Earth ChangesS


Cloud Precipitation

Bangladesh flood death toll reaches 104

Bangladesh's Flood Forecasting and
© AFPBangladesh's Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre said at least 26 of the country's 64 districts have been flooded
The death toll from monsoon storms in Bangladesh rose above 100 Friday with flood levels still rising in many parts of the country, officials said.

About 20 people have died in 48 hours, taking the toll to 104, making it one of the worst monsoons in years, officials said. Most victims have drowned but some have been killed by landslides, snake bites and lightning strikes.

Five girls aged between six and 18 drowned when their boat capsized in a flood torrent in the northern district of Jamalpur on Thursday, district administrator Ahmed Kabir told AFP.


Comment: Over 5 million affected by monsoon floods in Bangladesh


Attention

Mexico's El Popo volcano spews smoke and ash

Popocatepetl volcano
Popocatepetl volcano
Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano unleashed a powerful explosion on Wednesday (July 24) morning, spewing ash and smoke into the morning sky. Rough cut - no reporter narration.


Cloud Grey

Tourists flee as volcano near Indonesian city of Bandung erupts for first time in 6 years

The disaster mitigation agency said the tourism spot had been closed and the alert status of the volcano was being evaluated.
© BNPB INDONESIAThe disaster mitigation agency said the tourism spot had been closed and the alert status of the volcano was being evaluated.
A volcano erupted near Indonesia's third-biggest city of Bandung on Friday (July 26), sending ash several hundred metres into the air and triggering warnings for people to stay away.

Broadcasters showed footage of cars and motorbikes driving away from Tangkuban Parahu on roads covered by ash.

The disaster mitigation agency said the tourism spot had been closed and the alert status of the volcano was being evaluated.


Cloud Lightning

Man struck by lightning on a Florida beach dies

Lightning strikes killed 20 people in the United States in 2018.
Lightning strikes killed 20 people in the United States in 2018.
A man who was struck by lightning at a Florida beach on Sunday has died, Clearwater Police said.

He was identified as 32-year-old Garry L. Perks of New Port Richey, Florida.

Perks went into cardiac arrest after he was hit by a lightning strike at Clearwater Beach near Tampa last weekend, fire rescue officials told CNN affiliate WFTS.

Seven other people were injured, and witnesses reported that the victims fell or were thrown when the lightning struck, Clearwater Police Department Lt. Michael Ogliaruso told CNN.

Arrow Down

Landslide triggered by heavy rainfall kills 24 in Morocco

Landslide in Al Haouz province
Landslide in Al Haouz province
Authorities have so far recovered the bodies of 18 of the victims, including women and children.

On the night of Wednesday July 24, in the region of El Haouz (a province in the region of Marrakesh-Safi), a vehicle transporting several people flipped on national road n° 7.

A section of a mountain located between the municipalities of Ijoukak and Asni collapsed on top of the vehicle which was traveling to Taliouine (212 kilometers south of Marrakech).

According to local sources, the passengers were from Casablanca and were heading to Taliouine to celebrate Eid El Adha with their families.


Sun

UK has second hottest day on record

UK heatwave
© Danny Lawson/PA

Cambridge was hottest spot at 38.1C, as Met Office issues storm and flood warnings overnight


Britain has experienced its hottest July day and second hottest day on record as the mercury hit 38.1C, the Met Office said.

The highest temperature recorded on Thursday was in Cambridge, which is only the second time temperatures over 100F have been recorded in the UK, according to the Met Office. Thursday's record temperature surpassed the previous high for the month of 36.7C (98.06F) set at Heathrow in July 2015.

Sweltering temperatures could spark thundery downpours, with a yellow warning for thunderstorms issued for most of England except the south-west, and parts of Scotland, until 4am on Friday. The storms could lead to flash flooding, disruption of train and bus services and even power cuts.

Experts at the Met Office say the current weather pattern is driving hot air from the south, but there is "no doubt" the climate crisis is playing a role in driving what could be unprecedented temperature highs.

