May 2008 Global Weather Highlights
- From: jamesmunley@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:53:48 -0700 (PDT)
GLOBAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS
MAY 2008
UNITED STATES
Plains
Extreme drought conditions persisted across parts of the southern High
Plains, western North Dakota, northeastern Alabama, and the southern
Appalachians. As of May 27, 26% of the western U.S., 27% of the South,
22% of the High Plains, 40% of the Southeast, and 22% of the
contiguous U.S. were in moderate to extreme drought, according to the
U.S. Drought Monitor.
More than 90 wildfires charred nearly 16,190 hectares (40,000 acres)
of land across Florida. The biggest blaze was located in Brevard
County, where 40 homes were destroyed, more than 100 buildings were
damaged, and 1,416 hectares (3,500 acres) of land were burned.
According to reports, damages are estimated to be nearly $9.6 million
(Associated Press).
Numerous bouts of severe weather affected the contiguous U.S. since
the
start of the year, and May was no exception. Severe storms ripped
through the central U.S. on May 1-2 spawning 90 tornadoes, hail, and
hurricane-force winds. Arkansas, the worst hit, was affected by eleven
tornadoes that caused havoc across the state. The tornadoes damaged or
destroyed nearly 400 homes and left about 20 counties with electrical
and telephone disruptions. The severe weather caused 7 fatalities (AFP/
Associated Press).
Severe storms swept through the central U.S. during May 22-25,
producing destructive tornadoes that damaged buildings and claimed the
lives of
several people (BBC News). On May 22-23, Kansas was pounded by at
least 15 tornadoes. The strongest tornado occurred near Quinter, KS
and was classified as an EF-4 tornado, the first EF-4 tornado in the
Tri State
area since 15 June 1990 (NWS). Two fatalities were reported
(Associated
Press). On May 25, Iowa was slashed by severe storms and numerous
tornadoes including a deadly EF-5 tornado (the highest on the Enhanced
Fujita Tornado Scale in Parkersburg, IA. The twister claimed the lives
of seven people (several of those who died were in their basements),
damaged over 400 homes and destroyed more than 200 homes and 21
businesses. According to reports, this was the strongest tornado to
hit the state since 13 June 1976 (Associated Press). The last EF-5
tornado occurred in Greensburg, KS on 4 May 2007. According to
reports, the number of tornado-related fatalities thus far in 2008 has
made this year the deadliest January-May since 1998 and the eighth
deadliest since records began in 1953. For more information on
tornadoes this season, please see the NCDC 2008 Tornado Season page.
SOUTH
Strong storms pounded the southern U.S. on May 13-14, resulting in
downed trees and power lines, and one fatality. Torrential rain fell
in
Shreveport, LA, flooding 125 homes and prompting several new all-time
rainfall records (Associated Press). According to the Shreveport
National Weather Service Record Event Report, 51 mm (2 inches) of rain
fell in just 20 minutes on the 13th, surpassing the previous record of
45 mm (1.77 inches) set on 12 April 1991. Meanwhile, 164 mm (6.46
inches) of rain fell in two hours, surpassing the previous record of
132 mm (5.19 inches) of rain set on 23 June 1905.
Another round of severe storms pounded the central and southeastern
U.S.
on May 10, producing more than 80 reported tornadoes, strong winds,
and hail. The furious winds damaged hundreds of homes and brought down
trees and power lines, leaving thousands of residents without
electricity. The worst hit states were Missouri, Oklahoma, and
Georgia. The storms claimed the lives of 23 people — 14 in Missouri,
7 in Oklahoma, and 2 in Georgia. The event was described by the U.S.
President George W. Bush as a sad day and emergency federal aid has
been promised to the affected states (AFP).
Mid-Atlantic
A storm system lashed the Mid-Atlantic states on May 12, prompting
hundreds of evacuations, flooding roads, and leaving tens of thousands
of residents without power. According to reports, the hurricane-
strength winds contributed to a deadly fire in Newark, NJ on the
morning of the 12th, which killed one person, damaged three buildings,
and left 35 people homeless (Associated Press).
WEST
A heavy spring snowstorm on May 1 dumped up to 12.7 cm (5 inches) of
snow in Douglas and Boulder County, Colorado, triggering several
accidents that led to the closure of major roads. One fatality was
reported (BBC News).
ASIA
Heavy downpours associated with the outer rain bands of Typhoon
Rammasun
(a tropical storm as it passed east of the Philippines) caused
widespread flooding across the southern, central, and western parts of
the Philippines. Heavy rain triggered mudslides that were responsible
for two fatalities and forced thousands to evacuate the area (BBC
News).
In southern China, heavy rains on May 27-28 produced flooding that
caused 28 fatalities and affected more than 500,000 people (Associated
Press/BBC News).
SOUTH AMERICA
Heavy rain fell during May 21-26 across south-central Chile,
triggering flash floods and landslides that killed five people,
displaced nearly 15,000 people, and forced the closure of the El
Teniente copper mine,
the world's largest underground copper mine. The heavy rains caused
rivers to flow over their banks, flooding homes and agricultural land
(BBC News/Reuters).
In El Salvador, heavy rain fell during May 23-25, triggering flash
floods that claimed the lives of two young girls (Associated Press).
