High-impact weather and climate events
in January 2007

The information summarized has been culled from international press reports and is indicative only. For official information, including final statistics, readers are advised to contact the National Meteorological Service of the country in question.

Heavy rain, floods, flash flood, mudslides, landslides
Angola, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Burundi, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mozambique, Philippines

Angola
Floods triggered by torrential rains killed three people and caused the collapse of more than 20 houses in Luanda. 

Australia
Gale-force winds and record rains resulted in flooding and widespread power blackouts in the town of Esperance, Western Australia.  

Bahrain
Heavy rains caused flooding and socio-economic disruption.  

Brazil
Over 50 people were killed in mudslides following torrential rain in south-east Brazil. 

Burundi
Heavy rains killed at least four people and left about 23 000 homeless.  

Indonesia
Landslides and floodwaters triggered by heavy rains killed 11 people with over 20 others missing in the north-east. 

Malaysia
Over 115 000 people were forced to flee their homes in floods in the south and in Borneo. 

Mozambique
Torrential rains claimed five lives and rendered more than 3 500 homeless. 

Philippines
Floods and landslides in the central and southern Philippines killed 23 people and displaced thousands. 

Severe storms
Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, USA 

Netherlands
The worst storm in years with gale-force winds and heavy rains caused structural damage in Amsterdam, forced the cancellation of flights and closed several schools. 

Spain
At least three people died on a road accident that was caused by high winds. 

Sweden
Three people were killed in severe storms. Air, rail and road traffic was disrupted.  

United Kingdom
At least one person died in a storm with gale-force winds and heavy rain. 

USA
At least two people were killed, destroyed homes and caused flooding in Louisiana, South Carolina and north Georgia.

Snow/winter storm/winter blizzard
Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, USA

Austria
In Carinthia province, 12 000 homes lost electricity when heavy snow toppled trees.  

Canada
Vancouver received 50 cm of snow. 

France
As a result of heavy snow, the rail system was disrupted and power was cut off to somem 85 000 homes in central France.  

Germany
Icy roads caused multiple accidents, killing three people and injuring dozens. 

Israel
Some 5 000 visitors were evacuated from the Hermon ski resort due to a blizzard and the onset of heavy fog.

Republic of Korea
At least 28 people were injured in an accident on an icy highway 200 km south of Seoul. 

United Kingdom
Three people were killed as snow and ice caused travel chaos, halting trains and planes and cutting off electricity to thousands of homes. 

USA
At least 29 people were killed in a massive winter storm that moved eastward bringing snow, sleet, ice and flash floods