A powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Puerto Rico 
on January 7 8KM South of Indios at a depth of 10 KM. 
A day before, a 5.8 magnitude quake also shook the island.

Source: ​United States Geological Survey (USGS)

As of 02:00 PM December 24, 2019, 
"Ursula" Intensifies Into A Typhoon As It Endangers Eastern Visayas. 

At 1:00 PM today,
the eye of Typhoon "URSULA"
was located based on all available data including Guiuan Doppler Radar
at 95 km East of Guiuan, Eastern Samar (11.0 °N, 126.6 °E ), 
moving West at 20 kph with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center
​and gustiness of up to 150 kph. 

Heavy Rainfall Outlook 

Between today and tomorrow noon:

Occasional to frequent heavy rains over Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Eastern Visayas, Sorsogon, Masbate, northern and central Cebu, northern Negros Provinces, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras and Romblon. Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains over the rest of Bicol Region, Quezon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, and the rest of Visayas and Surigao del Norte. 

Between tomorrow noon and late evening: Occasional to frequent heavy rains over Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Romblon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Batangas, and Calamian Islands. Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains over Cuyo Islands, Negros Provinces, Iloilo, Guimaras, Aurora, and the rest of CALABARZON. 

Residents in these areas are advised to take appropriate measures to reduce the potential impact of flooding and rain-induced landslides, especially in areas identified to be highly to very highly susceptible to these hazards. 

Tropical Cyclone Winds: 

Moderate to strong winds to begin affecting Northeastern Mindanao and Eastern Visayas today; Bicol Region and portions of Central Visayas this afternoon or tonight; CALABARZON, and portions of MIMAROPA and Western Visayas tomorrow morning; Metro Manila, Bulacan, and Bataan tomorrow morning or afternoon. Medium to high-risk structures may experience light damage. 

Damaging gale to storm-force winds to begin affecting areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) #2 in Southern Leyte this afternoon; in Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, Aklan, Capiz and portions of Antique, Iloilo, and northern Cebu tonight; in Marinduque, southern portion of Quezon, portions of Mindoro Provinces tomorrow morning. This may bring light to moderate damage to high-risk structures and at most light damage to medium-risk structures. 

Destructive typhoon force winds to begin affecting areas under TCWS #3 this afternoon. High-risk structures may experience heavy damage. 

Other Hazards and Warning Information: 

"URSULA" is forecast make to landfall over Borongan-Guiuan area b etween 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM today. 

Storm Surge of up to 2.0 meters may affect the several coastal areas of Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and Leyte.

​Rough sea conditions will prevail starting today over the eastern seaboards of the country; this afternoon or tonight over the inland waters of Southern Luzon and Visayas; tomorrow afternoon over the western seaboards of Southern Luzon. Sea travel is risky over these areas. 

Source: ​http://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/tropical-cyclone/severe-weather-bulletin/2

At 4:00 AM today,
the center of Severe Tropical Storm "URSULA"
was estimated based on all available data including Guiuan Doppler Radar
at 315 km East of Guiuan, Eastern Samar (10.8 °N, 128.6 °E ). 
Moving West Northwest at 30 kph 
with maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center
and gustiness of up to 115 kph. 

URSULA INTENSIFIES INTO A SEVERE TROPICAL STORM 

​Heavy Rainfall Outlook 

Between today and tomorrow noon: 

Occasional to frequent heavy rains over Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Eastern Visayas, Sorsogon, Masbate, northern and central Cebu, northern Negros Provinces, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras and Romblon. Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains over the rest of Bicol Region, Quezon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, and the rest of Visayas and Surigao del Norte. 

Between tomorrow noon and late evening: 

Occasional to frequent heavy rains over Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Romblon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Batangas, and Calamian Islands. Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains over Cuyo Islands, Negros Provinces, Iloilo, Guimaras, Aurora, and the rest of CALABARZON.
Residents in these areas are advised to take appropriate measures to reduce the potential impact of flooding and rain-induced landslides, especially in areas identified to be highly to very highly susceptible to these hazards. 

Tropical Cyclone Winds: 

Moderate to strong winds to begin affecting Northeastern Mindanao and Eastern Visayas this morning or noon; Bicol Region and portions of Central Visayas this afternoon or tonight; CALABARZON, and portions of MIMAROPA and Western Visayas tomorrow morning; Metro Manila, Bulacan, and Bataan tomorrow morning or afternoon. Medium to high-risk structures may experience light damage. 

Damaging gale to storm-force winds to begin affecting areas under TCWS#2 in Eastern Visayas this afternoon; in Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, and portions of Capiz, Iloilo, and northern Cebu tonight. This may bring light to moderate damage to high-risk structures and at most light damage to medium-risk structures. 

Other Hazards and Warning Information: 

"URSULA" is forecast make to landfall over Eastern Samar this afternoon or evening. The highest Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) that can be raised at the moment is TCWS #2. However, potential intensification into a Typhoon prior to landfall or while crossing the inland seas of the country is not yet ruled out. As such, there remains a possibility of hoisting TCWS #3. 

Suspension of maritime activities may be experienced in areas where TCWS are in effect. 

Rough sea conditions will prevail starting today over the eastern seaboards of the country; this afternoon or tonight over the inland waters of Southern Luzon and Visayas; tomorrow afternoon over the western seaboards of Southern Luzon. Sea travel is risky over these areas. 

Source: ​http://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/tropical-cyclone/severe-weather-bulletin/2

An icy stretch of a Virginia highway, all westbound lanes of Interstate 64 in York County
witnessed a 63-vehicle pileup that left 35 people injured on December 22. 
Bad weather to blame for the pileup 
but if you read the comments, something else is to blame too. 

