When you think of California, you usually conjure up images of a pleasant, comfortable climate. However, last Thursday, it was anything but comfortable. A storm system brought flooding to parts of the Golden State, with some areas having in excess of 300mm of rain in three days. As a result, Highway 1 along the Pacific coast was washed away in places, with one person killed in floods. In the Sierra Nevada mountains, this fell as snow, bringing depths of 2 metres at some ski resorts. A 14-year-old boy was rescued after being buried in snow that fell off the roof of his home.
On the other side of the US, severe thunderstorms have brought some of the first tornadoes of the year to Florida. A tornado touched down in the state capital of Tallahassee, flipping a light aircraft at the city’s airport, as well as causing damage to a hangar. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported.
Finally, Cyclone Ana brought fatal consequences as it hit Fiji on Sunday. One man was killed as the category two storm brought winds of 87mph (140kmph), with 7,600 people evacuated from flooded villages.