Storms
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Rare dust storm shrouds Brisbane, first in 'several years'

Gail Burke
ABC News
Sat, 01 Sep 2018 01:58 UTC

The large dust storm blanketing parts of south-east Queensland on Saturday morning is an event not seen in several years, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

Forecaster Adam Woods said the dust moved in to the area late Friday on a trough, and should clear by Saturday evening.

He said it was a rare occurrence.

"It's quite extensive and I believe it's the first dust storm we've had in Brisbane for a number of years," Mr Wood said.

"It's caused by a vigorous trough that pushed through the south of the country, and that trough is now offshore but we are left with some dust in its wake.

"It's probably more typical to see these dust storm events when the conditions are very dry and there's less plant material to bind that soil together, so it is an indicator of how dry it's been out west."

Super Typhoon Jebi - the Earth's strongest storm of the year - heads for Japan

Doyle Rice
USA TODAY
Fri, 31 Aug 2018 21:41 UTC

Super Typhoon Jebi - at 170 mph, the Earth's strongest storm of 2018 - continues to roar in the western Pacific Ocean.

Though forecast to weaken over the next few days, it's still expected to make a direct hit on Japan early next week as a dangerous storm.

According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, as Jebi approaches Japan on Monday, the typhoon should have winds of 120 mph, gusting to nearly 150 mph. This would be equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane.

Rainfall flooding, high winds, battering waves and coastal flooding are all expected as Jebi pushes ashore Tuesday into Wednesday, the Weather Channel predicts.

AccuWeather meteorologist Adam Douty said that "damaging winds and coastal flooding may be the most significant impacts with this storm."

Japan has already been hit hard by other tropical systems, historic flooding and a deadly heat wave this year, AccuWeather said.

Dam breach in Bago region of Myanmar forces 50,000 to evacuate

Robert Davies
FloodList
Wed, 29 Aug 2018 12:05 UTC

Rescues and evacuations in Bago Region after a dam breach, August 2018.

Monsoon rains have caused a dam in Myanmar to overflow, inundating the nearby township of Swar and surrounding villages in Bago region.

At least 50,000 people are thought to have evacuated their homes after the Swar irrigation dam was breached during the early hours of 29 August, 2018, according to Reuters.

Images on social media show teams from fire services and military helping to evacuate people from flooded areas. Myanmar Fire Service said they were using boats to carry out search and rescue operations. Some unconfirmed reports suggested that there have been some fatalities.

The dam break also caused flooding on the Yangon - Mandalay highway after a bridge was severely damaged.

Lightning strikes kill 11 in western Rwanda

Journal du Cameroun
Wed, 29 Aug 2018 10:46 UTC

Lightning in western Rwanda has killed four people amidst heavy rains that lashed the region late on Tuesday, officials said Wednesday."Heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning killed 11 persons in two districts of Rutsiro" the Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs Agency said.

It said that the deaths were caused after the victims were hit by lightning.

Rwanda's meteorological department has predicted that the East African nation is likely to experience thunderstorm with squally winds in the next few days especially in the north and west.

UK food prices set to rise "at least" 5% due to extreme weather

BBC News
Mon, 27 Aug 2018 07:10 UTC

Meat, vegetable and dairy prices are set to rise "at least" 5% in the coming months because of the UK's extreme weather this year, research suggests.

Consultancy CEBR said 2018's big freeze and heatwave would end up costing consumers about £7 extra per month.

It follows price warnings from farmers' representatives about peas, lettuces and potatoes.

Wholesale prices of other vegetables have already soared by up to 80% since the start of the year.

But the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) explained that these increases can take up to 18 months to fully have an effect on shoppers.

"So, while the worst of the recent heat may have passed, the cost to consumers looks set to climb," it warned.

The UK saw record temperatures in June, July and August which caused widespread drought and crop failures.

