Evening Update: Quakes In California, Hurricane In Gulf

California Earthquake Swarm Felt In Arizona, Mexico

The series of moderate earthquakes -- including several magnitude 5.0 and above -- were felt as far north as Orange County, east into Arizona and south into Mexico, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The USGS recorded more than two dozen earthquakes in Imperial County, many of them near Brawley. Officials said people reported feeling the quake in Yuma, Ariz., Lake Havasu as well as in Baja California.

The burst of quakes took place roughly 16 miles from El Centro and 92 miles from Tijuana. In the last 10 days, there have been six earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.

Here is a preliminary magnitude count of some of the quakes Sunday:

— 5.3 magnitude at 12:32:59

— 5.4 magnitude at 12:31:23

— 5.3 magnitude at 12:30:54

— 3.7 magnitude at 12:30:27

— 4.7 magnitude at 12:21:04

— 4.6 magnitude at 12:20:04

Powerful Earthquake Swarm In Southern California

Earthquake overview : 3 M5.3 earthquakes in only 3 minutes time ! + a big number of foreshocks and aftershocks. Spothern California and Northern Mexico have been shaken for many hours.

Update : Up to now, the strongest earthquakes had values of 4.6, 4.7, 5.3, 5.3, 5.3; 4.5 – thats really a lot of earthquakes in a short time

Updates Here

Tropical Storm Isaac Could Rival Hurricane Katrina

On August 24^th, we warned on Forbes that Tropical Storm Isaac could pose a threat to energy markets and even rival Hurricane Katrina in its destructive power (Could Tropical Storm Isaac Turn Into Another Katrina?). While the computer models are still showing a substantial spread in solutions, it appears more likely that Isaac will make landfall somewhere near the Louisiana, Mississippi Gulf Coast. This track will provide the storm more time to intensify over the very warm water of the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center is currently forecasting Isaac to make landfall with peak winds of 105 MPH. There is a strong possibility that the storm will be considerably stronger at landfall.

Isaac Hits Florida, Threatens Gulf Coast

Tropical Storm Isaac lashed south Florida with winds and heavy rain on Sunday after battering the Caribbean, disrupting plans for the Republican National Convention in Tampa and threatening to interrupt about half of U.S. offshore oil output.

Isaac was due to be at or near hurricane strength soon after its center crosses the Florida Keys late on Sunday. A storm becomes a hurricane when sustained winds reach a minimum of 74 miles per hour (119 kph).

The NHC said Isaac was expected to intensify to a Category 2 hurricane, with "extremely dangerous" sustained winds of 105 miles per hour (169 kph), as it swept up the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

At 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) on Sunday, Isaac was about 50 miles (85 km) south-southeast of Key West and packing top sustained winds of 60 miles (100 km) per hour.

Isaac is expected to strengthen to a Category 2 hurricane and hit the Gulf Coast somewhere between Florida and Louisiana at midweek - on or near the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina - the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an advisory.

Super Typhoon Bears Down On Okinawa, Japan And Military Bases

Super Typhoon Bolaven now has sustained winds of 146 mph and gusts to 188 mph. It is expected to hammer down on the small island of Okinawa, Japan where 7 military installations have almost 50,000 military, family members, civilians and contractors await the impending storm. The center of the storm is projected to pass within 5 nautical miles of Kadena Airbase, the largest of the installations. The storm which has grown to over 700 miles across in size will rival all previous storms in the last 13 years. Okinawa is now starting to feel the effects and the full strength of Bohevan is expected to start approximately 1600hrs on Sunday.

There is a second storm right behind Bohevan, Typhoon Tembin, which is expected to also hit Okinawa 24 hrs after Bohevan passes. Typhoon Tembin is currently a strong Cat 2 typhoon. I imagine the second Cat 2 Typhoon will seem like a light breeze after Bohevan passes. Okinawa is 13 hours ahead of EST.

Also see this interesting footnote in history - a scenario that could be repeated in the near future:

Olmert Struck Syrian Nuclear Reactor In 2007 Immediately After Bush Refused To Do So

Former prime minister Ehud Olmert ordered the 2007 strike on a Syrian nuclear reactor immediately after former US president George W. Bush informed him that the Americans would not attack the facility, according to a Channel 10 report aired on Sunday evening.

Bush’s deputy national security adviser Elliot Abrams was present when the president called Olmert on September 6, 2007 and made clear that the US would not take action, and that then-secretary of state Condoleezza Rice would fly to Israel to hold a joint press conference with Olmert to alert the international community of the secret reactor. The US had decided to handle the Syrian threat via diplomacy.

Olmert responded to Bush that the secretary’s visit would not be necessary and that Israel would deal with the nuclear facility on its own.

Now isn't that interesting? Who would have guessed?

“If you’re not going to act against the reactor then we are,” Abrams quoted Olmert as saying during the teleconference. “You don’t want to know where or when,” the former prime minister reportedly added.

The Israelis were convinced that time was fairly short, and that they had to strike the reactor — built by the Syrians with extensive input from the North Koreans — before it went live, the TV report said.

According to Abrams, three hours after the strike, Olmert called the former US president and spoke briefly regarding the mission.

“I did what was necessary,” Abrams quoted Olmert as saying. To which Bush simply replied, “I thank you.”

With Iran as with Syria, however, the Americans are urging that more time be given to diplomacy, and the Israelis are stressing the urgent imperative for action.