Weather & Space News Blog
 since Feb. 2003
 WX - Telegraph abbreviation for weather often used with Morse code
 The Wire - Name once given to the telegraph

Severe Weather Possible Tonight, Easter Weekend: Severe storms tonight, and over Easter weekend beginning in Northern Plains and moving into Great Lakes, Ohio and Tenn. valleys and Mid-Atlantic, says AccuWeather

N. Calif. Rain, Mudslides: Storms dump rain on N. Calif., trigger mudslides; Man still buried

28th Tropical Storm: Make that 28 tropical storms last year: National Hurricane Center on Wednesday added a 28th storm to record 2005 season

5 hurricane drills planned for coast

FEMA: La. homes must be raised off ground

Weather Channel local forecast clips coming to cell phones, the Internet

Quake News: Big earthquake could devastate U.S. Midwest, experts warn

Quake research: Risk of ‘Big One’ in Pacific NW lower than expected

Space News: Space rocks bring in big money at auction

Astronomy Picture of the Day: Star cluster dreams

Top 5 WXnation.com city weather and webcam pages visited on Wednesday: 1. San Francisco 2. Toronto 3. Detroit 4. Sacramento 5. Los Angeles … See the top 20 so far this month in the center column of our home page

Severe Weather Weekend Ahead?: Storm Prediction Center: Severe weather possible April 15, 16 in Plains, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley

Calif. Rain, Texas Fires: Latest Calif. storm spares harder-hit area | Texas wildfires burn more than 22,000 acres on Tuesday

Hurricanes ’06: From the National Hurricane Conference on Tuesday: Storm surge poses threat equal to wind, flood, specialists say

Form FloridaToday.com: Is there a class for dramatic weather reporting? There should be

Katrina Update: Hurricane Katrina robbery victims make it back to New Orleans

Red Cross to beef up hurricane readiness

Other Weather News: Sunday rain stops C. Fla. dry spell at 41 days

From Canada: Spring flooding soaking prairie farms

Space News: 10th planet slightly larger than Pluto

Astronomy Picture of the Day: Sun halo over Utah

Top 5 WXnation.com city weather and webcam pages visited on Tuesday: 1. San Francisco 2. Vancouver 3. Sacramento 4. Miami 5. Dallas/Fort Worth … See the top 20 so far this month in the center column of our home page

Katrina Update: New Orleans votes, there and elsewhere

Annual National Hurricane Conference kicked off Monday in Central Florida

Headline Rhyme Of The Day (From California): Rain to remain mainly a pain

Severe Storms Update: Tennessee tornado was F-3, officials say | NWS report: At least 10 tornadoes touch down in north Ala. | NWS confirms four tornadoes touch down Saturday in Georgia

Other Weather News: N.D. preparing for major flooding

Be your own weatherman

Tip from CapitalWeather.com: PBS NOVA science series’ annual rerun of “Hunt for the Supertwister” tonight

Space News: NASA to crash space probe into moon

Top 5 WXnation.com city weather and webcam pages visited on Monday: 1. Los Angeles 2. San Francisco 3. Sacramento 4. Reno 5. West Palm Beach … See the top 20 so far this month in the center column of our home page

Calmer Weather This Week: Weather calmer this week for most, but wildfire danger increases in Texas, Okla.

Between storms, Calif. water officials scramble to shore up weak levees

Severe Storms Update: Severe thunderstorms dump rain, hail on South Florida | “Tornado-like” storms damage Atlanta suburbs | Official confirms Tenn. tornadoes in Cumberland County (Aerial photos inside)

Quake Wire: ’1906′ author says quake was biggest U.S. disaster | The Great Quake 1906-2006: Days before the disaster

Tip From CapitalWeather.com: Man who helped create The Weather Channel calls it ‘a huge disappointment’

Weird News: Huge block of ice falls from sky in Oakland: Experts have trouble explaining incident

Space News: NASA marks 25 years, preps for sea change

North Texas Photos: As usual, all images open large versions in a new window.

Above, below: Recent rain turns Trophy Club, Texas-area meadow green; Some areas still dry despite N. Texas rain

Below: Storms build in East Texas on April 2; Engineers scale down one of N. Texas’ tallest TV towers with Fort Worth’s skyline in the distance

More images are in the WXphotos Gallery

Top 5 WXnation.com city weather and webcam pages visited on Sunday: 1. Orlando 2. West Palm Beach 3. Miami 4. San Francisco 5. Los Angeles … and on Saturday: 1. Atlanta 2. Jacksonville 3. Birmingham 4. Nashville 5. Charlotte … See the top 20 so far this month in the center column of our home page

‘It Could Happen Tomorrow’ Review: The next great San Francisco quake

Severe Weather Outbreak: 12 Dead In Tenn. Storm death count rises to 12 in Tennessee | Most storm fatalities in Midstate most since 1974 | Severe storms pack a punch | Expect more storms over next 2 weeks, meteorologist says

