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Queensland Residents Still Recovering One Year After Cyclone Debbie

Written by Team Morecast

 

Severe Cyclone Debbie struck the central coast of Queensland one year ago today. At landfall, early in the afternoon on 28-March near Airlie Beach, it was a strong category four storm. It produced significant wind damage thanks to wind gusts as high as 263 kph, especially on Hamilton and Whitsunday Islands.

 

 

But the most widespread and lasting impact was from the record-shattering rainfall and resultant flooding. You can see in the satellite image above the extensive cloud train connecting Debbie with tropical waters to the east. More than 60 weather observing stations had monthly rainfall records broken. In some cases the old records were more than doubled! Rainfall totals exceeding 1,000 mm were common in an area that only receives up to 2,000 mm annually on average. The big winner was Plane Creek Sugar Mill, just south of Mackay. That station reported an astonishing 1.3 meters of rain!

The deluge quickly sent many rivers and streams far over their banks, overloading dams and prompting wide-ranging evacuations. Transportation was shut down in many locations for days. The storm ended up costing almost two and a half billion dollars (almost $2 billion American) and fourteen lives.

The massive spike in insurance claims overwhelmed the region’s infrastructure. One year on, some families are still waiting on the backlog to clear up. Many structures remain damaged and uninhabitable, exposed to further wear and tear by the elements. The slow response has prompted revisions to insurance claim processing in the hopes that victims of the next storm can receive the help they need more promptly.

UPDATE: Flooding Will Remain a Major Threat in the Mid-South Through Thursday!

Written by Team Morecast

 

A band of heavy rain is moving from eastern Texas into Louisiana. The leading edge of the rain band contains some severe cells capable of producing high winds, large hail, and perhaps even an isolated tornado or two. However, the more widespread threat across the region will be flash flooding through Thursday.

 

 

The heaviest rainfall of 4-8 inches will fall from the Houston metro area through much of central Louisiana into parts of Mississippi. The time frame for this rainfall is this evening into tonight. Localized amounts exceeding eight inches are certainly possible, leading to significant flash flooding. Later on Thursday, the frontal system responsible for the heavy rains will start to weaken and move faster to the east, reducing the threat for these higher amounts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severe Thunderstorms Target Texas This Week

Written by Team Morecast

Severe thunderstorms will threaten parts of Texas Tuesday and Wednesday with large hail and damaging winds.

The Details

A strong disturbance moving across the Southwest U.S. will tap into a warm and unstable air mass across Texas bringing some rounds of severe weather.

The first round occurred on Monday with reports of large hail up to 7 cm in diameter across northwest Texas.

Weather radar shows severe thunderstorms across northwest Texas on Monday. These storms produced large hail up to 7 cm in diameter.

More severe storms are expected Tuesday afternoon and night from Little Rock, Arkansas southwest to near Dallas and San Antonio, Texas. Large hail will again be the primary concern. However, damaging winds, frequent lightning and local flash flooding are a risk in the stronger storms.

The disturbance responsible for the severe weather will push out into the Plains on Wednesday. This will shift the severe concern a bit farther to the southeast for Wednesday afternoon and night.

San Antonio will again be at risk for severe weather on Wednesday, and this threat will shift into new areas such as Houston, Texas. Damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding could threaten communities that experience a severe storm later on Wednesday.

Jelawat not a Threat to Land

Written by Meteo Expert Josef Lukas

Tropical Storm Jelawat developed in the West Pacific on Sunday, however, it is not expected to threaten any major landmasses.

Future Track Details

The center of Jelawat passed in between the island nations of Micronesia and Palau on Monday. The Micronesian island of Yap Island picked up over 180 mm of rain early this week as the center passed off to the west.

The storm will track northward through Wednesday, and then get steered toward the northeast thanks to a cold front moving southward from Japan.

West Pacific tropical outlook through this week

The expected curve to the northeast will keep the center of Jelawat far from any major landmasses.

Later this week, east-facing coastal locations of the Philippians, Taiwan, northward to Japan should expected to see rough surf. Direct wind and rain impacts are not expected.

Will Jelawat Strengthen?

Warm ocean water temperatures of 27-29°C have allowed Jelawat to acquire tropical characteristics. However, as the cyclone continues northward it will encounter stronger westerly wind shear. The wind shear will have a negative effect on Jelawat, and weakening is expected beyond Wednesday.

Global sea-surface temperatures. Jelawat is located within the blueish-purple circle.

Once the Jelawat turns toward the northeast, the cyclone is expected to lose its tropical characteristics as wind shear increases and sea-surface temperatures cool to below 25°C.