Magnitude 8.0 Earthquake Stucks Off Solomon Islands; Causes Two Tsunamis

Powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck off the Solomon Islands in the Pacific, shortly after 1 am GMT, and causing two tsunamis that killed at least 5 people and damaged more than 80 properties in the area. Tsunami was about 1.5 metres.

The center of the earthquake was off the Santa Cruz Islands, part of the Solomon Islands, north-east of Australia.

Tsunami warnings were issued in Australia, Hawaii and the places around but were soon cancelled, as citizens had gone to higher ground.

Strong aftershocks were recorded, ranging from strength from magnitude 5.6 to 6.4.

Noe I., Windows of the World

Beyonces Admits Singing With Pre-Recorded Song At Inauguration

Superstar singer Beyonce kicked off the press conference at Inauguration Day, singing the National Anthem and proved the critics wrong when she admitted the song was pre-recorded.

“Due to the weather, due to the delay, due to no proper sound check, I did not feel comfortable taking a risk. It was about the president and the inauguration and I wanted to make him and my country proud. So I decided to sing along with my pre-recorded track, which is very common in the music industry, and I’m very proud of my performance”, Beyonce admitted.

Then she added, “I am a perfectionist and one thing about me, I practice until my feet bleed, and I did not have time to rehearse with the orchestra. It was a live television show and a very, very important emotional show for me. One of my proudest moments.”

Here’s her performance:

 

Beyonce is confirmed to perform at the Superbowl halftime show on Sunday. “I will absolutely sing live, This is what I was born to do.”, she said. And also told people she ‘might’ have an announcement at the end of the performance, that would have to do with a tour.

Noe I, Windows of the World

Big Twister Hits Georgia City; Thousands Affected SouthEast

A big tornado ripped through Adairsville, Georgia, overturned cars and killed at least 1, damaging several buildings in the area and leaving at least 12,000 people without power statewide.

The local hospital received 7 people with injuries from the storm. The man killed was inside his mobile home in Bartow County.

Picture: MSNBC

Tornado warnings were issued from Tennessee to northern and western Georgia until Wednesday afternoon.

A 47 year old man was also killed in Tennessee after a tree fell on a shed he was in, the local fire department said.

In Memphis, TN, more than 13,000 families lost power as winds took down power lines.

Noe I., Windows of the World.

Tropics Watch; Current Hurricanes and Tropical Storms

What To Watch on Olympics Day 4

The American women aim for the first team gold in gymnastics since 1996 and Michael Phelps swims for his record breaking nineteenth career medal Tuesday night. Here’s what we’re watching on Day 4.

Women’s Gymnastics Team Final – Most of us still can’t believe all-around world champ Jordyn Wiebergot knocked out of the individual finals by teammateAly Raisman. The girls will have to put that all behind them when they join Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney to fight against Russia and Romania for the U.S. women’s first team gold since 1996.

Women’s Field Hockey – The U.S. faces off against Argentina Tuesday night in a rematch of the Pan Am Games final that saw America upset one of the world’s top teams. Argentine star Luciana Aymar has won player of the year honors seven times, but has never finished on the top of the Olympic podium. She’s retiring and London will be her last shot at gold.

Men’s 200m Butterfly Final – Michael Phelps looks to tie the all-time career record of 18 medals when he dives in for his signature event, the 200m fly. If he pulls it off the legendary swimmer will aim for the record an hour later when he swims in the men’s 4x200m frees, a race Team USA is favored to win.

Women’s Soccer – The U.S. women face off against North Korea, who they’ve matched up against at the last four World Cups. But Tuesday’s big draw will be the home team of Great Britain against the Brazilians, who are looking to win their first gold medal in Olympic history. The match is expect to bring in nearly 70,000 fans to Wembley Stadium.

Men’s Fencing: Individual Foil – Race Imboden, only 19, is the most exciting young fencer on the American squad and is poised to become the Mariel Zagunisof the men’s team.  He’s got a tough draw, but his stiffest competition might be teammate Alexander Massialas, who Race stood on the podium when they shared bronze at this year’s World Cup.

Follow Olympic Talk for all the latest on the London Games.

NBC News.

Top 5 U.S. Olympians to Watch in London Games

Athletes inspire a nation, and familiar and new faces will be competing for glory and gold for the United States at this year’s Olympic Games in London.

These five Olympians are masters of their sport, and ones to watch:

 

The 17-year-old student from Aurora, Colo., will compete in seven events at the Olympics. That’s a record for any U.S. woman.

The athlete has already broken world records and won numerous medals, and many people are calling her the great hope of women’s swimming.

Summer Sanders of Yahoo! Sports told “Good Morning America” that Franklin was amazing in every way.

“She amazes me,” Sanders, herself a medal-winning Olympian swimmer, said. “She’s so composed. Here’s a 17-year-old, she went into trials with such pressure and expectations on her shoulders. She handled it like she’s been doing it for years.”

 

 

The U.S. swimmer, 28, is a six-time Olympic medalist. He holds the world record in the 200- and 400-meter individual medley.

 

“One of the things that I’m really good at is I know how to push my body to the limits that no other athlete can really handle,” Lochte has said.

Sanders thinks Lochte will shine at the games.

 

 

The 26-year-old from Southern California is one of the most decorated sprinters in track and field in history.

With eight gold medals and two individual silver medals, Felix has proven that she’s a force to be reckoned with.

“Allyson Felix absolutely dominated the 200 meters at Olympic trial,” Sanders said. “She ran the fastest 200 in 14 years, so I think that puts her as the favorite in that event.”

 

 

The 17-year-old gymnast from Michigan has 13 gold medals and was the World All Around champion in 2011. She started her gymnastics career at age 4.

