Series of devastating wildfires hit Texas Panhandle, causing evacuations, temporary closure of critical nuclear weapons facility, U.S. - February 28, 2024
A series of out-of-control wildfires swept through the Texas Panhandle on February 27 and 28, 2024, prompting tens of thousands of residents to evacuate, causing widespread power outages, and forcing the temporary shutdown of the Pantex Plant, a critical nuclear weapons facility. The disaster, affecting numerous homes and prompting a disaster declaration in 60 counties, saw the Smokehouse Creek Fire rapidly grow to Texas’ 5th largest wildfire in history.
The wildfires, fueled by strong winds, dry grass, and unseasonably warm temperatures, resulted in an unknown number of homes and structures in Hutchinson and Hemphill counties being damaged or destroyed.
“Homes have burned in almost every direction,” Hemphill County Judge Lisa Johnson told The Canadian Record.
“The damage is bad. You would be shocked if you were to travel between here and Borger,” Hutchinson County emergency management coordinator Jerry Langwell said.
Gov. Greg Abbott responded by issuing a disaster declaration for 60 counties as the Smokehouse Creek Fire alone exploded in size from 16 200 ha (40 000 acres) to 81 000 ha (200 000 acres) in just 6 hours. The fire has now consumed more than 202 000 ha (500 000 acres), making it the 5th largest wildfire in Texas history. It continues rapidly growing.
Update: the #SmokehouseCreekFire in Hutchinson County remains an estimated 250,000 acres and 0% contained. Crews are building fireline and engaged in structure protection in Canadian at this time. Fire behavior remains active. #txfire pic.twitter.com/yIxqY0Sryj
— Incident Information – Texas A&M Forest Service (@AllHazardsTFS) February 28, 2024
Smokehouse Creek Fire started on Monday, February 26. At this time, the cause remains undetermined.
The Pantex Plant, located northeast of Amarillo and a key site for the assembly and disassembly of America’s nuclear arsenal, evacuated non-essential personnel on Tuesday night, citing an “abundance of caution.” By Wednesday morning, the facility announced a return to normal operations, despite the ongoing wildfire threat.
In addition to the evacuations, emergency management services in Borger organized a convoy to relocate evacuees in anticipation of power outages and freezing overnight temperatures.
Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said in a statement he is deeply concerned about the devastating wildfires.
“These fires not only threaten lives and property but also have a significant impact on our agriculture industry. We stand in solidarity with our farmers and ranchers facing loss and destruction. Our thoughts are with them during this challenging time, and we’re committed to supporting their recovery efforts every step of the way.”
The Texas Animal Health Commission said the effects of wildfire on the animal agriculture community can be devastating. “Please keep those affected and those responding to fires in the panhandle of Texas in your thoughts.”
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The impact of the wildfires extended beyond Texas, with fire officials in Durham, Oklahoma, also advising evacuations. In addition, red flag warnings and fire danger alerts have been issued across several states in the central U.S.
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Tens of thousands in Victoria urged to evacuate due to catastrophic fire danger, Australia - Wednesday, February 28, 2024
With catastrophic fire ratings in Victoria’s Wimmera region and temperatures forecast to reach 45 °C (113 °F), tens of thousands are urged to evacuate amid escalating bushfire threats.
On February 28, 2024, residents of Victoria, Australia, were urged to evacuate as the region grapples with severe bushfire conditions, intensified by an extreme heat wave.
The Bureau of Meteorology reported temperatures in Mildura might hit 45 °C (113 °F), with large parts of Victoria, including the Wimmera region, facing catastrophic fire warnings.
A bushfire near Ballarat, burning since last Thursday, has already resulted in the destruction of six homes and significant livestock loss, covering an area of over 20 000 hectares (49 421 acres). The Victoria Fire Department, battling the blaze, emphasized the day’s challenges, with Chief Officer Jason Heffernan advising immediate community action due to the unpredictable nature of the fire spread, exacerbated by dry lightning and strong winds.
Heffernan strongly recommended evacuation, especially for those unprepared for a prolonged firefight, highlighting the extreme dangers posed by the current conditions. More than 100 state forests have been closed, and several educational institutions shut down as precautions.
This bushfire event, the most severe since the Black Summer wildfires of 2019-2020, poses a significant threat to Victoria, with authorities and firefighters urging residents to prioritize safety by evacuating high-risk areas promptly.
