Tropical Storm Grace makes an entrance on stage right

We have a strong tropical storm in the Atlantic Basin!!! What?! That's right... Tropical Storm Grace. Packing winds of 70mph, itty bitty Tropical Storm Grace is expected to remain harmless, but she is expected to turn toward Europe and cause some waves in Portugal and Spain.... and possibly head toward Ireland? Interesting. Fortunately, she is not expected to get to be more than a tropical storm.

Analysis of Grace


Now, in the western Pacific, we have a totally different tale, amidst, earthquake and tsunami recovery... deadly flooding after a drenching tropical storm, Typhoon Parma barely missed Manila. With already 300 deaths in that area, the near miss, was a prayer answered. Instead of additional and compounded loss of life, only 16 succumbed to the grips of Typhoon Parma, now just a spinning tropical storm, held in position by SUPER TYPHOON MELOR... (really a beauty, as far as storms go...)

Sunday morning Melor was a super typhoon spinning about 240 miles west-northwest of Saipan, packing sustained 167-mph winds and 200-mph gusts at its center — equal to a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic
~source

...which is actually on track for skimming by Tokyo, but fortunately just as the equivalent of a category 1 hurricane. Let's pray they are right about the intensity forecast...

Have a super day!
~Dewdrop

A second earthquake in Indonesia causes death toll to surge

SKY WATCH FRIDAY time! Welcome all sky fans!!! I might not have time to respond to you, but I will try my best to visit!!!

Our hosts: Klaus Sandy Ivar Wren Louise Fishing Guy

Thanks, also,to Dot and Tom, who were instrumental in the success of this blogging event. You should definitely come fly with us!
Today's shot is one of my favorites involving crepuscular rays... actually, it was taken Tuesday. Crepuscular rays are beams of light radiating from the sun, in this case extending from the horizon before sunrise, almost looking like a fan of light. You see crepuscular rays because of dust of haze in the atmosphere, actually obstructing light, which makes the sunlight more apparent. They are named for their typical appearance during crepuscular hours when the differences between light and dark are more obvious. Incidentally, the illusion that they are converging at sunrise is just that. They actually run parallel to each other. I love how this one actually looks like spotlights.

Turmoil in Indonesia
The death toll in Sumatra, Indonesia has tripled since the initial reports to now a shocking 467 529 777 lives lost in the earthquakes there yesterday. After the first 7.6 magnitude, a second 6.9 magnitude quake struck that killed more people...

529 confirmed dead and thousands feared trapped in rubble in western Indonesia as second quake strikes 180 miles from first. The second powerful earthquake has hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra, a day after the first devastating quake left more than 500 dead, thousands of people buried in rubble and a major city cut off from the outside world. At least 500 buildings in the city, including two major hospitals, collapsed in the quake. Its epicentre was reported to be about 30 miles offshore from Padang, a city of 900,000, at a depth of about 53 miles. Padang lies on one of the world's most active fault lines, which was responsible for the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami that killed more than 220,000 people on Boxing Day 2004.
source

The strong expectation is that this number will continue to rise drastically.

Outside of that horror, back in the states, the weather is expected to get bad in the midsection. An area of slight risk for severe weather, including an unlikely risk for tornado development exists in the plains. It's not looking as enticing as it had been, as the thermodynamics might not support the outbreak initially suggested. It looks like the atmosphere might not unleash the instability, leaving things tightly capped... then, there is the possibility that it will all squall out and be a big wind event. Sorry plains chasers... welcome to my world. Should the cap break, the rest of the dynamics support activity, so people in that area should remain mindful of changing conditions in the weather. The maps are linked to the current activity, so you can get updates by clicking on the images.

Have a great day... continued prayers.
~Dewdrop

Earthquakes and floods and tornadoes?? Oh my.

My heart breaks for the people who have been impacted by Tropical Storm/Typhoon Ketsana. I heard this morning that the death toll has risen into the hundreds. How horrible. Was it the inadequate structure, lack of warning to the public, or did they just have nowhere to go. There are, sadly, a few storms on the heels of Ketsana, so that already devastated region should brace themselves. How horrible.

Aside from that, earthquakes have ravaged the Pacific, especially near Sumatra, Indonesia, where a major earthquake (magnitude of 7.6) struck this morning, stirring tsunami warnings, around Indonesia. Yesterday, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8 struck the Samoa region, spawning a tsunami, crashing a mile inland, which left a wake of disaster, as well as stealing 100 lives.

List of major earthquakes over the last two days
Sept. 29: A pickup truck lies under a pile of rubble from a business structure in Pago Pago, American Samoa after tsunami waves swept ashore. A powerful Pacific Ocean earthquake spawned towering tsunami waves that hit Samoa and American Samoa, flooding and flattening villages, killing at least 99 people and leaving dozens missing.Source: AP
Sept. 29: The aftermath of a Tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake is seen in Pago Pago village, on American Samoa. Source: AP2009
Sept. 29: People walk among a scene of devastation following a powerful earthquake in Pago Pago village, on American Samoa. The quake in the South Pacific hurled massive tsunami waves at the shores of Samoa and American Samoa, flattening villages and sweeping cars and people back out to sea while leaving scores dead and dozens missing.Source: AP2009 The people in these regions are in dire need of our prayers.

Outside of earthquakes and floods, we actually have our first severe weather set-up of the fall season taking shape for today and tomorrow in the midwest. Storm chasers are chomping at the bit after a groggy summer of blah-ness.It looks like the bulk of the threat has been shifted to tomorrow and, therefore, further east, putting Missouri and Arkansas in the bullseye for action. As it moves into Friday, it places a measly "see text" message for my neck of the woods, where they are outlining a silent slight risk for severe weather because they just don't think sufficient shear and instability will exist here on Friday for a major outbreak, but isolated severe can be expected.
For the past two mornings, I have been blessed with a couple of amazing sunrises. I want to yesterday's for sky watch, but this morning's was wonderfully spectacular, so here you go...Have a blessed day!
~Dewdrop