Weather of 2013

In the Northern Hemisphere, the weather pattern repeatedly directed cold Arctic air southward, leaving Greenland and northeastern Canada much warmer than average for March.{{cite web | url =http://www.climatecentral.org/news/from-2012-to-2013-march-blows-hot-then-cold-15807| title =From 2012 to 2013, March Blows Hot, Then Cold |publisher =Climate Central| date=March 29, 2013 |author=Andrew Freedman|accessdate = 31 March 2013}} High pressure situated over Greenland acted as a block, forcing the jet stream into a southerly flow. Observations over Greenland threatened to break the worldwide record for highest barometric pressure of 1083.3 mbar, set on December 31, 1968, in Siberia, the National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s Ocean Prediction Center forecast a high pressure center of at least 1074 mbar over Greenland during March.{{cite news|first=Rick|last=Grow|title=Record blocking patterns fueling extreme weather: detailed look at why it's so cold|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/03/21/record-blocking-patterns-fueling-extreme-washington-d-c-march-weather/|accessdate=26 March 2013|newspaper=Capital Weather Gang:The Washington Post|date=21 March 2013}} A Greenland block was also noticed during the cold weather seen in 2010.{{cite news|last=Ballisty|first=Tim|title=Why So Cold? Blame the Greenland Block|url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/why-so-cold-greenland-block_2010-01-11|accessdate=27 March 2013|newspaper=The Weather Channel|date=11 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326111909/http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/why-so-cold-greenland-block_2010-01-11|archive-date=2013-03-26|url-status=dead}} The Arctic oscillation index changed from positive to negative, weakening the pressure gradient.{{cite web | url =http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=80804&src=ve| title =Warm Arctic, Chilly Mid-Latitudes|publisher =NASA Earth Observatory|date=April 3, 2013|accessdate = 6 April 2013}} Throughout March the west Atlantic winds, which normally kept the winters in Europe relatively mild, have been blowing chiefly from the northeast, bringing in cold Arctic air.{{cite web | url =http://phys.org/news/2013-03-qa-europe-easter-global.html| title =Q&A: Europe's freezing Easter and global warming|publisher =Phys.Org|author=Karl Ritter| date=March 29, 2013 |accessdate = 5 April 2013}} The westerly Atlantic winds were weakened by small air pressure difference between northern and southern latitudes. In late March, the Arctic oscillation index dropped to -5.6 and much of Northern Hemisphere experienced particularly low temperatures. The low value of the Arctic oscillation was the second lowest March value on record. The British Met Office described the cold temperatures as part of a larger-scale weather pattern in the Northern Hemisphere, associated with the negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation.{{cite news|last=Slingo|first=Julia|title=Why was the start to spring 2013 so cold?|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/media/pdf/i/2/March2013.pdf|accessdate=24 April 2013|newspaper=Met Office}}

Due to expected low temperatures overnight on February 16 and 17, an extreme cold weather alert was issued in Toronto. On February 16 Environment Canada also issued a weather statement for York, Durham, Peel and Halton areas, warning of intensifying flurries.

On December 22, a severe ice storm brought snow and freezing rain to Toronto, and much of Eastern Canada.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Alan |title=A Christmas Ice Storm - The Atlantic |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2013/12/a-christmas-ice-storm/100650/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=www.theatlantic.com |language=en}} The storm caused widespread power outages and left hundreds of thousands in the dark.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-21 |title=In photos: Toronto's historic ice storm that cancelled Christmas 10 years ago |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/toronto-historic-ice-storm-christmas-185125553.html |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-CA}}

{{see also|February 2013 nor'easter}}

The cold wave in the United States was influenced by a low-pressure area called a "Clipper" which brought an Arctic cold front that caused rapidly falling temperatures and strong northwest winds with gusts of {{convert|35|-|50|mph|km/h}}.{{cite web | url =http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dlh/?n=coldsnap_Jan2013| title =Summary of Arctic Blast|publisher =NOAA| date=January 25, 2013|accessdate = 1 April 2013}}

In January 2013, Salt Lake City had an average temperature of {{convert|19.4|°F|°C}}, which became the coldest month on record since 1949 and the sixth-coldest January since 1874.{{cite web | url =http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=24023983| title =Record low temperatures make January coldest month since 1949|publisher =KSL-TV| author=Amy Joi O'Donoghue|date=February 10, 2013|accessdate = 31 March 2013}}

On March 5 a record 6-inch snow depth was noted in Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, exceeding the previous 1999 record for that date by 2.2 inches.{{cite web | url =https://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/05/us/winter-weather| title = Chicago sets snowfall record as mid-Atlantic braces|publisher =CNN| date=March 6, 2013 |access-date = 1 April 2013}} On the same day 900 flights were cancelled in O'Hare Airport, while Midway Airport reportedly cancelled 240 flights. U.S. Airways reported 350 flight cancellations for March 6.

