An Unnatural Disaster

Perth - The state of Western Australia has declared a natural disaster after a storm swept over the capital perth and surrounding districts on Monday, causing widespread flooding.

The freak storm hurled hailstones the size of tennis balls as winds of more than 120km/h tore roofs from houses and uprooted trees.

Thousands of residents jammed emergency phone lines with calls after some 160,000 homes were left without electricity. By yesterday, power had been restored to nearly 100,000 homes.

The most powerful storm for more than 15 years followed the driest summer ever recorded in Perth. Just 0.2mm of rain fell in December, January and February, while 40mm fell in a few hours during the storm.

"This incident is going to cost the state tens of millions of dollars to repair buildings, restore power lines," Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett said.

Initial estimates put the cost of the damage at more thanA$100 million ($128.7 million).

Following the declaration of a natural disaster, affected residents will be able to access emergency accommodation, food and clothing.

Local officials said officers are expected to reopen today depending on the clean-up operation.

The Insurance Council of Australia has extablished a special task force to deal with claims in the aftermath of the storm.

It has also declared an "insurance catastrophe" and is working with the goverment to expedite the processing of claims.

The University of Western Australia was among those that were badly damaged and its stained-glass windows and glasshouses were destroyed.

"We were in the eye of the storm, the hail was incredible," vice-chancellor Allan Robson said.

On Sunday, a Category Two cyclone hit the Great Barrier Reef coastline on Australia's east, ripping trees out of the ground and samashing boats and houses.

I sure everyone is well-known by this news already...

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Sandstorms from China hit Hong Kong & Taiwan

Sandstorms whipped across a wide swath of China yesterday, forcing residents to don masks and scarves to protect themselves from the unhealthy grit.

The storms affected weather as far south as Hong Kong - which registered record pollution readings that were more than double the level at which the public is advised to stay indoors - and Taiwan, where drivers complaint that their cars were covered in a layer of black soot in just 10 minutes.

It was the latest sign of the effects of desertification. Overgrazing, deforestation, urban sprawl and drought have expanded deserts in the country's north and west.

The shifting sands have gradually encroached onto population areas and worsened the sandstorms that strike cities, particularly in the spring.

Winds blowing from the north-west were sweeping sand from the Xinjiang and Ningxia regions, as well as Gansu and Inner Mongolia provinces across China's arid north.

The Central Meteorological Station urged people to close doors and windows, and cover their faces with masks or scarves when going outside.

Sensitive electronic and mechanical equipment should be sealed off, the station said in a warning posted yesterday on its website.

China Central Television told viewers to clean their noses with salt water and remove grit from their nose ears with cotton swabs dippers in alcohol.

The sandstorm that engulfed the capital, Beijing, was the second one in three days.

Skyscapers were shrouded in a greyish mix of sand, dust and pollution. Residents scurried along sidewalks trying to avoid breathing in the fine particles, which can cause chest discomfort and respiratory problems even in healthy people.

Ms. Duan Li, a spokeman for the Beijing Meteorological Station, said conditions in the city seemed more severe because the previous sandstorm last Saturday had deposited grit on rooftops, sidewalks and trees.

The winds yesterday brought more sand and stirred up what was already there.

The worst recent sandstorm to hit Beijing was in 2006, when about 300,000 tonnes of sand was dumped on the capital.

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Hope my friends in China are alright. Anyway, I was having fever yesterday. Despite the pain from the sore throat, my voices are still able to produce as loud as I want, as high pitch as I want. Now, I just hope that my best friends will come and support my concert.

Weather & Natural Disaster Blogger, Cruyff

Hundreds Flee After Iceland Volcano Erupts

The authorities evacuated hundreds of people yesterday after a volcano erupted beside a glacier in southern Iceland, the national's civil-protection body said.

The eruption occurred beside the Eyjafjallajokull glacier, the fifth-largest in Iceland. No damage of injuries were reported.

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Anyway, rain has been continued yesterday, somehow it had been concentrated in the central area. It was surprising that the temperature has risen a bit. Well, still, be careful on the street!

Weather & Natural Disaster Blogger, Cruyff

Cyclones Bears Down on Australia

SYDNEY - Hundreds of people yesterday began evacuating resort islands off Australia's east coast - a popular holiday destination, including for Singaporeans - as officials braced for a powerful cyclone packing winds of up to 168 kilometres an hour.

About 300 people were being ferried from the Great Barrier Reef Islands of Heron and Lady Elliott, north of Brisbane, with the Tropical Cyclone Ului about 1,2oo km offshore and likely to make landfall on Saturday or Sunday. Residents along the Queensland coast meanwhile have been urged to prepare by stocking up on non-perishable foods, water and medication.