Dangerous floods caused by torrential rains affected more than 100,000
people, damaged thousands of homes, and were responsible for the
fatalities of nine people in Colombia on May 27-28 (BBC News).
MIDDLE EAST
In northwestern Pakistan, heavy rain on May 24-25 prompted widespread
floods. The severe weather was responsible for the deaths of 10 people
(AFP).
EUROPE
Across parts of Europe, storms produced torrential rainfall that
prompted dangerous flash floods and mudslides on May 29. The worst hit
countries were Germany, France, Italy, and Belgium (BBC News). In
northern Italy, the heavy rain triggered a mudslide that claimed the
lives of three people, while in eastern France and Belgium, the
downpours triggered a mudslide that blocked roads and railways (BBC
News). According to reports, Italy declared a state of emergency
(AFP).
INDIA
A severe storm affected northern Bangladesh on May 12. A ferry was
caught in the storm and sank in the Ghorautra River. According to
reports, there were at least 150 people aboard the ferry. More than 60
people were rescued or swam to safety, 44 died, and the remaining were
missing (Associated Press).
Winds near 76 km/hr (47 mph or 41 knots) affected northern India on
May
14, resulting in several fatalities, uprooting trees, and bringing
down
power lines (BBC News).
TROPICAL
Tropical cyclone Nargis, the most devastating cyclone to strike Asia
since 1991 (Reuters), developed in the Bay of Bengal on April 27.
Prior to making landfall in Burma (Myanmar) on May 2, the cyclone
intensified to a very severe cyclonic storm (equivalent to a category
4 in the Saffir-Simpson scale with peak winds near 213 km/hr (132 mph
or 115 knots). Nargis, the first tropical cyclone to strike Burma
(Myanmar) since Cyclone Mala in 2006 and the first cyclone to develop
in the Bay of Bengal since Cyclone Sidr (BBC News), swept through the
Irrawaddy delta region and Yangon, the country's largest city. The
storm brought heavy rain, strong winds, and a 3.7 meter (12 foot)
storm surge, resulting in the worst disaster ever in the country
(Associated Press). The cyclone destroyed thousands of homes and left
thousands without power (Associated Press). According to early
reports, the cyclone left nearly 78,000 people dead and almost 56,000
missing (Reuters), but it has also been reported that the death toll
may eventually exceed 100,000 (CNN).
Typhoon Rammasun developed as a depression in the western Pacific
Ocean, east of the Philippine Islands, on May 7 and reached tropical
storm strength the next day. The storm's outer rain bands caused
widespread floods across the Philippine Islands, prompting deadly
mudslides. On May 9, Rammasun attained typhoon status and reached its
peak intensity on the 10th with maximum sustained winds near 250 km/hr
(155 mph or 135 knots). Rammasun never made landfall.
Typhoon Halong developed as a depression on May 15 in the western
Pacific Ocean, west of the Philippine Islands. Halong reached typhoon
intensity on May 17 with maximum sustained winds near 130 km/hr (81
mph or 70 knots). On May 18, the storm made landfall in the northern
Philippines, lashing the islands with strong winds, storm surges, and
heavy rain. Halong triggered floods and landslides that affected over
one million
people. There were 32 fatalities reported (AFP).
Typhoon Nakri developed in the western Pacific Ocean on the 27th,
reaching typhoon intensity on May 28. The typhoon reached its peak
intensity on May 29 with maximum sustained winds near 232 km/hr (144
mph or 125 knots). Nakri was the third typhoon to form in the western
North Pacific Ocean during May 2008. This was the first time 3
typhoons formed in May in the western North Pacific Ocean since 1959.
Tropical storm Alma was the first eastern Pacific storm of the 2008
season and the first tropical storm to strike Central America's
Pacific coast since 1887 (The Tico Times). The storm developed as a
tropical depression in the eastern Pacific Ocean, southwest of Central
America, on May 29. Alma quickly intensified that same day to a
tropical storm. On May 30, the storm made landfall in Nicaragua with
maximum sustained winds near 105 km/hr (65 mph or 56 knots). The
strong winds brought down trees and power lines, which disrupted of
electricity and telephone service to over 150,000 people. Alma also
lashed the country with heavy rain, prompting flash floods and
mudslides (BBC News). Three fatalities were associated with the severe
weather triggered by the tropical storm. Neighboring Costa Rica was
also affected by the storm. According to reports, the storm flooded
120 homes and left nearly 42,000 homes in the Nicoya Peninsula without
electricity (The Tico Times).
Tropical storm Arthur, the first Atlantic storm of the 2008 season,
formed on May 31 in the Caribbean Sea, near the coast of Belize. The
storm took many by surprise because it rapidly intensified to a
tropical storm and made landfall in Belize that same day. Arthur
brought torrential rain to Belize, prompting flash floods that claimed
five lives (Associated Press).
EXTRATROPICAL
A powerful storm system slammed into Santa Catarina, southern Brazil,
on
May 4, leaving more than 1,600 people homeless, blocking major roads,
and forcing 8 out of the 33 municipalities affected by the cyclone to
declare a state of emergency. Neighboring Rio Grande do Sul was also
affected by the cyclone, with three fatalities attributed to the
cyclone and 25,000 people forced to evacuate the area (Xinhua).
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