Storms
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Cloud Precipitation

Deadly flash floods hit the Afghan city of Herat, killing at least 5

Afghan residents gather near the Pul-i-Malan bridge near the Hari Rud River following the flash floods on the outskirts of Herat on March 12.
Afghan residents gather near the Pul-i-Malan bridge near the Hari Rud River following the flash floods on the outskirts of Herat on March 12.
Flash flooding has swamped the streets of the city of Herat in Afghanistan, killing at least five people and causing widespread damage, according to a local imam.

"The house's upper floor was already cracked because of an earthquake in October, so the second floor was already damaged, but last night's rain made the house collapse," a man whose neighbours' house was destroyed tells AFP.


Cloud Precipitation

Large hailstones slam Buenos Aires, Argentina

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This Tuesday, strong thunderstorms were recorded in much of Buenos Aires throughout the day. The abundant fall of water caused flooding in different neighborhoods and municipalities. In some locations there was hail and more alerts are expected for the early morning and morning of this Wednesday.

Different users shared photos and videos on their social networks about the storm. One of the most affected areas was Campana, where the hail was larger than a lemon. The publications quickly went viral.

The National Meteorological Service announced an orange alert for heavy rain this Wednesday morning. In addition, the formation of more severe storms continues in the area. Different meteorological phenomena are expected to hit a large part of the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area.


Comment: Related: Argentina floods: Buenos Aires streets turn into rivers after torrential rain


Cloud Precipitation

7 die as floods hit southern France - a foot of rain in 48 hours (UPDATE)

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Three people have died and four others are missing as a result of flooding in the southern French department of Gard, French media reported.

Two children are among the missing, Franceinfo radio reported on Sunday.

On Saturday night, heavy rainfall hit the region, prompting police to begin active search and rescue operations. By Sunday evening, the bodies of two dead people were found in the car.

In addition, a 62-year-old Belgian man died after his car was washed away by the course when he tried to cross a bridge, traffic on which was blocked due to rising water levels.


Comment: Floodlist reports:
Storm Monica swept across the country from 08 March 2024 bringing extremely heavy rain. Some areas in the south recorded more than 300 mm of rain in 48 hours. Since 09 March, the rain has triggered severe flooding in the departments of Gard, Ardèche and Var.
Update March 13

The Connexion reports:
The body of a man was found yesterday evening (March 12) in the Ardèche department, three days after a hydroelectric plant worker went missing in the area.

It was discovered by hunters and relatives of the 73-year old who disappeared on Saturday evening during flash flooding.

The body was found close to a micropower station along the Eyrieux river, where the man was working during Saturday evening's storms.

Authorities believe it is most probably the body of the missing man, however rescue workers and police forces were unable to reach the location of the body last night but planned to make a fresh attempt this morning.

It now brings the death toll from the weekend's storms and high waves to seven - six in the south of France and one in the west.



Cloud Precipitation

Argentina floods: Buenos Aires streets turn into rivers after torrential rain

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Torrential rain in Buenos Aires caused flash floods and disrupted air traffic in Argentina's capital region on Tuesday.

Drone views showed the magnitude of the downpour as streets looked like rivers from Avellaneda to Lanus.

An orange alert was issued to warn citizens of "dangerous meteorologic phenomena for society, life, goods, and environment."


Boat

Parts of Western Australia flooded as more than half a year's rain falls in 24 hours

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Police have said they hold "serious welfare concerns" for seven people missing hundreds of kilometres north-east of Kalgoorlie amid heavy rain and flooding that has cut off road and rail links into Western Australia.

Two vehicles, a beige-coloured Toyota LandCruiser and a white Mitsubishi Triton, were believed to have left Kalgoorlie-Boulder on Sunday between 10am and 2pm, making for Tjuntjuntjara, Kalgoorlie Police said on Tuesday.

Both vehicles contained elderly drivers, with the Mitsubishi Triton also containing five other passengers, four of whom are children aged between seven and 17.

"Concerns are held for the occupants of these two vehicles due to serious weather conditions. It is unknown how much food and water the occupants have in their possession," police said in a statement.

Parts of WA experienced more than half a year's rain in 24 hours over the weekend, with more than 155mm of rain recorded at Rawlinna, 900km east of Perth, since 9am Friday.

The Eyre Highway has been closed since the weekend and is likely to remain out of operation for several days.


