ANIMAL BEHAVIOR: Disaster Precursors - Fisherman Attacked By Shark In Bahamas; And Turkeys Bully Massachusetts Mailman, Prompting Him To Carry Stick On Rounds!

December 13, 2015 - EARTH - The following constitutes two of latest reports of animal attacks on humans.

Fisherman attacked by shark in the Bahamas

The U.S. Coast Guard responded to a report Friday that a fisherman was bitten by a shark in the Bahamas.

The Coast Guard sent a helicopter crew 67 nautical miles southwest of Andros Island.

The 26-year-old man was reportedly fishing aboard a 76-foot trawling boat when the incident occurred.

The Coast Guard center in Miami was notified through a satellite phone call made by another man aboard the vessel.

The victim was taken to Nassau for treatment.

#BreakingNews @uscgsoutheast CG helicopter crew en route to reported shark attack victim 67NM SW of Andros Island, Bahamas. More to follow.

— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) December 11, 2015

#BreakingNews @USCGSoutheast transferred shark attack victim to EMS in Nassau for further transport to Doctors Hospital.

— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) December 11, 2015

- WPTV.

Turkeys bully Massachusetts mailman, prompting him to carry stick on rounds

The mailman has been forced to carry a stick to ward off turkeys. © Mike Segar / Reuters

A mailman in Cape Cod, Massachusetts has been dealing with a group of very unusual pests while doing his rounds. While dogs don't seem to mind him, wild turkeys have been harassing him to the point he has had to start carrying a stick while delivering mail.


WATCH: Turkey attack Falmouth mailman "every day".

The lucky turkeys managed to avoid Thanksgiving and now roam the streets of the town. The state has strict hunting regulations, which, according to Bangor Daily News, locals credit for the abundance of wild turkeys roaming free.

The turkeys have become a regular sight in the town, holding up traffic and even doing a bit of shopping on the weekends.

Most of the locals have adopted a fondness for them, except the nameless mailman who is kept in a state of fear by the turkey mafia.

The Falmouth mailman is not alone in his daily battle against neighborhood animals. This mailman can't even get letters through the mailbox such is the resident cats hatred for him.


WATCH: Cat attacks mailman through mail slot.

And this New York mailman has to battle everyday with an overprotective pigeon.


WATCH: Pigeon attacks mailman.

Every Thanksgiving the US President is given the opportunity to pardon a turkey so that it avoids being slaughtered.

This year President Obama pardoned a fortunate fowl named Abe, who has reportedly been sighted in Falmouth hanging out at hotspots renowned for being gathering places for the turkey mafia. - RT.

 

EXTREME WEATHER: Deadly Lightning Strikes In Eastern Cape, South Africa - 6 People Killed, 6 Others Injured!

December 13, 2015 - SOUTH AFRICA - Six people have been killed and six others were injured after they were struck by lightning at Nkanya village in Elliotdale outside Mthatha in the Eastern Cape.

This happened during a severe hail storm that hit the area late on Saturday.

Provincial Health Spokesperson, Siyanda Manana, says the deceased had just returned from the cemetery after a funeral service when the incident happened.

"People who had attended a funeral were struck by lightning. Two died on arrival at hospital. Four died at the casualty and then six were admitted in hospital. They are in a stable condition at the moment at Madwaleni hospital."

Nearly 100 people in the country are killed by lightning annually, according to reports from Lights on Lightning Conference that took place in Pretoria last month, focusing on issues of lightning caused by severe weather conditions.

Six people were struck by lightning on the N8 near Botshabelo in the Free State in March this year.

The deceased were Transnet employees who were working on a railway line when they sought shelter during a thunderstorm and were struck by lightning. - SABC.

MASS FISH DIE-OFFS: Disaster Precursors - Widespread Fish Kill Reported In Mobile Bay, Alabama?!

Fish kill Mobile Bay

December 13, 2015 - ALABAMA, UNITED STATES - A widespread fish kill is underway across Mobile Bay. It appears to be affecting primarily filter-feeding fish such as menhaden, sardines, alewives and shad.

Dead fish are present in the shallows and on beaches on both sides of the bay, from Point Clear to Daphne on the eastern shore and from Arlington Point south to Fowl River on the western shore. Dead and dying fish also dot the surface of the bay, from one side to the other.

The kill does not appear to be related to a red tide bloom occurring in the Gulf of Mexico and around Dauphin Island. Instead, the bloom in the upper bay appears to be another species of algae with a similar neurotoxic effect on fish.

Fish affected by the algae swim in a markedly erratic fashion, zipping straight ahead for a time, then falling into lazy circles, often swimming on their side or even upside down.


WATCH: Fish kill in Mobile Bay.

AL.com collected samples of sick fish and the water where they were found during trips across the bay, from Fairhope to the mouth of Fowl River, on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Those fish were provided to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab for analysis. In addition, AL.com measured oxygen levels and salinity where the samples were collected using a YSI meter, a standard tool for environmental sampling.

"There does not appear to be a correlation with oxygen or salinity," said Andy Depaola, a microbiologist with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration lab on Dauphin Island. Depaola participated in the AL.com sampling trip. "Those oxygen levels were not low enough to kill fish."

Alison Robertson, who specializes in harmful algal blooms with the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, said she had ruled out red tide, which is caused by an organism called Karenia brevis, in the bay. The red tide algae prefers the high salinity found in the Gulf of Mexico. It does not do well in lower salinity, particularly the low levels of salt measured in the AL.com sampling.

Robertson said she had received numerous reports of dead fish from locations all around the bay. She is working to isolate the algae causing the problem.

"Along the Gulf coast, Destin to Dauphin Island, we have had many fish kills over the past 7 weeks that we have shown were associated with Karenia (red tide) blooms offshore," Robertson said.The toxins associated with red tide were found in the guts and flesh of fish from those kills.

"The fish kills being seen in and around Mobile Bay at the moment are inconsistent with that, and there are in many cases none or at least very low numbers of Karenia in the Bay waters that we have tested alongside affected fish," Robertson said. "Lots of small menhaden are being reported in many areas -- from Weeks Bay to Fairhope, to Fowl River -- exhibiting spiraled swimming or swimming sideways. We tested dissolved oxygen in over 26 sites over the past 2 days and everything looks great, levels between 7-10 mg/L which is exactly what we would expect based on the water temperature."

