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FloodsS
© Ariana News
According to media reports, as many as 50 people have died as a result of flooding, landslides or collapsing buildings across the 3 countries.
Afghanistan
Heavy rain in Afghanistan has caused flooding in the provinces of Kandahar, Kunar, Zabul, Nimroz, Hirat and Farah, according to a report by the United Nations. Infrastructure as well as hundreds of homes have been damaged.
© Elham ShaheemFloods in Kandahar, Afghanistan on March 1, 2019.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, heavy rains have led to killing of 20 people, including children. Kandahar city and six other districts including Herat province as well as Zheri, Dand, Damand, Arghandab, Spinboldak and Takh have become the victims of these floods. The floods have even devastated 2000 homes and swept away several cars.
'Hundreds of houses in Herat province were destroyed in flash floods, Afghan government officials said'. Moreover, at least 10 people, including children, are still missing in Arghandab, Daman, Spin Boldak and Dand districts.
Comment: Although 97 mm (3.81 inches) of rain doesn't sound very much, this region has a desert climate with about 176 mm (6.92 inches) of rain in an entire year and a downpour such as this in just 30 hours is devastating.
Extreme precipitation events are becoming the new norm. A small selection of recent related articles include:
- Heavy rainfall and flooding sparks chaos in Amman, Jordan
- Over 520mm (20 inches) of rain in 48 hours, evacuations as rivers rise in Northern California
- 2 dead, 100 rescued after floods in Saudi Arabia
- Up to 500,000 cattle die due to flooding caused by record rainfall in Queensland, Australia (UPDATE - with video)
- Atacama desert, world's driest place suffers massive flooding in northern Chile
- 24-hour rainfall on Hawaii's Kauai last April confirmed as US record
- Desert state Qatar drenched by floods as almost a year's rain falls in ONE day
- Cyclone Mekunu leaves at least 10 dead as it batters Oman and Yemen, dumps three years' worth of rain in one day
Cars were washed away and people rescued after a deluge filled the Jordanian capital's roads with water.
Several vehicles broke down in the streets, causing traffic to stop, Ammon News reported.
© Kent Porter / The Press DemocratJonathan Von Renner checks on his son Jonathan Jr., and friend Emilio Ontivares in lower Guerneville, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019.
Tom Orr began moving lyrics and scripts, clothes and photo albums from his apartment as authorities ordered evacuations along a rising Northern California river threatening to hit a historic crest.
But the actor and writer couldn't move costumes, computers and performance videos. So he shifted those to his loft bed about 10 feet up and prayed they would survive. On Wednesday, television news footage showed muddy brown water nearly swallowing his ground-level unit and much of the tiny town of Guerneville, part of Sonoma County's famed wine country and a popular tourist destination.
Residents awoke Thursday to sunshine and began assessing the damage while the water started receding. Orr, 48, was among those still unable to get into his house after the rain-swollen Russian River reached nearly 46 feet (14 meters) Wednesday night, its highest level in more than 20 years.
"I feel so helpless just sitting here and waiting before I can go back and start salvaging whatever I can," Orr said in text messages to The Associated Press before preparing for a friend to take him by canoe to work at the Main Street Bistro, one of the few places in town that did not flood.
Sonoma County officials said they expected the communities of Guerneville and Monte Rio to be accessible by car Friday. The two-day storm rendered the towns reachable only by boat on Wednesday.
One National Weather Service station measured 20 inches of rain in 48 hours.
Comment: Over 520mm (20 inches) of rain in 48 hours, evacuations as rivers rise in Northern California
© ReutersAt least 50 people have been killed as intense rains plague northern and central coastal regions of Peru
The landslide was triggered by torrential rain in the city of Huancavelica, where hospitals and schools have been inundated, and severe flooding has blocked roads and damaged bridges, the centre said.
Thousands of families have been affected by the flood waters, with many calling on the government to do more to alleviate the situation.
The National Institute of Civil Defence and the Navy have sent more than 723 tonnes of humanitarian aid, equipment and heavy machinery to the northwestern port of Paita, which has seen some of the worst floods.
© Sonoma County Sheriff’s OfficeRussian River at Guerneville, California, is predicted to reach 46 feet later today. Evacuations orders have been issued.
NWS Bay Area said that Venado in Sonoma County has recorded "an incredible 20.48 inches" (520.19 mm) of rain in 48 hours to 27 February, 2019.
NWS forecast that the Russian River at Guerneville in Sonoma County would reach 46 feet by Wednesday 27 February, which is 14 feet above its flood stage. The Russian River's record flood level is 49.5 feet set in February 1986.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued on 26 February for thousands of people living in over 20 communities along the river. Some schools and roads have been closed and there is a high risk of mudslides according to County of Sonoma Emergency.
The historic bridge over river Keritis near Chania, Crete collapsed in major floods yesterday, Feb 25
A weather front, known locally as "Oceanis" brought heavy rain, hail and strong wind to the island from 23 February, 2019.
Greek New Agency ANA-MPA said that authorities in Crete are searching for a man went missing on 24 February after his vehicle was swept away by flood water in Apokoronas municipality. A body has since been recovered.
Local reports say that emergency teams have rescued others from flood water and from vehicles trapped in landslides. Schools and roads have been closed.
Comment: See also these other recent reports of the wild weather in southeast Europe:
- Snow and gale force winds sweep across Greece
- Record-breaking winds batter coastal cities of Croatia
- 101km/h winds batter Malta, blowing fish out of the sea and damaging buildings
© PEDRO PARENTEBridge connecting Bairro Popular/ Palanca neighbourhoods in Luanda collapsed
Angola News Agency ANGOP said that the heavy rain fell from late 21 February until 22 February. The rain caused a bridge to collapse as well as destroying hundreds of homes.
Four people are thought to have died when houses collapsed. Two deaths were reported in Kilamba Kiaxi municipality, and the two others Ingombota district.
Heavy rain and flooding regularly affects Luanda and surrounding areas between February and April. Last year 6 people died, over 90 homes were destroyed and 545 families displaced in March.
© AP Photo/John LocherA man takes a picture of a small snowman at the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign along the Las Vegas Strip, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, in Las Vegas. Las Vegas is getting a rare taste of real winter weather, with significant snowfall across the metro area in the first event of its kind since record keeping started back in 1937.
Snow over the last day in Los Angeles, the last time snow was seen 1962, with new cold record in Santa Barbara. Flagstaff, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada break their all time snow fall records. Sao Paula, Brazil atmospheric compression event and biblical floods blast through the city. More signs the Grand Solar Minimum is intensifying.
Comment: See also:
- Professor Valentina Zharkova explains and confirms why a "Super" Grand Solar Minimum is upon us
- Solar minimum: Biggest decline, maybe ever
- Italian forecasters think solar minimum is causing global cooling
- Grand solar minimum: Data shows this is the lowest cycle since records began
- Solar minimum for 2018 - 2020 could be unprecedented in modern astronomy
- Adapt 2030 Ice Age Report: Piers Corbyn - What to expect moving deeper into the Grand Solar Minimum (Part 1)
Comment: Crop and cattle losses are on the rise everywhere, whether it is due to extensive drought, massive hail, epic flooding, unexpected frosts, and even epidemics. See also: Erratic seasons and extreme weather devastating crops around the world