Posted by Elana Janson on November 22, 2013 at 14:11:55:
Severe and unseasonal sudden storms.
US Midwest
Sixty tornadoes hit the Midwest of the US on Sunday 17 November 2013. The weather system touched down on ten states. Of significance is that it was a ferocious fast moving weather system. A resident of Pekin Illinois said that in a matter of seconds it was on top of them. So fast was it moving at 111 km per hour that forecasters warned people not to wait till they saw the weather change before taking measures to take cover.
November is ordinarily one of the quietest months in the tornado calendar. These storms were unusually destructive for this time of year. Extensive neighborhoods were flattened. Hailstones like tennis balls were seen.
Sardinia
Cyclone Cleopatra pounded the island of Sardinia on Monday 18 November 2013 causing rivers to burst their banks. 450 mm of rain fell within an hour and 40 cm of rain in 24 hours. Described as an “apocalyptic” storm bridges were swept away and water levels of 10 ft were reached. A state of emergency was declared.