South-Eastern Europe Confront Heightened Flooding Risk Because of Rainy Conditions
Although tempests and tropical storms have raged in the Atlantic and Pacific east, the continent has experienced intense weather of its own. An atmospheric depression that emerged over the Mediterranean Sea midweek moved north-east into southeastern Europe on Thursday, producing widespread rain showers, electrical storms and extended rainfall.
Ongoing Rains and Critical Alerts
The low-pressure area is predicted to persist into the end of the week, with weather models showing two-day totals of 80-130mm of rain across much of the Balkan Peninsula. Red weather warnings were declared for the nation of Serbia, south-west Romania, Greece's northeast, and the Greek isles, underscoring the danger of flooding and threat to life. Powerful gusts also closed classes on Zakynthos in the Ionian archipelago.
Frigid Air Adds Harshness
Chilly air masses drawn in from Eastern European regions increased the severity, generating heavy snowfall across the Dinaric mountain range, with some models estimating accumulations of nearly three feet by the weekend.
Recent Inundation in Spanish Regions
Previously, the eastern part of Spain and the Balearic Islands suffered serious floods as the remains of Tropical Storm Gabrielle moved across the Iberian region before stalling over the nearby sea. The city of Valencia and the island of Ibiza were hardest hit; Gandia registered over 350 millimeters in 12 hours – over tenfold its typical September rainfall, while the island had 254 millimeters in one day, its wettest day since at least 1952.
Roads, transit hubs, public parks, and schools were obliged to cease operations, while a rain gauge near Aldaia recorded 57 millimeters in just 35 minutes, resulting in the local ravine to flood. The floods come nearly one year after catastrophic inundations in Valencia in the previous year that caused the death of more than 230 people.
Tropical Cyclone Bualoi Hits Vietnamese Regions
The powerful typhoon made landfall across the central part of Vietnam this recent days, delivering heavy rain, powerful gusts, and massive ocean waves. In excess of 12 inches of rain was measured within a 24-hour span on Monday, triggering rapid flooding and rock slides that closed more than 3,000 roads and isolated communities across provinces in the north. Dozens of flights were halted or rescheduled, and rail transport between the capital Hanoi and the southern metropolis were halted.
Authorities reported 36 fatalities and 147 injuries, with 21 individuals still unaccounted for. More than 210,000 houses were damaged or flooded, with over 51,000 hectares of rice and other crops destroyed. Vietnam’s government has estimated that the typhoon has resulted in more than $350m in property damage this week.
