Spain braces for massive storm

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Spain braces for massive storm
Feb 27, 2010, 11:36 GMT

Madrid - Spanish authorities sounded the alarm Saturday as a massive storm front moving in from the Atlantic Ocean approached the Iberian Peninsula.

On coastal regions in the northern part of the country, officials declared the highest alert status as the storm approached.

Meteorologists spoke of an 'explosive' weather situation and a 'meteorological bomb' approaching the country.

The storm front was expected to strike Spain overnight from Saturday to Sunday. Authorities urged people to stay at home, while lorries were ordered off the roads.




Read more: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1537136.php/Spain-braces-for-massive-storm

[Divine Discontent]

1. like the world needs more weather madness..

Seriously am hoping that they don't have a 'meteorological bomb' as they describe it in the story. Also, I'm praying to my God and going to bed - this night has been crazy with all the disasters people are facing.

Take care DU!

[NickB79]

2. What the hell is happening as of late with the weather?

It's like "The Day After Tomorrow" or something.

[NecklyTyler]

3. Global warming results in more and more extreme weather patterns

The weather is the manifestation of climate. We are warming the Earth and the weather is showing it by bouncing back and forth between cold and hot, dry and wet, windy and clam.

Even if we massively cut CO2 emissions today, the quantity of carbon pollution we have already put into the atmosphere will continue having influence for decades to come.

Things are going to get worse before they get better

[DCKit]

8. What you said, spot on.

People just don't get it. The effects are not (ever) going to be predictable. Just imagine the most fucked-up weather possibilities, and that's what you can count on.

Mom says Al Gore got it wrong by calling it "Global Warming" instead of "Climate Change".

[RuthK]

9. New terminology

A climate expert (I believe from India) is using a different terminology. "Global warming" is denied because of the recent snow. "Climate change" is scoffed at because, after all, climate always changes.

He suggested the term "catastrophic climate instability" to describe what is and will be happening to us. We continue to have more weather "events" without connecting the dots.

I have watched the massive low pressure areas this winter. Our local weather station describes them as essentially hurricanes because of the depth of the pressure. It's scary.

[Delphinus]

11. Welcome to DU, RuthK.

:hi:

The only thing wrong with the climate expert you quote is that if it isn't "catastrophic" in the sense of "Armageddon", the fundies are likely to think nothing of it.
;(

[Lorien]

15. But the fundies only make up 26% of the population

we need to stop treating them and their insane beliefs as if they were a majority.

[krkaufman]

28. Well, I think the bigger problem with those "fundies" is....

... that the more catastrophic the consequences, the less likely they'll be to want to avert it -- as they'll interpret it as the coming of The Rapture, Armageddon, (whatever).

Heck, just look at the approach some have taken to Israel. Their (supposed) support for Israel is based on their view that it is a necessary step towards Jesus' "Second Coming."

[Lorien]

13. Perhaps we would have seen some action on "catastrophic climate instability"

since politicians only seem to react to issues based on how they are framed and how much lobbyist money is involved. It certainly is more descriptive!

[Sal Minella]

14. "Climate Crisis" was suggested by George Lakoff.

And welcome to DU, RuthK!

[KittyWampus]

20. Climate Volatility makes most sense

[NecklyTyler]

19. Greenhouse gasses such as Carbon Dioxide and Methane are trapping heat in the atmosphere

The Earth is warming

[krkaufman]

26. Good phrasing.

I've understood Climate Change to be a reference to a divergence from the historical, natural climate cycle, but the term *is* too easy to misunderstand. Climate Instability does more clearly express what's to be expected -- or, rather, how the trend points towards the unexpected.

edit: p.s. That said, I think 'Global Warming' was a better label than Climate Change, as it was something that could be easily demonstrated.

[krkaufman]

27. Frustrating...

"Global warming" is denied because of the recent snow.

Quite frustrating, given how easily the snows can be discounted... or balanced.

For example...

