La Palma volcano: Three more towns evacuated and firefighters forced to retreat amid intensifying volcanic explosions
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Three more towns have been evacuated and firefighters have been forced to retreat amid intensifying volcanic explosions on the island of the Palma in the Canaries.
Authorities ordered the evacuation of the towns of Tajuya, Tacande de Abajo and the part of Tacande de Arriba that had not already been evacuated due to a volcanic eruption.
Residents there were initially told to stay indoors but emergency services said they decided to take more serious precautions due to increased volcanic activity.
Firefighters also retreated from the town of Todoque due to the growing intensity of volcanic explosions and a “high presence of ash”, the fire service said on Twitter.
Crews had been leading clean-up efforts in the area when a new vent opened up in the flank of the volcano, with videos on social media showing a massive shockwave emanating from the site of the eruption.
“The volcano is in a newly explosive phase… firefighters will not operate anymore today,” the Tenerife fire service said.
The volcano erupted five days ago and has since destroyed almost 400 buildings, including many homes, on the western side of the island of 85,000 people.
Almost 7,000 people have had to flee their homes amid loud explosions, a large cloud of ash and a cracked fissure that has spewed out more lava.
The ash cloud, which rose four miles into the sky, forced regional airline Binter to cancel flights.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he and ministers plan to declare La Palma a “catastrophic zone” and provide aid to those affected.
No casualties have been yet been reported, which some say is due to the speed of the evacuations.
Spain’s National Geographic Institute recorded 1,130 earthquakes in the area over the past week – but said it had not registered any in the past 24 hours.
In a more positive sign, the advance of the main river of lava towards the sea slowed to one metre per hour.
Courtesy of Sky News
Madrid Paralysed’ by Heavy Snow Storms as Roads shut and Madrid Airport forced to Suspend Operations
Madrid Paralysed’ by Heavy Snow Storms as Roads shut and Madrid Airport forced to Suspend Operations.
The very heavy snow fall that was forecast by AEMET, the Spanish meteorological service, has tonight struck Spain’s capital Madrid.
Storm Filomena has kept all of Spain, except Melilla, on alert for intense cold, wind, rain and snow. The storm is affecting some 406 roads throughout Spain, 42 of them on the main network, according to an update by the General Directorate of Traffic. In addition, the secondary road network, 41, is on the black level, that means it is impassable and more than 200 roads are on the red level, with heavy vehicles now obligated to wear snow chains.
So far, up to 7:00 pm, there have been three flight diversions, one in Malaga, another in Córdoba and another in Tenerife North, and nine cancellations at Ceuta heliport.
In the capital, the M-30 ring road between the north junction and the Manoteras junction and the M-40 is cut into a small section. In this second route, snow chains are mandatory in the 60 kilometres of its journey.
The Community emergency service recommends not using private vehicles and reminds everyone of the obligation to use chains on their cars after ten at night. Also on the main network, the passage of traffic is completely interrupted in three kilometres in both directions of the CM-40 and another of the CM-42 as it passes through Toledo.
Courtesy of euroweeklynews.com
STORM DENNIS UPDATE: Hundreds of flights cancelled in the UK and army called in ahead of heavy winds and flooding #StormDENNIS #flights #planes #cancellations #army #SevereAlert #FloodAlert #gales #UK
Warnings are in place across the whole of the UK, while a month’s worth of rainfall is expected in places.
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and the army has been called in as Storm Dennis prepares to hit the UK with strong winds and flooding.
The UK is bracing for disruption as the “perfect storm” approaches, bringing gusts of up to 70mph (113kmph).
The storm could bring a month’s rainfall in one day and some parts of the country could see up to 12cm (4.7in).
More than 230 easyJet flights in and out of the UK have been cancelled due to the weather on Saturday.
British Airways has said most of its flights are scheduled to go ahead as planned, but it is expecting disruption due to strong winds.
As of 9.30am on Saturday, there were 14 flood warnings – meaning people should take immediate action as flooding is expected – and 140 flood alerts, which means flooding is possible.
Forecasters have issued separate weather warnings for rain and wind covering most of the UK until Monday.
This includes amber warnings from midday on Saturday over southern Scotland, northern England, Wales and part of the South West saying that flooding could cause a danger to life.
Troops are being deployed to help with flood preparations in the Calder Valley in West Yorkshire.
The Ministry of Justice has said 75 personnel based in Catterick and 70 reservists from Yorkshire are constructing around 700m of barriers, helping to repair defences and lay down sandbags.
Calderdale Council leader Tim Swift said: “The presence of army officers in Calderdale will be a reassuring sight for the many residents and businesses who are still recovering from Storm Ciara and preparing for Storm Dennis.
“Council staff, partners, volunteers and community groups have worked tirelessly all week and will continue to work around the clock for as long as necessary to help keep people safe and to manage the flood risk.”
