DECEMBER 2020

Mediterranean

Record-breaking rainfall hit the Croatian city of Split, causing traffic chaos and flooding homes and businesses (3^rd). Marijan registered 118.8 mm of rain during 0600-1200 GMT. The last time Split saw this much rain was on 25 August 1975 when 131.6 mm fell. The city's all-time 24-hour record was set on 6 September 1948, with 228.5 mm. The country's highest 24-hour rainfall record was set in September 1986 when the city of Zadar registered 345 mm.

EUROPE

A major winter storm that started affecting parts of Europe on the 4th dumped more than 3 m of snow in parts of Italy and Austria by the end of the 6th and more than 770 mm of rain in the town of Barcis in northern Italy. Most of the snow fell on Sunday 6th, bringing widespread disruption and travel chaos, with flooding at lower levels and power lines down in places.

Venice has been hit by high tides of up to 1.5 meters after its flood barrier system was not activated as a result of mistaken forecasts (8^th). Weather bulletins had predicted a high tide rising to 1.2 meters lower than the 1.3 meters level at which the 78 mobile barriers of the defensive system, called Mose, would usually be activated. By the time the water had entered the lagoon on Tuesday morning, completely flooding the narthex of St Mark’s Basilica, it was too late for the system to take effect.

Storm Bella struck parts of north-western Europe, leaving more than 55000 households without electricity in its wake (27^th). More than 21000 homes lost access to power in the UK, around 34000 in the east and central France, and around 1500 in Ireland. In northwest Spain, Bella brought winds of up to 125 km/h and waves up to 10 m. A building in Aviles collapsed, damaging several vehicles parked in the area. No injuries were reported. More than a third of flights from France's main airport in northern Paris encountered delays due to the storm.

MIDDLE EAST

A massive hailstorm accompanied by exceptionally heavy rain and drastic temperature drop hit Lebanon's capital Beirut, causing massive floods and traffic chaos (5^th). The last time Beirut witnessed a similar event was back in 1968. The hailstorm lasted about 1 hour. The supercell affected only the coastal area around Beirut and its suburbs. Weather stations in Beirut recorded 50 mm of rainfall in a 25 minutes

Heavy rains triggered more flooding in Iran, further worsening the situation in eight provinces already affected by inundations in late November (5^th-7^th). 160 mm of rain fell in just a few hours in Dashestan in Bushehr Province - equivalent to two months' worth of rain - killing at least seven people. Other counties also badly affected were Deylam and Genaveh.

UNITED STATES

More than 250000 customers were left without power in New England as the season's first Nor'easter rolled through the northeast U.S (th-6^th). Strong winds and heavy snow hit several areas, with inland Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire receiving more than 30 cm of snow. Maine felt the brunt of the storm as more than 230000 customers were affected at some point this weekend, the Central Maine Power reported. The highest snowfall total recorded was 50 cm in Carrabassett Valley, Maine. In Cape Cod, peak wind gusts reached more than 117 km/h.

A powerful snowstorm swept through the north-eastern U.S., breaking records in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New York and affecting 60 million people (17^th). Parts of northern New York received three feet of snowfall, and New York City received all of last year's snow total in just this one storm. Weather officials warned of "dangerous, if not impossible travel conditions" as they struggled to plough icy roadways. Hundreds of car crashes were reported, with at least two fatalities. The city of Binghamton, New York, received 45 inches of snowfall, breaking its all-time record for the month of December. Parts of Pennsylvania reached 40 inches. The Williamsport Regional Airport broke its previous snowfall record, reporting 24.7 inches of snow. Boston also received more than nine inches of snow on Thursday, breaking the previous record for the date set in 2013. According to the FlightAware website, more than 1,800 flights were cancelled, and another 4,000 delayed. Some rail services have also been suspended across the north-east.

AUSTRAILIA

More than 200 000 lightning strikes were recorded across Queensland's Mackay region from Tuesday afternoon, 8 December 2020, to 9 December, according to Ergon Energy, resulting in power outages and equipment damage.

