**Don't tell me the sky's the limit, when there are footprints on the moon.**
Paul Brandt
LARGEST QUAKES so far today -
5.3 BANDA SEA
5.4 SOUTHERN PERU
5.7 OFF W. COAST OF S. ISLAND, N.Z.
5.0 SOUTH OF PANAMA
5.0 SOUTHERN EAST PACIFIC RISE
Yesterday, 10/12/14 -
5.0 NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.
5.1 NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.
5.1 NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.
5.1 NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.
5.4 SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
5.2 MID-INDIAN RIDGE
5.0 ICELAND
5.5 REYKJANES RIDGE
5.4 REYKJANES RIDGE
5.1 ANDAMAN ISLANDS, INDIA REGION
10/11/14 -
5.2 OAXACA, MEXICO
5.5 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
6.0 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BANDA SEA
TROPICAL STORMS -
Current tropical storms - maps and details. No current tropical storms.
*In the Atlantic -
Hurricane Gonzalo is located about 20 mi...30 km se of St. Martin. Additional strengthening likely.
*In the Central Pacific -
Tropical depression Two-C is located about 920 mi...1480 km ESE of Hilo, Hawaii.
* In the Western Pacific Ocean -
Tropical storm 19w (Vongfong) is located approximately 78 nm north-northwest of Yokosuka, Japan.
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A strengthening tropical storm - Gonzalo - takes aim at the Caribbean. Tropical Storm Gonzalo gained strength as it took aim at a swath of the Caribbean including Puerto Rico, threatening to dump heavy rains that could unleash mudslides and flash floods.
As it approached the warm waters of the Caribbean, the storm's impending arrival prompted wary officials to post hurricane or tropical storm warnings and watches stretching from the French island of Guadeloupe to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. Rain-swollen Gonzalo was expected to move through parts of the Leeward Islands by early Monday, producing 4 inches to 8 inches (10 centimeters to 20 centimeters) of pelting rainfall, with some isolated areas potentially getting deluged with as much as 12 inches (30 centimeters).
Hundreds of miles (kilometers) north of the Caribbean, Fay strengthened briefly into a hurricane as it tracked away from Bermuda before returning to tropical storm strength late Sunday. It earlier lashed the British chain with heavy rain and gusting winds. There were no immediate reports of injuries as Bermuda authorities assessed damage and discontinued storm watches and warnings.
Fay, which had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph), disrupted power for more than 27,000 customers of the Bermuda Electric Light Company. The utility is the sole supplier of electricity for the territory of roughly 65,000 inhabitants. Forecasters said a cold front was likely to absorb Fay on Monday.
Typhoon Vongfong - The strongest storm to hit Japan this year battered the southern islands of Kyushu and Shikoku early on Monday, brought heavy rain to Tokyo and caused extensive travel disruption. Typhoon Vongfong has forced the cancellation of more than 500 domestic flights. (9 photos at link)
Gonzalo Hurricane Strength - 24 Dead, $1.6 Billion in Damage in India From Hudhud. Hurricane warnings are flying in the British Virgin Islands as strengthening Tropical Storm Gonzalo marches west-northwest at 10 mph though the northernmost Lesser Antilles Islands.
The storm passed over Antigua Island between 10 am - 11 am AST on Monday, and sustained winds at Antigua hit 45 mph at 7 am AST before the station stopped reporting. NHC is still able to get wind information from the island, and the island reported a sustained wind of 67 mph gusting to 88 mph late Monday morning. Winds at nearby Barbuda were sustained at 43 mph gusting to 61 mph. Gonzalo should steadily intensify through the week, and has the potential to be a major Category 3 hurricane by Friday.
Tropical Cyclone Hudhud has dissipated after it powered ashore near Visakhapatnam in the Andhra Pradesh state of India at 05 UTC (3 am EDT) Sunday as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 135 mph. At least 24 deaths are being blamed on the cyclone: 21 in Andhra Pradesh, and 3 in the neighboring Odisha state. Preliminary damage estimates are at least $1.64 billion (Rs 10,000 crore), with the heaviest damage in Visakhapatnam, a port city of 2 million, which received a direct hit.
HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS:
The Ebola epidemic threatens the "very survival" of societies and could lead to failed states, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns.
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