Weather in 2007

'''[[Weather]] in 2007''' was expected to continue the trend of [[global warming|rising global temperatures]] and [[extreme weather]].{{Fact|date=August 2007}}

The summer was characterised on the one hand by extreme heat in [[Southern Europe]] and [[South Asia]], and on the other by record-breaking floods in the [[United Kingdom]] and South Asia.

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==Predictions==
In their annual January forecast for the coming year's global weather, The [[Met Office]], [[United Kingdom]]'s national weather service, predicted that 2007 will be the warmest year on [[Earth]] ever recorded. The year is expected to be 0.54 °C higher than the average between 1961-1990, while the previously hottest year on record (1998) was 0.52 °C above the long-term average. The [[El Niño]] phenomenon that currently persists in the [[Pacific Ocean]] is expected to be the main factor keeping temperatures high throughout the globe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newbuilder.co.uk/news/NewsFullStory.asp?ID=1765 |title=2007 predicted to be hottest year yet |accessdate=2007-01-05 }}</ref>

==Important weather events==
{| class=wikitable

|-
| ''Continuing from 2006:''
<ul>
<li>[[#2006-2007 Europe winter heat wave|2006-2007 Europe winter heat wave]] [EUROPE]</li>
<li>[[#2007 Mozambican flood|2007 Mozambican flood]] [AFRICA]
</ul>
|-
| '''January'''
<ul>
<li>[[#2007 Southern Asia cold wave|2007 Southern Asia cold wave]] [ASIA]</li>
<li>[[#2007 North American ice storm|2007 North American ice storm]] [NORTH AMERICA]</li>
<li>[[#Windstorm Per|Windstorm Per]] [EUROPE]</li>
<li>[[#Windstorm Kyrill|Windstorm Kyrill]] [EUROPE]</li>
</ul>
|-
| '''April'''
<ul>
<li>[[#April 2007 storm|April 2007 storm]] [NORTH AMERICA]</li>
</ul>
|-
| '''June'''
<ul>
<li>[[#2007 Southern Asian heat wave|2007 Southern Asian heat wave]] [ASIA]</li>
<li>[[#Cyclone Gonu|Cyclone Gonu]] [ASIA]</li>
<li>[[#2007 South Asian floods|2007 South Asian floods]] [ASIA]</li>
<li>[[#2007 European heat wave|2007 European heat wave]] [EUROPE]</li>
<li>[[#Summer 2007 Northern European floods|Summer 2007 Northern European floods]] [EUROPE]</li>
<li>[[#2007 Western North American heat wave|2007 Western North American heat wave]] [NORTH AMERICA]</li>
</ul>
|-
| '''August'''
<ul>
<li>[[#2007 North Korea flooding|2007 North Korea flooding]] [ASIA]</li>
</ul>
|-
| '''October'''
<ul>
<li>[[#2007 California wildfires|2007 California wildfires]] [NORTH AMERICA]</li>
<li>[[#2007 Tabasco flood|2007 Tabasco flood]] [NORTH AMERICA]</li>
</ul>
|}

===Africa===
====2007 Mozambican flood====
{{main|2007 Mozambican flood}}
Since late December 2006 heavy rains started affecting the Southern Arica country. Several rivers and dams overflowed during the following month, including [[Zambezi]], one of the major rivers in Africa. The floods caused the displacement of more than 160,000 people. In [[February 22]] the strong tropical cyclone [[Cyclone Favio|Favio]] made a landfall in Mozambique, worsening the situation. Over 50 people were killed in the floods and the storm and over 200,000 people were otherwise affected. The floods and the storm have caused widespread destruction of farmland, homes and infrastructure. The country's agricultural production is estimated to have been brought down by 60 percent, causing a threat of famine to 800,000 people. Major food imports are planned.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnBAN148448.html |title=Mozambique to import food after drought, floods |accessdate=2007-05-29 }}</ref>

