/day. Overnight, the webcam recorded bursts of incandescence from vents on the crater floor on the right side of camera center. The tiltmeter on the north side of Pu`u `O`o cone recorded minor oscillations with rainfall-induced tilt changes masking any cone tilting. GPS receivers recorded weak contraction across the crater. Lava enters the tube system under the TEB vent and flows beneath the rootless shield complex through tubes to the ocean. Overnight, no incandescence was noted in the area from the rift zone to the top of the pali above the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision. CD officials reported lingering surface flow activity on the pali and several changes at the ocean entry last night - no more explosions or lightning in the steam plume, spread of the ocean entry from a single to at least three entry points, good views of a surface flow over a black sand beach, and an apparent bench collapse (possibly around 10:10 am on July 22 based on seismic records) restored a direct entry view from the County Viewing Area. Definitions of terms used in the update: GOES-WEST satellite: a NOAA satellite used most often for weather tracking. The loop http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/kilauea/sloop-vis.html is posted by the Washington DC Volcanic Ash Advisory Center for the purpose of tracking emissions from Hawai`i volcanoes. The imagery automatically switches from infrared at night to visual during the day. Recently, it has been useful for tracking volcanic gas emissions from Halema`uma`u, Pu`u `O`o, and the Waikupanaha ocean entry during the day and hot lava flows at night. Volcano Watch: weekly newspaper-like article written by HVO scientists on a volcano topic of interest. These articles are usually printed in the Sunday editions of the Hawai`i Island newspapers Hawaii Tribune Herald and West Hawaii Today. More than 800 of these articles have been written and are archived on the HVO website (menu at the bottom of the homepage hvo.wr.usgs.gov). VLP seismic tremor: seismic tremor is continuous ground vibrations simultaneously at many different frequencies. VLP is a very long period or very low frequency component which, at the Halema`uma`u vent, has a period of 20-30 seconds or a frequency of 0.03-0.05 cycles per second (Hertz or Hz). RB2S2BL earthquakes: earthquakes that were recorded but too small to be located. These quakes have magnitudes less than 1.7 and may only be recorded on one or two seismometers. Recording at a minimum of 4 seismometer sites is required to locate an earthquake. wink: an abrupt shutting off of incandescence at a vent lasting for several minutes. At the Halema`uma`u vent, winks usually start with or immediately follow a small, local earthquake. The diminishment of incandescence is due to the plume changing from translucent to opaque with rock dust. tonne: metric unit equal to 1,000 kilograms, 2,204.6 lbs, or 1.1 English tons. microradian: a measure of angle equivalent to 0.000057 degrees. ppm: parts-per-million; 10,000 ppm = 1 %. littoral cone: usually small cones built near active ocean entries; the cones are constructed of tephra from steam explosions that are sometimes produced when 1,150 degree C lava enters the 25 degree C ocean. incandescence: the production of visible light from a hot surface. The color of the light is related to the temperature of the surface. Some surfaces can display dull red incandescence at temperatures as low as 430 degrees Centigrade (806 degrees Fahrenheit). By contrast, molten lava displays bright orange to orange-yellow light from surfaces that are hotter than 900 degrees C (1,650 degrees F). tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption-related plume, regardless of size. ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches) in size. TEB: Thanksgiving Eve Breakout, the designation used for lava flows that started with a breakout on November 21, 2007. DI tilt event: DI is an abbreviation for 'deflation-inflation' and describes a volcanic event of uncertain significance. DI events are recorded by tiltmeters at Kilauea summit as an abrupt deflation of up to a few microradians in magnitude lasting several hours to 2-3 days followed by an abrupt inflation of approximately equal magnitude. The tilt events are usually accompanied by an increase in summit tremor during the deflation phase. A careful analysis of these events suggests that they may be related to changes in magma supply to a storage reservoir at less than 1 km depth, just east of Halema`uma`u crater. Usually, though not always, these changes propagate through the magma conduit from the summit to the eruption site, as many of the DI events at Kilauea summit are also recorded at a tiltmeter at Pu`u `O`o, delayed by 1-2 hours. DI events often correlate with lava pulses and/or pauses in the eruption at the Pu`u `O`o/July 21/TEB vents. Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862. A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://tux.wr.usgs.gov/ A definition of alert levels can be found at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/2006/warnschemes.html Details... LONG VALLEY OBSERVATORY CURRENT STATUS REPORT issued Jul 23, 2008 09:17 PDT Volcano Alert Level NORMAL - Aviation Color Code GREEN The realtime detection system did not locate any earthquakes in the vicinity of Long Valley caldera since the last update at 9:24 AM on July 22. Details... Subscribe to Volcano RSS feeds from U.S. Geological Survey
 Snow in the Colorado RockiesTue, 13 May 2008 06:10:17 EDTA combination of cold air, orographic lifting, and ample moisture will make heavy snow possible behind a cold front across the Colorado Rockies before dissipating Wednesday morning. Details... Archived Winter Weather Headlines...
Flash Flood Warning for North-Central San Diego County, in Southwest CaliforniaThu, 22 May 2008 20:11:50 +0000On Thursday, May 22, 2008, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for North Central San Diego County in Southwest California. Locations in the warning include but are not limited to: Fallbrook, Rainbow, Pauma Valley, Palomar Mountain, Rincon and Valley Center. Areas burned by the Rice and Poomacha Fires will also be affected. Details...
 Flood-Related PSAs for Missouri, Iowa and Indiana from the U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesTue, 17 Jun 2008 12:40:53 EDTStations, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers 30-second PSAs on how listeners can stay safe and cope with flooding. These practical tips are meant for use if there is flooding. The advice, all approved by public health experts from HHS, covers points such as driving in flooded areas, keeping your children safe from flooding, avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning when power is out, and preventing mold. The PSAs tell people what they need to know during and after a flood, so they are for spot use. The PSAs on the Web link below are to sound files in .MP3 format (male or female voices, and some in Spanish) as well as matching live-read texts. There are matching TV PSAs for many of these spots. They are available by contacting Ira Dreyfuss at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The email is ira.dreyfuss@hhs.gov, and the telephone number is 202-401-5920. Details... Archived HHS Headlines...
Flooding Safety Material for California, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesTue, 11 Dec 2007 22:41:52 ESTThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers 30-second PSAs on how to stay safe in areas hit by flooding. The advice, approved by public health experts from HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, covers such areas as driving and protecting children. The PSAs, in 30-second scripts and .MP3 recorded versions, are for spot use. The Web link below is to the sound files as well as the matching live-read texts. Details... Archived HHS Headlines... |
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