Global Weather Highlights August 2005
 

GLOBAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

AUGUST 2005


UNITED STATES
South

Powerful Hurricane Katrina slammed into southeastern Louisiana and
Mississippi on the 29th, producing widespread devastation along the
central U.S. Gulf Coast. Katrina will likely become the most costly
natural disaster in U.S. history.

Hurricane Katrina formed in the southeastern Bahamas as a depression on
the 23rd, reaching tropical storm status the next day. Katrina became a
hurricane just before landfall in south Florida between Hallandale
Beach and North Miami Beach on the evening of the 24th. Maximum
sustained winds at the time of landfall were near 130 km/hr (70 knots
or 80 mph). There were 11 fatalities in South Florida, including 4 by
falling trees. More than 1.3 million customers lost electrical
services, and preliminary insured losses estimates ranged rom $600
million to $2 billion (USD) in the state of Florida (Associated Press).

Katrina emerged in the Gulf of Mexico during the morning of the 25th
and moved west-southwest into open waters of the Gulf while
re-strengthening. By the 27th, Katrina reached category-five intensity
on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Katrina's minimum central pressure was
observed by reconnaissance aircraft on the afternoon of the 29th at 902
millibars (26.64 inches of mercury), or the fourth lowest pressure ever
recorded from a hurricane in the Atlantic Basin. Katrina made landfall
in Plaquemines Parish in southeastern Louisiana early on the 29th with
maximum sustained winds near 230 km/hr (125 knots or 145 mph), a strong
category-four, and the third most-intense landfalling hurricane in U.S.
history (according to a minimum landfall pressure of 920 millibars or
27.17 inches of mercury). The center of the hurricane passed just east
of New Orleans, where winds gusted over 155 km/hr (85 knots or 100
mph). Widespread devastation and unprecedented flooding occurred,
submerging at least 80 percent of the city as levees failed. Farther
east, powerful winds and a devastating storm surge of 6.1 to 10 meters
(20-30+ feet) raked the Mississippi coastline, including Gulfport and
Biloxi, where Gulf of Mexico floodwaters spread several kilometers
(miles) inland. Rainfall amounts of 10-20 cm (8-10 inches) were common
along and to the east of the storm's path. Katrina weakened to a
tropical storm as it tracked northward through Mississippi and
gradually lost its identity as it moved into the Tennessee Valley on
the 30th, dumping heavy rainfall along its course.
In areas of southeastern Louisiana eastward along the Mississippi and
Alabama coastlines, thousands of houses and buildings were damaged or
destroyed and more than 2.3 million people lost power. Casualty numbers
were still incomplete as of September 1, but fatalities will reach into
the hundreds or perhaps thousands. Flooding in New Orleans was expected
to make the city uninhabitable for months. Preliminary damage estimates
are expected to exceed Hurricane Andrew, which would make Katrina the
country's most expensive weather disaster (Associated Press/CNN).

West

Moderate to severe drought persisted throughout parts of the Pacific
Northwest eastward into the northern Rockies. Meanwhile, severe to
extreme drought expanded across the Mississippi Valley region during
August, where some of the worst conditions were observed in Illinois.

Severe thunderstorms produced a tornado that affected the town of
Wright, Wyoming on the afternoon of August 12. The tornado destroyed or
damaged more than 80 homes at a mobile home park, rendering 85 families
homeless. There were two fatalities (Associated Press).

Upper Mississippi Valley

Severe thunderstorms in Wisconsin generated tornadoes that killed one
person and injured at least 30 others on the evening of August 18,
2005. Some of the worst damage was reported around Stoughton,
Wisconsin.

AFRICA
Greater Horn

Long-term drought continued in parts of the Greater Horn and southern
Africa, including southern Somalia southward into central and southern
Mozambique, southern Malawi and eastern Zimbabwe.

In Sudan, flooding in early August affected the Darfur and Khartoum
states, displacing thousands of people and resulting in at least 8
deaths. Rainfall in Elfashir, North Darfur state on August 3, 2005
totaled 133 mm (5.24 inches), or a new daily record since 1918 (IFRC).

In neighboring Ethiopia, 7,500 people in the northeastern part of the
country were forced out of their homes as the Awash River rose above
the flood stage. At least 5,000 hectares (~12,400 acres) of
agricultural land were submerged (DPA). In the Central African Republic
(CAR), heavy rain caused the collapse of 3,000 houses and left up to
20,000 people homeless in the capital city of Bangui during early
August. The rainy season in the CAR typically begins in mid-July (AFP).

Europe
western

Drought continued into August in much of western Europe. Since the
beginning of October 2004, rainfall has been less than half of normal
in areas of the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Portugal. Dry
conditions also aggravated wildfires in the region, and nearly 3,000
firefighters battled blazes in Portugal during late August.

