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Extreme weather has seen records broken and many lives lost or displaced in 2023.

Scientists believe preliminary figures show the past 12 months to be the hottest in 125,000 years.

Here’s a look at some of the year’s biggest weather-related events from across the globe.

January

In the US, the end of 2022 into the first weeks of 2023 saw at least 21 people killed in flooding, mudslides and power outages in California – a further 1,400 were rescued.

Iowa saw its first January tornadoes in more than 50 years, while around 50 million people were placed under alert as a winter storm slowly moved across the southern states.

This photo provided by Micah Crockett, District 2 Weaverville Maintenance Supervisor, shows heavy machinery removing a rock slide on State Route 299, in Trinity County, between Burnt Ranch and Hawkins Bar in Burnt Ranch, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. Landslides of rock and mud closed roadways across California as heavy rains kicked off what will be series of storms poised to usher in the new year, likely bringing downpours and flooding. An atmospheric river storm began sweeping across the nor
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January: Flooding and mudslides ushered in the new year in California. Pic: AP

This was despite, overall, the US experiencing its sixth warmest January on record.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the average temperature was 5.1F above average.

In New Zealand, four people died as torrential rain brought flash flooding and landslides to Auckland.

In Western Australia’s Kimberley region, Tropical Cyclone Ellie brought a year’s worth of rain in just a few days.

The “one-in-100-year” floods forced military aircraft to help residents evacuate their homes.

February

At the beginning of the month, Cyclone Freddy formed in the southern Indian Ocean near Australia and became one of the most long-lasting and deadly storms on record.

It would take until the middle of March before it finally dissipated, leaving behind a trail of destruction and breaking records for the number of times – seven – it re-intensified.

February/March: Cyclone Freddy brought severe flooding to Malawi
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February/March: Cyclone Freddy brought severe flooding to Malawi

Officials believe it killed at least 1,400 people – including more than 1,200 in Malawi where intense rain brought destructive flash flooding.

Hundreds more people were left missing.

When it made landfall in Madagascar and Mozambique, authorities said it killed more than 200 people and damaged thousands of buildings, infrastructure and farmland.

The storm recorded more energy over its lifetime than a whole typical US hurricane season, meteorologists said.

March

Some parts of Spain experienced their driest March in 20 years, officially placing the country in long-term drought and increasing concerns about the nation’s water reserves.

Drinking water supplies fell to their lowest level since 1990, officials said.

Spain’s first major wildfire of the year forced hundreds of villagers to leave behind their animals as they fled their homes.

Torrential rain brought surging waters and flash flooding to Turkish provinces Adiyaman and Sanliurfa.

A man walks on the cracked ground of the Baells reservoir as drinking water supplies have plunged to their lowest level since 1990 due to extreme drought in Catalonia, in the village of Cersc, in the region Bergueda, Spain, March 14, 2023.
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March: A man walks on the cracked ground of what is normally a reservoir in Catalonia, Spain

A road connecting the two cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe is seen damaged following heavy rains caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Blantyre, Malawi Tuesday, March 14 2023. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)
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March: The power of Cyclone Freddy left a trail of destruction in Malawi and Mozambique. Pic: AP

Officials said 16 people were killed as roads were turned into rivers in the same southeastern region which had been hit by an earthquake just weeks earlier.

A container home providing accommodation for a group of earthquake survivors in Tut, a town in Adiyaman, was swept away, while two firefighters were reported missing and another six people died in floodwaters in Sanliurfa.

April

Many parts of Europe felt more like July as a heatwave gripped much of the continent and broke records.

A heat dome from northern Africa to the Iberian Peninsula saw the mercury climb to around 40C (104F) for millions of people – up to 20C higher than the average for the time of year.

Spain recorded its hottest ever April temperature, reaching 38.8C (101.84F), while the blistering heat also hit a record high in Portugal.

The extreme conditions followed the driest March in 20 years in Spain, officially placing the nation into long-term drought and prompting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to warn of the ongoing “challenge” posed by climate change.

Reservoirs were around 15% below average levels, with some shrinking to just 26% of capacity.

A view of damaged homes in the aftermath of a tornado, after a volatile storm system tore through the South and Midwest on Tuesday and Wednesday, in Glenallen, Missouri, U.S. April 5, 2023. REUTERS/Cheney Orr
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April: Damaged homes in the aftermath of tornadoes which swept through the US south and Midwest

At least 11 people were killed when tornadoes ploughed through the US south and Midwest.