 

ABC News’ Daisha Riley and Hana Karar report

IGNITE THE NIGHT is TONIGHT! See The Fireworks Live on the Hudson River in NYC or on NBC

You’re invited to IGNITE THE NIGHT, at America’s biggest firworks display! Don’t miss this year’s show live on the Hudson River in New York City or on NBC, Tonight 9PM EST.

The 36th annual Macy’s 4th of July fireworks returns on the west side with an awe-inspiring display of patriotic firepower. This year’s extravaganza, “Ignite The Night” will feature more than 40,000 fireworks expertly synchronized to a dynamic 25-minute score that includes a mix of beloved standards and the hottest pop favorites that America voted for!

Exciting performances by

Katy Perry

Global superstar whose two albums have generated a string of #1 hit singles and multi-platinum sales during the past four years. The special edition Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection, available now, features 3 new songs including “Part of Me,” her 7th Hot 100 #1, and “Wide Awake,” written for her forthcoming 3D film, Katy Perry: Part Of Me, in theaters July 5th.

 

 

 

Kenny Chesney

One of country music’s biggest stars, Kenny Chesney has produced more than 30 top ten singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. With his unique blend of confidence and vulnerability, this award-winning singer is sure to wow at this year’s Fireworks show. Chesney’s latest album, “Welcome to the Fishbowl,” drops June 19.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severe Thunderstorm Watch, Warnings Follow Excessive Heat Warning in DC

A fast-moving line of dangerous storms has knocked out power to more than 1 million customers in the D.C. area, and one person has died do to a fallen tree.

A day of record-shattering heat ended with severe thunderstorms that rushed through the metro area with strong winds and an impressive lightning display.

Trees are reported down across the area.  The storms produced hurricane-force winds in excess of 80 mph. Gusts of 82 mph were reported in the Reston area.

The National Weather Service reported a tree fell on a car in Springfield, Va., killing one person inside.

Extensive power outages have been reported. As of about midnight., Pepco was reporting 386,550 customers without power in D.C., Prince George’s County and Montgomery County and Dominion Power was reporting 831,912 outages in northern Virginia and 182,636 outages in Shenandoah Valley/Western Piedmont. As of about 11:20 p.m. Allegheny reported 7,781 outages in Montgomery County, 1,021 in Howard County and 12,248 in Frederick County. SMECO was reporting 9,104 outages.

Pepco and Dominion said some customers could be without power for multiple days, which could be very dangerous for some as the heat wave continues through the weekend.

There are several reports of trees and power lines down and roads blocked in the area.

Metro reported a downed tree caused single-tracking between Dunn Loring and West Falls Church.

Metro also reported suspended rail service between Grosvenor and Shady Grove due to a power outage and delays on all lines because of the weather. Blue Line service between Largo Town Center and Addison Road was restored when a power outage was resolved about midnight.

Metrobuses also are delayed, as they are stuck in the same traffic as other motorists dealing with downed trees.

News4′s Shomari Stone reported portable toilets were blown on to Independence Avenue near the Washington Monument, blocking the roadway.

Several severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued with this line of storms. A tornado warning for Allegany and Washington counties in Maryland expired at 9:45 p.m.

A severe thunderstorm watch expires at 1 a.m. for D.C.; Allegany, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Washington counties in Maryland; and Arlington, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties in Virginia.There is potential for hail, but the biggest threat is strong winds that could knock down trees and cause power outages. These storms have produced major wind damage in West Virginia and Ohio with gusts up to 75 mph. There was also a tornado warning with this line of storms in West Virginia. There have also been many lightning strikes.

The line of storms is expected to be off the coast by 5 a.m.

The high temperature was 104 degrees at Reagan National Airport Friday afternoon, setting a record not only for the day, but for the entire month of June. Last year we set a record with a 102-degree day in June.

The previous June 29 record of 101 degrees was set in 1874 and tied in 1934. In the past 142 years, D.C. has seen the temperature reach 104 degrees only 10 times.

A record was set at Dulles International Airport, too. It’s reached 102 degrees there. The previous record was 95.

The storms aren’t likely to offer the mercury much of a break. We could be in the record heat business again Saturday, and all the rain will make it feel even muggier.

The heat index — which factors in humidity — reached 112 degrees for Washington and got up to 117 in Leesburg, Va.; 112 in Fredericksburg, Culpeper and Manassas in Virginia; 114 in LaPlata, Md.; and 112 in Frederick, Md., according to Storm4 meteorologist Doug Kammerer.

On the Billy Goat Trail, a hiker was overcome by the heat and had to be rescued by boat.

Nine Girl Scouts at an event in Benedict, Md., were taken to hospitals because of heat exhaustion. Several others were taken to the Benedict Fire Department to cool off.

At the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, seven children were taken to a local hospital with heat exhaustion. They are expected to be OK.

There’s a chance for more storms Saturday and Sunday. The storms are not expected to be as severe as Friday’s, but Kammerer is not ruling it out because of the heat, which gave Friday’s storms their energy.

Read more on NBC Washington.

World Premiere: ‘Boyfriend’ By Justin Bieber

Tornado Watch Remains In Effect For Central Louisiana

Tornado watch remains in effect for much of Central Louisiana and parts of  Mississippi until 2am Central Time.  Areas from Lafayette, La. to Greensville, Miss. have the potential to see a tornado or at least severe thunderstorms early this morning.

Current tornado in Louisiana is heading toward Mowata, Richard, and Eunice by midnight.

If you live in the aforementioned area, stay abreast of the changing weather situation through the early morning hours for potential tornado warnings should a tornado be imminent.