It’s time to start reviewing the top weather stories of 2007. Today, I will look at some of the top global events. If you have an event that you would like to nominate, please post your comment…
Tomorrow and Saturday, we will look at the top national events.
Then on Sunday and Monday, we will look at Alabama’s top events of the year.
Mexican Flooding
Some referred to the disaster as Mexico’s Katrina. Torrential rains in late Octoer caused devastating floods in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. The flooding was the worst in over five decades. As much as 80 percent of the state was under water. Over one half million people were left homeless.
UK Flooding
Parts of the United Kingdom suffered the worst flooding in the country’s history since 1947 between July 21-29. Rovers swelled out of their banks, forcing thousands of people to evacuate. Electricity and water supplies were cut off over a wide area. The Severn River reached its highest level since 1946. It was the wettest May-July period on record in England and Wales since 1766 according to the UK Met Office.
Winter Storm Kyrill
A powerful storm moving eastward from the North Atlantic impacted northern Europe on January 17th and 18th with powerful winds and heavy rainfall, causing considerable loss of life, with at lest 47 fatalities. Winds across the UK were the strongest since 1990.
Arctic Sea Ice at Mimimum
Arctic sea ice was at a record minimum in September, surpassing the previous record set in 2005. The Northwest Passage was open for the first time since records started being kept in 1972.
Alaskan warmth
The Alaskan port of Nome was frost free from June through September, the second longest period in the 100+ years of records there.
Russian Heat Wave
Moscow recorded an unprecedented May heat wave with persistent temperatures above 85F for the first time in recorded history. The city recorded its hottest May tempertaure since May 1981.
Global Tropical Cyclone Activity
Around the globe, tropical cyclone activity was below normal worldwide. The tropical cyclone count in the North Atlantic was above average, but the Accumulated Cyclone index, which measures intenity and duration, was below normal. Activity in the Eastern Pacific, Northwest Pacific and Australian regions was below average. Activity in the Indian Ocean was above average.
Tropical Cyclone Gonu (June)
Gonu became the strongest tropical cyclone (top winds 160 mph) in the history of the Arabian Sea and the North Indian Ocean in June.
Sidr
Severe tropical cyclone Sidr was the strongest cyclone to strike Bangladesh since 1991. Over 3,400 people died in the November disaster.
New Worldwide Rainfall Record – Gamede
212.6 inches of rain fell on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean between February 21-28 as Tropical Storm Gamede passed nearby. If confirmed, this could set a new world record rainfall for that length of time.
