By
Steve Newman - March
19, 1999
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High
Temperature Extreme
 Tillaberi,
Niger: 109 degrees Fahrenheit
(top)
Low
Temperature Extreme
 South
Pole , Antarctica: -85 degrees Fahrenheit
(top)
Baja
Whale Deaths
 Fifty
gray whales were found dead along Mexico’s Baja California peninsula
— the victims of alleged industrial pollution.
The country’s
Group of 100 environmental organization suspects saltwater contamination
as the cause of the deaths. Earlier this year, 18 dead whales were discovered
in the Ojo de Liebre and the Guerrero Negro lagoons, where a salt company
in which the Mexican government has a major stake operates. Several
environmental groups claim the company, known as ESSA, is responsible
for killing dozens of sea turtles and other wildlife with discharges
of brine — a byproduct of salt production. Plans by ESSA to build yet
another plant in a lagoon farther south on the peninsula have drawn
harsh criticism from the environmentalists.
(top)
Eruption
Fears
 Mexico’s
Popocatepetl Volcano spewed several outbursts of ash and steam, prompting
disaster officials to warn of a possible violent eruption.
Emergency
centers were staffed southeast of Mexico City in the event that the
area’s population needs to be evacuated. Authorities in the western
Mexico state of Colima are considering a permanent relocation of some
residents around the rumbling Vulcan de Fuego. Villages at the foot
of the unstable mountain have been evacuated twice since November.
(top)
Prairie
Fire
 One
firefighter was killed and tens of thousands of acres were burned when
gusty winds fanned Nebraska’s second-worst wildfire on record
around the town of Thedford.
Nearly
300 people were evacuated as firefighters battled to keep the blazes
from roaring into the town, located 300 miles northwest of Omaha.
(top)
Tropical
Storms
 Tropical
cyclone Elaine formed over the Timor Sea, then arced around Australia’s
northwest coast. The
storm was predicted to affect the coast of Western Australia during
the weekend.
In the
western Indian Ocean, cyclone 29S skirted Rodrigues Island before losing
force near the southern coast of Madagascar. Cyclone Hali passed
harmlessly over the open waters of the Southwest Pacific Basin.
(top)
Cholera
Outbreak
 A
cholera epidemic sweeping across southern Somalia’s drought-stricken
Bay region killed nearly 200 people during the previous week.
Thousands
of residents have left their homes and are living in makeshift camps
or villages with poor sanitary conditions after migrating in search
of water and to escape political instability. The worst hit village
was Habal Bar, about 50 miles southwest of the regional capital Baidoa,
where 120 people, including 80 children, died of the disease. Religious
leaders have advised people not to gather in groups to eat or talk in
an effort to stem the spread of the epidemic.
(top)
.
Earthquakes
 Tall
buildings swayed and nearly 1,000 homes were without electricity in
Sydney, Australia, following a magnitude 4.7 earthquake on March
17.
Earth
movements were also felt along the California-Mexico border,
and in southern Quebec, northern Iran, western China,
the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border region, southern Taiwan
and two points in Japan.
(top)
Enduring
Winter
 A
broad swath of the Ohio Valley and northeastern United States
was blanketed by a late-season snowstorm that disrupted transportation
and closed schools and businesses. The heavy, wet snow snapped power
lines in several states.
(top)
Turkey
Terror
 Wild
turkeys in a Northern California wilderness park have been terrorizing
visitors by charging hikers, chasing cars and blocking trails.
Park rangers
in the Rancho San Antonio preserve in Santa Clara County have attributed
the birds’ aggressive behavior to the current breeding season, with
a large number of male birds showing off for females. Onlookers were
warned not to get closer than 30 feet from the colorful birds, and told
that clapping hands and making other noises will discourage the turkeys
from attacking. Wildlife experts have also advised park visitors to
avoid wearing bright colors or carrying shiny objects.
(top)
Additional
Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency, U.S. Climate Analysis Center,
U.S. Earthquake Information Center and the World Meteorological Organization.
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