From late August to early September, a historic drought took hold of the Paraguay River, as water levels drastically depleted. Grain and cargo shops were forced to load at around half of their normal capacity as low rainfall dramatically reduced the level of the waterway, causing shipping delays and hold-ups.
In early September, the aftermath of Hurricane Ida brought powerful rainfall to several of America’s northeastern states including New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The heavy waters flooded subway lines in New York City as well as streets in Manhattan and New York. The catastrophic flooding which battered homes and overflowed basements killed at least 14 people across the three states.
In early September wildfires raged across Andalucía on Spain’s southern coast. The massive wildfires which began in the mountainous Sierra Bermeja devoured at least 18,285 acres of land, forcing the evacuation of more than 2,600 people. Almost 1,000 emergency workers were enlisted to tackle the blaze and at least one firefighter was killed.
Pictured here is the aftermath of Hurricane Ida earlier this month, a category 4 hurricane that made landfall in Louisiana on 29th August. Thought to be the fifth strongest to ever hit the US mainland, the terrifying storm left devastation in its wake, triggering severe power outages across the state. At least 12 people were killed due to flooding caused by the storm.
On 11 September a bolt of lightning hits above Lake Maracaibo near the stilt houses of Chamitas in Venezuela during a phenomenon known as the Maracaibo beacon. The lightning occurs over the mouth of the Catatumbo River where it empties into Lake Maracaibo for around 140-160 days per year with an average of 28 strikes per minute and can last up to 10 hours at a time. The lake is known for experiencing more lightning than anywhere else on Earth.
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From early to mid-September, deadly flooding caused devastation across Sudan’s White Nile state. An estimated 15,000 people in 53 villages were said to have been affected by torrential rainfall and floods in the El Jebelein locality of southern Sudan whilst at least 88,000 people were affected across the country. Riverboats were brought to the area to help evacuate those who were stranded by the heavy waters.
In mid-September, southern France was lashed by extreme rainfall which swept across the region. The heavy waters submerged villages, severely damaged infrastructure and forced hundreds of residents to flee. The equivalent of two months of rain is said to have fallen within just two hours in one area of Gard.
Barely visible, three women walk through a sand storm during the Cure Salée, also known as the Festival of the Nomads in Ingall, northern Niger on 18 September. Thousands of people from various Nomadic groups travel to attend the celebration and it is known as one of the most important festivals in West Africa.
On 19 September, a massive wildfire broke out at the Vathy migrant camp on the Greek island of Samos. The fire burned through several abandoned sheds on the western side of the camp, no injuries were reported as its residents were evacuated and the flames were quickly contained by firefighters.
Between 11 and 12 September, torrential monsoon rains and mudslides pummelled parts of northwestern Pakistan. The deadly floods and mud ruined buildings, overflowed streets and claimed at least 17 lives.
During mid-September, flash floods wreaked havoc across Nigeria’s capital city Abuja. The harsh floodwaters were sparked by hours of rain, the heavy downpour severely impacted the southern outskirts of the city, destroying roads, damaging around 166 houses in total, wrecking cars and at least three people were killed.
On 20 September, the Indian city of Kolkata in West Bengal recorded the highest rainfall of September in 13 years following excessive rainfall in the morning. The city’s weather office reported that Kolkata received 5.6 inches (14.2cm) of rainfall in just 24 hours. The torrential rain halted public transport as it diluted roads and commuters struggled to get to work.
On 27 September in the early hours of the morning, the Greek Island of Crete was rocked by a massive earthquake with a magnitude of at least 5.8. The terrifying tremors sent deadly aftershocks across the island, the strongest was said to register a magnitude of 4.6, forcing schools and hotels to evacuate. At least one person was killed and nine were injured in the earthquake’s powerful path.
Since mid-September, California’s Sequoia National Forest has been threatened by growing forest fires. Two blazes, known as the KNP Complex and Windy fires have crept towards the forest’s famous giant Sequoia trees. Possibly the most famous tree in the world, General Sherman in the Sequoia National Park is also under threat and its base has been wrapped in shiny fire-resistant material for protection as the fires rage on.
