A slight strengthening of Tropical Storm ‘Muifa’ in the Philippines during the past 48 hours has lead to it’s upgrading to Typhoon status. The change in status may have only been down to an increase in wind speeds from 70 to 75 mph, but whatever its status the storm is still causing a multitude of problems through central parts of the country.
Part of the reason the storm is causing so many problems has been its relatively slow progression west, towards the South China Sea. The slow progression is due to the continuing northeasterly monsoon, and this has resulted in some areas being continually battered by atrocious conditions.
On the island of Cantanduanes, in the east, there have been widespread flooding problems and disruption to power supplies after 435mm (over 17 inches) of rain fell in just 60 hours. This is close to what would normally fall during the whole month.
The capital Manila has not been immune. Over one thousand people were evacuated from their homes to the southeast of the city, and around 3,000 commuters were stranded at ferry crossings.
Relief efforts to reach those caught out by the floods are still being hampered by the proximity of the storm.
A little closer to home, Turkey has been receiving its own fair share of rainfall recently. A weather system to the south of the Black Sea has been bringing heavy, persistent, and at times thundery rain to the northeast of the country.
The town of Hopa received a little more than others, with around 92mm (3.6 inches) of rain falling in 24 hours. This is around three times the amount that would normally fall during the whole of November.
