Multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) produced on November 27 and 28, 2023 are heading toward Earth, with impacts expected from late November 30 to mid-day UTC on December 1, 2023. As a result, a G3 – Strong Geomagnetic Storm Watch is in effect for December 1.
The ongoing Deyr rainy season continues to unleash devastating floods across Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa, wreaking havoc on an unprecedented scale. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) confirms that as of November 29, the crisis has affected 2 million people, displaced 746 000, and caused 96 deaths. The most severely impacted areas are in Somalia’s south-west, especially the Bay, Gedo, and Middle Juba regions.
A very strong solar flare measuring M9.8 erupted from Active Region 3500 at 19:50 UTC on November 28, 2023. The event started at 19:35 UTC and ended at 20:09 UTC.
Eastern Europe is still grappling with the aftermath of Storm Bettina, a severe snowstorm that rapidly intensified over the Black Sea and impacted the region on November 26 and 27, 2023. Ukraine has reported significant casualties, with at least five deaths and 19 injuries in the Odesa region. The storm has not only disrupted life in Ukraine but also inflicted damage and caused fatalities in neighboring countries such as Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Russia.
Hurricane-force winds reaching speeds of 144 km/h (90 mph) and a significant tidal surge caused by a powerful Mediterranean cyclone named Storm Bettina have devastated parts of the Crimean Peninsula, particularly impacting Sevastopol and surrounding districts on November 25 and 26, 2023. The storm has led to widespread power outages, affecting nearly 500 000 residents, and causing considerable flooding and property damage. Bettina’s center moved over land early November 27 and is heading northward.
As Arctic air sweeps across the Great Lakes, meteorologists are warning of the season’s first significant lake-effect snow event, poised to cause travel disruptions and potentially feet of snow in some areas. This weather phenomenon, intensifying early next week, is expected to bring hazardous conditions, particularly along I-90 and in snow-prone regions of Michigan, Ohio, and New York.
Europe is bracing for a major weather shift this weekend, as an intense Arctic cold outbreak targets eastern, central, and southeastern regions. The season’s most severe winter storm is set to hit the Balkan peninsula, potentially dumping up to 50 cm (20 inches) of snow across areas from Romania to Ukraine. This significant event is forecasted to extend into the end of November, contrasting sharply with the mild weather experienced in recent weeks.
On Monday, November 20, 2023, at approximately 15:30 local time (06:30 UTC), Papua New Guinea’s Ulawun volcano erupted violently, sending volcanic ash as high as 15 km (50 000 feet) above sea level. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Red and the Alert Level to 4 (highest). Despite widespread rumors, no tsunami warnings have been issued for the surrounding regions, including Japan and Australia.
The Guaíba River in Porto Alegre, Brazil, reached a historic water level of 3.01 meters on the morning of November 20, 2023. This marked the third-highest flood level since 1941, following heavy rainfall across its contributing basins. The rising waters led to the river overflowing its banks at the Central Wharf, a rare occurrence in the city’s recent history.
The Dominican Republic has been severely impacted by a tropical disturbance that brought record-breaking rainfall and catastrophic flooding across various regions.
