“The National Weather Service deemed the storm a “cyclone of historic proportions.”
“As the blizzard developed, heavy snow lashed northern Colorado, including Denver, western Nebraska, eastern Wyoming, central South Dakota, and southeastern North Dakota.
“The storm strengthened over the High Plains on Wednesday with the rate of intensification resulting in bombogenesis, which occurs when the barometric pressure rapidly plummets, crashing more than the 0.71 of an inch threshold in a 24-hour period. The rare weather phenomenon is often referred to as a “bomb cyclone.”
…”There have been gusts to near 100 mph with the snow in Colorado Springs, Colorado.,” AccuWeather Dave Samuhel said.
“Snowfall totals so far are as high as 16 inches in the mountains of Colorado, with 7.1 inches reported in Denver and about 4 in the Boulder area. Many schools, including those in the Denver area, have already been canceled for Thursday,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Faith Eherts said.
“The storm also tangled with barometric pressure records across the southwest and middle of the nation. According to preliminary NWS data, Colorado and New Mexico broke all-time low barometric pressure records on Wednesday.”
“Tornado damage was reported in Chaves County, New Mexico, Tuesday night, according to the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office.
“The sheriff’s office said the rain-wrapped tornado moved into the town of Dexter and damaged several homes. Another tornado was reported near Loving, New Mexico, according to KOAT in Albuquerque.”
“Kansas City can’t get a break this winter — and we aren’t talking about snow or ice. It’s been cold, nonstop.
“It’s been 133 days since the high temperature reached 65 degrees at Kansas City International Airport, according to the National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill. And with a high temperature of 62 degrees forecast Wednesday afternoon, Kansas City could break the record set in 1912 for most consecutive days with temperatures below 65 degrees.”
“A mild winter coupled with an excessively rainy 2018 [NE US] may lead to a surge in the number of ticks capable of transmitting Lyme disease this spring, according to researchers at Rutgers University.
“More blacklegged ticks will be out in force as temperatures begin to rise after thriving last summer and fall, and surviving the winter thanks to favorable weather.”
“”We see that the climate is changing [Oaxaca, Mexico] and in several health jurisdictions, such as the Isthmus, Costa and Tuxtepec, they register temperatures that are around 40 degrees.” In those jurisdictions where the greatest number of infectious diseases are reported, including food poisoning.
“Therefore, “it is recommended to avoid eating in street stalls that are not well regulated, lack hygiene and food are exposed to high temperatures and decompose quickly.”
“Intense rains in the north of the country are causing havoc as reported by various local media.
“In Piura [Peru], floods have already been recorded. According to the information, residents of Ayabaca are on alert because they are being affected by the heavy rains that have occurred during this Wednesday.”
“A storm has left a trail of destruction across Germany, and now there’s snow too. We show you how it’s affecting the country.
“From fallen trees blocking train lines and roads, to electricity being cut off, storm “Eberhard” has caused havoc throughout Germany. Gusts of up to 164 km/h [102mph] were recorded by forecasters on Sunday, accompanied by rain and snow.”
“Olive harvests [Italy] are in trouble because of anomalous weather patterns: this season, had the worst harvest in 25 years, a 57 percent drop from the previous season, to 185,000 tons, according to Coldiretti, the Italian farming group.
“Climate change is affecting global food production in a worrisome way. If you haven’t heard so far, coffee is in trouble, and so is chocolate… For the past 18 months, Italy has been through floods, drought, and freezing temperatures that cost the olive oil industry over $1 billion. “
“Warming in Spanish cities is twice the global average. The unusually dry and warm winter in Murcia is beginning to ring alarm bells in the agricultural sector… increased risk of desertification…”
“Africa is simultaneously experiencing hydro-climatological extremes on both sides of the spectrum, wet and dry.
“While fascinating and interesting from a meteorological perspective, both of these events pose a threat to one of the most populous continents on the planet.”
“At least 115 people have been killed in Mozambique, Malawi and South Africa after heavy rains affected 843,000 people across southeast Africa, officials and the UN said, prompting calls for emergency aid…
“Mozambique cabinet spokeswoman Ana Comoana said the “government has decreed a red alert due to the continuing rains and the approach of the tropical cyclone Idai…”
“An estimated 673,000 people in Somaliland are enduring an extreme state of drought and food insecurity and are unable to meet their minimum nutritional needs.
“Pregnant women and newborns are acutely vulnerable, with dehydration and nutrient deprivation linked to a range of pregnancy-related complications including premature births and developmental delays. The nine-year drought is exacerbating the region’s already high rates of maternal and newborn mortality.”
“In the world’s coldest capital, many burn coal and plastic just to survive temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees — but warmth comes at a price: deadly pollution makes Ulaanbataar’s air too toxic for children to breathe, leaving parents little choice but to evacuate them to the countryside.
