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• The Guardian
• Fri Apr 18 2025

Iraq was hit by its most severe sandstorm of 2025 this week, turning skies from blue to an orange haze. Visibility dropped to less than half a mile, causing travel disruptions, with two major airports halting flights, and streets in Basra, the largest city in southern Iraq, deserted. Respiratory problems sent thousands to hospital. The storm also affected Kuwait, where wind gusts exceeded 50mph, and visibility in some areas was diminished to zero.

This massive dust cloud originated in Saudi Arabia before being blown into Iraq. While dust storms are common in Iraq, the climate crisis is expected to intensify them across the region in the future, fuelled by desertification in Saudi Arabia and Syria.

Meanwhile, ex-Tropical Cyclone Tam has battered northern parts of New Zealand?s North Island as it swirls in the Tasman Sea, causing widespread damage, including power outages, fallen trees, submerged roads and flight delays at Auckland airport. The storm, which first hit on Wednesday evening, brought wind gusts of more than 80mph at Cape Reinga on the northern tip of the island, the strongest recorded there since 2017.

View image in fullscreen People battle against the wind at the seaside in Auckland, New Zealand, on Thursday. Photograph: Xinhua/Rex/Shutterstock

Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean waters, where rising air creates strong winds and heavy rain. When they move over cooler waters, they become ex-tropical cyclones. Despite losing their tropical energy source, they remain powerful as they gain energy from atmospheric temperature differences, growing in size and bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds over large areas.

Winds, rain and thunderstorms have affected several areas, with rainfall totals reaching 200mm recorded in Coromandel, near Auckland, and Tasman, in the north of the South Island. Further severe weather warnings have been issued as the cyclone continues to move southwards, disrupting the Easter weekend by delaying travel and sporting events.

Meanwhile, Storm Hans, the largest of the 2024-25 European windstorm season, has lashed the Alps since Thursday, causing widespread disruption across northern Italy, southern Switzerland and south-eastern France as the busy Easter weekend approaches. The French ski resort of Tignes was forced to close, along with nearby roads, as snow accumulations reached up to one metre.

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At least another metre is forecast to fall following the storm. Popular ski areas such as Val d?Is?re, Chamonix, and Les Menuires also experienced heavy snowfall. A level 5 avalanche warning has been issued in the worst-affected areas, while heavy rainfall has caused landslides and flooding at lower altitudes, with road and rail closures as a result.