State of the Climate
Global Hazards
April 2006
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Climatic Data Center
Use the form below to access monthly reports.
Tropical
Cyclone Monica |
Global
Hazards And Significant Events
April 2006
Severe tropical cyclone Monica impacted Australia's Northern
Territory and Queensland during late April 2006. Additional
information can be found below.
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Drought
& Heat | Flooding | Storms | Tropical Cyclones |
Extratropical Cyclones | Severe Winter Weather
Across the United States, significant drought extended from the
Desert Southwest eastward through the Southern Plains. Exceptional
drought classification was noted across Deep South Texas.
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U.S.
Drought Monitor
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Africa Rainfall Anomalies
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A severe long-term drought continued throughout areas of
Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. The most severely affected areas
included the Gedo region of Somalia, the Somali region in Ethiopia
and the Mandera district in Kenya (ICRC). The beginning of the
rainy season brought limited relief to the region by mid to late
month. For the latest African analysis and forecast, see the
Famine
Early Warning System Network.
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A sandstorm originating along the China/Mongolia border
affected Beijing on the 17th. It was the eighth sandstorm of 2006
for the Chinese capital, and reportedly the worst so far this year.
Reduced visibilities also spread eastward to the Korean Peninsula
(BBC News).
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China
Sandstorm
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California Precipitation
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In the United States, heavy rainfall across coastal and valley
areas of California produced flooding during April 3-5. Streams and
creeks rose out of their banks, and an earthen dam near Valley
Springs threatened to rupture on the 5th, forcing the evacuation of
about 100 homes (Associated Press). Heavy snow fell throughout
mountainous areas.
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By the 13th, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared
nine counties a disaster area due to heavy rainfall and flooding
since the beginning of the month (Associated Press). Precipitation
surpluses since the 1st were more than 200 mm (8 inches) in some
areas of the state.
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California
Precipitation Departures
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In Australia, flooding in the outback town of Katherine forced
the evacuation of nearly 600 people. Days of heavy rainfall caused
the Katherine River to rise above the flood stage. The town of
Katherine, population 2,000, is located about 300 km (185 miles)
south of Darwin in the Northern Territory (Reuters).
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Thunderstorms in Yemen produced flash flooding during the
3rd-5th. At least 25 people were killed from the storms and
flooding, including a number lightning-related deaths (AFP).
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Colombia Rainfall Estimates
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Flooding in Colombia was prompted by heavy rainfall that began
in early March 2006 and continued through much of April. At least
70 people were killed by flooding and mudslides since the rains
began. The worst disaster occurred along the Pacific coastline near
the city of Buenaventura, where a landslide killed 31 people on the
13th. More than 225 homes were destroyed and 2,000 damaged
(AFP).
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Heavy rainfall and snowmelt produced extensive flooding along
the Danube River in April. The river reached its highest level in
111 years (Xinhua). Areas of Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania
were the hardest hit, with many roads and bridges in the region
damaged and expansive areas of farmland flooded. Thousands of
people were displaced from their homes (Reuters, Associated
Press).
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Europe
Rainfall Estimates
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In Indonesia, monsoon-related rainfall produced flooding in
East Java during mid-April. At least 23 deaths were reported by the
20th, with most of the fatalities occurring in the Bendungan
subdistrict (AFP).
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Across northern Argentina, heavy rainfall produced flooding in
the northern provinces of Salta, Jujuy and Formosa. By late in the
month, at least 150 homes and several bridges were destroyed,
displacing as many as 6,000 people (IFRC).
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On April 13, severe thunderstorms produced a tornado that
ripped through eastern Iowa, including Iowa City and the University
of Iowa campus where significant damage occurred. There was one
fatality in the state (Associated Press). For a complete analysis
on tornado outbreaks during March and April 2006 in the United
States, please see this
special report.
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Across eastern India, strong thunderstorms produced heavy
rainfall and strong winds in the city of Kolkata and surrounding
districts on the 25th. Winds gusting as high as 109 km/hr (68 mph)
temporarily knocked out power to much of the city. There were nine
fatalities (AFP).
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Tropical Cyclone Hubert
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Tropical Cyclone Hubert developed in
the southern Indian Ocean on the 5th, reaching the coast of Western
Australia near Onslow on the 7th. Maximum sustained winds at the
time of landfall were near 100 km/hr (55 knots or 65 mph), with
heavy rainfall as the primary impact.
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Tropical Cyclone Monica developed in
the Coral Sea on the 17th and reached Australia's Cape York
Peninsula in northern Queensland near Cape Sidmouth by the 19th
with maximum sustained winds near 150 km/hr (80 knots or 90 mph).
Monica was the fourth tropical cyclone to strike Australia since
the beginning of March 2006.
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Tropical
Cyclone Monica
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Tropical Cyclone Monica
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Monica re-strengthened over the warm waters of the Gulf of
Carpentaria, reaching maximum sustained wind speeds of 290 km/hr
(155 knots or 180 mph) before making landfall in the vicinity of
Maningrida on the 24th. Strong winds and heavy rains lashed the
region. Monica contributed to a record amount of April rainfall at
Darwin, where 383 mm (15.1 inches) were recorded through the 27th.
The old April rainfall record was 357 mm (14.1) observed in 1953
(News Limited). Monica was the strongest tropical cyclone on record
to affect the Northern Territory (Australian Bureau of
Meteorology).
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No reports of significant extratropical cyclones were received
during April 2006
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Snowfall In The Black Hills
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In the United States, a late season winter storm dumped heavy
snow on the Black Hills of South Dakota and adjacent states during
the 18th-19th. While the heaviest snowfall was rather localized, a
report of 151 cm (59.4 inches) of storm total snowfall was received
at Lead, South Dakota.
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