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Ash emissions from Popocatépetl affect nearby municipalities, cancel flights, Mexico - February 28, 2024
Strong ash emissions from Mexico’s Popocatépetl volcano on February 27, 2024, produced ashfall over nearby communities and disrupted air travel, with 22 flights canceled at Mexico City International Airport amid safety concerns over volcanic ash in the skies.
Mexico’s notorious Popocatépetl Volcano has been emitting strong ash plumes over the past week, causing minor to moderate ashfall across several municipalities and prompting flight cancellations.
In 24 hours to 00:30 UTC on February 28, CENAPRED reported 77 exhalations, 952 minutes of tremor, and 1 volcano-tectonic earthquake; similar to the previous 24 hours.
Dense ash emissions, reaching up to 6.7 km (22 000 feet) above sea level, drifted north-northwest.
Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport (AICM), while confirming its operational status, has reported cancellations of 22 domestic and international flights due to the ash, which has also prompted safety checks following incidents of planes encountering ash en route to the capital.
The impact of the volcano’s activity was widely felt yesterday, with reports of slight ashfall in the municipalities of Hueyapan, Yecapixtla and Tetela del Volcán, Morelos; in Ixtacuixtla, Panotla, Tepetitla, Nativitas, Zacatelco, Santa Apolonia Teacalco, San Damián Texóloc, Tetlahuaca, Zacatelco, Xicohtzingo, Papalotla, Tenancingo, Santa Catarina Ayometla, Magdalena Tlaltelulco, San Francisco Tetlanohcan and Teolocholco, Tlaxcala; in Iztacalco, Iztapalapa and Coyoacán, Mexico City; and finally in Atlautla, Ayapango, Ecatzingo, Chalco, Tenango del Aire, Temamatla, Ozumba, Tepetlixpa, Tlalmanalco and Amecameca, State of Mexico.
Authorities maintain a Level 2 alert status for the volcano, advising against access to the crater area within a 12 km (7.4 miles) radius and warning of potential lahars (mud flows) in the event of heavy rainfall mobilizing fresh ash deposits.
Despite the significant seismic and volcanic activity, the civil protection agency has indicated no immediate risk to the population within a 96 km (60 miles) radius of Popocatépetl, which includes some 25 million people.
Popocatépetl, located 70 km (44 miles) SE of Mexico City and part of the Las Volcanes UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, has a long history of eruptions, with recent activity in 2019 and May of last year causing significant disruptions, including flight cancellations and class suspensions.
The volcano, known as the Aztec word for “smoking mountain,” is North America’s second-highest volcano and features a steep-walled crater. Its frequent eruptions since Pre-Columbian times have shaped the region’s history and landscape, reminding residents and authorities of its powerful and unpredictable nature.
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Over 2 million animals perish in Mongolia’s harshest winter since 1975 - February 27, 2024
This winter, Mongolia endures its snowiest season since 1975, leading to the deaths of 2.1 million head of livestock from starvation and exhaustion, a stark rise from figures reported just days ago. The extreme weather event, known as dzud, has intensified due to a preceding summer drought, severely impacting the country’s herding communities.
Mongolia is currently experiencing one of its coldest and snowiest winters since 1975, with more than 2 million animals having perished so far. This figure, as confirmed by Gantulga Batsaikhan of the country’s agriculture ministry on February 26, 2024, represents a sharp rise from the 670 000 fatalities reported less than 10 days earlier. According to official statistics, Mongolia had 64.7 million such animals, including sheep, goats, horses and cows, at the end of 2023.
The country, accustomed to severe weather from December to March with temperatures dropping as low as -50 °C (-58 °F), is facing a winter more brutal than usual.
The United Nations has highlighted the gravity of this year’s dzud, a phenomenon resulting in massive livestock losses, with 70% of Mongolia currently experiencing “dzud” or “near dzud” conditions. This is a significant increase from 17% the previous year.
The situation has been further aggravated by a summer drought, leaving animals without sufficient fat reserves to withstand the winter.
Mongolia’s nomadic herders, who make up about a third of the country’s 3.3 million population, are particularly vulnerable. The extreme weather has not only resulted in a scarcity of grazing grass due to snow-covered pastures turning to ice, but it has also isolated herders, making it challenging to procure feed and hay from nearby towns.
Mongolia has experienced six dzuds in the past decade, including the winter of 2022 to 2023 when 4.4 million head of livestock perished. Reflecting on the historic impact, the deadliest dzud recorded was in the winter of 2010 to 2011, when over 10 million animals died.