"I see people drive like idiots all the time on the interstate
like people flying right behind me. speeding around me
only to slam on their brakes because there's cars in front.
I'm not sure if people dont understand how dangerous driving is
you are controlling a heavy machine that can kill people and kill yourself.
maybe its they dont know or they just dont care about dying". 

Well, there are really reckless drivers anywhere in the world 
may it be good weather or bad. 
They just want to speed up much, thus traveling in harm's way. 
Tailgating too is to blame. One should maintain a safe distance from another vehicle. 

Whakaari/White Island
is an active andesite stratovolcano
situated 48 km (30 mi) from the east coast
of the North Island of New Zealand,
in the Bay of Plenty. 
It is a popular tourist destination 
where access or visit to the island
is only allowed as a member of a tour
run by a registered tour operator. 
A small charter fleet,
offering day trips and overnight or longer trips,
operates from the nearby port at Whakatane. 

On December 9, 
it erupted while there were reportedly 47 visitors on the island. 
Reports were of about 16 fatalities
and 31 injured with severe burns. 

Source: ​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whakaari%2FWhite_Island

​Businesses and landmarks are closed 
due to the high flooding 
and is under state of calamity
costing the city millions of dollars. 

Venice, Italy is known as the "City Of Water",  "City Of Bridges",
"The Floating City", and "City Of Canals". 
It is situated on a group of 118 small islands
that are separated by canals
and linked by over 400 bridges.
The islands are located in the shallow Venetian Lagoon, 
which is an enclosed bay of the Adriatic Sea. 

Venice is one of the most popular tourist destinations 
and often named the most beautiful city in the world
and one of Europe's most romantic cities. 
Popular attractions in the city includes: 

 St Mark's Basilica,
the Cathedral Church
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice,

the Doge's Palace, a palace built in Venetian Gothic style,

the Grand Canal, a channel
that forms one of the major water-traffic corridors in the city, 

Piazza San Marco or St. Mark's Square,
the principal public square
where it is generally known just as la Piazza ("the Square"), 

The Lido di Venezia, 
an 11-kilometre-long (7-mile) barrier island
 where the Venice Film Festival takes place
in late August/early September, 
is also a popular international luxury destination,
attracting thousands of actors, critics, celebrities,
and others in the cinematic industry. 

Source: ​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice

Watch the Choral Concert at the Grand Launching 
​of the Santo Ni​ño at 500 
at the Basilica Minore del Santo Ni​ño de Cebu, Philippines. 

This is the Holy Mass happening now 
at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu City 
presided by Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia,
the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines.

The 6.7 earthquake
struck ​12km WNW of Magsaysay, Philippines. 
about 7:37 PM today October 16. 
Nearby places: 

Magsaysay, Davao, Philippines
12 km (7.5 mi) ESE

Bansalan, Davao, Philippines
14.9 km (9.3 mi) E

Makilala, Soccsksargen, Philippines
17.2 km (10.7 mi) N

Kidapawan, Soccsksargen, Philippines
23.4 km (14.6 mi) N
​
Koronadal, Soccsksargen, Philippines
41.7 km (25.9 mi) SW

According to U.S. Geological Survey, 
6.4 M quake in eastern California, southwest of Searles Valley,
occurred as the result of shallow strike slip faulting
in the crust of the North America plate. 
This was followed by numerous aftershocks,
the largest of which was a 4.7 M quake 2 minutes after. 
But about an hour before, 
there were smaller quakes (foreshocks) 
including a 4.0 M one 30 minutes before.

According to USGS, 
a large quake with a preliminary magnitude of 8 
struck 75km SSE of Lagunas, Peru on Sunday May 26, 2019 
at 07:41:14 (UTC)  
and at a depth of 109.9 km. 
There are no immediate reports of damage or casualties. 
​
More on this as people post on social media 
​about the great quake.
Peru lies on the Pacific’s so-called Ring of Fire.

At long last, 
after several weeks of no rain at all in Cebu City, 
the rain has come in significant amount. 
It's like a breath of fresh air 
having gone through hot and uncomfortable weather 
for the past months of March and April 2019. 
Now the ground is finally wet 
and this rain may help add water to the dried-up dams. 
Water has been rationed, 
giving water to some areas while shutting down a lot more. 
And this marked my 1st time experiencing no water 
for more than 20 hours in Englis, V. Rama, Cebu City 
in decades. 
And no water during the day and only at night 
and a lot of times only in the early morning for few hours. 
And I had to open the faucet all the time 
so I could hear the water when it comes. 
No water schedule posted whatsoever 
and a lot of times we had to wake up
​in the wee hours of the morning 
just to save water in large containers. 
People everywhere were buying large containers to store water. 
But still very thankful about my situation 
unlike in many places in the city 
when there's no water for several days 
that they have to be delivered by firetrucks 
and distributed to the community. Very sad. 

The booming city of Cebu, Philippines 
is one big and welcoming news for everyone, 
but the water shortage makes you wanna live somewhere else 
especially when you never experienced such thing before. 

An Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) 
appeared during a storm 
as revealed through a CCTV footage at a town beach. 
This was posted on Twitter by Broome Police 
and it said "It appears we were not alone." 

The Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte 
was rumored that he passed away already. 
And this was his response on video. 
​
Oh God forbid it! Give him more years to live.

Violence erupted which were related to the
​BOL (Bangsamoro Organic Law) Plebiscite 
in Mindanao, Philippines. 
No progress and prosperity in this region 
when things like these happen. 
It will not be a safe place for investors and businesses. 
Hoping for unity and peace not just in Mindanao, 
but for the entire Philippines. ​