State of the Climate
Global Hazards
August 2006
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Climatic Data Center
Use the form below to access monthly reports.
Drought
& Heat | Flooding | Storms | Tropical Cyclones |
Extratropical Cyclones | Severe Winter Weather
Across the United States, significant drought affected large
areas of the nation. Exceptional drought was noted across portions
of South Dakota as well as sections of Texas and Oklahoma along the
Red River.
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U.S.
Drought Monitor
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U.S. Temperature Anomalies
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A heat wave across the northeastern quarter of the United
States during the first week of August claimed 22 lives in New
York. In New York City the heat index, which represents the
combined effects of heat and humidity, climbed to 44°C
(111°F) on the 3rd (AFP).
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Drought in China affected about 18 million people in August, or
the worst drought to affect the country in 50 years, according to
the state news agency Xinhua. The southwestern province of Sichuan
was the worst affected. In Chongqing, no rain had fallen for more
than 70 days, and two-thirds of the rivers had dried up (BBC
News).
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China
Drought Depiction
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In Japan, a heat wave brought electricity demand to record
levels in August on the islands of Hokkaido and Kyushu. Maximum
temperatures reached 35°C (95°F) on Kyushu (Reuters).
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In Ethiopia, flooding across the country during August 2006
claimed 626 lives. Some of the worst flooding occurred along the
swollen Omo River (Associated Press).
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African Hazards Assessment
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Flooding In India
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Monsoon-related flooding continued across India during August.
In Gujarat state, the city of Surat was embattled by flooding.
Surat is the capital of India's diamond-cutting industry, and the
flooding caused an estimated $29 million (USD) in daily ecomomic
losses. Flooding also halted gas and petroleum production in
India's largest gas fields in Gujarat state. Across the nation,
hundreds of deaths were reported during August with nearly one
million people losing their homes due to floods in the eastern part
of the country (AFP/Reuters).
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In Pakistan, monsoon-related flooding was blamed for more than
185 deaths from late July through mid-August 2006 (AFP). In
neighboring eastern Afghanistan, heavy rainfall generated flooding
that claimed at least 35 lives (Associated Press).
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Across the Philippines, landslides and flash floods triggered
by heavy rainfall killed at least six people and destroyed eight
villages in the southern part of the country. The hardest-hit area
was the southern island of Mindanao where flash flooding and
mudslides occurred on the 14th (AFP). In Vietnam, monsoon-related
flooding in central and northern regions of the country was blamed
for 42 deaths by the 20th (Reuters).
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Thailand Flooding
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Across northern provinces of Thailand, incessant rainfall
during late-month produced flooding that was blamed for eight
deaths. Flooding in the Nan province was reportedly the worst in 40
years (IFRC). In neighboring Cambodia, flooding along the Mekong
River resulted in eight fatalities (AFP).
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In the United States, rainfall in parts of the greater El Paso,
Texas area totaled more than 380 mm (15 inches) since July 27,
2006, or nearly twice the seasonal average for the city. The
resulting flooding destroyed as many as 300 homes and caused an
estimated $100 million (USD) in damage. One flood-related death was
reported (MSNBC).
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Minnesota Tornadoes
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In the United States, severe thunderstorms spawned a tornado
that affected Nicollet and Le Sueur counties in Minnesota on the
24th. There was one death and several injuries, along with damage
to many houses (Associated Press).
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Typhoon Prapiroon
developed as a depression just east of the Philippines on the 31st,
crossing the Philippines by the 1st and reaching typhoon strength
by the next day. Prapiroon made landfall in the southern part of
China's Guangdong province on the 3rd with maximum sustained winds
near 130 km/hr (70 knots or 80 mph). The typhoon was blamed for at
least 80 deaths in China after killing six in the Philippines
(Reuters/OCHA).
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Typhoon
Prapiroon
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Typhoon
Saomai
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Typhoon Saomai developed in
the western Pacific Ocean on the 4th, passing near Guam on the 5th
as a tropical storm. Saomai reached typhoon status the next day,
and reached the Chinese coastline on the 10th, just south of
Wenzhou along the border of Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. Maximum
sustained winds at the time of landfall were near 240 km/hr (130
knots or 150 mph). The typhoon prompted the evacuation of 1.5
million people from flood-prone areas, and resulted in at least 441
fatalities. Saomai was characterized as the most powerful typhoon
to strike China in 50 years (BBC News/Associated
Press/Reuters).
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Typhoon Maria developed in
the northwest Pacific Ocean on the 5th and reached typhoon strength
by the 7th. Maria weakened into a tropical storm as it brushed
southern Japan on the 9th, before dissipating the next day.
Tropical Storm Bopha developed in
the Philippine Sea on the 6th and tracked across southern Taiwan on
the 8th with maximum sustained winds near 65 km/hr (35 mph or 40
mph). Bopha's primary effects were heavy rainfall amounts along its
course.
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Western Pacific Typhoons
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Tropical
Storm Wukong
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Tropical Storm Wukong formed in
the Philippine Sea on the 12th and crossed southwestern Japan
(Kyushu) on the 17th with maximum sustained winds of 85 km/hr (45
knots or 50 mph) before weakening to a depression. Heavy rainfall
and flooding was the primary impact from this storm (Reuters).
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Hurricane Ernesto developed
in the eastern Caribbean Sea as a depression on the 24th and
attained tropical storm status the next day. Ernesto became a
hurricane just before crossing the western tip of Haiti on the
27th. The storm was blamed for 4 deaths on Haiti (OCHA). Ernesto
then tracked across the western half of Cuba before emerging over
the Florida Straits as a tropical storm on the 29th. The storm
moved across the Florida peninsula, briefly weakening into a
tropical depression before re-strengthening to tropical storm
status as it emerged off the southeast coast of the United States
on the 31st. Impacts from this system in the Carolinas and
Northeast United States will be documented in the September 2006
hazards and significant events report. For additional information,
please see the 2006 Atlantic
Hurricane season summary page.
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Tropical
Storm Ernesto
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Hurricane John
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Hurricane John formed in the
eastern Pacific Ocean on the 28th and reached hurricane strength
the next day. John buffeted coastal areas of Mexico from Lazaro
Cardenas to Cabo Corrientes as it tracked parallel to the coastline
during the 30th-31st. John made landfall along Baja California near
Cabo del Este on September 1st with maximum sustained winds near
175 km/hr (95 knots or 110 mph). Impacts from this system in
Mexico's Baja Peninsula will be documented in the September 2006
hazards and significant events report. For additional information,
please see the 2006 East Pacific
Hurricane season summary page.
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Typhoon Ioke formed in the
central Pacific Ocean on the 19th, crossing the Date Line and
entering the western Pacific on the 27th. Ioke passed north of Wake
Island on the 31st with winds on the island gusting to near 160
km/hr (85 knots or 100 mph) before wind instrument failure
occurred. The U.S. Air Force evacuated all of the approximately 200
residents of the island before the typhoon passed by just to the
north (Associated Press).
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No reports of severe winter weather were received during August
2006
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