Freezing Weather Kills Scores in Eastern Europe

Temperatures plunge to -36ºC (-33ºF) in parts of Eastern Europe

Heavy snow and a severe cold snap have killed at least 90 people across central and eastern Europe and left more than a thousand others suffering from hypothermia and frostbites. 

Disaster Calendar 2012 – February 1

[February 1, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,505 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Eastern Europe.  A severe cold snap across central and eastern Europe has killed at least 90 people since last Sunday and left more than a thousand others hit by hypothermia and frostbites. 
  • Temperatures have plunged to as low as -36ºC (-33ºF) in some areas, the coldest in living memory.
  • Freeze-related deaths have been reported throughout the region including in Bosnia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey and Ukraine.
  • The air temperature in some parts of the republic of Yakutia (Siberia) has fallen to as low as -50C (-58F), a report said.
  • In Moscow, the temperature fell below -30C, Wednesday morning, about 14 degrees below normal.
  • Heavy snow has made roads impassible, cutting off power to many areas, forcing hundrdes of schools to close down and prompting various governments to enact emergency measures.
  • In Bulgaria, 25 of the country’s 28 districts have declared states of emergency.
  • In Ukraine, tens of thousands of homeless have sought refuge in makeshift shelters.
  • In Czech republic capital of Prague, about 5,000 homeless people huddled up in an emergency tent set up by the authorities outside the City Hall.
  • In Serbia, at least 20 municipalities have declared states of emergency.
  • In Turkey, all flights out of Istanbul airport have been canceled.
  • In Romania, blizzard cut electricity to more than 50 cities.
  • Snowfalls were reported in southern Italy and the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean.
  • [NOTE: The actual death figure is probably in the hundreds.]
  • More heavy snow is forecast for the region, as the cold snap intensifies.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• States of emergency declared in Bulgaria
• Thousands of Chinese displaced amid deep freeze

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Deadly Weather in Your Area?

Extremes of Weather Wreak Havoc Across the Globe

A for Adelaide heat wave (Australia)

Adelaide’s extreme hot weather has officially entered the record books as the city’s first ever heatwave in November.

Adelaide has experienced a week of soaring temperatures in the 35 – 40 degrees Celsius range.

More bushfire and sandstorms? Lots of it!

“You take one look at the satellite images of Australia and wonder when! Because it looks so imminent!” A reader commenting on the future of Australia as a habitable continent.

Australia UV Chart. The chart shows maximum clear sky UV Index at noon. Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2009, Bureau of Meteorology

B for Beijing’s November Snow [over-seeding the clouds?]

At least 21 people have perished in heavy snow in China including four children who reportedly died when two school canteens collapsed, China’s official news agency Xinhua reported.

“As of 5 p.m. Friday, more than 9,000 buildings collapsed and about 190,400 hectares of crops were affected, causing direct economic losses of around 4.5 billion yuan (about 659 million U.S. dollars), ministry said.”

Nearly 8 million people have been affected by the snow, of whom about 160,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes.

A work shed damaged by heavy snow is seen in Zhengzhou, capital of central China’s Henan Province, Nov. 12, 2009. Six people were killed and 34 others got hurt or sick during the recent heavy snowfall in Henan, according to the provincial government. (Xinhua/Zhao Peng). Image may be subject to copyright.

F for flooded mid-Atlantic coastal areas

Nor’easter fed on remnants of Storm Ida battered  mid-Atlantic coast

The governors of Virginia, Delaware and New York called up the National Guard to help with evacuations of hundreds of people using special trucks that operate in high water, the US Defense Department reported.

A coastal storm fed on remnants of Idea developed into a nor’easter with hurricane strength winds battering the mid-Atlantic coast from northeast North Carolina to New Jersey. It felled trees, flooded vast areas and left at least 5 dead with another three people missing.

WTKR reporter Kurt Williams encounters flooding up to his chest in the streets of Norfolk, VA. frame grab from CNN video.

M for the most powerful storm of the year to strike Britain

Britain was struck by “the most powerful storm of the year” yesterday as forecasters predicted fierce winds and flooding in many areas.

“For England it is probably likely to be the strongest winds this year,” British Met Office said. “It is not a surprise to see it. It is certainly a feature of weather at this time of year but 80 mph [129 km/h] is certainly getting in to the realms of winds where you are likely to see disruption due to structural damage, for instance trees coming down.”

The Met Office issued 85 flood watches, 20 flood warnings including a severe flood warning for Wales and the south of England last night as the weather system battered Britain. Flooded roads brought traffic to a standstill and forced delays and cancellations of ferry and train services.

In Cornwall gale force winds downed trees and some areas were submerged under 2 feet (60 cm) of water.

According to a weather report the storm is caused by a large  low-pressure system in the North Atlantic, extending from Newfoundland to western Europe.

IR image provided by geostationary EUMetSat. Copyright EUMETSAT/Met Office

Related  Links:

• FEWW FORECAST: 2009 Likely Wettest Year on Record
• Snowstorm Destroys Chinese Forests

• Met Office warns of catastrophic global warming in our lifetimes [UK Guardian]