Hurricane Bill, August 19, 2009. Credit: MODIS/NASA/NOAA
STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
1/3RD OF SHIPS DESTROYED
REVELATION 8:8-9
8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
HURRICANE BILL VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkhGunBaiXE&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRCVhsYPfWI&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBeeYmWMLOg&feature=player_embedded
GET READY NOVA SCOTIA PRAY THAT GOD WILL PROTECT YOU FROM DESTRUCTION.
AT 11:50AM 14,000 HOMES IN SOUTHWEST ARE IN THE DARK IN NOVA SCOTIA FROM THE HIGH WINDS AND RAGEING WAVES.THE STORM IS 125 MILES AWAY YET.I WILL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE.WINDS ARE 70 - 140 KMH.EXPECTED AMOUNT OF RAIN IN THE AREA 100 - 150 MM.
Bill roars along Atlantic coast Halifax — From Monday's Globe and Mail
Last updated on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009 07:59PM EDT
Hurricane Bill roared alongside Nova Scotia Sunday, lashing the province with heavy rain and stiff winds that downed numerous trees, blacked out power to tens of thousands and caused flooding in several areas.The weather system then moved overnight toward Newfoundland, where it was expected to be a marginal Category 1 hurricane or a tropical storm by the time it made landfall.The eye was projected to pass near the French territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon before coming ashore in the vicinity of the sparsely populated Burin Peninsula, several hundred kilometres southwest of St. John's.One resident of Burin Bay Arm said she and her husband are well prepared and have backup power in case the hydro goes out. But Carolyn Harding said they're not expecting anything too unusual.We're used to high winds, she said. I personally have been blown away three times.The edges of the hurricane dumped heavy rain on Nova Scotia as it moved up the province's Atlantic coast. The airport in Yarmouth received 65 millimetres of rain and Halifax recorded 55 millimetres. Winds in several locations were measured in the range of 80 to 90 kilometres an hour.There were no reports of deaths or serious injuries, though, a lucky turn of events considering that storm-watchers had congregated in several exposed locations, extremely risky behaviour that left emergency officials cringing.Some of these voyeurs were on the rocks at Peggys Cove, a popular tourist destination about 50 kilometres from Halifax. The spot can be dangerous at the best of times and signs warn visitors to stay back from the water.
Early Sunday morning, with poor visibility and violent waves building, local photographer Peter Steeper was shocked to see people, some of them from the area, and who should know better,close to the water's edge. He was well back, he said, shooting the growing fury of Hurricane Bill with a long lens, when he saw one group of gawkers dodge disaster.One very large wave came and went up over the area people had been standing 15 minutes before,he said.It was pure chance that they'd moved in time ... I'd been watching for half an hour and wouldn't have expected that [wave] to go so far.Reports of such behaviour had Peter Bowyer, program supervisor with the Canadian Hurricane Centre, shaking his head. Along with other emergency officials, he had been trying to warn people about the risks associated with the approaching storm.I know that people find the waves beautiful, and they are, but they have to be admired from a distance,he said. With Peggys Cove, to be anywhere near the rocks is just insane.
One woman in downtown Halifax admitted she had been nervous waiting for her husband and children to return from a trip to watch the pounding surf.It wasn't such a safe thing to do, I guess,she said, declining to give her name.Police ultimately closed the roads leading to several exposed viewing spots, including Peggys Cove.But Mr. Bowyer warned in a mid-afternoon interview, as the worst of the storm marched toward Cape Breton, that its dangers were not restricted to the waves. He said that flying debris can act as shrapnel and that he has in the past encouraged television reporters not to take unnecessary risks doing their stand-ups.To be out in a hurricane ... that doesn't seem to be common sense,he said.It's just a matter of time before we'll be watching a live scene and we'll see some guy get decapitated.The full power of Bill's winds was recorded at weather buoys offshore. One of these, on the LaHave bank south of Yarmouth, measured a maximum significant wave of 13.4 metres with a maximum wave height of 26.4 metres,according a statement yesterday evening from the Canadian Hurricane Centre. The wind speed there was recorded at 135 kilometres an hour.The envelope of high seas carried with Hurricane Bill will strike coastal regions of Newfoundland facing the brunt of Bill,the statement warned.A storm-surge warning is in effect for the southeastern-most portions of Newfoundland as the centre of Bill is expected to track across land there.The mayor of St. Lawrence, a town of 1,350 on the Burin Peninsula, said they were in a waiting game.Other than cleaning out storm sewers, culverts, bridges, drains, etc., and making certain they are free of debris and that emergency personnel are ready on standby, there is very little anyone can do but wait,Wayde Rowsell wrote in an e-mail exchange.
Weakened Hurricane Bill heads for Nova Scotia,Swimmers are kept out of the water in New England and New York, but damage is minor.The Associated Press,August 23, 2009 | 4:28 p.m.
EDGARTOWN, Mass. - Hurricane Bill kept many beaches closed to swimmers Sunday in New York and New England, but caused little damage as it headed for Nova Scotia.Early Sunday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said the tropical storm warning was lifted for the Massachusetts coastline, including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.Dozens of people showed up at South Beach on Martha's Vineyard with their cameras and camcorders to watch the big waves and churning Atlantic.Several people even decided to wade into the water, despite the warnings of lifeguards about the dangerous rip currents.It's just crazy out there, said James Costantini, 19, a lifeguard in Edgertown.For Martha's Vineyard, for what we're used to, it's a 10 out of 10 in terms of danger. People should not be going in the water, should not be even close.
