31 July 2024

Typhoon Gaemi

July 29th, 2024. Multiple locations in Kaohsiung City County, Taiwan received over 1300mm rainfall in 24 hours during Typhoon Gaemi with event totals of around 1900mm over 3 days.

25 July 2024

Hottest Day

July 21st, 22nd and 23rd this year all exceeded the previous 2023 record for global temperature with 22nd setting the new record in data going back to 1980.

17 July 2024

Intense Rainfall for Toronto

16th July, 2024. Environment Canada confirm over 4 inches, (100mm) fell in the City in about 2.5 hours during the morning of Tuesday 16th, making it the 5th wettest day at Pearson Airport. Intensities of 30mm in 30 minutes were observed in the city, caused by training thunderstorms. This followed storms on the afternoon of 15th. The Don Valley area saw the greatest impact, largely related to road flooding. The Don Valley had a significant population living close to the watercourse until Hurricane Hazel in 1954, after which the homes were expropriated and land used for an expressway and parkland.

Don Valley Parkway. 16th July, 2024 (Source Globe and Mail)

16 July 2024

UK Farming Output Fell in 2023

July 16th, 2024. Income from farming in England reduced by 19% year on year following the wettest 18 month period since 1836, according to data from the UK Govt and UK Met office. Farming contribution to the UK economy reduced by 8.7% to 1 billion GBP. The cause was part price collapse, and part poor yields caused by the extended wet weather.

6 July 2024

Wisconsin Dam Failure

July 5th, 2024. Five and a half Inches (140mm) of rain fell over the Manawa City Mill Pond, a gated small dam in Waupaca County, WI. The speed of the event saw the right abutment overtopped that subsequently failed through erosion. Unofficial data from Manawa shows rainfall of 4.12 inches (105mm) in 1 hour with 1.69 inches (43 mm) in 20 minutes, and 1.1 inches in 10 minutes within an event total of 5.5 inches (140mm). The timeline provided at the post event public meeting by the City of Manawa advises the gate openings were set on forecast rain of around 1.25 inches, that morning. The dam operator was back on site by 11am and witnessed the dam overtopping. The embankment failed completely around 1pm. Impacts included flooded homes and impacts to the functioning of the wastewater treatment plant. Manawa City has around 1400 inhabitants. The impoundment was 192 acres (0.77km2) with a max depth of 12 feet (3.65 metres).

3 July 2024

Earliest Major Hurricane on Record

July 3rd, 2024. Hurricane Beryl became the earliest category 5 system on record in the Atlantic, and only the second to occur in July, after Emily in 2005. It was also the earliest hurricane development so far east, at 49.3 degrees west, and is in the top 6 considering intensification time with 42 hours from tropical storm to maximum strength. It is the only 1 of those 6 to occur outside the month of September.

Switzerland – Rhone River Records

June 30th, 2024. The Rhone River exceeded peak height records at multiple locations above Lake Geneva, in Valais Canton. The peak discharge at Reckingen was 32% greater than any previous rated discharge in 101 years of available record, commencing 1903. Stations at Sion (108 year record) , Branson (83 year record) and Brig (59 year record) also exceeded previous record flood peaks.