Satellite image of tropical cyclonesLam (top-center) and Marcia (right), which marked the first instance of two tropical cyclones hitting Australia in a 24hour period in February 2015
The following is a list of weather events that occurred on Earth in 2015. There were several natural disasters around the world from various types of weather, including blizzards, cold waves, droughts, heat waves, tornadoes, and tropical cyclones.
Some of the deadliest weather events were a pair of heat waves affecting India and Pakistan which together killed around 4,500people. Also in Asia, Cyclone Komen in July killed 187people. A series of monsoonal floods in India killed 470people in the last three months of the year. In October, heavy rainfall in Guatemala triggered a major landslide in a village near Guatemala City, killing at least 280people. The costliest single weather event of the year was Typhoon Mujigae, which left ¥27billion (US$4.3billion) in damage and caused 27 deaths in southern China. In October, Hurricane Patricia became the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded in the western hemisphere, when it attained 1minute sustained winds of 215mph (345km/h) and a minimum pressure of 872mbar (25.8inHg) off the west coast of Mexico.
In February, blizzard and avalanches killed more than 300people in Afghanistan.[1] Also in February, a blizzard affected much of North America amid a cold wave, killing 30people and leaving US$3.5billion in damage.[2]
As the year began, Tropical Storm Jangmi was dissipating in the South China Sea.[43] There were 12tropical cyclones in the year in the south-west Indian Ocean,[44][45] including very intense tropical cyclonesBansi and Eunice, which both attained 10minute sustained winds of at least 220km/h (140mph) in January.[46][47] Also in the month, Tropical Storm Chedza moved across Madagascar, killing 80people, mostly due to landslides.[48][49] In the Australian region, there were 17tropical cyclones. In February, two cyclones –Lam and Marcia made landfall in Australia in a 24hour period, the first ever recorded instance of such an occurrence. Lam moved ashore Northern Australia, causing widespread flooding. Six hours later, Marcia made landfall on Queensland as a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone, causing A$750million (US$587million) in damage.[50][51][52][53] There were 18tropical cyclones in the South Pacific, including Cyclone Pam in March, which moved through Vanuatu with winds of 250km/h (155mph), causing 16deaths and VT63.2billion (US$600million) in damage.[54][55][56] There were also two subtropical cyclones in the South Atlantic Ocean, Bapo and Cari.[44]
In the north-west Pacific Ocean, there were 38tropical cyclones during the year. Its strongest was Typhoon Soudelor in August, with 10minute sustained winds of 215km/h (130mph).[57][58] Soudelor struck the Northern Mariana Islands, Taiwan and southeastern China, resulting in 59deaths and over US$4billion in damage.[59][60][61] Also in August, Typhoon Goni killed 74people and caused more than US$1billion in damage.[62][63][64][65][66] In October, Typhoon Mujigae hit Guangdong in southern China with 10minute winds of 155km/h (100mph), the strongest recorded landfall in the country in the month. The typhoon caused ¥27billion (US$4.3billion) in damage and 27deaths in China.[67][68] In the north Indian Ocean, there were 12tropical cyclones,[69] including Cyclone Chapala, the strongest recorded cyclone to strike Yemen, which hit during the country's civil war.[70][71] A week later, the cyclone was followed by Cyclone Megh, which killed 18people on Socotra island.[72] In June, a depression in western India killed 81people and caused widespread floods.[73] Also during the season, Cyclone Komen meandered over the northern Bay of Bengal, resulting in 187deaths and US$2billion in damage.[74][75][76][77][78][79][80]
In the north-east Pacific Ocean, there were 31tropical cyclones, half of which intensified into hurricanes.[57] The strongest storm of the season was Hurricane Patricia, which on October23 attained 1minute sustained winds of 215mph (345km/h) and a minimum pressure of 872mbar (25.8inHg), making it the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the western hemisphere, and the second-strongest worldwide after Typhoon Tip in 1979. Patricia struck southwestern Mexico after weakening, causing at least two deaths and US$325million in damage.[81] The Atlantic hurricane season was quiet by contrast, with just 12tropical cyclones.[57] The strongest was Hurricane Joaquin, which hit the Bahamas in October with 1minute sustained winds of 130mph (215km/h). Damage in the country was estimated at US$200million. Joaquin also capsized the cargo ship SS El Faro, killing the crew of 33people.[82][83] Also during the season, Tropical Storm Erika produced flooding and landslides in Dominica when it moved through the Lesser Antilles in August, killing 30people and causing US$482.8million on the island.[84][85]
↑ "2015 Tornado Count". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
↑ "Illinois Event Report: EF1 Tornado" (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Chicago, Illinois. 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
↑ "Illinois Event Report: EF4 Tornado" (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Chicago, Illinois. 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
↑ "Illinois Event Report: EF3 Tornado" (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Chicago, Illinois. 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
↑ "Illinois Event Report: EF0 Tornado" (Report). National Climatic Data Center. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Chicago, Illinois. 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
↑ "Guam Event Report: Rip Current". National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Office in Guam. 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
↑ Todd B. Kimberlain; Eric S. Blake; John P. Cangialosi (1 February 2016). "Hurricane Patricia"(PDF) (Report). Tropical Cyclone Report. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
↑ Richard J. Pasch and Andrew B. Penny (8 February 2016). "Tropical Storm Erika"(PDF) (Report). Tropical Cyclone Report. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
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