World weather news, December 2018

1st
Severe storms spawned a record-setting December tornado outbreak in the midwestern United States this week. Tornadoes stirred up damage from the Plains to southeastern Georgia over the weekend, especially in Illinois. A total of 27 tornadoes blasted central Illinois on Saturday, making it one of the most weather-violent December days in the state's history. The tornadoes snapped trees and power lines, and shifted one house off its foundation in Macon County. About 10,000 people across the state were without power at the height of the severe weather.
2nd
As families are gearing up for the holidays, Christmas tree growers across the United Kingdom are reporting significant losses in young trees following one of the hottest summers on record. The British Christmas Tree Growers Association stated that some of the 320 farms it represents lost up to half of the young trees that were planted in the spring amid the summer heat. Such losses will not affect buyers of larger Christmas trees this December as it typically takes about 10 years for saplings to be ready to be sold to consumers.
4th
Severe storms have swept across Queensland, bringing flash flooding - and much-needed rain - to communities that a few days ago were fighting bushfires. At the height of the storm on Tuesday evening, more than 37,000 homes between Rockhampton and Gympie were without power as gales felled trees and damaged roofs. On Wednesday morning a few thousand people were still waiting for their electricity to be restored. Further north, on the Atherton Tablelands, buildings and cars were damaged by hail. Coastal and inland areas north of Gympie received widespread rainfalls of 25-50 mm, with some areas recording almost 100 mm.
4th
A mild autumn and start to December came to a bone-chilling end as bitterly cold air reached Beijing and northeast China. The cold air quickly pressed southward, encompassing much of eastern China and the Korean Peninsula by Friday. Friday was one of Beijing's coldest December days on record as temperatures were held to almost -6C. A maximum temperature near 4C is more common in early December.
9th
One weather-related death has been reported in North Carolina as a result of this weekend's snowstorm. A nasty mix of snow and ice gripped the SE USA this weekend, leading to treacherous driving conditions, canceled flights and thousands of people stranded at home. Over 20 million people were under winter weather alerts. More than 12 inches of snow fell Sunday in the southern and central Appalachians, the National Weather Service said. The area with the highest snowfall total was Whitetop, Virginia, at the border of North Carolina, which had 2 feet of snow. Raleigh-Durham International Airport received about 7 inches of snow on Sunday, which was the most snow at the airport since 2002. Charlotte also saw record-setting snowfall totals. With 2.7 inches, the city had its snowiest December since 1997. The storm already has knocked out power for more than 546,000 customers in the Southeast.
13th
Seventeen people have been rescued by helicopter and 100 people are stranded in their cars on a flooded Hume Highway in northeast Victoria, Australia. With more than a month's worth of rain having already fallen across parts of northeast Victoria as wild weather rages across the state, authorities say some people have not heeded warnings about driving into floodwaters. The moisture from tropical Cyclone Owen is feeding the low-pressure system over Victoria on Thursday, which is forecast to bring heavy rain and thunderstorms. The Bureau of Meteorology says there's been record-breaking rainfall across the state's northeast in the 24 hours to 9 am on Thursday and the few hours since, including 162 mm at Everton and 110 mm at Eldorado.
14th
A thunderstorm sweeping across Melbourne on Friday caused widespread flash-flooding prompting numerous calls for assistance. Sydneysiders were also dealing with traffic chaos as residents along the length of the New South Wales coast were being told to prepare for heavy rainfall, damaging winds and large hailstones. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for NSW's east with damaging winds up to 90 km/h predicted including in Sydney, the Hunter region and the Blue Mountains. Dungong in the Hunter region received 40 mm in just 30 minutes during the afternoon as heavy rains drenched much of NSW.
18th
Tropical Cyclone Owen lashed parts of Australia with heavy rainfall for more than a week before weakening into a tropical low for what is expected to be the final time. After first moving into northern Queensland as a tropical rainstorm last week, Owen tracked over the Gulf of Carpentaria and re-intensified into a severe tropical cyclone late last week. The storm reversed course and made its second landfall in Cape York Peninsula during the predawn hours of Saturday, local time. Owen was a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone when it moved onshore between Kowanyama and the mouth of the Gilbert River on Friday. Its strength at that time was equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific oceans. The hamlet of Halifax in northern Queensland now claims the record for the wettest December day on record for the entire country of Australia following the weekend deluge, according to the Australia Bureau of Meteorology. In a 24-hour period, 681 mm of rain fell on the community, causing widespread flooding. The flooding had a devastating impact on livestock and agriculture in the region.
20th
Severe storms swept across Florida, damaging dozens of homes ahead of the holiday weekend. Up to 70 homes were damaged in Zephyrhills, Florida, on Thursday morning as severe storms rolled through. Paso County Emergency Management said that this damage was caused by straight-line winds, not a tornado. Three tornadoes were reported elsewhere in Florida during Thursday's storms, but no significant damage was reported.
27th
Temperature records have been broken as a heatwave continues across the country and parts of South Australia are expected to enter catastrophic fire conditions later on Friday. Marble Bar in north-western Western Australia its all-time heat record on Thursday, reaching 49.3C. In northern Victoria, Mildura had another day of temperatures in the mid-40s, reaching 44C on Thursday. In New South Wales, near Broken Hill, and Wentworth, near the Victorian border, peaked at 45C.
29th
Residents of northern India are again during a long-term poor air quality event, and recent government efforts have come too late in preventing health impacts this season. Each autumn, agricultural burning combines with industrial and urban emissions to kick off a month-long poor air quality event across the region, including the capitol region of New Delhi, home to over 18.5 million people. New Delhi recorded its highest pollution levels of the year on Sunday, when the air quality index reached 450. Since then, it has remained consistently above 300 across most of the city. The government has even deployed firefighters on high-rise buildings to release water on the surrounding areas. This is an effort to settle dust in the air and put out any garbage fires.
29th
The death toll from a storm that struck the Philippines shortly after Christmas rose to 68 with the number of fatalities expected to climb even higher. Fifty-seven people died in the mountainous Bicol region, southeast of Manila, while 11 were killed in the central island of Samar, mostly due to landslides and drownings, the officials said. The weather disturbance locally named Usman hit the country on Saturday. While it did not have powerful winds, it brought heavy rains that caused floods and loosened the soil, triggering landslides in some areas. Many people failed to take necessary precautions because Usman was not strong enough to be rated as a typhoon under the government's storm alert system.

World weather news, November 2018

4th
Floods in Sicily, Italy, have left at least 12 people dead and 1 missing. Around 30 people have now died in severe weather across the country that began last week. Torrential rain from the 3rd caused major flooding in Sicily. Italy's Civil Protection authorities say that 10 fatalities occurred in Palermo Province and 2 in the Agrigento Province.
5th-6th
Severe storms tracked across the southeastern United States during Monday afternoon into early Tuesday morning, toppling trees, damaging homes and buildings and leaving at least one person dead. The fatality was reported in Christiana, Tennessee, in Rutherford County, about an hour southeast of Nashville. A female was killed when a home collapsed after a confirmed tornado ripped through the county Monday night. Two others were reportedly injured in another house collapse. The tornado was later rated an EF2. The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center said there were four tornado reports on Monday and nearly 80 reports of wind damage. Multiple tornado touchdowns occurred in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, and substantial damage was reported to one home.
5th
The eastern Pacific hurricane season hasn't been this active since 1992 with Tropical Storm Xavier churning offshore of Mexico. The 22nd named tropical storm of the 2018 eastern Pacific hurricane season formed on Friday night. On average, 15 tropical storms form in the eastern Pacific each year.
9th
More than 1,000 properties were left without power during heavy rain and wind which brought flooding and travel disruption. Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire saw the worst of the weather with some homes in Milford Haven under 3 m of water. Other parts of south and mid Wales were also "at risk" of flooding. Western Power Distribution has restored most of the outages but the rain has been the biggest problem. A number of roads were flooded including parts of the A40, which runs through both counties. It has flooded between Fishguard and Scleddau, and Llanddewi Velfrey and Penblewin. Taxis replaced trains between Haverfordwest and Milford Haven, while Traffic Wales reported people were evacuated from Lower Priory due to most roads being flooded. Network Rail has advised train operators Crosscountry and Great Western Railway the sea wall at Dawlish will not be passable for the rest of the day. as a result train services were not operating between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids.
11th
Further heavy rain in parts of the Middle East has caused flash flooding in Kuwait and Jordan, where at least 12 people have lost their lives. Severe weather including record rainfall and flooding has affected parts of the Middle East since late October 2018. In Petra, more than 3,700 tourists were forced to evacuate to higher ground as the floodwaters rushed in.
14th
Days of severe weather, including heavy rain and flash flooding, has left around 3,000 people evacuated in Argentina, most of them from parts of the capital Buenos Aires. The heavy rain began on the 9th. According to WMO figures, Sauce Viejo city in the province of Santa Fe recorded 196 mm of rain in 24 hours to 12 November. Reconquista, also in Santa Fe, recorded 169 mm of rain in 24 hours the following day. Servicio Meteorologico Nacional in Argentina said that this November has already been one of the wettest on record.
14th-15th
One of two potent storms descending on the Middle East triggered severe flooding in Kuwait City Wednesday through Thursday. More than 95 mm of rain inundated Kuwait City's International Airport Wednesday into Thursday. That is just shy of the 117.8 mm that the airport has averaged annually in recent years, according to the Kuwait Meteorological Department. 18.8 mm is the average fall for November. Runoff from the heavy rain flooded roads and damaged some buildings. Schools and public offices were closed on Wednesday and Thursday. Air traffic was suspended at the international airport.
15th
In the USA the first major winterlike of the season hit the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Northeast. At the height of the storm, nearly half a million people were without power. Roads were left blanketed by snow, trapping some drivers. In Allentown, Pennsylvania, motorists were stuck for more than 12 hours overnight. Police reported waking up some drivers when traffic began to move. In New York City, Central Park received 6 inches of snow from this event, making it the snowiest November day there in 136 years. The George Washington Bridge was shut on Thursday due to accidents. Thousands of flights were delayed or canceled at Northeast airports. Snow totals hit up to 10 inches in parts of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The Great Lakes was hit by the first major lake-effect snow event of the season over the weekend. Lake-effect snow engulfed parts of Michigan, northern Ohio and Pennsylvania through Sunday on the heels of a separate storm. Officials were forced to close a stretch of Interstate 90 between Buffalo, New York, and Erie, Pennsylvania, on Saturday morning.
16th
Peru's National Emergency Operations Center has reported heavy that rain has caused flooding and landslides in the regions of San Martin, Huanuco and Cusco. Several rivers have broken their banks in San Martin Region and authorities have warned that the Huallaga river is rising and currently at yellow (second) level alert.
17th
A "very dangerous" thunderstorm packing giant hail and destructive winds tore through parts of south-east Queensland on Saturday evening, damaging homes and bringing down trees and powerlines. Areas to the north of Brisbane were the hardest hit, with the worst of the weather reported from rural Kilcoy, the Sunshine Coast hinterland, and areas in and around Gympie. Hail was the size of golf ball in places. Storms also left more than 9,500 properties without power, mostly around Gympie.
18th
Strong winds on Sunday were expected to hamper progress for crews battling California wildfires which have now claimed at least 79 lives. Gusts of up to 50mph were threatening efforts to control the Camp blaze, which is still only 55% contained 10 days after it brought devastation to northern California. The fire which destroyed nearly 10,000 homes and has spread across 233 sq miles is already the deadliest American wildfire in a century. And there are fears that the eventual death toll will rise much higher, with almost 1,300 people still unaccounted for.
18th
Extreme weather conditions in the Canary Islands at the weekend saw people evacuated from their homes in the north of Tenerife, after massive waves damaged the balconies of apartment blocks on the coasts of Garachico and Tacoronte. In Garachico, a total of 39 people were evacuated from their homes due to the size of the waves, which ripped an entire balcony off the building on the third floor. Also in the north of the island, in the area called Mesa del Mar, the waves broke the windows of the first two floors of a building located right on the edge of the sea, forcing evacuations from 10.50pm onward. The waves also caused damage in Adeje, in the south of Tenerife, breaking the windows of a hotel restaurant in La Lava street. The patrons dining in the establishment at the time were evacuated. Meanwhile, in the rest of Spain, a total of 12 provinces were on alert for rainfall and dangerous conditions at sea. The worst of the weather was forecast for Valencia and Alicante, both on red alerts (the maximum on a scale of three), with 180 mm of rain expected in a 12-hour period, according to the AEMET state weather service.
19th
Landslides due to rains from Tropical Storm Toraji have killed 13 people and left four others missing in south-central Vietnam. A disaster official in Khanh Hoa province says some 600 soldiers have been mobilised to search for the missing and evacuate people from high-risk areas. The storm weakened to a tropical depression at sea off the south central coastal province of Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan on Sunday night, the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority said in a statement on Monday.
22nd
A thick line of dust that has smothered much of New South Wales and Sydney has caused air quality to reach a "hazardous" level with another wave of dust set to come, leading to a spike in calls for help from people with breathing difficulties. Strong winds from a low pressure system have whipped up masses of dirt across the drought-stricken state, which headed towards the coast. The storm stretched more than 500 km from the Victorian border, through Canberra and up towards Queensland. Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Anita Pyne said it was a "huge system." It was not uncommon for inland parts of NSW to experience small-scale dust storms but one this size was "unusual", she said.
25th
A major storm wreaked havoc on one of the busiest travel days of the year with blizzard conditions stretching from northern Kansas to the Lower Peninsula of Michigan (USA). Temperatures plummeted in a short amount of time, coating the roads with ice as rain changed to snow. The combination of increasing winds, heavy snow and poor visibility triggered many wrecks and collisions. Parts of I-70 in Kansas and I-80 in Nebraska were closed due to whiteout conditions and snowy roads on Sunday morning. Airports were swamped with passengers as delays piled up and the storm raged. More than 1,000 flights were cancelled at Chicago O'Hare International Airport between Sunday and Monday. Hundreds more were canceled at Midway International Airport. Numerous power lines were taken down by the heavy snow resulting in nearly 200,000 outages in Illinois alone. Most of the outages were concentrated around Chicago. Nearly a foot of snow fell in Rockford, Illinois, near the Wisconsin border, according to the National Weather Service. In La Salle County, west of Chicago, snow ploughs were pulled off the road because conditions were too dangerous.
25th-26th
On the heels of deadly flooding and mudslides from Tropical Storm Toraji, Usagi brought more deadly weather to parts of southern Vietnam. Usagi briefly strengthened into a typhoon on Saturday before weakening back into a tropical storm as it tracked westward across the South China Sea on Saturday night. After making landfall near Vung Tao on Sunday morning as a tropical storm, Usagi continued to weaken into a tropical rainstorm. Damaging winds resulted in tree damage, power outages and damage to weak structures in the vicinity of where it made landfall near Vung Tau. Rainfall totalled more than 350 mm around Ho Chi Minh City causing widespread flooding and travel disruption. Some schools remained closed on Monday as a result of the severe weather.
28th
A second person has died during the Sydney storms which have lashed the city and surrounding regions on Wednesday, delivering a month's worth of rain in two hours. Meanwhile at least a dozen people have been rescued, a supermarket's walls burst with water and almost 100 flights were cancelled as heavy rain caused flash flooding across Sydney. The city copped more than a month's worth of rain in less than two hours on Wednesday morning as a series of severe thunderstorms hit the coast between Newcastle and Wollongong.
28th
Mandatory evacuations of 8,000 residents of Gracemere in Queensland are under way as a wildfire approached homes in catastrophic fire conditions. Early on Thursday, residents of two more communities - Campwin Beach and Sarina Beach south of Mackay - were woken by police and emergency text messages telling them they were in danger and to move to safety immediately. Further south, a massive bushfire that has destroyed homes and sent 1,500 people fleeing continued to rage in Queensland's Deepwater region, though most people had managed to escape. The entire 10km section of the Capricorn highway between Gracemere and Rockhampton was gridlocked on Wednesday afternoon, locals told Guardian Australia. A group of about 80 elderly residents from a nursing home were being assisted to leave. The conditions were rated as potentially "catastrophic" - a combination of fierce, gusting winds, low humidity and record high temperatures.

