GLOBAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

APRIL 2009

UNITED STATES

Moderate to severe drought was present across the West to parts of the
northern mid-Atlantic Northeast regions. Severe to extreme drought
remained across parts of the Hawaiian islands and Florida. Meanwhile,
severe to exceptional drought conditions engulfed much of Texas. As of
April 14, 21% of the contiguous U.S. was in moderate to exceptional
drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. This includes 26% of
the western U.S., 40% of the South, 4% of the High Plains, and 18% of
the Southeast.

Plains

Dangerous wildfires were blazing across Oklahoma and Texas during mid-
April, as strong winds up to 64 km/hr (40 mph) and dry conditions
throughout the south central U.S. helped fuel the fires. Across
Oklahoma, two hundred homes were engulfed by the devastating fires and
34 people were seriously injured, while in Texas 32 homes were
destroyed and three fatalities were reported (Source:CNN/AFP).

Severe winter weather occurred during April 3-6 as a major snowstorm
affected areas from the Plains eastward into parts of the Midwest. The
storm swept through the Plains during April 3-5, with Iowa receiving
as much as 25.4 cm (10.0 inches) on the 5th, while western Nebraska
reported snow drifts as high as 2.1 m (7 feet). On April 6, the storm
dumped 10.2-20.3 cm (4.0-8.0 inches) of snow across parts of northern
Indiana to southeast Michigan. At the height of the storm, branches
and power lines were brought down by the weight of the snow. Nearly
1,100 customers and 101,000 homes and businesses were left without
electricity across Indiana and Michigan, respectively. The storm was
blamed for four fatalities (Source: Associated Press).

AFRICA

Heavy rains that affected Zambia and Namibia since March 2009
continued during April 2009, wreaking havoc across parts of the
region. The torrential downpours prompted the overflow of rivers,
flooding homes and cropland, washing away roads, and causing risks of
disease outbreaks. Nearly 700,000 people were affected in Zambia,
while 344,000 people were affected in Namibia (Source:OCHA). The
Zambezi River water levels reached its highest since 1969
(Source:IRIN). Since the heavy rains began, 92 fatalities were
reported across Namibia.

On April 2, severe storms affected the southern U.S., spawning
tornadoes that caused damage to several homes. High winds brought down
trees and power lines. In southern Mississippi, a train which was
heading towards New Orleans from Chicago hit a tree that was knocked
down by the strong winds. No fatalities were reported
(Source:Associated Press).

South

A major outbreak of severe weather and deadly tornadoes occurred on
April 9-10, with 112 preliminary tornado reports along with many
reports of hail and wind damage. As the storms progressed towards the
east, the violent weather caused widespread damage across Alabama,
Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee and claimed the lives of five
people—three in Arkansas and two in Tennessee. In western Arkansas,
EF1-EF3 tornadoes ripped through the state on April 9, flattening
homes, uprooting trees, rupturing gas lines, and downing power lines.
The worst hit area was the city of Mena where an EF3 tornado killed
three people and destroyed or damaged over 600 homes
(Source:Associated Press). This was the first tornado to hit Mena
since November 1993. In Murfreesboro, Tennessee, an EF4 tornado tore a
15-mile path through the city with winds as high as 265 km/hr (165
mph) on April 10, destroying 117 homes and damaging 728 others
(Source:TMP Reports), and killing a mother and her 9-week-old baby
(Source:Associated Press). According to reports, the EF4 Good Friday
tornado caused an estimated $41.8 million in property damages
(Source:TMP Reports).

Severe storms affected central Florida on April 14, resulting in three
preliminary tornado reports. The strong winds generated by the storms
uprooted trees, downed power lines, damaged 25 homes, and forced
schools to evacuate from trailer classrooms. Over 70,000 customers
were left without electricity. No fatalities were reported
(Source:Associated
Press).

Another round of violent weather on April 19 resulted in 20
preliminary tornado reports across Alabama and Georgia. The severe
storms claimed the lives of two people in northern Alabama
(Source:Associated Press).

TROPICAL CYCLONES

Tropical Cyclone Jade, developed as a tropical depression northeast of
the island of Madagascar on April 5, quickly intensifying into a
severe tropical storm (equivalent to a category one hurricane) that
same day. Jade's maximum sustained winds were 120 km/hr (75 mph or 65
knots). The storm made landfall in northeastern Madagascar on the
6^th , where it rapidly weakened as it tracked towards the southwest.
Heavy downpours from the storm triggered deadly landslides and
prompted a house to collapse. Over 33,300 people were left homeless
and nine fatalities were blamed on Jade (Source:AFP).

Tropical Cyclone Bijli, developed in the North Indian Ocean's first
tropical cyclone during the 2009 cyclone season, developed April 14 as
a tropical depression. Bijli intensified to a tropical storm on the
15^th and by the 16^th it reached its maximum sustained winds near 93
km/hr (58 mph or 50 knots). Although the storm did not make landfall
in eastern India, its outer rain bands dump heavy rain across the
region. The storm continued its northeast track, making landfall in
southern Bangladesh on April 17. The cyclone brought heavy rain and
strong winds, but by the 18th weakened in intensity as it moved
towards Burma (Myanmar). Bijli was responsible for damaging homes and
crops and claimed the lives of five people (Source:Muslim Aid).