In Orlando, Florida, the temperature lowered to {{convert|41|°F|°C}} on March 28, 2 degrees below the record of 1955.{{cite web | url =http://www.clickorlando.com/weather/Record-low-temperatures-recorded-again-in-Central-Florida/-/1636950/19501280/-/gl3ha6z/-/index.html| title =Record-low temperatures recorded again in Central Florida|publisher =Click Orlando|date=Mar 28, 2013|accessdate = 31 March 2013}} The lowest minimum temperature record of 1971 ({{convert|51|°F|°C}}) was also broken in West Palm Beach, Florida, where a temperature of {{convert|48|°F|°C}} was recorded on March 28.{{cite news | url =http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/weather/chilly-morning-but-warmer-day-ahead-for-palm-beach/nW6Cg/| title =Morning brings record-breaking low temperature, warmer day ahead for Palm Beach County, Treasure Coast|newspaper =The Palm Beach Post| author= Alexandra Seltzer|date=March 28, 2013|accessdate = 31 March 2013}}

On 1–3 May, a late snow storm occurred across the central United States from Arkansas to Minnesota. The storm formed from a deep upper level trough which became a cut-off low, the event was named "Achilles" by the Weather Channel. The storm broke records for depth of snow and lateness in the season, and was cited as the worst May snow since 1947.{{cite news|last=Burt|first=Christopher C.|title=The Phenomenal May Snowstorm of May 1-3, 2013|url=http://www.wunderground.com/blog/weatherhistorian/comment.html?entrynum=153|accessdate=5 May 2013|newspaper=Weather Historian Blog: Wunderground.com|date=4 May 2013}}

During mid- to late-May, the tornado outbreaks of May 18–21 and May 26–31 resulted in over 100 tornadoes, including an EF5 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma,{{Cite web |title=Tornado devastates Moore, Oklahoma |url=http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/05/us/moore-oklahoma-tornado/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=www.cnn.com |language=en}} and an EF3 tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma. The related storms also resulted in record-breaking rains in North Dakota, New York, and Vermont. The tornado that went through El Reno broke the record for widest tornado ever recorded, at 2.6 miles wide.

The October 2013 North American storm complex was a blizzard and tornado outbreak that affected the Northwest, Rockies, and much of the Midwest.{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=October 3-5, 2013 Historic Blizzard |url=https://www.weather.gov/unr/2013-10-03_05#:~:text=An%20unprecedented%20early-season%20blizzard,the%20area%20for%20several%20days. |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}}{{Cite news |last=McCune |first=Greg |date=5 October 2013 |title=Upper Midwest struck by unusual autumn tornadoes, snowstorm |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/10/05/upper-midwest-struck-by-unusual-autumn-tornadoes-snowstorm/ |access-date=10 June 2024 |work=Chicago Tribune}}

The incident trapped over 6 dozen people inside of their automobiles and harmed 15 people in suburban Iowa and Nebraska.{{cite news|last=McCune |first=Greg |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-weather-idUSBRE99401120131005 |title=Upper Midwest struck by unusual autumn tornadoes, snowstorm |work=Reuters |accessdate=2013-10-07}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wishtv.com/news/national/storm-brings-snow-tornadoes-to-great-plains_75157201 |title=Storm-brings-snow-tornadoes-to-Great-Plains_75157201 |publisher=Wishtv.com |date=1919-10-19 |accessdate=2013-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012054908/http://www.wishtv.com/news/national/storm-brings-snow-tornadoes-to-great-plains_75157201 |archive-date=2013-10-12 |url-status=dead }} Rapid City, the second largest city in South Dakota, was engulfed in close to two feet of snow, which exceeds the amount of snow that the city has ever recorded during any whole month of October.{{cite web |url=http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/october-weather-blizzard-torna/18577091 |title=Blizzard, Tornadoes, Warmth: More Wild Weather on Way for US |publisher=Accuweather.com |date=2013-10-03 |accessdate=2013-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012053439/http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/october-weather-blizzard-torna/18577091 |archive-date=2013-10-12 |url-status=dead }} Furthermore, on October 4, 2013, the city received over 1.5 feet of snow, which exceeded the previous one day record in October by more than six inches. Over 20 000 people lost electricity in Black Hills, where more than a meter of watered down, dense snow had fallen. The storm system also included thunderstorms that brought iced precipitation, significant rain and over half a dozen tornadoes to Nebraska and Iowa.{{cite web|url=http://www.news10.com/story/23615568/great-plains-digs-out-of-heavy-snow-storm-debris |title=Great Plains digs out of heavy snow, storm debris - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports |publisher=News10.com |accessdate=2013-10-07}}{{cite web|url=http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/photos-wild-central-us-storm-u/18512072 |title=PHOTOS: Central US Storm Unleashes Tornadoes, Feet of Snow |publisher=Accuweather.com |accessdate=2013-10-07}} Over 200 km of Interstate 90 were shut down from South Dakota to Wyoming.{{cite web|author=Greg McCune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/10/05/upper-midwest-struck-by-unusual-autumn-tornadoes-snowstorm/ |title=Upper Midwest struck by unusual autumn tornadoes, snowstorm - Chicago Tribune |publisher=Articles.chicagotribune.com |date=October 5, 2013 |access-date=2013-10-08}}