World weather news, October 2018

1st-3rd
A blast of unseasonably cold air led to an early-October snowstorm across southern Alberta, including Calgary. Steady snow began to fall late Monday and continued heavy at times Monday night into Tuesday across Calgary. Snow totalled 15-23 cm through mid-morning on Tuesday, and additional accumulations piled up through Tuesday night, resulting in widespread total snowfall of 25-30 cm with locally higher amounts in the mountains west of Calgary.
6th-7th
Ex-typhoon Kong-Rey became the ninth tropical system to hit Japan this year. Despite its category 5 status downgrading to tropical storm intensity before landfall, it produced damaging winds, storm surges, torrential rain and flooding across many parts of Japan and South Korea. Tracking across Japan's southern islands, it reached South Korea on Saturday, before moving north-eastwards over northern Japan on Sunday. Sustained winds of 185 km/h and wind gusts reaching 143 mph were recorded, while dumping up to 75 mm of rain an hour. The warm air associated with it exceeded Japan's highest October temperature record, reaching 36C (96.8F) in Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture.
9th
A flash flood on the Spanish island of Majorca has killed at least 10 people, including at least three foreigners. A wave of muddy water engulfed the town of Sant Llorenc des Cardassar, in the east of the island, after heavy rain caused a river to burst its banks. Vehicles were swept away as water gushed through narrow streets. Hundreds of emergency workers and sniffer dogs are involved in the search-and-rescue effort. A five-year-old child is missing. The area was hit with more than 20 cm of rainfall in just a few hours on Tuesday, according to Spanish meteorological agency Aemet.
10th-12th
The strongest storm to hit the US in more than 25 years, and the most powerful on record in the Florida Panhandle, has headed inland after a furious onslaught that killed six people and tore apart buildings. Hurricane Michael's 250 km/h winds at landfall were only just short of category five status, making it the US's strongest storm since Hurricane Andrew ravaged southern Florida in 1992. Michael sprang quickly from a weekend tropical depression, going from a category two on Tuesday to a category four storm by the time it came ashore. Landfall happened just north of Mexico Beach, Florida, a small coastal town 25 miles (40km) east of Panama City with a population of 1,000, at about 1.30pm local time on Wednesday. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the storm blew in with sustained winds of 155 mph and travelling at 14 mph. Television pictures showed broken and uprooted trees and downed power lines. Roofs were peeled away and swept into the air, and homes were split open by fallen trees. Twisted road signs lay on the ground. Palm trees whipped wildly in the winds. Louis Uccellini, the director of the National Weather Service, told CNN: "When people ... start making their assessments, they're going to realise just how powerful a category four storm can be. You're going to see a very extensive area of damaging winds all the way into central Georgia." Michael weakened to a tropical storm as it moved inland, but is on course to hit parts of Georgia, and North and South Carolina, still recovering from Hurricane Florence last month. The NHC in Miami said the eye of Michael was about 30 miles south-west of Macon in central Georgia at midnight on Thursday. The storm had sustained winds of up to 70 mph. No recorded category four storm had ever made landfall in the Panhandle, and Michael's vast size meant the effects would be felt along the coast from New Orleans to Tampa Bay, and inland as far as the Carolinas. The fast-moving tropical cyclone's outer bands were already causing torrential rain and flooding in Panama City Beach and Apalachicola by mid-morning on Wednesday. Florida authorities had warned anybody who chose not to evacuate they would be on their own, with conditions already too hazardous for emergency workers. By Friday morning, with reduced winds of 50 mph, according to the NHC, Michael had moved north-east crossing Georgia and was bringing heavy rain to North Carolina and Virginia.
11th
Tropical cyclone Titli made landfall north of Mandasa (Andhra Pradesh, India) today in the early morning (UTC) with maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h. Heavy rainfall has affected Odisha, with Digha recording 142 mm, Balasore 109 mm, Bhubaneswar 69 mm, Puri 79 mm, and Gopalpur 75 mm over a 21-hour period.
11th
Tornadoes and a thunderstorm supercell have swept across Queensland in Australia, injuring four people and causing widespread damage. The dangerous weather system hit the state's south-east on Thursday. One tornado struck Tansey, a town 250 km north of Brisbane, snapping trees and ripping roofs from houses. Elsewhere, four people were injured when tennis ball-sized hail shattered car windscreens, authorities said. On Thursday, large hailstones and winds gusting up to 60 mph caused extensive damage to buildings and crops. Social media users also reported injuries to animals. Almost 10,000 properties remained without power on Friday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
12th
Landslides and flash flooding following heavy rainfall on the Indonesian island of Sumatra have left at least 21 people dead, officials say. Eleven of the dead were children buried when mud and water engulfed their classroom in the village of Muara Saladi in North Sumatra province. Another 10 people are missing at the site. More than 500 homes in the provinces of North and West Sumatra have been damaged. The deadliest incident was at the Islamic village school in Muara Saladi in Mandailing Natal district, which borders West Sumatra province. Children were studying on Friday afternoon when a nearby river overflowed and brought down their classroom wall. "The victims were buried in a torrent of mud and wall debris," said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for disaster mitigation agency BNPB.
12th-14th
The bodies of nine climbers who died when a violent snowstorm destroyed their camp on a Himalayan peak in Nepal have been retrieved. The five South Koreans and four Nepali guides were found scattered across the base camp near Mount Gurja, a 7,193m high peak. They were found to have suffered broken bones and head wounds in Friday's storm. The incident is the worst climbing accident to hit Nepal in two years. The crew of a rescue helicopter began retrieving the victims on Sunday, after attempts the day before were halted by strong winds. "It seems that seracs [glacial ice] and snow fell from high on the mountain and the strong gusts of winds from that hit the campsite, throwing the climbers off," one rescuer, Suraj Paduya, said.
12th-15th
Communities are surveying the damage as the clean-up continues following the worst flooding for 30 years in parts of Wales. Many rivers burst their banks during Storm Callum, prompting Natural Resources Wales to pledge a review of flood defences. Some people have been left counting the cost from damage in their communities. And roads and rail services remain affected on Monday and there are several flood warnings in place. A 21-year-old man was killed after a landslip and many homes and businesses were flooded as Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and south Powys bore the brunt of the storm on Friday and over the weekend. A man was killed in a Cwmduad landslide. Nine boats sank at Aberaeron harbour due to the "tide and river fighting against each other", according to local man Stuart Evans. In the Towy Valley, 93-year-old Dilys Pugh had to be carried from her flooded home at Pontargothi after she woke to find the floodwater around her first floor bed as high as the mattress, according to her son, Clive. About 70 sheep are thought to have died after being "washed away" due to flooding at Pontargothi on Saturday. Carmarthen was a no-go area on Saturday night as the River Towy reached critical levels after breaching its flood defences, while the River Teifi reached record levels - more than 15 fton Saturday - which flooded towns like Newcastle Emlyn and Lampeter. The A4042 between Abergavenny and Pontypool is shut in both directions at Llanellen in Monmouthshire after the River Usk flooded. The A484 between Carmarthen and Cardigan is also blocked in several places - at Cenarth, Llechryd, Cynwyl Elfed and Newcastle Emlyn - after the River Teifi burst its banks. Bus services are replacing trains services between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno Junction and Craven Arms and Llanelli. Valley Line services into Cardiff and trains on the Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury Cambrian Line are expected to run as usual after the tracks were cleared of floodwater. But buses will replace trains on the Heart of Wales line between Swansea and Shrewsbury until Tuesday due to flooding in the Llandeilo area.
13th-14th
Hurricane-force winds have struck central and northern Portugal, leaving 300,000 homes without power. The remnants of Hurricane Leslie swept in overnight on Saturday, with winds gusting up to 176 km/h. Civil defence officials said 27 people suffered minor injuries, with localised flooding, hundreds of trees uprooted and a number of flights cancelled. The storm, one of the most powerful to ever hit the country, is now passing over northern Spain. The worst-affected areas in Portugal were around the capital, Lisbon, and in the districts of Coimbra and Leiria. Aveiro, Viseu and Porto in the north also suffered damage. About 1,000 trees have been uprooted, officials say. The main A1 motorway was among the roads temporarily blocked. The storm wreaked havoc throughout Portuguese towns and cities Some 1,900 incidents were reported to emergency services, although civil defence commander Luis Belo Costa said "the greatest danger has passed".
14th
Cherry blossom trees are blooming several seasons earlier than normal in Japan. Blooming of the Japanese national tree is typical in the springtime. However, NHK, Japan's national public broadcasting organization, has received 354 reports of blooming cherry blossom trees from western Japan to the northernmost part of the country, as of today. Part of the problem is that the leaves on the cherry trees emit a hormone that keeps them from blossoming and the typhoons ripped many of those leaves off. Because of that the tree thought it was early spring. Heavy rainfall and extreme winds may be to blame for the early blossoming of the cherry blossoms. Tree surgeon Hiroyuki Wada told NHK that the increased temperatures following the storms "most likely" triggered the blooming of the tree's buds.
14th-15th
At least 13 people have been killed by flash floods in the Aude region of south-western France. Local authorities say several months' worth of rain fell in just a few hours overnight, leaving roads blocked in some areas. Alain Thirion, the prefect of Aude, said people were stranded on rooftops and would have to be evacuated by air because it was too dangerous by boat. The floods are the worst the Aude river has seen in more than 100 years, according to the weather monitoring service Vigicrues. In Trebes, floodwater is as high as seven metres, local authorities say. Footage from the early hours of Monday shows the rising waters. All roads are inaccessible to the north of Carcassonne municipality and schools are shut, authorities say.
20th
Qatar was hit by widespread flash flooding as the desert state received almost a year's worth of rainfall in one day. Roads became impassable, air traffic was disrupted and homes were flooded, while shops and universities closed. Qatar broadcaster Al Jazeera's senior meteorologist, Steff Gaulter, tweeted that one part of the capital Doha had experienced almost a year's worth of rain on Saturday. "Abu Hamor (a suburb) now reporting 59.8 mm. (Doha average annual rainfall is 77 mm.)," she wrote. By early evening it was estimated that 61 mm of rain had fallen. Qatar Airways was forced to divert some flights, creating logistical headaches, as neighbors Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are among states that do not allow Doha to use their airspace, due to an ongoing diplomatic rift.
22nd
A wave of extreme weather bringing hail, floods and strong winds has brought parts of Italy to a standstill. After a long spell of hot weather, Rome suffered damage from a major hailstorm and torrential rains overnight. Firefighters were called out nationwide, from Milan in the north to Sicily in the south. Local authorities issued an orange alert - one below the highest - for the region of Calabria, where cities and towns ordered schools to stay closed. Parts of Molise, Basilicata and Puglia are also on orange alert - while a lesser, yellow warning was issued for Abruzzo, Calabria, Sicily and Lazio. Police and firefighters responded to weather-related incidents across the country, including in Rome. Strong winds in Milan toppled several trees, while in Bologna, the airport experienced delays due to difficult flying conditions. Florence and Pisa were also affected by the severe weather.
23rd
Hurricane Willa has swept onto Mexico's Pacific mainland with 120 mph winds, hitting beach towns, fishing villages and farms after passing over an offshore penal colony. The US National Hurricane Center said the category 3 storm hit near Isla del Bosque in Sinaloa state on Tuesday night, and federal officials said there were early reports of power blackouts and damage to tin-roofed structures. Damage assessments were limited by darkness and disrupted communications, and no extensive information was expected until first light on Wednesday. Forecasters said the hurricane could bring 150-300 mm of rain - with up to 45 cm in some places - to parts of Jalisco, Nayarit and Sinaloa states, with flash flooding and landslides possible in mountainous areas.
25th
Super Typhoon Yutu crossed over the US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands early on Thursday as the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, making it the strongest storm to hit any part of the US this year, the National Weather Service said. Yutu produced damaging winds, flooding and high surf and there were reports of injuries, though the extent of these is unclear. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands' delegate to US Congress, said the territory will need significant help to recover from the storm. Maximum sustained winds of 180 mph were recorded around the eye of the storm, which passed over Tinian and Saipan early Thursday local time, said Brandon Aydlett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
29th-30th
Heavy snowfall across south-central France, with up to 40 cm falling in some towns and villages, caused chaos on the roads and knocked out electricity to nearly 200,000 homes. In France, more than 1,000 drivers were trapped in their cars for the night in the mountains of the Massif Central region as snowstorms engulfed the roads. Another 400 had to spend the night in train carriages at the main station in the eastern city of Lyon after heavy snow blocked the tracks. About 195,000 homes were without power across mainland France, most of them in eastern and central regions. Another 21,000 homes lost power on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, which was placed on red alert on Monday for powerful winds, shutting its airports and ports.
30th
At least 15 people have been killed and dozens more are missing after Typhoon Yutu hit the Philippines. The deaths were mostly due to landslides caused by heavy rains in the mountainous region of Cordillera in the northern part of the country, said the national disaster risk reduction management council. The worst hit area was Natonin, a municipality in Mountain Province, where six people died after a massive landslide that buried government buildings hit the village of Banawel. A dozen survivors were rescued after the landslide and the military are continuing to search for 20 people who are still missing. The landslides have rendered many roads leading to Natonin impassable, making it difficult for more rescue teams to go to the area. A local reporter spoke of walking 14km to reach ground zero. The Philippines suffers around 20 typhoons yearly. Yutu is the 18th to hit the country in 2018.
30th
Violent storms battered Italy for a third consecutive day on Tuesday, killing at least 11 people, and flooding much of Venice. The lagoon city's St Mark's Square remained under water for a second day while the adjacent St Mark's Basilica was inundated, its baptistery totally flooded and its mosaic floors covered by 90 cm of water. Italian media said it was the second time this century that the basilica had been flooded, and just the fifth time there had been such high water within the body of the cathedral in the structure's 1,000- year history. Widespread damage was also reported in towns and cities in the north, south and centre of Italy. Many of the 11 deaths were caused by falling trees as winds as strong as 90mph whipped the country. One of the hardest hit regions was Liguria in the north-west. The breakwater walls in the chic seaside resort of Rapallo were destroyed by pounding waves, letting in a surge of water that toppled dozens of luxury yachts and inflicted heavy damage on the port area. The nearby resort town of Portofino was cut off by a landslide while video showed seawater pouring through the picturesque fishing village of Vernazza further to the south.
30th
The ongoing drought across Germany has caused rivers to plunge to unusually low levels, creating issues from shipping traffic being halted to unexploded World War II military weapons being unearthed. Low water levels are being reported on the Rhine, Danube, Weser, Main and Elbe rivers in Germany. The Rhine has hit its lowest water levels on record at several points, according to the Associated Press. The Elbe River at Magdeburg has dropped to a depth of 50 cm. At least double that level is needed for normal shipping traffic, Hartmut Rhein of the city's waterways and shipping department told the AP. No ships carrying goods are allowed to navigate the Elbe River from south of Leipzig to the Czech Republic.
30th
Croatia's Adriatic coast has also been battered by gales and heavy rains that have flooded streets, cut off power and ensnared road and maritime traffic. Storms have also swept into Switzerland, buffeting the Ticino region near the Italian border overnight. Roads were blocked by fallen trees and flooding, while strong winds ripped roof sections off buildings, including in Giubiasco where police said part of a roof had smashed into a moving train and a house. Authorities in southern Austria have deployed hundreds of mobile anti-flooding dams as rivers burst their banks, and in the city of Salzburg a roof section from the medieval ramparts flew off in high winds.
31st
Severe thunderstorms moved across the southern Plains and into the Southeast of the USA, producing heavy rain, damaging winds and even a few tornadoes. Several tornadoes were reported an at least two fatalities have been attributed to the storms, with one death reported in Texas and another in Mississippi. Warm and humid air from the Gulf of Mexico moved in over east Texas and Louisiana ahead of the cold front, providing ample moisture and energy for thunderstorm development.

