Storms and Floods

Arctic Cyclone

Over the next few days a large cyclone (low pressure system) will form over the Arctic Ocean, which will start to cause drastic changes in the sea ice in the area. This system strengthen winds to anywhere from 75-100 km/h over the ocean on Wednesday night into Thursday which will start to shift the ice in the area.

Last August a similar system developed in the area which destroyed 800,000 square km of ice. This system looks even stronger than last year's, and much of the ice in the area is thinner first year ice, so there could be drastic changes in the Arctic sea ice over the next week or so.

Flooding in the Koreas

Flooding in South Korea has claimed the lives of at least four people. Heavy rainfall has caused flooding and mudslides in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Gangwon Province.

Flood waters also swept away over 40 vehicles in a parking lot in the Tan Stream.

In neighbouring North Korea, floods have left 8 dead or missing. According to the Korean Central News Agency, floods in North Korea have caused huge flood damage in the central part of the country leading to five more deaths and three more people still missing. The floods have damaged more than 6,060 dwelling houses.

NewsBytes:

Mudslides in Shaanxi province in China have claimed seven lives and injured four others after heavy rainfall.

A lightning strike in Harrisonburg, USA has injured at least three people. The three people were in a tree when the lightning struck.