Weather of 2021
In December, powerful Typhoon Rai moved through the southern Philippines, killing 410 people and becoming the deadliest single weather event of the year.
The costliest event of the year, and the costliest natural disaster on record in the United States, was from a North American cold wave in February 2021, which caused $196.4 billion (USD) in damage; the freezing temperatures and widespread power outages in Texas killed hundreds of people.
Another significant natural disaster was Hurricane Ida, which struck southeastern Louisiana and later flooded the Northeastern United States, resulting in $70 billion (USD) in damage.
This was reflected in cooler than normal sea surface temperatures in the south Pacific Ocean.
[5][6] On May 13, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) assessed that the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) transitioned into its neutral phase.
[7] However, following cooler than normal temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, NOAA declared that the global weather conditions shifted back to La Niña by October.
In January, at least 70 people in Japan died while removing snow, related to a blizzard that dropped 2.49 m (8.2 ft) of snowfall.
[16] Another winter storm added on to the effects, leading to 29 deaths and $2 billion in damage, and caused 4 million power outages.
[32] Comboyne, New South Wales reported a four-day total of 853 mm (33.6 in) Significant flooding occurred along the Mid North Coast and Central Australia.
[33] One man died due to his car losing control in Mona Vale, New South Wales,[34] a bodyboarder who disappeared on the Coffs Harbour seashore is presumed dead.
[40] In July, a storm system stalled over Germany, producing torrential rainfall and flash flooding.
[55][56][57] On September 1 and 2, major flash flooding affected the Northeastern United States due to the remnants of Hurricane Ida.
[58] Before the storm, the Weather Prediction Center issued a high risk for flash flooding.
[61] Between 8:51 p.m. and 9:51 p.m. on September 1, New York City saw 3.15 inches (8.0 cm) of rain, its wettest hour on record.
The flooding and numerous mass wasting events were caused by a Pineapple Express, a type of atmospheric river, which brought heavy rain to parts of southern British Columbia and northwestern United States.
[75] An extreme heat wave affected much of Western North America from late June through mid-July 2021, resulting in the highest temperature ever measured in Canada at 49.6 °C (121.3 °F).
[78] Over 600 Canadians die,[79] making it the deadliest weather event in the history of Canada.
[80] The heat wave breaks an all-time high temperature record in Washington and ties one in Oregon.
Worldwide, 151 tornado-related deaths were confirmed with 104 in the United States, 28 in China, six in the Czech Republic, four in Russia, three in Italy, two in India and one each in Canada, New Zealand, Indonesia, and Turkey.
[86] The year ended on a destructive note, however, as December was incredibly active, more than doubling the previous record, which pushed 2021 above average.
[92] In April, Cyclone Seroja produced deadly flooding in Indonesia and East Timor, killing at least 272 people.
[93] Also in the month, Typhoon Surigae in the northwest Pacific Ocean became the strongest Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclone to form before the month of May; it attained 10-minute maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, or one-minute sustained wind of 315 km/h (196 mph) according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
[13][99] In December, Typhoon Rai struck the eastern Philippines, which killed 410 people.
[100] In June, the taiga forests in Siberia and the Far East region of Russia were hit by unprecedented wildfires, following record-breaking heat and drought.
[105] On April 18, a wildfire affects Table Mountain National Park and Cape Town in South Africa.
