Weather & Earth Science News

It was a bit wet yesterday (and windy).  We had 18.1mm in my garden, bringing the rainfall for the month to nearly 80mm - not as much as August 2010 which was the last time we saw in excess of 100mm but enough to bring the river up to flood level.  Rainfall for the year is however only 150mm so still below average. Not surprisingly, plenty of problems with flooding and storm damage: Flood warnings as wind and rain hit England and Wales Tewkesbury on alert for new deluge as 32 flood warnings are issued for England and Wales after 71mph gales Bridge plunge couple rescued from Dorset stream And today, in Wales problems continue as power restored to homes whilst every river in Somerset is on flood alert and Badminton horse trials cancelled by waterlogged ground But it was a fine day in Scotland yesterday with clear, sunny skies as late snowfall brings influx of skiers and snowboarders to the Highlands Wet weather brings surge in giant dandelions But it...

A surprisingly wet night and morning in Evesham, with rainfall totals now in excess of the monthly average - and a wet Sunday still to come with more rain and 60mph warning as poor weather continues for UK with some drought-hit areas of England told to prepare for flooding .  Looks likely to end up the wettest month here since August 2010: good news for local growers, although April deluge 'won't halt drought' - we still need a lot more across the country to replenish the deficit of the past 18 months. But down under, after a couple of wet summers, it's official: Australia no longer in drought - for the first time in a decade. We didn't get anything interesting here on Wednesday but elsewhere tornado rips roof off house in Rugby whilst another tornado rips through Essex farm Colombian army has growing role in flood defence Thanks to pollution, a 'warming hole' delayed climate change over eastern United States World's glaciers 'ou...

Severe weather warnings as Atlantic storms batter Britain with wind and rain this morning and a good chance of some heavy thunderstorms this afternoon and perhaps again tomorrow - now looking likely that whilst we won't get a month's rain this week we will at least finally see the monthly rainfall total for Evesham exceed the average, for the first time since October 2010.   The reason for this is the jet stream running Atlantic depressions across the south of England - instead of to the NW of Scotland - something which incidently happened in summer 2007 ....   However, the Avon is very far from flooding, currently nearly 5m below it's height in July 2007 and only 13cm above it's 'normal' minimum level.   Though elsewhere,  Dorset's Charr and Wriggle rivers at risk of bursting banks whilst in Derbyshire some drought zone rivers flooded .   In the Channel, bad weather causes ferry and hovercraft services to be cancelled .  In Ireland t...

In the US, snow, rain slams East Coast with 'unusual' storm whilst snow and rain hit parts of Central, Atlantic Canada as well. Our 2nd thunderstorm of the year in Evesham on Sunday brought rainfall totals for the month above average at last, though that doesn't mean they'll stay so until next week.  I doubt there'll be a month's worth of rain to fall in 72 hours in these parts, especially since yesterday produced just 0.5mm.  But we might get another week's worth by month end ....  7 members of a Kenya church group killed by flash floods in park Daytme meteor streaks across North America Public back windfarm subsidies, survey suggests Mexican volcano keeps locals awake And Gaia theory scientist James Lovelock admits he was 'alarmist' about the impact of climate change - much to the delight of the anti-science mob who now even criticise him for admitting he was wrong!  Obviously 99% of climate scientists and all those who do not ...

After our first thunderstorm of 2012 yesterday, rainfall in Evesham this month is now 31mm, exactly the average for the first 20 days of April; overall we're running at about 60% of average for the year (which is the same deficit we saw last year).  Many other parts have had more rain though and the Avon has in the past 2 days risen above it's long term seasonal low of ~0.46m to 0.77m thanks mainly to rain elsewhere in the Midlands running off into its tributaries.  The level will likely drop back again before long.    Groundwater levels remain very low in many parts as rain fails to alleviate drought - though more heavy showers expected this weekend and next week also looks wet.   We may actually end up with above avrage rainfall in Evesham this month, for the first time since Oct 2010.  Fishing boat struck by lightning off Ramsgate Piers Corbyn is the weatherman caught in a media storm after his prediction this week that May will be t...