Southeast

Flooding affected parts of Bulgaria for the second time in the last two
months. A State of Disaster declaration was issued for 22
municipalities in 7 districts located in the western part of the
country. There were 12,000 people evacuated from their homes in early
August, along with a total of 20 fatalities since the flooding began in
June (AFP/OCHA/DPA). Heavy rainfall affected other areas of central and
eastern Europe during August, with flooding reported in sections of
neighboring Romania, Hungary and Macedonia. The hardest-hit area of
Europe was
Romania, where 31 flood-related fatalities were reported. Farther to
the west, flooding also affected areas of Germany, Austria and
Switzerland. At least one death was reported in Germany, with four in
Austria and also in Switzerland. Preliminary damage was estimated at
over $1 billion (USD) in both Switzerland and Romania (Reuters/AFP).

Middle East

In northeastern Iran, flooding in the Golestan province killed at least
43 people during August 9-10, 2005 (AFP/BBC News).

ASIA

Flooding and landslides in China were blamed for the deaths of 32
people in the central province of Hubei during late August (Reuters).

Across northern Thailand, heavy rains produced severe flooding in the
latter half of August. More than 4,500 villagers' homes were inundated
due to flooding along the Ping River. There were at least 11 fatalities
(IFRC).

Typhoon Matsa originated in the northwest Pacific Ocean on July 31 and
reached typhoon strength by August 2. Matsa reached the coast of
China's Zhejiang province (near Huangyan) early on the 6th with maximum
sustained winds near 140 km/hr (75 knots or 85 mph). The typhoon forced
the evacuation of 1.24 million people along the coast, and there were
13 deaths reported (Associated Press/Reuters).

Typhoon Sanvu developed as a depression in the Philippine Sea before
reaching typhoon intensity by the 13th as it trekked across the South
China Sea. Sanvu made landfall near Shantou in China's Guangdong
province on the 13th with maximum sustained winds near 120 km/hr (65
knots or 75 mph). There were two deaths attributed to the typhoon
(Reuters).

MawarTyphoon Mawar developed in the northwest Pacific Ocean on the
19th, attaining typhoon status by the 21st. Mawar passed just south of
Tokyo, Japan on the 25th with maximum sustained winds near 165 km/hr
(90 knots or 105 mph). Very heavy rain fell along storm's path across
coastal Japan.

Typhoon Talim developed on the 25th in the western Pacific Ocean,
reaching typhoon strength by the 29th. Talim made landfall in Taiwan
late on the 31st with maximum sustained winds near 195 km/hr (105 knots
or 120 mph). The typhoon shut down businesses, schools and financial
markets and caused 1.48 million power outages. There were 2 deaths and
39 injuries in Taiwan (Reuters/The China Post).

CANADA

Severe thunderstorms produced at least two tornadoes in an area just
outside of Guelph, Ontario on the 19th. Cars were overturned and trees
downed, although no injuries were reported (Reuters).

SOUTH AMERICA

In Peru, heavy rains and strong winds were tentatively blamed on a
Peruvian passenger plane crash on the 23rd. There were at least 37
deaths and 40 injuries. Preliminary indications suggested that heavy
rains and strong winds prompted an emergency landing near Pucallpa
(Associated Press/BBC News).

In Uruguay, a powerful storm system on the 23rd-24th produced strong
winds in excess of 160 km/hr (100 mph) in the departments of Canelones,
Montevideo, San Jose, Colonia and Maldonado, where nearly 70 percent of
the country's population live. Thousands of homes were damaged and
around 20,000 people lost electricity and telephone service.
Montevideo's international airport was temporarily shut down late on
the 23rd due to the high winds and heavy rainfall. There were seven
people killed and dozens injured (Associated Press/OCHA)

AUSTRALIA

A strong storm system brought heavy rains and strong gusty winds at the
end of August. Heavy rains brought flooding to the Meander, Macquarie
and South Esk Rivers, plus strong winds exceeding 100 km/hr (60 mph)
across south and east sections of the state. Winds gusted as high as
120 km/hr (75 km/hr) atop Mount Wellingon (elevation 1,271 meters or
4,170 feet) (ABC).

Temperatures On August 10Across southern Australia, snow fell in parts
of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania on August 10, 2005. It was
the first snowfall in Melbourne since July 1986, and the heaviest and
most widespread snowfall event since July 19-20, 1951. Numerous records
for daily maximum temperatures were also set around the region, as high
temperatures struggled to reach between 5 and 8°C (41 and 46°F) in
many areas.

***Anyone wishing to receive the reports by e-mail, please submit your
e-mail adress.