Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms

In the Western Pacific Ocean:

Tropical depression Kajiki is located approximately 535 nm southeast of Manila, Philippines.

The storm is packing maximum winds of 55 kph near the centre and is expected to move west at 30 kph. “Kajiki” is expected to make landfall over Surigao provinces between 11 p.m. Friday and 2 a.m. Saturday. It is expected to move towards the West Philippine Sea by Sunday evening.

Cyclone Dylan Drenches Queensland Coast

Tropical storm-force Cyclone Dylan roared onto Australia’s Queensland coast before dawn on Friday with wind gusts of nearly 90 mph.

Storm-surge flooding arrived at nearly the same time that astronomical high tides also lifted ocean levels.

The storm also dumped as much as 18.5 inches of rainfall, triggering local flash flooding inland as well.

Dylan made landfall near Hideaway Bay, between Bowen and Airline Beach, about 3.30 a.m. local time.

Residents of the coastal hamlet of Hideaway Bay awakened to find only limited damage from what Australian meteorologists referred to as a Category-2 cyclone but was internationally catagorized as only a tropical storm.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman expressed relief that the damage appeared to be so light.

A day before Dylan arrived, huge waves of up to 30 feet in height offshore tossed two boats in Bowen's fishing fleet into each other before smashing the vessels onto the coast.

Drought-stricken Queensland farmers and and ranchers inland were welcoming the remnants of the cyclone, expected to deliver desperately needed rain and ease the parched conditions gripping two thirds of of the state.

NewsBytes:

UK - More rain, high winds and high tides are set to hit the south and west of the UK, causing further flooding. The Met Office is warning of heavy rain in southern England - including the already flooded Somerset Levels - south Wales and parts of Northern Ireland. The Environment Agency, which has issued numerous flood warnings, said many coastal areas would be affected by high tides in the coming days.

Alaska - This January was Juneau's wettest month on record. The capital city received 10.15 inches of rain.

New Zealand - Bulging king tides disrupted traffic this morning and flooded a cycleway in Auckland.