https://watchers.news/2017/06/02/taiwan-flood-nuclear-plant-shut-do...

Deadly 600 mm (23.6 in) of rain within 11 hours floods Taiwan, shuts down nuclear plant

Posted by TW on June 02, 2017 in categories Earth changes, Featured articles, Floods, Nuclear events, Severe storms

Brutal amounts of rainfall hit northern Taiwan today, June 2, 2017, killing at least 1 person, leaving 2 missing and injuring more than 20. Heavy rain toppled electricity pylon near New Taipei's Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant, resulting in the automatic shutdown of the plant. The rains have since moved toward the center and south of the island and are expected to continue through the weekend.

Some areas of the affected region saw water surging into cars, homes and businesses after more than 600 mm (23.6 inches) of rain fell in under 11 hours. Channel News Asia reported the body of a female motorcyclist was found after being washed into a ditch in New Taipei City, one of the worst hit areas.

According to the National Fire Agency, two people, one from New Taipei City and the other from the city of Keelung are missing after being swept off, while a road bridge in the area was smashed in half by a swollen river. At least 20 people were hurt in the deluge, including a driver injured when his truck overturned and another man hurt after being buried in a mudslide.

Around 15 hikers were also stranded on a mountain in central Miaoli because of a surging river, but were thought to be unharmed and with sufficient supplies. At a kindergarten in Taipei, 53 children had to be evacuated as floodwater poured in, local media said. More than 300 flights were delayed at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport.

Taipower said the 345-kV tower fell at 10:31 local time, resulting in the automatic shutdown of the New Taipei's Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant reactor No. 2 - a safety mechanism activated whenever a reactor cannot transmit power, The China Post reported. Local media sources indicated that neither the reactor nor the generator was damaged during the incident. However, for safety reasons, the restarted reactor will remain running at 75% capacity - the level at which it was running when the shutdown occurred - until it runs out of fuel, which is estimated to be June 10 or 11.

The rain started late Thursday, June 1, and was easing up in Taipei by Friday afternoon (local time). However, huge amounts of rain that fell within just 11 hours caused major flooding. Friday's record holder is Sanzhi District in New Taipei City whose Sanzhi station registered staggering 645.5 mm (25.4 inches). Nantianchi station in Taoyuan District of Kaohsiung City received 638 mm (25.1 inches).

72 hours of rainfall accumulation by 12:00 UTC (20:00 local time) on June 2, 2017.

Rainfall accumulation by station for June 2, 2017 - Taiwan. Source: Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau

Total accumulated precipitation - Taiwan, June 2, 2017. Credit: Central Weather Bureau

According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty, moisture from what was once Tropical Cyclone "Mora" moved along the Mei-yu front across southeastern China and Taiwan, leading to the very heavy rainfall. 

"The Mei-yu front is a semi-stationary boundary that forms during the late spring and summer across southeastern Asia," he said.

Douty added that this front is notorious for triggering torrential rainfall and that he expects additional rounds of rainfall along the front to exacerbate the flood risk into this weekend.

The heaviest downpours are likely to focus on southern Taiwan on Saturday before spreading back to the north on Sunday.

Featured image: Extreme amounts of rainfall flood northern Taiwan on June 2, 2017. Credit: NOWnews

June snow in Moscow – just as Trump pulls US out of Paris climate deal (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)

© Grigory Sysoev / Sputnik

Source: https://www.rt.com/viral/390647-moscow-snow-climate-change/

Summer Snow in Lapland Prompts Ski Resort to Reopen (Jun 5)

The skiing season ended in Northern Lapland in mid-May, but the weather there is still so cold and snowfall so frequent that the Saariselkä resort will reopen its slopes, which are currently up to a metre deep in snow.

May 2017 will go down as one of the coldest spring months on record in Finland, and in Lapland the beginning of summer has been the second-snowiest in the Meteorological Institute's recorded history.

The situation has lead the Saariselkä ski resort in Inari to reopen its skiing slopes, weeks after the official season ended.

"We're all set in terms of snow, more will even fall this week," says ski centre manager Jarmo Katajamaa. "We are glad to offer our customers this unique post-season possibility."

Early June has been unusually snowy even for Lapland, and at Saariselkä the drifts are 50-100 cm deep.

Local hotels have taken the reopening into consideration by offering bargain packages in June.

The winter skiing season officially ended on May 14th at Saariselkä this year.

Source

https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/summer_surprise_snow_in_lapland_...

Water, Water Everywhere - US Drought Conditions Hit Record Low

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-05-11/water-water-everywhere-us-...

After reaching record drought conditions just a few short years ago (with over 60% of the nation more than abnormally dry), the USDA's Drought Monitor site shows that the second-wettest April on record has shrunk the area of the U.S. suffering from drought to a new low of less than 5%.

As Bloomberg reports, the milestone was mentioned in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s monthly report Wednesday on American farm production and may bode well for crop yields.

According to the gauge, there’s an “extreme drought” in south-central Florida and it’s “abnormally dry” in parts of the Southwest.

The map also shows the grain and soybean belt from Iowa to Ohio looks to have plenty of soil moisture -- maybe even too much in flooded areas -- as the growing season moves into full swing.

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Previous Years:

Here is the relationship between the Jet Stream and the STORM cells

2 June 2017 -

Bad weather: the profile of today's afternoon thunderstorms is given by Jet Stream

http://www.meteoweb.eu/2017/06/ecco-la-relazione-tra-le-jet-stream-...

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=it&tl=en&js=y&...

We have repeatedly noticed that currents at 7000 meters (Jet Stream) can determine the weather conditions on the ground. We have an example today.

Just look at the image of the afternoon at 15.50 pm in which Italy is seen a lot of thunderstorms. Storm cells, especially those formed on Sardinia but not only, are all very elongated, synonymous with their particular intensity.

To observe the elongation direction well, it coincides exactly with those of the arrows on the radar image, the arrows that indicate the Jet Stream.

Here's how you can notice how bad weather lies exactly in the direction expressed by currents at altitude.

Moreover, the same Jet Streams are of high intensity, the stiffer stretches of the cells are stronger and therefore the level of their intensity is even more marked.

http://strangesounds.org/2017/06/weather-in-cape-town-is-going-out-...

Weather in Cape Town is going out of control.

The worst winter storm in 30 years is currently hitting South Africa’s province of Western Cape and the Cape Town metropolitan area with powerful winds, huge waves and coastal flooding, frequent lightning, heavy rain and snow at higher elevations. It has already killed 8 people and we are not close to an end.

Massive winter storm hits Western Cape, South Africa on June 7, 2017. 

Wind gusts in excess of 80 km/h (50 mph) brought destruction across the region. Around 700 structures in Cape Town have been affected by flooding. Thousands of people are now homeless.

The storm killed at least 8 people and injured many. A lightning killed a family of four ater striking their home in Kraaifontein:

The worst storm to hit the region in 30 years brought Cape Town and neighboring cities to a standstill on Wednesday morning.

At the same time, a massive wildfire is spreading through Southern Cape, forcing evacuations and road closures. 3 people died in flames in their homes in Rheenendal, today.

The storm came amid the worst drought the region has seen in more than 100 years, but experts predict it will take at least 3 wet winters to replenish drinking water supplies.

wildfires in cape town. via Twitter

Due to this severe weather anomaly, schools across the Western Cape have been closed today, and are expected to re-open tomorrow, June 8.

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2017/06/11/severe-storms-hail-power-o...

Storms Leave 165,000 Without Power in Minnesota and Wisconsin

 

More than 100,000 homes were without power Sunday morning after storms lashed central Minnesota and western Wisconsin with heavy rains, hail and strong winds. 

Xcel Energy reports that the fast-moving storm, which felled trees and power lines in communities throughout central Minnesota, initially affected 132,000 households, most of which were in the Twin Cites metro and St. Cloud areas. 

The utility company says more than 500 people were dispatched Sunday to repair outages, adding that by mid-day 45,000 households had their power restored. Still, around 88,000 households remain without power. 

By 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Xcel reported nearly 131,000 customers had their power restored. Around 34,000 households were still without power as of Sunday night. 

Xcel said some customers could be without power for multiple days. 

The severe weather started overnight in the Dakotas before pushing east into central Minnesota, dumping heavy rain and up to tennis-ball-sized hail. Wind gusts whipped up to 70 mph. 

The front edge of the storm system slammed directly against the Twin Cities metro, felling trees and power lines. Cars and homes were hit with debris, and authorities reported fires believed to be caused by lightning strikes. 

Streets in many communities were flooded with rainwater. In several places, mounds of hail could be seen floating on the floodwaters like small icebergs. In Coon Rapids, so much hail fell that streets had to be plowed. 

Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says the storm could likely have caused more than $100 million worth of damage in the Twin Cities. 

Outside the metro, WCCO viewers sent in images of mangled grain bins and farming equipment. One dairy farm in Pennock, in west-central Minnesota, says the storm destroyed its barns, leaving its cows and heifers homeless. 

