Our world of weather…
Wind finally returned to the Mediterranean off Valencia, Spain this week, where the Louis Vuitton Cup sailing races are being held to determine the challenger to Allinghi in this summer’s America’s Cup. Six of the first eight days of scheduled racing featured winds that were below the minimum threshold of 8 mph. Ironically, Valencia was chosen because of its consistent weather.
Monday night’s deadly tornado that crossed the U.S./Mexico border killed three in Piedra Negras, Mexico and seven in Eagle Pass, Texas. This brings the U.S. death toll from tornadoes to 59 for the year. Not surprisingly, a huge number (44) of those fatalities have been in mobile homes. I knew as I watched that dangerous looking storm on radar Monday night that it was going to be a killer. The 59 fatalities is nearly as many as we saw all of last year (64) and makes this the 28th deadliest tornado year since 1950. It is the deadliest season since 1999. The tornado was rated an EF3.
Lightning caused an oil tank explosion at Wynnewood, Oklahoma (south of Oklahoma City) on Friday. No one was injured in the explosion, although the smoke was visible for miles.
The Jesse James wildfire in Smoky Mountain National Park was contained on Friday after 200 acres burned. Rainfall of one half inch helped the situation.