----

===Asia===
====2007 Southern Asia cold wave====
A cold wave started affecting Northern [[India]], [[Bangladesh]] and [[Nepal]] around the turn of the year, and during January, temperatures close to freezing have claimed more than 80 lives in India and over 50 in Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/B586170.htm |title=Winter chill kills 80 in northern India |accessdate=2007-01-05 }}</ref> In Nepal, temperatures across the southern plains have been around 12 °C below normal. More than 30 fatalities are attributed to the cold in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/LSGZ-6X6EFV?OpenDocument&rc=3 |title=Nepal cold snap toll put at 33 |accessdate=2007-01-05 }}</ref> In [[14 February]] the capital of Nepal, [[Kathmandu]], received its first snowfall in 63 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?no=345690&rel_no=1 |title=Unusual Snowfall in Nepal |accessdate=2007-02-24 }}</ref>

====2007 Southern Asian heat wave====
{{main|2007 South Asian heat wave}}
A heat wave affected such South Asian countries as [[India]], [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]] or [[Nepal]] in June. Temperatures over 45 [[Celsius|°C]] / 110 [[Fahrenheit|°F]] were widely recorded, causing many casualties. The heat wave brought on strong [[monsoon]] rains from the [[Indian Ocean]], starting with Cyclone Gonu.

[[Image:Gonu 04 jun 2007 0900Z.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Cyclone Gonu over the [[Arabian Sea]]]]
====Cyclone Gonu====
{{main|Cyclone Gonu}}
A [[tropical cyclone]], a type of storm rarely encountered on the arid northern and western shores of the [[Arabian Sea]], developed over the eastern part of the sea starting from [[1 June]]. After moving west towards [[Oman]], it intensified rapidly and became the strongest cyclone ever recorded over the Arabian Sea, and tied for the strongest over the entire Northern [[Indian Ocean]] (which, in addition to the Arabian Sea, includes also the [[Bay of Bengal]]). It's central pressure was 920 [[mbar]] at its lowest, and the wind speed (1 min sustained) 260 [[km/h]] (70 [[m/s]], 160 [[mph]]) at its highest. After losing strength, the storm crossed the eastern tip of Oman to continue on to the [[Gulf of Oman]] as the first tropical cyclone to do so. 72 fatalities and economic losses exceeding $1 billion (2007 [[USD]]) were reported in Oman, making it the worst natural catastrophe for the country in its history. Many roads and other infrastructure were destroyed by the flooding and ocean storm waves.

====2007 South Asian floods====
{{main|2007 South Asian floods}}
During June 2007, heavy monsoon rains started battering the western part of [[India]] as well as coastal [[Pakistan]]. The major Pakistani city of [[Karachi]], on the south coast, was heavily hit by flooding, severely damaging the infrastructure and displacing many people.

In late July to early August, the situation worsened again, with floods and landslides [...] more than 1000 and displacing over 20 million people in India, [[Bangladesh]] and [[Nepal]] in what was described by the [[United Nations]] as the worst flooding in living memory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/08/03/soasia.floods/index.html |title= Millions flee 'worst ever' floods |accessdate=2007-08-06 }}</ref> In the Indian state of [[Bihar]], one of the worst hit areas, more than 10 million people were affected. In Bangladesh, more than half of the capital city [[Dhaka]] was inundated. The water levels were raised by abnormally persistent monsoon rains and, for [[Brahmaputra]], snow melting from the [[Himalaya]]n glaciers. The floods widely disrupted traffic connections and caused heavy damage to crops.

====2007 North Korea flooding====
{{main|2007 North Korea flooding}}
On August 15, [[North Korea]]n officials announced after a week of torrential rainfall that the country was experiencing severe flooding and outside help was needed. This was a rare request from a country that usually keeps silent about its internal affairs.

By the end of August, 600 people had been reported to have died and up to 300,000 left homeless because of the flooding. Major portions of the country's rice and corn crops had been destroyed and widespread famine was feared.

----

===Europe===
====2006-2007 Europe winter heat wave====
Following a dry, hot summer in 2006, the Northern [[Atlantic Ocean]] stayed warm for the autumn, which in part helped to make the autumn and following winter warmer and wetter than usual (see also ''[[Weather in 2006]]''). The [[2006 Atlantic hurricane season]] wasn't particularly active, especially compared to the [[2005 Atlantic hurricane season|previous season]], but after the beginning of January 2007, several severe windstorms started harassing [[Northern Europe]].