While the storm moved through Minnesota in just a few hours, it pushed into western Wisconsin, prompting tornado warnings. Just last month, a tornado killed a man at a trailer park in Chetek. 

As clean-up and damage assessment gets underway, efforts could be hindered by storms Sunday evening. 

The National Weather Service says that afternoon and evening storms could develop, again hitting the metro area and southeastern Minnesota with strong winds and hail.

Massive hailstorm coming out of nowhere pounds gathering in Bengladesh – People flee for their lives (video)

http://floodlist.com/america/honduras-floods-choluteca-june-2017

Honduras – Deadly Floods in Choluteca After 190 mm Rain in 24 Hours

Two people have died and over 250 forced from their homes after flooding in Choluteca Department, southern Honduras.

A yellow level alert for heavy rain was issued on 10 June for the southern and western departments of Choluteca, Valle, Lempira, La Paz, Intibucá, Santa Bárbara, Copán and Ocotepeque.

Rainfall warnings in Honduras. 

National Permanent Commission of Emergencies (COPECO) says ravines flooded and rivers overflowed in the city of Choluteca on Saturday 10 June.

The city recorded 83.2 mm of rain in 24 hours to 10 June, with 68.0 mm falling in just 6 hours. During a 24 hour period between 10 and 11 June, Choluteca recorded 190.6 mm of rain.

Over 100 houses have been damaged and 10 totally destroyed. As many as 253 people have been displaced and 554 have been affected by heavy rain and floods in the 9 neighbourhoods of the city.

COPECO also reported two deaths as a result of the severe weather in the department. One death occurred in Choluteca when a man attempted to cross a flooded ravine. A fatality in Talanga was caused by a tree falling on a house.

COPECO has delivered humanitarian aid to around 500 people who were affected by the floods.

Many of those evacuated were housed in local buildings such as churches in the neighbourhoods of San Francisco del Palomar, La Providencia and Sampile.

The city has a population of around 100,000 and sits on the river Choluteca River in the south of the country between El Salvador and Nicaragua.

Parts of El Salvador also recorded heavy rain recently, with 55 mm falling in 24 hours to 11 June in Acajutla.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4614930/Portugal-forest-fir...

Portugal forest fires claim at least 57 lives with 18 people 'incinerated' as they are trapped in their cars

• The the devastating forest blaze broke out on Saturday in central Portugal 
• 59 people are injured, 'many' people are still missing and homes are ruined
• Portugal has had temperatures of up to 40C with wind and lightening storms which have fuelled the flames
• Some 600 firefighters have been fighting the blaze, helped by Spanish rescuers
• It is possibly the deadliest-ever single forest to rage through the country

At least 57 people are now known to have died and 59 people are injured in the devastating forest fire in Portugal.

At least 18 people died while trapped in their cars as flames swept over a road, in what the prime minister has called 'the biggest tragedy of human life that we have known in years.' 

It is possibly the deadliest ever single forest blaze to hit Portugal.

Flames rise during a forest fire in Pedrogao Grande, Leiria District, Center of Portugal. At least 57 people have been killed, including many people who were trapped in their cars as flames swept over the road 

Of the 59 people injured, four are in a serious condition, and four firefighters and a child are all injured. 

Teams of psychologists have been deployed to care for survivors, who are 'in shock' and have lost relatives.

The blaze has been described as 'almost impossible to control' and emergency services have spoken of a 'horrible scenario'. 

Firefighters work to put out a forest fire near Bouca, in central Portugal. The forest fires have already claimed 39 lives, 59 people are injured and at least two people are missing

A lightning strike is believed to have sparked the blaze in the Pedrogao Grande area after investigators found a tree that was hit during a 'dry thunderstorm,' the head of the national judicial police told Portuguese media.  

The death toll is expected to rise further during the day as 'many' people were said to be still missing. 

A man stands on the roadside watching a wildfire at Anciao, Leiria, central Portugal. The wildfire has killed at least 43 people and injured 16 others, many of them burning to death in their cars, the government said today

Several roads of Pedrógão Grande have been cut off as firemen still battle the blaze on four different fronts, fanned by the heat and wind. 

The Pedrógão Grande area is 50 km (30 miles) south-east of Coimbra, a UNESCO world heritage site and university town popular with tourists and international students.  

It is not yet known if any British people have been impacted by the deadly blaze. 

The updated death toll was released today by Jorge Gomes, the secretary of state for internal affairs, having climbed from the 19 initially announced dead late yesterday.

Portuguese National Republican Guard firefighters work to stop the fire from reaching the village of Avelar at sunrise today. 16 people died in their cars when fire reached the road

'We are facing the greatest tragedy of human victims of recent times by a disaster of this type,' said the Portuguese prime minister, António Costa.

Dry thunderstorms - which it is now believed are responsible for fueling the fire - are frequent when falling water evaporates before reaching the ground because of high temperatures. 

Portugal, like most southern European countries, is prone to forest fires in the dry summer months.

'This is a region that has had fires because of its forests, but we cannot remember a tragedy of these proportions,' said Valdemar Alves, mayor of Pedrogao Grande. 'I am completely stunned by the number of deaths.'

Authorities had previously said that 40 C (104 F) heat in recent days might have played a part in the inferno about 150 kilometers (95 miles) northeast of Lisbon.  

A huge wall of thick smoke and bright red flames towered over the top of trees near houses in the wooded region. Local resident Isabel Brandao told The Associated Press that she had feared for her life.

'Yesterday we saw the fire but thought it was very far. I never thought it would come to this side,' she said. 

'At 3:30 a.m., my mother-in-law woke me up quickly and we never went to sleep again. We were afraid the fire would reach us.'  

The European Union has activated its civil protection efforts to help fight the fires. EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said the 'EU is fully ready to help'

Prime Minister Antonio Costa said that firefighting crews were having difficulties in approaching the area because the fire was 'very intense.' He added that Portuguese authorities were working on identifying the victims and that Spanish rescuers would assist in efforts to control the blazes.

Portugal's civil protection agency, which coordinates the firefighting efforts, issued a warning of the increased risk for forest fires in Friday. Citing the high temperatures, it said that all outdoor fires were prohibited. 

At least 16 people died in their cars on a road between the towns of Figueiro dos Vinhos and Castanheira de Pera - an inland area with many hotels and holiday resorts. 

18 people are currently confirmed as having died in their cars.

Interior Ministry official Jorge Gomes said that three others died from smoke inhalation in Figueiro dos Vinhos.

The blaze broke out on Saturday afternoon in the municipality of Pedrógão Grande, central Portugal. 

'Many' people are said to be missing and homes have been destroyed.

Portugal has been experiencing soaring temperatures of up to 40 degrees and this, coupled with the wind, has been fueling the flames.

Portugal has been experiencing soaring temperatures of up to 40 degrees and this, coupled with the wind, has been fueling the flames. Some 600 - 700 firefighters have been fighting the blaze, helped by Spanish rescuers

600 - 700 firefighters have been fighting the blaze, helped by Spanish rescuers.

Efforts are now being made to confirm the identity of the victims. 

The European Union has activated its civil protection efforts to help fight the fires.

EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said the 'EU is fully ready to help'.

He said Spain and France are both sending aircraft to help fight the flames.

Portugal's soccer team has expressed its condolences for the victims of forest fires that have claimed at least 57 lives. The team's players, including Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Fernando Santos, signed a statement saying 'in this sad hour we send our deepest sympathies to the families, friends and loved ones of the victims of the fires'

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy tweeted that he is 'overwhelmed by the tragedy at Pedrogao Grande. The Portuguese people can count on our solidarity, support and care'. 

Pope Francis has led thousands of people in a moment of silent prayer for the victims of the Portugal fire.

Francis referred to the 'devastating fire' at the end of his Sunday prayer, delivered from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square.

The crowd fell silent and Francis bowed his head to recall the 'many victims' of the blaze.

Francis visited the Portuguese shrine of Fatima last month. 

Portugal's soccer team has expressed its condolences for the victims of forest fires that have claimed at least 57 lives.

The team's players, including star Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Fernando Santos, signed a statement saying 'in this sad hour we send our deepest sympathies to the families, friends and loved ones of the victims of the fires.'

Portugal's team is in Russia, where it is set to start the Confederations Cup later on Sunday against Mexico.

