Thunder

Abnormally strong jet stream triggers deluge in Middle East, while north Africa braces for 60-80mph gustsAn unusual weather pattern unleashed severe thunderstorms across parts of the Middle East last week, battering countries including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The Arabian peninsula – typically dominated by arid desert climates – received up to 150mm of rain in just a few days.The deluge was caused by an abnormally strong jet stream, which helped form a deep area of low pressure to develop north of Saudi Arabia. This, in turn, drew moist tropical air from the Indian Ocean and triggered intense storms. Continue reading...

Powerful storm chain to affect 200 million in US as it carries blizzard conditions, damaging winds and thunderstormsWinter’s grip has yet to release as an erratic patchwork of severe weather moved across much of the US, dumping heavy snow and making roads impassable in the upper midwest while damaging high winds swept across the Plains.As portions of the mid-south readied for thunderstorms, forecasters said the storms will spread eastward and by Monday threaten a large swath of the eastern US, with mid-Atlantic states and Washington DC at greatest risk for high winds and tornadoes. Continue reading...

• Minnesota Timberwolves face Oklahoma City Thunder at 1 p.m. ABC; Golden State Warriors visit New York Knicks at 8 p.m. NBC/Peacock. • Dallas Mavericks at Cleveland Cavaliers tips at 3:30 p.m. NBATV following Cavaliers' recent dominant win. • Games impact playoff seeding in tight Western and Eastern Conferences with late-season implications.