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Mon, 04 Dec 2023
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Extreme Temperatures

Cloud Precipitation

Over 300 severe summer storm reports across US as dangerous weather continues

Lightning lights up the sky as storms move over
© Al Camardella Jr.
Lightning lights up the sky as storms move over Abington, Pa., June 26, 2023.
There were more than 300 severe storm reports in the United States on Monday, mostly along the East Coast from New Hampshire to South Carolina, as threatening weather and dangerous heat plagues the nation.

Gusty winds of 60 to 66 miles per hour were reported from New York to North Carolina, with golf ball-sized hail damaging cars in the latter.

Some areas in New Jersey received close to half a foot of rain, which flooded roadways. There were even tornado warnings in the Garden State but, as of Tuesday morning, no actual twisters reported.


Better Earth

Sea ice unusually close to coast of northern Iceland

sea ice

Icelandic Coast Guard. Sea ice north of Iceland, June 21, 2023.
The Coast Guard flight yesterday discovered plenty of sea ice unusually close to Iceland's northern coastline, which could pose a risk to seafarers. At the same time, parts of the North Atlantic Ocean are warmer than ever before. RÚV reported first.

"We have some very scattered ice coming up to the shore some eight to nine nautical miles from Hornstrandir [nature reserve in the Westfjords], which is closer than we've been seeing lately," sea ice expert Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir, who was on the flight yesterday, stated. Thicker sea ice was also present further out to sea. Although the ice is thin in many places, it could be dangerous for smaller ships, according to Ingibjörg.


Comment: Hornstrandir on a map:

Hornstrandir

Hornstrandir

While the sea of Iceland's north coast is currently cold, south of the island it has reached higher temperatures than ever before.

Comment: Despite the warming in some ocean regions, it seems likely that the unusual accumulation of sea ice further confirms the overall cooling in the region:

Also check out SOTT radio's:


Cow

Brazil cattle die as cold temperatures batters large beef state

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Nearly 3,000 head of cattle died from hypothermia in Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul state in recent days, according to a statement posted on the website of local veterinary services on Wednesday.

The deceased animals represent a tiny fraction of Brazil's cattle herd of about 224 million head and their deaths and are unlikely to compromise beef production at meatpackers like JBS, which operate in the state.

But they drew attention as they are uncommon. Temperatures in the most affected areas ranged from 6 to 9 degrees Celsius (43 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit), according to local press reports.

Alcides Torres, owner of agribusiness consultancy Scot Consultoria, said local cattle breeds can withstand the low temperatures of the country's winter, which started today.

"Brazil exports live cattle for slaughtering in Turkey below snow," Torres said. "It was the cold but there was something else."


Snowflake

Snow in June? Freak weather wreaks havoc on Jasper, Alberta - 21.6 inches of snowfall (UPDATE)

Maligne Road by Jasper National Park covered in snow on Monday, June 19, 2023.
© Parks Canada
Maligne Road by Jasper National Park covered in snow on Monday, June 19, 2023.
Jasperites woke up to the white stuff coming down hard on Monday as a freak snowstorm created an unusual start to the week of the Summer Solstice.

Beginning overnight, as much as 40 cm of snow started falling throughout Jasper National Park, creating a flake of bemusement and an avalanche of frustration for drivers, campers, the RCMP Musical Ride team and everyone else.

"We had a developing low pressure system on Sunday over the central portion of the province. That was associated with a lot of cold air aloft flooding into the province, helping create these quite heavy showers over west-central portions of the province in Yellowhead County, including Jasper and especially the Grande Cache area, and the Hinton area all the way to the B.C. border," said Sara Hoffman, meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.


Comment: Update June 20

Edmonton.citynews.ca reports:
Roads closed by Jasper National Park, 60 visitors rescued

Due to increased rainfall and snow in some locations, Parks Canada brought 60 visitors to safety after being stranded at Jasper National Park on Monday.

In some locations, the park received more than 100 millimetres of rain and more than 55 centimetres of snow, leading to the closures of two backcountry routes, Miette Road and Maligne Road.

The visitors stranded were hikers on Skyline Trail, paddlers on Maligne Lake, and two full busses of visitors on Maligne Road.

