GLOBAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

NOVEMBER 2008


UNITED STATES
Western and North-Central

Moderate to severe drought were observed across parts of the western
and north-central continental U.S. Meanwhile, severe to extreme
drought conditions were present in the Hawaiian Islands, southern
Texas and the southeastern U.S. Western South Carolina, southwestern
North Carolina, and northeastern Georgia had exceptional drought. As
of November 18, 29% of the western U.S., 16% of the South, 7% of the
High Plains, 29% of the Southeast, and 21% of the contiguous U.S. were
in moderate to exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought
Monitor.

Severe storms affected eastern North and South Carolina on the 15^th ,
resulting in 11 preliminary reports of tornadoes. In North Carolina,
two fatalities were blamed on the severe weather as the storms raked
through the eastern part of the state. The storms affected six
counties, destroying homes and downing tress and power lines
(Associated Press).

ASIA

In northern and central Vietnam, heavy rain which started during the
last week of October, continued the first week of November. The rains
generated devastating floods, claiming over 80 lives, turning streets
into rivers, destroying nearly 600,000 acres of rice and crops, and
submerging over 100,000 homes with floodwaters. According to reports,
these were the worst floods to hit Vietnam in 25 years (BBC News).

Flooding triggered by torrential rains affected northern Philippines
on
November 17-23, causing six fatalities and submerging over 200
villages. The copious rain prompted rivers to burst their banks,
damaging properties and crops. It was reported that the provinces of
Isabela and Carayan were declared a state of calamity (BBC News).

AFRICA

In Ethiopia, storms brought heavy rain that caused a river in the
country's highlands to overflow. The floods were responsible for
killing 11 people and 6,000 livestock, and destroying nearly 2,500
hectares of crops. More than 100 villages were inundated by the floods
(Reuters).

SOUTH AMERICA

Intense rains from November 20-23 affected areas across northern
Venezuela. Devastating floods and deadly mudslides, triggered by the
rains, claimed nine lives and were responsible for leaving hundreds of
people homeless. The heavy rains also prompted several rivers to flow
over their banks, which contributed to the severe flooding, turning
streets into rivers and causing damages to homes and crops (BBC News).

Heavy rain on November 22-24 in southern parts of Brazil brought
flooding and deadly mudslides, which affected 1.5 million people,
paralyzed transportation, and resulted in 84 fatalities. It was
reported that most of the fatalities were caused by mudslides that
swept away homes and business. The heavy rain caused havoc across the
region, leaving eight cities isolated due to overflowing rivers, and
prompting the rupture of a pipeline that carries natural gas from
Bolivia to Brazil, leading to gas shortages. Nearly 160,000 people
were left without electricity and fresh water supplies (Associated
Press/AFP/Reuters). This event has been described as the region's
worst weather tragedy in history (AFP).

CENTRAL AMERICA

In Panama, flooding caused by heavy rain on November 22 claimed eight
lives and affected over 14,000 people across the country. It was
reported that the floods destroyed millions of dollars worth of crops
(AFP).

AUSTRALIA

Severe storms caused havoc across the eastern coast during November
14-16. The storm's produced hail, strong winds, and heavy rain. The
worst hit area was the city of Brisbane, which was lashed with 129 km/
hr (80 mph or 70 knots) winds that downed power lines, leaving nearly
230,000 homes without power. It was reported that these storms were
the most damaging Queensland has seen in over 25 years (BBC News).

TROPICAL

Hurricane Paloma formed in the Caribbean Sea, off the eastern coast of
Nicaragua, as a tropical depression on November 5. The storm tracked
north as it strengthened from tropical depression to tropical storm
and then to a hurricane. As the storm came close to the Cayman
Islands, Paloma was a Category 3 hurricane. The storm downed power
lines, ripped off roofs, and caused flooding along the eastern and
southern coasts of the island (BBC News/Caymanian Compass). The storm
tracked to the east and further strengthened, reaching its peak
intensity of maximum sustained winds near 222 km/hr (138 mph or 120
knots), a Category 4 hurricane, on November 8. Prior to landfall in
Cuba, Paloma weakened to a Category 3 hurricane. On November 8, the
storm made landfall in Santa Cruz del Sur, Cuba with maximum sustained
winds near 193 km/hr (120 mph or 104 knots). Paloma made landfall in
Santa Cruz del Sur, a day before celebrating the 76th anniversary of
the 1932 November hurricane, which killed 3,000 people (AFP). Paloma
lashed the western coast with nearly 10-foot-high waves and strong
winds that washed away 50 homes and destroyed 435 homes. Heavy rain
produced by the hurricane caused floods that inundated homes and
washed out banana crops (Associated Press). However, no fatalities
were reported. By November 9, Paloma had weakened into a tropical
depression. Hurricane Paloma became the second strongest November
hurricane on record, behind Hurricane Lenny in 1999.