Storms
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Tsunami

Homes evacuated and cars submerged as flash floods hit south of France - almost a foot of rain over weekend

Zane Lilley
The Connexion
Mon, 19 Jan 2026 20:22 UTC
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Heightened tier-three weather alerts remain in force across southern France today as heavy rainfall that began over the weekend continues.

Several rivers in Aude and Hérault have burst their banks, leading to powerful currents running through towns and cities and submerging cars.

Homes in parts of Narbonne (Aude) were evacuated on Sunday evening (January 18) as a precaution against the risk of flooding. Residents of single-storey houses in two districts - Maraussan and La Mayolle - were asked to move to nearby emergency shelters.

People living in several surrounding communes were also evacuated, with military personnel deployed to assist the operation.

Schools in Narbonne are closed today and school transport has been suspended across the commune.

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Cloud Precipitation

Heavy hailstorm hits Malta overnight leaving behind thick icy covering


The Malta Independent
Sat, 17 Jan 2026 11:47 UTC
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A heavy hailstorm hit Malta overnight, dumping centimetres of hail in various parts, most notably in the Rabat area.

The Civil Protection Department is advising the general public to exercise extra caution on the roads following reports of heavy hail across the island.

The most affected areas include Rabat and Baħrija, where sudden hailstorms have created hazardous driving conditions.

Motorists are advised to slow down, avoid unnecessary travel where possible, and remain alert to changing weather conditions.

The Met Office is forecasting a cloudy day on Saturday and Sunday, with strings winds and more rain expected as from Monday.

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Tsunami

Intense rains, dam discharges push southern Mozambique to maximum flood alert


Xinhua
Fri, 16 Jan 2026 19:25 UTC
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A car drives through floodwater caused by heavy rainfall in Matola City, Maputo Province, Mozambique, Jan. 12, 2026.
Southern Mozambique has been placed on maximum flood alert following persistent heavy rainfall and increased water discharges from major dams, local authorities said on Wednesday.

In Gaza Province, the situation is particularly severe after heightened releases from the Massingir Dam. Authorities warned that the large volumes of discharged water have significantly increased the risk of flooding along the Limpopo Valley and its tributaries.

Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Water Resources Fernando Rafael said the dam had reached its maximum storage capacity, making the opening of emergency spillway gates unavoidable. He warned of a high flood risk in both low-lying and urban areas and urged residents in vulnerable zones to evacuate immediately.

Margarida Mapanzene Chongo, governor of Gaza Province, said it remains difficult to determine the number of people affected, as several communities have been cut off by overflowing rivers, hampering rescue and assessment efforts.

According to the National Emergency Operations Center, authorities have deployed multi-sectoral teams to reinforce evacuation and humanitarian assistance operations.

Flood risks have also intensified in Maputo Province, where movement across the Umbeluzi River bridge in Boane District has been restricted due to rising water levels linked to heavy rains and dam discharges. In Inhambane Province, communities along the Save River remain on high alert amid warnings of unpredictable water flows.

Authorities cautioned that the combination of persistent rainfall and upstream discharges could further worsen flooding risks in the coming days.


Comment: Related: Aerial footage shows severe flooding at Kruger National Park, South Africa

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Tsunami

Aerial footage shows cars swept away by flash floods in Victoria, Australia after 6.5 inches of rain in just a few hours


BBC
Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:42 UTC
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Australia's Great Ocean Road, famous for its scenic coastal views, was forced to close on Thursday after flash floods triggered by a storm hit the state of Victoria.

Aerial footage showed vehicles swept out to sea by floodwaters and caravan parks inundated.

The Victoria State Emergency Service issued an emergency flash flood warning for Wye River, Kennett River, Cumberland River, Lorne and surrounding areas, and urged people to take shelter.


Comment: AccWeather reports 6.5 inches fell of rain in just a few hours:



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Tsunami

Aerial footage shows severe flooding at Kruger National Park, South Africa

Sundeeka Mungroo
The South African
Wed, 14 Jan 2026 19:56 UTC
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© Edgar Muvhango (African Bush Kingdom Facebook)
Aerial footage taken over the Pafuri area in the far north of the Kruger National Park shows the scale of flooding caused by intense rainfall in recent days.

The video, filmed on 13 January 2026, captures swollen, muddy rivers bursting their banks and spreading across the surrounding bushveld.

Large tracts of land appear submerged, with water flowing through normally dry areas and around trees. Take a look...

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Snowflake Cold

Best of the Web: Several months' worth of snow falls in Russia's Kamchatka - Snow 'apocalypse' shatters 146-year record


The Tribune (India)
Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:35 UTC
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Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula is experiencing one of its harshest winters in recent years, with record-breaking snowfall that's left towns and roads buried under meters of snow. The national weather department confirmed a 146-year-old record has been smashed. The relentless snowfall has brought the city to a standstill, with layers of white covering the landscape.

The region, known for its active volcanoes and extreme weather, has received several months' worth of snowfall within days, forcing authorities to issue alerts and increase snow-clearing operations. Images and videos from the region show vehicles almost completely submerged, entrances blocked by towering snowdrifts, and residents digging tunnels just to leave their homes. The snowfall has had a major impact on everyday life, with roads closed, flights delayed or cancelled, and public transport services suspended.

Emergency crews are clearing snow from rooftops to prevent structural damage, while residents have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel.