IT'S BRUTAL! Record breaking heatwaves across Britain Europe and US as roads melt in the UK and too hot to fly in parts of US

Photo funtobebad.blogspot.com

• Roads melting in the UK 
• Hottest June day since 1976
• Commuters in Croydon refused to use trams after noticing the track appeared to be disintegrating
• Streets of Las Vegas and Phoenix have been reduced to ghost towns as temperatures hit 118F 
• Elsewhere, extreme heat baked southern Spain as the mercury eclipsed 44 C (112 F) in Cordoba

UK heatwave
Gritters were deployed to shore up failing roads as temperatures on the surface reached 104F (40C), causing them to melt.
Cambridgeshire County Council took the decision to deploy the vehicles after motorists complained that their tyres had started 'ripping the tarmac off the roads.'
Drivers were warned by police to take care on the B1165 near Newton in Cambridgeshire, where the tarmac has melted, and Agnes Owen, who works at a service station nearby, said that it 'sounded like cars were driving on water.'
Evan Laughlin, from Cambridgeshire County Council, said gritters had been used to distribute granite dust to stabilise the road surface and stop bitumen becoming stuck on wheels.
"Normally the roads stand the summer temperatures we get, but just this week it's very hot," she said. Motorists in Tarleton, Lancashire also discovered tar on their wheels as the roads melted., while some commuters in Croydon refused to use trams after noticing the track appeared to be disintegrating. Transport for London said they had thrown sand down to help protect the rails.
Rory O'Neill, TfL's Director for London Trams, said: "The flexible sealant near the track has been softened by the current hot weather and although it is having no impact on the safe running of the tram network, we appreciate it may look concerning to customers.
"Our engineers are on site and, as is standard procedure, they are applying sand to mitigate the effect of the heat."
Elsewhere pupils were sent home from a school in East Yorkshire after refusing to wear blazers as temperatures soared past 86F (30C). Kingswood Academy in Hull said the children were defiant over their uniforms, but parents complained that teachers had put their health at risk.
Allergy charities also warned that the hot weather could trigger fatal attacks and said sufferers should stay away from rural areas and avoid leaving windows open at night and early in the morning when pollen counts were at their highest.

US heatwave
As for how hot is too hot for planes to fly at all, experts tell us it shouldn't be an issue unless temperatures get over 120 degrees and that is exactly the type of temperatures California and Arizona have been suffering as many flights have been suffering
The Daily Mail reports, the streets of Las Vegas and Phoenix have been reduced to ghost towns as temperatures hit 118F and climbing during a punishing heat wave that has grounded planes and left door handles so hot they can leave people with burns.
Temperatures are predicted to reach 120F on the first day of summer in Phoenix, and the heat wave is threatening to bring the 'deadly' temperatures to several parts of Arizona, Nevada and California as well.
Las Vegas is likely to hit 117F on Wednesday, as excessive heat warnings cover almost all of California.
The National Weather Service has been forecasting Tuesday highs of 120F or above in Phoenix for the past several days, a number not seen in the desert city for more than 20 years.

 Europe heatwave
Accu weather reports the historic heat that developed across much of Spain over the past week will continue this week with no relief until this weekend.
Madrid set an all-time June high temperature on Saturday when the temperature reached 40.3 C (104.5 F) at Madrid-Barajas Airport.
High temperatures will range from 35-39 C (95-102 F) each day through the weekend in Madrid. 

Elsewhere, extreme heat baked southern Spain as the mercury eclipsed 44 C (112 F) in Cordoba last week.
High temperatures between 39 and 42 C (102 and 108 F) are expected this week.
All of France will endure the highest temperatures of the year so far as the heat builds each of the next several days.
The high temperature reached 35 C (95 F) in Paris on Tuesday, and similar temperatures expected on Wednesday and Thursday.
The last time the temperature surpassed 35 C (95 F) in Paris in June was 2011 when the temperature reached 36 C (97 F).
Similar temperatures are impacting Holland and Belgium.

Source: http://www.thebigwobble.org/2017/06/its-brutal-record-breaking-heat...

https://www.rt.com/viral/394721-berlin-floods-weather-surfer/

Cyclists persevere, surfer thrives as monster floods hit Berlin (VIDEOS, PHOTOS)

A cyclist rides on a flooded street during heavy rain in Berlin, Germany, June 29, 2017. © Fabrizio Bensch / Reuters

Houses have been evacuated and the Berlin fire brigade had been called to nearly 800 incidents as the city’s infrastructure struggles to deal with the widespread floods, Die Welt reports.

Firefighters have declared a state of emergency in the German capital. 

Traffic has been hugely affected as many roads have become impassable because of flood water or fallen trees. Sections of the city’s A100 motorway have also been temporarily shut.

Public transport has been severely restricted with some subway stations forced to close because of the deluge.

The empty flooded entrance of Spichernstrasse subway station Berlin, Germany, June 29, 2017. ©Fabrizio Bensch / Reuters

Numerous cars have been submerged by the flood waters. However, despite all of this, people are still finding ways to move around the city.

The floods gave one man the opportunity to hop on a paddleboard and surf through the flooded streets.

Unfortunately for Berliners there is no end in sight as Friday looks set to bring further torrential downpours. Die Welt report that there will be between 30 and 70 liters of rain per square meter.

Heavy rain has also caused flooding in other parts of Germany, including Niedersachsen and Baden-Württemberg.

Sky split open: Moscow hit by ‘downpour of the century’ (VIDEOS, PHOTOS)

© anniegreen_12 / Instagram

“In less than 12 hours the city expects 15-20 mm of rainfall, which is almost a third of the monthly norm. The daily maximum precipitation for June 30 is 22.3 mm, it was marked in 1923,” Moscow weather services told TASS, adding that the capital hasn’t seen a storm like this in 94 years.

Muscovites were awed by apocalyptically overcast skies just before the storm.

View image on Twitter

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“This post is for those who forgot their umbrellas at home,” one person wrote.

The winds could reach 24mps, according to the Moscow emergency services, which advised people to stay at home. 

Blitzortung.org website, which provides lightning and thunderstorm information in real time, released a map of the Moscow storm online.

Some parts of the city were battered with quite sizeable hail.

Muscovites did not lose their sense of humor in the storm. “It’s nice when ice for cocktails is falling from the sky,” one person wrote.

One of the hashtags launched was #ливеньвека (#downpourofcentury).

“And this is called ‘Summer!’” another person wrote with some bitterness.

At least eight passenger planes which were due to arrive in Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports, had to land in Domodedovo airport which was the least affected by the storm, an official from State ATM Corporation, an air navigation service, told RIA Novosti. Two more planes had to divert to St. Petersburg and Kazan, the official added.

Around 4,400 people were left without power in Moscow and Moscow Region on Friday, the Energy Ministry said in a statement. 

With streets flooded across the city, a video emerged apparently showing a Moscow man tackling the waters in his inflatable boat. He was wearing fishing gear and even took his fishing rod with him, apparently hoping for a catch.

Source: https://www.rt.com/news/394826-moscow-storm-hail-rain/

Severe storms leave flooding in Rockford IL area

http://wgntv.com/2017/06/28/severe-flooding-reported-in-the-rockfor...

Heavy rain pounded the Rockford area Wednesday night.

Tornado warnings were issued and severe thunderstorms dropped torrential rainfall across portions of north central Ilinois Wednesday evening with severe flooding reported in around Rockford. Numerous cars were stranded, viaducts are flooded and Kent Creek is out of its banks.

Many basements are flooded as the heavy rainfall continues.

Doppler estimates indicate that 3 to upwards of 5 inches of rain have already fallen in the area. The Rockford Airport has measured 2.37 inches within two hours with the rain still falling.

In Loves Park, streets were covered with several inches of water. Cars stalled when they tried to navigate the flooded roads.

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Heavy Rain Leads To Flooding, Floating Cows Around Maryville, Missouri

http://kcur.org/post/heavy-rain-leads-flooding-floating-cows-around...

The National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, issued a Flash Flood Warning for counties in northwest and north-central Missouri Thursday morning after a string of severe storms dumped up to a foot of rain in the area, starting Wednesday night. 

Video I took of what appears to be a tornado (unconfirmed) on the ground in far eastern Nodaway County, Missouri. #mowx pic.twitter.com/08fubJRMFJ

— Mark Zinn (@NPNowZinn) June 28, 2017

The heaviest flooding seemed to be focused around Maryville. There were reports from the Nodaway County Sheriff's Office of cows floating across highways east of Maryville.

"There have been numerous road closures, we have heard of one water rescue, there have been reports of  floating cows, floating livestock up by the Maryville area," said Scott Watson senior service hydrologist with the Kansas City National Weather Service.

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Heavy rain brings flash floods and havoc in Mexico City

http://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/heavy-rain-brings-flash-floods-and-...

Transportation infrastructure hard hit as up to 70 millimeters recorded in Mexico City

The rainy season is in full swing once again in Mexico City where a deluge caused havoc yesterday.

Heavy rains lashed the city beginning in the late afternoon, causing flash flooding that stranded motorists in their submerged vehicles, forced the closure of key transportation infrastructure and flooded people’s homes.

Up to 70 millimeters of rain fell on some parts of the city.

The boroughs of Miguel Hidalgo and Azcapotzalco were the worst hit although the deluge also affected other boroughs and the wider metropolitan area.

There have been no reports of fatalities.

Last night Mexico City Mayor Miguel Ángel Mancera stated that 2,000 government workers on 20 teams were working to restore affected roads in the capital.

