Three dead after rare Mediterranean storm batters Greece | Reuters

Three people have died after Cyclone Ianos, a rare storm known as a medicane, battered Greece, flooding streets and homes, Greek authorities said on Sunday.

The heavy rainfall on Saturday turned Karditsa, in one of Greece’s biggest plains, into a lake. Video footage showed flooded highways, collapsed bridges and agricultural land turned into mud lakes with farmers carrying their sheep to rescue.

A river flooded its banks and damaged roads and a medical centre in the town of Mouzaki.

Experts estimate that about 5,000 houses were flooded in the area of Karditsa. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is expected to visit the region in the coming days, said the government will provide economic relief to the affected areas.

Source: Three dead after rare Mediterranean storm batters Greece | Reuters

Massive bird migration event to take place over Pittsburgh area Monday night

A “high intensity” bird migration event is expected to cross the Pittsburgh area Monday, with the possibility of more than 50,000 birds per square mile flying south.

Massive bird migration event to take place over Pittsburgh area Monday night
SNETTISHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 24: A flock of waders, (predominantly knot) swirl above the Wash Estuary as the tide recedes revealing mudflat below on November 24, 2018 in Snettisham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

According to BirdCast, a collaboration between the EPA, the National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and other institutions, the birds will be in the sky above Pittsburgh around 7 p.m. Over Philadelphia, there could be more than 41,000 birds and over Harrisburg, there could be more than 50,000.

Los Angeles County hits 121 degrees during oppressive heatwave, a record | Fox News

The Los Angeles Police Department tweeted that the temperature reached 121 degrees at about 1:30 p.m. at the official recording site at Pierce College in the San Fernando Valley. The neighborhood looked like a ghost town and was still 100 degrees at 7:30 p.m.

High temperatures in the San Fernando Valley are not unusual during the late summer months, but the Labor Day weekend heatwave has prompted the California Independent System Operator to declare a Stage 2 Emergency.

Source: Los Angeles County hits 121 degrees during oppressive heatwave, a record | Fox News

“Above normal” 2020 Atlantic hurricane season on tap, researchers forecast – CBS News

As the world battles the coronavirus crisis, researchers are warning of a potentially active Atlantic Ocean hurricane season, which kicks off June 1 through the end of November.

Specifically, the team forecasts 16 named tropical systems; 12 is the average. Eight of those named systems are forecast to reach hurricane status, with winds greater than 74 mph; Six is the usual amount per year. CSU is also forecasting more major hurricanes than is typical per year: four as opposed to the average of 2.7.

At least eight of the 16 named tropical storms that are forecast will reach hurricane status with winds greater than 74 mph, according to Colorado State University.

Source: “Above normal” 2020 Atlantic hurricane season on tap, researchers forecast – CBS News

Massive Tree Falls, Blocks Shady Ave. In Squirrel Hill – CBS Pittsburgh

At least four vehicles were damaged when a massive tree came crashing down overnight in Squirrel Hill.

Tree trimmers were brought in early this morning with their chainsaws and heavy equipment to cut it apart and clear the road.

They found a beehive inside, complicating the process.

The extent of the damage to the cars is still unknown.

But Duquesne Light crews were also on the scene working to restore power to four homes. Officials say that could take a few hours.

Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.

Source: Massive Tree Falls, Blocks Shady Ave. In Squirrel Hill – CBS Pittsburgh

Weather: Highs of 80° degrees and upwards in Friday’s forecast with lots of sunshine! | WJLA

The warmth is here! And it’s here to stick around through the weekend. Today will be even warmer than yesterday with highs topping out in the low to mid 80s. It will be breezy to windy this afternoon and into this evening. This evening temperatures fall into the 70s, so get out and enjoy. Overnight lows only fall into the upper 50s to low 60s, so we’ll be off to a warm start Saturday.

Highs will climb to around 80 Saturday afternoon with breezy southerly winds. Weather is looking fantastic for the Cherry Blossom Parade from 10 to 12 p.m. along Constitution Avenue. Come out and join ABC7 for a fun day. Saturday evening remains warm and dry with temperatures in the 70s.

It will be cloudier Sunday with rain chances returning. StormWatch7 will be tracking a strong cold front that will likely bring severe weather to the Nation’s midsection.

Source: Weather: Highs of 80° degrees and upwards in Friday’s forecast with lots of sunshine! | WJLA

Earthquake cracks streets, leaves 5 injured in Japan

 

TOKYO — A strong earthquake hit western Japan early Monday, cracking streets, cutting water and power to a number of homes and injuring five people. The Meteorological Agency said the magnitude 6.1 quake struck 7 miles underground near Ohda city, about 480 miles west of Tokyo.

