That, and surprise.*”
Julia Cameron
LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
None 5.0 or higher.
Yesterday -
11//22/10 -
5.7 SOUTH OF KERMADEC ISLANDS
5.2 VANUATU
5.2 CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
11/21/10 -
5.6 TAIWAN
5.0 EAST OF KURIL ISLANDS
5.9 PACIFIC-ANTARCTIC RIDGE
VOLCANOES -
INDONESIA - On Sunday and Monday, Mt Merapi spewed more hot pyroclastic clouds after four days of not erupting any superheated ashes. The hot ash is a signal of on-going eruption on Mt Merapi. As a result, the red alert status will not be removed. The pyroclastic clouds took place on Sunday, November 21, starting at 5.23 pm, preceded by tectonic earthquakes. A series of hot clouds occurred until 6.45 pm. Monday, the hot clouds were expelled into the air twice. However, the exact distance of the spewed hot clouds have yet to be measured due to thick clouds which covered the volcano. The danger zone remains at 15 kilometers for Sleman, 10 kilometers for Magelang, 5 kilometers for Boyolali and 10 kilometers for Klaten. The death toll from Mt Merapi has climbed to 304.
PHILIPPINES - The municipal council in Sorsogon has approved the declaration of a state of calamity amid a series of ash ejections from Bulusan Volcano and threats of pyroclastic flows into the rivers of the municipality of Irosin. The ash explosions of Bulusan Volcano have already affected Barangays (villages) Cogon, Monbon, Tinampo, Bolos, Gulang-Gulang, Bagsangan, Mapaso and Gabao and the rivers of Patag and Cadac-an in this town. Irosin is one of the six towns surrounding the volcano. Irosin was being threatened by the continued and unpredictable volcanic eruptions, prompting the local government to re-evaluate and strengthen its disaster-preparedness plans to protect lives and properties, establish a coping mechanism for the affected families during and after the calamity, and provide effective emergency response and management system. Town officials “would rather be OA (over acting), if only to ensure that their residents are safe from lahar flow or eventual flow of pyroclastic materials from the volcano.”
To date, the municipal health unit reported 187 cases of acute respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal diseases and acute gastroentiritis treated by health personnel. These were particularly in the areas of Cogon, Monbon and Tinampo. Most of the victims were elderly and children. On Sunday morning, Bulusan Volcano again belched a grayish steam and ash column, sending residents to safe shelters in Irosin. Areas with ashfall were Barangays Monbon, Bolos, Cogon, Gulang-Gulang and Buraburan in Irosin, from where more than 500 families have been evacuated. Ashfall also affected Barangay Añog in Juban amd Barangay Puting-Sapa where children were the first to be evacuated. Barangay Cogon in Irosin evacuated as tiny rocks fell and they observed ashes that were two inches thick. The ash explosion, recorded at 7:22 a.m., reached a height of about two kilometers above the crater rim and drifted in the southwest direction. The ash column was accompanied by a rumbling sound and reflected an explosion-type earthquake lasting for 9 minutes and 30 seconds. Prior to the ash ejection, the Bulusan seismic network detected a total of 12 volcanic earthquakes. The Sunday morning ash explosion, which was the seventh since Bulusan first spewed ash two weeks ago, was THE STRONGEST IN TERMS OF THE ASH COLUMN'S HEIGHT. The ashfall on Sunday also reached as far as Bulan town, which is around 15 kilometers from the summit compared with the earlier fallouts that reached only as far as 6-9 kilometers. The sky was very dark. Zero visibility was observed in Juban and Irosin.
TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical cyclones.
SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -
U.S. Midwest - Severe thunderstorms moved through southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois Monday, bringing reports of tornado touchdowns and significant damage. "We're surprised to by a storm of this magnitude: Typically, we don't see tornadoes in late November."
At least three children in Caledonia, Illinois, about 15 miles northwest of Rockford, were injured when the bus in which they were riding rolled over. The worst of the storm hit around 3 p.m. (4 p.m. ET), knocking down power lines along a country road and hitting the village of Caledonia especially hard. Heavy winds destroyed the Caledonia town hall and one home, damaged another three homes and knocked out power to more than 500 residents. One business was "almost completely destroyed" and a damaged grain silo was leaking grain. Heavy winds Monday afternoon also struck the Wisconsin town of Union Grove, about 30 miles south of Milwaukee. Some 36 residents of an assisted-living facility there had to be moved after heavy winds caused structural damage and forced the facility to rely on generator power. The storm also blew the roof off a building onto a nearby residence and damaged Union Grove's sewage treatment plant. The winds also peeled shingles from houses and downed power lines. Heavy winds overturned several semi-trucks, caused "numerous gas leaks," and "we have multiple buildings that aren't there any more." Additionally, at least two homes were also damaged by possible tornadoes near Walworth, Wisconsin. Another twister touched down in Lawrence, Illinois, which like Rockford, is located northwest of Chicago.
In addition to tornado-like winds, the storm at times produced hail up to 2 inches in diameter, wind gusts up to 75 mph and dangerous cloud-to-cloud lightning. The inclement weather wreaked havoc with travel. The worst of the storm appeared to have passed by 8 p.m. (9 p.m. ET), though thunderstorms prompted the service to warn of a "severe weather threat" for much of central Illinois. In addition, "significant snow" was forecast beginning Monday night and into Wednesday for much of north central and central Wisconsin.
