Have U.S. Weather Patterns Changed Permanently? This Week Record High Temps Scorch The Southwest

This week we are going to see “life threatening” heat all across the southwest United States.  In southern California, temperatures will top triple digits in many areas on Monday, and the forecast is for the mercury to reach an astounding 121 degrees in Palm Springs.  Further inland, it is being projected that Phoenix and Las Vegas could both experience their highest temperatures ever early this week.  Summer is just beginning and we are literally seeing things take place that we have never seen happen before.  Just a few weeks ago, I wrote an article about how the weather seems to be going crazy all over America.  Is this just a temporary phenomenon or have weather patterns in the United States changed permanently?

Most people know that the hottest place in America is Death Valley, California.  The record high for Death Valley during the month of June is 129 degrees, and it is being reported that even that record could fall this week…

The highest temperature on record in the United States during the month of June is 129 F in Death Valley, California, on June 30, 2013.

“That record could be in jeopardy this weekend or early this week,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson said.

On Sunday there were already news reports of people dying from this life-threatening heat, and so if you live in the southwest you are going to need to take some very important precautions during this heatwave.  The following are some tips that come from the L.A. County Public Health Department…

— Learn the warning signs of heat-related illnesses

— Stay out of direct sunlight

— Stay hydrated

— Reduce physical activity

— Identify a cool location, such as a mall, library, theater or designated cooling center

— Use cool compresses, misting and baths to lower body temperatures

— Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing

— Use sunscreen

— Check on pets, friends, family and neighbors who may be especially, sensitive to excessive heat.

Yes, things always get hot in the summer, especially in places like Phoenix.  But what we are witnessing right now is truly unusual, and this heatwave in June follows the hottest May ever recorded…

This past May was the warmest May month in a 137-year period, breaking global temperature records, according to a report published Thursday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The new data shows that May was the thirtieth consecutive month to have soaring global temperatures across land and sea surfaces. This is the longest and hottest streak since temperature record-keeping began in 1880, according to NOAA.

Right now, 2016 is on pace to be the hottest year on record.

So are these changes permanent?

It is hard to say, and there are people on both sides of the debate that will angrily argue these issues for hours.

But what we do know is that weather patterns have been changing all throughout human history, and they always will be changing.

And all it would take would be one major event to radically change weather patterns once again.  For example, a major volcanic eruption on the west coast that pumps massive amounts of dust and ash into the air could dramatically cool global temperatures.  If that happens, we could very rapidly be finding ourselves talking about record cold temperatures all across the United States.

But for now we are dealing with record heat, and with record heat comes very dangerous wildfires…

And along with the heat are coming some damaging wildfires in southern California, New Mexico, and Arizona covering tens of thousands of acres of land and displacing hundreds of families. Firefighters are working to contain the blazes, though the continued heat wave through the weekend could complicate things.

In particular, there is a very dangerous wildfire not too far from Santa Barbara, California that tripled in size from Thursday into Friday…

A blistering heat wave in Southern California this weekend along with strong winds could further fan a wildfire that has sent swirling flames close to ranches and triggered mandatory evacuations, officials said on Friday.

The so-called Sherpa Fire feeding on chaparral and grass about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of the affluent city of Santa Barbara tripled in size from 1,200 acres (486 hectares) on Thursday night to more than 4,000 acres (1,619 hectares) early on Friday, fire officials said.

If you follow my writing closely, you already know that last year was the worst year for wildfires in all of U.S. history.

And according to the National Interagency Fire Center, so far we are more than a million acres ahead of the pace that was set last year.

Someone that warned about all of this in advance was author John Paul Jackson.  He warned that record high temperatures would accompany crippling drought all across the southern portion of the country.  You can see a video clip in which he issues this warning right here.

So are we seeing record high temperatures hit the southwest right now?

Yes, that certainly is the case.

And drought is starting to spread all across the southern portion of the nation as well.  The following is the latest map from the U.S. Drought Monitor…

In my controversial new book, I also warn that a “perfect storm” is coming.  Weather patterns are going to continue to change, unprecedented natural disasters are going to hit this nation, and our planet is going to shake in frightening and unpredictable ways.

The Bible tells us that the period of time just before the return of Jesus Christ will be the most tumultuous time in all of human history.  Unfortunately, most people really don’t understand what that is going to mean for them and their families.

