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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

There are currently no tropical storm systems.

Newsbytes:

Dr Congo – At least 120 people have lost their lives after torrential rain caused widespread damages, landslides and flooding in the city of Kinshasa, the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Heavy rain fell overnight, from 12 to 13 December 2022, causing floods, landslides and sinkholes. Several municipalities in the city were affected. Dozens of houses and buildings collapsed and vehicles were left stranded. Wide stretches of road were completely destroyed, including in Mitendi, a commune to the southwest of the city, where a sinkhole wiped out the busy N1 highway which connects Kinshasa to Matadi the port city for Kinshasa.

Bosnia and Croatia – At least one person died and dozens of homes were damaged after heavy rain caused flash flooding, landslides and rivers to overflow in northern areas of Bosnia-Herzegovina and parts of neighbouring Croatia. The Red Cross reported around 500 people were affected by flooding in Bosnia-Herzegovina from 10 to 12 December 2022. One person died after a landslide buried part of a road near the city of Prijedor. A bridge was destroyed near the city of Gradiska leaving several communities isolated. In Croatia, the rising Kupa river threatened to flood areas of Karlovac County. Roads were flooded in Blatnica, Donja Kupčina and Gradec Pokupski. Several houses were damaged in Zadar County. Five people were evacuated in Gračac. Some roads were flooded in Lika-Senj County.

Turkey – Heavy rain of over 200 mm in 24 hours caused flooding in parts of Antalya Province in Turkey on 12 December 2022. Many of the areas affected saw severe flooding just days earlier. Finike in Antalya recorded 253.8 mm of rain in 24 hours to 12 December. The district of Kumluca recorded 207.8 mm during the same period. Several buildings were damaged and vehicles were swept away. A bridge collapsed in Kumluca.

Portugal – More heavy rain struck from 12 December affecting Lisbon District. Several severe weather-related incidents were also reported in the district of Setúbal. The weather station at Tapada da Ajuda in Lisbon recorded 65.6 mm of rain in 3 hours early on 13 December. The city of Almada in Setúbal recorded 59.7 mm of rain in 5 hours.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the North Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone 06b (Mandous), located approximately 315 nm southeast of Chennai, India, is tracking west-northwestward at 05 knots.

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Newsbytes:

Portugal – Local authorities put Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, on high alert on Wednesday evening and urged people to stay indoors as heavy rains killed at least one person, washed cars away and flooded several buildings. In Lisbon, the Civil Protection authority has reported hundreds of incidents, from flooded streets, train stations, a theatre and even a hospital. Authorities have had to shut roads and tunnels.

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Wildfires

Wildfires – Europe

Over 20 wildfires raged across Portugal and several burned in western Spain yesterday, menacing villages and disrupting tourists’ holidays amid a heatwave that meteorologists expect to push temperatures into the high 40s Celsius.

In Spain’s western region of Extremadura bordering Portugal firefighters evacuated a few hundred villagers overnight as a precaution and continued to battle a blaze that on Tuesday swept into Salamanca province in the region of Castile and Leon.

In France too, about 800 firefighters, supported by six water-bomber aircraft, were battling two wildfires in the southwest, which have already prompted the evacuation of thousands of campers. About 2 700 hectares were burned.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

There are currently no tropical storm systems.

Newsbytes:

Saudi Arabia – Two people have died in floods that swept across Saudi Arabia’s coastal city of Jeddah on Thursday due to record rain levels. The floods have also caused flight delays at King Abdulaziz International Airport, school closures and blocked the road to Mecca, Islam’s holiest city. According to Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology, the rainfall in Jeddah’s southern area between 8am and 2pm on Thursday, which stood at 179 millimeters, was the “highest” ever recorded.

Portugal – Authorities in the municipality of Esposende in Braga District of northern Portugal report that 2 people have died after a landslide following heavy rainfall. A landslide and large rocks destroyed part of a single-family home in Palmeira de Faro in Esposende early on 23 November 2022. Two people died and 4 people were rescued unharmed.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

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In the Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Storm Fiona is located about 580 mi…935 km e of the Leeward islands with maximum sustained winds…50 mph…85 km/h. Present movement…w or 270 degrees at 13 mph…20 km/h

In the Northwest Pacific Ocean: Tropical storm 14w (Muifa), located approximately 180 nm snorth-northwest of Shanghai, China, is tracking north-northwestward at 14 knots.

Typhoon 15w (Merbok), located approximately 1050 north of Wake Island, is tracking north-northmeastward at 33 knots.

Tropical Storm 16w (Nanmadol), located approximately 164 nm west-southwest of Iwo To, is tracking westward at 09 knots.

