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This week, a couple of waterfalls on the island of La Reunion (which, bye-the-bye, also has its own active volcano, Piton de la Fournaise, erupting right now.) La Reunion is the French version of Hawaii: tropical, waterfalls, old volcanoes with landscapes like Kauai, and the active one, too. I've posted pictures of the big 1,000+ foot volcano in the Iron Hole crater; these are some other nice ones. Click for full-size. Cascade Niagara (not the one in Canada!) And if you want adventure:

Hurricane Paula has developed in the warm waters of the Western Caribbean Sea. Paula is the ninth storm to reach hurricane status in the 2010 Atlantic tropical storm season. Initial estimates are somewhat uncertain, with extreme southwest Florida and the Florida Keys in the initial five-day cone of uncertainty. There is considerable spread in the track model guidance with the GFDL accelerating Paula east-northeastward over the Atlantic in several days and the GFS and ECMWF guidance turning the cyclone southward or southwestward over the northwest Caribbean Sea. Public Advisories NHC Discussions Satellite Images & Loops (Tropical Floater #2) Forecast ModelsBuoy...

Tropical Depression 16 has formed in the NW Caribbean Sea. Tropical Storm Warnings and Watches have been issued for the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Bahamas and Florida. This tropical development was predicted last week when the tropical forecast models consistently indicated a system in the wake of TS Matthew. Public AdvisoriesDiscussions Buoy Data: West CaribbeanFloridaTropical Forecast ModelsSatellite Images and Loops Tropcial Floater #2 Florida Radar Loop with Forecast Track

Tropical Storm Matthew has formed in the South Central Caribbean Sea. The forecast path and intensity is dependent upon future interaction with terrain in Central America. Current NHC forecast indicates a northerly turn toward the Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday. Hurricane Watches and Tropical Storm Warnings were issued for Nicaragua and Honduras Thursday afternoon. NHC Public Advisories NHC DiscussionsForecast Model Plots Buoy Data:West CaribbeanFlorida & Eastern GOMWestern GOMSatellite Images & Loops:Atlantic Floater 1 (Visible, Infrared, WV images and loops) Intellicast Caribbean ImageGOES East Infrared Image

Tropical Storm Hermine has formed in the Bay of Campeche. The small system is slowly moving North at 8 mph. Widespread deep tropical moisture over the southwest Gulf of Mexico and the Bay of Campeche will combine with TS Hermine across the southwest Gulf of Mexico to increase the possibility of heavy rainfall over the lower Rio Grande Valley and deep south Texas Monday through Wednesday. Hermine is the eighth tropical storm of the 2010 season. Public Advisories NHC Discussions Satellite Images & Loops (Tropical Floater #1) Forecast ModelsBuoy DataRadar: Brownsville TXLaughlin AF Base TX

Large and dangerous Hurricane Earl is nearing the U.S. East coast. Hurricane and Tropical Storm Warnings and Watches have been issued from North Carolina to Nova Scotia. Even if the center of Earl remains offshore, hurricane force winds are expected to occur on the Outer Banks by Thursday night. Currently, hurricane force winds extend outward 90 miles, and tropical storm force winds 230 miles from the center of the storm. Tropical-storm-force winds will likely reach the coast from Virginia northward to New Jersey by late Thursday night or early Friday. A gradual weakening is expected to start later Thursday, but...

Tropical Storm Earl was upgraded to hurricane status Sunday morning. Hurricane Warnings have been issued for the Leeward Islands. Puerto Rico is currently under a Hurricane Watch. The five day extended forecast cone of uncertainty currently includes Eastern North Carolina. Public AdvisoryDiscussionForecast ModelsBuoy Data: Caribbean Western Atlantic Florida SE U.S.Satellite Images and Loops (Tropical Floater #2) Puerto Rico Radar (Out of Service 8/28/2010 until further notice) NWS Local Hurricane Weather Statement-Puerto RicoIbiseye Interactive TrackingStormPulse.com

Tropical Depression #5 has formed in the southeast Gulf of Mexico. The initial motion is somewhat uncertain due to the broad area of the system center. Satellite Images Floater One Imagery Buoy Data: Florida & Eastern GOM Western GOM Storm Models

Tropical Depression FOUR Public Advisory Home Public Adv Fcst/Adv Wind Probs Maps/Charts Archive 000 WTNT34 KNHC 021435 TCPAT4 BULLETIN TROPICAL DEPRESSION FOUR ADVISORY NUMBER 1 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL042010 1100 AM EDT MON AUG 02 2010 ...NEW TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS IN THE ATLANTIC... SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...12.6N 41.1W ABOUT 1365 MI...2200 KM E OF THE LESSER ANTILLES MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH...55 KM/HR PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 17 MPH...28 KM/HR MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1006 MB...29.71 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK...

