World weather news

World weather news, December 2021

1st: At least 18 people have died or are missing after heavy rains affecting Vietnam since 26 November, caused severe floods and damage. The death toll was confirmed by Vietnam Disaster Management Agency. The worst affected was Phu Yen with 10 fatalities. Nearly 60000 homes were flooded,
7th-8th: A powerful deep low-pressure area moving in from the Atlantic Ocean hit Ireland, bringing severe winds and heavy rain. At the height of the storm, more than 60000 customers were without power. Storm Barra was named by Met Eireann, the second named storm of the 2021/22 season. Sherkin Island recorded a wind gust of 135 km/h and a mean wind speed of 111 km/h on Tuesday, just shy of its all-time station record of 113 km/h on 12 February 2014. Impacts were felt across the country, with fallen trees nationwide and reports of spot flooding in areas, power outages for tens of thousands of customers, and travel disruption with several road closures and delays and cancellations to bus, rail, air, and ferry services.
10th: Severe flooding in Spain's Navarre region has submerged cars and houses and killed at least one person as heavy rains from Storm Barra caused rivers to burst their banks. Police said one person in the small village of Sunbilla died this afternoon after a landslide caved in the roof of an outbuilding at their farmhouse. In the regional capital of Pamplona, people kayaked down a street, gliding past a bank as rescue workers waded into the waist-deep waters with pumps. In the centre of Villava, a small town just outside the city, houses were submerged up to their roofs. After a cold snap sent temperatures plunging across Spain, Storm Barra has brought torrential rains and thawed snow and ice at higher altitudes, causing rivers to rise rapidly. Storm Barra has thawed snow that fell in Roncesvalles, northeast of Pamplona last weekend In France, rivers overflowed their banks across a large area of the southwest of the country after heavy rains lashed the region overnight, leading to evacuations of dozens of residents. Warm southern winds that have melted snowbanks in the Pyrenees mountains in recent days also contributed to the flooding, which could persist for several days. Several schools and some roads were closed, while train services were disrupted and electricity cuts were reported at hundreds of homes across the region.
10th-11th: The governor of the US state of Kentucky has said that more than 70 people were killed by tornadoes on Friday night. Andy Beshear said the figure could rise to more than 100 in what he called the worst tornadoes in the state's history. Dozens are feared dead inside a candle factory in the town of Mayfield. At least five people died as tornadoes wreaked havoc in other states, including one in an Amazon warehouse in Illinois. Mr Beshear has declared a state of emergency in Kentucky. He said the tornado system was the deadliest to ever run through the state. Deaths had been reported in several counties, but the loss of life in the Mayfield factory could exceed that of any tornado event in a single location in state history, the governor added. More than 100 people were inside when it hit. Police said the tornado caused "significant damage" across the western parts of the state. A train was derailed during extreme winds in Hopkins County, Sheriff Matt Sanderson told WKYT-TV. In north-eastern Arkansas, one person died, five were seriously injured and 20 people were trapped inside in a nursing home after it partly collapsed, local official Marvin Day said.
11th: Exceptional early-December snowfall was reported across the Alps this week, with parts of eastern Austria receiving the heaviest snowfall in 9 years. In Burgenland, up to 30 cm of snow fell overnight on Wednesday, and power outages impacted several hundred homes in Carinthia in the districts of St. Veit an der Glan, Spittal an der Drau, and Villach-Land after nearly 40 cm of snow fell. 20 to 40 cm of snow are reported to have fallen in the Austrian mountains and 50 to 60 cm in Vorarlberg, East Tyrol, and Carinthia. Austria's Centre for Severe Weather has issued its highest alerts for Vorarlberg, Tyrol and Carinthia and snow clearing vehicles have been out in force to keep roads in operation. An avalanche in the Salzburg region, on the border with Germany, killed 3 people and injured two while they were skiing off-piste, Austria's Red Cross said on 4 December. The snow buried a group of 8 people up to 4.5 m deep, local emergency response official Christoph Wiedl told local media.
12th: Much of western Serbia was left without electricity after heavy snowfall hit the country. Authorities warned residents to postpone unnecessary travel and to conserve power. Heavy wet snow was reported in the capital Belgrade, where several trees fell under the weight of heavy snow, damaging cars and buildings.1 Several people had to be rescued after being trapped in their damaged vehicles. Several flights from and to the capital's main airport were cancelled because of the weather conditions and a brief power cut to the main terminal. In addition, a highway leading to the airport was closed for several hours because of a traffic jam caused by the snowfall.
14th-15th: Severe thunderstorms hit the province of Eastern Cape, South Africa over the past couple of days, claiming the lives of at least 6 people. The latest areas to be hit by the storms include the municipalities of Amathole, Raymond Mhlaba, Amahlathi and Buffalo City. The storms hit just as residents of the OR Tambo district were picking up the pieces after last week's severe thunderstorms in the region, which left six people dead and 142 others homeless. With the latest storms on Monday, which brought hail, excessive lighting and strong damaging winds, the number of damaged homes surpassed 1000.
16th: Super typhoon Rai is battering the southern Philippines, forcing thousands of people to take shelter amid warnings of widespread flooding and destruction. The storm made landfall in Siargao, a popular tourist island, packing winds of about 175 km/h. Power and communication lines are currently down on parts of Siargao, and the UN says 13 million people could be affected by the typhoon. Flights were cancelled and ports closed because of possible storm surges. Rai is one of the strongest typhoons to hit the South-East Asian country this year. As of the 20th at least 375 people were known to have died as a result of the storm-induced conditions.
20th-21st: Winter storm "Carmel" made landfall over Israel on the 20th, bringing record rains, snow, and strong winds. This is the third named winter storm named by the newly formed East Mediterranean Storm Naming Group, composed of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Mikve Israel weather station near Holon saw 175 mm of rain since landfall. Of that, 147 mm fell on the 21st. This station has been in operation for over 100 years and is one of Israel's oldest facilities. In its entire history, it recorded similar falls on only two occasions - 199 mm in November 1938 and 148 mm in December 1954. Ben-Gurion International Airport registered 153 mm, Moshav Amikam 151 mm and HaKfar HaYarok youth village 145 mm.
25th-26th: The US state of Alaska has recorded its hottest-ever December day, amid an unusual winter warm spell. Temperatures soared to a record 19.4C on the island of Kodiak on the 26th - almost 7 degC warmer than the state's previous high. But elsewhere in Alaska temperatures have been plunging to record lows. In the south-eastern town of Ketchikan, temperatures dropped to -18C on the 25th - one of the town's coldest Christmas Days in the past century. The fiercest mid-winter storm since 1937 struck the central city of Fairbanks over Christmas, dumping more than 10 inches of snow. So much snow fell on Sunday it caved in the roof of the only grocery shop in the town of Delta Junction, 95 miles south-east of Fairbanks.
26th-27th: Heavy storms have battered western regions of the United States, leaving thousands without power. Almost 75 cm of snow fell in parts of northern California in 24 hours, causing blackouts and road closures, including a 100 km stretch of Interstate 80 into Nevada. Avalanche warnings were in effect across six states. Over the weekend, southern California was hit by rainstorms, which saw power lines snap and streets flooded. More than 1.8 inches of rain fell over 24 hours in San Marcos pass in Santa Barbara county, while Rocky Butte in San Luis Obispo county recorded 1.61 in. Avalanche warnings were put into effect on Sunday for parts of Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Colorado and California, as the storms created widespread areas of unstable snow. Authorities near Reno said three people were injured in a 20-car weekend pileup on Interstate 395, amid limited visibility. Power cuts affected residents in Washington, Oregon and other areas, although northern California was the worst hit. Power Outage US reported 28,000 power cuts there in the early hours of Monday local time, mostly in northern coastal counties and those on the Nevada border.
27th: Weeks of heavy rainfall over the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia (population 15 million) caused massive floods and damage, leaving at least 18 people dead, nearly 500,000 affected, and 35,000 displaced. Parts of the state, including capital Salvador, have already received six times their normal December rainfall. Heavy rains started affecting the state in early November but the situation worsened in recent days, when two dams collapsed, flooding already heavily affected areas.
27th: A prolonged period of heavy snow falling over the Sierra Nevada mountain range (USA) since 10 December increased its snowpack, and by today piled up to 455 cm at the UC Berkeley's Central Sierra Snow Laboratory. This broke the existing December record of 454.6 cm set in 1970, lab officials said, adding that snowfall rates are still heavy.
28th: Strong winter pressure pattern continued today to bring strong winds and heavy snowfall along the coast of the Sea of Japan for the seventh day in a row, disrupting traffic and stranding many vehicles. At least 10 people were injured over the past weekend due to blizzard conditions, two of them seriously. Residents in the affected regions are urged to refrain from all non-essential outings. In a 24-hour period through early Monday, 27 December, Hikone in Shiga Prefecture saw 68 cm of snow while Asago in Hyogo Prefecture received 71 cm - both the most ever since such statistics started being compiled, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. During the same period, Minakami in Gunma Prefecture received 70 cm and Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture 55 cm. The deepest snowfall was recorded in Aomori with 200 cm, while snow also accumulated in the cities of Kyoto, Nagoya, and Hiroshima.

