2nd June - Today's News: Record Warm May in Japan, parts US

Japan's average temperatures in May hit record highs whilst in the US, Washington DC had its warmest May ever recorded  in 2015,  in Connecticut it was the warmest May on record and in Alaska record conditions lead to warmest, driest May in Juneau's history.   And Yukon sets forest fire record for May.

Here, winds of up to 78mph bring down trees and cause rail delays (there was even a branch coe down off a tree by my house: first time that has happened) whilst the end of the week should see summer returns, but no heatwave

In NZ, one dead as storm batters Northland and Auckland

In Melbourne winter start breaks coldest June day record whilst Canberrans awake to freezing temperatures to match those of Snowy Mountain peaks

 Chinese ship capsizes on Yangste with hundreds missing as Chinese weather officials sent to site of capsized ship amid reports fter it was allegedly hit by a 'cyclone' whilst elsewhere a huge tornado caught on camera in China

And it's not all bad news as climate change is helping Africa because greenhouse gases are bringing rain to areas that have suffered drought for decades, says new study