Severe Weather Events: Record Rainfall and Flooding in Argentina and Indonesia

Bahía Blanca, Argentina, recorded over 400mm of rain in eight hours, breaking previous records and leading to 10 deaths and over 1,300 evacuations. Indonesia experienced flash flooding, prompting cloud-seeding efforts to divert rain from Jakarta. Eastern Europe will experience significantly above-average temperatures, with related dust adverse effects expected.

Bahía Blanca, Argentina, experienced a record-breaking rainfall recently, recording over 400mm (15.7in) within eight hours. This amount is more than double the previous record of 175mm set in 1930 and is approximately equivalent to a year’s worth of rainfall. The city’s weather was influenced by a preceding heatwave that increased atmospheric instability and humidity, culminating in severe thunderstorms as a cold front approached the region.

Tragically, the extreme weather has led to 10 fatalities in Bahía Blanca, with more than 1,300 individuals evacuated due to flooding. The heavy rains resulted in flash floods that uprooted vehicles, destroyed infrastructure, and inundated parts of the city with over 2 meters of water. As the cold front migrated towards Buenos Aires, further severe weather including heavy rain and strong winds was anticipated over the weekend.

In addition, Java, Indonesia, faced severe flooding resulting from heavy precipitation. In an attempt to mitigate the impact on Jakarta, authorities employed cloud-seeding technology, a method that involves dispersing cloud-condensing nuclei into the atmosphere to manipulate rainfall. Previous applications of this technique in Indonesia have yielded mixed results, and its efficacy continues to be monitored as heavy rain persists in the region.

Further rain is expected in Java throughout the week, raising concerns about additional flooding across Indonesia. Meanwhile, eastern Europe is poised for unusually high temperatures, reaching up to 15C above seasonal averages. Countries including Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece are expected to experience highs in the mid-to-high 20s Celsius. However, this warm air from Africa will carry dust, potentially affecting visibility and increasing fog formation.

The extreme weather events in Bahía Blanca, Argentina, highlight the impacts of climate variability, leading to record rainfall and severe flooding. Concurrently, heavy rain in Indonesia has prompted innovative weather modification techniques like cloud seeding, reflecting the ongoing struggle against severe precipitation events. Meanwhile, unusual warmth and dust transport are set to characterize the weather in eastern Europe, illustrating the diverse challenges presented by changing weather patterns globally.

Original Source: www.theguardian.com