Global Flooding and Landslide Headlines

Deadly Flooding in the French Riviera

At least 20 people have been killed, 12 are missing and about 2,000 others have been rescued from the flood stricken southern France.  The authorities said about 1,900 firefighters and police officers were mobilized in the rescue effort.

France’s  national weather service  said up to 40cm (15.7in) of rain had fallen since Tuesday, and warned of more rainstorm in the region.

About 100,000 people have been without electricity across the flood-stricken  region,  reports say.

The floods are said to be the worst in the region since for nearly 200 years.

Myanmar

“Floods and landslides have killed at least 46 people in northwest Myanmar and rescue workers are evacuating residents affected by the incessant rains, official media said Thursday.” AP reported.

India, China Flooding

Rescuers try to salvage a mini-van submerged in the flood in Nanping City, southeast China’s Fujian Province, on June 15, 2010. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun). Image may be subject to copyright.

Up to a 100  people have been killed and more than 70 are missing as heavy floods inundated parts of India and China.

“Heavy rains caused havoc in India’s largest city of Mumbai, hitting the movement of air and rail traffic and shutting off electricity in some areas, a report said.

“Thousands of buildings and kilometers of roads have been destroyed by flooding in south-eastern China. Almost 1.5 million people there have been affected by the floods. About 600 flights were grounded at Beijing’s Capital Airport. ”

Up to 300 Killed, Dozens  Missing, 1.3 million Evacuated after the Latest Round of China Rainstorms, Landslides

Floods have caused substantial damage in 21 provinces in China since January, causing at least 24 billion yuan (3.5 billion U.S. dollars) in direct economic losses, the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said in a statement, Xinhua reported.

The 2010 economic losses so far 370 percent higher than last year, the statement said.

“A total of [up to 300] people died and [up to 100] other[s] were missing due to the floods, with 2 million hectares of crops affected, according to the statement.”

• Photos of sinkholes in China

Related Links:

• Deadly Landslides Kill 100 in Bangladesh, Burma, China
• Landslides Kill at least 44 in South China
• 2010 Disaster Calendar [JUNE]
• Towns and Villages Turned into Lakes
• Latest Landslide in China

• Oklahoma City Under Deluge
• U.S. Floods Hit Texas, Oregon, Wyoming, Utah, Missouri …
• Deadly Tornadoes Turn U.S. Midwest into ‘War Zone’
• A Dry Run for Climate Chaos Heading Our Way
• U.S. Warmer, Drier in March

• U.S. Weather at a Glance
• Southern U.S. Flooding Update
• FLOODING: Kentucky governor declares a state of emergency
• Rhode Island: Step Nearer Collapse?
• Flooding in Midwest Kills 1, Swamps Roads, Rail Line

• Arkansas Floodwaters Submerge Campground, Killing 16
• U.S. Floods Hit Texas, Oregon, Wyoming, Utah, Missouri …
• 2010 Disasters

Jawbreaker, Jaywalker

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Video of the Week: Officer Ian Walsh

Seattle Police’s Officer of the Month, Ian Walsh, punched a the 17-year-old in the face as he struggled to arrest another teenager for jaywalking, police officials said.

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May Global Temperature Warmest on Record

Spring and January-May also post record breaking temps: NOAA

June 2010 could also prove be the warmest on record, by a large margin: Fire Earth

The combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the warmest on record for May, March-May (Northern Hemisphere spring-Southern Hemisphere autumn), and the period January-May, NOAA reported. Worldwide average land surface temperature for May and March-May was the warmest on record while the global ocean surface temperatures for both May and March-May were second warmest on record, behind 1998.

Global Temp Highlights: May 2010

• The combined global land and ocean surface temperature for May was 0.69°C (1.24°F) above the 20th century average of 14.8°C (58.6°F).
• Land surface temperature was the warmest on record, 1.04°C (1.87°F) higher than 20th century average of 11.1°C (52.0°F).
• Ocean temperature was the second warmest on record (after 1998) at 16.3°C (61.3°F), 0.99°F (0.55°C) above the 20th century average.
• The warmest temperature anomalies occurred in eastern North America, eastern Brazil, Eastern Europe, southern Asia, eastern Russia, and equatorial Africa.
• The Chinese province of Yunnan had its warmest May since 1951.
• Many locations in Ontario, Canada had their warmest May on record.
• Anomalously cool conditions were present across western North America, northern Argentina, interior Asia, and Western Europe. Germany had its coolest May since 1991 and its 12th coolest May on record.

Temperature anomalies May 2010. Source NOAA. Click image to enlarge.

Global Highlights – March-May 2010

• The combined global land and ocean surface average temperature for the March-May period was 14.4°C (58.0°F), the warmest such period on record, and 1.31°F (0.73°C) above the 20th century average of 56.7°F (13.7°C).
• Global land surface temperature for March-May was the warmest on record at 1.22°C (2.20°F) above the 20th century average of 8.1°C (46.4 °F).
• Global ocean surface temperature was the second warmest March-May on record (behind 1998) at 0.55°C (0.99°F) above the 20th century average of 16.1°C (61.0°F).
• The temperatures were very warm across eastern and northern North America, northern Africa, Eastern Europe, southern Asia, and parts of Australia.
• Tasmania tied its warmest March-May period on record.
• The Northeastern U.S. also had its warmest March-May period on record.
• Conversely, cool temperatures enveloped the western U.S. and eastern Asia.
• Western Europe was particularly dry for its spring season.
• The United Kingdom experienced its driest spring in 26 years, and the 12th driest since 1910, when UK records began.

Temperature anomalies March-May 2010. Source NOAA. Click image to enlarge.

Other Highlights

• Arctic sea ice covered an average of 5.06 million square miles (13.1 million square kilometers) in May 2010, which was 3.7 percent below the 1979-2000 average extent and the ninth-smallest May footprint since records began in 1979.
• Arctic sea ice melted 50 percent faster than the average May melting rate, the National Snow & Ice Data Center reported.
• Antarctic sea ice extent in May was 7.3 percent above the 1979-2000 average, resulting in the fourth largest May extent on record.
• Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent during May 2010 was a record low at 4.3 million square kilometers below the long-term average. North America and Eurasia both had record-low snow extents for the month.
• Northern Hemisphere March-May snow cover extent was fourth smallest on record.
• The North American (including Greenland) snow cover extent for spring (March-May) 2010 was the smallest on record.

See also: May 2010 Global State of the Climate – Supplemental Figures and Information

Related Links:

• U.S. Warmer, Drier in March
• Welcome to Anthropogenic Hell 2010

• Ocean Accumulated Significant Heat Content Since 1993
• Greenland Glacier Slides Much Faster in Summer
• Verifiable Impacts of Climate Change (Part II)
• Verifiable Impacts of Climate Change Despite Dinosaurs
• Arctic Ice Affects Global Climate, Weather