World weather news, March 2025

3rd

Japan has deployed more than 2,000 firefighters to battle the country's biggest forest fire in three decades. At least one person has died in the blaze, which has torched more than 5,200 acres around the northern Japanese city of Ofunato since 27 February, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Although January to March is typically Ofunato's driest season, the area saw less rainfall last month than any February in more than 20 years - recording just 2.5 mm, compared to the usual average of 41 mm.

3rd

Torrential rainfall turned streets into fast flowing rivers in parts of the popular holiday destination of Grand Canaria. The town of Telde in the east of the island was particularly hard hit with heavy downpours. Cars were swept away into ravines and into the sea by torrents of floodwater. About 32 mm of rain fell in Telde, with higher amounts falling in the surrounding mountains. The average rainfall for March here is 13 mm.

4th-6th

A powerful winter storm swept through much of the Midwest and southern United States. The storm claimed 6 lives, spawned over 20 tornadoes, caused hundreds of vehicle crashes, and delivered over 45 cm of snow in some areas.

7th

A severe storm brought over 270 mm of rain in just 4 hours to Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province (Argentina), triggering widespread flooding and evacuations. The downpour, which began around 0340 LT, left large parts of the coastal city submerged, disrupting power and forcing evacuations, including newborns from the flooded neonatal unit at a hospital.

8th

Australian authorities say a body has been found in floodwaters and 36 military workers were injured in a vehicle crash as wild weather from a tropical storm lashes the country's eastern coast. Cyclone Alfred was downgraded to a tropical low today but is due to make landfall near the Queensland capital city of Brisbane soon. Winds have brought down trees and power lines and flooded low-lying roads. More than 300,000 properties are without power in the region. Along the Gold Coast, pummelled by bad weather the past few days, conditions have been very strong with driving rain and strong winds. As the storm has edged closer to landfall, nearly 1,000 schools have closed, public transport has been suspended and airports are shut. Elective surgeries have also been cancelled. Had it made landfall as a cyclone, it would have been the first cyclone to hit the region since Cyclone Zoe in 1974. Tropical storms are not uncommon in Australia, but typically make landfall further north.

14th

There has been flooding and landslides in parts of northern Italy as red alerts cover cities including Florence and Pisa. Torrential rain prompted the alerts for parts of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, with heavy and persistent rainfall expected into the afternoon. Almost a month's worth of rain fell in Florence on Friday (14th) morning while landslides and mudslides were reported in Bologna, where some residents were evacuated on Thursday evening ahead of heavy rain overnight. Roads were also affected by flooding and fallen trees, with residents in Florence advised against all travel after the A1 motorway was partially closed. Florence has seen more than double its average March rainfall of 61 mm in the past three days. It saw more than 53 mm of rain in just six hours on Friday morning, after a further 36 mm had fallen overnight.

14th-15th

At least 34 people have died in the US - including 12 in Missouri alone - after deadly tornadoes tore through several south-eastern states, flipping cars and flattening homes. In Kansas, at least eight people died after more than 55 vehicles were involved in a crash due to a dust storm. Six deaths were reported in Mississippi. More than 250,000 properties were without power across seven states - including Michigan, Missouri and Illinois - overnight into Sunday (16th). Arkansas has seen three deaths and 29 injuries - prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency. Georgia's governor also declared a state of emergency, while Oklahoma's governor confirmed one person had been killed in the state. A dust storm that caused three deaths in Texas on Friday night caused a pile-up of an estimated 38 cars. The destructive storms fuelled more than 100 wildfires in several central states and overturned multiple semi-trailer trucks.

19th

Severe flash floods hit north Queensland (Australia), after over 300 mm of rain fell over parts of the region, inundating homes and roads. The worst affected areas were Ingham and Townsville, where more than a month's worth of rain fell in just 8 hours.

21st

Storm Martinho struck Spain with torrential rain and strong winds, making this March the wettest on record in Madrid. Authorities issued warnings of potential flooding, with the capital and other regions placed on high alert. Martinho's intense rainfall caused the Manzanares River in Madrid to increase its flow fifteenfold, according to local reports. While exact totals for the capital have not been confirmed, nearby regions experienced extreme precipitation, with the coastal town of Aguilas receiving 70 mm in just one hour.