We are entering a period of time when life is going to seem like it is one big Hollywood disaster movie after another.  There will be great earthquakes, tremendous volcanic eruptions, nightmarish terror attacks, devastating pandemics and crippling economic disruptions.

The days of “normal life” in America are coming to an end.  The years ahead are going to be incredibly challenging, and things are going to be radically different from what we have grown accustomed to.

Hopefully, you have already been preparing for what is coming.

If not, you have a lot of work to do, and not a lot of time to do it.

End of the American Dream

Jim Willie Issues Warning : Venezuela the Likely Future of the US in 2016

Blackouts Loom With California In Power Grid Emergency: "All Customers Should Expect 14 Days Without Power"

The entire Los Angeles metropolitan area and most of Southern California can expect blackouts this summer.

The power grid is under direct threat as a result of the unprecedented, but little reported, massive natural gas leaks at Alisco Canyon that was ongoing for  four months as an intense summer heat wave sets in.

According to Reuters:

California will have its first test of plans to keep the lights on this summer…

With record-setting heat and air conditioning demand expected in Southern California, the state’s power grid operator issued a so-called “flex alert,” urging consumers to conserve energy to help prevent rotating power outages – which could occur regardless.

Electricity demand is expected to rise during the unseasonable heatwave on Monday and Tuesday, with forecast system-wide use expected to top 45,000 megawatts, said the California Independent System Operator (ISO), which manages electricity flow through the state. That compares with a peak demand of 47,358 MW last year and the all-time high of 50,270 MW set in July 2006.

That could put stress on the power grid, particularly with the shut-in of Aliso Canyon, following a massive leak at the underground storage facility in October [Editor’s Note: which was not stopped fully until mid-February 2016].

The large-scale natural gas disaster – which curiously escaped media frenzy and widespread environmental concern – has resulted in the shutdown of key storage facilities that supply most of the power for the southern portion of the state.

As summer demand for electricity to cool homes and businesses kicks into high gear, power plants are planning to shut down, with supply shortages triggering controlled blackouts and brownouts.

Reports say that “all customers” should expect to be without power a total 14 days – 2 weeks time – out of this summer. Some 21 million Californians stand to be directly affected:

All customers, including homes, hospitals, oil refineries and airports are at risk of losing power at some point this summer because a majority of electric generating stations in California use gas as their primary fuel. In April, millions of electric customers in Southern California were warned they could suffer power outages on up to 14 days this summer due to the closure.

Unlike some other gas transmission systems that can store large amounts of so-called linepack gas in pipelines, like PG&E Corp in northern California, SoCalGas cannot function with only pipeline or storage supplies.

Planned rolling brownouts have been done on a regular basis in Southern California since the days of Enron and the California energy crisis of 200o-2001, but the situation is getting more dire.

As demand spikes, customers can expect to pay more for electricity, even as supplies threaten to be cut off, leaving families, residents and businesses in the dark.

All this, as California’s historic drought problems continue to plague the state and restrict available services.

As Tess Pennington notes:

This puts stress of the other electrical grids who then compensate for the loss of energy to that existing grid. When these events take place, there is an overwhelming increase of power in homes and commerce to either generate heat, air conditioning or electricity. When this need overwhelms the grid, the utility company intentionally “shuts off the power to an area in order to reduce the load on an electricity generation and grid. The utility company turns it back on, and then shuts the power off in a different area, with outages in any given area typically lasting 60 to 90 minutes, according to the California Energy Commission. This is a last resort measure of utility companies to avoid an even worse situation — a total power blackout.

Of course, there is plenty of room for unplanned blackouts as well, as an increasingly vulnerable power grid nears the perfect conditions for a grid down scenario.

In the worst case scenario, these massive power outages, particularly if they are sustained for longer periods (authorities estimate up to 2 weeks without electricity is likely, though not necessarily in consecutive days), could interrupt other vital services – including grocery deliveries, water, gasoline at the pumps, and even communications.

The larger question is whether or not they want the grid to fail.

It is simple economic fact that the power companies stand to make more money of a power shortages during a crisis than they do during abundant and cheap energy.

