Earth ChangesS


Snowflake Cold

April snowfall hits Shipka Pass, poor visibility and icy roads in Bulgaria - 15.7 inches of snow reported


novinite.com
Mon, 07 Apr 2025 18:28 UTC
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Snowfall was reported Monday morning over Shipka Pass, according to BGNES. While traffic through the pass remains open, authorities are urging drivers to proceed with increased caution. The road surface still awaits treatment, and isolated patches of ice may be present.

Visibility in the Stara Zagora region, particularly near the Republic Pass, has dropped significantly—down to just 50 meters. These hazardous driving conditions are part of a broader cold snap affecting much of the country.

Despite the unexpected April snowfall, there are currently no closed mountain passes in Bulgaria, according to Rumen Sachanski, Director of the Regional Road Administration - Sofia. Speaking on BNT he confirmed that although snow was more intense in areas like Shipka and the Republic Pass, roadways have been cleared and remain open without restrictions.

While spring is officially underway, winter-like conditions returned across parts of the country, causing challenges for drivers. Videos surfaced on social media showing vehicles stuck at Petrohan Pass. In the Sofia region, no road closures or restrictions are in effect, although heavy snow during the night did require temporary measures. On the Struma Motorway, traffic for vehicles over 12 tons was restricted for about an hour, but normal flow has since resumed under winter conditions.

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Snowflake

April snowfall in some areas of Albania, Civil Protection: Working to keep road axes open


telegrafi.com
Mon, 07 Apr 2025 18:17 UTC
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Lower temperatures have brought snowfall this spring in the northern areas of the country, but also in the southeast.

According to reports from the structures of the Civil Protection system at the National Operational Center for Civil Emergencies, the situation on the National Road as a result of heavy snowfall on several road axes today is under control. 27 snowplows and salt spreaders are working simultaneously, with 8 snowplows working on the part of the axis that lies in the territory of the Lezha District (Mirditë municipality), while the rest of the vehicles, 19 vehicles, are working on the part of this axis in the territory of the Kukës District. The axis is passable.

On the national road axis Elbasan-Qafë Thanë, in Qafë Thanë there is the presence of snowfall and on the ground there are the vehicles of the contracting company that are clearing the axis from snow. There is also about 10 cm of snow on the national road axis Zgosht-Ura Cerenec. There too, work is being done with a snow removal vehicle to keep the circulation of vehicles open.

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Snowflake Cold

April weather brings unseasonal snow, cold snap across Türkiye


Hurriyet Daily News
Mon, 07 Apr 2025 17:56 UTC
Some vehicles were stuck on the road due to heavy snowfall in Kırklareli
Some vehicles were stuck on the road due to heavy snowfall in Kırklareli
Nearly all of Türkiye's 81 provinces were caught off guard as they awoke to a deluge of rain on April 7, with some regions even blanketed in unexpected snowfall, putting a damper on the hopes for the sunny and warm spring days that many had eagerly anticipated.

Meteorological authorities reported that starting from April 7, temperatures started to drop by 4 to 10 degrees below seasonal norms nationwide.

The cold and rainy weather moving in from the Balkans is set to affect the country, with temperatures in western regions falling 4-6 degrees below normal, while other areas will experience an 8-10 degree drop.

Snow mixed with rain and snowfall is anticipated, particularly in higher elevations and the northern, central and eastern regions.

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Snowflake

Unseasonal snowfall blankets Thessaloniki, Greece: "More snow than in Winter!"

Bill Giannopoulos
Greek City Times
Mon, 07 Apr 2025 13:28 UTC
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A surprising April snowfall has transformed parts of Macedonia, including Thessaloniki, into a winter wonderland.

Heavy snow blankets areas even at low altitudes.

The weather took a dramatic turn for the worse starting Sunday evening, leaving many regions of northern Greece, including Thessaloniki, covered in significant snow by Monday morning. Areas like Hortiatis, Panorama, Retziki, Melissochori, Oreokastro, and villages in the Lagkadas municipality are now draped in white, resembling a Christmas scene rather than the approach to Easter.

The unexpected snowfall has led to road closures across Thessaloniki, disrupting travel and daily routines. Additionally, several schools in the affected areas will remain closed today due to the hazardous conditions.

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Tsunami

Brazil Flood Emergency: Severe rains cause landslides, floods and mass displacement in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - over one foot of rainfall


Oneindia.com
Sat, 05 Apr 2025 13:01 UTC
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Heavy rains have caused a crisis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The area of Angra dos Reis is the most affected. Over 324 mm of rain has led to landslides and severe flooding. This has left more than 346 people without homes. The situation is critical, with many areas in need of help.

The Civil Defence has issued alerts in 46 neighbourhoods. They are urging people to evacuate to safer places. Emergency shelters have been set up for those in need. The government has declared a flood emergency. This allows for quicker access to relief resources and rescue operations.