Residents, including 84-year-old Justin Wyner, were relieved that property damage was kept to a minimum. The water was reaching the top of the dunes, and some lifeguard stands had been damaged by waves, but flooding was minimal.The hurricane was expected to bring up to 7 inches of rain to Nova Scotia, and was expected to approach Newfoundland by Sunday night.More than 50 flights at Halifax airport were canceled through Sunday, and flights in and out of Moncton, New Brunswick were canceled through the afternoon. Also, a ferry service between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland was suspended for the day.Provincial parks in Nova Scotia were shut down and people were advised to stay clear of beaches.Power outages were reported across Nova Scotia's southern shore, and some roadways near the province's coastline were closed, the Canadian Hurricane Centre said.Southwestern Nova Scotia could get whipped by 55-mph winds, while eastern regions of the province and Cape Breton Island of could see gusts of more than 60 mph, the Canadian Hurricane Centre said.Late Sunday or Monday, the storm is expected to make landfall in Newfoundland, where tropical storm watches are in effect for the entire province, with the lone exception of the Northern Peninsula.By early afternoon Sunday, the storm had maximum sustained winds near 80 mph (130 kph) and was moving north at 35 mph. The storm is expected to weaken as it moves over cooler waters.Strong rip currents were keeping swimmers out of the water Sunday at beaches along the New Jersey shore and in New York.New York's Rockaway Beach was closed to swimmers, but not surfers, and the beach was open.State parks spokesman George Gorman says almost 2,000 surfers showed up at Montauk -- the most ever counted there. They enjoyed waves that reached as high as 16 feet.
At Jones Beach State Park, high tide brought in so much water that it left behind giant shallow ponds of sea water in the middle of the sand.In Florida, officials said a 54-year-old man has died in rough waves fueled by Hurricane Bill.Volusia County Beach Patrol Capt. Scott Petersohn said Angel Rosa of Orlando washed ashore unconscious Saturday afternoon on New Smyrna Beach. Autopsy results are pending. Petersohn says Rosa's death was suspected to be storm-related.
Hurricane wave sweeps Maine spectators out to sea Sunday, August 23, 2009. AUG 23,4:30PM
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, Maine – Officials say a large wave in Maine swept five people into the sea and three are still missing.A crowd at Acadia National Park had been gathered on some rocks Sunday watching the surf when the wave washed over them. Two people have been recovered. The Coast Guard and search crews are looking for the three others.Park ranger Sonya Berger says the wave is the effects of Hurricane Bill and high tide.A 54-year-old swimmer was killed Saturday in Florida in rough waves fueled by Bill. Volusia County Beach Patrol Capt. Scott Petersohn said Angel Rosa of Orlando was unconscious when he washed ashore at New Smyrna Beach. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.The National Hurricane Center says Bill was about 60 miles east-southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Sunday afternoon.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
EDGARTOWN, Mass. (AP) — Hurricane Bill caused some dangerous surf and was being blamed for at least one death, but it moved away from New England on Sunday in time for the president to begin his Martha's Vineyard vacation.The National Hurricane Center had lifted the tropical storm warning for the Massachusetts' coastline, including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket early Sunday morning, and President Barack Obama and his family arrived on Cape Cod on Sunday afternoon after the storm had passed well to the east.The storm caused high waves and heavy surf across the Northeast. Several people were swept into the ocean at Acadia National Park in Maine where a rescue effort was under way Sunday afternoon.Bill was about 60 miles east-southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Sunday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center. Its maximum sustained winds had dropped to 80 mph, and it was moving northeast at 35 mph. The storm is expected to continue to weaken as it moves over cooler waters.
The first storm-related death was reported in Florida. A 54-year-old swimmer was killed Saturday in rough waves fueled by Bill. Volusia County Beach Patrol Capt. Scott Petersohn said Angel Rosa of Orlando was unconscious when he washed ashore at New Smyrna Beach along the central Florida coast. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.Lifeguards there also rescued a handful of other swimmers with suspected spinal injuries.Several people also had to be rescued from the water in Massachusetts, including a couple of kayakers who got stranded in the heavy seas off Plymouth, said Peter Judge, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.He said strong rip tides and beach erosion were the biggest concerns Sunday.
We're not aware of anything major, houses being washed into the sea or anything like that,he said.Our biggest thing right now is just the rough surf.Dozens of people showed up at South Beach on Martha's Vineyard with their cameras and camcorders to watch the big waves and churning Atlantic.Tony Dorsey of Gofftown, N.H., has a camp on the Vineyard. He said the waves came up to the top of the dunes at South Beach during high tide, and included good-size rollers.It overwhelmed the beach, he said. It reformed the beach. It's not destroyed a lot, but it's going to reshape the beach.
In Canada, the hurricane was expected to bring up to 7 inches of rain to Nova Scotia and was expected to approach Newfoundland by Sunday night. Power outages were reported across Nova Scotia's southern shore, and some roadways near the province's coastline were closed.The storm drew onlookers hoping to catch a glimpse of crashing waves as it marched through Atlantic Canada.Despite repeated warnings, people gathered in Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, and along the boardwalk in downtown Halifax as swells grew steadily in strength and size.So far, it's pretty wild,said Heather Wright, who was walking along the Halifax harbor. We're not going right to the edges or nothing. And we're here mainly to sightsee a bit and go back home and ride it out.
