SIGHTINGS



Scientists Rate Top
Weather Events Of
The Century
By Patrick Connole
Link
12-15-99
 
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. government scientists on Tuesday released lists of the 15 top world and U.S. weather events in the 20th century.
 
Dozens of scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) contributed to the listing of global and U.S. storms and climate events, which were noted for their atmospheric marvel or impact on human life.
 
``The listing commemorates the century's weather for its intensity, scope and impact. It is by no means an exhaustive list,'' said D. James Baker, undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.
 
NOAA's top 15 global events, in no particular order:
 
+ Yangtze River flood, China, 1931;
 
+ North Vietnam flood, 1971;
 
+ Great Iran flood, 1954;
 
+ Bangladesh cyclone, 1970;
 
+ Bangladesh cyclone, 1991;
 
+ China typhoons, 1912 and 1922;
 
+ Hurricane Mitch, Honduras and Nicaragua, 1998;
 
+ Typhoon Vera, Japan, 1958;
 
+ Typhoon Thelma, Philippines, 1991;
 
+ Asian droughts, India 1900, 1907, 1965-67; China 1907, 1928-30, 1936, 1941-42; and Soviet Union 1921-22;
 
+ Sahel drought, Africa, 1910-14, 1940-44 and 1970-85;
 
+ Iran blizzard, 1972;
 
+ Europe storm surge, 1953;
 
+ Great Smog of London, 1952;
 
+ El Nino, 1982-83.
 
The 15 top U.S. events, in no particular order:
 
+ Galveston, Texas hurricane of 1900;
 
+ Dust Bowl, 1930s;
 
+ Super tornado outbreak, 1974;
 
+ Hurricane Camille, 1969;
 
+ The Great Midwest flood, 1993;
 
+ El Nino episodes, 1982-83 and 1997-98;
 
+ Hurricane Andrew, 1992;
 
+ New England hurricane, 1938;
 
+ Superstorm, 1993;
 
+ Tri-state tornado, 1925;
 
+ Oklahoma-Kansas tornado outbreak, 1999;
 
+ The Great Okeechobee hurricane and flood, 1928;
 
+ The Storm of the Century, 1950;
 
+ Florida Keys hurricane, 1935;
 
+ New England Blizzard, 1978.


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