Massive storm looming over Pacific to wreak havoc up and down West Coast

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/powerful-storm-to-slam-west-coast-with-feet-of-snow-flooding-rain-late-this-week/639384

After one storm system walloped Southern California and Arizona with heavy rain and high-country snow this week, a much larger storm is set to slam Central and Northern California with a wide array of impacts from Friday into Saturday. Although the center of the storm system will move ashore in Oregon later Saturday into Saturday night, the worst of the impacts will occur farther to the south. Heavy rain and gusty winds will target coastal areas from San Francisco northward into southern Oregon spanning Friday into Saturday, as well as the Central Valley's I-5 corridor from Sacramento to Redding.

The foothills of the Sierra Nevada will also be hit hard with flooding downpours during this time. A general 1-2 inches of rain is forecast in the lowest elevations of the I-5 corridor and San Francisco Bay area, while 2-4 inches is more likely in coastal areas of Northern California. It is in the coastal ranges and foothills of the Sierra, however, that rainfall totals of 3-6 inches will occur. An AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 8 inches is anticipated in these regions.

Germany among top three countries suffering most from extreme weather events

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-among-top-three-countries-suffering-most-from-extreme-weather-events/a-51529140

As the Earth warms, climate change-related disasters are on the rise. More people are being killed as a result of heatwaves, droughts and storms. In 2018, Japan, the Philippines and Germany were hit particularly hard. To what extent have extreme weather events inflicted casualties and financial losses around the world? And which countries are worst-affected? The answers to these questions have been provided by the Global Climate Risk Index. For 14 years, the environmental and development organization, Germanwatch, has presented this report at the annual United Nations climate conference (COP). For 2018, the index revealed Japan, the Philippines and Germany were hardest hit by weather extremes. At the top of the ranking is Japan where 1,282 people lost their lives as a result of extreme rainfall, heatwaves and typhoons last year. The total damage was equivalent to €32 billion ($35 billion) and led to the loss of 0.6% of Japan's gross domestic product (GDP).

Report: Michigan businesses unprepared for severe weather, climate change

https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2019/12/05/report-michigan-businesses-unprepared-for-severe-weather-climate-change

Severe weather due to climate change is disrupting global supply chains and putting Michigan companies and the state's economy at risk, according to a new report. The report by the independent research and education organization Business Forward says in the last five years, the state has experienced 11 climate or weather related disasters that each topped $1 billion in damages. 



Business Forward president Jim Doyle says extreme weather affects farmers, manufacturers, and other businesses across the state. "First, it's reasonable for people in Michigan to be looking around and saying, 'Look, I believe in climate change, but can we afford to fix it?'" he says. "And what this report tries to do is show that we can't afford not to fix it." The report says Michigan's infrastructure is particularly vulnerable to severe weather events.

Heavy snow blankets New York City, Boston

https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/02/us/severe-weather-monday-wxc/index.html

About 40 million people are under some kind of winter weather alert as heavy snowfall covers the Northeast and a treacherous storm drenches much of the West Coast. More than 800 flights to or from US airports have been canceled for Monday and 6,000 flights have been delayed, according to FlightAware.com. Many US airlines including Delta, American, United and Southwest, are offering waivers for passengers who want to change or cancel their flights. For much of the country, expect the weather to get worse before it gets better. Snowfall continued into the evening in the New York City area, but will begin to taper off overnight. Snowfall totals could be as much as 6 inches. At 15.6" on Monday afternoon, this storm ranks in the top 10 greatest December snowstorms in Albany, the National Weather Service said.

Typhoon Kammuri kills 4 people, forces Manila airport closure as heavy rains hit the Philippines

https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/02/asia/typhoon-kammuri-tisoy-updates-intl-hnk/index.html

A powerful typhoon killed four people in the Philippines and prompted authorities to close the country's largest airport due to powerful winds and heavy rains.Typhoon Kammuri, known locally as Tisoy, made landfall on the southeastern part of Luzon, the Philippines' most populous island, on Monday night. It hit as the equivalent of a Category 4 Atlantic Hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds of nearly 215 kilometers per hour (130 miles per hour). Thousands had evacuated ahead of time. Two of the victims were killed by falling trees while two others died when their roofs collapsed, CNN affiliate CNN Philippines reported Tuesday. The deaths were reported by officials in three different provinces -- Oriental Mindoro in the east of the Philippines, Camarines Sur in the west and Zambales in the north.

