Before and After: Here’s What the D.C. Blackouts Look Like From Space
- Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:44am by
Liz Klimas
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You may have already seen a slew of photographs of the devastating effects on the ground of the massive storms that ravaged the Washington, D.C., area over the weekend. NASA has recently released a different view: images that show how the power outages looked from space.
(Related: Violent storms leave millions without power during massive heat wave)
Satellite image of the area on June 28 before the storm. (Image: NASA Earth Observatory)
Satellite image after the storm on June 30 showing the power outages. (Image: NASA Earth Observatory)
The before picture, on the left, and the after.
NASA describes the images taken by its Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite as emphasizing the loss of light in areas close to the District and within Maryland and Virginia. Clouds after the storm obscure some of the lights in Philadelphia and areas north and east of Baltimore.
It also released a handy tool you can use to visualize the outage by moving your cursor across the image. Try it out to see the side-by-side comparison of the area before and after the storm here.
Here’s more from NASA as background on the storm and its classification:
Known as a “derecho,” the storm combined intense lightning and rain with hurricane-force winds that were upwards of 60 miles per hour (~96.5 kilometers per hour). It killed 22 people and caused some 4.3 million households to lose power for days.
Derecho is the Spanish word for straight and the storm raced from west of Chicago across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
According to the National Weather Service, the gigantic windstorms of a derecho are as powerful as tornadoes, but the winds don’t twist, instead driving in a straight line. To be classified as a derecho, the swath of wind damage must extend more than 240 miles and the storms are powered by hot, humid weather.
Thousands of utility workers kept at the power problem in the Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland and other states over the Fourth of July holiday as many residents were still without power. According to the Washington Post, many Independence Day celebrations were canceled in areas affected by the storm in order to have police and firefighters free to help with storm-related clean-up.
MSNBC reports that as of early Thursday, more than 250,000 in the mid-Atlantic region are now in their sixth day without electricity.
(H/T: io9)
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NJBarFly
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 12:12pmI call B.S. The image shows NJ blacked out in it’s entirety. While certain areas were certainly hit bad, many did not lose power.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 8:57am.
Report Post »Maybe it’s just me,
but I don’t see much difference.
RABinMD
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:30amLook at the line between Baltimore-Philadelphia, and everything east of Washington DC. I live due east of DC and lost my power for 4 days in 95+ degree days and 75+ degree nights with 50%+ humidity. We had 4 million households affected by this storm. Some died.
Report Post »AngelOnline
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:14pm90% of West Virginia was without power at one point…only two counties reported no damage…an no one reported THAT fact.
Report Post »cmonnow
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 12:32ampeople actually live in W. Va. ?? I thought it was just a mountain region for vacation cabins…
Report Post »cmonnow
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 12:44amThis would be a great time to spur a public investment in putting power lines underground. The NorthWest sector of DC didn’t lose power because the power lines are underground.
Report Post »Nanaswords
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:55pmOne Day after the “big S.C. decision ” on National Healthcare… Do we want to consider this a natural activity ? Either way…are we all watching on the wall ? Another “Harbinger” in News that can not be ignored by the MSM !!! Are we “AWAKE” yet ???
Report Post »PlowMan
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:51pmI guess I’m seeing black helicopters today. Does anyone else find it very interesting that there are “clouds” right where Philly is in the after photo? I mean, there are no other clouds in the whole area, only where there was a very congested area in the before photo. Weird!
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:05pmWashington d.c. is a cursed city due to the godless idiots we have in office there. From obama the communist to every liberal eunuch that occupies a seat in the Congress and senate, we have a city of nothing. We are rule by people who, (in reality), do not have the mental wherewithall to clean toilets. The blackout should last forever in the capitol area so these worthless pieces of manure will not be able to do their “work” and maybe the nation will survive.
Report Post »monstermaker
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 3:29pmIf the blackout did last forrever we would all be screwed so be careful how you word your responce
Report Post »JohnG in PC
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:31pmI hear the mayor of Washington DC wasn’t happy with the utility for taking so long. All he needs to do is shut up and suit up!! Either get out and start clearing lines or sit in the rear and pass out food and water, but shut up and stay out of the way of those who are working around the clock for you.
Report Post »BlackCrow
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:00pmAll those redneck, rube, stupid, country prepers are beginning to look pretty smart about now ‘eh?
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:25pmI‘d like to know how all those tree huggers managed to get to work when they couldn’t just plug into the wall and charge their car….
Report Post »AnonymousCitizen
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:36pmAny country that would allow this to continue for their citizens is overdue for regime change. And I’m not talking about just switching team jersey colors.