Craig MacLaughlan, CEO of Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Office, said no major damage has been reported in the province. We can be blessed that it has moved off a bit and that we're not getting some of the damage that we thought (we would),he said.
The storm delayed or halted ferry services from New York to Maine, and kept many beaches closed. In Montauk, N.Y., swimmers weren't allowed in the water, but surfers were out riding the waves. State parks spokesman George Gorman said almost 2,000 surfers showed up at Montauk on Sunday — the most ever counted there. They enjoyed waves that reached as high as 16 feet.Some areas that had prepared for the worst saw nothing. Libby Russ, who owns the Three Belles Marina in Niantic, Conn., said a few swimming floats were hauled in from Long Island Sound on Saturday, but that was the extent of the excitement.We didn't have a stitch of breeze,said Libby.Associated Press Writers Jennifer Kay in Miami; Pat Eaton-Robb in Hartford; Bruce Shipkowski in Trenton, N.J.; and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.
Hurricane Bill blasts N.S. with wind, rain Sunday, August 23, 2009 | 2:02 PM ET CBC News
Wave watchers at Peggys Cove around 8:00 a.m. on Sunday. Peter Steeper, who took this photo, says the rock was swamped about 20 minutes later, but fortunately everyone had moved back. (Peter Steeper) Hurricane Bill brought high winds, heavy rain and dangerous surf to Nova Scotia as it blew into the region as a Category 1 storm on Sunday.Bill knocked out power to thousands, flooded some roads and disrupted travel plans.The storm was about 140 kilometres south of Halifax at noon AT Sunday, moving northeast at about 54 km/h. It was expected to move into Cape Breton late in the afternoon or early evening, with sustained winds of 120 km/h.The storm was expected to maintain hurricane strength until it moves into the Cabot Strait and into Newfoundland.As the hurricane moved into the Atlantic region Sunday morning, Bill made its presence felt. Conditions were deteriorating by the hour, prompting the Canadian Hurricane Centre to urge everyone to stay away from the Atlantic coastline because of the dangerous waves.This is not something to be taken lightly,said Peter Bowyer, the centre's program manager.By 11 a.m., winds were gusting to 70 km/h in Yarmouth and 56 km/h at the Halifax airport, said CBC meteorologist Peter Coade.The RCMP closed the highway into Peggys Cove, as well as the road near Lawrencetown Beach, east of Dartmouth, and Cow Bay Road near the causeway.Police said several cars had gone off the road because of heavy rains and localized flooding in the Halifax area. Drivers were urged to stay off Highway 101.
Power outages
By 2:30 p.m., about 21,000 homes and businesses were without power. There were outages in Bridgewater, Kentville, Canning, Liverpool, Dartmouth, Halifax, Windsor, and St. Margarets Bay, as well as parts of Cape Breton County.Stacey Pinot, spokeswoman for Nova Scotia Power, said most people should get their electricity back by Sunday evening, though it will take longer for others.We're certainly hopeful that it will be tomorrow, but until we know the full extent of the damage, we can't say for certain,Pinot said.While Nova Scotia's Atlantic coast remained under a storm warning, a hurricane watch continued for eastern mainland Nova Scotia and southern Cape Breton, with potential winds of 120 km/h and gusts of up to 140 km/h.Residents along the Atlantic coast were warned to expect between 70-90 millimetres of rain, though some areas could be swamped with as much as 150 mm. Northern Nova Scotia was expecting between 50-70 mm, while P.E.I. was expecting between 40-50 mm.Dozens of arrival and departure flights at the Halifax airport were cancelled Sunday, and a ferry service between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland was suspended for the day.
Provincial parks in Nova Scotia were shut down and people were advised to stay clear of beaches.The waves, they're very pretty to look at but very dangerous,said Barry Manuel of the Halifax Emergency Management Office.
Rain on P.E.I.
On Prince Edward Island, people were taking no chances with the weather as they hauled boats out of the water and secured things around their houses. By late morning, however, there was still little sign a storm was coming. There was no rain in Charlottetown and winds were blowing at about 20 km/h. Some rain was falling in western parts of the province.The Canada Games on the Island reached the midpoint Sunday, with no events scheduled. Whitehorse runner Brittany Pearson was on the track practising Sunday morning and she was looking forward to a storm.I'm pretty excited, actually, because there's no such thing as a natural disaster in Whitehorse, so this is going to be a new experience,said Pearson.Pearson is scheduled for the five-kilometre run Monday evening and is hopeful the weather will have cleared so it will go ahead.Ray Campbell, a fisherman from Covehead on the North Shore, was not so keen about Bill, particularly with the winds forecast to blow out of the north.In this case the North Shore is going to be more vulnerable. Last time it was the South Shore, because it came from the south, so it devastated over here,said Campbell. This time the North Shore is going to be on the receiving end of it.On Monday, the storm is expected to make landfall in Newfoundland, where tropical storm watches are in effect for the entire province, with the exception of the Northern Peninsula.
