Storms and Floods

Snow and Floods Batter Venice

Rain, snow and 40mph gusts have pummeled Venice in the runup to Valentine's Day. The Italian city, a popular destination for lovestruck couples, has also been hit by the 15th highest tide, or Acqua Alta, in its history.

Tugela Floods Sweep Away Homes And Families - South Africa

Two bodies have been recovered and at least four people are still missing after the Tugela River and its tributaries burst their banks, flooding homes after heavy rain in the Msinga area of northern KwaZulu-Natal this week.

Storms and Floods

Flooding in North Queensland, Australia

-Heavy rainfall caused flooding in north Queensland, mainly in Ingham, Halifax and Tully and parts of Townsville.

-Ex-cyclone Oswald also caused heavy rainfall on the Central Queensland coast and Capricornia region. In Rockhampton many streets in the city are now under water, and "very destructive winds" are also being felt.

-Water levels in southeast Queensland dams will be reduced to protect urban areas from any flooding associated with ex-tropical cyclone Oswald.

-The Bruce Highway, a major highway in Queensland has been cut in several places.

-A rail link between Cairns and Townsville has been closed by Queensland Rail due to flash flood.

-Gale warning is issued for Bowen to Burnett Heads.

-Rainfall between 100 mm to 300 mm is predicted in the southeast over the next four days.

Landslide in Skardu, Pakistan

-Landslide blocked Baltoro river flow in Skardu, the main town of the region Baltistan of Pakistan.

-A 300 x 800 mountain landslide has changed the course of water. River water has also flooded adjacent areas in Skardu.

Landslide has destroyed about 80m of road in Matang, Malaysia.

Nearly 50 flood warnings have been issued across Britain. A combination of heavy downpour and a rapid thaw of snow and ice cold may cause problem.

Venice, Italy Floods Again

Tourists arriving for Venice Carnival are wading through water in St Mark's square on Thursday after unusually high levels cause flooding. Water is spilling over canal walls in the city in the run up to festivities, for which hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come.

Storms and Floods

Seventy per cent of central Venice was under water yesterday after rainfall and seas whipped up by strong winds brought the Italian city's high tide mark to its sixth-highest level since records began in 1872. Floods also occurred throughout Tuscany.

 

Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in Epworth on the Burin Peninsula, Canada. A bridge and the main road were washed away.

Two weak tornadoes touched down in Minnesota, USA, late Saturday. It is extremely rare for tornadoes to develop in Minnesota in November.

Storms and Floods

The US death toll from Sandy stands at 98 as swathes of the East Coast battle to recover, three days after being battered by the massive storm. The death toll from Sandy is continuing to rise, as swathes of the US East Coast battle to recover from the massive storm that hit three days ago. At least 38 people are now known to have died in New York City alone, and others are missing. About 4.5 million people in 12 states are still without power, and chronic fuel shortages persist. The National Guard is to deliver a million meals and bottled water to New Yorkers affected by the storm.

High tides have again flooded Venice, Italy, leading Venetians and tourists to don high boots and use wooden walkways to cross St. Mark's Square and other areas under water.

Torrential rains from Tropical Cyclone Nilam have left vast stretches of croplands in Chittoor, Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur and East Godavari districts, Southern India under water and claimed the lives of six people.

Environment

Venice, Italy sees its first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012. The 'acqua alta' is a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco. Tourists walk with plastic bags to protect their shoes on a flooded St Mark's square. Venice is particularly vulnerable to rising ocean levels due to climate change.

 

 

September's average temperature was 60.2 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 degrees Celsius) worldwide, which is 1.2 degrees above normal. This year matched the hottest September on record which was 2005, with the heat most intense in South America, Japan, Russia, Canada and the Atlantic Ocean. It was the third time since 2000 that the world set or tied a heat record for September. In addition to 2012 and 2005, previous hot September records were set in 2003. These records go back to 1880.

Storms

Small tropical storm Guchol forms in the Pacific far from land.

Waterspout (tornado over water) sweeps over several islands off Venice, Italy. At least 12 houses had their roofs ripped off, but no reports of casualties.

 

Earthquakes

6.1 Earthquake hits northern Italy near Bologna. At least 6 people die in collapsing buildings with dozens injured. Numerous ancient building collapsed. The earthquake was felt as far away as Venice and Milan. 23 aftershocks have hit the area, the largest being 5.2 magnitude.

6.0 Earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

5.6 Earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

5.3 Earthquake hits the Marianas islands region.

5.2 Earthquake hits east of the Kuril Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits north of Halmahera, indonesia.