The strengthening super El Niño in the Pacific Ocean could amplify more extreme rain events in Florida like the one during the Learjet 60 crash in Palm Beach County on Sunday, a Florida meteorologist has warned.

Shortly before the flight from Austin, Texas to the Bahamas crashed, the pilot reported precipitation and requested a climb and then declared an emergency, reporting a descent of 20,000 feet per minute.

The crash happened as extreme rain struck the region. A flood watch due to excessive rainfall was in effect through Monday afternoon, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.

The stratospheric polar vortex over the northern hemisphere is facing the prospect of an unusually early weakening. Forecast models suggest it could weaken significantly over the next 10 days, when it would typically be strengthening.

Heavy rain and strong winds will continue to affect parts of south-eastern Europe and Turkey over the next few days, as an area of low pressure in the region has allowed for the formation of powerful thunderstorms. During a particularly intense thunderstorm in Antalya, a coastal city in the south-west of Turkey, the formation of a tornado resulted in the deaths of four construction workers on Tuesday. Authorities in Greece and Turkey have released severe rainfall and flooding warnings, as a further 100-150mm (nearly 4-6in) of rain is expected this week in central Greece and western parts of Turkey, with locally higher totals possible.

Cyclone Arnab has made landfall on India’s east coast, causing widespread damage and bringing heavy rainfall and wind speeds of up to 135kph (84mph).

Damaging winds and heavy rains from Hurricane Lowell pelted Hawaii’s western islands Tuesday, knocking out power to thousands and ripping up stretches of beachside roads.

Along the Southern California coast, dangerous surf conditions kicked up by the remnants of Hurricane Marie were expected to stick around for several days.

Several storms, including Hurricane Lowell and Hurricane Karina, moved through the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, fuelled by a historically strong El Nino that has already been linked to extreme weather around the globe and is expected to persist through to February.

Dozens of people were injured after a tornado and hail hit the northern Italian city of Cremona, causing widespread damage.

Like much of Europe, Italy has faced a relentless period of extreme weather, with the country sweltering under its fifth heatwave of the summer.

Ten churches, including the city’s main cathedral, were damaged, according to Italy’s fire brigade, which responded to more than 500 emergency calls within hours.

Catastrophic floods, snow and mudslides have struck the Andes region, with Chile, Peru and Bolivia all badly hit. Peru's president has declared a state of emergency as experts warn that up to 1.2 million people could be affected.

In northern Chile's Atacama Desert, sudden mudslides swept away vehicles and sent residents fleeing. Evacuee Sergio Vargas describes the Coloso ravine surging without warning after the rain had stopped. In Bolivia, unprecedented snowstorms in the Andes are threatening tens of thousands of llamas and sheep, with herder Elizabeth Calle moving starving animals to lower ground in search of food. In Peru, days of torrential rain have triggered landslides, destroying homes and leaving thousands displaced.