Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 17s (Herman), located approximately 447 nm west-northwest of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking south-southwestward at 05 knots.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 17s (Herman), located approximately 7559 nm northwest of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking southeastward at 06 knots.
Newsbytes:
Colombia – Heavy rain in the Cauca Department of Colombia has taken its toll over the last few days, with hundreds of families affected by flooding and landslides in the municipalities of Suarez, Caloto, La Vega, Jambaló and Santander de Quilichao. Several rivers including the Quilichao River broke their banks in Santander de Quilichao on 24 March 2023. The local government reported one fatality and more than 500 families affected.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 17s (Herman), located approximately 738 nm northwest of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking east-southeastward at 09 knots.
Newsbytes:
Kenya – At least 12 people have lost their lives and hundreds have been displaced from their homes in Kenya after storms, heavy rain and flooding affected several regions of the country over the last week. One person died, hundreds of homes were destroyed and families were displaced after heavy rain caused damage and flooding in the capital Nairobi and surrounding areas on 23 March 2023. More recently, heavy rain triggered flash flooding in Gilgil in Nakuru County on 27 March. Seven bodies have been recovered and 5 people were injured and transferred to a local hospital.
Brazil – Rising levels of the Acre River along the borders of Acre state in northwestern Brazil and Pando Department in northern Bolivia. Heavy rain and the overflowing Acre River flooded wide areas of the city of Rio Branco, the capital of the state of Acre in Brazil, on 23 March 2023. The city recorded 124.4 mm of rain in 24 hours to 23 March 2023, according to figures from Brazil’s Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INMET). The Acre River at Rio Branco jumped from around 8 metres to 15.80 metres in 24 hours. The flood level here is 14 metres.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 17s (Herman), located approximately 907 nm west-northwest of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking southeastward at 10 knots.
Newsbytes:
Ecuador – Over 60 people are feared missing after a huge landslide buried homes in the community of Alausí, Chimborazo Province, Ecuador late on 26 March 2023. As of late 27 March, the government of Ecuador confirmed 7 fatalities. More than 30 people have been rescued and 23 people hospitalised. Around 163 homes and a school have been damaged or destroyed, directly impacting the lives of around 500 people. Water and power infrastructure were also negatively impacted and a 150-metre section of road was severely damaged. Authorities ordered the evacuation of about 600 homes in the area considered to be at risk.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are currently no active tropical storm systems.
Newsbytes:
Bolivia – Flooding has affected thousands of people after the Acre River broke its banks in the northern Pando Department of Bolivia. Further south, the Pirai and Rio Grande rivers have caused flooding in parts of the Santa Cruz department. One person died in the Pirai river in Limoncito in El Torno municipality and another in the Pirai river north of the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Flooding was reported in the city after heavy rain on 23 March. Authorities in Pando Department have helped evacuate at least 150 families living close to the Acre River in the departmental capital, Cobija.
Brazil – More heavy rain caused flooding and landslides in areas of Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonas in Brazil, on 25 March 2023. The city government reported 172 families lost their homes. Manaus City Hall reported more than 135 incidents of flooding and landslides across the city as a result of the heavy rainfall on 25 March. Around 113 mm of rain fell in the east of the city in a few hours. Numerous homes were swept away by flood water. Many others were damaged or destroyed by landslides.
Mississippi, USA – A massive tornado that was nearly a mile (1.2 kilometers) long has killed at least 26 people and injured dozens more after devastating parts of western Mississippi on Friday (March 24) night. The storm is the deadliest in over 50 years in Mississippi. It hit several small towns with violent, 166 to 200 mph (267 to 322 km/h) gusts of wind, and has received a preliminary rating of EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are currently no active tropical storm systems.
Newsbytes:
South Africa – Three people have died this week after heavy flooding wreaked havoc in parts of the Eastern Cape. Meanwhile, on Thursday, floods also claimed a man’s life who slipped over an embarkment while fishing at Coffee Bay area in King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality. The heavy downpours have left a trail of destruction to infrastructure, households, and businesses. 10 bridges have been washed away, making it difficult for the community members to access schools and nearby facilities.
