Extreme Temperatures
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Snowflake

Rare July snowfall for the Northern Rockies

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A freak July cold front brought snow to the Northern Rockies on Monday in a rare weather event that set record-low daytime temperatures across Idaho and could see overnight readings at or near freezing in parts of the region, meteorologists said.

The combination of moisture and cold air from Alaska and Canada was expected to settle over Idaho, Montana and Wyoming through Tuesday in a pattern rarely seen in those states before late August or September, forecasters with the National Weather Service said.

More than an inch of snow was reported on Monday at the renowned ski resort of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and in the mountains of western Montana and central Idaho near Salmon, where local farmers scrambled to cover crops and potentially run sprinklers to prevent frost damage.

Ice Cube

Look at how much ice remains over Hudson Bay!

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A picture is worth a thousand words.

That looks like enough ice to cover all of the state of Illinois.

Not sure I'd want to go kayaking there quite yet.

Thanks to J Philip Peterson for this link

Ice Cube

Arctic global warming research expedition delayed - too much ice

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© Canadian Dept. of Fisheries & Oceans (DFO)The CCGS Pierre Radisson escorts the oil tanker Havelstern to Iqaluit July 17. Tough ice conditions in area have delayed this summer's annual resupply.
A carefully planned, 115-day scientific expedition on the Canadian icebreaker CCGS Amundsen has been put on hold as the vessel was called to help resupply ships navigate heavy ice on the eastern side of Hudson Bay.

"Obviously it has a large impact on us," says Martin Fortier, executive director of ArcticNet, which coordinates research on the vessel. "It's a frustrating situation."

During the summer, ArcticNet utilizes the Amundsen as a floating research center, running experiments 24 hours a day.

Comment: All of which is more than a little reminiscent of a similar fiasco in the Antarctic last year: Ship of fools: Icebound expeditioners apologise for Antarctic rescue mission

'Stuck in our own experiment': Leader of trapped team insists polar ice is melting against evidence of his own experience


Snowflake

Summer snowfall in the highlands of Iceland

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© Ferðafélag Akureyrar/Haukur Björnsson. Sunday morning, July 19 2015, at Drekagil near Askja and Holuhraun in the North-East region of Vatnajökull National Park
The past weekend was exceptionally cold throughout all of Iceland. Sharp winds ravaged the Western coast, while snowfall and hail hit the East and South.

On Sunday, the ground was white with snow all around the highlands in Central Iceland.

"Everything was white. When we got up at 9AM the snowfall was mostly over, but by the time we left, around noon, it had started up again," Þorgerður Eva Þórhallsdóttir, a member of the Search and Rescue team in Skagafjörður, North Iceland, told Morgunblaðið.

"I think this is rather abnormal weather for the middle of the summer. It wasn't like this last year."

Fire

Best of the Web: Signs of Change: Extreme weather and environmental upheaval in June and July 2015 (VIDEO)

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© HawkkeyDavisChannel/YouTubeA first? Wildfire torches moving vehicles on highway near Los Angeles, California
Video compilation of extreme weather events (and general environmental chaos) from the past month or so.

Record high temperatures in Germany were immediately followed by unusually strong storms and hail. Record rainfall in China was followed by a record heatwave there. In the US, there's been a record heatwave in the West, and record rainfall in the South. There's been record cold in Australia, and record heat in Pakistan. Volcanoes erupted in Indonesia, Japan and Mexico, while there was a strong earthquake in China and an earthquake swarm in Iceland... And in between all that; powerful storms and record rainfall.

Things be intensifying!


Cloud Precipitation

Mudslides force 10,000 to evacuate in Tajikistan

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© Image: Rapid Emergency Assessment and Coordination Team in Tajikistan.Map of debris and floods.
The rapid melting of snow and glaciers due to higher temperatures between 01 and 15 July 2015 have triggered mudflows in the Shugnan District in the eastern region of Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan.

The mudflows have caused damage to buildings and infrastructure in local villages. The debris has also blocked the flow of the Gund river, creating an artificial lake which has flooded areas along the river.

As of 18 July 2015, the UN's Rapid Emergency Assessment and Coordination Team (REACT) in Tajikistan reports that at least 56 houses have been destroyed and 10,000 people forced to evacuate to safer sites. Schools, stores, roads and electricity lines have also been damaged and 80% of the communities in the region have been without electricity. No casualties have been reported.