Flooding was particularly severe on the city’s most famous boulevard Paseo de la Reforma and important ring road Circuito Interior, with some vehicles completely submerged by the rapidly accumulating waters.

Police and other emergency services came to the rescue of stranded motorists.

The city government also granted free access to the elevated road network known as the segundo piso to relieve traffic congestion after several arterial roads were cut off.

Line 7 of the Metro system was also affected with nine stations closed. Metro chief Jorge Gaviño said that some 30,000 people were affected.

Water inundated tunnels on the line and although pumps were working at their full capacity they couldn’t cope so it was decided to suspend service.

The rest of the system remained unaffected.

The river Río de los Remedios also burst its banks, mainly affecting the México State metropolitan municipalities of Naucalpan and Ecatepec.

State authorities deployed the emergency response team Grupo Tláloc — aptly named after the Aztec god of rain — to the area to attend to around 120 homes that were inundated by the rains and consequent flooding of the river. Some families were evacuated to a temporary shelter at a public hospital in Naucalpan.

State Infrastructure Secretary Francisco González Zozaya attributed the flooding to a blocked drainage system caused by an accumulation of trash, a common occurrence in the city.

More rain is forecast for later today possibly accompanied by electrical storms and hail in Mexico City and parts of the State of México although the boss of Mexico City’s water system ruled out any possibility of it matching the intensity of yesterday’s downpour.

Several other states in the central part of the country are also experiencing wet weather.

Temperature in Iran hits 129F (53.7C) - the hottest in the country's history and one of the highest ever in the world

• Temperatures hit 129F (53.7C) in the city of Ahvaz in south west Iran on Thursday
• It came close to world record 134F (56.6C) set in Death Valley, California in 1913
• Conditions in Ahvaz are forecast to dip back down to below 117F (47C) today

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4653924/Iran-temperature-hi...

Temperatures in Iran have reached 129F (53.7C) making it the hottest day in the country's history and one of the highest ever in the world.

The scorching conditions were recorded in the city of Ahvaz in Iran's south west on Thursday, according to a French meteorologist.

It was a June record for Asia and came close to the world record 134F (56.6C) measured in Death Valley, California, on July 10, 1913.

Temperatures in Iran have reached 129F (53.7C) making it the hottest day in the country's history and one of the highest ever in the world.

The scorching conditions were recorded in the city of Ahvaz in Iran's south west on Thursday, according to a French meteorologist.

It was a June record for Asia and came close to the world record 134F (56.6C) measured in Death Valley, California, on July 10, 1913.

Kapikian said the mercury climbed to 53.7C - eclipsing Iran's previous high of 53C. 

According to USA Today, the heat index, which takes humidity into account, was even higher reaching 142F (61.1C)

Temperatures in the region are forecast to dip to below 117F (47C) today.

-------------------------------------------------------

It was 129 degrees in Iran Thursday, which is one of the Earth's hottest temperatures ever recorded

https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2017/06/29/129-degrees-iran-...

The southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz soared to a brutal 129 degrees Thursday, which is Iran's highest temperature ever recorded. 

It's also one of the world's hottest reliably measured temperatures and the highest June temperature in Asia on record. 

The information comes from Etienne Kapikian, a meteorologist with Meteo France, the French national weather service.

Officially, he said the temperature was 53.7 degrees Celsius, which is 128.7 degrees Fahrenheit. Iran’s previous hottest temperature was 127.4 degrees.

Another weather source, the Weather Underground, said Ahvaz hit 129.2 degrees Thursday afternoon. The heat index, which also takes humidity into account, hit an incredible 142 degrees. 

Fortunately, the weather forecast for Ahvaz on Friday is for "cooler" weather, with a high of only 119 degrees, according to AccuWeather.

The official all-time world record temperature remains the 134-degree temperature measured at Death Valley, Calif, on July 10, 1913. 

https://www.rt.com/viral/394840-rome-fountain-drought-heatwave/

Rome fountains run dry as heat wave sparks ‘exceptional’ drought across Italy

The fountains – nicknamed ‘nasoni,’ or big noses for their long nozzles – are a source of relief for residents and tourists alike during the hot summer months, continuously dispensing water on piazzas and street corners.

© Andrea Ronchini / Global Look Press

The water, which is drawn from the volcanic Lake Bracciano to the north of the city, will be stopped Monday.

“We know perfectly well the inconvenience that this will cause, but it is due to the exceptional drought,” Paolo Saccani, the head of the utility company that manages the fountains, wrote in a letter to Virginia Raggi, Rome’s mayor.

Local authorities are alarmed by the falling level of the lake in recent months – but while the city has laid the blame for the measures on the heat wave, others have highlighted the city’s poor plumbing and infrastructure.

“There will be negative consequences for everyone,” said Carlo Rienzi, the president of Codacons, a consumer rights organization. “Turning off the fountains will force tourists and citizens to buy bottles of water in bars and shops and prices will no doubt be hiked up. The fountains represent just one percent of Rome’s wasted water, against 50 percent caused by pipeline leaks.”

Almost all regions of Italy have experienced lower than average rainfall so far this year. Such is the water shortage in regions such as Emilia Romagna and Tuscany, some northern areas have declared a regional state of emergency.

With temperatures topping 43 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country on Friday, meteorologists are predicting that temperatures will remain high for the remainder of the summer.

There are more than 2,800 fountains in Rome, with some dating back over 2,000 years.

Many tradespeople, including food vendors and market stalls, use the fountains on a daily basis and are likely to be dramatically affected by the shutdown.

Mercury rising: Heatwave in Bulgaria kills 5 with many more taken to hospital as temperatures hit 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 degrees Fahrenheit)

photo ibtimes.co.uk
Five people died on Saturday as soaring temperatures hit the Bulgarian capital Sofia where the mercury was expected to reach as high as 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 degrees Fahrenheit), hospital sources said.
By midday (0900 GMT), the city's emergency services had provided assistance to around 200 people who felt unwell, emergency services spokeswoman Katia Sungarska said.
She advised residents not to leave the house during the day and not to call the emergency services except in cases of urgency in order to allow ambulances to reach those in serious need.
Sofia has for years suffered from a chronic shortage of ambulances, with a fleet of just 25 vehicles serving a city of around two million people.
The red alert for extreme heat was activated on Saturday in 17 regions across the country for the first time this summer.

Source: www.thebigwobble.org/2017/07/mercury-rising-heatwave-in-bulgaria.html

China - Major Yangtze River tributary breaks record flood level 

The submerged Orange Isle scenic area is seen in flood-hit Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, July 2, 2017. Days of torrential rain in Hunan Province raised the water level of the Xiangjiang River, a major tributary of Yangtze River, to exceed its record flood level Sunday morning. (Xinhua/Long Hongtao)

CHANGSHA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Days of torrential rain in central China's Hunan Province raised the water level of the Xiangjiang River, a major tributary of the Yangtze River, to exceed its record flood level Sunday morning.

The water level in the section of the river in Changsha, capital of Hunan, reached 39.21 meters at 6:30 a.m., higher than the previous record of 39.18 meters set by a massive flood in 1998.

Already at 3.2 meters above the warning level, the water level is expected to continue to rise as heavy rain is forecast for upstream regions over the next few days.

As of 2 p.m., the water level had risen by another 0.21 meters to 39.42 meters, according to Changsha flood control office.

Local authorities issued a red alert Sunday afternoon, warning that water levels along the whole course of the Xiangjiang River are forecast to be near or above record levels during the next three days.

Meanwhile, the water levels in Dongting Lake and several other major rivers in Hunan have all risen above warning levels, worsening the flood control situation.

Currently Changsha is on high alert with workers inspecting every 50 meters of the dikes to guard against potential breaches.

Hundreds of officials and residents in Yuhua district worked overnight Saturday building a wall of 65,000 sandbags to block water from flowing into the city area.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 workers in Tianxin district were reinforcing dikes and pumping water to manage potential flood threats.

More than 2,000 paramilitary police have joined locals to repair damaged dikes and helped evacuate over 7,000 residents in cities of Shaoyang, Yiyang, and Huaihua.

Hunan has experienced severe flooding after ongoing torrential rain over the last 10 days. Since June 22, flooding has inundated parts of several cities, forced 311,300 people to evacuate, damaged 295,160 hectares of crops and destroyed 6,369 houses.

Rainstorms lashed 832 towns in southern and eastern Hunan from Saturday morning to Sunday morning, with Huangtang in Ningyuan County receiving the most precipitation at 264.2 mm within 24 hours.

The water flow from the Three Gorges Reservoir was reduced to 12,700 cubic meters per second Sunday afternoon to reduce the flood pressure downstream.

A rain-triggered mudslide that hit a village in Hunan's Ningxiang County Saturday afternoon has left five people dead, four missing and injured 19 others.

Many parts of the county received over 200 mm of precipitation within 24 hours, with flooding disrupting traffic and telecommunications and raising water levels in reservoirs and rivers above warning levels.

In neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, flooding disrupted railway services with 45 trains canceled, returned to origin or detoured.

