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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

There are currently no active tropical storm systems.

Newsbytes:

Malawi and Mozambique – At least 99 people have died after Tropical Cyclone Freddy caused floods, mudslides and wind damage in parts of Malawi. Earlier the storm had made a second landfall in Mozambique, where disaster authorities report at least 10 people have died and thousands have been displaced. Freddy has been a named tropical cyclone for over 30 days as it crossed the entire South Indian Ocean and travelled more than 8,000 kilometres, affecting Mauritius and La Réunion on its long journey en route to making landfall in Madagascar on 21 February 2023. The storm then spent several days tracking over Mozambique, bringing heavy rains and flooding. Freddy then remarkably looped back towards the Mozambique Channel and picked up energy from the warm waters and moved towards the southwestern coast of Madagascar, causing further flooding and damages on 05 March, before returning back towards Mozambique for a second time, and then on to Malawi.

Peru – At least 8 people have lost their lives and 1 is still missing after heavy rain and flooding in seven departments in Peru since 08 March 2023. Disaster authorities in Peru reported heavy rains and floods in northern Peru were caused by the presence of cyclone “Yaku” off the coast of the country.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical Cyclone 11s (Freddy) continues to persist, bringing heavy rain to Mozambique.

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Newsbytes:

Australia – Residents of several towns in Northern Queensland in Australia have been airlifted to safety after record flooding. Evacuations were reported in Gregory Downs and Burketown. Significant major flooding has been observed in the upper parts of the Nicholson and Leichhardt catchment at Riversleigh, Gregory Downs and Doomadgee township. Levels along the Gregory River at Gregory Downs peaked at 14.69 metres on 10 March, where the major flood level is 10 metres.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical Cyclone 11s (Freddy) is located approximately 180 nm northeast of Beira, Mozambique, is tracking north-northwestward at 04 knots. This is the final warning for this system.

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Newsbytes:

California, USA – At least two people have died as the result of the ongoing storms inundating California, and nearly 10,000 residents are under evacuation orders, officials said, as intense flooding threatens several coastal counties. The powerful storms have delivered heavy rainfall across the central and northern parts of the state, prompting the Weather Prediction Center to issue a Level 4 of 4 warning of excessive rainfall in the area. Snow has fallen at higher elevations. Some 25 million people are under flood alerts issued by the National Weather Service, and more than 25,000 are without electricity.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical Cyclone 11s (Freddy) is located approximately 286 nm north-northwest of Europa Island, is tracking west-northwestward at 04 knots.

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Newsbytes:

Peru – Flooding in the Lambayeque Department of Peru has damaged homes, crops and roads in recent days. The Peruvian Air Force used helicopters to rescue some victims left isolated by the flooding. Flooding occurred in Nueva Arica and Lagunas districts in Chiclayo province, Lambayeque Department, on 04 March 2023. Flooding struck in the Motupe, Jayanca and Olmos districts of the province of Lambayeque, on 07 March. Flooding also affected areas of the Morrope district. About 80 hoes were damaged or destroyed in the floods displacing about 250 people.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical Cyclone 11s (Freddy) is located approximately 212 nm north-northwest of Europa Island, is tracking north-northwestward at 04 knots.

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Newsbytes:

The End of La Niña – The United Nations weather agency says the unusually prolonged La Niña ocean cooling in the Pacific is coming to an end. It predicts that after three years of cooler ocean temperatures, a new El Niño warming may soon begin. “La Niña’s cooling effect put a temporary brake on rising global temperatures, even though the past eight-year period was the warmest on record,” said World Meteorological Organization chief Petteri Taalas. “If we do now enter an El Niño phase, this is likely to fuel another spike in global temperatures.” His agency predicts there is a 55% chance El Niño will return between June and August.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical Cyclone 11s (Freddy) is located approximately 119 nm north-northwest of Europa Island, is tracking northwestward at 07 knots.

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Newsbytes:

Brazil – Severe flooding struck in northern parts of Rio Grande do Sul State in Brazil after heavy rain that began around 05 March 2023. One person died after a vehicle was swept away by the flooding of the Três Forquilhas river in Terra de Areia. Homes, roads and bridges were damaged or destroyed. Classes have been suspended.

Ecuador – At least 3 people died after heavy rain caused flooding and landslides in the Manabí Province of Ecuador on 07 March 2023. The worst of the flooding struck in Chone city and areas of Chone canton after several small rivers and streams – tributaries of the Chone River – broke their banks. Flood water, mud and debris swept through parts of Chone city and the parishes of Santa Rita, Canuto, Ricaurte and San Antonio. Dozens of homes were severely damaged or destroyed. Meanwhile, the heavy rains triggered several landslides in the area which blocked several roads. A landslide caused the collapse of a house in Santa Rita parish. Two people died in the event.

Ghana – A heavy downpour lasting several hours caused flooding in parts of Accra, the capital of Ghana, on 07 March 2023. Roads were swamped severely disrupting traffic in a city regularly impacted by flooding. Two young children died after a building collapsed in the Ngleshi Amanfro neighbourhood in the west of the city.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical Cyclone 11s (Freddy) is located approximately 45 nm east of Europa Island, is tracking northwestward at 07 knots.

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Newsbytes:

Indonesia – At least 15 people have died and many more are thought to be missing after heavy rain falling on unstable ground caused a massive landslide in the Riau Islands Province of Indonesia. The landslide occurred in Serasan District, Natuna Regency in the Riau Islands Province on 06 March 2023. Initial assessments suggest at least 15 people have died, 42 were missing and 8 were injured. Around 30 houses have been severely damaged or destroyed. Over 1,200 people have evacuated their homes in the area.

Zambia – Zambian officials say this year close to 400,000 people have been left homeless by the worst flooding in half a century — which started about four weeks ago. Heavy rains started a month before that and caused rivers to burst their banks, flooding tens of thousands of homes and forcing people to live in makeshift shelters. 8 people have lost their lives in the floods.