Hurricaine Isaias Hits Southern US Coast, Half Million Without Power, More To Come

 

 Last night on the evening of Friday October 9, Hurricaine Isaias hit landfall on the American Gulf Coast at the western end of the Florida panhandle, near the town of Destin, Florida. It struck as a Category Two storm, with winds of 105 miles an hour. More than 300,000 have lost power in Florida and almost 200,000 in Alabama, with thousands more in Georgia and Mississippi. The storm is expected to make it's way up Alabama and into Tennessee and Kentucky and eventually moving beyond, causing flooding and additional outages. 

 

Second Life residents who live in the path of the storm are likely to experience power outages and get knocked offline. So don't be surprised if your friend list is showing fewer than normal as active. 

 

Source: weather.com

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Winter Storms Hitting Middle Atlantic States

 

 It was just a week ago that a huge winter storm slammed into the Midwest and South of the USA, knocking out power for almost a million. Now another storm is bringing harsh weather to Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and parts of neighboring states. 

 

Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories are in effect for parts of the Southeast. In general, the worst weather will be where blizzard warnings or winter storm warnings are in effect on the map ...

Significant snowfall is likely in some of these areas this weekend. Travel is expected to become dangerous and power outages and closures are likely, some of which could last multiple days. Wind gusts closer to the North Carolina and southeast Virginia coast could drop visibility significantly.

 Yours truly is in the path of the storm, and there is the possibility of lost power. So we'll see how bad the conditions get.

 

Source: weather.com 

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Winter Storm Knocks Out Power For Almost A Million In The US

 

 This weekend brought weather woes to much of America. A massive snowstorm pushed into the Midwest and South, dumping lots of ice and snow and setting record low temperatures. 

 

Tree damage from ice accumulation has been reported all across the South. Icy roads have been reported as far south as a stretch of Interstate 10 near Kerrville, Texas, northwest of San Antonio, as well as in the Houston area. 

 

Yesterday, close to a million Americans were without power in a number of states, with over 800,000 as of the writing of this article. And as the storm is heading northeast, there may me some there who will soon be out of power. There were also many reports of grocery stores with numerous aisles of empty shelves. So some people may find items such as toilet paper hard to get for a short while

 

So if a Second Life resident who's on almost every day hasn't been on for a few days, this very well be the reason. Power should be restored to most within a few days. But for a few it may be over a week. 

 

Sources: weather.com, poweroutage.us, Yahoo.com

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

The Big Chill: Winter Storm Threatens Power (And Internet) Outages Across USA

 

 This Friday and weekend, a huge winter storm will be rolling south across America "from Texas to (the) Northeast," affecting a total of about 180 million. 

A major, widespread, long-lasting winter storm will hammer parts of the South, Midwest and Northeast Friday through Monday with potentially damaging ice and heavy snow for millions from New Mexico and Texas to parts of New England. This storm will lead to widespread dangerous travel and its destructive South ice storm could lead to long-lasting power outages and tree damage.

The storm has been named Winter Storm Fern by The Weather Channel. According to The Weather Company forecasters, Fern could affect over 180 million in the U.S. with snow and/or ice, over half the nation's estimated population. Either heavy snow or ice is forecast for 33 states from the storm, from Arizona to the Midwest, South and New England.

 With the ice and snow, power outages are likely, meaning no Internet, and for Second Life residents, no getting online until the damage is repaired. 

 

Those in it's path, keep an eye on local weather.

 

Source: weather.com 

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Reader Submitted: "Rain at Cutlass"

 

 Sent by Kylee Gracemount. This was taken in November during Cutlass' "Sun and Rain" event. Looks like during the party, Rita broke out the rainstorm. Good thing some had raincoats and umbrellas. 

 

Winter Storm Could Mean Outages

 

 

 "The Big Chill" isn't just a movie you can rent these days. This week, a winter storm is making it's way east from the Great Plains across the middle of the country. It starts dropping snow west of the Mississippi on Tuesday, and will continue Wednesday and Thursday as it moves towards the Atlantic. In it's path are places that don't usually see much snow, such as northern Mississippi and Alabama and northeastern North Carolina. There is a risk of power outages, and of course Internet interruptions. So Second Life residents in the area should be prepared for being temporarily offline. 