One person died when the storms forced a theatre roof to collapse during a heavy metal gig in Belvidere, Illinois – leaving many others buried beneath rubble.

May

Hundreds of people were reported killed or missing as Cyclone Mocha made landfall in Myanmar and the coast of Bangladesh.

Myanmar’s meteorological department said it packed winds of around 130mph as it reached land – but it had also become one of the strongest storms on record when it intensified to 175mph as it headed across the Indian Ocean.

Officials in Myanmar, a country run by military leadership, said more than 450 people had been killed, but other reports put the figure nearer to 150.

FILE - A woman salvages belongings from her home damaged by Cyclone Mocha at Saint Martin island in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Monday, May 15, 2023.  The U.N. weather agency reported Monday that nearly 12,000 extreme weather, climate and water-related events over much of the last half-century around the globe have killed more than 2 million people and caused economic damage of $4.3 trillion. (AP Photo/Al-emrun Garjon, File)
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May: A woman salvages belongings from her home, which was damaged by Cyclone Mocha in Bangladesh. Pic: AP

In Bangladesh, around 500,000 people fled coastal areas – while the UN said the severe conditions had put two million individuals at risk.

In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, more than 400 people were said to have been killed in flash floods in one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters.

A general view shows the ruins of a home destroyed following rains that destroyed the remote, mountainous area and ripped through the riverside villages of Nyamukubi, Kalehe territory in South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo May 9, 2023. REUTERS/Djaffar Sabiti
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May: Communities were swept away by landslides in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Days of torrential rain triggered landslides and caused rivers to break their banks.

Speaking to the Reuters news agency, South Kivu governor Theo Ngwabidje Kasi said the number of deaths stood at 401 – but officials feared this was eventually much higher.

Flooding and landslides also killed at least 129 people in Rwanda and six in Uganda.

June

Fires which first started burning in April and May escalated further in June in what would become the worst wildfire season in Canadian history.

The previous record season was in 1989 when wildfires scorched 7.6 million hectares (18.8 million acres) – nearly the size of Scotland.

But in 2023, thousands of people were displaced and at least four firefighters died as the burning conditions swept across at least 18 million hectares (44.5 million acres) – an area comfortably bigger than England, Wales and Northern Ireland combined.

The sun rises over a hazy New York City skyline as seen from Jersey City, N.J., Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Intense Canadian wildfires are blanketing the northeastern U.S. in a dystopian haze, turning the air acrid, the sky yellowish gray and prompting warnings for vulnerable populations to stay inside. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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June: Smoke from wildfires in Canada drifted into the US, dramatically hitting the air quality in cities like New York. Pic: AP

With drier conditions than normal, smoke from Canadian fires drifted south into the US, forcing thousands of flights to be delayed and postponing baseball games.

Cities were left in a yellow-brown fog as forest fires in Canada saw 120,000 people flee their homes.

Most of Haiti was hit by heavy rain, strong winds, floods and landslides at the beginning of the month.

More than 40 people died, while nearly 6,500 had to leave their homes, according to the Haitian civil protection – but other sources said around 40,000 had been displaced due to the extreme conditions.

July

Temperatures consistently climbed above 40C across Europe as the month became the hottest on record.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service said the average world temperature was 16.95C (62.51F) across the month – beating the 2019 record of 16.63C (61.93F).

Antarctic sea ice also dropped to lows not seen since records began in 1979.

Two brown bears stand as workers prepare to throw food at them at the Bear Sanctuary in Pristina, Kosovo, July 18, 2023. REUTERS/Fatos Bytyci
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July: Two bears stand as workers prepare to throw food to them at a sanctuary in Kosovo as temperatures soar

July also saw the hottest three-week period ever recorded, the three hottest days on record, and the highest-ever ocean temperatures for the time of year.

The month became the hottest on record.

Southern Europe struggled with record high temperatures, while wildfires in Canada and Greece continued to impact the environment and people’s health.

The European Space Agency’s heat-sensing satellite Copernicus detected land surface temperatures had exceeded 45C (113F) across much of Italy.

On the slopes of Mount Etna, the volcano on Sicily, the earth temperature passed 50C (122F) on 9 and 10 July when readings were taken in the morning.

A southern Europe heatwave, named Ceberus, saw Spain, France, Greece, Turkey, Kosovo and Italy struggling in the intense conditions.

