Storms
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Snowflake Cold

Christmas storm forecast to dump heavy snow, blizzards in U.S. West, Plains

Doug Stanglin
USA Today
Sat, 24 Dec 2016 19:55 UTC
A woman stands in high snow in Tieton Dam, Wash. on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016.
© @ciaraschultz / instagramA woman stands in high snow in Tieton Dam, Wash. on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016.
A major holiday winter storm packing heavy snow and the threat of blizzard conditions is bearing down on the northern-tier states from the Rockies to the upper Midwest and is likely to shut down major highways in parts of the northern Plains as it rolls eastward Christmas Day and Monday.

The stretch of northern states can expect blowing snow and drifts from strong winds, possibly in excess of 60 mph, making travel hazardous, the National Weather Service warns.

In addition, snow and a wintry mix is possible from the Great Lakes to the Northeast, with rain and a few thunderstorms likely from the lower/mid-Mississippi Valley to the Mid-Atlantic on Saturday, the weather service says.

map storm
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Windsock

Giant dust cloud hits Western Australia as cyclone Yvette looms


BBC
Thu, 22 Dec 2016 07:49 UTC
Australia dust cloud
© Dan CareyA storm creates a wall of dust above Port Hedland in Western Australia
A giant dust cloud has hit Western Australia ahead of the nation's first cyclone of the season.

Cyclone Yvette is expected to make landfall in Australia's northwest over the Christmas weekend.

Meteorologists have issued a severe weather warning, predicting wind gusts of 160km/h (100mph), heavy rain and possible flash flooding.

The cyclone has been preceded by a dust storm in the region, a major mining centre.

Refrigeration mechanic Dan Carey said clouds the colour of "iron ore" rolled over his town of Port Hedland.

"It feels like the calm before the storm at the moment," he told the BBC.

"I've tidied up and got everything under cover."


Comment: Four separate Christmas cyclones bear down on Australia

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Windsock

Four separate Christmas cyclones bear down on Australia

Leith Huffadine
Daily Mail (UK)
Mon, 19 Dec 2016 23:34 UTC
storms off Australia
© BOMA satellite image shows storms developing off the northern coasts of Australia near WA, NT and QLD
Potential cyclones are brewing off Australia's northern coasts in the lead-up to Christmas.

The Bureau of Meteorology has bumped up the risk of a cyclone in the Northern Territory region from low to moderate.

Meanwhile, two tropical cyclones may develop in waters off northern Western Australia on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Bureau says.

And further developing systems could bring rough weather to Queensland's Gulf of Carpentaria and Coral Sea areas during the festive season, according to the Courier Mail.

It comes as forecasts predict a scorcher for major cities around the country on Christmas day.

Of the state capitals, Hobart is predicted to be the coolest on 25 degrees while Adelaide's predicted be the hottest at 37 degrees.
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Cloud Precipitation

Deadly flooding after days of torrential rain in Valencia and Murcia, Spain

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Tue, 20 Dec 2016 15:17 UTC
Los Alcazares floods, Spain, December 2016.
© Direccion General Seguridad Ciudadana y EmergenciasLos Alcazares floods, Spain, December 2016.
Five people have drowned as torrential rain that began on 17 December caused flooding in south east Spain. Some areas have recorded more than 400 mm of rain in the last few days.

The worst hit areas are Valencia and Murcia where Schools have been closed and many roads blocked. The heavy rain is expected to move to Catalonia and the Balearic Islands over the next days and Orange level warnings have been issued.

This is the fourth deadly flood event to hit Spain since mid October this year.



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Cloud Lightning

Lightning strikes again in Malawi: 38 year old man killed

Golden Kang'oma jnr
Nyasa Times
Tue, 20 Dec 2016 12:47 UTC
Lightning
A 38 year old Yusuf Whitmore of Saiti Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Kuluunda in Salima was struck to death by lightning Sunday afternoon.

The Salima police public relations officer (PRO) Sub-inspector Gift Chitowe confirmed the incident Monday saying Whitmore died on December 2016 as he was fleeing from the heavy rains.

He said the deceased went to his garden to cultivate and whilst there rainfall started hence he decided to return to his house when he met his fate.

"After being struck, he first became unconscious and was rushed to Salima district hospital where he was pronounced dead," the PRO said.
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Cloud Lightning

Lightning bolt kills couple in Malawi

Bright Malenga
Malawi24
Mon, 19 Dec 2016 16:48 UTC
lightning
A couple has died after being struck by lightning in Mangochi district.

