Storms
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Windsock

Massive sandstorm envelops Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

storm
© Rashid Hassan
A massive sandstorm spurred on by high winds hit Riyadh on Friday, enveloping the Saudi capital with heavy dust.

The traffic department warned motorists to drive slowly with their headlights switched on.

The General Directorate of Civil Defense also advised Riyadh residents to avoid various picnic spots at the weekend because of the possibility of the inclement weather continuing for the next few days.

The wind speed in Riyadh in the afternoon was recorded at about 29 km per hour.


Cloud Lightning

Lightning strikes kills 7 in Tanzania

lightning
Seven people have been struck and killed by lightning, five of them from the same family in Katavi in two separate incidents.

Speaking to reporters on March 4, Katavi Regional Police Commander ACP Ally Makame said the incidents were reported in Kamsisi village in Mlele district and Mlibanzi in Tanganyika district.

He said in Kamsisi village in Mlele district five members of the same family were struck by lightning on March 2 at 10 pm while sleeping in the same room.

Windsock

Dust storm strikes Mongolia - Forecast of strong winds and heavy snow in the coming days

Getty Images
© Getty Images
A dust storm has struck the central province of Tuv in Mongolia on Thursday, March 3.

The Mongolian Traffic Police Department stated it has caused poor visibility on roads and urged motorists to take precautions for potential accidents.

The Mongolia National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring (NEMHEM) issued a weather forecast that heavy snow, strong winds, and yellow dust storms are expected to occur in the central, eastern, and southern regions of Mongolia in the coming days, as cited by Xinhua News.

The Chinese media agency has also cited the observation of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, stating that dust storms, strong winds, and snowstorms have been recurring during the spring season.


Cloud Precipitation

Massive hail pelts Rosario, Argentina

hail
After an overwhelming day of humidity and heat, the storm broke into Rosario with great force and hail fell in some sectors, as well as in towns such as San Lorenzo, Roldán, Funes and Ybarlucea.

After a day of full sun, around 5:00 p.m. the sky darkened in Rosario and very extensive thunder was heard announcing the great storm that was coming. Minutes later, a downpour flooded many streets in moments, while hail fell in some parts of the city, particularly in the west.


Cloud Lightning

Seven farmers killed by lightning strikes in southern Tanzania

lightning
At least seven farmers were killed and 14 others injured on Saturday by lightning strike in Tanzania's southern highlands region of Rukwa, police said on Sunday.

William Mwampaghale, the Rukwa regional police commander, said the lightning strike that was accompanied by a heavy downpour killed five farmers in Luwa village in Nkasi district on Saturday at 3 p.m. local time.

"The five farmers were struck by the lightning when they were planting beans in their farm," Mwampaghale told a news conference, adding that 14 others were injured after the lightning struck a hut in which they had taken shelter after the rains started to fall.

In another separate incident, said the police official, a man and his son died after they were struck by lightning while farming in the same village, adding that the incident occurred on Saturday evening.

Source: Xinhua

Cloud Lightning

Lightning strikes kill 7 people in Zambia

lightning
Seven people have died in Western province after they were struck by lightning in separate incidents.

Four died in Mongu while three children from the same family died in Nalolo.

Police recorded four cases which occurred on February 26, this year and at the same time, 15:00 hours in different locations within Mongu District.

Police deputy spokesperson Danny Mwale said victims identified as Mwashekwa Lyamba aged 40 and his wife identified as Carol Nakakena Liisimba aged 35 of Ilute plots died on the spot after being struck by lightning at their house.

Boat

Thousands evacuate floods in Kelantan and Terengganu, Malaysia - 15.7 inches of rain in 48 hours

Floods in Malaysia, February 2022.
© Government of MalaysiaFloods in Malaysia, February 2022.
Flooding has forced thousands of families to evacuate their homes in Malaysia after days of heavy rainfall. Flooding was also reported in several provinces of neighbouring southern Thailand where authorities say around 60,000 people have been affected.

Malaysia

Flooding began in Peninsular Malaysia after heavy rainfall from 25 February 2022. The city of Kuala Trengganu in Terengganu recorded more than 400 mm of rain in 48 hours to 27 February 2022.

As of 28 February, the country's disaster management agency NADMA reported around 6,000 families (20,000 people) had evacuated their homes and moved to 224 evacuation centres across 15 districts in Kelantan and Terengganu states.

A total of 8,075 people have evacuated their homes in Kelantan, where the district of Pasir Mas (5,943 evacuated) is hardest hit. In Terengganu State, over 3,500 people were displaced in Hulu Terengganu district and 4,284 in Kemaman.


Cloud Precipitation

'Rain bomb' hits Australia's northeast, killing seven in floods

Seven people have died so far as a result of flooding
Seven people have died so far as a result of flooding
A severe storm system pummelled Australia's northeastern city of Brisbane on Sunday, causing evacuations, power outages and school closures as the death toll climbed to seven from accompanying flash floods.

More than 1,400 homes in the capital of Queensland state were at risk of flooding while more than 28,000 homes were without power statewide, as pristine beaches on the Gold and Sunshine coasts, which are key tourist attractions, all closed.

"We never expected this rain," state premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told a briefing. "This rain bomb is just really, you know, it's unrelenting ... It's just coming down in buckets."

More than 100 schools across the southeast of a state famed for abundant sunshine will be closed on Monday. State rescue services said they received 100 requests an hour for help in recent days.

Among the six killed in the flooding were a 34-year-old man who tried to swim to safety after the waters submerged his car and another whose vehicle was swept away in the most populous state of New South Wales (NSW).


Comment: This latest deluge comes just 4 days after Queensland was hit by 300mm of rain in just 6 hours.


Snowflake

World Snow Wrap February 25 - Dry spell breaks in US, solid snow falls in Europe, good conditions in Canada and massive falls in Japan

Ski patrol doing the hard years in Lotte Arai on Wednesday morning after another 70cms n 24 hours
© Lotte Arai ResortSki patrol doing the hard years in Lotte Arai on Wednesday morning after another 70cms n 24 hours
Plenty of snow over the past two weeks with consistent top ups in Canada, solid falls earlier this week in Europe and massive 5-day totals in Honshu. The long drought finally broke in the US, delivering a few good days this week to the Rockies and northern Sierras. Read on for the details:

USA

The long dry spell finally broke across the western US with good snowfalls this week in California's Sierras and the Rockies while the Pacific Northwest had a round of fresh snow last weekend. The snow started falling in Colorado on Monday afternoon and continued through to Thursday and by all reports Wednesday was the best powder day of a good bunch. Totals were highest in central and southern Colorado resorts, Aspen with 65cms and Wolf Creek a huge 105cms. Further north the falls were not as heavy, with 35cms for Vail, and 22cms for Steamboat.

Snowflake

Several ski resorts in Colorado reporting up to 45 inches of new snow in 72 hours

A skier makes turns in deep powder at Wolf Creek Ski Area, CO, which has received 43″ of new snow in the past 72 hours
© Wolf Creek Ski AreaA skier makes turns in deep powder at Wolf Creek Ski Area, CO, which has received 43″ of new snow in the past 72 hours
Winter is back. Colorado is getting snow right now—big time. Several resorts have received 40+ inches of the good stuff in the last three days alone.

Here are current snow totals in Colorado:

Purgatory - 45″

Silverton - 44″