Hurricane Bill moved past Bermuda on Saturday, leaving behind sunny skies, debris and flooding, but no casualties. The storm cut power to about 3,700 customers and flooded some roads. All ferry service was cancelled until Sunday.U.S. President Barack Obama took no chances and planned a later arrival for his family vacation at Martha's Vineyard, which remained under a tropical storm warning early Sunday.Elsewhere, forecasters said Sunday that Tropical Storm Hilda had strengthened slightly far out in the Pacific but was not threatening land.With files from The Associated Press
Hurricane Bill drenches Nova Scotia
THE CANADIAN PRESS AUG 23,09 12:20PM
HALIFAX – Hurricane Bill has brought a steady downpour to parts of Nova Scotia, along with curious onlookers hoping to catch a glimpse of crashing waves, as it continues its path into Atlantic Canada, the Canadian Hurricane Centre said today.Peter Bowyer, the centre's program supervisor, said police have reported some people were lining up along picturesque Peggy's Cove, N.S., a venture he warned against.We just want to emphasize the danger of the kind of waves that are coming into the coastline,Bowyer told a news conference.If you want to enjoy them, enjoy them from a distance. Do not enjoy them up-close-and-personal because your enjoyment can end very quickly.The weakening Category 1 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometres per hour, has forced the cancellation of dozens of flights in the province's capital city.As of 9 a.m. Sunday, the eye of the storm was 150 kilometres south southeast of Yarmouth on the southwestern tip of Nova Scotia, the centre said.
The storm was moving northeast at 48 km/h, a quick pace for a hurricane.
Dozens of arrival and departure flights at the Halifax airport have been cancelled, and Marine Atlantic has cancelled its ferry runs between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland for the day.Heavy rainfall ranging from 75 to 150 millimetres is expected over Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and southern Newfoundland.The centre warned that localized flooding can be expected in some areas and that strong winds could down trees and utility lines.It also warned that heavy surf with waves up to 10 metres could hit the coasts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, eroding shorelines and damaging wharves.The storm is expected to make landfall in Newfoundland on Monday.
Hurricane Bill weakening, but still packing a punch
By Richard Foot, Canwest News ServiceAugust 23, 2009 10:30 AM
HALIFAX -- Hurricane Bill began lashing southwest Nova Scotia on Sunday morning, and is expected to churn along the coast through the day, throwing its heaviest winds and rains on the northeast shore and at Cape Breton before moving onto Newfoundland by nightfall.Officials at the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Halifax said the storm - which arrived as a category 1 hurricane at daybreak - was weakening and expected to diminish to a tropical storm by the time it made its first actual landfall on the Burin Peninsula of southeastern Newfoundland.It came into Maritime waters a little weaker than we expected,said Peter Bowyer, a Hurricane Centre forecaster.It's still a very large storm, but what we've seen in the overnight is that the vast majority of gale force winds have pushed off into the open water.We're still expecting it to be very very close to hurricane strength, but not quite hurricane strength, when it reaches Newfoundland tonight.Bill remains a vast geographic storm - 750 kilometres in diameter - however its most serious winds are now occurring on its eastern side. That's not good news for ships at sea, or East Coast oil and gas platforms, but it means the worst of its winds are unlikely to affect people and communities on shore, said Bowyer.Winds of up to 130 km/h were recorded Sunday morning on marine buoys off the south coast of Nova Scotia.Hurricane force winds above 100 km/h, heavy rains of up to 150 millimetres, and incoming waves eight to 10 metres high are still expected throughout the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, lessening somewhat as the storm approaches Newfoundland.Ocean storm surges and flooding are also expected on the coast of Cape Breton and across Placentia Bay in Newfoundland.Heavy rains are forecast across Nova Scotia, eastern P.E.I. and southern New Brunswick.Bowyer castigated the crowds of sightseers that have been gathering to gawk at the high waves crashing on the famous rocks at Peggy's Cove, N.S.We asked people not to do that, but they're doing it anyway,said Bowyer.Cars at Peggy's Cove were lined up out to the highway, and people were all out on the rocks. We want to emphasize the danger of these kinds of waves coming into the coastline. This is not something to be taken lightly.
The RCMP and the Lifesaving Society of Nova Scotia have also warned the public to be vigilant around the province's beaches. Most residents in coastal towns and cities are simply hunkering down Sunday as the storm approached. Although essential services such as hospitals remain open, flights are shut down at Halifax international airport, the ferry service was suspended between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia and P.E.I.All provincial parks in Nova Scotia are closed.Authorities who run the suspension bridges across Halifax harbour also warned the bridges might be shut down if winds get too high.The Nova Scotia government's Emergency Measures program was activated Sunday morning, and awaiting damage reports from across the province.In the town of Canso, N.S. - where Bill is expected to come very close Sunday afternoon - the volunteers at the local Lions Club were hooking up generators and propane stoves, preparing to cook meals for town residents who might lose power.
The community is prepared as well as any community could be,said Ray White, the town's former mayor. People here are used to strong winds and difficult weather.Tens of thousands of people in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island lost power and other services for several days after hurricane Juan struck the region in September, 2003. By mid-morning Sunday, only one minor power outage, affecting about 100 people, was reported in southwest Nova Scotia as a result of hurricane Bill.Canwest News Service
Nova Scotians bracing for hurricane Bill Aug 23, 2009 04:30 AM
The Canadian Press
HALIFAX–Store lineups were longer than usual yesterday as Nova Scotians stocked up on food, beverages and other necessities in preparation for the impending arrival of a nasty guest.Hurricane Bill, an unruly giant spanning 750 kilometres from tip to swirling tip, was expected to hit Atlantic Canada early today as a Category 1 hurricane. As such, it would pack heavy rains and be capable of uprooting trees, tearing down electrical lines and toppling utility poles.The hurricane is expected to pass by eastern Cape Breton by nightfall today and make landfall over the French islands of St-Pierre-Miquelon, followed by Newfoundland's Burin Peninsula by tomorrow. It is not expected to strengthen in intensity along the way and may even weaken.Rainfall warnings of up to 150 milimetres were issued for all of Nova Scotia and eastern Prince Edward Island for today.In Nova Scotia, provincial parks were closed and people were advised to stay away from beaches.