Homeland Security and other government agencies have been preparing in secret for a grid disaster for several years now

Former DHS secretary Janet Napolitano ominously warned ahead of the Grid Ex II multi-agency drill that an unprecedented collapse of the power grid is imminent, and could result from a cyber attack, an EMP or a massive natural disaster:

The outgoing Homeland Security Secretary has a warning for her successor: A massive and “serious” cyber attack on the U.S. homeland is coming, and a natural disaster — the likes of which the nation has never seen — is also likely on its way.

[…]

An electrical grid joint drill simulation is being planned in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Thousands of utility workers, FBI agents, anti-terrorism experts, governmental agencies, and more than 150 private businesses are involved in the November power grid drill.

If the power grid fails, a lack of electricity and food delivery are only the first wave of troubles facing the American people. Police could face major problems with civil unrest. Of course, there also would not be any electric heating or cooling, which easily could lead to many deaths depending on the season. (source)

It seems that it is a matter of when, not if.

That’s why having an off-grid, alternative source of energy is essential for any prepper or level-headed individual, though many communities are now discouraging solar by requiring that it be connected to the grid and regulated by energy companies.

At a minimum, with an admitted potential for two weeks with the light out, you should have a one month supply of food for your family, as well as basic emergency supplies (including candles, flashlights, batteries and other light sources).

It is also prudent to:

1. Follow energy conservation measures to keep the use of electricity as low as possible, which can help power companies avoid imposing rolling blackouts.
2. Look into alternative power sources to supply your home with power.
3. Have ways to prepare food off the grid.
4. Keep your car tank at least half full because gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps.
5. Be aware that most medication that requires refrigeration can be kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours without a problem. If unsure, check with your physician or pharmacist.
6. Know where the manual release lever of your electric garage door opener is located and how to operate it. Garage doors can be heavy, so know that you may need help to lift it.
7. Keep a key to your house with you if you regularly use the garage as the primary means of entering your home, in case the garage door will not open.
8. Have money on hand in case stores are not processing credit cards.

(Among other good ideas. Read more from Tess Pennington’s Are You Ready Series: Rolling Blackouts and Power Outages)

This isn’t just planning for the possible, this is planning for the inevitable, and even the California authorities admit it.

Credit to Zero Hedge

Russia successfully test-fires anti-ballistic missile – Defense Ministry

The Russian Air Force has test-fired a domestically built short-range anti-ballistic missile to verify its performance. The system is already in use with the military as part of Russia’s missile defense shield.

The short-range anti-ballistic missile (ABM) was successfully test-fired at 7.00am local time on Tuesday from the Sary-Shagan testing ground in Kazakhstan, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service said, according to TASS.

“The launch was to verify performance characteristics of ABMs operated by the Air Force,” the ministry’s statement said.

The missile defense system is capable of neutralizing a possible nuclear strike on Russia, and ensures operation of national command and control systems in real-time mode, the statement added. A newer missile defense system is expected to replace it in the future, utilizing upgraded software and modernized ABMs.

The anti-ballistic missile performed well during the test and hit its target on schedule, Lieutenant General Viktor Gumenny, deputy commander of the Russian Air Force, told TASS.

Russia has been developing a missile defense shield for several decades to secure strategic military balance with the US. The A-135 anti-ballistic missile system is currently deployed around Moscow. It comprises dozens of interceptor missiles and sophisticated early warning radars.


The system, operated by the Air and Missile Defense Command of the Russian Air Force, is compliant with the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty from which the US unilaterally withdrew in 2002. America keeps developing its own systems, including in Eastern Europe, where NATO is building Aegis Ashore ground-based missile defense sites.

The bloc’s missile defense compound in Deveselu, Romania, became operational in May. Poland plans to obtain a similar base within two years. Washington insists the Aegis Ashore systems are for “defensive purpose only,” arguing they would help protect European allies from Iran or North Korea’s missile threats.

Moscow says the systems can be easily adapted to deploy offensive weapons. “The missiles are put into a capsule used for launches of sea-based Tomahawk missiles. Now they are placing their antimissiles there, which are capable of engaging a target at a distance of up to 500 kilometers [310 miles],” Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Friday.

“We know year by year what will happen, and they know that we know,” he said, adding that Western officials “pull the wool over [their news outlets] eyes,” who in turn misinform their audiences.

