Residents on Alaska’s vast and sparsely populated western coast braced Friday for a powerful storm that forecasters said could be one of the worst in recent history, threatening hurricane-force winds and high surf that could knock out power and cause flooding. The storm is the remnants of what was Typhoon Merbok, which University of Alaska Fairbanks climate specialist Rick Thoman said is also influencing weather patterns far from Alaska — a rare late-summer storm now is expected to bring rain this weekend to drought-stricken parts of California. “All this warm air that’s been brought north by this ex-typhoon is basically inducing a chain reaction in the jet stream downstream from Alaska,” he said. “It’s a historic-level storm,” Thoman said of the system steaming toward Alaska. “In 10 years, people will be referring to the September 2022 storm as a benchmark storm.” Hurricane-force winds were forecast in parts of the Bering Sea, while in the small communities of Elim and Koyuk, around 90 miles (145 kilometers) from the hub community of Nome, water levels could be up to 18 feet (5 meters) above the normal high tide line, according to the National Weather Service. Flood warnings were in effect until Monday in parts of northwest Alaska. In Nome, which has about 3,500 residents, Leon Boardway was working as usual Friday at the Nome Visitors Center, a half-block from the Bering Sea. “I just want to keep my door open and the coffee pot on,” he said after it had begun to rain and the winds picked up. Also read; Tropical Storm Colin threatens a wet weekend for Carolinas But few people were coming by. Residents, visitors and businesses in the town, famous for being at the end of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and the setting for the dredging-for-gold reality show “Bering Sea Gold,” were boarding up windows and otherwise bracing for the storm. “The ocean is getting worse out there,” said Boardway, 71, as he checked out the center’s webcam, which from its high perch has a good view of the swells. “I hope everybody stays calm and everybody just gets in a good, safe position,” he said. Typhoon Merbok formed farther east in the Pacific Ocean than where such storms typically appear. Water temperatures are unusually warm this year so the storm “was able to spin up,” Thoman said. Meanwhile, a low-pressure system was expected to drop from the Gulf of Alaska and park off the coast of Northern California, producing gusty ridgetop winds before rains set in late Saturday, the National Weather Service said. In the Sierra Nevada foothills northeast of the state capital of Sacramento, fire crews have been fighting what has become the largest wildfire in that state so far this year. While rain is needed, the storm was predicted to also bring winds that could spread the Mosquito Fire. The storm will slow but not end California’s fire season because fuels are critically dry and a period of warmer, drier weather will follow, said Courtney Carpenter, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Forecasters said the weather system will spread rain down the state’s central coast but little if any is expected in most of Southern California, where mountain and desert communities are dealing with the aftermath of too much rain. Crews were clearing head-high mud flows in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, following flash-flooding Monday. Downpours from remnants of a Pacific hurricane caused devastation in Southern California, with winds topping 100 mph (160 kph) last weekend. First responders on Thursday found the body of a woman missing since the mudslides tore through her mountain town. Her remains were discovered buried under mud, rocks and other debris near her home. The deluges added to road and infrastructure damage in desert national parks from the summer’s punishing monsoonal thunderstorms.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that she fully understands the sufferings of the people due to the recent price hike of fuel oil and electricity rationing.  “We can realise the sufferings of the people,” she said while speaking at the meeting with organising secretaries of Awami League from eight divisions at her official residence Ganabhaban. Hasina, chief of the governing Awami League, assured that her government will surely cut down the fuel oil price when it will come down in the international market. “We will adjust the prices of fuel oil whenever it comes down in the world market. I have given that directive too,” she said. Referring to ongoing power crisis and the countrywide load-shedding, she said that people have to endure this pain for some more days. “When the coal-fired electricity stations go into production, our problems with power will fade away,” she said. The prime minister admitted that the government has given the opposition parties to go for movement against it. “Our opposition is getting a scope to wage movement. Let them do that. I also want that,” she said. In this connection, she said that today she has directed relevant authorities to allow the opposition to continue their agitation and not to arrest anyone.  “If they want to besiege the Prime Minister office,  let them do that,” she said. She also said that people  know very well that her government has tried with utmost sincerity to tackle the fuel oil price and electricity production.  “Opposition will try to utilise this , but if they do anything excessive people will ultimately suffer more for that. They have to realise that,” she said. She said she has doubts about the success of the opposition protest movement that surely  will harm the country.  “But we will be able to handle that, I have that belief," she stated. PM Hasina blamed Ukraine-Russia war, the subsequent sanctions and counter-sanctions for the current economic problems of the country that hit when it was turning around from the grip of coronavirus pandemic impact quite well. Also read: PM Hasina assassination attempt: Fugitive death row convict held in city “The USA and Russia are the most gainers from the sanctions and counter-sanctions as the prices of US and Russian currencies have increased,” she said. She also said that middle and lower- middle class people around the wolrd are the worst suffers of the war, sanctions and counter-sanctions. The premier came down heavily on a section of people who increased the prices of everything taking the advantage of war and fuel price hike. “There is a section of businesspeople who hike the prices illogically. There is no reason for raising the prices of everything. But they are increasing the prices," she regretted. She urged the people to increase production and produce whatever they can. “ We are facing problems in those items which are dependent on import.” Recalling the August 15 bloodshed, she said she wonders why did they kill my father, mother and brothers. “What was their fault," she asked. She said that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman  tried to establish a pro-people administration and decentralise the power to the grassroots of people. “It seems that whoever wants to play a role in developing people's life in this country must have to face a disaster. This is reality," she said. She said that this is very much unfortunate that whenever people of the country started to live a better life the vested quarter started to hatch conspiracy. “There is a section of people who never wants the welfare of the people. When the independence becomes meaningful, good results of the independence reach to the people, we  see there is an effort always to put hurdle on that,” she said. She put emphasis on strengthening the party and its activities, and to remain beside the people as it always did in the past. Hasina said Awami League always believes in democracy, principle and  power of the people. She said that military rulers Ziaur Rahman, HM Ershad and ex-PM Khaleda Zia of BNP patronised and awarded the killers of Bangabandhu and granted them immunity from any court trial.  

Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) and Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (Desco) have published their schedules of possible area-based power cuts for Thursday. Power cuts will occur from 10am to 10pm in and around the capital as per the government's decision to save electricity. The load shedding schedules can be found on the DPDC and Desco websites. They aim to help electricity users check their load shedding schedules to ascertain during which times the power will be off in their respective areas. Also read: Electricity consumption to be cut by 25 % at govt offices

The government has decided to enforce a nationwide daily one-hour of staggered area-based power cuts from Tuesday as the country faces a fuel crunch disrupting  power generation.“Primarily, we will conduct daily area-wise one-hour load-shedding on experimental basis. If needed, then after one week we will recast the decision” said State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said at a press briefing in the afternoon at his ministry on Monday in a revised announcement. Hours earlier the load-shedding was announced for two hours a day. The earlier announcement was made by the Prime Minister’s Energy Adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury who said the rationing was needed to overcome the power crisis.The adviser announced the decision after a high level meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office Monday morning. Nasrul Hamid and principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Ahmad Kaikaus also attended the meeting.Tawfiq-e-Elahi said the power distribution entities will conduct the load shedding under a schedule so that the people get time to take preparation for it and do not feel any disturbance.But in each spell, no load shedding will continue for more than half an hour, he said. Also read: 2-hour area-based nationwide load shedding from TuesdayHe said the diesel-run power plants will remain closed until further order to save petroleum fuels while the shopping malls and markets will have to be closed by 8 pm.He said some options like keeping petrol pumps closed one day a week were discussed at the meeting.The adviser said the government office hours may be rescheduled while virtual meetings will be held instead of those with physical presence.Nasrul in his press briefing said no decision was made regarding closing of petrol pump a day in a week.Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation was asked to work out on the issue. They will take final decision after consultation with the transport operators.He also said the religious institutions like mosques, temples and churches were requested to go for taking power saving measures.They should keep operating air conditioners just during the prayer time. Also read: Countrywide load-shedding increases due to gas shortage in power plantsHe said in no way markets and shopping malls be allowed to keep open after 8 pm.He said closure of diesel-run power plants will save 10 per cent petrol import and another 10 per cent could be saved through conservative consumption of diesel in transport sector. Officials said the country has about 10 diesel-run power plants having 1290 MW, mostly in private sector.