France: Wildfires Rage Near Fontainebleau in Historic Forest Blaze 3

The department of Seine-et-Marne has faced several fires, including an exceptional wildfire in the Fontainebleau forest that has burned over 2,000 hectares, devastating the area and becoming one of the most severe forest fires recorded in France. Firefighters deployed Canadair water bombers, a Dash retardant plane, and water-bombing helicopters, with the water bombers refueling directly from the Seine.

France: Thunderstorms Bring Large Hail to Occitanie 3

Météo-France issued an orange alert on Monday, May 19, for 11 southwestern French departments, including Lot, Tarn-et-Garonne, Tarn, Dordogne, Aveyron, Gers, Haute-Garonne, Hautes-Pyrénées, Ariège, Aude, and Cantal due to heavy rain and thunderstorms accompanied by severe hailstorms. 6-7 cm of hailstones were reported in the Haute-Garonne department in Occitanie.

France: Thunderstorms Bring Large Hail to Occitanie 4

Météo-France issued an orange alert on Monday, May 19, for 11 southwestern French departments, including Lot, Tarn-et-Garonne, Tarn, Dordogne, Aveyron, Gers, Haute-Garonne, Hautes-Pyrénées, Ariège, Aude, and Cantal due to heavy rain and thunderstorms accompanied by severe hailstorms. 6-7 cm of hailstones were reported in the Haute-Garonne department in Occitanie.

US: Flash Flooding Hits Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Theme Park In Tennessee 3

A strong thunderstorm caused flash flooding at Dollywood theme park in Tennessee, owned by the country music icon Dolly Parton, on Sunday, July 28.

US: Flash Flooding Hits Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Theme Park In Tennessee 4

A strong thunderstorm caused flash flooding at Dollywood theme park in Tennessee, owned by the country music icon Dolly Parton, on Sunday, July 28.

US: Flash Flooding Hits Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Theme Park In Tennessee 5

A strong thunderstorm caused flash flooding at Dollywood theme park in Tennessee, owned by the country music icon Dolly Parton, on Sunday, July 28.

US: Memorial Day Storms Bring Large Hail To Dallas–Fort Worth 8

Severe thunderstorms moved into the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, bringing large hail.

OCHA civil-military coordination officer in interview

OCHA civil-military coordination officer in interview

TOKYO, Japan - Sophie Solomon, civil-military coordination officer at the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, dispatched to Mali in West Africa, speaks during an interview with Kyodo News in Tokyo in December 2014.

OCHA civil-military coordination officer in interview

OCHA civil-military coordination officer in interview

TOKYO, Japan - Sophie Solomon, civil-military coordination officer at the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, dispatched to Mali in West Africa, speaks during an interview with Kyodo News in Tokyo in December 2014. (Kyodo)