One of the daftest headlines of the year, courtesy of our old friend Piers Corbyn (who else?): it's going to be the "coldest May in 100 years" forecasters predict (I never realised there was more than one Piers!!).   Well, it's possible.  Just as it's possible Elvis really does live on the Moon.   I have a feeling the second half of May will see a change in weather patterns bringing some warm weather in and overall the month will end a little above average both regards temperature and rainfall.  We'll see who's right! It's slightly more possible that April could break rainfall records , though extremely unlikely - not least here in Evesham where so far we've had only 91% of average to date. As usual, thunderstorms have by-passed the Vale (we've had just one rumble of thunder all year, so far) but other parts have seen quite a few, including London where yesterday lightning strike disrupts trains in and out of London .  In East Yorkshir...

More flash flooding in Australia where Mum, three kids amongt NSW flood rescues and there's more rain on the way as Sydney covered by a blanket of grey Here in Britain, late snowfall boosts ski centre s which had been closed through March - cool, unsettled conditions look like persisting for another couple of weeks at least so more snow in the 'Gorms and Lochaber is more than likely, though this is far from unusual in April and despite perceptions the month isn't proving especially cold compared with average. Blustery conditions today as gales bring down trees and power lines in Cornwall Floods swamp south Texas Kansas officials call storm chasers 'outrageously stupid' - the problem partly being the popularity of TV programmes about stormchasing which have encouraged many more 'amateurs' to get involved just for the thrill, without any respect for others and offering none of the very important observational and meteorological information t...

Death toll from Oklahoma tornado rises to six whilst forecasters say 'high risk' warning worked but fear complacency in areas tornadoes didn't it - which is of course what I warned might happen , when these new 'graphic' style of warnings were announced earlier this month. In Pennsylvannia, freakish weather stumps meteorologists Rain lashes Sydney - and it's going to get worse - 17mm of rain in 10 minutes is as much as I've had so far this month in total. In Sweden at the weekend, spring snowfalls cause transport turmoil (I thought it was only in Britain that happened?) Fierce winds feed flames in Zabaikalsky fires on the Russian steppes Despite (allegedly) causing a number of earthquakes near Blackpool last year, and the risk of ground water contamination, fracking 'should continue with checks'   and to help you make up your own mind on the issue,  the Daily Telegraph give us fracking: the state of the evidence Delibe...

It's being warned that our drought may last until Christmas with even in Wales water warning by Environment Agency with low river levels after little rain - there'll be some this week but it will do little to ease the long term deficit And the British wildfire season continues with Ardnamurchan moorland destroyed by wildfire with another currently being fought in Galloway and more gorse fires on hillside near Derry Weekend tornadoes leave a 'royal mess' in Midwest; 5 dead Lightning bolt kills man on building site near Crewe, last week Rwanda: flood death toll rises Some Asian glaciers 'putting on mass' though many others are in retreat - most likely down to changes in precipitation patterns.

US Midwest put on tornado watch with severe storms expected today Strong storm brings rain, snow to California But drought expands throughout the USA Freak snow showers hit North Wales - though I question whether 5 inches of snow really fell in the space of five minutes! British teenager struck by lightning twice in an afternoon says he survived because his novelty hat took the damage - worth noting that apart from one rumble of thunder on Wednesday there's not been any electrict activity over Evesham at all this week (or, indeed this year) and its many years since I last saw any decent lightning. In contrast, on Thursday San Francisco had a night to remember: thunderstorm shatters records and one lucky photographer got a superb shot of the Bay Bridge being struck. China issues emergency response to hailstorm that has destroyed over 4,000 homes whilst in India, a hailstorm claims 14 lives . Agencies warn poor rains threaten Somalia's recovery after last year's famine...

Weather Service surveys damage after raging downpour leaves Texas town covered in giant piles of hail stones up to 4 foot deep, near Amarillo - the drifts were produced by the rain washing the hailstones into position - there wasn't actually 4 foot of hail fall. NOAA confirm that warm March across US shattered records with over 15,000 individual daily temperature records broken Gorleston boy tells of mudslide near miss after a thunderstorm causes a wall to collapse Weather causes havoc across the Emirates whilst unusual hail, heavy rain, snow hit southern Saudi Tornado destroys 25 houses in Maguindanao in the Philippines In Malaysia, over 1,000 evacuated in Perak flood Rising Pacific seas linked to climate change Eat less meat to prevent climate disasters, study warns - but if the problem is with fertilisers used to grow crops , surely we should eat more meat and less plants? And, as was quickly identified on UKww yesterday afternoon, typhoon sonic boom behind mysterious b...