Mangochi Police Deputy Public Relations Officer Amina Daudi has identified the two as Yusuf Mbalako, 66, and his wife Annie Akibu, 56, both from Chilinda village, Traditional Authority Makanjira in Mangochi.

Daudi told Malawi24 that the two went to their garden which is few meters away from their house and whilst there rainfall started.

They decided to return home but suddenly a lightning struck them on the way and were pronounced dead at Makanjira Health Centre.
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Cloud Lightning

Lightning bolt kills 2 children and injures 3 others in central Tanzania


Global Times
Mon, 19 Dec 2016 14:09 UTC
lightning
Lightning killed at least two children from the same family and injured three others in Tanzania's central region of Dodoma, authorities said on Sunday.

Oreiness John, a Mlinduzi ward councilor in Mpwapwa District, said the incident occurred on Saturday evening in Chaludewa village when the two children were playing near their home.

He said while the youngsters were playing, a storm, which was accompanied with lightning, hit the village located 150km from Tanzania's capital Dodoma.

"There was no rain, but the storm was very strong to the extent that parents who were inside the house were forced to come out. When they came out they found the two children already dead," the local official said, adding that the injured were rushed to Chipogolo Health Centre for treatment.
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Cloud Precipitation

24,000 people displaced due to flash flood in Eastern Samar, Philippines


Global Times
Sun, 18 Dec 2016 14:49 UTC
A man uses his paddle boat to get around the flood waters in Taft, Eastern Samar.
© Robert DejonA man uses his paddle boat to get around the flood waters in Taft, Eastern Samar.
Nearly 24,000 people were displaced in central Philippine province of Eastern Samar due to flash flood brought by torrential rains, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Sunday.

In a statement, the department said that as of Saturday evening, 6,650 families or 29,166 persons from 33 villages were affected by the weather disturbance.

Of the total affected population, 5,580 families or 23,816 individuals were displaced and served in 14 evacuation centers.

People force themselves to walk on the highway in Eastern Samar after floods rendered the roads impassable.
© Robert Dejon People force themselves to walk on the highway in Eastern Samar after floods rendered the roads impassable.
The department noted that on Friday, Eastern Visayas experienced moderate to torrential rains due to the effect of the tail-end of a cold front.
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Cloud Lightning

Lightning strike kills one in Malawi; third such death in the country within a week

Takondwa Velemu
Nyasa Times
Sat, 17 Dec 2016 20:07 UTC
lightning
A lightning strike has killed a man in Machinga district .

Police confirmed that Erick Idrissa aged 26 of Kambona Village, Traditional Authority Bwananyambi, Mangochi died suddenly after he was hit by lightning on Friday afternoon.

The deceased went to play football at Namasika Primary School Ground but soon after the match, heavy rains started accompanied by lightning.

He was hit by the lightning while rushing to seek shelter.

Postmortem results from Nainunje Health Centre revealed that the death was due to shock lightning.
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Snowflake

Rare snow storm drops 13 inches in Oregon, brings Portland to a complete standstill


Daily Mail (UK)
Thu, 15 Dec 2016 02:20 UTC
Portland snowstorm
© twitter/@oregondot

Jammed traffic pictured during the snow storm in Portland on Wednesday
A rare snow storm brought Oregon's largest city to a halt, with thousands of vehicles barely able to move on Portland streets and on one of its main highways.

Commuters began leaving work early on Wednesday, hoping to beat the storm.

But they quickly found themselves on streets that were clogged with traffic that was inching along on snow-slick streets.

Cars fish-tailed, spun out, and collided. Motorists, some with their kids in their cars, who had made scant progress tried to keep their patience.

After more than three hours of waiting, some abandoned their vehicles and started walking.

Others hoped they wouldn't run out of gas.

Kimberly Wrolstad had been stuck on Interstate 5 heading to Tigard for about 90 minutes on Wednesday afternoon.

'It's frustrating,' she said. 'I don't know what's going on. I don't know if there are accidents. I know some of the trucks are having difficulties.'

Some drivers in Portland took to twitter to voice their frustrations about the clogged traffic.

'I've been stuck in snow traffic for over an hour & maps says it's going to take 2 more hours to get home,' Twitter user Cortney wrote on Wednesday amid the snow storm.
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