Tens of thousands of cattle were killed in South Dakota with ranchers reporting loss of 20 to 50% of their herds.{{cite news|title=Tens of thousands of cattle killed in Friday's blizzard, ranchers say|url=http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_558ef3ed-e941-5054-bc6b-115e04e10886.html|accessdate=October 11, 2013|newspaper=Rapid City Journal|date=October 8, 2013|author=Daniel Simmons-Ritchie Journal staff}}{{cite news|title=October blizzard taking a toll on livestock|url=http://www.kbhbradio.com/news/october-blizzard-taking-a-toll-on-livestock/article_31e4e98c-2ece-11e3-b05f-0019bb30f31a.html|accessdate=October 11, 2013|newspaper=KBHB radio|date=October 6, 2013|author=Francie Ganje|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131011233505/http://www.kbhbradio.com/news/october-blizzard-taking-a-toll-on-livestock/article_31e4e98c-2ece-11e3-b05f-0019bb30f31a.html|archive-date=2013-10-11|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/387723/Early-snow-kills-thousands-of-cattle-in-SD.html?isap=1&nav=5016 |title=Early snow kills thousands of cattle in SD - Advertiser-Tribune.com | News, sports, jobs, Tiffin, Ohio |publisher=The Advertiser-Tribune |accessdate=2013-10-09}} Thousands of people were without power.{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.morningjournalnews.com/page/content.detail/id/386758/Great-Plains-digs-out-of-heavy-snow--storm-debris.html?isap=1&nav=5021 |title=Great Plains digs out of heavy snow, storm debris - MorningJournalNews.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Lisbon, Ohio - The Morning Journal |publisher=MorningJournalNews.com |date=1919-10-19 |accessdate=2013-10-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012003710/http://www.morningjournalnews.com/page/content.detail/id/386758/Great-Plains-digs-out-of-heavy-snow--storm-debris.html?isap=1&nav=5021 |archive-date=2013-10-12 |url-status=dead }} Three people died in a motor vehicle accident on U. S. Route 20 in Nebraska.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc4i.com/story/23609057/heavy-snow-thunderstorms-moving-into-midwest |title=Storm brings snow, tornadoes to Great Plains - WCMH: News, Weather, and Sports for Columbus, Ohio |publisher=Nbc4i.com |accessdate=2013-10-09}}

On December 6, a daily record snowfall of 0.1 inches (2 mm) is set in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, breaking the old record of trace amounts of snow set in 1950.{{cite web|author=<%= item.label %> |url=http://www.wunderground.com/US/tx/dallas.html |title=Dallas, TX Weather Forecast from Weather Underground |publisher=Wunderground.com |accessdate=2013-12-06}}{{cite web|url=http://weather.wfaa.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?brand=wfaa&target=wfaa&query=Dallas,TX |title=wfaa.com | Weather | Dallas, Texas (75201) Conditions & Forecast |publisher=Weather.wfaa.com |accessdate=2013-12-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211011500/http://weather.wfaa.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?brand=wfaa&target=wfaa&query=Dallas%2CTX |archive-date=2013-12-11 }}

During March a cold easterly flow across northern Europe from Russia brought intense snowfalls across the continent as it met moisture filled air masses from Ukraine to Ireland.

Stopped on their annual way to the north by the cold weather, thousands of European golden plovers occupied the fields of central Moravia and southeast Bohemia.{{cite web | url =http://praguemonitor.com/2013/03/27/migrating-golden-plovers-stuck-moravia-due-cold-weather| title = Migrating golden plovers stuck in Moravia due to cold weather|publisher =Prague Monitor| date=27 March 2013 |accessdate = 31 March 2013}} The cold weather also delayed the arrival of migratory birds that spend the summer in the Czech Republic. In Příbram the temperature on March 24 broke the 1883 record of {{convert|-9.4|°C|°F}}, being 1.8 degrees lower.{{cite web | url =http://praguemonitor.com/2013/03/25/cold-weather-breaking-records| title = Cold weather breaking records|publisher =Prague Monitor| date=25 March 2013 |accessdate = 31 March 2013}}

In Finland, a cold wave hit on the first days of March 2013. The cold wave had very sunny and dry weather for over a month-long period and brought the lowest temperatures for the 2012-13 winter season. The lowest measured temperature (-38.2 °C) was recorded on March 13 in Taivalkoski. Total rainfall was less than 50% of the average in most parts of Finland. With 2-6 °C colder temperatures from 1981 to 2010 average, March was the coldest winter month in Finland from early 2013 after a mild January and February, and also the coldest March for seven years.{{cite news|title=Maaliskuussa kylmää, kuivaa ja aurinkoista|url=http://ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/tiedote/639012|accessdate=23 April 2013|date=3 April 2013}}