For the past few weeks, the historic Dixie Fire has burned through over 700,000 acres of land in northern California. The monster megafire has become the largest in the state’s history and is the largest active wildfire in the country. Since starting, the fire has grown to an area larger than Los Angeles and continues to scorch the state, threatening towns, trees and crops.
Greece was also hit by a scorching heatwave in early August, triggering wildfires that torched the country. Considered one of the worst heatwaves to hit the country in decades, the sizzling fires continue to ravage across the region, devastating forests, crops and livelihoods. New fires have continued to emerge, triggering evacuations of villages southeast and northwest of Athens.
During a thunderstorm on 10 August, lightning lit up the sky in a pretty purple glow above the One World Trade Center in New York City
From late July to mid-August, more than 180 wildfires tore through parts of Turkey. A scorching heatwave and unprecedented winds sparked wildfires across the country, tearing through forests and agricultural land. The fires threatened towns and villages, forcing thousands to flee as the fires raged on.
In early August, heavy monsoon rains lashed eastern India. At least 16 people were killed and a quarter of a million were displaced from their homes due to the heavy floodwaters which swept away homes, overflowed streets and triggered deadly landslides.
Since early August, a series of wildfires have erupted across Northern Algeria. The deadly blazes have scorched parts of the mountainous Kabylie region, killing at least 65 people so far. The fires are thought to be some of the worst in Algeria’s history
In mid-August, Turkey also suffered after heavy rains triggered severe flash flooding and mudslides to sweep across the northern part of the country. At least 57 people have been killed and more than 1,400 were forced to evacuate Turkey’s Black Sea region as the powerful waters battered homes, collapsed buildings, demolished bridges and swept away cars.
Earlier this month a record-breaking heatwave swept across the island of Sicily, Italy, sparking deadly wildfires. On 12 August, the island unofficially registered a scorching 48.8°C (119.85°F), what is believed to be a new European record. If accepted by the World Meteorological Organization, it will be the highest temperature ever recorded in Europe since Athens set the record at 48°C (118.40°F) in 1977.
On 13 August, torrential rain deluged parts of central China. The heavy rainfall sparked devastating floods and landslides, causing power cuts and destroying hundreds of homes. At least 21 people were killed and nearly 6,000 people have been forced to evacuate in the province of Hubei as nearby reservoirs reached dangerous levels.
Disaster struck on 14 August when Haiti was devastated by a massive earthquake that was caused by an incoming tropical depression. The 7.2 earthquake hit the Caribbean Island destroying more than 5,000 buildings which displaced thousands of residents from their homes. The deadly tremors have left nearly 2,000 dead and injured almost 10,000 people. Tropical Storm Grace, which swept across the country hampered rescue efforts and adding to the crisis in the country, its aftermath triggering heavy rainfall to sweep across the country.
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From 13 to 15 August, torrential rain sparked flooding and landslides across parts of Japan. A mudslide on 15 August struck a house in Okaya City, burying eight residents which left three people dead while dozens were forced to flee.
On the evening of 15 August, at least 800 people were forced to evacuate from Spain as forest fires scorched two regions. Extremely dry conditions and blisteringly high temperatures are likely to be the cause of the fires, which devastated parts of central Spain, destroying at least 12,400 acres of forest. On 14 August, Spain may have set a new provisional heat record of 47.2°C (116.96°F) at Montoro, Cordoba, which would exceed the country’s previous record of 46.9°C (116.42°F) in July 2017.
Two forest fires burned through areas of northern Morocco in August following a sweltering heatwave. The fires are thought to have been spurred by high temperatures of up to 49°C (120°F) and strong winds which have swept across the Mediterranean the past few weeks. No fatalities or injuries have been reported so far.
In mid-August, a massive wildfire also broke out in southern France. Triggered by an intense heatwave, the fire has raged through the Var region near the French Riviera, burning through some 14,820 acres of land. Thought to be the country’s biggest wildfire of the summer, the fire killed at least two people and forced thousands to evacuate the area.
