Western Australia faces significant disruptions following a historic deluge, while Charleston, South Carolina, recovers from record rainfall. The UK also prepares for a week of unsettled weather, highlighting a series of extreme weather events impacting different parts of the globe.
Western Australia has been hit by a record deluge, causing significant disruptions due to the severance of road and rail links through the Nullarbor. The affected areas, including parts of the Goldfields, Eucla, and South Interior regions, received six months’ worth of rain within 24 hours. The Eyre Highway and Trans-Australian Railway line closures are expected to continue for several days, impacting freight routes between Western Australia and South Australia. Further heavy rainfall is forecasted, leading communities in Eastern Goldfields, central Eucla, and interior regions to take precautions. Authorities have warned residents to seek shelter and avoid flooded roads, while efforts to manage the flooding aftermath and a potential tropical cyclone threat to Christmas Island are ongoing.
Simultaneously, Charleston, South Carolina, experienced a record-setting rainstorm over the weekend, leading to severe flooding and emergency rescues of individuals from high waters. The rainfall in downtown Charleston broke a record set in 1948, with the Charleston International Airport also setting a new rainfall record. The Charleston Fire Department assisted 13 people from vehicles or hazardous areas, with high winds causing additional property damage. Despite the chaos, no injuries have been reported.
Meanwhile, the UK is preparing for a week of heavy rains and unsettled weather across the country, with the Met Office forecasting persistent rainfall and drizzle, alongside occasional dry spells. The week ahead may bring heavy rain, potential “snow bomb” conditions, and a generally unsettled weather pattern with brighter spells and showers into the weekend. The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings and alerts, although temperatures are expected to remain above freezing, with milder weather gradually returning.