18.10.2012 Views

Annual Global Climate and Catastrophe Report: Impact ... - Aon

Annual Global Climate and Catastrophe Report: Impact ... - Aon

Annual Global Climate and Catastrophe Report: Impact ... - Aon

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

AnnuAl GlobAl Cli mAte And C AtAstroph e r e port<br />

Severe weather occurred across the U.S. Southeast <strong>and</strong> Tennessee valley on the 18th, killing at least one person<br />

<strong>and</strong> damaging or destroying at least 297 homes. Numerous tornadoes touched down in Georgia. In Jasper<br />

County, at least 100 homes were damaged <strong>and</strong> ten people were injured as an EF1 tornado with 100 mph<br />

(160 kph) winds touched down. An EF2 tornado in Thomas County damaged at least 160 homes <strong>and</strong> downed<br />

hundreds of trees. In rural Taylor County, two EF0 tornadoes touched down, while an EF0 tornado occurred<br />

at Robins Air Force Base in Houston County. In Wilkes County, an EF4 tornado destroyed 19 outbuildings <strong>and</strong><br />

damaged 15 other homes. In Hancock County, at least one person was killed <strong>and</strong> three were seriously injured<br />

as a church <strong>and</strong> multiple mobile homes were destroyed in the Hickory Grove community. Wind damage was<br />

also reported south of Atlanta in Gwinnett, Fulton <strong>and</strong> Henry counties. At least two schools sustained minor<br />

damage in Fayette County. At least 13,400 homes were without electricity. Another tornado touched down in<br />

the town of Geneva, Alabama, snapping hundreds of trees.<br />

Winter weather affected parts of the U.S. between the 21st <strong>and</strong> 28th. One storm system developed on the<br />

21st across the Great Lakes <strong>and</strong> southern Canada. As the storm approached northern parts of New Engl<strong>and</strong><br />

early on the 23rd, the system strengthened, causing heavy wet snow <strong>and</strong> gusty winds across vermont, New<br />

Hampshire <strong>and</strong> Maine. The snow <strong>and</strong> winds that gusted to 60 mph (95 kph) snapped tree limbs, power lines<br />

<strong>and</strong> utility poles. Over 145,000 customers lost electricity in Maine <strong>and</strong> 18,500 in New Hampshire. Snow totals<br />

exceeded two feet (60 centimeters) across much of northern <strong>and</strong> central Maine, with a peak total of 28 inches<br />

(71 centimeters) in Milo. Additional winter weather occurred in parts of the northern Plains <strong>and</strong> Upper Midwest<br />

on the 25th <strong>and</strong> 26th. Gusty winds <strong>and</strong> at least one foot (30 centimeters) of snow fell in the Dakotas <strong>and</strong><br />

Minnesota. A new storm system moved across the Southeast <strong>and</strong> the Tennessee valley between the 26th <strong>and</strong><br />

28th, spawning damaging winds, hail <strong>and</strong> tornadoes.<br />

Heavy rains <strong>and</strong> thunderstorms struck parts of South Africa on the 26th, killing at least two people. At least 40<br />

people sustained injuries <strong>and</strong> dozens of homes <strong>and</strong> a bridge were destroyed.<br />

On the 27th, a one-mile (two-kilometer) wide avalanche along the Wyoming-Idaho state line killed at least<br />

three snowmobilers. The avalanche occurred near Alpine in the Snake River Range.<br />

26

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!