Robertson said her lab was investigating whether there was another phytoplankton species affecting the fish. She said that other most other algal species do not pose a human health concern.

"We are following those leads right now," Robertson said. "A few fish collected were dissected and examined under microscope but there are no overt signs of problems and the gills look healthy."
She noted that all of the samples provided to her by AL.com were small juveniles.

"While this is concerning and we will continue to look at the cause of the kills, we are really only seeing the very small planktivores being affected at the moment," Robertson said. "And fish such as menhaden are particularly sensitive to changes in their environment."

Dead or dying fish were visible at all times during the AL.com trips across the bay. Pelicans were seen swimming around on the surface of the bay scooping the dead fish out of the water. Likewise, pods of dolphins were seen gorging on the stricken fish.

Algal blooms in the bay typically peter out after a few days. This bloom has been particularly long-lived, and is already into its second week.

While only filter feeding fish have been affected, fishermen around the bay have reported that both speckled trout and redfish appear to have vacated the areas where the sick fish are visible. - AL.

MONUMENTAL WEATHER ANOMALIES: "Incredible" Weather Pattern Engulfs Large Swath Of The Lower 48 American States - HUNDREDS OF RECORDS BROKEN As December Warmth Sends Temperatures Up To 30 DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE!

December 13, 2015 - UNITED STATES - A very mild weather pattern by December standards has engulfed a large swath of the Lower 48 states, setting hundreds of record highs and record-warm daily lows. The warmth has been so incredible that several cities in the Midwest and Northeast have set daily record highs during the morning hours this weekend.

According to preliminary data from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), at least 574 record daily highs were tied or broken across the U.S. during the first 10 days of December, representing about 2.6 percent of the 21,600 daily high-temperature reports received from more than 3,000 locations. By comparison, just 88 daily record lows were set in the same time frame.

That 574-to-88 ratio is likely to become even more imbalanced as additional reports are processed for Thursday, Friday and Saturday and as widespread warmth grips the nation, squeezing out the possibility of record lows over most of the Lower 48. In fact, on Sunday record highs may be threatened for 20 percent of all weather observation sites in the Lower 48.

Temperatures will soar up to 30 degrees above average into Monday, setting even more records as the mild air spreads to the East Coast. Below are the forecast details and a recap of the records so far.

Cold Air Stays Bottled Up North

As we start meteorological winter, which runs from Dec. 1 through Feb. 29, true arctic air remains locked up in extreme northern Canada, well to the north of the U.S. border and even well north of all the major Canadian cities.

Current Canada/Northern U.S. Temperatures:
The white line denotes the approximate freezing line (32 degrees Fahrenheit, 0 degrees Celsius). Note in this December warm spell it extends well into Canada.

While December is early in the winter season, it is quite common for chunks of bitterly cold air to reach the U.S. during the first half of the month.

However, most computer model forecast guidance shows no such thing happening until a brief "December reality check" in the week ahead.

Although some cooler air has reached the western states, it is what meteorologists call a maritime polar air mass. This air mass is moving in from the northeastern Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Alaska, whose unfrozen waters have added some warmth and moisture to the air, moderating its chilly bite.

As the coldest air still remains locked up in northern Canada, the result will only be a drop to near or slightly below average in terms of temperatures in the West and adjacent Plains through early week. The eastern half of the nation will see temperatures trend closer to average late in the week ahead and next weekend.

December "Spring Fever" Continues

Forecast Highs Compared to Average:
Darker shades of orange and red correspond to areas that are forecast to see temperatures the farthest above average for the day indicated.

High temperatures will remain 10 to 30 degrees above average for many locations in the East through midweek, setting numerous daily record high temperatures.

Some areas are seeing low temperatures that are warmer than their average high temperatures, and a few places may experience some of the mildest low temperatures on record for the month of December. Numerous daily record warm low temperatures will likely fall by the wayside in the eastern two-thirds of the country.

As mentioned earlier, the warmth has been so impressive, that many stations broke daily record high temperatures Saturday morning and again Sunday morning.

Paducah, Kentucky, reached 68 degrees before 1 a.m. Saturday, quickly breaking their record high for the date before peaking at 73 degrees in the afternoon. Other stations that had already reported record highs by 9 a.m. EST Saturday included Cincinnati and Dayton in Ohio. On Sunday morning, New York City, Milwaukee, Toledo, Ohio, Flint, Michigan, Moline, Illinois, Dubuque, Iowa, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, were among some of the cities that had already set record highs prior to noon. See below for a more complete listing of record highs and record warm lows.

Through Monday morning, temperatures are not expected to drop below the freezing mark for most areas east of the Mississippi River, with the exception of parts of northern New England.

Forecast Lows This Weekend

Daily record high temperatures will be threatened across a large area mainly along and east of the Mississippi River again on Sunday. Some 20 to 30 percent of all weather observation sites may set records, likely marking the peak of this warm spell in terms of intensity and geographic extent. Several more records will be threatened along the East Coast Monday.

Here are the details:

Sunday's Potential Record Highs:

• How many potential records? Over 70 locations among the 236 major weather observation sites in the Lower 48 will threaten daily record highs.
• Which regions will be affected? Some 20 states may be affected from Iowa and the Great Lakes states to Georgia, as well as over parts of the Northeast.
• Potential Cities (record to beat is in parentheses): Atlanta (73 degrees) | Philadelphia (65 degrees) | Montgomery, Alabama (80 degrees) | Detroit (60 degrees)

Monday's Potential Record Highs:

• How many potential records? Over 40 locations among the 236 major weather observation sites in the Lower 48 will threaten daily record highs.
• Which regions will be affected? Some 17 states may be affected from the Northeast to Florida.
• Potential Cities (record to beat is in parentheses): Columbia, South Carolina (79 degrees) | Buffalo, New York (64 degrees) | Orlando (86 degrees) | Philadelphia (69 degrees) | Providence, Rhode Island (59 degrees)

Forecast Highs Compared to Average

Forecast Highs Compared to Average

So, how long will this last?

Temperatures will remain well above mid-December averages generally east of the Mississippi River through Thursday until cold air bottled up in the West finally is able to spread farther east the second half of the week ahead.

Parts of the Plains and Midwest should see temperatures fall back to near seasonable levels by Thursday and Friday. The wait for more typical December temperatures may be even longer for the East Coast.