World weather news, September 2018

1st
Torrential rain caused major flooding and prompted scores of evacuations in the China province of Guangdong. Up to 250 mm of rain has fallen on the region in the past couple of days. Southerly flow off the South China Sea, associated with the southwest monsoon has caused rainfall to focus on the Guangdong region.
4th
Japan has been hit by its strongest typhoon in 25 years, with officials warning more than a million people to evacuate their homes. Typhoon Jebi made landfall in western areas, bringing heavy rain and reports of winds up to 173 kmhh. In Osaka Bay it swept a tanker into a bridge and in Kyoto parts of a railway station roof came down. Kyodo news says at least two people have been killed by the storm. The storm made landfall on Shikoku island around noon on Tuesday local time and then moved across Japan's largest main island of Honshu. There are warnings of high waves, flooding and mudslides. It has already left tens of thousands without power and authorities have urged people to move to safety. Jebi is the first typhoon classed as "very strong" by the country's weather agency to make landfall on Japan's main islands since a typhoon left 48 people dead or missing in 1993. Hundreds of flights, trains and ferries had to be cancelled. Flooding covered the runways at Kansai International Airport in Osaka, which is built on a man-made island in a bay. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe convened an emergency meeting and called on people "to take action to protect your lives, including preparing and evacuating early".
4th-5th
A child was killed when Tropical Storm Gordon made landfall on Tuesday, pounding states along the US Gulf Coast with wind, rain and surge waves. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office said a tree fell on a mobile home near Pensacola on Tuesday night. A state of emergency has been declared in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. Thousands were reported to be without power on Wednesday morning despite Gordon's downgrade from a hurricane to a depression. Gordon made landfall just west of the Alabama-Mississippi border, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said, with sustained winds of up to 110 km/h. The NHC had warned of "life-threatening" storm surges, and possible tornadoes.
14th-15th
Tropical storm Florence moved slowly down the Carolina coast on Saturday, as officials forecast catastrophic flooding in the region and said at least 11 people had been killed by the giant weather system that is set to plague the area for days ahead. (This death toll later rose to 41.) The storm battered the coastline throughout Friday and Saturday with hurricane-force winds and as much as 600 mm of rain in some areas of North Carolina, breaking state records. With many areas already flooded by seawater, forecasts warned of a period of extensive flooding around the region's winding network of rivers and creeks. North Carolina's governor, Roy Cooper, labelled the storm 'an uninvited brute who doesn't want to leave'. He added, with reference to the storm's slow 2 mph progress: 'We know we're in for a long haul here. But I think we're ready.' In New Bern, a city that backs on to the Neuse river in North Carolina, rescue operations continued on Saturday as significant flooding destroyed homes and some of the city's historic colonial-era statues. More than 360 people were rescued from the flooding by crews in boats, some flown in from New York and other areas of the US. Florence knocked out power to close to a million households in the Carolinas, with some areas not expecting to regain electricity for days. In the historic port city of Wilmington, North Carolina, a mother and her baby were killed when a tree fell on their house, officials said. The deaths were among the first recorded fatalities from the storm, which also killed a 77-year-old man who was knocked over by wind after going outside to check on his dogs. Another man was killed by electrocution. Meteorologists warned it might be days and weeks after Florence's direct hit before the town sees rising water levels. On Saturday afternoon in Lumberton, North Carolina, the Lumber river was dangerously close to flooding. Officials said the river was at 14.45ft - a foot and a half over flood stage - and was projected to rise another 10ft on Sunday. South-west of Lumberton, it had already broken its banks. I-95, the main north-south highway, stood to flood on Sunday.
15th
Some 14 people have been killed in a massive storm which brought destruction to the northern Philippines, a presidential adviser says. Typhoon Mangkhut ripped through the Philippines' main island of Luzon, and is now moving west towards China. The storm tore off roofs, felled trees, triggered 42 landslides and caused extensive flooding. Mangkhut unleashed winds of 185 km/h as it careered from east to west across the north of Luzon. Five million people were in its path, and thousands were evacuated. Almost all buildings in the city of Tuguegarao - the capital city of the north-eastern Cagayan province - sustained some damage, a government official said, and communications were down in places. The typhoon made landfall at Baggao, in the north-east of the Philippines, at about 01:40 local time on Saturday (17:40 GMT on Friday), and left the country some 20 hours later. After losing some of its wind speed over land as it headed west, the storm was downgraded from a super typhoon. It is forecast to weaken slightly as it approaches China from the south-east. The storm - known locally as Ompong - has a cloud diameter of about 900 km and is heading west at about 30 km/h. The World Meteorological Organisation said that the storm was the strongest tropical cyclone the world has faced so far this year.
17th
Tropical storm Mangkhut continued on its destructive path on Sunday as it hit the southern coast of China, killing two, after leaving at least 64 dead in the Philippines amid landslides and flooding. The storm, which has been downgraded from typhoon status, battered the heavily populated Guangdong region on Sunday afternoon with 160 km/h winds. In Guangdong, more than 2.4 million people have been evacuated. The storm made landfall in the the city of Haiyan around 5pm local time, according to China's central meteorological observatory. China Central Television said Mangkhut, which the China Meteorological Administration called the 'King of Storms', triggered storm surges as high as 3 m. By Monday morning, the Chinese state broadcaster said four lives had already been lost. Schools have closed until Tuesday, the high-speed rail line has been suspended and hundreds of flights have been cancelled, according to China's state news agency, Xinhua. In the southern province of Fujian, officials have ordered thousands of fishing boats to return to harbour and closed construction sites near the coast. As the storm brushed passed Hong Kong, high winds smashed windows in the city, tearing off parts of buildings and roofs, while storm surges flooded hotels and restaurants with waters waist-deep. More than 100 people were injured. The neighbouring Chinese gambling enclave of Macau also closed all 42 of its casinos for the first time. In the Philippines, the total death toll rose to 64. The heaviest casualties were in Benguet province, where 38 people died, mostly in two landslides, and 37 are still missing, the police said. Dozens of people, mostly small-scale miners and their families, are still feared to have been trapped by a landslide in the far-flung village of Ucab in Itogon town in the province.
20th
Dozens of people have been buried alive and at least 22 have died after a landslide engulfed two villages in the Philippines, triggered by extreme weather conditions in the aftermath of Typhoon Mangkhut. At least 30 houses were crushed under earth and rubble when a hillside collapsed in Naga, Cebu province, on Thursday. About 50 people were reported to be still trapped. Eight people were rescued from their homes by Thursday night, with some alerting rescuers to their location beneath the rubble by texting family members.
21st
Flooding killed one person in Arlington, Texas, as the area was hit by intense rainfall. A 25-year-old man was swept off a bridge near the University of Texas - Arlington campus. More than 8 inches of rain fell at Dallas Fort Worth Airport in less than 24 hours last weekend. Residents were forced onto of their roofs when water quickly inundated their homes, local officials said.
26th
Parts of northeast India, including New Delhi and the National Capital region, endured heavy rainfall and localized flooding as former Cyclone Daye tracked across the region earlier this week. Flood-related incidents claimed at least 25 lives in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, according to the Hindustan Times. Rainfall amounts in excess of 250 mm were reported in eastern Punjab and northern Haryana. The torrential rainfall triggered flooding and mudslides while also causing significant travel disruptions and forcing schools to close on Monday. More than 300 roads were closed due to flooding or mudslides and at least 21 people were rescued after being stranded by rising floodwaters across the region.
27th
Even though the official start of the South Pacific tropical season is still more than a month away, Tropical Cyclone Liua developed near the southern Solomon Islands. The official start of the tropical season in the South Pacific Basin is 1 November. Liua was named a tropical cyclone by the Fiji Meteorological Service on Thursday morning local time (Wednesday afternoon EDT), marking the basin's first cyclone to form in September since reliable record-keeping began in the 1950s. The previous earliest tropical cyclone on record for the South Pacific was Lusi, which formed in early October 1997.
30th
Four people have been killed after a powerful typhoon struck Japan. Typhoon Trami made landfall on Sunday at 2000 local time (1100 GMT) near the western city of Osaka, with gusts of up to 216 km/h. The storm caused widespread disruption, with many flights and trains cancelled. More than 750,000 homes lost power. At least 120 people were injured. The typhoon comes less than a month after the country's strongest storm (typhoon Jebi) in 25 years hit western Japan. On Monday (1st), commuters faced long delays as trains were delayed or cancelled because of trees blown on to tracks. Kansai Airport, in Osaka, closed its runways when the storm swept in but reopened them on Monday. However, an estimated 200 flights were disrupted by the typhoon.

World weather news, August 2018

1st
A heat wave which has been plaguing the Korean Peninsula since the middle of July brought a national high temperature record to South Korea today. Temperatures soared to the highest recorded level since records began in 1907 as the mercury reached 40.7C in Hongcheon, located in the north-east. The previous record was 40.0C, set on 1 August 1942, in Daegu, according to the Korean Meteorological Administration. Since the start of the heat wave, at least 29 people have died from heatstroke and more than 2,300 others have been hospitalized with heat-related illnesses, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2nd
The tail end of yesterday's strong cold front ripped through much of Western Australia overnight and delivered damaging winds and widespread hail, as well as snow to one of the state's highest peaks. Homes and cars have been damaged across the state, with the State Emergency Service receiving almost 80 calls for help with 59 coming from the Perth metro area. Bluff Knoll, 350 kilometres south-east of Perth, attracted snow chasers this morning who were rewarded with a layer of crusty white on the side of the mountain. Bluff Knoll is one of the few places in the state where snow ever falls. Meanwhile wind gusts in excess of 100 km/h tore down trees and powerlines across the state, knocking out electricity to more than 9,000 properties at the peak of the storm. The towns of Lancelin, Port Denison, Dongara, Guilderton and Greenough in the northern part of the network were worst-affected.
3rd
Seoul reported its warmest night on record Wednesday and then again on Thursday. The temperature only fell to 30.4C Thursday night into Friday morning.
3rd-11th
It has been very hot in southern Manitoba; today temperatures reached 40C with a gusty southerly wind. In Carmen, Manitoba, rainfall since early May has been about 20 per cent of normal after a winter with less than half the normal precipitation. On the 3rd a tornado that touched down near Alonsa Friday night killed a 77-year-old man as it virtually destroyed his house. Alonsa is located about 210 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.
7th
Thunderstorms rolling through the New York City area struck and seriously injured three men. Two men, aged 30 and 42, were struck by lightning while playing soccer in Flushing Meadows Park in Corona, Queens, around 7:30 p.m. EDT. Around the same time, a third man was struck in South Jamaica, Queens. A lightning strike also started a fire near a Long Island Rail Road substation on Tuesday evening, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. CBS New York reported that while service was suspended for some lines, all service has since resumed on a modified schedule.
4th-7th
Gusty winds caused a dangerous wildfire to spread across southern Portugal on Tuesday following record heat in recent days. More than two dozen record high temperatures were set across Portugal on Saturday and Sunday, including a new all-time high temperatures in Lisbon. The temperature peaked at 44.0C in the capital city on Saturday, breaking the old record of 43.0C from 1981. The highest temperature in the country over the weekend was 46.8C in Alvega, just short of the country's all-time high of 47.4C which was set in 2003. Several wildfires broke out during the heat wave, including a major fire near the town of Monchique in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. More than 1,200 firefighters continued to battle the blaze on Monday. As of Tuesday, at least 44 people have required medical attention due to the fire; however, no fatalities have been reported so far. Dozens of homes have been destroyed by the fire which is burning through rugged and tough-to-access terrain.
9th-10th
Heavy floods have forced the evacuation of 1,600 people - most of them campers - in southern France, officials say. They say a 70-year-old German man who was helping to supervise children at one of the summer camps is missing. The worst-hit areas are Gard, Ardèche and Drome. More than 400 firefighters and police - as well as four helicopters - have been deployed. The flooding comes after southern France - and much of Europe - experienced unusually hot weather. In a statement, the French interior ministry said six departments were placed on a flood alert, while about 17,000 homes were without power in the south-west and north-east. In one summer camp in Saint-Julien-de-Peyrolas, in the Gard region, 119 children were evacuated. The missing German was supervising the children at the camp. Trapped by a fast-flowing torrent, he sought shelter inside his caravan - but the vehicle was swept away, AFP news agency reports. It was later found "empty and in pieces", according to police.
13th
Torrential rains triggered flash flooding in parts of central and eastern Pennsylvania, closing down a heavily used interstate and sending water into homes in the mountainous coal regions. State highway and emergency management officials reported numerous closed roads in a wide swath of the state from Williamsport to the Philadelphia suburbs, and some motorists had to be rescued. The National Weather Service in State College said there were numerous reports of 6 inches of rain or more in Schuylkill and Columbia counties. Meteorologist Aaron Tyburski said the latest downpours followed weeks of a stalled weather pattern that is drawing moisture from the Atlantic Ocean, hitting some communities repeatedly. High water in Port Carbon caused some evacuations and prompted firefighters to launch rescue boats and rafts. Parts of Pottsville were inundated, and three shelters were set up.
14th
At least 38 people were killed following bridge collapse in Genoa, Italy, during violent thunderstorms. The Italian news agency ANSA reported that a large section of a raised highway collapsed in the northern port city of Genoa on Tuesday. The collapse occurred around noon, local time. The cause of the collapse remains unclear; however, thunderstorms were affecting the city at the time of the collapse. Wind gusts of 50-65 km/h (30-40 mph) were reported in the area around the time of the collapse. Some witnesses claim to have seen lightning strike the bridge prior to the collapse.
16th
Some rainfall statistics for Pennsylvania, 2018:
17th
Tropical storm Bebinca weakened as it made landfall in northern Vietnam, flooding some villages in one province but there were no reports of major damage. Vietnam had put thousands of soldiers on standby, readied evacuation plans and ordered vessels to stay in port on Thursday ahead of the storm. Nghe An province south of the capital Hanoi received up to 280 millimeters of rain, the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said.
18th
A man was struck and killed by lightning in Kings Park on Long Island, New York, on Saturday evening. Police report that he was struck shortly before 7 p.m. EDT at Sunken Meadow State Park. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital. "This is the 16th U.S. lightning fatality of the year and the first in New York since Aug. 12, 2016, when two people were killed in a park in Poughkeepsie while sheltering from a storm under a tree," according to John Jensenius, National Weather Service lightning safety specialist and warning coordination meteorologist. Prior to Saturday evening, Jensenius stated that there had not been a known lightning fatality in the United States for more than a month. Darrell Hoskins was struck and killed by lightning on July 14 when mowing grass in Somerville, Tennessee.
19th
Smoke from the raging California wildfires has been drifting across the United States, even stretching as far east as New York City. The particles are sitting about 1.5 km above the surface, limiting health hazards. However, the smoke has created fiery sunrises and sunsets. Smoke particles work as a filter to allow orange and red colors to pass through the light spectrum, leading to a tinted view of the sun. The smoke has led to health concerns for the Northwest, lowering air quality levels.
19th
Typhoon Rumbia has been moving northwest inland since it made landfall in Pudong New Area of Shanghai Friday, bringing heavy downpours and causing floods along its route. The civil affairs department of east China's Anhui Province said that a total of 164,700 people has been adversely affected by typhoon Rumbia, and 2,226 people had been evacuated as of 3 p.m. Saturday. Some 17,000 hectares of crops were inundated in the province, with the economic loss estimated at about $14million. No casualties have been reported. According to the meteorological bureau of central China's Henan Province, the typhoon entered the province around 3 a.m. Saturday. Heavy rain has caused waterlogging in some cities in the eastern part of Henan. Some parts of Henan, Hebei, and Shandong provinces are expected to experience downpours of up to 350 mm within 24 hours, according to forecasts.
21st
Ten hikers were killed and others have been rescued after flash flooding in southern Italy. They were walking in a gorge in a national park in the Calabria region when they were hit by a torrent swollen by heavy rain. Officials say 23 people have been rescued. An eight-year-old girl was airlifted to hospital with hypothermia.
22nd
Nearly 400 people have died and thousands remained stranded by the worst flooding in the Indian state of Kerala in a century. More than one million people have been displaced, many of them taking shelter in thousands of relief camps across the state. As the monsoon rains begin to ease, efforts are being stepped up to get relief supplies to isolated areas. Relief shipments and small commercial aircraft began to arrive at the nearby Kochi Naval Base on Monday as waters continued to recede. Thousands of homes and 32,500 hectares of crops have been destroyed. Officials estimate that more than 10,000 km of roads have been damaged. Initial projections put the total losses from the flooding as high as $3 billion.
24th
Tropical Storm Lane released record-breaking rainfall on Hawaii, triggering devastating flooding and debris flows across Hawaii. Preliminary rainfall totals of 2-4 feet were reported across the windward side of the Big Island with a few locations recording even higher amounts. There is an unconfirmed report of 58.80 inches on the Big Island. That would be the second-highest rain total from a tropical cyclone in the United States since 1950. Nederland, Texas, holds the record with the 60.58 inches that fell during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Mountain View received a preliminary total of 52.02 inches. That ranks as the highest rainfall total from a tropical cyclone in Hawaii's recorded history. Hurricane Hiki in August 1950 previously held the record with 52.00 inches.
28th
Severe thunderstorms swept across part of the north-central United States in the afternoon, bringing another round of damaging winds and flooding downpours to the region. The worst of the severe weather focused on a zone from central Wisconsin through eastern Iowa with the strongest storms spinning up tornadoes. This is right after severe storms that tracked across the region on Monday. The Iowa City Airport clocked one of the strongest winds of the day with a gust of 83 mph. Over 60,000 electric customers in Michigan, over 40,000 in Wisconsin and over 13,000 in Iowa were left without power for a time on Tuesday evening after storms toppled trees and brought down power lines. Some evening commutes were also slowed due to trees that had fallen across roadways. One person was injured near Thornton, Iowa, after a tractor trailer was blown over on Interstate 35.
29th
A slow moving front has sparked days of torrential rainfall across South Korea resulting in flooding across much of the country. Heavy rainfall from Monday into Tuesday produced flooding across southern and central South Korea. The downpours shifted northward on Wednesday causing flooding throughout northern South Korea, including Seoul. The downpours fell at a rate of 75 mm/h during the worst of the event. The highest rainfall total was reported in South Jello Province where 455 mm accumulated since Monday.