“This exodus is a stark warning of the future for urban areas in much of Asia…”
“Philippines — Zamboanga Sibugay, known as the rice granary of the south, has been placed under a state of calamity as the dry spell continues to take its toll on the agriculture sector.
“The Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved on Tuesday the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council to declare a state of calamity and allocate P20 million to help mitigate the impact of the dry spell.”
“Hot weather will linger in Australia for at least another three months, the country’s meteorology bureau said on Thursday, piling pressure on the rural sector in one of the world’s top exporters of commodities such as wheat…
“That comes after the summer that just ended in the country was the hottest since national records began in 1910, and among the 10 driest.”
“[Australia’s] supermarkets are having to rethink what fruit and vegetables they put on the shelves as growers in eastern states are hit by a range of natural disasters.
“Vegetables prices have soared in recent weeks due to the flooding in north Queensland, while drought in New South Wales is impacting on this year’s fruit harvest. For orchardists in the central west of NSW, the lack of rain and extreme summer temperatures have taken their toll.”
“Tens of thousands of Australian school students are expected to walk out of class on Friday to demand governments take action on climate change.
“The Australian strikes are part of a global campaign by students for greater urgency from politicians in tackling what they see as the greatest threat to their future.”
“Sharp and potentially devastating temperature rises of 3C to 5C in the Arctic are now inevitable even if the world succeeds in cutting greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris agreement, research has found.
“Winter temperatures at the north pole are likely to rise by at least 3C above pre-industrial levels by mid-century, and there could be further rises to between 5C and 9C above the recent average for the region, according to the UN.”
“At least 66 people have been killed and 141,000 affected after heavy rains deluged central and northern Mozambique.
“The government has decreed a red alert due to the continuing rains and the approach of the Tropical Cyclone Idai, expected to reach the country between Thursday and Friday,” said cabinet spokeswoman Ana Comoana.
“Idai is currently spinning over the Mozambique Channel.
“Sustained winds of 175km/h with gusts of 212km/h were recorded on Wednesday morning,” said eNCA meteorologist Annette Venter.
“These are equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.
“Idai will continue moving in a westerly direction toward Mozambique.
“Weather forecast models are predicting an intense cyclone for the rest of Wednesday and Thursday as it continues to gather energy from the warm waters of the Mozambique Channel.”
“The body of another victim of Durban’s weekend flash flooding has been found near a stream, north of the city.
“The provincial cooperative governance and traditional affairs department confirmed that the man was one of two who were washed away while crossing a bridge in Verulam on Sunday.”
“A day after the Western Cape town of Montagu endured heavy rain and freak hail the size of golf balls, another hail storm caused a collision between several vehicles outside Knysna on Tuesday.
“Severe damage to cars, windows, roofs and solar panels, among others, had been reported in Montagu due to a hail storm after 9pm on Monday. A rockfall also caused the Cogmanskloof road between Montagu and Ashton to be closed.”
“The number of people killed in heavy rains and flooding in Malawi has risen to 45, while roughly 15,000 households have been forced to evacuate their homes, the government announced on Tuesday.
“The devastating floods have left entire villages underwater in the south of the East African country, damaging infrastructure including roads, power and water supplies and leading the Malawi President to declare a state of disaster on Friday.”
You may recall that poor old Kerala in India had some pretty remarkable floods last year.
“The state government [of Kerala] has issued a circular declaring heat wave, sunstroke and sunburn as ‘state-specific disasters’. The circular was issued on Saturday following the repeated instances of sunburn and sunstroke reported at various parts of the state.”
“As most of South East Queensland broke weather records yesterday for the highest temperatures ever seen in the month of March, towns in the state’s north have been warned of a potential cyclone brewing.
“Across the region yesterday, Ipswich reached 41C by 3pm, while Gatton sweltered at 41.1C…”
“Australia’s east coast is set for days of torrential rain, severe thunderstorms and the threat of ‘flash flooding,’ forecasters have warned. On Thursday up to 60mm of rain is predicted, meaning Sydney could see more than half its average March rain fall in just one day, The Daily Telegraph reported.”
“Supermarkets and butchers across [Australia] have been forced to jack up the price of lamb and beef amid soaring prices caused by ongoing drought conditions…
“Independent Sydney butchers told The Daily Telegraph they had been forced to raise the price of red meat by as much as 15 per cent in the past 18 months amid supplier cost increases of up to 25 per cent.”
“Two new icebergs have broken off from the Grey Glacier in Chile’s Patagonia in recent weeks, amid fears such ruptures are becoming more frequent. Scientists said the breaks occurred on 20 February and 7 March…
“”In recent days, “temperature rises above the normal average and intense rainfall were registered together with an increase in water level in the lake, factors that could explain the separation”.”