Somalia – At least 14 people have been killed in southern Somalia after torrential rains triggered flash floods that have caused havoc in several towns and villages. Bridges, roads and houses have been damaged or destroyed and many people have been forced to flee their homes in search of safer ground. In the town of Baardhere in Jubaland state, 14 people were killed including three members of the same family. Most of the casualties were caused after the victims were trapped across a bridge in the town Thursday evening which was swept up in the floods. The rains signal the early start of the April-June rainy season, and have brought some relief to areas of the country suffering from the worst drought in four decades.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are currently no active tropical storm systems.
Newsbytes:
USA – Dangerous and deadly flash flooding – along with severe thunderstorms and at least one tornado – hit parts of the southern and central U.S. Friday while a late-season snowstorm was forecast to blanket portions of the Great Lakes. The Pacific Northwest also saw snow. A tornado tore through a rural area of the Mississippi Delta Friday night, causing injuries, widespread damage and downing power lines as severe weather that produced hail the size of golf balls moved through several southern states.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are currently no active tropical storm systems.
Newsbytes:
Brazil – Thousands of people have evacuated their homes after flooding and landslides in several northern states of Brazil. At least 6 people have lost their lives in the state of Maranhão and 3 in in the state of Ceará. Authorities in the state of Maranhão report that multiple municipalities in the state have declared a state of emergency in response to the recent heavy rainfall. Around 800 households have been displaced. The municipalities of Marabá and Itupiranga in Pará State, Brazil, declared an emergency on 21 March 2023 due to rising levels in the Tocantins and Itacaiúnas rivers. Local authorities in Marabá said more than 400 households were displaced. The two rivers have been rising for some time in the state but reached danger levels over the last few days.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are currently no active tropical storm systems.
Newsbytes:
New Zealand – South Islanders woke to damage caused by a small tornado, floods, slips and buckets of rain on Tuesday. The West Coast, Otago and Southland bore the brunt of the damage, and warnings remain in place for Canterbury. Canterbury High Country and the Canterbury Plains have been issued heavy rain and strong wind watches, and the Banks Peninsula area are under a strong wind warning until 11pm Tuesday. The storm lifted roofs, damaged cars knocked out power to several thousand homes.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are currently no active tropical storm systems.
Newsbytes:
Brazil – At least 5 municipalities in Ceará State in northeastern Brazil have declared a state of emergency after days of heavy rain triggered flooding and landslides. Dozens of people have been displaced and at least 3 fatalities reported. Three people from the same family died after heavy rain triggered a landslide which destroyed their home in Aratuba on 16 March 2023. A further 15 homes were damaged or deemed unsafe by authorities, forcing around 50 people to evacuate. Elsewhere in the state, over 30 families were pre-emptively evacuated from homes in neighbourhoods of Itapipoca City on 17 March due to flood and landslide threats.
California, USA – Swaths of California still saturated by ruthless storms will get walloped by another atmospheric river, spawning fears of renewed flooding and forcing some residents to flee. The state has already been hammered by at least 11 atmospheric rivers this season. An atmospheric river is like a fire hose that carries saturated air from the tropics to higher latitudes, dumping relentless rain or snow. The last, which struck California last week, left soil overly saturated and vulnerable to new flooding and rapid runoffs, the National Weather Service said. The next atmospheric river is expected to slam California from late Monday night through Wednesday.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are currently no active tropical storm systems.
Newsbytes:
Cameroon – Powerful flash floods raced through streets in the city of Buea, the capital of the Southwest Region of Cameroon, on 18 March 2023. Dozens of buildings and homes were destroyed or damaged, leaving families homeless. One person reportedly died after being dragged by flood water. A further five people were reported injured. The city of around 300,000 inhabitants is situated on the eastern slopes of Mount Cameroon. Local observers said heavy rain on 18 March flowed down the steep slopes and into residential and business areas of the city. The city’s poor drainage infrastructure was unable to cope.
Syria – Dozens of camps for displaced people in northwestern Syria have been damaged by flooding after a heavy storm hit the region late on Saturday. Torrential rain overnight in the western countryside of Idlib province damaged hundreds of shelters, many of which were recently set up to house the survivors of two February 6 earthquakes. Roads were also impassable in some areas.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are currently no active tropical storm systems.