World weather news, July 2018

3rd
In the northwestern United States, record low temperatures were reported in some areas. In Eugene, Oregon, a new record low July temperature of 38F was reported, the lowest since records began more than a century ago. Snow even fell in parts of Montana.
4th
The whole Caucasus region, a mountainous area on the border of Europe and Asia, suffered particularly high temperatures early this month. The capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, hit an all-time high of 40.5C on the 4th, and the heat has put a significant strain on power grids in other countries nearby. There have been major power cuts in Iran because demand outstripped the electrical system's capabilities as people try to stay cool.
5th
Thirty-three people have died in a heat wave that has baked the southern part of the Canadian province of Quebec. The sweltering weather began last Friday with temperatures hitting 35C (95F) and high humidity. The death toll has climbed every day this week, with most of the victims between the ages of 50 to 80. The heat wave is the worst the province has seen in decades, officials say. Officials are urging people to drink plenty of water and stay in the shade. So far, 18 of the 33 deaths have been in Montreal, the most populous city in the province, with other deaths in surrounding regions. Average temperatures in Montreal are way above the usual 25C at this time of year. In Canada's capital Ottawa, in Ontario, the humidity index - the method used there to measure the combined humidity level and temperature - hit 47C on the 2nd. At the same time, parts of Eastern Canada saw a brief return of wintery weather, with snow in parts of Newfoundland and Cape Breton (Nova Scotia), and temperatures of -1C, in St John's and Halifax. Winter weather this late in the year is rare, this being the first since 1996. Footnote: By the 7th there were 70 deaths attributed to this heatwave, which was then diminishing in intensity.
5th-6th
The temperature in Sydney topped 24.7C over two days in July for the first time since records began, about 8 degC higher than the average for this time of year.
5th-11th
Parts of California have been suffering wildfires brought about by the record heat Downtown Los Angeles had its hottest July night in history, with a minimum of 26.1C on the 7th. 'Red flag' warnings, indicating the risk of serious wildfires, remain in place for large parts of the state. In California, daytime records were also set last week at Chino (48.9C), Burbank airport (45.6C) and Van Nuys airport (47.2C). The temperature at University of California, Los Angeles, hit 43.9C, breaking a 79-year-old record Furnace Creek in Death Valley national park in California, USA, recorded a temperature of 52.0C on the 8th.
5th
Ouargla, in Algeria's Sahara Desert, reported a maximum temperature of 51C today. It is likely that this is the highest reliable temperature ever recorded in Algeria. WMO's Weather and Climate Extremes Archive currently lists Kebili, Tunisia, as being Africa's highest temperature with 55C recorded in July 1931. However, there have been questions about the reliability of colonial era temperature records in Africa.
7th:
Parts of western Japan hit by deadly floods and landslides are facing unprecedented danger as more downpours are expected, officials warn. More than 60 people are dead and dozens missing after record rainfall caused rivers to burst their banks in Hiroshima and other areas. Two million people have been ordered to evacuate. PM Shinzo Abe said rescuers were "working against time". "There are still many people missing and others in need of help," the prime minister told reporters on Sunday. Since Thursday parts of western Japan have received three times the usual rainfall for the whole of July, setting off floods and landslides. Most of the deaths have occurred in Hiroshima prefecture. In the town of Motoyama, 583mm of rain fell between Friday morning and Saturday morning. An official at the Japanese Meteorological Agency told a news conference: "This is a situation of extreme danger." 11th - update: The death toll reached 179 today. The Japan Meteorological Agency, said three hours of rainfall in one area in Kochi prefecture accumulated to 263 mm, the highest since such records started in 1976. This is the highest death toll caused by rainfall in Japan since 1982.
14th
A huge iceberg has drifted close to a village in western Greenland, prompting a partial evacuation in case it splits and the resulting wave swamps homes. The iceberg is looming over houses on a promontory in the Innaarsuit village but is grounded and did not move overnight, local media say. Local officials say they have never seen such a big iceberg before. Last summer, four people died after waves swamped houses in north-western Greenland after an earthquake. Those of Inaarsuit's 169 residents living nearest the iceberg have been moved, Danish news agency Ritzau said. "There are cracks and holes that make us fear it can calve any time," village council member Susanne Eliassen told the local newspaper Sermitsiaq.
17th
Drenching thunderstorms moved into the northeastern United States Tuesday afternoon and evening, resulting in numerous flash flooding reports throughout the region. In Washington, D.C., heavy rain prompted flooding on the George Washington Memorial Parkway near Reagan National Airport. The flooding left cars stranded during the evening rush hour. Several water rescues were reported on the parkway by the Arlington, Virginia, Fire Department. In total, 40 people were removed from 25 stranded vehicles, according to the fire department. Daily rainfall records were set in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. A total of 2.53 inches at Baltimore-Washington International Airport broke the previous daily record of 2.25 inches from 1947. Reagan National Airport reported 2.79 inches, which broke the previous record of 2.05 inches from 1945.
18th
At least 11 wildfires are raging inside the Arctic Circle as the hot, dry summer turns an abnormally wide area of Europe into a tinderbox. The worst affected country, Sweden, has called for emergency assistance from its partners in the European Union to help fight the blazes, which have broken out across a wide range of its territory and prompted the evacuations of four communities. Tens of thousands of people have been warned to remain inside and close windows and vents to avoid smoke inhalation. Rail services have been disrupted. The Copernicus Earth observation programme, which gives daily updates of fires in Europe, shows more than 60 fires burning across Sweden, with sites also ablaze in Norway, Finland and Russia, including in the Arctic Circle.
19th
Severe thunderstorms tracked across Iowa in the afternoon with several tornadoes touching down across the state. One of the strongest storms of the day tracked through Marshalltown, Iowa, located northeast of Des Moines, with multiple reports of tornadoes across the area. Shortly after the storm passed through the town, a NWS trained weather spotter reported "catastrophic damage, including vehicles missing, vehicles overturned, and tools of buildings gone" near Marshalltown. At least 17 people were injured, according to the Associated Press. There have been no reports of fatalities, despite extensive damage. The NWS conducted a damage survey on Friday and concluded that the tornado that hit Marshalltown was an EF 3 with peak winds of 144 mph.
23rd
An unusually dry winter, with less than average rainfall interspersed with localised flooding in some areas, is emerging as a major contributing factor to the wildfires that are ravaging the mainland of Greece. Lack of the expected steady rainfall in the winter months meant groundwater sources failed to recharge and left vegetation unable to recover fully from the high temperatures of the 2017 summer. As a result, when temperatures topping 40C hit some areas during this summer's heatwave and drought, the conditions were already in place for wildfires to take hold. Strong winds then fanned the flames and spread the fires widely before stretched fire-fighting teams could gain control. The fact that the fires took hold on land close to densely inhabited and resort areas was largely a matter of chance, but one that led to a death toll of more than 70 people and wrought devastation on homes. At least 82 people were died as a result of the fire.
23rd
More than 10,000 people have been affected by a catastrophic dam collapse in southern Laos, according to figures published by the United Nations. An unknown number of houses were washed away in the torrent, with aerial images of the aftermath showing what appear to be entire villages submerged by muddy brown water. Survivors could be seen clinging onto rooftops, while others paddled through the The Xepian Xe Nam Noy Dam, a billion dollar hydropower project part financed by South Korea, was still under construction when the breach occurred around 8 p.m. on Monday. The collapse of the dam, which occurred without warning, unleashed approximately 5 billion cubic meters of water. Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Company Limited, one of the dam's four shareholders, said the incident was caused by the "continuous rainstorm which caused high volume of water to flow into the Project's reservoir."
23rd-25th
Rounds of torrential rain and serious flooding inundated the northeastern United States this week causing two of Pennsylvania's most popular amusement parks to close. Hersheypark and Knoebels were forced to close after heavy rain left both parks severely flooded. A slow-moving storm system has been persistently sending tropical moisture into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast over the past few days. These downpours have caused streams and rivers to rise and spill out of their banks, leading to dangerous flooding. On Wednesday, the Swatara Creek near Hershey reached major flood stage and climbed the its second-highest level in 43 years. The National Weather Service described the flooding in this part of Pennsylvania as 'historic.' The river gauge on Swatara Creek at Hershey, PA has now reached the 2nd highest level since records began in October 1975 (43 years).
24th
A deadly heatwave continued across Japan, following the hottest day on record in Japan. The highest temperature ever recorded by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) was reported on Monday when Kumagaya reached 41.1C. The Greater Tokyo Area also set an all-time high temperature on Monday as the temperature climbed to 40.8C. The JMA declared the heat wave to be a natural disaster on Tuesday as the death toll reached 77, according to the Japan Times. More than 30,000 people have been hospitalized for heat-related illnesses since 9 July.
26th
A flash flood has struck an Athens suburb just days after the devastating wildfire ripped through parts of Greece killed at least 80 people. The Greek capital's fire department today received 140 calls for help to pump water from flooded homes and businesses. No injuries have been reported, but dozens of cars were damaged as torrential rain hit. Fire crews headed to a car park in the suburb of Maroussi to see if there were any people trapped in cars that were submerged in a muddy lake.
28th
Widespread flooding was reported throughout Baltimore (USA) in the evening as thunderstorms drenched the city with inches of rain. The deluge caused streets to flood across the city, bringing traffic to a standstill in some areas during the Friday evening commute. Roads became impassable in the hardest-hit areas due to high water, stranding cars attempting to drive through the water. Some ramps on and off of I-83 and I-95 were also impassible for a time. Hundreds of flights were either delayed or canceled at the Baltimore Washington International Airport due to the storms, while Amtrak trains were forced to halt due to the severe weather. The first storms that moved through the city brought hail larger than quarters, followed by additional rounds of drenching storms.
31st
A passenger plane has crashed in the capital of Mexico's Durango state, just moments after take-off. All 103 passengers and crew on board the Aeromexico flight survived the crash but 97 of them are injured. State Governor Jose Rosas Aispuro said the plane was hit by a gust of wind which caused a sudden descent. Its left wing then touched the ground and two engines broke off. Most of the passengers were able to walk away before it caught fire. Aeromexico flight AM2431 was flying from Guadalupe Victoria International Airport in Durango to Mexico City when it crashed at around 1600 local time (2100 GMT).