Northern France was hit by heavy snow beginning on March 11, with Météo-France warning of "dangerous weather of an exceptional intensity".{{cite news|last=Spencer|first=Mimosa|title=Snow, Ice Disrupt Transport in Paris, Northern France|url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2013/03/12/snow-ice-disrupt-transport-in-paris-northern-france/|accessdate=25 March 2013|newspaper=Dow Jones Newswires|date=12 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316055641/http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2013/03/12/snow-ice-disrupt-transport-in-paris-northern-france/|archive-date=2013-03-16|url-status=dead}} French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault activated a crisis committee to coordinate government efforts to "guarantee security and movement of the country's citizens." Snowfall across Normandy, Brittany and Picardy was up to 40 cm deep and drifting in 100 km/h winds. Eurostar suspended its cross-channel services between Paris and London. The storm also hit the Channel Islands, producing 8-foot high drifts on Guernsey with blizzards described as the worst since 1979 according to the Jersey Met Office.{{cite news|last=Pugh|first=Tom|title=Worst weather for 30 years: Jersey blizzards prompt potato fears|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/worst-weather-for-30-years-jersey-blizzards-prompt-potato-fears-8529842.html|accessdate=25 March 2013|newspaper=The Independent|date=11 March 2013}}

On March 15 tanks were deployed to reach thousands of motorists trapped in heavy snow.{{cite news | url =https://www.reuters.com/article/us-weather-europe-idUSBRE92E0MH20130315| title =Hungary sends in tanks as cold snap grips Eastern Europe|work =Reuters| date=Mar 15, 2013|author=Krisztina Than|accessdate = 31 March 2013}} On March 22 the heaviest March snows in at least 400 years in Budapest canceled outdoor activities, related to commemoration of Hungarian Revolution of 1848.{{cite web | url =http://www.cdapress.com/columns/cliff_harris/article_235e518a-7704-54af-9197-5b5e7cfc157d.html| title =March 2013 has been unusually cold and snowy throughout the Northern Hemisphere|publisher =CDAPress.com| date=March 25, 2013|author=Cliff Harris|accessdate = 31 March 2013}}

According to OMSZ, the country's meteorological service, this spring was the second wettest since 1901.{{cite web|url=http://www.met.hu/eghajlat/magyarorszag_eghajlata/eghajlati_visszatekinto/elmult_evszakok_idojarasa/|title=Éghajlati visszatekintő - Elmúlt évszakok időjárása|date=16 September 2021|publisher=OMSZ}}

Mainz experienced a very cold March. The average high of 6.0 °C was 5.4 °C below the 1989-2018 mean (11.4 °C), and the coldest on record since 1917,{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp-cdc.dwd.de/pub/CDC/observations_germany/climate/daily/kl/historical/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151201230638/ftp://ftp-cdc.dwd.de/pub/CDC/observations_germany/climate/daily/kl/historical/ |archive-date=2015-12-01 |url-status=dead |title=FTP link |work=ftp-cdc.dwd.de }} leading to a very late onset of spring. Cherry plums took until mid-April to flower, while normally they do so in early March. Heavy snow fell on the 12th

Lethal cold has been recorded in Pale di San Martino of {{convert|-49.6|C|F}} on 10 Feb 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.montagna.tv/47324/record-di-freddo-in-italia-49-6c-sulle-pale-di-san-martino/|title = Record di freddo in Italia: -49.6°C sulle Pale di San Martino|date = 10 May 2013}}

The northern Norwegian region of Nordland saw unusually heavy snowfall, with late March seeing falls in excess of 1 metre deep.{{cite web|title=Uvanlig snørik mars i Nordland|url=http://www.yr.no/1.10970252|publisher=yr.no|accessdate=22 April 2013|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426055159/http://www.yr.no/1.10970252|archive-date=26 April 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Many places in the south mountain area like Geilo, Haukeli and Hovden have their coldest average temperature in March on record. Many places had temperatures more than 5 degrees below average.

According to the Russian Bird Conservation Union, the cold weather in the European part of Russia stalled the bird migration, except for the rooks.{{cite web | url =http://en.ria.ru/russia/20130325/180246154/Russian-Bird-Migration-Delayed-by-Cold.html| title =Russian Bird Migration Delayed by Cold|publisher =RIA Novosti| date=2013-03-25 |accessdate = 31 March 2013}} The weather conditions also suspended the bird migration to Russian Far East. On March 3 thousands of snow rollers formed at the frozen surface of Sineglazovo Lake.{{cite web | url =http://chelpogoda.ru/news/topics/999.php| script-title=ru:Снежные рулоны|publisher =Chelpogoda.ru| language=ru|accessdate = 3 April 2013}} On March 15 an all-time low temperature was recorded in Novosibirsk, surpassing the city's 1964 record by 0.5 °C.{{cite web | url =http://ria.ru/eco/20130315/927494001.html| script-title=ru:Полувековой температурный рекорд побит в Новосибирске в пятницу|publisher =RIA Novosti| language=ru|date=2013-03-15|accessdate = 3 April 2013}} On April 1 the VVC weather station in Moscow recorded the city's highest snow cover since 1895, at 65 cm, which surpassed the previous record by 9 cm.{{cite web | url =http://www.interfax.ru/russia/news.asp?id=298776| script-title=ru:Снежный покров в Москве побил абсолютный рекорд апреля |publisher =Interfax| language=ru|date=1 April 2013 |accessdate = 3 April 2013}}