Temperatures have now surpassed 25C for a third consecutive day in the majority of the UK, meaning the hot spell is likely to be officially classified as a heatwave. However, Northern Ireland and western Scotland have been cooler, with highs in the low 20s on Wednesday.


Comment: All-time high temperature records have also been smashed in northern France and Germany this week. See also:

Extreme Heat Dominates Headlines, But Rollercoaster Weather Should Worry us Most - What's Going on?


Fire

European heatwave: All-time high temperature records smashed in northern France and Germany

heatwave europe july 2019
© The Sun
Paris reported its highest temperature ever this week as Europe's second major heat wave of the summer continues.

Europe is now baking under its second heat wave this month, but this latest is one for the record books.

On Thursday, Paris set its all-time temperature high, reaching 108.6 degrees Fahrenheit. The United Kingdom's Met Office reported that London's Heathrow Airport reached 98.4 degrees, a record for July. Cambridge, England, heat climbed to 100.5 degrees, marking only the second time triple-digit temperatures have been recorded in the United Kingdom.

Several countries also set all-time heat records this week: The Netherlands heated up to 105.3 degrees. Germany reached 106.7. Temperatures in Belgium soared to 103.8.

The high temperatures have done more than make people sweat; French officials observed that drownings are up 30 percent compared to the same time last year, with at least 60 deaths indirectly attributed to the ongoing heat as more unskilled swimmers sought relief in the water.

Comment: See also: Belgium and the Netherlands record all-time high temperatures as another heatwave cooks western Europe


Windsock

Tsunami-like Waves Inundate Beach and Beachgoers in Brazil

Brazil Praia do forte tsunami waves July 2019
'Freak' tsunami-like waves engulfed the Praia do Forte beach in Cabo Frio in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeast of Brazil on July 20th

Cloud Lightning

SOTT Focus: Extreme Heat Dominates Headlines, But Rollercoaster Weather Should Worry us Most - What's Going on?

Snow Germany May 5th
Snow fell across parts of Germany on May 5th 2019.
As parts of Europe enter a second heatwave this summer and battle wildfires to the drumbeat of weather warnings and climate change alarm, other parts of the world look on in envy as they shiver in their summer shorts.

Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands have just beaten an all-time heat record. The UK is set to do the same. France did it last month, but could come close again this week. Portugal has just brought one wildfire under control, and warns of a "very high" risk of more, as are Spain and Italy.

But earlier in July, Germany and the Netherlands hit a record-low night-time temperature of under -1 C, and Switzerland was a few degrees colder than its summer averages.

All the while Moscow is getting soaked with rain in a July that's set to become the coldest in over 40 years. We asked climate and weather experts what's going on.

Arrow Down

Fall-like air breaks record lows from early 1900s in parts of southern US

US record low July temps
© AccuWeather
The storm system that triggered severe thunderstorms in parts of the Carolinas on Tuesday signaled the end to the prolonged stretch of stifling heat and humidity that has been baking the Southeast.

An unusually strong cold front, by late July standards, pushed through much of the Southern states and triggered severe weather on Tuesday. North Carolina was hit the hardest by Tuesday's storms, with nearly two dozen reports of wind damage across the state.

The passage of this front has brought lower temperature and humidity levels to much of the region which will linger through much of this week.

A recently installed weather station run by Virginia Tech Meteorology showed a low temperature of 38 F in Canaan Valley, West Virginia Wednesday morning. The station is situated at an elevation of 3,105 feet.

High temperatures, with the exception of the Florida Peninsula, should generally be in the 80s through Friday, and comfortable humidity levels should cap temperatures to around 90 F.

Nighttime low temperatures, especially away from coastal locations, are forecast to trend into the 50s and 60s, which will challenge or even break records.

"Some cities in the Southern states that may challenge record lows include Little Rock, Arkansas, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Houston, San Antonio and Nashville, Tennessee," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

"In some cases, it hasn't been this cool at night during this part of the summer in more than 100 years."

As the week progresses, these cities and others will challenge daily record lows.