Report Post »VA firebrand
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:35pmOur power was out for six days – just got it back. Getting a generator soon.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:56ammaybe all those obama voters will enjoy knowing they are being baked in their powerless homes as obama vacations and campaigns –again–
……………….. and that is exactly the Future that filthy rabid animal obama envisions for America.. one huge powerless destroyed ghettoed nation.
Report Post »DesertRose1960
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:18pmThe President is at the White House. No one wants to see the country turned into a blacked out ghetto…..well, I don’t know anyone who does, but it comes up on this website on a fairly regular basis. The question then becomes, why do you think the President, who was elected by a bigger majority of Americans than any President in decades, is a filthy animal? And why do you hate America?
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:11pmBigger majority, it was a couple of percent at best, several of the swing states that he had to win with democrats sec of states, has admitted, that fraud accounted for winning them. Ohio said they thought at least 20% of his votes were fraudulent, that early voting, and same day registering works very well if you are a bunch of cheats and liars.
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:31amSo in the future will we be seeing hurricanes named Pablo, Jesus, Ahmed, Muhammad, Obama, etc…?
Report Post »leftcoastslut
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:21amto me it looks like the Milky Way. the large cities look like exploding stars. wow, imagine that
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:12amWhen Obama’s EPA gets rid of all the coal fired plants, rolling black outs will become commonplace.
Report Post »Fubared
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:45amBut just imagine what all the lanterns and shooting will look like from sputnik. Fun times to be alive in.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:29pmDon’t worry, we’ll each get a government windmill from taxing the rich!
Report Post »FFPanama
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:10amThe dark areas say ‘clouds’. So is it the clouds that are preventing the light from showing through? If so, then this entire rant is a bold face media lie. Notice that the Philly lights are blurred, much like they are showing through clouds. Sorry, I just don’t buy all the media global warming hype.
Report Post »Zod Cranards
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:17amGod is sending America a message.
Report Post »shakedowncrews
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:09amI say; LET ‘EM BOIL. Look, the east coast liberals have supported an administration that wants to shut down coal burning power plants, and refuse to replace them with nuclear or other realistic alternatives, which can have only one result: increased drain on the power grid, and rolling blackouts during peak usage times. This means they will broil inthe summers and freeze in the winters, and I’m OK with that. Let‘s ’em roast and freeze, they will learn to appreciate their AC and heaters after a season or two and might change their tune.
Report Post »bankerpapaw
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:08amIt will be much, much worse when those Iranian EMP missiles come roaring in from Venezuela.
Report Post »contkmi
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:03amCan we take the opportunity to shut down some of the bureaucracy in DC while we’re at it?
Report Post »shakedowncrews
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:11amYou know DC: they always exempt themselves from the HELL they impose on everyone else. But I agree, we should lock all the congressmen and senators and president into a hot, stinky gymnasium without AC for a week and then see if they really want to shut down the coal-burning power plants after that. Consider it a sweat lodge, ya’ll. Our nasty reps need a good spiritual cleansing.
Report Post »jester667
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:00amSo, I am just curious… Am I the only one who finds it weird that “Obamacare” is found constitutional, and Washington DC is darkened for a week? Could this be another sign that we are arrogantly ignoring?
Report Post »Maybe I’ve been watching too much Glen…
jtorres1212
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:21amI have been thinking the same thing. It is like the wrath of God! I just wish that all of our “elected officials” were stuck there like the regular citizens!
Report Post »castuslonginus
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:59amTwo and a half weeks after KATRINA. I know how you feel. Life with plenty of electricity is so much better than without it,obviously, so why can’t the “greenies”see it?What are the electric car owners doing?
Report Post »Helpful
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:56amThe Lights be off for three years in the White House. Look at all the Money where saving……..
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:01amAnd here I thought we didn’t have the money to blow on useless and superfluous crap. Just goes to show you, government “IS” never out of stupid things to spend your money on.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:52amI’m amazed that 30% of the population didn’t die in violence outbreaks due to criminals thinking the cover of darkness would protect them.
Report Post »cmonnow
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 12:31amI’m amazed by your fearful presumptions..
Report Post »2012hey
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:50amWe have seen these “straight line storms” before. Why are we now using a Spanish word to label them??? And – I thought DC was the worst affected city but from the satellite images it seems Philadelphia went dark, not DC
Report Post »extinction
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:04amSame reason why we now refer to a dust storm with an arabic word……infiltration. OK, I know that the English language has evolved and many words have foreign origins but if we already have a way to describe something, why change it?
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