Extreme Temperatures
S


Snowflake Cold

Snow thaw on farms delayed by freezing temperatures around Canterbury, New Zealand

Tim Cronshaw
stuff.co.nz
Fri, 14 Aug 2015 19:46 UTC
Image
Sheep in snow
A blanket of snow is refusing to budge along the Canterbury foothills as Mt Somers farmers deal with freezing temperatures and a colder than average winter.

In the second decent dump of the winter farmers in the district were still foot slogging through snow persisting because of temperatures continuing to reach minus six to seven degrees Celsius.

Rangiatea run farmer Blair Gallagher was shearing on Sunday night when the first snow of eventually "seven inches" - about 170 millimetres - landed and was backed up by another smaller drop of 50mm to 70mm. By yesterday there was still 100mm to 120mm on the ground.

During an earlier June snow the temperature gauge dropped to minus 10deg.

The latest snowfall arrived on Sunday followed by another top-up over the last week.
Read More...
Snowflake

Here it comes: Heavy snowfall expected in Brooks Range, Alaska


newsminer.com
Mon, 10 Aug 2015 17:15 UTC
Image
Anaktuvuk Pass, Brooks Range
The Brooks Range is expected to get significant snowfall today, with as much as 5 inches forecast in some areas by Tuesday morning.

Rainfall is expected to change to snow in elevations higher than 3,000 feet in the northeastern Brooks Range, which includes Anaktuvuk Pass, Atigun Pass, Galbraith Lake, Sagwon and Franklin Bluffs.

The National Weather Service warns that people in the backcountry should be prepared for difficult travel through wet snow today and Tuesday. Motorists on the Dalton Highway are also warned to be prepared for snowy conditions on Atigun Pass.
Read More...
Bizarro Earth

Typhoon Soudelor after-effects: Hong Kong suffers highest temperature recorded


Phys.org
Sat, 08 Aug 2015 00:00 UTC
hong kong heat wave
Tourists take pictures of haze over Hong Kong on January 9, 2014
Hong Kong on Saturday recorded its hottest day since authorities began taking temperature readings 130 years ago, due to the influence of a nearby typhoon.

The daily maximum temperature hit 36.3 degrees Celsius, the Hong Kong Observatory said, with higher temperatures recorded in some parts of the city earlier in the day.

A layer of haze hung over the metropolis of seven million, as people wielding electric fans and umbrellas tried in vain to beat the boiling heat.

"This is a new record," a Hong Kong Observatory spokesman told AFP.
Read More...
Snowflake

'Snow bombs' force widespread road closures in South Island, New Zealand


tvnz.co.nz
Sat, 08 Aug 2015 14:53 UTC
Image
© Angela ShawSnow plowing Bullock Road in St Arnaud on Saturday.
The New Zealand Transport Agency said extreme care was advised on South Island highways after a heavy dumping of snow overnight.

Spokesperson Lee Wright said police had assisted motorists on state highways and some had been taken to safety.

A considerable amount of snow had fallen on the Lewis Pass especially, and it would be some time before it dissipated.

"The Lewis Pass has 400mm of snow and a very heavy snow burden on the trees," Wright said.

"It is estimated that some of the 'snow bombs' are up to 3/4 tonne so no work can be done in these areas until they fall."

More bad weather is predicted today with forecasts showing snow down to 200 metres.

Police are warning motorists to use snow chains on most routes and many highways are down to 60km/h in many places.

Image
© Daniel SinclairSnow in Springs Junction on Friday afternoon
Read More...
Sun

Heat wave in Tokyo enters 8th day; 55 confirmed dead in Japan

Nick Wiltgen
weather.com
Thu, 06 Aug 2015 18:16 UTC
Image
And the Heat Goes On
A heat wave that has already killed dozens and sickened thousands in Japan reached another torrid milestone Thursday as the nation's capital, Tokyo, suffered an unprecedented eighth consecutive day of extreme heat.

Tokyo reached 36.7 degrees Celsius (98.1 degrees Fahrenheit) shortly before noon local time Friday, marking its eighth straight day of highs at or above Japan's "extreme heat" threshold of 35 C (95 F). An analysis of Japan Meteorological Agency data, conducted by The Weather Channel, confirmed that the previous record was just four consecutive days sent on five different occasions between 1978 and 2013. Records began in central Tokyo in June 1875.

The torrid late-morning reading also marked central Tokyo's highest reported temperature since Aug. 30, 2013. The city's all-time record high remains 39.5 C (103.1 F) set July 20, 2004.