Scientists attribute the unusual conditions to repeated cyclonic systems over the Pacific Ocean, which are pulling in large amounts of moisture that turn into heavy snow when they meet Kamchatka's freezing air and rugged terrain.


Comment: Update January 15

The Moscow Times reports that two people were buried alive under snow in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky after snowpacks fell from the roofs of residential buildings.

Besides record snowfall in Russia's Far East, Moscow last week experienced "the heaviest snowfall in 56 years, with 42 percent of the monthly average precipitation recorded in just 24 hours."

And temperatures have plunged right across the country:



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Snowflake

Heavy snowfall hits Turkey - up to 1.5 meters depth reached in 2 days


en.Haberler.com
Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:08 UTC
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As the rainy and cold weather continues to affect the country, holiday news has come from many of our cities. Education has been suspended in Tunceli, Gümüşhane, Erzincan, Ardahan, Bayburt, Kars, and Ağrı. Holiday decisions have also been made in some districts of Şırnak, Ordu, Giresun, Rize, Erzurum, Yozgat, Kastamonu, Artvin, Van, Bingöl, Sivas, Malatya, Trabzon, Konya, Adıyaman, Elazığ, Samsun, Tokat, and Sinop.

Cold and rainy weather continues to have an impact across Turkey. Due to heavy snowfall, education was recently suspended in many cities.

SUSPENSION OF EDUCATION IN MANY CITIES

It was announced that education would also be suspended in many cities and districts on Wednesday, January 14, due to the ongoing snowfall.


Here are the provinces where a snow holiday decision was made:

Comment: From the same source on January 13:
Due to the continuous snowfall for two days in the Ovacık district of Tunceli, the snow depth in the district center has reached up to 1.5 meters in some places, and many streets and avenues have been closed to traffic. As the doors of houses, vehicles, and businesses were blocked by snow, citizens tried to clear the roads with shovels; municipal teams are also continuing their snow removal efforts.

Due to the continuous snowfall for 2 days in the Ovacık district of Tunceli, the snow depth in the district center reached up to 1.5 meters in some places. Houses, vehicles, and roads were covered in snow.


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Arrow Down

Landslide triggered after heavy downpours in east DR Congo kills 28 (UPDATE)


.jacarandafm.com
Wed, 14 Jan 2026 09:26 UTC
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© AFP
At least 18 people have died while several homes were swept away in a landslide triggered after heavy downpours overnight in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local sources told AFP Tuesday.

The landslide took place in Kashebere, in North Kivu province, where the Congolese state is largely absent due to the advance of the Rwanda-backed M23 militia.

Kashbere is around 100 kilometres (60 miles) west of Goma, the provincial capital, which fell to a lightning M23 offensive at the beginning of 2025.

"Eighteen bodies have been found and 11 are still unfindable," Emile Kubuya, a local administrator who has fled to a government-held part of North Kivu, told AFP by phone.

Comment: Update January 15

Saba.ye reports:
Media reports mentioned on Wednesday that the total number of victims resulting from the landslide that occurred in the village of Borutsi in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo reached 28 people upon the completion of rescue operations.

The local newspaper "Actualité" stated, "In total, 28 bodies were recovered from under the rubble upon the completion of search operations that began last Tuesday until this morning; the number reached 19 people, in addition to finding nine other bodies."

According to local authorities, in addition to human losses, the landslide caused significant material damage, including the destruction of more than 17 homes.

It was previously announced that 11 people were still under the rubble, and five others were seriously injured.

It is worth mentioning that on Tuesday night, the landslide destroyed a large part of the homes in Borutsi, burying dozens of residents under the rubble.


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Tsunami

Flooding, high winds, snow disrupt roads, flights as storm sweeps Israel

Pesach Benson, Yanir Yagna
The Jerusalem Post
Tue, 13 Jan 2026 12:43 UTC
Snow falls atop Mt. Hermon in northern Israel on January 13, 2026.
Snow falls atop Mt. Hermon in northern Israel on January 13, 2026.
Heavy rain, strong winds, and localized flooding struck Israel overnight and into Tuesday as a winter storm swept across the country, disrupting transportation, causing property damage, and prompting multiple emergency rescues.

Meteorological officials said the system is expected to gradually weaken later in the day, with unsettled weather continuing through the end of the week.

Rainfall totals varied widely, with some of the heaviest precipitation recorded in northern and central areas. Majdal Shams, in the northern Golan Heights, reported about 60 millimeters of rain, while Jerusalem received 41 millimeters. Haifa recorded 27 millimeters and Tel Aviv 22 millimeters.

Snow fell on Mount Hermon, accumulating to roughly 15 centimeters overnight, leading authorities to keep the ski site closed to visitors until at least Thursday.

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Tsunami

Heavy rainfall triggers flooding and evacuations in the capital Jakarta, Indonesia


METRO TV
Tue, 13 Jan 2026 12:17 UTC
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Heavy rainfall throughout Sunday night led to widespread flooding across Jakarta, with North and South Jakarta suffering the most damage.

Hundreds of residents were evacuated to shelters as floodwaters submerged neighborhoods, particularly in areas like Semper Barat Village, where the water reached up to 70 centimeters deep.

Search-and-rescue teams worked tirelessly to ferry residents to safety, using boats to evacuate families, including women and children.

Temporary shelters were set up to provide refuge for the displaced. Local officials and the Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) have issued a weather warning for further rainfall in the coming days.

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