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FACTS ABOUT METEOROLOGY Over the period 1992-2001, weather and climate related disasters killed about 622,000 people, affected more then two billion, left millions more homeless, devastated arable land and spread disease. Studies suggest that the number of weather-related disasters have increased threefold over the past 30 years. The world’s lowest annual precipitation average has been measured in Arica (Chile). In 59 years of records the annual average has been 0.8 mm. The world’s highest annual precipitation average has been measured in Lloro (Colombia). In 29 years of records the annual average has been 13,230 mm. The hottest recorded temperature (58 oC) on earth was in El Azizia (Libya) on 13 September 1922. The lowest recorded temperature (-89.4 oC) on earth was in Vostok (Antarctica) on 21 July 1983. The largest hailstone ever recorded fell in Coffeyville, Kansas on 3 September 1970. It measured about 44.45 cm in circumference (over 14.2 cm in diameter) and weighed 755 grams. Most hail is small - usually less than 2 inches in diametres. The world's heaviest snowfall in a 24-hour period is 190 centimetres on 15 April 1921 in Silver Lake, Colorado. The largest snowflake ever found was 20.3 cm by 30.4 cm, reported to have fallen in Bratsk, Siberia in 1971.
Information from: Source: UNESCO Water Portal, March 2005
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