Weather Tracker: Tornadoes and giant hail in central US | American weather

Spring is the season for severe thunderstorms across the central US, and the beginning of this week was a particularly active period for the region. A favorable weather pattern fueled intense thunderstorms Monday through Wednesday, bringing strong winds, very large hail and strong tornadoes.

Eight tornadoes were reported Monday, including an EF2 tornado that tore through the town of Sycamore, Kansas. On Tuesday, a more popular event occurred across the midwest, especially as a severe hailstorm moved through Springfield, Missouri.

Hailstones up to 12 cm (5 in) in diameter fell across the city and caused widespread damage to cars, including cracked or completely shattered windshields. Dickerson Park Zoo on the north side of the city reported the death of Adam, an Emu caught outside during the storm. Early estimates indicate that this event will be the costliest hailstorm in Springfield’s history.

The strongest tornado of the week occurred on Wednesday when an EF3 hit Mineral Wells, Texas with wind speeds of up to 145mph (233km/h). The mayor declared a local disaster after five people were injured and homes and businesses across town were damaged or destroyed. Tornado Alley Residents will be thankful for a quieter spell of severe weather expected over the next week.

Forecast extreme rainfall verified for parts of southern China this week. The heavens opened on Monday and Tuesday as 538mm fell in 12 hours, while the peak hourly total exceeded 147mm in Qinzhou in the south-central Guangxi autonomous region.

To put these totals into perspective, this area receives about 1,500 annually. Streets were engulfed by floodwaters that submerged hundreds of vehicles. Five people were stranded in a residential building, and 800 residents had to be evacuated, while emergency personnel made their way through chest-deep water in the worst-affected districts.

Moscow was hit by a snowstorm that broke weather records on Wednesday and Thursday. 21cm of snow accumulated overnight, the highest depth measured at this time of year since 1880. The cause of this event can be attributed to a persistent area of ​​high pressure located over the North Atlantic acting as a blockade, forcing Arctic air to plunge southwards into western Russia. The storm downed 740 trees and caused significant air travel delays with wind gusts in excess of 50 mph.