Comment: "Perfect storm": UK farming crisis as areas suffer worst drought for 225 years

This, along with a "wet, cold and challenging" winter, particularly the cold spell caused by the Beast from the East, has put stress on farming costs and yields, CEBR said.

Comment: Thousands of sheep are left dead by the Beast from the East across Cumbria, UK

Comment: Farmers around the world are facing an endless torrent of extreme weather, from brutal cold and record breaking rainfall that delay planting, devastating drought that lead to lower yield, or destructive hail and early frost that completely decimate the crop:

As more crops fail the likelihood of food price rises invariably increases. It is always best to be prepared. See also:

And do have a listen to the SOTT Talk Radio show that was devoted to this subject:

Surviving the End of the World (as we Know it)

Red rainstorm warning issued for Hong Kong after thundery showers and strong winds cause ferry disaster and waterspout

Karen Zhang
South China Morning Post
Wed, 29 Aug 2018 15:00 UTC

The Hong Kong Observatory issued a red rainstorm signal at 6.40pm, warning that heavy rain had fallen and was expected to continue, which could cause serious flooding and traffic congestion.

It came after a day of gloomy weather, with strong winds and high waves leading to a ferry sinking and causing a waterspout near the Ting Kau Bridge.

Localised flooding was reported in parts of Yuen Long and Tai Po leaving some people stranded at work or at home.

"Heavy rain will bring flash floods...people should stay away from watercourses. Residents living in close proximity to rivers should stay alert to weather conditions," the Observatory said.

Huge waterspout filmed off the Cyclades Islands, Greece

Yahoo! News
Tue, 28 Aug 2018 14:39 UTC

The last thing Canadian dancer Kevin Myrlea expected to see over coffee Tuesday morning, August 28, was a giant waterspout.

But that's exactly what happened near the boat where he was spending his holidays in Greece's Cyclades Islands.

"This guy popped out of the clouds to say hello while I was having my morning coffee," he said.

Credit: kevinmylrea22 via Storyful

Comment: Two 2 days earlier another waterspout was filmed in the same country off the Peloponnese peninsula:

Rare waterspout filmed over Lake Zurich, Stitzerland

Seana Davis
EuroNews
Tue, 28 Aug 2018 14:25 UTC

Onlookers caught a glimpse of a waterspout on Lake Zurich, Switzerland.

Although the weather on the lake remained at 23°C, air temperature measured only 9°C, which led to the creation of the vortex over the water.

Waterspouts differ from their on-land counterparts, tornados, by commonly being much weaker in strength.

However, the natural phenomenon can cause damage if it passes by docked boats.

Severe hailstorm wreaks havoc on crops in Comstock, Minnesota

Tyler Ziegler
AG Week
Wed, 29 Aug 2018 13:30 UTC

Hail damaged crops near Comstock, Minn., Sunday night.

Sunday night, August 26, Mother Nature was moody.

"I could just hear all of the sudden the hail was coming and then it sounded like gunshots, and all of the sudden you got, ping, ping, and I knew that was glass breaking and in just a matter of second the bedroom was full of hail," said Comstock resident, Ron Bjorland.

Ron Bjorland, owns a hobby farm smack dab in the middle of one of the hardest hit areas.

He says his home is far from the only thing in town damaged.

100,000 lightning strikes recorded across France in 12 hours

Laura Mowat
Daily Express
Wed, 29 Aug 2018 11:09 UTC

Meteo France has issued weather alerts in light of the storm

France has been hit by a brutal thunderstorm with more than 100,000 lightning strikes recorded over a 12-hour period.

Storm warnings have been issued for nine regions in the south west of France, including the Dordogne, with national weather agency Meteo France advising people to stay at home and ensure their shutters are down.

BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood said an incredible 100,000 lightning strikes had been recorded in France over 12 hours.

She said on Twitter: "The system bringing rain into S and E England has produced 100,000 lightning strikes in the last 12 hours across France.

"40,000 of those in N France. Low risk of lightning across our shores from this."