World weather news, November 2021

1st-3rd: Thick fog blanketed Moscow from late Monday into Wednesday morning, causing hundreds of flights to be canceled in one of the biggest travel disruptions to impact the Russian capital in a decade. More than 200 flights were cancelled or delayed at Moscow's major airports on Tuesday. The delays appeared to be the most since an ice storm blanketed the city in December 2010. On Wednesday, the return of fog led to another 60 flight cancellations or delays. Visibility was quickly reduced on Monday evening when the fog first settled across the city. Observations from across the city showed that the visibility fell to near zero for as much as 14 consecutive hours. At several locations, temperatures fell below freezing overnight, which may have also led to ice forming on some surfaces.
4th: A severe dust storm that started in southern Kazakhstan hit parts of Uzbekistan in the evening, growing under favourable weather conditions into the worst since the country started keeping meteorological records in 1871. The worst affected were Tashkent and the southern Syrdarya Region, and Kazakhstan's Turkestan Region. According to the country's meteorological service - Uzhydromet, under the influence of gusts of wind, the parched upper layer of soil rose up, creating the effect of a dust and sand haze, with visibility just 100-200 m in a number of districts in the country.
4th: Severe flash floods hit the Indonesian island of Java, claiming the lives of at least 8 people and leaving three others missing. The worst affected were Malang and the city of Batu where floods and mudslides inundated homes and destroyed bridges. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said that rivers on the slopes of Mount Arjuno overflowed their banks and their muddy waters inundated five hamlets in Kota Batu, a city in East Java province.
4th-5th: Heavy rains affecting Bosnia and Herzegovina caused severe flash flooding in parts of the country, causing power outages and forcing evacuations. Hundreds of homes in the Sarajevo suburbs, along the rivers Bosnia, Tilava, and Zeljeznica, and in the southwest part of the country, around the town of Konjic, had to be evacuated on Friday under unrelenting heavy downpours that started falling on Thursday. Most parts of Sarajevo were left for hours without electric power on Friday morning due to the flooding of one of the main substations on the outskirts of the city.
6th: An extremely rare November tornado hit the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada at 1710 PDT (0110 GMT, 7 November). The event started as a waterspout over the Strait of Georgia which then came ashore and caused minor damage at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and immediate vicinity. The tornado was rated as EF-0 with wind speed between 90 and 110 km/h. It caused broken trees/tree limbs, scattered tree debris, uprooted trees, downed power lines, and caused damage to vehicles due to falling tree branches. The last time a tornado hit Vancouver was on 25 July 1976. The last time a tornado hit the Vancouver area was on 10 March 1991. All past tornadoes in the area occurred from March to July, according to the Northern Tornadoes Project.
7th-11th: Heavy blizzards in some parts of north-eastern China have brought record snowfall, raising concerns about keeping homes warm in an area hit by power outages earlier this year. In the capital city of Shenyang, in Liaoning province, average snowfall reached 50 cm. This is the highest recorded snowfall since 1905, said state outlet Xinhua. In neighbouring inner Mongolia, one person died and more than 5,600 were affected after a heavy snowstorm.
8th: Heavy showers and thunderstorms have caused severe flooding in the southern Indian city of Chennai. No deaths have been reported, but officials in the state of Tamil Nadu, of which Chennai is the capital, have issued warnings to evacuate people from low-lying areas. Local media footage showed uprooted trees and cars submerged as water quickly rose to block roads. This is the heaviest rainfall in the city since 2015.
9th: A powerful storm rapidly intensified over British Columbia, Canada, bringing heavy rain, powerful wind gusts, and heavy snow to mountain passes. This is the third potent low to hit the region in less than three weeks. This is the third system in less than three weeks that has reached 'weather bomb' criteria, which is a system whose pressure drops at least 24 hPa in 24 hours.
9th-10th: Exceptional rainfall totals have been recorded in Queensland and Northern Territory, Australia overnight 9th/10th, as a potent storm moved over the region. Residents are being urged to prepare for potential flooding across parts of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria as Bureau of Meteorology experts forecast heavy rain and thunderstorms for the rest of this week. Overnight 9th/10th phenomenal rainfall totals fell in parts of Queensland and Northern Territory, Australia, with the area north of Rockhampton in Queensland receiving more than 300 mm and Alice Springs in Northern Territory recording 100 mm. The 24-hour rainfall total registered in Alice Springs has not been this high since 30 January 2001.
12th-13th: Scorpions in Egypt have stung three people to death in the southern city of Aswan after heavy storms brought them into the streets and homes. Some 450 more people were injured by scorpion stings, a health ministry official said. The hail and thunderstorm in the area near the River Nile on Friday was particularly violent. Scorpions are regularly washed into the streets by heavy rain, while snakes have also been disturbed. People have been urged to stay at home and avoid places with many trees. Egypt is home to fat-tailed scorpions that are among the most deadly in the world. Venom from a black fat-tail can kill humans in under an hour.
14th: A severe hailstorm classified by the South African Weather Service as a superstorm, hit the town of Lydenburg in Thaba Chweu Local Municipality, Mpumalanga highveld during the afternoon hours. Some of the hailstones were larger than golf and cricket balls. The storm hit Lydenburg, including Badfontein Road, Dullstroom Road (R36), and the Burgersfort Road (R37), resulting in severe property and vehicle damage. The Kannabas and Kiepersol Housing Units for the elderly were left in a particularly bad state with severe roof damage.
14th-16th: Another round of heavy rain caused by an atmospheric river caused major flooding and landslides in southern British Columbia, Canada, and parts of Washington and Oregon in the United States. Some parts of the region received nearly 250 mm of rain. At least 106000 customers lost power in British Columbia and another 140000 in neighboring Washington state, U.S. The worst affected was British Columbia where rivers overflowed, and authorities were forced to close roads and bridges. As many as 100 vehicles were trapped between two landslides on Highway 7, a scenic route running east of Vancouver. The entire area was then evacuated before rescue operations halted Monday night. Two motorways connecting the West Coast city were closed after being damaged by severe flooding on Tuesday. A woman was killed in a highway landslide, and rescuers say at least two other people are missing.
17th: Authorities in the Indian capital, Delhi, have shut all schools and colleges indefinitely amid the worsening levels of air pollution. Construction work has also been banned until 21 November but an exception has been made for transport and defence-related projects. Only five of the 11 coal-based power plants in the city have been allowed to operate. A toxic haze has smothered Delhi since the festival of Diwali.
17th: One person was killed and two others injured after a tornado hit the Italian island of Sicily. The twister affected Trebalate, Serrameta, Sant' Elena, and Bosco in the southeast of the island, downing trees, collapsing walls, and causing a great deal of damage to businesses, farms, and infrastructure.
18th-20th: At least 26 people have been killed and more than 100 remain missing after heavy rains caused massive floods in parts of Andra Pradesh, southern India over the past couple of days. Many homes, roads, and bridges have been damaged or destroyed and livestock swept away.
23rd: A massive hailstorm hit the Spanish city of Alicante, Valencia in the morning. The hailstorm was preceded by large amounts of rain in a very short period. According to AEMET, a weather station in Alicante registered 46 mm of rain in just 25 minutes. The Alicante-Elx airport registered 58 mm of rain in less than an hour, including 39.6 mm in 20 minutes. Photographs show the hail lying 15 cm deep in places.
23rd-24th: A potent storm system moving over the Sea of Japan brought heavy sea-effect snow to parts of Japan, in some areas breaking all-time 24-hour snowfall records. Shumarinai recorded 77 cm of snow over 24 hours, setting its new all-time 24-hour snowfall record. Meanwhile, Nayoro registered 60 cm, setting its new 24-hour snowfall record for the month of November.
25th: A severe hailstorm hit the city of Klerksdorp, in South Africa's North West Province, causing widespread damage. The storm flooded roads and damaged the roofs of many homes and businesses. This is the third destructive hailstorm to hit South Africa over the past 3 weeks.
25th: A severe thunderstorm struck Malta in the morning, sweeping away cars in many parts of the country and blocking roads. The worst affected were Msida, Gzira, Mosta, and Naxxar. Teams from Malta's civil protection, police, and military rescued several people trapped in floodwaters. Two civil protection officers got into difficulty while rescuing a man trapped in his car in Burmarrad and had to be airlifted to safety. According to data provided by the country's meteorological service, an average of 74.6 mm of rain was registered today, with Selmun registering a total of 107.6 mm in 24 hours. November is usually Malta's wettest month, with an average of 108.6 mm falling over the country.
29th: A severe windstorm hit Turkey's city of Istanbul, leaving at least 4 people dead and 38 others injured. Turkey's weather agency issued an orange-level storm warning (3 of 4) for 17 provinces, and a yellow alert (2 of 4) for 35 provinces ahead of the storm. The storm brought powerful winds, blowing away at least 33 roofs, knocked down 52 traffic signs, uprooted 192 trees, and damaged 12 cars, the Istanbul municipality officials said. A clock tower blew over because of the heavy wind in the Catalca district. Also, two trucks and one pickup truck overturned in Catalca.

World weather news, October 2021

3rd: Hurricane Sam finally weakened below major hurricane strength on Sunday morning, ending a remarkable 7.75-day odyssey across the central Atlantic as one of the longest-lived major hurricanes on record. According to Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University, Sam is tied with Hurricane Edouard of 1996 for fourth-most consecutive days as an Atlantic major hurricane since the satellite era began in 1966. Sam is also in the top-ten list of Atlantic hurricanes for the length of time at category 4 strength. Sam's long life as a major hurricane was enabled by its relatively slow forward speed, avoidance of land areas, and warmer-than-average ocean waters.
3rd-4th: At least 13 people have been killed after tropical cyclone Shaheen battered parts of Oman and Iran. There was widespread flooding along Oman's northern coast as the storm made landfall on Sunday, bringing heavy rain and winds of up to 150 km/h. Omani authorities reported the deaths of seven people in North al-Batinah province on Monday. Four others drowned or were killed in landslides on Sunday. In Iran, state media said the bodies of two fishermen had been found. Infrastructure, including electrical facilities and roads, was also damaged. Parts of the United Arab Emirates were placed on standby as the storm moved south-westwards over land on Monday and weakened. Residents of al-Ain were told to avoid leaving home except for emergencies. It is rare for storms of this power to hit Oman's northern Arabian Sea coast. Authorities said 369 mm of rain fell on al-Khaboura, north-west of Oman's capital city, Muscat, while more than 200 mm was recorded in Muscat itself. The average October rainfall for Muscat is 0.8 mm, and the average yearly rainfall is 89.7 mm. Shaheen's high winds also caused waves of up to 10 m along the coast.
4th: A weather station in Cairo Montenotte, Province of Savona in the NW Italian region of Liguria, recorded 496 mm of rain in just 6 hours, breaking the country's 6-hour rainfall record of 472 mm set in 2011. While rain was recorded across the country, the storm unloaded most of its power in the Savona area. Agenzia Regionale Protezione Ambiente Ligure reported 1-hour rainfall totals of 145.2 mm in Cairo Montenotte, 178.2 mm in Urbe and 181 mm in Vicomorasso - a new national record. Furthermore, figures show the station at Rossiglione recorded more than 900 mm of rain in 24 hours.
4th: Flash floods hit parts of the city of Marseille in southern France, after 173 mm of rainfall fell overnight, with most of it in the space of 2 hours. The amount represents 2 months' worth of the city's average October rainfall. Travel was disrupted in the region and a number of train services were suspended.
6th: A sandstorm that lasted 20 minutes has caused significant damage to houses in the town of Catanduva in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Sandstorms also blanketed other cities and towns in the state causing the sky to turn different shades of orange and brown. The skylines across the state changed colour as strong winds combined with a drought that has hit the country, lifting surface soil and dust into the atmosphere.
9th: The course for the inaugural DC Peaks 50 aimed to take runners through some of the highest peaks and toughest trails in Davis County, Utah, USA, packing 12000 feet of climbing to go with 10000 feet of descent. The starting gun went off at 5 a.m. on Saturday morning and the race more than lived up to its billing as "a tough course" as the event's website describes it, due to an outbreak of wintry weather. The first call for help came from weather-compromised runners at 9:30 a.m., local time, as howling wind and heavy snow created "near-whiteout conditions," according to the Davis County Sherrif's Office. By the end of the day, the race had been called off and 87 participants had to be rescued from the treacherous conditions.
10th: More than 1.76 million people have been affected by severe flooding in China's northern Shanxi province, according to local media. Torrential rain last week lead to houses collapsing and triggered landslides across more than 70 districts and cities in the province. China's Meteorological Administration told local media that heavy and prolonged rainfall and storms are hampering rescue efforts. Shanxi is also home to a number of ancient monuments which are at major risk from the severe rainfall. Authorities told the Xinhua news agency that more than 120,000 people have been urgently transferred and resettled, and that 17,000 homes have collapsed across Shanxi province. Shanxi's provincial capital Taiyuan saw average rainfall of around 185.6 mm last week, compared to the 25 mm monthly average during 1981-2010.
11th: Another tropical storm affected storm-weary Philippines as the country received a devastating blow from Tropical Storm Kompasu. As a result of Kompasu, five people were killed in flash floods in the Palawan Province while four others were killed as a result of a landslide in the Benguet Province. By Wednesday, the death toll had climbed to 13 in the Philippines with more than 21000 residents displaced from their homes, according to CNN Philippines. Additionally, at least one death was blamed on Kompasu in Hong Kong, according to the South China Morning Post. Baguio, located on the western part of the island of Luzon, recorded a 515 mm of rain in just 24 hours as Kompasu made its closest approach.
14th: The island of Corfu was declared in "state of emergency" later in the day after torrential rains from storm Ballos flooded homes and businesses, destroyed infrastructure, agriculture and livestock, thus endangering human lives. 69 people in total had to be evacuated with boats or helicopters as they were trapped in the floods. One person was killed on the island of Evia after he was carried away by the rushing water during the storm. A month's rainfall was reported to have fallen in 24 hours during the storm.
11th-18th: At least 26 people have been killed in floods in southern India after heavy rains caused rivers to overflow, cutting off towns and villages. There are fears the death toll could rise further as many people are missing. Several houses were washed away and people became trapped in the district of Kottayam in Kerala state. Kottayam and Idukki are two of the worst affected districts in the state, where days of heavy rainfall have caused deadly landslides. Swollen rivers have also washed away bridges connecting many small villages. On Monday, a number of dams across Kerala state were opened to reduce the risk of dangerous overflows. The government had earlier said the decision on which dams to open would be made by an expert committee. "District collectors will be notified hours before opening the dams so that local people have enough time to evacuate," said the office of Kerala's chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan. In a 24-hour period to October 12, Karipur recorded 255 mm of rain, Kozhikode 216 mm, and Kannur 166 mm. The rain continued across the state, worsening over the last 2 days with Kochi recording 129 mm of rain in 24 hours to 17 October and Valparai 101 mm in 24 hours to 18 October. According to the India Meteorological Department, the heavy rains were caused by a low pressure area over the SE Arabian Sea and Kerala.
19th: At least 46 people have died in flash floods triggered by heavy rains in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. Images and videos from the state show flooded roads, submerged homes and fallen bridges. Experts say the Himalayan state, a popular tourist spot, is seeing the effects of both climate change and rampant construction. Floods have also ravaged the southern state of Kerala, where at least 26 people have died in recent days. Both states have recorded excessive rainfall this year, according to data from India's weather department. Kerala, for instance, recorded 453.5 mm rainfall as opposed to the 192.7 mm that is considered normal during this time of the year. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, the districts that observed heavy to extremely heavy rainfall were Champawat, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Almora, Pauri and Chamoli from 8.30 a.m. on Monday till 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday. There were several reports where people called the rain "multiple cloudbursts". But the IMD terms rainfall of 100 mm or above in just one hour as a cloudburst. The previous records of 24-hour rainfall in Uttarakhand was held by Pant Nagar that received 228 mm rainfall on 10 July 1990, but was now broken by the current 403.2 mm rainfall. The observatory has records since 25 May 1962, when it was established there, IMD Dehradun data said. Similarly, at Mukteshwar, where the observatory was established on 1 May 1897, the previous record was of 254.5 mm rainfall on 18 September 1914, was broken by recent fall of 340.8 mm of rainfall.
20th-21st: A powerful autumn storm named Aurore by Meteo France brought severe weather to France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Poland, the Channel Islands, and parts of southern England. This is the year's first violent autumn storm in Europe. In Germany, this storm is known as Ignatz. Aurore started affecting Brittany, France on Wednesday afternoon and continued eastward through the night with wind gusts up to 175 km/h. It downed thousands of trees and damaged many homes. According to French Enedis utility, more than 250000 homes were left without power as of Thursday morning. According to Meteo France, wind gusts of 175 km/h were registered in Fecamp, and 153 km/h on top of Eiffel Tower in Paris. A large number of rail services were disrupted by uprooted trees in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and neighbouring countries as well as in England. Four people were killed in Poland's Lower Silesia region. One person died when a van was blown off the road while a builder died after a wall collapsed. In the western Polish city of Wroclaw, two people died when a tree crashed onto their car.
22nd: Heavy rains caused severe floods in parts of the city of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, leaving homes damaged, roads blocked and vehicles stranded. Attecoube, one of the 10 urban communes of Abidjan, registered 106 mm of rain in a 12-hour period while Youpogon registered 105 mm. 60 mm of the total fell in just 30 minutes. Yopougon, Attecoube, Abobo and Adjame were the worst affected. At least 4 people were killed and 4 others injured.
22nd: Exceptional rainfall hit Spain's Alicante Province today, damaging homes and stranding numerous vehicles. According to the State Meteorological Agency AEMET, up to 102 mm of rainfall hit the town of Torrevieja, resulting in the evacuation of the Dama de Guardamar school in Vega Baja del Segura. Video footage showed deep levels of water sweeping through buildings, while cars were seen submerged as streets in Alicante were left underwater.
24th-26th: Massive flooding hit Italy's port city of Catania over two days with the city receiving its average yearly rainfall in just about 48 hours. Massive damage was reported across the city, at least 2 people have been killed and one remains missing. The rains were brought by a non-tropical low pressure area, located just south of Sicily, which consolidated into a Medistorm "Gloria" on the 26th. A weather station at Lentini, Sicily received 275.4 mm on the 24th, with a maximum hourly intensity at 153.4 mm. In 24 hours ending the 25th, 312.2 mm of rain was recorded at a weather station at Linguaglossa and 279.8 mm at Lentini. The rains continued over the next day, surpassing the yearly average of 586 mm in about 48 hours.
25th: The abundance of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere once again reached a new record last year, with the annual rate of increase above the 2011-2020 average. That trend has continued in 2021, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Greenhouse Gas Bulletin. Concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2), the most important greenhouse gas, reached 413.2 parts per million in 2020 and is 149% of the pre-industrial level. Methane (CH4) is 262% and nitrous oxide (N2O) is 123% of the levels in 1750 when human activities started disrupting Earth's natural equilibrium. The economic slowdown from COVID-19 did not have any discernible impact on the atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases and their growth rates, although there was a temporary decline in new emissions.
25th-27th: A rapidly intensifying coastal storm affecting parts of the Northeast U.S. during the 25th-27th brought strong winds and flooding, from New Jersey into most of southern New England. This is the first nor'easter of the season. Parts of New Jersey received up to 125 mm of rain by 1100 LT on the 26th. Central Park in New York City received 68 mm of rain by 1300 LT while Islip on Long Island received 66 mm. As the storm continued intensifying, the number of customers without power in Massachusetts rose to 189000 with 21620 in Maine, and 9030 in New Hampshire.
31st: A severe hailstorm hit the Bolivian town of Taija, leaving impressive amounts of hail on the streets. Parts of the city were covered in up to 60 cm of hail.

