World Factbook

damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts  
 

destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought  
 

mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season  
 

typhoons common from December to March  
 

several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes  
 

avalanches  
 

locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau  
 

frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)  
 

katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West   
 

hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts  
 

ice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually ice locked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure icing  
 

San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding  
 

occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts  
 

lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt  
 

surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards  
 

icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from Oct  
 

cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires  
 

landslides; avalanches; earthquakes  
 

droughts  
 

hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage  
 

periodic droughts; dust storms  
 

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard  
 

droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season  
 

infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides  
 

maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones  
 

NA  
 

flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes  
 

frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)  
 

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March  
 

hurricanes (June to November)  
 

violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season  
 

flooding in the northeast (March-April)  
 

destructive earthquakes  
 

periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility  
 

NA  
 

recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south  
 

NA  
 

hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)  
 

typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare  
 

earthquakes, landslides  
 

recurring droughts  
 

destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts  
 

flooding, landslides, drought  
 

monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts  
 

volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes  
 

continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and s  
 

prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active  
 

hurricanes (July to November)  
 

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common  
 

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues  
 

severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis  
 

frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land subsidence  
 

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard  
 

NA  
 

cyclone season is October to April  
 

highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts  
 

cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano  
 

periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the east, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes  
 

seasonal flooding  
 

typhoons (November to March)  
 

occasional tropical cyclones  
 

occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes  
 

coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible  
 

destructive earthquakes  
 

the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common  
 

moderate earthquake activity; droughts  
 

flooding  
 

flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes  
 

earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods  
 

flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months  
 

lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts  
 

frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts  
 

periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms  
 

known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes  
 

violent windstorms, flash floods  
 

frequent droughts; locust swarms  
 

sometimes flooding occurs in the spring  
 

geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts  
 

NA  
 

flooding along coasts; avalanches in mountainous area; earthquakes in the south; volcanic eruptions in Italy; periodic droughts in Spain; ice floes in the Baltic   
 

strong winds persist throughout the year  
 

NA  
 

cyclonic storms can occur from November to January  
 

NA  
 

flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean  
 

high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding  
 

occasional cyclonic storms in January  
 

Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes  
 

NA  
 

drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)  
 

droughts  
 

earthquakes  
 

flooding  
 

dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts  
 

NA  
 

periodic cyclones  
 

severe earthquakes  
 

continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island  
 

lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November  
 

hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere de Guadeloupe is an active volcano  
 

frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)  
 

numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms  
 

NA  
 

hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season  
 

hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires  
 

flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons  
 

lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts  
 

Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island  
 

NA  
 

frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast  
 

occasional typhoons  
 

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard  
 

earthquakes and volcanic activity  
 

droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes  
 

occasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in southern reaches  
 

occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, forest fires  
 

periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes  
 

dust storms, sandstorms, floods  
 

NA  
 

NA  
 

sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes  
 

regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice  
 

hurricanes (especially July to November)  
 

dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970  
 

many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons  
 

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses a maritime hazard  
 

NA  
 

NA  
 

droughts; periodic earthquakes  
 

periodic cyclones  
 

earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty  
 

recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons  
 

wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard  
 

typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them very sensitive to changes in sea level  
 

late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall  
 

occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest  
 

sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and August  
 

NA  
 

floods, droughts  
 

NA  
 

dust storms, sandstorms  
 

periodic droughts  
 

dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)  
 

hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms  
 

NA  
 

NA  
 

NA  
 

typhoons  
 

high seismic risks  
 

periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation  
 

NA  
 

flooding, landslides, forest fires  
 

low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise  
 

hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding  
 

NA  
 

infrequent typhoons  
 

hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years)  
 

hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts  
 

cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards  
 

cyclones during rainy season  
 

tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coasts  
 

typhoons (June to December)  
 

NA  
 

landslides (57 cases in 1998)  
 

NA  
 

dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and "zud," which is harsh winter conditions  
 

severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)  
 

northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts  
 

severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods occur in central and southern provinces  
 

prolonged periods of drought  
 

periodic droughts  
 

NA  
 

severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons  
 

flooding  
 

Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October  
 

cyclones, most frequent from November to March  
 

earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity  
 

destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes  
 

recurring droughts  
 

periodic droughts; flooding  
 

typhoons  
 

typhoons (especially May to July)  
 

active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)  
 

rockslides, avalanches  
 

summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts  
 

surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and earthquake activity sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of Fire"; subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east Asia from May to December (most frequent from July to October); tropical cy  
 

frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)  
 

typhoons (June to December)  
 

NA  
 

occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area  
 

active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis  
 

typhoons  
 

local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)  
 

earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity  
 

astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis  
 

typhoons (especially November to March)  
 

flooding  
 

Azores subject to severe earthquakes  
 

periodic droughts; hurricanes  
 

haze, dust storms, sandstorms common  
 

periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano  
 

earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides  
 

permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and summer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of European Russi  
 

periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo  
 

active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha  
 

hurricanes (July to October)  
 

hurricanes and volcanic activity  
 

persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard  
 

hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat  
 

occasional typhoons; active volcanism  
 

NA  
 

NA  
 

frequent sand and dust storms  
 

lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts  
 

destructive earthquakes  
 

lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible  
 

dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms  
 

NA  
 

NA  
 

flooding and earthquakes  
 

typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity  
 

recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season  
 

prolonged droughts  
 

the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make them difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active volcanism  
 

huge icebergs with drafts up to several hundred meters; smaller bergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5 to 1 meter thick) with sometimes dynamic short-term variations and with large annual and interannual variations; deep continental shelf flo  
 

periodic droughts  
 

typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals  
 

occasional cyclones and tornadoes  
 

dust storms and periodic persistent droughts  
 

NA  
 

ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic  
 

drought  
 

ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic  
 

avalanches, landslides, flash floods  
 

dust storms, sandstorms  
 

earthquakes and typhoons  
 

earthquakes and floods  
 

flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought  
 

land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts  
 

floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones  
 

hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts  
 

lies in Pacific typhoon belt  
 

cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou  
 

outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms  
 

NA  
 

NA  
 

very severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van  
 

NA  
 

frequent hurricanes  
 

severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there were three cyclones; low level of islands make them very sensitive to changes in sea level  
 

NA  
 

NA  
 

frequent sand and dust storms  
 

winter windstorms; floods  
 

tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska  
 

seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rap  
 

NA  
 

tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis  
 

subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts  
 

occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta  
 

occasional typhoons  
 

NA  
 

droughts  
 

hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility  
 

large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones), natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions)  
 

sandstorms and dust storms in summer  
 

periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)  
 

recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare