Storms
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Cloud Lightning

Lightning strikes have killed 62 people in Bangladesh so far in 2017

Syed Samiul Basher Anik
Dhaka Tribune
Thu, 18 May 2017 11:58 UTC
infograph

Bangladesh has seen an alarming rise in deaths caused by lightning strikes in recent years, yet the government has failed to devise an effective plan to help reduce the risk.

The government declared lightning a major disaster after 217 people were killed by strikes in 2016 alone. So far this year, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief says 62 people have reportedly died, bringing to 1,174 the number of people killed by lightning since 2011.

Experts believe a lack of preventive measures is a major reason for the high death rate.

"People in urban areas are vulnerable to lightning as most buildings do not have a lightning prevention system, even though it is mandatory under Bangladesh National Building Code," said Gawher Nayeem Wahra, director of Brac's Disaster Management and Climate Change programme.
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Cloud Lightning

2 buffaloes killed by lightning bolt in Rajouri, India


Daily Excelsior
Wed, 17 May 2017 11:51 UTC
Lightning
Two buffaloes were killed due to lightning incident in Darhal area of district Rajouri this evening.

A police spokesman said that it was raining with thunder storm and lightning in the area in the afternoon today.

A strong beam of flash light from the sky hit the two cattle of one Abdul Rashid, son of Abdul Aziz at village Thanna Maang at 5.45 pm today, killing the both on the spot.
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Tornado2

Rare waterspout captured in Okinawa, Japan (VIDEO)

WestPacWx
YouTube
Wed, 17 May 2017 05:41 UTC
waterspout in Okinawa, Japan
© YouTube/WestPacWx (screen capture)
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Bizarro Earth

6 out-of-season weather events observed this spring

Linda Lam
The Weather Channel
Wed, 10 May 2017 14:45 UTC
flooding in Pocahontas
© Caitlin Sullinger The photo above shows an aerial view of the flooding in Pocahontas, Arkansas, on May 2, 2017.
Spring 2017 has produced interesting out-of-season weather conditions and in some cases new records have been set.

Below we take a look at several of these recent unusual occurrences.

1) Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season Off to Record Early Start

Tropical Storm Adrian formed May 9, setting a new record for earliest tropical cyclone formation in the northeast Pacific in the satellite era. The previous record was held by Hurricane Alma in 1990, which developed May 12 and became a named storm May 14.

Satellite image of Tropical Storm Adrian
© The Weather ChannelSatellite image of Tropical Storm Adrian on May 10, 2017.
Adrian formed off the coast of southern Mexico and impacts will depend on its track, which is uncertain given that Adrian is expected to be in an area of weak steering currents by this weekend.

Heavy rain, however is likely in portions of southern Mexico and the mountains of Guatemala, which could lead to flash flooding and mudslides. If Adrian stalls off the coast, then rain may persist in the region over several days, increasing the risk of flooding.

Comment: For more coverage on the extreme weather affecting the entire planet, check out our monthly SOTT Earth Changes Summaries. Last month:

SOTT Earth Changes Summary - April 2017: Extreme Weather, Planetary Upheaval, Meteor Fireballs

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Tornado2

2 dead after tornadoes strike Oklahoma, Wisconsin


New York Daily News
Wed, 17 May 2017 04:53 UTC
tornado damage in Chetek, Wisconsin
© Dan Reiland/The Eau Claire Leader-Telegram via APFirefighters work the site of the damage after a tornado ripped through Prairie Lake Estates trailer home park, just north of Chetek, Wis., Tuesday, May 16, 2017.
At least two people were killed as a devastating storm system stretching from Texas to the Canadian border whipped up tornadoes, heavy rain and hail.

A tornado flattened several homes in a subdivision south of Elk City, Okla., about 7:15 p.m., about 110 miles west of A sofa sits on damaged trees after a tornado ripped through Prairie

One person was found dead in the storm's aftermath, fire officials said.

"A lot of tornado damage" was reported in the subdivision and surrounding rural area.

Strong winds brought down utility poles and lines, said Beckham County Emergency Management Director Lonnie Risenhoover. He added that cattle had been killed.

It's unclear how many people were injured during the storm.

Another tornado struck a rural area in western Oklahoma, leaving damage in its wake but no immediate reports of injuries.