Five people sustained injuries, but most of them were minor and not life-threatening, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.

The quake also rattled nearby Izumo, home to one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines. No damage was reported at the shrine.

Source: Earthquake cracks streets, leaves 5 injured in Japan

2018 Atlantic hurricane season will be slightly above-average, researchers say

Colorado State University hurricane researchers are out with their forecast for the season ahead

The Atlantic hurricane season will be slightly above-average this year, Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane researchers predicted Thursday. The researchers cited a “relatively low likelihood of significant El Niño” conditions as a main factor.

In total, the team believes there will be 14 named storms. Hurricane researchers predict seven of the storms will become hurricanes and three will reach “major hurricane strength with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or greater.”

They explained why El Niño patterns are likely to make a difference.

“El Niño tends to increase upper-level westerly winds across the Caribbean into the tropical Atlantic, tearing apart hurricanes as they try to form,” the researchers said.

CSU hurricane researchers believe this season’s activity will be about 135 percent of the average season. For reference, last year’s hurricane activity — which included one major storm after another — was nearly two and a half times greater than average.

The team forms their forecasts by using 60 years of data, referencing sea surface temperatures, vertical wind shear levels, sea level pressures, El Niño conditions and other factors. They plan to provide updates on May 31, July 2 and Aug. 2.

The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

Source: 2018 Atlantic hurricane season will be slightly above-average, researchers say

Landfall probability

The report also includes the probability of major hurricanes making landfall:

  • 63 percent for the entire U.S. coastline (average for the last century is 52 percent)
  • 39 percent for the U.S. East Coast, including the Florida peninsula (average for the last century is 31 percent)
  • 38 percent for the Gulf Coast from the Florida panhandle westward to Brownsville (average for the last century is 30 percent)
  • 52 percent for the Caribbean (average for the last century is 42 percent)

The forecast team also tracks the likelihood of tropical storm-force, hurricane-force and major hurricane-force winds occurring at specific locations along the coastal United States, the Caribbean and Central America through its Landfall Probability website.

A Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake Hit Los Angeles, California Today: The Strongest In Years

 Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck off the coast of southern California today, the strongest one to hit the area in several years. The United States Geological Survey puts the earthquake epicenter 17 miles southwest of Santa Cruz Island off southern California.

The earthquake struck today, on April 5th at 12:29 PM local time at a depth of 10 kilometers. Even though the earthquake struck off the coast of California, shaking was felt as far away as Bakersfield, Palmdale and the city of Orange over 100 miles away. The quake’s epicenter was 85 miles west of Los Angeles and 41 miles southwest of Ventura. Thankfully, the shaking subsided just as quickly as it came, lasting roughly 10 seconds.

USGS

@USGS

Did You Feel the M5.3 EQ that just took place off the Channel Islands, CA? Please let us know here: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ci37908735#dyfi 

Wind causes tree to crash into house -WPXI

 

LOWER BURRELL, Pa. – A Lower Burrell family says they experienced a true miracle after winds brought a massive tree down onto their house, narrowly missing one of the people who lives inside. They believe their house was spared from further problems.

Their roof is destroyed. Branches and parts of the tree are strewn across their house and front yard. A gutter is torn off and their chimney has moved out of place.

The Negleys say they are waiting on a tree removal service to take down what’s left of the tree. Insurance adjusters are set to come out Thursday to assess the damage, which the family says is in the thousands of dollars.

Source: Wind causes tree to crash into house

TRENDING NOW:

PITTSBURGH SNOW: Winter weather advisory in effect, widespread snow expected

Severe Weather Team 11 is finalizing the changing forecast, for Channel 11 Morning News starting at 4:30 a.m.

Despite it being the start of April, a quick-moving snowstorm will race eastward from the Ohio Valley through the mid-Atlantic and southern New England into Monday morning.

To the north of the storm’s track, a narrow swath of snow is expected. The band of accumulating snow will be no more than 100-150 miles wide, so a 25-mile north-to-south distance could mean the difference between a coating of snow and up to a half a foot.

Quick-hitting snow April 1

“This snow event will last 8 hours or less in any one community, but that will be enough time to whiten the ground with some areas also facing slick travel,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.

Most communities along the path of the storm will receive 3-6 inches, but there can be localized amounts up to 8 or 9 inches in parts of central Pennsylvania.

Source: PITTSBURGH SNOW: Winter weather advisory in effect, widespread snow expected

Source: https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/easter-snowstorm-to-slow-travel-from-plains-to-mid-atlantic/70004557

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