Floods in central Vietnam kill 15, leave 6 missing

"Vietnam's government says floods from torrential rains have killed 15 people and left six others missing in a central region still recovering from deadly floods last month."

"It said the floods, which have largely receded, also caused damage to the region's infrastructure, agriculture and livestock."

"Floods in the region, one of the poorest in the country, killed 31 people last month."

"Vietnam is prone to floods and storms that kill hundreds of people each year."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-bc-as--vietnam-floods-20161107-story.html

Climate Change Is Fueling America’s Wildfires, And It’ll Only Get Worse

"The wildfires that raged through the Western United States this year claimed lives, destroyed hundreds of homes and cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Scientistsclaimed climate change was a cause of the blazes."

"Human-induced climate change has at least doubled the area affected by forest fires in the Western U.S. since 1984, according to the study, published this month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Warmer temperatures, and thus dryer land, have caused fires to rage across an additional 16,000 square miles of forest, the researchers found."

"Since 1970, average temperatures in forested parts of the Western U.S. are said to have increased about 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and scientists expect this upward trend to continue. Wildfires are going to “increase exponentially” as temperatures rise, said researchers ― for as long, at least, as there are enough trees left to burn."

"The new research corroborates earlier evidence of climate change’s impacts on America’s wildfires. A 2014 study found that large forest fires in the Western U.S. had increased by a rate of seven fires a year from 1984 to 2011. Climate change was “a very likely factor” in this rise, the study’s authors said."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/climate-change-wildfires-western-us_us_580863d5e4b0b994d4c47a90?utm_hp_ref=extreme-weather

Giant Ice Balls Form on Beach in Siberia

"Strewn for at least 11 miles on a beach in the Gulf of Ob, some of he spherical ice forms were as small as a tennis balls, while others had grown to more than a yard in diameter, reports the Siberian Times."

"Ice balls or ice boulders are made of both slush and a type of ice known as frazil ice, which occurs when loose, needle-shaped ice crystals collect in the water. When they form in calmer waters, they often look more like pancakes or flattened discs. More turbulent waters produce more spherical ice balls like those found in Russia about two weeks ago."

"As waves roll the ice crystals over and over again in the water, their spherical forms take shape. They can also gather sand if there's sand present in the water, making them appear tan in color."

"A similar phenomenon occurred in the Gulf of Finland in December 2014 and on Lake Michigan in December 2015."

https://www.wunderground.com/news/ice-balls-siberia-russia

Haiti faces fresh cholera outbreak after Hurricane Matthew, aid agencies fear

"Cholera is surging in Haiti after Hurricane Matthew fouled wells, flooded rivers and latrines and forced survivors to drink contaminated storm water – even in regions that have received some deliveries of emergency aid."

"Less than two weeks after the earthquake, at least 200 suspected new cases of cholera have been detected in the country"

"And if access to food, water and shelter does not improve immediately, the death toll is expected to increase. In its wake, the hurricane left pools of stagnant water, overflowing rivers and dead bodies – creating a breeding ground for the waterborne disease."

"More than 9,200 people have since died from cholera and more than 769,000 have been treated in hospitals for the disease – and Lindstrom said that the hurricane has prompted fears of a fresh epidemic."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/14/haiti-cholera-hurricane-matthew-aid-agencies#img-1

Major river flooding to inundate eastern parts of the Carolinas this week following Matthew's onslaught

"Following Matthew's excessive rainfall from this past weekend, major flooding will continue along many rivers in the eastern parts of North and South Carolina."

"Many communities that are under water now may remain inundated through the end of this week. Many roads being affected by flooding now will remain closed through the week."

"From 6 to 18 inches of rain fell on the eastern parts of the Carolinas this past weekend. The rainfall was a combination of moisture from Hurricane Matthew and a slow-moving front. Moisture from Matthew and the front converged on the region."

"In areas from Florida to southeastern Virginia that sustained damage from Hurricane Matthew, but where water receded quickly, the weather will cooperate for drying, cleanup and repair operations this week."