Hurricane Bill spinning past New England shores By JASON BRONIS, Associated Press Writer – AUG 23,09 8:30AM
EDGARTOWN, Mass. – Hurricane Bill taunted the New England coastline from a distance Sunday, after closing beaches and setting off a string of safety warnings for weekend boaters, swimmers and surfers along the eastern seaboard.President Barack Obama took no chances and planned a later arrival for his family vacation at Martha's Vineyard.
Early Sunday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said the tropical storm warning was lifted for the Massachusetts' coastline, including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.
Forecasters said that the hurricane was moving away from the New England coast offshore and closer to Nova Scotia, and was expected to approach Newfoundland by Sunday night. By early Sunday, it was about 175 miles (285 km) south-southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, according to the National Hurricane Center.Dozens of arrival and departure flights at the Halifax airport in Nova Scotia were canceled Sunday, and a ferry service between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland was suspended for the day.
Provincial parks in Nova Scotia were shut down and people were advised to stay clear of beaches.The waves, they're very pretty to look at but very dangerous,said Barry Manuel of the Halifax Emergency Management Office.The Canadian Hurricane Center said southwestern Nova Scotia could get whipped by 55 mph winds Sunday, while eastern regions of the province and Cape Breton Island of could see gusts of more than 60 mph.
On Monday, the storm is expected to make landfall in Newfoundland, where tropical storm watches are in effect for the entire province, with the lone exception of the Northern Peninsula.Early Sunday, the storm had maximum sustained winds near 85 mph (140 kph) and was moving 31 mph in a northeast direction. The storm is expected to weaken as it moves over cooler waters.Even as it weakened to a Category 1 hurricane Saturday, the tempest churned up rough seas and dangerous rip tides.The Obamas delayed their planned Sunday morning departure from Andrews Air Force Base to Sunday mid-afternoon because of the weather, White House aides said. The worst of Bill was expected to pass east of Martha's Vineyard before the Obamas arrival.As plans changed Saturday for the first family, nearly all south-facing beaches on the island were closed to swimmers and large signs blocked roadways to shorefronts. Lifeguards used caution tape to rope off access points, and police patrolled the beach to enforce the closings.The concern we have now is that the riptides are very strong, said lifeguard James Costantini.There's a very strong undertow.But longtime Vineyard vacationer Jack DeCoste, 69, of Plymouth, Mass., was unimpressed with the storm as he lounged in a beach chair in Edgartown.I don't think it's going to impact things that much, DeCoste said. "I think it'll be in and out of here fairly quickly.At Robert Moses State Park in New York, the beach was shut down as the high tide submerged the sand, though the beach opened later for sunbathing. Along some beaches in Delaware and New Jersey, no swimming was allowed.It's just too dangerous right now,Rehoboth Beach Patrol Capt. Kent Buckson said.The same high waves that worried safety officials, however, had surfers buzzing.In Atlantic City, N.J., surfers gathered Saturday on beaches where 20-foot waves were expected. But only a few were willing to take their boards into the big swells.
Atlantic City Beach Patrol Chief Rod Aluise told The Press of Atlantic City that some surfers just stood on the beach with their eyes popping outat the size of the waves.
This is only for experienced surfers,Aluise said. The stormy conditions were expected to last through the weekend.It takes a while for the ocean to relax after strong storms, said Gary Conte, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.Until it does, riptides will make dangerous sport for surfers and swimmers.Hurricane Bill moved past Bermuda earlier Saturday, leaving behind sunny skies, debris and flooding, but no casualties. The storm cut power to about 3,700 customers and flooded some roads. All ferry service was canceled until Sunday.Meanwhile, forecasters said Sunday that Tropical Storm Hilda had strengthened slightly far out in the Pacific but was not threatening land. It had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) and was about 2,025 miles (3,260 km) west-southwest of the tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, and 1,125 miles (1,810 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.Associated Press Writers Bruce Shipkowski in Trenton, N.J.; Karen Testa in Hull, Mass.; Jay Lindsay in Boston; Jennifer Peltz in New York; Amanda Dale in Hamilton, Bermuda; Rob Gillies in Toronto and Gillian Gaynair in Washington contributed to this report.