World weather news, September 2021

1st-2nd: Severe flooding wreaked havoc in several parts of Spain, forcing the closure of roads and leaving around 10000 customers without power. The worst-hit was the town of Alcanar in the northeast of Catalonia, where some streets turned into raging rivers, sweeping away cars towards to coastline. Catalonia's regional weather service Meteocat said 233.5 mm of rain fell in Alcanar in 24 hours on the 1st, including 77.7 mm in 30 minutes. The nearby town of Port dels Alfacs recorded 51.5 mm of rain in 30 minutes. Intense rain and flooding was also reported in the central Castilla-La Mancha and Navarra regions, halting the high-speed rail link between the Spanish capital Madrid and Toledo.
1st-2nd: Remnants of Hurricane Ida inundated parts of the U.S. Northeast and spawned large and extremely dangerous tornadoes on these two days. Numerous roads and homes were flooded across the region forcing authorities to launch rescue operations in New York, New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, western New Jersey, and Maryland. The NWS recorded 80 mm of rain in Central Park in one hour, surpassing the 49.2 mm that fell in one hour during Tropical Storm Henri on 22 August, which was believed at the time to be the most ever recorded in the park. There were multiple Flash Flood Warnings and rare Flash Flood Emergencies for New York, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Newark, Jersey City, Bridgeport, New Haven, and Stamford. Over 50 people were reported to have died as a result of the conditions.
1st:: The water levels of the Parana river, the second-longest in South America after the Amazon, are at their lowest since 1944. The river is key to commercial shipping and fishing but also provides 40 million people with drinking water. Environmentalists fear that the drought has been made more severe by deforestation and climate change. The Parana is 4880 km long and flows south from south-east Brazil through Paraguay and Argentina. Southern Brazil, where the Parana's source is located, has seen three years of below-average rainfalls. As a result, the Parana's flow rate has dropped from an average of 17,000 cubic meters a second to just 6,200. The low water levels are causing problems for energy production with the hydroelectric plant that spans the Parana river between Argentina and Paraguay running at only 50%.
1st: California experienced its hottest summer on record this year as the climate crisis caused deadly heatwaves and intense wildfires in the state and across the American west. Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah totaling 18.4% of the contiguous US also endured record hot summers, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Sixteen other states recorded a top-five warmest summer. Across the lower 48 states, the average temperature in June, July and August was 76 F, 2.6 degC above average, which slightly exceeds that of the Dust Bowl summer of 1936.
8th: Lot-et-Garonne Department in southwest France was hit by record-breaking rainfall, inundating streets of the city of Agen with more than 2 m of water. According to MeteoFrance, La Garenne station in Agen recorded 128.8 mm of rain between 1900 and 2200 LT, with as much as 80.5 mm in just one hour. The amount broke the previous 24-hour rainfall record set on 12 February 1990, at 74 mm.
10th: At least two people have been killed after a tornado swept through an Italian island. Nine others were injured as the whirlwind overturned cars and ripped off roofs on the tourist hotspot of Pantelleria, according to Italy's civil protection agency.
13th-14th: Heavy rains affecting parts of Indonesia caused rivers to overflow, floods and landslides. According to the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, at least 11839 people have been affected and approximately 2570 houses have been damaged or destroyed in West Java, Papua, East Kalimantan, Banten ad Riau Provinces. One of the hardest-hit areas is Banten Province, where about 140 people have been displaced across Pandeglang, Serang, and Lebak Regencies. In Papua Province, rescue operations have been hampered by damaged roads and material covering the access.
14th: Severe thunderstorms accompanied by powerful wind gusts hit the Gard department in Southern France in the morning. In just three hours, the equivalent of more than 2 months of rain fell on Gard's southern and western regions, in particular Nimes. A mass of hot and humid air rose over France at the beginning of the week in an increasingly unstable atmosphere, with thunderstorms affecting most of the country on Tuesday, MeteoFrance meteorologists said. Supplied with moisture coming from the Mediterranean, they were particularly intense in southern France, causing remarkable accumulations of rain around the Gulf of Lions. In Nimes, the intensity of the rain was historic. A weather station in Saint-Dionizy recorded 244 mm of rain in just 3 hours, 'an episode which statistically occurs less than once in a century.' This is an absolute record for the Gard department and very close to the 3-hour rainfall record for the entire country - 253 mm set in Montpellier in 2014.
14th: Tropical Storm Nicholas slowed to a crawl over the Houston area after making landfall as a hurricane, knocking out power to a half-million homes and businesses and dumping more than a foot of rain along an area swamped by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Nicholas made landfall on the eastern part of the Matagorda Peninsula and was soon downgraded to a tropical storm. It was about 10 miles south-east of Houston, with maximum winds of 45 mph as of 10 a.m., according to the National Hurricane Center. Scientists say damaging storms are becoming more frequent and more intense as part of human-caused climate change. According to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach, only four other years since 1966 have had 14 or more named storms by 12 September: 2005, 2011, 2012 and 2020. Galveston, Texas, saw nearly 14 inches of rain from Nicholas, while Houston reported more than 6 inches.
21st: More than 1.2 million people have been affected after heavy rains over the past couple of days caused rivers to overflow and embankments to fail in the Indian state of West Bengal. The situation worsened after dam releases in the neighbouring state of Jharkhand. At least 10 people have lost their lives and 1300 were forced to evacuate, state authorities said on the 20th. The worst-hit areas are the districts of Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur.
23rd: Torrential downpours hit parts of southern Spain, causing severe flash flooding in the province of Huelva. The floods inundated homes and swept away vehicles in the cities of Huelva and Lepe, and caused more than 600 emergency interventions. According to the Andalusian Meteorological Agency, parts of the province received as much as 100 mm of rain in a 12-hour period today. According to AEMET, the town of Cartaya recorded 118 mm in 24 hours, with 112.4 mm in just 1 hour.
23rd: Five climbers have died after a blizzard on Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest peak, Russia's emergencies ministry has said. The incident happened when a group of 19 climbers were at an altitude of over 5,000 metres. Elbrus, located in Russia's North Caucasus, is the highest mountain in Europe at 5,642 m. The remaining 14 were taken down to the Azau valley below and the rescue was carried out in "the most difficult conditions" with strong winds, low visibility and subzero temperatures, it said.
29th: According to the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, a record-breaking 96 mm of rain was registered at the meteorological station of Bezigrad, Ljubljana between 1900 and 2000 UTC, in a total fall of 122 mm, which exceeds the 250-year return period. In just 10 minutes, the city received 25 mm. The previous 1-hour record in the capital was 62 mm on 11 August 1951. In 4 hours to 2200 UTC emergency services received more than 2700 calls from affected citizens, with some of from their stranded in their vehicles. More than 500 buildings were flooded in the capital alone (the area worst affected), as well as roads, parking lots, and underpasses.
29th: A waterspout struck the German port city of Kiel, throwing people from boats and damaging property. Several rowers out in the water were injured as winds of over 100 km/h lashed the northern coast, police said. Four people were seriously hurt in Kiel's dockside area. The roofs of some buildings were torn off and trees were uprooted when the system came ashore.