A series of out-of-control wildfires swept through the Texas Panhandle on February 27 and 28, 2024, prompting tens of thousands of residents to evacuate, causing widespread power outages, and forcing the temporary shutdown of the Pantex Plant, a critical nuclear weapons facility. The disaster, affecting numerous homes and prompting a disaster declaration in 60 counties, saw the Smokehouse Creek Fire rapidly grow to Texas’ 5th largest wildfire in history.
The wildfires, fueled by strong winds, dry grass, and unseasonably warm temperatures, resulted in an unknown number of homes and structures in Hutchinson and Hemphill counties being damaged or destroyed.
“Homes have burned in almost every direction,” Hemphill County Judge Lisa Johnson told The Canadian Record.
“The damage is bad. You would be shocked if you were to travel between here and Borger,” Hutchinson County emergency management coordinator Jerry Langwell said.
Gov. Greg Abbott responded by issuing a disaster declaration for 60 counties as the Smokehouse Creek Fire alone exploded in size from 16 200 ha (40 000 acres) to 81 000 ha (200 000 acres) in just 6 hours. The fire has now consumed more than 202 000 ha (500 000 acres), making it the 5th largest wildfire in Texas history. It continues rapidly growing.
Update: the #SmokehouseCreekFire in Hutchinson County remains an estimated 250,000 acres and 0% contained. Crews are building fireline and engaged in structure protection in Canadian at this time. Fire behavior remains active. #txfire pic.twitter.com/yIxqY0Sryj
— Incident Information – Texas A&M Forest Service (@AllHazardsTFS) February 28, 2024
Smokehouse Creek Fire started on Monday, February 26. At this time, the cause remains undetermined.
The Pantex Plant, located northeast of Amarillo and a key site for the assembly and disassembly of America’s nuclear arsenal, evacuated non-essential personnel on Tuesday night, citing an “abundance of caution.” By Wednesday morning, the facility announced a return to normal operations, despite the ongoing wildfire threat.
In addition to the evacuations, emergency management services in Borger organized a convoy to relocate evacuees in anticipation of power outages and freezing overnight temperatures.
Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said in a statement he is deeply concerned about the devastating wildfires.
“These fires not only threaten lives and property but also have a significant impact on our agriculture industry. We stand in solidarity with our farmers and ranchers facing loss and destruction. Our thoughts are with them during this challenging time, and we’re committed to supporting their recovery efforts every step of the way.”
The Texas Animal Health Commission said the effects of wildfire on the animal agriculture community can be devastating. “Please keep those affected and those responding to fires in the panhandle of Texas in your thoughts.”
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The impact of the wildfires extended beyond Texas, with fire officials in Durham, Oklahoma, also advising evacuations. In addition, red flag warnings and fire danger alerts have been issued across several states in the central U.S.
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Tens of thousands in Victoria urged to evacuate due to catastrophic fire danger, Australia - Wednesday, February 28, 2024
With catastrophic fire ratings in Victoria’s Wimmera region and temperatures forecast to reach 45 °C (113 °F), tens of thousands are urged to evacuate amid escalating bushfire threats.
On February 28, 2024, residents of Victoria, Australia, were urged to evacuate as the region grapples with severe bushfire conditions, intensified by an extreme heat wave.
The Bureau of Meteorology reported temperatures in Mildura might hit 45 °C (113 °F), with large parts of Victoria, including the Wimmera region, facing catastrophic fire warnings.
A bushfire near Ballarat, burning since last Thursday, has already resulted in the destruction of six homes and significant livestock loss, covering an area of over 20 000 hectares (49 421 acres). The Victoria Fire Department, battling the blaze, emphasized the day’s challenges, with Chief Officer Jason Heffernan advising immediate community action due to the unpredictable nature of the fire spread, exacerbated by dry lightning and strong winds.
Heffernan strongly recommended evacuation, especially for those unprepared for a prolonged firefight, highlighting the extreme dangers posed by the current conditions. More than 100 state forests have been closed, and several educational institutions shut down as precautions.
This bushfire event, the most severe since the Black Summer wildfires of 2019-2020, poses a significant threat to Victoria, with authorities and firefighters urging residents to prioritize safety by evacuating high-risk areas promptly.