25th-26th

Intense hailstorms battered much of northern Texas (USA) overnight, causing damage to multiple vehicles and homes. Quarter- to egg-sized hail and strong wind gusts were reported across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, affecting cities such as Mesquite, Balch Springs, Hutchins, Allen, McKinney, and Sherman. The hail has reportedly damaged multiple vehicles across the region, with many reporting window damages as well. The National Weather Service office in Fort Worth received nearly 50 hail reports, with the largest - measuring 50 mm - reported in Allen, while Dallas saw hail up to 45 mm in diameter.

26th

Severe thunderstorms swept through Seattle and much of the Pacific Northwest (USA), after the National Weather Service issued the first Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Seattle since 1999. The storms brought hail, rain, and frequent lightning that damaged multiple structures. The authorities warned of hail and heavy rain due to a strong upper-level low-pressure system and an incoming jet stream moving into the region. Heavy downpours that ensued caused minor urban flooding in several areas as lightning scattered across the sky. Hail was reported in parts of the Puget Sound region, including hailstones measuring 23 mm in diameter over the Olympics. Several structures were damaged by lightning, including a residential property on the 3200 block of Kromer Avenue.

World weather news, February 2025

1st-2nd

Severe rainstorms swept across Sicily from the afternoon the 1st into the 2nd, bringing two days of continuous rainfall that caused streams to overflow and turned streets into rivers, triggering widespread flooding in Zafferia, Messina (Italy). Mud and debris surged through Zafferia, stranding residents in their homes as floodwaters inundated the streets. The flooding also impacted the local hospital's emergency department and the city's sports hall. Falling trees and mudslides were reported throughout the region, causing further disruptions. In Messina, the Municipal Operations Centre was activated as floodwaters swept away cars.

2nd

A woman has died in Australia and thousands have been forced to flee their homes after torrential rainfall caused flooding in northern Queensland. Authorities say waters will continue to rise and have warned of a "dangerous and life-threatening" situation. More than 1000 mm of rain has fallen on parts of north-east Queensland since Friday (31 January) with "record rainfalls" set to continue into the 3rd. Meteorologists say these could be the worst floods in the region in more than 60 years.

4th

An ongoing atmospheric river has persisted for over 96 hours in some areas of California (USA), with two additional pulses of moisture expected before it dissipates on the 5th. Davis Creek recorded 45.7 cm of snow, while Hillcrest saw the highest rainfall with 328 mm between 31 January and 3 February. Other states, including Montana, Idaho, and Oregon, also reported significant snowfall and rainfall.

4th

Heavy snowfall is disrupting traffic and air travel in Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido. Around 370 schools were also reported closed as a result of the snow. A record-breaking 1.2 m of snow fell in just 12 hours in the city of Obihiro, and the forecast is for low pressure that will continue to bring blizzards to parts of northern Japan for the next five days. The snowfall comes just as a popular snow festival begins in Sapporo in southern Hokkaido, although the city is not facing major disruptions.

6th

A severe ice storm hit the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Piedmont region of central Virginia (USA), causing damage, road blockages, and power outages due to falling trees. Freezing rain accumulations in Madison County ranged from 4 to 11 mm.

6th

Two atmospheric rivers have battered the U.S. West Coast since 31 January, bringing record rainfall to San Francisco and triggering landslides and flooding across California. Downtown San Francisco recorded 64.3 mm of rain on the 4th, breaking a 137-year-old daily record set in 1887. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) also set a new daily rainfall record on the 4th, recording 39.1 mm. This exceeded the previous record of 33 mm, set in 1991. Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding and landslides in the region. In Sonoma County, an unoccupied home collapsed into the Russian River in Forestville while authorities issued multiple evacuation orders for low-lying areas due to flooding and landslide risks.