World weather news, August 2021

3rd: According to North Korea's state broadcaster, heavy rains affecting the country's NE provinces of North and South Hamgyong since the 1st caused rivers to overflow, damaging 1170 homes, washing away hundreds of hectares of farmlands, destroying roads and bridges, and forcing the evacuation of 5000 residents. From 1800 LT on the 1st to 1900 LT on the 2nd, the average rainfall in South Hamgyong reached 113 mm, while in some places it exceeded 300 mm. The town of Chongjin, Puryong county registered 583 mm during 1-3 August while Sinhung county near Hamhung registered 308 mm. During the same period, the province of North Hamgyong registered more than 500 mm of rain. The average rainfall for the month of August in Hamhung, the capital of South Hamgyong and the second-largest city in North Korea, is 179.5 mm. August is its second-wettest month after July with 211.9 mm.
3rd: The most intense European heatwave of summer 2021 peaked in the early days of August. Extremely hot air mass is now also over western Turkey. At the same time, an extreme wildfire danger has developed and the general model consensus hints are worsening conditions through this week. The worst heat during this intense heatwave has developed across Greece, North Macedonia, and western Turkey, but southern Italy, Albania, Kosovo, southern Serbia, and Bulgaria are not far behind. Temperatures are extremely high, reaching to the low to mid-40s in many regions. So far, the observed official maximum temperature was 46.3C in Makrakomi Ftiotida on 2 August. This is now the highest temperature in Greece for this heatwave, and 1.7 degC shy of an all-time European heat record.
9th: Power supply demand in New Zealand reached a nationwide all-time high today, after a rapidly deepening low-pressure system moved east across central parts of the country, bringing heavy snow, severe gale-force southerlies, and frigid temperatures. As a result, the country's national grid operator, Transpower, declared a 'grid emergency at 1900 local time. "Tonight we have reached an all-time high in demand on the electricity system, but unfortunately we have not had enough generation in the system to maintain it," the company said.
9th: Wildfires are continuing to rip through the Greek island of Evia, prompting residents to flee to safety by sea. More than 2,000 people have already been evacuated, with elderly residents carried on to ferries. Local officials said not enough help had been sent to fight the fires, adding that parts of the island had already been destroyed. Greece is experiencing its most severe heatwave in 30 years in which temperatures have reached 45C.
11th: The Italian island of Sicily may have registered the hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe - 48.8C. Regional authorities reported the reading, which needs to be verified by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), near Syracuse today. According to the WMO, the current official record in Europe is 48C, registered in Athens, Greece, in 1977. The latest heatwave in Italy is being caused by an anticyclone - nicknamed Lucifer - moving up from Africa. Lucifer is forecast to head north across mainland Italy, further raising temperatures in cities including the capital, Rome. Italy's health ministry has issued "red" alerts for extreme heat in several regions and the number of cities that face the highest health risk is expected to rise from eight to 15 by Friday. The Mediterranean heatwave, which has seen some countries record their highest temperatures in decades, has led to the spread of wildfires across southern Italy, with Sicily, Calabria and Puglia the worst-hit regions here.
12th: Heavy rains continued to lash western Japan and other areas intermittently on due to a stationary front near the Tsushima Strait becoming active, prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders for parts of the Kyushu region. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is calling for people to be on their guard against landslides, inundations and river flooding. According to the agency, the amount of rainfall from the onset of precipitation until 10 a.m. today reached 234.5 mm in Satsuma, Kagoshima Prefecture, 216.5 mm in Ebino, Miyazaki Prefecture, 215.5 mm in Fukuoka's Sawara Ward, 210 mm in the city of Nagasaki, and 208.5 mm in Shimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture. As of 11 a.m. today, a landslide warning and evacuation orders had been issued for parts of Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita and Kagoshima prefectures in the Kyushu region.
13th: A huge search and rescue operation is under way in northern Turkey after flash floods along the Black Sea coast killed at least 27 people. Kastamonu province is the worst-hit area, accounting for 25 of the deaths. Two others died in Sinop on the coast. The floods caused some buildings to collapse, smashed several bridges, clogged some streets with wrecked cars and cut power supplies. In the flooded area near the Black Sea, helicopters plucked some people from rooftops; others were rescued by boat. More than 1,700 people have been evacuated, and as many as 330 villages are now without electricity, after the floods damaged power lines. Mountainous areas along Turkey's Black Sea coast are prone to flooding in the summer.
14th: Nearly two million people have been urged to evacuate their homes amid heavy rainfall in parts of Japan. Highest-level rain warnings have been issued in a number of prefectures, including Fukuoka and Hiroshima. One woman has died and her husband and daughter are missing after a landslide destroyed two homes in Nagasaki prefecture. More than 150 troops, police and firefighters have been sent to help with rescue operations in the area. The west of the country is worst affected but heavy downpours are expected across the country in coming days. In total, non-compulsory evacuation warnings are now in place for more than 1.8 million people across seven prefectures, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK. Local television footage showed submerged roads. Rivers in Saga and Fukuoka have overflowed with water levels still rising, local media reports said.
17th: Tropical Storm Grace has lashed southern Haiti with drenching rains, piling on misery for survivors of a powerful earthquake as flash floods and landslides further complicate relief efforts. Power was still out and communications spotty on Tuesday morning in parts of southern Haiti after inches of heavy rain and 35 mph winds bore down on the embattled region, just two days after it was hit by the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake. Rainwater turned the streets of Haiti's quake-struck Tiburon peninsula to rivers within a few minutes of tropical storm Grace making landfall on the island of Hispaniola, which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic. Rain fell at a rate of 50 mm/hour across much of the region. As the rain continued to pelt down on Tuesday, Haitian officials raised the confirmed death toll from Saturday's 7.2 magnitude earthquake to 1,941, with more than 9,900 injured and 30,000 people left homeless. Rescue workers continue to search rubble for survivors.
17th-18th: Record-breaking rain hit the Swedish city of Gavle in Gastrikland Region, leaving hundreds of homes and vehicles flooded and prompting authorities to close schools and issue stay-at-home warnings. According to the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Gavle received 161.6 mm from 2000 LT on the 17th to 1000 LT on the 18th, breaking the previous 24-hour record of 125.8 mm. Of the total amount, 140 mm fell between 2000 and 0400 LT, with 101 mm in just 2 hours between 0000 and 0200 LT. The city's average monthly rainfall for the month of August is 70 mm. Roads across the city were flooded as well as hundreds of homes and vehicles, prompting authorities to issue stay-at-home warnings and to close schools on the 18th. Only preschools remained open with limited staffing.
21st-23rd: At least 22 people have been killed and dozens more are missing following flash floods in the US state of Tennessee. Rescue crews are searching for more than 50 people in rural Humphreys County, which is west of Nashville. The record-breaking flooding began on Saturday, submerging entire roads and taking out telephone and power lines. Emergency workers are searching door-to-door in the worst-hit areas, with rescuers also combing through the debris of homes that were washed away. Most of the missing are from the town of Waverly. At least 430 mm of rain fell in Humphreys County in less than 24 hours Saturday, breaking Tennessee's one-day record.
21st-22nd: At least eight people are known to have died after Hurricane Grace tore through eastern Mexico, bringing torrential rain and high winds and causing power cuts and flooding. The deaths and the worst damage occurred in the state of Veracruz, where the storm uprooted trees when it made landfall early on Saturday. In the state capital, Xalapa, many streets became rivers of mud. The hurricane later weakened to a tropical storm as it moved inland. However, high winds and downpours were reported to be causing more flooding as Grace travelled north of Mexico City. The storm brought wind speeds of up to 200 km/h when it reached the coast of mainland Mexico.
22nd-23rd: Storm Henri gave heavy rain to the north-eastern US. More than 120,000 homes are without power in the region after the storm made landfall in Rhode Island late on Sunday. Millions of people across Long Island and southern New England have been told to prepare for coastal surges, flooding and downed trees and power lines.
25th: Heavy rain has been affecting Venezuela over the past few days, causing severe floods and landslides and resulting in casualties and damage. Government officials today confirmed 15 fatalities and 6 people missing. The worst affected states are Amazonas, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro, Merida, Monagas, Tachira and Zulia, as well as some parts of the area of Caracas. More than 35500 people have been affected and at least 8100 homes have been destroyed.
30th: A million people are without power in Louisiana from Hurricane Ida. Ida brought 240 km/h winds when it made landfall, leaving a trail of destruction through the state before passing into Mississippi. One person was killed when a tree fell on their home in Ascension Parish, in Louisiana's Baton Rouge area. However, the full scale of the destruction will only become clear as the day goes on, officials said. But it seemed that New Orleans' flood defences, strengthened after Hurricane Katrina killed 1,800 people in 2005, have so far done their job. Mr Biden said it could take weeks to restore electricity to the more than one million homes in Louisiana that are without power. Ida gathered strength over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico during the weekend. More than 90% of oil production there has been shut down as a result of the storm. On Sunday, Ida made landfall south of New Orleans as a category four hurricane, There are still fears of storm surges along the coast - which could be as high as 16 feet, potentially submerging parts of the low-lying coastline. Normally, hospitals in the predicted path of the hurricane would be evacuated, but this time there are few beds available, even at facilities further inland. Ida came ashore on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, a category three storm when it made landfall. High winds tore part of the roof off a hospital in the town of Cut Off, Louisiana, just inland from the Gulf of Mexico. The hospital said it had suffered "significant damage" but that its patients were safe.
31st: Severe thunderstorms swept through parts of Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada, bringing torrential rainfall, intense winds, hail, localized flooding and tornado warnings in Saskatchewan. A trough digging in across the western Prairies helped develop a low-pressure system, which is trekking through the region. The system produced severe thunderstorms in parts of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, while heavy rain fell on communities up north, The Weather Network reported. Golf ball-sized hail was reported in Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, whose mayor ended up trapped in her car for about 20 minutes. Multiple tornado warnings were issued in parts of the province as a thunderstorm capable of producing a twister was detected.

World weather news, July 2021

3rd: At least 20 people are missing and two were found in a state of cardiac arrest after a large-scale mudslide hit Atami, a seaside resort town in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan at around 1030 LT. Atami is about 100 km SW of Tokyo. The slide was caused by more than a month's worth of July rain in just 48 hours. In total, thirty locations in five prefectures, including Tokyo, have set new rainfall records for a 48-hour period in July. Among them is Mori in Shizuoka with 475 mm, Fuji, Shizuoka with 449.5 mm and Tenryu, Shizuoka with 363.5 mm of rain. Hundreds of thousands are under evacuation orders.
8th: A severe windstorm hit Gambia's western region, including the capital Banjul. The storm hit around midnight (local time), destroying scores of homes in some of the country's western outskirts and leaving at least 10 people dead. 1500 people were displaced, according to government figures.
8th: The US east coast was battered by extreme weather in the evening as heavy thunderstorms brought flooding and travel disruption to the New York City area, while Tropical Storm Elsa dumped heavy rainfall and even sparked tornadoes in North Carolina and Georgia. New York City witnessed dramatic scenes as subway stations were inundated by heavy rainstorms ahead of Elsa, which arrived late Thursday evening. Videos posted to social media showed people wading through a flooded station in northern Manhattan, while in a downtown station water poured from the ceiling, and a station in the Bronx saw water cascading down the stairs. The tropical storm brought heavy rains and warnings of flash flooding, as well as strong winds, according to the National Hurricane Center. Tropical storm warnings were still in effect along the coast from North Carolina to Massachusetts on Friday morning. There was a chance Long Island in New York would see sustained tropical storm-force winds, the National Weather Service in New York warned. Elsa seemed to spare Florida from significant damage, though it still threatened flooding downpours and caused several tornado warnings. Authorities in Jacksonville, Florida, said one person was killed Wednesday when a tree fell and struck two cars. A spokesperson for the Naval air force Atlantic office said Thursday that a sailor assigned to a patrol and reconnaissance squadron in Jacksonville was killed. Nine people were injured on Wednesday evening in coastal Camden county, Georgia, when a tornado struck a campground for active-duty and retired service members.
9th: Extreme heat is building in the United States, with forecasts of record-breaking temperatures in the states of California and Nevada. California's Death Valley recorded a high of 54.4C, with similar heat expected this weekend. Millions of people in the US are under warnings of excessive heat. The National Weather Service has advised those affected to drink plenty of water and stay in air conditioned buildings. This temperature in Death Valley matches one recorded in August 2020 - which some argue is the highest temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth. A temperature of 56.7C was recorded in 1913, but this is contested by climate experts.
9th: Severe thunderstorms brought strong winds and huge hail to Des Moines, Iowa, in the afternoon. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued what might be the city's first warning for hail of up to 10 cm. At 18:07 UTC, the NWS issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Boone and Green Counties for the hail of up to 6 cm diameter. The warning spread to Dallas, Polk, and Story counties 11 minutes later, and hail reports began coming in shortly. At 18:40 UTC, the warning upgraded for the potential of hail the size of a softball, with more than 3 inches of hail reported in Woodward.
10th: Wildfires are raging in the west of the United States as the region is hit by a heatwave that has brought record temperatures to several areas. Communities have been told to evacuate as firefighters struggle to battle the blazes in the extreme conditions. Two firefighters in Arizona died when their aircraft crashed while responding to a wildfire. Meanwhile, Las Vegas matched its all-time temperature high of 47.2C (117F) today. Firefighters battling the many wildfires in the region say the air is so dry that much of the water dropped by aircraft to quell the flames evaporates before it reaches the ground.
11th: A lightning strike killed at least 16 people and injured many more in Jaipur in northern India. The victims were taking selfies in the rain on top of a watch tower at the city's 12th Century Amer Fort, a popular tourist attraction. Dozens have also died in lightning strikes in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh states. Lightning strikes kill some 2,000 Indians on average every year, according to official data.
14th-15th: At least 188 people (as of midday on the 18th) have died and hundreds more are missing following severe floods in western Germany, Belgium and SE Holland. The worst of the flooding has been in the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia, where buildings and cars have been washed away. It follows record rainfall in parts of western Europe that has caused major rivers to burst their banks. At least 70 people are believed to be missing in the Ahrweiler district of Rhineland-Palatinate, after the Ahr river, which flows into the Rhine, burst its banks. Police helicopters and hundreds of soldiers have been deployed to some areas to help stranded residents. Earlier, police said dozens of people were waiting on rooftops to be rescued. Some schools have been closed, while rail and road transport links have been severely disrupted. Four people died in the Eifel region when their homes were swept away in the early hours of Thursday, police said. Neighbouring Belgium has also been hit by flash floods, and dramatic video showed cars being swept away along a street in the city of Verviers. Almost 2,000 people were forced to evacuate in the town of Chaudfontaine, Belgium's Le Soir newspaper reported. Rail services in the southern half of Belgium have been suspended because of the extreme weather. In the Netherlands, the province of Limburg has been left heavily flooded following downpours overnight.
15th-18th: Heavy rains and thunderstorms affecting Oman the 15th, caused severe floods that disrupted traffic and electricity supply, swept away crops, particularly in the Al Dakjhaliya governorate, and left 4 people dead and 3 missing. Some parts of capital Muscat were also hit by heavy rains and floods during the early evening hours of the 16th, closing roads and cutting off nearby towns. The hardest hit was the northeastern city of Sur, the capital of Ash Sharqiyah South Governorate, where up to 204.4 mm of rain fell in just 28 hours. At least one house collapsed in the city's Al Aija area.
17th-18th: Heavy rain is continuing to wreak havoc, with attention now shifting to parts of Austria and southern Germany. Emergency crews rescued people from homes in the Austrian region of Salzburg, where floodwaters submerged the streets of one town. The fire brigade said the capital Vienna saw more rainfall in an hour on Saturday night than in the previous seven weeks. In the Upper Bavaria region, one person was killed as heavy rains deluged basements and roads.
20th: At least 29 people have been killed and 7 others remain missing after heavy rains affecting China's central province of Henan since 16 July intensified today. 25 of them died and 7 remain missing in Henan's capital Zhengzhou after massive floods caused by a month's worth of July rains in just one hour. 4 people died in severe floods that hit the city of Gongyi on the same day. Zhengzhou received 457.5 mm of precipitation within 24 hours to 1700 LT today, making it the highest daily rainfall since the weather records in the city began. The city has also reported record-high hourly precipitation of 201.9 mm between 1600 and 1700 LT. From 17 to 20 July the capital city recorded 617.1 mm of rain, nearly its annual average of 640.8 mm. This is a level seen only 'once in a thousand years,' according to local meteorologists. Zhengzhou's average monthly rainfall for July is 193 mm. July is also its wettest month on average.
24th: Rescuers are scouring devastated parts of western India for survivors after heavy rains caused deadly floods. Tens of thousands of people have been moved out of affected areas, with record-breaking rainfall reported along parts of the coast. The states of Goa and Maharashtra have been badly affected, with many feared missing near the financial hub Mumbai. At least 136 people have died in Maharashtra, while in neighbouring Goa hundreds of homes have been damaged.
25th: A major typhoon has hit China's eastern coast. Typhoon In-Fa, known in China as Yanhua, made landfall in the city of Zhoushan at 1230 local time, state media reported. Transport links are suspended and people have been told to stay indoors. Trees have been uprooted and there has been some flooding. Dozens of ships have been evacuated from a busy port south of Shanghai.
26th: A violent hailstorm hit the town of Fidenza, northwest of Parma, Italy, damaging hundreds of vehicles and bringing traffic on a highway between Milan and Naples to a standstill. A number of people were injured, mainly by glass shards from cracked windows. Rain, hail, and very strong winds have created considerable damage in an area that goes from the river Po to Salsomaggiore Terme, passing through Colorno, San Polo di Torrile and Fidenza. Residents reported hail as large as 10 cm in diameter.
28th: Severe floods and mudflows caused by heavy rainfall left at least 150 people dead in northeastern Afghanistan. The worst-affected was mountainous Nuristan Province in the eastern part of the country, particularly its Kamdesh District. According to media reports, 200 homes were destroyed and roads damaged in the district's Miardish village.
28th: Three days of heavy rainfall in northern Pakistan caused severe flash flooding in parts of the capital Islamabad and surrounding areas, leaving at least 2 people dead. The heaviest rains fell from 0500 to 0630 PST. In just a few hours, Saidpur village, located just north of the capital, recorded 123 mm of rainfall, while Golra Sharif in the Islamabad Capital Territory received 103 mm.

