August 15, 2014
11:32 UTC
MT Satellite of Australia and New Zealand (click here for loop - thank you)

Strong winds and massive tides battered Wellington's south coast last night, causing a fishing boat to break from its moorings and an esplanade to be covered in debris.

The Esplanade in Island Bay was closed for an hour this morning while boulders, rocks and seaweed were cleaned up....

...Gusty southerlies and swells of up to seven metres had caused the debris, MetService meteorologist Liz Walsh said.

"A mean wind speed of 72 km/h was recorded at the airport between midnight and 5am," she said.

"We also recorded gusts of around 100 km/h so it was well into a gale."

A gust of 105 km/h was also recorded further north in the city....

August 15, 2014
1317 gmt
The Weather Channel's Western Pacific Ocean Satellite

There is no consistent ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone).


August 14, 2014
By Robin Burks

A new study (click here) shows that as global warming continues, Antarctica's ice shelves may melt faster than initially thought and add up to 14 inches to sea levels by the end of the century.

The study, done by an international team of scientists, used data collected about Antarctica and climate change and plugged that into computer models. The models showed startling results: Antarctica may soon be the top source of rising sea levels faster than scientists previously believed if greenhouse gases continue to increase at their current level....

August 15, 2014

1326 gmt

The Weather Channel South Pole Satellite

Australia is at 6 o'clock. There are multiple vortexes transferring heat from the Equator into the Antarctica continent.

There are already models for coastal flooding and cities below sea level. The Netherlands and now even Europe have massive dam structures to protect cities. New Orleans is among the newest to enter into this class of city. It's pumping system is world class and protects the city from flooding. There is plenty of information to draw from already proven to work. The USA doesn't have to reinvent the wheel, there exists tried and true methods.

August 15, 2014

It might have been a slow start (click here) to the ski season but snow is falling thick and fast on the ski fields now, forecasters say.

With a full two-metre snow base now on both Whakapapa and Turoa ski fields, Mt Ruapehu's snow trails were looking the best they had in years, operations and trails manager Steve Manunui said....

..."Over the last 72 hours there has been an accelerated and significant snowfall on Mt Ruapehu.

"Both ski areas are wearing their new white winter coats with pride. We've hit the sweet spot in terms of snow levels and with the fantastic forecasted conditions this weekend, now is prime time for skiers and riders to come enjoy the fresh snow."

The whole mountain would be opening this weekend.

MetService said all the ski fields were having the same fortune....

July 22, 2014

Last month (click here) was the hottest June since record-keeping began in 1880, according to a monthly report by US government climate scientists.

The combined average temperature over land and ocean surfaces was a "record high for the month at 61.20 Fahrenheit (16.22 Celsius)," said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration....

Alaska had the 2nd wettest June since 1918 only behind 1980.

34% of the continguous USA experienced drought.

Hurricane Christina (June 9 - 15, 2014) reached 240 km/hr winds, the second such storm in 1918 in the East Pacific.

Antarctica Sea Ice Extent was 9.6 percent above normal since the continental melting distributed larger amounts of frigid water into the circumpolar ocean circulation.

New Zealand had the warmest June (It is winter in the southern hemisphere) since records were kept in 1909.

Australia had significant drought with rainfall 32% less nationally and 72% less in Western Australia.

India has rainfall deficits of 57% nationally with regional deficits of 39% to 74%.

Europe and Africa have experienced a much warmer June with some records reaching in the top 10% of all records.

Taken alone, the ocean's global surface temperature in June was the highest for any month on record, breaking the past record set in 1998, NOAA added.

July 17, 2014

Harsher storms, (click here) worsening flooding and rising seas threaten the public's safety and health across the country, President Barack Obama warned Wednesday as he urged local communities to prepare for the effects of climate change.

Joined by top federal officials and local, state and tribal leaders at the White House, Obama said communities experiencing negative effects firsthand know that climate change is already upon us. He said boosting the nation's resilience and fighting climate change shouldn't be a partisan issue for lawmakers in Washington....