Start of 2018 Marked by Extreme Weather – World Meteorological Organization

.

Image from: World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

The “bomb cyclone” was followed by a further drop in temperatures, with a number of new daily cold record temperatures being set from 5-7 January.

NWS warned that the Arctic air mass and dangerously cold wind chills expected across much of the eastern two-thirds of the country. After the chill, a widespread January thaw is expected for much of the USA with above normal temperatures for mid-month.

In a cold snap which started late December, more than 70 low temperature daily records set for long-term stations in Canada with records dating back to 1870s in some cases.

The North Pole was as 20°C warmer than some southern Canadian Prairie cities. In some locations in southern and central Canada,  wind chill values dipped between -45°C  and -50°C, freezing exposed flesh in a minute.

Whilst it has been frigid in much of Canada and the Midwestern and Eastern United States, this has not been the case in the Western USA and Alaska.

NASA issued a temperature anomaly map based on data from NASA’s Terra satellite, showing extreme difference in land surface temperatures  from December 26, 2017 to January 2, 2018, compared to the 2001–2010 average for the same eight-day period.

Intense rainfall on 9 January caused flash flooding and deadly mudslides in southern California, where protective vegetation was destroyed by devastating wildfires in late 2017, leading to debris flow in burn scar areas.

A number of fatalities were reported. “Areas that had been roadways, driveways, and homes, are now unrecognizable due to the large amount of mud and debris flows,” said Venture County Air Unit. National Weather Service office issued regular warnings about the heavy rain, flash flood and mudslide risk. San Diego broke a daily rainfall record. Las Vegas received 1.24 inches (31.5 mm) of rain, or one quarter of the average annual total, within a matter of hours.

Europe and North Africa

Europe also experienced extreme weather, with a powerful storm which brought strong winds and heavy rain to Ireland, UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.

During 3 January, the storm – known as Eleanor – passed from Ireland and UK down through the Alps and reached Corsica in the evening.

Wind gusts of 155 km/h were recorded at Knock Airport, Ireland. Meteo France said one quarter of France had winds of more than 100 km/h.

.

Photo from: World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

At the same time, January maximum temperature records tumbled in France, which saw a new national record for 3 January of 11.5°C (+6.3°C/norm). Southeastern France saw new monthly records, including 22.9°C on 3 January in Cannes.

Heavy snowfall and mild temperatures led to a heightened avalanche risk in many parts of the Alps. More than 120 cm of new snow fell within 48 hours in Tignes in the French Alps on 8-9 January, according to Météo-France, with similar amounts falling in parts of the Alps.

Transport links to many resorts in France, Switzerland and northern Italy were affected. Snowmelt combined with sustained precipitation caused flood alerts in parts of France, Germany and Switzerland.

A sustained large-scale low pressure system brought cold, stormy weather to much of the western Mediterranean region, including Algeria, Morocco, Spain, Portugal and south of France over the weekend of 6-7 January.

Parts of Southern France received more than one month’s worth of rain and the town of Montpellier received two months’ worth. Snow was reported on high-altitude areas of the Sahara desert in Algeria.

China

From January 2 to 4, central and eastern China saw heavy rain and snow in Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces.

There was cumulative precipitation of 10-30 mm in many areas, and 40-60 mm in south-eastern Henan, eastern and northern Hubei, central Anhui, and portions of central Jiangsu. “Monthly rainfall extremes have been broken by daily rainfall in 92 counties and cities in areas like Henan and Shaanxi,” according to the China Meteorological Administration.

Southern hemisphere

Parts of the southern hemisphere are witnessing extreme heat.

The South African Weather Service issued warnings for a heatwave “with persistently high temperatures” over many parts of the country from 5-8 January.

The Indian ocean saw the first tropical cyclone of the season, with tropical cyclone Ava impacting Madagascar on 6-7 January, causing casualties and disruption.

Widespread parts of Australia were gripped by intense heat from 5-7 January. The weather station at Penrith, Sydney, reached 47.3°C on 7 January (Sunday) at the height of the Sydney heat, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology.

Hot, dry and gusty conditions led to an elevated fire risk through parts of South Australia and Victoria. This was followed by severe thunderstorms, heavy rain and damaging winds which struck New South Wales.

There was extreme heat in Patagonia, Argentina on 8 January. San Antonio Oueste saw an afternoon temperature of 43.5°C (3rd hottest on record), with other stations reporting more than 40.0°C, according to Argentina’s meteorological service, SMN.

Argentina saw its hottest year on record in 2017.

*SOURCE: World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Go to Original. 

2018 Human Wrongs Watch