Increased number of “blocking events” to create deadly weather systems

https://www.indianaenvironmentalreporter.org/posts/increased-number-of-blocking-events-to-create-deadly-weather-systems

Manmade climate change will increase the number of stalled weather patterns and create more deadly extreme weather events, according to researchers from the National Science Foundation and Rice University. The recent study found that the frequency of atmospheric blocking events – middle-latitude, high-pressure weather systems that remain stagnant for days or weeks – will increase by approximately 17% thanks to climate change. Heat waves are one common symptom of stagnant weather systems, but blocking vents can also cause extreme cold, droughts, and flooding. The National Science Foundation attributes some of the 21st century’s deadliest extreme weather to blocking events, such as heat waves in France in 2003 and Russia in 2010, which resulted in human deaths. In addition to evaluating the frequency of these systems, the scientists also looked at the prospective size of the blocking events. They found that the events will get larger as time goes on, meaning they will have more influence on weather patterns and create bigger impacts for humans.

Deadly flooding strikes southern France for 2nd time in a week

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/deadly-flooding-strikes-southern-france-for-2nd-time-in-a-week/638206

For the second time in a week, southern France was inundated with deadly flooding as more than a month's worth of rain fell within several hours. The Cannes region, including Mandelieu-La Napoule, was one of the hardest hit as more than 175 mm (7 inches) of rain fell from Sunday into Monday morning triggering severe flooding. The region averages around 100 mm (4 inches) of rain for the entire month of December. At least six deaths have been confirmed, including three emergency workers that died after a helicopter crash near the town of Leluc, according to the The Connexion. A seventh person was reported missing after their car was found abandoned near flood waters. Two others were injured and three homes were destroyed following a rockslide caused by the heavy rainfall in Alpes-de-Haute Provence. The recent flooding tragedy comes only one week after six people were killed in flooding across similar areas. That same storm also caused deaths in Italy and Greece.

As many as 5 tropical cyclones could form in Indian Ocean this week

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/tropics-heating-up-in-indian-ocean-as-4-potential-tropical-cyclones-may-form-this-week/638490

Following a brief quiet spell, the Indian Ocean is set to explode with tropical activity this week as multiple cyclones may develop. The development got underway on Monday as a tropical depression developed to the east of Somalia. Up to four additional tropical cyclones may develop across the northern and southern Indian Ocean before the end of the week. The new depression near Somalia is expected to become better organized in the coming days and become a cyclonic storm as early as Wednesday, local time. Upon reaching cyclonic storm status with winds equal to a tropical storm in the Atlantic Ocean, the name Pawan would be given to the storm. A track to the west and then southwest is expected in the coming days, taking the storm closer to the coast of Somalia.

Three Unusual Tornadoes Confirmed in Arizona Friday

https://weather.com/news/weather/news/2019-11-30-tornadoes-confirmed-arizona-phoenix-late-november

Three tornadoes developed in the Phoenix, Arizona, area early Friday as a powerful storm system moved through the West. This was the third time since 1950 that three tornadoes were observed on the same day in Maricopa County. This is also the latest in the year that multiple tornadoes have occurred in Maricopa County, according to the National Weather Service. Tornado warnings were issued early Friday morning and the first tornado developed just before 4 a.m. MST in Paradise Valley. This tornado tracked into northwest Scottsdale and has been rated EF1. Numerous trees were downed and roofs were damaged. A second tornado formed near Higley and has been rated EF0. Small trees were damaged. The third tornado was in the Queen Creek area just before 5 a.m. MST and has also been given a rating of EF0.

