This year saw some of the highest recorded pollen counts in history, which had cities from Europe to the US covered in clouds of pollen as a result of global warming. A spike in South Africa's pollen production has also been flagged by local scientists who are calling for an urgent expansion of the country's pollen monitoring programme. Prof Jonny Peter, Head of the … [Read more...]
Vietnam’s poorest worst hit by Typhoon Doksuri
Six people lost their lives when Typhoon Doksuri smashed into central Vietnam on September 16, the most powerful storm in a decade to hit the country. Although widespread evacuations prevented a higher death toll, the impact on the region’s most vulnerable people will be extensive and lasting. Government sources report that more than 193,000 properties have been damaged, … [Read more...]
DA’s Maimane to visit fire-ravaged Knysna
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane will on Monday visit Knysna in the wake of the devastating fires which have claimed the lives of seven people, including children and left widespread damage across the region. Maimane will visit residents affected by the inferno and assess the damage caused. More than 12,000 people were evacuated from their homes due to the … [Read more...]
No end in sight for Joburg’s storm of the century
The South African weather services has warned that extreme weather conditions – which have led to heavy rain, strong winds, thunderstorms and flash floods – is likely to continue on Friday. The thunderstorms which have hit Joburg – causing chaos in the East Rand in particular – has been described as a “once in a century” storm. Flash floods have already claimed at least 6 … [Read more...]
A Message of Hope and Inspiration
My friends, do not lose heart. We were made for these times. I have heard from so many recently who are deeply and properly bewildered. They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world now. Ours is a time of almost daily astonishment and often righteous rage over the latest degradations of what matters most to civilized, visionary people. You are right in your … [Read more...]
Climate change fuelled storms cost China $2.6 bln in 2013
Climate change fuelled storm waves and rising sea levels cost China 16.3 billion yuan ($2.6 bln) and killed 121 people in 2013, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said. China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases which scientists say is driving climate change. Southern Guangdong province was hit hardest, recording 7.4 billion yuan worth of damage, the SOA … [Read more...]
Deliberate landslide in storm-hit Dawlish brings red seas
These pictures show a deliberate landslip at Dawlish, England that has turned the sea red after tonnes of earth and stone fell into the water. Specialist fire crews helped set off a controlled landslide above the Dawlish to Teignmouth rail track where workmen are battling to reopen the line. The operation has been planned by Network Rail since the storm of February 14 and … [Read more...]
Flooding concerns rise in Europe
Areas in the United Kingdom and western Europe will continue to have persistent rain this week as flooding concerns rise. The active weather pattern has already brought a stream of storms and heavy rain for the past weeks which have left some parts of the United Kingdom under water. More floods on the way A storm brought rain on Tuesday and two more storms will result in … [Read more...]
Stand with the Philippines
The horror of what's happened in the Philippines is unimaginable. Ten thousand people wiped away by a 25ft wall of water driven by 300km/h winds. A city of 200,000 people looks like a nuclear bomb hit it. It's the worst storm on record, but it's just the beginning, unless we act. Right now the world's powers are in a global climate conference talking about whether to hand … [Read more...]
Storm threatens Knysna’s oil spill cleanup
Almost a week later, and the Kiani Satu cargo ship remains stranded off the coast of Buffels Bay, Knysna. Officials are working hard and fighting the elements to float the vessel away from the protected coastline. Saturday morning 3 tonnes of oil had spilled into the ocean. By Monday 15 tonnes had entered the marine protected coastline of the Goukamma Nature Reserve, which … [Read more...]
A rough summer for Mindanao
A top-level crisis management team should be assigned in Mindanao to address challenges in areas badly hit by typhoon “Pablo.” The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) aired this proposal yesterday, citing the “rising death toll, the extent of damages, and the looming humanitarian crisis” as a result of the powerful storm. Mindanao is the second largest island in the … [Read more...]
Climate change is now reality
As governments meet for climate talks in Doha, Greenpeace warned on Monday that they must wake up to the reality that climate change is already gripping the planet and take urgent action to avoid catastrophic global warming. This year has already seen devastating storms, droughts and floods causing significant loss of life, including in the US, China, India, Africa and … [Read more...]
Weather & season song
in this cape of storms waves rear on hind legs like polar bears slashing the sky. gale wind drives rain parallel to the earth through the vineyard, splitting the oak, flooding the Flats, cracking the sea wall like an egg shell. sweating dog summers pant and howl in the face of a fynbos fire that chokes the air and hurls pine cone grenades at houses and sears … [Read more...]