World weather news, June 2018

1st
People in both France and Germany have died after floods hit both countries. There were floods across the states of Bavaria and Baden-Wurtemberg in southern Germany. In France several towns near Paris in the north were inundated with water. Two lions, two tigers and a jaguar who escaped from their zoo in Germany have been recaptured. People in Luenebach, in the west of the country, were earlier warned by police to stay inside with their windows and doors closed.
3rd
It has been quite warm across much of Scandinavia over the last couple of weeks, especially across the southern region. Oslo, Norway, for instance, had a +5.9 degC departure from the normal over this two-week stretch. Much of that has come over the last three days in which Oslo reached 31.9C on the 2nd and 32.0C on the 3rd. The warmest Madrid has been so far this year was back on 25 May, in which it reached 28.3C. Oslo, Norway, has seen six days equal to greater 28.3C so far this year.
11th
Emergency personnel in Atlantic Beach, Florida, are reporting that two men were struck by lightning on Monday after a small but fast-moving thunderstorm moved through the area. According to the Atlantic Beach Police Department, a man who reported being struck by lightning off 19th Street and Beach Avenue in Atlantic Beach was hospitalized. Another man was reportedly struck on the beach near the 17th Street access in Atlantic Beach. The man told lifeguards he felt the charge go from his head to his foot. Lightning is also being blamed for a house fire on Oceanwalk Drive in Atlantic Beach. Police and neighbors said the house was struck by lightning which sparked a fire and damaged the roof.
11th
The windstorm ripping through Edmonton on Monday forced an evacuation, affected transit, downed trees and caused power issues. A visit to Fort Edmonton Park was cut short for 20 school groups after winds of up to 90 kilometres an hour took down a park fence. In the west end of the city the wind knocked down signs, poles, and pushed trees onto power lines.
12th
Severe weather, including thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds has affected Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh. Media are reporting that over the last 2 days as many as 12 people have died in landslides triggered by the heavy rain. Meanwhile across the border in Myanmar, local media have reported heavy rain, flooding and landslides in Shan state and Magway and Sagaing regions. Homes and roads have been damaged, and at least 1 person has died with 3 others missing. In Bangladesh heavy rain began falling over the weekend (9th-10th). Cox's Bazar has recorded over 300 mm of rain in 48 hours to 12 June.
13th
Severe thunderstorms moved through northeastern Pennsylvania late Wednesday evening and caused significant damage to buildings and vehicles in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The storms were associated with a vigorous system that caused a plethora of damaging wind and hail reports across parts of New York and northern Pennsylvania on Wednesday. Building collapses, flipped cars and blown-off roofs from buildings were reported. Six injuries in total have been reported. At least three injuries were occurred after a car flipped over in the parking lot of a Panera Bread restaurant in Wilkes-Barre.
13th
A lightning stroke hit a 14-year-old boy who was training in the stadium of Football Academy in Larissa, Central Greece, on Wednesday afternoon. The teenager was severely injured and passed out. He was reportedly transferred to a local hospital, where doctors are struggling to keep him alive. A summer storm hit the area on Wednesday afternoon with heavy rainfall, a thunderstorm with hail and very strong wind. It is the third incident where lighting has hit people in Greece since the beginning of the month. A shepherd in West Macedonia and a motorcyclist on Egnatia highway were killed on June 4th. A few days earlier, passengers of a intercity bus in North-Eastern Greece managed to evacuate in time after a lightning strike that set the bus on fire.
14th
Residents of India's capital Delhi are battling high pollution levels and extreme temperatures due to an unusual dust haze covering the city. People have been complaining about breathing problems, with many saying the city has become unliveable. The state government has responded by banning all construction and deploying the fire brigade to sprinkle water across the city. People have been advised to stay indoors as much as possible. "In this case, dust has become a carrier of toxic pollutants. Pollution levels are 8-9 times higher than normal. And when we breathe, we are taking in toxic substances, which can have serious health repercussions," Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director of the Centre For Science and Environment, told BBC Hindi.
17th
A flood emergency was issued for parts of the US mid-west. Severe thunderstorms deluged Michigan's Upper Peninsula, northern Wisconsin, and northern Minnesota. The national weather service reported that 100-170 mm of rain fell in Houghton county, Michigan, and floods devastated homes and businesses in the area and caused giant sinkholes to open up.
17th
Days of extreme rainfall have pounded southeastern Texas this week, resulting in the worst flooding to hit Houston and surrounding areas since Hurricane Harvey. Sunday (17th) was the second-wettest June day on record for the city after receiving 1.26 inches of rain, nearly five times the amount that fell throughout all of June so far. The storms led to severe flooding, resulting in several water rescues across the region.
18th
The third named storm of the season in the Pacific, Carlotta, tracked along the south-west coast of Mexico on Sunday and Monday. Coastal areas from Tecpan de Galeana to Lazaro Cardenas were affected by torrential rain and tropical storm-force winds. Nearly 250 mm of rain fell in places, which led to flash flooding and mudslides.
20th
Dozens of water rescues took place across the Pittsburgh area on Wednesday after devastating storms blasted the area. Up to 100 mm of rain fell in south Pittsburgh. More than 60 water rescues were reported in Allegheny County alone. Water rushed across roadways and flooded parking lots, submerging cars. Severe thunderstorms rumbled across the central United States on Tuesday, bringing destructive hail, tornadoes and flooding rain. One of the strongest storms of the day spawned a corkscrew-shaped tornado near Keenesburg, Colorado, located northeast of Denver. The twister was on the ground for nearly 20 minutes with no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
21st-23rd
Lightning and persistent dry weather have teamed up to produce dozens of wildfires in Oregon and northwestern Canada. The Graham Fire in central Oregon ignited on the 21st near Culver, Oregon. The blaze has burned about 2,000 acres on private land protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry and Lake Chinook Fire and Rescue. The blaze prompted evacuations and forced Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to invoke the Conflagration Act. The declaration authorizes the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal to mobilize firefighters and equipment to assist local resources battling the fire,' the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said.
25th
Monsoon rains unleashed widespread flooding in Mumbai and surrounding areas and downpours are forecast to reach New Delhi later this week. Frequent downpours and gusty winds caused travel chaos and have been linked to at least five deaths in the Mumbai area. Rainfall amounts over 330 mmwere reported from Sunday into Monday, with more than 230 mm falling within 24 hours. The downpours and flooding led to widespread travel issues in and around the city, resulting in cancelled or delayed trains, flight disruptions and closed roadways. The heavy rain also triggered a wall collapse in south Mumbai, which damaged or destroyed at least 20 vehicles. As Mumbai endured flooding, residents of New Delhi and the National Capital Region suffered through another day of scorching heat on Monday. Big changes arrived on Tuesday as temperatures only reached 34C in New Delhi during the afternoon hours.
26th
All roads around Mandra in northwest Athens and the old national highway reopened to traffic on Wednesday following a shutdown due to torrential rain and flooding on Tuesday. The old national road of Athens-Corinth and a section of the Athens-Thebes roads at Nea Peramos were shut down, as were the central Mandra streets and an exit to Attiki Odos. The fire brigade dealt with 15 cases of people trapped in homes or cars in Mandra and Nea Peramos, and 49 homes were pumped of water. A tracked vehicle and a dinghy had been on standby since yesterday aslos. Long-suffering Mandra went through severe storm damage in November 2017, when twenty-four people lost their lives during heavy rain followed by mudflows that also destroyed a lot of properties.

World weather news, May 2018

1st-3rd
Two days of heavy rain has caused flooding and landslides in Sardinia, Italy. Around 100 people have been evacuated from their homes. In the space of 48 hours some areas have recorded over 150 mm of rain - more than four times the average monthly total for May. Schools have been closed in several areas of the island due to the bad weather. Flooding and landslides have closed roads in the Municipality of Villacidro and near Cagliari. The Tirso river broke its banks in several places in Oristano province and the Flumini Mannu flooded fields in San Nicolo d'Arcidano, also in Oristano. In Siniscola, Nuoro Province, as much as 164 mm of rain fell in 48 hours to early on 3 May, which is considerably more than the May monthly average (36 mm) and already a good proportion of the typical annual rainfall (around 660 mm). A red level weather alert remains in place in Sardinia and Civil Protection have warned of further heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms in Sardinia and across the country, in particular Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Basilicata and Puglia.
2nd
Severe dust storms across northern India have killed more than 100 people, destroyed homes and left hundreds without electricity. Billowing clouds of thick dust and sand frequently blow across the region during the dry season, but the death toll from this week's storms has been unusually high. There were 73 confirmed deaths in Uttar Pradesh state, most in Agra district where the Taj Mahal is located. Another 36 died in Rajasthan and two each in Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh. The death toll in all four states could still rise. The destruction has extended to Punjab, where two died, and Haryana, where trees were uprooted and power supplies cut by the squall. Less intense storms in Delhi caused traffic jams and flight diversions. Most of the deaths occurred when houses people were sleeping in collapsed overnight, disaster management officials said. Falling pylons and trees also contributed to the death toll. The dust storms are created by a rapid ascent of warm air, which creates a vacuum that air closer to the ground rushes to fill, taking sand and dust with it. Meteorologists said abnormally high temperatures in past weeks had contributed to the disaster. Another 14 people were killed in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, which was hammered by more than 41,000 lightning strikes on Wednesday, disaster officials said.
5th
A torrential flood has swept through a district in the Turkish capital of Ankara, sending vehicles downstream and damaging local businesses. The rain was expected to last for three hours on Saturday afternoon (local time), but instead came down in nine minutes, causing flooding in Ankara's Mamak district. Ankara's Mayor, Mustafa Tuna, told local media it was a "natural disaster like never before". Four people were injured in the floods, which damaged more than 160 cars and 25 businesses, Turkish Social Security Minister Julide Sarieroglu said.
7th
A massive dust storm with winds gusting up to 70 km/h has battered northern India. The storm was caught on camera over Bikaner in the northern state of Rajasthan. This type of dust storm, triggered by a collapsing thunderstorm, is known as a "haboob". Haboobs can be highly dangerous, as the visibility drops dramatically in a matter of seconds. Within the cloud of dust, the winds can be gusting over 150kph and the temperature usually drops by a couple of degrees. The storm ripped down trees and power lines, as it tore across the northern cities of New Delhi, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Meerut and Ghaziabad.
9th
At least 41 people have died after heavy rains caused a dam to burst in Kenya, sweeping away homes across a vast area of farmland. The breach happened near the town of Solai, 190 km north-west of the capital, Nairobi. The dead are thought to include children and women trapped in mud. The Kenyan Red Cross says it has rescued about 40 people so far. More than 2,000 people are said to have been left homeless. Local officials say the full extent of the damage is not yet clear. There are fears the death toll could rise as the search-and-rescue operation continues. The heavy rains in Kenya and other regional states come after a severe drought which left millions of people in need of food aid.
10th
The number of people being infected by diseases from mosquitoes, ticks and fleas has tripled in the United States from 2004 to 2016, according to a new report by the Center for Disease Control. There were more than 640,000 cases of these diseases reported during the 13 years analyzed. In addition to increases in number of infections, there were also nine new germs spread by mosquitoes and ticks that were discovered. The report listed increased world travel among one of the major factors in the increase in disease. Infected travelers have the potential to introduce and spread germs from country to country.
13th
Less than two weeks after 134 people were killed in severe weather, another round of deadly thunderstorms lashed several Indian states on Sunday. In total, at least 80 people have been killed and more than 100 injured throughout Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and the National Capital Region from severe weather on Sunday. The death toll had risen above 50 in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh as of Monday afternoon, with more than 80 others being injured, according to the Times of India.
15th
An outbreak of strong thunderstorms caused an estimated five deaths in NE USA, during the first occurrence of severe spring storms for that region this year. Strong winds, hail and heavy downpours caused most of the damage, although there were also reports of tornadoes in New York state. Many places were struck during the busy evening commute, which enhanced the disruption.
15th
Over 80 passengers became stranded on a passenger train in the evening near the town of Brunswick, Colorado, which was also pummelled by severe weather early this week. Enough hail fell to make it look like lying snow.
16th
A tornado swept through the Lower Rhine region of North Rhine-Westphalia on Wednesday evening, and at least two people were injured and property badly damaged. Shortly before 6 pm, dark clouds filled the sky in a region just west of Dusseldorf and suddenly tree branches were breaking off and homes were being unroofed. Initial police reports state that the tornado had come and gone within ten to fifteen minutes; but in that short span of time a lot of property was damaged and two people were injured. The tornado also hit the districts of Nettetal-Schaag, Schwalmtal-Dilkrath, Schwalmtal and Niederkruchten, the local authorities reported. The motorway 61 near the Dutch border was also partially closed down. Police moreover reported that the rail route between Venlo and Monchengladbach had to be shut down.
16th
Tens of thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate their homes in western Colombia after heavy floods at Colombia's largest hydroelectric dam project, which had already displaced hundreds over the weekend. The Hidroituango dam on the river Cauca was in the final stages of construction when a blocked tunnel was cleared on Saturday night (12th), causing flooding downstream that swept through a riverside hamlet. Six hundred people were left homeless and two bridges, two schools and a health centre were destroyed.
17th
Eastern Russia has been experiencing widespread and intense spring wildfires, thanks to a drier than normal autumn and winter, leading to parched vegetation. As of today, nearly 700 fires had been recorded, according to the Russian Federal Forest Agency.
19th-20th
At least 16 people died as Tropical Cyclone Sagar pounded the Middle East and eastern Africa over the weekend, making history as the strongest tropical storm ever recorded in Somalia. The deadly storm destroyed the homes of at least 80 families and left nearly 1,800 displaced, director general of Somalia's Ministry of Planning and National Development Abdirashed Ibrahim reported. An elderly woman was killed near Aden, Yemen, when her house caught fire due to Sagar, according to the Associated Press. The emergency center of Yemen's Health Ministry reported that flash flooding caused sewage to pour into the streets of the city of Aden. In western Somalia, an undisclosed number of people were reported missing in Bulaxaar, according to ReliefWeb. Communication was disrupted in the Lughaya district after the storm destroyed a telecommunication tower and at least 15 shelters were destroyed in the Ceel Sheekh village. Sagar struck at around noon local time Saturday about 100 miles southeast of the city of Djibouti, along the flat, arid coastal plain of far western Somalia. As Sagar tracked inland, satellite imagery indicated widespread rains across western Somalia, the nation of Djibouti, and far northeast Ethiopia as Sagar tracked inland.
22nd-25th
Storms across northern Europe have caused surface flooding in Belgium, Germany, Netherlands and France, including the capital Paris. The region has seen several violent storms over the last few days, in particular on 22 May, where Meteo France said that 13,964 lightning strikes were reported across the country. The storms also brought hail - some areas of Germany have recorded hail 50 cm deep - strong winds and localised heavy downpours which have flooded streets and damaged homes. No fatalities have been reported. A thunderstorm and heavy rain on Thursday, 24 May caused flooding in the Vogtland region of Saxony, Germany. Emergency services responded to over 200 calls for assistance in the towns of Adorf, Bad Elster and Elsnitz. The German Weather Service (DWD) said that Bad Elster recorded 124 mm of of rain in 5 hours. Flooding also affected neighbouring parts of Czech Republic late on Thursday, 24 May. Radio station Radio Praha said that "Clean-up operations are underway in central, western and southern Bohemia which were hit by flash floods on Thursday night." Roads were still closed in the Karlovy Vary region. Some houses were damaged and as of Friday, remained without electricity. Radio Praha added that Firemen have been working around-the-clock to clear roads and pump water from cellars. In France, heavy rain during the afternoon of 24 May caused flooding in the Pays de Caux area of departement of Seine Maritime in the Normandy region. The towns of Auffay, Bosc-Bordel and Neufchatel-en-Bray were all flooded, according to local media. Rail tracks were flooded and train services severely disrupted. In Belgium, storms during the afternoon of 22 May caused surface flooding and damage in the provinces of Hainaut and Liege. Local firefighters were called to over 100 incidents. Surface flooding was reported in Esneux, Grace-Hollogne, Flemalle and the city of Liege. Local media also reported flooding in Tilff (Liege) and a small mudslide in Erquelinnes, Hainaut, which has damaged around 10 homes. Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany's public international broadcaster, said that thunderstorms and hail affected areas across western Germany, with 50 cm of hail falling in Kaisersesch in Rhineland-Palatinate on 22 May. "Tuesday's "summer thunderstorm" in the west and southwest of Germany damaged buildings and flooded cellars and streets, particularly in the states of Hesse, Baden-Wurttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate," DW added. Just across the Dutch border from Heinsberg, the towns of Sittard-Geleen and Munstergeleen in the Netherlands also some some surface flooding, damaging houses in the area.
26th
A powerful cyclone has struck Oman and killed at least three people, among them a 12-year-old girl, officials have said. Cyclone Mekunu caused flash flooding that tore away some roads and submerged others in Salalah, the country's third-largest city, leaving drivers stranded. Strong winds knocked over street lights and ripped off roofs. The cyclone also struck neighbouring Yemen. Fast-moving waters from the rain and storm surges flooded normally dry creek beds. Tourist beaches were littered with debris and foam from the Arabian Sea.
27th-28th
Residents and business owners in historic Ellicott City were picking up the pieces Monday after the second "1-in-1,000-year" rain event in two years walloped the Maryland town on the banks of the Patapsco River. More than eight inches of rain on Sunday triggered flash flooding that sent a wall of water down Main Street, reaching the second floor of some buildings and sweeping cars into culverts. Two years ago, 6.5 inches of rain fell on Ellicott City in about 3 hours, with 5.5 inches falling in just 90 minutes, the National Weather Service said. That was dubbed a 1-in-1,000-year rain event. The town was defenceless for Sunday's precipitation onslaught. Four creeks converge on the town enroute to the Patapsco. There was no place for the water to go. "The worst flooding was Main Street, which is all concrete, so it flowed right through," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Lada said. "There were heavy, drenching thunderstorms training over the area with several inches of rain per hour. An incredible rate." Lada said the storms were fed by extensive moisture in the air being experienced around the region. Many areas were blasted by storms, but Ellicott City just happened to be hit over and over again. The river level spiked almost 18 feet in two hours, reaching an all-time record high, he said.
28th
Subtropical Depression Alberto has the southeastern United States on alert into Tuesday as it moves inland after making landfall along the Florida Panhandle. Heavy rain and gusty winds have already been felt for several days across Florida. Impacts will only worsen and expand in the Southeast through Memorial Day and beyond. Alberto made landfall late Monday afternoon near Laguna Beach, Florida.
28th
Haze from the Kilauea volcano eruption in Hawaii blanketed the Marshall Islands 3,700 kilometres (2,300 miles) away on Sunday, as officials warned it would continue moving west. The haze, a phenomenon known as "vog" or volcanic smog, is spreading across Micronesia, the US National Weather Service based in Guam said. The volcano on Hawaii's Big Island is now in its fourth week of eruptions. Meteorologists advised residents on the Marshall Islands with respiratory problems to stay indoors while airlines and shipping companies were warned to be aware of "lower visibilities". The Guam weather office said haze produced by Kilauea would spread westward and reach Kosrae, Pohnpei and possibly Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia over the next few days.
30th-31st
Two people were killed when a home collapsed in Boone, North Carolina, after extreme flooding triggered a landslide. The Boone Police Department tweeted that crews were on the scene of a structural collapse in the Heaven Mountain Area on Wednesday. The home was destroyed by a gas leak following a landslide as the state continues to feel the effects of Subtropical Storm Alberto. Some areas of the North Carolina mountains have received up to 20 inches of rain in the past 15 days. Two people were reported missing Thursday after reportedly being swept away in floodwaters in Albemarle County. Later in the day, officials confirmed that they had recovered the body of one of the two missing persons, but had to halt the search for the second due to dangerous conditions.

