State of the Climate
Global Hazards
February 2006
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Climatic Data Center
Use the form below to access monthly reports.
Across the United States, significant drought extended from the
Desert Southwest eastward through the southern Plains. Exceptional
drought classification continued through parts of Texas and into
adjacent sections of Oklahoma and Arkansas, which generated unusually severe
fire potential across the region.
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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 southern
Ethiopia, southern Somalia, northeastern Kenya, as well as adjacent
areas of eastern Uganda and Tanzania. Drought in Somalia was
characterized as the worst in a decade (UNICEF). In all, an
estimated 11 million people in East Africa and the Horn of Africa
continued to face critical food shortages brought about in part by
the continuing drought (IRIN). For the latest African analysis and
forecast, see the Famine
Early Warning System Network.
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A large dust storm affected areas of North Africa and adjacent
areas of the eastern Mediterranean region during late February,
producing major reductions in visibility over a large area.
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North
Africa Dust Storm
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Heavy rainfall in northern Iraq produced extensive river
flooding that displaced an estimated 7,000 families. The most
affected areas included the towns of Erbil, Sallahaddin, Kirkuk,
Dyiala and Missan (IFRC).
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Iraq Flooding
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Flooding In Algeria
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In Algeria, rare heavy rainfall in the Sahara Desert region of
Tindouf produced severe flooding. The rain fell during the
10th-11th in a desert region of Algeria not far from the Moroccan
and Mauritanian borders. Approximately 50,000 people were affected,
with one fatality reported (OCHA/AFP).
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In Papua New Guinea, heavy rainfall produced significant
flooding in the northwestern part of the country's Central Province
during mid February. The flooding rendered an estimated 10,000
people homeless and caused one fatality (IFRC)
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Papua
New Guinea Flooding
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Philippines Landslide
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In the southeastern Philippines, a deadly landslide triggered
by heavy rainfall buried the village of Guinsaugon (population
1,400) on the 17th. As of the end of February 2006, there were 139
confirmed fatalities, 30 injuries and 980 people listed as missing
(Government of Philippines).
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The Philippine Geosciences Bureau estimated the landslide at 4
meters (13 feet) deep, covering an area of approximately 3 square
kilometers (1.2 square miles).
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Philippines
Rainfall Anomalies
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Across eastern Indonesia, landslides and floods caused by
torrential rain on the 21st killed at least 33 people in the city
of Manado (OCHA).
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In Yemen, heavy rainfall resulted in flash flooding on the 20th
in the southwestern city of Dhamar. Floodwaters trapped around
1,900 people in their homes, and there were at least 5 deaths
(AFP).
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In Lesotho, rainfall characterized as the heaviest in nearly
two decades destroyed nearly one-third of the crops in the ground
ahead of the April harvest (OHCA).
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Europe Precipitation Anomalies
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Across Serbia, heavy rain and melting snow produced significant
flooding in the province of Kosovo in late February. Flooding in at
least fourteen municipalities forced the evacuation of an estimated
200 families (around 1,200 people) from their homes (IFRC).
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New Orleans Thunderstorms
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In the United States, severe thunderstorms produced two
tornadoes that affected the New Orleans, Louisiana area during the
early morning of February 2. The tornadoes affected neighborhoods
ravaged by Hurricane
Katrina, tearing off roofs, knocking down utility poles and
collapsing at least one Katrina-damaged house.
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Tropical Cyclone Boloetse, which
formed in
late January, affected Madagascar for a second time in early
February as it tracked southeastward from the Mozambique Channel
during the 4th-5th. While the cyclone remained offshore, it tracked
close enough to the coastline to displace over 6,000 people, as
nearly 2,500 private homes were damaged or destroyed in the extreme
southern part of the country (UNICEF).
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Tropical
Cyclone Boloetse
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Tropical Cyclone 12S
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Tropical Cyclone 12S developed in the south Indian Ocean,
affecting Mauritius on the 19th-20th. Maximum sustained winds with
the cyclone reached 85 km/hr (45 knots or 50 mph) before weakening
as the system moved very slowly.
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Tropical Cyclone Emma developed in the
south Indian Ocean on the 27th and made landfall in Western
Australia's remote Pilbara coast on the 28th with maximum sustained
winds near 65 km/hr (35 knots or 40 mph). Heavy rain was the
primary impact from the storm, although Emma's approach prompted
precautionary shutdowns of mining, oil and shipping operations
(AAP).
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Tropical
Cyclone Emma
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No reports of significant extratropical cyclones were received
during February 2006.
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A
major winter snowstorm affected areas of the Mid-Atlantic and
Northeast during February 11-12, 2006. In New York City's Central
Park, where record-keeping began in 1869, 68.3 cm (26.9 inches) of
snow fell between 4 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday, breaking the
previous all-time storm total record of 67.1 cm (26.4 inches) set
during a December 26-27, 1947 storm.
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Eastern
U.S. Snow
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