ScienceDaily (July 22, 2010) — The tropics owe their stunning biodiversity to consistent year-round temperatures, not higher temperatures or more sunlight, according to a novel survey of insect diversity at different latitudes and at different points in the planet's history. The finding, presented this week in the journal Paleobiology by researchers from Harvard University, Simon Fraser University, and Brandon University, may finally answer a question that has dogged scientists for centuries. It also suggests, intriguingly, that the world is likely far less diverse today than it was tens of millions of years ago, when the entire Earth had consistent year-round...

The third Atlantic tropical system of the 2010 season has formed in the Eastern Bahamas. Deep Horizon oil well repairs are reportedly on hold for up to two weeks in advance of the storm system. Forecast ModelsSatellite Images & Loops Buoy Data: Florida/Eastern GOM & Western GOMRadar Images and Loops: Miami & Key West NHC Public AdvisoryNHC Discussion Additional Resources:Ibiseye Detailed tracking maps include city names StormPulse Interactive tracking capabilities Hurricane CityCrown WeatherHurricane & Oil Leak Factsheet [pdf file]

Hurricane Alex is taking aim at the Texas/Mexico border in the Western Gulf of Mexico. The official NHC forecast calls for Alex to make landfall just south of Texas on Wednesday night. Tropical storm force winds extend 140 miles from the center of the system. Alex is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches over portions of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas...with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches. NHC Public AdvisoriesNHC DiscussionSatellite Images and LoopsBuoy Data: Western Gulf of MexicoLocal Weather: NWS Local Weather Statements Brownsville TX & Corpus Christi TXBrownsville Radar LoopCorpus Christi Radar LoopLocal...

Tropical Storm Alex has developed in the Western Caribbean, moving WNW toward Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula. Public AdvisoriesDiscussionSatellite Images and LoopsWestern Caribbean Buoy DataIbiseye Detailed tracking maps StormPulse Interactive tracking capabilities Discussion of potential oil gusher problems:Tropical storm would cause problems for oil spill cleanup efforts*Caution--contains quotes from U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL). What will oil in the Gulf of Mexico do to a hurricane? Jeff Masters with interesting theories.

The Atlantic Tropical Storm Season officially begins June 1. This week, there is a low pressure system in the Atlantic with a 30% chance of developing into a tropical system. The last week of May also provides the opportunity to review and complete your hurricane safety preparations and evacuation plans for 2010. Hurricane HistoryStorm SurgeHigh WindsInland FloodingForecast ProcessBe PreparedTake Action Invest 90 Forecast ModelsAtlantic Satellite Floater 1 (90L)Western Atlantic Buoy DataFlorida Buoy DataSoutheast US Buoy Data2010 Tropical Storm NamesAlex Bonnie Colin Danielle Earl Fiona Gaston Hermine Igor Julia Karl Lisa Matthew Nicole Otto Paula Richard Shary Tomas Virginie Walter Finally,...

Hurricane Ida continues to strengthen as it approaches the Yucatan Peninsula and Gulf of Mexico. The government of Mexico has issued a Hurricane Warning from Playa del Carmen to Cabo Catoche. The late season hurricane is expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico later Sunday at a Category 2 storm. Links:Public AdvisoriesDiscussion Updated Every Six Hours FL and East GOM Buoy DataVisible Image SatelliteOther satellite imagesForecast ModelsStormPulse Category Wind Speed Barometric Pressure Storm Surge Damage Potential Tropical Depression < 39 mph < 34 kts     Minimal Tropical Storm 39 - 73 mph 34 - 63 kts     Minimal...

Tropical Depression Eleven has formed in the southwestern Caribbean Sea. The governments of Colombia and Nicaragua have issued Tropical Storm warnings. Public Advisory Updated Every Six Hours Discussion Updated Every Six Hours Visible Image SatelliteOther satellite images

Tropical Storm Erika developed in the North Atlantic September 1, 2009. Erika is expected to pass to the NE of the Leeward Islands Thursday, currently moving WNW at 8 miles per hour. Erika is not anticipated to strengthen into a hurricane over the next several days. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for St. Maarten, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, St.Martin and St. Barthelemy. In other tropical storm news, Hurricane Jimena is approaching Southern Baja, and weather conditions there are deteriorating rapidly. Jimena maximum sustained wind speeds are 115mph. Public Advisories Updated every six hours. Tropical Storm Discussion...

As of 10 AM CT, T.S. Danny was located about 320 miles northeast of Nassau and had max winds near 60 mph. Danny is not moving consistently to the northwest but that is the overall general direction of movement at about 13 mph. A general northwest motion is likely for the next 24-hours and then a more northerly turn is anticipated with an increase in forward speed.

Tropical Storm Danny officially was named this morning and the first advisory had it will sustained winds of 45 MPH and it was moving off to the NW at 18 mph.

Tropical Storm Danny formed in the North Atlantic about 775 miles SSE of Cape Hatteras NC. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles, mainly to the north of the center. Public Advisories Updated every six hours. Tropical Storm Discussion Updated every six hours Forecast ModelsSurface Wind FieldSatellite ImagesWest Atlantic Buoy LocationsSoutheast US Buoy Data