=====Windstorm Per=====
{{main|Per (storm)}}
On [[14 January]] a powerful storm affected [[Norway]] and [[Sweden]], moving eastward from the [[North Sea]]. Six people lost their lives in Sweden, mostly due to falling trees. Altogether, large areas of trees were felled by the hurricane-force winds, generating speculation about the market price of timber falling like happened after the 2005 storm [[Erwin (storm)|Erwin/Gudrun]]

[[Image:Storm 90700.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Storm damage from Kyrill in [[Delft]], the [[Netherlands]]]]
=====Windstorm Kyrill=====
{{main|Kyrill (storm)}}
A low pressure area formed in [[5 January]] over [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]] and moved across the Northern Atlantic Ocean, becoming an extratropical cyclone. It reached the [[British Isles]] in [[17 January]]. It then crossed the [[North Sea]] and made landfall on [[the Netherlands]] and [[Germany]] in [[18 January]], continuing east through [[Central Europe]]. The strom widely generated hurricane force winds, with the strongest winds, 225 km/h (140 mph), recorded on the [[Aletsch Glacier]] on the [[Swiss Alps]]. There were at least 44 casualties, and the economic damage exceeded €1 billion. The storm caused widespread disturbances in the electric grid and in the traffic network.

[[Image:Jetstreamovereurope2007.gif|thumb|250px|right|The heat wave was brought on by [[Jet stream]] patterns that sucked hot, dry air from Northern Africa and Arabia]]

====2007 European heat wave====
{{main|2007 European heat wave}}
{{see also|2007 Bulgarian Heat wave}}
After the middle of June 2007 an area of high pressure and very high temperatures started affecting the [[Southern Europe]] countries of [[Italy]], [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]] and spreading to [[Eastern Europe]] all the way to [[Ukraine]]. In the East of the [[Mediterranean]], temperatures exceeding 45[[Celsius|°C]] / 110 [[Fahrenheit|°F]] were recorded.
In late July, temperatures started rising again, this time focusing on the [[Balkan Peninsula]] and [[Eastern Europe]], with places further north like [[Slovakia]] experiencing temperatures exceeding 30 °C (85 °F). Bulgaria was also badly affected with large forest fires raging out of control for days. The country recorded its highest temperatures ever measured - 45 °C in [[Petrich]] on July 23, 2007.

====Summer 2007 Northern European floods====
{{see also|Summer 2007 United Kingdom floods}}
The end of June 2007 in the region of the [[British Isles]] was marked by a pattern of persistent [[low pressure area]]s, unusual for this time of the year. It was concurrent with the Southern Europe heat wave ([[#2007 European heat wave|see above]]). The low pressures brought masses of rain, causing widespread flooding in many parts of the [[United Kingdom]], with the consequence of mass evacuations and heavy flood damage. The low pressure areas at times wandered eastwards, causing floods in [[Sweden]] and [[Denmark]].

In late July, after a period of stillness, heavy rains started again, causing severe disruption of traffic on both roads and rails in middle and southern parts of Britain.

----

===North America===
[[Image:IceFlower03b.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A frozen flower in [[Texas]]]]
====2007 North American ice storm====
{{main|North American ice storm of 2007}}
A severe ice storm affected an extensive area of the [[United States]], from [[California]] to [[New England]], lasting from [[12 January]] until [[16 January]] 2007. Prior to the storm, North America had experienced relatively mild winter weather like Europe. However, during the late second week of January, an area of low pressure that formed in the [[Southern United States|South]] brought several waves of frozen precipitation over wide areas of the United States. The storm cut power from hundreds of thousands of people in several states. The storm was followed by a [[2007 Western United States freeze|period of intense chill]] in the West of the United States, with frost damages to the California citrus fruit crops estimated to be close to a billion dollars. Areas of California that have never in recorded history experienced snow now received some for the first time.

[[Image:0704161533G12I01mod2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The storm center above Eastern Canada]]

====2007 Western North American heat wave====
{{main|2007 Western North American heat wave}}
The 2007 western North American heat wave was a record-breaking event that began in late June 2007. The heat stretched from [[Mexico]] to [[Alberta]], [[Saskatchewan]], [[Manitoba]] and into northwestern [[Ontario]].<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2007/07/24/heat-wave.html Heat wave sweeps across Prairies] CBC News, 7-24-2007</ref> The record heat has exacerbated already present record-breaking [[drought]] conditions in much of the Western U. S., allowing fires to grow to record-breaking sizes.