December Record Highs Broken So Far

Below is a look at the records set so far from this December warmth by day.

Saturday, Dec. 12: Record-breaking warmth reached much of the eastern third of the country, where daily record highs were set at Tupelo, Mississippi (78 degrees), Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (73 degrees), Paducah, Kentucky (73 degrees), Evansville, Indiana (72 degrees), Salisbury, Maryland (72 degrees), Cleveland, Ohio (70 degrees), Indianapolis, Indiana (70 degrees), Fort Wayne, Indiana (69 degrees), Akron, Ohio (68 degrees), Lexington, Kentucky (68 degrees), Trenton, New Jersey (68 degrees), New York City, LaGuardia Airport (66 degrees), New York City, JFK Airport (64 degrees), and Detroit, Michigan (63 degrees).

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport set a record warm low temperature for the entire month of December at 70 degrees.

Daily record warm low temperatures for Dec. 12 were set in many other locations including New York City (55 degrees), Newark, New Jersey (48 degrees), Louisville, Kentucky (62 degrees), Paducah, Kentucky (65 degrees), and Columbus, Ohio (56 degrees).

Friday, Dec. 11: Unusually warm weather prevailed across much of the central and eastern U.S., where daily record highs were set at San Angelo, Texas (87 degrees), Houston's Hobby Airport (82 degrees), Wichita Falls, Texas (81 degrees), Shreveport, Louisiana (81 degrees), Mobile, Alabama (78 degrees), Roanoke, Virginia (72 degrees), Rochester, New York (62 degrees) and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan (47 degrees), among other locations. Record highs were also set in Toronto, Ontario (14 degrees Celsius - 57.2 degrees Fahrenheit) and Ottawa, Ontario (13.5 degrees Celsius - 56.3 degrees Fahrenheit).

Thursday, Dec. 10: More records were broken or tied across the nation's heartland, including daily record highs at Madison, Wisconsin (56 degrees), and Green Bay, Wisconsin (54 degrees). Rockford, Illinois, hit 57 degrees, tying its record high for the date. 

Wednesday, Dec. 9: Record warmth impacted parts of the Plains, where daily record highs included Oklahoma City (74 degrees) and Topeka, Kansas (70 degrees). Minot, North Dakota, hit 62 degrees, tying the daily record and marking its warmest December day since 1939.

Tuesday, Dec. 8: The Northwest saw more record warmth on Tuesday. Seattle-Tacoma Airport set a new daily record high for Dec. 8 of 60 degrees, beating the old record of 59 degrees in 1957. Several other locations in Washington state also set daily record highs, including Spokane, which tied its daily record of 56 degrees. In Oregon, both Portland (62 degrees) and Eugene (62 degrees) set daily record highs Tuesday. 

Several daily record highs for Dec. 8 were also set in the Plains Tuesday, including Minot, North Dakota (54 degrees - tie), Lincoln, Nebraska (61 degrees - tie), and Russell, Kansas (67 degrees).

A number of record warm low temperatures were also set for Dec. 8 on Tuesday. Stanley, Idaho, tied its record for any December day with a balmy low of 35. Others included Livingston, Montana (44 degrees), Billings, Montana (43 degrees), Sheridan, Wyoming (36 degrees), Salem, Oregon (59 degrees), and Eugene, Oregon (57 degrees). Eugene beat its old daily record warm low for Dec. 8 by a whopping 10 degrees.

Monday, Dec. 7: Redmond, Oregon, soared to 71 to set a new all-time record high for the month of December. The previous record was 67 on Dec. 1, 2008. Monday's high also crushed its daily record by a margin of 13 degrees.

Redmond also broke its all-time record-warm daily low for the month of December with a low of 50 Monday, breaking the previous record of 48 set Dec. 10, 2004.

Portland, Oregon, set a new record high of 63 degrees on Monday, as well as a record warm low temperature of 46 degrees. Both of these were recorded at Portland International Airport.

A smattering of record highs also occurred across the northern Rockies and Upper Midwest. Impressively, the Grand Portage Ranger Station in the far northeast corner of Minnesota – with 120 years of weather records in the books – reached 50 degrees, crushing the daily record of 43 and setting an all-time record for its latest 50-degree day on record. The site had only previously reached the 50s on two occasions in December – 51 degrees on Dec. 2, 1962, and 52 degrees two days later.

The appropriately-named town of Max, North Dakota, had its warmest daily low on record for the month of December, only dipping as low as 38. The previous record of 35 had just been set two days earlier; that, in turn, beat the record of 34 from Dec. 29, 1999. Records in Max have been kept for 86 years.

Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5-6: On Saturday, International Falls tied its record warmest low temperature for the month of December, only dipping to 36 degrees just before midnight. The city set a new daily record high of 45 degrees on Sunday.

The cooperative observer near Ladysmith, Wisconsin, reported a high of 46 Sunday – crushing the daily record of 40 in an impressive 114-year period of recordkeeping.

An additional fourteen daily record highs were set in Manitoba Saturday and Sunday, including Emerson (7.1 degrees Celsius/44.8 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday) where records date back to 1877.

In Oregon, Redmond hit 63 and Roseburg hit 61, both daily record highs for Saturday. Redmond hit 63 again Sunday, setting another daily record.

Friday, Dec. 4: At least 16 Canadian cities set daily record highs, particularly in Manitoba, where the city of Morden, southwest of Winnipeg, soared to 14.2 degrees Celsius (about 57.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Highs reached the freezing mark as far north as Thompson, Manitoba on Friday (roughly 55 degrees North latitude, about 470 miles north of Winnipeg). The average high on December 4 there is -13.8 C (7.1 F). Just a bit farther northeast of there on Saturday, Gillam, Manitoba, reached the freezing mark which also was a new daily record (0.3 C / 32.5 F).

In the U.S., both Marquette, Michigan (50 degrees at the NWS office in nearby Negaunee Township), and International Falls, Minnesota (45 degrees), tied their daily record highs Friday.

Thursday, Dec. 3: Only a few record highs were set at places with long-term records. Three were in Florida, including 85 at Fort Lauderdale Beach; one was in Washington, where Bellingham hit 62.