World weather news, June 2021

1st: A severe storm has brought rain and heavy unseasonal snow to parts of Canterbury's (New Zealand) ski fields. As much as 5 m of snow fell at the summit of Mt. Hutt between Monday and Tuesday. The same weather system brought 2 to 3 months' worth of rain to the Canterbury region in just 2 to 3 days. NZSki chief executive Paul Anderson said Mt. Hutt was at the centre of the heavy precipitation event, ensuring a "fantastic opening day" on June 11. The weather bomb has prompted an avalanche warning across the Southern Alps. Four staff members were on the mountain undertaking avalanche control and were yet to examine the access road, where around 340 mm of rain has fallen.
3rd: Severe weather struck parts of western and central Germany, including heavy rain and hail, causing havoc in the regions. Firefighters and police received multiple calls for assistance as traffic was brought to a standstill, trees were uprooted, and many homes were flooded. Thunderstorms began Thursday evening, which eventually led to flooding, downed trees, and waterlogged cellars. In Bottrop, a fir tree was struck by lightning and burst into flames, but the fires were quickly put out by rains. In the municipality of Laer near Munster, the police reported flooding across streets and cellars after a brook overflowed. Meanwhile, in other parts of North Rhine-Westphalia, winds were so strong that they overturned trees. In Braubach, a parked vehicle was buried under fallen branches on the onslaught of the storm.
8th-12th: India's largest city Mumbai registered a total of 715.3 mm of rain duing 8-12 June - the June average is 126.1 mm. Heavy downpours are expected to continue until June 17. This year, the city may overtake its all-time June record of 1,106.7 mm set in 2015.
9th: At least two people died after a deep low started affecting the state of Victoria, Australia. Severe weather, including torrential rain, snow, and strong winds of over 120 km/h, prompted evacuations and rescues across the state while downed power lines left more than 200,000 homes without electricity.
11th: A major summer storm hit Greece, particularly the municipality of Attica, bringing extremely heavy rain, lightning, and hail. A month's worth of rain fell in 40 minutes, causing traffic disruption across Athens and power outages to wide swaths of the city. "The rainstorm, which produced what is usually a month's worth of rain in Greece in just 40 minutes, caused major traffic jams across Athens, and even left large swaths of the city without power," the Greek Reporter reports. The average June rainfall in this region is 17 mm. Meanwhile, an intense hailstorm hit Psychiko, Agia Paraskevi, and many areas in the northern suburbs.
13th: Unseasonably low temperatures and snowfall were seen in Cordoba, Argentina. Snowfall here is a rare sight, with the last snowfall event in July 2007, and only a few days earlier temperatures peaked at 27C.
13th: Heavy, unseasonal snow and sleet covered the northern and eastern parts of Iceland today. The snow was so heavy in some areas that tourists had to be rescued after getting trapped. Temperatures also plummeted to freezing levels.
16th: At least two people have died and around 6,000 people have been impacted in the region of Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca, Mexico, after intense rains caused flooding and landslides. The national meteorological service reported that more than 440 mm of rain fell in a 48 hour period; the average June rainfall is 173 mm.
17th: The ongoing severe heatwave continues to grip the south-western states of the US, with temperatures exceeding 40C in a number of cities. Furnace Creek in Death Valley, California, recorded a maximum temperature of 53.2C, which is a new world record for the month and only 1.2 degC off the all-time global temperature record, 54.4C. The following night also broke June records for the warmest night in North America, with a low of 40.6C at Stovepipe Wells. Mexicali, in Mexico, also recorded a high of 50C on 17 June, adding to the growing list of countries that have hit 50C this year.
17th-18th: Severe weather struck Saudi Arabia and Yemen, with flooding and hail reported in some areas. On the 17th three people died in Al-Shamaitin after being swept away by floodwaters. On the 18th the Taif region was lashed by hailstorms and downward winds, causing traffic disruption and significant flooding. In Yemen on the 17th, heavy rains triggered flooding in the district of Al-Shamaitin, Taiz Governorate, in the south-west of the country. Three children died after being carried away by the waters.
19th: Severe thunderstorms struck parts of Belgium. Heavy downpours also triggered flooding in portions of Flanders. A tornado reportedly struck the town of Beauraing in Namur Province, injuring 17 people and leaving as many as 92 houses severely affected, 10 of which were declared unfit for habitation. More than a dozen cars were damaged.
19th-21st: Severe storms pummelled parts of France over the weekend into Monday, bringing flooding rain, giant hailstones, and a tornado that resulted in damage. Around 44,000 lightning strikes were recorded. In Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, a tornado inflicted damage to a chuch in Indre-et-Loire village. Fallen stoneworks collapsed into cars underneath, smashing windscreens. Trees and vines were also ravaged. In Vercel-Villedieu-le-Camp, hailstones the size of tennis balls wrecked through car windows. Heavy rains triggered flooding while strong winds caused material damage in Essonne in Ile-de-France, and in Reims, Grand Est. Widespread flooding submerged roads in the northeastern city of Reims as downpours continued. Power outages also occurred in some areas.
20th: At least 6 people have been injured and 16 homes heavily damaged after a radar-confirmed tornado swept through suburban Chicago, Illinois at around 2309 LT. The twister touched down near Woodridge and continued toward Naperville.
22nd: Persistent heavy downpours have caused 13 rivers to rise to record levels in parts of northeastern China. Several parts of northeastern China have been hit by incessant heavy rains since last week, prompting authorities to warn people of flooding as water levels in the region's rivers reach historic levels. Five rivers, including the Luogu River, a section of the upper reaches of Heilongjiang and its tributaries, Emur, Pangu, and Dobukur, a tributary of the Nenjiang River, have all surpassed highs last recorded decades ago. In some areas, flash flooding swept away bridges and submerged farms along the riverbanks. According to China News, the current average precipitation in the Heilongjiang River Basin is reportedly the highest since 1961. Since May, the average rainfall in the basin has reached 155 mm, which is almost twice the previous record.
22nd: Violent flash floods swept through Neuchatel Canton in Switzerland, damaging homes, destroying roads, and sweeping away vehicles. According to figures released by MeteoSwiss, Cressier recorded 55 mm of rain, including 34.5 mm within just one hour. This is on top of 34 mm on 21 June. The local government said ensuing flash floods sent debris into Cressier and Frochaux, damaging around 75 buildings, destroying roads, and sweeping away vehicles.
23rd: Moscow has seen its hottest June day for 120 years after the temperature hit 34.7C with even hotter weather expected over the coming days. Russia's weather service, Roshydromet, which blamed climate change for the soaring temperatures. The weather service, which has kept records since 1881, is forecasting temperatures above 35C on Thursday and Friday. Monday was the hottest June since 1901.
24th: A tornado has swept through several villages in the Czech Republic, killing four people and leaving more than 100 others injured. Thursday night's storm blew the roofs off buildings in the south-eastern Breclav and Hodonin districts, uprooting trees and overturning cars. Wind gusts=s of at least 219 km/h were recorded and the worst-hit areas were said to look like a war zone. Hailstones the size of tennis balls were reported, and local officials said a string of villages had suffered considerable damage along a 25 km stretch of road heading from Breclav to Hodonin, to the north-east. In the village of Valtice, on the other side of Breclav, Mayor Pavel Trojan said almost every building had been damaged by a bombardment of hail.
25th: A severe thunderstorm accompanied by very strong winds and up to baseball-sized hail hit the city of Pozega, Croatia and neighbouring towns and villages, downing trees and causing massive damage to homes, crops, and vehicles. Elderly citizens say they've never witnessed a hailstorm of this intensity. "The city is broken, the roofs, the windows, the cars, there is almost no one without something being damaged. We will propose to declare a natural disaster. It is clear that help will be needed for all those who suffered these great damages. The local community is not so financially powerful to fully repair the damage and we will have to seek help from the national level," said Mayor Dr. Zeljko Glavic. The storm came from the south and hit the region around 1400 UTC, after several unusually hot days. It lasted only 15 minutes but the damage it made is unprecedented. Hailstones ranged in size from 2.5 to 7 cm in diameter, and larger.
26th: Parts of the US Pacific Northwest have been hit by a sweltering heatwave, with temperatures in Portland, Oregon, at a record 108F today. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued excessive heat warnings and watches across nearly all of Washington and Oregon state. Parts of California and Idaho are also affected. Multnomah county, in Oregon, has warned of "life-threatening" heat. Many cities have opened cooling centres for people to take shelter. Shops have sold out of portable air conditioners and fans and a number of Covid vaccination drives have been cancelled. NWS said that even hotter temperatures are forecast on Sunday and Monday throughout the Pacific Northwest and Northern Great Basin. It warned of "several more days of dangerous heat across the northwest corner of the country as well as parts of western Nevada and California". Temperatures in Seattle reached 101F making it the hottest June day there on record.
27th: Canada has recorded its highest ever temperature as the country's west and the US Pacific north-west experienced an unprecedented heatwave. Lytton in British Columbia recorded 46.6C, breaking an 84-year-old record. A "heat dome" of high pressure parked over the region has set new records in many other areas. Lytton, which is about 250 km north-east of Vancouver, surged past the previous Canadian record. That was set in two towns in Saskatchewan - Yellow Grass and Midale - back in July 1937 at 45C. Lytton was not alone. More than 40 other spots in British Columbia set new site records.
28th: Destructive rains and strong winds hit Moscow, Russia. Powerful gusts uprooted trees and caused damage to cars on streets, while heavy rains triggered flooding. The metro system halted some lines, while downpours caused very low visibility. The main building of Moscow State University could not be seen through the rain from street view. Lightning also caused a fire at a power station outside the city. The severe weather came after an unusual heat covered western Russia, causing temperatures to soar to a 120-year record of 34.8C.
28th-29th: Severe storms, including hail, heavy rain, and gale-force winds hit parts of Germany Switzerland, and France, triggering widespread flooding and damage. In Germany, several road tunnels were flooded and rail services were suspended around the city of Stuttgart on Monday night, according to police and rail operator Deutsche Bahn. Photos and videos of the event showed floodwaters gushing down the streets, while car windscreens were smashed by huge hailstones. Emergency services across the southern states of Rheinland-Palatinate and Baden-Wuerttemberg reported hundreds of emergency calls, including for flooded cellars, downed trees, and landslides. In the evening, strong winds tore off a part of the roof of the Stuttgart Opera while roughly 250 people were still inside after a song recital.
29th: Dozens of people have died in Canada amid an unprecedented heatwave that has smashed temperature records. Police in the Vancouver area have responded to more than 130 sudden deaths since Friday. Most were elderly or had underlying health conditions, with heat often a contributing factor. Canada broke its temperature record for a third straight day - 49.6C in Lytton, British Columbia. The US north-west has also seen record highs - and a number of fatalities.
30th: In the British Columbia village of Lytton the temperature eased slightly on today, raising hopes that the worst was over. But in the late afternoon, a wildfire tore through the settlement 153 km north-east of Vancouver. The fire was in the town and consuming buildings so quickly that residents weren't given advance notice to evacuate. Residents saw the thick black smoke filling the valley, grabbed what they could, and escaped. Within hours, most of the buildings had been consumed by flames. While the unprecedented heat has ebbed slightly, the people of Canada's western provinces are now confronting the grim effects of the blistering temperatures including a surge in heat-related deaths and the growing spectre of wildfires devouring bone-dry forests. The people of Lytton had been warned of a fire, 123 acres in size, which was burning south of the village. Officials watched warily as it grew and inched towards the community of 250.