Spain flirted with temperatures of around 45C, while Sicily and Sardinia continued to experience figures approaching 50C.

Forest fires took hold across the continent, including in Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Portugal, Spain and Italy.

A tree burns during a wildfire in Mandra, Greece, July 18, 2023. REUTERS/Louiza Vradi TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "YEAR-END CLIMATE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL BEST OF 2023 PACKAGES.
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July: Wildfires threatened seaside communities in Greece

In Greece, evacuation orders were issued for at least six seaside communities. Hundreds of children were also evacuated from a summer camp west of Athens.

The European Forest Fire Information System said across the EU, more than 180,000 hectares (444,800 acres) of land – an area bigger than Greater London – had been scorched by the fires by the end of the third week of July.

In the Philippines, at least 27 people died when a boat overturned during a typhoon.

Record monsoon showers killed more than 100 people over two weeks in parts of northern India, including in Himachal Pradesh, which was the worst hit.

In neighbouring Myanmar, five people were killed and around 60,000 were displaced after heavy flooding caused by intense rain.

At least 33 people died and many others were trapped when monsoon rain continued into August, triggering floods and landslides in India’s Himalayan region.

Rainfall was “excessive” in Pakistan – the country’s meteorological service said it was 70% above average – with the authorities revealing at least 50 people had died in heavy monsoon rains.

July also saw the beginning of a lengthy heatwave in South America.

In what is normally the winter, temperatures climbed to above 40C in Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina and lingered into the spring.

A photo shows a flooded road in Akita City, Akita Prefecture on July 15, 2023. Due to the influence of the seasonal rain front, Akita Prefecture experienced record heavy rain on the 15th.( The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images )
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July: Flooding brought chaos to parts of Japan. Pic: AP

A photo shows mud and debris due to the flood of torrential rain in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, northern Kyushu region, on July 11, 2023. A series of linear precipitation bands brought heavy rainfall to Fukuoka, Oita and Saga prefectures from July 9th. At least six people died, and three others have been missing.( The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images )
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July: Buildings were swept away by floods and landslides in Japan. Pic: AP

In Japan, two people died and more were missing as tens of thousands of residents were urged to move out of areas in danger of landslides and flooding amid torrential rain.

In China, torrid heat gripped the country for several weeks – forcing local officials to ask residents and businesses to curb the usage of electricity.

Heavy rainstorms hit New York and Pennsylvania with the emergency services rescuing people stuck in vehicles along flooded roads.

A “dangerous” heatwave also affected up to 200 million people in the eastern United States.

In Phoenix, Arizona, the mercury climbed to above 43C (109.4F) for a record 31 consecutive days – while President Joe Biden said experts had revealed extreme heat was “already costing America $100bn a year”.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said: “The only surprise is the speed of the change.

“Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning.”

August

Hundreds of people were reported missing as wildfires swept across Maui in Hawaii.

Maui county’s mayor, Richard Bissen, said the deadliest fires in US history had killed more than 100 people.

A total of 850 people were still missing following the fires in Maui, he said.

Fire damage is shown in the Wahikuli Terrace neighborhood in the fire ravaged town of Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii, U.S., August 15, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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August: Hawaii experienced the deadliest wildfires in US history

Vehicles cross over a flood control basin that has almost reached the roadway as Tropical Storm Hilary hits the area, Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, in Palm Desert, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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August: Vehicles struggle to make their way on one route in California as Storm Hilary grips the area. Pic: AP

Storm Hilary approached the Mexican coast before heading into the US and bringing California its first tropical storm in 84 years.

At least nine million people in southern California were warned of “life-threatening” rain, mudslides, tornadoes, high winds and power outages.

September

Mediterranean Storm Daniel caused catastrophic flooding – before engulfing entire neighbourhoods in Libya.

The storm began forming over the Ionian Sea on 4 September and after battering Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece, made its way south across the Mediterranean towards Africa.

Rescuers and relatives sit in front of collapsed buildings after recent flooding caused by Mediterranean storm Daniel, in Derna, Libya, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. Derna flood survivor Abdul Salam Anwisi said he woke up at one-thirty in the morning to a loud scream from outside, to find his neighbours' homes flooded with water. He, his sons and other neighbours rushed to rescue the stranded families by pulling them from the roof of their house.(AP Photo/Muhammad J. Elalwany)
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September: Rescuers search through the debris of collapsed buildings in Derna. Pic: AP

FILE - A damaged road is visible following storm Daniel in Derna, Libya, Sept. 12, 2023. This year...s COP28 in Dubai is likely to see more discussion about compensation for developing nations harmed by climate change. (AP Photo/Jamal Alkomaty)
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September: Thousands of people lost their lives in Derna, Libya. Pic: AP

Thousands were killed in Derna when a torrent of water caused buildings to collapse and swept away communities in the Libyan city.

