rainfall Archives - Disasters News

Apr192025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Tanzania Faces Hottest Year Ever With Nights Getting Warmer and Rainfall Surging

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Tanzania recorded its hottest year on record in 2024 as temperatures especially at night climbed significantly across the country. According to the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA), the national average temperature hit 24.3°C, which is 0.7°C above normal. This broke the previous record set just a year earlier in 2023. But it wasn’t just the heat during the day that stood out. The biggest change came from rising nighttime temperatures. The average minimum temperature in 2024 reached 19.3°C, which is 1.1°C higher than the usual. This warming at night was more intense than the rise in daytime highs, which averaged 28.8°C just 0.4°C above normal. Regions around Lake Victoria, the northeastern highlands, and the islands of Unguja and Pemba saw the most extreme changes, with minimum...

Apr92025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rapid Agricultural Driving Severe Groundwater Depletion Despite Rising Rainfall in Thar Desert

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

New study has revealed a striking transformation in the Thar Desert long known for its arid climate showing significant greening across both monsoon and non-monsoon seasons between 2001 and 2020. But behind this apparent revival lies a looming ecological concern: groundwater depletion, driven by rapid agricultural and urban expansion. Researchers compared the seasonal cycle of vegetation greenness between 2001–2010 and 2011–2020, finding a substantial rise in greenery during both summer monsoon (June–September) and the drier months (October–May). However, they traced this trend back to a dramatic surge in farming activity and irrigation. Between 1980 and 2015, the Thar region witnessed a 74% rise in crop area and a 24% increase in irrigated area. Gross and net irrigated areas expande...

Mar142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Change Alters Rainfall and Flood Patterns Differently Over Time Scales

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A new study has revealed that climate change influences short-term and long-term rainfall and flooding in different ways, shedding light on how rising temperatures impact local and regional water systems. Researchers from Austria have provided the first comprehensive analysis of this relationship, using over a century of high-quality weather data. Their findings, now published in Nature, have global implications for understanding how floods may intensify in different regions. The study, led by Prof. Günter Blöschl of TU Wien (Vienna), shows that short-duration rainfall events lasting just a few hours have increased by 15% in the last 30-40 years. The main driver behind this increase is rising temperatures caused by climate change. Warmer air holds more moisture, while increased groun...

Mar32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

IMD Reports India Faces Hottest February in 125 Years

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Opinions

February 2025 has been the hottest in India since 1901, with the average mean temperature reaching 22.04°C, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The month also recorded the second-highest maximum temperature at 29.07°C, nearly 1.5°C above normal. Experts attribute this extreme heat to climate change and the absence of western disturbances. Unprecedented Heat and Rainfall Deficit The IMD report highlights that February 2025 was not only abnormally warm but also among the driest in 125 years. The country received less than half of its usual rainfall, with an overall deficit of 59% during the winter season (January-February). Central India was hit hardest, recording an 89.3% rainfall deficit, while Northwest India saw a 64.4% shortfall. The cumulative rainfa...

Feb142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Panama Canal Faces Climate Risks But 2025 Brings Hope with High Water Levels

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

The Panama Canal, a vital 82-kilometer shipping artery connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, has long been a key player in global trade. As much as 5% of the world’s shipping relies on the canal, making it essential for supply chains. However, recent years have highlighted a growing concern: climate-driven water shortages. Since its opening in 1914, the canal has operated through a system of locks, raising ships about 25 meters to cross Gatun Lake before lowering them again. The lake, fed by rainfall, is critical to ensuring smooth passage for massive Neopanamax vessels carrying over 13,000 cargo containers. Each day, about 7 billion liters of water are extracted from the lake to operate the locks, making consistent rainfall essential. Panama’s typically high annual rainfall ov...

Feb82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Winter Chill to Deepen in Delhi-NCR as IMD Predicts Rain and Fog Across North India

Breaking News, Environment, Opinions

The winter cold is set to tighten its grip over Delhi-NCR, with temperatures expected to drop further in the coming days, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Chilly northern winds are making a comeback, keeping daytime and nighttime temperatures low. Meanwhile, several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, are on alert for rain and dense fog, which could further impact visibility and travel conditions. On Wednesday, northern states enjoyed bright sunshine, but the persistent chill in the air ensured that winter conditions remained. However, the weather is expected to fluctuate, with cloudy spells and occasional temperature rises in the coming days. Thick Fog Set to Cover Delhi & Uttar Pradesh IMD forecasts that Delhi and Uttar Pradesh will ...

Jan272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rising Debris Flow Risks Dangerous Link Between Wildfires, Rainfall, and Climate Change

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check

Debris flows, fast-moving masses of mud, rocks, and water, are becoming a growing concern in the United States, particularly in areas recently affected by wildfires. A map produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) highlights high-risk zones near Los Angeles after the Palisades Fire. The model simulates a scenario where 15 minutes of rainfall, at just under 1 inch (24 mm) per hour, could trigger debris flows in vulnerable regions. The landscape itself can create ideal conditions for debris flows. Steep slopes, the presence of clay-rich soil, and silt-sized particles in watersheds are key contributors. Generally, slopes gentler than 23 degrees and lacking fine-grain materials are less likely to experience debris flows. Post-wildfire conditions worsen the risk. Severely burned areas...

Jan172025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Revolutionizing Rainfall Predictions: Japanese Researchers Develop Advanced Climate Modeling Technique

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Tech

Tokyo, Japan – With climate change amplifying the frequency and intensity of water-related disasters like floods and droughts, accurate global precipitation estimates are more crucial than ever. However, the lack of sufficient rain gauge data in many regions poses significant challenges to these predictions. In a groundbreaking study published in Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, researchers from Chiba University, Japan, have developed a cutting-edge method using the Local Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter (LETKF) to bridge this data gap. Assistant Professor Yuka Muto and Professor Shunji Kotsuki have combined advanced algorithms with real-world data to refine global precipitation estimates, promising a transformative impact on disaster preparedness and water resource management. T...

Dec172024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Low-Pressure Area in Bay of Bengal to Bring Heavy Rainfall to Tamil Nadu

Breaking News, Disasters

A new low-pressure area has formed over the Bay of Bengal, and it is expected to intensify and move toward the Tamil Nadu coast over the next two days, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC). This weather system is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall to several coastal districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu, until December 19. The low-pressure area, which developed on December 16 in the central part of the south Bay of Bengal, is being influenced by an upper air cyclonic circulation over the southeast Bay. This circulation extends up to 3.1 kilometers above sea level and is predicted to strengthen further. As the system moves west-northwestward, it will impact coastal Tamil Nadu with significant rainfall. Rainfall Warnings ...

Dec142024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rain to Return to Chennai as IMD Predicts Heavy Showers Next Week

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted the return of rainfall to Chennai and its suburbs by the middle of next week, as another low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is expected to approach the Tamil Nadu coast. This system is likely to trigger widespread rain across several parts of the state. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Chennai and surrounding areas on Saturday, predicting light to moderate rain. The skies are expected to remain partly cloudy during the day, with similar weather conditions continuing on Sunday. The intensity of rainfall is likely to increase from December 16, culminating in heavy rainfall for districts like Chengalpet on December 17. On December 18, as many as 12 districts, including Chengalpet and Kancheepuram, are expected to receive h...