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Newsbytes:

Portugal – Heavy rainfall in central Portugal caused severe flooding and debris flows in areas of Manteigas municipality, Guarda District on 13 September 2022. Heavy rain fell on burn scar areas of the Serra da Estrela mountain range. The areas had seen intense forest fires during the summer and by late August the government declared a state of calamity. From late 12 September 2022 flood water, mud, downed trees and debris raced down hillsides around the village of Sameiro. Images show damage to buildings and infrastructure. At least 4 vehicles were dragged into the river Zêzere.

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Wildfires

Wildfires – Europe

Though temperatures have cooled in France and the UK, firefighters are still tackling blazes in Greece, Spain and Italy.

The fires in France’s badly hit south-west have started to be brought under control.

And as the heatwave moves north-east, low water levels are hampering transport on rivers in Germany.

More than 1,000 deaths have been linked to the extremely high temperatures in Portugal while in Spain it is at least 500.

Spain has also been battling multiple wildfires. Though one in the central province of Zamora has been brought under control, according to the local government, two large wildfires are still out of control in the north-western region of Galicia. A fire in the Gredos mountain range is also spreading east towards the Madrid region, the BBC’s Guy Hedgecoe reports. Some 5,600 hectares (13,800 acres) of land have also been burnt in the north-eastern region of Aragon.

In Portugal, some 900 firefighters were fighting two active fires in the country’s far north.

Major fires have also affected Italy in the past days, causing the country to be put on its highest heatwave alert for Thursday. Italian infrastructure has also been heavily impacted, with temporary closure of a key rail route between Rome and Florence, Italian media report.

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Wildfires

Wildfires – Europe

Thousands of firefighters are continuing to battle wildfires in Portugal, Spain and France, as a heatwave shows no sign of easing.

In northern Portugal, a pilot died when his waterbombing plane crashed in the Foz Coa area, near the Spanish border. The Portuguese authorities say at least 238 people have died from the heat over the past week.

Fires are ravaging areas of France’s south-western Gironde region, where over 12,000 people have now been evacuated with more than 10 000 hectares burned.

Wildfires – Canada

The British Columbia Fire Service reported at 4:02 p.m. Saturday that the fire activity on the Nohomin Creek Fire northwest of Lytton, BC has been stable today and no major growth was observed. Fire officials said Friday that at least six homes have been destroyed, and that number could rise with about 1 500 hectares burned.

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Wildfires

Wildfires – Europe, Morocco

Thousands of people in Portugal, Spain, France and Morocco have been evacuated from their homes as firefighters tackle wildfires caused by this week’s heatwave, which has brought extreme temperatures of more than 45C (113F) to parts of Europe and north Africa.

One person has died and at least 135 people have suffered mainly minor injuries since wildfires began in Portugal last week. About 800 people have been evacuated from their homes. By Thursday, Portugal had registered 28 active fires, with more than 2,000 firefighters on the ground.

Hundreds more people were evacuated from their homes in south-west France as wildfires raged out of control on Friday. Since Tuesday, more than 1,000 firefighters, supported by nine water-bomber aircraft, have been battling two blazes fanned by scorching heat, tinder-box conditions and strong winds. Authorities in the Gironde department, where the fires are still raging, described the situation as “adverse”. One of the two Gironde fires was around the town of Landiras, south of Bordeaux, where 4,200 hectares have been burned, roads have been closed, and almost 1,000 residents have been evacuated. The other blaze, that has already burnt 3,100 hectares, was along the Atlantic Coast close to the “Dune du Pilat” – the tallest sand dune in Europe – in the Arcachon Bay area.

Temperature records have been equalled or broken across many parts of Spain, with the mercury hitting 44.1C in the north-western city of Ourense for the first time on Thursday. Temperatures in parts of Extremadura, where firefighters are battling a wildfire that has consumed more than 4,000 hectares of land, reached 45C on Thursday.

Moroccan firefighters, soldiers, police officers and civil defence workers have been battling at least four fires that are ripping through forests in the north of the country. At least 1,000 hectares of forest have been burned since Wednesday night in Larache and Ouezzane, according to initial reports. The country, which is struggling under intense droughts, has in recent days been hit by soaring temperatures approaching 45C.

Italy and Croatia have also reported forest fires this week, and eight people had to jump into the sea at Bibione on the Adriatic coast to escape the fire and smoke.

Strong winds have greatly increased the risk of wildfires in five regions in Greece, civil protection officials have warned. Central Greece, Attica and Crete are among the areas most at risk and the fire brigade said they had counted 51 forest fires in the past 24 hours.

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Wildfires

Wildfires – Portugal

Wildfires in Portugal have left 29 people injured as thousands of firefighters and dozens of aircraft battle the blazes. Authorities said 12 firefighters and 17 civilians required medical treatment for minor injuries, as reported by the Portuguese state broadcaster RTP and local media. By Sunday afternoon, Portugal’s civil protection agency said more than 3,000 firefighters were tackling active blazes.