Source: https://weather.com

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Club Cutlass Gets Frozen Over

 

 

 Friday March 22 was "Fire and Ice" Night at Club Cutlass with DJ Snowbuns playing. Well, the ice part of the event was in full force at one point with the skies turning white with winter storm clouds gathering and soon huge amounts of snowflakes began dropping and accumulating. 

And it wasn't long before the Sunnies and friends were dancing in the snow.

 

 

 The wind and snow lasted for a while. But eventually it stopped and the snow on the grounded quickly melted away, the party going on as before. 

Pictures by Cyantia Farshore

Power Outage

 

Power went out for yours truly, and tens of thousands of others in my state, due to a storm with high winds. We'll have something in the paper soon.

 

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Rough Weather On East Coast May Mean Power Outages

 

 

 Hurricane season may be over, but that doesn't mean the threat of storms on the Eastern coasts of America has passed. A huge storm system has been making it's way from Florida to up the East Coast, arriving in the Northeast by Monday today. It is "spreading heavy rain, strong wind gusts, coastal flooding and possibly spawning a few tornadoes." This will likely mean power outages for many in the areas affected. 

So if someone you know who lives in the Eastern US who's usually online but isn't, this may be the reason.

 

Source: weather.com

 

 Bixyl Shuftan

Internet Trouble

 

For some reason, been having some trouble staying connected to the Internet, loosing my connection twice in two nights and having to spent time with technical support. Things seem fine for the moment as the connection is back once again (as I write this), but things can still go wrong.

Technical Difficulties

 

If you can read this, then somehow I lost my connection to the Internet (or was too sleepy to reset the "deadman's switch").

Hopefully it'll be fixed, soon.

Bixyl Shuftan 

Hurricaine Idalia Threatens American Southeast

 

 

 Just after Hurricane Hilary caused a scare for California, there's another major storm taking aim at Florida, and on course to barrel through Georgia and South & North Carolina: Hurricane Idalia. Projected to strengthen to Category Three before it lands, there's the possibility of it getting still stronger to Cat 4 when it hits the Florida coast this morning. The storm is expected to remain at hurricane strength as it heads through Georgia, and only weakening to tropical storm status in South Carolina, and continue on through southeast North Carolina, being out at sea only very early Friday morning.

 

People in the path of the storm can expect a strong possibility of electrical, and Internet, outage, and some on the outskirts may experience some interruptions as well. So some of us in Second Life may be offline, or notice some friends who are usually on being off.

 

Sources: News Nation, Weather Channel

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Technical Difficulties

 

If you can read this, then somehow I lost my connection to the Internet (or was too sleepy to reset the "deadman's switch").

Hopefully it'll be fixed, soon.

Bixyl Shuftan
  

The Big Chill: "Once In A Generation" Winter Storm Rolls Across Much of US, Canada

 

 

 Millions of Americans and Canadians face being stranded at home and without power as a powerful winter storm, described as "once in a generation" and "bomb cyclone" is making it's way through the countries. In some parts of the country, low temperatures are approaching -30F, -40F, and even in a few places approaching minus fifty degrees fahrenhiet. Storm warnings and severe weather alerts are being issued. Record low temperatures are being set and predicted to be set. Flights are getting cancelled. People in a number of states and provinces are being urged not to travel. It's being called the coldest Christmas in forty years.

For Second Life residents, this means the possibility of power outages, which may be for overnight or days, depending on where they are. For those whose power doesn't get knocked out, plans inworld may be inconvenienced as some of their friends will likely be in the dark and unable to log on. For some, it will be a cold, dark, Christmas.

 

Stay safe.

 

Sources: Daily Mail, CNN, weather.com, weather.gov

 

Bixyl Shuftan

800,000 Still Without Power Following Hurricane Ida, 46 Dead In New York As Storm Causes Flooding

 

When Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana on Sunday August 27, it caused a huge amount of damage with over a million losing power in the state and next door Mississippi. But the storm wasn't done yet. It's still powerful remnants moved inland, eventually reaching the northeast US, where it caused major flooding in several states, notably New York City where some were trapped in their basements and drowned. There was video footage of one of the city's subway's choked with floodwaters. The storm has been blamed for 46 deaths, and counting.