Storms continue to pummel South, cause injuries, damage in North Alabama,
rip through Metro Atlanta

Today’s severe weather heads for Charleston, S.C, Savannah, Ga., Jacksonville, Fla., and the Florida Panhandle: Current watches/warnings map | SPC storm reports for Friday (almost 700 reports) and today | Radar loop | Live weather and webcam images for Savannah, Jacksonville, Florida’s Panhandle, and all other cities (also listed in left column by state)

Rivers Rising: Heavy rains prompt flooding worries in southern Minnesota: S.D. also gets heavy rains, flooding | Red River in Canada reaches second highest level in decades

Calif. River Rising: San Joaquin River in C. Calif. continues to rise | New wave of storms could trigger floods, levee breaks: NWS expects ‘potent’ system by Tuesday | 2006 spring weather patterns in Calif. Southland are weird

Damaged Pensacola bridge to be sunk as artificial reef

Katrina Update: A third of La. Katrina evacuees unemployed

Space News: Seventh planet has a blue ring | NASA perplexed by worker accidents | Crew set to return from space station

Top 5 WXnation.com city weather and webcam pages visited on Friday: 1. Nashville 2. Memphis 3. Birmingham 4. Louisville 5. Knoxville … See the top 20 so far this month in the center column of our home page

Severe Outbreak Update (11:45 p.m. EDT): At least 10 die in Tenn. tornado outbreak: Several tornado warnings in Alabama | Tornado warnings advance toward Birmingham area (Alternate watches/warnings data). Live streaming video from WVTM-TV 13, Birmingham | WXIA-TV 11, Atlanta | Prior streaming on Friday from WTVF-TV 5, Nashville, WMC-TV 5, Memphis, WBIR-TV 10, Knoxville, WAVE-TV 3, Louisville, WHAS-TV 11, Louisville, WLKY-TV 32, Louisville, WLWT-TV 5, Cincinnati, WCPO-TV 9, Cincinnati, WCMH-TV 4, Columbus | Coverage from Indy | Radar loop | Storm reports for today (almost 600 reports by late Friday)

Resources: Radar loop for Ohio, Tenn. valleys, South | SPC storm reports for Thursday and today (all reports) | Live Weather Plus streaming video from St. Louis and Birmingham | U.S. current watches/warnings map, Radar loop | Weather and live webcam images for: Little Rock, Jackson, Birmingham, Atlanta, Memphis, Nashville, Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Mo., Indy, Cincinnati, Columbus, Louisville, and all other cities (Also listed in the left column)

Posted at 1:23 a.m. EDT: High risk for severe storms and tornadoes in Central Plains, Midwest overnight and the South Friday | Storm Prediction Center: Risk especially high for northern Arkansas, Alabama, and Georgia | Worst of severe weather outbreak possible Friday in N. Alabama, Birmingham (Live streaming coverage to begin at 2 p.m. EDT Fri., NBC 13 says), E. Tennessee, Mississippi, Cincinnati, and Columbus

Tornado Outbreak Update, Tornado On Cam: Surveillance cam shows tornado hitting town | Tenn. communities will bounce back from tornadoes | Mobile homes in Hope, Ark., could go to tornado victims

Rain, No Rain: Rain breaks 28-year Palmdale, Calif., record … Meanwhile, 38 straight days without rain sets record in Orlando, Fla.

Other Weather News: Wildfire danger, blizzard warning in Colorado’s forecast

Flooding closes roads, schools in southwest Idaho

Sirius offers marine weather data service

New wildfires erupt in Texas Panhandle

Hurricanes ’05 Update: Five hurricane names to be retired |
Hurricane relief from abroad mishandled, federal officials acknowledged Thursday

World Weather: Heavy rain in drought-hit Kenya | Red River in Canada expected to reach first peak soon

World Of Webcams: Webcam beams eagle family’s life around the world

Space News: If you’re in space and looking for a good magazine cover to check out this weekend, look no further than: Desperate housewife Eva Longoria seen from space | Calvert NASA resolution on 25th anniversary of first space shuttle launch passes House

Astronomy Picture of the Day: The crown of the sun | Great aurora photo in SpaceWeather.com’s April 2006 aurora gallery

Top 5 WXnation.com city weather and webcam pages visited on Thursday: 1. Omaha 2. Dallas/Fort Worth 3. Kansas City 4. St. Louis 5. Tulsa … See the top 20 so far this month in the center column of our home page

Besides a terrorist attack in New York City and a hurricane flooding New Orleans, a major earthquake in San Francisco is the event rounding out America’s three “likeliest, most catastrophic disasters,” according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in a 2001 report. The Bay Area is overdue for a violent shaking.