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Wildfires

Wildfires – Portugal

More than 3,000 firefighters and 30 aircraft battled 32 outbreaks of wildfires Sunday in Portugal that authorities say have injured 29 people. Authorities said 12 firefighters and 17 civilians required medical assistance to treat minor injuries caused by the blazes. The wildfires are coming as Portugal is enduring a heat wave with temperatures expected up to 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit). The country has adopted restrictions barring public access to forests deemed to be at special risk, banned the use of farm machinery and outlawed fireworks.

Across the border in Spain, a fire in the southwest led authorities to evacuate 30 people from homes as a precaution. Some 115 firefighters backed by helicopters and planes were deployed to that fire near the village of El Ronquillo.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

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In the Atlantic Ocean: Hurricane Epsilon is located about 450 mi…725 km ese of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds…85 mph…140 km/h. Present movement…wnw or 300 degrees at 14 mph…22 km/h.

In the Western Pacific Ocean: Tropical Storm 19w (Soudel), located approximately 174 nm northwest of Manila, Philippines, is tracking westward at 04 knots.

Tropical depression 20w (Twenty), located approximately 93 nm west of Iwo To, is tracking southwestward at 04 knots.

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NewsBytes:

Ireland – Local authorities in County Cork, south-western Ireland, reported extensive tidal flooding in coastal areas early on 20 October, 2020. Cork County Council said “storm surge coupled with spring tides have been the major contributory factors. A southerly wind direction and high wind speeds coinciding with high tides had the effect of increasing the tide significantly.” The towns of Bantry, Kinsale and Youghal were badly affected. However, areas of the city of Cork were among the worst hit.

Philippines – Disaster authorities in the Philippines report that more than 5,000 families on the island of Luzon in the north of the country have been affected by Tropical Storm “Saudel”, known in the Philippines as “Pepito”. The storm made landfall over Aurora Province then crossed the island of Luzon and continued west-northwest to the South China Sea.

Portugal – Civil Protection in Portugal have responded to over 1,300 calls for assistance after severe weather brought by Storm Barbara. Portugal saw strong winds and heavy rainfall from 19 October. The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) reported at least 7 locations across the country recorded over 90 mm of rain in 24 hours to 20 October. As much as 150mm of rain fell in Portalegre during that period.

Greece – Heavy rain was reported in the islands of southern Greece from 20 October. Heraklion, capital of the island of Crete, recorded 138.1mm of rain in 24 hours to 21 October, while Karpathos in the Dodecanese islands recorded 244 mm.

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Wildfires

Wildfires – Portugal

Portugal has issued a fire alert for Monday and Tuesday amid hot conditions, as more than 800 firefighters successfully fought a huge wildfire blazing across central regions of the country. The fire had forced a number of people to evacuate their homes and endangered houses as it approached isolated villages.

Wildfires – Siberia

Wildfires currently burning across Russia have doubled in size over the past week, the state-run TASS news agency reported Monday, citing a source in the Federal Forestry Agency. According to Russia’s agency for aerial forest fire management Aviales, a total of 148 forest fires were burning across 67,913 hectares of land as of midnight Monday. At the same time last week, 155 fires were burning across 32,984 hectares of land.

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Wildfires

Wildfires – Chile

Intense forest fires have consumed tens of thousands of hectares throughout Chile. The multiple blazes have broken records and prompted the president to call them a catastrophe. 30% of the national territory of Chile is covered by forests.

Wildfires – Portugal – Update

About 1,800 firefighters were struggling to contain wildfires in central Portugal that have already injured 20 people, including eight firefighters, authorities said Sunday.

The fires broke out Saturday across three fronts in the district of Castelo Branco, 200 kilometers (about 125 miles) northeast of Lisbon, the capital, Portugal’s Civil Protection Agency said. Firefighters were being supported by 19 firefighting aircraft and hundreds of vehicles.

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Wildfires

Wildfires – Portugal

Hundreds of Portuguese firefighters struggled on Wednesday to contain wildfires which erupted far earlier in the season than usual because of unexpectedly hot and windy weather. Ten fires were burning across the country, most in the north, several months before the late spring season when fire crews are normally in place.

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Wildfires

Wildfires – Portugal

Over 700 firefighters are battling a large wildfire in Portugal which has forced around 350 people to evacuate. The fire broke out overnight in Sunday in Sintra-Cascais Natural Park west of Lisbon. Seventeen firefighters have been injured trying to fight it, as well as one civilian. 300 people were evacuated from a campsite while another 47 were removed from their homes in the wooded area as a precaution.

Wildfires – California, USA

The Sun Incident fire consists of two fires are burning in Tehama County east of Red Bluff off of Hwy 36. 3 843 acres have been burned and a number of evacuations have been ordered. Containment is reported to be at 40 per cent.