World weather news, April 2018

3rd
Residents from the Ohio Valley to the lower Mississippi Valley saw the year's most extensive severe weather outbreak Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night. A line of powerful thunderstorms containing damaging winds, large hail and flooding downpours ignited from central Illinois to eastern Texas early Tuesday afternoon and pushed eastward into Tuesday night. Some of the worst storms focused on a zone from central Arkansas through southern Illinois with multiple storms producing funnel clouds and tornadoes. Over 70,000 electric customers were without power in areas impacted by severe thunderstorms, including over 22,000 in Ohio and over 19,000 in Mississippi. Damage was also reported in Raleigh, Illinois, on Tuesday afternoon after a tornado-warned thunderstorm moved through the area. At Houston's Hobby Airport, strong winds from the storms caused a hangar to collapse, trapping several pilots underneath.
7th
One person was killed and four others were injured by a lightning strike in northern Florida on Saturday, according to a report from WJAX-TV in Jacksonville, Florida. According to the report, which cited a storm report from the National Weather Service, the victims were struck at Woodpecker Mud Bog in White Springs, Florida, which is about an hour west of Jacksonville. This was the second lightning fatality of 2018 in the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
8th
On 2 April, a cooperative weather observer in Paxton, Illinois, about 100 miles south-southwest of downtown Chicago, measured a morning low of -2F. According to the National Weather Service, this tied the state's all-time April record low set almost 36 years ago. The, today, Stambaugh, in the state's western upper peninsula, plunged to -24F. The state's current April monthly record low is -17F set in 2003 and also in 1982. NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee will evaluate these temperature readings to make sure the data is As meteorologist Chris Dolce noted, a number of Midwest cities had their record coldest first seven days of April. In some of these locations, temperatures over that seven-day period were over 20 degF colder than average.
8th
Record-breaking temperatures and fierce winds have left fire services struggling to contain a bushfire south of Adelaide, and residents are being urged to flee their homes or enact their bushfire survival plans. Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Peter Webb said the temperature had already hit 34C in Adelaide before midday on Sunday, with a forecast of 35C and 33C over the next two days. "That has never ever happened before in April," he said.
9th-10th
Australian states in the heavily populated south-east are experiencing record high temperatures during an unseasonably hot autumn, prompting fire bans and warnings from authorities. This week has already broken state records in South Australia, as well as New South Wales and Victoria, where they could be reset again on Wednesday. The north of Western Australia had record high temperatures for late March, said Bureau of Meteorology senior climatologist Blair Trewin. That hot air is now hitting the south-east. "On Monday we had the highest April temperature ever recorded in South Australia - 42.2C at Nullarbor Roadhouse, and yesterday [Tuesday] we had state records for both Victoria and NSW," he said. In Victoria it reached 39.3C in Mildura on Tuesday and 40.5C at Pooncarie, NSW. The previous records for each state were 42.1C at Oodnadatta in 2005, 37.8C at Mildura in 1986 and 40C at Collarenebri in 1922. In South Australia the Country Fire Service warned the continuing high temperatures and gusty winds would be among the worst conditions experienced in April.
12th
A storm has damaged two minarets located at different entry gates of the iconic Taj Mahal in the northern Indian city of Agra. Winds blowing at 130 km/h caused the 4 m tall pillars to collapse. The four longer minarets that surround the main structure remain intact. The 17th Century mausoleum attracts about 12,000 visitors a day and is one of the world's most popular tourist attractions. One of the destroyed minarets was located at the royal gate where tourists often get their first glimpse of the monument. The other was located at the southern gate. Authorities said that work had begun to restore the damaged structures.
13th
During the last 200 years Europe has suffered three tornadoes with death tolls of over 50 people: Ivanovo in Russia in June 1984 (69 fatalities), Oria in Italy in September 1897 (55 fatalities) and Montville in France in August 1845 (at least 70 fatalities). Meanwhile, in June 1967, six tornadoes spun their way across France, Belgium and the Netherlands, resulting in 232 injuries, 15 deaths and serious damage or destruction of just under 1,000 houses. New research published in the journal Weather, Climate and Society, reveals that we could expect as many as 170 fatalities, up to 2,500 injuries, and serious damage to 25,000 buildings. Although not common, scientists warn that an outbreak like this should be expected somewhere in Europe within the next 50 years.
13th-15th
Minneapolis and Green Bay were two of the many communities significantly impacted by the heavy snow and blizzard conditions that blasted the north-central United States Friday into Sunday night. Thundersnow and sleet were reported on Friday evening near Minneapolis as the storm ramped up in the area. Heavier snow ensued on Saturday afternoon and evening with visibility reduced to a quarter mile or less for six-consecutive hours. Thundersnow also occurred during the height of the storm. Saturday became the second-snowiest April day on record for Minneapolis. A total of 11.1 inches was measured, second only to the 13.6 inches that fell on April 14, 1983. The snow from this storm makes this month the city's snowiest April on record. April 1983 previously held the record with 21.8 inches. The snowstorm forced the Minnesota Twins to postpone the entire three-day series against the Chicago White Sox that was originally scheduled from Friday to Sunday. As of 1 a.m. CDT Monday, a storm total of 23.7 inches of snow was recorded in Green Bay, making this the second largest snowstorm in April history. The largest April snowstorm dumped 29 inches of snow on the city in 1888.
14th-15th
In Hawaii, torrential rains triggered severe flooding and landslides across Kauai over the weekend. Numerous water rescues were initiated due to the flooding. The U.S. Coast Guard said it assisted local authorities to rescue hikers in the vicinity of Hanalei Bay on Sunday. Emergency workers rescued people by using jet skis as waters rose between 5 and 8 feet above average along the North Shore. It rained so much in Hanalei that the National Weather Service rain gauge stopped working. The gauge recorded 28.15 inches of rain before failing, meaning a daily record was likely to have been broken.
16th
The northeastern United States is facing severe weather, including flooding downpours and strong winds. In New York City, travel disruptions are mounting as streets and subway stations fill with rain. Hundreds of flights were canceled and delayed at airports across the region, including John F. Kennedy International Airport and Logan International Airport. Central Park had some of the heaviest rainfall in the area with 3.28 inches by noon. Many areas in and around New York City experienced thunder and at least 3 inches of rain over a six- to eight-hour period, which created prime conditions for flooding and morning commute travel delays. Pictures and videos of rain leaking into underground subway stations flooded social media as people headed to work Monday morning.
19th
Temperatures have soared to over 29C in parts of London, making it the warmest April day for nearly 70 years. The unusually warm weather across the UK is the result of low pressure over the Atlantic and high pressure over western Europe drawing in warm air. Thursday's high of 29.1C was recorded at St James's Park in central London during the afternoon, making it the hottest UK day in April since 1949. The highest recorded temperature for this month was 29.4C back in 1949 in London.
24th
Tropical Storm Fakir has caused at least two deaths after it unleashed a direct hit on La Reunion on Tuesday. The island nation of Mauritius also took a direct hit, but there have been no reports of fatalities at this time. A tropical low northeast of Madagascar quickly intensified into Tropical Storm Fakir late on Monday. Traveling through a zone of favorable conditions, the storm spiked to a severe tropical cyclone before hitting La Reunion head on. Wind gusts of 70 mph were reported in Saint Pierre, on the southern end of La Reunion Island on Tuesday morning. Fakir dumped nearly 400 mm of rain across parts of Reunion Island.
26th
Ten teenagers died on an organized trip after flash floods swept across Israel and the West Bank in the afternoon. The Israeli teenagers were on a group hike in the Tzafit Valley near the southern Dead Sea when severe storms hit the area, causing flash floods. Heavy rain lead to flooding in other areas of Israel earlier in the week. Two other teenagers died in other areas of Israel on Wednesday due to flash flooding,
30th
Pakistan has been sweltering in record-breaking heat recently as temperatures reportedly hit 50.2C today, narrowly beating the previous year's record of 50C - the highest temperature ever recorded across the country.

World weather news, March 2018

1st
Fresh heavy snowfalls lashing Europe have caused transport delays, with the deep freeze expected to continue. The blizzard forced the cancellation of all flights at Dublin airport on Thursday and the temporary closure of Geneva airport in Switzerland. Large parts of the Continent continue to shiver in the grip of a Siberian weather system that has brought the coldest temperatures for several years. The cold snap has been given various nicknames in different countries. In Britain it is "the Beast from the East" - with Storm Emma close behind - while the Dutch are calling it the "Siberian bear" and Swedes the "snow cannon". The airport in the Swiss city of Geneva was forced to shut down on Thursday morning but was later reopened after the runway was cleared using snow ploughs. Icy blizzards across Europe have also seen trains cancelled and roads come to a standstill. About 2,000 drivers were stranded on a motorway near the French city of Montpellier, with some complaining of being stuck for as long 24 as hours.
2nd
The death toll from severe weather has risen across Europe, with at least 23 casualties in Poland alone amid sub-zero temperatures, officials say. Shelters have been opened as the plight of rough sleepers is a major concern. More than 60 people have died across the continent, AFP news agency reports. Several countries continued to face disruption caused by snow and ice. The unusually cold spell brought by a Siberian weather system was being felt as far south as the Mediterranean. Flights in and out of Dublin and Cork airports in Ireland were suspended until Saturday at the earliest. All schools in the country were shut and people were urged not to drive. Trains stations were also closed until at least midday on Saturday, and all non-urgent surgeries were cancelled by the country's health authority. In parts of central Italy, ice forced the closure of several roads and railways. At least four people were killed in an avalanche near the ski resort of Entraunes in the French Alps today. In Ukraine, all schools and higher education institutions were told to close in an effort to save gas, after its Russian supplier refused to deliver more fuel. Over the past week, the cold weather has killed seven in Slovakia, six in the Czech Republic, five each in Lithuania and France (excluding the avalanche victims) and at least three in Spain, according to AFP.
2nd-3rd
Severe storms battered the US eastern seaboard, causing coastal flooding and power outages and bringing travel services to a halt. More than a million residences were without power in the Northeast and Midwest while rail operator Amtrak suspended its Northeast service. Heavy rains and damaging winds also led to the cancellation of more than 2,600 US flights. At least six people have been killed, US media report. They died when strong winds brought branches or entire trees down on streets, cars, and homes. Seawater flooded Boston's coastal streets for the second time this year caused by an extreme high tide. 30 cm of snow fell on northern and western areas of New York state. The National Weather Service was forecasting continued coastal flooding on Saturday as the storm slowly moves away from the east coast. Gusts of up to 70 mph have downed trees and power lines in the Washington, DC region. New York's LaGuardia airport suspended all arrivals and departures and rail operator Amtrak temporarily halted service between New York, Boston and Washington. Amtrak tweeted on Friday that its Northeast Corridor service was "temporarily suspended due to multiple weather related issues".
7th
Thousands of people were left without power as a storm brought more than 60 cm of snow to the US east coast. More than 800,000 customers were without electricity, including some who have been without power since last Friday's powerful winter storm. Heavy snow and icy roads prompted officials to close schools and cancel or delay thousands of flights across the region. It is the second storm to hit the US East Coast in less than a week. At least one death has been blamed on the storm. An 88-year-old woman died after she was struck by a falling tree in Suffern, New York, according to the Journal News newspaper. More than 2,000 flights were cancelled as of Wednesday night, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware. The governors of New Jersey and Pennsylvania declared states of emergency, allowing for release of government funds for recovery and redevelopment operations if necessary.
10th
A lightning strike killed at least 16 people and injured dozens more at a Seventh-Day Adventist church in Rwanda. Most of the victims died instantly when lightning hit the church in the southern district of Nyaruguru, local mayor Habitegeko Francois told AFP. Two people died from their injuries, and 140 people were rushed to hospital and health centres. Lightning also killed a student in the area on Friday, the mayor said. The incident in the mountainous region near the border with Burundi took place around midday on Saturday while parishioners of the town of Gihemvu were at a church service.
10th
Two people died in East Texas after severe storms rampaged the area.. Strong winds and hail tore through a campground near Jefferson, Texas, about 130 miles east of Dallas. One woman was killed at the campground and another person was killed 25 miles away after a tree fell on a mobile home.
11th
Cyclone Hola continued its path south-eastwards across the South Pacific this week, brushing along the northern-most fringes of New Zealand's North Island. The cyclone, which intensified to category 4, brought with it heavy rain and strong winds in excess of 70 mph to communities along the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne as well as to the country's capital, Auckland. It was the third big storm to strike the country this year.
12th-13th
A damaging tornado hit the vicinity of Caserta in Campania, southern Italy last night. Significant damage has been reported, as well as at least 15 injuries. Affected areas include San Nicola la Strada, Marcianise, Capodrise, Recale, Portico and Macerata. Reported damage includes damaged roofs on buildings, uprooted trees and overturned cars and larger vehicles. While it is still early in the season, Italy is no stranger to tornadoes. In the past several years it has experienced wedge tornadoes and tornadoes as strong as F4.
13th
The third nor'easter in two weeks has hit the northeastern United States. The region has endured a relentless stream of wintry weather since the start of March, disrupting travel for millions. The most recent storm produced blizzard conditions in New England, dropping more than 2 feet of snow in some areas. Winds gusted past 70 mph. The blizzard brought travel to a halt in Boston as fierce winds and heavy snow limited visibility to just several hundred feet during the height of the storm. Hundreds of flights were cancelled at Boston's Logan International Airport. On Tuesday evening, over 200,000 electric customers were without power across Massachusetts.
15th
Rumblings of volcanic thunder have been recorded for the first time by geophysicists who monitored a series of violent eruptions on an island in the northern Pacific Ocean last year. The thunderclaps were created by lightning in the towering plumes of ash that rose from the Bogoslof volcano in the Aleutian islands. The booms were picked up by microphones on another island some 40 miles away. The sound of volcanic thunder has never been captured before, chiefly because it is so hard to disentangle from the bangs and rumbles that already accompany volcanic eruptions. In the audio recording, the thunder sounds like pops and clicks over the lower-pitched rumble of the eruption. "It's something that people who've been at eruptions have certainly seen and heard before, but this is the first time we've definitively caught it and identified it in scientific data," said Matt Haney, a seismologist at the Alaska Volcano Observatory in Anchorage. The Bogoslof volcano erupted more than 60 times between December 2016 and August 2017, handing researchers the ideal opportunity to record the blasts from the neighbouring island of Umnak. In March and June, microphones picked up the distinctive sounds of volcanic thunder, which arrived at Umnak three minutes after a global network of lightning sensors detected flashes in the Bogoslof ash plume.
17th-18th
Darwin residents are in clean-up mode and tens of thousands are without power or drinkable water after the strongest cyclone to hit the city in 30 years caused widespread destruction. Emergency services said the strength of the storm was "a real wake-up call" for the city. Tropical Cyclone Marcus passed directly through Darwin about midday Saturday as a category two storm, bringing 130 km/h wind gusts and rain, and felling hundreds of large trees and powerlines throughout the city and suburbs. Multiple streets, including the arterial Stuart Highway, were blocked by fallen trees. The cyclone warning was cancelled for Darwin on Saturday afternoon and residents began clearing debris from gardens and streets, using chainsaws to clear trees from blocked roads. Up to 23,000 homes remained without power on Sunday morning and the Greater Darwin area, including Palmerston, was warned to boil water and let it cool before drinking or using it to brush teeth. The region had been on high alert for days, with people preparing cyclone kits, stocking up on food and water, and clearing debris from yards and homes. About 130 people, including homeless people and clinic patients took cover in city shelters on Saturday, including courthouse carparks. The cyclone led to the cancellation of flights in and out of Darwin from Friday night, as well as the postponement of sporting events including the Tiwi Islands footy final and the NTFL grand final.
18th
Tropical Cyclone Eliakim has battered Madagascar with strong winds and torrential rain. The storm made landfall on the peninsula of Masoala in northeastern Madagascar and tracked southwards along the coast. Strong winds battered the island and torrential rain fell on already-saturated land, triggering landslides and flooding. The cyclone comes less than two weeks after Dumazile grazed the east coast of the island nation. Both storms hit Toamasina, Madagascar's second largest city. Images on social media showed widespread flooding with roads and homes inundated. According to local media, at least 17 people were killed by Eliakim and many more have been injured.
19th-20th
One of the largest severe weather outbreaks of the year unfolded from Monday night into Tuesday morning, as damaging thunderstorms spawned tornadoes, hail the size of tennis balls and damaging winds across the Southeast USA. The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center listed nine tornado reports from Monday, all of them in Alabama. Damaging tornadoes ripped through the town of Jacksonville, Alabama, located about 76 miles northeast of Birmingham. As the damage survey continues, and based on an assessment of structures in the vicinity of Jacksonville State University the tornado intensity has been upgraded to an EF-3 with winds around 140mph. "Considerable" damage was reported at Jacksonville State University as campus officials warned students and faculty against traveling to the school as trees and power lines were down throughout campus. The university remains closed on Tuesday due to the extensive damage. Despite the reports of damaged structures, there have not been any reports of injuries or fatalities.
21st
Spring kicked off with another major snowstorm in the northeastern United States. Washington, D.C., and New York City were slammed by the fourth nor'easter of the month, bringing travel to a halt and leading to widespread school cancellations across the region. Hundreds of accidents were reported across the region. More than 8 inches of snow fell in Central Park, breaking a daily record. That amount of snow occurs once every 20 years during this time of year in New York City. Washington, D.C., received 4 inches of snow before the snow tapered off on Wednesday afternoon.
23rd
Dust from a sandstorm in the Sahara desert is causing snow in eastern Europe to turn orange, transforming mountainous regions of Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria and Romania into Mars-like landscapes. The unusual scenes are believed to be created by a mix of sand, dust and pollen particles stirred up and swept across from storms in northern Africa. According the meteorologists, the phenomenon occurs roughly every five years. Steven Keates, a weather forecaster at the UK's Met Office, told the Independent: "As the sand gets lifted to the upper levels of the atmosphere, it gets distributed elsewhere. "Looking at satellite imagery from Nasa, it shows a lot of sand and dust in the atmosphere drifting across the
26th
More than 40 people have been rescued from floodwaters at two Cairns (Australia) caravan parks after deluges from ex-cyclone Nora overwhelmed emergency services. Desperate residents and visitors called state emergency services workers for help on Monday night as flash flooding swamped the parks on the city's outskirts. Lance Duncan from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) said authorities had been expecting the rain, but the strength of the downpour had been unexpected. "We weren't prepared for 100 mm of rain in a minute," Duncan said. The region is bracing for major flooding with the Barron River expected to reach its highest level in a decade, while Townsville has also been told to prepare for heavy falls as the weather system moves south. Port Douglas was hit with nearly 600 mm of rain in the 24 hours to Monday morning, while Kuranda, just north of Cairns, had more than 400 mm with nearby Barron Falls raging with water. Port Douglas residents have also been told the town's water supply is at critical levels because the local water treatment plan is struggling to cope with the continued rain.
31st
March 2018, goes on record as the hottest March ever experienced in Bahrain since 1902. The mean temperature of the month was 24.6C which is 3.6 degC above the long-term normal and goes on record as the highest mean temperatures for the month of March since 1902. The old record was 24.2C in March 1969.

