Category: Posts EN

Deadly Cyclone Harold Ravaging the Islands of Vanuatu

Written by Team Morecast

 

Cyclone Harold intensified rapidly on Sunday just west of the archipelago nation of Vanuatu in the South Pacific. Harold is now a severe Category Four storm producing destructive winds up to 270 kph along with a deadly storm surge and flooding rains. The cyclone has made landfall over the largest of Vanuatu’s islands, Espirito Santu, as of Monday morning local time. The eyewall will be lashing the city of Luganville in the midday hours.

 

 

Officials have lifted pandemic-related restrictions on large numbers of people gathering together to allow residents to seek refuge in regional evacuation centers. Some natives have even adopted the sheltering ways of their ancestors, hiding in mountain caves. Most residents can easily recall one of the worst natural disasters to ever strike Vanuatu, Cyclone Pam, just five years ago. Pam was bit stronger than Harold, a Category Five with winds up to 300 kph. However, Harold is on track to affect more of the larger islands and population centers. It’s also moving more slowly, prolonging the period of dangerous conditions. Social media posts indicate significant damage has already occurred in Luganville, a city of more than 16,000, with the worst winds yet to come.

 

 

Harold will continue to move east-southeast with conditions improving on the islands of Vanuatu later Tuesday. There is a risk of significant impacts to the Fiji Islands later in the week, although some weakening is expected in the interim. Residents there should keep a close eye on Harold’s progress in the next few days and make appropriate preparations.

Extremely Rare Snowfall Blankets the Iraqi Capital of Baghdad

Written by Team Morecast

 

For only the second time in a century, residents of Baghdad, Iraq awoke Tuesday morning to a coating of snow. Accumulation was mainly restricted to grassy and elevated surfaces like car rooftops. Traffic disruption was minimal. However, children were able to participate in the kinds of activities, like throwing snowballs and building snowmen, that kids in other countries take for granted. The snow and temperatures near or below freezing were less enjoyable for the hundreds of thousands of homeless refugees from the conflicts in Syria huddled into tents in Baghdad and points north.

 

 

Wintertime temperatures in Baghdad are more typically in the teens and 20s (deg C). Temperatures near or below freezing are very rare. Rarer still is the combination of cold temperatures and sufficient moisture. Only one other time in the past century has any snow been recorded in Baghdad – that was in 2008 and a only a slushy dusting. By contrast, Tuesday’s snows reached a respectable 3-4 cm. And despite the fact that the snow was mostly melted by midday Tuesday, residents both young and old can now happily claim to have seen the white stuff in their own hometown.

Flooding Rains Spreading Down the New South Wales Coast!

Written by Team Morecast

 

Heavy rains have been falling today along the coast of southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales. Amounts exceeding 100 mm have been recorded in spots. This heavy rain is spreading south along the New South Wales. It’s part of a pattern shift away from the dry, hot, wildfire-friendly conditions of a few weeks ago towards one that is cool and rainy.

 

 

The map above shows the overall setup. An upper level low has parked itself over northern NSW and won’t be dislodged for several days. Meanwhile, persistent onshore flow at the surface will bring moisture from the ocean into eastern New South Wales. This flow will be perpendicular to the mountain ranges, and east-facing slopes will help enhance upward motion of the moist air. The combination of these factors will make a perfect recipe for prolonged, occasionally heavy rainfall along the east coast of New South Wales, including the Sydney metro area.

Widespread rainfall totals of 150-300 mm are expected through early next week with localized heavier bands dropping totals upwards of 400 mm. These amounts will lead to serious flash flooding. Some of the mountain slopes are likely to see landslides. Increasing easterly winds gusting as high as 60-80 kph will combine with rain-weakened soils to down trees and powerlines, resulting in power outages.

Major Flooding Accompanies Tropical Low Drifting Over Queensland!

Written by Team Morecast

 

Torrential rainfall has been falling across central and northern Queensland for several days thanks to a nearly stationary tropical low. Although the low will start to move slowly away in the next few days, the tap of tropical moisture will remain open. Additional rainfall falling over oversaturated soils will lead to flooding, eventually causing significant rises in the region’s streams and rivers.

 

 

The map above shows rainfall in the past several days over Queensland. Totals in excess of 100 mm (four inches) are common over central and northern sections, with several areas having seen 300-400+ mm. Rita Island, just south of Townsville, has tallied 703 mm ( in) in the past four days! Needless to say, that magnitude of rainfall even in tropical and near-tropical climate zones has lead to serious flooding. Numerous schools, roads and bridges have been closed, cutting off some of the small communities in the outback. Rivers are in the minor to moderate flood stage and rising. The current flood event will not rival the historic rain and flooding benchmark set by the storm of February 2019, but serious impacts are still likely. Lead photo courtesy flickr contributor David Jackmanson.