During this year's August, the extreme weather has caused some serious natural disasters across the globe, such as massive wildfires, storms and floods.
So, let's take a look at the recent weather events all around the world.
Ongoing heavy rains and thunderstorms in the western and southern parts of Austria are causing significant flooding and disruptions. The inclement weather began on Sunday, prompting the country's Meteorological Office to issue warnings regarding possible mudslides and sudden floods. The regions most affected by these conditions are Tyrol, Salzburg, and Oberkärnten.
Some particularly striking images came from Bad Gastein. The world-famous waterfall, located here, became truly invisible at one point. Instead, a kind of brown mud waterfall appeared that was literally flowing endlessly. The video capturing the flash flood in Bad Gastein has rapidly gained widespread attention online.
Several roads and rail routes around Salzburg have been closed due to the floods. The Danube and River Inn, both already swollen, are anticipated to rise by at least another 20 centimeters. After a series of emergency service calls in Tyrol, most of the warnings and road closures in the state have been lifted. This marks the second instance of severe flooding in Tyrol this summer. For travelers in Austria, the Foreign Office has updated its advice, urging tourists to check local conditions before embarking on their journeys.
Switzerland faced a violent storm that brought hail as large as golf balls, resulting in damage to numerous vehicles and roofs. A heavy downpour occurred in the southern part of the country, leading to flooding on the upper floors of many buildings due to the compromised roofs. Hail was reaching up to 4 centimeters in diameter. The most severe impact was observed in the city of Locarno. Although a few individuals sustained minor injuries, none required medical attention. During one night, more than 80 millimeters of rain fell in the area.
Meanwhile, a significant waterspout, akin to a type of tornado, was spotted along the coast of Britain. This impressive phenomenon was seen over the sea near Bembridge on the Isle of Wight on August 26th, with eyewitnesses sharing compelling footage on social media. A waterspout is a meteorological event characterized by a rotating column of cloud-filled air over a body of water, such as a lake, river, or ocean. Essentially, it's a tornado that forms above water rather than on land. Waterspouts often occur in convective weather conditions, typically in places where warm, moist air rises and meets cooler air.
Speaking about weather disasters across the Globe, Hurricane Idalia has slammed Florida's Gulf Coast with powerful Category 3 strength, resulting in deadly storms and catastrophic winds that haven't been witnessed in this region in 125 years. However, it's important to note that Idalia had intensified to a Category 4 offshore, with winds reaching approximately 130 mph. As the National Guard prepares for rescues, the National Hurricane Center warns of extremely dangerous conditions, including life-threatening storm surges up to 16 feet. More than 161000 people are currently without power in Florida due to the hurricane's impact. The strong winds are expected to continue affecting power lines, while flooding adds further complications to the state's electrical infrastructure.
With a mix of wildfires, tropical storms, hurricanes, floods and heatwaves, it's clear that we're heading toward a future with more intense extremes as the world gets warmer. These unusual weather events remind us just how much the weather can impact our lives, and they highlight the urgent need to address the challenges of our changing climate.
Chief forecaster and ideologist of the weather forecast service Pogodnik. Co-author of scientific articles and specialized content for various online media.