Libya asked for international help, declaring the eastern Cyrenaica province a disaster area.

The number of deaths climbed to at least 11,300 in Derna, the Libyan Red Crescent said – but government officials said the final figure of those killed was above 20,000 and much of the city had been swept out to sea.

Locals are evacuated on an excavator from a flooded area in the aftermath of Storm Daniel in Larissa, Greece, September 10, 2023. REUTERS/Elias Marcou SEARCH "GLOBAL POY 2023" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS POY" FOR ALL BEST OF 2023 PACKAGES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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September: After a long heatwave, Storm Daniel brought more disruption to Greece

Many homes, businesses and roads were flooded in Greece – the storm dumped the equivalent of 18 months of rain on Thessaly in less than three days, devastating the agricultural region.

It was a dramatic end to one of Greece’s longest heatwaves in decades.

Three people were killed in Bulgaria when the storm caused a bridge to collapse, officials said.

October

Storm Babet brought extreme conditions, including torrential rain, to northern and western Europe.

In the UK, at least seven people were killed.

The government said reports of floods to the Environment Agency (EA) reached the highest level since 2015/16, with more than 300 flood warnings being issued.

Hundreds of people were left homeless with about 1,250 properties in England flooded, according to the EA.

Waves crash against Seaham lighthouse during Storm Babet in Seaham, Britain, October 20, 2023. REUTERS/Lee Smith
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October: Many areas in the UK broke rainfall records when Storm Babet arrived

The Met Office said a total of 13 areas broke their daily rainfall records for October, including locations in Suffolk, South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Wiltshire, Kincardineshire, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Northumberland, Derbyshire and Humberside.

The storm brought chaos to other parts of Europe – killing one person in Germany, causing water surges not seen in more than 100 years in Denmark, damaged trees and homes in Norway, and caused the collapse of ceilings at a terminal building at Faro airport in Portugal.

Meanwhile, more than 100 dolphins and thousands of fish were found dead in the Brazilian Amazon amid the record-breaking high temperatures.

Experts said the temperature of the water in some parts of the Amazon reached a record 39C (102.2F) and believe the conditions are making it increasingly difficult for wildlife to survive.

Canoes are seen at the dry riverbed of the Paraua river during a historic drought in the Amazon, in Careiro da Varzea, Amazonas state, Brazil October 26, 2023. REUTERS/Bruno Kelly
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October: Canoes on the riverbed in Brazil in a year which brought an historic drought to the Amazon

The Amazon drought shows the region is becoming drier, experts said – by the beginning of November, six out of 22 river monitoring stations had registered their lowest level on record, while just five were at normal levels.

In the city of Manaus, which was choked with smoke from wildfires, the Rio Negro – a tributary of the Amazon River – fell to its lowest level in 121 years.

A researcher from the Mamiraua Institute for Sustainable Development retrieves dead dolphins from Tefe lake, which flows into the Solimoes river, that has been affected by the high temperatures and drought in Tefe, Amazonas state, Brazil, October 2, 2023. REUTERS/Bruno Kelly TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. REFILE - CORRECTING "EFFLUENT" MENTION ABOUT LAKE
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October: Dolphins were found dead in the Brazilian Amazon amid fears the changing conditions are making it more difficult for wildlife to survive

Experts continued to express concerns about the future of the Amazon, highlighting how it currently absorbs planet-heating carbon.

But if too many trees die and rot, it would become a net carbon emitter – accelerating climate change.

In Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, seasonal rains lead to severe flooding and landslides.

Hundreds of people are killed while hundreds of thousands are forced from their homes, according to officials.

Kenya’s meteorological department later warns the heavy rains will continue into the new year.

November

A second major storm in a month hits the UK along with the Channel Islands and parts of Europe – bringing 104mph winds, torrential rain and flooding.

The Met Office said Storm Ciaran in southern Britain was “comparable in severity” with the Great Storm of October 1987.