Parks Canada says Miette Road is open for single-lane traffic for those leaving Miette Hot Springs by 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, rangers will provide an update for the opening of Miette Road at a later date.

Maligne Road is expected to remain closed for 48-72 hours to "allow for any avalanches triggered by the storm to come down and to complete debris removal."

See also: Surprise storm dumps June snow at Canadian ski resorts - at least 6 inches at Marmot Basin


Snowflake

Oregon ski resort closes operations due to summer snow storm

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Yesterday, June 19th, Mt. Bachelor, Oregon, temporarily closed summer operations due to late-season snowfall. Today, June 20th, the ski resort's summer operations will be delayed until at least noon Pacific Time.

Check out a video that showcases the glorious surprise snowstorm below.


Snowflake

Surprise storm dumps June snow at Canadian ski resorts - at least 6 inches at Marmot Basin

Marmot Basin

Marmot Basin on June 19, 2023.
Tomorrow is officially the first day of summer, but many ski resorts in western Canada are waking up to multiple inches of snow blanketing the mountains.

Check out the Facebook post below from Marmot Basin, an under-the-radar ski resort located in Alberta.

The resort isn't reporting an official storm total, but there appears to be at least 6-8 inches of fresh snow:


June or January? It feels like I've been asking that question quite a bit this week.

Comment: Elsewhere in North America recently: June blizzard atop Pikes Peak becomes terrifying 4-hours for Colorado ranger: 'A day I'll never forget'


Fire

Nearly 100 dead in Indian heatwave

drinking water
© Getty Images / Raj K Raj/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

At least 96 people have died following several days of intense heat in two of India's most populous states. Authorities have warned at-risk members of the public to stay indoors to avoid aggravating pre-existing health conditions.

The deceased were primarily people over 60 who had prior health concerns in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and in eastern Bihar, authorities said. All of the 54 deaths in Uttar Pradesh occurred in Ballia district, where hospitals have admitted a steady influx of patients seeking treatment for heat-related ailments including high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, as well as breathing and cardiac issues.

Uttar Pradesh's health minister, Brijesh Pathak, has opened an investigation into the high number of deaths in the state. Local governments have come under fire from opposition for "carelessness" in not warning the public about the potential health risks of the heatwave, the BBC said on Monday.


Better Earth

'Unheard of' marine heatwave off UK and Irish coasts poses serious threat

marine heatwave uk
© NOAA
Water temperatures off the UK and Ireland are as high as 4°C above normal (in black)
Sea temperatures, particularly off the north-east coast of England and the west of Ireland, are several degrees above normal, smashing records for late spring and early summer. The North Sea and north Atlantic are experiencing higher temperatures, data shows.

The Met Office said global sea surface temperatures in April and May reached an all-time high for those months, according to records dating to 1850, with June also on course to hit record heat levels.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has categorised parts of the North Sea as being in a category four marine heatwave, which is considered "extreme", with areas off the coast of England up to 5C above what is usual.


Comment: Whilst up to mid-May meteorologists were saying that the UK's on land weather had been colder, wetter, with less sunlight hours than usual.


Comment: What exactly the cause of the warming is remains to be seen, but there are some contenders: Also check out SOTT radio's:


Snowflake

Oh good, now it's snowing in Wyoming

Burgess Junction
© Wyoming Dept of Transportation
Burgess Junction
Well, if you missed the snow — after all it's been month — good news, it's back.

Snow is falling on Powder River Pass in the Big Horns on Friday morning.

Not a shocker for meteorologist Don Day as the coldest of the most recent cold fronts are moving through Wyoming this weekend.

"Surprised? Not at all," Day said. "July is the only month we get a break in Wyoming."

Day said not to expect any measurable amount of snow from the weather pattern although it will be unseasonably cool for the next two days with a warmup beginning on Sunday.

Snowflake Cold

Bolivia cold snap brings rare snow to tropical farm region

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Bolivia's largest agricultural region, Santa Cruz, is bracing this week against a surprise wave of snow and ice, causing lasting damage to crops and killing cattle in other parts of the country.

Vast parts of the region, known for producing sorghum, soybeans and wheat, among other foods, have been covered in sheets of snow.

Torrential rains have also caused flooding in the valleys of Santa Cruz, prompting road closure, air evacuations and one confirmed death, according to authorities.