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Cloud Precipitation

Hailstorm damages crops of at least 900 farmers in Bulandshahr, India


The Times of India
Mon, 15 May 2017 19:13 UTC
A farmer looks at the damage caused to wheat crops after a hailstorm
A farmer looks at the damage caused to wheat crops after a hailstorm
Hailstorm, which hit parts of west UP on Friday evening, damaged standing crops of at least 900 farmers in 13 villages of Bulandshahr.

Crops in 239 hectares have been destroyed, district administration said. The district officials sent an elaborate report of the loss to the state government on Monday.

"Most of the loss is concentrated to Anupshaher block of Bulandshahr, where after the harvest of wheat crop in April, maize was sown. Hailstorm damaged crops in around 18 villages.

In five villages-- Ahmadnagar, Biroli, Putha, Jasar and Jasora-- the percentage of crop damaged was less than 33 per cent. But in the remaining 13 villages, it was either 33 per cent or more than that," said Himanshu Gupta, sub divisional magistrate (SDM) of Anupshaher.
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Cloud Lightning

Lightning bolt kills 10 goats in Tamil Nadu, India


The Hindu
Tue, 16 May 2017 11:39 UTC
Lightning
Ten goats were killed when lightning struck them at Pennagaram near here on Sunday evening.

The goats were tied to a palm tree by farmer Siddhayan, after they had grazed for the day, when lightning struck the tree.
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Cloud Lightning

Busy street is hit by lightning before sparks come down like pouring rain in Shenyang, China

Julian Luk
Daily Mail
Mon, 15 May 2017 20:20 UTC
A flash of white bright light appeared over Heping Road as the lightning struck on Thursday
A flash of white bright light appeared over Heping Road as the lightning struck on Thursday
A dashcam footage has captured the terrifying moment a flash of lightning struck a busy road in China.

The footage was filmed on May 11 during the rush hours in Liaoning province, Chinese media reported.

Bright sparks were seen pouring down onto the road full of vehicles.

The 23-second clip, posted to Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo, had attracted 37 million views in the past few days.

It was believed to be filmed by the dash cam on a vehicle travelling on Heping Road, Shenyang, at around 5pm on Thursday.

The beginning of the clip shows the car driving down the road during a thunderstorm.

Suddenly a flash of white bright light appeared over the busy street.

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Tornado2

15ft high dust devil filmed in Oswestry, UK

Liz Dunphy
Daily Mail
Mon, 15 May 2017 18:31 UTC
The giant dust devil first gathered into clouds of dust before it concentrated into a compact spiral of whirling dust and wind. The phenomenon is usually found in arid environments
The giant dust devil first gathered into clouds of dust before it concentrated into a compact spiral of whirling dust and wind. The phenomenon is usually found in arid environments
This is the incredible moment a huge dust devil, more commonly seen in deserts, was caught on camera swirling around an industrial park - in SHROPSHIRE.

Managing director Stuart Jones was walking across his site when the piles of dust suddenly whipped up several feet into the air in front of him.

He managed to get his phone out and film the dust swirling around the yard like a mini tornado.

His one-minute video shows the 15ft high dust devil gathering pace as it moves around the site before it eventually fizzles out.

The phenomenon, which is known as a dust devil, is more common in desert or arid landscapes.

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Cloud Precipitation

On this day in 1697 the worst British hailstorm on record wreaked havoc

JP Asher and Layth Yousif
The Comet
Mon, 15 May 2017 15:55 UTC
Hailstones bouncing off the pavement
Hailstones bouncing off the pavement
The outbreak of extreme weather today in 1697 saw a young man 'keeping sheep' unfortunately lose his life after his eye was ripped from its socket by the killer ice - as hailstones bigger than fists fell from the heavens and smashed houses, glass and even oak trees.

The murderous ice piled up to 5ft high in Hitchin after the fatal storm began at 9am, wreaking its deadly havoc until 2pm.

And according to the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation, in its 2016 book Extreme Weather, there has been no more serious hailstorm in Britain in the last 350 years.

Sir Hans Sloane, the then-secretary of the Royal Society, received word of the storm from Hitchin apothecary Robert Taylor, who told of 'a sharp storm of hailstones, seven and eight inches about'.
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