"The next chance of any rainfall in Matthew-ravaged areas of the Carolinas and Georgia is not expected to occur until late this weekend or early next week. That rainfall appears highly unlikely to add to flooding."

http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2016/10/10/major-river-flooding-to-inundate-eastern-parts-carolinas-this-week-following/

10 Dead, 1,500 Stranded by Levee Breach in North Carolina as Dangerous Matthew Flooding Continues

"Hurricane Matthew continued to wreak havoc on North Carolina on Monday, leaving 10 dead, 1,500 stranded by a levee breach and several counties under severe flooding threats, including a town of 2,000 that remains under a mandatory evacuation."

"According to North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, 1,500 people are stranded in Lumberton after a levee breach Monday morning. People are stranded on roofs and rescues are underway, the governor said during a press conference Monday morning."

"According to government officials, North Carolina has had more than 1,400 swift water rescues. Some 200 people were rescued from a flooded neighborhood in the Edgecombe County town of Pinetops. Another 100 were rescued from two hotels in Brunswick County, according to AP."

https://www.wunderground.com/news/hurricane-matthew-north-carolina-update

Japanese authorities issue alert as Mount Aso volcano rumbles to life

"Mount Aso in southern Japan has erupted, belching a column of ash several thousand feet into the air, the latest eruption in one of the world’s most volcanically active countries."

"The meteorologists warned of a heavy ash fall within an area 19 miles (30km) north-east of the mountain, with moderate and light ash falls forecast up to 150 miles away over the next few hours."

"On 27 September 2014, Japan suffered its deadliest eruption in almost 90 years when Mount Ontake, in central Nagano prefecture, burst unexpectedly to life."

"An estimated 63 people were killed in the eruption, which occurred as the peak was packed with hikers out to see the region’s spectacular autumn colors."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/07/mount-aso-japan-volcano-eruption-warning-heavy-ash-fall

Florida governor warns Hurricane Matthew 'is going to kill people'

"Hurricane Matthew began lashing Florida’s east coast on Thursday afternoon and evening as the state’s governor, Rick Scott, warned that lives would be lost and neighbourhoods could be wiped out by one of the most powerful storms in living memory."

"Matthew set its sights on Florida even as the death toll from the storm’s earlier path through Haiti continued to climb on Thursday, with at least 136 people killed by flying debris, falling trees and mudslides."

“This is serious. If you’re on the east coast from Palm Beach northwards you’re likely to see wind from 100-150 mph. Just think about that. These catastrophic levels can completely wipe out well-built homes and destroy neighborhoods.”

"More than 1.5 million Floridians living along the coast and in vulnerable low-lying areas, and another half million residents of Georgia and South Carolina, were ordered to evacuate ahead of the storm’s arrival."

"In the longer term, Matthew was expected to weaken to a category 2 hurricane during Saturday, and eventually downgrade to a tropical storm early next week before making a south-easterly loop back for another assault on Florida."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/06/hurricane-matthew-florida-preparations-evacuation

Forbes residents brace for worst floods in a quarter of a century

"Lachlan river, near Forbes, was expected to reach almost 10.7m after the area received an extra 17mm overnight but will peak gently, the BoM senior hydrologist Hugh Bruist said on Sunday."

"About 1,000 people in Forbes were ordered to evacuate on Saturday while residents at Condobolin remain on standby pending possible further flooding."

"The SES has received 2,300 calls for assistance since 30 August, including 95 flood rescues."

"While flooding in Forbes has surpassed the 1990 floods, in which the Lachlan river reached 10.65m, the worst is now being predicted to hit next week."

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/sep/25/forbes-residents-brace-for-worst-floods-in-a-quarter-of-a-century#img-1

Unprecedented atmospheric behavior disrupts one of Earth's most regular climate cycles

"The normal flow of air high up in the atmosphere over the equator, known as the quasi-biennial oscillation, was seen to break down earlier this year. These stratospheric winds are found high above the tropics, their direction and strength changes in a regular two- to three-year cycle which provides forecasters with an indication of the weather to expect in Northern Europe. Westerly winds are known to increase the chance of warm and wet conditions, while easterlies bring drier and colder weather."

