GLOBAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

MAY 2021

UNITED STATES

Several destructive tornadoes swept through Mississippi late at night (LT), damaging buildings and downing trees and power lines (2^nd). A tornado emergency was declared for Tupelo and surrounding areas, but there were no immediate reports of injuries. According to NWS Storm Prediction Center, the country saw 22 tornadoes, 18 of them in Mississippi. A destructive tornado hit the city of Tupelo, whose officials confirmed the damage and urged residents not to get out and drive.

A widespread and significant flood risk continues across the south-central U.S. from repeated rounds of intense rain and strong to severe thunderstorms (19^th). Officials in Louisiana said they were investigating five deaths as weather-related after massive rains and widespread floods. Lake Charles was one of the worst affected this week, with more than 300 mm of rain recorded in 24 hours ending Monday afternoon, making it the city's third wettest May day on record. In just 2 hours, the city received about 152 mm. The city has received more than 406 mm as of today, which is nearly 6 times the average amount of rainfall for this period.

MIDDLE EAST

Heavy rains and thunderstorms hit Al Batinah North Governorate in Oman, causing severe damage to homes, buildings, and infrastructure (4^th). The worst affected were northern parts of the governorate, including Shinas, Liwa, Sohar, and Saham. According to the Times of Oman, heavy rainfall accompanied by hailstones and strong winds began at around 1930 LT. Local authorities said valleys in the region flooded, collapsing homes and destroying infrastructure. Additionally, a number of vehicles were damaged after house walls and trees fell on them.

ASIA

At least three people have been killed and more than 1000 homes destroyed in Myanmar's Ayeyarwady districts as severe thunderstorms swept over the region (6^th-9^th). According to Myanmar's state-run media, severe thunderstorms struck all districts of Ayeyarwady in four days, with Maubgin and Hinthada district the worst affected. An official from the Department of Disaster Management in the Ayeyarwady region said 3 people were killed by lightning strikes, including 1 in Pyapon district and 2 in Pathein district. Two people were also injured by strong winds.

At least 2 people have been killed after a severe thunderstorm hit the city of Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei province, turning day into night (10^th). According to the Wuhan Emergency Management Bureau, parts of the city encountered a level 10 thunderstorm which resulted in the deaths of two workers who were on gondola cleaning windows at Sanyang Road. The maximum rain intensity in the urban area reached 99.6 mm in 1 hour. Authorities reported the city was also hit by record-breaking wind gusts, which destroyed roofs and windows on many buildings.

A destructive tornado ripped through the city of Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei Province, at around 2039 LT, killing at least 8 people and leaving 280 injured (14^th). According to local authorities, the tornado ripped through the district of Caidian, destroying 27 houses and damaging 130. In addition, two tower cranes were toppled and 8000 m2 of sheds at construction sites as well as trees and electricity poles, leaving 26 600 homes without power.

INDIA

Severe thunderstorms battered parts of West Bengal, India, resulting in at least eight fatalities (11^th). The storm system also brought hailstorms, which ravaged wide swaths of crops. Authorities are yet to confirm the extent of the damage. Gusty winds of up to 54 km/h lashed the districts of Kolkata, Howrah, North Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, Bankura, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Birbhum, and Purulia. According to the Met Department, Dumdum saw up to 96 mm of rain, Alipore 102 mm and Saltlake 116 mm. Heavy rains triggered waterlogging in many areas across Kolkata, including Central Avenue, which slowed down traffic during rush hour.

Intense hailstorms affecting Kashmir Valley over the past couple of days have caused extensive losses to apple orchards and other fruit crops (16^th-18^th). While damage occurred almost everywhere in the valley, more than 40% of fruit crops were destroyed in the districts of Kulgam and Kupawara. After above normal maximum temperature during most of 14 May, the weather suddenly changed in the evening, with strong winds, rain, and hailstorms in many parts of the valley. The worst-hit villages in the districts include Awgam, Zazripora, and Puniwah.

More than 1.2 million people have evacuated low-lying areas of India's east coast as Cyclone Yaas made landfall (26^th). A week after Cyclone Tauktae claimed 155 lives in western India, wild weather has already caused two deaths and inflicted damage to homes amid heavy rain and high winds rains in Odisha and West Bengal states. The Indian meteorological department said landfall began around 9 a.m. (0330am GMT) on Wednesday and warned that it would generate waves higher than rooftops in some areas. Coastal areas experienced wind gusts up to 155 km/h and pounding rain. A tornado snapped electricity lines that electrocuted two people and damaged 40 houses in West Bengal's Hooghly district on Tuesday, an official said. Kolkata airport was shut until 8 p.m. on Wednesday and train services were cancelled before the storm as a precaution, the railroad department said.

METIDERAANIAN

A severe hailstorm lashed Shkodra in northern Albania, leaving about 0.5 m of ice on roads and causing severe damage to crops (14^th). The storm lasted for around 50 minutes, covering the entire city, as well as some surrounding areas. The hail caused problems to traffic for a few minutes but had a major impact on agricultural lands.

SOUTH AMERICA

Severe floods swept through Cuenca, capital of Azuay Province in Ecuador, resulting in major damage that affected around 500 people (15^th). According to authorities, it was the worst flood the area has seen since 2010. Nearly 70 homes were damaged or destroyed by floodwaters more than 1 m deep, affecting around 500 people from 100 families, the National Risk and Emergency Management Service reported. Three of Cuenca's rivers burst their banks on Saturday afternoon, with the Rio Tarqui registering historic levels.

CENTRAL AMERICA

More than 10 000 people have been affected by floods and landslides across 8 departments of Guatemala (21^st-24^th). Around 200 homes were damaged, one person was injured, and hundreds of others were displaced. Days of heavy rain hit the departments of Baja Verapaz, Izabal, Peten, Quetzaltenango, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Sololá, and Suchitepequez, according to disaster agency CONRED.

NEW ZEALAND

Hundreds of residents in north Canterbury in New Zealand have been evacuated amid severe flooding fuelled by a one-in-100-year heavy rainfall event over the weekend (30^th). According to NIWA, the rainfall was 200 to 400 percent of normal for the month of May, causing rivers to rise and flood. A state of emergency has been declared, as flooding threatened thousands of homes. Heavy rains began soaking the region on the 29th, causing rivers to rapidly rise, damaging roads and bridges, and flooding many properties. About 300 people have been forced to evacuate in Waimakariri and Timaru, while thousands of others in Ashburton were advised to prepare in case they need to flee.

TROPICAL

Initially classified as "extremely severe", Cyclone Tauktae made landfall in Gujarat state late in the day with wind speeds of up to 160 km/h (1th). Winds ravaged coastal areas in Gujarat, uprooting trees and electricity poles. Electricity supply was cut in some districts as a precautionary measure. About 200,000 people were evacuated across several states as the cyclone approached, bringing with it heavy rains and gusty winds. Tauktae is the strongest cyclone to strike the coast of Gujarat since 1998. The cyclone weakened after it made landfall on Monday, but at least 19 people are confirmed as having died on land in the storm. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue. At least 53 people are still missing. A navy warship returned to the city's harbour on Wednesday with some of 186 barge survivors rescued so far. The barge was working on a project for India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). It was carrying personnel deployed for offshore drilling. When the storm struck, the barge's anchors gave way and it began drifting.