Spain saw unusual late April snow, with weather warnings in 18 provinces.{{cite news|title=Spain's spring snow: Unseasonal weather blocks roads|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22341502|accessdate=5 May 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=29 April 2013}} The event was widely attributed to a cut-off low.

The Kyiv State Administration declared a state of emergency in the city on March 23 "due to the deterioration of weather conditions [heavy snowfall, blizzards, snow-banks]".{{cite web | url =http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine-abroad/russia-today-record-snowfall-turns-ukraine-into-chaos-322171.html| title =Russia Today: Record snowfall turns Ukraine into chaos|publisher =KyivPost| date=March 23, 2013|accessdate = 31 March 2013}} The government established a weather crisis center under direct supervision of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov. The weather conditions forced the authorities to make Monday, March 25, a day off for all those employed in the government sector in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, except medical services and those tackling the aftermath of the snowfall. March 23 brought heavy snow to Ukraine with the normal monthly amount of snow falling in just 24 hours. With the state of emergency declared the military used armoured personnel carriers to drag buses out of snow drifts.{{cite news|title=Ukraine army tackles snow chaos amid Kiev emergency|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21923988|accessdate=25 March 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=25 March 2013}}

The United Kingdom experienced a very severe cold spell in March–April 2013. March was the coldest in the Central England region since 1883. The mean temperature across the country was just {{Convert|2.2|C|F|abbr=on}}, with March 1962 only being colder at {{Convert|1.9|C|F|abbr=on}}. Also in March, the country reported less sunlight, with 82.9 hours, which is 81% of the average. Among the countries in the United Kingdom, the average temperatures were {{Convert|2.6|C|F|abbr=on}} in England, {{Convert|1.3|C|F|abbr=on}} in Scotland, {{Convert|2.4|C|F|abbr=on}} in Wales, and {{Convert|2.8|C|F|abbr=on}} in Northern Ireland.{{Cite news |date=2013-04-02 |title=March weather was second coldest on record - Met Office |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-22010852 |access-date=2025-03-28 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

On December 13, a cold snap led to snow in such cities as Cairo, Alexandria and Madinaty for the first time in 112 years.{{cite news|last=Bond|first=Anthony|title=Cairo snow: Egyptian capital sees snowfall for the first time in 112 years|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/cairo-snow-egyptian-capital-sees-2923418|newspaper=Daily Mirror|date=13 Dec 2013|accessdate=14 Dec 2013}}{{cite news|title=Cairo sees first snow in years as cold snap hits Egypt|url=https://news.yahoo.com/cairo-sees-first-snow-years-cold-snap-hits-142519974.html|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=13 Dec 2013|accessdate=14 Dec 2013}}

In China the average January temperature became the coldest in 28 years.{{cite news | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/06/world/asia/travel-disrupted-in-china-amid-unusually-cold-weather.html?_r=0| title = Travel Disrupted in China Amid Unusually Cold Weather|newspaper =The New York Times| date=January 5, 2013 |accessdate = 31 March 2013}} In northeast China the average temperature in January 2013 decreased to {{convert|-15.3|°C|°F}}, the coldest in 43 years, while in northern China it dropped to a 42-year low of {{convert|-7.4|°C|°F}}. About a thousand ships were stuck in ice in Laizhou Bay, while 10,500 square miles of ice reportedly covered the surface of the Bohai Sea. About 180,000 cattle deaths were reported in northern China by January 10. On May 2, 2013, a minimum temperature of 16.6 °C was recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory, making it the coldest May temperature since 1917. It was also the third-coldest minimum temperature in May since recorded.

{{see also|Indian cold wave (2012)}}

In January Delhi experienced night temperatures below {{convert|3|°C|°F}}, which was 4 to 5 degrees lower than the normal seasonal average. In the first week of January 2013, Delhi had a temperature of {{convert|1.9|°C|°F}}, the lowest in 44 years.{{cite web | url =http://www.cdapress.com/columns/cliff_harris/article_235e518a-7704-54af-9197-5b5e7cfc157d.html| title = India: Cold Wave - Jan 2013

|publisher =ReliefWeb|accessdate = 31 March 2013}} The IFRC's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund donated 57,100 Swiss francs to support the Indian Red Cross Society in delivering immediate assistance to about 10,000 people. In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar the cold wave dropped the mercury to as low as {{convert|-1|°C|°F}} which forced closure of all schools up to grade 12 until January 12.

