Storms
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Tornado2

Massive waterspout spins up off Israeli coast

waterspout
Owing to rapidly fluctuating temperatures, unusual tornado-like weather phenomenon caught on camera off the shores of the southern city Ashdod, wowing passersby

An impressive sight was seen off the coast of southern Israel on Monday as a massive waterspout danced its way through the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

The unusual weather phenomenon, which resembles a tornado, was caught off-shores of the southern city of Ashdod.


Snowflake Cold

Snowstorm hits parts of Hokkaido, Japan with up to 32 inches of snow

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Snowstorms are hitting parts of Japan's northern prefecture of Hokkaido.

Japanese weather officials say a strong winter weather pattern is bringing snow to the Sea of Japan coast in northern and eastern Japan.

Nearly 20 centimeters of snow fell in Teshio, Hokkaido, over 6 hours on Monday morning.

By 9 a.m., more than 80 centimeters of snow had accumulated in Rumoi, also in Hokkaido, and over 60 centimeters in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture.


Snowflake

Snowstorm leaves nearly 1 million without power in the US

CHART
A quick-hitting blast of winter weather left several inches of snow blanketing parts of the Southeast, before spreading into the mid-Atlantic, where it shut down much of the nation's capital.

A dramatic weather pattern change marked the first days of 2022 across the Southeast and mid-Atlantic, replacing the 80-degree warmth in some locations with an all-out snowstorm. The onslaught of the first accumulating snow of the season for many left several cities along the East Coast nearly shut down, snarled traffic, left nearly 1 million without power on Monday and has been blamed for at least one fatality, according to officials.

The storm unleashed hefty snow amounts across parts of Tennessee and North Carolina, with accumulations climbing to 9.0 inches in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and 11.0 inches in Swiss, North Carolina. Even areas as far south as Alabama were hit with a blast of wintry weather, and Moores Mill, Alabama, picked up 7.0 inches of snow.


Tornado2

3 tornadoes confirmed in Kentucky after severe weather in the Mid-South on Saturday

tornado kentucky
© 98.7 WHOP FM98.7 WHOP FM in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, reports significant damage from a possible tornado on the east side of the town near East Ninth and Campbell streets. No immediate reports of significant injuries.
The first storm system of 2022 produced severe storms and flooding rains from Arkansas to the Mid-Atlantic, ahead of a major cool down that will remind residents in the eastern half of the nation that the country is in the heart of winter.

Some of the areas that were hardest hit included northern Alabama, Tennessee and southern Kentucky where wind damage and flooding were reported. At least three tornadoes have been confirmed in Kentucky as of Sunday morning.

The National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky, said a survey team has found damage consistent with an EF-2 tornado in Hopkinsville. While the survey will continue, preliminary information showed winds were near 115 mph with a part of about 125 yards.

Snowflake Cold

Storm brings lots of snow to Juneau and Southeast Alaska - up to 30 inches

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The snowstorm brought varying amounts around the City and Borough of Juneau and Southeast Alaska.

Meteorologist Rick Fritsch in the Juneau Forecast Office said they received 10 point 4 inches at their location on Back Loop Road. Over 13 inches was recorded atop Cordova Street in West Juneau. The number at the airport was not that high because winds there were blowing the snow off their measuring boards. So only 4 point 2 inches were recorded at the airport as a result. Auke Bay reported 6 point 5 inches.

There were greater amounts recorded in other Southeast locations including Petersburg which measured 15 point 8 inches. Hyder in southern Southeast Alaska had 30 inches, according to the forecaster.


Airplane

Chicago snowstorm sees more than 1,000 flights canceled as New Year travel mayhem worsens

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A Chicago snowstorm caused more than 1,000 flight cancelations as New Year travel mayhem worsens.

The winter storm is the latest blow to the travel industry as around 900 flights were canceled across the US on Thursday due to the new Covid variant causing staff shortages.

On Saturday, over 1,000 flights were canceled in Chicago as a New Year's Day snowstorm made its way into the area.

At Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, 844 flights were canceled, while at Midway Airport, an additional 273 were axed.

By late Saturday afternoon on the East Coast, more than 2,600 US flights and nearly 4,600 worldwide had been canceled, according to tracking service FlightAware.


Cloud Precipitation

Thunderstorm and severe floods sweep across Shinas, Oman - 6 killed (UPDATE)

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A majestic thunderstorm, unprecedented huge clouds and massive floods sweeping the state of Shinas, Sultanate of Oman.


Comment: Update: The National reported on January 1:
Flooding in Oman, triggered by heavy rainfall that began on New Year's Eve, has killed six people and left several towns completely cut off.

Oman TV reported on Saturday that a man was found dead in his vehicle after he tried to cross a wadi in Samail province.

