The
Big wet across the country rounds off with the heaviest rainfall in
three years across south eastern Tasmania including Hobart overnight.
The
State Emergency Service was called to dozens of houses across Hobart
with flash flooding and water damage due to the overnight heavy
rainfall in parts of Tasmania.
A
deep low pressure system off of north-east Tasmania of 992hPa has
drawn moisture from the tropics which has impacted most of central
and south eastern Australia the last week triggering what the Bureau
of Meteorology has described as a once-in-a-decade rainfall event for
Tasmania in Summer
Senior
forecaster Malcolm Downing said Hobart received 72 millimetres
overnight, which was the highest rainfall in three years.
"That's
the heaviest fall since April 13, 2011 in the city when we received
79 millimetres," he said.
Other
large totals across the state
Mt.Wellington
153mm.
Copping
107mm.
Buckland
with 99mm.
Clifton
Beach 92mm.
Launceston
44mm.
Orford
75mm.
Swansea
67mm.
St
Helens 45mm.
Cape
Bruny 67mm.
Bicheno
54mm.
Friendly
Beach 54m
The
deep low will continue to slowly move away easing showers and winds
across the Apple Isle tonight and into early tomorrow.
Record
temperatures in Alaska
Record
high temperature of 45°F in Anchorage today.
Zimbabwe:
Govt Fights worst flooding in years
Flooding
destroyed at least 2,000 homes and left thousands homeless in
Zimbabwe. More than 10 people did
Thailand: 24
Northern Provinces Effected by Extreme Winter Cold
The north of the country is the worst affected area, with reports that high in the mountains the temperature is just 1C (34F).
CHIANG
RAI – Thailand’s Minister of Interior Gen. Anupong Paojinda, has
urged authorities to provide aid to the public affected by the winter
disaster in Chiang Rai and 23 other Northern and Northeastern
Provinces of Thailand.
Gen.
Anupong Paojinda has updated the current situation of the winter
disaster, stating that a total of 265 districts in 24 provinces are
now declared winter disaster zones.
Chiang
Rai’s Provincial authorities have been ordered to provide aid to
those affected by the weather, to thoroughly distribute blankets and
winter clothes to the public, to provide special assistance to those
in need, and to formulate a disaster prevention measure for the
winter season.
The
24 affected provinces are Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan, Lampang,
Phayao, Uttaradit, Phrae, Lampoon, Mae Hong Son, Phitsanulok,
Phetchabun, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Kalasin, Surin, Maha Sarakham
Nakhon Phanom, Loei, Khon Kaen, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nong Bua
Lamphu, Mukdahan, and Chaiyaphum.
Meanwhile,
the Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and
Mitigation (DDPM) Chatchai Phromlert has said that the DDPM has
established a temporary command center for winter disaster prevention
and relief central command. This command center will act as the
central agency for the relief operations and coordinate related
agencies’ relief operations.
He
has said that the DDPM’s staff will be monitoring the weather
conditions in order to plan the relief operations accordingly to the
current weather situation.
He
has also asked the public to be prepared for the cold weather by
exercise extra caution when dealing with fires, as well as looking
after their health by wearing thick clothes and keeping themselves
warm. – NNT
Fires
rage in southern Chile
Fires
rages in southern Chile over the weekend, razing 15 homes and
injuring close to a dozen people. In 101 separate fires, some
14,000 hectares of forest, grass, and crop land were ravaged.
teleSUR
After
snow and ice forced the closure of hundreds of schools and nurseries
in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the UK is facing several
days of gale force winds and a weekend of sub-zero temperatures.
The
Met Office said another deep Atlantic low pressure system was
affecting northern Britain, bringing with it high winds and heavy
rain across much of the country.
"Severe
gales are expected to develop across areas adjoining the Irish sea,
with gusts reaching 60 to 70mph in places, possibly around 80 mph in
exposed coastal and hilly sites,” the Met said, issuing a yellow
“be aware” warning for wind, ice and snow across the UK.
There
was also a yellow warning for rain with heavy downpours expected in
south-west and central Scotland and across many parts of Wales,
western and southern England. These areas can expect 20-30 mm of
rainfall, with up to 50 mm possible over hills in the west.
