Thursday, January 20, 2011

Global warming hits Asia, part 2

(Note: here's Part 1)


1. Japan
Cold weather in Japan likely to continue for next couple of weeks

Thursday 20th January, 03:32 AM JST

TOKYO — The Japan Meteorological Agency warned Wednesday of more cold days ahead during the next couple of weeks or so, as wintry weather is likely to continue mainly in Tokyo and the central and western regions, possibly affecting traffic and farming.

A wintry atmospheric pressure pattern has been frequently seen over Japan since about Dec. 25, bringing cold air intermittently, the agency said, adding that areas facing the Sea of Japan have also had much snowfall.

During the period between Dec 25 and Jan 18, the average temperatures in major cities were lower than in a normal year, such as 5.5 C in Tokyo, down 0.8 C, 3.1 C in Nagoya, down 1.8 C, and 4.7 C in Osaka, down 1.7 C.

The city of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture logged an accumulated 103 centimeters of snow, four times more than in an average year.

2. China
China winter weather latest developments

Wed Jan 19, 2011 6:06am EST

...WEDNESDAY, JAN 19

Freezing rain and snow continue to hit southern China, while parts of northern China are experiencing bitter cold. One part of Inner Mongolia has recorded lows of minus 46 degrees Celsius for the last 8 days.

TUESDAY, JAN 18

More snow and rain hit southwestern China, where temperatures plummeted by as much as 11 degrees Celsius. Icy rain is expected to hit the provinces of Guizhou and Hunan.

In Guizhou, 1,300 passengers were stranded after Guiyang airport cancelled dozens of flights due to the freezing snow, state television reported.

3. S.Korea
Cold Weather in South Korea Leads to Heating Restrictions

2011-01-19 12:2075

An unusual cold snap has prompted authorities in South Korea to impose heating restrictions in buildings, as the demand for electricity soars.

Temperatures have plummeted across North Asia, hitting a decade low of zero degrees Fahrenheit in Seoul over the weekend, and officials say the freezing weather is likely to last for the rest of the month.

The cold weather has also hit Seoul's main transport network, with subway lines halted by malfunctioning overhead wires.

The Han River that runs through the heart of the city has also frozen over....

4. Taiwan
Cold weather leaves hospitals overcrowded with patients

Updated Monday, January 17, 2011 11:37 pm TWN, The China Post news staff and CNA

The China Post news staff and CNA -- Aside from low temperatures, the cold front also brought hoards of patients into the emergency rooms of several hospitals in Taiwan over the weekend for an array of ailments surprisingly not related to the common cold. Most of the patients were suffering from chronic diseases, said a doctor at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in New Taipei City on Sunday.

Nearly 600 patients were reported at the hospital's emergency room the previous day, about 33 percent more than usual, he added.

5. Thailand
People in Northeast still experiencing cold weather

MAHA SARAKHAM, 12 January 2011 (NNT) – Cold weather still covers many areas in the Northeast of Thailand, as the mercury has reportedly dropped to just 10 degrees Celsius.

In the northeastern province of Maha Sarakham, 13 districts have already been announced cold disaster areas. The province is forecasted to undergo its coldest winter in 30 years as the temperature now plunges to as low as 15 degrees Celsius at night with strong winds.

Local residents, especially those lacking winter clothing, have been warned to take special care of their health. According to the report, there are currently about 1,000 new patients infected with a cold every day in the area.


Cold Weather & Frost in Thailand

Posted on January 19, 2011 by faranginbangkok

Frost has happened at the highest point in Thailand- Doi Inthanon Mountain just north of Chiang Mai.

The cold weather has lead to 35 provinces being declared cold weather disaster zones. For a farang, the weather in a place like Chiang Mai would still be warm- the temperature range for this week is 16 C to 31 C (60 F = 16 C). But, Thailand- and Thai people- is not equipped to handle the cool temperature.

6. Vietnam
Cold weather closes schools in Vietnam

Jan 11, 2011, 7:48 GMT

Hanoi - Cold weather has prompted hundreds of schools in northern Vietnam to close for the past week, authorities said Tuesday.

On Tuesday, hundreds of schools closed as the temperature in most of northern Vietnam fell below 10 degrees Celsius.

In mountainous areas, including the popular tourist site of Sa Pa, the temperature fell to minus 1 degree Celsius, preventing tourists from leaving their hotels.

Temperatures rarely fall below freezing in Vietnam.

Hospitals were overcrowded as the number of patients, especially the elderly and children, was increasing fast, mostly with respiratory problems, said Vu The Hung, director of Trang An hospital in Hanoi.

7. Myanmar
Sudden weather change triggers unseasonable rains in Myanmar

Reported by Phyu Nu, Translated and Edited by Myint Win Thein & MYA
Yangonites under heavy rain on 9 January 2011

In the backdrop of chaotic weather condition, the untimely rains fell for a number of days in some regions and states in Myanmar in the cold season of 2011.

Although early 2011 is the late winter in Myanmar, it rained untimely during the onset of the cold season in December 2010. Therefore, it can be said that it rained untimely for the second time during the cold season.

8. India
Cold weather kills more in northern India

– Sat Jan 8, 5:35 am ET

LUCKNOW, India – Near-freezing temperatures have killed more than two dozen people in northern India in recent days despite government efforts to distribute blankets and medicine to the poor, an official and a news report said.

In worst-hit Uttar Pradesh state, at least 22 people — many of them homeless — died over the past three days, pushing the death toll from two weeks of cold weather to 63, Ram Mohan Srivastav, a top government official, said Saturday....

The temperature dipped below 37 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius) in parts of Uttar Pradesh this week, with the mercury plunging to 33 F (0.6 C) in Agra, the city where the Taj Mahal is located....

9. Pakistan
Lahorites face severe cold

PAK NEWS - January 5, 2011 at 10:25 am

LAHORE – Plains of the country including the City remained in the grip of severe cold and foggy weather on the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday with experts predicting the same conditions to persist during the next couple of days...
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For the Philippines, I have a separate series, the latest is Global warming hits the Philippines, part 2.

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