Russian leaders have previously said Washington’s missile defense plans in Eastern Europe leave Moscow with no choice but to target countries hosting such systems, stressing that Russia’s next-generation ballistic missiles are capable of penetrating any adversary missile defense shield.

Credit to RT

Brazilian Telecom Giant Files Largest Bankruptcy In Nation's History

Brazil has had a rough past few months to put it mildly. Ex-president Dilma Rousseff has been suspended and now faces an impeachment trial, interim president Michel Temer is embroiled in corruption allegations already, the economy is crumbling, and Rio has declared a state of "Public Calamity" putting the Olympic games in question. Now, to add insult to injury, we learn that Brazil's fourth largest telephone company Oi SA filed the largest bankruptcy in the country's history on Monday, Brazil is in need of a mercy rule, even as investors who have been scrambling to buy Brazilian assets in 2016 realize just how bad things really are.

After talks with creditors to restructure its debt collapsed, Oi and six subsidiaries filed for bankruptcy listing $19.26 billion in debt. In its filing, the company said it chose reorganization in order to preserve the value of its holdings and to continue to serve its customers according to the WSJ. 

Oi has low penetration in the mobile phone and broadband markets, and Since 2009 the company had accumulated large amounts of debt in order to complete two mergers, first with Brasil Telecom and later with Portuguese company Portugal Telecom. As the WSJ notes, those deals failed to generate enough cash flow to fund the company's investment needs.

CEO Bayard Gontijo resigned on June 10, and although no reason was given for Gontijo's departure, shareholders had been putting significant pressure on the CEO to resist a proposal by creditors to convert debt into equity - a plan which according to the WSJ would have given a 95% stake of the restructured business to existing bondholders, thus significantly diluting shareholders.

As of March 31, Oi had reported gross debt in the amount of $14.72 billion, much of which was held by international bondholders.  The bonds, as shown below, have been plunging over the past few months, anticipating precisely this outcome:

Debt negotiations involved Oi's executives and main shareholder, Bratel BV which controls 22.24% of the company. Representing the creditors was investment bank Moelis & Co who is advising creditors holding roughly 40% of the outstanding bonds. Those creditors being represented by Moelis include Pacific Investment Management Co, Citadel LLC and Wellington Management Co.

Other notable shareholders include the Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan,with a 4.77% stake; the equity arm of Brazil's development bank, with 4.63%; and BlackRock, with .96%. Additional notable creditors include commercial banks such as Banco Itau SA Banco Santander SA, Banco do Brasil SA and Caixa Economica Federal. 5% is held by development banks such as the Brazilian Development bank and Banco do Nordeste do Brasil SA.

Just last week, Fitch downgraded Oi by two notches to C from CCC, citing an unsustainable capital structure.

As Bloomberg notes, the impact of Oi SA’s bankruptcy filing will go beyond Brazil, with the company’s euro-denominated bonds comprising 1.8% of Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s euro high-yield index by face value, the 11th-biggest issuer in the index. 

* * *

And now that the bankruptcy spigot in Brazil has been tapped, we eagerly await as the repricing of Brazil's equities - which have soared in the past few months on empty hopes the Temer regime would magically make things better- takes place - gradually at first, then very fast.

Credit to Zero Hedge

U.S. Sets “DEFCON 3″

http://www.defconwarningsystem.com






“At 9:43 PM Eastern US last night (Sunday, June 19) the Armed Forces of the United States were reportedly ordered to set condition “DEFCON 3.” This is an extraordinary development and signals serious trouble, LIKELY requiring an expedited military response.

The defense readiness condition (DEFCON) is an alert state used by the United States Armed Forces. The DEFCON system was developed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and unified and specified combatant commands. It prescribes five graduated levels of readiness (or states of alert) for the U.S. military. It increases in severity from DEFCON 5 (least severe) to DEFCON 1 (most severe) to match varying military situations. The chart below explains the system

To understand the severity of DefCon 3, it would help to realize that on September 10, 2001, the US Military was at DefCon 5. When the attacks of September 11 took place, the US Military was upgraded only to DefCon 4. For the US to have implemented DefCon 3 at 9:43 PM EDT on a Sunday night, means something very big is taking place.

Credit to Before it's News