A lightning strike resulted in the deaths of 11 cattle in Dipuchara village in Harinagar area of Cachar district in Assam on Thursday. This incident caused severe distress for the farmers who worked in that area.
Reports indicate that the incident took place during a sudden period of heavy rain which accompanied thunderstorms in the region.
As the weather worsened, a group of cattle took shelter under a tree to escape the downpour. A lightning bolt struck the tree which resulted in the instant death of 11 cattle while one animal suffered severe injuries.
The cattle that died in the incident belonged to multiple farmers who belong to the economically disadvantaged group which depends on farming and animal husbandry for their primary income.
The loss has become a major financial blow to the affected families because it has taken away their essential income source.
Meanwhile, the affected families have requested the district authorities to deliver instant compensation and disaster relief because they face difficulties recovering from their financial losses.
Mt. Bachelor begins wrap-up of short season with fresh snowfall
As of Thursday morning, Mt. Bachelor ski area had received 17 inches of snow in 24 hours and a total of 48 inches over a two-day period. This mid-April storm brought 11 inches of snow overnight causing snow immersion suffocation and tree well risk at the ski area for what seems like the first time this season. It must've been quite the powder day, hopefully all who partook stayed safe.
The ski area announced last week that this would be its final weekend, culminating on its end of season celebration, RendezVan.
As for this weekend, the weather looks like it will clear up on the mountain. The mid-mountain forecast on Snow-forecast.com predicts that to be the last of the snow this season. Temperatures could reach into the mid-40s Saturday and Sunday. Winds are expected to die down and the sun could break through the clouds.
The ski area has seen a total of 206 inches of snow this season, according to its mountain report. Its snow base was up to 43 inches Thursday.
Witness the shocking and heartbreaking aftermath of the historic hailstorm that recently struck large areas of Saudi Arabia. Unprecedentedly large hailstones (Giant Hail) fell with devastating force, causing a catastrophe for livestock farmers and resulting in the deaths of large numbers of animals in a truly breathtaking scene.
In this video, we document the extent of the devastation and the sheer power of this unprecedented natural phenomenon. We share the suffering of the farmers and images of the livestock that perished as a result of the hailstorm. We pray that God will compensate those affected.
Nature's Fury: Massive and devastating hailstorm hits Saudi Arabia, causing a tragic die-off of livestock. This is truly apocalyptic weather.
Severe thunderstorms have affected the Mediterranean this week. On Monday, a surface low-pressure system in the Mediterranean in conjunction with an upper air cut-off low, led to thunderstorms over north Africa. Their intensity was aided by the hot precursor conditions.
Algeria and Tunisia were notably affected by the thunderstorms, with some hail accumulation layers as a result. When so much hail forms, it starts to lay down sheets of hail, covering the ground like snow. Hail accumulations of up to 3cm were reported in Oum Ladjoul and Hammam Sokhna in Algeria, and there were hailstones of up to 3cm in diameter in Makthar, Tunisia. Thunderstorms continued in the region through the following day, with further hail accumulations, notably in Ouled Bousmir, Tunisia, where there was a layer about 2cm deep.
Later in the week, another surface low developed, this time over Sicily. Thunderstorms broke out across parts of central Italy on Wednesday morning. These led to some severe downpours, with 52.1mm of rain falling in just over an 1 hour and 10 minutes in the city of Ascoli Piceno and 62.3mm falling in less than 1 hour and 50 minutes in the town of Mosciano Sant'Angelo. Other regions were also affected, with 46mm of rain in 36 minutes in the Sicilian town of Bagheria, as well as heavy rain being recorded in Algeria and Tunisia.
In the early morning of April 16th, a powerful hailstorm unexpectedly struck Bac Ha commune, Lao Cai province, lasting approximately 15-30 minutes and causing significant damage to both people and property.
Initial reports indicate that large hailstones, with diameters ranging from 5-7 cm, fell densely, injuring four people, damaging many roofs, destroying vehicles, and ruining crops.
Many local residents stated that this was a rare hailstorm, with a higher intensity than in recent years, even exceeding the level of the hailstorm that occurred in Lao Cai in 2013.
Snowfall warnings in effect for much of southern Alberta
Calgarians were in for another slippery commute Thursday after a spring snowstorm plunged the city back into winter driving conditions.
Heavy snow is expected to continue to fall throughout the day, with total accumulations of 15 to 30 centimetres, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
"Poor visibility due to blowing snow is occurring in some areas and will continue until mid-morning," the agency said in its yellow-level snowfall warning for the city.
Yellow-level snowfall warnings are also in effect for much of southwestern Alberta.
Calgary Transit has put all of its snow detour routes into effect and is asking riders to check if their route is affected while planning their trips.
"We are working hard to get you to your destination safely, so please be patient and give yourself extra travel time," Calgary Transit said on its website.
Heavy rains and storms are staying in the forecast as floodwaters swamped areas across Northern Michigan on April 14, 2026.
The dangerously rising waters have prompted evacuations in some residential areas, triggered the failure of small dams, and has state and local officials closely monitoring larger dams near populated areas as high water threatens to overtop them and flood areas downstream.
The Little Traverse Conservancy flew a drone over some of its preservation areas to monitor flooding in Petoskey, Conway, Alanson, Indian River and Pigeon River. (Video provided by Charles Dawley and Little Traverse Conservancy)
Heavy rains and flooding in the Dominican Republic and Haiti have killed at least 19 people and displaced thousands more, according to the latest toll by officials and the Red Cross.
Powerful storms that began April 7 have continued dumping rain on the neigboring Caribbean nations -- which share the island of Hispaniola -- with authorities staying vigilant despite ebbing intensity of rainfall in recent hours.
Haiti's civil protection agency on Tuesday reported 12 deaths across several departments. Dominican authorities on Wednesday put the death toll in the country at seven.
"Five bodies have been recovered," civil defense director Juan Salas told AFP, adding to two deaths confirmed last week.
Comment: Footage of other tornados in the region: