Storm damage across Perth and southwest

Weatherzone, By: ABC, Thursday, 05/09/2013

Western Power says more than 5,000 customers are still without power this morning after last night's storms in Perth and the south-west. A total of 1,700 customers are without power in the Manjimup and Pemberton areas, while 3,000 homes and businesses in Stoneville, Parkerville, Gidgegannup and Midland are also affected.

The State Emergency Service (SES) has received about 130 calls for assistance in Perth, the Goldfields and the south-west.

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com

Galactic Free Press

Innisfail's wettest May days in over a century

Weatherzone, By: Rob Sharpe, 05/09/2013

Innisfail and South Johnstone gained over 250mm in a two day deluge, nearing May rain records. Rain has been dumping along the Queensland North Tropical Coast for the past two days. Innisfail gained 116mm to 9am yesterday, its heaviest May rain in 17 years. This morning it surpassed that total with a whopping 152mm to 9am, providing the wettest recorded pair of May days since 1912.

Nearby, South Johnstone has endured wet season style rainfall with 256mm in the past two days, its wettest two-day total in 26 years. Cairns has been picking up some much needed rainfall with its heaviest rain since January, gaining 72mm during the past two days. This month is the first since July to see above average rainfall, including a well below average wet season.

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com

Galactic Free Press

Sky watchers go bush to see eclipse 'ring of fire'

Weatherzone, By: Gail Liston, 05/09/2013

The Northern Territory town of Tennant Creek is in the grip of eclipse fever, with astronomers from across the globe arriving to watch a rare annular eclipse. Tomorrow, the moon will move across the sun and, for a few minutes after 8:00am Central Standard Time, an aptly named "ring of fire" will be visible.

Astronomer Melissa Hulbert says only people in and around Tennant Creek, about 1,000 kilometres south of Darwin, will see the full spectacle.

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com

Galactic Free Press

Large storms take aim at WA

Weatherzone, By: ABC, 05/09/2013

Western Australia's State Emergency Service has received about 110 calls for help from Perth residents, as thunderstorms and strong winds move across the state's south-west.

The Weather Bureau has issued a severe weather warning for a deep low that is expected to affect the region over the next 24 hours.

For more on this story visit www.weatherzone.com

Galactic Free Press

Large fireball seen May 8, 2013 over England and Wales (video)

Earthsky.org - 5/9/13, Deborah Byrd

We had many reports of a large greenish fireball – a bright meteor – seen over England and Wales on the evening of May 8, 2013. The video below shows it.

Link: Earthsky.org

Galactic Free Press

The healing waters

aisha north May 9, 2013

Beloved family of the light!

These last few days after the Gathering have been special for us all. I have spent many hours reading through your comments, and I do not think I have ever shed so many tears of joy before. For so many, the Gathering in itself was such a profound experience, but it also ignited something deep within us all. In the following days, we have all felt the reverberations from this energetic connection, and the effects from this deeply and, for many, life-altering experience will continue. I am not the only one who have felt the need to step back and just try to come to terms with everything that has happened, and I know I still need more time to do so. Nohmad, you put it so beautifully when you call it ”integrating your blessings”. For yes, we have all been blessed, but for some, it can seem to be a blessing in disguise. As the CCs said it in A message about the Gathering, the doors to our hearts have not just been opened, they have been literally flung off the hinges, for they will never be able to close again.

Ground Crew Updates

Tornado drought: only 3 U.S. tornadoes during May's first week

Wunderground.com, 5/9/13- Dr. Jeff Masters

With just three tornadoes during the period May 1 - 7, 2013 has had the third-fewest U.S. tornadoes during the first week of May since record keeping began in 1950. The only year with fewer tornadoes during the first week of May were 1970 (zero) and 1952 (two.) During the ten year period 2003 - 2012, the U.S. averaged 73 tornadoes during the first week of May, with a high of 239 during May 1 - 7, 2003. The three May 2013 tornadoes have all been week EF-0 twisters, and none have hit the Midwest's tornado alley:

May 2: An EF-0 tornado with 70-mph winds hit Boca Raton, Florida, tossing lawn furniture around, downing a few trees and fences, and breaking one window. The tornado stayed on the ground for just four tenths of a mile and was only 50 yards wide; nobody was hurt.

May 4: An EF-0 tornado damaged barns and outbuildings near Elkton, Florida.

May 6: An EF-0 tornado with 50 mph winds passed through Bakersfield, California. The 25-yard wide tornado lasted two minutes and stayed on the ground for 1/4 mile. This tornado was not related to a supercell thunderstorm like most tornadoes are, but instead was a "landspout" tornado, caused by the interaction of the inflow into a thunderstorm with a ground-based swirling area of winds.