May2006 Global Weather Highlights
- From: "james.munley@xxxxxxxxxxx" <james.munley@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 8 Jun 2006 10:16:10 -0700
GLOBAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS
MAY 2006
UNITED STATES
Southwest and southern Plains
Significant drought extended from the Desert Southwest eastward through
the Southern Plains. Exceptional drought classification persisted
across Deep South Texas.
Southeast
In the United States, pre wet season dryness exacerbated wildfires in
Florida during the first two weeks of May. Debris from fires forced a
temporary closure of Interstate Highway 95 from Port Orange to Edgwater
(Associated Press).
Southern Plains
Severe thunderstorms produced tornadoes that caused three fatalities in
north Texas. The deaths occurred northeast of Dallas in Collin County
where 26 homes were severely damaged or destroyed. There were ten
injuries from the storms that occurred on the evening of the 9th
(Reuters).
Northeast
Persistent and heavy rainfall during May 10-15 brought historic
flooding to New England, described as the worst in 70 years in some
areas. Rainfall accumulations of 30-43 cm (12 to 17) inches caused
massive river flooding and broke numerous records. Thousands of people
were evacuated from their homes, and there was at least one
flood-related fatality. Flooded rivers, roads and sewer systems raised
concerns over the shellfish industry, as offshore shellfish beds were
at risk of being polluted by the runoff from the recent heavy rainfall.
Some shellfish beds were temporarily closed as a result.
(Reuters/Associated Press).
AFRICA
Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya
A severe long-term drought continued throughout central Somalia,
southeastern Ethiopia and central Kenya.
South
Snow fell in higher elevations of the country, with some mountain
passes in the Karoo region closed to traffic. Snow also covered the
Maluti mountains in neighboring Lesotho on the 22nd. Unseasonably cold
weather was observed throughout the region (BBC News).
INDIA
A heatwave during early May produced temperatures above 40°C (104°F)
and resulted in at least 53 fatalities AFP). Heatwaves are common in
May in South Asia before the traditional onset of the rainy season in
late May and early June.
ASIA
Drought in China threatened the drinking water for nearly 14 million
people in the northern part of the country. About 16.3 million hectares
(40 million acres) of agriculture land, or more than 12 percent of the
nation's total, was affected by drought according to Zhang Zhitong, the
State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters executive director
(Associated Press).
Three days of heavy rainfall during the latter part of May brought
devastating flooding and mudslides to parts of northern Thailand. More
than 100 people were feared dead in flash floods that began at the
start of the country's rainy season, which typically lasts until
October. The province of Uttaradit was the worst affected. Rail
services to northern Thailand were temporarily suspended (BBC News).
Heavy rainfall that began in late April 2006 continued into arly May in
Guizhou province of southwestern China. The resultant flooding was
blamed for 22 deaths and forced the evacuation of 36,900 residents from
their homes (AFP).
In Tajikistan, heavy rain caused mudslides that killed at least one
person and left 30,000 people without water on the 2nd. The largest
mudslide occurred about 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of the capital
of Dushanbe (AFP).
SOUTH AMERICA
Torrential rainfall in Suriname during early May produced the worst
disaster in recent times for the interior of the country, according to
the National Coordination Centre for Disaster Control (NCCR). The
flooding affected at least 25,000 people, and around 25,000-30,000
square kilometers (9,600-11,600 square miles) of the interior were
submerged by water. (IFRC)
MIDDLE EAST
In Iran, heavy rainfall that began on the 8th produced significant
flooding in the northwestern Ardebil province. There were at least 14
fatalities and 700 homes damaged or destroyed by the floodwaters (AFP).
CARIBBEAN
In Cuba, thunderstorms dumped heavy rainfall in Havana, producing flash
flooding that killed three people. Nearly 203 mm or 8 inches of rain
fell in just two hours late on the 23rd, crippling traffic and flooding
tunnels (Reuters).
Tropical Cyclones
Typhoon Chanchu developed in the western Pacific Ocean on the 8th,
reaching typhoon intensity by the 10th. Chanchu crossed the Philippines
during the 11th-13th, producing torrential rain and causing 41 deaths
and leaving thousands homeless (AFP/Associated Press). Chanchu emerged
into the South China Sea on the 13th and made landfall between Shantou
in Guangdong province and Zhangzhou City in Fujian province on the 17th
with maximum sustained winds near 140 km/hr(75 knots or 85 mph). There
were 21 deaths reported in China (IFRC). Meanwhile, at least 150
Vietnamese fisherman who were caught at sea by Chanchu were listed as
missing, while another 28 were confirmed dead (Associated Press).
Chanchu was the strongest typhoon on record to enter the South China
Sea in the month of May, according to the Hong Kong Observatory (AFP).
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