Snow in Texas and ice in Alabama? Unusual cold weather could become more common

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/11/arctic-blast-polar-vortex-cold-weather-climate/

This week, temperatures are expected to hit historic lows across much of North America. Already, it has snowed in Texas and frozen in Tennessee, and hundreds of towns and cities are preparing for icy cold weather. This week’s cold snap isn’t exactly unseasonal—after all, it’s autumn, heading toward winter, and it’s the time of year when much of North America sinks into chilly weather. Some scientists think, though, that the frequency and intensity of these kinds of cold interludes may be changing as the planet warms, as counterintuitive as that might sound. “This Arctic outbreak is connected to the behavior of the jet stream and the polar vortex,” says Judah Cohen, an atmospheric scientist at MIT. And those, in turn, are affected by a changing climate—mostly by intense warming in the high Arctic. The topic is controversial in the atmospheric science community, but some think they see a connection between a warmer planet and cold blasts of weather like the one North America is experiencing right now.

Rare Tornado Leaves 2 Dead, Trail of Destruction in South African Midlands

A rare tornado struck the KwaZulu Natal Midlands in South Africa on Tuesday, killing two people, injuring 20 more and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The KwaZulu Natal Province, on the east coast of South Africa, has been battered by severe weather conditions and the South African Weather Service is warning that more torrential downpours are in store for the rest of the week. The tornado touched down near the city of New Hanover, according to authorities.

"Two adults were unfortunately declared dead on the scene," paramedic Ross Campbell, from the medical response company ER24, told ABC News. "ER24 treated and transported nine patients for minor to moderate injuries to various hospitals in the area. Provincial medics treated and transported 11 others, bringing the total number of injuries on the scene to 20."

"There is an extreme danger to life due to fast flowing rivers," the weather service said in a statement. "There is also a possibility of landslides and soil erosion along highly elevated areas which might lead to further disruption to traffic flow. Accumulated rainfall amounts for Thursday and Friday could exceed 100-150 mm [about 4 to 6 inches] in places over KwaZulu-Natal." Tornadoes are not a regular occurrence in South Africa and the weather service said the strength of Tuesday night's twister has yet to be determined.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/rare-tornado-leaves-dead-trail-destruction-south-african/story?id=66984856

Severe Weather Warnings Across the Country as Hailstorm "Victoria" hits Greece

A severe weather warning has been issued across the country today, Wednesday, 13th of November, as a hailstorm dubbed “Victoria” has already hit parts of Greece. Heavy rain, hailstorms, and thunderstorms caused damage in Kerkyra and Kefalonia overnight, and according to meteorologists, it will arrive in Attica and other parts of the country today. ‘Victoria’ caused major disruptions on the island of Kerkyra, with power and water outages, flooding roads, as well as gale-force winds that brought down a number of trees. Dozens of fire brigades were called to homes and shops that were flooded and schools on the island will remain shut today.

On Kefalonia island roads were flooded and homes were also damaged, with the villages of Nyfi and Agia Efthimia being most affected. According to the Athens Observatory’s Meteo service, clouds of dust and sand from the Sahara Desert are expected to cover different parts of the country today, in some cases resulting in muddy rain and the low-pressure system is approaching the Aegean islands, with gale-force winds expected to reach 9 on the Beaufort scale.

https://greekcitytimes.com/2019/11/13/severe-weather-warning-across-the-country-as-hailstorm-victoria-hits-greece/

California's Mojave River Dam Could Fail in Extreme Flooding

California's Mojave River Dam is at high risk for failure if it were to face extreme flooding, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Friday. The Corps upgraded the dam's status from "low to high urgency of action," according to a press release.

The 200-foot high dam met design standards when it was built in 1971, but the Corps said a recent risk assessment showed that water from an extreme storm or flooding event could exceed those standards and overtop the dam. “The dam has never experienced spillway flow or a flood event that has loaded the dam significantly,” Col. Aaron Barta, commander of the Corps’ Los Angeles District, said. “This is a storm that is unlikely to occur, but it is nonetheless a real possibility and one we must be prepared for." A failure of the dam could potentially flood the communities of Hesperia, Apple Valley, Victorville and Barstow, located adjacent to the river. The Corps said flood waters in such an incident could also reach Baker, more than 140 miles downstream from the dam.

https://weather.com/news/news/2019-11-02-mojave-river-dam-could-fail-in-extreme-flooding

More Than 200 Elephants Die In African Drought

Some 200 elephants have died in Zimbabwe because of the extreme drought enveloping large swaths of the African continent. While elephants are the most easily spotted victims by wildlife patrol, the drought is having a cascade effect on several other species including buffalo, impala and giraffe, Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesman Tinashe Farawo told the Associated Press on Tuesday.

