Hurricane Tracker Updates Show Severe Thunderstorms Trigger Flash Flood Warnings in Utah and Arizona
Hurricane tracker updates show severe thunderstorms triggered flash flood warnings in southern Utah and a severe thunderstorm warning in northwestern Arizona on the same day that Cyprus recorded more than ten times its normal August rainfall, while India’s monsoon season is forecast to end with below-normal September precipitation following its warmest August on record.
Hurricane Tracker Monitors Active Severe Thunderstorm and Flash Flood Warnings in the American Southwest
The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for northern Mohave County in northwestern Arizona until 1130 AM MST. [1] At 1043 AM MST a severe thunderstorm was located 22 miles east of Virgin River Campground or 23 miles east of Virgin River Gorge moving northeast at 15 mph. [1] The storm produced 60 mph wind gusts according to radar indications. [1] Impacts from the storm included expected damage to roofs siding and trees. [1] Locations impacted were mainly rural areas. [1] The National Weather Service in Las Vegas issued this alert. [1]
A Flash Flood Warning was issued for west central Kane County in southern Utah and east central Washington County in southwestern Utah until 215 PM MDT. [3] Doppler radar showed thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area with flash flooding ongoing or expected to begin shortly. [3] The hazard included life threatening flash flooding from thunderstorms. [3] The source of the information was radar indicated. [3] The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City issued this alert. [3]
Record Rainfall in Cyprus and Fatal Storm Outcome
Cyprus recorded 30 mm average rainfall in August against a normal of 2.9 mm marking a 1034 percent increase. [4] Some stations such as Frenaros and Xylotymbou received more than 200 times normal rainfall. [4] The largest amount was recorded in Platania with 83.9 mm up from a normal of 12.8 mm recording an increase of 655 percent. [4] Frenaros recorded 27.3 mm against a normal that produced a 27,300 percent increase while Xylotymbou recorded 40 mm against a normal that produced a 20,000 percent increase. [4] With the exception of Pano Panayia where no rainfall was recorded and Paphos airport where the normal seasonal level of 0.2 mm was seen all met department stations far exceeded the normal rainfall for the month. [4] From October 1 2025 to the end of August 2026 rainfall reached 608.3 mm which was 122 percent of normal for the corresponding period with all stations nationwide exceeding 100 percent of the normal. [4]
A businessman drowned on his boat during the severe storm that hit the island on Saturday. [5] Deep sadness over the death of Dimis Mavropoulos on his boat during the severe storm on Saturday was expressed by the Limassol chamber of commerce. [5] President of the Limassol chamber Andreas Tsouloftas said he had been hosted on a friend’s boat next to Mavropoulos’ one week earlier. [5] Tsouloftas said Mavropoulos had vast experience with boats and felt that he could cope as in similar cases in the past but no one expected such wind intensity and such waves. [5] Mavropoulos died on board his boat Perla Bianca during the severe storms that hit the island on Saturday. [5] Three boats sank off Cape Greco with the Joint Rescue and Coordination Centre launching an operation that pulled five people alive out of the water in addition to Mavropoulos. [5] Tsouloftas spoke of a truly sad incident alleging negligence on the part of the responsible authorities of the port and maritime police saying that if they had reached the boat in a timely manner the incident might have been avoided. [5] The Cyprus museum of historic and classical cars set up by Mavropoulos expressed its deep sadness over the unjust and premature loss of the beloved founder of the museum and the club. [5]
Cyprus experienced ten times more rainfall than usual in August. — Source: cyprusmail
India’s Monsoon Ends with Forecast Below-Normal September Rain
India’s IMD predicts below-normal rainfall for September which would produce an overall deficient June–September monsoon. [2] The Met department said August which reported a deficit of more than 16 percent in monthly rainfall in the country despite good rains in certain parts was the warmest August in India since 1901 recording a mean temperature of 28.01 degrees Celsius. [2] So far the country as a whole reported a deficit of 14 percent in cumulative June 1 to August 31 rainfall despite normal rainfall in July. [2] In June the deficit was as high as 35 percent. [2] Out of a total of 741 districts assessed for monsoon rainfall distribution 312 districts or 42 percent received below normal rainfall and 38 districts or 5 percent reported large deficient rainfall till August 31. [2] A forecast of below normal rainfall in September may lead to a deficit in overall kharif crop acreage. [2] Though sowing of most of the seasonal crops is almost complete with a decline in acreage by nearly 2 percent compared to the corresponding period last year low rainfall in September means an increase in the input cost due to farmers’ spending on irrigation of standing crops. [2] Spatially many parts of the country are likely to receive below-normal rainfall but some areas of northwest northeast east east-central and south-east Peninsular India are likely to receive normal to above-normal rainfall according to IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra. [2]
August 2023 Temperature Records and El Niño Influence in India
Region-wise August in south Peninsular India was the second-warmest August since 1901 whereas it was the third warmest for east and northeast India and fifth warmest for northwest India in the past 126 years. [2] Strong El Niño conditions are expected to strengthen and are associated with weak monsoon rainfall in India while neutral Indian Ocean Dipole conditions offer no additional benefit. [2] Currently strong El Niño conditions are prevailing over the equatorial Pacific Ocean with sea surface temperature remaining above normal across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. [2] These conditions are expected to strengthen further in the coming months said Mohapatra hinting at its negative impact on September rainfall. [2] El Niño characterised by the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific is invariably associated with a weak monsoon and a harsh summer in India. [2] At present neutral Indian Ocean Dipole conditions prevail over the Indian Ocean and the forecasts from the Monsoon Mission Coupled Forecast System indicate that neutral IOD conditions are likely to persist through September. [2] It means the monsoon may not benefit from this climatic phenomenon as only positive IOD helps increase rainfall activities. [2] IMD noted that the extreme weather events lightning thunderstorm and heavy rains took 113 human lives in August. [2] Mohapatra however said this figure can be cross-checked with the data compiled by the states. [2]
Global Contrast in Extreme Weather Patterns
The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for northern Mohave County in northwestern Arizona until 1130 AM MST with a storm producing 60 mph wind gusts moving northeast at 15 mph and capable of damaging roofs siding and trees. [1] A Flash Flood Warning was issued for west central Kane County in southern Utah and east central Washington County in southwestern Utah until 215 PM MDT after Doppler radar showed thunderstorms producing heavy rain and ongoing or imminent life-threatening flash flooding. [3] Cyprus recorded 30 mm average rainfall in August against a normal of 2.9 mm a 1034 percent increase with some stations such as Frenaros and Xylotymbou receiving more than 200 times normal rainfall. [4] A businessman drowned on his boat during the severe storm that hit the island on Saturday. [5] India’s IMD predicts below-normal rainfall for September which would produce an overall deficient June–September monsoon following an August that was the warmest since 1901 with a 14 percent cumulative rainfall deficit through August 31 and 42 percent of districts receiving below-normal rain. [2] Strong El Niño conditions are expected to strengthen and are associated with weak monsoon rainfall in India while neutral Indian Ocean Dipole conditions offer no additional benefit. [2]
What to watch next: The National Weather Service warnings remain in effect for the specified areas in Arizona and Utah while Cyprus stations continue to report rainfall totals and India’s IMD continues to monitor the strengthening El Niño conditions for their impact on September rainfall.
