Normally we don't think about a Caribbean cruise as being much of an adventure, but it can turn into quite the experience when your cruise line – in this case Norwegian – decides to ignore weather warnings and sail directly into the so-called "Bomb Cyclone" that hit the east coast of the U.S. last week. The video below gives you an indication of what this was like for the 4000 passengers onboard, and I can honestly say that I don't think I experienced conditions like this even when on the Southern Ocean last year. Crazy stuff, with rooms and hallways flooding, the ship lurching violently, and passengers struggling to stand and walk. A smaller ship wouldn't have fared well at all in these conditions.
Showing posts with label Weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weather. Show all posts
Dreaming of a White Christmas
One of NOAA's most popular interactive maps is the First Snow Map, which provides a nationwide guide to when you can expect the first snow of the winter. The map shows the date at your location when the chance of snow is at least 50%, based on historical weather records. NOAA have also created a similar looking map which shows the historical predictability of whether you can expect a white
The First #uksnow of Winter
It's snowing! There's nothing quite like the excitement of waking to the first snow of winter, grabbing your phone and visiting the #uksnow Map.
The #uksnow Map maps the location of snow in the UK based on the number of tweets that mention snow. To add snow to the map you just need to include the hashtag
'#uksnow' in a Twitter message and a UK postcode. You should also rank the amount of snow
The Worldwide Wind Power Map
Earlier this year the World Bank released the Global Solar Atlas, an interactive map which allows you to carry out a simple solar power output calculation for nearly any location in the world. The map provides estimations of the likely solar power
potential for any location.
The Technical University of Denmark and the World Bank have now worked together to create a similar tool for wind
Video: High Winds on Everest
Over the past week or two, we've been reporting on high winds on Mt. Everest, which have dictated when summit pushes can begin or must stop. So just what do high winds on the mountain look like? This video – shot back in 2003 – will give you an idea of what the climbers are dealing with, complete with shredded tents and all. After watching this short clip, you'll have a better understanding of the forces at work on the mountain.
Polar Bears Trap Russian Research Team Inside Arctic Base
Normally, in order to keep the bears at bay, the scientists use flares and have dogs at the base to scare off the animals. But, the team had run out of flares, and according to Mashable the bears even killed one of the dogs. Because of this aggressive nature, the researchers have had to abandon some of their projects, and had been instructed to only leave the base when absolutely necessary.
It was originally reported that it would take weeks to deliver new flares and dogs to the station, but apparently relief came earlier today when a passing research vessel made a detour to lend a hand. The ship resupplied the team with flares, which were used immediately to scare off the bears. The next resupply ship wasn't scheduled to arrive for another month, but this should help buy the team some time.
Apparently, the bears gather near the base to wait for the Arctic Ocean to freeze. That typically occurs in late October or early November, at which time they'll depart the area and head north. Considering the current state of the arctic sea ice, it may take longer than usual before the bears begin their migration, and it is possible that they'll return to that location again in the days ahead.
In the past only about 4-6 bears have spent their summers on Troynoy, but apparently this year there are at least 10, including some large female with small cubs as well. One of the females has even been spending her nights just below one of the windows of the weather station, making it even more difficult for the team to sneak outside to record readings for their research.
Hopefully there will be some relief for these scientists soon. While watching polar bears up close sounds like an amazing experience, being locked inside and unable to go out doesn't seem like a lot of fun.
Where's The Weather Hiding?
This is our eighth winter here in Bulgaria, and it is true to say that each one has been different. So far this one has to be the mildest. I do hear reports that people are still sitting outside and enjoying their coffees in the sunshine. At the moment there is only a slight breeze, and if you are in a sunny spot it is still 16C. Our cats and dogs are enjoying it too. When we let them out, they go up under the barn and get their outside blankets and move them into their favourite sunny spots, and then build 'nests'. Well the dogs do, and then the cats try and gain the benefit by enforced sharing. Fortunately the dogs are very tolerant, and of an evening will even share the rug in front of the fire.
The day began well with everything in the oven that needed to be in there. Pots and pans were on the oven top waiting for their turn, which also included the compulsory Sprouts. Bits and pieces were in the fridge cooling and chilling, including the mandarin cheesecake with white chocolate. All cats and dogs were out in the sunshine, otherwise they would be trying to guard everything whilst supervising and getting under foot. All of a sudden the bell at the front gate goes, if it was our friends turning up early they could be plied with drink. It turned out to be our lovely neighbour from across the lane, with a freshly made Banitsa for us. I couldn't swear to it, but I am sure that our oven became related to Doctor Who's Tardis for the day. It seemed to be a never ending supply of things emerging from it. Fortunately there was still room for us all to sit around the table once various dishes of Christmas fare had been placed there. A minor logistical miracle that everything was able to be shoe horned into place, the table must have been groaning. I know that my stomach was by the time I had managed to sample a bit of everything, and maybe have seconds too.