The latest round of torrential rain since Saturday has affected more than 230,000 people in 20 counties and districts in Guangxi, left two people dead and one missing.

The National Meteorological Center issued a blue alert for rainstorms at 6 p.m. Sunday, forecasting heavy rain for many parts of east and south China within the next day. The southern coastal regions of Guangxi are expected to receive precipitation of up to 180 mm in 24 hours.

Read more: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-07/02/c_136411593.htm   

IDF halts training exercises due to extreme heat ISRAEL

03.07.17
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4984110,00.html

Due to extreme temperatures being observed throughout Israel, the IDF has cancelled all training exercises over safety concerns.

Heat wave sizzles throughout Israel

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4984120,00.html

Like something out of a certain Johnny Cash song, Israel seems to be in a burning ring of fire, with extreme temperatures being recorded all throughout the country, causing emergency services to issue special instructions warning citizens of heat-related dangers.

Israel is currently in the midst of an extreme heat wave, with severe temperatures being observed in all parts of the country.

"In some areas, temperatures are approaching extreme values that are not normally measured," said meteorologist Tzachi Waxman.

According to Waxman, temperatures are expected to be around 47 degrees Celsius (116 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Jordan Valley, Beit She'an, the Dead Sea and the Arava.

In fact, temperatures are so high in certain parts of the country that one man cooked an egg on the hood of his vehicle.

The extreme heat poses a significant safety issue and the IDF has even taken precautions, cancelling all training exercises Monday for fear of heat strokes and dehydration.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-weather-idUSKBN19P1AH?il=0

Too much rain: China's floods roil hydropower, corn supplies

Rescuers pile up sandbags to block flood waters at a flooded village in Yiyang, Hunan province, China July 4, 2017. 

Severe flooding across southern China has forced the world's largest power plant to slash capacity on Tuesday, delayed grain on barges and damaged farms along the Yangtze River, as the death toll rose to 56 and economic costs hit almost $4 billion.

Heavy rainfall, mudslides and hail caused by the annual rainy season has killed 56 people and 22 people were missing across 11 provinces and regions as of Tuesday morning, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

More than 750,000 hectares (1.85 million acres) of crops have been damaged and direct economic losses totaled more than 25.3 billion yuan ($3.72 billion), it said.

The government said it had disbursed 700 million yuan ($103 million) in emergency aid to four flood-hit provinces - Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan and Guizhou.

Rain in the southern provinces is expected to ease in the coming days, but weather forecasters predict downpours will move to the southwestern province of Sichuan.

In what analysts said was a move unprecedented in its scale, the Three Gorges and Gezhouba, two of China's top hydropower plants, closed as much as two-thirds of their capacity to avert flooding further downstream on the Yangtze River.

The move stoked concerns about electricity supplies from China's second-largest power source as a heatwave continued to scorch northern parts of the country, raising the export prices of coal, the fuel the country uses to produce most of its power.

Coal from Australia's Newcastle terminal rose to its highest since April, with mining outages tightening supply amid strong northern hemisphere summer demand.

The annual rainy season, which arrived in the second half of June, has hit southern Hunan province, one of the nation's largest hog and freshwater fish producers, the most.

High water levels on the Yangtze, Asia's largest river, also slowed barges carrying grain from northern ports to the south, spurring a rise in freight rates and physical corn prices in some regions, analysts and corn buyers said.

Zhang Yi, a purchase manager at a feed producer in Hunan, said he had three ships carrying about 5,000 tonnes of corn stuck on waterways near the port of Changsha, the capital of Hunan, since Friday.

CORN PRICES RISE ON BARGE DELAYS

Spot corn prices at major ports along the Yangtze and its tributaries, including Changsha, Nanchang in Jiangxi province, and Wuhan in Hubei province, have risen by 30 yuan to 1,800 yuan a ton since last week, according to data provided by China National Grain and Oils Information Center, a government think tank.

China usually transports corn from northern growing regions to the ports in the south. Then the grain is shipped along the Yangtze and its branches, to central and western provinces including Hunan, Hubei, and Sichuan.

The Yangtze river's large watershed also accounts for 60 percent of the nation's freshwater fish output.

Cao Delian, manager of the Dabeinong Changlin fish farm, estimated that he has lost about one-third of his carp due to the deluge.

"It's the biggest loss we've seen in at least 5 years," he told Reuters.

On Monday, a natural gas pipeline in Guizhou owned by China National Petroleum Corp collapsed due to a mudslide, causing an explosion that killed at least eight people and injured another 35.

In his office in Liuyang, a city near Changsha, Zhang was hoping water levels would continue to subside on Wednesday.

"I have stocks of corn that can last for four to five days. As long as it does not rain tomorrow, Changsha port can resume operation and I will get my corn offloaded," Zhang said.

doovi.comdoovi.comAnother glimpse of the future! After deadly heatwave of 44 degrees Celsius 200 liters of rain per square meter floods parts of Bulgaria

Photo doovi.com
Another glimpse of the future, an astonishing amount of rainfall hits Bulgaria after heatwave kills 5 with many more taken to hospital as temperatures hit 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 degrees Fahrenheit). In the Western Bulgarian town of Samokov, the municipality is assessing the damage done by the torrential rainfall experienced Monday.
Mayor Vladimir Georgiev told Bulgarian National Television (BNT), last night, 15 teams had been busy draining people's homes after the rain had turned streets into rivers.
In Samokov itself, but also in villages around the town, a lot of damage had been registered to the infrastructure.
According to Georgiev it is too early to release figures, since the damage needs to be calculated first. Several streets were damaged, while basements, houses and apartments were flooded.
This includes public buildings.
During the heavy rainfall, the authorities on site received 560 calls.
In the region around Samokov, 200 liters of rain per square meter had fallen on July 3, 2017.
By now, the situation in Samokov has normalized.
Mayor Georgiev has promised help to affected inhabitants.
Five people died on Saturday as soaring temperatures hit the Bulgarian capital Sofia where the mercury was expected to reach as high as 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 degrees Fahrenheit), hospital sources said.
By midday (0900 GMT), the city's emergency services had provided assistance to around 200 people who felt unwell, emergency services spokeswoman Katia Sungarska said

Source: http://www.thebigwobble.org/2017/07/another-glimpse-of-future-after...

Kenya enjoys rare snowy feel, but meteo agency says it was hail storm

 http://www.africanews.com/2017/07/05/kenya-enjoys-rare-snowy-feel-b...

 Kenyans on Tuesday evening (July 4) took to social media to celebrate a rare case of snow falling in the East African country.

Photos and videos shared on social media showed whitish substance on the streets of the town of Nyahururu located in the country’s Laikipia County.

The Kenyan Meteorological Agency, however, clarified and explained that the incident was a case of rare hail storm and not snow. ‘‘For it to snow temperatures are usually below 0°C,” they explained.

Zambians enjoy snowy feel in May

Zambians in the capital Lusaka and surrounding towns in May had their fair share of the snowy feel as residents woke up one morning to find streets and backyards filled with ice.

In the case of Zambia, local news portals reported that the incident was as a result of a rare hail storm that fell after a heavy rainfall the previous night.

Snow rarely falls in Africa but on mountains in South Africa, the Maghreb and on Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro. However, hailstones do fall sometimes in southern Africa when the temperature hits record lows.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-06/japan-floods-almost-500000-as...

Japan floods: 11 missing, 500,000 to evacuate after days of torrential rain in Fukuoka and Oita

Landslides were reported in several areas, and one man was dug out from the mud without signs of life, public broadcaster NHK said.

At least 11 people were missing or could not be reached, including a child, and many more were stranded and calling for help across areas of Fukuoka and Oita prefectures on the Japanese island of Kyushu.

Children and teachers at a school were among those cut off by the floodwaters.

Japan's weather bureau said the amount of rain in the region had broken all records and was continuing to fall.

Parts of Fukuoka prefecture were hit by 774 millimetres of rain in nine hours on Wednesday, more than two times the amount of rain that falls in a normal July, NHK said.

The massive landslides caused by the flooding left at least two houses swept away.

PHOTO: Record amounts of rain have fallen in parts of south-western Japan...

Some 7,500 rescuers, including police, firefighters and soldiers from Japan's Self Defence Forces, were mobilised to help with evacuations and search for the missing.

Officials said the military presence could be expanded up to 5,000 people and 50 helicopters if needed.

Residents flee to higher ground

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said: "There are many reports of people whose safety cannot be confirmed, things like 'a child was swept away by the river' and 'my house was swept away and I can't get in touch with my parents'."

"We will keep in close contact with the disaster-hit areas and work with all our energy to save lives and ascertain the extent of the damage," he told an early morning emergency early morning news conference.

Fukuoka and Oita prefectures, both largely rural areas, were the worst-hit by the rain, which was caused by a low pressure area on the Pacific Ocean that fed warm, moist air into Japan's seasonal rainy front.

Residents spent a worried night at evacuation centres set up at schools and government buildings on high ground.