Hurricane Bill off U.S. coast, headed for Canada By Ruth O'Kelly-Lynch – AUG 22,09
HAMILTON (Reuters) – Hurricane Bill, weaker but still a dangerous storm, charged northwards toward Canada's Atlantic region on Saturday, generating heavy swells and dangerous surf on a path skirting the U.S. New England coast.The U.S. National Hurricane Center earlier downgraded Bill to a Category 1 storm packing top winds of 85miles per hour (140 km per hour). Category 1 storms are the mildest on the five-step Saffir-Simpson intensity scale but are still potentially threatening.The track forecast for Bill, the first hurricane of the 2009 Atlantic season, would take it on a northward path off the New England coast over Saturday night, moving over or near Nova Scotia in Canada on Sunday, the Miami-based NHC said.Bill was expected to start weakening further on Sunday as it moves over cooler waters.Canadian authorities have issued selective hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings for its Atlantic maritime provinces, specifically for parts of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. On its current track, Bill could threaten some oil and natural gas platforms and refineries.But at least one major oil facility in Bill's path, the massive 98,200 barrel per day Hibernia platform, built to withstand icebergs and operated by Exxon Mobil Corp, would continue to operate normally, an Exxon spokeswoman said.Canada's National Hurricane Center warned people in coastal areas to be alert on Sunday for heavy rain, storm surge and heavy surf that could cause flooding.At 8 p.m. (0000 GMT) on Saturday, Bill's center was about 225 miles south-southeast of Nantucket, Massachusetts and about 550 miles south-southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia.The forecast track brings Bill to the waters just south of Nova Scotia in 24 hours and very near or over Newfoundland between 24 and 36 hours as a weakening cyclone,the NHC said.
STORM WARNING IN MASSACHUSETTS
A tropical storm warning was also in effect on Saturday for parts of the coast of Massachusetts, including the island of Martha's Vineyard, where President Barack Obama and his family are due to start a summer vacation on Sunday.U.S. media reported some beaches in Massachusetts, New York and elsewhere on the U.S. East Coast were closed to swimmers as the NHC warned that swells generated by Bill could cause dangerous surf and rip currents.Earlier on Saturday, Bill dumped rain on Bermuda and pushed powerful rolling surf onto the shores of the 20-square-mile (52 sq km) British territory, which is a center for the global insurance industry.But no casualties were reported and damage appeared minor. Bermudian authorities ended the tropical storm warning for the island.Bermudians, who are used to Atlantic storms, shrugged off the hurricane.We've had worse, but it's better to be safe than sorry,said Robert Marquez, front desk manager at Bermuda's upscale The Reefs Hotel.Earlier in the week, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, wrapped up a brief private vacation in Bermuda and left the island on Thursday before the storm.(Additional reporting by Scott Haggett in Calgary; Writing by Pascal Fletcher; Editing by Eric Walsh)
Hurricane Bill's winds weaken as it nears US By JASON BRONIS, Associated Press Writer - AUG 22,09
EDGARTOWN, Mass. – A weakening Hurricane Bill spun northward Saturday, churning up rough seas, creating dangerous rip tides and closing beaches to swimmers up and down the eastern seaboard, including President Barack Obama's planned vacation spot, Martha's Vineyard.The Category 1 hurricane was expected to pass the mainland well off New England, but was still packing high winds and waves that had safety officials urging extreme caution.At Robert Moses State Park in New York, the beach was shut down as the high tide submerged the sand, though the beach opened later Saturday for sunbathing. Along some beaches in Delaware and New Jersey, no swimming was allowed.
It's just too dangerous right now,Rehoboth Beach Patrol Capt. Kent Buckson said.On Saturday evening, Bill had maximum sustained winds near 85 mph (140 kph) and was about 250 miles (415 km) south-southeast of Nantucket, Mass., and about 550 miles (880km) south-southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.A tropical storm warning remained in effect Saturday night for Massachusetts, including the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, meaning tropical storm-force winds of 40 mph (64 kph) or more could hit the coastline in the next 24 hours.The worst of Bill was expected to pass about 150 to 200 miles east of Martha's Vineyard before Obama's arrival on Sunday. The Obamas delayed their planned Sunday morning departure from Andrews Air Force Base to Sunday mid-afternoon because of the weather, White House aides said.On Saturday, nearly all south-facing beaches on the island were closed to swimmers and large signs blocked roadways to shorefronts. Meanwhile, lifeguards used caution tape to rope off access points, and police patrolled the beach to enforce the closings.The concern we have now is that the riptides are very strong,said lifeguard James Costantini.There's a very strong undertow.Longtime Vineyard vacationer Jack DeCoste, 69, of Plymouth, Mass., was unimpressed with the storm as he lounged in a beach chair in Edgartown.I don't think it's going to impact things that much,DeCoste said.I think it'll be in and out of here fairly quickly.The high waves that worried safety officials had surfers buzzing. Scott Fisher, 38, was at Nantasket Beach in Hull, where the morning's moderate waves were expected to build throughout the day.
People wait all summer for this,he said.
The storm was expected to reach Canadian waters early Sunday, and the Canadian Hurricane Center on Saturday issued a hurricane watch for areas of Nova Scotia, where winds speeds could hit 74 mph (120 kph) with gusts of 87 mph (140 kph).Marine Atlantic suspended ferry service between Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and North Sydney, Nova Scotia, beginning Sunday morning, saying the risks were just too high.In Nova Scotia, provincial parks have been shut down and people advised to stay clear of beaches.The waves, they're very pretty to look at but very dangerous,Barry Manuel of the Halifax Emergency Management Office said Saturday.In Atlantic City, N.J., surfers gathered Saturday on beaches where 20-foot waves were expected. But only a few were willing to take their boards into the big swells. Atlantic City Beach Patrol Chief Rod Aluise told The Press of Atlantic City that some surfers just stood on the beach with their eyes popping out at the size of the waves. This is only for experienced surfers,Aluise said.The stormy conditions were expected to last through the weekend.
