Category: Posts EN

Cyclone Fakir Rumbles Over Reunion Island, Causing Life-Threatening Floods

Written by Team Morecast

 

Tropical Cyclone Fakir has weakened to a remnant low as it pulls away from land masses over the southwestern Indian Ocean. Residents of Reunion Island can now begin the clean-up process following flooding rainfall close to 415 mm (16.3 inches). Wind gusts as high as 176 kph (109 mph) also caused significant damage.

 

 

 

Fakir was a small but quickly-developing cyclone on Tuesday. It spiked as a category one cyclone as it approached Reunion Island, and has been just as quickly weakening over the last several hours. The heavy rainfall caused destructive mudslides, especially over the mountains on the south side of the island. At least two deaths have been blamed on the storm.

Fakir is an unusually late cyclone – the cyclone season officially ends in this region on April 30th. It’s the third cyclone this season to directly affect Reunion Island. Fakir will pose no additional threat to land.

Heavy Rain, Flooding Threat For Japan Tuesday Into Wednesday

Written by Meteo Expert Josef Lukas

Low pressure will pass through Japan on Tuesday into Wednesday bringing heavy rain and the risk for flooding.

The Details:

A moisture laden storm will cross Japan on Tuesday spreading moderate to heavy rain across the country. This area of low pressure gave Beijing it’s wettest day in more than 6 months this past weekend.

The track of the storm will bring the heaviest rain to the Kyushu, Chugoku, Kansai, and Chubu regions of Japan. 80-120 mm of rain is expected in some of the prefectures within these regions, particularly across the mountains. This amount of rain combined with the mountainous terrain will lead to areas of flooding.

Total rainfall expected Tuesday and Wednesday

For the Tokyo metro area, rainfall will average 20-40 mm. The rain will fall over the span of about 24 hours keeping the flood threat across the city rather low.

Rain will linger into Wednesday before tapering off and coming to an end Wednesday night.

Below is a weather model depiction of the storm total rainfall across Japan Tuesday and Wednesday.

Severe Storms Threaten Argentina On Tuesday & Tuesday Night

Written by Meteo Expert Josef Lukas

Severe thunderstorms are expected to erupt across Argentina during the midday and afternoon hours on Tuesday. Some of the severe storms are likely to push into Uruguay and far southern Brazil Tuesday night.

The Details

A disturbance will move off of the Andes Mountains and across Argentina on Tuesday. The disturbance will run into an unstable environment which will trigger the development of strong to severe thunderstorms.

Severe thunderstorm potential Tuesday and Tuesday night

The greatest risk for severe thunderstorms will be east of the Andes Mountains and include cities such as Cordoba and Rosario. In this area, damaging winds are the primary concern. However, frequent lightning and localized flash flooding can accompany any storm.

Buenos Aires will lay on the southern edge of the severe thunderstorm potential, with the greatest threat for severe weather expected just to the north.

On Tuesday evening into Tuesday night the severe risk will shift into parts of Uruguay and far southern Brazil.

A few lingering showers or thunderstorms will extend into Wednesday morning, but this these storms are not expected to be severe.

Beijing Sees Wettest Day In Six Months; Rain Targets Korean Peninsula Next

Written by Meteo Expert Josef Lukas

Low pressure moving across eastern China has brought Beijing its wettest day in more than six months. The heavy rain will target the Korean Peninsula through Monday.

The Details:

Beijing picked up 27.2 mm of rain on Saturday, which is the most rain in the city since October 10th, 2017 when 52 mm of rain fell. The rain has now ended across most of the metro area.

Steady to heavy rain will spread across the Yellow Sea on Sunday and move into the Korean Peninsula on Monday.

The swath of heaviest rain is expected to setup from just south of Beijing eastward across the Yellow Sea and through South Korea. 50-100 mm of rain is expected in this corridor over a 24-36 hour period of time.

Rainfall setup this weekend into early next week

Monday is expected to be a rainy day across South Korea as low pressure moves across the country. Some flooding is possible in the areas of heaviest rain, including around Seoul.

As low pressure moves into the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, it will weaken and consolidate with a stronger low farther south.

Below is a model animation showing expected rainfall totals from Saturday afternoon through Tuesday.