Global Weather Highlights
October 2021
EUROPE
A
weather station in Cairo Montenotte, Province of Savona in the NW Italian region
of Liguria, recorded 496 mm of rain in just 6 hours, breaking the country's
6-hour rainfall record of 472 mm set in 2011 (4th). While rain was
recorded across the country, the storm unloaded most of its power in the Savona
area. Agenzia Regionale Protezione Ambiente Ligure reported 1-hour rainfall
totals of 145.2 mm in Cairo Montenotte, 178.2 mm in Urbe and 181 mm in
Vicomorasso - a new national record. Furthermore, figures show the station at
Rossiglione recorded more than 900 mm of rain in 24 hours.
Flash
floods hit parts of the city of Marseille in southern France, after 173 mm of
rainfall fell overnight, with most of it in the space of 2 hours (4th).
The amount represents 2 months' worth of the city's average October rainfall.
Travel was disrupted in the region and a number of train services were
suspended.
A
powerful autumn storm named Aurore by Meteo France brought severe weather to
France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Poland, the Channel
Islands, and parts of southern England (20th-21st). This
is the year's first violent autumn storm in Europe. In Germany, this storm is
known as Ignatz. Aurore started affecting Brittany, France on Wednesday
afternoon and continued eastward through the night with wind gusts up to 175
km/h. It downed thousands of trees and damaged many homes. According to French
Enedis utility, more than 250000 homes were left without power as of Thursday
morning. According to Meteo France, wind gusts of 175 km/h were registered in
Fecamp, and 153 km/h on top of Eiffel Tower in Paris. A large number of rail
services were disrupted by uprooted trees in France, Germany, the Netherlands,
and neighbouring countries as well as in England. Four people were killed in
Poland's Lower Silesia region. One person died when a van was blown off the road
while a builder died after a wall collapsed. In the western Polish city of
Wroclaw, two people died when a tree crashed onto their car.
Exceptional rainfall hit Spain's Alicante Province on the 22nd, damaging homes
and stranding numerous vehicles. According to the State Meteorological Agency
AEMET, up to 102 mm of rainfall hit the town of Torrevieja, resulting in the
evacuation of the Dama de Guardamar school in Vega Baja del Segura. Video
footage showed deep levels of water sweeping through buildings, while cars were
seen submerged as streets in Alicante were left underwater.
SOUTH
OF AMERICA
A
sandstorm that lasted 20 minutes has caused significant damage to houses in the
town of Catanduva in Sao Paulo, Brazil (6th). Sandstorms also
blanketed other cities and towns in the state causing the sky to turn different
shades of orange and brown. The skylines across the state changed color as
strong winds combined with a drought that has hit the country, lifting surface
soil and dust into the atmosphere.
A
severe hailstorm hit the Bolivian town of Taija, leaving impressive amounts of
hail on the streets (31st). Parts of the city were covered in up to
60 cm of hail.
ASIA
More
than 1.76 million people have been affected by severe flooding in China's
northern Shanxi province, according to local media (10th). Torrential
rain last week lead to houses collapsing and triggered landslides across more
than 70 districts and cities in the province. China's Meteorological
Administration told local media that heavy and prolonged rainfall and storms are
hampering rescue efforts. Shanxi is also home to a number of ancient monuments
which are at major risk from the severe rainfall. Authorities told the Xinhua
news agency that more than 120,000 people have been urgently transferred and
resettled, and that 17,000 homes have collapsed across Shanxi province. Shanxi's
provincial capital Taiyuan saw average rainfall of around 185.6 mm last week,
compared to the 25 mm monthly average during 1981-2010.
MEDITERRANEAN
The
island of Corfu was declared in "state of emergency" later in the day after
torrential rains from storm Ballos flooded homes and businesses, destroyed
infrastructure, agriculture and livestock, thus endangering human lives (14th).
69 people in total had to be evacuated with boats or helicopters as they were
trapped in the floods. One person was killed on the island of Evia after he was
carried away by the rushing water during the storm. A month's rainfall was
reported to have fallen in 24 hours during the storm.
INDIA
At
least 26 people have been killed in floods in southern India after heavy rains
caused rivers to overflow, cutting off towns and villages (11th-18th).
There are fears the death toll could rise further as many people are missing.
Several houses were washed away and people became trapped in the district of
Kottayam in Kerala state. Kottayam and Idukki are two of the worst affected
districts in the state, where days of heavy rainfall have caused deadly
landslides. Swollen rivers have also washed away bridges connecting many small
villages. On Monday, a number of dams across Kerala state were opened to reduce
the risk of dangerous overflows. The government had earlier said the decision on
which dams to open would be made by an expert committee. "District collectors
will be notified hours before opening the dams so that local people have enough
time to evacuate," said the office of Kerala's chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan.
In a 24-hour period to October 12, Karipur recorded 255 mm of rain, Kozhikode
216 mm, and Kannur 166 mm. The rain continued across the state, worsening over
the last 2 days with Kochi recording 129 mm of rain in 24 hours to 17 October
and Valparai 101 mm in 24 hours to 18 October. According to the India
Meteorological Department, the heavy rains were caused by a low pressure area
over the SE Arabian Sea and Kerala.
