Article:
Parts of Alaska are experiencing an extraordinary snowfall this autumn, with the city of Anchorage on track to surpass its November snowfall record by a substantial margin. The city, which typically receives about 5 inches (12cm) of snow during the first two weeks of November, has already seen an impressive 37.9 inches. This unprecedented snowfall has resulted in several daily records being broken, with the most significant being 9 inches within 24 hours on November 8th. Anchorage is now on the verge of toppling its previous November snowfall record of 38.8 inches set in 1994.

The intense three-day snowstorm that occurred recently prompted a state of emergency to be declared in Anchorage. Schools were closed, public transport was suspended, and efforts were intensified to find shelter for the city's homeless population. Unfortunately, four deaths were reported among those living outdoors during this extreme weather event.

With half of November still remaining and another significant snowfall event forecasted for early next week, Anchorage is expected to experience one of its snowiest months on record. The top spot is currently held by February 1996, which saw a staggering 52.1 inches of snow. Typically, Anchorage receives around 77 inches of snow during the winter season, with the all-time record set at 134.5 inches during the winter of 2011-12.

Meanwhile, in the South Pacific, Fiji was affected by Severe Tropical Cyclone Mal during the week, passing to the south-west of the islands on Wednesday and Thursday. Although classified as equivalent to a category 1 hurricane, the cyclone did not cause significant damage as it maintained enough distance from the islands. Fiji took precautionary measures by closing schools and evacuating some homes. However, strong winds and heavy rainfall were observed as the storm weakened and continued its southward trajectory, eventually turning into an extra-tropical cyclone.

As Fiji braced itself for Cyclone Mal, another tropical cyclone is expected to develop in the Bay of Bengal. At the moment, the tropical depression is moving northwards towards Bangladesh and is predicted to become a tropical cyclone by Friday when it makes landfall. If the storm does reach cyclone status, it will be named Midhili, proposed by the Maldives. The anticipated cyclone may bring gusts of 50-60mph and rainfall up to 100-150mm to the southwestern regions of Bangladesh.

As both Alaska and Bangladesh grapple with severe weather conditions, authorities and residents are working diligently to address the challenges posed by these unpredictable and extreme events.