Powerful snowstorm causes major traffic disruptions in Japan

Powerful snowstorm causes major traffic disruptions in Japan

A powerful low pressure field brought heavy snowfall across parts of Japan on January 17 and 18, 2016. Extreme weather conditions caused widespread traffic chaos, and at least 250 people reported injuries while 10 000 were advised to evacuate Nemuro region on…

Intense thunderstorm spawns 3 tornadoes and a meteotsunami in Florida, US

Intense thunderstorm spawns 3 tornadoes and a meteotsunami in Florida, US

Intense thunderstorms wreaked havoc across Florida in the early morning hours of January 17, 2016 (local time). A powerful storm spawned three confirmed tornadoes and a meteotsunami, bringing widespread coastal flooding and inflicting major damage to the affected…

Severe erosion devastates the beach in Hallands overnight, UK

Severe erosion devastates the beach in Hallands overnight, UK

Series of damaging storms that battered the UK over the last few weeks triggered a rapid erosion of the beaches along Devonshire coast. The beach in Hallands disappeared overnight as thousands of tons of sand, and small pebbles were washed away, leaving behind only…

Fierce storm knocks power lines and damages buildings in Sydney, Australia

Fierce storm knocks power lines and damages buildings in Sydney, Australia

A fierce storm hit Sydney, Australia on January 14, 2016. Powerful winds knocked down power lines, damaged buildings and caused traffic disruptions across the affected areas. One person died and another suffered serious injuries in a weather-related incident. A…

After record breaking heat, severe hailstorm pounds South Africa

After record breaking heat, severe hailstorm pounds South Africa

An intense hailstorm hit Johannesburg, South Africa, on January 9, 2016, covering the grounds with a thick snow like layer, a sight quite unusual for the summer period. An outbreak of severe weather led to the collapse of a shopping center in Johannesburg suburb….

Subtropical storm developing in the Atlantic

Subtropical storm developing in the Atlantic

An extratropical low pressure system developed in the Atlantic, north of Bermuda on January 8, 2016. There are chances the system could intensify into a tropical storm during the next week. Regardless of the development, it will produce dangerous marine conditions…

Heavy flooding affects drought-stricken California

Heavy flooding affects drought-stricken California

Strong thunderstorms battered southern California since January 5, 2016. Heavy rainfalls, thought to be fueled by the El Niño phenomena, inundated streets and caused streams to overflow, disrupting traffic across the affected areas. Another strong storm is on…

Slow-moving low pressure system floods New South Wales, Australia

Slow-moving low pressure system floods New South Wales, Australia

A slow-moving low pressure system near Port Stephens (Hunter Region), New South Wales, Australia produced very heavy rain between January 5 and 6, 2016, causing both riverine and flash flooding from the Central Coast to the Mid North Coast. The severe weather has…

Heavy downpours break January records in New South Wales, Australia

Heavy downpours break January records in New South Wales, Australia

A spell of heavy rainfall drenched large portions of New South Wales (NSW), Australia on January 3, 2016. Some towns located on the South Coast reported breaking January rainfall records already, and Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecast more severe…

After wettest December on record, another round of severe weather to hit UK

After wettest December on record, another round of severe weather to hit UK

December 2015 is already a record breaking month for rainfall in parts of the UK. The spell of wet weather spread across portions of north Wales and northwest England on December 26, 2015 brought flooding to the area already saturated with water. The highest amount…