A dust storm and thunderstorm hit the Phoenix metropolitan area with lighting strikes being blamed for starting two house fires and a blaze at a cardboard recycling company.

A scientist caught the birth of rare twin waterspouts on camera as the twisters churned to life over Louisiana waters. One of the powerful and unusually long-lived twisters damaged homes and cut power as it barreled across Grand Isle, a long, narrow island along the southeastern leg of the state’s Gulf coastline. Read more.

From record-smashing March warmth, including 80s in northern climes, to a startling lack of snow, to, in one location, record snow leading to a spring snowmelt mess, 2012 so far has thrown a number of curve balls for those looking for a bit of “normalcy.” Read more.

Two students were yesterday killed by a thunderbolt at Chesegon market in West Pokot county. Agnes Chepkorkor Merrongor, 18, a form two student at Chepareria Girls’ Secondary School and Rhodah Lotukey, 16, a pupil at Cheretak Primary School died on the spot when they were hit by the lightning. Read more.

Early warm weather in March, followed by sudden flash freezes, has caused devastating losses to tender fruit and apple growers in a large part of southern Ontario, industry insiders said Wednesday. Read more.

At the beginning of the last week, weather in Serbia continued to be unseasonably warm. Most parts of the country experienced so-called tropical days, when highest daily temperatures exceed 30 °C (86 °F). Measured values were up to 8 degrees above the average. The warmest day was Wednesday, when 32 °C (90 °F) was recorded in eastern Serbia.  Precipitation remained below the average, with highest amounts recorded mid-week.

By the end of the week, however, the weather started to resemble what is usually seen in these areas. Temperatures in most places are now only a degree or two higher than the average. Additionally, the beginning of this week also brought some light showers across the country.

This year has been marked by some of the most extreme weather ever recorded in Serbia. Recall that late winter blizzards and freezing temperatures prompted closure of schools throughout the country. After that, snowfalls hit parts of the Balkans region in April. Now it seems that the trend of unusual weather continues, with some of the warmest ever spring temperatures being recorded during the last couple of weeks.

Footage of a tornado has been captured in England, formed during a storm which is thought to have started in Wiltshire and moved to Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire on Bank Holiday Monday. Read more.

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The previous 12 months were the warmest in the U.S. since record keeping began in 1895, government scientists reported Tuesday, with the period averaging 55.7 degrees Fahrenheit — nearly three degrees warmer than the average May-April. Read more.

The dearth of snow that set back Colorado’s ski areas this winter is now taking its toll on farmers KUSA-TV reports. Read more.

Tom Rogers is usually $15,000 to $20,000 in a hole this time of year, having laid out that much cash to stock supplies for his oceanfront food court in New Jersey. But not this year. The unseasonably warm winter and spring thus far has boosted his business 30 percent over a normal year. And that puts him in excellent shape for the summer season. Read more.