“The National Meteorological Service [of Mexico] has forecast that the heat wave sweeping over 20 states is expected to continue at least until Wednesday afternoon…
“In parts of San Luis Potosí, Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas, temperatures are expected to rise above 40 C.”
“Storms with damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding and a few tornadoes are taking aim at the southern Plains this week. High winds in the wake of the severe thunderstorm threat may affect just about every community across the region. A storm emerging from the Rockies is undergoing rapid strengthening…”
“It’s been very cold across Montana this winter. Okay, that shouldn’t be surprising.
“However, what is different is this bone-chilling, dangerous and life-threatening kind of cold has lasted for a month, rather than a normal run of a few days or a week.
“It looks as if the bitter cold may be sticking around into spring.”
“It’s typically the driest place in the country, but thanks to record rainfall, the Death Valley has been replaced with an enormous, glittering lake.
“A massive 10-mile expanse of water has developed in Death Valley National Park last week following heavy rainfall and flooding on several park roads in Southern California.”
“Five south-east Queensland towns have sweltered through their warmest March day on record as the mercury surpassed 41 degrees during the heatwave peak Tuesday.
“It comes after the town of Gatton broke the 40-degree barrier on Monday, which was the first time a part of south-east Queensland reached 40 degrees on a March day.
“On Tuesday, the Ipswich suburb of Amberley reached 41.3 degrees just after 3pm, smashing its previous record for the warmest March day, which was 38.9 degrees in 1965.
“Gatton, about 90 kilometres west of Brisbane, hit 41.1 degrees, surpassing its previous warmest March day, which occurred on Monday when the mercury reached exactly 40, Weatherzone meteorologist Kim Westcott said.”
“Queensland farmers are nervously watching the skies as summer crops fail and winter crops look increasingly less likely to be planted. For many, this winter crop will be the second in a row they will miss, for others it will be their third.
“Dam levels also have farmers worried with the state’s second largest storage, Fairbairn Dam, hitting its lowest ever point.”
“Tropical cyclones are likely to form north of New Zealand over the next ten days, bringing the potential for severe weather closer to the country, a forecaster says. Storms are likely to develop around the Solomon Sea, Coral Sea and the Pacific between New Zealand and Fiji.”
“Record numbers of warm-water sea creatures fled north following a marine heatwave that struck the Pacific Ocean between 2014 and 2016. ‘The Blob’ and El Niño caused water temperatures to soar by up to 7°F (3.9°C) throughout the event and scientists noticed creatures normally only found in Mexico as far north as California and Oregon.
“The ‘unprecedented’ migration of these warm-water animals included jellyfish, crabs, fish, molluscs, dolphins and sea turtles.”
“At least 11 people, including a 1-year-old baby, have been killed by flooding brought on by heavy rainfall in and around São Paulo, Brazil. Heavy rain began falling Sunday night and more is expected.
“São Paulo’s fire department said at least 155 trees fell in São Paulo. Several roads are blocked.”
“Bluebonnets are a regular feature of spring in Texas, but this year they might be blooming at their fullest later than predicted, according to horticulture specialist Andrea DeLong-Amaya.
“Last week saw record low temperatures, according to KXAN meteorologists. They previously predicted that the warmer winter would lead to earlier blooming, but their predictions changed when the cold snap was detected.”
“High water on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers is snarling barges loaded with grain, chemicals and fuel, and forecasters are worried things will get worse once the snow starts to melt.
“The looming U.S. spring could bring a sudden rise for temperatures and downpours across the Upper Midwest, where deep snows already cover the ground that was saturated before it froze over winter. That’s all adding up to worry along the banks of the Mississippi River, from its headwaters near the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico.”
“Every long-term snow monitoring site in the state [of Oregon] received above average February precipitation
…with many sites reporting more than 200 percent of the normal amount, according to recent data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Snow Survey.”
“Devastated farmers who received aid praised the programme called the Namibian Farmers Drought Aid as one of the most successful and commendable efforts ever undertaken to bring instant relief to farmers on their knees now from persistent drought since 2013.”
“Zimbabwe – Despite a dry year, Sazini Moyo’s maize crop had been pushing up tassels and she anticipated a decent harvest – until her farm outside Bulawayo sweltered through a record five-day heatwave in late February and early March. Now she fears almost her entire parched crop is a write-off.”
“The number of people killed and the damage caused to homes and properties in Malawi following the recent floods is expected to rise, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
“In a statement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres extended his condolences to the Malawi government and families of flood victims across the country after reports that the flooding had affected approximately 115 000 people…”
“The strongest tropical cyclone in at least a decade is expected to make landfall in Mozambique at the end of the week, bringing devastating winds and floods to the central coastline. The storm, named Idai, has already strengthened to the equivalent of a Category 3 storm, the third-most severe level on the Saffir–Simpson scale, with maximum sustained wind speeds of more than 111 miles per hour…”
“Heavy rain and flooding in parts of KwaMashu, Inanda, Verulam and Ntuzuma in KwaZulu-Natal have left a number of homes flooded and damaged.