Cloud Precipitation

Severe floods in Oman as torrential rains batter governorates

Screengrab from a video shared by weather monitoring centre
Screengrab from a video shared by weather monitoring centre
Torrential rains and thunderstorms have swept through several governorates in the Sultanate of Oman, leading to severe floods and activating emergency protocols.

The North Al Batinah Governorate, particularly the areas of Liwa and Shinas, along with Buraimi Governorate's Madha, experienced intense early morning rainfall Saturday, following severe thunderstorms on Friday that triggered flowing valleys and reefs.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has forecasted partly cloudy to cloudy skies across most governorates, with potential thunderstorms bringing strong winds, hail, and flash floods affecting regions such as Al Buraimi, Al Dhahira, North Al Batinah, South Al Batinah, Al Dakhiliyah, Muscat, North Al Sharqiyah, South Al Sharqiyah, Al Wusta, and Dhofar.

The CAA warned of reduced horizontal visibility and advised caution.


Cloud Lightning

Lightning strike kills tour guide, wounds French tourists in Peru

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A lightning strike killed a Peruvian tour guide and injured six French citizens during a hike on the multi-coloured Vinicunca mountain, a tourist hotspot in the heart of the Andes, police said Monday.

The mountain, one of Peru's most iconic sites along with Machu Picchu, has become a major attraction in the last decade, as warming temperatures have melted its glacier caps and revealed its colours.

Police said in a statement that the lightning strike on Sunday afternoon had left the French tourists, aged 22 to 40, with "burns and injuries".

They have been hospitalised in the city of Cusco.

Vinicunca mountain, also known as the rainbow mountain or mountain of seven colours, has distinct hues striped across its slopes, the result of an accumulation of sediment over millions of years.

It rises to over 5,200 metres above sea level.

The death of the tour guide brings to five the number of people killed by lightning in the Peruvian Andes this year, according to authorities.

Source: Agence France-Presse

Cloud Lightning

Lightning strike kills 4 people in Mozambique

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Four people have died and three others are wounded after being struck by lightning in Mozambique, which is now bracing for Storm Filipo.

The lightning strikes happened in the northern town of Mogincual, in Nampula province.

Meanwhile, the southern and central provinces of Gaza, Inhambane, Sofala and Zambézia have been placed on alert for severe thunderstorms expected later on Monday.

Storm Filipo has now reached the Mozambican coast and could evolve into a severe tropical storm, before dispersing back out to sea.

Increased rainfall has already been recorded and there are fears of mudslides. Boats and vessels are being warned by Mozambique's National Institute of Meteorology (Inam) to take precautions.

Natural disasters are common in Mozambique, particularly during the rainy and cyclone season which runs between October and April.

Source: BBC

Snowflake

Five skiers found dead and one missing in Swiss Alps during snow storm

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The bodies of five missing skiers have been found in the Swiss Alps, police have said.

Local authorities are still searching for a sixth person.

A huge search and rescue operation was launched on Saturday after the group went missing near the 3,706m high Tete Blanche mountain.

They had set off from Zermatt, home of the famous Matterhorn mountain, on a ski tour towards Arolla along the Swiss-Italian border.

Five of the six skiers were found at 21:20 local time (20:20 GMT) "without any signs of life," a statement from Swiss Valais canton police said.

Authorities had previously told the BBC that the skiers were all Swiss nationals, and range in age from 21 to 58 years old.

Local police said teams on both sides of the route were alerted but severe weather was hampering the operation.

Cloud Precipitation

Heavy rains prompt La Paz authorities to declare state of emergency in Bolivia

This Sunday's rain caused the La Paz River to overflow.
© AMUNThis Sunday's rain caused the La Paz River to overflow.
Heavy rain in Bolivia's capital, La Paz, prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency, a government document showed on Sunday, after overflowing rivers destroyed many houses over the weekend.

Bolivian President Luis Arce pledged to send heavy machinery and 3,000 troops to prevent further damage, according to the document.

Heavy rains caused flooding in several neighborhoods and isolated parts of the city by cutting water, electricity and roads.

"We are deeply concerned by the difficult situation that our municipality in La Paz is going through," Arce said in a post on social media platform X.

One person died over the weekend in La Paz because of the heavy rains, while nearly 50 people have died in deluges across the country since the rainy season began in January, according to official data.

Reuters