Waves crash over the promenade in Folkestone, Kent, as Storm Ciaran brings high winds and heavy rain along the south coast of England. The Environment Agency has issued 54 warnings where flooding is expected, and an amber weather warning is in place with winds expected to reach 70mph to 80mph. Picture date: Thursday November 2, 2023.
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November: Waves crash over the promenade in Kent as Storm Ciaran brings high winds and heavy rain

Tree branches on a damaged car during Storm Ciaran in Clohars-Carnoet, Brittany, France, November 2, 2023. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
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November: Storm Ciaran brought dangerous conditions to France and across Europe

A tornado in Jersey during the storm was likely to have been the strongest in the British Isles for almost 70 years, the Tornado And Storm Research Organisation said.

In northern France, a reported 1.2 million people were without power.

A Met Office analysis said at least 13 deaths were reported across Europe as the storm made its way into countries such as Germany, Italy and Belgium – other sources said the combined figure of those killed across the continent was above 20.

Fire is seen in the distance from the Tenterfield CBD, in Tenterfield, Australia, October 31, 2023
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October and November: The horizon burns near Tenterfield amid a series of wildfires in western parts of Australia

In western Australia, the emergency services tackled bushfires amid a rare spring heatwave with temperatures reaching around 40C.

Ten homes were destroyed, residents were evacuated from some communities and a number of firefighters were hurt tackling fires in Perth.

In Brazil, Sao Paulo saw temperatures reach 37.7C (99.86F) – which meteorologists said was the highest figure for a November day in the city since 1943.

Most Brazilian states faced “great danger” from the ongoing heatwave which had stretched from the region’s winter into what is normally the spring, according to the National Institute Of Meteorology.

A man cools off in a water fountain at Madureira Park amid a heat wave in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pic: AP
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November: The soaring Brazilian heat forced people to find ways to cool down, including sitting in a water fountain. Pic: AP

The heat index – a combination of temperature and humidity – hit a record high of 58.5C (137.3F) in Rio de Janeiro.

Wildfires also burned in the Brazilian Pantanal – the world’s biggest tropical wetlands.

The fires ravaged an area about the size of Cyprus, or more than 947,000 hectares (2,340,000 acres).

December

Floods and landslides in northern Tanzania killed 47 people following torrential rain, said government officials.

Search and rescue operations took place in the Manyara region as the authorities feared some bodies might be trapped in the mud.

Members of the Tanzania Defense Forces and rescuers search for the bodies of people killed following flash floods and landslides near the slopes of Mount Hanang in the Manyara region, Tanzania, December 4, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer
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December: Rescuers search for the bodies of people killed in floods and landslides in Tanzania

The rains left a trail of destruction, damaging infrastructure and submerging towns in East Africa, displacing hundreds of thousands of people.

An atmospheric river brought heavy rain, flooding and warm winter temperatures to the Pacific Northwest.

Daily rainfall records were broken in Seattle after the city received 1.5 inches of rain.

A landslide closed parts of a Seattle trail popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists – while temperatures nearly reached 18C (64.4F) in Walla Walla, Washington.

Record-breaking heat hit parts of Australia.

The temperature reached 43.5C (110.3F) at Sydney Airport – the highest recorded at the same weather station since records began in 1929.

Another weather station in the city recorded temperatures of 38.9C (102F).

The temperature was almost 15 degrees above the average December high for Sydney.

Southern parts of the country then received more than two months of rainfall in less than 24 hours as the heat eased, meteorologists said.

A week later, more than 300 people were rescued from floods caused by heavy rain in northern Australia.

Several towns along the coast near the Great Barrier Reef were cut off by the conditions, which were linked to the former tropical cyclone Jasper.

Queensland state received around 24 inches of rain across 40 hours – more than triple the December average.

Storm damaged homes are seen along Nesbitt Lane, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn. Central Tennessee residents and emergency workers are continuing the cleanup from severe storms and tornadoes that hit the area. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
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December: Storms swept across Tennessee, destroying homes and buildings. Pic: AP

At least six people died in storms and tornadoes across parts of the southern US state of Tennessee.

Spain experienced record heat for December with temperatures of 30C (86F) endangering the winter sports season.

“It’s one of the warmest masses of air to have ever overflown Spain at this point in December,” said Ruben del Campo of the national weather agency AEMET.

Meanwhile, back in the UK this week, a rare supercell thunderstorm hit parts of Greater Manchester, causing significant damage to about 100 homes.

