Rainfall From Tropical Storm Bret |
Global Hazards And Significant
Events
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Beneficial spring rain and snowfall ameliorated drought conditions throughout portions of the northern and central Rockies. Despite the welcome precipitation, severe drought lingered along the Idaho/Montana border, through northeastern Wyoming and in parts of Oregon and Washington during June. Numerous wildfires developed across the Southwest by late in the month. Farther to the east, drought conditions expanded across the Mississippi Valley region. |
Larger Image |
For comprehensive drought analysis, please see the current U.S. drought report. Additional information on the western wildfires can be obtained from the 2005 wildfire season page. |
Africa Rainfall Anomalies |
Long-term drought continued in eastern Kenya, northeastern Tanzania, southern Somalia and Ethiopia's Somali region. Reduced crop yields in portions of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi were the result of a below average 2004-2005 wet season. In Malawi, an estimated 4 million of the total population of 12 million was in need of food aid, while in neighboring Zambia, an estimated 1.2 million required food assistance (OCHA/Xinhua). For the latest African analysis and forecast, see the Famine Early Warning System Network. |
A heat wave which commenced in May 2005 across areas of South Asia continued into late June. More than 400 people died as a result of temperatures reaching 45°C to 50°C (113°F-122°F) in parts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. From these heat-related deaths, at least 100 died in India's state of Orissa, while 100 fatalities were reported in Bangladesh and about 175 in Pakistan (Reuters). |
South Asia Temperature Anomalies |
European Temperature Anomalies |
A heat wave in Italy in late-June was the most severe in the northern part of the country, where at least 5 elderly people died as a result of the heat. Drought conditions were also affecting the country, with the river Po at historical low levels. The last major heat wave in Italy occurred in 2003 when at least 8,000 people died (Reuters). |
Nine regions in northern Bulgaria were affected by extensive river flooding in early June, with three fatalities reported (IFRC). |
Flooding in Bulgaria |
China Rainfall Anomalies |
Seasonal flooding which began in May 2005 across southern China continued in June. By June, flooding affected over 9 million people in sections of Hunan, Guangdong, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou and Guangxi provinces. There were more than 116 fatalities blamed on the flooding in early June (OCHA). In far northeast China, flash flooding on the 10th affected a primary school in Heilongjiang province. At the Shalan Central Primary School, there were 117 fatalities from flash flooding that originated in nearby mountains. The flooding was reportedly the area's worst in 200 years, with 20 cm (8 inches) of rain falling in a 40-minute period (Reuters/Associated Press). |
In Tajikistan, heavy rains on June 8
in the Panjakent district resulted in flooding that affected the
population of six villages. There were 73 houses destroyed and 338
damaged, resulting in over 300 people left without shelter (IFRC).
In neighboring Kyrgyzstan, flooding during June 10-13 in the
southern part of the country destroyed 200 houses and damaged 170
km (105 miles) of highway (OCHA). |
Flooding in Afghanistan |
In Afghanistan, strong thunderstorms in mid-June produced flooding that killed as many as 48 people (AFP). The hardest-hit area was the province of Badakhshan where as many as 36 perished and more than 1,000 residential dwellings were destroyed (OCHA). |
In Guatemala, mudslides brought on by heavy rain killed at least 22 people and injured 40 in the northern part of the country during mid-June (IFRC). Flooding in adjacent areas of El Salvador and Honduras claimed 39 lives in the two countries during June 25-27. Of these fatalities, 21 people were killed when a bus was carried away by flood waters about 55 km (35 miles) west of San Salvador, El Salvador (Associated Press). |
Flooding in Guatemala |
In the Canadian province of Manitoba,
incessant wet weather prevented more than 400,000 hectares (one
million acres) of agricultural land from being planted as of
late-June. Rainfall of 20 to 125 mm (0.8 to 5 inches) was common
throughout the province during the first half of the month,
hampering agricultural activities (Reuters). Farther west, heavy
rainfall in Alberta around June 20 caused flooding in the city of
Drumheller, while in Calgary, residents were ordered to restrict
drinking water use because of silt and debris clogging up water
treatment plants (Reuters). Heavy rains affected drought-stricken areas of eastern Australia during mid to late June, producing extensive flooding over areas of Queensland and New South Wales. Over 3,000 people were evacuated from the town of Lismore, located about 600 km (370 miles) north of Sydney, as the Wilson River peaked at more than 10 meters (33 feet) on the 30th (Reuters/BBC News). In western India, heavy downpours during the last week of June in the Gujarat state inundated more than 7,200 villages, leaving 175,000 homeless and claiming at least 130 lives (Associated Press). |
While much of the United States experienced a relatively quiet severe weather season during spring (March-May), numerous bouts of severe weather (including tornadoes) affected areas of the country during June. A tornado ripped through the town of Hammond, Wisconsin on June 12, damaging 22 homes and producing $3.6 million (USD) in damage (Associated Press). |
Storm Reports during June 5-15 |
A slow-moving thunderstorm dumped up to a foot (30 cm) of hail on June 21 in southeastern portions of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Snowplows had to be used to clear a route through a major thoroughfare in the city. Heavy rainfall from the storm left up to 1.2 meters (~4 feet) of water in city streets, trapping dozens of motorists (Associated Press). |
Satellite Image Of Arlene |
Tropical Storm Arlene developed as a depression in the western Caribbean off the coast of Honduras on June 8 and reached tropical storm intensity by June 9. The storm passed over the western tip of Cuba on the 10th before moving northward across the Gulf of Mexico and making landfall in the United States just west of Pensacola, Florida on the 11th. |
Maximum sustained winds at the time of landfall were estimated near 95 km/hr (50 knots or 60 mph). The primary impact from Arlene was heavy rainfall that affected parts of the lower Mississippi Valley northward into the Tennessee Valley. |
Tropical Storm Arlene Radar Animation |
Satellite Image Of Bret |
Tropical Storm Bret developed in the Gulf of Mexico's Bay of Campeche on June 28, moving inland near Tuxpan, Mexico on the 29th with maximum sustained winds near 65 km/hr (35 knots or 40 mph). The primary impact from Bret was heavy rainfall that locally exceeded 125 mm (~5 inches) near the point of landfall. |
For 2005 basin tropical cyclone
statistics, please refer to the following: Australian Basin North Indian Ocean Basin Western North Pacific Basin South Pacific Basin South Indian Ocean Basin Northeast Pacific Ocean Basin Atlantic Basin |
No reports of significant
extratropical cyclones were received during June 2005 |
No reports of severe winter weather
were received during June 2005 |
References:Basist, A., N.C. Grody, T.C. Peterson and C.N. Williams, 1998: Using the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager to Monitor Land Surface Temperatures, Wetness, and Snow Cover. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 37, 888-911. Peterson, Thomas C. and Russell S. Vose, 1997: An overview of the Global Historical Climatology Network temperature data base. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 78, 2837-2849. |