Category: Posts EN

Southern China Crippled by Extreme Heat and Drought!

Written by Team Morecast

 

A severe drought has been affecting portions of the south-central and southwest US. Among other impacts, it has caused dangerously low levels of Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the US. But the US drought is being dwarfed by an unprecedented heat wave in southern China. Extremely high temperatures and bone dry conditions have dominated the weather pattern there for more than two months.

 

 

 

This past Saturday, the city of Chongqing, home to nine million people, saw an overnight low of 35 deg C (95 deg F). This is warmer than the average high temperature for August. It’s also the warmest minimum temperature ever recorded in China in the month of August. As dangerous as any extreme high temperature, overnight lows that warm eliminate the period of relief that residents and air conditioning systems need to operate effectively. Numerous major cities have seen record highs near or above 43 deg C (110 deg F) recently. Hundreds of millions of citizens have been affected. Beibei reported a high of 45 deg (113 deg F), the highest temperature ever recorded in China outside of the desert province of Xinjiang.

 

 

 

The extreme heat and drought have drastically lowered lake and river levels. The impacts for drinking water and agriculture are obvious. However, these regions also depend heavily on hydroelectric power production that has been significantly hindered. Key industrial plants like car manufacturer Toyota and battery maker CATL have been forced to shut down. These restrictions will place additional strain on the already disrupted international supply chain.

Severe Monsoon Floods Ravage Portions of India and Pakistan!

Written by Team Morecast

 

The summer months always mean heavy monsoonal moisture spreading across India. Farming in this region depends entirely on the monsoonal rainfall so the rains are typically both expected and welcome. However, rains that fall too fast can still lead to dangerous flooding. This is particularly true if the heavy rain affects areas unaccustomed to the tropical downpours. Such has been the case in the past few weeks over central Pakistan (see map below).

 

 

The Punjab is a region that spans the border between Pakistan and India. A slow-moving area of tropical low pressure has been enhancing the normal monsoonal moisture flow (see satellite animation below). The Sindh district reported 355 mm of rain on Friday, the heaviest one-day total ever recorded there. The Balochistan region has seen three times their normal rainfall amounts, leading to the worst flooding in 30 years. The direct death toll from this flooding is approaching 1,000 in Pakistan and India. Almost a million people have been displaced from their homes. These floods have also destroyed billions worth of crops, leading to soaring food price inflation.

 

 

 

Another tropical cyclone is moving into northeast India. Model guidance projects this low to move slowly towards the Punjab in the coming week. Unfortunately this will mean an extended threat for severe flooding persisting into early September. Lead photo courtesy of UN photographer Evan Schneider.

Historic Flooding Swamps Brisbane Metro!

Written by Team Morecast

 

A slow-moving tropical low has brought days of torrential rainfall to southeast Queensland, including the Brisbane metro. Indeed, rainfall rates have been increasing today with rates approaching 90 mm/hr in some spots. The result has been the worst flooding in decades with more to come.

 

 

The rain gauge network across southeast QLD has been lighting up with widespread four-day totals of 500-1000 mm. Mt. Glorious has registered the highest total with 1,572 mm, but unfortunately this is far from anomalous. These copious rains have overwhelmed streams and rivers across the region, leading to levels not seen in many years.

 

 

Numerous gauges are reading in the major flood category along the Brisbane River, including downtown Brisbane itself (see tweet videos above and below). Docks, ferry moorings, and even large boats are being destroyed with debris flowing out to sea. Thousands of homes and businesses are under water, prompting widespread evacuations. Roads are inundated across the region and travel has been highly discouraged or prohibited by officials. The city bus service has been stopped entirely for the time being. Forced releases from the Wivenhoe Dam just upstream will only exacerbate the flood crisis in the next 24-48 hours. At least six people have drowned so far in the flooding across the region.

 

 

The low pressure system responsible for the rainfall will slide slowly south of Brisbane later tonight, allowing the rains to ease. A significant flooding threat will follow the low into northeast New South Wales through Monday. Lead photo courtesy Mikeymoocow.

Powerful Snowstorm Buries Coastal Northeast!

Written by Team Morecast

 

A rapidly intensifying coastal low brought damaging winds, punishing waves, and crippling snows to portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. The storm shut down some of the busiest airports in the world while road travel ground to a halt. The weight of snow and high winds brought down numerous powerlines and tree branches. Though the snow has ended and winds are easing, power outages may linger for days.

 

 

The Nor’easter exploded overnight as it passed off the Southeast coast and took energy from the warm Gulf Stream. Heavy snow broke out first along the Jersey shore on Friday evening before spreading into New England overnight. The heaviest snows fell in a stationary band over eastern Long Island and southern New England on Saturday morning and early afternoon. Within this band, snow fell at rates up to four inches per hour (10 cm/hr) and winds gusted 45-60 mph (70-100 kph), leading to near zero visibilities and drifts of several feet. Snowfall totals up to two feet were common within this band with some isolated reports of 30 inches (75 cm). The city of Boston saw 20-24 inch (50-60 cm) totals, including 23.6″ at Logan International Airport, tying the record for snowfall in a calendar day. New York City received 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) and Philadelphia saw around six inches (15 cm).

 

 

 

Strong winds gusted out of the north and northeast upwards of 70 mph (110 kph) along coastal New England. Along shorelines facing north, the winds pushed water up and over dunes and onto roadways. The high winds combined with temperatures in the teens to yield below-zero wind chills, contributing to the dangerous conditions.