The toll from Japan's ongoing heat wave accelerated last week, boosting the year's official tally to 55 heat-related deaths and sending more than 11,000 to the hospital according to new government figures released Tuesday.
Read More...
Snowflake

Helicopter rescues 10 people stuck in heavy snow in Tasmania, Australia


The Guardian
Tue, 04 Aug 2015 13:28 UTC
Image
© Sergeant Paul Steane/Police and Marine Rescue Services Tasmanian emergency crews rescued two men whose car was snowed in. The pair were reached on foot after almost 24 hours after hazardous conditions thwarted earlier attempts by snowplough and helicopter.
Nine adults and a child winched to safety from Mount Field national park, a day after police rescued two men from snowbound car in same park

Police have rescued 10 people who were stranded for more than a day after heavy snow in Tasmania.

Two men were rescued in Mount Field national park late on Monday night after their car was snowed in, but police were not aware of the other party until Tuesday.

At about 1pm on Tuesday, a helicopter winched nine adults and a child to safety from the same national park, north-west of Hobart.

Four had taken shelter in a hut - details of the others were not immediately released.

"All persons were in good condition and spirits," police search and rescue spokesman Michael Preshaw said.
Read More...
Snowflake

First major snowfall in almost 30 years for Hobart, Australia


9news.com.au
Sun, 02 Aug 2015 13:06 UTC
Image
© Daniel JolleySnow in West Hobart
Residents of Hobart have woken up to a winter wonderland after the most significant snow event to hit the city since 1986 blanketed the rooftops and streets in white powder.

Weather Zone meteorologist Brett Dutschke said the snow had fallen as low as sea level on some of the beaches around Hobart.

"It's very cold air that's travelled up from Antarctica and it's been moving up with an intense cold front," he said.

He said that there was another snowfall in the city in 2005 but it was not as widespread as this morning's.

Image
© Daniel JolleyWest Hobart
Read More...
Snowflake Cold

Melbourne in Australia experiences coldest July in 20 years


abc.net.au
Sat, 01 Aug 2015 14:12 UTC
Image
© Russell PhillipsIt was so cold in Croydon, in Melbourne's east, that even birdbaths were freezing over.
A continuous series of cold fronts and brisk north-westerly winds have contributed to the coldest July in Melbourne in two decades, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

The average top temperature was 13.3 degrees Celsius in July, the lowest mark since 1995, when it was 12.9C.

Temperatures were consistently 1C below the normal average maximum temperature across the state.

The mercury dropped as low as minus 6C in Bendigo.

Melbourne had its coldest morning in 18 years on July 19, when the mercury dropped to just 0.6C in the city.
Read More...
Fish

Heat, drought cooks millions of fish alive in Pacific Northwest

Doyle Rice
USA Today
Fri, 31 Jul 2015 19:17 UTC
Image
© Chris Kozfhay/AP
Freakishly hot, dry weather in the Pacific Northwest is killing millions of fish in the overheated waters of the region's rivers and streams.

"We've lost about 1.5 million juvenile fish this year due to drought conditions at our hatcheries," Ron Warren of Washington State's Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement. "This is unlike anything we've seen for some time."

Sockeye salmon losses in the Columbia River due to the heat are in the hundreds of thousands, said Jeff Fryer, senior fishery scientist with the river's Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. The fish were returning from the ocean to spawn when the "unprecedented" warm water killed them, he said.

Water temperatures in the Columbia River — part of which runs along the border of Oregon and Washington — reached the low 70s shortly after July 4, something that doesn't usually happen until August, if at all, Fryer said.

High temperatures — coupled with the low water levels — can be lethal to fish, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. With no end to the drought in sight, there could be additional fish die-offs, said Rod French, a fish biologist with the department.
Read More...
Sun

Another week of boiling weather in Cyprus: 42C heatwave begins, code yellow warning issued


famagusta-gazette.com
Sat, 01 Aug 2015 13:31 UTC
Image
© in-cyprus.com
Another week of boiling weather has already begun, with forecasters predicting temperatures could rise as high as 42C by Tuesday.

The Weather Service issued a 'code yellow' weather warning on Saturday, meaning: "The weather is potentially dangerous. The weather phenomena that have been forecast are are not unusual, but be attentive if you intend to practice activities exposed to meteorological risks. Keep informed about the expected meteorological conditions and do not take any avoidable risks."

The entire island is already basking in "wall-to-wall sunshine" as a swathe of blistering hot air sweeps in from Asia.

The heat wave will peak on Tuesday with temperatures reaching 42 degrees inland, a meteorologist told the Cyprus News Agency.

The mercury this weekend will average around the 38 degrees mark and will gradually climb above 40ºC, with 41 degrees being the average.

On the coastal areas slightly lower temperatures, ranging from 34 to 38 degrees, are expected.

Take Precautions

The heat could have health impacts, causing dehydration and exhaustion, particularly in people over age 65, infants and young children, people with medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, asthma or respiratory conditions.
Read More...