Extreme Temperatures
S


Snowflake

Largest amount of snow in 20 years lingers on the Cairngorms, Scotland

Oliver Smith
The Telegraph, UK
Fri, 14 Aug 2015 16:24 UTC
Image
© Helen RennieHelen Rennie at Ciste Mhearad
These striking pictures were captured by Helen Rennie at Ciste Mhearad in the northern Cairngorms.

Low summer temperatures mean snow continues to cling to the mountainsides of the Scottish National Park, even in the middle of August. But as the patches begin to melt from below, and water flows downhill, vast caverns - some big enough to walk through - are formed.

Image
© Helen RennieSnow continues to cling to the mountainsides of the Scottish National Park
The wavy patterns left behind lend an almost magical quality to the frozen formations.
Read More...
Sun

Egyptian heatwave has killed 61 people, hundreds hospitalized for heat exhaustion

Jake Rashbass
Reuters
Wed, 12 Aug 2015 14:40 UTC
heatwave egypt
A heat-wave in Egypt has killed at least 61 people in three days, the health ministry says, as temperatures soared to 47 Celsius.
A heatwave killed at least 61 people across Egypt from Sunday to Tuesday and caused nearly 600 people to be admitted to hospital, Egypt's health ministry said on state news agency MENA on Wednesday.

Heatstroke killed 21 people on Tuesday and 40 people on Sunday and Monday, the health ministry was cited as saying. Most of Tuesday's victims were elderly, the ministry said.
Read More...
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...