Thursday, September 8, 2011


**Nobody can go back and start a new beginning,
but anyone can start today and make a new ending.**
Maria Robinson


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
None 5.0 or higher.

Yesterday -
9/7/11 -
5.3 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
5.0 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.4 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.4 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
5.3 NEAR EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA

TROPICAL STORMS -
In the Atlantic -
-Category 1 Hurricane Katia was located about 330 mi or530 km WSW of Bermuda. Large swells generated by Katia will continue to affect most of the East Coast of the United States...Bermuda...and east-facing beaches of the Bahamas during the next couple of days.

-Tropical storm Maria was located about 1005 mi or1620 km ESE of the Leeward Islands. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Leeward Islands of Antigua...Barbuda...Montserrat...Nevis..and Saint Kitts.

-Tropical storm Nate was located about 130 mi or 205 km WNW of Campeche, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Mexico from Chilitepec to Celestun.

In the Pacific -
-Tropical storm Kulap was located approximately 365 nm east-southeast of Kadena AB, Japan.

The remnants of slow-moving Tropical Storm Lee were dumping more rain this week on an already waterlogged Pennsylvania, with forecasters warning residents across the state to brace for more potential flooding.
Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee Spawns Five Tornadoes in North Carolina and Virginia - As the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee moved inland, the Central Gulf States and Southeast were riddled with tornado warnings from September 3rd through the 6th. In all, there were 42 reports of tornadoes from Louisiana to Virginia.

SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -

More Rain Worries New York and New Jersey Areas Hit Hard by Tropical Storm Irene - The bad news for Greene County and other areas struggling to recover from the storm: Rain remains in the forecast for much of the week across the New York region. On Wednesday morning, the town of Prattsville was “prepared to evacuate at very short notice.” By early afternoon, the storm had begun to drift away from the town, making evacuations unnecessary. But the recent spate of storms was not without its cost. Some of the stopgap fixes to local infrastructure — like culverts installed under roadways after the tropical storm — were being “washed out” by the new surge of rain. In nearby Ulster County, voluntary evacuations began Wednesday morning in the town of Shandaken. The area can ill afford another deluge. “I’ve got railroads twisted like pretzels."
Concerned about water levels along the flood-prone Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers, Governor Cuomo deployed 125 National Guard troops with high axle clearance vehicles to the area in Broome County to assist in rescue and aid efforts. Much of the Susquehanna River had its flooding forecast raised from moderate to major severity. “With prolonged heavy rains falling on saturated land, rivers and major creeks began to rise yesterday and upstate dams once again approached their capacities."
On Wednesday afternoon, voluntary evacuations were under way in parts of Schoharie County, N.Y., as area rivers neared or surpassed flood stage. Callers to the Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce get an automated message informing them that the office had been destroyed, though it was unclear when the statement was recorded.
In parts of New Jersey, the consistent threat of flooding has left many residents fatigued. In recent weeks, many people relayed tales of homes under seemingly perpetual siege. Walls had collapsed; leaks, sealed time and again, sprouted anew. “You could lose everything you’ve got. This is the worst year they ever had.” Regions of New Jersey are also facing flood warnings. According to the National Weather Service, a portion of the Wanaque River in Passaic County has entered the moderate flood stage and is expected to remain at that sage until Friday. The Millstone River at Blackwells Mills in Somerset County has also encountered moderate flooding.