Continuing heavy rainfall also triggered flash flooding and landslides in parts of Germany in mid-August. Pictured is a home destroyed by floods in Rech near Dernau, Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany, The intense landslides also caused widespread damage across southern Germany including the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district. The water swept away homes and left at least 12 people stranded or carried away by the powerful waters. At least one person has died.
On 16 August, severe flooding and landslides battered parts of Austria following a huge thunderstorm. The dramatic mudslides caused a train to be swept away in Salzburg and left at least 70 people stranded in their cars and three people were injured.
Storm Henri battered parts of the US in late August, drenching several of the northeastern states. The heavy rainfall and strong winds drenched homes, deluged roads, and left dozens stranded on vehicles. The storm produced three to six inches (7-15cm) of rainfall in some areas and caused over 140,000 homes to lose power.
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On the evening of 1 July, two rare tornadoes swept through Washington DC and Arlington, Virginia following a storm. The twisters toppled several trees, damaged wires and disrupted flights at the Reagan National Airport as they travelled towards the National Mall. Pictured here is the aftermath of one of the tornados in Washington which also left thousands without electricity.
At the start of July, a devastating forest fire set parts of Cyprus alight. Fanned by strong winds, the harsh blaze covered an area of more than 19 square miles (50sq km) within the foothills of the Troodos mountain range and impacted at least 10 communities in the area. The horrific fire claimed at least four lives.
Earlier this month, extreme heat gripped various parts of the world including Lapland in Finland, which experienced its hottest recorded temperature for more than a century. The country’s Utsjoki-Kevo weather station near the border with Norway recorded temperatures climbing to a whopping 33.6°C (92.5°F). It was the warmest day in Lapland since July 1914 when temperatures rose to 34.7°C (94.5°F) in the Inari Thule area.
Intense rainfall engulfed Indonesia's Aceh province in early July, sparking floodwaters to surge across the region. The subsequent flash floods and landslides submerged at least 2,000 houses, overflowing rivers and isolated entire villages, leaving thousands displaced from their homes.
Following several days of torrential rain, on 3 July a devastating landslide ripped through the seaside town of Atami in Japan. The deadly thick black mud destroyed nearly everything in its path, from houses and cars to power lines and roads as it travelled towards the sea. The landslide killed at least fifteen people.
In early July, heavy rain and harsh winds from Tropical Storm Elsa swept across the east coast of the US including New York City, triggering dramatic flash floods. It’s thought that more than an inch and a half of rainfall struck the city in just an hour. The rain flooded streets and subway stations, which forced commuters to wade through the waist-deep waters to catch their trains.
On the morning of 7 July, Tropical Storm Elsa made landfall in Florida, battering the state's coastline and neighbouring Georgia. The storm sustained strong winds of up to 65 miles (100kmph) per hour. Apart from some minor flooding and a few fallen trees, no injuries, deaths or severe structural damage was reported. Although the storm eventually weakened, it left more than 25,000 people without power.
Earlier this month a blistering heatwave surged across parts of the Western US and Canada, with temperatures in California’s Death Valley, known for being one of the hottest places on Earth, reaching a scorching 54.5°C (130°F) on 11 July. Excessive heat warnings were put in place and global warming was thought to be the main cause of the extreme hot spell.
In mid-July, parts of western Europe including Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands were struck by devastating floods in what experts described as the heaviest rainfall in a century. The harsh waters swamped homes, overflowed rivers and destroyed streets as rainfall swept through the region. Thousands were forced to flee and the country was on high alert due to swollen rivers caused by the rainwater. Pictured here is an aerial view of the city of Valkenburg in the southeastern Dutch province of Limburg.
Germany was also hit by deadly floods in July following torrential rainfall across the country. The fast-moving water inundated towns and villages in the northern and western regions, causing buildings to collapse and homes to crumble. At least 171 people were killed and 155 are still missing in Germany alone due to the terrifying floodwaters.
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Heavy rainfall in the middle of the month also drenched parts of Belgium triggering some of the worst floods to hit the country in years. At least 37 people were killed and due to the catastrophic flooding, which engulfed entire villages, raged through streets and overflowed rivers, causing a great deal of destruction and damage in the water’s deadly path.
