Let's examine the top weather events of 2007 and how they affected society, shaping our decisions, our acts and the way we think about and live our lives.
As the end of the year approaches, I wanted to look back at the weather events of 2007. There were several horrible events that caught my attention this year. This year I was amazed at the awesome power of Mother Nature, or the amazing feats of God, whichever way you'd like to put it. I've listed the Top 5 Weather Events of 2007, in terms of widespread destruction and the affect on society.
5. Oklahoma Ice Storm of December - a widespread ice storm hit the Mid-western United States, causing the governor of Oklahoma to declare a state of emergency. Power lines were brought down by ice of the lines, as freezing rain accumulated on anything and everything. Freezing rain and ice caused many auto accidents as the storm continued for several days.
4. Hurricane Force Winds Hit Northwest Coast - a massive winter storm hit the Northwestern United States in early December, with hurricane force winds and inches of rainfall. Widespread flooding occurred for several days after the winds subsided.
3. Wildfires Sweep Through Southern California - Fueled by heat waves and dry conditions, the Santa Ana winds swept fire and smoke throughout Southern California. Residents were forced to evacuate the areas, as over 1 million acres burned.
2. An E-F5 Tornado Destroys Greensburg, Kansas - The first E-F5 tornado since the enhanced Fujita Scale was completed earlier in the year, hit the Mid-West on May 4, 2007. Greensburg, Kansas was almost completely destroyed, as the 200 mph winds damaged anything in its 1.7 mile wide path.
1. Cyclone Sidr - On November 16th, the strong tropical cyclone caused massive destruction and death in Bangladesh. Originating from the Bay of Bengal, the tropical cyclone brought 150 mph winds, causing high storm surge to the low-lying areas of the nation.
