Atlantic Canada is bracing for severe winter weather. A strong winter storm is moving through the region, leading to snow, freezing rain, and strong winds. Newfoundland saw up to 40 cm of snow and wind gusts reaching 74 mph over the weekend, creating blizzard-like conditions.
This storm, which began late on Sunday, is expected to linger until Tuesday morning. In Nova Scotia, freezing rain warnings are in effect, especially in Annapolis and Kings counties. New Brunswick may see an additional 25 cm of snow on Monday.
With this storm, power outages, falling branches, and treacherous road conditions are likely. The severe weather is a result of two low-pressure systems combining over the area. When rain falls through a layer of warm air and encounters freezing temperatures near the ground, it turns into freezing rain. This creates a slick, icy surface on roads, trees, and power lines.
Meanwhile, down in Australia, Tropical Cyclone Koji formed in the Coral Sea off Queensland’s coast. It made landfall as a category 1 storm and brought heavy rain and damaging winds, with gusts exceeding 70 mph recorded at Hamilton Island. As Koji has weakened to a tropical low, it continues to cause severe weather, including winds up to 59 mph and widespread heavy rain.
In just 24 hours, some areas received around 200 mm of rain. Spots near Mackay saw even more: 362 mm in the Clarke Range and 370 mm at Cattle Creek. This ex-cyclone has led to significant flooding, road closures, and has affected about 22,000 people without power. The storm is expected to push south, causing more heavy rainfall and a risk of flash floods.
On another front, much of southern Australia just experienced one of its hottest weeks on record, with staggering temperatures. New South Wales recorded highs of 43°C in Sydney, surpassing the previous record of 42.5°C from 2018. This extreme heat raised fire danger levels amid dry conditions and strong winds.
Interestingly, the heatwave came to a swift end as colder winds arrived. In Melbourne, temperatures dropped by about 13°C in just 40 minutes on Friday, providing a sharp contrast to the soaring heat that gripped the region.
As we navigate these weather extremes, it’s clear that climate patterns are becoming more unpredictable. According to a recent study published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Understanding these patterns helps us prepare better for the challenges ahead.
For more information, check out the report from the IPCC.
