Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Hurricane Pali is located about 1640 mi...2635 km SW of Honolulu Hawaii and about 1015 mi...1635 km SSW of Johnston Island with maximum sustained winds...45 mph...75 km/h. Present movement...SSW or 205 degrees at 7 mph...11 km/h.

Subtropical Storm Alex is located about 560 mi...905 km SSW of the Azores with maximum sustained winds...70 mph...110 km/h. Present movement...NNE or 20 degrees at 18 mph...30 km/h.

Alex is just the fourth Atlantic named storm to form in January since record keeping began in 1851.

NewsBytes:

France - The avalanche on Wednesday claimed the lives of two teenage pupils and a Ukrainian man in the French Alps. 17 other school children were saved after a mammoth rescue effort.

Australia - A severe storm in Sydney has claimed the life of at least one person and injured another on Thursday afternoon. The fierce winds, rain and hail struck Sydney causing delays and diversions at Sydney Airport.

Mozambique - Flooding triggered by heavy rainfall has claimed the lives of at least three people in Pemba in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. In Natite, several buildings are underwater due to flash floods.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.7 Earthquake hits Barbados in the Windward Islands.

5.4 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.

5.3 Earthquake hits offshore Coquimbo, Chile.

5.3 Earthquake hits near the coast of central Peru.

5.2 Earthquake hits the Mozambique Channel.

5.0 Earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Pagan region in the North Mariana Islands.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Cyclone Rusty

TC Rusty has intensified to a Category 1 storm, it has an eye spanning 20 nautical miles, and is expected to unleash a significant storm surge in northern Western Australia. Authorities are warning residents in low lying areas to evacuate with a threat of flooding, high winds and a coastal tide.

Floods - New South Wales, Australia

The Pacific Highway remains cut between Kempsey and Clybucca, and again near Grafton, as floodwaters take time to subside on the New South Wales north and mid-north coast.

Across the state more that 22,000 people remain cut off by floodwaters, 10,000 of those are in the Macleay Shire

While the towns in this region have mostly been spared, large swathes or agricultural land is under water and herds of livestock are crowded on to small islands.

Eight river systems along the coast are in flood but all are steady or falling.

In the 1950s, major flooding in the region saw many farmers walk off their properties and never return. Authorities hope the same thing will not happen to this generation of farmers.

New Flooding in Mozambique

Flooding in Mozambique has now displaced more than 238,000 people.

Zambezi and Limpopo rivers have burst their banks and caused more flooding.

More than 186,000 people are currently living in evacuation centres.

Heavy Hail in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Quarter-size hailstones have been reported in New Orleans, Louisiana. No reports of significant damage.

Storms and Floods

Hailstorm in Andhra Pradesh, India

Hailstorm killed at least 9 people in Chevella, Moinabad and Shankarpally area of India. Hailstorm also damaged several houses and crops across Andhra Pradesh.

Tropical Cyclone Felleng

As of 12:00 UTC, TC Felleng was located 300 nm west-northwest of La Reunion.

Australia - Queensland Flood Aftermath

Shock is turning to anger across Queensland's flood-ravaged communities as authorities struggle to meet the needs of tens of thousands disaster victims. Heated scenes unfolded in devastated Bundaberg after police overruled a council plan to let residents back into the city's north to see what's left of their homes. Residents reacted furiously despite being told it was for their own safety.

Water police have been tasked with guarding the Burnett River in case locals attempt to cross over by boat. Police were stationed at the council chambers after residents were told they would remain locked out of the disaster zone. Police said there was simply no choice, with safety inspections still not complete. But it's hoped residents may start returning from 6am (AEST) Saturday.

"It's a scene of utter devastation. Houses are not there anymore. There's roads that are not there anymore." Dead cats and dogs litter the streets, houses have been washed from their foundations and one home is missing entirely with no clue to its final resting place. The devastation caused by ex-tropical cyclone Oswald continues to grow.

At Biggenden, between Gayndah and Bundaberg, floodwaters have spread years of rubbish build-up from a local dump across 1000 hectares of grazing land. "It's an environmental disaster."

The army finally arrived in the town of Munduberra, west of Gayndah, on Friday morning - four days after flood levels there peaked, flooding 100 homes and businesses in the town and the same number in outlying areas.

In North Burnett, many homes had been flooded to their roofs, and a couple of houses had been split in half and partly washed away by the force of the water. Local people, many of whom were elderly, were worn out after having been hit by floods only two years ago. They'd quietly hoped for immediate help, but it didn't come.

The damage bill from the disaster is certain to climb into the billions, with infrastructure smashed, farms ruined, and so many homes and businesses across the state damaged or destroyed. An early estimate of farming losses alone has been put at $100 million. The Queensland Farmers' Federation says everyone from pig and dairy farmers to sugarcane and citrus growers urgently need access to the highest levels of disaster assistance.

