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Review of 2005 |
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A number of extreme weather events hit the headlines in 2005, causing concern across the globe. BBC Weather takes a look at some of the more significant weather events in 2005.
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The relentless weather extremes caused havoc around the world and gave rise to some significant weather and climate events including: severe drought in parts of southern Africa, the Amazon River basin and in large parts of Western Europe; extreme monsoon-related rainfall in western India; and record temperatures in Australia. Overall, 2005 was a warm year with temperatures above normal over most of the globe, according to the year-end weather report by the National Climatic Data Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Previously, the warmest year on record was 1998 but with similar global temperatures, 2005 is now in joint position with 1998. StormsThe 2005 storm record was broken 2005 was a record-breaking year for storms with 26 named storms during the hurricane season, plus one more after the season, making a total of 27. This broke the previous 1933 record for the most named storms in a single season, which recorded 21 named storms.
Previously, the record for hurricanes was set in 1969 with 12 recorded in a season, but 2005 broke this record when it named its 13th hurricane.
Of these hurricanes, Katrina, Rita and Wilma reached Category 5, breaking the old record of two category 5 hurricanes in 1960 and 1961.
The destructive impact of Hurricane Katrina and other land-falling storms on the United States resulted in damage estimates for the 2005 season in excess of over $100 billion dollars. This hurricane season was also historic because it was the first time that the World Meteorological Organization had to use its 'unlikely' reserve list that uses the Greek alphabet. It was a gusty start to 2005 for parts of the United Kingdom as winds gusting as high as 125 mph swept across Northern Ireland and Scotland on the 12th of January resulting in power outages. China was also affected by severe thunderstorms in April and a severe tornado on the 20th caused fatalities in the city of Yancheng. Tornado over Birmingham in July July had some surprise for the United Kingdom too when a rare tornado occurred over the Kings Heath area of Birmingham on the 28th causing considerable damage and injuries.
Snow
A major winter snowstorm, referred to as the "Blizzard of 2005' rolled across northeastern United States at the beginning of 2005 and was followed up by a rather severe weather spring season for the rest of the US. Snow was also a dominant feature for other parts of the globe in February when heavy snowfall affected parts of Europe as well as The Kashmir region in India, which was subject to numerous avalanches. A few months later in May, a heavy snowstorm in Chile affected a Chilean army exercise and caused fatalities.
Rain
Excessive rainfall had an impact on parts of the globe with flooding affecting Guyana, Venezuela, Columbia and Pakistan in February. In the seasonal rains across southern China, there was widespread flooding for the month of June and following torrential rainfall, a flash flood swept through an elementary school in Ning'an causing 117 fatalities.
Drought
Drought in Brazil, Africa and Europe. While wet weather was a problem for some countries, dry weather also caused problems for other areas contributing to drought in Brazil, Africa and Europe.
In March, cities and towns in southern Brazil were on a state of emergency due to water shortages while long-term drought reigned across areas of the Greater Horn of Africa and southern Africa. Australia also experienced drought conditions in April across much of Western Australia and New South Wales as a result of rainfall deficiencies since the beginning of 2005.
Temperature
Southern Europe is often a popular choice for UK holiday-makers in the summer season; however the summer of 2005 was no ordinary one. The high temperatures and rainfall deficiencies in July caused water-rationing in France, while Spain and Portugal experienced the worst drought conditions since the late 1940's. Areas in the United Kingdom, Spain, France and Portugal had experienced half the normal amounts of rainfall and this drought in Western Europe continued into September.
So, while 2005 turned out to be one of the warmest year on record, it also worked out to be one of the costliest years with weather-related disasters running up billions of pounds worth of damage. The year ended for the United States in the wake of the most expensive storm in history, Hurricane Katrina, and left other countries wondering what surprises 2006 would have in store. The 2005 Photo Gallery highlights some of the fantastic weather photographs submitted to BBC Weather throughout 2005. | |||||
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