“Disaster management teams have been dispatched to the affected areas. Hlengiwe Dladla said they feel hopeless after water entered their house and damaged their furniture.”
“More than 10,000 households have been displaced following the latest heavy floods in Afghanistan’s southern and western provinces, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on Tuesday.
“”Across eight provinces and Kandahar city, 1,855 houses have been destroyed and 2,841 houses have been partially damaged by flooding,” according to the agency.”
“An “enormous” solar storm that struck ancient Earth has provided a stark warning another event of this size could be around the corner.
“Revealed by analysis of chemicals preserved in Greenland ice, the storm around 2,600 years ago was 10 times stronger than anything detected in 70 years of modern measurements.
“While the people of 660 BC had little to fear, such episodes would be of grave concern today given their capacity to destroy satellites, communications and electrical systems.”
“California’s 2018 is officially the worst year for wildfires in recorded state history, the Los Angeles Times reported on Saturday, citing the National Interagency Coordination Center’s year-end statistical analysis.
“The 1.8 million acres of California land that burned last year was more than any other state in 2018, and it far surpassed 2017’s tally of 1.3 million acres in California. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Scott McLean confirmed to the Times that the wildfires were unprecedented.”
“For the second weekend in a row, severe thunderstorms hammered the south-central United States with damaging winds and tornadoes. Alabama received more severe storm damage one week after the deadliest tornado outbreak in six years.”
“If you thought it seemed like a long winter, you were right: Winnipeg’s river trail is on pace to set a record for the most number of days it’s ever been open.
“Saturday marks 72 days of skating on the Red River Mutual Trail, matching last year’s record-setting run for the ice trail. But Forks spokesperson Chelsea Thomson says there are at least a few days left for the trail, which runs along Winnipeg’s Red and Assiniboine rivers.”
“An area of ice the size of the UK and Ireland disappeared from the Bering Sea in February as scientists warned that the region was entering uncharted territory.
“Sea ice cover in the Bering Sea, which is between Alaska and Russia, dropped by two-thirds during February, according to the Colorado-based National Snow and Ice Data Center.
“It is the second year in a row the winter ice has hit a record low…”
“The Armed Forces of Ecuador informed this Saturday, March 9, that they have evacuated some 700 families affected by the floods in Santa Ana, in Manabí, one of the cantons of the province flooded this Friday, March 8, 2019.
“It is the second flood in this province this week.”
“Flash flooding hit the small tourist town of Matarangi on the east coast of the Coromandel [NZ] on Saturday afternoon, as a slow, intense and localised thunderstorm passed through the area.
“Meteorologist Peter Little said while Metservice did not have a station at Matarangi specifically, a local gauge had reported 80-90mm of rain in about an hour.”
“A struggling Australian dairy farmer has opened up about how the worst drought in 100 years cost him his marriage, mental health and livelihood.
“Fifth generation dairy farmer Jason Maloney, 37, is forced to buy food for his cows because of the severe drought that is still plaguing on his farm in Croom in regional New South Wales.”
“A new regional record has been set as temperatures cracked 40 degrees in south-east Queensland during today’s heatwave. Brisbane was forecast to hit 36C today while Ipswich was set for temperatures up to 39C. Just after 1pm, Gatton had peaked at 40C, which a Weatherzone spokeswoman said was the highest temperature recorded at the site in March…”
“Severe flooding and blizzard covered 17 Iranian provinces, Mortaza Salimi, Chairman of the Relief and Rescue Organization of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, said…
“Flooding and blizzard affected a total of 83 cities and settlements in Hamadan, Mazandaran, Tehran, Ardabil, West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan and other provinces.”
“A powerful tropical cyclone could hit Mozambique by the end of the week, says the South African Weather Service (SAWS). Tropical Cyclone Idai has developed in strength and is forecast to make landfall by Saturday, March 16.”
“The number of people killed in heavy rains and flooding in southern Malawi has risen to 28, an official said on Sunday, while the estimated number of people affected has roughly doubled.
“Chipiliro Khamula, a spokesman for Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management in the Ministry of Homeland Security, said that 28 deaths had been recorded as of Saturday, as well as 124 injuries. “A total of 45,312 households (approximately 226,560 people) have been affected and assessments to establish the extent of the damage in all the 14 affected districts are underway” he said…”
“The last four years were the hottest since global temperature records began, the UN confirmed Wednesday in an analysis that it said was a “clear sign of continuing long-term climate change.”