"The quasi-biennial oscillation is a regular feature of the climate system. On average, these equatorial eastward and westward winds alternate every 28 to 29 months, making them very predictable in the long term. The team's findings published in Science this week, show that this unexpected change in wind direction was caused by atmospheric waves in the Northern Hemisphere."

"A return to more typical behaviour within the next year is forecast, though scientists believe that the quasi-biennial oscillation could become more susceptible to similar disruptions as the climate warms."

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160908151118.htm

Dozens dead and missing after typhoon lashes eastern China

"The strongest typhoon to hit China this year has left 28 people dead and 15 others missing in the east of the country."

"Authorities in Fujian said Saturday that the typhoon had left 18 people dead and 11 missing, damaged more than 18,300 houses and caused direct economic losses of more than 16.9 billion yuan ($2.5bn)."

"Typhoon Meranti made landfall early Thursday in Fujian province after winds and rains associated with it pounded Taiwan, leaving one person dead and more than 50 injured."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/18/dozens-dead-and-missing-after-typhoon-lashes-eastern-china

Samoa hit by hail storm so rare residents thought it was a hoax

"Samoa has been hit by a hail storm so rare that it was believed to be a hoax by many of the island’s inhabitants."

"But on Friday evening an unexpected hail storm struck the eastern side of the island of Savai’i, accompanied by heavy rain and strong wind gusts."

"It was only the second time since records began that hail has fallen on Samoa, the first was in 2011. "

"The storm lasted 10 to 15 minutes and produced hail stones roughly 2cm wide."

"Samoans took to social media to share their photos of the hail, many voicing disbelief at the incident, and then saying it was the “first time” they had been convinced of the the phenomenon of climate change."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/19/samoa-hit-by-hail-storm-so-rare-residents-thought-it-was-a-hoax

Super Typhoon Meranti Rapidly Intensifies Into Category 5, Dangerous Threat to Taiwan, China and Northern Philippines Early This Week

"Super Typhoon Meranti is now a Category 5 storm, packing maximum sustained winds up to 180 mph, with gusts up to 220 mph, as it heads west-northwest in the western Pacific Ocean. Meranti has undergone rapid intensification since Sunday morning."

"The typhoon has undergone rapid intensification, which means maximum sustained winds increased by at least 30 knots (about 35 mph) in 24 hours or less."

"According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), Meranti's winds had increased from 85 mph to 180 mph in the 24 hours ending Monday at 11 a.m. EDT. That's a 95 mph increase in winds during that time, or more than double the rapid intensification criteria."

https://www.wunderground.com/news/tropical-depression-sixteen-w-tropical-storm-typhoon-meranti-sep2016

What Fueled Louisiana’s Deadly Flood?

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/08/17/how-an-inland-brown-ocean-and-climate-change-may-have-fueled-louisianas-deadly-flood/?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FWeather&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=7&pgtype=collection&_r=0

"But nothing has come close to the deadly off-the-chart deluges and flooding in southern Louisiana, which the Red Cross says have produced the country’s worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy."

"But it’s worth going into more depth on what created the monstrous and deadly dump of rain over Louisiana — with more than 30 inches in some spots in a stretch from August 11, when federal forecasters realized something truly scary was unfolding, until today, with 11 deaths attributed to the storm so far, thousands displaced and tens of thousands of homes and businesses swamped."

"The Times has published an article by Jonah Engel Bromwich assessing the storm’s consistency with climate change projections, but also noting that the South was not among the areas identified in the 2014 National Climate Assessment as most at risk from more downpours."

"I also contacted several meteorologists and climate analysts who’ve published studies on factors that shape what happens to Gulf of Mexico storm systems once they push in over land. In this case, it appears that the heat contained in warm, wet swampy terrain of Louisiana south of Baton Rouge may well have offered a last-minute power boost to the storm system."

"[I]n regions such as southern Louisiana and the Everglades, shallow warm water permits heating to still occur as air moves towards the low pressure center. This mimicking of aspects of the ocean conditions, including the evaporation of water vapor into the system, permits tropical systems to persist longer than they otherwise would. This is what occurred in this Louisiana deluge. "