Wednesday, Dec. 2: Charleston, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, each hit 80 degrees to break daily record highs. On the opposite side of the country, a high of 60 was good for a daily record in Bellingham, Washington.

Tuesday, Dec. 1: A handful of locations in Florida and south Alabama set daily records, including a high of 89 near Avon Park, Florida, where records have been kept for 121 years.

What Effects Will This Warmth Have?

As a result of the jet stream staying north of the U.S. frequently throughout November, parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic have remained rather mild and snowless recently. Philadelphia saw its second warmest November on record in 2015, and made it through the autumn to the start of December without a freeze for the first time since 1939.

For Buffalo, New York, it was the seventh warmest November on record. Buffalo has also yet to see accumulating snowfall this season, marking the longest the city has gone in a snow season without receiving its first measurable snow.

The lack of snowfall and nights below 32 degrees means a tough start for ski resorts in parts of New England and the Appalachians. Over the Great Lakes, on the heels of record late-season ice into spring 2015, lake ice formation may be significantly delayed.

Interestingly enough, a delay in freezing of the lakes could support a later lake-effect snow season, as colder air moving over warmer lake water can lead to the development of heavy snow bands into early winter. This, however, depends on the ability of substantial moisture to coincide with sufficient cold air, something that has struggled to happen so far this season.

It is not just the northeastern quarter of the country that has escaped the bulk of winter’s fury to date. 

Florida, in particular, has been on quite a stretch for above normal temperatures. In November, Naples and Fort Lauderdale recorded their warmest November on record. For Miami and West Palm Beach, it was their second warmest November on record.

Fargo, North Dakota has reached 40 degrees or higher on 260 days so far in 2015. Dating back to 1942, the record is 261 days in 2012, but December 2015 could push them over the edge before the month is over.

As of Tuesday, both Minot, North Dakota and International Falls, Minnesota had experienced their warmest first week of December on record.

What About Last Winter?

December 2014 was also a warmer than average month for much of the country. Despite that happening, winter took a fast turnaround in parts of the Northeast.

The pattern changed very quickly in the winter of 2014-15 with record-setting snows hitting parts of New England in January in February.

There are some differences between this winter and last winter, particularly with the strong El Nino currently in place. 

- Weather.

PARADIGM SHIFT & DAWN OF THE AGE OF AQUARIUS: Historic Vote For Women In Saudi Arabia - 17 Women Win Seats In Municipal Election As Females Vote, Stand For Office For The FIRST TIME!

A Saudi woman casts her ballot in a polling station in the coastal city of Jeddah, on December 12, 2015. © STR / AFP

December 13, 2015 - SAUDI ARABIA - Seventeen women have won seats in municipal councils in Saudi Arabia as the ultraconservative Muslim kingdom allowed females to vote and run as candidates for the first time in history in an election on Saturday.

It was also only the third ever election in Saudi Arabia. Just men participated in the 2005 and 2011 polls.

Sabq.org, a news website affiliated with Saudi Interior Ministry, was first to report that the 17 had successfully been elected across the kingdom.

More than 900 women ran against 6,000 men for spots on the country’s 284 municipal councils.

The development is viewed as historic for Saudi Arabia where women have fewer rights than men, being forbidden to drive cars and making major life decisions without consent from male relatives, among other restrictions.

“I deeply believe in the importance of voting in order to be part of my country’s drive to empower women and elevate their status. The turnout was good and the voting proceeded smoothly. I personally voted based on the candidates’ programs and plans,” one of the female first-time votes told Gulf News.

However, the election was only for two thirds of municipal council seats which have no legislative or national powers but are rather limited to local affairs.

The turnout was also quite low, with just 25 per cent of the voters casting ballots due to election still being a new thing for the Saudis.

Salma bint Hazab al-Otaibi, who won a seat in the Madrika district of Mecca, was hailed as first woman councilor in Saudi Arabia on social media.

Huda al-Jeraisy, a daughter of a former head of the chamber of commerce, was elected in the country’s capital, Riyadh.

Two women were elected in Saudi Arabia’s most conservative region, Qassim, but their names were not released as well as the name of another female councillor from al-Babtain.

The late King Abdullah announced that the women would vote in 2015 as he had been looking to increase the public role of females in the country. - RT.

GLOBAL ECONOMIC MELTDOWN: Precursors To A Global Financial Collapse - Is This What Happens On Monday?

December 13, 2015 - GLOBAL ECONOMY - Four months ago, China decided to devalue the Yuan sending a shudder up and down collateral chains globally and forcing carry trade unwinds and derisking everywhere. Friday August 21st saw notable weakness as that weakness washed ashore in US equities... and then Black Monday struck. The ensuing debacle stalled The Fed and shocked markets.

The last week, we have seen China devalue the Yuan very significantly, EM capital markets turmoiling, and today, that was ashore in US equities... what happens next?

Deja vu?

As a reminder, JPMorgan's "seer" Marko Kolanovic warned this week that...

"As for near-term risks—we believe the most imminent market catalyst will be the December Fed meeting in which we are likely to see the first rate hike of the cycle."

But to a market which has traded mostly on technicals and program buying (and selling) in recent months, there is something far more troubling than just what the Fed will announce:

This important event falls at a peculiar time—less than 48 hours before the largest option expiry in many years. There are $1.1 trillion of S&P 500 options expiring on Friday morning. $670Bn of these are puts, of which $215Bn are struck relatively close below the market level, between 1900 and 2050. Clients are net long these puts and will likely hold onto them through the event and until expiry. At the time of the Fed announcement, these put options will essentially look like a massive stop loss order under the market.

What does this mean? Considering that the bulk of the puts have been layered by the program traders themselves, including CTA trend-followers, and since the vol surface of the market will be well-known to everyone in advance, there is a very high probability the implied "stop loss" level will be triggered, and the market could trade to a level equivalent to the strike price, somewhere in the 1,800 area, or nearly 200 points below current levels.

Which would be a tragedy for the Fed: after all, nothing is more important to Yellen, Draghi et al, than affirmative market signaling - pointing to the (surging) market's reaction and saying "look, we did the right thing", just as Draghi did on Friday when he explicitly talked the market higher in the aftermath of the ECB's disastrous announcement. The irony will be if, regardless of what the Fed does, the subsequent move is driven not by the market's read through of monetary policy but by the "pin" in this massive $1.1 trillion option expiry, the biggest in many years, one which if recent market action is an indicator, suggests the stop loss strike level will be taken out in the process setting the "psychological" stage for market participants who will look at the drop in the market, and equate it with a vote of no confidence in what the Fed is doing, potentially forcing the Fed to backtrack in less than 2 days!