Still in Australia - Damaging Storms hit Sydney.

Severe thunderstorms have rolled across parts of Sydney, cutting power and disrupting train services, while hailstones have pummelled the Blue Mountains.

Mozambique floods: Death toll rises to 55

The U.N. reports that heavy rains in northern and central Mozambique on Thursday have displaced 19,000 more people, raising the total number of displaced by floods the past two weeks to nearly 170,000.

Storms and Floods

Mine mudslides in Pueblo Nuevo, Ecuador

-At least 12 killed and 20 others injured in Ecuador mudslides. Heavy rain in a gold-mining community in southern Ecuador caused mudslide.

-Mudslide happened after six hours of torrential downpours.

-Mudslides have destroyed houses and blocked roads in Pueblo Nuevo. Natural disaster area can only be reached by helicopter.

-Around 200 soldiers and policemen are working in rescue operations.

A heavy hailstorm has hit parts of southern Asir province, Saudi Arabia.

Tornadoes in central Queensland, Australia

-At least five tornadoes hit Queensland coastal towns, injuring 17 people.

-Burnett Heads and nearby Bargara have been declared as natural disaster areas.

-Tornadoes in Bundaberg district destroyed around 150 homes.

-About 2 000 people have been ordered to evacuate in Gladstone.

-Flood warnings have also been issued for the Calliope, Boyne, Baffle and Kolan Rivers.

-Australian weather bureau has predicted heavy rain and destructive winds for Brisbane of up to 125km/h until Monday

Flooding across Mozambique

-At least 36 people have been reported to be killed in recent Mozambique floods.

-A total of 26 persons have died in Gaza alone.

-Floods caused by torrential rains in South Africa and Zimbabwe that swelled the Limpopo river has displaced nearly 67,995 Mozambicans.

-Floods have damaged several bridges, roads and schools in capital Maputo.

-Some days ago, Mozambique officials had evacuated 55,000 people from flood disaster zone.

-Mozambican and South African military helicopters and boats have rescued 12,000 families.

                     

Tropical Cyclone Garry

-As of 09:00 UTC, TC Garry was located 470 nm west-southwest of bora bora.

-A storm warning has been cancelled and a gale warning has been issued Cook Islands.

Landslide in Jayapura, Indonesia

-Heavy rains killed two in Lampung, Indonesia. One person died in a landslide disaster in Jayapura, Papua, 4 other injured.

Storms and Floods

Flooding in Mozambique

-Mozambique officials have started evacuating 55,000 people from flood disaster zones.

-The south and the centre of Mozambique have been placed under red alert.

-High water levels in the Limpopo and Inkomati rivers are predicted to flood the town of Chokwe.

-Emergency disaster preparedness teams are already in place and motorboats have been dispatched to the area to move people to safe ground.

-Floods in Mozambique and northern parts of South Africa have killed at least 20 people over the past week.

Tropical Cyclone Oswald

-As of 12:00 UTC, TC Oswald was located 155 nm east-northeast of Mornington Island, Australia.

-North Queensland is on flood alert as tropical cyclone Oswald dumps torrential rain on the region.

-The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has issued a blue alert and a natural disaster warning has been issued for communities between De Grey and Mardie including Port Hedland, South Hedland, Whim Creek, Roebourne, Wickham, Point Samson, Karratha and Dampier.

-A cyclone watch has also been issued for the people from Mardie to Onslow.

Tropical Cyclone Garry

-As of 12:00 UTC, TC Garry was located 85 nm northeast of Pago Pago, American Samoa.

-Storm and strong wind warnings remain in place for Samoa.

Tropical Cyclone Peta forms off Western Australia's Pilbara coast approximately 235 nm east-northeast of Learmonth, Australia.

Avalanche in Himachal Pradesh, India

-Avalanche in Sangla valley in Himachal Pradesh killed 35 yaks.

-Heavy snowfall hit Sangla Valley in Kinnaur district last week.

Storms and Floods

Flooding in Jakarta, Indonesia

-Four killed in floods in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia.

-At least 20,000 people were evacuated due to massive flooding in Jakarta.

Evacuated people are living in 14 different emergency shelters.

-Heavy downpour caused the rivers to overflow and triggered floods up to three metres (10 feet) in Jakarta.

 

Flooding in Maputo, Mozambique

-Floods in Mozambique killed four people.

-Heavy downpour collapsed nearly 400 houses.

-Following Mozambique weather service, 55mm rainfall occured within two hours in the capital Maputo.

-Floods affected nearly 14,000 across Mozambique especially those living in the Zambezi river basin

-It is regarded as the heaviest rains in over a decade in Maputo.