Floods
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Cloud Precipitation

17 people killed and 4 missing in western Indonesia floods


Daily Mail
Mon, 16 May 2016 19:17 UTC
Rescuers recover the body of a victim after a flood hit Dua Warna waterfall in Sibolangit, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, May 16, 2016. Nearly two dozen students were missing in rain-triggered floods and landslides at the waterfall which is popular tou
© AP Photo/Binsar BakkaraRescuers recover the body of a victim after a flood hit Dua Warna waterfall in Sibolangit, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, May 16, 2016. Nearly two dozen students were missing in rain-triggered floods and landslides at the waterfall which is popular tourism attraction among locals.
Rescuers on Monday found the bodies of 17 people who were among 20 university students and two guides who went missing in rain-triggered floods and landslides at a popular waterfall in western Indonesia, an official said.

One student was found alive and was being treated at a hospital, said Darwin Surbakti, an official from the local Disaster Management Agency. The search for the four people still missing was to be resumed Tuesday.

"Rescuers have discovered 17 bodies, of which 14 have been recovered while three others are still under the rubble," Surbakti said.

The disaster occurred Sunday as more than 70 students were visiting the Dua Warna waterfall in Sibolangit in North Sumatra province.

Six bodies were found about 3 kilometers (2 miles) downstream from the waterfall, Surbakti said.

Rescuers search for victims after a flood hit Dua Warna waterfall in Sibolangit, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, May 16, 2016. Nearly two dozen students were missing in rain-triggered floods and landslides at the waterfall which is popular tourism attra
© AP Photo/Binsar BakkaraRescuers search for victims after a flood hit Dua Warna waterfall in Sibolangit, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, May 16, 2016. Nearly two dozen students were missing in rain-triggered floods and landslides at the waterfall which is popular tourism attraction among locals.
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Cloud Precipitation

Flooding causes deadly landslide in southern China


MWC News
Tue, 10 May 2016 12:58 UTC
A landslide on the construction site of a hydro-electric power station is known to have killed at least 33 people
© EPAA landslide on the construction site of a hydro-electric power station is known to have killed at least 33 people
Late spring rains are a feature of the climate across southern China, but this year the rain has been earlier and heavier than usual.

Once again, this departure from the norm is being blamed on the - now weakening - El Nino.

Torrential rain began on Sunday and the province of Fujian was particularly badly affected. More than 190mm of rain fell in parts of the province.

A landslide on the construction site of a hydro-electric power station is known to have killed at least 33 people and several more are still missing.



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Bizarro Earth

North American tectonic plate peeling off

Kacey Deamer
Live science
Tue, 10 May 2016 18:35 UTC
Earth's Mantle
© Johan Swanepoel/ShutterstockScientists suspect that chunks from the bottom of the North American tectonic plate, which is the upper portion of the mantle, are peeling off and sinking. Replacing the resulting void is gooey material from the asthenosphere.
An odd phenomenon may explain why the Southeastern United States has experienced recent earthquakes, even though the region sits snugly in the middle of a tectonic plate and not at the edges, where all the ground-shaking action usually happens.

This seismicity — or relatively frequent earthquakes — may be the result of areas along the bottom of the North American tectonic plate peeling off, the researchers said. And this peeling motion is likely to continue, leading to more earthquakes in the future, like the 2011 magnitude-5.8 temblor that shook the nation's capital.

To figure out the cause of these earthquakes, Berk Biryol, a seismologist at UNC Chapel Hill, and colleagues created 3D images of the uppermost part of Earth's mantle, which is just below the crust and comprises the bottom of a tectonic plate. These tectonic plates scoot around atop a layer of warm, viscous fluid called the asthenosphere.

The resulting X-ray images revealed that the plate's thickness in the southeast United States was uneven, with thick regions of dense, old rock combined with thinner areas composed of younger rocks that were also less dense.
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Cloud Precipitation

At least 49 killed in floods and landslides in Rwanda

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Mon, 09 May 2016 18:44 UTC
Floods in Gakenke, Rwanda.
© Government of RwandaFloods in Gakenke, Rwanda.
Landslides and floods hit several parts of Rwanda between 07 and 08 May 2016 after a period of heavy rainfall. Government officials say that at least 49 deaths have been recorded so far. Some of the victims drowned in flood water, others died after houses collapsed under the heavy rain or landslide.

