Freak hailstorm causes mayhem in Melbourne, Australia

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Freak September snowstorm causes havoc with major power outages in Calgary, Canada

More power outages expected as snow-laden trees continue to fall around the city

Thousands of Calgary homes and businesses are still without power after a freak September snowstorm blanketed the city, and officials are expecting some Calgarians will have no power overnight.

 

“We are still very much in an active situation,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

 

Emergency responders and utility workers have been scrambling to deal with power lines downed by snow-laden tree branches. They expect work to continue into Thursday, and the cleanup could take days or even weeks.

 

“Don’t be alarmed if you hear chainsaws [tonight],” said Nenshi.

 

The mayor said the priorities right now are keeping Calgarians safe, restoring power and clearing the roads of debris.

Power outages expected overnight

The city says it is waiving tipping fees at local landfills for Calgarians to dispose of debris. Residents are being asked not to put broken branches in the blue recycling bins, green organic bins or black garbage bins.

 

There were roughly 200 reports of outages in Calgary on Wednesday. A spokesperson for the city-owned utility Enmax said the situation is very fluid, and more power outages are expected as more trees break under the weight of the heavy snow.

 

Enmax officials said they cannot put a timeline on when power will be restored to all parts of the city.

“September snow + bored = grumpy snowmen army

“This is actually in pretty much all quadrants of the city with the exception of the northeast,” said Enmax spokeswoman Doris Kaufmann. “It has been the least touched. Enmax has brought on additional crews to assist with all of that effort getting the power on.”

 

Nenshi asks those in affected power outage areas overnight to check on the welfare of their neighbours, especially the elderly.

Emergency centre opened

City officials say there are scattered phone outages in the south end of Calgary. If a resident has no phone access, they can attend any local city building to get help.

 

Emergency crews are busy responding to reports of sparking and smoking power lines. City officials say if you see a downed line call 311, and if you see a sparking line call 911.

 

The city opened its Emergency Management Centre to co-ordinate calls. 

 

Officials said crews are having to prioritize and respond to the most urgent situations.

Police and fire crews are taping off areas where there may be a risk to people, such as a power line lying across a road.

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Tropical storm Odile is forecast to strike Mexico as a HURRICANE at about 06:00 GMT on 15th September 2014

Tropical storm Odile is forecast to strike Mexico as a hurricane at about 06:00 GMT on 15 September. Data supplied by the US Navy and Air Force Joint Typhoon Warning Center suggest that the point of landfall will be near 22.2 N, 110.2 W. Odile is expected to bring 1-minute maximum sustained winds to the region of around 166 km/h (103 mph). Wind gusts in the area may be considerably higher.

 

According to the Saffir-Simpson damage scale the potential property damage and flooding from a storm of Odile’s strength (category 2) at landfall includes: Storm surge generally 1.8-2.4 metres (6-8 feet) above normal. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings. Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of the storm center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings. There is also the potential for flooding further inland due to heavy rain.

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MAGNITUDE 3.8 15 km EAST OF CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND

http://www.geonet.org.nz/quakes/region/newzealand/2014p686266

Subject to change

Depth: 11 km

Distances:  Latitude, Longitude   -43.47, 172.82

MAGNITUDE 5.0 VANUATU

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=399463

Subject To Change

Depth: 161 km

Distances: 252 km N of Port-Vila, Vanuatu / pop: 35,901 / local time: 03:58:11.4 2014-09-12
89 km E of Luganville / pop: 13,397 / local time: 03:58:00.0 2014-09-12

MAGNITUDE 4.5 EASTERN SICHUAN, CHINA

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=399476

Subject To Change

Depth: 32 km

Distances: 275 km S of Chengdu, China / pop: 3,950,437 / local time: 00:29:38.6 2014-09-12
103 km N of Zhaotong, China / pop: 109,400 / local time: 00:29:38.6 2014-09-12

MAGNITUDE 4.7 NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=399453

Subject To Change

Depth: 10 km

Distances: 710 km W of Reykjavík, Iceland / pop: 113,906 / local time: 14:22:12.5 2014-09-11
640 km W of Ísafjörður, Iceland / pop: 2,534 / local time: 14:22:12.5 2014-09-11
102 km SE of Tasiilaq / pop: 1,829 / local time: 12:22:00.0 2014-09-11

MAGNITUDE 2.9 NORTHERN TEXAS, USA

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=399412

Subject To Change

Depth: 5 km

Distances: 15 km NW of Dallas, United States / pop: 1,197,816 / local time: 03:21:59.3 2014-09-11
4 km N of Irving, United States / pop: 216,290 / local time: 03:21:59.3 2014-09-11

MAGNITUDE 4.8 CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=399403

Subject To Change

Depth: 10 km

Distances: 1621 km SW of Praia, Cape Verde / pop: 113,364 / local time: 06:02:39.2 2014-09-11
1981 km SW of Bissau, Guinea-Bissau / pop: 388,028 / local time: 07:02:39.2 2014-09-11
1994 km SW of Banjul, Gambia / pop: 34,589 / local time: 07:02:39.2 2014-09-11

MAGNITUDE 4.9 OFF W COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=399395

Subject To Change

Depth: 30 km

Distances: 922 km W of Medan, Indonesia / pop: 1,750,971 / local time: 11:32:46.5 2014-09-11
632 km SW of Banda Aceh, Indonesia / pop: 250,757 / local time: 11:32:46.5 2014-09-11