Some of us are soaking under thunderstorms and heavy rain today here in the UK, but we are not alone! It has been pouring down with rain in New Orleans too, causing the Jazz Fest to be cancelled on Friday evening. Streets and homes have been flooded and the Golf was washed out again on Friday as several inches of rain fell.

After the delays on Thursday the first round of the PGA Tours's HP Classic in New Orleans has not even been completed. It looks as though there will be a weather window this morning so hopefully they will be able to play for a while, but severe storms are possible in the afternoon.

The Italian Open Golf has also been seriously interupted by heavy rain, with a whole day's play washed out in Milan on Friday. Further showers are expected today, although they are hoping to get out and play a little bit before the showers get going.

The Kentucky Derby takes place today in Louisville USA. Heavy showers are expected which could make it difficult to pick a winner as the ground softens.

The Caribbean has caught some heavy showers recently. Piarco airport which serves Trinidad and Tobago had 36mm of rain in just six hours early on Friday morning, which is pretty much what we'd expect to fall in the whole month. May is starting on a wet note here, too, so it may not be the best place to head for the sun just now.

Meanwhile, there has been more heavy rain Down Under in New Zealand, and also in southeast Australia. Half the April average rainfall (30mm) came down in just six hours on Friday morning at St Helens on the east coast of Tasmania.

Weather News from the last five days:
30/04/2004
29/04/2004
28/04/2004
27/04/2004
26/04/2004

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