The Philippines is on high alert this week as the year's first tropical storm, named Ada, threatens to unleash torrential rain, dangerous flooding, and volcanic mudflows. The storm, also known as Nokaen, intensified on Friday and is tracking northwards along the country's east coast.
Severe Warnings for Luzon Island
Tropical Storm Ada is forecast to deliver up to 200mm of rain per day, with maximum wind gusts reaching 65mph near its centre. Weather officials have issued critical warnings for potential storm surges of up to 2.2 metres in vulnerable low-lying areas, alongside waves as high as 5 metres.
The heavy rainfall significantly elevates the risk of widespread flooding across the region. Furthermore, authorities are particularly concerned about the threat of landslides and lahars—fast-moving volcanic mudflows—around the iconic Mayon Volcano on Luzon island. The combined hazards have already triggered travel disruptions, school closures, and power outages in the most exposed communities.
Storm Track and European Weather Extremes
The system is expected to maintain tropical storm strength until Tuesday as it moves north-west. It is then predicted to weaken into a tropical depression, though continued rain and strong winds, enhanced by the seasonal north-east monsoon, are likely later in the week.
Meanwhile, a separate deep low-pressure system, named Storm Harry by Spanish forecasters, is set to sweep across the Mediterranean. Heavy rain will first hit Catalonia and Valencia on Monday afternoon, with an orange warning for up to 70mm of rain in 24 hours. The storm will then move across to the Balearics, south-west France, and parts of Italy.
Sicily and Calabria in Italy face a red weather warning on Tuesday, with more than 100mm of rain anticipated. The same system will also bring powerful easterly winds, with gusts potentially hitting 60mph in Sicily, Calabria, and eastern Corsica. Malta is bracing for rough seas with waves forecast to reach a staggering 11 metres, risking major damage to exposed coastlines just days after severe hailstorms battered the island.
Deep Freeze Grips Eastern Europe
In a stark contrast, Eastern Europe is enduring a severe cold spell. Temperatures at the start of the week are running 5-7C below the seasonal average. The mercury is expected to plunge even further later in the week, with parts of Poland, Ukraine, and the Baltics potentially experiencing lows of -15C to -18C—a full 10 degrees colder than normal for this time of year.