Powerful rainfall also drenched parts of Austria, sparking floods that swept across the country. The powerful floodwaters tore through Hallien, a town near the German border after the Kothbach river burst its banks. Pictured here is a family gazing on at the rough waters of the river Inn at the barrage of Ranshofen in Braunau am Inn, Austria.
A devastating forest fire set parts of Spain’s Costa Brava region alight in July, forcing 350 people to be evacuated from their homes. According to local authorities, the deadly fire is thought to have started at the Cap Creus national park in Girona, and tore through over 988 acres of land, forcing hundreds to evacuate. Hundreds of firefighters battled the flames which were eventually stabilised a few days later.
From 16 to 23 July, England experienced a sizzling heatwave as temperatures climbed to a scorching 32°C (89.6°F). Crowds of thousands travelled to beaches and parks across the country over the weekend to enjoy the hot weather. Tuesday (20 July) was the hottest day of the year so far for England with temperatures reaching a blistering 32.2C (89.9°F) at London’s Heathrow Airport. This image captures Southend Beach on England's Essex coast.
Swelteringly high temperatures and prolonged drought across the USA's West Coast caused Little Washoe Lake in Nevada to dry up. The harsh drought conditions have led to mass fish deaths in the area.
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On 19 July, a monstrous monsoon triggered a devastating landslide to swamp the city of Mumbai, India. The intense burst of rainfall killed more than 30 people after several houses collapsed, a wall was destroyed and cars were swept away by the deadly water. The harsh rainfall also flooded a water purification plant, leaving parts of the city without a clean water supply.
In late July, massive flooding and powerful rainfall surged across parts of central China. Around 200,000 people were displaced in the provincial capital Zhengzhou after a record-breaking rainstorm tore through the city. A staggering year’s worth of rain fell in just three days, causing rivers banks to burst, dams to overflow and water to submerge subway stations. At least a dozen people have lost their lives due to the widespread flooding.
Lightning strikes west of the Luxor Hotel and Casino and the Excalibur Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada during a thunderstorm on 25 July. The brilliant bold flash beautifully lights up the city skyline.
For almost two weeks, a huge wildfire has continued to burn through more than 190,000 acres of land in northern California. Nicknamed the Dixie Fire, the megafire has become the biggest wildfire to scorch the state so far this year, made worse by a combination of drought and harsh winds across the region. The fire has devoured multiple houses and threatens to destroy thousands more, forcing nearby communities to evacuate from their homes as it continues to rage on. More than 5,000 firefighters are currently working to put out the flames
One of the largest fires in modern Oregon history continues to set the state ablaze and is the largest active wildlife in the US. Named after the nearby Bootleg Spring, the extreme fire which started on 6 July, partly caused by an increase in drought conditions and stoked by winds, has already charred a whopping 564 square miles (1,461sq km), an area larger than Los Angeles. Climate change is thought to be the main factor in causing the wildfire’s rapid growth. At least 2,000 residents have been forced to flee and around 160 buildings have already been destroyed by the fire's deadly path.
Following three days of torrential rain, on 28 July, monsoon-triggered landslides and flash floods swept across Bangladesh, badly affecting the country’s refugee camps. At least six Rohingya refugees have been killed so far due to the deadly flooding and 10,000 have been evacuated from camps as shelters were swept away in the knee-deep waters. At least 5,000 people have been made homeless.
Fuelled by a June heatwave, several wildfires continue to rage on throughout parts of Russia, particularly in Siberia. Weeks of record temperatures and unusually dry conditions in Russia’s sprawling boreal forests have left the area more vulnerable to lightning and fires. More than 3.7 million acres of land have been scorched by hundreds of wildfires in the Siberian region since the beginning of summer.
On 28 July, torrential rain sparked by a cloudburst across the western Himalayan region wreaked havoc in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad. The floodwaters invaded people’s homes, wrecked roads and damaged several vehicles. At least two people were killed by the flash flooding.