Here in the UK it’s another dry but gloomy December day, although we should see a few more bright spells than yesterday. It’s also on the mild side, with temperatures hovering around 10 C (50 F) during the day.
However, if you’re hankering after more dramatic weather, we don’t have to head too far.
Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean, isn’t known for its rain. But earlier this week, heavy rains and thunderstorms lashed the Italian island, causing floods and mudslides that devastated a number of towns. Much of the damage occurred in inhabited areas and in the countryside, and rescue operations are continuing.
Just six miles further north, Corsica didn’t escape the wet weather. Solenzaro, on the east coast, saw a total of 47mm of rain falling in just 18 hours on Wednesday. That’s about half the December average rainfall for the French island.
Heavy rain is still falling on the Gold Coast of Australia, as Rob McElwee reported yesterday. The towns of Coolangatta and Murwillumbah, both just south of Brisbane, have seen more than their fair share of wet weather. Since late on the 6th of December, rainfall totals of 160 mm and 166 mm have been recorded, well over the averages for the month, 140 mm and 145 mm respectively.
It’s even been wet in Saudi Arabia, which is usually pretty dry in December, as it is for the rest of the year. On Wednesday, the small town of Turaif suddenly found a month’s worth of rain falling in just 6 hours. The 16 mm received was higher than the 12 mm that usually falls throughout the whole of December.
And if you do feel chilly in the UK today, despite the mild conditions, spare a thought for residents of Erzurum in eastern Turkey. Temperatures here plummeted to a maximum of just -10.3 C (13 F) on Tuesday and an overnight temperature of -22.7 C (-9 F) on Tuesday night. The averages are -1 C and -9 C respectively.
