State of the Climate
Global Hazards
March 2007
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, extreme drought conditions were
observed in areas of Wyoming and Nebraska, as well as northern
Minnesota and parts of the Southwest.
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U.S.
Drought Monitor
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Africa Rainfall Anomalies
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Dry, hot conditions in southern Africa resulted in crop stress
and failure across the Maize Triangle.
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In Algeria, thunderstorms deposited heavy rainfall on the 8th
in the Djelfa region, about 270 km (170 miles) south of Algiers.
There were 6 fatalities produced by flash flooding when more than
100 mm (~4 inches) of rain fell in just a few hours (AFP).
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Flooding In Afghanistan
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In Afghanistan, heavy rain generated flash flooding during
March 10-31 that killed 83 people and affected a third of the
country's provinces (OCHA).
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In Argentina, heavy rainfall in the Littoral region produced
flooding during the last week of March that affected 70,000 people
and almost 4 million hectares (9.9 million acres). There were at
least 5 deaths in Entre Rios province (OCHA).
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South
America Precipitation Anomalies
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Flooding in Haiti during mid-March resulted in 8 deaths and 7
injuries(OCHA).
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Tropical Cyclone George
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Tropical Cyclone George
developed in the Timor Sea as a depression on the 3rd, crossing the
northern tip of Western Australia on the 4th. George re-emerged
into the open waters of the Indian Ocean on the 5th and made
landfall on the 8th just east of Port Hedland in Western Australia
with maximum sustained winds near 205 km/hr (110 knots or 125 mph).
George generated heavy rainfall along its course, with 394 mm
(15.5) inches or rain reported in Darwin during the storm's
formative stages.
The cyclone was the most destructive cyclone to affect Port Hedland
since Joan in 1975, and resulted in 3 deaths and 28 injuries in
Western Australia (ABC News).
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Tropical Cyclone Indlala
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Tropical Cyclone Indlala
developed in the southern Indian Ocean on the 12th and reached the
northeastern coast of Madagascar on the 15th. Indlala made landfall
just south of Antalaha with maximum sustained winds near 195 km/hr
(105 knots or 120 mph). Indlala was the fourth tropical cyclone in
as many months to affect Madagascar. There were at least 80
fatalities from the storm and thousands were left homeless
(UNRC/OCHA).
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Tropical Cyclone Kara
developed in the southern Indian Ocean on the 25th, but weakened
before reaching the coast of Western Australia on the 28th near
Eighty Mile Beach as a tropical depression. Heavy rainfall was the
primary impact from Kara.
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Tropical Cyclone Kara
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No reports of significant extratropical cyclones were received
during March 2007.
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A winter storm deposited a thick blanket of snow to areas of
eastern Canada during March 1-2, bringing snowfall accumulations of
up to 30 cm (12 inches) to parts of Ontario and Quebec. The snow
was accompanied by winds gusting as high as 80 km/hr (50 mph),
closing schools and business and delaying flights at both the
Toronto and Montreal airports. Two deaths were attributed to the
storm (AFP).
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In northeastern China, a major winter storm affected the
Liaoning Province, reportedly producing the heaviest snowfall in 56
years. The snowfall collapsed roofs and produced transportation
delays. Drifts as high as 2 meters (6.6 feet) were observed
(Shanghai Daily).
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In northern India's Kashmir region, heavy snowfall and cold
temperatures were blamed for at least 50 deaths in mid-March.
Subsequent flooding from heavy rainfall and snowmelt claimed an
additional 8 lives by the 21st (AFP).
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South Asia Snow Cover
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