By Thalya Samuels
In the past several months, people have been noticing bizarre weather phenomena across the globe. These phenomena include snowing in subtropical and desert climates, fires, mudslides, and bomb cyclones. Experts have multiple explanations as to why these weather patterns have occurred.
A notable example of strange weather conditions takes place in the Sahara desert. Civilians noticed snow in the Algerian region of Ain Sefra. This is the third time it has snowed in the region in 40 years. The appearance was unexpected considering the region’s climate does not support much precipitation. Despite its atypical nature, researchers have agreed that this is not the result of climate change, but rather the outcome of immense pressure in the north pushing cold air farther south.
Winter Storm Grayson brought snow and ice to many coastal regions in the southeast. One of these regions was Tallahassee, FL. The city experienced snow for the first time in 28 years. The National Weather Service measured 0.1 inches of snow on the morning of January 3, 2018. Many residents were surprised to wake up to frozen pools and snow-covered roofs. Even though a minimal amount of snow was measured, the service still urged residents to be cautious when driving. The winter storm and the abnormally low temperatures along the East Coast are all due to a weather phenomenon called a bomb cyclone, or the official name, explosive cyclogenesis. Winter storms are considered bomb cyclones when the atmospheric pressure drops by 24 millibars or more in 24 hours. These storms are accompanied by heavy rain and/or snow.
Lately, Californians have been experiencing fires. These dangerous weather conditions have concerned authorities and citizens, alike. An event that has caused significant worry is the Thomas Fire that ignited on December 4, 2017. The fire burned through approximately 300,000 acres and is now the largest fire in California history, beating the 2003 Cedar Fire. Authorities do not know the exact cause of the wildfires, however, they do know the factors that cause them to proliferate. These factors include the powerful winds, low humidity, and the dried vegetation in California.
Californians have also been faced with dangerous mudslides. The bared vegetation left after the recent Thomas fire, heavy rain, and debris are all factors in the formation of the deadly landslides. The mudslides have caused additional damages to the already impaired cities of Southern California. As of now, the death toll is at 20 and there are three missing persons. In these situations, deaths are usually the result of trauma, injuries from damage and unsafe roads that make it impossible to reach a hospital. Authorities continue to search for people and rescue those struggling in the affected areas.
These recent weather occurrences have surprised many individuals all over the world. Some of these occurrences have shown to be interesting and have given people the experience of a lifetime. Alternately, some have also resulted in grave consequences. Hopefully, these circumstances will not persist for too long and allow the impacted societies to return to their normal agenda.