World weather news, February 2018

1st
Cyclone Fehi sparked evacuations and a state of emergency along New Zealand's west coast as the storm affected the North Island on route to the nation's South Island. A state of emergency was declared for South Island's cities Dunedin and Buller. Cyclone Fehi was downgraded to a severe storm as it moved past New Caledonia, according to the Fiji Meteorological Service. Earlier New Zealand's Civil Defence announced the Nelson Tasman Group Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been activated, with a number of evacuations throughout the region in coastal areas. The majority of flights in and out of Wellington on the North Island were delayed, diverted or cancelled. The nation's Civil Defence was urging people who reside on the Otago Peninsula and West Harbour to go home early for safety reasons as a king tide is due at around 5pm local time (0400 GMT). A king tide comes just after a new or full moon, when there is the greatest difference between high and low water.
3rd
Moscow has seen its heaviest snowfall in a day since records began, with more than 2,000 trees brought down and air travel disrupted, officials say. More than half the monthly average snow - 38 cm - fell on Saturday, beating the previous record from 1957. A falling tree and collapsing power line killed one person and five others were injured. Dozens of flights have been delayed at the Russian capital's airports.
6th-7th
The heaviest snowfall since December 2010 caused travel chaos across northern France, including Paris, into Wednesday. As of 6 a.m. Wednesday local time, 12-15 cm of snow had fallen in Paris and caused significant travel disruptions. Snowfall of this magnitude occurs in Paris every 10 to 20 years according to Meteo France. The snowfall forced restrictions on vehicles over 7.5 tonnes and caused travel traffic jams totalling more than 700 km across the city and surrounding areas Tuesday evening, according to France 24. The snow forced the closure of the Eiffel Tower from Tuesday into Wednesday; however, the snowy scene caused travellers and locals to flock to the iconic structure for a snow-covered picture.
7th
A winter storm is leading to widespread disruptions across the northeastern United States. The heaviest snow fell along a zone stretching from central Ohio to the coast of Maine with many locations across interior New England measuring over 6 inches of accumulation. Thes storm stretches about 2,000 miles from the storms in the South to the snow impacting New England. Some airlines began cancelling flights scheduled for Wednesday on Tuesday afternoon in anticipation for the inclement weather.
8th
A winter storm moved across the eastern United States on Wednesday, unleashing rain across the southeastern U.S. while snow and ice fell from the lower Midwest to the shores of New England. More than 200 flights were cancelled at Newark Liberty International Airport, where the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was also reporting delays up to 1 hour and 40 minutes on arriving flights. In total, over 1,000 flights were cancelled across the northeastern on Wednesday. Major travel disruptions unfolded as the storm delivered heavy snow and a slippery, icy mix in the Northeast. A Southwest Airlines plane skidded sideways off a runway at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport while preparing for takeoff, according to the FAA. There were no injuries reported among the 149 passengers onboard Flight 906, which was due to depart for Montego Bay, Jamaica. Erie, Pennsylvania, received enough snow to take this season's total to 152.1 inches, making it the snowiest winter in the city's history. The previous record was 149.1 inches, set in the 2000-2001 season.
9th-13th
Powerful Cyclone Gita caused widespread damage to parts of Samoa and American Samoa last week before targeting Tonga Monday night into Tuesday. An emergency declaration was made by the governor of American Samoa which was approved by President Donald Trump allowing aid to be distributed to the island territory. Flooding and power cuts were widespread across Tutuila, including the capital of Pago Pago where rainfall in excess of 150 mm was reported. In Samoa, there were no immediate reports of injury or death from the cyclone, according to Radio New Zealand. More than 350 mm of rain fell in the capital city of Apia from Friday into Saturday. Widespread flooding was reported along with damage to buildings from strong winds. Niue was next in the path of Gita; however, the island was largely spared as Gita passed east and south of the island nation Sunday into Monday. Gita continued to strengthen as it turned westward and approached Tonga Monday night into Tuesday. The centre of the storm passed just south of Tonga unleashing damaging winds, flooding rain and inundating storm surge on Tongatapu and Eua. At its closest approach to Tonga, Gita was equal to a Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic and east Pacific oceans with sustained winds of 232 km/h. Tonga's Parliament House was completely destroyed in the storm's fury, according to the Associated Press. The Tonga Met office was also damaged, forcing forecasters to take shelter and shift warning responsibilities to the Fiji Met Service.
11th
South-east Queenslanders experienced severe storms in the evening, which dumped huge hail and wreaked havoc on the power network. By Monday morning repair crews were scrambling to restore power to about 57,000 properties that remained without power after destructive winds, gusting beyond 100 km/h in some places, downed hundreds of power lines across the region. The severe weather also caused delays to train services on the Gold Coast and Beenleigh lines. The wild weather, after a day of baking heat across much of Queensland, generated more than 265,000 lightning strikes.
18th
Tropical Cyclone Kelvin crossed the Western Australian coast on Sunday morning near Anna Plains station, about 250km south of Broome, as a category 2 storm. Cattle producer David Stoate said the property, which includes 20,000 cattle, copped a "belting" with roaring wind, roofs knocked off, windows smashed and trees uprooted. He estimated the damage to be about $150,000. Elsewhere in the region, lives and homes remained in danger on Sunday afternoon, with a red alert in place for people between the Bidyadanga Aboriginal community and Sandfire in the Kimberley region. People were warned to remain inside and shelter in the strongest part of their homes or at the evacuation centre, away from doors and windows, and to keep emergency kits with them.
19th
At least 17 people were killed after being buried by debris when heavy rain caused a large mound of garbage to collapse in Mozambique's capital. The disaster took place at the Hulene garbage dump, the largest such facility in Mozambique's capital of Maputo. The garbage dump rose up to the height of a three-story building and collapsed onto homes as heavy rain poured down, the AP reported. A weather station in Maputo recorded nearly 90 mm of rain in 24 hours, ending on Monday morning, local time.
20th
After leaving destruction from Samoa to Tonga, Cyclone Gita brought more damage as it hit New Zealand, unleashing powerful winds and heavy rainfall. Despite losing its tropical characteristics, the powerful storm still caused travel disruptions, power outages and significant flooding. A state of emergency has been declared in Taranaki, Selywn, Buller, Grey, Westland, Nelson/Tasman and Christchurch regions, according to the New Zealand MetService. A peak wind gust of 130 km/h was reported in Hawera. Up to 14,000 homes were left without power during the peak of the storm in Taranaki region as a result of the high winds. The heaviest rain has fallen over northern South Island and southern North Island where 25-75 mm has been common. The February rainfall in Wellington has surpassed 75 mm as of Tuesday night. Normal rainfall for the entire month of February is around 89 mm. Similarly, rainfall has surpassed 50 mm in Christchurch which averages only 45 mm for the entire month. The storm has also disrupted travel with numerous road closures and cancelled flights.
20th
An Australian town has been hit by a dust storm that covered the outback community in orange dust. The storm swept through Charleville in south-west Queensland on Tuesday, knocking down trees and causing minor damage. Authorities said recent weather conditions had allowed strong winds to pick and spread dirt from the region. "We do see a fair few dust events through the western parts of Queensland because it is such a dry and hot place, but it's definitely one of the more impressive events of the last few years," said Harry Clark, from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology. He estimated the dust storm was about 200 km wide. It gave winds of up to 60 mph, while visibility at the local airport was reduced to about 200 m.
24th-25th
At least five people have been killed as a strong storm system caused flooding, hail and high winds in central and southern US states over the weekend. Three people died in Kentucky as tornadoes ripped through the state. Emergencies were declared in several states as heavy rainfall continued to cause widespread flooding on Sunday. The governor of Indiana issued disaster declarations for 11 counties due to flooding. Tornadoes were also recorded in Tennessee, with sustained winds recorded of up to 125mph (200km/h). No deaths were reported there, but a teenage girl was injured by falling debris at a basketball game on Saturday night after a reported lightning strike. The Ohio River was measured at 18 m deep - its highest level for 21 years.
26th
Homeless people in parts of Brussels will be detained overnight if they refuse shelter to protect them from sub-zero temperatures this week. The mayor of Etterbeek, a Brussels neighbourhood that is home to many European Union offices, said he had asked police to take all homeless people to shelters even if they were unwilling. The mayor of Brussels City, one of 19 councils that make up the greater Brussels region, said he had given similar orders to police and asked them to prioritise children sleeping outside. Officials in Lithuania say this winter's record low temperatures claimed the lives of at least three people over the weekend in Vilnius. Seven people have received treatment for substantial frostbite to their hands and feet in the past few days. The impact of the cold weather has been felt across the continent, although not as severely as in the Baltic states. Schools have been disrupted across Italy and Romans woke to the rare sight of the capital city covered in snow on Monday. It was the heaviest snowfall in Rome in six years and the largest for the end of February in decades. The city, which is not well equipped to deal with snow emergencies, asked other areas to send in snowploughs to help clear roads. Only one runway was operating at Rome's main airport, Fiumicino. Its second airport, Ciampino, was closed overnight allowing workers to clear a runway so it could reopen on Monday morning. On Sunday night, temperatures in Moscow dropped to nearly -20C, the coldest night of the Russian winter so far. Roman Vilfand, the chief of the Russian meteorological office, said Muscovites should brace themselves for frosty weather in early March and could only "count on the warmth of the soul", not higher temperatures outside. In Germany, meteorologists reported a record cold for this winter of -27C on Zugspitze, the country's highest peak. In the UK, the bookmaker Coral slashed the odds on March being recorded as the country's coldest ever month. In Romania, where temperatures plunged to -8C on Monday, the mayor of Bucharest, Gabriela Firea, announced schools would be closed in the capital for at least two days. Schools were also closed elsewhere in Romania. In Croatia, about 1,000 soldiers joined efforts to clear the snow in the worst-affected areas where more than 1.5 metres of snowfall has been reported. Schools have been closed in the north-west and heavy vehicles have been banned from all roads leading toward the coast.

