Salem-News.com Weather articles Page 1

Saturday Tornado Toll: 95+ Tornadoes, 5 Dead

Includes updates on other notable storm reports from Saturday and Saturday night.

(STATE COLLEGE, PA) - AccuWeather.com reports tornadic thunderstorms ravaged parts of the Plains Saturday and Saturday night, killing at least five people and leaving behind incredible destruction.

According to the Storm Prediction Center, over 95 tornadoes were reported from Oklahoma through Kansas, Nebraska and southern Iowa on Saturday.

Quake and Tsunami Strike Indonesia

The tsunami was unleashed by an 8.7 magnitude earthquake according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

(SUMATRA, Indonesia) - A large undersea earthquake unleashed a tsunami that swept the shores of Indian Ocean beaches a few hours ago.

The earthquake struck 35 km (270 miles) SW (215°) from Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia; 964 km (599 miles) W (265°) from KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, according to the US Geological Survey.

Drought Affecting Thousands in Somaliland

“Even the families with some livestock can't buy food due to the high prices” - Abdi-Rashid Sh. Mohamed, an elderly man in Baki.

(CHENNAI, India) - Officials in the self-declared republic of Somaliland are appealing for food aid and potable water for thousands of families who have lost their livelihoods in the current drought.

“You can see from far children running to the road waving empty bottles asking you for water and bread or biscuits,” Hussein Muhumed Hog, Somaliland's health minister, told IRIN.

Local Flooding Possible-Sand and Sandbags Available

Please report flooding, trees down or sandbag needs to 503-588-6333.

(SALEM) - The city of Salem is no stranger to flooding, and residents particularly along the city's rivers, creeks and streams are taking precautionary measures to prevent damage from accumulated high waters.

All Salem Urban streams remain remain below their action levels. Willamette River reached action level overnight but all roads remain open.

ODOT Issues Notice of Default to Design Builder on US 20

The Pioneer Mountain to Eddyville Project has been stalled since 2010

(CORVALLIS, OR.) - The Pioneer Mountain/Eddyville Project is creating a straighter 5.5 mile segment of U.S. 20 between Corvallis and Newport to replace the narrow, twisting 10 mile segment.

The Oregon Department of Transportation is issuing Notice of Default to Yaquina River Constructors (Granite Construction Company). They have 10 days to correct the default to ODOT’s satisfaction.

Are Tornadoes Attracted to Mobile Homes?

If a mobile home is not tied down, it can tip with winds as low as 55 miles per hour...

(STATE COLLEGE, PA) - AccuWeather.com reports in the wake of a tornado, it's not uncommon to see images of devastating damage in mobile home communities while surrounding site-built homes appear relatively unscathed.

Is it possible that tornadoes are more attracted to mobile homes than site-built homes?

Above-Normal Number of Tornadoes Expected in 2012

Whether tornadoes hit highly populated areas like they did last year is harder to pinpoint.

(STATE COLLEGE, PA) - AccuWeather.com reports following a near-record number of tornadoes in 2011, an active severe weather season with above-normal tornadoes is expected in 2012.

There were 1,709 tornadoes in 2011, falling short of the record 1,817 tornadoes set in 2004. In comparison, the average number of tornadoes over the past decade is around 1,300.

Why Was 2011 Such a Deadly Tornado Year?

Tornadoes hit many cities and communities outside of "Tornado Alley"

(STATE COLLEGE, PA) - AccuWeather.com reports last year, 2011, went down in the record books as the fourth deadliest tornado year ever in the United States with 550 fatalities.

1925 was the deadliest year in the U.S., with 794 killed, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Mysteries and Messages in our Mesmerizing Comets

It is not simply a coincidence that Come Holmes and Comet Halley appeared to have exploded 1.3 to 1.5 billion miles from the Sun.

(SAN DIEGO) - Comets are the most researched phenomenon for over 100 years. If you check the Wikipedia report regarding Comet Hyakutake and compare it to the following “Flash News” report issued over 25 years ago, you will understand why they are not understood...

The Wikipedia report states: “One of the great surprises of Hyakutake passage through the inner Solar System was the discovery that it was emitting X-rays.

Japanese Whaler`s Injunction Against Sea Shepherd Denied in U.S. District Court

Judge vows to examine the legality of ICR’s whaling operations.

(SEATTLE) - A Seattle district court has denied a preliminary injunction in the case of The Institute for Cetacean Research (ICR) vs. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

This injunction was an attempt by the ICR to immediately halt Sea Shepherd’s anti-whaling activities in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.