Whether this happens remains to be seen, and we are confident the Fed's "arm's length" market-moving JV partner, Citadel, is currently scrambling to prevent any imminent selloff. However, considering Kolanovic' track record of hinting at key risk inflection risk, it is quite likely that whatever the ultimate closing price on December 16 and, more importantly, December 18, volatility may very soon have an "August 24" type event.

Charts: Bloomberg

- Zero Hedge.

SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS: Two Suns Appear During Sunset In Zimbabwe - Just Days After A Similar Event Was Witnessed In Indonesia! [PHOTOS]

People living in Mutare, Zimbabwe experienced a double sunset on December 11 2015.  Photo: Peter Lowenstein

December 13, 2015 - ZIMBABWE - These two suns appeared in the clear sunset sky of Mutare, Zimbabwe on December 11, 2015.

Yes these lucky guys had a double sunset last Thursday...

This strange and baffling Two suns phenomenon is not only happening in Indonesia.

This double sun is just just too weird to be true. Photo: Peter Lowenstein

What I would like to know is the mechanism behind this two suns phenomenon. Photo: Peter Lowenstein

And about a minute after it appeared, the second sun just faded away. Photo: Peter Lowenstein

On December 11, 2015, Peter Lowenstein witnessed another double sunset event in drought-sicken Zimbabwe.

The second sun formed as our star was setting behind a cumulus cloud in an almost clear and dry sky.

The diffuse duplicate appeared above the cumulus in a thin veil of more distant high cloud. But this incredible nature spectacle only lasted for over a minute before the optical illusion faded away. - Strange Sounds.

EXTREME WEATHER: Intense Storm System Approaches Western Alaska - Ties The Strongest On Record!

December 13, 2015 - ALASKA - A potent storm approaching western Alaska this weekend has tied the strongest recorded storm to impact the region.

This storm comes a little over a year after ex-Super Typhoon Nuri became the most powerful system on record to cross Dutch Harbor, Alaska, which is located in the Aleutian Islands, with a central low pressure of 924 millibars (27.29 inches of Hg).

The intensity of a storm is measured by the central pressure, with lower pressure equating to a stronger system.

Previous to Nuri, the old record stood at 925 millibars (27.32 inches of Hg) at Dutch Harbor, Alaska, from a strong storm that hit on Oct. 25, 1977.

To put this in perspective, Hurricane Katrina made landfall at 920 millibars (27.17 inches of Hg).

This storm raced to the northeast and pounded the western Aleutian Islands with hurricane-force winds on Saturday evening, rapidly intensifying in the process.

06Z sfc analysis: powerhouse Bering Sea storm down to 924mb. Equal to Nov 2014 Bering Sea storm #akwx
Twitter: Mike Doll

Winds have gusted to 122 mph (196 km/h) at Adak Island, Alaska, on Saturday night.

Further strengthening is forecast to occur once the storm enters the Bering Sea, potentially breaking the intensity reached by ex-Super Typhoon Nuri in November of 2014.

Visible satellite image captured Typhoon Nuri as it churned over the West Pacific on Nov. 5, 2014. (Satellite Image/NASA)

The Aleutian Islands and west coast of Alaska will continue to experience impacts regardless of whether the storm breaks the record strength.

Hurricane-force winds, which are sustained winds or gusts of 74 mph or greater, will howl across the western Aleutian Islands through Sunday. Gusts of 30-50 mph can be expected across the western Alaska coast on Sunday through Monday.

Large waves upwards of 40 feet should be anticipated, making it hazardous to navigate the waters of the Bering Sea.

Waves are not expected to be nearly as high along the west coast of Alaska, but they could be high enough to cause coastal flooding and erosion. Accumulating snow is also likely across this area.

Wind and waves will lessen early next week as the storm weakens off the coast of eastern Russia. - Accuweather.

NEW WORLD DISORDER: Terrorism, False Flag Distractions, Societal Collapse, Wars And Civilizations Unraveling Ahead Of The Black Celestial Event - Putin Tells Defense Chiefs To Strengthen Russia Nuclear Forces As A Russian Destroyer Fires Warning Shots At Turkish Fishing Boat On Collision Course In The Aegean Sea!

December 13, 2015 - RUSSIA - President Vladimir Putin ordered defense chiefs to strengthen Russia’s strategic nuclear forces amid rising tensions with the U.S. over the global balance of power.

New weapons should go to “all parts” of the nuclear triad of air, sea, and land forces, Putin told a Defense Ministry meeting in Moscow on Friday. Action must also be taken “to improve the effectiveness of missile-attack warning systems and aerospace defense.”

Russia’s military will have five new nuclear regiments equipped with modern missile complexes next year, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told the same meeting. More than 95 percent of the country’s nuclear forces are at a permanent state of readiness, he said.

Putin’s moves to reinforce Russian nuclear capabilities are reviving Cold War tensions with the U.S. and its allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The U.S. warned in June that the Kremlin’s “nuclear saber-rattling” is undermining stability in an attempt to intimidate European neighbors. Russia’s nuclear arsenal, its annexation of Crimea in 2014 and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, in July led Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to call the country the most pressing threat to U.S. national security.

Putin said Russia’s military must continue its program of training drills and devote special attention to the “transport of troops over long distances” as well as “strategic nuclear deterrence” and the ability to airlift forces including “anti-aircraft, missile and electronic elements.”

New Weapons

About 56 percent of Russian nuclear weapons are new, including modern missiles, upgraded aircraft and a strengthened submarine capacity, Shoigu said. Russia has also expanded the military’s combat capabilities by reinforcing its western and south-western army groups and building four bases in the Arctic region, he said.

NATO’s troop presence in the Baltic states and central Europe increased sharply in the past year, Shoigu said. The U.S. also has about 200 nuclear weapons sited in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Turkey and has plans to modernize them, he said.

Amid a conflict with NATO member Turkey over the shooting down of a Russian warplane near the Syrian border last month, Putin ordered defense officials to “react harshly” to threats to Russia’s forces operating in Syria. Any such threats should face “immediate extermination,” he said.

