Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 21s (Twenty-one), located approximately 1193 nm east of Diego Garcia, is tracking west-southwestward at 18 knots.

NewsBytes:

Java - Extreme weather incidents are marking the ongoing shift from the rainy season to the dry season in Java, as various parts of the island have been hit with heavy rain and twisters, causing floods, landslides and lots of damage. Twisters lashed several areas in Central Java’s Wonogiri regency this week, collapsing 40 houses and damaging at least 60 others. Besides damaging houses, the tornado also knocked down numerous big trees.

Kenya - Hundreds of thousands of people across Kenya, especially those settled close to Tana River in the northern part, were displaced by heavy floods in the country. According to Red Cross officials, the elderly, women and children are the most affected as their flimsy houses are either swept away or left waist-deep in water. According to a recent flood update by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the floods have displaced more than 211,000 people and reportedly killed 72 people and injured 33 across Kenya since March 2018. OCHA said the floods have disrupted livelihoods, with at least 8,450 acres of farmland submerged in water and more than 6,000 livestock killed. The floods have destroyed houses and damaged infrastructure, such as roads and health facilities, it added.

Somalia - Over 427,000 people have been affected by heavy flooding across Somalia in April. In the Baidoa town alone, about 174,000 people have been affected by flooding. Over half of their existing shelters can’t withstand heavy rains, and many have already been washed away. Many community latrines have been destroyed or filled with flood water. Forecasts predict more heavy rains in the coming week.

Palestine - Two children were found dead in the city of Hevron in Judea, south of Jerusalem on Friday. Floods ravaged much of southern Israel Wednesday and Thursday, forcing closures of roads around the Arava region and parts of the Negev. Eilat Airport was also temporarily closed to air traffic on Thursday due to flooding.