On January 10, Lebanese cities and especially Beirut were flooded and snow reached the sea and the coast.

Israel saw its heaviest snowfall since 1992 in Jerusalem, which accumulated {{convert|10|to|15|cm|in|round=0.5|abbr=on}} of snow in the city centre and more than that in outlying areas.{{cite news | url =https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-snow-idUSBRE90906520130110| title =Rare snowstorm paralyses Jerusalem area, northern Israel|work =Reuters|author=Allyn Fisher-Ilan| date=Jan 10, 2013 |accessdate = 1 April 2013}} The snowfall stalled the public transport and blocked a highway linking Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. A foot of snow (30 cm) fell at Safed in northern Israel. Lake Kinneret was refilling after years of drought. Much snow fell across Syria; {{convert|-6|°C|°F|abbr=on}} was reported in the east suburbs of Damascus and forced camping people made homeless by the Syrian civil war to desperate measures to find shelter, and caused 17 or more deaths in the Middle East.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-levant-storm-idUSBRE9080MD20130109|title=Winter storm brings devastation to Syria and neighbors|date=9 January 2013|newspaper=Reuters|last1=Holmes|first1=Erika Solomon}}

After a cold March and early April in Finland and Scandinavia, a late, but very strong and widespread spring caused fast snow melting and flooding around Finland. Floods occurred mainly in the Province of Northern Ostrobothnia, where floods hit hardest in Pyhäjoki.{{cite news|title=MTV3.fi: Pyhäjoen keskustaa uhkaa taas jääpato - ihmisiä evakuoitu|url=http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/kotimaa.shtml/2013/04/1740533/pyhajoen-keskustaa-uhkaa-taas-jaapato|accessdate=23 April 2013|date=21 April 2013}} In May the weather became exceptionally warm. Thermal summer began about a half-month earlier than usual throughout the country, and after mid-May Finland recorded nine heat-days (maximum temperature over 25 °C) for May 2013; whereas typically there are three heat-days in May. The heat of May 2013 also broke records around Finland's Lapland, which got the warmest temperatures of month. The highest temperature, 30.5 °C, was recorded on May 31, 2013, in Utsjoki. It was the first time the temperature rose over 30 °C in May since 1995, when in Lapinjärvi's Ingermaninkylä was recorded Finland's highest all-time temperature of May, 31 °C.{{cite news|title=May even exceptionally warm in some places|url=http://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/press-release/669359|date=3 June 2013}} June also had exceptionally warm weather, with seventeen heat-days for the month, where eight heat-days is the norm. The highest temperature, 32.4 °C, was recorded on June 26, 2013, in Liperi.{{cite news|title=June was exceptionally warm|url=http://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/press-release/730379|accessdate=16 July 2013|date=1 July 2013}} The hot weather brought unusual numbers of thunderstorms and lightning strikes. For June, 78,000 lightning strikes were recorded; the most recorded since June 1995. The single-day record, 28,500 lightning strikes, was recorded on June 27, the highest daily count for the 2000s and 2010s. May and June 2013 were both among the warmest five Mays and Junes in Finland's history.

Germany and areas of Central Europe had their wettest ever May, followed by the severe flooding during the 2013 European floods.

In Nordic countries, Cyclone Hilde caused destruction from November 15 to November 18, 2013. In Norway the winds blew as strong as {{convert|49|m/s|km/h mph}} and the strongest average was {{convert|39|m/s|km/h mph}}.{{cite news|last=Nilsen|first=Amund|title="Hilde" tok strømmen fra tusenvis og skapte trøbbel til sjøs og på veien|url=http://www.nrk.no/norge/uvaeret-_hilde_-herjet-langs-kysten-1.11362168|accessdate=23 November 2013|newspaper=NRK|date=17 November 2013|language=no}} In Sweden the strongest windspeed was {{convert|47|m/s|km/h mph}} speed, which surpassed the former record of {{convert|44|m/s|km/h mph|}} recorded in association with Cyclone Gudrun in 2005.{{cite news|title=Hilde gav Sverige ett nytt vindrekord|url=http://www.smhi.se/nyhetsarkiv/hilde-gav-sverige-ett-nytt-vindrekord-1.34251|accessdate=18 November 2013|newspaper=SMHI|date=18 November 2013|language=sv}} Cyclone Hilde left about 230,000 households without electricity.{{cite news|title=Eino-myrsky edennyt jo itäiseen Suomeen – yli 230 000 kotia ilman sähköä|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/eino-myrsky_edennyt_jo_itaiseen_suomeen__yli_230000_kotia_ilman_sahkoa/6938273|accessdate=17 November 2013|newspaper=Yleisradio|date=17 November 2013|language=fi}}