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Dramatic footage shows tornado damage

It’s also thought a second supercell thunderstorm struck Lancashire, causing hail, lightning and strong winds.

Supercell thunderstorms have a deep and persistently rotating current of air at their centre that can form a tornado in about 30% of supercell thunderstorms or less, according to the US National Weather Service.

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Sky News obtains first accounts of what happened inside Syrian cities shaken by bloody violence

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Sky News obtains first accounts of what happened inside Syrian cities shaken by bloody violence

No checkpoint is the same, some want paperwork, others wave you through after a brief look inside – but from Damascus to Latakia, there are a lot of checkpoints, and in one way or another, you are checked every time.

It wasn’t like this just a month or two ago, but it is now after the most violent few days the country has seen since Bashar al Assad was forced from power in December last year.

We drove through cities like Jableh, on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, almost unrecognisable now.

The bustling streets, markets and shops are silent, apart from the sirens of passing General Security convoys – their armed soldiers packed on the back of pick-up trucks.

The debris of battle is everywhere, buildings are burnt out and peppered with bullet holes, glass from smashed shopfront windows spills across the pavement and spent machine gun casings litter the streets.

DESTRUCTION IN JABLEH
SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
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Cities like Jableh, on Syria’s Mediterranean Coast, are almost unrecognisable now

DESTRUCTION IN JABLEH
SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
Image:
The debris of battle is everywhere after pro-Assad militia attacked the city

After three months of relatively peaceful times, things have dramatically changed here, all because of the events of 6, 7 and 8 March.

A Thursday, Friday, and Saturday that could determine Syria’s future.

Driving out of Jableh and over a bridge, we pass through another checkpoint, then through a deserted village, home to a community of Syrian Alawites. Shops and homes are destroyed, soldiers guard the roads in and out.

We are on our way to the Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria.

It’s also now home to as many as 10,000 Alawites who are now camping in and around the base.

SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
Image:
The Hmeimim air base is home to the Russian military in Syria

gv  russian airbase
SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
Image:
The site is also now home to as many as 10,000 Alawites camping in and around the area

They are seeking shelter and protection, watched on by Russian soldiers who remain inside.

Some of the thousands are in tents or under makeshift cover, others are sleeping rough or in their cars.

SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
Image:
Thousands of people are in tents or under makeshift cover

SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
Image:
One of many children displaced after her family were attacked by pro-Assad militia

photo label "woman in her car"
SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
Image:
Some are sleeping rough or in their cars

man sleeping in car
SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies

I first visited the airbase last December – then it consisted of a small cluster of shops and restaurants, established over years to service the Russian personnel.

Now the shops are shuttered and the restaurants cleared of tables to allow the families to sleep.

As I approached the gates of the base, I was surrounded by people pushing against each other, trying to get to me to tell me stories of being burnt out of their houses, or of family members killed in front of their eyes.

SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
Image:
Crowds gather around Sky’s Stuart Ramsay to describe how their relatives were killed by pro-Assad forces

A young woman pulled me aside. “We need help, international help,” she whispered.

“We need international peacekeepers; my house was on fire.”

Explainer: Who are the Alawites?

The Alawites are a religious minority in Syria, originating from Shia Islam. The overthrown president Bashar al Assad belonged to the sect.

They make up around 10% of Syria’s population, which is majority Sunni, and mainly live in the country’s coastal regions.

During Assad’s reign, the Alawites made up a large part of his support base and held top posts in the army and security agencies.

Since his fall from power, many Alawites were fired from their jobs and some former soldiers who reconciled with the new authorities were killed.

Civilians have now been targeted in revenge killings by Sunni Muslim militants loyal to the new government, who have blamed Assad’s loyalists for attacks against the country’s new security forces in recent weeks.

The Alawites, along with Syria’s other minority communities, including Kurds, Christians and Druze, have said they are concerned about revenge attacks and are not convinced by the new government’s promise of an inclusive country.

In the crowd, I met Adiba Shehaidi. She’s sleeping rough outside the base after escaping her village, Ain al Arous.

“They attacked us, just like that, slaughtered us, our friends, our neighbours, our children, our relatives – our in-laws, all of them, were slaughtered. They stormed the houses, shooting…” she recounted her story of escape.

“What can we say? To the world, what can we say? What was our crime?” she cried.

screengrab from SN Ramsay VT from Syria about attacks against Alawite minority
P 021451MO SYRIA CONFLICT RAMSAY 06 LONG VT4
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People in mourning after killings

SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features: Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
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Grieving relatives have described how their families were slaughtered

We were told that whole families had been killed with some buried in mass graves.