It takes a while for the ocean to relax after strong storms, said Gary Conte, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.Until it does, riptides will make dangerous sport for surfers and swimmers.Hurricane Bill moved past Bermuda earlier Saturday, leaving behind sunny skies, debris and flooding, but no casualties. The storm mostly spared the pink-sand shores, though it cut power to about 3,700 customers and flooded some roads along the northern coast. The airport was closed overnight and expected to reopen Saturday afternoon. All ferry service was canceled until Sunday.Bermudians and tourists awoke to some water on the roads, rain and gusting winds.It was something to behold. I've never been in a hurricane before, said ESPN sportscaster Kenny Mayne, who hoped to return to the U.S. on Sunday. A government spokeswoman said the British territory's hospitals had no storm-related patients.Meanwhile, forecasters said Tropical Storm Hilda formed far out in the Pacific on Saturday but was not threatening land. It had maximum sustained winds near 40 mph (65 kph) and was not expected to strengthen.On Saturday evening, it was about 1,930 miles (3,105 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula and 1,225 miles (1,970 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.Associated Press Writers Bruce Shipkowski in Trenton, N.J.; Karen Testa in Hull, Mass.; Jay Lindsay in Boston; Jennifer Peltz in New York; Amanda Dale in Hamilton, Bermuda; Rob Gillies in Toronto and Gillian Gaynair in Washington contributed to this report.
Hurricane Bill prompts local surf and flood advisories Expect high surf, rip currents By Gina Carbone news@seacoastonline.com August 22, 2009 5:57 PM
As Hurricane Bill disrupts President Obama's Martha's Vineyard vacation, the Seacoast can expect more rain, rough surf and life-threatening rip currents.On Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, issued a coastal flood advisory from midnight to 5 p.m. and a high surf advisory from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday for areas including York and Rockingham counties. There is also a small craft advisory in effect through late Sunday night.Officials hoping storm tracks east Coast Guard urges paddlers to secure their property before the storm Dangerous riptides, big surf expected this weekend Surfers, rescue crews on guard for Hurricane Bill Hurricane Bill can't stop fund-raiser for Molly Surfers, rescue crew on guard as hurricane set to pass by N.H. coast High energy easterly swells will top out at 10 to 15 feet off the coast of Maine on Sunday,the NWS reported.This will cause minor to moderate splash-over conditions, some minor coastal flooding and beach erosion along the northern New England coastline near the time of the early afternoon high tide. The high surf will also result in hazardous conditions for swimmers. Life-threatening rip currents are expected to impact exposed beaches, especially along the New Hampshire Seacoast and southwest Maine. Additionally, large breakers will pose a danger for those people that venture too close to the water on rocks and sea walls.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami also reported that Bill could bring extremely dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents to parts of the U.S. East Coast before making a direct hit on Canada's Maritime Provinces as a tropical storm on Sunday.The United States Lifesaving Association estimated there are more than 100 deaths annually in the United States due to rip currents.Jim Donahue, chief of lifeguards at Hampton Beach, is preparing for Bill.Definitely when you have large surf you're going to have rip tides,he said. We restrict bathing; we won't let them swim where rips are running.On Saturday afternoon Donahue said Hampton had a building sea,with roughly five- or six-foot waves.I expect tomorrow it'll be much, much larger than today,he said. He's expecting local waves to top out around 10 feet.Whenever you have a hurricane 150 miles off your coastline it's going to cause a lot of wind to make the surf huge for a couple of days.About 20 lifeguards will be on patrol Sunday, Donahue said.However, depending on the seas, area beaches could be closed.There's a possibility, he said.We have to assess the situation in the morning.Thunderstorms coursed through the area on Saturday afternoon as Bill moved north, but on Saturday morning surfers at North Beach were expecting there to have been even more action.
It was supposed to be really big,said Christine Pinsonneault of Montreal, visiting with a large group of surfers from Quebec. Let's just say the hurricane isn't quite here yet. They say (Sunday) is the good day now.But that didn't stop people from heading to the beach anyway, with about 100 surfers spread out across the waves. It's a zoo! Pinsonneault said.You can't park a mile away.Eric K. Andersen of Plum Island in Newburyport, Mass., said it was so crowded in the water he had to give up a couple of waves. Not that they were exactly to his liking.From a surfer's perspective, the waves haven't quite organized yet,Andersen said. They don't give you a smooth ride yet.He heard that Monday will be the best day.Mike Veltsos of Hampton heard Monday will be very big but the waist-to-chest high waves Saturday morning were perfect for him, and a change from the flat seas last Saturday. It's fun for an old guy like me, Veltsos said.Materials from the Associated Press used in this report.
Flooding in eastern Quebec Updated: Sat Aug. 22 2009 3:50:43 PM
ctvmontreal.ca
Crews and home-owners in eastern Quebec are cleaning up the mess left by a flash flood.25 mm of rain fell on the town of Ham-Nord in about two hours on Friday.Two dozen homes were flooded, roads turned into rivers, and once the area started to dry out people realized part of one street had been washed away.On Saturday provincial officials toured the area and met with flood victims.
FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS
REVELATION 8:7
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
GREECE WILDFIRES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EosXA_NApow&feature=player_embedded
Greece Declares State of Emergency Over Fire North of Athens
By Maria Petrakis
Aug. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Greece declared a state of emergency as a major forest fire northeast of the capital Athens was fanned toward homes by high winds. The region affected was eastern Attica, according to Margaritis Mouzas, head of the country’s Civil Protection Agency, according to a statement posted on its Web site. The situation is difficult because the fire’s in a forest containing a number of homes, Fire Department spokesman Ioannis Kapakis said in televised statement on state TV NET. Twelve aircraft were involved in battling the blaze, at Grammatikos, about 40 kilometers northeast of the capital, as well as seven helicopters, 53 fire engines and a force of 160 firefighters, assisted by 50 additional firefighters and the air force. Reinforcements were expected, Kapakis said, and he also called for residents to assist those who need to evacuate the immediate area. Early in the day, the high winds sent smoke from the fires over downtown Athens.Greece suffers dozens of fires daily over the summer period with most being brought under control in a matter of hours. Two years ago this month, scorching temperatures and high winds combined to cause over 250 blazes, which killed 65 people and destroyed 250,000 acres of forest and farmland. The country declared a national emergency on Aug. 25, 2007, deploying nearly 15,000 firefighters to put out the flames. The blazes fires left 2,500 people homeless.Kapakis said fires were also affecting the islands of Skyros and Zakynthos.
To contact the reporter on this story: Maria Petrakis in Athens at mpetrakis@bloomberg.net
Wildfires approach Athens, hospitals evacuated
By DEMETRIS NELLAS (AP) – AUG 22,09
ATHENS, Greece — Dozens of wildfires broke out across Greece, torching olive groves, cutting off villages and sending residents fleeing Saturday as one of the largest blazes swept perilously close to the capital's northern suburbs.The fires north of Athens were reported in an area more than 25 miles (40 kilometers) wide, and forced authorities to evacuate two large children's hospitals, camp sites, villages and outlying suburban areas threatened by blazes that sent huge clouds of smoke over the capital and scattered ash on city streets.Anti-aircraft missiles were removed from a base north of Athens threatened by fire, the army said.With planes and helicopters grounded after nightfall, Fire Service officials said their effort — aided by a lull in strong winds — was concentrated on protecting more than six towns where homes were under threat.Volunteers and army conscripts helped hundreds of firefighters ring the endangered towns.Firefighters are working in extremely difficult circumstances, Prime minister Costas Karamanlis said. Our priority is the protection of human life and property,Some villages threatened lay near the town of Marathon, from which the modern long-distance foot race takes its name.Local officials said the fire damaged power lines, causing blackouts and water supply outages in many areas after nightfall.
Several hundred people were evacuated from two Athens suburbs. Traffic clogged roads leading south; in places, the flames licked as close to the road as 30 meters (yards).
As the fire closed in on towns and villages north of Athens, residents and volunteers tried desperately to prevent the blaze from engulfing houses.Scores of residents fled on foot, by motorbike and in cars. Some ran down the road away from the flames. Elderly residents were carried from their homes by firefighters.Municipal officials said dozens of houses had been destroyed but the government's Civil Protection Agency did not confirm those reports.The government declared a state of emergency Saturday in greater Athens as officials warned that high winds were set to return Sunday.The coming night will be especially difficult,Fire Service spokesman Yiannis Kapakis said.We urge people to remain calm and, in any case, not panic.He said 75 fires had broken out across Greece since early Saturday morning — including blazes on the island of Evia, Skyros and Zakynthos as well as in parts of central and southern Greece.Greece is plagued by forest fires every summer. In 2007, the worst blazes in decades killed more than 70 people.This is one of the worst fires we've ever seen in this area,said Nikos Koukis, a municipal official on the fire-stricken area of Grammatiko, north of Athens.This is a beautiful, green area. I'm not sure we can any longer say this is true.The Associated Press.
Volatile conditions continue at Kelly Creek wildfire
Updated: Sat Aug. 22 2009 19:13:01 ctvbc.ca
Firefighters battling the Kelly Creek wildfire near Clinton, B.C., saw volatile conditions continue Saturday afternoon - leaving evacuees worrying about the fate of their homes.About 100 people living in roughly 50 buildings, including farms, ranches and resorts, were evacuated on short notice Thursday.If it blows down that valley I'm concerned it's going to come back around, evacuee Teri Patterson told CTV News. It's a little scary.Annie Lemaire, who was also evacuated from her home, is trying to stay positive.Last time I heard it was still standing, which is a nice thing,she said.
The Kelly Lake fire more than doubled in size between Thursday and Friday, and continues to grow. It is now estimated at 10,000 hectares, and stands uncontained on any front.The fire has creeped frighteningly close to the doorsteps of some of the evacuated properties, but no structures have yet been lost. With so many fires burning in the province, that success is due to a lot of help from out-of-province firefighters.We have crews from British Columbia, from Alberta, from Saskatchewan and from Ontario, so certainly this is a Canada-wide effort,Gwen Eamer of the B.C. Forest Service said.The fire was first discovered on August 1. Officials haven't determined how it started.As of Saturday morning, there were 70 firefighters, seven helicopters, and six pieces of heavy equipment battling the fire.The provincial government has spent far more than it had budgeted to fight the forest fires -- and that figure continues to grow.Earlier in the week, Forests Minister Pat Bell said the bill has climbed to more than $210 million, compared with the $62 million that had been set aside.With files from The Canadian Press and a report from CTV British Columbia's Kent Molgat.