Many trees have fallen due to the heavy rains, adding to the danger. Roads are blocked, making it hard for rescue teams to reach affected areas. The community is working together to support those who have lost their homes and belongings.

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Volcano

Huge eruption of the Sakurajima volcano in Kyushu, Japan

TRNZ
YouTube
Sat, 05 Apr 2025 12:43 UTC
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On April 5, 2025, Japan's formidable Sakurajima volcano unleashed a colossal eruption, sending shockwaves through Kyushu's Kagoshima Prefecture.

The eruption propelled a massive plume of ash and smoke into the sky, turning day into night and blanketing the surrounding areas in volcanic debris. Fiery lava cascaded down the slopes, illuminating the darkened skies with an ominous glow.

The Japan Meteorological Agency swiftly raised the eruption alert to its highest level, urging residents within a 3-kilometer radius to evacuate immediately.

This explosive event serves as a stark reminder of Sakurajima's volatile power and the ever-present dance between humanity and nature's raw fury.

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Cloud Precipitation

Strange hailstorm in Iraq


Mehr News Agency
Sun, 06 Apr 2025 11:47 UTC
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A hailstorm with golf ball-sized hail hit northern Iraqi Kurdistan, causing significant damage.

Dozens of cars were affected by the severe weather.

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Doberman

Stray dogs kill 4-year-old boy in Andhra Pradesh and 6-year-old boy in Uttar Pradesh, India


Deccan Herald
Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:01 UTC
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A four-year-old boy has died after being mauled by a stray dog at Swarna Bharathi Nagar here, a police official said on Monday.

The incident occurred on Sunday evening when the boy stepped out to play near his house. A stray dog attacked him and bit him on the neck, severely injuring his jugular vein, said the official.

"These kinds of incidents are not common in this area and the locals are generally cynophile. As a result, municipal officials are facing difficulties in relocating or sterilising stray dogs," a police official told PTI.

After the dog attacked the boy, children around there stoned the creature and chased it away. The boy was immediately rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

PTI

Comment: A day earlier another stray dog attack led to the death of a 6-year-old boy in the state of Uttar Pradesh:
A 6-year-old boy was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs while he was on his way to deliver lunch to his father and uncle in Lakhimpur Kheri district on Saturday afternoon.

The Class 2 student, Shivyanshu Shukla, suffered grievous injuries to his neck and body. He died on the way to the hospital, police said. Achal Shukla, a resident of Bilari village in Neemgaon police station area, was working in the fields with his brother when the incident occurred. "My son had left home around 12:30 pm to bring us food. The fields are about 1.5 km from our house," said the boy's father.

Former village head Vipin Kumar, who informed police of the incident, said there were several stray dogs in the village, but such an attack was unheard of. "We will speak to officials and request immediate action to catch the dogs so that this never happens again," he added.

Neemgaon SHO Ashish Srivastava said: "The body has been sent for autopsy. There were visible deep injuries on several parts of his body. We've asked the local gram panchayat to ensure the dogs are rescued and removed from the area."


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Tsunami

At least 33 dead in DR Congo's capital Kinshasa after torrential downpour overnight floods city


News.az
Mon, 07 Apr 2025 10:32 UTC
People walk through the flooded streets of Kinshasa, DR Congo, April 6, 2025.
© APPeople walk through the flooded streets of Kinshasa, DR Congo, April 6, 2025.
At least 33 people have been confirmed dead following devastating floods in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), authorities reported on Monday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Security Jacquemain Shabani said the torrential downpour, which occurred overnight from Friday to Saturday, has caused major damage across several districts of the capital, leaving dozens injured and destroying numerous homes, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.

In response, the government has set up a crisis management unit in coordination with the armed forces, several ministries and the Kinshasa provincial government to carry out evacuations and deploy emergency teams.

The flooding has paralyzed much of the city's infrastructure, submerging major roads and triggering widespread power and water outages across the city.

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Binoculars

Birdwatchers thrilled as a record 80 rare hoopoes seen in Ireland

Eithne Dodd
RTE
Fri, 04 Apr 2025 20:10 UTC
Vinny Hyland spotted an African Hoopoe in Kerry last week
© Vinny HylandVinny Hyland spotted an African Hoopoe in Kerry last week
Birdwatchers have been treated to multiple sightings of African Hoopoes as around 80 of the colourful, migratory birds have arrived in Ireland in the past two weeks.

African Hoopoes do not usually migrate as far north as Ireland, but it is believed that a weather phenomenon, known as Sahara Dust, has carried them here.

The previous record for sightings of the bird in Ireland in 1965, when 65 were recorded here.

Field ornithologist Ed Carty said the warm wind current would have carried the birds to Cork and Kerry, well past their usual summer spots of Portugal, France and Spain.

"There have been two influxes of the African Hoopoes to Irish shores in recent weeks," Mr Carty said.

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