Not far away from the base, in the village of Al Sanobar – we found one. A mass grave consisting of two trenches, dug under the cover of darkness by villagers. They buried 80 people here.

Sticks had been placed in the earth to signal a body buried beneath. We are told a family of 17 are in one of the graves.

SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
Image:
A mass grave in the village of Al-Sanobar

SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
Image:
Sticks have been placed in the earth to show where a body is buried

Further into the village, we came across a group of men digging more graves. They told us they had found the bodies of their families, friends, and neighbours littered on the streets and in houses.

So far, they have buried 223 people, all from this one village.

Map for SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites
Image:
Latakia, on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, is where pro-Assad fighters are accused of killing Alawite civilians

On trucks, the bodies wrapped in blankets and plastic were brought to their final resting place near their homes. Under a blistering sun a simple ceremony is held, then side by side they are buried.

These families have been devastated – their anguish obvious.

Read more:
Alawites take refuge from Syrian army
Government forces clash with Assad loyalists
Syria vows to investigate mass killings

Convoys of government security forces are now constantly patrolling all the areas where the killings took place, and they are trying to encourage the Alawites to return to their villages, saying it is now safe.

SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
Image:
Convoys of government security forces are patrolling all the areas where the killings took place

The head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate, told me what happened here was unacceptable and must not happen again.

He explained how Assad loyalists had attacked and killed soldiers, police officers, and civilians – filming it and posting it on social media. This, he said, led to “undisciplined groups” arriving to this part of Syria, acting “outside of the Ministry of Defence’s command”.

 head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate
SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
Image:
The head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate, tells Sky’s Stuart Ramsay that Assad loyalists were to blame for the killings

 head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate
SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
Image:
Kunefate: What happened was unacceptable and must not happen again

“Among these groups were some with a questionable intent, many arrived with no clear instructions, simply coming to break the siege on the Ministry of Defence personnel and police,” Mr Kunefate told me.

“This resulted in chaos and a breakdown of discipline among the fighting groups that entered the coastal region.”

The scene of some of the worst fighting happened in the city of Jableh when the pro-Assad militia attacked. Much of the centre of town has been badly damaged in the fighting, and it is tense.

SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
Image:
Security convoys patrol cities like Jableh, badly damaged during fighting with pro-Assad forces.

General Security convoys constantly patrol the city, home to Sunni civilians who were murdered like their Alawite neighbours.

Imad Bitar’s father Talal died after his car was fired upon by Assad fighters.

I met him in their family home where he told me he wants peace but believes it will only happen when Assad’s fighters are captured.

Imad Bitar whose father Talal died after his car was fired upon by Assad fighters.
SN eyewitness from Stuart Ramsay about Syrian Alawites which features:
Hmeimim air base, home to the Russian military in Syria; mass grave in Al-Sanobar; head of General Security, Mustafa Kunefate; various GVs of locals and case studies
Image:
Sunni civilians in the city of Jableh were also murdered by pro-Assad fighters, including Imad Bitar’s father Talal

“We must find a way to live together, our only demand now is for the remaining factions to leave Syria and for those responsible for the regime’s crimes to face a formal trial. It’s not about sectarian divisions, it’s about justice.”

This has been a difficult time for the new government trying to unite Syria.

The massacres of Alawites at the hands of militia puts President Ahmed al Sharaa’s unity project in jeopardy.

But if there is a positive from that dreadful weekend, it is that the government acknowledges the mistakes and is promising to bring those responsible to justice.

The World with Yalda Hakim at 9pm on Sky News will feature a series of special reports on Syria from our chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and special correspondent Alex Crawford.

Watch their latest report inside Al-Hol camp, where thousands of families affiliated to the former Islamic State group are being held by Kurdish forces in northeast Syria.

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Crew welcomed into International Space Station to replace astronauts stranded for nine months

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Crew welcomed into International Space Station to replace astronauts stranded for nine months

A crew has entered the International Space Station (ISS) to replace the astronauts who were stranded there for nine months.

A SpaceX capsule delivered four astronauts on Sunday on a mission to allow Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams – who have been on the ISS since June 2024 – to return home.