====April 2007 storm====
{{main|April 2007 nor'easter}}
The Eastern United States and [[Canada]] were hit by a powerful [[winter storm]] on [[13 April|13]]-[[16 April]] 2007 that caused widespread flooding on [[Long Island]] and elsewhere on the East Coast, hundreds of flights being canceled and damage to coastal areas. There were at least 15 fatalities. The pressure in the low pressure center was at its lowest 958 mbar, which in a [[tropical storm]] would indicate a [[Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale|Category 3]] hurricane. A storm this powerful at this time of the year is unusual: according to a meteorologist, it is something that normally happens once in 25 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_105190528.html |title=Northeast Slammed By Rare April Storm |accessdate=2007-04-16 }}</ref>

====2007 California wildfires====
{{main|October 2007 California wildfires}}
The October 2007 California wildfires were a series of [[wildfires]] that began burning across [[Southern California]] on [[October 20]]. At least 1,500 homes were destroyed<ref name="AP_1024">
{{cite news| title=1,500 homes lost; $1B loss in San Diego area
| work = Associated Press| author=Gillian Flaccus
| url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003971082_wildfires24.html
| date=[[2007-10-24]]| publisher = [[Seattle Times]]
| accessdate=2007-10-24
}}</ref> and over 500,000 acres (2,000 km²) of land burned from [[Santa Barbara County, California|Santa Barbara County]] to the [[United States–Mexico border|U.S.–Mexico border]].
As of [[October 24]], 18 active fires were burning in the region.<ref name="CalFiresBrief">{{cite news | url=http://www.calfires.com/ | title=Southern California Fire Report | work=CalFires.com | publisher=State of California | date=[[October 22]][[2007]] | accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref> Seven people died as a direct result of the fire; 85 others were injured, including at least 61 fire fighters<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/26/fire.wildfire.ca/index.html?eref=onion | title=Fire deaths, damage come into focus as evacuees cope | work=cnn.com | publisher=CNN | date=[[October 26]][[2007]]|accessdate=2007-10-28}}</ref> Their severity was fueled by [[Santa Ana winds]] and the [[2007 Western North American heat wave]].

====2007 Tabasco flood====
{{main|2007 Tabasco flood}}
The [[Mexico|Mexican]] state of [[Tabasco]] was subject to heavy [[rain]] in late October and early November 2007, causing widespread [[flooding]]. As much as 80% of the state was under water.<ref name="Mexicans missing">{{cite news | url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/5276812.html | title=Mexicans missing after flood, landslide | author=Verdugo, Eduardo | work=Chron.com | publisher=Hearst Corporation | date=[[November 6]][[2007]]|accessdate=2007-11-06}}</ref> At least 20,000 people were forced to seek emergency shelter.<ref name="thousands fleeing">{{cite news | url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/5262972.html | title=Tens of thousands flee Mexico flooding | author=Adamsn, Lisa | work=Chron.com | publisher=Hearst Corporation | date=[[October 31]][[2007]]|accessdate=2007-11-06}}</ref> Over 1,000,000 residents have been affected.<ref name="devastating floods">{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/11/02/mexico.floods.ap/index.html |title= Devastating floods prompt outbreak fears in Mexico | work=CNN.com | publisher=Turner Broadcasting | date=[[November 2]][[2007]] |accessdate=2007-11-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21590403 | title='Mini-tsunami' buries Mexican village - Landslide leaves 16 missing as other flooded areas try to recover | work=MSNBC.com |date=[[November 6]][[2007]] |accessdate=2007-11-06}}</ref>

==Notes==
<references />

==See also==
* [[Tornadoes of 2007]]
* [[2007 Atlantic hurricane season]]
* [[2007 Pacific hurricane season]]
* [[2007 Pacific typhoon season]]
* [[2007 North Indian Ocean cyclone season]]
* [[2006-07 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season]]
* [[2007-08 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season]]
* [[2006-07 Australian region cyclone season]]
* [[2007-08 Australian region cyclone season]]
* [[2006-07 South Pacific cyclone season]]
* [[2007-08 South Pacific cyclone season]]
* [[Global warming]]

==External links==
* [http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2007/perspectives.html NCDC: Climate of 2007] — [[NOAA]]'s monthly global weather reports

[[Category:2007 meteorology| ]]