This year saw some of the highest recorded pollen counts in history, which had cities from Europe to the US covered in clouds of pollen as a result of global warming. A spike in South Africa's pollen production has also been flagged by local scientists who are calling for an urgent expansion of the country's pollen monitoring programme. Prof Jonny Peter, Head of the … [Read more...]
Cyclone Kenneth: Mozambique may need another huge aid effort
The destruction caused by Cyclone Kenneth, the strongest storm on record to hit Mozambique, may require another massive aid effort in a country still reeling from the year’s first tropical cyclone, the UN has said. With high winds and torrential rain, Kenneth made landfall in the country’s north on Thursday night, five weeks after Cyclone Idai devastated its centre. … [Read more...]
Vietnam’s poorest worst hit by Typhoon Doksuri
Six people lost their lives when Typhoon Doksuri smashed into central Vietnam on September 16, the most powerful storm in a decade to hit the country. Although widespread evacuations prevented a higher death toll, the impact on the region’s most vulnerable people will be extensive and lasting. Government sources report that more than 193,000 properties have been damaged, … [Read more...]
DA’s Maimane to visit fire-ravaged Knysna
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane will on Monday visit Knysna in the wake of the devastating fires which have claimed the lives of seven people, including children and left widespread damage across the region. Maimane will visit residents affected by the inferno and assess the damage caused. More than 12,000 people were evacuated from their homes due to the … [Read more...]
No end in sight for Joburg’s storm of the century
The South African weather services has warned that extreme weather conditions – which have led to heavy rain, strong winds, thunderstorms and flash floods – is likely to continue on Friday. The thunderstorms which have hit Joburg – causing chaos in the East Rand in particular – has been described as a “once in a century” storm. Flash floods have already claimed at least 6 … [Read more...]
A Message of Hope and Inspiration
My friends, do not lose heart. We were made for these times. I have heard from so many recently who are deeply and properly bewildered. They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world now. Ours is a time of almost daily astonishment and often righteous rage over the latest degradations of what matters most to civilized, visionary people. You are right in your … [Read more...]
Climate change fuelled storms cost China $2.6 bln in 2013
Climate change fuelled storm waves and rising sea levels cost China 16.3 billion yuan ($2.6 bln) and killed 121 people in 2013, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said. China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases which scientists say is driving climate change. Southern Guangdong province was hit hardest, recording 7.4 billion yuan worth of damage, the SOA … [Read more...]
Deliberate landslide in storm-hit Dawlish brings red seas
These pictures show a deliberate landslip at Dawlish, England that has turned the sea red after tonnes of earth and stone fell into the water. Specialist fire crews helped set off a controlled landslide above the Dawlish to Teignmouth rail track where workmen are battling to reopen the line. The operation has been planned by Network Rail since the storm of February 14 and … [Read more...]
Flooding concerns rise in Europe
Areas in the United Kingdom and western Europe will continue to have persistent rain this week as flooding concerns rise. The active weather pattern has already brought a stream of storms and heavy rain for the past weeks which have left some parts of the United Kingdom under water. More floods on the way A storm brought rain on Tuesday and two more storms will result in … [Read more...]
Stand with the Philippines
The horror of what's happened in the Philippines is unimaginable. Ten thousand people wiped away by a 25ft wall of water driven by 300km/h winds. A city of 200,000 people looks like a nuclear bomb hit it. It's the worst storm on record, but it's just the beginning, unless we act. Right now the world's powers are in a global climate conference talking about whether to hand … [Read more...]
Deadly river floods set to continue through weekend
Approaching storms are causing residents in the Midwest and along the Mississippi River to beef up makeshift levees. Illinois is expected to have record crests from the storms. Rivers including the Mississippi and Illinois are expected to remain in “major flood stage” through this weekend, the National Weather Service warned as rain and snow continued to fall on much of the … [Read more...]
Plenty more Katrina’s on the horizon as the planet heats up
The number of Atlantic storms with magnitude similar to killer Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005, could rise sharply this century, environmental researchers reported on Monday. Scientists have long studied the relationship between warmer sea surface temperatures and cyclonic, slowly spinning storms in the Atlantic Ocean, but the new study … [Read more...]
Tropical storm knocks out electricity at Reunion
Nearly 70,000 homes were left without electricity during the first week of January 2013 after tropical storm Dumile struck the island in the Indian Ocean. Winds of up to 180 kilometres per hour and torrential rain caused extensive damage to the electricity network and Electricite de France (EDF), which supplies the island said power to 68,000 homes had been cut. The cyclone … [Read more...]
