The ski resort of Baqueira Beret, in one of the northwestern points in Catalonia, has recorded almost 40 centimeters of snow before the start of the Easter holidays.
The resort management recorded unexpected snowstorms between Tuesday evening and Wednesday early morning, just a couple of days before Catalonia starts celebrating Easter and takes some days off.
The amount of snow was completely a surprise for everyone, as "not even the most optimistic weather forecasts" forecast such a snow, the managing team of the site in the Vall d'Aran and the Pallars' counties said.
A huge snowfall is underway in the Alps, by far the biggest of the 24-25 season.
Unfortunately, about 80% of ski areas have already ended their seasons.
For those still open the storm is also so heavy that it has closed slopes, access roads and set the avalanche danger of a rare maximum 5 on the scale to 5 in parts of the Western Alps. There is also a fear of flooding in some areas with torrential rain on lower slopes and lower snowpack at times.
Few resorts have been able to publish snowfall measurements to far but Verbier reports from its snow stake that its had almost a metre (40") of snowfall so far, later publishing an official stat of 75cm (30").
Brydie Monaghan indy100.com Thu, 17 Apr 2025 11:40 UTC
A waterspout tornado was captured on video (April 16) whirling past a cruise ship in the Bay of Palma.
There are two types of tornado that form at sea. The first is tornadic waterspouts that form from thunderstorms, like this one, which saw lightning ripping through through the heavens off the coast of Spain. There's also fair-weather waterspouts which are typically smaller and less powerful.
A sudden and intense hailstorm swept across the capital city yesterday causing significant damage to vehicles, trees, and infrastructure while transforming the city's landscape into an unexpected icy spectacle.
By mid-afternoon, thick clouds had gathered over the city, bringing with them high winds and a storm system that blanketed several sectors — including F-6, G-10, I-8 and Blue Area — in marble-sized hailstones. Within minutes, streets and rooftops were layered in ice, and visibility dropped drastically.
Moreover, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a renewed alert, warning that similar weather conditions could return in the coming days as seasonal patterns shift sharply.
Heavy hail, triggered by a sudden drop in temperature after an intense heatwave, fell across Islamabad and its adjoining areas, leaving roads, parks, and rooftops covered in ice. Social media was flooded with images of smashed car windows and hail the size of golf balls pelting the capital.
David Priyasidarta en.tempo.co Thu, 17 Apr 2025 10:47 UTC
Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java, experienced six eruptions between early Thursday and noon, April 17, 2025, with the highest volcanic ash column reaching 1,000 meters above the summit during the 9:17 AM local time eruption.
"The ash column was observed to be white to gray, thick, and drifting east and southeast," reported Sigit Rian Alfian, an officer at the Mount Semeru Volcano Observation Post in Mount Sawur, Lumajang Regency, in his written report on Thursday.
Sigit noted that the 9:17 AM eruption registered on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and lasted approximately 1 minute and 57 seconds. Over the preceding 24 hours, seismic data recorded 61 eruption tremors (10-22 mm amplitude, 51-154 second duration), 9 gust tremors (3-8 mm amplitude, 27-64 second duration), 1 harmonic tremor (8 mm amplitude, 134 second duration), and 3 volcanic tremors (4-25 mm amplitude, S-P 2-3 seconds, 15-22 second duration).
Mount Lewotobi, located in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted on Wednesday, triggering a flight warning and safety advisories, the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre said. The eruption released a column of ash up to 3,500 metres into the sky, and the thick gray cloud moved westward and northwestward of the crater.
To mitigate risks posed by the volcanic ash, a Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation has been issued at the orange level, the second-highest warning, banning planes from flying below 5,000 metres in the vicinity of Mount Lewotobi. Aircraft should also exercise caution regarding the presence of volcanic ash, which can disturb their flights. To protect the residents living on the slope of the volcano from the risks of hot clouds and volcanic materials, the centre has issued safety advisories, Xinhua news agency reported. The residents, tourists, and visitors should not engage in any activities within a radius of six km from the volcano.
A thick cloud of dust blankets the Iraqi capital Baghdad as the eighth sandstorm since mid-April, 2022 paralysed activity across the country.
Another sandstorm that descended Monday on Iraq sent at least 2,000 people to hospital with breathing problems and led to the closure of airports, schools and public offices across the country.
It is the eighth duststorm since mid-April to hit Iraq, which has been battered by soil degradation, intense droughts and low rainfall linked to climate change.
The last one earlier this month led to the death of one person while 5,000 others had to be hospitalised for respiratory problems.
Among the worst-affected areas were Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Thean Teik, Kampung Masjid, Green Garden, and Taman Siakap, where water levels rose quickly – April 16, 2025
Several parts of Penang were struck by flash floods last night after a prolonged period of heavy rain, with floodwaters entering homes and disrupting traffic across both the island and mainland.
Among the worst-affected areas were Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Thean Teik, Kampung Masjid, Green Garden, and Taman Siakap, where water levels rose quickly during a downpour that began around 11pm and lasted approximately four hours.
According to the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) for the Northeast District, the volume of rainfall over a short period led to severe water overflow, resulting in the flooding of key roads and residential properties.
"Initial assessments indicate that water overflowed due to the exceptionally high rainfall within a brief timeframe. At around 1.40am, the floodwaters began entering homes in Jalan P. Ramlee and Kampung Masjid," the APM said in a statement issued Tuesday morning.
Flash floods hit Phuket after heavy overnight rain, flooding key areas like Koh Sirey and Karon. Authorities warn of landslides and more rain ahead.
Several areas of the popular island province were hit by flash floods on Wednesday morning following heavy overnight rainfall, causing widespread disruption and prompting weather warnings across southern Thailand.
According to local officials, the worst-affected areas were Koh Sirey, a small island connected to Phuket's mainland by a bridge, and Tambon Karon. Both locations fall within the Mueang District, which has experienced severe flooding in recent months.
Numerous roads across these areas became inundated, raising concerns about potential mudslides on nearby hillsides. Authorities are actively monitoring risk zones and urging residents to stay alert.
Conor Heneghan Irish Mirror Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:17 UTC
People taking photos of the snow at Lough Bray Upper on Powerscourt Mountain in Co Wicklow.
Snow fell in a number of counties on Wednesday morning as rain warnings remain in effect until Wednesday afternoon
After the warmest weather of the year last week, conditions have turned full circle in Ireland within days with some counties experiencing snow on Wednesday morning.
Weather expert Alan O'Reilly of Carlow Weather relayed reports of snow in Wexford and Wicklow on X on Wednesday morning after a cold and wet start to the day, particularly in the east of the country.
The rare arrival of snow in mid-April comes as weather warnings remain in place for 10 counties in Ireland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday.
A Status Yellow rain warning issued by Met Éireann for Dublin, Louth, Meath, Wexford and Wicklow came into effect at 9pm on Tuesday night and will remain in place until 2pm this afternoon.
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
~ from 'The Second Coming', 1919
- William Butler Yeats
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