The worst hit areas are the districts of Gakenke and Muhanga. As many as 34 people have died in Gakenke, 8 in Muhanga, 4 in Rubavu and 3 in Ngororero. Around 26 injuries have also been reported.

Reports from the Ministry for Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs say that over 500 houses have been completely destroyed, leaving thousands homeless.

The disaster comes just days before the country hosts the World Economic Forum on Africa, which will be held in Kigali from 11 to 13 May 2016.
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Cloud Precipitation

Over 4,000 displaced by floods in Haiti and Dominican Republic after 10 inches of rainfall in 24 hours

Alessandro Masoero
Floodlist
Tue, 03 May 2016 14:42 UTC
Floods in the Dominican Republic
© Defensa Civil R.D.Floods in the Dominican Republic
Severe weather has been affecting the island of Hispaniola over the last days, causing floods and major damage both in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Over 4,000 people have been displaced and several communities left isolated.

Intense Rain

Heavy rainfall hit the region during the last few days of April 2016. According to Dominican Republic National Meteorological Office (Oficina Nacional de Meteorológia, ONAMET) a significant amount of rain was observed from the 27 April 2016 onwards. The station of Sabana de Mar, in the north-west Province of Hato Mayor, recorded 257.7 mm in 24 hours on the 28 April 2016. Prolonged and intense rain was recorded in Hispaniola during the following days.


Haiti

The heavy storm affecting the country of Haiti caused several rivers in the Ouest and Centre Departments to overflow in Haiti. Roads of Pétionville, a Port-au-Prince suburb, suffered some damage. One man was reportedly swept away by the flood water, while a woman is reported to be missing as she was trying to cross a flooding river.

A boat carrying people from Bombardopolis to Gonaives is reported to have sunk during the night of 30 April 2016, due to the bad weather conditions, resulting in the deaths of 8 people.

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Cloud Precipitation

Nearly 200 people have been killed by flooding in the U.S. over the last 16 months

Chris Dolce
The Weather Channel
Mon, 02 May 2016 13:21 UTC
Vehicles are left stranded on Texas State Highway 288 in Houston, Texas on May 26, 2015.
© Aaron M. Sprecher/AFP/Getty ImagesVehicles are left stranded on Texas State Highway 288 in Houston, Texas on May 26, 2015.
Flooding has proved to be extremely deadly in the United States in the last 16 months. Nearly 200 people, including 14 in Texas last month alone, have lost their lives since January 2015.

NOAA says that in 2015 176 people were killed by flooding in 26 states. So far in 2016 there have been 19 flood-related deaths in four states. That's a total of 195 fatalities from January 2015-April 2016.

For comparison, the 30-year average (1986-2015) number of flood deaths for a 16-month period is 108. There are typically about 81 flood deaths a year, making it, on average, the the second most deadly weather-related event behind extreme heat.

In the past 10 years, the number of flood deaths have ranged from a low of 29 in 2012 to as many as 176 last year, illustrating that there can be a great variability year to year.

Studies have shown that climate change may increase the risk of heavy rain around the world. According to a recent study, the number of days with extremely heavy precipitation has increased 1 to 2 percent every decade in both typically wet and dry locations.

Only heat has caused more deaths than flooding on an annual basis during the last 30 years (1986-2015).
© NOAAOnly heat has caused more deaths than flooding on an annual basis during the last 30 years (1986-2015).
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Cloud Precipitation

Six killed in Texas floods as yet more severe weather lashes central US


The Guardian (UK)
Sun, 01 May 2016 02:50 UTC
Texas storm damage
© Sarah A. Miller/APHousehold items and debris are scattered along land between houses in Lindale, Texas, after severe weather including flooding and a possible tornado hit the region.

Woman and her four grandchildren, aged between six and nine, are among the dead after being swept away by flood waters

A woman and four of her grandchildren were among six people killed by floods in Texas caused by storms that unleashed tornadoes, damaging hail and torrential rains on several central US states.

The family of flood victims in Palestine, Texas, 100 miles (160km) south - east of Dallas, escaped a house where flood waters had reached the roof line and were then swept away, police captain James Muniz said.

"They were able to get out but they were washed away," he said, adding their bodies were recovered on Saturday.

Those killed were identified as Jamonicka Johnson, six, Von Johnson Junior, seven, Devonte Asberry, eight, Venetia Asberry, nine, and Lenda Asberry, 64, the city said. Palestine police took the bodies to Tyler, Texas, for autopsies, officials said.