World weather news, May 2021

2nd: Several destructive tornadoes swept through Mississippi late at night (LT), damaging buildings and downing trees and power lines. A tornado emergency was declared for Tupelo and surrounding areas, but there were no immediate reports of injuries. According to NWS Storm Prediction Center, the country saw 22 tornadoes, 18 of them in Mississippi. A destructive tornado hit the city of Tupelo, whose officials confirmed the damage and urged residents not to get out and drive.
4th: Heavy rains and thunderstorms hit Al Batinah North Governorate in Oman, causing severe damage to homes, buildings, and infrastructure. The worst affected were northern parts of the governorate, including Shinas, Liwa, Sohar, and Saham. According to the Times of Oman, heavy rainfall accompanied by hailstones and strong winds began at around 1930 LT. Local authorities said valleys in the region flooded, collapsing homes and destroying infrastructure. Additionally, a number of vehicles were damaged after house walls and trees fell on them.
6th-9th: At least three people have been killed and more than 1000 homes destroyed in Myanmar's Ayeyarwady districts as severe thunderstorms swept over the region. According to Myanmar's state-run media, severe thunderstorms struck all districts of Ayeyarwady in four days, with Maubgin and Hinthada district the worst affected. An official from the Department of Disaster Management in the Ayeyarwady region said 3 people were killed by lightning strikes, including 1 in Pyapon district and 2 in Pathein district. Two people were also injured by strong winds.
10th: At least 2 people have been killed after a severe thunderstorm hit the city of Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei province, turning day into night. According to the Wuhan Emergency Management Bureau, parts of the city encountered a level 10 thunderstorm which resulted in the deaths of two workers who were on gondola cleaning windows at Sanyang Road. The maximum rain intensity in the urban area reached 99.6 mm in 1 hour. Authorities reported the city was also hit by record-breaking wind gusts, which destroyed roofs and windows on many buildings.
11th: Severe thunderstorms battered parts of West Bengal, India, resulting in at least eight fatalities. The storm system also brought hailstorms, which ravaged wide swaths of crops. Authorities are yet to confirm the extent of the damage. Gusty winds of up to 54 km/h lashed the districts of Kolkata, Howrah, North Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, Bankura, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Birbhum, and Purulia. According to the Met Department, Dumdum saw up to 96 mm of rain, Alipore 102 mm and Saltlake 116 mm. Heavy rains triggered waterlogging in many areas across Kolkata, including Central Avenue, which slowed down traffic during rush hour.
14th: A severe hailstorm lashed Shkodra in northern Albania, leaving about 0.5 m of ice on roads and causing severe damage to crops. The storm lasted for around 50 minutes, covering the entire city, as well as some surrounding areas. The hail caused problems to traffic for a few minutes but had a major impact on agricultural lands.
14th: A destructive tornado ripped through the city of Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei Province, at around 2039 LT, killing at least 8 people and leaving 280 injured. According to local authorities, the tornado ripped through the district of Caidian, destroying 27 houses and damaging 130. In addition, two tower cranes were toppled and 8000 m2 of sheds at construction sites as well as trees and electricity poles, leaving 26 600 homes without power.
15th: Severe floods swept through Cuenca, capital of Azuay Province in Ecuador, resulting in major damage that affected around 500 people. According to authorities, it was the worst flood the area has seen since 2010. Nearly 70 homes were damaged or destroyed by floodwaters more than 1 m deep, affecting around 500 people from 100 families, the National Risk and Emergency Management Service reported. Three of Cuenca's rivers burst their banks on Saturday afternoon, with the Rio Tarqui registering historic levels.
16th-18th: Intense hailstorms affecting Kashmir Valley over the past couple of days have caused extensive losses to apple orchards and other fruit crops. While damage occurred almost everywhere in the valley, more than 40% of fruit crops were destroyed in the districts of Kulgam and Kupawara. After above normal maximum temperature during most of 14 May, the weather suddenly changed in the evening, with strong winds, rain, and hailstorms in many parts of the valley. The worst-hit villages in the districts include Awgam, Zazripora, and Puniwah.
17th: Initially classified as "extremely severe", Cyclone Tauktae made landfall in Gujarat state late in the day with wind speeds of up to 160 km/h. Winds ravaged coastal areas in Gujarat, uprooting trees and electricity poles. Electricity supply was cut in some districts as a precautionary measure. About 200,000 people were evacuated across several states as the cyclone approached, bringing with it heavy rains and gusty winds. Tauktae is the strongest cyclone to strike the coast of Gujarat since 1998. The cyclone weakened after it made landfall on Monday, but at least 19 people are confirmed as having died on land in the storm. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue. At least 53 people are still missing. A navy warship returned to the city's harbour on Wednesday with some of 186 barge survivors rescued so far. The barge was working on a project for India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). It was carrying personnel deployed for offshore drilling. When the storm struck, the barge's anchors gave way and it began drifting.
19th: A widespread and significant flood risk continues across the south-central U.S. from repeated rounds of intense rain and strong to severe thunderstorms. Officials in Louisiana said they were investigating five deaths as weather-related after massive rains and widespread floods. Lake Charles was one of the worst affected this week, with more than 300 mm of rain recorded in 24 hours ending Monday afternoon, making it the city's third wettest May day on record. In just 2 hours, the city received about 152 mm. The city has received more than 406 mm as of today, which is nearly 6 times the average amount of rainfall for this period.
21st-24th: More than 10 000 people have been affected by floods and landslides across 8 departments of Guatemala. Around 200 homes were damaged, one person was injured, and hundreds of others were displaced. Days of heavy rain hit the departments of Baja Verapaz, Izabal, Peten, Quetzaltenango, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Sololá, and Suchitepequez, according to disaster agency CONRED.
22nd: Twenty-one runners have died after extreme weather struck a long-distance race in north-western China. High winds and freezing rain hit participants in the 100 km ultramarathon in the Yellow River Stone Forest, a tourist site in Gansu province. The race was halted when some of the 172 runners went missing, and a rescue operation was launched. Many of the stranded runners reportedly suffered from hypothermia. The race began at 0900 LT, with some of the competitors setting off wearing just shorts and T-shirts. Surviving participants said the forecast had shown some wind and rain was anticipated, but nothing as extreme as what they experienced. About three hours after the start, a mountainous section of the race was hit by hail, heavy rain and gales, which caused temperatures to plummet, according to officials from the nearby Baiyin city.
26th: More than 1.2 million people have evacuated low-lying areas of India's east coast as Cyclone Yaas made landfall today. A week after Cyclone Tauktae claimed 155 lives in western India, wild weather has already caused two deaths and inflicted damage to homes amid heavy rain and high winds rains in Odisha and West Bengal states. The Indian meteorological department said landfall began around 9 a.m. (0330am GMT) on Wednesday and warned that it would generate waves higher than rooftops in some areas. Coastal areas experienced wind gusts up to 155 km/h and pounding rain. A tornado snapped electricity lines that electrocuted two people and damaged 40 houses in West Bengal's Hooghly district on Tuesday, an official said. Kolkata airport was shut until 8 p.m. on Wednesday and train services were cancelled before the storm as a precaution, the railroad department said.
30th: Hundreds of residents in north Canterbury in New Zealand have been evacuated amid severe flooding fuelled by a one-in-100-year heavy rainfall event over the weekend. According to NIWA, the rainfall was 200 to 400 percent of normal for the month of May, causing rivers to rise and flood. A state of emergency has been declared, as flooding threatened thousands of homes. Heavy rains began soaking the region on the 29th, causing rivers to rapidly rise, damaging roads and bridges, and flooding many properties. About 300 people have been forced to evacuate in Waimakariri and Timaru, while thousands of others in Ashburton were advised to prepare in case they need to flee.

