Category Archives: weather
Reggio Emilia, tromba d’aria e grandine
Iceberg Antarctica: Ice mass the size of Chicago breaks off Pine Island Glacier
July 13, 2013 – ANTARTICA – An iceberg in Antarctica recently broke off a glacier and is now floating freely in the ocean. What makes this so incredible is that the size of this icy mass is reportedly bigger than the city of Chicago. According to German scientists, this gigantic iceberg broke off Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier Monday, with the body of ice floating throughout parts of the Amundsen Sea. The scientists said the iceberg was spotted floating in the area by an earth-observing satellite operated by the German Space Agency.
Severe heat-wave grips Japan: 12 dead
Northern India hit by worst flooding in 50 years: 100 villages swamped in Bihar
Floods top 2013 world disaster bill so far
July 11, 2013 – CLIMATE – Floods that caused billions of dollars in losses were the world’s most expensive natural disasters so far this year, with central Europe being hit hardest, re-insurers Munich Re said on Tuesday. Altogether, natural catastrophes — also including earthquakes, tornadoes and heat waves — caused $45 billion in losses in the first half of 2013, well below the 10-year average of $85 billion. Insured losses worldwide totaled about $13 billion, said Munich Re. Inland flooding that affected parts of Europe, Asia, Canada and Australia caused about 47 percent of overall global losses and 45 percent of insured losses, said the leading reinsurance company based in Munich, Germany. The deadliest disaster out of 460 recorded “natural hazard events” worldwide was a series of flash floods in northern India and Nepal that killed more than 1,000 people in June after early and exceptionally heavy monsoon rains. By far the most expensive natural disaster was the river flooding that hit southern and eastern Germany and neighboring countries in May and June, causing more than $16 billion in damage, most of it in Germany. “The frequency of flood events in Germany and central Europe has increased by a factor of two since 1980,” said Munich Re board member Torsten Jeworrek. In some places, 400 liters of rain per square meter fell within a few days. With the ground already saturated from the rainiest spring in half a century, this led to rapid swelling of the Danube and Elbe river systems.
Tropical Storm Chantal takes aim at the Caribbean
July 8, 2013 – CARRIBEAN – Newly formed Tropical Storm Chantal is taking aim at the Caribbean this week. The Atlantic Basin has been void of a tropical depression or storm since mid-June, until Sunday evening that is. Tropical Storm Chantal has developed in the Atlantic Ocean and is currently 550 miles east-southeast of Barbados. The AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center has been keeping a close eye on this tropical system over the past few days as it has been moving from near Africa across the Atlantic Ocean. The fast-forward motion of Chantal should hinder rapid intensification as it is expected to maintain its status as a tropical storm over the next several days. Chantal will continue to track to the west and northwest through midweek, passing over the Windward and southern Leeward islands on Tuesday
http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/tropical-atlantic-trying-to-co/15010525