On July 30, 2024, NIWA reported that the anomalies from the recent stratospheric warming have started to propagate downward and are affecting tropospheric weather patterns in the southern hemisphere.
A series of large landslides caused by heavy rains struck Wayanad in the Indian state of Kerala at 03:00 local time (LT) on July 30, 2024. Revenue Minister K. Rajan’s office confirmed 54 deaths as of 12:36 LT, with over 100 people remaining missing. Rescue operations are currently underway, and over 250 people have been rescued according to the latest reports.
Millions of Australians are facing record-breaking sub-zero temperatures as an icy blast sweeps across the country from July 28 to August 2, 2024. A strong high-pressure ridge is causing dry conditions and frosty mornings, with temperatures plummeting below seasonal averages in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and other regions.
Solar activity was at very high levels over the past 24 hours, with a series of moderate to strong solar flares, including an M9.9 flare on July 28 with an Earth-directed component. This, coupled with the cannibal CME expected to arrive late on July 29 into July 30, suggests significant geomagnetic storming is possible, potentially in the range of G3 – Strong or even G4 – Severe on July 30.
In just several hours, the Park Fire in California exploded from a 162 ha (400 acres) fire to more than 58 750 ha (145 000 acres) massive inferno, consuming everything in its path. One person has been arrested on suspicion of starting the blaze.
Typhoon “Gaemi” — known as Carina in the Philippines — made landfall in Taiwan’s east coast near Hualien City on July 24, 2024, with maximum 1-minute sustained winds of 205 km/h (125 mph) and gusts to 250 km/h (155 mph). This storm is considered one of the strongest to impact Taiwan in recent years. Gaemi is the fourth named storm and the second typhoon of the 2024 West Pacific typhoon season.
The Southern Annular Mode (SAM) has started shifting into its negative phase this week, likely caused by a recent sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event over Antarctica, which is expected to bring colder and wetter conditions to southern Australia.
Strong Strombolian activity that started at Etna’s Voragine crater at 15:45 UTC on July 22, 2024, increased around 01:00 UTC on July 23 and evolved into a new lava fountaining episode at 02:59 UTC.
Two Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CME) were produced over the past 3 days. The estimated time of arrival to Earth is late July 23 to midday July 24, 2024. A G2 – Moderate geomagnetic storm watch is in effect.
A massive Saharan dust plume reached South Florida on July 20, 2024, causing reduced air quality and hazy skies. Rain is also forecasted for the weekend, and the mix of dust and precipitation is expected to bring dirty rains to Florida.
