Floods Wreak Havoc Worldwide

The following reports of flooding or heavy rain have been issued this week:

AUSTRALIA: Northern (Where?): A monsoon surface low pressure system has been spinning over interior Australia and dropping heavy rain for about a week. (It's impressive that it's spun around in that same area so long -- check out this weeklong satellite loop if you can spare the bandwidth). That system is about to get kicked out towards the west by a building ridge of high pressure, according to several computer models.

ABC reports that the worst flooding since 2001 has affected an area 500 km (311 mi.) northwest of Alice Springs. 164 mm (6.5 in.) has fallen in 24 hours, doubling the January total. Further north, near where Tropical Cyclone Jim formed, the AccuWeather.com world weather news summary (PREMIUM | PRO) reports that "In Townsville in northern Queensland, rainfall was about 11.5 inches from early Tuesday to late Friday."

Monsoon Low Continues To Spin While Tropical Storm Jim
Forms Off Queensland Coast

PACIFIC: Fiji (Where?): A news story reports that one person has been killed by recent flooding. Another article said that this flooding was associated with South Pacific Tropical Cyclone Jim, but after talking with our own South Pacific Tropical Expert Jim (PREMIUM | PRO), we think that is debatable. 168 people have been evacuated because of the flooding.

Tropical Cyclone Jim Loses Steam West of Fiji

AMERICAN SAMOA: Pago Pago (Where?):
THIS JUST IN: International Expert Jim Andrews (PREMIUM | PRO) reports that Pago Pago, American Samoa has received about 7 inches of rain in the last 30 hours. A High Surf and Flood Warning is still in effect for the city.

EUROPE: Norway (Where?): The worst flooding in 50 years has swamped Norway, according to this news article, and hundreds have been evacuated due to the potential of landslides.

INDONESIA: Java (Where?): An article reports that 150 mm (6 in.) of rain in the past week has caused overflowing rivers which have killed 3 and displaced thousands, and high winds have destroyed 30 houses.

EUROPE: Pantelleria (Where?): The world weather news summary also said that "A Mediterranean storm doused Italy's island of Pantelleria between Sicily and Tunisia with heavy rain Monday to Tuesday. Rainfall was 3.9 inches within 30 hours as of Tuesday morning, local time. This exceeded the average rainfall for all of January, which is about 2.5 inches. In advance of the downpours, the storm unleashed wind gusts to 75 mph here Sunday."

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