Spring severe thunderstorms swept across the central US this week, bringing tornadoes, giant hail, and damaging winds. Eight tornadoes were reported on Monday, including an EF2 that struck Sycamore, Kansas. On Tuesday, a severe hailstorm hit Springfield, Missouri, with hailstones up to 12cm in diameter, cracking windscreens and killing an emu at Dickerson Park Zoo. Early estimates suggest it will be the costliest hailstorm in Springfield's history.
The strongest tornado, an EF3, struck Mineral Wells, Texas, on Wednesday with winds up to 145mph. The mayor declared a local disaster after five people were injured and homes and businesses damaged or destroyed. A quieter period is expected next week.
In southern China, extreme rainfall on Monday and Tuesday saw 538mm fall in 12 hours near Qinzhou, Guangxi, with peak hourly totals exceeding 147mm. Streets flooded, submerging hundreds of vehicles. Five people were stranded in a residential building, and 800 residents were evacuated.
Moscow experienced a record-breaking snowstorm on Wednesday and Thursday, with 21cm accumulating overnight—the highest for this time of year since 1880. The storm, caused by a high-pressure block over the North Atlantic forcing Arctic air south, felled 740 trees and caused significant flight delays with gusts over 50mph.
