Weather & Earth Science News

Again today, Dubai airport gripped by major disruption as unprecedented rains continue to batter Gulf as speculation 'cloud seeding' caused Dubai record rainfall refuted by experts blaming climate change and, more details from the University of Reading, 'cloud seeding did not cause Dubai floods', expert says. The storms were widespread, and were well forecast in advance by computer models.  The amount of precipitable moisture in clouds is not affected by cloud seeding - all seeding does is induce that moisture to become rain in conditions where otherwise it would not have done so.  Any residue from prior cloud seeding would have made no difference given the synoptics - but tinfoilhattery always sells ....  Devastating tornado damage and multiple injuries in Kansas after two dozen twisters rip through heartland So far there have been at least 7 people killed in Russian floods Last month's deadly African heatwave 'impossible' without warming Drought causes

This is not an exhaustive list, but is intended to give some perspective on how widespread and frequent such events have been since the beginning of 2023   February 2023 California storms ease after record rainfall leaves threat of landslides March 2023 SoCal sees record rainfall as storm brings flooding, evacuations and power outages in NorCal July 2023 Beijing records 29 inches of rain from Saturday to Wednesday, its most in at least 140 years Vermont governor calls floods 'historic and catastrophic' Japan floods: three die as island hit by 'heaviest' rainfall Nova Scotia: Four missing after extreme rainfall hits Canada   August 2023 Slovenia suffers its worst-ever floods    California cleans up after record rainfall from tropical Storm Hilary Train derails and roads flood as Sweden, Norway hit by torrential rain   September 2023 Madrid's metro system is flooded as city is hit by worst rainfall since 1972 Hong Kong and southern China battle widespread flooding

Dubai airport pleads with travellers 'Don't come!' with floods still causing chaos after Dubai reels from flood chaos as record rains lash UAE and  heavy rains kill 18 in Oman as flash floods lash UAE .   Reports of 254mm falling in 24 hours. The terrifying moment huge tree comes crashing down and falls just feet from passing motorists after high winds caused carnage across UK on Monday King tides cause new levels of devastation in Tuvalu BoM announce that El Niño ends with uncertainty over cooler future And as SAIS end operations till next winter, i n pictures: Scotland's avalanche season

Caravan flips as 'tornado' tears through village in Staffordshire, as g ale force winds spark commuter chaos And in Notts, West Bridgford Tornado: 40 shocking images show extent of damage caused by freak weather event Meanwhile, Canada's 1st tornado of the year touched down in Amherstburg, Ont., researchers say Pakistan: Lightning and unusually heavy rain kill dozens In south Africa, Margate storm leaves five people dead and infrastructure damaged And c oral bleaching: Fourth global mass stress episode underway - US scientists

Europe braces for a cold spell and snow after record-breaking heatwave More floods grip Kazakhstan and Russia as tributaries of Ob rise Residents evacuated as flood waters rise in western Finland California's Death Valley in surprise bloom as desert terrain is filled with wildflowers thanks to record-setting rain 58 killed by 2 weeks of floods in Tanzania At least 33 killed in Afghanistan as heavy rains set off flash floods And  Japan's Sapporo sees earliest 25C day since records began  

Russia Kazakhstan floods: High water levels swamp Orenburg houses Colombia drought: Four-minute showers - a parched Bogota rations water UK food security threatened by extreme flooding, farmers warn Family's lucky escape after motorhome wrecked in storm Kathleen In Western Australia, c ars submerged and shopping centre roof collapses as severe storm hits Perth Tourist drowns and 130 people are evacuated as Tenerife is battered by freak storms and 16ft waves Searing heat is back across Southeast Asia and it’s not going away anytime soon  Record rain brings dangerous flash flooding and strong winds to Northeast USA Unseasonal wildfires beset midwest: ‘The strangest winter I’ve ever seen’