GLOBAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

FEBRUARY 2024

UNITED STATES

The first of two severe storms drenched California on Thursday (1^st), bringing intense downpours that flooded roads and toppled trees. But the worst is far from over – officials warned residents to prepare for a “significant threat” as a larger storm is expected to douse the state over the weekend.  “Confidence is increasing for another impactful storm system to move through Sunday into Monday,” the National Weather Service’s Bay Area division weote on Twitter/X Thursday afternoon. The back-to-back storms, caused by strong atmospheric river systems, will pack more of a punch because of their close timing. Areas across the state were soaked by Thursday morning, adding to the potential dangers posed by the incoming storm.

EUROPE

After more than 1,000 days of drought, the Catalan government has formally announced a state of emergency, extending water restrictions to Barcelona and the surrounding region.  Announcing the measures on Thursday, Pere Aragonès, the Catalan president, said that in some areas it had not rained at all for three years, describing the situation as the worst drought in modern history. It is estimated that 500mm of rain needs to fall in Catalonia to make up the deficit. Water reserves have fallen below 16%, a level low enough to trigger the emergency declaration.  Measures already in place in the north of the region, including a 20% reduction in agricultural irrigation and a ban on watering public parks, will be extended to Barcelona.

AFRICA

Tens of thousands of people in the Democratic of the Congo are living in temporary accommodation and waiting for government help after the country experienced its worst flooding in six decades.  More than 300 people have died and 280,000 households in more than half the country have been forced to leave their homes since heavy rains started at the end of November. More than 1,500 schools, 267 health centers, 211 markets and 146 roads have been damaged.  In January, the government declared a hydrological and ecological catastrophe after the Congo River overflowed, flooding the capital, Kinshasa.  The country’s president, Félix Tshisekedi, who won his second term in office in December after a contested election, last week ordered ministers to deal with the crisis.

SOUTH AMERICA

Heavy rains in Bolivia have triggered landslides along the banks of a swollen river in La Paz, leaving several houses damaged and at risk of collapse. A resident told Reuters that on Tuesday night the Irpavi River began to swallow the 25 metres (82ft) separating her house from the waterbed, damaging her home. Several buildings in the area are still at risk of being washed away. Authorities mobilised workers and heavy machinery to different areas of La Paz to carry out mitigation and emergency works.

AUSTRAILIA

A dairy farmer is dead, homes have been lost and nearly 135,000 customers remain without power after brushfires and storms ravaged Victoria.  The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, confirmed a 50-year-old man died when storms hit the South Gippsland region, in the state’s east, on Tuesday night. She expressed her condolences to his family and first responders. The 50-year-old was found dead at a Darlimurla property. WorkSafe Victoria is investigating the incident.  “The death is the second confirmed workplace fatality for 2024. There were nine work-related deaths at the same time last year,” they said. Police said the man was working on the property when he was struck by debris. They said they would prepare a report for the coroner.

Six homes have been destroyed by bushfires in Victoria, as authorities issue a warning of “grave concern” for fire danger in the state on Wednesday.  On Sunday morning, Victoria’s emergency services minister, Jaclyn Symes, announced that after 228 impact assessments were carried out following fires in western Victoria, six residential homes were deemed to have been destroyed.  “Obviously, that is very sobering news for those families,” Symes said, adding that there would be “support measures” for those communities.  She said hot temperatures forecast for Wednesday were now the main focus for authorities.