7th

Japan experienced its strongest cold wave of the season, bringing record snowfall to multiple prefectures, with several regions receiving over a metre of snow in just 72 hours. Obihiro City, in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido, recorded 124 cm in 72 hours as of 0400 LT on the 7th, setting a new record for the highest-ever 72-hour snowfall total for the city. Shirakawa Village, in Gifu Prefecture, recorded the highest snowfall total of the season so far, with approximately 156 cm of snow in 72 hours as of 1900 LT on the 6th, marking the highest February snowfall for the area.

10th

Severe thunderstorms struck New South Wales (NSW) and eastern Victoria (Australia), bringing heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and large hailstones, with emergency services responding to over 500 calls for assistance. The storm moved over Sydney's central business district around noon, bringing 52.8 mm by mid-afternoon. Horsley Park registered 88 mm in the same period. In the 24 hours ending 0900 LT the 10th, Murrumburrah recorded 89 mm.

12th

A powerful winter storm swept through southern Ontario, Canada bringing over 20 cm of snow to some areas and creating hazardous travel conditions across the region. Schools along with other institutions were closed. Toronto recorded 23 cm and Ottawa 19 cm of snow.

14th

A powerful storm system triggered severe flooding in Portoferraio, Elba Island, following an intense downpour that brought 65 mm of rain in just one hour. The heavy rainfall left dozens stranded, prompting emergency teams, including the Italian Civil Protection Department and firefighters, to carry out rescues across the region.

16th

At least 10 people have died as torrential downpours over the weekend drenched parts of the south-eastern US, submerging roads and houses. Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina were under some type of storm-related alert over the weekend. Almost all of those states also suffered catastrophic damage in September from Hurricane Helene. Hundreds of thousands of homes ended up without power and some parts of Kentucky received up to 150 mm of rain, National Weather Service (NWS) figures show, resulting in widespread flooding issues.

19th

Snow has caused chaos for people in Yuzawa in Japan's Niigata prefecture, which has been blanketed by heavy snow as a cold front set in. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a heavy snow advisory on Wednesday morning forecasting up to 70 cm of snowfall within 24 hours in areas along the Sea of Japan coast. Fresh snowfall was seen in Niigata prefecture, parts of which have already had more than three metres of snow this winter.

19th

Virginia Beach experienced the heaviest snowfall since 1989 as the strongest storm of the season swept through Virginia (USA), dropping rare and heavy snow across the region. The storm produced the heaviest snowfall recorded in the City of Virginia Beach since 1989, with reports indicating totals of up to 32 cm. Snowfall rates reached up to 2.5 cm per hour.

21st

Heavy rainfall has been affecting Botswana since 16 February, causing floods and flash floods that have resulted in casualties and damage. Media report four fatalities across the area of the Gaborone city, the capital of the country in south-eastern Botswana. In addition, media also report a number of displaced people, flooded buildings and roads, and school closures across the country.

26th

Heavy rainfall triggered flash floods in multiple districts of Helmand and Farah provinces, Afghanistan, leading to the deaths of at least 26 people, as of today.

World weather news, January 2025

2nd

Heavy snow fell across northern Japan, with the prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori, Yamagata and Niigata particularly affected. Accumulations of 20-30 cm over a 24-hour period were recorded across the affected areas, with local totals of more than 30 cm near Aomori City. The snowfall was a result of heavy showers generated by a cold airmass moving in from the north-west across the relatively warm waters of the Sea of Japan.

5th-6th

More than 60 million Americans are in the grips of a huge winter storm that could bring the heaviest snowfall and coldest temperatures in over a decade, forecasters were warning. A state of emergency has been declared in seven states - Kansas, one of the worst-hit areas, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas and parts of New Jersey. Forecasters say the extreme weather is caused by a polar vortex - an area of cold air that circulates around the Arctic - bringing cold weather to the central US. Thousands of flights have already been delayed or cancelled, with many roads cut off and schools shut as a result of the storm. Kansas City is, reportedly, seeing its heaviest snowfalls in 32 years - with more 30-40 cm having come down so far. Further north, Canadians are also feeling the effects of the polar vortex. Much of Canada has been under extreme weather alerts, with freezing temperatures spanning the country. Some areas are also seeing snow squalls - a sudden heavy snowfall accompanied by strong winds.