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said she is thinking of introducing area-based load shedding for a specific time to save the fuel that is used for power generation."Today, I think that I will tell (authority concerned) to reduce electricity production for some time (everyday) to save the fuel that is used for power generation," she said.The prime minister said this at a function at the PGR Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment to mark the President’s Guard Regiment’s (PGR) founding anniversary. She joined the programme from her official residence Ganobhaban.She said that the country witnessed 8-10 hours of power cuts in the past from where her government, taking over office in 2009, increased the electricity generation ensuring an uninterrupted power supply in the country.She mentioned that the government has accomplished a feat reaching electricity to every house. The PM said there won’t be any indiscriminate load shedding. It will be announced earlier for a specific area and for a specific time, she added."If we specify the time for load shedding for specific areas... If we take that step from now on... we will be able to save ourselves from the much harder days coming ahead," she said.Talking about the recent economic turmoil across the globe due to the impact of coronavirus pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, she said that the prices of fuel oil have soared. Read: PM calls for best use of domestic resources for national developmentAs a result that there is scarcity of power in many countries around the world, she said.She said that the prices of electricity-producing like diesel, fuel oil, LNG, have increased heavily.  Besides, transportation has been hampered due to the Russia-Ukraine war compounding the crisis, she said. She added that even coal is not available.Hasina reiterated her call to maintain austerity and increase savings which will be beneficial to face any type of crisis in the future."If every family resorts to pro-savings mentality and utilise their own lands for optimum productivity (of food grains), it will bring positive results,” she said.She reiterated her call not to leave single inch of land uncultivated and make sure no water body remains unutilised."All empty places have to be utilised for production, whatever it is. We have to try to produce our own food to reduce pressure on the market and make profit through selling the surplus foods,” the premier said.She said that every person, family and organisation have to take that step."I think, if we take this step then we will be able to save ourselves from the ongoing economic shock worldwide." Hasina said that many countries including America and Britain facing higher inflation amid scarcity of power."We have to remain alert from the very beginning, if we remain cautious inshallah we will not face any problem,’’ she asserted. “I can say that and I will request everyone to do so."Talking about the development of the armed forces following the Forces Goal 2030, the prime minister said, “We will not fight with any one, we want peace, the father of the nation gave us the defence policy which is friendship to all, malice to none. We follow that policy.”"But as an independent country we have to ensure all sorts of preparations, especially build up the organisations that are the symbols of the independence and sovereignty. We have taken steps for that and are implementing those,” she said.She also said that her life has always been in grave risk while repeated attempts were made after she came back in Bangladesh."Many leaders and activities sacrificed their lives to protect me forming human shield," she said.Turning to the opening of the Padma Bridge she said, Bangladesh constructed the much-cherished bridge with its own resources."Those who wanted to malign Bangladesh, or humiliate me and my family members, minister, advisor and secretary through corruption allegations have got a befitting reply after we built the bridge with our own fund,” she said. Read: PM: Vested quarter conspiring to oust the AL governmentThe PM said "Padma Bridge is the expression of our independence, sovereignty and unique ethnicity."She mentioned that this one decision changed the attitude of the whole world regarding Bangladesh. Referring to those who thought that Bangladesh means begging and grants, Hasina said “We have proven that Bangladesh is the country that got liberated under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangalee nation never bows to anyone.”"... it will not beg to anyone, we will advance on our own, we are trying to move forward like that way we have gained significant self-reliance economically,” said the premier.She said that the government has been able to reduce poverty, provide electricity to all houses. It is implementing projects  to ensure no one remains homeless.Talking about flood in the Sylhet region, she said that the flood water is coming downstream and now it is in the middle region of the country."It will gradually flow down to the southern region where vast areas may be inundated. It takes time for flood water to recede while the water level of the sea rises one inch," she said.She said that any calamity can come anytime and the father of the nation taught the nation how to face that. "We are tackling that calamity following his footsteps,” she said.The PM called for going all out for staring cultivation of crops after the flood recedes. It must be ensured that no food shortage occurs."We have attained the status of a developing nation and we have to go farther. We have adopted plans like Delta Plan 2100 for a better future for the next generations,” she said.She urged all to follow the Covid-19 safety measures  as the infections are increasing.