The next major San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fires’ impact on the city is the subject of this Sunday’s “It Could Happen Tomorrow,” scheduled to air on The Weather Channel 9 days before the 100th anniversary of the Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake.

The only quake I remember was a moderate one in Metro Detroit in 1998 that I didn’t really feel, but saw. That afternoon, the extended stand for an oscillating fan in my fourth-story apartment began to sway back and forth as I stared at it, transfixed. Regardless, I’ve seen many an earthquake special, and a couple of hour-long specials on San Francisco’s last catastrophic quake — and “the Big One” predicted to come.

Sunday’s episode of “Tomorrow” does an excellent job of providing an overview of the 1906 quake through archived video and written accounts. It also looks at the problems the city faces in coming years, before major structures are earthquake ready. The 30-minute edition features computer animations and commentary from experts at FEMA, US Geological Survey, as well as Golden Gate Bridge structural engineers, and the San Francisco Fire Department.

Some topics covered in the program: Certain buildings are made to withstand a 7.9 magnitude quake, many others are not; People on particular floors when a major quake strikes would end up under tons of rubble, others would be safe; Some bridges are not ready for “the Big One,” but engineers say one big bridge is now prepared.

There is a segment on the science behind faults and earthquakes. More detail, images of land broken apart after a quake, and a graphic showing the nation’s most at-risk areas for moderate to major quakes – such as the Pacific Northwest, Northeast and Midwest — would have been nice additions.

I won’t give it all away, but will suggest viewers in any earthquake-prone area watch. Viewers should take away enough of a sense of urgency so as to get several days worth of supplies in order to make it through a major quake. There wouldn’t be any time to get ready (and maybe to survive) if it were to happen – whether unprepared a year from now, or tomorrow.

Many Bay Area residents interviewed in the episode admitted they only had a couple meal’s-worth of food and water in an emergency. For their sake, let’s pray the next major earthquake is many meals away.

The San Francisco earthquake episode of “It Could Happen Tomorrow” airs on The Weather Channel on Sunday, April 9, at 9:30 p.m. EDT.

Storms Update (5:30 p.m. EDT): Severe thunderstorm warnings in Dallas/Fort Worth, Tulsa area, Wichita area and Omaha area | U.S. watches/warnings, Radar loop, and live weather and webcam images (Also listed in the left column)

Posted at 12:00 a.m. EDT: Severe Weather Forecast To Return To Plains, Midwest, South: Severe weather outbreak likely today from Plains to Midwest, South; SE to Ohio Valley Friday | Severe storms forecast for Kansas, SW Mo., N. Texas, Nebraska, Illinois, and Indiana.

Outbreak Resources: Storm Prediction Center outlook and severe weather reports | NWS current watches/warnings map | Radar loop | Live Weather Plus streaming video from St. Louis and Dallas/Fort Worth

Weather and live webcam images for: Dallas/Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Wichita, Little Rock, Kansas City, Springfield, Mo., Omaha, Neb., Sioux Falls, S.D., Shreveport, La., St. Louis, and all other cities (Also listed in the left column)

Other Weather News: Last gasp of winter arrives in New York City with supersized snowflakes

Break for Bay Area, but new storm may arrive Friday

Busy hurricane season predicted: 17 named storms, 9 hurricanes predicted

Top 5 WXnation.com city weather and webcam pages visited on Wednesday: 1. Los Angeles 2. San Diego 3. San Francisco 4. Detroit 5. Sacramento … See the top 20 so far this month in the center column of our home page

New Storm Hits California: Bay Area rain causing bad commutes, evacuations | Levee break floods trailer park in Merced, Calif. | SoCal storm brings drenching rain, traffic headaches | Car pileups Tuesday | Rain hits San Diego late, but hard: Wet weather forces Padres, Giants to postpone | Resources: Current watches and warnings map | Radar loop | Live Weather Plus video from Bay Area, L.A. and San Diego (Click “Video” tabs) | Weather and webcam images for the Bay Area, L.A., San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno, Reno, Portland, Ore., Seattle, Vancouver, B.C., and all cities (Also listed in left column by state)

New England Snow: Snow storm comes as little surprise in northern New England

Tornado Outbreak Update: Death toll rises to 28 in U.S. storms | Three tornadoes hit Indiana Sunday, National Weather Service says | WeatherBug community responds to weekend tornadoes

Severe Weather Possible Across South On Friday, Saturday

Hurricanes ’05 Update: Hurricanes may take aim at the East Coast this year | Hurricane-damaged destroyer back in water | Publishers: Newspapers withstood hurricanes

Other Weather News: Windy, warm means explosive fire weather in E. Colorado

World Weather: Tornado injures 70 in Israel

Quake Wire: Is the Bay Area ready for the next big earthquake?

