35 lines
9.9 KiB
Markdown
35 lines
9.9 KiB
Markdown
Direct answer — this week’s natural-disaster activity: Multiple active and damaging weather disasters worldwide centered on tropical cyclones (Atlantic hurricanes and a Western Pacific super typhoon), heavy rainfall/flooding events, intense convective storms in the U.S. Southwest, and at least one notable earthquake. The biggest immediate threats are a very powerful Super Typhoon Ragasa in the Western Pacific and an organizing Atlantic system (Invest 94L / Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, likely to become Tropical Storm Imelda) that threatens heavy, multi-day flooding across the U.S. Southeast.
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Key themes and topics
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- Tropical activity is high across basins: a Category 5+ super typhoon in the Western Pacific (Ragasa), an intensifying Atlantic hurricane (Humberto), and an organizing Atlantic disturbance (Invest 94L / Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine) that forecasters warn could become Tropical Storm Imelda and bring major rainfall to the Carolinas and Georgia. See reporting on the Bahamas/Invest 94L [Weather Channel thread](https://x.com/weatherchannel/status/1971685713226711336) and on Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine [Weather Channel update](https://x.com/weatherchannel/status/1971691460010578410).
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- Flooding is a top hazard this week — from anticipated inland rainfall with Invest 94L (some model runs showing 12+ inches for parts of the Carolinas) to acute flash and urban flooding from severe thunderstorms across the U.S. Southwest and large-scale flooding reported in North Africa and the Caribbean. See the concern for Carolina flooding [US_Stormwatch](https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1971686281638982079) and state preparations in South Carolina [Volcaholic1](https://x.com/Volcaholic1/status/1971686656731426932).
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- Intense convective storms: Arizona experienced severe thunderstorms with very large hail and widespread flash-flood warnings in the Phoenix area [US_Stormwatch](https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1971681622333575567).
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- Rapid-onset, high-impact events in populated areas: a destructive Western Pacific super typhoon threatening Philippine islands and forcing evacuations in South China/Hong Kong, and a dramatic tornado sighting on Torch Lake in Michigan captured on video. See the typhoon coverage [US_Stormwatch](https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1969924132998619483) and the Torch Lake tornado video [US_Stormwatch](https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1970278879987409289).
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- Seismic event: an on-camera interruption by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Venezuela was shared by The Weather Channel [Weather Channel](https://x.com/weatherchannel/status/1971303696760754264).
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Notable patterns and trends
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- An active tropical season across multiple basins: simultaneous major systems are present (Western Pacific super typhoon Ragasa and strengthening Atlantic hurricanes/invests), increasing regional risk. The Weather Channel and storm accounts emphasize repeated tropical threats this week [Weather Channel on Humberto and Imelda](https://x.com/weatherchannel/status/1971413690617303490).
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- Flooding as the predominant hazard: multiple posts highlight that with tropical systems, "water is the killer" — many of the highest risks this week are flood-related (long-duration rain totals, flash flooding). Example: model runs suggesting 12+ inches for some Carolina locations from Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine [US_Stormwatch](https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1971686281638982079).
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- Increasing intensity of extreme storms: commentary linking very strong storms (e.g., Ragasa) to broader climate trends appears in the discussion about storm frequency and insurance impacts in Hong Kong and the region [PGDynes on Ragasa/climate](https://x.com/PGDynes/status/1970250776833597536).
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Important mentions, interactions, and data points
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- Super Typhoon Ragasa: described as a Category 5-level super typhoon with sustained winds reported near 165 mph and gusts up to ~200 mph in imagery/timelapses and warnings; remote Philippine islands (Babuyan Islands) and parts of South China were threatened with large-scale evacuations (reports cite ~750,000 people evacuated) as the storm approached landfall [US_Stormwatch timelapse & impact posts](https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1969887603869782200) and [impact report](https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1969924132998619483).
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- Invest 94L / Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine (future Imelda): organizing near the Bahamas with tropical-storm alerts expected there, forecasts showing the system slowing near the South Carolina coast and producing heavy multi-day rainfall for the Southeast (some model guidance showing 12+ inches in spots). South Carolina declared a state of emergency ahead of possible effects [Weather Channel updates](https://x.com/weatherchannel/status/1971685713226711336) and [Volcaholic1 on the SC emergency](https://x.com/Volcaholic1/status/1971686656731426932). Forecasters emphasize flood risk over wind (see [US_Stormwatch concern](https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1971686281638982079)).
