Throughout last week, a storm - Tropical Storm Julia, to be exact - was brewing. Julia began as a tropical depression and grew stronger as it moved from the north Atlantic to the Caribbean Sea.
By Saturday evening, the National Hurricane Centre in the United States had declared Julia a category 1 hurricane, which is defined as a cyclone with winds of more than 74 miles per hour (119 kilometers per hour).
following the path of Hurricane Julia
(Photo : OSWALDO RIVAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Julia made landfall in Nicaragua eight hours later, at 3.15 a.m. local time, battering the east coast with sustained winds of 85 mph and a strong storm surge, as per The Guardian.
Julia regained tropical storm status as it crossed the country, with heavy rain and 70 mph winds before entering the Pacific Ocean.
Julia made landfall and dissipated in Guatemala on Monday after traveling northwest along the Pacific coasts of El Salvador and Honduras.
Rainfall totals range from 75mm to 100mm across the country, with some areas receiving up to 150mm.
The death toll in Julia's wake stands at 25, with the majority of deaths caused by heavy rainfall on already saturated soils, resulting in floods, mudflows, and landslides across Central America.
Julia's remnants have formed Tropical Storm Karl in the Gulf of Mexico, which will soon head south toward Mexico.
Meanwhile, as a deep area of low pressure off the south coast pushed frigid polar air across the country, southern and eastern Australia experienced extremely wet, windy, and cold conditions this week.
Throughout Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the cold front associated with the low-pressure system swept eastward, bringing intense thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.
People were evacuated in some areas of Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania as a result of flash flooding.
Rainfall totals for the previous 24 hours exceeded 100mm in several towns across Victoria and New South Wales by Thursday morning.
Great Lake East in Tasmania received 319mm of rain in the 36 hours leading up to 9 p.m. on Thursday. High totals were expected to continue into Friday as the main rain band moved through.
The worst of the rain should have passed by Friday evening, but as floodwaters drained into rivers and canals, the threat of flooding persisted.
Read more: Eastern Pacific Hurricane: Tropical Storm Kay Expected to Hit Mexico, Southwest US This Week
La Nina winter will mean parts of the US will feel like a tundra but snowy wonderlands
Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration believe there is a 75 percent chance that La Nia will persist through the winter, influencing who sees snow and which communities must store their equipment for another year, as per FOX News.
Historical data shows how strong a La Nia is and can predict which parts of the country will experience unusual weather.
Sea surface temperature anomalies in the central and eastern Pacific determine the state of a La Nina.
A moderate La Nina has anomalies ranging from -1.0 °C to -1.4 °C, and a strong La Nia has water temperatures that are at least -1.5 °C below normal.
The strength of La Nia, whether weak, moderate, or strong, will have a dramatic effect on snow accumulations, freezing temperatures, and all other aspects of Old Man Winter.
The 2022-23 La Nia is expected to be weak or moderate throughout the country's winter, according to climate forecast models.
Historically, weak La Ninas has had a greater impact on the country than more moderate events.
The majority of the country should expect winter temperatures to be at or below average during a weak episode.
Precipitation is typically scarce on both coasts, but communities in the Tennessee and Ohio valleys, as well as the northern Rockies, typically see an increase in precipitation.
A moderate La Nina tends to bring warmer weather to the country's southern half. Freezes tend to be fewer and farther between in the South during these events.
The majority of the country experiences normal or drier-than-average weather, resulting in less rain and snowfall.
The Tennessee and Ohio valleys, the northern Rockies, and the Pacific Northwest are notable exceptions.
When a moderate La Nia is in control, these areas have historically seen above-average precipitation.
Related article: Hurricane Orlene Forecasted to Impact Western Mexico and Southwest United States
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