Maleny Weather

The recent decrease in trade wind strength over the Pacific, which stalled the decay of the current El Niño event, appears to have ended.

Central Pacific sea surface temperatures remain warmer than the long-term average.The sub-surface water of the tropical Pacific continues to cool. The SOI has fallen slightly through March. The latest approximate 30-day value of the SOI is −12. Trade winds have strengthened in the equatorial Pacific. Cloudiness near the date-line has fluctuated through March.Most international computer models are predicting a return to neutral conditions during the southern hemisphere autumn.

2nd

At least 20 people have been killed in central Peru after heavy rains sparked a mudslide that engulfed a small village. The mudslide struck the village in the Huanuco region. At least another 25 people are reportedly missing. At least 120 homes had been damaged or destroyed. The deadly mudslide was the second in as many days in Peru. On Thursday, five people were killed in the town of Cancejos.

4th

Scotland’s ski resorts are enjoying one of their busiest Easter seasons on record and – weather permitting – some centres could stay open into May.

7th

Rains began pelting Rio de Janeiro again early Wednesday, hours after the heaviest deluge on record sent killer mudslides cascading down hillsides and turned streets into raging torrents in Brazil’s second-biggest city. Authorities feared the added water could dislodge more saturated ground and raise the death toll from 95 in Rio and the neighbouring city of Niteroi. Most of the deaths came when landslides smashed over shacks in slums built precariously on steep slopes. Rio ground to a near halt as Mayor Eduardo Paes urged workers to stay home and ordered all schools closed. Most businesses were closed. 28cm of rain drenched Rio in less than 24 hours on the 6th, and the forecast called for more rain through the weekend, though it was expected to lessen.