Indian Ocean tsunami alert lifted after Aceh quake whilst Mexico shaken by two earthquakes in 24 hours With some heavy showers in places this week and more rain and showers expected next week, Environment Agency warns of flash flood risk in drought In Germany, Easter colder than Christmas In China, golf ball-sized hailstones kill three people Light pollution 'saturates' UK night skies Radiation from Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidenst not as harmful to wildlife as feared Icelandic volcanoes said to be growing restless - and it's nothing to do with the suggestion that Iceland's volcanoes may power UK . Hoepfully any current activity is just down to seasonal snow and glacial melt. And I totally agree that attacks on climate science by former NASA staff shouldn't be taken seriously - or at least, no more seriously that comments made by old Mrs Crabapple from down the road with the 19 cats. They are entitled to an opinion, but that opinion is no more valid t...

As predicted, it was a dank holiday Monday: end of the Easter weekend is a washout - though only 5.7mm fell here yesterday, bringing the rainfall this month up to about average to date. Tornado hits construction site in eastern Turkey, six killed Alaska's largest city breaks snowfall record Early snow blankets southern NSW peaks Pakistani rescuers resume search for 139 trapped in avalanche on the Siachen glacier in Kashmir. And in the US, this year's record breaking heat makes scientists uneasy .

At least 12 dead after severe storm hits BA city, province in Argentina on Wednesday. Some reports have the toll at 14. Jersey could face hosepipe ban if no rain in April and as bans are imposed across parts of England there's a warning of rationing ahead unless UK get rain . Ironically, bank holiday Monday is looking like a wash-out for most of the country.... In Canada, March's freaked out weather means the heat is on but it's not all warm as Spring storm dumps snow, causes havoc in Edmonton and area Mars probe captures video of 12 mile high dust devil thundering across the planet whilst volcanic pits on Mars could offer a safe haven for life away from cosmic raditaion which, in the absence of a magnetic field, floods the planet's surface.

Now it's out with mild March and in with Arctic April as Scottish ski-ing's salvation sweeps south bringing snow to northern England and even some sleet here in Evesham this morning. Commuters face misery as snow falls whilst gales cause power cuts to about 40,000 homes in northern England But snow brings relief for Highland fire crews - nothing better to put out a heath fire! In the Cairngorms, Scottish walkers rescued after being caught in sudden weather change (actually, they were Belgian) And as we shiver in April, the MetO confirm that March weather third warmest on record Severe weather of a different kind in the US where Texas picks up the pieces after unprecendented twin tornadoes toss trucks across the skies - amazing video and still there. Coral links ice sheet collapse to ancient mega-flood ~14.6ka Amount of coldest Antarctic water near ocean floor decreasing for decades Yuka, a well preserved juvenile woolly mammoth may have been killed by humans And final...

Snow and ice return to Scotland with up to 10 inches in places. And down here, tomorrow looks like being a particularly braw day with a cold wind and sleety rain for much of the day, though temperatures so far a little above normal. We do need that rain though! Warm weather boosts UK crops, but Europe suffers on droughts Calm settles over Fiji after storms as New Zealanders rally to support flood-stricken Fiji Typhoon-strength storm brings travel chaos to Japan In the US, weather service to test more graphic tornado warnings to hopefully make more people appreciate the dangers more. Though whether warning of mass destruction and an 'unsurvivable' storm will backfire if it misses the town, or just disspates before causing too much damage, remains to be seen. Last month the US saw warm weather records smashed, more than 90 cities with warmest March on record but, not in Alaska where weather flip-flops: March averaged colder than February Hyperthermal events may be trigger...

Tourists flee in frantic scenes as devastating floods hit Fiji with Cyclone Daphne bearing down on the islands, the situation is unlikely to improve any time soon. After record heat last week, snow returns to Scotland's mountains - and there could even be some over higher ground in southern England tomrorrow night. More importantly, over the next week, we could finally see some rain! A similar situation in Sweden where there have been record March highs despite last snow And in the US, astonishing heat in March set records for the month Though it's not just the heat that was notable last month: Foggy March brings record temperatures to Reading In Viet Nam, two killed as storm lashes HCM City, southern provinces New comparison of ocean temperatures reveals rise over last century Precipitation impacts glacial melt, Patagonia glacier study suggests Concerns over India rivers order Corals 'could survive a more acidic ocean' - which is obvious given they've been ar...