Closing in on a more active weather pattern

Following some big hailstorms in West Virginia on Monday, our weather pattern is entering the final stages of the somewhat less active springtime flow of the past week or so. Meanwhile, the biggest sandstorm in years swept across southern Iraq on Monday.

Weather Watch

More flooding ahead? New rounds of rain and storms are on the way for the central United States, which could exacerbate issues on rivers still in flood from last go. The focus of the heaviest is probably a bit west of last go and not as intense. Severe weather is also associated with the increased rain risks, and multiple days are highlighted for such late this week and into next week.

Long-track tornado. In the mid-March tornado outbreak, a previous series of tornadoes has been merged into a track that's 117+ miles long. On the ground for more than two hours, ending in Missouri, it’s of the longest tracks on record in Arkansas and unusually lengthy overall.

Lightning link

The reason for an outburst of deadly storms early in the year could be lurking in the ocean.

Major sandstorm in Iraq

Southern Iraq and the surrounding region was overrun by a serious dust storm on Monday.

At its peak intensity, visibility was reduced to half a mile (or less) as red skies dimmed the midday sun. Multiple cities each reported hundreds of people seeking medical attention for breathing difficulties. Tallies of around 4,000 such cases have surfaced thus far.

While not as thick, dust stretched from western Iran, across the Persian Gulf and into Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, driven along by a frontal zone passing the region.

Research has shown sandstorms are becoming more likely in a warming world.

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Weekday morning newsletter by a journalist/forecaster. Connecting weather and climate change dots while occasionally stirring the pot.

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