weather-patterns

Wednesday, July 25, 2007 12:25 AM

BUDAPEST (AFP) - The heatwave in central and southern Europe killed an estimated 500 people in Hungary last week, the country's chief medical officer announced yesterday.

Ferenc Falus said that during the week from July 15 to July 22 the heat in central Hungary "contributed to the early death of 230 people, which nationally means about 500 deaths".

The announcement of hundreds of deaths comas as heavy rain and extreme temperatures continue to batter Europe.

Britain was experiencing its worst flooding in living memory, while across the continent in the Balkans people were warned to stay indoors to avoid searing temperatures with deaths reported in Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, and Romania.

Temperatures in the region were recorded at 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) and above, with Greece expecting a high of 45 Celsius on Tuesday and Italy just behind at 44 Celsius, hours after Rome recorded one of its warmest nights ever on Monday at 27.1 degrees.

Bulgaria has also experienced its hottest temperatures since records began with the mercury shooting above 45 degrees Celsius in parts of the country, and more than 860 people reportedly fainting in the streets in Romania.

North Carolina farmers caught in a drought is affecting most of the Southeast are concerned that they may not be able to grow enough feed to sport the over 900,000 cattle to reside in the state.

The western portion of North Carolina, is now under severe drought conditions, falling 10 inches short of the 27 inch yearly rainfall.

The ongoing drought could severely hinder North Carolina's $250 million cattle and hay production industry driving meat prices up in the nation's restaurant and grocery industry.

The state agricultural industry is trying to arrange to have hay shipped in from other states.one cow in the 3000 pounds of hay during the winter months.

when encouraging aspect though, is that the weather service is expecting a very active tropical season, during the months of August and September, which farmers hope will bring the much-needed rain.

More than 170 passengers on Amtrak train were stranded for hours after storms dumped more than a foot of rain in Texas.rescue crews elsewhere were forced to pull at least 50 people to safety.

water covered tracks about 75 miles west of San Antonio, stopping an Amtrak train carrying 176 passengers at around 9 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

buses were sent in to drive the passengers to El Paso, but could not reach the train until Saturday evening due to flooded roads, Amtrak authorities said.

There was no reported injuries in the latest round of floods, that have recently hit the state.but they did force many roads to be closed and many evacuations.