Back in Louisiana, power is still out for over 800,000 people, with nine people confirmed dead. Numerous gas stations are described as having long lines of people waiting to get fuel, and some grocery stores are reportedly rationing certain foods and ice as people anticipating gasoline shortages are stocking up to reduce trips by car.

Due to it's level of destruction, "Ida" will be retired as a name for Hurricanes.

Sources: Daily Advent, MSN, Reuters, weather.com,

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Hurricaine Ida Smashes Inland, Knocks Out Power to One Million

 

On Sunday August 29, Hurricane Ida reached Louisiana after quickly strengthening to a Category 4 storm. The result was flooding and damage that brought back memories of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Over a million people lost electric power, including practically everyone in New Orleans. One or two people have been confirmed dead, though more may be found. But for many, it may be some time before they places they evacuated from are safe to return to, and it may be weeks until some places get full electric power, and Internet, again. 

What's left of Ida is continuing to move northeast, and may create flooding and tornadoes along the way.
 
Sources: Weather Channel, CBS News, AP News 

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Hurricane Ida Srengthens to Cat 4, Heading Into Louisiana

 

Residents in Louisiana and Mississippi are facing lots of rain and power outages as Hurricane Ida is not only making a beeline toward them, it is rapidly gaining in strength along the way. 

Ida has been gaining strength very fast. Currently, it is a Categoty Four storm, with winds next to the eye going 130 miles an hour. The storm will make landfall later today, bringing high winds and possible flooding over much of the Louisiana coast, as well as power and Internet outages. As the storm travels inland, while it will lessen in intensity, the still high winds will continue to knock out power over much of Louisiana and Mississippi.

For more information, check out the weather channel: https://weather.com/ .

Source: Weather Channel

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Hurricane Sally Set to Hit Gulf Coast Tonight

Residents whom live on the US Gulf Coast between the vicinity of New Orleans and Pensacola Florida are facing a Hurricane Warning as Hurricane Sally closes in. The storm has become a Category Two hurricane with winds about 90 miles an hour near the eye.

The storm has been slowing down as it approaches the coast, which is allowing it to become stronger. By the time it reaches the coast late tonight or very early tomorrow morning, it is expected to have winds of 105 miles an hour near the eye. Flooding is expected as far inland as Birmingham Alabama with tropical storm force winds about as far. Residents in the path of severe weather may be without power, and Internet, for a few days, possibly several.

Source: weather.com 

Bixyl Shuftan

Hurricane Laura To Hit Gulf Coast, Travel Inland

Residents in Louisiana and much of Texas are bracing for Hurricane Laura. With winds up to 140 miles an hour just outside it's center, it is expected to make landfall tonight near the Texas-Louisiana border.

Major flooding along the coast is expected as the storm surge brings higher than normal tides from Galveston and Freeport Texas to New Orleans and Gulfport Mississippi, and will likely be thirty miles inland from the impact of the center. By Thursday, the storm will be in Arkansas, down to a tropical storm, but still dangerous, and the remnants are expected to travel north then east over the next few days.

Power outages along the storm's path in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas are expected to last many days, which will also mean no Internet. To Second Life residents in it's path or even nearby, please be careful

Sources: Accuweather, weather.com

Bixyl Shuftan

"Extremely Active" Hurricaine Season Predicted

The hurricane that turned tropical storm that hit the east coast last week could very well be just the start of some weather troubles for some of us. A report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) forecasted "an 'extremely active' season with 19 to 25 named storms."

The forecast is twice what an average hurricane season has, and includes the nine named storms so far this hurricane season. Part of the reason for the predicted high number of storms is the warmer than normal temperatures in the tropical Atlantic areas.

As the hurricane season only just started, people in places likely to be hit by hurricanes and tropical storms should be prepared for possible power outages (and a disruption of activity online and in Second LIfe, and the possibility of having to evacuate if a particularly severe hurricane heads their way.

Bixyl Shuftan