Mongolia has experienced its heaviest snowfall since 1975 this winter, with the government reporting one fatality and the loss of nearly 668 000 livestock due to severe cold and blizzards. Disaster relief efforts were initiated on February 19, focusing on providing essential aid, including food, fuel, and livestock feed, to affected communities.
A large and destructive tornado swept through four districts in Sumedang and Bandung Regencies of West Java, Indonesia on February 21, 2024, affecting more than 60 homes and injuring at least 22 people.
Violent thunderstorms struck Australia’s east coast on February 13, 2024, leading to significant damage and disruptions. The storms caused the shutdown of AGL’s Loy Yang A power station in Victoria, leaving approximately 590 000 homes and businesses without electricity. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) was forced to cap electricity prices at A$16,600 per megawatt hour, a significant increase from the usual A$200. Efforts to restore power are ongoing, with some customers already reconnected.
California, still reeling from a historic atmospheric river that left nine people dead and hundreds of mudslides, faces a new threat from a fast-moving storm.
A dangerous winter snowstorm brought Nova Scotia to a standstill over the weekend, with record snowfall exceeding 80 cm (31 inches) in many areas, leading to local emergency declarations and widespread travel disruptions.
An intense atmospheric river event hit California on Sunday, February 4, 2024, prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency in eight counties due to the potential for “life-threatening” flooding, mudslides, and widespread power outages. The National Weather Service warns of significant rainfall, powerful winds, and heavy snowfall continuing over the next few days.
Intense wildfires in central Chile have resulted in at least 112 fatalities, hundreds missing and the destruction of thousands of homes as of early Monday, February 5, 2024. A state of emergency has been declared in response to the crisis, with fires continuing to spread through densely populated areas. Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Interior Minister Carolina Tohá highlighted the severity of the situation, noting the challenges posed by 92 active fires amid unusually high temperatures and the impact of the El Niño weather pattern.
A very strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.0 hit the Kyrgyzstan – Xinjiang border region at 18:09 UTC on January 22, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 13 km (8 miles). EMSC is reporting M7.0 at a depth of 9 km (5.6 miles).
A massive landslide in Yunnan province, China, early on January 22, 2024, resulted in at least 47 people buried and the evacuation of 500 others amid freezing temperatures. A large-scale rescue operation is in progress, with at least 1 000 rescuers and 200 vehicles.
Since January 12, 2024, a series of winter storms and an outbreak of cold air have led to at least 40 deaths across nine US states. The severe weather has caused significant disruptions, including power outages affecting over 85 000 homes and businesses in Oregon, hazardous travel conditions, and extensive road closures. The latest forecasts indicate another round of extreme cold and heavy snowfall across the central and eastern US.