At
least 46 people have died in flash floods triggered by heavy rains in the
northern Indian state of Uttarakhand (19th). Images and videos from
the state show flooded roads, submerged homes and fallen bridges. Experts say
the Himalayan state, a popular tourist spot, is seeing the effects of both
climate change and rampant construction. Floods have also ravaged the southern
state of Kerala, where at least 26 people have died in recent days. Both states
have recorded excessive rainfall this year, according to data from India's
weather department. Kerala, for instance, recorded 453.5 mm rainfall as opposed
to the 192.7 mm that is considered normal during this time of the year.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, the districts that
observed heavy to extremely heavy rainfall were Champawat, Nainital, Udham Singh
Nagar, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Almora, Pauri and Chamoli from 8.30 a.m. on
Monday till 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday. There were several reports where people called
the rain "multiple cloudbursts". But the IMD terms rainfall of 100 mm or above
in just one hour as a cloudburst. The previous records of 24-hour rainfall in
Uttarakhand was held by Pant Nagar that received 228 mm rainfall on 10 July
1990, but was now broken by the current 403.2 mm rainfall. The observatory has
records since 25 May 1962, when it was established there, IMD Dehradun data
said. Similarly, at Mukteshwar, where the observatory was established on 1 May
1897, the previous record was of 254.5 mm rainfall on 18 September 1914, was
broken by recent fall of 340.8 mm of rainfall.
AFRICA
Heavy
rains caused severe floods in parts of the city of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, leaving
homes damaged, roads blocked and vehicles stranded (22nd). Attecoube,
one of the 10 urban communes of Abidjan, registered 106 mm of rain in a 12-hour
period while Youpogon registered 105 mm. 60 mm of the total fell in just 30
minutes. Yopougon, Attecoube, Abobo and Adjame were the worst affected. At least
4 people were killed and 4 others injured.
24th-26th
Massive flooding hit Italy's port city of Catania over two days with the city
receiving its average yearly rainfall in just about 48 hours. Massive damage was
reported across the city, at least 2 people have been killed and one remains
missing. The rains were brought by a non-tropical low pressure area, located
just south of Sicily, which consolidated into a Medistorm "Gloria" on the 26th.
A weather station at Lentini, Sicily received 275.4 mm on the 24th, with a
maximum hourly intensity at 153.4 mm. In 24 hours ending the 25th, 312.2 mm of
rain was recorded at a weather station at Linguaglossa and 279.8 mm at Lentini.
The rains continued over the next day, surpassing the yearly average of 586 mm
in about 48 hours.
UNITED
STATES
A
rapidly intensifying coastal storm affecting parts of the Northeast U.S. during
the 25th-27th brought strong winds and flooding, from New Jersey into most of
southern New England. This is the first nor'easter of the season. Parts of New
Jersey received up to 125 mm of rain by 1100 LT on the 26th. Central Park in New
York City received 68 mm of rain by 1300 LT while Islip on Long Island received
66 mm. As the storm continued intensifying, the number of customers without
power in Massachusetts rose to 189000 with 21620 in Maine, and 9030 in New
Hampshire.
TROPICAL
Hurricane Sam finally weakened below major hurricane strength on Sunday morning
(3rd), ending a remarkable 7.75-day odyssey across the central
Atlantic as one of the longest-lived major hurricanes on record. According to
Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University, Sam is tied with Hurricane Edouard
of 1996 for fourth-most consecutive days as an Atlantic major hurricane since
the satellite era began in 1966. Sam is also in the top-ten list of Atlantic
hurricanes for the length of time at category 4 strength. Sam's long life as a
major hurricane was enabled by its relatively slow forward speed, avoidance of
land areas, and warmer-than-average ocean waters.
At
least 13 people have been killed after tropical cyclone Shaheen battered parts
of Oman and Iran (3rd-4th). There was widespread flooding
along Oman's northern coast as the storm made landfall on Sunday, bringing heavy
rain and winds of up to 150 km/h. Omani authorities reported the deaths of seven
people in North al-Batinah province on Monday. Four others drowned or were
killed in landslides on Sunday. In Iran, state media said the bodies of two
fishermen had been found. Infrastructure, including electrical facilities and
roads, was also damaged. Parts of the United Arab Emirates were placed on
standby as the storm moved south-westwards over land on Monday and weakened.
Residents of al-Ain were told to avoid leaving home except for emergencies. It
is rare for storms of this power to hit Oman's northern Arabian Sea coast.
Authorities said 369 mm of rain fell on al-Khaboura, north-west of Oman's
capital city, Muscat, while more than 200 mm was recorded in Muscat itself. The
average October rainfall for Muscat is 0.8 mm, and the average yearly rainfall
is 89.7 mm. Shaheen's high winds also caused waves of up to 10 m along the
coast.
Another tropical storm affected storm-weary Philippines as the country received
a devastating blow from Tropical Storm Kompasu (11th). As a result of
Kompasu, five people were killed in flash floods in the Palawan Province while
four others were killed as a result of a landslide in the Benguet Province. By
Wednesday, the death toll had climbed to 13 in the Philippines with more than
21000 residents displaced from their homes, according to CNN Philippines.
Additionally, at least one death was blamed on Kompasu in Hong Kong, according
to the South China Morning Post. Baguio, located on the western part of the
island of Luzon, recorded a 515 mm of rain in just 24 hours as Kompasu made its
closest approach.
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