The Russian air campaign in Syria against Islamic State and other militants is aimed at protecting Russia from terrorism, and actions are being synchronised with operations of special forces against domestic threats, Putin said. Airstrikes are being coordinated with both President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and those of the opposition Free Syrian Army, which has more than 5,000 troops fighting terrorists with weapons supplied by Russia, he said.

Islamic State has more than 60,000 terrorists and is expanding its influence in Syria and Iraq, Shoigu said. Russian airstrikes in Syria that began Sept. 30 have hit 8,000 terrorist infrastructure targets during 4,000 combat missions, he said. - Bloomberg.

Russian destroyer fires warning shots at Turkish fishing boat on collision course in Aegean

Smetlivy anti-submarine ship © Wikipedia

A Russian destroyer had to open warning fire as a Turkish fishing vessel sailed on a collision course towards them and didn’t respond to calls from the warship, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

The incident happened in the northern part of the Aegean Sea some 12 nautical miles from the Greek island of Lemnos, the ministry said.The crew of the Kashin-class guided missile destroyer Smetlivy spotted the Turkish fishing trawler some 1,000 meters from the Russian warship early on Sunday morning, the ministry said. The ship was sailing towards the destroyer and ignored calls for radio contact and other attempts to communicate.

When the Turkish vessel approached to about 600 meters, the Smetlivy opened small arms fire at a spot in front of the trawler, taking care to avoid any risk of hitting the Turkish ship itself, the report said.

The ministry said the Turkish fishing ship changed course after that and kept about 540 meters from the Smetlivy, but didn’t contact the Russian warship.

“Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov has summoned the military attaché of the Turkish embassy in Russia in connection with the incident in the Aegean Sea,” the statement said.

There is serious tension between Turkey and Russia after an incident on the Turkish-Syrian border, in which Turkish fighter jets shot down a Russian bomber plane conducting airstrikes against terrorist forces in Syria. Turkey said the move was justified by a 17-second incursion into Turkish airspace.

Russia denied the Russian warplane crossed the border and called the incident a stab in the back. Moscow accused Ankara of protecting terrorists in Syria to ensure a continued flow of smuggled oil to Turkey, which Russia says profits some senior Turkish officials. - RT.

INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSE: Deadly Fire At Neurological Hospital In Central Russia - 23 People Killed, Two Dozen Others Injured!

December 13, 2015 - RUSSIA - Twenty-three people have been killed and over two dozen injured in a fire at a neurological hospital in Russia’s central Voronezh region. Authorities are scouring the rubble of the wooden structure, which was destroyed by the blaze.

“By 11:00am Moscow Time (07:00am GSM) the body of the 23rd and last victim was discovered. The rescue operation has finished,” the local emergencies ministry department reported, adding that work on the site is now focused on establishing the cause of the deadly blaze. A criminal case over alleged negligence has been opened.

The fire broke out late on Saturday night local time. The single-story 600-square- meter unit was completely engulfed and destroyed by the fire. It took firefighters about two hours to douse the flames.

When the fire started 70 patients were inside the building, along with four medical personnel. At least 29 of the patients were reportedly bedridden or had limited mobility. Twenty-three people were taken to hospital, the investigative committee of the General Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement. The local health ministry reported that three patients are in serious condition.

The neurological hospital is in the village of Alferovka, home to just over 700 people. The hospital consists of two structures and is some 230km from Voronezh, a city of just under a million inhabitants.

At the time of the tragedy the hospital catered for the needs of 140 patients, at least 50 of whom were confined to their beds, RIA Novosti reported citing the facility's staff. Those who suffered no injuries were temporarily transferred to the second unit, which had not been damaged.

© Google Maps

The evacuation of the patients was hampered by the poor state of mind that some of them were in, one of the hospital nurses, Natalya Bytsenko, told LifeNews.

“We managed to drag people out of two wards. They didn’t realize what was happening and that they should get out. The patients just stood or sit or lay there,” she said.

Preliminary investigation established that the fire broke out in one of the hospital wards. Faulty wiring or mishandling of an open fire could be the reason, but it is too early to rule out other possible causes, including foul play, a source close to the investigation told TASS.

Such tragedies are not uncommon in Russia, with dozens of deadly fires at medical facilities and care homes having claimed hundreds of lives over the last decade.

On April 26, 2013, 38 people were killed in a fire at a psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of Moscow that housed as many as 41 people. Authorities pointed to faulty electric wiring and a short circuit as the most probable cause.


 WATCH: At least 23 dead in hospital fire in Voronezh region.

Among the most horrific was a 2009 fire in the Russian Republic of Komi, where the blaze destroyed an old people’s home claiming the lives of 23 people. Only three managed to escape the inferno.

Two years prior to that, a fire in the city of Tula, again in a home for the elderly, resulted in 32 deaths. Some 247 patients, including medical staff were saved.

That same year, in March 2007, another inferno in a southern Russian care home claimed the lives of 61 people, while 35 were saved. Many of the dead were confined to their beds and unable to flee the smoke and flames.

In December 2006, a fire in a drug-rehabilitation hospital in Moscow killed 46 people, mostly patients. Many of the victims had been trapped behind locked doors and windows, which had been intended to keep them from fleeing treatment. - RT.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: New Ash Emissions From Northeast Crater At Mount Etna!

Ash emissions from Etna's NE crater

December 13, 2015 - SICILY, ITALY - The northeast crater started again to produce puffs of ash, generating small plumes drifting southwest.

Etna seen from the north with ash emission from NE crater

- Volcano Discovery.

SOCIETAL COLLAPSE: Massive Bomb Blast At Market In Parachinar, Pakistan - At Least 15 Killed, Dozens Others Injured!

December 13, 2015 - PAKISTAN - At least 15 people were reportedly killed and dozens others injured in an apparent bombing at a clothes bazaar in Pakistan’s Parachinar area in the Kurram Valley.

According to various estimates, 30-47 people were injured in the blast. At least 15 of them are in critical condition, DawnNews reports.

It was not immediately clear whether the bombing on Sunday was a suicide attack or a remotely controlled detonation.

© Google Maps

A security source told DawnNews two suspects have been taken into custody.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

The Kurram district is one of the most sensitive areas in Pakistan, bordering the restive North Waziristan area and three Afghani provinces.