A Royal Navy ship is assisting in a search and rescue operation off the coast of Margate, Kent, after a man was reported overboard from a vessel at around 5:41am on Saturday.
It it is not clear if the incident is connected to Storm Dennis.
RNLI lifeboats, a police boat and the coastguard helicopter are assisting with the Navy ship with the search.
The Met Office says Storm Dennis poses a greater risk of widespread flooding than Storm Ciara the weekend before.
The Environment Agency (EA) said this is due to rain falling on already saturated ground.
Power cuts are also expected and there is a good chance train and buses will see cancellations or delays and roads closed.
Courtesy of Sky News
Storm Ciara: Flights cancelled as epic winds cause transport chaos across Britain #StormCiara #SevereAlert #cancellations #flights #uk
FLIGHTS to and from UK have been cancelled due to growing concerns about Storm Ciara.
Met Office Weather warnings are in place for the whole of the UK on Sunday, ranked at either yellow or the more extreme amber. British Airways are offering flexible rebooking services in anticipation of the effects of the storm. On Saturday evening, the airline’s website wrote: “Like all airlines operating in to and out of the UK tomorrow, we are expecting to be impacted by the adverse weather conditions across parts of the UK on Sunday 9th February.
“We are sorry for the potential disruption to your travel plans and are doing all we can to minimise the effect the poor weather may have on our flights.
“We recognise the uncertainty that the bad weather may be causing customers, and have therefore introduced flexible rebooking options for all customers on domestic and European flights flying to/from London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London City on Sunday.”
Virgin Atlantic have cancelled 17 flights which are listed on their website.
These are flights with codes VS0020 08FEB20, VS0024 08FEB20, VS0156 08FEB20, VS0007 09FEB20, VS0019 09FEB20, VS0155 09FEB20, VS0010 08FEB20, VS0022 08FEB20, VS0104 08FEB20, VS0012 08FEB20, VS0012 08FEB20, VS0002 08FEB20, VS0045 09FEB20, VS0021 09FEB20, VS0103 09FEB20, VS0011 09FEB20 and VS0001 09FEB20.
Rail operators have urged Britons not to travel with reduced timetable set to be introduced.
Ferry passengers also face disruption.
As per the BBC, Heathrow has announced it has taken a decision with airlines to “consolidate” the Sunday flight schedule.
The Met Office have warned that the debris blown around the wind could pose a danger to life.
Northern Rail has imposed a speed restriction of 50mph on all trains.
Avanti West Coast, London North Eastern and South Western have said Sunday rail tickets will be valid on some Monday services.
It is the third storm of the 2019-20 season after Atiyah and Brendan.
The next will be called Storm Dennis.
Courtesy of express.co.uk
#RedAlert Issued as Severe #Storms, #Flooding and #Blizzards Hits Parts of #Spain
At least a foot of snow covers a driveway, gate and trees in Biar, Alicante. It is several kilometres inland from the coast
Spain’s Costa Blanca and Valencian coastline have been pummelled by a vicious storm this morning, shutting Alicante airport, flooding homes and blanketing areas with at least a foot of snow.
Flights to London, Newcastle, Bristol, Edinburgh and other major cities were cancelled as the airport shut for the day, forcing holidaymakers to either travel to a different airport or sit tight until the dangerous weather moved on.
Towering waves have been pictured slamming into the coastline while, in Denia, seawater was filmed gushing through the streets of the city.
Snow drifts have also built up inland as a seven-hour shower in Villena, Valencia, left the city’s 35,000 inhabitants cut off after up to three inch piles of the white stuff blocked roads.
A red alert was issued for Storm Gloria yesterday, before it smashed into the region, warning it would bring heavy rain, snow, up to 75mph winds and waves that could reach eight feet in height.
It is expected to move towards the north-west of Spain tomorrow, with the bad weather unlikely to subside before Wednesday, the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) said.
A 54-year-old Romanian woman died from hypothermia in Gandia, Valencia, following the vicious weather, local media reports. A 44-year-old man also died yesterday when he was run over by a van that lost control in snow-covered Santander, Asturias.
Terrifying footage shows waves sweeping into Denia, Alicante and appearing to surround people trapped in their cars.
The beach in Javea, further down the coast, has been pictured strewn with rubble and bits of wood washed up as the storm battered the headland.
Storefronts were also pictured smashed on the city’s contents, with glass panels and furniture strewn across the pavement outside.
Waves have been filmed rearing up to several feet high before slamming against the coastline in Calpe, Alicante, by the Alicante Meteorological Project.
The river Algar, in the mountains, has also been filmed bursting its banks and gushing over a tourist viewing platform at the Algar waterfall in a torrent of rapidly moving water.
As the storm hammered its way over the Spanish mainland the rain froze, causing a deluge of snow to fall over inland areas in the interior of Valencia and Alicante.
The 35,000 residents of Villen, Valencia, were isolated this morning after a seven-hour snowfall left snow drifts between two and three inches high blocking roads into and out of the town.
Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk
Historic Record #Snowfall in #Colorado, #USA
A mammoth winter storm that struck only Monday evening and buried some parts of Colorado under historic record snowfall began to leave the state Tuesday afternoon. It’s headed towards neighboring Nebraska to inflict its snowy misery on the Cornhusker State.
Colorado weathermen, however, are keeping their eyes on a second snowstorm system expected to arrive Friday. They predict a cold and dry Thanksgiving with lots of snow.
Monday’s winter storm dumped historic snowfall on Boulder and Fort Collins, said local TV station CBS4. Weathermen said many areas along the Front Range experienced the most snow in three years. Among these were the community of Drake with 33 inches of snow; Livermore with 32 inches; and Coal Creek Canyon with 30 inches.
Colorado officials reported the highest snow totals took place in the foothills of Boulder and Larimer Counties where snowfall hit 3 feet in some areas. Denver International Airport (DIA) officially reported 7 inches of snow as of 5:00 a.m. Tuesday.
Hundreds of flights to and from DIA were canceled Tuesday as maintenance crews worked feverishly to clear heavy snow from runways. DIA is the largest airport in North America by total land area and the second largest in the world.
More than 1,100 passengers were forced to spend Monday evening at the airport due to the heavy snowstorm, said airport spokeswoman Alex Renteria. She said airport employees handed out blankets, baby formula and diapers to stranded passengers while restaurants stayed open past their usual closing time to serve those stranded.
DIA reported 475 flights cancelled Tuesday. Airport crews deployed snowplows, sand trucks and 20 other types of equipmenty to clear and keep the runways open on Tuesday.
Oddly, and despite the snowstorm, most ski areas in Colorado have seen less snow than Denver and the Front Range. Local media said there is still plenty of fresh powder on the mountains ahead of Thanksgiving.
Courtesy of ibtimes.com
#Snowstorm in central #USA snarls #Thanksgiving travel plans
Photo: REUTERS/Bob Strong
A powerful snowstorm swept across Colorado and into the U.S. Midwest on Tuesday, blocking roads and causing hundreds of flight cancellations that threatened travel plans for many people hoping to fly or drive to Thanksgiving feasts this week.
The storm dumped a foot (30 cm) of snow in parts of Colorado and buffeted the Denver area with wind gusts of 45 miles per hour (72 kph). Nearly 500 flights were canceled and more than 350 delayed at Denver International Airport by Tuesday afternoon.
“We just landed at the Denver Airport! Crazy conditions. Literally 0 visibility,” Amber Kimbrell, a high school science teacher from Huntsville, Alabama, said in a Twitter message. She posted a photo of a runway covered in white.
Some 55 million travelers planned to fly or drive at least 50 miles (80 km) from their homes for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, according to the American Automobile Association, but the snow will likely alter those plans for many.
“Nothing like starting Thanksgiving break with boarding the plane in the snow, sitting on the tarmac for 2 hours,” Jude Matyo-Cepero, a University of Nebraska professor, wrote on Instagram.
By early Tuesday afternoon, the storm was pushing northeast, with parts of northwest Kansas and western Nebraska reporting snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm), coupled with winds of 50 mph (80 kph), the National Weather Service said.
Treacherous conditions forced the closure of eastbound Interstate 70 from east of Denver to the Kansas state line, and Interstate 76 from Denver northeast to the Nebraska state line, the Colorado Department of Transportation said. Officials advised drivers to stay off the roads, with strong winds creating white-out conditions across the region.
Schools and many retailers in the Denver metropolitan area were closed. But grocery stores, already well-stocked ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, were ready for a deluge of customers.
“So far so good. It doesn’t seem to be impacting us much,” Phil Vanderlaan, a cashier at a Safeway store in Denver, said by phone. “Probably later throughout the day it might.”
A stronger storm was expected to hit Northern California and Oregon by Tuesday night, the weather service said, which may drop 1 feet to 3 feet (30 to 90 cm) of snow across mountainous areas.
Courtesy of reuters.com
Heavy #Rain Causes #Flood Chaos in #Cairo, #Egypt
Photo By @minafkamel
Hours of heavy on 22 October, 2019, caused flash flooding across parts of Cairo, Egypt.
Northeastern parts of Greater Cairo were the worst affected, including Nasr City and areas around Cairo’s international airport. Flights were delayed after flooding damaged a terminal building and blocked surrounding roads preventing passengers from reaching the airport.
Locals blamed the city’s poor drainage systems for the flooding, which caused traffic chaos on the city’s streets. Schools and universities have been closed in parts of Cairo, Giza and Qalyubia.
Local media reported that one person died as a result of flooding in 10th of Ramadan City, Greater Cairo.
Earlier Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA) had warned of unstable weather in the country which is likely to last until at least Friday 25 October, 2019.
Courtesy of floodlist.com
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