7th

At least five people have died in a winter storm that has seized a swathe of the US in its icy grip, leading to mass school closures, travel chaos and power cuts. More than 2,300 flights have been cancelled, with nearly 9,000 delays also reported owing to the extreme weather. Around 190,000 people had no power early in the day across states in the storm's path, according to Poweroutage.us. Snow and sleet was forecast to continue through the day in much of the north-eastern US, according to the National Weather Service. The winter storm prompted federal offices and local schools to close across the Washington DC area, and also from Maryland to Kansas. Some areas near the Ohio River turned to "skating rinks" in the very low temperatures.

7th

Los Angeles declared a state of emergency as a wildfire exploded from 10 acres to more than 2,900 acres in a few hours. More than 30,000 people were told to evacuate, as two more fires spread to the north-west of the city. The fire - which broke out about 1030 LT - rapidly spread in incredibly dry conditions and high winds with winds forecast to continue fanning the flames down towards the city. By the 10th the fires had killed at least 10 people, with officials warning more high winds could further fan the flames. Five fires were still burning.

10th

Dense fog and severe air quality levels have caused travel chaos in India's capital Delhi. Visibility in several areas was reported to be zero in the early hours of the day, disrupting flights, trains and road transport. More than 150 flights have been delayed and dozens of trains are running behind schedule due to bad weather conditions, reports say. This is a recurring problem in northern India every winter, where low temperatures between December and January trap pollutants close to the ground - which affects visibility - making travel difficult and the air hazardous.

21st

Dangerously cold weather from the Arctic is sinking across Canada and the US bringing freezing conditions and even the chance of rare snowfall in southern American states. The freezing air mass is currently affecting parts of Canada and much of the central and eastern US, stretching all the way south to the Gulf coast. People living in parts of Quebec, in Canada, have been warned to take care outside where daytime temperatures are not expected to reach above -20C but where the windchill is making it feel like -50C. In the US temperatures overnight were widely below freezing with some of the lowest across Wisconsin and Minnesota, where some spots dropped as low as -33C to -34C.

21st

A rare winter storm brought snow and freezing rain to parts of the US deep south, closing highways and airports in Texas and prompting a first-ever blizzard warning in southwest Louisiana. Four people are thought to have died from cold exposure so far - two cases are being investigated as cold-related by Austin authorities in Texas, while two deaths from hypothermia were reported in Georgia and Milwaukee. Up in the country's north, parts of New York state are being hit by another storm, blanketed by up to 18 inches of snow. More than 2,200 flights within the US were cancelled today, and 3,000 more were delayed. The Gulf Coast, where even flurries are a rare sight, will see historic snowfall, the National Weather Service (NWS) said, with an inch of snow or more expected to fall per hour from eastern Texas through the western Florida Panhandle. The NWS said that 20 cm of snow was recorded in parts of the New Orleans metropolitan area today, breaking the previous record of 7 cm set in 1963. Florida preliminarily broke its all-time snow record for any single storm by the evening with 24.9 cm recorded in Milton. This exceeded the previous state record of 10.2 cm, on 6 March 1954 in the same area. New Orleans experienced its heaviest snowfall since 1948, with a total accumulation of 25.4 cm, marking the first measurable snowfall in the city since 2009. Grand Coteau, Louisiana, recorded 34 cm of snow, which may challenge the state's 24-hour snowfall record of 33 cm, set in Colfax in 1960, if confirmed.

24th

Heavy rains across Brazil's city of Sao Paulo caused transport chaos and subway overcrowding. Electricity was reportedly cut to thousands of homes and locals were forced to shelter in crowded metro stations. Cars were washed away. Local reports say the chaos was caused by a month's rainfall in just a few hours.

30th

Flood levels continue to rise in western France, inundating towns and cutting off roads. Much of the heavy rain was caused by Storm Herminia as it swept across western Europe recently. Rennes, the capital city of Brittany saw almost 200 mm of rain through January which is three times the average amount expected at this time of year. The record flooding has seen local rivers double in width and rise several metres over the last few days. In the coastal area of Morbihan, a local football pitch was transformed into a lake and houses nearby the River Oust were left surrounded by flood water as the river overflowed.