Global weather activity of 2006 profiles the major worldwide weather events, including blizzards, ice storms, tropical cyclones, tornadoes, and other weather events, from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2006. Winter storms are events in which the dominant varieties of precipitation are forms that only occur at cold temperatures, such as snow or sleet, or a rainstorm where ground temperatures are cold enough to allow ice to form (i.e. freezing rain). It may be marked by strong wind, thunder and lightning (a thunderstorm), heavy precipitation, such as ice (ice storm), or wind transporting some substance through the atmosphere (as in a dust storm, snowstorm, hailstorm, etc.). Other major non winter events such as large dust storms, Hurricanes, cyclones, tornadoes, gales, flooding and rainstorms are also caused by such phenomena to a lesser or greater existent. Very rarely, well-defined winter storms may form during the summer, though it would usually have to be an abnormally cold summer, such as the Summer of 1816 in the Northeastern United States. In many locations in the Northern Hemisphere, the most powerful winter storms usually occur in March and, in regions where temperatures are cold enough, April.
The events of 2006
January
Severe Tropical Cyclone Clare was a moderate strength cyclone which hit Western Australia in January 2006. The storm formed as an area of low pressure in the Arafura Sea, on 4 January 2006, and moved westward. It ultimately peaked at Category 3 intensity on the Australian tropical cyclone scale. It moved ashore on the coast of Pilbara and proceeded inland, dissipating on 10 January. Clare produced winds of 142 km/h (88 mph) at Karratha and triggered widespread torrential rainfall that led to flooding. Following its usage, the name Clare was retired by the Bureau of Meteorology, and will never be used again for a tropical cyclone in the area affected by it. Ahead of the storm's landfall, local and state officials issued a "red alert" for several locations along the storm's predicted path. 2,000 people were evacuated in the Karratha region. In areas between Broome and Port Hedland, people were urged to tidy up debris and organise disaster supplies to prepare for the storm. Several ports were closed and some oil rigs were shut down at the time with heavy floods in the affected region and parts of East Timor.
On 24 January, a broad area of low pressure developed near the coast of Queensland after a monsoonal trough passed through the region. Northeasterly winds flowing into the system quickly increased convection, resulting in heavy rainfall over coastal regions of Queensland. The slow movement of the developing low continued through 26 January before turning northeast in response to a mid-level ridge to the north. On 28 January, the JTWC began monitoring the system as Tropical Storm 10P and shortly after, the Bureau of Meteorology classified the storm as a Category 1 cyclone and gave it the name Jim. Torrential rainfall affected portions of coastal Queensland between 26 and 27 January. In a 24-hour span, 258 mm (10.2 in) of rain fell in Home Hill, leading to minor flooding. On 28 January, the cyclone brushed Flinders Reef, New Caledonia, Willis Island and Lihou Reef, bringing winds up to 65 kilometres per hour (40 mph) to all three areas.
February
The TCWC Brisbane issued a gale warning for a Tropical Low near the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula on February 22. The low moved in an easterly direction. It quickly strengthened and became Tropical Cyclone Kate on the same day. Kate moved eastwards and weakened into a tropical low on February 24. Coastal Queensland was badly hit. In the Shire of Noosa, six surfers sustained serious injuries after wading into turbulent waters. Waves up to 1.8 m (6 ft) tossed the six surfers, leaving them with injuries ranging from broken noses and fractured ankles to head wounds from surfboards.
June On June 10 start the Storm of the Biobio in Chile, to August 23, with heavy rainfall in the regions of Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Metropolitan of Santiago, O'Higgins, Maule, Biobío, Araucanía, Los Ríos, Los Lagos and Aysén. Of the magnitude 12 in the Beaufort scale. It was rated as the worst time of the last 30 years in Chile.
July Heavy sandstorms sweep Mauritania's Sahel on July 12 and 17.
August
August 7 50 houses were damaged with 7 houses completely losing roofs and two people received minor injuries in the suburb of Leschenault in Australind, Western Australia which is located 163 kilometres (101 mi) south of Perth. Western Australian Bureau of Meteorology measured the tornado to be a F2 on the Fujita scale with the damage area measuring around 100m by 2000m.
August 13–29 Between 13 and 29 August, major storm-induced flood hit the Cambodia. On the 13th the Battambang, Pursat and Kampong Thom were the first to be hit. The heavy rainfall started at evening time of 13 August in Kampong Speu Province and ended on the 14th. Kampot was flooded by heavy rain on the 16th along with five affected districts, 92 communes, 482 villages until the 17th. The Cambodian Red Cross Society gave help to the storm's victims. The storm burnt itself out over Thailand and Laos on the 29th. The Stung Sen River and Mekong river burst their banks. The major storm-induced flood hit the Cambodian provinces of Kandal, Koh Kong, Kampot, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, Battambang, Pursat, Rattanakiri and the municipality of Phnom Penh particularly badly, as were the Thai provinces Amphoe Chiang Saen and Chiang Rai Province. Cambodian officials reported five deaths (two in Kampong Speu and 3 in Kampot). It was said that 252 homes had been flooded, 12 homes had been washed away and about 6,000 families had been evacuated from low-lying and coastal regions that were prone to flooding of this type. The Laotian town of Chiang Saen, Sekong Province and Attapeu Province and Vientiane Prefecture were briefly flooded in places the 29th and 30th.
August 21 An isolated, strong tornado was reported in Remagen in Germany on the evening of August 21. Significant damage was reported in the area as it hit a campground. One person was killed and several others were injured as a result. It was the fourth tornado fatality in Europe in 2006.
September
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