by admin | Aug 19, 2025 | disasters, emergencies, news, rain, rainfall
Released on, Aug. 19 — August 19, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Heavy rains in northern China have claimed at least 13 lives, with five people still missing, as authorities struggle to manage extreme weather that shows no sign of stopping soon.
State media reported that three bodies were recovered from floodwaters in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, while three others went missing near the banks of the Yellow River, roughly 70 kilometers away.
Monday’s downpour, the first of three consecutive storms forecast in the region, dumped more than 204 mm of rain in less than 24 hours, exceeding August’s monthly average by over double.
Earlier, on Saturday, a flash flood swept through Bayannur’s grasslands after a river burst its banks, killing at least ten people and leaving 13 campers stranded; one was rescued while two remain missing.
Search efforts by rescue crews persist in Ordos, close to Baotou—a key center for rare earth minerals—amid severe rain and floods posing risks to facilities and potentially forcing many from their homes.
Weather experts caution that intense precipitation connected to global warming presents increasing difficulties for officials, straining outdated flood protection systems, resulting in financial damage, and endangering millions of people living in northern China.
by admin | Mar 30, 2025 | disaster management, environmental disasters, natural disasters, news, rainfall
Officials caution that increased slope drainage capabilities will be necessary due to anticipated more severe weather conditions in the coming years.
As much as 60 percent of the landslides occurring annually on Hong Kong’s private slopes can be attributed to inadequate upkeep, according to findings from local authorities. They are now pressing for slope owners to address these issues due to the effects of climate change.
Government specialists stated that slopes would become susceptible to more severe weather conditions.
“Given the expectation of more severe weather conditions ahead, we may see increased precipitation during wet seasons, necessitating enhanced drainage capabilities for hillsides,” explained Lawrence Shum Ka-wah, who serves as the assistant director of the Geotechnical Engineering Office located on Hong Kong Island.
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He mentioned that drainage systems can handle obstructions caused by leaves or branches, yet extremely severe weather conditions have the potential to surpass their capacity.
On average, about 10 to 20 landslides took place annually on privately owned slopes throughout the last ten years, according to Shum, referencing a departmental assessment.
Typically, around 30 to 60 percent of these issues stemmed from inadequate maintenance by property owners.
He stated that the areas affected by landslides were determined by the pattern of rainfall, noting that no particular district needed extra focus. However, he emphasized that upkeep would be the primary issue to address.
Shum stated that authorities reported over 50 landslides on private slopes in 2023, during what was termed a “once-in-500-years storm.” Of these incidents, 30 percent resulted from inadequate maintenance.
The severe weather condition activated the city’s most extended black rainstorm alert, lasting over 16 hours. This transformed roads into waterways and left motorists trapped in their cars, while also inundating malls and train terminals. Over 100 individuals required medical attention at hospitals.
Shum additionally pointed out to the owners that they could bear responsibility for maintaining adjacent land parcels, even though these might not be detailed in their land lease agreements.
Currently, about 2,500 man-made slopes located on government land are maintained by private owners of adjoining lots.
Each year, the department chooses 100 individual ski slopes for safety inspections conducted by them.
When individuals are classified as hazardous, the authorities issue a Dangerous Slope Order (DSO) to the property owners. This order mandates them to conduct investigations and undertake required preventative measures using certified specialists.
By 2023, as stated by Robert Cheng, the chief building surveyor at the Buildings Department, 271 DHOs still remained unfulfilled by private property owners.
He urged the owners to keep their slopes maintained in order to avoid the risk of landslides.
Cheng also mentioned that routine inspections of the slopes as well as underground water pipelines were essential.
The administration likewise provides assistance to proprietors encountering monetary challenges, including grants and financing options.
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The article initially appeared on the South ChinaMorning Post (www.scmp.com), which serves as the premier source for news coverage of China andAsia.
Copyright © 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
by admin | Mar 28, 2025 | climate, meteorology, news, rainfall, weather forecasts
The state weather bureau reported on Tuesday that Metro Manila and the entire nation will encounter the easterly winds, which originate from the eastern regions and traverse the Pacific Ocean, bringing along warm and moist conditions, within the next 24 hours.
Chenel Dominguez, a weather forecaster from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), stated that they have yet to detect any tropical storms within the country’s jurisdiction. She also mentioned that there is no anticipation for disturbances likely to develop into typhoons over the next few days.
At the same time, she mentioned that the northeast monsoon, commonly referred to as ‘amihan,’ is gradually losing strength. It now impacts primarily the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Cagayan Valley, with sporadic light showers expected in these areas.
The winds from the east have been dominant in numerous regions across the nation such as the Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Romblon, and Palawan, as reported by the national meteorological office.
The other weather system — known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which is essentially an invisible band where northerly and southerly winds converge — will bring intermittent rain showers and thunderstorms to both the Davao Region and the Zamboanga Peninsula.
This would also impact SOCCSKSARGEN (which includes South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos) as well as BARMM (the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), with widespread cloud cover expected according to Pagasa’s 5:00 a.m. bulletin.
by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | meteorology, news, precipitation, rain, rainfall
The Kenya Meteorological Department reports that rainfall is expected to persist across much of the nation for the remainder of this week.
The weather forecast issued on Monday for the period from March 25 to 31 predicts scattered instances of intense rain in certain regions.
Kenya Met said i
Isolated intense rainfalls are expected in various regions including the Highlands both East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley itself, the southeastern lowlands, and northeastern Kenya.
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The weather report indicates that the daily high temperatures during the reviewed period will reach up to 30 degrees.
°C at the Coastal Region, as well as northeastern and northwestern parts of Kenya.
In the Central Highlands and the Central Rift Valley, nighttime temperatures are expected to fall to around 10°C.
On March 18, Kenya Meteorology Department announced that the long rains for the months of March through April to May had commenced in certain areas of the nation, with the remaining regions expected to begin shortly.
According to Met, the beginning of the rainy season will feature a period of continuous rain amounting to at least 20 mm over three successive days, without any stretch of completely dry weather lasting for seven days or more during the next twenty-one days.
For regions in the northern section of the nation, there should be a total accumulation of precipitation reaching at least 10 millimeters across three successive days.
The meteorologist announced that the prolonged rainfall season will commence from March 10 to March 16 in the western highlands outside the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria region, the Rift Valley itself, Nairobi, and certain areas within these highlands.
Ands east of the Rift Valley, as well as some areas in the southeastern lowlands and portions of Isiolo County.
He mentioned that the rainfall was higher during March 3 to March 9, particularly in the Southeastern lowlands and certain areas of Northeastern Kenya.
“The beginning of rainfall for the areas east of the Rift Valley Highlands and the southeastern lowlands is anticipated to start this week,” he stated.
He additionally mentioned that the beginning for the Northeastern area is anticipated to fall between March 25 and March 31.
This will probably be succeeded by periods of drought.
The northwestern areas of Kenya along with the coastal zones are anticipated to experience intermittent rain showers for the rest of March 2025.
This, however, might not satisfy the criteria for onset.
The height of the season along the coast is anticipated to happen in May.
The beginning is expected to happen in April across both areas.
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