Australian authorities have issued evacuation warnings for low-lying towns in northern New South Wales (NSW) as storms batter the nation's east coast (15^th). On Tuesday, emergency officials said they had fielded about 150 calls for help in the past 24 hours. Huge swells pummeled the coasts of NSW and south-east Queensland on Monday, causing major erosion. An already depleted beach at Byron Bay - a popular holiday spot - had all but disappeared, locals said. Authorities said the storm had moved south on Tuesday, bringing the threat of flooding to inland NSW. Meteorologists say the system has already released an amount of rain similar to a cyclone - about 1000 mm over four days. Australia is currently experiencing a La Nina weather pattern, which typically brings more rainfall and tropical cyclones during the nation's summer.

ASIA

Rescuers are trying to free more than 1,000 vehicles which have been stranded on a highway for two days after a heavy snow storm struck Japan (16^th-18^th). Authorities have distributed food, fuel and blankets to the drivers on the Kanetsu expressway, which connects the capital Tokyo to Niigata, in the north. The snow, which began on Wednesday evening, caused multiple traffic jams along the road. It also left more than 10000 homes in the north and west without power. Officials have been using a combination of heavy machinery and physical labor to dig out the vehicles one by one, but around 1000 cars were still stranded on the road as of Friday noon. According to the meteorological agency, the heavy snow - said to be this year's most intense cold spell - is expected to continue through the weekend.

ICELAND

A series of landslides have been reported in the town of Seyoisfjordur, Iceland, causing major damage to at least 10 houses and electrical poles (18^th). A red alert phase has been in effect in the area since 15 December, with fears that more houses would be lost in the slips, while residents nearby Eskifjordur had to be evacuated as well due to the hazards. The landslips occurred following days of heavy rain - meteorologists said the precipitation during 14-18 from December was the most recorded during a five-day period in the country. Around 700 people reside in the town, and some of them stayed with friends, relatives, or at hotels in nearby communities. Kristin Bjorg Olafsdottir, a climate specialist at the Icelandic Met Office told Iceland Monitor that up to 570 mm of rain fell in the town during the 14th-18th - the most recorded in a five-day period in Iceland. The average yearly precipitation in Reykjavik is 860 mm.

SOUTH AMERICA

A line of severe storms struck central Argentina, producing a massive sandstorm, powerful winds, and hail. Widespread power cuts and property damage were reported (18^th). In La Pampa, an enormous sandstorm caused extensive power cuts, water supply disruption, and a lot of damage, particularly in the Santa Rosa area. Powerful winds knocked down trees and destroyed stalls in the central square.

Flash flooding hit Rio de Janeiro in Brazil as further heavy rains struck the region, resulting in at least one fatality today (22^nd). The flooding came just days after severe inundations and landslides hit Santa Catarina, leaving 12 people dead and nine others missing. Roads and streets turned into rivers as flash floods raged, washing away debris and vehicles. The municipalities of Duque de Caxias and Mage were among the worst-hit, especially the Carretero and Santo Antonio areas, according to local media. In Xerem, up to 224.2 mm of rain was recorded in a 24-hour period to 23 December.

CANADA

A powerful storm hit Nunavut, Canada, bringing record wind gusts of up to 135 km/h and heavy snow (27^th). Meteorologists said it was unusual for such a storm to occur this late in December, affecting much of the territory. "It was like an all-day thing. The wind was so strong," Pangnirtung mayor Eric Lawlor said. "Many shacks and cabins are gone. Many, many snowmobile windshields are gone."

TROPICAL

The death toll from a category five cyclone that tore through northern Fiji has risen to four, as emergency crews work to assess the full extent of the damage from one of the year's strongest storms (17^th-19^th). Tropical Cyclone Yasa was packing winds of up to 345 km/h when it struck the country's northern islands on Thursday night and Friday morning. With communication still cut off in parts of the country and storm surge warnings still in place, there are fears the death toll could rise. Emergency efforts are focused on Fiji's second-largest island, Vanua Levu, which bore the brunt of the cyclone. It weakened to a category one storm by Saturday afternoon, but was still a category three when it hit the Lau islands in the country's north-east overnight on Friday. There are reports of flooding and landslides across the islands. While the country's largest island, Viti Levu, was spared the worst of the winds, its main river Rewa experienced heavy flooding and the capital Suva was inundated with rain.

Tropical Depression Vicky, the first tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines in December, made its first landfall in the vicinity of Baganga, Davao Oriental on Friday afternoon (18^th-19^th). As of 4 p.m. local time Saturday, the eye of Vicky was situated 135 km east-southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, packing winds of 45 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 55 km/h.