World weather news, April 2021

4th: At least 44 people have been killed and hundreds are reportedly missing after heavy rains struck Indonesian East Nusa Tenggara province, triggering floods and landslides. The worst-hit area is East Flores regency where heavy rains are expected to continue into the next week.
7th: Winemakers in France fought frost with fire when a drop in temperatures threatened grape crops this week. After a week of record-breaking high temperatures as a warm spell spread across much of Europe, a cold front brought plummeting temperatures to those same areas, posing a significant danger to many French vineyards. Jean de Saint Venant, who owns a vineyard in the Loire Valley, lights bales of hay and straw on fire to create a smokescreen that, he said, is like "sunglasses for the vines." The layer of smoke protects the vines from sudden changes in temperature as the sun rises following a cold night and prevents a thaw from happening too quickly. Temperatures have dipped to record lows in some areas, and farmers have used every method they can to save their crops. Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie says he will declare an agricultural disaster. The deep frosts have destroyed buds on grapevines in the legendary vineyards of Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Languedoc and the Rhone valley.
7th: Torrential rains have been affecting Haiti since the 2nd, resulting in extensive damage and at least three fatalities. At least 149 homes have been damaged, with more than 1200 properties still submerged in floodwaters.
8th: Taiwan's worst drought in 56 years has dried up one of its most iconic lakes - but this has resulted in good news for at least one man. The man surnamed Chen claims he dropped his mobile phone while paddleboarding in the Sun Moon Lake a year ago . But last week, a worker contacted him to say the phone had been found - its case covered in dried mud. Mr Chen who says he could not sleep for excitement, added the phone worked thanks to its waterproof covering.
11th-12th: Tropical cyclone Seroja has ripped across a 1000 km stretch of Western Australia, leaving a trail of damage. The category three storm made landfall near the town of Kalbarri on Sunday with gusts of up to 170 km/h. The storm was later downgraded to a tropical depression, though strong winds continue to move south-east. Residents reported smashed houses, fallen trees and downed power lines. Weather authorities said Cyclone Seroja had maintained "uncommon" pace and strength throughout Sunday night, as it moved from Kalbarri and Geraldton on the coast, and inland across the state's Wheat Belt. Emergency services said about 70% of structures in Kalbarri, which is home to about 1500 people, were damaged by the cyclone. Several towns in the state's south-east remain under "red alert" on Monday, meaning residents were advised to take shelter, and thousands of homes were left without power.
12th: Parts of north-central Texas were pounded by what is described as a "gorilla" hail due to its remarkable size, with some as large as a grapefruit. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), hail reportedly accumulated up to 3 inches on the ground, particularly in Llano, where the largest hail fell. The storm caused havoc on properties, leaving many windows smashed and vehicles damaged. The National Weather Service received dozens of reports of large hail from a severe thunderstorm over parts of north-central Texas. The storm left smashed windshields and dented vehicles in its wake.
16th: Flash flooding spread through southeast Mauritius, damaging homes and leaving many people stranded on roads. Up to 408 mm of rain was registered in Plaisance during the 15th-16th, which is twice the average April rain for this location.
17th: A heavy downpour caused flash flooding in Singapore, with up to 161.4 mm of rain recorded in the western region during 0425-0725 UTC. The amount was equivalent to 91 percent of the country's average April rainfall and is among the highest in 40 years. Prolonged rainfall on Saturday inundated the country, particularly the western and central areas. Singapore's National Water Agency had been issuing flood risk warnings for more than 20 areas, including Sime Darby Centre, Bukit Timah Canal and Ulu Pandan Canal.
17th: Intense hailstorms and heavy rain lashed parts of Saudi Arabia over the past couple of days, completely covering desert sand in Hail city and Asir region. Meteorologists at the Jordan-based ArabiaWeather network said that the intense hailstorm hit Hail when the temperature was around 28C. According to the Saudi National Centre for Meteorology, heavy thunderstorms and hailstorms, accompanied by snowfall, also took place in several cities in Asir, including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Tanuma and Al Namas.
19th: At least 14 people have died while over 8000 have been displaced after heavy rains caused flash floods in Luanda Province, Angola. Widespread damage was also reported, with up over 1500 homes flooded. Drainage channels blocked by rubbish reportedly worsened the flooding situation.
27th: Provisional records for April 2021 show the United Kingdom has experienced the most air frosts since records began in 1960, the UK Met Office. This month has already seen an average of 13 days of air frosts for the country, with many farmers and growers reporting considerable damage due to the harsh conditions.
28th-29th: Severe hailstorms and tornadoes pounded the southern U.S. on these two days, leaving a trail of destruction. As a result, more than 28000 customers were without power in Texas alone, and damages across the region amounted to a billion dollars. A strong line of storms brought powerful hail, tornadoes, and flooding in the south. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) received a total of nine tornado reports from Oklahoma and Arkansas, as well as Missouri, Tennessee, and Illinois. Preliminary reports show damage to residential properties and snapped trees. In Texas, powerful supercell thunderstorms caused the National Weather Service to issue tornado warnings through early Thursday. More than 28 000 customers lost access to electricity that day. The system also brought hail up to 3 inches in diameter to San Antonio and Fort Worth. SPC received at least 100 reports of hail from Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, with the latter bearing the brunt of the extreme weather. Baseball-sized hail battered the state, particularly the Norman area, inflicting major damage to homes and businesses.
30th: At least 11 people are dead and 102 injured in a violent storm that hit eastern China in the evening. Those killed were blown into the Yangtze River or hit by falling trees and electricity poles, officials said. Another 11 people were in a fishing boat that capsized. Two were rescued, but nine others are still missing. Local media reported that marble-sized hailstones fell on the coastal city of Nantong, while gales ripped the sides off buildings.

World weather news, March 2021

1st: Severe weather produced a deadly and damaging start to meteorological spring in the Atlanta (Georgia, USA) area. From Sunday afternoon through early Monday, downpours and strong thunderstorms erupted across parts of the Tennessee Valley and the Southeast. More than two dozen wind damage reports came in across the states of Arkansas, Tennessee, northern Mississippi and Alabama, and Georgia. On Monday, a severe storm moving through northern Georgia spawned a tornado around 6 a.m. EST. The damage was surveyed by the National Weather Service on Monday afternoon, which confirmed the tornado as an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Despite the damage, no injuries or fatalities were reported from the tornado. However, strong wind gusts caused tree branches to crash down nearby, which led to one fatality in the metro Atlanta area.
2nd: In the USA federal agencies are investigating the possibility of altering the official beginning of the Atlantic basin hurricane season, a change that would officially start the season about two weeks earlier than it historically has begun and potentially extend the total length of the season. The National Hurricane Center (NHC), along with several branches of the National Weather Service, are set to begin assessing the idea of moving the start of the Atlantic hurricane season to May 15, and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is also poised to discuss the issue at its annual meeting next month. The WMO is set to discuss the matter at its annual meeting in mid-March. The WMO cited the past nine hurricane seasons as examples for its new considerations, during which seven tropical storms formed between May 15 and June 1, the official start of the season.
7th: A severe storm struck Espirito Santo in southeastern Brazil, causing flooding and landslides that left many homes damaged or destroyed. More than 11 000 lightning strikes were reported across the state, resulting in one fatality in Corrego Sao Jose de Pancas. Up to 149 mm of rain was recorded in the municipality of Marechal Floriano in a 24-hour period to Monday, March 8. Vila Velha saw 113.7 mm and Cariacica 90.4 mm.
8th: Emergency evacuations have been ordered for residents in the Haiku area in Maui, Hawaii, after heavy rainfall has caused a breach on the Kaupakalua Dam today. Authorities also warned people that flooding in the area is "life-threatening". Heavy rainfall in Maui has resulted in flooding and dam breach, leaving many residents trapped in their homes. The Maui Fire Department said it received more than a dozen calls for assistance. Mayor Michael Victorino surveyed the flooding and reported that Kaupakalua Road was impassable in some areas. At least six homes were heavily damaged or destroyed. After a breach was confirmed on the Kaupakalua Dam on Monday afternoon, Victorino urged people to evacuate from the Haiku area.
9th: On 14 February, temperatures dipped all the way down to -19F at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, just missing a record low temperature for the date originally set in 1875. But now just three weeks later, city residents are dressing for a very different record. Today, the city reached a high temperature of 62F, shattering the previous high-temperature record of 61F for the date in the city last reached in 1879.
13th-14th: A major winter storm described by the National Weather Service (NWS) as "historic and crippling" lashed parts of the U.S., bringing up to 1.2 m (4 feet) of snow over the weekend. More than 2000 flights were cancelled and over 54000 customers were left without power on Sunday. The NWS initially warned of a "historic and crippling" winter storm that will significantly impact all of southeast Wyoming and western Nebraska panhandle, adding that "widespread blizzard conditions" would make travel "dangerous or impossible." The storm rolled into parts of the Rocky Mountains late Saturday, March 13, dropping heavy snow and rain. Up to 61 cm of snow was registered in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, making it the city's fourth-largest snowstorm since 1881. The previous fourth strongest snowfall record was 60.4 cm set in December 1982. This was also Denver's largest snowstorm since 2006.
15th: The Chinese capital of Beijing was covered in thick dust on Monday as it experienced what its weather bureau has called the worst sandstorm in a decade. The storm caused an unprecedented spike in air pollution measurements - with pollution levels in some districts at 160 times the recommended limit. Hundreds of flights were cancelled or grounded as the sky was covered by an apocalyptic-looking orange haze. The sand is being brought in by strong winds from Inner Mongolia. In Mongolia the severe sandstorms have reportedly caused six deaths and left dozens missing.
17th: A severe weather outbreak lashed the South U.S.A., unleashing tornadoes that led to serious damage to homes and businesses, particularly in Alabama and Mississippi. NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC) received a total of 25 tornado reports, 17 in Alabama, 3 in Mississippi, 2 in Montana, and 1 each in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri.
20th: Heavy rains have caused flooding and landslides in northern Peru over the past few days, affecting as many as 3000 homes. Around 160 mm of rain fell in a 24-hour period in Yurimaguas, capital of Alto Amazonas Province in Loreto Region, which is more than half the city's March average rainfall of 257 mm.
20th-21st: About 18000 people have evacuated their homes after torrential rains hit New South Wales (NSW), Australia, causing severe flooding in many parts of the state. More evacuations are expected as the severe weather is forecast to continue mid-week. The deluge has inundated coastal areas of NSW, including parts of Sydney, prompting authorities to warn eight million residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Several hard-hit areas recorded 250 mm of rain in a 24-hour period, while most of the coast has seen March rainfall records broken. The government has signed 34 natural disaster declarations, as of March 21. Heavy downpours began Friday, March 19, causing severe flooding which as described by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) as "potentially life-threatening". Parts of the state experienced the worst flooding in 50 years, authorities said Sunday. Floodwaters raged from Bellingen to Port Macquarie, Mount Seaview, Wauchope and Gloucester, and Wingham. The Kindee Bridge peaked at 12.1 m on the 20th, breaking the 2013 major flood record. By Saturday afternoon, officials had issued nine evacuation orders for 15 areas. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian stated that the region was experiencing a "one-in-100-year" event, and 34 areas have been declared natural disaster areas.
23rd: As many as 45 people have died while more than 2000 homes have been damaged as a result of severe weather in Colombia since 1 March, according to a statement by the country's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD). Recently, heavy rains have caused major flooding in the municipality of Dabeiba in Antioquia on the 22nd. A total of 318 severe weather events were reported in 193 municipalities and 20 departments, leaving around 451 families affected, UNGRD said. The disaster risk management added that there were 175 landslides and 89 floods, including flash floods, during this period, as well as storms, hail, and strong winds.
25th: At least 23 tornadoes touched down in Alabama and Georgia, leaving extensive damage, at least 5 people dead outside of Birmingham, Alabama, and multiple injuries. This is the second tornado outbreak in the region since March 17. Severe storms started affecting the region mid-afternoon and continued in several waves through the early evening and into the night. About 50 million people were in the path of severe weather, NWS Storm Prediction Center (SPC) said, with portions of Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee at most risk. The SPC issued a high risk of severe weather risk in the South for the second time this month. This was the first time the center has issued 2 high risks for severe weather in the month of March since 1991.
26th: The cherry blossom season, Japan's traditional sign of spring, has peaked at the earliest date since records began 1200 years ago, research shows. The 2021 season in the city of Kyoto peaked on 26 March, according to data collected by Osaka University. Increasingly early flowerings in recent decades are likely to be as a result of climate change, scientists say. The records from Kyoto go back to 812 AD in imperial court documents and diaries. The city has experienced an unusually warm spring this year. The previous record there was set in 1409, when the season reached its peak on 27 March.
27th-28th: Four people have been killed and 130 rescued after near-record levels of rainfall hit Nashville, Tennessee over 48 hours, causing significant flooding across the region. Repeated rounds of very heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding issues in many areas across Middle Tennessee from Saturday morning, March 27, through Sunday morning, March 28. Through Sunday morning, Franklin recorded 219.7 mm of rain, while Clarkrange had 213.6 mm.
29th: A powerful storm brought heavy snow, damaging winds, and frozen precipitation across some E areas of Canada, resulting in travel disruptions, suspension of classes, and damaged homes. Wind gusts of up to 164 km/h were recorded in Nova Scotia, while multiple power outages were reported in Newfoundland and parts of the Prairies. In Newfoundland, many roofs were blown away from homes as the storm brought damaging winds and heavy snow. The intense, low-pressure system also delivered a blast of heavy rain and snow to New Brunswick and strong winds in Nova Scotia. St. Joseph du Moine, Grand Etang, and Plateau on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia saw violent wind gusts of 164 km/h, 159 km/h and 151 km/h, respectively.

