Extreme hailstorm hits Yuma, Colorado - Tuesday, May 21, 2024
An extreme hailstorm hit Yuma, Colorado on Monday, May 20, 2024, causing massive damage to homes and cars. Hail accumulation was so thick that some cars ended up stuck in hail drifts.
An unusually intense hailstorm with hail stones the size of a softball hit the town of Yuma (population 3 500) on Monday, May 20, 2024, wreaking havoc on homes, cars, and power lines, and plunging the area into chaos.
Yuma was already on edge with tornado and flash flood warnings in place when the storm struck.
The intensity of the storm was so severe that some vehicles became trapped in thick drifts of hail.
Firefighter JJ Unger, recalling the mayhem to FOX31, described the situation as chaotic as he and fellow firefighters were called into action amidst the worsening conditions.
Unger painted a stark picture of the havoc unleashed by the hail, with visibility reduced to almost zero as crews struggled to navigate through the deluge. His own truck, a Ford F-150, took a beating, its windshield battered by the relentless onslaught.
In the aftermath, shattered windows and debris littered the streets, with vehicles skidding off roads and even livestock caught in the storm’s path.
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Violent hailstorm paralyzes the city of Gniezno, Poland - Tuesday, May 21, 2024
A severe hailstorm caused significant flooding in the western Polish city of Gniezno on Monday, May 20, 2024. The storm, part of a series of violent weather events sweeping across the country, left streets inundated and disrupted daily activities.
Footage captured residents depicted chaotic scenes of vehicles and pedestrians navigating through the flooded streets, with massive hail accumulations visible across the city. The storm’s intensity overwhelmed local drainage systems, leading to widespread water accumulation.
Private meteorological stations measured rainfall accumulations between 60 and 80 mm (2.3 – 3.1 inches) within 2 hours, according to Skywarn Poland.
Poland’s weather agency has issued warnings that the severe weather conditions will persist into Tuesday, May 21. The western and southeastern regions are expected to experience further hail, heavy rain, and strong winds. Residents in these areas are advised to remain cautious and prepare for potential disruptions.
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Earthquake swarm hits Campi Flegrei caldera, Italy - Tuesday, May 21, 2024
A new seismic swarm started at Campi Flegrei area, Italy at 17:51 UTC on May 20, 2024. Local Earthquake monitoring network has detected around 150 quakes within the next couple of hours, with the strongest being M4.4 — now the strongest quake to hit the caldera region since the beginning of the current bradyseismic crisis in 2005. Preventive evacuations have thus far affected 36 families. Campi Flegrei is a 13 km (8 km) wide caldera encompassing part of Naples and extending beneath the Gulf of Pozzuoli. It is the largest active urbanized caldera in the heart of the European continent and is classified as a supervolcano due to its potential for producing extremely large and explosive eruptions, as evidenced by past events like the Campanian Ignimbrite and Neapolitan Yellow Tuff eruptions.
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Severe thunderstorms hit Kansas and Oklahoma with strong winds, baseball-sized hail and tornadoes - May 20, 2024
Severe thunderstorms swept through the central U.S. on Sunday, May 19, 2024, producing strong winds and heavy rains, baseball-sized hail, and several tornadoes in Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
Severe thunderstorms will continue to be likely across the Central Plains into the Midwest on Monday, May 20, NWS warns.
Thunderstorm development is also possible in portions of the Middle Mississippi Valley to Lower Michigan on Monday afternoon (LT).
Severe thunderstorms battered the central United States on Sunday, May 19, 2024, resulting in significant damage across several states. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued multiple Tornado, Severe Thunderstorm, and Flash Flood warnings as the storms brought strong winds, heavy rains, and large hail, as well as multiple tornadoes.
The NWS Storm Prediction Center reported 13 tornadoes in Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma on Sunday.
One tornado crossed Interstate 70 west of Russell, Kansas, causing substantial damage to the electric distribution system, homes, businesses, and vehicles, with at least three structures leveled.
Widespread damage was also reported around Wichita, Kansas, where winds reached 120 km/h (75 mph), FOX Weather reported.
The town of Newton, north of Wichita, was hit particularly hard, and winds up to 130 km/h (80 mph) were reported in Whitewater, northeast of Wichita. A wind gust of 160 km/h (100 mph) was reported at the airport in Salina, Kansas, on Sunday evening, and a gust of 145 km/h (90 mph) near Fowler, Kansas.
Hail between 6.4 cm and 7.6 cm (tennis ball- and baseball-sized) was reported with several storms. The largest hail reported to the NWS on Sunday evening was 7.6 cm (3 inches) in Ellis, Kansas.
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Delhi under Red alert as extreme temperatures strike northwest India
Parts of northwest India are experiencing severe heatwave conditions on Saturday, May 18, 2024, with the capital New Delhi under a Red alert as very high temperatures strike parts of the country. The India Meteorological Department has issued warnings for several states, anticipating persistent heat wave conditions over the next 5 days.
A severe heatwave has gripped northwest India this week, including the capital New Delhi where a Red alert is in effect as extreme temperatures sweep through. The forecast calls for a gradual rise in temperatures over the next few days in Central India, East India, and Maharashtra, with heatwave conditions expected to persist in specific pockets across different states.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for several states, urging residents in affected regions to remain cautious and apply preventive measures to combat the heat.
The Red alert areas, encompassing West Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi, are facing a very high risk of heat-related illnesses and heat strokes in the days ahead, particularly posing a threat to vulnerable individuals. Extreme care and precautionary measures are strongly advised in these regions.
Orange alert areas, including East Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, are experiencing high temperatures and an increased likelihood of heat-related symptoms. Recommendations urge individuals to stay cool, avoid dehydration, and take necessary precautions, especially for vulnerable groups.
In regions under the Yellow alert, such as Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat State, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, and Uttarakhand, moderate temperatures prevail with a moderate health concern for vulnerable populations. Guidelines suggest wearing appropriate clothing and staying hydrated to mitigate potential risks.
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Strong and shallow M6.0 earthquake hits Fox Islands, Alaska- Sunday, May 19, 2024
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit Fox Islands, Alaska at 09:35 UTC on May 19, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 29.5 km (18.3 miles).
The epicenter was located 162 km (100 miles) WSW of Nikolski and 1 609 km (1 000 miles) SW of Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.
There is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.
The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.