PHOTO: The flooded area in Asakura, Fukuoka prefecture, south-western Jap...

"I heard this tremendous rumbling noise and then the house exploded. A tree burst through the wall into the room," a man told NHK.

A schoolboy sitting with his family told NHK: "I haven't heard from some of my friends, and I'm really worried."

There were no immediate reports of major transportation problems, but television footage showed a railway line left broken and twisted and roads swept away by floodwaters.

All operations were stopped at a Daihatsu Motor plant in Oita because road conditions stopped staff and parts getting to the plant.

The same area was pounded by heavy rain earlier this week from Tropical Storm Nanmadol, which has since passed out to sea.

https://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/100-mile-house-fire...

Thousands forced to flee as over 150 wildfires rage in B.C.

Saturday, July 8, 2017, 8:51 PM - Thousands of people have been forced from their homes in central and coastal regions of British Columbia as over 180 wildfires continue to rage across the province.

Now at 3,200 hectares and growing, the so-called "Gustafsen Fire" was first reported on Thursday and is spreading rapidly, less than 10 kilometres from 100 Mile House.

Emergency management made the decision to expand evacuation orders to an estimated 2,050 properties in 150 Mile House, 108 Mile Ranch, and Lac La Heche on Friday amid fears that the fire will continue to spread aggressively. The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) also issued an alert for about 220 other properties.

The B.C. Wildfire Service reported the blaze as 0 per cent contained as of Saturday afternoon, adding that the 3,200 hectare size was an estimate as smoke made ascertaining the exact extent difficult.

The service's Saturday afternoon statement warned the public to be cautious on roads and stay away from the fire area, saying the fire "is expected to grow substantially in the next hours and the amount of growth is dependent on weather and wind conditions."

B.C.'s Chief Fire Information Officer Kevin Skrepnek told Global News the fire is, “burning in some relatively dense timber, so it’s an aggressive fire, it’s burning quite hot and that has challenged our efforts."

The fire, initially estimated at 500 hectares in size after its discovery on Thursday, blossomed overnight thanks to very dry conditions and increasing winds. A ridge of high pressure is expected to keep the area hot and free from showers through at least Monday, though dry lightning is possible; all things that would work against crews working to contain the blaze.

"The weather is key," Al Richmond, chairman of the CRD told CBC Saturday. "If the weather stays low, that helps. But if things pick up again, that'll be tough."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 

Ashcroft Reserve Fire

Further south, the Ashcroft Reserve Fire - which also sparked on Thursday - has spread to an estimated 4,000 hectares as of Saturday afternoon. The entire town of Cache Creek remains under an evacuation order. 

The B.C. Wildfire Service reports that structures have been "impacted" by the fire, but it is not possible to determine how many, due to poor visibility in thick smoke.

Highways 1 and 97 C between Cache Creek and Ashcroft have been closed due to the blaze.

The fire in the community of 150 Mile House, which is just south of Williams Lake, is an estimated 2,000 hectares. The cause remains under investigation.

About 10 km northeast of Princeton, another wildfire continues to rage, scorching an estimated 1,500 hectares. It's zero per cent contained and is currently classified as "out of control."

A mandatory evacuation order in the area has been expanded to 54 total properties. Smoke has made it difficult to safety fight the fire from the ground, according to B.C. Wildfire Service.

Lagos floods: Heavy rain, storms cause chaos - Nigeria WEST AFRICA

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/09/africa/lagos-flood-storms/index.html

Lagos, Nigeria (CNN)Lagos, one of Africa's most populous cities, has been hit by torrential downpour and thunderstorms over the weekend that has left many parts of the city flooded.

Residents in the Lekki and Victoria Island suburbs woke up on Saturday morning to flooding in their homes and their cars submerged under water.

One brave resident took to swimming in the infested waters on Lekki road, an affluent suburb that is home to some of the most expensive real estate in the coastal city.

Another was spotted kayaking across Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, a usually bustling business district.

Nigeria's largest city and commercial capital has been hit by days of persistent heavy rain and storms at the height of the rainy season.

The state government issued a statement urging residents in affected areas to stay at home and for those living in lowlands to 'move uplands.'
"You are implored as much as possible to stay indoors unless it is essential to your safety and livelihood," said Samuel Adejare, the city's environment commissioner.

CONTINUE...

PARIS: EXCEPTIONAL STORM AND FLOODS ON SUNDAY EVENING - FRANCE

Monday 10 July 2017

http://actualite.lachainemeteo.com/actualite-meteo/2017-07-10-08h17...

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=y&...

A storm of rare violence struck Paris on Sunday night. It has caused many floods.

Since Wednesday, temperatures are very high in Paris with peaks above 30 ° C. With the passage of a cold drop of altitude above France, the mass of air was strongly destabilized last night. As a result, severe thunderstorms struck Paris and caused flooding.

1 month of rain in 1 hour

At the Paris-Montsouris reference station, 49.2 mm of rain fell in 1 hour, which corresponds to the rain that normally falls in July. This value constitutes the absolute record all months combined of the cumulative hourly in Paris, which dated to July 2, 1995 with 47 mm.

Many floods

These heavy rains were accompanied by a very important electrical activity. They caused a lot of flooding in the metro stations. CONTINUE...

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pY5KRfAuE8

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Severe Weather Europe

Madrid metro flooding during severe thunderstorms on July 7! Video via partners Cyclone Of Rhodes

https://www.facebook.com/severeweatherEU/videos/2041596242730133/?p...

Europe smashing all time heat records: Parts of Spain to hit 47 deg C 117 deg F today with parts of Italy and Greece hitting mid 40's

Photo fotografia.folha.uol.com.br
Continued deadly heatwave in Spain is smashing all July heat records as Cordoba registered a high of 47 deg C 117 deg F.
The heat has destroyed crops in southern Spain where crops where destroyed by record cold in the winter causing shortages in European supermarkets.
Spain baked in a record-breaking heatwave on Thursday which was blamed for the death of a road crew worker and is suspected of leaving another man in critical condition.
The 54-year-old male victim died of suspected heatstroke late Wednesday while laying asphalt near the town of Moron de la Frontera in the southwestern province of Seville, emergency services said. Temperatures reached 43 degrees Celsius (109 Fahrenheit) in Moron de la Frontera on Wednesday. Spain's largest union said it was investigating how long the man had been working and if the crew had taken special precautions because of the heat.
A 50-year-old man is also critical in hospital after suffering heatstroke on Thursday while replacing pipes in Cabeza del Buey, a town in the southwestern province of Badajoz, local media reported. Spain's meteorological agency said seven cities including the capital Madrid set record temperatures for the month of July on Thursday.
It soared to 40.2 degrees Celsius in Madrid, smashing a previous record of 39.6 degrees Celsius recorded in 2015.
New record highs were also set in Badajoz, Caceres, Ciudad Real, Cordoba, Jaen and Teruel.
The heatwave - caused by a mass of hot air from North Africa will last until at least Sunday, officials say.
Meanwhile in Italy wild fires have broken out around the volcano Mount Vesuvius as temperatures hit the mid 40's C and in Greece The Hellenic National Meteorological Service warns that temperatures are expected to escalate as high as 45C over the next few days as Greece witnesses the summer's continued heatwave.

Source: www.thebigwobble.org/2017/07/europe-smashing-all-time-heat-records....

https://www.rt.com/news/396463-canada-wildfires-city-evacuation/

An evacuation alert was issued for Williams Lake and surrounding areas in Cariboo Regional District on Saturday. 

“All individuals in the City [Williams Lake] and the above areas must evacuate immediately,” the order stated. 

Around 12,000 people live in the city, and the same number of people in the surrounding areas were also ordered to evacuate, CBC Canada reported. 

“We’re a little anxious at the moment. I’ll tell you that,” Sue LaChance, an evacuee, told CBC, “It’s quite surreal actually. I’m almost 50 years old, and this is definitely a first.”

“Winds picked up and huge fires all around us,” Jacinda Mack, a community member who stayed in the city to assist firefighters, told the Vancouver Sun. “Everybody moving north – huge, huge smoke.” 

A nearby fire disrupted Highway 97, north of the city, Mayor Walt Cobb said.

“We made the decision to get everybody while we could, because depending on how the fire went, we might have lost all our access out of town,” he said, adding that mass evacuations blocked roads and “the traffic is very, very thick.”

Local residents were asked to evacuate to the city of Kamloops, 200km from Williams Lake. The authorities created a Facebook page connecting evacuees with Kamloops locals willing to assist. 

According to Cariboo Regional District Chairman Al Richmond, nature is “bringing forward our worst-case scenario.” 

Wildfires have been spreading across swathes of British Columbia since the start of July. Around 40,000 people have been evacuated as 167 active wildfires rage in the province as of Saturday, according to reports in local media. 

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/15/17/17-villages-in-maguindanao-su...