“…On Wednesday it incorporated the final weeks of last year into its climate models and concluded that average global surface temperature in 2018 was 1 degree Celsius (1.8 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial baseline levels.”
“Mysuru [India] witnessed the highest ever temperature for March on Thursday with the mercury touching 38 degrees Celsius.
“According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) data, temperature in the city hovered between 32 and 38 degrees on Thursday. According to private weather service providers, the temperature soared to 39 degrees. The earlier record for the highest temperature for the month was 37.8 degrees, recorded on March 30, 1931.”
“At least two people were killed and six more were missing after torrential rains and severe flooding in parts of Indonesia, the disaster agency said Friday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people.
“Heavy rain has pounded Indonesia for days, forcing the Citarum river — dubbed “the world’s dirtiest” — on Java island to burst its banks, and causing deadly flash floods in the eastern part of the sprawling Southeast Asian archipelago.”
“Incredible footage has captured the moment a giant landspout tornado hovered near a remote town during a storm. Sonia Handford was driving to work at Clifton, 150km southwest of Brisbane, when she saw the freak weather event on Thursday afternoon.
“‘I’ve never seen anything like this before,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.”
“New figures have revealed 100 per cent of New South Wales is in drought following an increase of one percent over the last month amid the country’s driest summer in 36 years. Lightning Ridge, a town in the state’s north west, has recorded its driest start to a year on record with data going back to 1888. Major rainfall deficiencies continue to grip the Eastern inland of the country including parts of Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.”
“A month-long oil spill from a Hong Kong-flagged freighter is threatening a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Solomon Islands, sparking outrage that little is being done to clean up the mess.
“The 650-foot-long Solomon Trader, owned by King Trading Ltd., ran aground on Feb. 5 on Kongobainiu reef at Rennell Island’s Kangava Bay, putting what UNESCO describes as the “largest raised coral atoll in the world” at risk.”
“These past three years of drought in Central America have destroyed crops of corn and beans, leaving families starving and causing Guatemala to declare a true state of emergency, said Catholic Relief Services officials.”
“The winter season has not yet ended but in Querétaro [Mexico], mainly in the Sierra region, there is an intense heat wave that exceeds 40 degrees in the shade.
“In most of the state, early mornings and mornings are very cold and after noon they are extremely hot.”
“The typically temperate climate [of Los Angeles] has been replaced by gloomy storms…
“Record rain — 0.94 inches — also fell on Los Angeles International Airport, surpassing the record for the date of 0.54 inches set in 1962. … Temperatures in the region have been running about 10 degrees below normal…”
“Flash flooding has turned the streets of a California town into raging rivers of rain runoff.
“Shocking images show the extent of flooding in Sonora, California on Wednesday and Thursday, when residents of the town near Yosemite National Park fled to higher ground. ‘With the torrential rains today, there are many roads in the county and the city that are flooded,’ the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office warned on Wednesday.”
“The weather last month was most unusual. The British record for the highest temperature in February wasn’t just broken, it was smashed, with a huge jump from 19.7C to 21.2C. Over the month it was the second warmest February on record. And yet it got off to a very cold start, with snow falling in northern, eastern and southern England.
“Sunshine was another big surprise. It was the second sunniest February since records began in 1929, with 44 per cent more sunshine than normal…”
“Last year marked Earth’s fourth-warmest global surface temperature since 1880 — the only years that recorded higher temperatures were 2015, ’16 and ’17 — and researchers have found that winters are warming faster than the other seasons…”
Climate change affecting the Netherland’s iconic ‘Elfstedentocht’ race:
“Following the heavy downpour which has hit most parts of the country, six people have been confirmed dead in floods that have rocked Chikwawa [Malawi].
“Confirming the development was Chikwawa police public relations officer, Constable Foster Benjamin who said one of the victims is a Health Surveillance Assistant…”
“Zimbabwe is facing its most devastating drought in four decades after recording its lowest rains in four decades regional hunger watchdog the Famine Early Warning Systems Network has reported.
“The extreme weather pattern will according to officials leave least 5 million people facing starvation, in Africa’s former bread-basket.”
“The Arctic is melting. The first ice-free summer is coming. The whole melting process is speeding up the warming of the entire Earth. And every autumn, a layer of extra clouds are forming over the ice-thinning Arctic that — researchers now believe — are speeding that melting up.”
“Umbrellas and snow shovels would have been wise investments over the past three months.
“The winter of 2018-19 was the wettest winter ever recorded in the United States, according to a report federal scientists released Wednesday. (Climate scientists define winter as the months of December, January and February.)
“In all, 43 of the “Lower 48” states had above-average levels of rain and snow from December to February…
“In Tennessee, the colossal rains caused deadly flooding across the state in February. The floods killed four people, washed out homes, buried two stretches of interstate highway under tons of mud and rock, and led to a statewide declaration of emergency.”
