A dramatic shift in European weather patterns is underway, marking the end of the historic heatwaves and the beginning of a dynamic autumn season. After a weekend of intense rainfall in Italy and the Alpine region, a significant cold air mass is poised to sweep across much of the continent.
Typhoon Yagi, one of the most powerful storms to hit the region in the last decade, slammed into Vietnam on Saturday after leaving destruction in its wake across southern China. The storm claimed the lives of two people and injured 92 others as it made landfall on the Chinese island of Hainan.
The storm has already claimed the lives of 11 individuals, with many more still unaccounted for. The devastation has been widespread, with numerous communities experiencing severe flooding and landslides that have disrupted transportation, communication, and essential services.
As the winds howled and the skies darkened, the weather forecasters issued a dire warning – a derecho storm was on its way. For those unfamiliar with this term, a derecho is a rare and powerful weather phenomenon that deserves our attention and respect.
The storm began in the early afternoon, with heavy rain and hail quickly accumulating on the streets. In the neighborhoods of Calzada de Las Águilas and Cerrada Barranca de Tarango, located in the Las Haciendas area, the hail piled up to a staggering height of over 1 meter (3 feet), effectively paralyzing the area.