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- Atlantic hurricane Humberto: continuing to strengthen and noted as reaching major-hurricane intensity (Category 3), monitored for further intensification and impacts near Bermuda/Atlantic [Volcaholic1 footage/alert](https://x.com/Volcaholic1/status/1971677437688967446) and Weather Channel updates on Humberto [Weather Channel](https://x.com/weatherchannel/status/1971413690617303490).
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- Regional flooding reports: major flooding reported in Algeria (Bordj Bou Arreridj and M'Sila provinces) [Volcaholic1](https://x.com/Volcaholic1/status/1971668887197581560) and in parts of the Dominican Republic (Cienfuegos, Santiago) [Volcaholic1](https://x.com/Volcaholic1/status/1971674180094742900).
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- U.S. convective hazards: Arizona hit by severe storms with golf-ball–size hail and widespread flash-flood warnings for Phoenix-area residents [US_Stormwatch](https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1971681622333575567). A dramatic tornado over Torch Lake, Michigan was widely shared on social media [US_Stormwatch](https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1970278879987409289).
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- Earthquake: a magnitude 6.3 quake in Venezuela disrupted a livestreamed video and was captured on camera; no broader damage update provided in the tweet [Weather Channel](https://x.com/weatherchannel/status/1971303696760754264).
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- Europe threat: a powerful post-tropical/hurricane system (Hurricane Gabrielle) is noted as tracking toward the Azores and possibly bringing tropical-storm conditions to parts of Spain and mainland Portugal [PGDynes](https://x.com/PGDynes/status/1971271149146472527).
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Significant events (one-paragraph highlights)
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- Super Typhoon Ragasa (Western Pacific): This is the most severe single event reported this week. Ragasa intensified into a Category 4–5 super typhoon with sustained winds reported around 165 mph and catastrophic gusts up to ~200 mph in imagery and timelapses; it threatened the Babuyan Islands and nearby Philippine areas with catastrophic impact and forced large-scale evacuations in South China and the broader Greater Bay Area as the inner core passed near populated coasts [US_Stormwatch timelapse and impact posts](https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1969887603869782200) and [impact threat to islands](https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1969924132998619483). This event is being framed as an extreme, high-consequence tropical strike with immediate humanitarian and infrastructure risk.
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- Invest 94L / Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine (future Imelda) — Southeast U.S. flood threat: A rapidly organizing disturbance near the Bahamas is expected to become a tropical storm (Imelda) and could slow near the South Carolina coast, producing multi-day heavy rainfall and significant flooding risk for Georgia and the Carolinas; some model scenarios show localized 12+ inch totals. State officials preemptively declared emergencies and forecasters repeatedly emphasized flooding as the dominant hazard rather than wind, urging preparations and tropical-storm/hurricane readiness [Weather Channel coverage](https://x.com/weatherchannel/status/1971685713226711336), [Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine summary](https://x.com/weatherchannel/status/1971691460010578410), and the U.S. Stormwatch concerns on heavy rain/flooding [US_Stormwatch](https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1971686281638982079).
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Other notable impacts and developments
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- Flooding events reported in Algeria and the Dominican Republic this week indicate widespread heavy-rain impacts beyond tropical basins [Algeria flooding](https://x.com/Volcaholic1/status/1971668887197581560) and [Dominican Republic flooding](https://x.com/Volcaholic1/status/1971674180094742900).
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- Severe thunderstorms with very large hail and flash-flood warnings affected Arizona (Phoenix metro) and a dramatic tornado was filmed on Torch Lake, Michigan, illustrating the broad range of convective hazards occurring this week [Arizona storms](https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1971681622333575567) [Torch Lake tornado](https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1970278879987409289).
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- The Atlantic/European connection: Hurricane Humberto strengthened to major hurricane status in the Atlantic, and another system (Gabrielle) is noted as a potential threat to the Azores and Iberia, highlighting a packed Atlantic basin this week [Humberto video](https://x.com/Volcaholic1/status/1971677437688967446) and [Gabrielle toward Europe](https://x.com/PGDynes/status/1971271149146472527).
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Bottom line: This week is marked by very active, high-impact tropical activity across ocean basins (a catastrophic Western Pacific super typhoon and multiple Atlantic threats), widespread flood risk (both forecast and observed), and several violent convective events and one notable earthquake. The clearest immediate public hazards are catastrophic wind and surge risk in areas threatened by Ragasa and a multi-day flooding threat to the U.S. Southeast from Invest 94L/Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine; emergency declarations and evacuation notices are already in effect in several locations. Where possible, follow official local emergency products and trusted meteorological agencies for life-safety guidance and forecasts.
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