Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Typhoon 04w (Maysak), located approximately 246 nm east of Manila, Philippines, is tracking west-northwestward at 14 knots.

The Philippine weather bureau on Saturday downgraded Typhoon Maysak into a storm as thousands of people were told to leave the country's northeastern coastline where it was headed from the Pacific after killing four people and destroying hundreds of homes in Micronesia.

The weather bureau said winds and rains will start lashing the eastern seaboard of the main island of Luzon late Saturday before the storm makes landfall early Sunday.

Tropical depression 05w (Five), located approximately 85 nm north of Chuuk, is tracking westward at 07 knots.

NewsBytes:

India region - Massive hailstorm and strong wind have affected Mizoram-Tripura-Bangladesh border region. Heavy rains coupled with strong winds have affected power supplies and surface transport in Mizoram and Tripura since Thursday, triggering landslides. At least 10 people have been injured.

Oklahoma, USA - At least one tornado was confirmed three miles southeast of Quapaw, Oklahoma.

Kentucky, USA - Floods swamp Louisville after heavy rains ands hurricane-like winds. At least two people have been reported to have died in the floods.

Cyclone Creates New Coral Sea Islands

A string of six brand-new islands emerged in the Coral Sea after Cyclone Nathan churned its tropical waters for nearly two weeks in March.

Located about 125 miles offshore from the Queensland resort of Cairns, the islands were forged out of the fury of Nathan in an area known as Holmes Reef.

The coral cays were discovered by a group of visitors to the pristine marine reserve three days after the cyclone passed.

“There’s definitely more islands there. The cyclone would have driven a massive northwest swell that lifted the sand and coral rubble up above the surface,” boat captain Trevor Jackson told The Guardian’s James Woodford.

Two of the six new islands whipped up by Cyclone Nathan during its two-week churning of the Coral Sea in March.