The Philippines had a close escape last Friday when Typhoon Lupit unexpectedly swerved northwards and missed the northern parts of the country. The edge of the storm, though, still showered islands already under water from two previous tropical storms. But that small relief will be short-lived before Typhoon Mirinae is expected to strike close to Manila today. This is a dangerous storm, with about 150km/h (90mph) winds and torrential rains that could set off more flooding in a region with about 1.5 million people.

Australia also has been hit by a barrage of wild weather. Sydney was in the grip of a long drought when it was struck by a line of thunderstorms that dropped a deluge of rain, setting off flash floods and powercuts. It was only two weeks ago that the city was choked in its second big dust storm within a month. And last week Western Australia was roasted in a fierce heat wave reaching 44C (111F), which broke temperature records in many places.

The Mediterranean has been battered by storms this autumn. Last week torrential rain hit northern and central Greece and washed away roads and flooded homes. One man was missing after his car was swept away by a river in the hardest hit region of Pieria, north of Athens. The weather in the Mediterranean at this time of year tends to be volatile — the sea is now very warm, creating mild, humid air that clashes with colder air above and sets off violent storms.

Winter arrived early over parts of the Rockies last week. A powerful storm turned into a blizzard that buried Denver in snow and set new records for October snowfall in many other places being more than a metre deep in parts of Colorado.