The region that is home to mixed ethnic groups has suffered several violent incidents perpetrated by Sunni extremists in recent years. - RT.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: Increasing Volcanic Activity At Mexico's Popocatepetl Volcano - Registers 29 Explosions And 47 Exhalations Over The Last 3 Days! [VIDEO]

Photo: Cenapred

December 13, 2015 - MEXICO - According to reports from the National Disaster Prevention Center (Cenapred), Popocatepetl volcano registered in the past 28 hours exhalations of low intensity, as well as 14 explosions which produced a slight increase in emissions of water vapor and gas.

The biggest blast occurred yesterday at 19:27 hours and was accompanied by the expulsion of incandescent fragments that were deposited over short distances on the volcano's slopes.

According to the latest report monitoring body within the Ministry of Interior, during Friday night intense glow that grew when the most important events was observed. - Starmedia.

Photo: Cenapred

According to the last report of National Disaster Prevention Center (Cenapred), the monitoring system of Popocatepetl volcano registered 9 low-intensity exhalations and  15 explosions in the last 24 hours.

A low-amplitude harmonic tremor was totaling 72 minutes, was also reported.

Over the crater incandescence was observed at night.

Continuous emissions of steam and gas heading to the north-northeast were seen during the day, also.

- El Universal.


WATCH: Volcanic activity at Popocatepetl.

INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSE: The Effects Of Magnetic Polar Migration - The Latest Incidents Of Plane Crashes Across The Globe!

The remains of a small plane that crashed lie near the golf course at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Fayette County. KDKA

December 13, 2015 - EARTH - Here are the latest incidents of plane crashes across the planet over the last few days.

2 Killed in Plane Crash Near Posh Pennsylvania Resort

Federal investigators will be at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Fayette County this morning to try to determine what caused a private plane to crash Friday afternoon, killing two people and critically injuring a third.

The single-engine plane, a Beechcraft BE36, crashed shortly after taking off from the resort’s private airstrip just after 2 p.m., said Farmington Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brian VanSickle, who was deer hunting with four fellow firefighters in the same woods where the plane came down.

“It did sound like it had an engine malfunction,” Chief VanSickle said. “I didn’t know what it was at first, but then when the woods filled with white smoke and we could hear bystanders hollering, we just shifted from the hunting mode into the fire-and-rescue mode.”

The men ran to the accident scene, where resort security was already trying to help a man who had crawled from the wreckage. That victim was transported by helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital’s burn unit.

The Fayette County coroner pronounced the other two victims dead in the burned wreckage. Chief VanSickle said it was not known whether they were men or women, and their identities were not certain Friday night.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Authority were traveling to the resort Friday night from Washington, D.C., and Wichita, Kan., and will release additional information, the chief said.

The six-passenger Beechcraft Bonanza has been manufactured, in various models, since 1947, the longest production record in aviation history. Flying magazine says more than 18,000 of them have been built during that span.

“While the airplane has morphed through the years, the Bonanza’s riveted metal and low-wing design has stood the test of time,” the magazine said in a December 2013 review of a new model.

The 3,845-foot runway at Nemacolin Woodlands, 62 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, is a restricted-use airstrip for takeoffs and landings. Pilots use it at their own risk by making reservations with the resort security department, which operates a 24-hour dispatch service to make sure the strip is clear. There are lights, but the airfield is closed from dusk to dawn and during poor weather.

Resort spokeswoman Ashli Mazer declined to discuss how many planes come and go at the airfield each day, saying that more details would be released in the coming days. This is the first serious incident involving an aircraft near the property, she said.

State police secured the site for the night, Chief VanSickle said.

“The FAA will release the aircraft registration after local authorities notify family members about the condition of those on board,” FAA regional spokesman Jim Peters said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by this accident,” Nemacolin Woodlands Resort said in a statement. - Post-Gazette.

Small plane crash in Cumberland County, North Carolina

A small plane crashed in Cumberland County off Clark West Road.

Officials said it was two men and two women in their mid 40's.

Officials said the Beechcraft aircraft crashed in an industrial park about 6 miles from the Fayetteville Regional Airport after an in-flight emergency.

Our crew on the scene says the pilot told air traffic controllers he was having trouble and then the engine quit.

Emergency crews found the aircraft in a wooded area which is part of the industrial park. Authorities said all four people were outside of the aircraft when it was found.

The people on board have been taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

Officials did not release specifics on their conditions.

The NTSB has been notified and is sending a crew to the scene. - ABC11.

Man seriously injured in plane crash in Scugog Township, Canada

A small plane crash in Scugog Township, Ont. sent a man to hospital with serious injuries on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. (Harrison Perkins)

A plane crash in Scugog Township has sent a man to hospital with serious injuries.

Durham Regional Police say a small single-engine plane crashed on Saturday, at around 12:45 p.m., just south of Greenbank Airport.

Witnesses came across the crash site and pulled a 61-year-old man from the wreckage.

Police say the victim has been transported to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre with serious injuries, but in stable condition.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is now investigating. - CTV News.

1 killed in plane crash near Wapekeka First Nations, Ontario, Canada

On Friday morning just after 9 a.m., a Wasaya Airways Cessna 208 Caravan travelling from Pickle Lake to Wapekeka First Nations, was reported overdue and was not in radio contact.

The cargo flight with one pilot and no passengers aboard was located down and stationary by Canadian Forces Search and Rescue crews in the Pickle Lake area early Friday afternoon.

The aircraft was piloted by Captain Nick Little, husband of former Sault Ste. Marie resident Kaila Marie Little.

As members of the Northwest Region Emergency Response Team, RCAF 8 Wing Search and Rescue Technicians, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, and the Ontario Provincial Police attempted to reach the wreckage, their efforts were hindered by poor weather and icy conditions.

A news release issued Saturday morning by Wasaya Airways indicated that rescue teams reached the aircraft just before 11 p.m. Friday night and found Captain Little deceased.

Wasaya Airways President and CEO Michael Rodyniuk stated in the release: “We are devastated by the loss of Capt. Little. We have lost a dear friend and valued colleague. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nick’s family.” - Soo Today.

Plane crashes in Modena, Clintondale, New York

A single-engine plane experienced engine trouble and went down in the area of Plattekill-Ardonia Road near Freetown Road on Saturday, Plattekill Police Chief Joseph Ryan said.