A vehicle is trapped by floodwater after the tropical Cyclone Shaheen in Al Khaburah city in Al Batinah on October 4, 2021
© AFPA vehicle is trapped by floodwater after the tropical Cyclone Shaheen in Al Khaburah city in Al Batinah on October 4, 2021
Another victim "was drowned in a wadi in Liwa," the report said.

The towns of Liwa, Sohar, Samail, Sur and Wahibah were cut off when the country received more than 72 millimetres of rainfall.


For many in Oman, New Year plans were a washout.

"We were planning a party on the beach on New Year's Eve. We already pitched a large tent right on the sands but rains spoiled everything last night. Not much of a New Year in Muscat this time around," Khalaf Al Saeedi, 33, a resident of Seeb, told The National.

The New Year coincided with the weekend in Oman and many people had planned to spend the day outdoors.

Shamsa Al Saleh, 23, said she had to cancel an all-girls trip with her friends.

"Roads are closed towards Wahiba Sands in Sharqiyah because of the rains. We were planning to have lunch there today," she said.

Wadi flood danger

Oman Television showed vehicles floating down streets in the raging torrents of flooded wadis, as owners desperately tried to tow them out.

Salam Al Wahaibi, 27, who was in Sur in the eastern region on Friday, said the heavy rainfall caught people by surprise.

"Many of us have been caught in areas around the wadis. We were trying to camp in one of those places, thinking the rain will not be heavy. I saw at least six cars floating in the water and owners could not do anything but shout," he said.

The Batinah region, which was devastated by Cyclone Shaheen in October, escaped with no "significant" damage to homes, Oman Television said, although trade and traffic were disrupted.

"I will not be able to open my restaurant for few more days until the water that flooded the road has been cleared," Ali Al Shamsi, a restaurant owner in the town of Liwa, told The National.

Parents expressed caution, saying that they may not send their children to school on Sunday, the first day of the week.

"I will not drive my two children to school tomorrow in case the rains get worse. I will wait and see until Monday," Fareed Al Abri, 44, who lives in Muscat, told The National.

The meteorological office said moderate to heavy rains would continue until January 5 and warned the public to avoid wadis and low-lying areas.



Snowflake Cold

Yosemite reaches snow milestone - new record of 154 inches of snowfall to date

Height of snow in Tuolumne Meadows on December 27, 2021.
Height of snow in Tuolumne Meadows on December 27, 2021.
The recent winter storms that blanketed Yosemite National Park have set a record for the snowiest December since 1980 when record-keeping started.

Just this week another 78 inches of new snow fell on Tuolumne Meadows. That equals six feet of settled snow, according to park officials. Adding that to the snow accumulation already this month, it brings the total amount to 154 inches to date. The previous most snow recorded in December was 143 inches in 1996.


Snowflake Cold

Weather whiplash in Alaska: After December's warm spell came Icemageddon

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© AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
Alaska has experienced extreme weather since Christmas, with an unusually warm weekend leading to freezing rain and snowstorms

A late December warm spell has caused chaos in Alaska, as moisture-soaked winds bombarded the US state with heavy precipitation, causing what the authorities dubbed an "Icemageddon."

Temperatures rose to record-highs in coastal parts of Alaska last week. On Kodiak Island, they spiked to 67F (19.4C) on Sunday, setting a statewide historic record for December. On Monday, they again broke the 60F(15.5C) benchmark before starting to decrease on Tuesday.

Comment: When the jet stream becomes unstable, this is one of the results.


Cloud Precipitation

Downtown L.A. breaks 85-year-old rainfall record as winter storm lingers over Southern California

Mark Carrow and his granddaughter Ella Glass stand near a flooded section of the Leo
© Genaro Molina / Los Angeles TimesMark Carrow and his granddaughter Ella Glass stand near a flooded section of the Leo Carrillo Campground due to a heavy downpour in Malibu. Carrow and his family were camping at the site when the flooding happened.
A slow-moving winter storm hovering over Los Angeles made a mess of conditions Thursday — dropping record rainfall in many spots, prompting the closure of multiple major roads and highways, spurring evacuations near wildfire burn scars and forcing water rescues, officials said.

At least 50 people had to be rescued from the Leo Carrillo Campground in Malibu after significant rainfall sent a torrent of muddy water through the area, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Geovanni Sanchez.

Apple Valley resident Keith Elvert, 37, had been camping in the area with his wife, children, parents and niece since Tuesday. When he opened the door to his trailer around 3 a.m., "there was two feet of water running outside the trailer pretty swiftly," he said.

"It was pretty scary — there were some branches and debris, and it was real muddy brown," Elvert said. "You appreciate the power of the water at that point."