Storms
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Cloud Lightning

Mind-blowing moment driver cheated death when lightning strike exploded the tree beside his car in Mudgee, Australia

The car was smashed by the tree branches (pictured) after the tree was hit by a lightning strike
The car was smashed by the tree branches (pictured) after the tree was hit by a lightning strike
Terrifying footage has captured the moment a driver dodged death when lightning struck a tree next to his parked car, sending huge branches crashing down onto it.

The shocking incident happened on a street in Mudgee, in central NSW, around 270km north-west of Sydney.

Dashcam footage of the incident was captured by another vehicle parked nearby and uploaded to Instagram by the lucky driver Simon Somervail on Thursday.

The shocking clip showed the moment the red 2009 Hyundai Getz, which appears orange in the video, was hit by the massive tree branches.


Snowflake

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming reaches 100 inches of snowfall already

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Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) has announces that it will open four additional lifts and a variety of terrain in the coming days after a strong winter storm recently pushed the resort's snowfall to over 100 inches (2.5 metres) this season. Another winter storm is currently hitting the Tetons, giving visitors improving early-season conditions across the resort.

JHMR officially opened the Casper lift on Wednesday and will open both the Bridger Gondola and the Marmot lift today, Friday, Dec. 8. Jackson Hole will also open both the Thunder and Sublette lifts on Saturday, Dec. 9, offering a wide expanse of intermediate and advanced terrain in addition to runs on the north side of the mountain already available via the Teewinot, Après Vous, Teton, and Sweetwater lifts.

Last weekend's winter storm brought the resort's snowfall since Dec. 1 to 31 inches (77cm), and heavy snow has resumed is expected to continue throughout the weekend.


Dig

Vehicles disappear under 4 feet of snow in Utah

A vehicle buried in snow in Little Cottonwood
© Luke StoneA vehicle buried in snow in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, on Dec. 4, 2023.
Footage taken on Monday shows a number of vehicles buried under more than 4 feet of snow in Little Cottonwood Canyon in northern Utah.

In the video, many of the vehicles appear as large white mounds with only black windshield wipers sticking out of the snow.

People were digging for hours in hopes of freeing the vehicles from the thick layer of snow, according to Luke Stone, who shot the footage.

"Dozens of cars had not moved or been touched since the storm started, so they were totally buried," Stone said.

The early-winter burial began on Friday, when 16.5 inches of snow fell, according to the nearby Alta Ski Resort. On Saturday, 20 additional inches fell, followed by 19 more inches on Sunday.


Comment: Related: Utah ski resorts pummeled with feet of snow


Cloud Precipitation

Floods in Washington and Oregon after atmospheric river dumps record rain - 8.6 inches in 24 hours

Floods in Snohomish County, Washington State,
© Snohomish County Sheriffs OfficeFloods in Snohomish County, Washington State, USA, December 2023.
A powerful atmospheric river brought record rainfall to parts of Washington and Oregon states in the Pacific Northwest of the USA from 04 December 2023.

As of 05 December, two fatalities were reported. Dozens of homes have been flooded and several people rescued, including some by Coast Helicopter teams.

Rain and Rivers

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Seattle reported significant rainfall totals in various parts of Western Washington, including the Olympic National Park which recorded 8.67 inches / 220.22 mm of rain in 24 hours to 05 December 2023. Weather stations at Hoodsport and Duvall both recorded 7.12 inches / 180.85 mm during the same period.


Cloud Lightning

Man killed instantly after being struck by lightning at child's birthday party in Argentina

Victor Lescano died after he was struck by lightning at the party
Victor Lescano died after he was struck by lightning at the party
A man was killed instantly when a bolt of lightning struck an open air birthday party injuring three others.

Victor Lescano died after the thunderstorm hit the gathering in Puma Husai, Argentina, on Sunday. Guests were celebrating a 15-year-old's birthday at the time when storm clouds rolled in, sending everyone running for cover.

The 26-year-old was hit by a bolt of electricity in the storm, Argentinian media reports, alongside three other guests at the party. Mr Lescano was rushed to hospital but sadly declared dead upon arrival.

One other guest, Betiana Orona, 23, was treated in hospital but two others needed only first aid. Lescano's sister Yani Lescano posted a tribute to her brother, writing on Facebook: "Fly high, may the light that has no end shine on you.

"My tears are unstoppable. Give me the strength to continue. I'm going to miss you every day of my life." Police and prosecutor Lorena Belkis Alderete are investigating the death, according to local media.

Cloud Precipitation

Island of Minorca in Spain hit by surprise intense hailstorm

Municipal workers in Mahon clearing away the hail.
Municipal workers in Mahon clearing away the hail.
In Minorca on Tuesday morning, there was a surprise hailstorm of such intensity that drains in Mahon were temporarily blocked and traffic had to be diverted.

In Mahon, there was precipitation of 24 litres per square metre in 15 minutes. Elsewhere, there were 64 litres in an hour. Temperatures plummeted in places like Alaior to six degrees.

Radar images from the met agency Aemet showed a storm that passed straight through Minorca, missing Mallorca. There had been a forecast of possible rain, as there was for northern areas of Mallorca, but not a storm of the type that was experienced.