“The latest in a series of Pacific storms has again brought more heavy rain to parts of California in the United States this week. Severe storms, hail and lightning were reported for much of central and southern California on Wednesday…
“Even the driest place in the US was not exempt from the line of storms. California’s Death Valley picked up 16mm of rain – more than double the park’s average March rainfall.”
““We have another storm system, very powerful, that will begin entering the state [of Alabama]” on Saturday, Kevin Laws, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said…”
“A new record low temperature for the entire state of Illinois has now been confirmed. The low of 38 below zero was recorded on January 31, 2019.
“A committee of people from different agencies in the Midwest reviewed the observation and data around it. The location of the instrument is located in northwest Illinois. Picture of the weather station and location is below (from the NWS Quad Cities). The previous record was -36° F in Congerville on Jan. 5, 1999.”
“The sun was shining more than usual in Stratford [NZ] this summer, with the town recording its hottest summer’s day for nearly 60 years.
“According to official Niwa climate figures the mercury topped out at 29.5 degrees Celsius on January 29, the hottest maximum daily air temperature in Stratford since records began in 1960.”
“Australia’s forests are being reshaped by climate change as droughts, heatwaves, rising temperatures and bushfires drive ecosystems towards collapse, ecologists have told Guardian Australia…
““The whole thing is unravelling,” says Prof David Bowman, who studies the impacts of climate change and fire on trees at the University of Tasmania. “Most people have no idea that it’s even happening. The system is trying to tell you that if you don’t pay attention then the whole thing will implode. We have to get a grip on climate change.””
“More than 200 records were broken around Australia during its hottest summer on record, a study released on Thursday (March 7) said.
“The three-month summer in 2018-2019, which officially finished at the end of last month (Feb), roasted much of the country in a series of crippling heatwaves that triggered blackouts, fuelled conditions ripe for huge bush fires and worsened an already severe drought in the eastern half of the nation.”
“Taiwan’s meteorological authority said Wednesday the average temperature between December 2018 and February this year was 20.5 degrees Celsius, indicating the warmest winter since records began in 1947.
“The winter’s average temperature was 2.2 degrees Celsius higher than the historical average, the authority said in a statement.”
“Owners of fruit orchards in Jitra, Kedah [Malaysia] are beginning to feel the heat as the current hot weather has left most of their crops dry and withered, if not dead.
“Bai Haki Saad, 48, the owner of an orchard in Kampung Padang Panjang, said he had spent almost RM5,000 to buy a water pump to irrigate all the trees during the hot weather.”
“After rain-deficit monsoon and post-monsoon season, the winter has got a little too wet for India. As the extreme volatility in weather patterns continued in 2019, India received 24% more than the normal rainfall during winter. “
“Greenland’s ice sheet is visibly melting, as the dramatic image here shows. The wider Arctic is in defrost mode too. It isn’t just the frigid surface that is changing. Resources long hidden below are becoming accessible, sea routes are opening and military posturing is intensifying.”
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Weekday updates on both climate change and the global economy. Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.
“The National Weather Service deemed the storm a “cyclone of historic proportions.”
“Tornado damage was reported in Chaves County, New Mexico, Tuesday night, according to the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office. 
“Kansas City can’t get a break this winter — and we aren’t talking about snow or ice. It’s been cold, nonstop. 
“A mild winter coupled with an excessively rainy 2018 [NE US] may lead to a surge in the number of ticks capable of transmitting Lyme disease this spring, according to researchers at Rutgers University. 
“”We see that the climate is changing [Oaxaca, Mexico] and in several health jurisdictions, such as the Isthmus, Costa and Tuxtepec, they register temperatures that are around 40 degrees.” In those jurisdictions where the greatest number of infectious diseases are reported, including food poisoning. 
“Intense rains in the north of the country are causing havoc as reported by various local media. 
“A storm has left a trail of destruction across Germany, and now there’s snow too. We show you how it’s affecting the country.
“Olive harvests [Italy] are in trouble because of anomalous weather patterns: this season, had the worst harvest in 25 years, a 57 percent drop from the previous season, to 185,000 tons, according to Coldiretti, the Italian farming group. 
“Africa is simultaneously experiencing hydro-climatological extremes on both sides of the spectrum, wet and dry. 
“At least 115 people have been killed in Mozambique, Malawi and South Africa after heavy rains affected 843,000 people across southeast Africa, officials and the UN said, prompting calls for emergency aid… 
“An estimated 673,000 people in Somaliland are enduring an extreme state of drought and food insecurity and are unable to meet their minimum nutritional needs. 
“In the world’s coldest capital, many burn coal and plastic just to survive temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees — but warmth comes at a price: deadly pollution makes Ulaanbataar’s air too toxic for children to breathe, leaving parents little choice but to evacuate them to the countryside. 