On
Thursday morning Kent police warned they had implemented an
emergency measure to back up freight traffic along the M20 near
Dover in anticipation of severe weather and reduced capacity at the
port as a result.
Operation
Stack was put in place on the M20 southbound overnight with
non-freight traffic being diverted onto the A20 from Junction 8 and
rejoining the motorway at Junction 9. A police spokesman said: “This
is in response to a severe weather warning for wind and rain.”
The
Met Office predicted very strong winds from the west would sweep
through on Thursday morning and into the evening, with gusts of
70mph or more in places. “The public should be aware of the risk
of disruption to transport and possibly to power supplies.”
In
parts of Cornwall, South Wales, Tayside and Teesside there have been
reports of thundersnow –
a storm with thunder and lightning but snow instead of rain.
Scotland
was hit by blizzards after last week’s fierce storms that
left120,000
properties without power.
The homes have since been reconnected but BT is continuing to fix
phone lines in the Highlands and Islands. Repair efforts have been
hampered by fallen trees, ferry cancellations and traffic
restrictions.
Road
operator Bear Scotland said its teams were working around the clock
to keep routes clear, while Police Scotland said drivers should
consider whether their journey was necessary. A lorry jackknifed on
the A9 south of Newtonmore in snowy conditions, causing delays.
Cumbria police said they had received up to 40 reports of road
collisions across the county in the previous 24 hours.
Heavy
snowfall blocked the railway line in the Highlands between Blair
Atholl and Drumochter as snowplough
trains worked through the night to
keep the rail network open.
Network
Rail said a limited number of train services were suspended from
noon on Wednesday because of heavy winds and no trains would run on
the Dumbarton central to Helensburgh central and Glasgow to Oban
lines until 6pm on Thursday. The Kyle to Dingwall and Kilwinning to
Ardrossan lines were also suspended.
In
Northern Ireland more than 100 schools had to close on Wednesday
after heavy snowfall, mainly in the west. The counties worst hit
were Derry, Fermanagh and Tyrone.
In
Derry city some local taxi firms suspended services on Wednesday due
to snow and staff at the city’s main hospital had to stay on site
overnight because of road closures and disruption to public
transport. Rail and bus services in the west of the region were
disrupted, as was the ferry between Ballycastle and Rathlin island.
Across
the border in the Irish Republic western counties were also badly
affected by the snowfall.
Schools
in Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and parts of the Irish Midlands were
closed. All secondary schools in Sligo town were closed as a result
of the snow and high winds.
The
freeze hit train services, with points freezing on the rails between
Galway and Dublin, Cork and Tralee in County Kerry and Athenry to
Ennis. Some flights into Cork airport had to be temporarily rerouted
to Dublin because of snowfall on runways.
Met
Office spokesman Jonathan Hunter said there was a wind warning over
most of the UK until 11.30pm on Wednesday with 50-60mph winds
forecast. He added that there had also been snow and ice warnings
for most of Scotland until midday, when the snow should reduce
slightly.
As
for Thursday, he said: “We may see wintry showers across the UK
with sleet, snow and rain. There may be strong winds tomorrow but
easing through the day. On Friday and towards the weekend it will be
really cold and we may see some snow showers in the north and at
high levels.”
Syrians fight terrorists as
harsh winter worsens
The cold winter that is hitting the Middle East is affecting scores of Syrian families who are already trying to survive the war. So far, 17 people have died due to icy weather conditions, and food has been scarce since most of the aid meant for the victims has been intercepted by terrorists.
I just want to thank you for all your hard work in making this blog - I read it every day and find it a valuable resource. I hope you find peace in your life. Cheers, Steve.
Posts
Network
Rail said a limited number of train services were suspended from
noon on Wednesday because of heavy winds and no trains would run on
the Dumbarton central to Helensburgh central and Glasgow to Oban
lines until 6pm on Thursday. The Kyle to Dingwall and Kilwinning to
Ardrossan lines were also suspended.
I just want to thank you for all your hard work in making this blog - I read it every day and find it a valuable resource. I hope you find peace in your life. Cheers, Steve.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to reiterate what Steve has said. Huge respect Robin,we are all in your debt.
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