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Ash emissions from Popocatépetl affect nearby municipalities, cancel flights, Mexico - February 28, 2024
Strong ash emissions from Mexico’s Popocatépetl volcano on February 27, 2024, produced ashfall over nearby communities and disrupted air travel, with 22 flights canceled at Mexico City International Airport amid safety concerns over volcanic ash in the skies.
Mexico’s notorious Popocatépetl Volcano has been emitting strong ash plumes over the past week, causing minor to moderate ashfall across several municipalities and prompting flight cancellations.
In 24 hours to 00:30 UTC on February 28, CENAPRED reported 77 exhalations, 952 minutes of tremor, and 1 volcano-tectonic earthquake; similar to the previous 24 hours.
Dense ash emissions, reaching up to 6.7 km (22 000 feet) above sea level, drifted north-northwest.
Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport (AICM), while confirming its operational status, has reported cancellations of 22 domestic and international flights due to the ash, which has also prompted safety checks following incidents of planes encountering ash en route to the capital.
The impact of the volcano’s activity was widely felt yesterday, with reports of slight ashfall in the municipalities of Hueyapan, Yecapixtla and Tetela del Volcán, Morelos; in Ixtacuixtla, Panotla, Tepetitla, Nativitas, Zacatelco, Santa Apolonia Teacalco, San Damián Texóloc, Tetlahuaca, Zacatelco, Xicohtzingo, Papalotla, Tenancingo, Santa Catarina Ayometla, Magdalena Tlaltelulco, San Francisco Tetlanohcan and Teolocholco, Tlaxcala; in Iztacalco, Iztapalapa and Coyoacán, Mexico City; and finally in Atlautla, Ayapango, Ecatzingo, Chalco, Tenango del Aire, Temamatla, Ozumba, Tepetlixpa, Tlalmanalco and Amecameca, State of Mexico.
Authorities maintain a Level 2 alert status for the volcano, advising against access to the crater area within a 12 km (7.4 miles) radius and warning of potential lahars (mud flows) in the event of heavy rainfall mobilizing fresh ash deposits.
Despite the significant seismic and volcanic activity, the civil protection agency has indicated no immediate risk to the population within a 96 km (60 miles) radius of Popocatépetl, which includes some 25 million people.
Popocatépetl, located 70 km (44 miles) SE of Mexico City and part of the Las Volcanes UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, has a long history of eruptions, with recent activity in 2019 and May of last year causing significant disruptions, including flight cancellations and class suspensions.
The volcano, known as the Aztec word for “smoking mountain,” is North America’s second-highest volcano and features a steep-walled crater. Its frequent eruptions since Pre-Columbian times have shaped the region’s history and landscape, reminding residents and authorities of its powerful and unpredictable nature.
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Over 2 million animals perish in Mongolia’s harshest winter since 1975 - February 27, 2024
This winter, Mongolia endures its snowiest season since 1975, leading to the deaths of 2.1 million head of livestock from starvation and exhaustion, a stark rise from figures reported just days ago. The extreme weather event, known as dzud, has intensified due to a preceding summer drought, severely impacting the country’s herding communities.
Mongolia is currently experiencing one of its coldest and snowiest winters since 1975, with more than 2 million animals having perished so far. This figure, as confirmed by Gantulga Batsaikhan of the country’s agriculture ministry on February 26, 2024, represents a sharp rise from the 670 000 fatalities reported less than 10 days earlier. According to official statistics, Mongolia had 64.7 million such animals, including sheep, goats, horses and cows, at the end of 2023.
The country, accustomed to severe weather from December to March with temperatures dropping as low as -50 °C (-58 °F), is facing a winter more brutal than usual.
The United Nations has highlighted the gravity of this year’s dzud, a phenomenon resulting in massive livestock losses, with 70% of Mongolia currently experiencing “dzud” or “near dzud” conditions. This is a significant increase from 17% the previous year.
The situation has been further aggravated by a summer drought, leaving animals without sufficient fat reserves to withstand the winter.
Mongolia’s nomadic herders, who make up about a third of the country’s 3.3 million population, are particularly vulnerable. The extreme weather has not only resulted in a scarcity of grazing grass due to snow-covered pastures turning to ice, but it has also isolated herders, making it challenging to procure feed and hay from nearby towns.
Mongolia has experienced six dzuds in the past decade, including the winter of 2022 to 2023 when 4.4 million head of livestock perished. Reflecting on the historic impact, the deadliest dzud recorded was in the winter of 2010 to 2011, when over 10 million animals died.