A Palestine man, Giovani Olivas, 30, also died when he was swept under flood waters around Anderson County Road 370. His body was found late on Saturday afternoon, according to Anderson County sheriff Greg Taylor.

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Cloud Precipitation

Floods swamp soy crop in Argentina; some residents must commute by boat


Daily Mail
Sat, 30 Apr 2016 17:26 UTC
Two women row a boat on a flooded street of Villa Paranacito, Entre Rios, Argentina, Thursday, April 28, 2016. The Argentine Red Cross estimates that around 30,000 people have been affected after rains swelled rivers, swamping fields and towns nationwide.
© AP/Natacha PisarenkoTwo women row a boat on a flooded street of Villa Paranacito, Entre Rios, Argentina, Thursday, April 28, 2016. The Argentine Red Cross estimates that around 30,000 people have been affected after rains swelled rivers, swamping fields and towns nationwide.
Water levels in the flooded town of Villa Paranacito have risen so much that the best way for residents to commute is by boat.

The town in eastern Argentina is one of the worst-struck by weeks of heavy rains stemming from the El Nino weather phenomenon. With streets covered by several feet of water from swollen rivers, residents are getting to schools, banks and other town services on boats, the only means of transportation.

Authorities have evacuated thousands of people across Argentina. Flood waters have reached grazing grounds, drowning livestock in the leading meat producing country. They have also swamped about a third of Argentina's soy farms, causing big losses to one of the world's top grains suppliers.

Argentina's Rural Society said Thursday that about 4 million metric tons of soy had been ruined. The losses are estimated at up to $1.3 billion.

Soybean prices at the Chicago Board of Trade fell Friday, after rising for weeks to nearly a one year-high on growing concerns about the damaged crops in Argentina, which is the world's No. 3 soy exporter.
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Cloud Precipitation

South Mississippi hit by flash floods following 10 inches of rain in just a few hours; Gulfport declares emergency

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Fri, 29 Apr 2016 18:30 UTC
Flood rescue in Gulfport. Mississippi, 28 April 2016.
© Gulfport Police DepartmentFlood rescue in Gulfport. Mississippi, 28 April 2016.
Parts of South Mississippi experienced flash flooding yesterday after a storm system struck in the early hours of Thursday, 28 April, 2016, dumping as much as 10 inches (254mm) of rain in just a few hours.

Gulfport, Biloxi and D'Iberville have been hardest hit. Around 20 homes and businesses have been flooded in Gulfport, where emergency crews carried out over 70 flood rescues. The Red Cross has set up shelters for those evacuated.

Gulfport's mayor, Billy Hewes, has declared a State of Emergency for the city. In a statement of 28 April, he said:
"With today's unprecedented weather event, dropping over 10 inches of rain this morning with continued accumulation anticipated over the course of the day, resulting in widespread flooding throughout the City of Gulfport, I am hereby declaring a State of Emergency. Monitoring the storm since early this morning, our crews are at work responding to storm drain blockages, water rescues, road closures, and emergency calls. If you are experiencing or are aware of situations needing critical attention, please call 311 for non-emergencies, and 911 for emergencies. We urge citizens to continue to use extreme caution, and not venture out unless necessary."


Areas along Dedeaux Road in Gulfport flood Thursday morning after heavy downpours.
© Damon McDanielAreas along Dedeaux Road in Gulfport flood Thursday morning after heavy downpours.
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Cloud Precipitation

Five killed and 14,000 homeless due to floods in Tanzania

John Nditi
Daily News (Tanzania)
Fri, 29 Apr 2016 14:38 UTC
Floods in Tanzania
© Habarika2Floods in Tanzania
Five people have been reported dead while 13,933 residents from 3,095 homesteads have been left homeless due to floods caused by ongoing rains in four districts here.

The affected districts include Kilosa, Kilombero, Morogoro and Malinyi, according to Morogoro Regional Commissioner (RC), Dr Kebwe Steven Kebwe.

Apart from the deaths, Dr Kebwe said the downpour has devastated property, crops and roads, making many parts of the region unreachable by roads.

"A total of 315 houses have been destroyed, rendering 3,095 homesteads with 13,933 people without roofs over their heads in Kilosa, Kilombero, Morogoro and Malinyi districts," the RC announced here.

He explained further that the three people who were killed in Kilombero District were all students who were trying to cross a flooded river. Two people were killed in Morogoro District.
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