Ryan said state police at Highland were investigating the incident, which occurred around noon.

He said there were two people in the plane, but no one was injured. Earlier reports indicated two people had been injured and that the plane had caught fire.

State police had provided no additional information as of 5 p.m. Saturday. - Daily Freeman.

​​2 killed in light aircraft crash in Stavropol Territory, Russia

The collapse of light-sport aircraft took place today in the foothill area of ​​Stavropol Territory in the precincts of the village the village of Suvorov. Passengers and the pilot were killed, were in the car.

From the report of SC "It was aboard the brand Bonanza, it is very hard hit - more or less the whole turned out only a portion of the tail. According to preliminary data, aviasudno - from Orenburg, and on it are, respectively, four local residents of this city. Their bodies were burned, they will be transferred to the examination. "

Kak soobsili TASS AutoPapa Mineralovodskom sledstvennom otdele SK RF transporte in Baku, the aircraft is likely to fall from a great height. Killed were in it four people, including one woman. After the collision of the aircraft with the ground there was a fire, which resulted in a large portion of the field burned. We know that local residents in the fall the ship not affected.

The investigating authorities carried out pre-investigation into the incident. Currently, made inspection of the scene and the surrounding area, set all the circumstances of emergency. - NTV. [Translated]

SOCIETAL COLLAPSE: Unidentified Gunmen Storm Military Facilities In Burundi Amid Political Turmoil - At Least 87 People Killed, As Piles Of Bullet-Riddle Bodies Scatter In The Streets!

Burundian military and police frisk suspects after they recovered a cache of ammunitions recovered from combatants near Lake Tanganyika
in the capital Bujumbura, December 9, 2015 © Jean Pierre Aime Harerimana / Reuters

December 13, 2015 - BURUNDI - Burundi’s worst outbreak of violence in months saw nearly 90 people killed in just one day, the army said.

Local residents stayed at home, saying that they had seen piles of bullet-riddled bodies scattered in the streets.

Unidentified gunmen carried out coordinated attacks on three military bases in Bujumbura, Burundi’s capital, on Friday.

According to army spokesman Gaspard Baratuza, 79 assailants were killed during clashes and 45 others taken to custody. All in all the number of attackers reached 150.

Four police officers and four soldiers were killed in clashes and 21 security officers were wounded, he said.

"Sweep operations have finished now," Baratuza said on Saturday, adding that officials confiscated attackers’ weapons and ammunition.

Violence in Burundi first broke out in April when the ruling party announced that President Pierre Nkurunziza would seek a third term in office.

A failed coup in May against the president led to hundreds of deaths. Over 200,000 have fled the country since May fearing a humanitarian tragedy.

Residents look at the covered body of an unidentified man killed during gunfire, in the Nyakabiga neighbourhood of Burundi's capital Bujumbura, December 12, 2015
© Jean Pierre Aime Harerimana / Reuters

Local residents remained in fear for the whole of Friday, afraid to go out and to see piles of bodies scattering the streets.

"What is the international community waiting for? Will they intervene when there are no more people in Burundi?" businessman Gerald Bigirimana asked, as cited by AP.

A man named Eric, who lived near the site of the attacked military college, told AFP that he was “holed up in the corridor of my house with my wife and children.” "Pray for us because we will die!" he said.

It is still unclear whether all the bodies in the streets belonged to the attackers. One resident from the Nyakabiga neighborhood of Burundi’s capital told AP that he counted at least 21 bodies with bullet wounds in their heads.

Some corpses were lying with their hands tied behind their backs, he said.

"I fear I can be killed like my friend yesterday. Police came to search our house and by chance I escaped. If I had money, I would go buy a passport and flee," Fidele Muyobera, 22, told AP.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemned the violence, saying that the attacks risked triggering "a further destabilisation of the situation", his spokesman said.

Later, the UN human rights office announced that the UN Human Rights Council would hold a special session on the Burundi crisis next Thursday.

Burundi, one of the poorest countries in the world, has been engaged in the civil war in the period between 1993 and 2006 which killed scores of people. - RT.

 

FIRE IN THE SKY: The Latest Fireball Sightings - Bright Meteor-Fireball Seen Over Spain And Fireball Filmed Over Southern England! [VIDEOS]

Fireball over Spain. © SMART Project (screen capture)

December 13, 2015 - SPACE - The following constitutes several of the latest reports of fireballs, seen in the skies, across the globe.

Bright meteor fireball seen over Spain

Bright fireball recorded by the meteor observing stations operated by Prof. J. M. Madiedo at La Sagra, La Hita and Sevilla astronomical observatories.

The event took place at 22h0m UT (23h09m local time).


WATCH: Fireball over Spain.

- YouTube.

Meteor fireball filmed over southern England

Fireball M20151208_225420 from Ash Vale K3

Fireball spotted by the public on 8 December at 22:54:20 with visible brake up.


WATCH: Fireball over England.

- YouTube.

EXTREME WEATHER: Tornado Whips Through Canterbury, New Zealand - While Heavy Rainfall And Lightning Strikes Caused Flooding And Small Fires!

Tornado in mid Canterbury.  © Phillippa Fleming

December 13, 2015 - NEW ZEALAND - A tornado whipped through Canterbury this afternoon, while heavy rain and lightning strikes caused flooding and small fires.

The Fire Service said it had been stretched to the limit, with callouts to several small fires caused by lightning, trees crashing down on powerlines and flooding.

A hail storm hit just after 2pm, and left more than 5000 homes in south-west Christchurch without power.

Orion said it had restored supply to homes in Rolleston, Burnham and Springston, but about 1400 properties were still without electricity.

Orion expected electricity would be restored to all homes by 7pm tonight.

Mayfield cropping farmer Phillippa Fleming said she saw a tornado at about 3pm. She described it as looking like a Nike tick in the sky.

The tornado lasted about five minutes and there was lots of dust and debris when it touched the ground, Ms Fleming said.

People in Hinds and Mayfield posted videos of the tornado to YouTube.


WATCH: Large tornado near Hinds.

The New Zealand Farming group also posted a video on Facebook of what they described as a twister in mid Canterbury.

Metservice said the wild weather should ease back this evening as the temperature cools, but there could be other thunderstorms to come.

- Radio New Zealand.