LOOK: Heavy rains flood parts of Metro Manila, nearby provinces

17 villages in Maguindanao submerged in flood water for 2 months now

Seventeen low-lying villages in Kabuntalan town, Maguindanao, have been flooded for two months now because there's nowhere for stagnant water to go and rivers continue to overflow. 

The local government said it expects the flooding to subside by September. 

Flood-water levels are almost 2 feet high, submerging the Sangguniang Bayan headquarters, the police station and several houses. 

Some 3,500 families have been affected, according to the local disaster risk reduction and management council. 

The local government placed the 17 villages under a state of calamity in June due to the extent of damage. 

Kabuntalan is one of the 16 flood-prone municipalities in Maguindanao surrounding the Liguasan marshland. 

The water began to rise in the area on May 23 because of excessive rain.

Extreme cold: Bariloche recorded the lowest temperature in its history- ARGENTINE

July 16, 2017

http://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2017/07/16/frio-record-bariloche-re...

TRADUCED BY GOOGLE

According to the National Weather Service, at 4:22 am there were about 25.4 degrees below zero. Thus, a new minimum mark was established. Delays continue at airports and there are hundreds of tourists stranded, without accommodation and unable to return to their homes

At first it was thought that the worst snowfall in the last 20 years would be enough to subject Bariloche in the height of the winter holiday season. However, the cold also played its part: according to the National Meteorological Service (SMN), the city rionegrina recorded the lowest temperature in its history.

At first it was thought that the worst snowfall in the last 20 years would be enough to subject Bariloche in the height of the winter holiday season. However, the cold also played its part: according to the National Meteorological Service (SMN), the city rionegrina recorded the lowest temperature in its history.

The panorama in the main cities of Patagonia is worrisome. Light cuts, closed steps, canceled flights, tree falls and light poles created a real mess in several cities in southern Argentina. And left practically isolated to an area that was preparing with enthusiasm to receive the winter vacations.

San Carlos de Bariloche itself was one of the cities most affected by the snow storm. Until the last hour of Saturday, about 16,000 users (32% of the total) ran out of light, while route 237 and the junction with National Route No. 40 were interrupted during much of the day.

There are a lot of fallen trees, which destroyed the slopes causing the collapse of the entire poles, "reported from the Electricity Cooperative of Bariloche (CEB).

According to the newspaper of Río Negro, during the whole Saturday 20 flights were canceled from Buenos Aires to Bariloche and three others to Chapelco, in San Martin de Los Andes.

"The issue of the airport was complex, there were practically 36 hours without flights and made several tourists nervous, especially those who want to retur

At the airport we saw scenes of people who want to go back to their homes and get nervous, "

MAP: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bariloche

http://www.sltrib.com/home/5516216-155/story.html

Nine killed, boy missing in Arizona flash flood

July 16 2017

“They had no warning. They heard a roar, and it was on top of them,” says fire chief.

Tonto National Forest, Ariz. • Nine people died and a 13-year-old boy was still missing Sunday after a flash flood tore through a group of family and friends cooling off in a creek in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona.

Gila County Sheriff's Detective David Hornung told The Associated Press that the group from the Phoenix and Flagstaff had met up for a day trip along the popular Cold Springs swimming hole near Payson in central Arizona, about 100 miles northeast of Phoenix, and were playing in the water Saturday afternoon when muddy floodwaters came roaring down the canyon.

The group had set out chairs to lounge on a warm summer day when miles upstream an intense thunderstorm dumped heavy rainfall on the mountain.

Search and rescue crews, including 40 people on foot and others in a helicopter, recovered the bodies of five children and four adults, some as far as 2 miles down the river. The victims ranged in age from a 60-year-old woman to a 2-year-old girl. Authorities did not identify them. Four others were rescued and taken to Banner hospital in nearby Payson for treatment for hypothermia.

Crews were walking Sunday along the banks and scoured a five-mile stretch down the East Verde River and will continue south.

Hornung said the treacherously swift waters gushed for about 10 minutes before receding in the narrow canyon. He estimated flood waters reached 6 feet high and 40 feet wide.

The National Weather Service, which had issued a flash flood warning, estimated up to 1.5 inches of rain fell over the area in an hour. The thunderstorm hit about 8 miles upstream along Ellison Creek, which quickly flooded the narrow canyon where the swimmers were.

"They had no warning. They heard a roar, and it was on top of them," Water Wheel Fire and Medical District Fire Chief Ron Sattelmaier said.

There had been thunderstorms throughout the area, but it wasn't raining where the swimmers were at the time. But it happened during monsoon season, when strong storms suddenly appear due to the mix of heat and moisture in the summer months.

"I wish there was a way from keeping people from getting in there during monsoon season. It happens every year," Sattelmaier said, explaining these are the first fatalities in recent memory.

The flooding came after a severe thunderstorm pounded down on a nearby remote area that had been burned by a recent wildfire, Sattelmaier said. The "burn scar" was one of the reasons the weather service issued the flash-flood warning.

"If it's an intense burn, it creates a glaze on the surface that just repels water," said Darren McCollum, a meteorologist. "We had some concerns. We got a lot worse news."

Hornung said there was no way to notify people of the flash flood warning, as cell service is limited and there are no officials stationed in the area. He said visitors are reminded to be vigilant about the weather.

Seven people were killed in Utah's Zion National Park in 2015 when they were tapped during a sudden flash flood while hiking. The group was trapped by floodwaters in a popular "slot" canyon that was as narrow as a window in some spots and several hundred feet deep.

In 1997, 11 hikers were killed near Page, Arizona, after a wall of water from a rainstorm miles upstream boomed through a narrow, twisting series of corkscrew-curved walls on Navajo land, known as Lower Antelope Canyon.

Croatia is burning and Istanbul - TURKEYis sinking.

Direct from Istanbul FLOODS

JULY 18 2017

https://www.facebook.com/Khneisser.weather/posts/1134485783318323

Istanbul - TURKEY

https://www.facebook.com/Khneisser.weather/photos/a.607320252701548...

https://www.facebook.com/severeweatherEU/videos/2047876628768761/?h...

Istanbul - the highest state of emergency, the Turkish citizens suspended in their cars because of heavy rains and all metro stations were closed due to the entry of rainwater caused by heavy damage. In Short: it is the fateful day of turkey istanbul.

-----------------------------------------------
CROATIA FIRES

https://www.facebook.com/Khneisser.weather/photos/pcb.1134485783318...

The rain in Spain falls mainly… in the form of huge lumps of ice! Footage shows huge hailstones pelting down in savage storm

• Hail stones the size of golf balls caught on film during freak storm in north Spain
• Footage captures the sound of ice hammering down on buildings and farmland
• Pictures emerged showing damaged cars and sheep lying dead on the ground

Footage has emerged showing giant hail stones battering Spain during a savage summer storm.

Lumps of ice the size of golf balls hammered down during the freak downfall which was captured on camera in the north of the country.

Video shows the hail stones coming down with such force that they bounce back up off the ground.

Footage has emerged showing giant hail stones battering Spain during a savage summer storm 

The clip picks up the sound of the hailstones pounding the roof of one building and thudding into the ground outside.

It is not yet known whether the storm, which struck on July 13, caused any injuries.

The freak conditions were the latest to hit Spain this month.

Footage emerged of a hail storm hitting the town of Almazan, just outside the city of Soria - also in northern Spain.

It was so strong that emergency crews needed snow ploughs to clear the streets.

Another storm this month saw hail lash down on Murcia in southern Spain.

Hail falls after drops of water are continuously taken up and down through cumulonimbus clouds. When the drops go to the top of the cloud, they freeze.

Cumulonimbus clouds can grow especially large during summer when hot sun heats the ground causing warm air to rise.

Updraughts in thunderclouds are big and can keep hailstones for a long time, meaning they can get larger and larger by becoming coated with more and more ice, according to the Met Office.

Eventually, when they become too big for the cloud to hold, they fall to earth as balls of ice. 

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4706398/Hail-stone-storm-Sp... 

https://www.iceagenow.info/record-lows-canadian-east-coast/

More record lows on the Canadian east coast

Coldest July 14 since 1871 

New Brunswick 

Issued by Environment Canada Saturday 15 July 2017 

The following stations set a daily minimum temperature record on July 14, 2017: 

Grand Manan 
New record of 3.7 (38.7 F) 
Old record of 5.0 (41.0 F) set in 1992 
Records in this area have been kept since 1883 

Saint John 
New record of 4.7 (40.5 F) 
Old record of 6.1 (43.0 F) set in 1970 
Records in this area have been kept since 1871 

Newfoundland And Laborador 

The following station set a daily minimum temperature record on July 14, 2017: 

Wabush Lake 
New record of 4.0 (39.2 F) 
Old record of 4.4 (39.9 F) set in 1965 
Records in this area have been kept since 1960 

More record lows in Labrador 

Breaks record set 49 years ago 

Issued by Environment Canada - The following stations set a daily minimum temperature record on July 16, 2017: 

Churchill Falls 
New record of 3.9 C (39.0 F) 
Old record of 4.1 C (39.4 F) set in 2013 
Records in this area have been kept since 1968 

Wabush Lake 
New record of 2.0 C (35.6 F) 
Old record of 3.6 C (38.5 F) set in 2013 
Records in this area have been kept since 1960

Drought, water in Rome is about to end: "The government declares state of emergency" ITALY

July 22, 2017

"The alarm of the president of the Regione Lazio Zingaretti who stated that the water in Rome was about to end was unfortunately predictable due to the environmental emergency due to drought and fire"

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=it&tl=en&js=y&...