About Time: And finally, get ready for a once-in-a-century moment (if you start at No. 1): The moment will be at 01:02:03 a.m. on 04/05/06

Top 5 WXnation.com city weather and webcam pages visited on Tuesday: 1. Los Angeles 2. San Diego 3. Sacramento 4. San Francisco 5. Fresno … See the top 20 so far this month in the center column of our home page

Storm After Storm Out West: Rain causes mudslides, road closures in Bay Area | Thunderstorms possible overnight in Southern Calif.: Storm forecast to bring 3 days of rain | San Diego braces for torrential rain: Between 1 to 3 inches expected | Sierra braces for another winter storm warning | Heavy snow for parts of Idaho

Students In N.D. Fill Sandbags As Red River Rises

Next Severe Weather Outbreak Possible In Midwest, South, Plains By Thurs.: Storm Prediction Center: Next severe weather outbreak may affect the same hard-hit areas on Thurs, Fri., and Sat.

Severe Storms Update: Tennessee assesses damage, requests disaster assistance | Indiana cleans up after storms damage more than 400 homes Sunday | Damaged downtown Indy skyscraper to be closed for at least 1 week | Storms kill 1, wreak havoc across Illinois | Tulsa, Okla., tornado damages hotel, airport | Storms hit D.C. area Monday

Other Weather News: 50th anniversary of F5 tornado in W. Michigan

Lightning kills 5 farmers in Vietnam

Space News: U.S. astronauts plan ‘campout’ at space station

Top 5 WXnation.com city weather and webcam pages visited on Monday: 1. Los Angeles 2. Washington, D.C. 3. Baltimore 4. Raleigh 5. Charlotte … See the top 20 so far this month in the center column of our home page

Storms Kill At Least 27, Including 23 In Tenn.: 18 dead as twisters hit several states | Almost 800 storm reports Sunday

Severe Storms In Mid-Atlantic Today: More severe weather expected today from Maryland to Georgia | NWS current watches/warnings map: Tornado watches today in Georgia and Carolinas | Live weather and webcam images (Also listed in left menu)

Top 5 WXnation.com city weather and webcam pages visited on Sunday: 1. St. Louis 2. Indianapolis 3. Chicago 4. Memphis 5. Louisville … See the top 20 so far this month in the center column of our home page

Tornado Outbreak In Midwest, South: Tornado warnings in several Indiana, Kentucky, Tenn. counties | Tornado warnings for Indiana | Stories: Reports of possible Indy-area tornadoes, damage come in | From Cincinnati: Severe storms possible | From Iowa: Funnel clouds reported in tornado warnings

Resources: Live video from Cincinnati, Columbus; (Eariler) Indianapolis and Memphis | Radar loop | NWS current watches/warnings map | Storm reports

Other Weather News: Hawaii dries out after 40 days of rain

Northern California sees record rain, braces for more wet weather

Friday storms knock out power for 1,700 in Louisville

Plans for hurricane season focusing on getting out of way

Space News: Pleiades star cluster near waxing crescent Moon | Moon eclipses Pleiades gallery

Top 5 WXnation.com city weather and webcam pages visited on Saturday: 1. Oklahoma City 2. Wichita 3. Honolulu 4. Dallas/Fort Worth 5. Los Angeles … See the top 20 so far this month in the center column of our home page

9:30 p.m. EST Storm Update: Tornado watch, severe storms head toward Oklahoma City: 70 mph winds likely | Tornado warning west of Wichita, Kansas (NWS radar loop | Weather and live webcam images for OKC and Wichita

Posted 3:02 a.m. EST: Severe Weather Potential: Severe storm risk in Plains States, Midwest … especially Sunday | Current watches/warnings map | Radar loop | Live weather and webcam images (Also listed in the left column)

Friday Storms: Storms leave damage in Indiana: Tornado sightings; Homes, vehicles, trees ruined | Golf ball-sized hail reported in W. Indiana

Too Much Rain: Major flooding hits Honolulu: Floodwaters cover Moanalua Freeway, close Kahala Mall | Radar loop for Hawaii | Hawaii weather and live webcam images

More rain coming to California | Wet weather getting some people down

Not Enough Rain: March likely to go down as Baltimore area’s driest on record

Other Weather News: Thursday night storms destroy Iowa homes

From N.D.: Red River flood-fighters preparing to battle river

Quake Wire: 70 dead after 3 earthquakes rattle Iran: 1,200 wounded, thousands homeless after M6.1 quake | Live earthquake data is in the right column of this page

Time Watch: (How’s that for redundant!) Daylight-savings time: Spring ahead tonight

Top 5 WXnation.com city weather and webcam pages visited on Friday: 1. Indianapolis 2. Honolulu 3. Detroit 4. Los Angeles 5. San Francisco … See the top 20 so far this month in the center column of our home page