The problem is compounded by the fact that elephants and other animals are straying from their usual territory in search of food. "Almost every animal is being affected," Farawo said. "Of course, elephants are easily noticed during patrols or game drives, but some bird species are seriously affected because they can only breed in certain tree heights and those trees are being knocked down by elephants." 

More than 50 million people across 18 African nations face a crisis situation because of the severe drought and other extreme weather, according to a report last week by global aid organization Oxfam. Parts of Zimbabwe have had their lowest rainfall amounts since 1981. A study published earlier this year indicated that the situation is only expected to get worse as climate change continues to heat the planet and influence weather patterns and events, including droughts and floods. The elephants in Zimbabwe are dying due to both lack of water and lack of vegetation. Straying from their habitats also brings them in contact with more people. The Zimbabwe national parks agency said 33 people have died from conflicts with animals this year, the AP reported.

https://weather.com/science/nature/news/2019-11-12-elephants-die-in-african-drought

Australia's Deadly Bushfires

Two Australian states are bracing for a day of "catastrophic" risk as firefighters battle over 100 deadly active bushfires that have produced clouds of smoke seen as far away as New Zealand. Thousands of people are in the paths of the blazes in the states of Queensland and New South Wales, which have both declared a state of emergency. On Tuesday morning, state authorities warned that although the situation was "calm" at the moment, eastern Australia was still facing a "very long and very dangerous day ahead." Strong winds, high temperatures, and low humidity could provide perfect conditions for dozens of fires to spread further today.

The "catastrophic" warning is the worst threat level ever issued for New South Wales' capital, Sydney, under the current system, which was introduced in 2009. The city is home to around 4.6 million people, but the greatest fire risk lies in rural areas outside the city center. They include the greater Hunter area, Illawarra, and Shoalhaven, which are also facing "catastrophic" fire threats. As of Tuesday morning, 57 fires were burning across New South Wales, the fire service said. A state-wide fire ban will remain in place on Tuesday, preventing people from lighting open fires and engaging in activities that could start a fire, like welding and grinding. Offenders risk on-the-spot fines of 2,200 Australian dollars ($1,500). Hundreds of schools in fire risk regions will be closed on Tuesday, according to local media. As of Tuesday, around 50 fires were raging across the northern state of Queensland. Australia is experiencing one of its worst droughts in decades. The hot, dry weather has created a huge amount of fuel for the fires, which are being fanned by strong winds.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/10/australia/bushfires-australia-intl-hnk/index.html

Venice Experiences Worst Floods in Over 50 Years; Man Dies as City Calls for State of Emergency

An elderly man has died in the worst floods to hit Venice in more than 50 years, as local authorities in the Italian lagoon city called for a state of emergency to be imposed. The unnamed man was killed on Tuesday night while he was trying to run electric pumps at his home on the island of Pellestrina, Alessandro Bertasi, spokesman for Venice's mayor, told CNN. The popular tourist destination was struck by an exceptionally high tide on Tuesday night, which peaked at 187 centimeters (73.6 inches), according to a statement by Venice's government Wednesday morning. The historic crypt of St. Mark's Basilica was inundated for just the sixth time in 1,200 years. It is the worst flooding in Venice since 1966, when the city was hit by tides up to 194 cm (76.4 inches) high, according to government statistics.




On Tuesday, the Tide Forecasting and Reporting Center of Civil Protection said that 45% of the city was flooded. Thirty volunteers will be deployed Wednesday to help with the clean-up, it said. Venice's government announced that after the "extraordinary" tide, it would "submit a request for a state of emergency" to the country's central government. All schools will be closed Wednesday due to the weather conditions, the local government said.


https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/13/europe/venice-flooding-state-of-emergency-intl-hnk/index.html