High-impact of weather and climate events in December 2010

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 rains, floods, landslides, winds - Australia, Bosnia, Colombia, Montenegro, Panama, USA, Venezuela

Australia
The worst flooding in 50 years inundated at least 22 towns and forced over 200 000 people out of their homes in the northeast.

Bosnia
A landslide caused by heavy rain killed three people and left several families homeless in the northern town of Tuzla.

Colombia
Storms killed at least two people and destroyed over 50 homes in the northwest.

Montenegro
The southeastern part was faced with the worst flooding in a century, with villages submerged by rising waters.

Panama

Severe floods killed at least 10 people and damaged over 2 500 homes and bridges crossing over the canal.

USA

Heavy rains and high winds in mountain areas forced the evacuation of thousands of people.

Venezuela

At least 21 people were killed in landslides forcing thousands to leave their homes in Caracas.

Drought -
Middle East

The Middle East experienced severe drought. Israel's main water source, the Sea of Galilee, recorded the least amount of water in November since records began in 1927.

Snow - Europe, US

Europe
Major snowstorms disrupted land, air, rail and road traffic and closed schools and businesses across Europe. Examples of disruption:

In Germany, heavy snow disrupted construction projects, businesses and freight transport across the country. Its main air hub, Frankfurt, was forced to cancel almost 300 flights after being hit by unexpected snowfall.

In Poland, at least 30 people died in severe snow that hit the country.

Heavy snowfall forced the closure many schools and roads in Portugal.

In Ireland, snow shut down schools in the northern parts and many flights in Belfast were cancelled.

In Spain, travel was disupted and schools were closed in Galicia.

In Switzerland, Geneva airport shut down.

Snowfall forced major airports in Britain to shut down as slow and icy ground caused hundreds of highway accidents. The Scottish highlands recorded Britain's lowest-ever temperature reading, -27 degrees.

USA

Five people were killed on icy roads as storms swept through parts of the southeast. Blizzards dumped thigh-deep snow in the Midwest, disrupting travel and causing the collapse of the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Tornadoes - USA
At least 11 tornadoes struck Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. High winds and tornadoes injured 30 people and destroyed many buildings.