Japan monitors Super Typhoon Hinnamnor as the Atlantic hurricane sleeps. In Europe, heat warnings, thunderstorms and wildfires continue as summer begins to fade.
The Atlantic hurricane season has been having a lengthy quiet spell with no action for two months now. The eastern Pacific has awakened with a Super Typhoon. 'Hinnamnor' is heading west closer to Taiwan, south of Japan but looks to severely impact the remote Japanese islands to the southwest of the mainland. This is the strongest northern hemisphere tropical cyclone so far this year.
There are already heavy rain and thunderstorm warnings with large waves and rough seas in the region. Forecasts vary by the weekend, some closer to Taiwan with heavy rain, one showing a slight turn north which could affect South Korea. The Philippine Met service is also keeping an eye on developments in case the Typhoon moves into their region of responsibility which could bring torrential rains. There is already TD Gardo in the region complicating the forecast pot.
The forecast for Orlando and DisneyWorld is hot and humid with hefty showers. Temperatures by day into the 90sF and by night mid 70sF (so 33C and 24C). There are signs of an Atlantic re-awakening with a 50% chance of development well out at sea, so there could be news by next week for the Caribbean or east coast USA, even the Lesser Antilles by this weekend.
The US Open is taking place over the next two weeks as fans flocked to see Serena Williams at Flushing Meadows. The forecast for New York is very warm today with the risk of showers, and even thunderstorms this evening. Then plenty of fine, sunny weather with temperatures in the low to mid-30s Fahrenheit (high 20sC)
Pakistan has been hit by historical monsoon rains. Nearly ten times the usual rainfall amounts with lethal flooding which is affecting huge areas. There have been uncontrollable urban and flash floods, landslides and destruction across the country and loss of livestock. Areas are now cut off and there is a risk of water-borne disease next. This unprecedented rainfall is also hitting Bangladesh, India and Nepal in this monsoon season.
Julien Harneis, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan called for “burden-sharing and solidarity” internationally in the wake of the “climate-change driven catastrophe.”
This summer has seen extreme heat and temperature records fall. Across Europe and here in the UK. Finland has seen some of its highest temperatures recorded for late summer and rare tropical nights. This week Estonia reached 32.3C which is the highest temperature recorded this late in August. Helsinki, in southern Finland, is now much cooler with cloud and rain later this week.
Inland eastern Spain and the island of Majorca (Mallorca) have heat warnings with temperatures of 36 to 38C forecast. Alicante will see temperatures this week of 35C with the water temperature in the high 20sC but not quite as high at the weekend.
For Marbella a bit further south, the daytime temperatures will be 33C and the water 24C
Spain is covered in high wildfire risk areas, reaching up to very extreme in places. In the south some reservoirs are in an emergency state with significant losses on the harvest due to the lack of water. If you are heading away for the start of September it is worth finding out about local restrictions and issues. There are ongoing problems here in the UK with water scarcity, drought and harvest concerns.
The Dutch Grand Prix takes place on Sunday in Zandvoort, North Holland. After a fine week, the weekend looks a bit more unsettled with humid air, plenty of cloud and a small chance of a sharp shower.
France will see clusters of showers and thunderstorms over the next few days and at the weekend. These will bring heavy downpours and there are warnings out for Tuesday. By Saturday, the main risk will be over southern and eastern France. The threat of storms moves from the south of France over Corsica, northern Italy to the Adriatic during Sunday.
Summer is beginning to fade but there is often fine, sunny weather in September as the schools go back. We await the August and Summer statistics for the UK and Europe which should be issued soon to reflect on quite a summer.