Newsbytes:
California, USA – Large swaths of the Central Valley face elevated flood risks as rivers have swelled from melting snowpack after record storms hit California this winter. Flooding has spurred evacuation orders and warnings from the National Weather Service, with still more rain forecast for early next week. Evacuation orders have been issued for residents in Porterville, California, due to fast rising floodwaters. Water levels are quickly rising at Lake Success, forcing water to flow down to the Schaffer dam, creating dangerous conditions along the Tule River.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are currently no active tropical storm systems.
Newsbytes:
Malawi – As the full extent of the damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy becomes clear, disaster authorities in Malawi report a steep increase in the number of fatalities, people missing and people displaced from their homes. Public infrastructure such as schools, health facilities and roads have suffered severe damage. An estimated 40,000 houses have been damaged, destroyed or deemed currently unsafe, forcing over 180,000 people to move from their homes. Over 300 camps have been set up as emergency accommodation. The number of displacements includes around 40,000 people in Chikwawa and over 37,000 in each of the districts of Mulanje and Nsanje. The Department of Disaster Management Affairs of Malawi (DoDMA) reports that 326 people have now lost their lives.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are currently no active tropical storm systems.
Newsbytes:
Indonesia – At least 4 people have died and 7 are missing after floods and landslides in the provinces of West Java, South Sulawesi, Lampung and South Sumatra in Indonesia over the last few days. Meanwhile, search and rescue operations at the site of the massive landslide in Serasan, Natuna Regency, have found the bodies of 46 victims. As of 12 March, 9 people were still missing.
Turkey – Disasters authorities in Turkey report that at least 14 people have now died in the flood that swept through areas of Şanlıurfa and Adıyaman in the southeast of the country on 15 March 2023.
USA – An atmospheric river dumped more torrential rain on California on Wednesday, forcing evacuations, power outages and road closures, while the remnants of a powerful Nor’easter blizzard buried much of upstate New York and New England under snow.
Cyclone Freddy
Cyclone Freddy, which finally dissipated after battering Southeast Africa, has likely broken a number of mindblowing records since it formed in early February. The monstrous storm has crossed the Indian Ocean and made landfall three separate times, and may be the most energetic and long-lasting storm ever recorded. Freddy was first named on Feb. 6 after forming off the north Australian coast. Since then, it has traveled more than 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) across the southern Indian Ocean to southeast Africa. The death toll from Tropical Cyclone Freddy has passed 300 people.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are currently no active tropical storm systems.
Newsbytes:
Malawi and Mozambique – As many as 190 people have now died in Malawi as a result of floods, mudslides and strong winds brought by Tropical Cyclone Freddy. Meanwhile the search for 37 people still missing continues. Over 4,000 people have been displaced from their homes.
Colombia – Days of heavy rain triggered severe flooding in parts of the Cesar Department in Colombia where hundreds of homes have been damaged. Heavy rainfall from 08 March caused flooding in the municipality of Curumaní on 11 March. The Animito, San Pedro, and Palmar rivers and the San Ignacio and the La Cubana streams all broke their banks. More than 600 homes have been severely damaged in affected areas. Many residents have lost material possessions. Wide areas of crops have also been damaged. Heavy rainfall has caused flooding and landslides in other parts of Colombia in recent days.
Turkey – Disaster authorities in Turkey report at least 1 person has died and 4 are still missing after torrential rain caused flash flooding in parts of the southeastern Şanlıurfa and Adıyaman provinces. Flooding struck on 15 March 2023 following heavy rain. According to figures from Turkey’s General Directorate of Meteorology, in a 24-hour period to 15 March, Karaköprü in Şanlıurfa recorded 104.5 mm of rain and Çelikhan in Adıyaman recorded 125.6 mm Areas of neighbouring Malatya Province also recorded very heavy rain, with Doğanşehir recorded 151.4 mm during the same period. Local media reported the rivers broke their banks in Adiyaman Province. Severe flooding was also reported in the city of Urfa (officially Şanlıurfa) and areas of Şanlıurfa Province. On 15 March authorities warned residents of several districts of the city to evacuate their homes.
Brazil – Heavy rains in areas of the state of Amazonas in northwestern Brazil on 12 March triggered deadly landslides in the state capital Manaus. At least 11 houses were destroyed after a landslide in the Jorge Teixeira neighbourhood. Eight bodies were located under the rubble and debris. Three people were rescued alive. Around 130 houses have been deemed at risk or unsafe in the Jorge Teixeira neighbourhood, forcing dozens of families to evacuate.