Tsunami-style
floods
hit Texas
El
Nino has emerged, Asia braces for crop damage
12
May, 2015
In
2009, the El Nino brought the worst drought in four decades to India.
It razed wheat fields in Australia and damaged crops across Asia.
Food prices surged. A closely watched forecast by Japan on Tuesday
confirmed its return this year.
A
strong El Nino will roil economies that are heavily dependent on
agriculture, particularly India which is already reeling from bad
weather. It would also unhinge supply chains of commodities such as
rice, corn and palm oil. In fact, the heat is already up in some
places in the Asia Pacific.
"We've
already been hit by a three-month dry spell. We could not plant
anything since January. All of us here in Taculen are praying for
more rains," said Benny Ramos, a rice farmer in North Cotabato
in southern Philippines.
Prayers
for rains in Asia, however, may not be answered as weather forecasts
show an intensifying El Nino has set in.
The
El Nino, or a warming of sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific, can
lead to scorching weather across Asia and east Africa but heavy rains
and floods in South America.
This
year, the El Nino arrived in spring and is likely to continue into
autumn, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, which was the first
bureau to project the emergence of an El Nino in 2015.
Forecasts
in May tend to be more accurate as weather models become more
dependable here onwards, said Paul Deane, senior agricultural
economist at ANZ Bank, Melbourne.
"Now
we are getting to a point that you start having more confidence in
those models," he said.
Grain
prices have, however, not yet factored in the threat to supplies from
an El Nino, largely because similar calls for bad weather in 2014 did
not come to pass. In fact, good crops replenished stocks last year.
In
the absence of a weather premium, prices of grains such as wheat and
rice remain near multi-month lows. Wheat futures, down a fifth so far
this year, are near five-year lows, while Asia rice is at its weakest
since June.
The
last El Nino led to tens of billions of dollars in economic damages
in the Asia Pacific. This year, a strong El Nino could take an even
bigger toll in certain countries, analysts said.
For
India, it would be a double whammy.
INDIA:
AMONG THE WORST HIT
Dozens
of farmers have already committed suicide in India after damage from
unseasonable rains this year. Now if the summer rains are below
normal, rural discontent will deepen.
The
monsoons are vital for India as half its croplands lack irrigation
while the farm sector accounts for 14 percent of its economy. India's
weather bureau has forecast weaker rainfall this year, citing a 70
percent El Nino probability.
"Crops
like soybean and cotton are under El Nino watch for being sown mainly
in rainfed conditions," said K.K. Singh, the head of
agricultural meteorology division of the Indian weather office. "El
Nino looms large over soybean areas of the central parts and cotton
belts of the western and the northern regions."
Fewer
domestic soybeans, which are crushed to produce soyoil, will prompt
the world's No.1 edible oil importer to buy more palm oil from top
producers Indonesia and Malaysia.
India's
rice crop would also be hit.
While
the No.2 rice exporter could use its record-high stocks to meet a
local shortfall, it would leave less available for sales at a time
when demand could rise from countries like the Philippines.
More
than half of the provinces in the Philippines, one of the world's top
rice importers, are already suffering from dryness which has curbed
its rice output.
AUSTRALIA:
EARLY SIGNS OF EL NINO
Early
signs of El Nino also emerged on Australia's east coast, with a poor
end to the wet season in Queensland and a dry autumn in Victoria,
said ANZ's Deane.
Australia's
high protein wheat output could suffer as an El Nino brings
below-average late winter and spring rainfall to the east coast.
Spring rains in September are vital for wheat yields in the
fourth-biggest exporter of the grain.
Australia's
weather bureau, which in April projected at least a 70 percent chance
of an El Nino emerging from July, on Tuesday said the weather pattern
had already formed and that models indicated a "substantial"
event.
The
other countries bracing for an El Nino are China, Indonesia and
Malaysia.
China
typically escapes the fury of El Nino, but it is still on guard for
its corn crop, which needs a lot of water, said Ma Wenfeng, analyst
at Beijing Orient Agri-business Consultant Co.
For
the Southeast Asian countries, concerns are about palm.
Although
the impact of a dry spell on oil palm trees will be felt later,
rising Indian demand and fears of tight supply should drive up prices
of the tropical oil. Palm prices soared 57 percent in 2009, partly
due to El Nino.
Palm
yields may be hit if it is really dry because that will hurt the
fruits, but otherwise if an El Nino emerges in June, the effect will
only be seen nine to 12 months later, said Roy Lim, group plantations
director at planter Kuala Lumpur Kepong.