“Philippines — Zamboanga Sibugay, known as the rice granary of the south, has been placed under a state of calamity as the dry spell continues to take its toll on the agriculture sector. 
“Hot weather will linger in Australia for at least another three months, the country’s meteorology bureau said on Thursday, piling pressure on the rural sector in one of the world’s top exporters of commodities such as wheat… 
“[Australia’s] supermarkets are having to rethink what fruit and vegetables they put on the shelves as growers in eastern states are hit by a range of natural disasters. 
“Sydney has been smashed by a fierce storm cell, with golf-ball sized hail smashing parts of the city and heavy rain flooding streets. 
“Tens of thousands of Australian school students are expected to walk out of class on Friday to demand governments take action on climate change. 
“Sharp and potentially devastating temperature rises of 3C to 5C in the Arctic are now inevitable even if the world succeeds in cutting greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris agreement, research has found.
“At least 66 people have been killed and 141,000 affected after heavy rains deluged central and northern Mozambique.
“The body of another victim of Durban’s weekend flash flooding has been found near a stream, north of the city. 
“A day after the Western Cape town of Montagu endured heavy rain and freak hail the size of golf balls, another hail storm caused a collision between several vehicles outside Knysna on Tuesday. 
“The number of people killed in heavy rains and flooding in Malawi has risen to 45, while roughly 15,000 households have been forced to evacuate their homes, the government announced on Tuesday. 
You may recall that poor old Kerala in India had some pretty remarkable floods last year. 
“As most of South East Queensland broke weather records yesterday for the highest temperatures ever seen in the month of March, towns in the state’s north have been warned of a potential cyclone brewing. 
“Supermarkets and butchers across [Australia] have been forced to jack up the price of lamb and beef amid soaring prices caused by ongoing drought conditions… 
“Two new icebergs have broken off from the Grey Glacier in Chile’s Patagonia in recent weeks, amid fears such ruptures are becoming more frequent. Scientists said the breaks occurred on 20 February and 7 March… 
“The National Meteorological Service [of Mexico] has forecast that the heat wave sweeping over 20 states is expected to continue at least until Wednesday afternoon… 
“It’s been very cold across Montana this winter. Okay, that shouldn’t be surprising. 
“It’s typically the driest place in the country, but thanks to record rainfall, the Death Valley has been replaced with an enormous, glittering lake. 
“Five south-east Queensland towns have sweltered through their warmest March day on record as the mercury surpassed 41 degrees during the heatwave peak Tuesday.
“Queensland farmers are nervously watching the skies as summer crops fail and winter crops look increasingly less likely to be planted. For many, this winter crop will be the second in a row they will miss, for others it will be their third. 
“Record numbers of warm-water sea creatures fled north following a marine heatwave that struck the Pacific Ocean between 2014 and 2016. ‘The Blob’ and El Niño caused water temperatures to soar by up to 7°F (3.9°C) throughout the event and scientists noticed creatures normally only found in Mexico as far north as California and Oregon. 
“At least 11 people, including a 1-year-old baby, have been killed by flooding brought on by heavy rainfall in and around São Paulo, Brazil. Heavy rain began falling Sunday night and more is expected. 
“Bluebonnets are a regular feature of spring in Texas, but this year they might be blooming at their fullest later than predicted, according to horticulture specialist Andrea DeLong-Amaya. 
“High water on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers is snarling barges loaded with grain, chemicals and fuel, and forecasters are worried things will get worse once the snow starts to melt. 
“Every long-term snow monitoring site in the state [of Oregon] received above average February precipitation 
“Serious drought across northern Kenya has resulted in a million people in need of food aid. 
“Devastated farmers who received aid praised the programme called the Namibian Farmers Drought Aid as one of the most successful and commendable efforts ever undertaken to bring instant relief to farmers on their knees now from persistent drought since 2013.”
“The number of people killed and the damage caused to homes and properties in Malawi following the recent floods is expected to rise, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 
“Heavy rain and flooding in parts of KwaMashu, Inanda, Verulam and Ntuzuma in KwaZulu-Natal have left a number of homes flooded and damaged. 
“More than 10,000 households have been displaced following the latest heavy floods in Afghanistan’s southern and western provinces, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on Tuesday. 
“An “enormous” solar storm that struck ancient Earth has provided a stark warning another event of this size could be around the corner.
“California’s 2018 is officially the worst year for wildfires in recorded state history, the Los Angeles Times reported on Saturday, citing the National Interagency Coordination Center’s year-end statistical analysis. 
“For the second weekend in a row, severe thunderstorms hammered the south-central United States with damaging winds and tornadoes. Alabama received more severe storm damage one week after the deadliest tornado outbreak in six years.”