World weather news, January 2018

3rd
Winter storm Eleanor has swept into most of northern Europe, including France and Germany after battering the UK, cutting power to tens of thousands of homes and affecting transport. A skier died in the French Alps and 15 others were injured elsewhere in the country, four of them seriously. Two people were killed when they were swept away by a huge wave on Spain's northern Basque coast. A train was blown off its tracks in Switzerland, leaving several people with minor injuries. One person was hit by a falling tree in the Netherlands. In northern France, the storm cut power to more than 200,000 households and Eleanor is set to move to other regions throughout the day, including Corsica. Air travel was also disrupted in the capital, Paris, and in the east of the country. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower was closed because of the strong winds. The city's parks have also been closed until the storm dies down because of worries over falling tree branches. A skier was killed by a falling tree in Morillon, in the Haute-Savoie region of eastern France. In Germany, the storm - named Burglind there - has swept over much of the country. It packed gusts of more than 120km/h in the west of the country and led to transport disruption, reports say. Switzerland has also been badly hit, with some 14,000 homes without power. The high winds left several people stranded in a ski lift in St Gallen canton, overturned a light airplane in Stans and snapped the 13m (42ft) high Christmas tree in the capital Bern, Reuters news agency reports. Meanwhile, record wind gusts of 195 km/h were recorded on Pilatus Peak near the Swiss city of Lucerne, broadcaster SRF reported. In the Netherlands, more than 200 flights were cancelled at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. Several main roads and train lines were also closed.
5th
In the Australian state of Victoria, peoples are being told to get ready for extreme temperatures this weekend. A total fire ban was issued across the entire state for Saturday, with Melbourne tipped to experience its hottest day in almost two years. There was an all-day ban on lighting open-air fires and the Country Fire Authority was advising residents living in fire-prone areas to activate their bushfire plans. Melbourne was expected to swelter through 41C in the city on Saturday, with northerly winds reaching up to 40km/h. That would be the hottest day the city had experienced since 13 January 2016, when temperatures soared to 42.2C.
5th
Heavy snow has cut off the Alpine ski resorts of Cervinia in Italy and Adelboden in Switzerland, as stormy weather continues to batter Europe. Italian media report that Cervinia, in the Aosta Valley, is half-buried under 2 m of fresh snow. About 10,000 tourists are stuck there. A similar emergency has gripped Adelboden, where the army was mobilised to clear debris from a landslide. In many resorts the avalanche risk is at level four, out of five in total. The weather jeopardised a World Cup ski race that is scheduled to take place this weekend in Adelboden. The landslide cut the resort's road to Frutigen. But reports in Swiss media say the race will go ahead and the authorities are working to repair the road. In Austria's Tyrol region, the avalanche risk is high too and many roads are blocked. In Vorarlberg it is at level four. In the French Alps, ski pistes have been closed at Val d'Isere - one of the biggest resorts - and Chamonix has stopped most of its ski lifts. Three people died due to storm Eleanor in the French Alps: a 93-year-old woman whose home was flooded in Isere, a farmer buried by snow in Savoie and a skier killed when a tree toppled in Morillon.
6th
North America's East Coast is shivering in a record-breaking freeze in the wake of a deadly "bomb cyclone" that dumped snow as far south as Florida. In Canada, high winds have knocked out power for tens of thousands of residents in Nova Scotia. On Wednesday, snow fell in Tallahassee, Florida, for the first time in more than 30 years, causing travel chaos in the region. Five inches of snow fell in Charleston, South Carolina, making it the third snowiest day since the city began keeping records in 1938. On Friday, the National Weather Service (NWS) predicted dangerously low temperatures moving into the weekend as frigid air lingering over the North Pole prowls towards the US mid-Atlantic region. "An arctic outbreak will keep temperatures 20F to 30F degrees below average across the north-eastern US," the NWS said. In Massachusetts, residents of Boston, which received over 30 cm of snowfall, were clearing the streets with shovels. Giant waves caused by the storm saw freezing floodwaters inundate parts of the New England coast. The extreme weather has so far been linked to up to 19 deaths in the US and two more in Canada. Four deaths were reported in traffic accidents in North and South Carolina. Further fatalities occurred in Wisconsin, Kentucky and Texas. In Philadelphia, a car was unable to stop at a railway line at the bottom of a steep hill and was hit by a commuter train, killing a passenger in the vehicle. In Virginia, a girl was fatally struck by a car while sledging, and a 75-year-old man was killed after being hit by a snow plough. A 13-year-old girl died and 35 others suffered carbon-monoxide poisoning in an apartment building in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where the temperature averaged 20F on Thursday night. Seven of those treated were first responders. The extreme weather caused travel chaos and led to the cancellation of thousands of flights on Thursday and Friday. Most flights have since resumed at airports in New York and Boston. Experts say the so-called bomb cyclone storm drew moisture and strength from as far south as the Caribbean Sea. In Canada, the provinces of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador are both under winter storm and blizzard warnings. On Friday morning, Nova Scotia Power said some 125,000 customers were still without power after 140 km/h wind gusts hit parts of the maritime province. Power cuts have also been also reported in New Brunswick and Newfoundland. Ontario is under an extreme cold warning, while Quebec faces heavy snowfall, strong winds and storm surges. Boston harbour's tide gauge matched its record at 15.1ft - previously set during the great blizzard of 1978. Flooding affected the city's newly renovated seaport district and deluged a downtown subway station. The storm has so far forced hundreds of schools and businesses to close in New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, the Carolinas, Maryland and Virginia. The weather pattern has already brought snow to the US South as far down as Florida, where the cold snap has caused iguanas to lose their grip and fall from trees. Natural gas prices in the US north-east have risen to an all-time high, driven by demand for heating fuel.
7th
The Australian city of Sydney has experienced its hottest weather in 79 years with temperatures in the region hitting as high as 47.3C in Penrith, west of Sydney. Severe fire warnings were issued for the greater Sydney area and total fire bans were put in place across the city. Sunday's temperatures fell short of the scorching heat to hit the area in 1939, when the mercury reached 47.8C.
7th
Snow started falling on the Algerian town of Ain Sefra in the early hours of Sunday morning, giving children an opportunity to race each other down the slopes. Rising temperatures meant it began to melt later in the day. It is the third time in nearly 40 years the town, known as "The Gateway to the Desert", has seen snowfall. In 1979, a snowstorm lasting half an hour stopped traffic. Two years ago, snow settled for around a day, and the town saw snowfall again last year.
8th-9th
Thousands of tourists are stranded in Swiss ski resorts after heavy snow in the Alps cut off towns and villages. Skiing is not possible as slopes are closed because of the danger of avalanches. More than a metre of snow fell in parts on Monday alone. On Tuesday, a metre more is forecast. The avalanche risk is set at the rarely used maximum on a five-point scale. This is the highest it has been for almost ten years. Many schools have been closed and some houses evacuated. Snow has blocked road and rail links to many ski resorts In the resort of Zermatt, home to the famous Matterhorn mountain, more than 13,000 tourists cannot leave.
10th
Rescue workers in southern California are searching for survivors after mudslides and flooding in which at least 13 people have died. More than 30 miles of the main coastal road have been closed and police said the scene "looked like a World War One battlefield". A group of 300 people are reportedly trapped in Romero Canyon neighbourhood east of Santa Barbara, with rescue efforts due to resume at daybreak. The death toll is expected to rise. Some 163 people have been taken to hospital. Twenty had "storm-related injuries" and four were critically hurt. The first rain in months caused mudslides when it hit ground that had been scorched by December's huge wildfires. In some places mud was waist-deep, officials said. Thousands had to leave their homes, many for the second time in two months. The emergency services declared an exclusion zone, saying anyone moving around the area would be in the way of rescuers and would be subject to arrest. Boulders the size of small cars were rolling down hillsides and blocking roads.
16th
Motorists were warned to drive with caution as snow and ice affected large parts of Scotland. Dozens of schools were closed in the Highlands and Dumfries and Galloway, after overnight snowfall. Police reported dealing with jackknifed lorries on the A9 at Dalwhinnie, and on the M74 between Lockerbie and Moffat. Wintry conditions forced Inverness airport to close for a time. Flights in and out of Aberdeen Airport were also affected and Glasgow Airport was closed for a while as the runway, taxi and passenger routes were cleared.
16th
People living in some of the coldest places on earth are hunkering down as temperatures fall to near-record lows that are even defeating thermometers. Temperatures in the remote, diamond-rich Russian region of Yakutia on Tuesday plunged to -67C in some areas. In Yakutia - 5,300 km east of Moscow - where students routinely go to school in -40C, school was cancelled throughout the region. Local police also ordered parents to keep their children at home. Over the weekend, two men froze to death when they tried to walk to a nearby farm after their car broke down. Three other men who were with them survived because they were wearing warmer clothes, local investigators reported on Monday. The press office of Yakutia's governor said Tuesday all households and businesses in the region have working central heating and access to backup power generators. In the village of Oimyakon, one of the coldest inhabited places on earth, state-owned television showed mercury falling to the bottom of a thermometer that was only set up to measure down to -50C. In 2013, Oymyakon recorded an all-time low of minus -71C.
16th-17th
Snow swept across the southeastern United States on Tuesday and Wednesday, chilling the region and causing widespread road closures and flight delays from southern Texas through North Carolina. The winter storm unfolded across the Gulf Coast states on Tuesday with snow, sleet and ice making some roads impassable from Houston through Birmingham, Alabama. Stretches of Interstate 10 were closed from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday due to snow and ice. By Wednesday, the focus of the snow shifted from the Gulf Coast to the Carolinas. Areas near the coast saw little to no accumulation, but accumulations of 4 to 8 inches were common farther inland. The heaviest snow occurred in an area just to the northwest of Durham, North Carolina, where there was 8 to 12 inches. Wintry weather was blamed for a slew of road closures and accidents across areas from Texas to Kentucky. The snow and ice also forced school and government offices to close and numerous flight delays out of major hubs like Houston and Atlanta.
16th-17th
Hundreds of drivers spent the night in their cars after becoming stranded due to heavy snow. Mountain rescue teams were sent to help those stuck on the M74 in Dumfries and Galloway after severe weather led to closures at Millbank and Beattock. Public transport has been disrupted and schools remain closed in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Disruption was also reported on the M62 trans-Pennine motorway, although by Wednesday morning traffic was able to move. Scottish Borders Council has said no schools will open in its area.
18th
Severe gales caused disruption to much of the UK - with gusts of up to 70 mph. Police in several areas, including Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Gloucestershire, reported fallen trees on or near roads. Damage to overhead electric wires caused problems for train services in the Midlands, and drivers are being warned to take extra care on the roads. In Scotland, police urged motorists to drive with "extreme caution" in the wintry conditions. Drivers in Scotland and northern England were being warned not to travel at all until after 0500 GMT, the first such warning issued since high winds in January 2013. Rail commuters faced delays in London, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire. In Sydenham, south east London, a train hit a tree. Scottish Borders Council said no schools would open today, affecting 15,000 pupils.
18th
Dutch authorities have suspended all flights to and from Amsterdam Schiphol airport as a severe storm causes transport chaos in the Netherlands. Most rail traffic has also stopped as winds gust at up to 140 km/h. Police have closed the centre of Almere, a city with about 200,000 residents lying just east of Amsterdam. They tweeted an alert warning people to stay at home because of risk from the storm. The Dutch Railways (NS) and operator ProRail said overhead power lines had been damaged by the wind, as well as some railway tracks. High winds have also toppled trees and caused structural damage in western regions of Germany, where the storm is called "Friederike". The national train operator, Deutsche Bahn, has suspended rail traffic in North Rhine-Westphalia and parts of neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state. Dozens of flights are also being cancelled in Germany - at Cologne/Bonn airport every fourth flight has been scrapped. An emergency siren wailed in the city of Duisburg, warning residents that they should stay indoors, German news website WDR reported. Eight people were killed in storm-related accidents; three people died after being hit by falling trees and debris in the Netherlands and one in Germany. Those killed in Germany also included two firefighters and two lorry drivers whose vehicles were blown over. The storm later moved east into Poland. It was the most powerful storm to hit Germany for 11 years.
21st-22nd
A powerful storm unleashed blizzard conditions and over a 30 cm of snow across the midwestern United States this week. The snowstorm began over the Rockies on Sunday, forcing nearly 200 flights to be cancelled at Denver International Airport. The heaviest snow fell along a narrow swath from northwestern Kansas through Nebraska, northwestern Iowa and south-central Minnesota, with widespread totals of 8-14 inches. Visibility became so poor that the Platte County Highway Department in Nebraska pulled snow removal crews off the roads on Monday morning. The Minnesota State Patrol reported over 600 crashes and vehicle spin-outs as well as dozens of jackknifed semi-trailers from midnight to 8:45 p.m. CST Monday.
22nd
Heavy snow affected the Tokyo metro area. Tokyo picked up 23 cm of snowfall, making it the heaviest snowfall there since February 2014, when 27 cm fell. There were more than 600 traffic accidents due to the slippery road conditions in Tokyo, and hundreds of flights were cancelled. Reuters reported that about 50 cars got stuck on the Rainbow Bridge along Tokyo's waterfront. Traffic jams trapped cars inside a tunnel for up to 10 hours. Travel by train was also affected when a train failed to make it up a slope due to the snow, causing the Yurikamome Line to come to a halt, the Japan Times reported.
22nd
Thousands of people have been stranded by heavy snowfall at ski resorts in the Alps, with many unable to return home following skiing holidays. Train lines and roads to Zermatt in Switzerland and St Anton in Austria have been blocked off, and authorities are asking people to remain in their accommodation for safety reasons. While some tourists were airlifted out of Zermatt by helicopter, flights were stopped following a deterioration in weather conditions. Authorities in Zermatt have been attempting to clear the snow using helicopters. At St Anton in Austria, police have restricted travel in and out of the town to cars with snow chains, while firefighter escorts transported some people to a nearby valley. This is the second time visitors to Zermatt have been snowed in this month.
23rd
A member of Japan's self-defence forces died and about a dozen skiers were injured after a volcano erupted near a ski resort, triggering an avalanche and sending rocks raining down on the slopes. The skiers were injured when they became trapped by the avalanche or were hit by falling volcanic rocks from Mount Kusatsu-Shirane, according to local media. Five were seriously injured, but none was in a critical condition, rescuers said. Five other members of Japan's ground self-defence force who were taking part in training manoeuvres in the area were rescued, some with injuries including fractures.
24th
As drought continues and water levels plummet in Cape Town's (Soth Africa) dams, residents are facing a slew of new emergency measures. Messages of conservation have fallen on deaf ears, the city said, necessitating a crackdown on usage. "We have reached a point of no return. Despite our urging for months, 60 percent of Capetonians are callously using more than 87 litres per day," Mayor Patricia de Lille said. This week, the government is set to vote on the introduction of a punitive tariff, which will charge residents using above 6,000 liters per month exponentially higher rates for their water. As of February 1, usage will be restricted to 50 litres per person per day to make up for months of overuse. Though desalination plants are set to go online in February and drilling into the aquifer will also take place, officials say the additional resources are too little too late. The city has announced water collection points, which will become the only way to obtain water for personal use if dam levels continue to drop. Taps will be shut off and residents will be able to retrieve 25 liters per person each day from one of 200 collection points across the city.
28th
Authorities in Victoria and South Australia are urging people to behave sensibly and watch out for vulnerable friends and family as the southern states swelter through another extremely hot and humid day. Melbourne and Geelong were forecast to reach 39C on Sunday, with overnight conditions not expected to fall below 27C. Parts of the state's north-west, such as Mildura, were expected to hit 44C following at least a week of temperatures into the 40s. The lack of winds meant there was only "very high" fire danger for around Melbourne, and central north and western parts of the state, and a "high" fire danger in the east. In South Australia, total fire bans were declared for parts of the state. On Sunday afternoon, lives and homes were at risk from an out-of-control bushfire south-east of Adelaide, authorities warned. It was Adelaide's second heatwave this month, following similar conditions the week before which led to the hospitalisation of 40 people.
29th
The swollen River Seine has peaked at more than four metres above its normal level, leaving a lengthy mop-up job for Parisians after days of rising waters. The river rose to 5.84 metres early on Monday morning, causing problems for commuters as well as people living near its overflowing banks. Around 1,500 people have been evacuated from their homes, according to police, while a similar number of properties remain without electricity. The capital's famous Bateaux Mouches rivercraft service was suspended and only emergency services were authorised to use the river. The Seine did not quite reach its 2016 high of 6.1 metres, when priceless artworks had to be evacuated from the Louvre. The December-January period is now the third wettest on record since data collection began in 1900, according to France's meteorological service. A main commuter line, the RER C, will not stop in the city until at least 5 February, and some expressways that run alongside the Seine have been closed. However, fears of flooding like that seen in 1910, which saw the Seine rise to 8.62 metres and shut down much of Paris's basic infrastructure, appeared unfounded. But several areas on the city's outskirts were underwater, including the southern suburb of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, where some residents were getting around by boat and dozens have been evacuated from their homes.
30th
A week-long heatwave has floored New Zealand, breaking temperature records across the country and causing a nationwide shortage of fans. Temperatures have soared above 37C in parts of the South Island, with records broken in Dunedin, Wanaka, Christchurch and many other cities and towns. Temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday or Wednesday around the high 30s or 40C mark - highs that are proving particularly challenging for school children as many New Zealand classrooms are equipped with heaters but not air conditioners. Ben Noll, a meteorologist from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), said unusually warm sea temperatures were the major factor contributing to the heatwave, as the mainland experienced a dramatic rise in land temperatures as soon as the sea rose above average. NIWA has recorded seas of 24C to 26C around Auckland, compared with 18C to 22C at the same time last year. New Zealand was tracking towards its warmest January on record, Noll said, with high temperatures expected to continue into February. New Zealand's current hottest temperature on record was 42.4C, recorded in Rangiora in the South Island in February 1973, according to NIWA.
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Last updated 3 January 2019.