World weather news, February 2021

1st: A powerful winter storm blasted the U.S. Northeast, bringing heavy snow and high winds that led to power outages for more than 22000 customers throughout the region. This major Nor'easter prompted advisories and warnings from Tennessee to Maine, with a snow emergency issued for Philadelphia and a state of emergency declared for New York City and New Jersey on Sunday night. "It`s the storm of the century," said New Jersey snowplough operator James Carew, who has been in the field of work for 30 years. Power outages driven by heavy wind and snow cut power to more than 14000 customers in Massachusetts solely, 4000 in New Jersey, 3000 in New York, and 1200 in Connecticut More than 1600 flights have been cancelled at major airports in the Nor'easter's path, including Newark Liberty International Airport, John F Kennedy Airport, and Philadelphia International Airport. In New York, Central Park received more than 38 cm on late Monday, placing the storm in the top 20 snowstorms in the city's recorded history. The highest snowfall total recorded on the East Coast was in Newton, New Jersey, with up to 81 cm of snow.
1st-2nd: A broad band of rain and storms hit New South Wales, Australia. The Bathurst region was drenched by nearly a month's worth of rain in about eight hours - up to 43.4 mm fell from 0830 UTC on the 1st to 1700 UTC, close to the long-term February average of 57.8 mm. There has been 54.2 mm of rain recorded for the month so far.
5th: At least 10 people have died in central and southern Paraguay after heavy rainfall over the past few days triggered severe floods and landslides. According to the Directorate of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMP), several areas in the central region recorded 500 mm (20 inches) more rainfall than the January average. Heavy rains intensified during storms that began on 31 January. The DMH reported 144 mm of rain in a 24 hour period to February 1 in Luque City. About 173.8 mm fell in the following 24 hour period in Paraguari, and another 100.2 mm in Oviedo. Strong winds reached up to 140 km/h in other areas, particularly in Canindeyu Department. The National Emergency Secretariat said they assisted flood victims in Yaguaron, Paraguari Department, and Caacupe in Cordillera Departments. Severe flooding was also reported in Tobati and Pribebuy.
7th: The Netherlands has been hit by its first major snowstorm in a decade, forecasters say, as cold weather pushes through much of northern Europe. Dutch authorities have closed all coronavirus testing centres because of the extreme weather. Transport has been disrupted and rail connections with Germany, where northern areas have also been blanketed by snow, have been suspended. The cold snap is a result of Storm Darcy, which has also affected parts of the UK. A "Code Red" weather warning was declared in the Netherlands for all of Sunday, meaning winds of up to 90 km/h and "bitter cold" were forecast. Heavy snow fell throughout much of the day, leading to long delays on the roads. People were advised to avoid travelling and there were reports of dozens of cars skidding off streets. Eindhoven airport closed and incoming flights were diverted to Germany, while Schiphol airport in Amsterdam warned that travellers could face delays.
7th: Torrential rains lashed Belo Horizonte in Brazil over the weekend, causing damaging floods that prompted the Civil Defence to issue alerts for the West, Pampulha, and Venda Nova regions. In the south-central region, about 234.6 mm of rain fell in a 72 hour period, which exceeded the February average of 181.4 mm. Persistent heavy rains caused severe flooding in Belo Horizonte, affecting many houses and buildings. Locals said as streams overflowed, floodwaters dragged away vehicles on roads. In the Vila Suzana I neighborhood, at least 47 people were stranded and rescued by firefighters, including families. In Santa Luzia, Rio das Velhas overflowed, forcing about 300 people to flee their homes.
10th-25th: An air mass boundary that separated cold air in the north from very mild air in the south lay over northern Germany at the beginning of February. By the 10th the cold air covered all of Germany. A deep blanket of fresh snow and a cloudless sky led to icy nights with very severe frost, especially in central Germany. It was coldest nationwide on the 10th in Muhlhausen-Gormar, to the north-west of Erfurt, with -26.7C. A significant change to a southerly flow then brought spring-like warmth within a few days. There was a huge increase in temperature of over 40 degC locally. In some areas the temperature rose to over 20C for several days in a row. Ohlsbach, south-east of Offenburg, registered the highest value in Germany on the 25th with 22.0C.
11th: At least 5 people have died in a massive pileup crash on Interstate 35-West near downtown Fort Worth, Texas that took place at about 06:00 CST, February 11, 2021. A Mass Casualty Incident has been declared. According to Fort Worth Fire Department spokesman, Michael Drivdahl, about 100 vehicles were involved in the pile-up, likely caused by ice.
11th: A violent storm produced damaging hail and a powerful tornado in Izmir, Turkey, leaving at least 18 people injured and dozens of homes damaged. Hailstorms also inflicted damage to nearly 700 greenhouses in the Urla area. A powerful waterspout formed in Cesme District, overturning a crane, knocking over some vehicles, and leaving about 18 people injured when it hit land. Many of the injured victims were workers staying in prefabricated housing units at a construction site in Alcati when the crane collapsed on the units. Izmir governor Yavuz Selim Kosger described the event as unprecedented.
14th-15th: Parts of Texas are blanketed in a thick layer of ice. The state is seeing some of its coldest temperatures in more than 30 years, with some areas breaking records that are more than a century old. Parts of Texas hit -18C today. According to the US National Weather Service (NWS), this is down to an "Arctic outbreak" that originated just above the US-Canada border, bringing a winter snow storm as well as plummeting temperatures. For the first time in the US state, all 254 counties are under a winter storm warning, US media report. The temperature in Dallas is already colder than in Anchorage, Alaska, CBS News reports. Rotating power outages have been initiated by the state's power grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (Ercot), early on Monday, to reduce demand on the electricity system. Nearly 120 car accidents were reported on Sunday. Hundreds of flights in and out of the state have also been cancelled.
15th-16th: A winter storm in the US has brought deadly freezing winds, ice and snow to many regions that rarely see such frigid conditions. At least 11 deaths have been blamed on the widespread storm. Deaths have been reported in Tennessee, Texas, Kentucky and Louisiana. In North Carolina, a tornado spawned by the same storm left three dead and 10 injured early on Tuesday morning. The freezing storm even reached northern parts of Mexico where more than four million homes and businesses lost power early on Monday. A pile-up on a major highway near Oklahoma City during a snowstorm on Sunday left several lorries on fire. The George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and the city's Hobby Airport were both closed until at least Tuesday afternoon. The city of Abilene, home to about 125,000 residents, shut off water services after all of the city's treatment plants lost power. Temperatures in the city of Dallas have been colder than in Anchorage, Alaska, CBS News reported. In Louisiana, some local authorities have imposed curfews to keep people off the icy roads. The state is also suffering power cuts and traffic disruption. Oregon, which was hit by an ice storm, saw nearly 250,000 people and businesses without power on Tuesday.
16th: Unusually heavy snowfall in parts of Greece has blanketed ancient monuments, disrupted transport and halted some coronavirus vaccinations. Temperatures as low as -19C have been recorded in the north-western city of Florina. At least three deaths have been blamed on the freezing conditions and extra supplies have been sent to refugee camps hit by low temperatures. Police said there had been almost 250 calls for help from people trapped in cars and homes, according to Reuters. Covid-19 vaccinations were postponed in the capital, Athens, where roads were closed and public transport disrupted by the storm. Ferry travel has also been interrupted by the wintery weather conditions and high winds.
16th-17th: Heavy snow over parts of the Middle East, including Syria, Lebanon, and Israel led to the blocking of roads and disruption to normal life. According to local media reports, the snow has already blocked some of the roads in Syria, including in capital Damascus, disrupted traffic, and postponed exams at some universities. Syrian Arab News Agency reported snow as deep as 15 cm in Um Houran area in Dahir al-Jabal, indicating that many roads in the mountainous regions are barely passable.
20th: Extreme monsoon rains brought massive flooding to the Indonesian capital Jakarta, with parts of the city (population 30 million) under 1.2 to 2.7 m of water. The floods forced the evacuation of some 1380 residents to temporary shelters. The waters are now receding, but more heavy rain is expected in the week ahead, and Jakarta remains on alert for the next 4 days.
23rd: Heavy rainfall since mid-February has triggered widespread, severe flooding in Madre de Dios, Peru, leaving at least 15000 people affected and thousands of property damage. This has prompted the government to declare a state of emergency for the region for 60 days. According to environment minister Gabriel Quijandria, floodwaters damaged about 4000 homes, several schools and health facilities, and around 3000 ha of crops. The affected areas include Pueblo Viejo, Las Piedras, Laberinto, and Boca Colorado. Puerto Maldonado registered 150.8 mm of rain in a 24-hour period to February 19. The Madre de Dios River was also at a red alert level, according to the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service.

World weather news, January 2021

5th: Close to 120 mm of rain fell in Chennai, India, the city's highest rainfall in a single day for the month of January since 1915. The heavy downpour resulted in flooding in many parts of the city. Meenambakkam and Nungambakkam registered 50 and 60 mm of rain, respectively, in a 24-hour period on Tuesday morning. By Tuesday evening, the two stations had registered 80 and 100 mm of rain, respectively. Many other areas, such as Tarmani, received up to 120 mm.
6th: Spain registered its lowest temperature on record with Catalan Pyrenees station recording -34.1C. The previous record had stood since 2 February 1956, when -32C was measured in Estany-Gento, Lleida Province. Wednesday's record cold occurred under calm conditions and clear skies.
8th-10th: Storm Filomena has blanketed parts of Spain in heavy snow, with half of the country on red alert for more on Saturday. Madrid's airport has closed along with a number of roads. On Friday evening, a number of vehicles became stranded on a motorway near the capital. Firefighters were called in to assist drivers who had become stuck. In some areas the military were called in to help clear roads. According to local media, the snowfall in Madrid is the heaviest in at least 80 years. The country's AEMET weather agency said the snowfall was "exceptional and most likely historic". In Canada Real, the largest shanty town in western Europe, residents were seen creating a bonfire to keep warm. Madrid on Sunday began working to clear snow from the blizzard. In the city centre, street cleaners worked to clear snow from busy pedestrian areas and footpaths. About 50 cm of snow fell in Madrid by Sunday. By then, the bodies of a man and woman were recovered by the Andalucia region emergency service after their car was washed away by a flooded river near the town of Fuengirola. The Interior Ministry said a 54-year-old man was also found dead in Madrid under a big pile of snow. A homeless man died of hypothermia in the northern city of Zaragoza, the local police department reported.
12th: People in central Spain are struggling as a deep freeze follows the weekend's heavy snow, leading to treacherous conditions. Officials have warned the elderly to stay at home. At least seven people have died due to the weather - the two latest victims were homeless people in Barcelona. The temperature plunged to -25C in Molina de Aragon and Teruel, in mountains east of Madrid. Deep snow left by Storm Filomena has turned to ice, disrupting transport. There has been an extraordinary quantity of snow and ice for Spain, where winters are usually quite mild.
13th: A powerful windstorm hit the Pacific Northwest leaving at least two people dead and more than half a million people without electricity. The storm left a trail of damage, caused a landslide that shut down a highway, and produced a historic wind gust of 71 mph at Spokane International Airport. More than 430000 customers lost electrical service elsewhere in Washington state and Oregon, officials said. The fatalitis were due to falling trees.
19th: A huge snowstorm has struck a highway in north Japan, causing a 130-car pile-up, killing one person and injuring 10. The storm blanketed a stretch of the Tohoku Expressway in Miyagi prefecture at around 0300 GMT. Some 200 people have been caught up in the pile-up and rescuers are currently at the scene, officials said. Japan has been hit by severe snow storms in recent weeks with some parts of the country seeing double the average expected snowfall. The snow has affected some of Japan's high-speed railway network, with a number of train services in the Tohoku region cancelled.
23rd: Storm Hortense left a trail of destruction after it made landfall in Mallorca, Spain. Significant damage was reported across the island and at least 2 people were injured. Aemet reported a gust of 130 km/h at Son Sant Airport, which broke a record set in February 1996 at 118 km/h. In the Tramuntana Mountains, a gust of 144 km/h was registered at the Alfabia weather station, though gusts elsewhere reached 170 km/h. According to Spanish media, 26 roads in Mallorca were closed to due landslides and a number of downed trees.
24th-25th: Flooding and landslides killed at least two people in Santa Catarina, Brazil, after 104 mm of rain fell in a six-hour period - equivalent to half a month's worth of January rain. Heavy rainfall has been lashing Florianopolis in Santa Catarina since 21 January. More downpours hit the state in the following days, with almost 40 mm in a 1-hour period on Sunday. According to the Civil Defense, 86 mm of rain fell in a 3-hour period. Floodwaters and landslide debris blocked roads, as well as other parts of the city. The fire service evacuated 70 people in the Lagoa da Conceicao neighborhood after embankments of a sewage treatment pond collapsed, resulting in at least 35 homes being damaged.
27th-28th: A potent winter storm hit Northern California, bringing flooding rains and heavy mountain snow. Up to 36 cm of snow was recorded in the Tahoe region overnight. The storm prompted flood warnings and threats of mudslides, including in areas previously burned bare by wildfires. About 5000 people remained under evacuation orders as the threat of flooding persisted in the Santa Cruz mountains.
28th-29th: Parts of Victoria, Australia, had a month's worth of rain in 12 hours while New South Wales was hit by historic rainfall. Melbourne metro recorded 40 mm in just four hours, almost hitting the average January rain of 47 mm. In a 24-hour period to Friday morning, widespread rainfall totals of 20 to 40 mm were recorded across the state's western region, while totals of 60 to 70 mm were recorded in the upper Avoca and Wimmera catchments. The deluge resulted in inundations, prompting state emergency services to rescue trapped people. Most of the rescues were stranded drivers and passengers in their vehicles.

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Last updated 30 December 2021.