High-impact of weather and climate events in October 2009

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.

Australia, Italy, Somalia - Heavy rains, floods, flash floods, landslides, monsoons, storms, lightning

Australia
At least one person was killed in torrential rains and high winds that lashed Sydney, leaving hundreds of homes without power.

Italy
Fourteen people were killed and 10 others reported missing in north-eastern Sicily after a torrential rain triggered flooding and landslides in the region.

Somalia
Flash floods caused by four days of torrential rains displaced more than 15 000 people in the south-western town of El-Waq, near the border.

Snowstorm

USA
A big snowstorm that hit Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and Kansas with blizzard conditions caused serious road blockages, school closures and hundreds of canceled flights across the states.

Drought

India
The worst drought since 1972 hit the country just as four-month monsoon ended.

Tornado

USA
One person was killed in several tornadoes that hit Louisiana and neighboring Arkansas.

Typhoon Ketsana

India, Vietnam, Cambodia
Ketsana triggered floods, destroyed several homes and left thousands stranded on rooftops. It later crossed over to Vietnam and Cambodia, where more than 360 people were killed, with damage estimates at US$ 100 million.

Typhoon Mirinae

Philippines
Typhoon Mirinae, with winds of up to 185 kilometres per hour, killed 11 people and worsened flooding in areas struggling to recover from past deadly storms.