Extreme weather update - 01/09/2018

Nearly 5,000 lightning strikes in 3 hours left thousands without power in Sydney after temperatures approaching 50 deg C melted roads

the Big Wobble,

9 January, 2018

Fast-moving storms swept across Sydney this morning. Photo: Nick Moir

After temperatures approaching 50 deg C, 122 deg F melted roads and killed thousands of flying fox bats the weather in Sydney has gone from one extreme to the other

A heavy thunderstorm hit Sydney with more than 4600 lightning strikes between 3am and 6am this morning, leaving thousands without power after days of extreme heat.

The western and northwestern suburbs bore the brunt of the storm, with Blacktown particularly hard hit with tiles off roofs and trees brought down.

Weatherzone reported 4649 lightning strikes between 3am and 6am, and the SES received at least 150 requests for help.

The weather bureau says lightning strikes will continue over the Sydney region and most parts of NSW on Tuesday.

Passengers can expect slight delays on domestic flights out of Sydney Airport, but international and domestic arrivals are on time, an airport spokesman said. Meanwhile, rail commuters on Sydney's north shore T1 line can expect delays.

"It's quite an active lightning system over Sydney," BOM forecaster Jordan Notara said.

He said the lightning will die down this morning before building up again in the afternoon.

"It's a typical summer scenario," he said.

The SES has warned NSW residents to take precautions as the storm activity continues.

Residents are warned to secure outdoor furniture, tie-down trampolines and stay inside and keep away from windows.

Sahara snowfall! Temperatures in the summer can reach 40 deg C Ain Sefra, Algeria, known as the gateway to the Sahara desert covered in snow

It doesn't happen often, the last time it snowed here was 40 years ago.

Temperatures in the summer can reach 40 deg C but yesterday the small town of 1 was covered in snow.

A rare blanket of snow in the Sahara Desert was spotted over the weekend -- an unusual sight for an area known for its relentless heat.

According to the Daily Express, The cold snap comes as Europe and the United States froze in bitter temperatures.

Winter Storm Grayson, battering the US east coast, has seen the sea freeze in Cape Cod, along with the Niagra Falls in stunning scenes.

A spokesman for the Met Office said this morning: "Cold air was pulled down south into North Africa over the weekend as a result of high pressure over Europe.

Thousands of people some with babies trapped in their vehicles by heavy snow overnight on a highway near Madrid Spain

3,000 tourists stranded in Zermatt, village cut off as avalanche risk raised to max

French Alps hit by 'once-in-a-generation' snow storms

Several villages in southern Switzerland, including the ski resort of Zermatt, were cut off from the outside world on Tuesday after extreme weather conditions raised the avalanche risk to the maximum level.

Both the road and the railway line to Zermatt were closed after the avalanche risk was raised to five, commune president Romy Biner-Hauser told Valais paper Le Nouvelliste on Monday evening, however as yet the village has not had to be evacuated.