“If you thought it seemed like a long winter, you were right: Winnipeg’s river trail is on pace to set a record for the most number of days it’s ever been open. 
“An area of ice the size of the UK and Ireland disappeared from the Bering Sea in February as scientists warned that the region was entering uncharted territory. 
“The Armed Forces of Ecuador informed this Saturday, March 9, that they have evacuated some 700 families affected by the floods in Santa Ana, in Manabí, one of the cantons of the province flooded this Friday, March 8, 2019. 
“Flash flooding hit the small tourist town of Matarangi on the east coast of the Coromandel [NZ] on Saturday afternoon, as a slow, intense and localised thunderstorm passed through the area. 
“A struggling Australian dairy farmer has opened up about how the worst drought in 100 years cost him his marriage, mental health and livelihood. 
“Severe flooding and blizzard covered 17 Iranian provinces, Mortaza Salimi, Chairman of the Relief and Rescue Organization of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, said… 
“The number of people killed in heavy rains and flooding in southern Malawi has risen to 28, an official said on Sunday, while the estimated number of people affected has roughly doubled. 
“Last year (2018) saw six consecutive months of below average rainfall in England, causing many reservoirs to run dangerously low. 
“The last four years were the hottest since global temperature records began, the UN confirmed Wednesday in an analysis that it said was a “clear sign of continuing long-term climate change.” 
“Mysuru [India] witnessed the highest ever temperature for March on Thursday with the mercury touching 38 degrees Celsius.
“At least two people were killed and six more were missing after torrential rains and severe flooding in parts of Indonesia, the disaster agency said Friday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people. 
“Incredible footage has captured the moment a giant landspout tornado hovered near a remote town during a storm. Sonia Handford was driving to work at Clifton, 150km southwest of Brisbane, when she saw the freak weather event on Thursday afternoon. 
“A month-long oil spill from a Hong Kong-flagged freighter is threatening a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Solomon Islands, sparking outrage that little is being done to clean up the mess. 
“The winter season has not yet ended but in Querétaro [Mexico], mainly in the Sierra region, there is an intense heat wave that exceeds 40 degrees in the shade. 
“The typically temperate climate [of Los Angeles] has been replaced by gloomy storms… 
“Flash flooding has turned the streets of a California town into raging rivers of rain runoff. 
“The weather last month was most unusual. The British record for the highest temperature in February wasn’t just broken, it was smashed, with a huge jump from 19.7C to 21.2C. Over the month it was the second warmest February on record. And yet it got off to a very cold start, with snow falling in northern, eastern and southern England.
“Last year marked Earth’s fourth-warmest global surface temperature since 1880 — the only years that recorded higher temperatures were 2015, ’16 and ’17 — and researchers have found that winters are warming faster than the other seasons…”
“Following the heavy downpour which has hit most parts of the country, six people have been confirmed dead in floods that have rocked Chikwawa [Malawi]. 
“Zimbabwe is facing its most devastating drought in four decades after recording its lowest rains in four decades regional hunger watchdog the Famine Early Warning Systems Network has reported. 
“The Arctic is melting. The first ice-free summer is coming. The whole melting process is speeding up the warming of the entire Earth. And every autumn, a layer of extra clouds are forming over the ice-thinning Arctic that — researchers now believe — are speeding that melting up.”
“Umbrellas and snow shovels would have been wise investments over the past three months.
“The latest in a series of Pacific storms has again brought more heavy rain to parts of California in the United States this week. Severe storms, hail and lightning were reported for much of central and southern California on Wednesday… 
“Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has announced it will extend its ski season through July 7 this year due to record-setting snow totals. 
“A new record low temperature for the entire state of Illinois has now been confirmed. The low of 38 below zero was recorded on January 31, 2019. 
“The government of Colombia’s Córdoba department authorized a public calamity declaration over the drought that is affecting the area…”
“The sun was shining more than usual in Stratford [NZ] this summer, with the town recording its hottest summer’s day for nearly 60 years. 
“Australia’s forests are being reshaped by climate change as droughts, heatwaves, rising temperatures and bushfires drive ecosystems towards collapse, ecologists have told Guardian Australia… 
“More than 200 records were broken around Australia during its hottest summer on record, a study released on Thursday (March 7) said. 
“Taiwan’s meteorological authority said Wednesday the average temperature between December 2018 and February this year was 20.5 degrees Celsius, indicating the warmest winter since records began in 1947. 
“Owners of fruit orchards in Jitra, Kedah [Malaysia] are beginning to feel the heat as the current hot weather has left most of their crops dry and withered, if not dead. 
“Greenland’s ice sheet is visibly melting, as the dramatic image here shows. The wider Arctic is in defrost mode too. It isn’t just the frigid surface that is changing. Resources long hidden below are becoming accessible, sea routes are opening and military posturing is intensifying.”