Brad DeLong's Semi-Daily Journal (2004)

Weather Extremes

It looks like Simon in Hong Kong may be about to get too much wind and water:

Simon World: Just in case you're wondering:

Blogging may be cut short today...

UPDATE:: The No. 8 warning (better know as the "get the f*ck out of there now" warning) will be going up at 11:45am according to the HKO. Wind Rider, I'll be watching for that sign. In there are several bars that remain open during typhoons, offering people shelter from the storm in the warm embrace of alcohol. It's such a caring city...

Typhoon Projected Path:

It doesn't look like a direct hit on HK...so it means everyone gets to leave work early (it's looking like lunchtime or early afternoon) and you get to plunder your DVD collection for 24 hours or so.

Normal broadcasting will resume Monday.

While near Carson City there is too much dryness and fire:

AP Wire | 07/15/2004 | Wildland fire spreads, burns 12 more homes near Carson City: An explosive wildfire burned out of control in stiffening winds Thursday, destroying 12 more homes and forcing evacuations of hundreds of others. The wind-whipped blaze has burned at least 33 structures since it broke out before dawn Wednesday on the west edge of Nevada's capital. Five people have been injured. The Carson City Sheriff's Office broadcast an emergency evacuation just before 4 p.m. affecting an estimated 600 homes in three northwest neighborhoods as winds up to 25 miles per hour pushed the 9,400-acre blaze into the Washoe Valley toward Reno, 30 miles away. U.S. Highway 395 - the only highway from Carson City to Reno - was closed in both directions.

At least nine homes were destroyed Wednesday and fire incident commander Marty Scheuerman said 12 more homes were burning Thursday afternoon. The fire also destroyed two businesses, 10 outbuildings and numerous vehicles. "I've never seen a fire as bad as this fire. I've never seen behavior as bad as this fire," said Assistant Carson City Fire Chief Stacey Giomi, a firefighter for 24 years.

"It's probably going to hit 10,000 acres," state Forester Pete Anderson said about the fire that was started by a person early Wednesday in a canyon near upscale homes. The blaze destroyed exclusive homes in the canyon and burned within half a mile of the governor's mansion at one point. Damaged was estimated "in the millions."