Sunken Town Re-Emerges After 25 Years

(Feb. 26) -- Intentionally flooded in 1985 to make way for a reservoir, the former Venezuelan town of Potosi has suddenly made a haunting reappearance thanks to a historic drought brought on by the El Nino weather pattern.

...

Now, a devastating drought has gripped Venezuela, and water levels at Uribante Reservoir have fallen by nearly 90 feet, exposing what remains of Potosi. The church, grave markers, ruins of demolished houses and footprint of the old town square have reappeared.

edit(2): See also this from Eric Boehlert

Neither of these effects, the snows in the Eastern US or the drought in Venezuela can be definitely linked to global warming, but that they are simultaneously occurring should starkly highlight that fixating on local weather is meaningless in relation to a global trend.

edit: p.s. I'm really not sure changing what "it" is called will matter. There will be many who simply will resist the knowledge on ideological grounds, however straightforward the proof. I recall a recent Denier I encountered in HuffPost comments, where he/she asked "where does all the heat go in the winter?" They seemed not to understand the balance between the Northern/Southern hemispheres (and relation to the planets orbit/tilt).

[wroberts189]

4. Add in some big earthquakes and long dormant volcanoes coming to life....

..and icebergs almost 600 miles wide breaking off the ice caps.

[dipsydoodle]

6. Did you a nought to that ?

I thought it was 60 miles ? :shrug:

[krkaufman]

29. .... and can a warming planet contribute to ...?

... increased tectonic instability, as well?

[Dr.Phool]

5. Everybody talks about the weather,

But, nobody does anything about it.

[krkaufman]

30. Can't do anything about the weather but dress appropriately ...

... and maybe take along an umbrella.

[izquierdista]

7. Hope they get a lot of rain out of it

Help out the drought caused in part by -you guessed it- climate change.

[Gman]

10. Climate change is enhancing these storms, but

the cause is El Nino and the two are unrelated in source.

[Lorien]

12. Some of my friends just returned from there two days ago to PA

where they were expecting a "snow hurricane". I don't know if the "hurricane" ever materialized. Are the storms getting worse, or is the reporting just far more sensational?

[ananda]

16. Humans act.

Nature reacts.

[dipsydoodle]

17. Oh

I can only assume that outside of the USA the weather don't really matter. :sarcasm:

The last such storm in that part of Europe killed 15 people : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7848719.stm

[Judi Lynn]

18. Good grief! Not that long ago, either. It's still fresh in their minds, of course.

That one was a nightmare. I didn't hear a peep about it here. Figures.

Thanks for the information.

[dipsydoodle]

23. Yesterdays one

killed 15 people when it moved up through France. Just saw that on the Sky News ticker. Not sure what happpened earlier in Spain. We've got flood warnings out for SE England now too.

Link from earlier this morning, Sunday GMT , here : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8540762.stm

[fedsron2us]

21. Not to mention the 42 killed in Madeira by recent floods

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8533149.stm

The current storm has deepened rapdidly in the past few hours with winds approaching 100 mph in the Bay of Biscay. There is also heavy rain wrapped around the low which is likely to bring a flooding risk. A worst case scenario would occur if the system moves into the North Sea with rain. strong winds, very low pressure and Sping tides leading to coastal indundation in the UK and Holland.

[dipsydoodle]

24. Keep your head down

Will reach you soon if it hasn't already done so. I wouldn't fancy doing the beach walk below the Seven Sisters this morning from Cuckmere to Eastborne I know that. I know the area - my parents used to live in East Dene.

[Cetacea]

22. It's normal this time of year. No wait. It's El ninio. No, La ninia...wait..

[DFW]

25. Here in Germany, we have very high winds today

Normally, my wife and I take a long walk on Sundays through the woods when we're both here, but today, the
wind is so strong that we are staying indoors. Every year here there is usually a fatality or two because
people get hit on the head by falling trees or large branches. The likelihood is small, but we aren't interested
in winning that particular lottery.