"Cyclones by their very nature are very unpredictable weather patterns," Queensland state Premier Anna Bligh warned.

Cyclone Ului - which has already brought strong winds and rough seas to the Queensland coast - was moving slowly but haeding towards the mainland.

Bureau of Meteorology regional director Robbie Medlin said: "At this stage we are not certain of where the cyclone may impact if it does hit, which makes it virtually important that everyone is prepared for thr possibility of impact."

Conditions would worsen as the cyclone - currently at the second highest level of category four - approached, a bureau spokesman said. "It it not a weak system, at this stage it is very severe tropical cyclone and it has brought 90-knot winds close to the centre." The cyclone follows heavy rains and flooding in Queensland.

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Singapore's Climate Changes

I sure we all can sense that the climate in Singapore are now starting to face a sudden changes. From the hottest February to a sudden cooling March. Rainfalls has been pouring since morning all the way till night.

The sudden temperature drop caused the whole country to be in a damp, 'freezing' area. But soon in May/June, or even before that, I'm sure temperature is going to rise drastically again.

Particularly this year, weather temperature has been changing drastically that no Singaporean can ever accept it. The February heat has caused over 90 cases of fire, mostly in forests. Now, the raindrop has been heavy on us. I guess this could be a Frontal Rain. Clothes in this weather are hard to get it dry after getting it out from the washing machine.

For people who are driving, do be careful on the road. With such rain, multiples accidents could occur. For pedestrian, even if you may be wearing shoes with rough soles, but still do be careful of the slippery and the heavy rain, a drop of raindrop can be quite 'heavy'. Rain like this will still be like this for the next few days. Don't forget your umbrella!

If, I'm saying 'If ', the weather temperature hasn't rise in April/May; the temperature is still the same, or even worse, it dropped, I really don't wish for a hailstorms. But possibility of a hailstorms in Singapore is 0.01% or even purely 0%, do not worry. Anyway, do be careful on the road!

Weather & Natural Disaster Blogger, Cruyff

Hi Everyone!
Thanks for all the birthday wishes in facebook or even in my blog tagboard...
Anyway, due to my attachment, I may have difficulties updating my post during the weekdays...
Anyway, I got this on Monday...

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Japan Rocked by Strong 6.6-magnitude Quake

A strong earthquake hit off the eastern coast of central Japan yesterday, rattling buildings across a board swath of the country.

The 6.6-magnitude quake did not touch off a teunami alert or inflict casualties but was strong enough to set skyscrapers swaying in Tokyo, where national TV networks had issued flash warnings of a possible large quake before the tremors were felt there.

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I know I'll be very late on all my weather & natural disaster report...
That's the best I can do...
Thanks for all your understanding...

Talk about my birthday...
People always tell me or wishes me, hope I'll enjoy this day...
I'll just be frank here today...
Ever since what had happened during last year's birthday, I told myself that I'll not be able to enjoy any birthdays anymore...

LAST YEAR'S BIRTHDAY
I was alone...
I was scolded...
I wet my face with tears...
In summary, my birthday was screwed...
This memory will always in my mind forever...
Anyway, I'm still thankful for all the wishes...

Weather & Natural Disaster Blogger, Cruyff

I know this post may be too late...
I only got this 2 days ago but I was too busy with work and school stuffs...

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"Beast of a Storm" Hits Australia

Melbourne - Residents of Melbourne braced themselves yesterday for more weather after a "beast of a storm" ripped through Australia's second largest city, bringing with it hailstones the size of a tennis ball.

The mini-cyclone which smashed into the regional capital with winds of up to 100 kilometers an hour was an event which had likely not been seen since early in the last century.

The fierce storm, which flooded city streets, saw some 26mm of rain fall on Melbourne within an hour on Saturday while other areas recorded up to 70mm.

In the city centre, the National Gallery of Victoria suffered flooding, while the Docklands Stadium was among those buildings damaged during the storm.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the hail that hit in one suburban area was up to 10cm in diameter.

More than 4000 people contacted emergency services for help as the hail left in the city blanketed in what looked like snow.

The violent storms eased slightly yesterday and affected the central areas of Victoria state including Echuca and Shepparton, according to broadcaster ABC.

With more violent storms on the way today, Victorian Premier John Brumbly urged people to be careful, particularly in areas hit by bushfires a year ago which have unstable trees weakened by the flames.

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Well, attachment starting just next week...
Results coming in just next week too...
Leaving my current job this friday...
Having my birthday just this sunday...
Lots of mixed feelings...
Don't really know what and how to feel now...
Just hope that everything will be fine...

Weather & Natural Disaster Blogger, Cruyff