24
May, 2015
May 2015 – TEXAS – Officials in parts of Texas are warning that flooding could last for weeks in the wake of unprecedented amounts of May rainfall. Those rainfall totals, which have now topped 20 inches since May 1 in at least two cities, will climb still higher over the Memorial Day weekend as thunderstorms dump even more rainfall on an already water-logged region. The National Weather Service in Corpus Christi, Texas, says flooding is likely to continue for weeks along the Nueces River just west of Corpus Christi. The flooding is affecting a stretch downstream of the Wesley Seale Dam, which impounds Lake Corpus Christi.
That reservoir has reached its full capacity due to widespread heavy rainfall upstream across South Texas this month. In a disaster declaration issued Thursday, Nueces County Judge Loyd Neal said water releases from the dam began this past weekend “in order to prevent damage to [the dam] and to avoid uncontrolled downstream impacts.” About 100 homes have already been cut off by floodwaters, and hundreds of homes are at risk of flooding in the days ahead. The rising Wichita River prompted evacuations of parts of the east side of Wichita Falls, Texas Wednesday night and Thursday morning. The river is forecast to crest on Tuesday about one foot below its record crest from late June 2007
Over 100 locations in the central and southern Plains are currently reporting river flooding, the majority of which are in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri. Many cities have already clinched a top five wettest May in their weather records. At least four locations, including Wichita Falls and Corpus Christi, have now recorded their wettest May on record. You can read more about that below in our rainfall records section. With the weather pattern remaining virtually the same through Memorial Day weekend, additional flash flooding and worsening river flooding is likely to occur. As mentioned already, a persistent weather pattern has been fueling the heavy rain in the Plains.
The Jet Stream is stuck in place over the Southern U.S., has been for weeks – bringing up a record amount of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. This is an unusual weather pattern unlike anything we’ve ever seen before in the annals of meteorology. We’re seeing May rainfall totals across the Southern U.S., for which there is no previous precedent mentioned in recorded history. – TEP
A southward dip in the jet stream has been locked in place over the western states, allowing it to launch disturbances into the Plains. Those disturbances provide the necessary lift in the atmosphere to trigger thunderstorm development as they intercept a warm, moist air mass in place near the surface of the earth. Unfortunately, it appears this weather pattern will stay in place through Memorial Day weekend, triggering additional rounds of rain and thunderstorms. The higher threat for additional heavy rainfall in the most saturated areas of Oklahoma and Texas is through Sunday, when clusters of slow-moving thunderstorms are expected. Right now, our forecast guidance suggests at least some parts of the Lone Star State may still see locally heavy rain again on Monday.
–Weather
Bus
crash in China kills 8 amid record rainfall
BEIJING — A bus accident in south-central China left eight people dead and more than 40 others wounded Saturday when the driver lost control of the vehicle during the rainfall. State news agency Xinhua cited local authorities in Hunan province as saying the bus overturned at 11.40 a.m. (0440GMT) in Xinning county with 52 passengers — employees at the same workplace in capital Changsha – onboard. Road conditions had been rendered unsafe by the downpour and an initial investigation suggested that when the driver hit the brakes, the vehicle crashed into a guardrail. Among the injured – all of who are in hospital — five were in critical condition.
The driver is under police custody. On Friday, two children were killed and 21 others wounded after a school bus swerved off a road and into a pond during heavy rainfall in neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Of the 21 injured kindergartners rushed to the hospital, three had been in serious condition, but were exhibiting signs of improvement as of early Saturday. Southern parts of China have been experiencing powerful rainstorms since early May. Xinhua reported Saturday that the downpour had broken a 40-year record, with the country’s National Meteorological Center recording average rainfall of 199.9 millimeters — 74 percent above the normal figure. The storms are expected to continue through next week, with Guizhou and areas near the Yangtze River experiencing heavy rainfall from May 26-28.
–Video News
State
of disaster declared in Texas due to severe weather conditions
RT,
26
May, 2015
The
governor of Texas declared a state of emergency in 2 dozen counties,
as more severe weather conditions are in store for the region, where
storms have already killed at least 3 people. Across the border in
Mexico, 13 people were killed by a tornado.
Governor
Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster in 24 counties, citing
deadly weather conditions that have been tormenting the state since
early May.
The
first emergency proclamation, issued on May 11, had to be amended to
include more counties.
