Earth ChangesS


Volcano

Mount Lewotobi in Indonesia erupts, prompting aviation warning - ash column 3,500 metres high


Hans India
Wed, 16 Apr 2025 10:29 UTC
Mount Lewotobi
© Mount Lewotobi @volcaholic1Mount Lewotobi
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.

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Tornado2

Latest sandstorm brings Iraq to standstill

Tony Gamal-Gabriel
PhysOrg
Wed, 16 Apr 2025 20:51 UTC
sandstorm iraq
© Karar Essa/Anadolu AgencyThe sandstorm affects daily life negatively in Najaf, Iraq on April 14, 2025
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.
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Tsunami

Flash floods hit Penang, Malaysia following 4 hour overnight downpour


thevibes.com
Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:48 UTC
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
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.

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Tsunami

Phuket in Thailand hit by flash floods after overnight downpour


The Nation Thailand
Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:38 UTC
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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.

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Snowflake

Mid-April snow falls in Ireland as weather warnings in place for 10 counties

Conor Heneghan
Irish Mirror
Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:17 UTC
mmmmm
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.

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Snowflake

Heavy spring snow whitens Mahneshan, Iran


Mehr News Agency
Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:13 UTC
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The Spring snowfall has whitened Mahneshan County in Iran's Zanjan province.


Comment: Also of note, significant damage to the region's orchards has been reported.

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Cloud Precipitation

Unstable weather triggers flooding in parts of Azerbaijan - 3 killed (UPDATE)


en.apa.az
Wed, 16 Apr 2025 11:52 UTC
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Since yesterday, the ongoing unstable and rainy weather conditions across Azerbaijan have led to a number of complications, including flooding in several areas, the Ministry of Emergency Situations said in a statement, APA reports.

In response to the heavy rainfall, the Ministry has deployed its forces to carry out water drainage operations in flooded areas of Baku and Ganja, as well as in Khirdalan, Absheron district, evacuating citizens in need of assistance, and implementing other necessary safety measures

At present, operations are continuing at several locations with the involvement of the Ministry's State Fire Protection Service, Special Risky Rescue Service, and the Baku Regional Center.


Comment: Update April 17

en.apa.az reports:
Bodies of three oil workers who drowned in flood in Azerbaijan's Shabran found

Another body was found in the river in Shabran, APA's Northern Bureau reports.

The person whose body was found has been identified as Fuzuli Mavlud Pashayev, a 63-year-old employee of the "Siyazanneft" Oil and Gas Production Department and a resident of the Siyazan district.

The body was discovered near the village of Daghbiliji in the Shabran district, by the riverbank. It is reported that he drowned in the flood.

The incident is currently under investigation.

According to information obtained, the two other individuals who drowned alongside him in the flood — Mammadov Gahraman Nurmammad and Nagiyev Hafiz Etibar — were also employees of the "Siyazanneft" Oil and Gas Production Department.


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Cloud Precipitation

Intense hailstorm hits Vacaria, Brazil


evrimagaci.org
Wed, 16 Apr 2025 11:11 UTC
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Residents face disruption as hailstorm blankets streets and roofs in white after unexpected weather event.

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the municipality of Vacaria, located in the Serra Gaúcha region of Rio Grande do Sul, experienced an unexpected and intense hailstorm. The storm, which lasted approximately 30 minutes, began around 2:30 PM and affected several neighborhoods, including Kms 4 and 5, Franciosi, Altos da Glória, Vitória, Jardim dos Pampas, Jardim América, Glória, Cohaab, and Municipal.

According to the local Civil Defense, this unusual weather phenomenon, referred to as a "saraivada de granizo," was characterized by a significant volume of small hailstones. Although the individual stones were small, the sheer quantity that fell was astonishing, leading to streets and yards being blanketed in white. Residents captured images showing thick layers of ice covering their properties and public spaces.

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Cloud Precipitation

Freak hailstorm hits the island of Mallorca, Spain leaving 2 inch covering of ice

Humphrey Carter
Majorca Daily Bulletin
Wed, 16 Apr 2025 10:53 UTC
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An unexpected hailstorm hit the Mallorca village of Puigpunyent in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The municipality in the Serra de Tramuntana has been affected by the unstable weather in the days leading up to Easter. The village woke up to find streets covered in white, with up to two inches of ice, as reported by the Meteo de les illes met. office on its WhatsApp channel and social networks.

The Guardia Civil and emergency services are working to control traffic and remove the ice from the road. The freak storm in Puigpunyent this morning has left several roads closed. The local council has asked residents to avoid travelling until the safety of the affected sections has been improved.

According to information from the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), heavy rain has fallen in Mallorca in the past few hours, especially in the Serra de Tramuntana, and has left notable records in the Alfàbia-Bunyola mountain range (27.5 l/m2) and the Puerto Soller (18.4 l/m2).

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Seismograph

Shallow magnitude 6.6 earthquake strikes remote area of the South Indian Ocean

Carlos Robles
BNO News
Tue, 15 Apr 2025 09:03 UTC
Epicenter of Tuesday's earthquake in the South Indian Ocean
Epicenter of Tuesday's earthquake in the South Indian Ocean
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake has struck the South Indian Ocean, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). No tsunami warnings or advisories have been issued.

The quake occurred at 9:43 p.m. ET, with its epicenter located on the southeast Indian Ridge. It struck at a preliminary depth of approximately 6.2 miles (10 kilometers), according to USGS data.

The location was remote, far from any populated areas. The nearest settlement was Augusta, in Western Australia, more than 1,200 miles (1,966 km) away. The USGS data showed that no population was expected to have felt the tremor.

No tsunami advisories or warnings were issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), which is also responsible for issuing alerts for tsunami threats in the Indian Ocean.
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