In late June 2013, an intense heat wave struck Southwestern United States. Various places in Southern California reached up to {{convert|122|°F|°C}}.Tata, Samantha. [http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Southern-California-Heat-Wave-Record-Hot-Temperatures-213729901.html Palm Springs Hits 122 Degrees as SoCal Temperature Records Shatter]. NBC Los Angeles. June 30, 2013. Retrieved on July 4, 2013. On June 30, Death Valley, California, hit {{convert|129.2|°F|°C}} which is the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth during the month of June. It was five degrees shy of the highest temperature recorded in Death Valley, which was {{convert|134.6|°F|°C}}, recorded in July 1913.{{cite web |url=http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2451 |title=Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog : Historic Heat Wave Responsible for Death Valley's 129°F Gradually Weakening | Weather Underground |publisher=Wunderground.com |accessdate=2013-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105060318/http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2451 |archive-date=2013-11-05 |url-status=dead }}

After six days in early July with temperatures over {{convert|40|°C|°F|abbr=on}}, Portugal officially entered a heat wave. Temperatures reached as high as 45 °C in some places in Alentejo and Ribatejo. Rising temperatures led to heat health warnings being issued for Southern England and the Midlands in the UK's first prolonged heatwave since 2006 on 17 July.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23341504 |work=BBC News |title=Heatwave: Met Office upgrades warning for South East |publisher=BBC |date=17 July 2013 |accessdate=17 July 2013}} The UK recorded its hottest day since July 2006, with {{convert|33.5|°C|°F|abbr=on}} recorded at Heathrow and Northolt in west London on 22 July.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23408504 |work=BBC News |title=UK heatwave: Hottest day for seven years recorded |publisher=BBC |date=22 July 2013 |accessdate=22 July 2013}} This was later beaten again on 1 August, when 34.1 °C was recorded at Heathrow Airport. Epidemiological statisticians at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine using models developed in 2011 estimated the heatwave in England and Wales would have led to the premature deaths of 650 people.{{cite news|title=Premature deaths from heatwave in England|url=http://blogs.lshtm.ac.uk/news/2013/07/18/premature-deaths-from-heatwave-in-england/|accessdate=30 July 2013|newspaper=London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Blog|date=18 July 2013}} London Fire Brigade reported that it had attended on average 29 grass fires a day between 1–21 July, seven times the number of call outs for grass fires than the same period in 2012.{{cite web|title=Grass fires increase to 29 a day|url=http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/news/LatestNewsReleases_Grassfiresat29aday.asp|publisher=London Fire Brigade|accessdate=30 July 2013}} In Hungary the July heatwave set new daily records for the 27th, 28th and 29th being the hottest day of the year with 40 °C only 2 degrees from the absolute record. A day earlier the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix was the 2nd hottest in recent Grand Prix history just behind the 2005 Bahrain Grand Prix. Track temperature reached 56 °C and air temperature was 38 °C.

Poland had heat waves in mid-June, late July and early August. Kraków broke its record high on August 8, 2013, when it reached {{convert|37.2|°C|°F|abbr=on}}, the 7th day in a row above 30 °C. Austria saw some of its hottest summers at a record temperature of {{convert|40.5|C|F}} in Bad Deutsch Altenburg on 8 Aug too.{{Cite web|url=https://www.diepresse.com/1439639/rekord-geknackt-405-grad-in-bad-deutsch-altenburg|title = Rekord geknackt: 40,5 Grad in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg|date = 9 August 2013}}

In July a heat wave struck China with alerts covering nine provinces, including Anhui, Jiangsu, Hunan, Hubei, Shanghai and Chongqing. Shanghai saw 24 days with temperatures at or above 35 °C in July. Temperatures in Shanghai reached 40.6 degrees Celsius, the highest ever temperature recorded in 140 years of weather recording in the city.{{cite news|title=China issues heat alert as 'hottest July' hits Shanghai|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-23499175|work=BBC News|accessdate=31 July 2013}}

{{Main|Angry Summer}}

The summer of 2012–2013 in Australia resulted in many heat records being broken over a 90-day period.

File:May 20, 2013 Moore, Oklahoma tornado.JPG]]

{{main|Tornadoes of 2013}}

In 2013, there were 916 comfirmed tornadoes in the United States, including 8 EF4 (examples: 2013 Hattiesburg tornado, 2013 Granbury tornado and 2013 Wayne tornado) rated tornadoes and 1 EF5 rated tornado, the Moore, Oklahoma EF5, which claimed 24 fatalities and injuring 212 more. As of 2025, it is the last EF5 rated tornado.{{Cite web |last=Henson |first=Bob |date=2021-05-25 |title=It's been a record-long time since the last EF5 tornado. What does that mean? » Yale Climate Connections |url=http://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/05/its-been-a-record-long-time-since-the-last-ef5-tornado-what-does-that-mean/ |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Yale Climate Connections |language=en-US}} On May 31, the largest tornado on record, an EF3 rated tornado, formed near the town of El Reno, Oklahoma, claiming 8 people (including 4 storm chasers){{cite news|title=The storm chaser dilemma and choice to sit out the May 31 Oklahoma City tornadoes|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/06/03/the-storm-chaser-dilemma-and-choosing-to-miss-a-tornado/|author=Ian Livingston|author2=Mark Ellinwood|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 3, 2013|access-date=February 22, 2014}} and injuring 151 others. The El Reno tornado had recorded winds of {{convert|313|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, making it the second highest recorded windspeeds on record in a tornado.