"The alarm of the president of the Regione Lazio Zingaretti who said that the water in Rome was about to end was unfortunately predictable given the climatic situation

these weeks to ensure water in Rome has been pumped so much of that water from Lake Bracciano that the lake is literally disappearing.

In the face of this situation, it is necessary for the Government to declare the state of emergency as a result of the strong drought.

Drought, emergency continues: Rome towards historic closure of "fountains", alarm for Lake Bracciano

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=it&tl=en&js=y&...

The water emergency continues in Rome and because of the drowning in the capital may be closed or limited taps of 'nasoni', the historic fountains.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-07/21/c_136462317.htm

Shanghai grilled by hottest day in 145 years

Two ladies riding with sun protective clothes in Hengshan Road, east China's Shanghai, July 21, 2017. The meteorological department of east China metropolis Shanghai recorded an air temperature of 40.9 degrees Celsius (105.6 degrees Fahrenheit) at around 2 p.m. Friday, the highest on record in the city in 145 years. (Xinhua/Fan Jun)

SHANGHAI, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The meteorological department of east China metropolis Shanghai recorded an air temperature of 40.9 degrees Celsius (105.6 degrees Fahrenheit) at around 2 p.m. Friday, the highest on record in the city in 145 years.

A red alert for high temperatures was issued by the Shanghai Central Meteorological Observatory on Friday.

The previous record high temperature in the city of 40.8 degrees Celsius was recorded on Aug. 7, 2013. A total of 13 high temperature red alerts have been issued since the new meteorological early warning system was adopted in 2007.

China has a three-tier early warning system for high temperatures: a yellow warning is issued when high temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius are predicted for three consecutive days, orange indicates a predicted high temperature of 37 degrees Celsius in the next 24 hours, and a red alert is issued when the temperature is forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius within 24 hours.

Heat waves have hit the city since the beginning of summer and are expected to linger until the end of July.

http://strangesounds.org/2017/07/apocalyptical-lahar-destroys-16-ho...

About 16 houses were destroyed in Sukatendel Village by a powerful lahar flowing down the slopes of the eruptive Sinabung volcano in Indonesia.

This new footage of the raging water transporting rocks, ash and mud is just apocalyptic.

The video features a terrifying lahar that flooded a village a day after the eruption of Mount Sinabung on April 18, 2017, after the rain poured the peak of Mount Sinabung at around 13.00 WIB.

Debris were blocked by a bridge, causing widespread flooding of the nearby main road and in the village.

The responsible for the Emergency Response Team reported that 20 houses had been affected by the destructive lahar in total and 12 houses had been severely damaged. Emergency works to normalize de river’s flow and clean resident’s houses lasted at least 3 days.

The video of this desastrous lahar was first shared on Facebook and is soon going to be viral in Europe and the USA.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4086831/spain-hailstones-summer-storm/

Brits’ great Spanish getaway ruined as massive hailstones smash cars and batter holidaymakers amid record breaking wild weather

Wildfires hit French Riviera, thousands evacuated

July 26, 2017

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/26/europe/france-wildfire-evacuation...

CNN)Parts of the French Riviera were evacuated late Tuesday and into Wednesday as forest fires burned swathes of land and threatened thousands of people, according to local police.

More than 10,000 residents and tourists were moved after a forest fire started near the coastal commune of Bormes-les-Mimosas, around 40 km (nearly 25 miles) from Toulon, one of the country's southernmost towns.

People evacuated from homes and campsites take refuge on the beach in Bormes-les-Mimosas.

A woman inspects the damage following a fire in Bormes-les-Mimosas

Sunbathers lounging on a beach near Saint-Tropez looked on as a wildfire raged nearby. Children played in the sand, while others snapped pictures on their phones, as flames engulfed pine trees and sent plumes of black smoke billowing overhead.

A combination of strong winds, high temperatures, and a lack of rain have fueled the fires, which took hold in the French Riviera and on the island of Corsica, off the southern French coast. Similar conditions have sparked blazes in Portugal and Italy.

Over 100 firefighting operations have been launched since the blazes broke out, with planes flying over the Bormes area since early Wednesday morning, dropping water bombs on the wildfires.

Matthieu Dany, a 23-year-old French designer who has been coming to the area for vacations since he was a child, says he's never seen fires like this

"From our villa in the mountains we can see smoke everywhere. We can see homes burning," Dany told CNN. "I was on the beach earlier, but came back because the fires were getting worse."
"Almost everyone on the beach was looking to the hills, taking photos and videos of the fires," he added.

In Londes-les-Maures, fires began to burn just before 11 p.m. local time and, despite the dispatch of 540 firefighters, have not yet been brought under control.

In all, more than 4,000 firefighters and soldiers have been deployed to the region, France's Interior Ministry said in a statement.
President Emmanuel Macron shared his support for the firefighters battling blazes on Wednesday.

https://www.rt.com/usa/397520-wild-fire-montana/

Largest active US wildfire burns 250k acres in Montana

On Tuesday, more than 600 firefighters began fighting the raging Lodgepole Complex fire that has destroyed 250,000 acres of range, brush and timber close to the Missouri River, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center, which gives logistical support for wildland firefighting. The fire has ravaged 22 structures, according to Reuters.

Montana Governor Steve Bullock (R) issued a state fire emergency executive order on Sunday for the wildfire that started last week after a lightning strike. Fortunately, the fire was growing Tuesday at slower rate than previously.

The Lodgepole Complex fire was 36 percent contained by Tuesday evening, and the Garfield County Evacuation Order for people living in the fire zone has been lifted, the Incident Information System reported.

Of the 45 active fires in the US, Lodgepole is the biggest. Relief supplies are being distributed and donated for those who have lost property or experienced any damage from the fire. Volunteers are also preparing food, gathering livestock and mending fences in an effort to help out.

Garfield County spokeswoman Anne Miller said that donations of hay, groceries and money are being sent into the small town of Jordan in Garfield County. "A house is considered a major loss, but the livelihood of most people here is the livestock, the pasture and grazing land," Reuters reported.

Public Information officer Mike Cole says that crews can’t directly attack the fire due to safety concerns, because it is not accessible by road. Managers are now focusing on a longer term strategy for containing the fire. Crews are currently working on the construction of a control line, which will serve as a barrier for homes and the national forest land.

Cole elaborated on the strategy in place to contain the wildfire.

“So once we have this control line in, we are not just going to stop and wait for the fire to come along. We’ll still be working this fire with helicopters and retardant if necessary. We’re going to go back in the forest and find some road systems that are open or we can open up,” he said, Montana Public Radio reported.

Cole said that the fire is expected to grow, but the smoke overhead and the light winds have kept it contained.

The weather forecast for the next several days is hot and dry until Wednesday when a front will approach and bring gusty winds and isolated thunderstorms to the area of the fire. A small amount of rain is also expected. The end of the week will be hot with no rain expected in the forecast, according to Montana National Public Radio.

http://norwaytoday.info/news/major-flood-damage-western-norway/

Major flood damage in Western Norway

Large rainfall leads to flooding in Reed in Gloppen municipality in Sogn og Fjordane and several other places in southern Norway.Photo: 

https://watchers.news/2017/07/26/rajasthan-gujarat-floods-july-2017/

Unprecedented rainfall: Desert state of Rajasthan records 1466 mm (57.7 inches) in 48 hours

Severe thunderstorm and flash flooding in Istanbul, Turkey today, July 27!

AGAIN

VIDEO:

https://www.facebook.com/severeweatherEU/videos/2054560771433680/?h...

https://www.facebook.com/severeweatherEU/videos/2054584884764602/?h...

https://www.facebook.com/SevereWeatherTurkey/posts/1598931926817889

https://www.facebook.com/severeweatherEU/videos/2054561841433573/?h...

Denmark faces first ‘summer-less’ July in 38 years

Let’s face it, this has hardly felt like summer. Now we’ve got the numbers to prove it.

Fresh snow in parts of the Alps – July 27, 2017

http://www.severe-weather.eu/news/fresh-snow-in-parts-of-the-alps-j...

Parts of the Alps in Austria and Italy have been blanketed in a layer of fresh snow locally 10-15 cm thick.

The first impressions come from Rifugio Torino in the Mt Blanc massif, extreme NW Italy (Alps), yesterday, July 26.

Thick fresh snow was also reported at the Dachsteingetscher, Austria (~2700 m) this morning, July 27.