An
unidentified man was found drowned in Texas, while at least two more
victims reportedly died in Oklahoma. One woman died after her car
hydroplaned and a firefighter was killed when he was swept into a
storm drain, CNN reported.
Gut-wrenching story of a young family from the #Wimberley, TX flood on Saturday. Please pray. #txwx pic.twitter.com/EJT5AsDzZ2
— Tornado Trackers (@tornadotrackers) May 25, 2015
Twelve
people were reported missing after hundreds of homes were damaged by
flash-flooding in Central Texas on Monday, AP reported.
Amy
Parrish (2nd L) hugs a woman as she gathers personal items from her
home after a tornado swept through the area the previous night in
Van, Texas May 11, 2015. (Reuters/Mike Stone)Amy Parrish (2nd L) hugs
a woman as she gathers personal items from her home after a tornado
swept through the area the previous night in Van, Texas May 11, 2015.
(Reuters/Mike Stone)
The
region has been badly affected by tornadoes, heavy rains and
thunderstorms as of late. People have been evacuated from their
homes, sometimes being rescued from their roofs, Reuters reported.
Thousands have been left without electricity, and flash flooding has
damaged hundreds of houses and washed away bridges.
Water going over the spillway at Lake Texoma for only the 4th time in its history. Photo: Donna Bearden #okwx #txwx pic.twitter.com/85XSf8amdN
— Chris McBee (@RRstormchasers) May 24, 2015
The
area has been suffering from record-setting rains since the beginning
of May, and has already received six times more rainfall than typical
for an entire month, Accuweather said. More severe thunderstorm and
flash-flood warnings, as well as tornado watches, were issued by the
Weather Service on Monday, with the governor’s office saying the
severe weather could continue through the week.
Meanwhile
at least 13 people have died as a result of the severe weather
conditions in the Mexican city of Ciudad Acuna across the border from
Del Rio, Texas, Coahuila state spokeswoman Rosario Cano announced. At
least another 230 people were injured in a tornado. Shelters were
being set up, after the twister touched down in the region shortly
after daybreak on Monday, destroying some 750 homes as well as cars.
It
is believed to be the strongest tornado to ravage Mexico in at least
15 years, registering from grade EF2 to EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita
Scale, a spokesman for the National Meteorological Service told
Reuters.
Heavy
rainfall, floods and tornadoes have devastated southern-central US,
killing several people, washing away houses and forcing thousands to
flee. Rivers rose so fast that entire communities woke on Sunday
surrounded by water.
At
least one person was killed in Texas – a man, whose body was
recovered from a flooded area along the Blanco River, the authorities
said, adding that the river rose 7.9 meters (26ft) in just one hour.
Texas
Governor Greg Abbott on Monday described the flash flooding that had
killed at least three people in his state as "a relentless wall
of water that mowed down huge trees like they were grass."
Abbott
declared states of disaster in 24 counties and flew over the area
south of Austin to assess the damage caused by tornadoes, heavy
rainfall, thunderstorms and flooding that forced evacuations and
rooftop rescues and left thousands of residents without electrical
power.
"This
is the biggest flood this area of Texas has ever seen," Abbott
said.
No
pictures, no video. Nicely tucked away out of sight
Severe
flooding cuts off lone road to Alaska's oilfield operations
22
May, 2015
May
22 Alaska's lone road to North Slope oil field operations remains
closed for the third time in two months while emergency crews
continue to redirect flooding from an adjacent river, state officials
said on Friday.
Alaska
Governor Bill Walker's office said he would sign a second disaster
proclamation while in Deadhorse, the base of operations for several
oilfields, after a three-day tour of drill sites that included a
fly-over of the flooded area.
Production
and pipeline operations have not been affected by the closure, said
BP Plc spokeswoman Dawn Patience, operator for the Prudhoe Bay field.
A
10-mile stretch of the Dalton Highway leading into Deadhorse shut
down early on Monday morning and state transportation officials had
hoped to re-open the roadway on Friday.
The
Dalton Highway starts north of Fairbanks near Livengood, and receives
heavy commercial truck traffic year round, but also a growing demand
from tour companies during the summer.
High
waters from the Sagavanirktok River, however, prevailed and delayed
the opening into next week, state transportation department
spokeswoman Meadow Bailey said.
"Right
now we can't make any predictions on re-opening," Bailey said.
Of
the 414 miles (666 km), nearly 80 miles now remain closed, she said.
Since
Monday's closure, Bailey said water traveled farther north
encroaching various camps and the Deadhorse Airport.
