People living on the coast in north-central Japan have been ordered to evacuate to high ground after a large earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula on Monday afternoon, with the government warning of a potential five-meter (16-foot) tsunami. A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, the central region of Japan’s main island Honshu, around 1600JST (0200EST, 0700 GMT), the most powerful earthquake in that area since records began. Japanese state broadcaster NHK is telling citizens: “The tsunami has already arrived. Please run away as soon as possible… Please remember the Great East Japan Earthquake. Please run away as soon as possible to save your life." The evacuation order is still very much in place, however, and those in the ‘red’ area covering most of central-northern Japan’s coast have been told: Japan’s nuclear power stations in the impacted area say they are operational and cooling pools are being operated with no abnormal readings, despite damage to power supply systems in some areas. NHK reports Masayuki Seki of the National Emergency Response Center, said of the nuclear plants: “We are doing our best to gather information as the earthquake continues. While the tsunami poses a major risk to life and property in the coming hours, serious damage has already been caused by the large earthquake that has triggered it, and Japan continues to be struck by dozens of powerful aftershocks. The condition of the roads has deteriorated due to the earthquake. . . . Government minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said in a press conference that houses had collapsed, 33,000 houses had no power, and in six cases people had been “buried alive” by falling buildings. Roads, rail, and airports are closed. [Note: New Year's is the biggest holiday of the year in Japan. Many people return to their original hometowns to celebrate with family and relatives. Now they fear they may not be able to get back home because the roads are very damaged. Also, all trains (their main form of transportation) immediately stop with the first slight hint of an earthquake. --Patricia] Prayers for the people of Japan May Jesus reach out thru the Holy Spirit and touch them and let many accept Him as their Lord and Savior thru this diaster. Amen. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) – Europe experienced stark weather contrasts on Wednesday, with extreme cold and snowstorms disrupting transportation and closing schools in Scandinavia while strong winds and heavy rain in western Europe caused flooding and at least one death. Temperatures fell below minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Nordic region for a second day in a row Wednesday. In Kvikkjokk-Årrenjarka in Swedish Lapland, the mercury dropped to minus 43.6 C (minus 46.5 F), the lowest January temperature recorded in Sweden in 25 years, Sweden’s TT news agency reported. https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2024/01/03/sweden-records-coldest-january-evening-in-25-years/ Southern California might get a year's worth in a single day! To say that it's pouring rain in California is a vast understatement. The state is dealing with a weather phenomenon known as an atmospheric river for the second straight day—on the heels of an earlier one last week. Which might explain why the National Weather Service in Los Angeles is using red exclamation points to warn people in the Hollywood Hills of an "extremely dangerous situation unfolding." Flooding, power outages, landslides, and rockslides are being reported. Snippets from coverage: The NWS predicted "14 inches of rain could fall on Monday in parts of Southern California, potentially matching Los Angeles' average annual rainfall total—14 inches—in a single day," per the New York Times. https://www.newser.com/story/345970/the-rain-in-california-is-mind-boggling.html 
‘Major Tsunami Warning’: Japan Evacuates Coastal Areas After 7.6 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Central Honshu:
Tsunami damage will occur.
People in coastal areas or along rivers should immediately evacuate to a safe location such as higher ground or an evacuation building.
Tsunamis strike repeatedly. Do not leave your safe area until the warning has been lifted.
Sweden Records Coldest January Evening in 25 Years:
The Rain in California Is Mind-Boggling: