GLOCBAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

NOVEMBER 2006

UNITED STATES

West and Plains

A significant drought affected areas of the Plains and Rocky Mountains.
Extreme drought was also concentrated in northern areas of Minnesota,
parts of Wyoming and Nebraska, as well as sections of Texas and
Oklahoma.

Northwest

Heavy rainfall in the U.S. Pacific Northwest brought flooding to
sections of Washington and Oregon, prompting evacuations and resulting
in at least three deaths (Associated Press). A NOAA/U.S. Climate
Reference Network site in the Olympic National Park recorded 640 mm
(25.21 inches) from November 2-6. Heavy snowfall in the mountains
during the 12th-13th prompted the closure of two mountain passes east
of Mount Rainier until spring due to the threat of
avalanches. This was the earliest such closure for one of the passes in
12 years (Associated Press).

Heavy snowfall blanketed areas of the U.S. Pacific Northwest during
late-November. New snowfall accumulations of up to two feet (60 cm)
fell in the Cascades of Washington and Oregon, while light snow fell
each day during the 26th-29th in the Seattle area. Additionally, it was
the wettest month on record in Seattle with 396 mm (15.59") of
rainfall, or the wettest month in 115 years of record-keeping.

East

A strong storm system progressing through the eastern United States
produced severe thunderstorms and tornadoes across portions of the Deep
South and Southeast during the 14th-16th. Strong winds flattened a
skating rink in Montgomery, Alabama on the 15th where more than 30
preschoolers were playing. Two children suffered injuries but there
were no fatalities. An F-3 tornado ripped through Riegelwood, NC on the
16th causing eight deaths and twenty injuries (CNN).

A strong extratropical cyclone developed off the southeast coast of the
United States during November 21-22, producing a variety of weather
along the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic coasts. Heavy rain and winds
lashed the coastline from South Carolina northward through Virginia,
while the earliest snowfall on record fell at both Charleston, SC and
Savannah, GA. Snow flurries were reported as far south as central
Florida on the 21st. Farther north, winds gusting over 115 km/hr (70
mph) were reported along the North Carolina coast, where significant
coastal flooding and beach erosion was observed (Virginian-Pilot).

ASIA

In China, extreme drought encompassed much of east-central China during
mid-November. Water levels along the upper reaches of the Yellow River,
China's second longest river, dropped to a historic low early in the
month (Reuters/Xinhua).

In Japan, thunderstorms associated with a frontal system spawned a
tornado on Hokkaido in the northern town of Saroma on the 7th. It was
the deadliest tornado on record in Japan with nine deaths and 25
injuries, with the previous record occurring in September 2006 when
there were three deaths on the southern island of Kyushu (BBC
News/Associated Press).

Typhoon Chebi developed in the Philippine Sea as a depression on the
9th, reaching typhoon intensity by the next day. Chebi crossed Luzon
island on the 11th with maximum sustained winds near 195 km/hr (105
knots or 120 mph). Chebi affected the same region of the Philippines as
Typhoon Cimaron just two weeks prior. Typhoon Durian developed in the
western Pacific Ocean on the 25th, reaching typhoon status by the 28th.
Durian struck the northern Philippines on the 30th, passing south of
Manila, with maximum sustained winds near 230 km/hr (125 knots or 145
mph).

AFRICA

Flooding in Kenya claimed 47 lives since October 25, 2006. Additional
flooding continued farther to the north in the Jubba and Shabelle River
basins in Somalia and Ethiopia (AFP). Flooding in neighboring Ethiopia
was blamed for 116 deaths

MIDDLE EAST

In northern Iraq, flash floods caused by torrential rain killed 18
people and injured 20 on the 5th-6th. The flooding occurred in Irbil
province, destroying nine bridges and several houses (Associated
Press).

In western Afghanistan, heavy rainfall during November 16-20 produced
flash flooding that caused 120 deaths in the Badghis, Farah and Uruzgan
provinces (Associated Press).

EUROPE

In Portugal, heavy rainfall produced flooding in central and southern
parts of the country during the first week of November. While there
were no fatalities, an undetermined number of sheep and other farm
animals drowned in the floodwaters (AFP).

INDIA

In Sri Lanka, heavy seasonal rainfall generated flooding and landslides
that caused 45 deaths during November. It was the worst natural
disaster in Sri Lanka since the deadly tsunami in December 2004 (AFP).

CENTRAL AMERICA

In Panama, heavy rainfall during the last week of November produced
flooding that killed at least eight people. More than 200 houses were
destroyed with nearly 700 others receiving damage (Associated Press).