One downside to the lack of snow, is that it removes one avenue of how to burn off some of those excess calories, which might possibly have slipped through, cunningly disguised as a Sprout or two, or perhaps it was the pigs in blankets. At the moment my snow shovel is close to hand, just in case, but is playing host to a few spiders and some dry leaves. So I had to resign myself to sitting uncomfortably and wishing I had a pair of 'Expando' trousers, knowing full well that on the Boxing Day it would be just as bad with the addition of Bubble and Squeak. The fires only seem to be lit in the late afternoon for a couple of hours, just to take the chill off the rooms, so the firewood piles are still looking very healthy.
Comparing this December to a previous year, it is surprising to see the difference. All four photos in this group are in colour, and it is easy to see how grey and dreary the usual winter sky appears. As of yet I have managed to resist temptation, and get the lawn mower out just to keep everything trimmed and manageable. Well, that's my excuse, and I am sticking to it. Despite stocking up for the usual winter siege, the cupboards and freezers are still full, we are planning a trip into town in the next few days just for a trip out more than anything else. I will have a go at trying to get the new Vignette for next year, maybe even redo the car insurance, a Post Office visit, stock up the New Year's Day goodies for when the village children come knocking and definitely a coffee or two. Looking at the 10 day forecast the temperatures are set to plummet, so maybe Winter will put in a guest appearance. Hopefully we will manage to escape the usual icy road conditions though, still there is always the village bus. We can't complain about our weather though, because compared to the North of England and Wales we are having it an awful lot easier. So if you are in one of the affected areas, or have family or friends there, I hope that all are safe, warm and dry.
As this will be the final blog of 2015, it just remains for me to thank you for your continued readership, kind words and encouragement. I hope that the coming year will be a happy and successful one for you, wherever you are, and may it be all that you wish it to be.
Video: Dramatic Rescue Footage From HMS Bounty
The video below was taken by the Coast Guard rescue teams who helped retrieve the survivors from the water. It gives us a good idea of how turbulent the seas were at the time, and this was shot after Sandy moved through. At its full strength, it was impossible for the SAR teams to get to the life rafts, so they had to wait for things to calm down some. When the rescue was underway, the weather was still fairly wild.
The video comes our way courtesy of the Daily Mail and a big thanks to George for sharing the link with me.
Ice in the Dishwasher
I think I mentioned once or twice about it being cold, but we've managed to avoid it pretty much. Except for washing clothes. It was a pretty good idea on the part of the former owners of this house to turn the laundry room inside into a large pantry (because most people spend more time standing there in front of the shelves and looking for things they thought they had bought but forgot where they put - or eating cookies - than they do washing clothes). The laundry room got relegated to a storage room in the garage, which is heated and pretty nice but still unpleasant to get to in the cold or heat. But that was the worst of my suffering today, that and holding the door open for a reluctant dog to go in and out. I think she really regretted not being litter box trained today.
I said a prayer or two during the day for homeless folks and others who aren't lucky enough to be as warm as we are, and I just completly forgot about my own daugher who spent the coldest night of the year with no heat. The girls haven't been too high on the student/intern housing there in Warm Springs from the start. It's supposed to be a "cottage" and sounds quite charming, but it's really just an old house with a leaky roof and mildew that they've divided into rooms - but it's free, so they can't complain, or maybe they can! Last night the heating system (whatever it is) broke, and the pipes burst, causing them to have ice in their dishwasher. I would not have wanted to be in that kitchen this morning with a bunch of shivering, fussing girls trying to get breakfast after a frigid night. She was still griping about when she called on the way to Mobile. She plans to take back a tent and air mattress plus plenty of blankets Sunday. If she stops here, she might can fight Grandmama for her fancy heated wrap. I think I know who would win. She would also have to contend with Stella who thinks her person has the best place in the house for napping.
I said a prayer or two during the day for homeless folks and others who aren't lucky enough to be as warm as we are, and I just completly forgot about my own daugher who spent the coldest night of the year with no heat. The girls haven't been too high on the student/intern housing there in Warm Springs from the start. It's supposed to be a "cottage" and sounds quite charming, but it's really just an old house with a leaky roof and mildew that they've divided into rooms - but it's free, so they can't complain, or maybe they can! Last night the heating system (whatever it is) broke, and the pipes burst, causing them to have ice in their dishwasher. I would not have wanted to be in that kitchen this morning with a bunch of shivering, fussing girls trying to get breakfast after a frigid night. She was still griping about when she called on the way to Mobile. She plans to take back a tent and air mattress plus plenty of blankets Sunday. If she stops here, she might can fight Grandmama for her fancy heated wrap. I think I know who would win. She would also have to contend with Stella who thinks her person has the best place in the house for napping.