There
were additional washouts farther south, prompting officials to extend
the closure, Bailey said.
The
series of shutdowns began March 30 for three days and again April 5
for another 10 days before commercial and private vehicles could use
the road.
There
are "serious logistical problems facing many businesses and
private contractors" in the area, Walker's office said.
Causes
for the closures date to last summer's heavy rains that underwent
extensive freezing over the winter with sheets of ice trapping water
and causing spring floods.
Crews
made up of state and contract workers designed a trench system that
drained water away from the road and into another waterway.
But
the rapid spring thaw driven by unseasonably high temperatures
created additional flooding, prompting another closure.
A
wildfire raging in northeastern Alberta has shut down around 233,000
barrels per day (bpd) of production at three oil sands projects and
is expected to remain out of control for “some while yet,” a
provincial government spokesman said on Monday.
George
Soros is betting on the Canadian energy sector. Should you too?
Over
the weekend, Cenovus Energy Inc and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd
evacuated staff and halted output at two sites as a precaution
against the rapidly-spreading forest fire.
On
Monday, CNRL said it had also cut production at its nearby Kirby
South thermal project to 12,000 bpd from around 30,000 bpd.
In
total, roughly 9 per cent of Alberta’s crude output is offline as a
result of the fire, with no clear indication of when production can
resume
The
worst torrential rain in China in 40 years has reportedly claimed the
lives of at least 35 people; 13 others remain missing.
At
least 35 people were killed and 13 more are missing in the worst
torrential rain in central and southern China in 40 years; at least
six provinces have been hit by the natural disaster, according to the
Chinese news agency Xinhua.
The
worst-hit provinces included Guizhou, Fujian and Jiangxi, where the
heavy rain caused mudslides and flooding.
Meanwhile,
China's National Meteorological Center has reported
The rainy weather in Taiwan is likely to continue for the rest of the week and into the weekend as a plum rain front lingers, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said Monday.
The
bureau issued a warning for torrential rain, saying the accumulated
rainfall in Kaohsiung and Pingtung in the south of the country may
exceed 200 mm on Monday alone.
Heavy
rainfall is also expected Monday in other parts of the country,
including the central areas of Taichung, Nantou, and Yunlin, and
Chiayi and Tainan in the south, the CWB said.
Watershortage eased across Taiwan due to rain
Unseasonal
rains hit parts of Western Australia
Via Facebook
Unseasonal
rains hit parts of WA thanks to an upper trough feeding from a north
west cloud band
Barrow
island 31mm
Karratha
16mm
Newman
AP 28mm
Paraburdoo
36mm
Mardie
21mm
Port
Hedland 14mm
Map
one: Current satellite photo showing the infeed from the Indian ocean
across Western Australia and pushing into South Australia.
Map
two: 24 hrs rainfall map to 9am this morning across Western Australia
with large areas in the Pilbara picking up decent rainfall.
Unseasonal
rain in Darwin, Australia
THE
DRY IN DARWIN MAY COME TO AN END (for a few days) AS RAIN IS
PREDICTED THANKS TO A TROPICAL LOW
For
our Darwin friends.. The dry season may come to a halt for a few days
as rain & possible storms is expected by the end of the week
thanks to a developing tropical low near the northern top end coast.
Check
out the rainfall that is predicted by one of the models (EC/Euro
model) later this week and into the weekend thanks to at tropical low
that is expected to move wsw across the northern Top end.
We
will continue to monitor this situation as good rain across the Top
end and Darwin at the end of May is unusual. .
Heat
wave kills more than 700 in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, last few days
were worst
In
her small home, Nagamma is seated just a few feet away from her
husband's dead body. 24 hours ago, he collapsed after the temperature
crawled past 47 degrees in Nandigama in the western part of Andhra
Pradesh. A family friend says Nagamma's husband was rushed to two
hospitals in quick succession. "They administered intravenous
fluids but he died in 15 minutes," he said.
The rainy season is now officially over in Brazil. And now drought-stricken Sao Paulo enters the dry season with no certainty depleted reservoirs will not dry up during the May to October dry months.
Bracing
for dry season in drought-struck Brazil
The rainy season is now officially over in Brazil. And now drought-stricken Sao Paulo enters the dry season with no certainty depleted reservoirs will not dry up during the May to October dry months.
Terrible
Tornado in Cd Acuña, Coah México
CG
lightning bolt over Rovantsy village , Volyn , Ukraine this evening.
HugePhoto:
Іlona Potridenna via http://vk.com/clubmeteo
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