I have moved away in recent times from reporting extreme events. However, what is happening right now in the planet in my mind reflects rapid changes in the climate and I am convinced this is connected to an unprecedented melt season since the Arctic.

Floods and extreme weather events right round the world

http://www.fao.org/ag/locusts/en/info/info/index.html

A persistent stationary front known as the Meiyu front is affecting East Asian countries since the rainy season began in May. The front is responsible for record-breaking rainfalls, mainly in Japan and China, and causing catastrophic floods and landslides that have been affecting millions of people.

The East Asian rainy season is caused by precipitation along an incessant stationary front called Meiyu, for nearly two months during the late spring and early summer between China and Japan, as well as Taiwan and Korea.

Also called the "plum rain," a Chinese term for the downpour in the fourth and fifth lunar month, it particularly refers to the historical belief that when plums turn yellow and fall at the south of the Yangtze in the fourth and fifth months, the moisture that evaporated from it becomes rain.

The rainy season usually lasts from May to June in Taiwan and Okinawa, Japan; June to July in Japan and Korea, and July to August in eastern China, especially the regions of Yangtze and Huai River.

According to BBC weather forecaster Chris Fawkes, the Meiyu front affecting East Asian countries, especially China and Japan, is gradually pushing northwards, bringing episodes of torrential rain that often leads to severe flooding and landslides. A line of clouds with thunderstorms running across central China eventually reaches parts of Japan and South Korea.

Recently, South Korea has also been hit by heavy rainfall as more than a month's worth of rain fell in the southern regions in a 24-hour period to July 13, leaving several people dead and causing damaging floods.

https://watchers.news/2020/07/17/meiyu-front-record-breaking-catastrophic-rainfall-japan-china-2020/

Flood situation continues to deteriorate in Assam, India, with five more fatalities reported as of Thursday, July 16, 2020. More than 3.5 million people in 27 districts have been affected, and a total of 97 people lost their lives this year due to rain-related incidents.

According to the daily bulletin of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) issued Thursday, two fatalities were reported in Morigaon District, and one each in Lakhimpur, Barpeta, and Goalpara.

71 people died due to flooding while 26 were killed in landslides, bringing the state's death toll to 97 this year. Massive landslides and erosions have been reported at various places of Bongaigaon and Udalguri, ASDMA added.

More than 3.5 million people have been affected in the districts of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Baksa, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, South Salmara, Goalpara, Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan, Morigaon, Nagaon, Hojai, Golaghat, Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Karbi Anglong, and West Karbi Anglong

The worst-hit was Dhubri with more than 872 000 people affected, followed by Barpeta with 478 000, and Goalpara with 428 000.

Rescue teams, along with local volunteers, rescued 2 737 people on Thursday. 113 boats were also deployed across the state for emergency operations.

https://watchers.news/2020/07/17/more-than-3-5-million-people-affected-as-flood-situation-continues-to-deteriorate-in-assam-india/

Heavy downpours hit Mexico's southern states of Jalisco and Oaxaca this week, resulting in fatal flooding and landslides. In Oaxaca, two casualties were reported as flooding damaged houses and roads. In Jalisco, a hailstorm struck the Guadalajara and Zapopan municipalities, causing severe flooding up to 1 m (3 feet) high.

The State Civil Protection reported two fatalities in the municipality of Huautla de Jimenez in Oaxaca, where landslides occurred as heavy downpour struck the area on July 13.

Evacuations were carried out after houses were flooded and roads were damaged.

Property damage was also reported in San Juan Bautista Cuicatlan, San Juan Tepeuxila, and Eloxochitlan de Flores Magon.

"The rain has left a great disaster in our village," officials in San Andres Hidalgo posted, along with a photo showing the aftermath of a landslide.

https://watchers.news/2020/07/16/heavy-rains-and-hail-cause-fatal-flooding-and-landslides-in-oaxaca-and-jalisco-mexico/

Deadly flash floods caused by severe thunderstorms lashed parts of Sicily, Italy, on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, resulting in massive disruption. Palermo City's astronomical observatory recorded 74 mm (3 inches) of rain in just a few hours, breaking the previous wettest July day record set 85 years ago. Palermo mayor described the downpour as the worst since 1970 -- 'equal to what the city registers in a year.'

Underpasses were submerged while streets turned into raging rivers, sweeping away many vehicles and covering them in muddy debris.

Hundreds of motorists were forced to abandon their cars as torrential rains inundated tunnels.

Two people went missing after their car was swept away by floodwaters. The pair tried to take shelter in an underpass, but the road quickly became inundated, trapping them inside. Search and rescue operations are ongoing.

Nine people sustained injuries and two children were treated for hypothermia.

"I'm from Palermo and truly I've never had so much anxiety in my life," one local said as she shared photos of the devastating scene, showing numerous cars stuck in floodwaters. "Whoever is from Palermo area, stay at home."

https://watchers.news/2020/07/16/extreme-record-rains-lead-to-deadly-floods-and-massive-disruption-in-sicily-italy/

South Korea's southern regions were battered by torrential rains on Monday, July 13, 2020, leaving several people dead, damaging houses and properties, and causing widespread flooding. In Sancheong County, about 277 mm (11 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours, which was more than the average rainfall of 241 mm (9.5 inches) for the entire month of July.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, other areas also recorded high rainfall totals in a 24-hour period to Monday: Buan in North Jeolla Province registered 228 mm (9 inches) and Geoje in South Gyeongsang with 210 mm (8 inches).

In Hamyang, a farmer and an excavator engineer lost their lives after being swept away by flash flooding while doing irrigation-ditch repair work. Meanwhile, two men, both around 50 years of age, were rescued after they fell in a river while fishing in Hapcheon.

Roads were blocked as floods and landslides occurred in parts of the province. Several homes were damaged, including in the large port city of Busan.

Southwestern coasts, Incheon, and five Yellow Sea islands near the North Korean border were put under a strong wind advisory.

https://watchers.news/2020/07/15/south-korea-flood-july-2020/

A severe hailstorm struck Gyumri City in Armenia on Monday, July 13, 2020, turning roads into an 'Arctic waterway' with big chunks of ice floating through the city. The amount of rain that fell in less than 1 hour is equivalent to the city's entire July average. A local meteorologist said the event was unprecedented.

A local named Naira Grigorian, who manages a tour company in the city, said the downpour started around 12:00 UTC (16:00 LT) on Monday.

It took only minutes for houses to be inundated with what she described as an 'icy ocean,' as hail turned into clumps of ice and floated on floodwater.

Many vehicles were stranded, forcing authorities to use a boat to rescue drivers.