Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike is battering Cuba's northern coast, generating winds of more than 195km/h (120mph), giant waves and torrential rain. Cuban TV has said that some homes along the coast, where hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated, have been damaged beyond repair. Ike killed at least 47 people in Haiti and reportedly damaged 80% of homes on the main Turks and Caicos islands. It weakened to a Category Three storm but remains dangerous. The Cuban Meteorology Institute said the eye of the hurricane came ashore near Punta Lucrecia in the state of Holguin about 510 miles (823km) south-east of Havana. With Hurricane Gustav striking just a week ago, Cuba's internationally acclaimed emergency services are being stretched to the limit, the BBC's Michael Voss reports from Havana. Gustav caused serious damage to the western side of the island, damaging almost 100,000 homes. Read the full story here. Miss M.

New Orleans declares storm curfew

Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans has put the US city under curfew from sunset to dawn as Hurricane Gustav approaches.

New Orleans residents have been fleeing in their thousands after the mayor ordered the evacuation ahead of the storm's expected landfall on Monday. Roads out of the Louisiana port have been crammed with traffic. Mr Nagin said that the first storm winds could hit New Orleans as early as daybreak on Monday and the hurricane could reach Category Four strength. America's homeland security chief, Michael Chertoff, said the main evacuation was going well but he warned that some people seemed determined to ride out the storm.

Watch the video here...read the full story here. Miss M.

A clean-up operation is under way after torrential rain caused flash flooding across south-west England. Firefighters evacuated homes in the worst-hit areas of south Somerset after a sudden and heavy burst of rain on Thursday evening. Devon and Somerset fire service said Crewkerne, Ilminster, Shepton Mallet and Wells were most severely affected. Watch the full story here. Link to story here. Miss M.

I am watching the news not quite believing what I am seeing. The destruction the cyclone has caused is rising and the death toll seems to be going up at an alarming rate. More than 22,000 people are confirmed dead, but now the top US diplomat in the country has warned that without speedy action that could top 100,000. Amid the "increasingly horrendous" situation, there is a "real risk" of disease outbreak, said the head of the US embassy in Burma, Shari Villarosa. Some aid has arrived but the UN says big obstacles remain for aid agencies. Burma's ruling military junta has approved the passage of some aid, but other offers have been spurned while many foreign aid workers are being held in a queue for visas. Hopefully help will be accepted soon. Miss M.

Had to blog this..the story is still unfolding..The death toll from Burma's devastating cyclone has now risen to more than 22,000, state media have said. Another 41,000 are missing three days after Cyclone Nargis hit the country, causing a huge storm surge to sweep inland, according to state radio. The report came as aid agencies begin what they expect to be a major relief operation to help hundreds of thousands left without clean water and shelter. Miss M.

Volcano in the Red Sea

A volcano has erupted in the Red Sea...click here for more info. Miss M.

Africa Floods

Seems unbelievable that today water can still do so much damage. Will be watching with concern - will the spread of disease follow? What socio-economic effects will this bring to Africa? Miss M.

Update today the Guardian has linked this to El Nino...

Geography meets History!

Finally some sunshine! I wonder how long it will last? Hope you are all enjoying the holidays... One lovely long week left!

Talking of the weather - its causing major problems in Greece - There are fears for the ancient ruins of Olympia, a world heritage site and home to the first Olympics, as Greece's devastating forest fires close in. Click here to read the BBCs news report. Miss M.