On November 17, a deadly and powerful EF4 tornado struck the city of Washington, Illinois, killing 3 people and injuring 125 others, with recorded winds of {{convert|190|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. On January 23, 2025, the tornado was considered as an "EF5 candidate" due to the ongoing EF5 drought, which was explained that the EF5 starting wind speed should be {{convert|190|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, instead of 201 miles per hour (323 km/h){{cite journal |last1=Lyza |first1=Anthony W. |last2=Brooks |first2=Harold E. |last3=Krocak |first3=Makenzie J. |title=Where Have the EF5s Gone? A Closer Look at the “Drought” of the Most Violent Tornadoes in the United States |journal=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society |date=23 January 2025 |doi=10.1175/BAMS-D-24-0066.1 |url=https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/bams/aop/BAMS-D-24-0066.1/BAMS-D-24-0066.1.xml |access-date=2 February 2025 |publisher=American Meteorological Society|url-access=subscription }}

{{clear}}

File:Haiyan 2013-11-07 1345Z (alternate, borderless).png near peak intensity while approaching the eastern Philippines on November 7]]

{{see also|Tropical cyclones in 2013}}

As the year began, Cyclone Freda was moving toward New Caledonia in the South Pacific Ocean, Cyclone Mitchell was dissipating west of Australia, and Cyclone Dumile was northeast of Madagascar.{{Cite web|url=http://ibtracs.unca.edu/index.php?name=v04r00-2012362S08165|title = IBTrACS - International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship}}{{cite web |title=Tropical Cyclone Mitchell |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/Mitchell_report.pdf |publisher=Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology |date=November 2015}}{{Cite web|url=http://ibtracs.unca.edu/index.php?name=v04r00-2012362S08071|title = IBTrACS - International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship}}

The strongest and deadliest tropical cyclone of the year was Typhoon Haiyan, which attained a minimum barometric pressure of {{convert|895|hPa|inHg|sigfig=4|abbr=on|lk=on}}, along with sustained 10 minute winds of {{convert|230|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}}. It weakened slightly before moving across the central Philippines, causing at least 6,300 deaths in the country.{{cite report|last=del Rosario|first=Eduardo D.|url=http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/1329/FINAL_REPORT_re_Effects_of_Typhoon_YOLANDA_HAIYAN_06-09NOV2013.pdf|title=FINAL REPORT Effects of Typhoon YOLANDA (HAIYAN)|publisher=NDRRMC|date=April 2014|access-date=April 21, 2014}}{{Cite web|url=http://ibtracs.unca.edu/index.php?name=v04r00-2013306N07162|title = IBTrACS - International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship}}

The costliest tropical cyclone of the year was Hurricane Manuel, which was responsible for at least $4.2 billion worth of damages in Mexico.{{cite web|author=Steve Jakubowski|author2=Adityam Krovvidi|author3=Adam Podlaha|author4=Steve Bowen|title=September 2013 Global Catasrophe Recap|url=http://thoughtleadership.aonbenfield.com/Documents/20131007_if_september_global_recap.pdf|publisher=AON Benefield|work=Impact Forecasting|access-date=October 25, 2013}}

• 2013 Southeast Asian haze
• 2013 Middle East cold snap
• 2013 heatwave in Ireland and the United Kingdom

{{wikinews|Moscow experiences the snowiest winter in 100 years}}

{{wikinews|Heavy snow causes disruption across northwestern Europe}}

{{reflist|2}}

• [https://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/20/us/severe-weather-tracker/index.html?iid=article_sidebar Real-time tracking of the 2013 winter weather in the U.S.]
• [http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/brutal-cold-waves-could-reach-us/3586088 Report] from AccuWeather
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130722054014/http://www.munichre.com/app_pages/www/@res/pdf/media_relations/press_releases/2013/2013_07_09_worldmap_natcat_en.pdf Natural catastrophes January – June 2013 World Map, Munich RE NatCatSERVICE]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130823090909/http://insights.wri.org/news/2013/07/timeline-look-extreme-weather-and-climate-events-2013 Timeline: A Look at Extreme Weather and Climate Events in 2013 - World Resources Institute]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130714234357/http://www.munichre.com/en/media_relations/press_releases/2013/2013_07_09_press_release.aspx Munich RE Press Release: Floods dominate natural catastrophe statistics in first half of 2013]

{{Weather by year

|year = 2013

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Category:2013 meteorology

Category:Weather by year