Weather tracker: Furnace Creek sizzles as snow sweeps Siberia in a week of extremes

"Honduras smashed its all-time May maximum temperature record earlier this month only for it to be broken again on 13 May in Choluteca, known as the furnace of Central America. Temperatures climbed to 42.2C (107.9F), surpassing the previous record of 42.1C. With intense heat forecast to persist over the coming weeks, more records are expected to fall."

"In the western US, it soared to 46.7C in the aptly named Furnace Creek. It marks the highest temperature recorded in the country so far this year and is exceptionally high for mid-May. Nearby weather stations registered temperatures of 46C, underlining the scale of the heat."

"Despite Indonesia being in its cool season, temperatures across the archipelago have recently shattered records. A daytime temperature of 35.8C was recorded in Manokwari on Wednesday, but it was the overnight heat that proved most alarming. Bali airport failed to drop below 27.9C for three consecutive nights, setting a new record for the area."

"On 11 May, Rizhao, in Shandong province, was battered by a violent storm with hailstones reportedly larger than eggs. In stark contrast, on the same day heavy snowfall struck northern parts of Siberia, where 39mm of precipitation fell within 12 hours,producing 31cm of snowfall."

Record-breaking temperatures occurred across Honduras, parts of North America, and Indonesia. Honduras set a new all-time May maximum record in Choluteca on 13 May, reaching 42.2C and surpassing the prior 42.1C record. In the western United States, Furnace Creek reached 46.7C, the highest temperature recorded in the country so far this year and exceptionally high for mid-May. Indonesia’s cool season did not prevent record heat, with Manokwari reaching 35.8C and Bali airport failing to drop below 27.9C for three nights. West Timor also exceeded the previous May record with overnight temperatures not falling below 26.4C. Northern China and Mongolia saw multiple stations match or exceed May records, while Rizhao experienced hail and northern Siberia saw heavy snowfall with 31cm reported after 39mm of precipitation in 12 hours.

Read at www.theguardian.com