Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Western Pacific Ocean: Tropical depression 01w (Bolaven), located approximately 268 nm east-northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is tracking northwestward at 09 knots.

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone (tc) 03s (Ava), located approximately 243 nm northwest of St Denis, is tracking southwestward at 06 knots.

Newsbytes:

Europe - Winter storm Eleanor swept across Europe on Wednesday, bringing death, damage and disruption, snarling transport networks and cutting power to tens of thousands of people. Two people died on Spain's northern Basque coast, the couple swept away by a huge wave. More than a dozen others were injured by the storm across France, four seriously as the country was lashed by what meteorologists termed the strongest winds in eight years. On the French Mediterranean island of Corsica, where gusts of up to 140km/h were recorded, winds fanned the flames of forest and scrub fires started by downed power lines, leaving three people injured. At Lenk in central Switzerland, eight people were hurt when a violent gust of wind overturned a railway carriage while one person was injured by a falling tree in the southern Dutch village of Heesch. Heavy winds forced authorities to close the airports in Strasbourg and Basel-Mulhouse on France's border with Germany and Switzerland before they were re-opened shortly after midday. About 225 000 homes across France were without electricity, while "particularly intense" flooding was expected on the Atlantic coasts.

Ireland - Galway City has been left with a massive clean-up operation today after “unprecedented” and unexpected levels of water flooded the streets at rush hour yesterday. Homes and businesses across Galway have been submerged under flood waters, while roads have been blocked and power is out as a result of fallen debris in many parts of the west.