The Dragon craft, with the Crew-10 astronauts inside, docked with the orbiting laboratory at 4.04am UK time, around 29 hours after it had been launched on the top of the Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Butch Wilmore (back row centre) and Suni Williams (back row right) celebrate with the rest of the astronauts replacing them on the International Space Station.
Image:
Butch Wilmore (back row centre) and Suni Williams (back row right) celebrate with the rest of the astronauts replacing them on the International Space Station.

pic: nasa
Image:
The replacement crew, including Russia’s Kirill Peskov (centre), were welcomed on board the International Space Station (ISS). Pic: NASA

NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, both military pilots, along with Japan’s Takuya Onishi and Russia’s Kirill Peskov, both former airline pilots, will spend the next six months at the space station.

Their mission will allow four members of Crew-9, which includes Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams, to return to Earth.

Astronauts on the ISS say they have requested ballot papers for the US election
Image:
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore during their unplanned nine month stay in space.
File pic: NASA/AP

It took several minutes for Dragon to safely dock at the ISS, in what is an automated process.

But there was about 1 hour and 45 minutes of additional safety checks before the hatch could be opened.

More on International Space Station

Mr Wilmore swung open the space station’s hatch and rang the ship’s bell as the arrivals floated in one by one and were greeted with hugs and handshakes.

How they were stranded

Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams originally planned to go to space for just eight days but got stuck on the station after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft started experiencing problems.

Technical issues left them stranded, and various attempts to bring them home were unsuccessful.

The craft encountered so many problems that NASA insisted it return to Earth empty, leaving the pilots behind until now.

‘You can hardly even put it into words’

“It was a wonderful day. Great to see our friends arrive,” Ms Williams told Mission Control after the new astronauts had been welcomed aboard.

The moments after docking with Suni Williams, centre, finally facing the prospect of returning back to Earth.
Pic: NASA/AP
Image:
The moments after docking with Suni Williams, centre, finally facing the prospect of returning back to Earth.
Pic: NASA/AP

The Astronauts, including Japan's Takuya Onishi, greeting one another after arrival on the International Space Station.
Pic: NASA/AP
Image:
The astronauts, including Japan’s Takuya Onishi, greeting one another after arrival on the International Space Station.
Pic: NASA/AP

Speaking after the successful docking, Ms McClain added: “Crew-10 has had a great journey up here and I cannot tell you the immense joy of our crew when we looked out the window and we saw the space station for the first time.

“That is such an amazing journey. You can hardly even put it into words.”

Still of dragon capsule edging towards ISS before it docks. Pic: NASA
Image:
The dragon capsule was manoeuvred towards ISS before it docked. Pic: NASA

Rendezvous, Docking, Hatch Opening and Welcoming Remarks of the NASA/SpaceX Crew-10 Crew at the International Space Station Pic: NASA
source: NASA TV
Image:
The view from the ISS as the Dragon capsule edged closer and docked. Pic: NASA

The journey back to Earth

The four newcomers will spend the next few days learning the station’s ins and outs from Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams.

Then the two of them will strap into their own capsule later in the week, one that has been up there since last year, to close out the unexpected extended mission.

The pair’s ride back arrived in late September with a downsized crew of two and two empty seats reserved for the leg back.

Rendezvous, Docking, Hatch Opening and Welcoming Remarks of the NASA/SpaceX Crew-10 Crew at the International Space Station Pic: NASA
source: NASA TV
Image:
The Dragon capsule safely docked with the International Space Station. Pic: NASA

But more delays emerged when their replacements’ brand new capsule needed extensive battery repairs.

An older capsule took its place, pushing up their return by a couple of weeks to mid-March.

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Weather permitting, the SpaceX capsule carrying them and two other astronauts will undock no earlier than Wednesday and splash down off Florida’s coast.

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At least 51 dead after nightclub fire in Kocani, North Macedonia

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At least 51 dead after nightclub fire in Kocani, North Macedonia

At least 51 people are reported to have died in a fire at a nightclub in North Macedonia.

The blaze broke out while a local pop band was performing at around 2.35am on Sunday in the town of Kocani – allegedly after fireworks were set off inside the venue, interior minister Panche Toshkovski told a news conference.

Although the public prosecutor’s office said the “number of victims and injured in the fire is being determined” – 100 people are thought to have been injured, Mr Toshkovski said.

They are being treated at Kocani General Hospital, where relatives have gathered to await more information, newspaper Nova Makedonija said.

The country’s prime minister Hristijan Mickoski is travelling to the scene, it added.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

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