GLOBAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

JANUARY 2007


EUROPE
North

A powerful storm moving eastward from the North Atlantic impacted
northern Europe during mid-January with powerful winds and heavy
rainfall, causing considerable loss of life.

A powerful storm system affected much of northern Europe during the
17th-18th. Torrential rains and winds gusting up to 170 km/hr (105
mph) affected portions of southern Britain, northern France, the
Netherlands, Germany, and the Czech Republic. The UK Met Office
reported the strongest winds since January 1990 across the country.
There were at least 47 deaths across the region, with tens of
thousands losing electrical services during the storm (AFP).

UNITED STATES
Northern Rockies and Plains


Extreme drought conditions were observed in areas of Wyoming and
Nebraska, as well as northern Minnesota and parts of Texas.
Exceptional drought was limited to areas of south Texas. (U.S. Drought
Monitor)

Gulf Coast

Severe thunderstorms generated tornadoes along the central Gulf Coast
region on January 4. In Lousiana's Iberia Parish, there were 2 deaths
and at least 15 injuries. As many as ten homes were destroyed
(Associated Press).

southern Plains

Ice and snow affected large sections of the United States during mid-
January, from Texas and Oklahoma northward through Missouri, Illinois
and northeastward into New England during January 12-17. There were
more than 60 fatalities across the region, and hundreds of thousands
of residents lost electricity to their homes and businesses (AFP). In
Oklahoma alone, 23 people lost their lives (Reuters).

West Coast and Southwest

Subfreezing temperatures and snow occurred unusually far to the south
in parts of Southern California. California governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger warned that California's fruit industry was facing its
worst-ever crisis due to prolonged low temperatures. Preliminary
agricultural losses were estimated at $1 billion (USD)(AFP). In
Phoenix, Arizona, low temperatures dipped to -2°C (29°F) on both the
14th and 15th. Previously, the last subfreezing temperature was
observed on December 23, 1990.

AFRICA
West

Excessive rainfall in portions of Kenya and Somalia destroyed property
and crops, killed livestock, displaced people and caused fatalities.
Rift Valley Fever broke out in sections of Kenya and Somalia killing
at least 32 people (AFP). In Zambia, flooding from heavy rain in the
Solwezi and Mpulungu districts affected over 100,000 people (IFRC). In
Angola, heavy rainfall during January 21-24 produced flooding that
caused at least 75 deaths (IRIN). In Mozambique, flooding rains
rendered more than 3,500 homeless during the 20th-23rd (AFP).

MALAYSIA

Heavy rainfall continued in Malaysia during early January, with the
number of fatalities at 18 since flooding rains began in December
2006. The flooding was concentrated in the states of Johor and Sabah.
The recent flash flooding, described as the worst in decades, was
blamed in large part on environmental degradation and poor development
planning. At the peak of the flooding, around 110,000 people were
sheltering in relief centers (AFP).

In northeastern Indonesia, a landslide triggered by floodwaters killed
11 people and left 21 others missing. At least 64 houses and two
churches were swept away on the remote Sangihe Island (Associated
Press).

ASIA

In the Philippines, heavy rainfall produced flooding and landslides
during the first two weeks of January that killed 23 people and
displaced nearly 25,000 people. Seventeen people were killed in Samar
and southern Leyte provinces, while six fatalities were reported in
Agusan province (AFP). Monsoon-related flash flooding in Sri Lanka
killed 14 people and rendered another 61,000 homeless in January
(AFP).

SOUTH AMERICA
BRAZIL


Heavy rains in the southeastern part of the country resulted in 31
deaths from flooding and mudslides during the first week of January.
The majority of the fatalities occurred in the Rio de Janeiro state
(Associated Press). On the 11th, heavy rainfall promoted a dam
collapse at a mining company in Brazil's Minas Gerais state, releasing
about 2 billion liters (530 million gallons) of mud, bauxite and
aluminum sulfate into rivers that supply water for around 90,000
people. In the city of Muriae (located about 318 km northeast of Rio
de Janeiro), the polluted water covered houses, killed fish and left a
muddy mark two meters (~7 feet) high on city buildings (see photo)
(Associated Press).

PERU

Heavy rainfall since late December 2006 produced flooding in the
Departments of San Martin and Huanuco in northeast Peru, causing the
Huallaga River to exceed the flood stage. More than 30,000 people were
affected, with significant damage to crops/agriculture (OHCA).

BOLIVIA

Heavy rainfall produced flooding along the major rivers of the
country, including the Rio Grande, Pilcomayo, San Juan del Oro, and
Bermejo. At least 40,000 people were affected (OCHA).

TROPICAL

Tropical Cyclone Isobel developed in the southern Indian Ocean on the
2nd and moved ashore in Western Australia near Eighty Mile Beach on
the 3rd with maximum sustained winds near 75 km/hr (40 knots or 45
mph). There were few reports of damage, although the cyclone merged
into a non-tropical low-pressure system to create a much larger storm.

Tropical Cyclone Clovis developed in the southern Indian Ocean on
December 31 and made landfall along the east coast of Madagascar on
the 3rd with maximum sustained winds near 120 km/hr (65 knots or 75
mph). After heavy rainfall from the passage of a cold front as well as
Tropical Cyclone Bondo in December 2006, flooding and mudslides were
the primary effects from Clovis.

AUSTRALIA


The remnants of Tropical Cyclone Isobel merged with a non-tropical low-
pressure system to create a very large and uncharacteriscally powerful
storm sytem across Western Australia on the 4th. Very heavy rain was
reported in southern sections of Western Australia, with 135 mm (5.3
inches) at Esperance along with winds gusting to 72 km/hr (45 mph)
(BBC News).

INDIA


Temperatures on January 4In Bangladesh in early January, unusually
cold weather affected northern districts of the country, producing
temperatures as low as 5°C (41°F), or reportedly the coldest in 38
years. At least 130 fatalities resulted from the cold weather, as well
as adverse impacts on winter crops. (OCHA)