There is a risk of the lake overflowing or breaking through its temporary blockage. REACT say that this could cause devastating floods in Khorog and nearby communities, including three districts of Khatlon Oblast.

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© Focus Humanitarian Assistance in Tajikistan

Snowflake Cold

Confused Australian animals struggle to cope with freezing weather

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A Channel Seven cameraman recorded his encounter with a Tasmanian devil
Even Australia's most iconic animals couldn't escape the Antarctic blast that blanketed parts of the country in snow on Friday morning.

Adorable pictures of wombats, emus, Tasmanian devils and kangaroos caught out in the snow were posted on social media throughout the day, with the animals seemingly as surprised by the wintry blast as the rest of us.

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A kangaroo was caught out in the unexpected snow that blanketed parts of Australia, including Orange, NSW (pictured)
Most of the pictures were snapped in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, which received some of the heaviest snowfall.

One of the photos showed a snow-dusted recreation of Australia's coat of arms, with an emu and kangaroo locked in an intense stare down. Presumably, neither took a backwards step.

Snowflake

Roads closed in snow-covered Eastern Cape, South Africa

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Heavy snowfall in the Eastern Cape has resulted in motorists being warned to make use of alternative routes as mountain passes on two national roads have been closed indefinitely due to the snowfalls.
Heavy snowfall in the Eastern Cape has resulted in motorists being warned to make use of alternative routes as mountain passes on two national roads have been closed indefinitely due to the snowfalls.

According to Snow Report the Lootsberg Pass between Middelburg and Graaff Reinet, forming part of the N9, as well as the Penhoek Pass between Aliwal North and Queenstown, forming part of the N6, have been closed indefinitely, due to the heavy snowfall.

The Barkly Pass on the R58 between Barkly East and Elliot and the Boesmanshoek Pass between Steynsburg and Elliot have also been closed.

Here are some pictures sent into Snow Report on their Facebook Page of the snow.
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© Hendrinne Feiertag Snow in Eastern Cape (Dordrecht area)

Snowflake

Thunderstorm brings snowfall to Hawaii in July

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Mauna Kea Weather Center
An overnight thunderstorm dropped 1½ to 2 inches of snow on the summit of Hawaii's tallest peak in July.

Cameras at Mauna Kea's summit showed some snow still on the ground midday Friday. Mauna Kea Weather Center forecast meteorologist Ryan Lyman says it should be melting quickly.

National Weather Service meteorologist Maureen Ballard says snow can fall on the summit any time of year, though there's a greater chance in the winter.

The latest snowfall came as a thunderstorm extended high into the atmosphere, above the mountain's peak elevation of nearly 14,000 feet.

Ballard says temperatures at the summit were about freezing overnight.

The low in the nearby city of Hilo was 71 degrees. Kailua-Kona on the west side of the Big Island, had a low of 78 degrees.


Snowflake

Unusual lightning, a bizarre blanket of fog, freezing temperatures, and first-time snow: extreme weather shocks Australia

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Wild and wintry weather is sweeping through Australia as incredible thunderstorms hit Sydney following a morning of thick fog
Wild and wintry weather is sweeping across Australia overnight, bringing chilly temperatures, lightning storms, frosty winds and even snow.

As temperatures plummet to its lowest in 15 years, Sydney awoke to a cityscape engulfed in thick fog on Saturday morning, which saw the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge disappeared into the thick blanket of fog.

The strong cold front from the Antarctic has continued to drift through the southern and eastern coast of Australia with temperatures dropping three to seven degrees below average for five days running - the coldest spell some states have experienced in five years.

Temperatures in Brisbane are set to dip up to five degrees below the July average and snow flakes are expected to cover Eukey near the NSW border.

By Sunday morning, temperatures in Melbourne are expected to drop five degrees, with forecasters projecting the city will be the second coldest capital in the country after Canberra. Possible snow in some of Melbourne's outer suburbs is expected with forecast to fall down to 500 metres in alpine areas.

People have been warned to batten down the hatches ahead of the worst of the storms overnight as the effects of the icy blast will be felt from Sunday and temperatures are expected to remain chilly until Friday.