For Mallorca, weather stations are currently forecasting thunderstorms on Friday for the whole of the island. Friday, a holiday for the Immaculate Conception, is looking as if it will be very wet and windy.


Cloud Precipitation

Cyclone Michaung: Runway at Chennai Airport, India flooded as rain pounds city, cars washed away - death toll rises to 17 (UPDATE)

flooded Chennai airport
© Newsable Asianet NewsFlooded Chennai airport
Flight operations at Chennai airport has been affected due to the heavy rains as Cyclone Michaung is expected to cross the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu on Monday.

Several flights have been cancelled and some of them have been diverted. The entire runway and airplane parking zone of the Chennai airport are filled with water.

Heavy rain lashed Chennai through the night on Monday as Cyclone Michaung inching closer near the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh coast.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that the city and its neighbouring districts would experience extremely heavy rain in the next 24 hours.


Comment: Update December 6

The Indian Express reports:
The death toll from Chennai's widespread deluge, caused by Cyclone Michaung, has gone up to 17 on Tuesday, police said. While the hours-long heavy rain in the city stopped on Monday night, streets remained waterlogged.

Coastal Andhra Pradesh, meanwhile, saw massive downpour on Tuesday, after Cyclone Michaung made landfall in the state, between Nellore and Kavali. Authorities in the state have moved around 9,500 people from vulnerable areas into 211 relief camps across affected districts. No casualties were reported in Andhra Pradesh.

The 17 deaths that took place in Chennai since Monday were mostly due to drowning, electrocution, collapsing walls and falling trees. Several others were injured.

Tamil Nadu authorities have moved 32,158 people to relief camps over two days.



Snowflake

Utah ski resorts pummeled with feet of snow

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"30-49 inch storm totals in many spots in Utah."

Buried cars. Deep base layers, and snow piling up seemingly by the second. Utah is experiencing a major snow storm, leaving mountains covered and skiers stoked.

Powderchasers, a popular IG account dedicated to helping people source fresh pow, posted "30-49 inch storm totals in many spots in Utah (Beaver, Solitude, Snowbasin, Powder, Alta). Colorado totals are 15-30 inches."

Resorts across Utah are open, with a solid base and fresh snow to boot.

Snowbasin has a 45 inch base, with 31 new inches in the past 48 hours and 14 inches over the last 24.

Cloud Lightning

Lightning strike kills 6 people, injures 5 in Tanzania

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SIX people have died and five others injured by lightning in Maparagwe village, Chikukwa Ward in Masasi District, Mtwara Region.

Mtwara Regional Police Commander (RPC), Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Nicodemus Katembo announced on Monday here, saying that the incident occurred at around 18 hours on Sunday.

He named those who died as Patrick Maurus (42), Fatuma Rashid (40), Rosina Wales (46), Regina Vincent (55), Zainabu Abdulrahaman (62) and Zainabu Mussa (44).

Those injured are Amina Abdulrahaman (62), Halman Fadhili (04), John Nguli (39), Luiz William (36) and Mzamiru Said (02).

ACP Katembo said the lightning strikes occurred when the named people had gathered to celebrate their relative's graduation ceremony, after completing O-level education.

Cloud Precipitation

Tanzania Floods: Tragedy strikes Hanang District with at least 65 fatalities after heavy overnight rain (UPDATES)

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In the early hours of December 3, 2023, the tranquil life in Katesh and Gendabi areas within Hanang District, Manyara Region, Tanzania, was interrupted by severe flooding. The overnight rains triggered mudslides and instigated the partial collapse of Mount Hanang. The aftermath - a shocking tally of at least 20 fatalities and 70 injuries, with homes, shops, business areas, and the main bus station in Katesh lying in ruins.


Comment: Update December 4

Reuters reports:
The death toll from floods and landslides in northern Tanzania following torrential rains over the weekend has risen to more than 50, with 750 acres of farmland destroyed, the president's office said on Monday.

Zuhura Yunus, spokesperson for President Samia Suluhu Hassan's office said in a statement that the landslides and floods had affected 1,150 households, or 5,600 people.

Severe flooding caused by El Nino and the Indian Ocean Dipole weather phenomena has killed hundreds of people in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes since seasonal rains began in October.

Update December 6

Al Jazeera reports:
At least 65 people have been killed in landslides and flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in northern Tanzania, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Tuesday, revising the death toll of 68 given by regional officials a day earlier.

Torrential downpours over the weekend washed away vehicles and brought down buildings in the hillside town of Katesh, 300km (185 miles) north of the capital, Dodoma.

"Two more bodies were found in the ongoing search and now the death toll has reached 65," Majaliwa said.

Images broadcast on television showed debris from houses, including furniture, strewn across streets, with key roads, power lines and communication networks disrupted.

"From around five in the morning [on Sunday], I heard loud bangs outside the house. When we tried to escape, it was too late because mud, trees, and stones were rolling from the mountain," said a man named James, who lost his wife and daughter in the disaster.

Some 5,600 people have been displaced by the landslides, said Mobhare Matinyi, a government spokesperson.

Rashid Ntandu, 24, lost his house in the disaster and found shelter in a school in Katesh which has been turned into a refuge centre.

"I believe there are more bodies covered by mud," he said.