June 2003 Global Hazards

Much above normal temperatures and drier weather maintained severe to extreme drought conditions throughout much of the Rockies during June 2003. Wildfire activity increased by the end of June, especially through drought areas of the Southwest.

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For complete drought information for the United States, please see the U.S. drought pages.

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A 20-day heat wave in southern India continued into early June, with maximum temperatures reaching as high as 45-50°C (113-122°F). More than 1,500 deaths were reported in India, with the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh the hardest hit (BBC News/Associated Press). In neighboring Pakistan, the city of Jacobabad reached 52°C (126°F) on the 5th; normal highs in early June are near 44°C (111°F). Hot temperatures exacerbated drought conditions in the region, with a later-than-normal onset of summer monsoon rainfall.

Drought continued across areas of Ethiopia, where increased variability of rainfall has produced poor agricultural output. Since 1984, there has been declining trend for annual rainfall across the Eastern Highlands and Midlands of Ethiopia (USAID).

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In Venezuela, heavy rains caused flooding which killed 16 people and forced the evacuation of 450 others in the southwestern state of Merida (Associated Press). The flooding and mudslides occurred near the mountainous border with Colombia, about 600 km (360 miles) west of the capital city of Caracas. Flash flooding is common during the rainy season in Venezuela, which runs from mid-May through November.

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More flooding affected parts of Colombia around the 15th, causing 5 deaths and rendering 4,000 people homeless (Disasterrelief.org).

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Flooding in Bangladesh affected the Khowai and Dhalai rivers, stranding nearly 50,000 people in the northeastern part of the country. The most severe flooding occurred in an area located 160 km (100 miles) northeast of the capital city of Dhaka (Associated Press). On June 27, a landslide in the Chittagong district of Bangladesh killed 65 people (Reuters/IFRC). The onset of monsoon rains by mid-month also produced flooding in the adjacent northeast Indian state of Assam. The Indian government deployed army units to the region as flooding left around 440,000 homeless (OCHA/Reuters.)

Flooding from Typhoon Soudelor impacted the northern Philippines during June 14-17, causing 11 deaths (OCHA). More heavy rains impacted parts of Japan and South Korea as the storm accelerated northward and weakened by the 19th.

In the United States, heavy rainfall occurred in areas of the central and southern Appalachians, with 7 deaths attributed to flooding in Kentucky, West Virginia and North Carolina (Associated Press). Rainfall during June 13-19 locally exceeded 125 mm (5 inches) in some areas.

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Rainfall in the Northeast was much above normal during June. In New York City, over 250 mm (~10 inches) of rain fell at Central Park during the month, breaking the old June monthly rainfall record of 248 mm (9.78 inches) set in 1903.

For an archive of flood events worldwide, see the Dartmouth Flood Observatory.

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Severe thunderstorms produced hail and wind damage, along with several tornadoes, over parts of west Texas and extreme eastern New Mexico late on the 4th.

More severe weather occurred in southeastern Nebraska and northern Kansas on the 22nd. A tornado was responsible for one fatality near Deshler, Nebraska. This was the first tornado death in Nebraska since 1988 (Associated Press).

Radar Animation (Courtesy UCAR)

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Very large hail was observed near Aurora, Nebraska on the 22nd. A hailstone measuring 7.0 inches (17.8 cm) in diameter with a circumference of 18.75 inches (47.6 cm) was discovered by the National Weather Service.

This was the largest hailstone ever recorded in the state of Nebraska, and may be the largest hailstone ever documented in the U.S. and globally. The existing record is held by the Coffeyville, Kansas hailstone (September 3, 1970) which weighed 1.67 pounds (0.76 kg) and had a circumference of 17.5 inches (44.5cm). This hailstone assessment is ongoing and a final decision will be made in the coming months.

Severe thunderstorms in Bangladesh on the 7th and 10th resulted in 6 fatalities. A tornado injured about 100 people on the 7th as it affected the farming district of Noakhali, located 120 km (75 miles) east of Dhaka (Associated Press).

Tropical Storm Nangka developed in the South China Sea on the 1st and passed just south of Taiwan on the 2nd before dissipating by the 3rd. Locally heavy rains and gusty winds affected southern areas of Taiwan and adjacent areas of the northern Philippines as the storm moved through the Luzon Strait.

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Tropical Cyclone Gina developed in the South Pacific Ocean on the 4th and passed 60 km (45 miles) west of Tikopia in the Solomon Islands on June 7, affecting the island with winds up to 100 km/hr (55 knots or 60 mph) along with torrential rains.

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Tropical Depression #2 formed about 1,990 km (1,235 miles) east of the Windward Islands on the 10th. The depression dissipated over open Atlantic waters on the 12th. Climatologically, this is only the third tropical depression since 1967 to form east of the Lesser Antilles in June.

Typhoon Soudelor developed in the western Pacific Ocean on the 11th and attained typhoon strength by the 16th. The storm brought excessive rains to parts of the Philippines, before moving into the East China Sea by the 17th. While over open waters on the 18th, maximum sustained winds peaked at 215 km/hr (115 knots or 130 mph). Soudelor weakened as it recurved into the Sea of Japan, bringing locally heavy rains to parts of Japan and South Korea by the 18th-19th. In Japan, there were 21 injuries attributed to the storm, and nearly 10,000 homes were left without electricity (Associated Press).

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Tropical Storm Carlos developed in the eastern Pacific Ocean on the 25th about 320 km (200 miles) south-southeast of Acapulco. Carlos made landfall along the Mexican coast near near Puerto Escondido on the 27th with maxiumum sustained winds near 100 km/hr (55 knots or 65 mph). After making landfall, Carlos quickly dissipated, but produced locally heavy rainfall over coastal areas.

Tropical Storm Bill developed in the central Gulf of Mexico on the 29th. Bill made landfall along the coast of Louisiana on the 30th in Terrebonne Bay about 50 km (30 miles) east of Morgan City with maximum sustained winds at the time of landfall near 95 km/hr (60 mph). The storm caused power outages to around 220,000 homes and businesses in southeastern Louisiana (Associated Press).

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Click For AVI Loop (~1.9MB)

An unusually strong storm system affected the Northeastern United States on June 1st, with heavy rainfall, strong gusty winds and cool temperatures. Winds at Nantucket, Massachusetts gusted over 95 km/hr (50 knots or 60 mph).

A rare June snow fell in Moscow on the 4th, although warm ground temperatures prevented any accumulation. This was the first June snowfall in Moscow since 1963 (ROSHYDROMET). Unusually cool temperatures were observed throughout much of western Russia on the 4th.

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References:

Basist, A., N.C. Grody, T.C. Peterson and C.N. Williams, 1998: Using the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager to Monitor Land Surface Temperatures, Wetness, and Snow Cover. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 37, 888-911.

Peterson, Thomas C. and Russell S. Vose, 1997: An overview of the Global Historical Climatology Network temperature data base. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 78, 2837-2849.