World
Flash Floods in Erbil Cause Two Deaths Amid Heavy Rainfall
Flash floods struck northern Iraq on Saturday as severe thunderstorms swept across the region, including parts of Iran. Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, suffered extensive damage to homes and businesses as streets were inundated by torrential rain. The city received an estimated 80 mm of rain, far exceeding the forecasted 30 mm. Two people lost their lives in the flooding.
Elsewhere, in Europe, Storm Bruna is expected to bring strong winds to Portugal this week, especially along the west coast. Gusts could reach 50 mph (80 km/h) with heavy rain and thunderstorms. Total rainfall from the storm may reach 200 mm by week’s end. The storm has already impacted the Canary Islands, where Tenerife recorded an 80 mph gust on Saturday night.
In Japan, a cold and snowy end to last week was followed by further snowfall in Hokkaido and parts of Honshu’s mountains. Temperatures are forecast to fall below the seasonal average early this week, with Sapporo expected to be 10 °C below average. Maximum temperatures in the city are likely to be about 4–6 °C on Monday and Wednesday, while Tuesday’s high is forecast to be around 0 °C. Minimum temperatures could drop to –6 °C by Wednesday and –8 °C in other western parts of Hokkaido on Tuesday. Ski resorts are preparing for visitors after snowfall began on Friday. Total snowfall is expected to reach 30–50 cm around Kiroro and Niesko, with about 20–30 cm in Furano, Rusutsu and Sapporo. Other resorts could receive up to 20 cm of snow by Wednesday. Strong winds accompanied the snow on Friday and over the weekend, with gusts of about 75 mph in Kiroko and Niesko.
During the strong El Niño, sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific were about 3.5 °C above the climatological average at their peak in late October. As a result, Peru has been experiencing air temperatures 5–10 °C above the seasonal average, and the unusually warm conditions are expected to continue into next week.
Frequently asked questions
How much rain fell in Erbil during the floods?
Erbil received an estimated 80 mm of rain.
How many people died in the Erbil floods?
Two people lost their lives in the flooding.