in 56 years. The first storm of the 2003 North Indian Ocean cyclone
season, it developed over the Bay of Bengal on May 10 and reached peak
maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph) on May 13, making it a
very severe cyclonic storm according to the India Meteorological
Department. In the wake of prolonged precipitation during the first half
of May, the stationary cyclone in the central Bay of Bengal produced
torrential rains across southwest Sri Lanka, especially in the
mountains. A station at Ratnapura recorded 366.1 millimetres (14.41 in)
of rainfall in 18 hours on May 17, including 99.8 mm (3.93 in) in
one hour. Flooding and landslides destroyed 24,750 homes and damaged
32,426 others, displacing about 800,000 people. Damage totaled about
US$135 million, and there were 260 deaths. The cyclone also produced
some rainfall in the Indian Andaman and Nicobar Islands and along
India's eastern coast. The storm funneled moisture away from the
mainland, possibly contributing to a heat wave that killed
1,900 people.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Sri_Lanka_cyclone>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1645:
English Civil War: In the Battle of Naseby, the main army of
King Charles I was defeated by the Parliamentarian New Model Army under
Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Naseby>
1800:
War of the Second Coalition: In the Battle of Marengo,
Napoleonic forces secured victory over the Habsburgs when defeat had
appeared inevitable until the arrival of French troops led by Louis
Desaix.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Marengo>
1846:
Anglo-American settlers in the Town of Sonoma began a rebellion
against Mexico, proclaiming the California Republic and eventually
raising a homemade flag with a bear and star.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Republic>
1966:
The Vatican formally abolished its 427-year-old list of
prohibited books.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Index_Librorum_Prohibitorum>
1999:
Thabo Mbeki took office as the second President of South
Africa.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thabo_Mbeki>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
dark horse:
1. (idiomatic) Someone who possesses talents or favorable characteristics
that are not known or expected by others.
2. (idiomatic, politics) A candidate for an election who is nominated
unexpectedly, without previously having been discussed or considered as
a likely choice.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dark_horse>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
In the end, you're measured not by how much you undertake but by
what you finally accomplish.
--Donald Trump
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Donald_Trump>
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